Tigers Experience at Bagdogra Airport,Siliguri North Bengal

One of the most talked about Airport restaurant run by the Airport Staff . People travelling to and fro from the east have great attachment to this Bagdogra Airport Restaurant . People are such loyalist , they swear by the food and service  and believe me they are senti about it , try arguing wit them  , you will be shot at instance. I swear by the tea which you get there , never had anything better anywhere.

Bagdogra is an Air force base - which shares the runway with all the private airlines . Slowly slowly things are improving at the airport and losing its simplistic charm also . Check in ground floor , security check first floor , boarding back to ground floor hahahahahahahah.  Silliguri is the biggest town connected to the Airport - the main hub of the North Bengal . The airport is in the middle of some beautiful well manicured tea gardens.

Started much before the 1970's - was under a contractor for 5 years then the Workers of the Airport formed a society and took it over - and ever since they manage the whole show - incredible .

A total No Fuss Airport lounge Very Basic and the best you can get that side of the country. Sit by the windows and get a beautiful view of aircraft coming n going not too many but still , high ceiling fans , check table cloths 

Wonder what will happen to this menu ever since the drowning of the good times 

A beautiful menu with almost everything under the sky , but you must understand who all they are catering too- Nepalese, Bengalis, Bhutanese, Marwaris, Punjabis , Foreign nationals , Students - Siliguri is the corridor for the north bengal and is filled with tourist irrespective of their nationalities. Also being the business hub of the north east is loaded with the riches . 

Some of the most popular dishes the regulars eat are : Chicken cutlets, Noodles, Fish , Chicken Sandwiches, Fish curry .. and of course their Darjeeling tea.

Easy No Fuss Seating with standing Air con. Acha dont know if u can notice the Smoking room is the same as the loo .. so you enter go past the loo and you come to a store room which has an toota hua exhaust and a open window .. now called a smoking room .. the waiter follows you and ask Sahab Beer le aun ... i think people hide and drink out here ... plastic chair , broken wooden table and he tries to make u comfortable in that ...  total theka style

The Owners now the managers.. they know almost al the regular travelers . It felt as if u r sitting in a corner tea shop where everyone walking in would first hello to the men behind the counter and then sit ... a number of marawaris loaded with gold , pan drooling with a army of spoilt kids running  to them uncle uncle chocolate de do - hey bhagwan . Then the hippies ,smelly dirty  smoked out and hungry ... The waiters are old have been there for generations - they too know each customer and some by name also - like my pop in law was addressed oh bombay store wale aa gaye . not bad at ll - good Pr . And like all good clubs the waiters know what dish the regular wants - fantastic.

Do u notice the paper weights all those are table being served and bills in progress .hehehehe

The Cuppa Tea

Served in a nice clean porcelain Tea Pot -Kettle to keep the water warm for long , milk strainer white sugar ek dum English style ...  this reminds me my mom til the time she lived always insisted on having her evening tea in a proper English tea tray - with we Tea pot covered by a tea cosy - a milk strainer and a beautiful elegant cup ..  and trust me now i understand why .. 

Brewed for exactly 3 mins and its ready to serve . The prime custom of Drinking and brewing Darjeeling tea is Steeping - normally they ask you to put the leaves in a separate kettle then pour hot water in it - once it reaches the desired colour transfer the tea  to another pot without the leaves .. Gawd hoe fussy can tea drinking be . 

See the lovely colour of fresh Darjeeling tea

Beautiful color fantastic smell - and presenting to you a perfect cup of Darjeeling tea . Actually as per tea experts brewing and reaching the right preferred color is a personal choice - which comes with a lot of trial and error . 

Darjeeling Tea Ra.35/-

with just a dash of Milk thats it  and yes half a tea spoon of sugar .. man you wil die - it is so intoxicating Rs. 35 Pure Darjeeling tea served in the most appropriate way - IS too die for - what else do u want . The rest  of my family prefers having their tea with out any milk or sugar to enjoy the flavors . 

The Food - Simple Basic Greasy Original but Fresh and DELICIOUS.

Chicken Cutlet Rs.150/-

Deep fried Chicken Mince Cutlet  with masala of garlic onions coriander and fries and fresh onions on the side hahahahahahaha  - amazing meal loved it with the unlabeled ketchup

Veg Hakka Noodles Rs.130/-

Vegetarian Hakka Noddles - perfect fat noodles mice and oily all fresh veggies including peas , but thank god no soya init like our dilli wala vans  hahahahahaha.. fried egg  to top it wah wah . Ek dum mast 

Grilled / Fried Fish 

Grilled Fish Rs.160/-

Grilled Fish there way - please dont laugh . Deep fried fish in some heavy thick batter - nice river fish fresh non smelly without thorns - just perfectly cooked served with boiled vegetable thats it . Big portion good enuf for a single person , and im sure once you bite in you wont share . Yes yes its topped with a ketchup based sauce to give it the bbq sauce affect not taste Lol .

MY Father In Law

Being a business man from Siliguri - with a number of retail stores and hotels passed under his wings , he is a  well know personality in the city , the family owned one of siliguris most sought out places to eat called 'Bombay Store ' on hil cart road , most famous for its Pao Bhaji .. i have seen people throng the palce in the evening to eat the Pao Bhaji , which actually was amazing ... every time he is flying out of siliguri he ensure we reach the airport two hours before time to spend time at the Airport lounge and trust me its so worth it . Not only that he wil insist on trying all his favorites and nothing beyond that ... It was a great sight to be a part of his happiness at the restaurant .. ful in command .

And while i was eating away - i had calls from wife to get sandwiches packed, son to get chicken cutlet packed  and friend to get Darjeeling tea packed - Oh these hard core Bagdogra Airport Loyalist  .

Overall Tigers Experience : Great fun and really look forward to my cuppa Darjeeling Tea at bagdogra Airport and thank god my In Laws belong to Siliguri. So that gives me all the chances of going back . Simple basic experience but memorable. Its fun sitting there and watching travelers come n go , aircraft fly by and the food being relished.

Food - Wonderful for a change , while i was enjoying my food i saw a number of people lovingly eating fish curry rice , chicken curry n rice - this is a must try for the next time . No Fuss food.

Ambiance : Buzz of tourist - nice n cool , airy comfortable enuf for a traveller .

Service : Full on by the tip hungry staff - sarkari waiters . But yes pleasant people and always ready to serve you the bill . hahahahah

Going back real Soon .