The review was anonymously done after paying for the meal.

Kozhikode or Calicut is a coastal city in north Kerala. It was a significant spice trade center and this is where Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama landed in 1498. Paragon restaurant is the second thing it is famous for. Having a meal here requires resolve and perseverance. What it does not require, however, is deep pockets, because Rs 160 will get you a lavish and delicious fish thali. The queues here are ever present, but very much like Andhra Bhavan in Delhi, the service is efficient and normal wait here rarely crosses half an hour.

I am here with five sales colleagues. Once we manage to get a table, the ordering is easy. All of us order “Meals” (Rs 160). Now a “meals” here is not a thali. It is a lot of bowls with a lot of food, served on the table. Rs 160 here promises a combination of two fish curries, three vegetable curries, two thorans (dry veggies), boiled rice, rasam, curd, upperi (banana chips), pappadam, pickle, chutney, chammanthi (chutneys), and the kheer like payasam. 

All of the components are superb. The only down side? There is so much of flavour overload, one feels full much before one is actually full.

As if that was not enough, I ordered a few other dishes too. Karimeen pollichathu (Rs 310), an iconic dish of Kerala, where marinated pearl fish is wrapped in banana leaf and grilled to perfection. Prawn dry fry (Rs 280) has a strong hit of pepper and a wonderful sweetness that frozen prawns can never have.

Crab tawa fry (Rs 270) is too small to be enjoyable. It also reminds me why I am not fond of crabs – too much effort for too little flesh.

A “meals” here is a delicious experience. It deserves to be on your food bucket list!

Ratings (Out of 5)  

Food: 4.5 | Ambience: 3.5 | Service: 4.0 | Value: 5.0 | Overall: 4.5

Meal for two: Rs.400 | Alcohol: No | Credit Card: Yes | Wheel chair friendly: No

Address: Kannur Road, Calicut

Ph: +91 495 2767020, 2761020 Mob: 9846 497 611