Trincas Restaurant Kolkata Centenary 2027: Park Street Icon at 99

Trincas Restaurant Kolkata Centenary 2027 is drawing near as the Park Street icon turns 99. It began as a Swiss tea room in 1927. Today it is run by third generation owner Anand Puri. He plans a book and several events for the 100 year celebration. His aim is to use the restaurant's legacy to build a retro cool identity for future generations.

Trincas Restaurant Kolkata Centenary 2027 Looks Back at a Long History

Trincas started as Flury and Trinca, a tea room run by Swiss partners. In 1939, Quinto Cinzio Trinca and Joseph Flury parted ways. Trinca moved across the road to 17 Park Street, where the restaurant stands today. In 1959, Ellis Joshua and Om Prakash Puri took over as Trinca prepared to retire to Switzerland. Nobody thought to change the name.

Hard years followed. Naxalite unrest kept people at home in the late 1960s and 1970s. Power cuts in the 1980s made air conditioning impossible. The restaurant held on thanks to its name, loyal clientele and live music culture.

Kolkata Continental and the Ming's Room Story

Trincas serves what regulars call Kolkata Continental. The menu mixes Continental cooking with Chinese and Indian influences. Chicken à la Kiev, lobster Thermidor, fish meunière and sizzlers remain favorites. Indian dishes such as mutton rezala and chicken tikka also have a place.

In 1983, Sani Puri opened Ming's Room behind a glass partition. It brought bold Sichuan inspired cooking to ordinary diners. He learned the dishes from chef Frankie Lock while working at the Taj hotels. A chilli garlic paste called Ming 83 became its signature. It flavors chilli garlic noodles, lamb in hot garlic sauce and Sichuan prawns.

Live Music and Famous Guests

Music made Trincas famous. Usha Uthup began her career on its stage in 1969. She arrived in Kanjeevaram saris and bold bindis. Her Park Street shows became a talking point. She later moved into Hindi cinema.

Amitabh Bachchan was a regular during his Kolkata years. Engelbert Humperdinck also performed there early in his career. Anand says members of the Kapoor family visited across generations.

The Trincas Timeline Project

Anand returned home in 2019 after nearly a decade away. He chose not to change the food or the look of the restaurant. Instead he launched the Trincas Timeline Project. It collects memories from patrons and documents the people and moments behind the institution.

He reached Kolkata's global diaspora through Facebook history groups. Members shared rare photographs and stories. Some recalled the Borrowed Dinner Jacket tradition. Others celebrated first drinks, 22nd birthdays and even 90th birthdays at the same tables.

Plans for the Next Hundred Years

Food writer Ayandrali Dutta said the revival under Anand has been heartening. She said the energy is back. As the centenary nears, the restaurant remains a record of how generations of Kolkata grew up and returned to the same tables.

Readers can find more restaurant news on our site. To plan a visit, check the official Trincas website.