The Rising Story of a Bengali Favourite, ft. Epare Bangla and Swiggy!

From Siliguri to Kolkata, here’s how a brand won hearts with original Bengali cuisine and a little help from Swiggy along the way. 

For Moumita Ghosh, the journey began when she and her husband, Jayanta Das, relocated to Siliguri during the pandemic. At a time when businesses were struggling for survival, Moumita dared to reignite a long-awaited dream of starting her own restaurant. 

What began as a simple home-based cloud kitchen has now transformed into a popular restaurant chain named Epare Bangla. With three outlets across Siliguri and Kolkata, the brand has delighted food lovers with unique dishes that reflect the roots of Bengali heritage. Here’s a remarkable story defined by entrepreneurial spirit and unwavering passion.

From mother’s recipes to established favourites

Moumita always knew her heart belonged in the culinary arts. “From a young age, I started experimenting with dishes like Dhokla, Puchka, and Chilli Chicken,” says Moumita, who was inspired by her mother’s skills and expertise.

After marriage, life took Moumita to Bengaluru and Mumbai. A trained lawyer who took a step back from the professional world, she stayed home to raise her children while Jayanta navigated his professional life. But she never lost the desire to start something of her own. And then came the turning point during the pandemic. “Upon our family’s suggestion, we relocated to Siliguri, and that’s when the journey started,” says Moumita. 

In 2020, when the world slowed down, Moumita decided to speed up as she finally brought her dream to life. “Epare Bangla started as a simple cloud kitchen. I remember how I used to write down the day’s menu on a blackboard, and people would come in for takeaways,” she recalls.

Operating from her home kitchen, Moumita served 25 to 30 Bengali dishes daily. During this time, the family’s small guest house became an unexpected testing ground, with local guests trying the food and spreading the word on social media. “When people in my locality started appreciating my food and asking for more, it was clear to me that I had to turn it into something bigger,” adds Moumita.

Success soon followed in October 2020, leading to the launch of their first dine-in restaurant in Siliguri. Even though this progress happened when Moumita had a two-year-old child to tend to, she spent 14 to 15 hours a day at work. “The restaurant felt like another baby. It needed all my attention, but every sacrifice was worth it,” says Moumita. 

The early days brought unexpected challenges, given the new setup and the overwhelming demand. “The entire family had to pitch in. While I managed the kitchen, my cousins and siblings handled the counter, served customers, and even washed dishes,” adds Moumita, who was ably supported by Jayanta throughout the journey. 

However, the operations were soon streamlined, and Epare Bangla quickly became a name synonymous with authentic Bengali cuisine. At the brand’s heart are its signature dishes, with the Bashwant Pulav and Mutton Kosha becoming customer favourites. “I never expected such a response. Tourists visiting Darjeeling and popular food bloggers stopped by to taste our food,” says Moumita, whose children also play their little role in tasting the dishes and giving suggestions. 

Swiggy becomes the impact player

To expand horizons and sustain growth, it was necessary for Epare Bangla to establish a strong online presence. That’s when Swiggy’s Key Account Manager in Siliguri, Mukesh Choubey, stepped in. When he took over the account in 2022, the brand had already transitioned into a full-fledged dine-in restaurant business.

“The first step was to enhance the brand’s presence on Swiggy, following which we added proper photos and descriptions of the bestselling dishes in the online menu,” says Mukesh, who ensured a dedicated photoshoot was done for the same.

“Next, I proposed a detailed marketing strategy, focusing on a smart mix of ads and discounts,” adds Mukesh, who recommended personalised discounts for new and returning customers. “The results were visible, where one of the outlets doubled the monthly revenue in just a few months,” he says. 

Mukesh also ensured the brand made the most of festive periods. “During occasions such as Durga Puja and cricket leagues, we offer unique meal combos and additional discounts, something we have done better than the competitor brands. As a result, the revenue improved further,” says Mukesh, who keeps in constant touch with Moumita, Jayanta, and the team to discuss growth strategies every month. 

“Epare Bangla has been the best brand I have worked with. The owners are always receptive to ideas and suggestions,” adds Mukesh, who has grown the partnership to a point where the brand proactively approaches him for campaign ideas. 

“The owners consistently track data around bestselling dishes and recommendations, and we send them a monthly report highlighting important growth aspects. Other than that, we connect regularly on the phone,” says Mukesh, who credits the brand for his own professional growth.

The brand has also expanded to other ventures. “When the existing outlets started performing well on a consistent basis, the brand opened another branch in Siliguri, named Cholo Jai Epare Bangla. I also recommended that the brand focus on their snacks vertical, Kolikata 1757,” adds Mukesh.

With a growing presence and fanbase, the future looks bright for Epare Bangla. Currently, the brand aims to expand in the Kolkata market, followed by other cities in the region. “Their vision is to have an outlet in every city in West Bengal,” says Mukesh. “Soon, the brand will have one more branch in Kolkata, along with another one in Malda in the near future,” he adds. 

While expansion is a primary goal, the brand remains steadfast in its commitment to serving authentic Bengali cuisine no matter how much it grows. “When our customers say they finally found food that feels like home, we feel proud to preserve and promote original dishes inspired by my mother’s recipes,” says Moumita.

With an inspiring story and an even more inspiring founder, Epare Bangla has carved its own place in the hearts of food enthusiasts in Siliguri and Kolkata. As the brand expands, we hope they retain their authentic touch so that customers continue to say, “Khoob Bhalo!”