5 Places to get your Waffle Fix

Warm waffles, with that delicious crunch and a general drizzle of maple syrup or melted butter, could brighten up a dull morning in a jiffy. Traditionally served for breakfast (or brunch), these taste as good any time of the day. And there is a lot more one can do with waffles – they are versatile. Restaurants and cafés in the city are serving up sweet and savoury waffles, spiced or herbed or filled with cheese, and served with fun toppings. Here are a few places in Kolkata to head for a fix for your waffle cravings.

Check out Wacky Waffles, a brand new eatery in Paddapukur, where the eponymous waffles, wacky or not, enjoy a glory spot on the menu. There is a range here: from crisp waffles spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg to ones topped with caramel sauce, candied peanuts and whipped cream or crumbled oreo cookies and chocolate sauce (a blob of ice cream too, actually). Or you could pick your own mix of toppings. Plus, there are decadent waffle sundaes. Try the death by chocolate, which has chocolate ice cream studded with crunchy bits of cookies, whipped cream, gooey chocolate sauce, chocolate chips and waffle strips. If, on the other hand, you prefer savoury waffles, these come with toppings such as sautéed veggies and sunny-side-ups, fried chicken tossed with maple syrup and hot sauce or baked beans. They also turn out a pizza with a waffle base, but I am yet to try that one.

But before there was Whacky Waffles, there was Piccadilly Square, which perhaps made waffles popular in the city. The quaint quirky café is modelled on a European neighbourhood, complete with cobbled streets and vintage lamp-posts, and makes for an apt setting for feasting on some classic Belgian waffles, topped with a generous drizzle of butter and honey or maple syrup.

Head over to Bodega Cantina Y Bar, a chic drink-and-dine destination off Park Street, on a Sunday to sample their Drunch menu, which has options such as waffles with crisp fried chicken laced with maple syrup and served with spicy Sriracha-spiked mayonnaise. Vegetarians could opt for waffles loaded with veggies tossed with typical Mediterranean herbs and spices, creamy hummus and crumbled feta.   

The Shack Lounge, a funky café cum lounge in Ballygunge, has a range of waffles on the menu. If you are in the mood for something savoury, you could take your pick from options such as crisp waffles, filled with herbs and cheese, topped with a creamy cheese and sweet corn sauce or grilled potatoes laced with garlicky mayonnaise or spicy salsa. On the other hand, sweet options include waffles topped with caramel sauce and a dusting of cinnamon powder, or whipped cream and chocolate sauce.

Edesia on Hungerford Street has a live waffles counter as part of their Breakfast Buffet, or you could order them À la carte. Opt for an original Belgian waffle served with melted butter and golden syrup or top it up with anything from chocolate and mixed berries to apples or banana and walnuts. They also serve a savoury waffle loaded with creamy spinach and ricotta.

 So go ahead and wolf down a few waffles!