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Desi breakfasts are all the rage in Cambridge at the moment. I have lost track of how many have popped up over the past year. It was only a matter of time before the rising foodie hub of Ely arrived with its very own.

Located at The Sylhet Indian restaurant on Market Street, Bengal Brunch is run by Zahid Ahmed, a local legend who has provided the Ely community with one of the most consistent and popular Indian restaurants for miles.

The Bengal Brunch feels fresh, light, and clean; bringing together a mix of western and eastern cafe styles that doesn’t stop at the interior decorating.

The menu also offers a selection of exciting options from both sides of the world, from desi breakfasts to the classic full English and Indian street food to the humble eggs Benedict. There’s truly something for everyone, making Bengal Brunch a real crowd pleaser.

Tea and coffee are also available, along with a selection of different chai options. We went for the Bengal Chai special that comes included with the desi breakfast. You have the choice between evaporated milk or regular milk.

Desi breakfast

The desi breakfast comes with a variety of different options, creating a vibrant plate of colour. There was a lot going on at once, adding excitement and intrigue before getting stuck in.

The desi breakfast includes:

• Bangladeshi style omelette

• Channa daal

• 2x paratha

• Bengal chai special

• An option for a spicy sauce for an extra 50p

The Channa daal was exquisite. It came presented in a bowl garnished with parsley. It is made from broken chickpeas rather than whole ones, giving it a smoother texture and therefore easier to spread on the paratha.

The Bengal omelette was a fine addition, adding a nice golden colour to the plate with a nice slightly spiced flavour. I enjoyed wrapping this up in the paratha with some Channa daal to create a delicious wrap.

The spicy sausage were an absolute bargain for 50p. You get the choice of spicy or regular, both of which were fantastic, but my favourite (unsurprisingly) had to be the spicy one.

Indian Street Food

We couldn’t visit without exploring the Indian street food menu. We opted for two choices, a personal favourite of mine – the panni puri, and shingara.

Panni puri are crispy, hollow dough balls, filled with seasoned potato, chickpeas, onions and tamarind sauce with tangy water. The Bengal Brunch’s take was one of the best examples I have seen with a noticeably thicker skin than usual, making them stronger but also more crunchy and satisfying. They were beautifully presented and garnished in pomegranate, giving it a nice red pop on the plate. This is a very refreshing dish with an explosion of flavours as you crunch…Marvellous!

I was a big fan of their shingara. These are described on the menu as “flaky, soft pastry filled with potatoes that are seasoned with Bengali spices”.

The shingara reminded me of a samosa and came with a thin yoghurt. I found the yoghurt quite thin and only worked with the shingara once it was broken open, otherwise it just slides off the pastry.

They were big, chunky, and would make a great snack to order on the go, due to being self contained. I really enjoyed the warm soft centre filled with spiced mashed potato that was complimented by the crispy shell, giving a satisfying texture for the perfect snack.

Both these and the panni puri were perfect starting platters, perfect for up to 4 people to share between them.

My birthday surprise

I may have let slip that it was my birthday, so the team brought me out a delicious cake and a musical candle that plays the happy birthday melody. I don’t think this is an option on the menu (but it totally should be! 🤣) but it was one of the many examples why the team at Bengal Brunch are such fun.

Thank you, guys!

Conclusion

Bengal Brunch offers a truly unique experience in Ely with their desi breakfasts and Indian street food. I love the diverse menu that also offers traditional English dishes too, making it easier to visit with friends who may be more fussy. The restaurant is unrecognisable from the days of The Sylhet but that’s no bad thing. The restaurant has a much more light and airy feel that perfectly matches the brunch atmosphere.

This may be my new favourite breakfast spot in Ely and the city feels richer for having it here.

My wife and I are already planning our return.

Thanks for reading