Krave Inani: A promising alternative to Mermaid Cafe

The ocean water was gold liquid. It sparkled, too.

In the thick of an afternoon lull, you will likely spot a few people at the beach from the outdoor restaurant at Inani, Cox's Bazar. 

Tucked away from the crowded spots, Krave Inani is quiet enough for the whoosh of the waves to come through the restaurant music at a low ebb — 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' was playing at the time. 

On multiple visits to the spacious, bamboo-made restaurant with a beach view during a recent Cox's Bazar trip, we were able to jot down some of its noteworthy takeaways. 

Whether it was the back ribs, creamy fettuccine seafood, chicken alfredo pizza, cheesy omelette, tomato bharta, flamed grilled chicken or the cream of mushroom soup (among other options), the freshness of the ingredients was consistent. This, of course, only further adds to the flavours and seasoning.  

"This is a remote place. It is not easy to ensure fresh ingredients and produce, but we absolutely do," said Shamsu Uddin Khandaker (Shomir), head of Operations at Krave Inani. Perhaps that is why desserts are not on the menu.

With his hands clasped on the front and a wide smile up top, the chef — a young, lanky lad — reiterated the use of fresh ingredients. He moved to Cox's Bazar when the restaurant branched out from its five-year-old establishment at Chattogram city. "It's essentially the same menu as Chattogram [where it is called Krave], with slight variations," he said. 

The drinks menu offers a variety of tangy and/or sweet beverages (including iced lemon tea and mojito) along with the standard carbonated beverages. 

A side note: At lunch, this continental restaurant offers Bangla cuisine. 

As far as decor goes, it looks minimalistic. While the surfboards at the entrance are a nice beachy touch, the colourful mosaic-tiled island counter at the centre is the interior highlight. 

Located right on the beach and about 40 minutes away from the popular Mermaid Cafe, Krave Inani is an excellent alternative with a rich food menu which does not leave you feeling bloated but rather pleasantly surprised to have found the new outlet that opened in April last year.    

Cream of Mushroom Soup

After a long walk on the beach, maybe a light-weight herby soup is just what you might like. Served with toasted bread, the garlic texture and smooth creaminess of the soup are on point. 

This soup also comes with, perhaps, the most generous serving of soft mushrooms in the country. 

Price: Tk395

Rating: 8/10

Back Ribs

One of the best-served dishes and the most expensive, these overnight-marinated, slow-cooked four pieces of beef back ribs with a smoky aroma were luscious. 

Served with two sides and one sauce of your choice, it melts in the mouth with every bite. Corn on the cob and mashed potatoes as sides completed the package well; this left a lasting impression.  

Price: Tk2,345

Rating: 9.5/10

Sirloin Steak

A hearty meal with a choice of two sides and one sauce, the steak did not disappoint. The flavours and the texture of a medium-well steak were on point, with the right amount of pinkness in the centre.

The juices in the meat seemed well-distributed. But every bite did not inspire hope. 

Price: Tk2,095

Rating: 8/10 

Flamed Grilled Chicken

For lighter meal options, this marinated dish with herbs and spices is a good choice. You can choose between ¼ chicken with no sides to a whole chicken with four sides, among other size variations. 

Although this is not something to write home about, given all else on the menu, the BBQ sauce options (there are three) do a nice number on the palate. The rice served as a side dish is like Mexican rice, a little on the spicier side of the food spectrum. 

Price: Tk595 - Tk2,155, depending on the serving size of the chicken

Rating: 7/10

Creamy Fettuccine Seafood

Our last order was one of the toppers on the menu. The fettuccine was cooked to perfection with a well-balanced white sauce and seasoning. The seafood, including shrimp and squid, was fresh. The only complaint was the proportion, wishing for larger portions.  

Price: Tk945

Rating: 9.5/10

After dark, one thing that substantially changes is the beach view turning to pitch black. Ergo, visiting the establishment for lunch or evening is a better option solely for the views. Additionally, there is the mosquito feature at night, but fret not, the staff stands by with coil reinforcements.  

One thing that did not change throughout our three visits was the service — all servers and staff were polite, hospitable and friendly, except for the fact that the servers spoke at a low volume as though tourists from Dhaka were not partially deaf from the city traffic noise.