Le Bengale in Chicoutimi
327 Rue Racine E, Chicoutimi, QC G7H 1S8, Canada
About
Le facteur improbable est à son paroxysme. La seconde cuisine la plus populaire au monde fait son entrée à Saguenay sous son étoffe gastronomique. Le Bengale, c’est la révolte de la cuisine indienne traditionnelle. Sans perdre son authenticité, ses couleurs et ses parfums, elle retrouve au Bengale sa notoriété et son caractère divin. S’inspirant de la région homonyme, la cuisine du Nord et les plats les plus prisés de Calcutta seront à l’honneur. Menu à la carte disponible du mercredi au vendredi et service à l'aveugle avec accords mets-vins le samedi soir (17h30 / 20h30)
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Nous avons fait un voyage gastronomique d’une qualité supérieure à tout ce que nous avons connus à date et nous avons été accompagnés d’un service hors paire, nous guidant tout au long de la soirée sur le choix du menus… Nous le recommandons sincèrement à tout ceux qui désire vivre une expérience culinaire hors paire, de plus tout cela dans un décor hors du commun. Merci à toute l’équipe de votre chaleureux accueil, nous allons y revenir sans aucun doute. Suzanne, René, Alma Johanne et Sylvain, La Tuque
Très bon mais aussi très cher pour ce que c’est, c’est pourquoi je donne 4 étoiles. Excellents cocktails. Les portions sont goûteuses mais peu généreuses. Ça vaut la peine de l’essayer. À noter que les “samosas” étaient des triangles de pâte phyllo.
We stumbled upon Le Bengale on Google during our recent visit to Saguenay. Their website says it provides “immersive experience” of fine Indian cuisine, however there is no menu on the website. In any case, we thought we give it a try. Upon arrival, we realized that Le Bengale doesn’t operate like a typical restaurant, rather offers blind menu service in two batches, one at 6pm and another at 8pm. All customers get the same three course meal with dessert. My wife is a vegetarian, so they suggested both of us will be offered vegetarian dishes. Our meal included naan bread with three types of accompaniments, paneer in coconut milk and vegetables, and vegetable biriyani. There were three different types of sweets for dessert including traditional barfi. The food taste was great and portions just right. The taste is totally different from the blended commercialized cuisine that you find in typical Indian restaurants. We grew up in Bangladesh which share the same cuisine as in Bengal, India. We appreciate the owner’s love for Bengal which is reflected in their menu and the décor; there is even a quotation from the Nobel laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore in the staircase. Presentation and service were excellent. Overall, it was a memorable evening.
Wow
The food was amazing, authentic to Indian culture. Homemade naan bread is provided, and all you can eat throughout the evening. It was delicious! The portions of each service were perfects sizes. Not too little, not too much. Enough to feel satisfied and savor all of the flavors. However be prepared to stay at the restaurant for approximately 3.5-4 hours. This is how long the service is. It's something we were not expecting, but I wanted to point this out so that future clients may better prepare their evening outings. We arrived for the 6PM service and left at nearly 10PM. You cannot make any other plans for the night. As well, the restaurant does not offer vegan options. They may provide vegetarian options upon request however this must be stated when making the reservation. My friend is vegetarian and the restaurant offered him some delicious alternative services which he thoroughly enjoyed. The table beside us had 4 clients who were all vegan. They appeared excited to be there however once the waitress explained that the restaurant does not offer vegan options they unfortunately had no choice but to leave. We enjoyed our experience, it's a "you have to try once" kind of restaurant. The opening of this restaurant was much needed to diversify the food options in Saguenay and offer insight to a different culture. Thank you!
First time to this restaurant but not my last. Beautiful decor, ambiance, and set up (can look into kitchen). We went for the “Immersive Experience”with wine accompaniment, and they catered to my friend who is a vegetarian. The food was amazing and the portions just right! Each dish was served with its own special plate. Drinks were also delicious and very decorative. So why only 4 stars? In such a fine restaurant, having utensils wrapped in the (very nice) linen for us to place is not a high standard! Second, asking us to keep our utensils after each dish is also not up to the standard of theirs kind of restaurant. The dishes all had different flavours and spices…please give us new utensils with each course. You did with the wine. Do same with food. Lastly, not to tell anyone how to dress, but one of our servers was wearing a tank top and very short cut-off jeans. I’m sorry but absolutely not appropriate for the setting and ambiance of such a restaurant. Again, I will definitely come back as my overall experience and the food was fantastic.
Soirée mémorable! Service et expérience culinaire au rendez-vous . Tout était parfait et je reviendrais assurément vous visiter. Mon entré de flétan était mon coup de coeur ❤️Merci encore à toute l’équipe votre accueil était chaleureux et attentionné.
Absolutely delicious gourmet Indian food served in reasonable size servings(not your Américain oversize)
Top, nothing negative to say. I recommend if you want to eat Indian, it tastes! For comments on price: 2 drinks, 3 dishes to share, extra naan. $79/person + taxes + tip is more than reasonable for the experience.
Extraordinary. Impeccable service and food!
The blind menu on Saturday was delicious on more than one occasion!
Just wow!!!!! Blind menu with wine pairing...excellent!!!! And what can I say about the service....it ticks!!!! Thanks for the experience!!!!
Exceptional! I recommend
An unmissable experience in Chicoutimi. Visit on a Wednesday evening, therefore, à la carte menu: the korba lamb is very tender, and seasoned just right to highlight the savory taste of the meat. The paneer and its sauce give a very nice mouth experience, both in terms of taste and texture. And the dahl, well seasoned, is simply delicious. I cant leave out the homemade Naan bread; of which I would have liked to take a piece! And finally, the most original crème brûlée... and the best Ive eaten! A different and simply delectable flavor profile! In terms of service, it is impeccable. The explanations given are clear, and we were well guided in terms of portions. The concept of dishes to share allows for a varied and rich experience. The decor is chic, nice, warm and classy. Dont forget to pay attention to the serving dishes; they are typical! During the week, a gourmet meal with a non-alcoholic cocktail, 3 dishes and a dessert for $60 per person... its a very good deal in 2024! On a future visit, Ill try a table at the front, in the section near the windows, because with the multitude of dishes, the smaller tables inside quickly become crowded. In short, I wholeheartedly recommend this place! Vegetarian options: There are 4 vegetarian options. I tried the paneer and dahl, both of which were excellent and had generous portions. There is also a samosa dish and a mushroom dish. With bread and saffron rice, it is entirely possible to have a little vegetarian feast with the à la carte menu.
Everything was perfect! One of the best Indian meals I have eaten in my life. The service was impeccable, the recommended portions were perfect and the food delicious :) I highly recommend to everyone who is in Chicoutimi or visiting. I will definitely go back Vegetarian options: Beluga lentil dhal, mushroom byriani, samosas and a paneer meal
Unique experience it was simply magical I loved it it s worth the detour
Excellent. I highly recommend it.
I loved the atmosphere and the service, only thing is that I got food poisoning afterwards.
One of the best restaurants I have ever eaten in. The cuisine is refined and full of flavor. It s delicious, the team is great, the atmosphere is gentle and pleasant. Its a must.
Superb discovery and a big crush on this restaurant! Super clean, very good food and impeccable and very attentive service! Thank you very much for this great blind serving experience! To do again
What a great experience
Really top team, both in the kitchen and in the dining room! Excellent 4-course experience with wine pairing, with a ceremonial presentation of each dish and wine that I found great. Small capacity which gives an intimate impression and of being a privileged guest. I highly recommend!
It was simply delicious! The quality of the food was impeccable, the flavors were an explosion in every bite! The service of the two hostesses (Roxanne and Olympe if Im not mistaken) who introduced us and served the meal was exceptional! A very beautiful experience to live and certainly relive! Note that this is a blind meal to help people discover, and the menu is made according to reservations so no waste, which is very rare! Only positive things to say about this warm place in a beautiful, intimate atmosphere!
Great service and the dishes are delicious.
Wow. Really, really on the mark. Not cheap but well worth the price.
WoW! Sublime decor, warm atmosphere. Culinary experience. Very tasty. I recommend +++
The food really tasted exceptional! Excellent service. I removed 1 star because I was hungry when leaving the restaurant.. Which is unacceptable given the exorbitant price. Regarding the food/wine pairing... We didnt have the equivalent of a bottle for two. Again considering the price.... Finally... The cocktail before meal... $15 +tx + tip but the equivalent of a sip because there is crushed ice. Everything was excellent but very small quantities. A bit disappointing.
We went for the discovery experience and everything was impeccable! The service, the alcohol, the dishes, the atmosphere! The naan bread is unlimited, simply wow! Huge crush on this restaurant! Definitely worth a visit!
The food is delicious and the service impeccable. The vegetarian option is just as good as the conventional one. I love the explanation of services throughout the meal. I highly recommend to everyone!
Everything was sublime! I highly recommend!
A little gem to discover in Saguenay. The flavor of the moment from the chef, the atmosphere, the welcome and the conviviality. One of the best restaurants in the area. Long life to your wonderful team and thank you Bruno for your warm welcome
May 2022 - Absolutely fantastic evening. The decor is superb, the staff explains all the dishes very well and what about the 4 courses with wine pairings. Everything was absolutely delicious. If you are looking for an experience like nowhere else in Saguenay, I highly recommend Bengal! ------------------- ---------------------------- ------------------- May 2023 - Update, 1 year later. The naan bread was overcooked. The lobster starter was wonderful for the eyes but the lobster was gelatinous and undercooked. The butter chicken was very good but this Indian dish remains very classic, nothing wow. The leg of lamb was tender but a lot of tightness on our plate. The dessert was delicious, although too heavy in the finish. No longer possible to choose the number of services compared to 1 year ago. Yesterday I was really disappointed.
It was super good and enjoyable
Everything is perfect. Especially the unlimited naan breads.
Truly excellent! A blind service that will make your taste buds sparkle!
Very good food. I less appreciated the dessert which was still well executed. The food and wine pairing is interesting but a 3 oz glass is not enough for a main meal. The service and atmosphere really great.
A culinary experience to live charming place, original concept, exceptional staff and service, a little unexpected detour which totally charmed us, the flavors and small details of each of the dishes in total harmony I recommend it to everyone as a food pairing formula and wine to fully live the experience
Expensive but beautiful place, very good Indian cuisine, refined
Exceptional dining experience. Different from what you find in the area. In my top 3 in Saguenay The serving girls add to the experience.
One of the best restaurants in town, impeccable service, excellent food and perfect atmosphere.
great experience I loved everything and the service is perfect
The flavors and service are simply incredible. A culinary experience to live...more than once!!!
I dont know where to start with my experience at this restaurant. Obviously, my South Asian partner and I were not the target audience. We noticed a strong emphasis on wines, which may appeal to some, but that wasnt our case. The waitress lack of attention was obvious. She never came to check if we needed anything, and we never had a water refill, a service I consider fundamental. When we checked out, I took the time to share this constructive comment after a long wait to pay. This type of restaurant would struggle to survive in a city with more competition. The cuisine, presented as fine Indian cuisine, looked more like a Quebec adaptation with exorbitant prices: $6 for a small bowl of rice, $8 for two naan breads served too early, $25 for a few pieces of chicken , and $25 for four undercooked shrimp. These prices are unjustifiable. In an Indian restaurant you dont charge for rice and naan bread, they are usually included, as are water and tea. But what tea? Absent from the menu and never offered, a real joke on real Indian cuisine. This restaurant seems more interested in emptying customers pockets. The portions are very small and we left not full, which is unacceptable for the price. I saw the restaurants response to other reviews mentioning the same issue. Their argument that its fine Indian cuisine doesnt hold up, because thats simply not the case. Butter chicken, rice, naan, shrimp with the same curry as the butter chicken with a little Greek yogurt added, its not fine cuisine. There is no art or unique flavor that is difficult to replicate in these dishes. Charging those prices, though... Our reservation at 6 p.m., opening time, did not allow us to experience the atmosphere praised by some reviews. The dining room, very small, did not seem conducive to creating a warm atmosphere. The insufficient heating left us freezing, and although other guests had complained, we were told the heating was on maximum.
So excited to go.
Fragrant cuisine...impeccable service...I loved my experience and my culinary journey :) thanks to Alisson!
The food is very good. On the other hand, I have difficulty justifying the price. Indeed, I understand the purpose of a culinary experience but the portions are incredibly small. After all the services I was still hungry and yet the price of dinner elsewhere I would normally have been full. We try to compensate with unlimited naan bread. We are told that naan bread is unlimited but when we order it for the 3rd time we are told no and when we express that we were told that it was at will. The waitress bluntly told us that we were the ones in the evening who took the most... it was borderline insulting. One of the dishes we were served was 4 small potatoes all by themselves. Its just that for the quality and quantity I personally have difficulty justifying the price.
What a restaurant! Excellent service and what about all the little details. Looking forward to culinary diversity, we love it.
A great experience. The food was absolutely excellent and the service fantastic. A very nice experience, I highly recommend trying it.
First Indian culinary experience, a pure marvel of flavors. Courteous and efficient service. I highly recommend it, I stepped out of my usual comfort zone and I am very delighted. I thank the staff and the chefs. I will repeat the experience. Thank you all.
Great restaurant, the food is really good, the portions are very good and the service is impeccable. I highly recommend we try the 4-course blind menu and its a really surprising concept that we really liked. The price is slightly high but for the food found there and the number of fresh products from here it is a fair price and it is not disappointing to pay for such good food. 5 star without hesitation.
Delicious...18-hour meal, chefs choice in 4 courses, presented to the sound of a bell by the hostess, who made our mouths water...Excellent service and relaxed atmosphere, with music in the background very well chosen Indian with a neat and very classy decor. The only downside is that the armchairs are not appropriate for this type of restaurant, armchair for lounge type restaurant, need a better seat and a good backrest to sit next to it...otherwise...good restaurant, Finally.
Super nice experience! We took advantage of the 9 p.m. service. All three vegetarian options were delicious and the portions were very generous! Quality service, we will definitely return!
Wow it was a lovely evening. We ate very well, the service is #1. Well done
A very beautiful culinary experience!!! Everything was delicious!!!
I loved the experience, the quality of the service and the way we were received. The evening went perfectly. We had a 4 blind course, with explanations between each course. Food wise, everything was super good. My only critical point would be to increase the quantities, in terms of nann breads and types of chicken in sauce. Its a high-end restaurant, the bill is steep and after discussion with the table we all agreed on this point. Simon I recommend everyone to try this restaurant, nice evening.
For my part it was a very nice experience. Very beautiful decor, superb presentation, everything was delicious and the service was warm and extraordinary. My only downside of the evening is that the music did not reflect the cultural journey offered through the dishes, a shame because that is all that is missing to make it perfect. (And chairs high enough to eat comfortably). All in all, I will definitely come back and recommend your restaurant to those around me :)
Excellent experience in Bengal, the welcome, the service and the food, everything is exceptional! I recommend!
What a wonderful experience! The food is excellent and the service is friendly. A journey of flavors to discover! I will definitely come back! Parking: Easy to access
Negative reviews even though its not yet open!! LOL! Hats off to the owners!!
So excited to go.