Goa’s
Restaurant Scene Hits the Right Notes (North Goa)
Goa offers a smorgasbord of food from Hindu and
Portuguese-style local cuisine, abundant seafood and a lot of international
foods due to the large numbers of foreigners who love to call Goa “home.” This
makes the restaurant scene vibrant with a wide assortment of cafes and
restaurants offering an array of food.
Fish thali |
We ate the famed Goan fish thali at two
renowned local institutions both in Panjim. Casa Bhonsle and Ritz Classic. Go there for lunch and be prepared to wait. The thali serves a large slice of
fried surmai, kismur, crab, veggies, rice, a bowl of gravy and sol kadi/kokum. Beer is available and
you can order a la carte, The rawa
fried mussels, calamari and shrimp here is delicious. In these traditional fish
thali restaurants, it’s all about the food!
Many of the restaurants in Goa apply a higher-level restaurant
ethos to a casual experience. The food and alcohol menu in many places is on
par with fine dine, but the ambience is relaxed and approachable which is ideal
in Goa. It is this vibe and the gastronomical offerings which attracts Indian
visitors to Goa year on year.
Gunpowder |
Hogging at Gunpowder |
Fairly new on the scene is Gunpowder,
Assagao. It was
worth the drive to experience the fabulous food of South India, in a
glorious garden shaded by trees and a multitude of colourful umbrellas;
accompanied by interesting desi-inspired cocktails and mocktails. Think jamun
daiquiris and basil-ginger infused cocktails and watermelon-tender coconut
based mocktails.
Try the delicious pork
ribs, in a tamarind chilli marinade with a sweet note; awesome mutton pepper
fry, beef chili fry, pandi curry, fried calamari and have it with Malabar parotha
and dosai.
Crispy pork salad at Bomra's |
Mussels at Bomra's |
Ruling
the roost of fine dining in Goa is Bomra’s,
Candolim which is named after the eponymous Bomra,
the Burmese chef who owns it. This is a
must visit alfresco restaurant on the
main Candolim road, offering contemporary Burmese cuisine in an al fresco
setting. The food here is flavourful with delicate hints of herbs and spices. This
is our #Top favourite in Goa, no visit is complete without eating there. Try
the crispy pork salad with pomelo as a starter - this is the signature dish
here. Other favourites are: crispy vegetable tempura, mussel
curry, shrimp curry, Aldona pork, smoked shark salad with mango and rocket and
chicken with white fungus. Oder the coconut rice or Phad Thai noodles with your
mains. Order the Bomra's special, a cocktail redolent with lime and ginger
flavours and the tamarind
martini. For dessert, (keep space for it) order the tender coconut panacotta with
passion fruit compote, creme brûlée with lemongrass and ginger and for my son
who can’t have dairy, a coconut milk based ice cream with a sticky rice
pudding. Great service.
For great pizza and other bakery products, visit Baba Au Rhum, Arpora. It’s situated
under some ancient trees, next to green paddy fields. Most of the dining area
is covered. Good friendly and quick service. Check out their all day breakfast,
pizzas, burgers, filled croissants as well as their salads. Closed on Tuesdays, this café is
open from breakfast to dinner.
See the
sunset from Thalassa, Vagator.. Book
a table and enjoy sun downers and some good Greek food. Or if you are like us
and did not get a booking, hang out at the bar till you get a table or walk
down the cliff side to the beach. It’s magical!
We could
not leave without partaking of the best pork chops in Goa, head to House of Lloyds, Candolim. Situated in the garden of a beautiful, yellow coloured
Portuguese home off the main Candolim-Aguada road. The steak here is excellent,
so is the seafood. Try their amazing cocktails, the chili flavoured Mojito hits
the spot. The dining area is covered. There’s
a DJ who plays requests, both Hindi and English songs.
Ice cream selection at Cream Choc |
If you like gelato (is there someone
who doesn’t?) then please check out Cream
Choc, Anjuna. The most delish flavours being churned out on the site, fresh
daily like Pistachio and Hazelnut, even
better they have a range of sorbet. So important for my son who has a dairy
intolerance.
View from The Square, Novotel Shrem Resort |
my indulgent breakfast at Novotel Shrem |
Breakfast icecream at Novotel Shrem |
Doughnuts - kids loved them, Novotel Shrem |
The best breakfast spread was at the
Novotel Goa Shrem Resort in
Candolim. Awesome breakfast buffet, better than even the Taj Holiday Village,
in my opinion, Loved the indulgent
Icecream and doughnut selections with toppings! And the waffles with maple
syrup! These made my day! Of course the usual was on offer: South Indian, eggs
to order, bacon, sausages, fruits, selection of breads and pastries, cereals.
South Indian spread at Novotel Spa Resort |
Baker selection at Novotel Spa Resort |
Loved the tea selection at Novotel Spa Resort |
Fort Tiracol Heritage Hotel |
View from the restaurant perched high on the Fort |
Visit the northernmost tip of the
state, Fort Tiracol Heritage Hotel. Go
there before sunset to feast on the view and see an amazing sunset. Check out
the sundowners and stay for dinner if you can spare the
Don’t miss Friday nights at Cavala Resort, Baga. Live music and
dancing. So fun. A perennial favourite. Its always packed! Great food, drinks
and the place is buzzing!
For party animals, Cohiba on the
Aguada Siolim road is the right place. Saturday nights here are rocking.
Please check Zomato for timings, note that some restaurants like Bomra’s and Calamari close during
the rains
Can’t wait to return to my adopted
state. Go Goa..ah.
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