I am someone who always ends up in the wrong places to eat and choosing food in a new place is a disaster. This time I don't want to get it wrong so thought it would be better to join the forum and get reviews for some places to eat in Goa. Goan food I hear is fantastic and especially their fish dishes, so yes I am a non-vegetarian. I would like to get some recommendations on the places to eat while in Goa especially the famous places.
Hello, welcome to the forum! (Images from Miran, Schellack, Paulo, Scott and Ramakrishna) Overview On the western coast of India lies its smallest state, Goa, long known as the party capital of the country. Replete with beautiful beaches, some undeniably busy, while others remain idyllic as they can be, Goa is the most popular beach destination of India. For the foodies though, Goa is every bit a delight for the taste buds as it is for the eyesight. A number of restaurants and beach shacks have made the state their home over the years. Authentic Goan cuisine, a mixture of Portuguese, Hindu and Muslim influences, is usually the target of many food lovers. Being a coastal state, seafood dishes are also inevitable but pork and chicken dishes are also not difficult to find. In this guide, we would highlight some of the best places to eat when in Goa, mainly those offering delectable seafood dishes. Best Places to Eat in Goa (For Seafood Dishes) 1. The Black Sheep Bistro - The Black Sheep Bistro is a very popular restaurant in the Panjim area. It is housed in a yellow bungalow with a typical Portuguese style of architecture. The ambience is very laid-back, with white bricked walls, framed paintings and humorous one-liners in some areas. There's also a bar where you would find unique wines, cocktails and beers, handpicked by the restaurant owner and sommelier, Prahlad Sukhtankar. The concept behind Black Sheep Bistro, as the name denotes, is to be that black sheep that stands out from the rest. True enough, the restaurant had garnered a loyal following throughout the years, with its variety of scrumptious meals from the Continental, European and German cuisines. The restaurant owners are very hands-on and goes by the philosophy of the farm to table concept, which is why they always source their ingredients from local produce instead of getting them from international cities or far away sources. But despite this, their menu is varied, which can be designated as world-class, always changing to satisfy the palate needs of returning guests. For recommendations, do try their Prawn Squid Plancha, which is cooked just right that the prawns and squids come out soft and easy to chew, it's balanced with enough spices and comes with a garlic-based sauce. Their version of the classic Russian dish the stroganoff is called the Malwani Stroganoff, topped with some mushrooms and prawns. Cuisine/s - Continental, European and German Best Seller - Prawn Squid Plancha and Malwani Stroganoff Address - Swami Vivekanand Road, Near ICICI Bank, Panjim, Goa 403001, India Contact Number - +91 98 8173 1901 Lobster in Black Sheep Bistro (Image from Black Sheep Bistro) 2. The Fisherman's Wharf - The Fisherman's Wharf started out in Cavelossim, where you would find its flagship branch in. It has expanded into various branches in Goa, with two more, one in Panjim and another in Mobor. You would also find newer branches in cities such as Bangalore and Hyderabad. The restaurant combines aspects of warm ambience, delicious food and excellent service for an overall satisfying dining experience. Its location is set amidst the banks of the Sal River, where you can spot the nearby jetty and ships. Even the design of the restaurant is appealing, with a large boat replica outside, an open-air sitting area and thatched furnitures plus roofing. The cuisines served here are Continental, Goan and North Indian. Also not missing would be the sinful seafood dishes that have captivated the hearts of many foodies already. A must try dish here is the Butter Garlic Prawns, a classic dish of prawns sautéed in a butter garlic sauce, for that salty, savoury blend with the juicy seafood. If you don't mind the calories, then opt for their Sea Devil, an addicting dish of grilled prawns wrapped in bacon. With the river view in front of you, the truly scrumptious seafood meals and more, The Fisherman's Wharf would be the highlight of your trip to Goa. Cuisine/s - Continental, Goan and North Indian Best Seller - Butter Garlic Prawns and Sea Devil Address - Before The Leela, Mobor, Cavelossim, Salcette, Goa 403731, India Contact Number - +91 90 1101 8866 3. La Plage - La Plage started out as quaint beach shack in the Ashvem Beach, no frills, no fancy. Its main selling point is therefore its food, because over time, it has become a well-known name in the region, frequented by foreign and local tourists alike. The ambience is still simple, just like how it started, but there are more dining tables and spaces for guests as compared to when the restaurant was first opened in 2003. The menu here is varied, with dishes from the French, Italian and American cuisines. If you just want some starters to go with your beer, then try out their Prawn Lollipops or even their Grilled Calamari. If you're in for something a bit heavier, try out their Pepper Crusted Fish which is basically a grilled red snapper fish seasoned with pepper for that perfect kick of spiciness. They also have this unique Chocolate Thali, which is an assortment of around seven chocolate desserts on one plate, yum! They are quite heavy ones too like the Petit Fondant and creamy Ganache. Cuisine/s - French, Italian and American Best Seller - Prawn Lollipops, Grilled Calamari, Pepper Crusted Fish and Chocolate Thali Address - Ashvem Beach, Near Papa Jolly Hotel, Mandrem, Goa 403512, India Contact Number - +91 98 2212 1712 4. Pousada By The Beach - Next we have Pousada By The Beach, located in Holiday Street overlooking the Calangute Beach. This is yet another simple restaurant with an open-air setting set amidst a quiet side of Calangute. It can be considered as a quiet getaway from the busy area, which is always bustling with people and activities. The restaurant is family run by father, Neville, and his son, Joshua. Ambience is nothing fancy, just a few wooden chairs and tables amidst the shores, plus some loungers where you can opt to dine to enjoy the crashing of the waves view. You can enjoy the largely Goan menu, but you would also find some Konkan and Continental dishes to experiment with. The menu is sectioned depending on the ingredient used, so you would find calamari, fish, poultry, beef and vegetarian sections on it. For something authentically Goan, try their Fish Balchao, a fiery and tangy dish made from marinading fish in garlic and ginger then incorporating it into a vinegar and tomato paste. The very flavourful Peri Peri Calamari is also worth trying, delectably tangy, spicy and zesty, served with steaming rice by its side. The best feature of the restaurant is its cozy ambience paired with the almost home-cooked style of foods. It also helps that the owners are very accommodating, courteous and warm to their guests. Cuisine/s - Goan, Konkan and Continental Best Seller - Fish Balchao and Peri Peri Calamari Address - Holiday Street, Calangute, Goa 403515, India Contact Number - +91 99 2227 9265 Grilled Lobster in Pousada By The Beach (Image from Pousada By The Beach) 5. Ritz Classic - There are two Ritz Classic branches in Goa and both are in Panjim. The two branches have the same cuisine, menu and ambience so it's up to you which branch you would visit, but the flagship branch is the one that would be discussed here. Ritz Classic is already a household name in Goa and perhaps anyone hailing from the state have visited the restaurant at least once in their lives. It is best known for its Goan seafood dishes, which are quite affordable as they are delectable. The ambience of the restaurant is not remarkable or anything, you might even find it very simple and basic. Add to that the number of crowds that flock here at any time of the day, which can put you off the place, but don't let it do so. When in the Ritz Classic, it's a sin not to try their Fish Thali, an assortment of Goan dishes such as Prawn Curry, Fish Fry, Crab Masala and more. Priced just Rs. 250 per person, you're sure to enjoy the variety of meals in this authentic thali meal. Also worth trying out is their Chonak Masala Fry, which is simply white snapper fish in a masala coating fried in slow fire. Wear loose pants because when in the Ritz Classic, you're sure to order more than just one cup of rice. Cuisine/s - Goan and North Indian Best Seller - Fish Thali and Chonak Masala Fry Address - No. 10678, 1st Floor, Wagle Vision Building, 18th June Road, Panjim, Goa 403001, India Contact Number - +91 83 2242 6417 6. Martin's Corner - For cricket fans, you might have heard of the favourite restaurant of Sachin Tendulkar in Goa, none other than Martin's Corner in Betalbatim. The restaurant has a very lively ambience, right from the exteriors which has largely wooden elements. The interiors feature thatched roofing, wooden tables and chairs, plus paintings of famed Goan artist, Mario Miranda. On one side of the wall, you would find pictures of the celebrities who have already visited the restaurant. The cuisines served here are Goan, Chinese and North Indian, with a large selection of seafood dishes of course. Sachin's recommended dish is the Butter Garlic Crab, succulent, juicy and mouth-watering, it goes well with some rice. The Grilled Red Snapper is another must try, a basic grilled dish but what makes it stand out is the taste of the fish itself. Want something unique? The Prawn Stuffed Papad would tickle your taste buds, it goes great with a glass of beer or two. Cuisine/s - Goan, Chinese and North Indian Best Seller - Butter Garlic Crab, Grilled Red Snapper and Prawn Stuffed Papad Address - No. 69, Binwaddo, Betalbatim, Salcette, Salcette, Goa 403713, India Contact Number - +91 83 2288 0413 7. Go With The Flow - Go With The Flow is located in Baga, the most active region of Goa. The restaurant is closer to the Baga River than it is to the beach so it is somehow away from the chaos that is of the region. It offers a lovely ambience, perfect for a romantic night out with your loved one or for lone travellers, just a place to find some inner peace. There are various sitting options, an outdoor venue where you can be around greenery, an indoor venue where you can listen to music or chat with friends and a rooftop venue for clearer views of the river and sea. Ambience is subtle, there's a touch of elegance with the lightings and sitting areas but not too overpowering. Their menu is a globally-inclined, very modern and includes fusion meals, so that local ingredients are still used despite the world-class cuisines served. An example of this fusion type of cooking is the Red Snapper With Herb Paste & Cashews, which utilises the locally sourced red snapper fish, but the cooking style is unique, incorporating the use of a secret herb paste and crunchy cashews. The Goan Chorizo Empanada is yet another unique dish, which uses the local chorizo or pork sausage as stuffing for the baked bread. So if you're looking for more than the usual Goan dishes, maybe you have tried most of it already, venture into Go With The Flow, where you can enjoy unconventional fusion dishes. Cuisine/s - Continental Best Seller - Red Snapper With Herb Paste & Cashews and Goan Chorizo Empanada Address - No. 614, Calangute Baga Road, Baga, Goa 403509, India Contact Number - +91 75 0777 1557 Filet of Fish in Go With The Flow (Image from Go With The Flow) 8. Spice Goa - Spice Goa is another pride of the state when it comes to seafood dishes. It is tucked away in a quiet corner of Mapusa, spread around three levels, all indoors and fortunately with air conditioning so no sweating while dining here. The main selling point of the restaurant is its assurance of freshness for all ingredients used and they have been consistent about this over the years. From the vegetables, meats and seafoods, everything served here are sourced from reliable suppliers to ensure their quality. The menu is varied with cuisines from Goa, North India and China. The best part is that they don't only specialise in Goan cuisine, they specialise in every other cuisine that they have here. But when in Goa, you must try the seafood dishes nonetheless. Their Banana Prawns is a must try dish, which are simply prawns served in banana leaves, truly tasty and flavourful. Also can't be missed is their Tandoori Lobster, which brings out the natural flavour of the lobster meat because of the simple way it was cooked. Cuisine/s - Goan, Chinese and North Indian Best Seller - Banana Prawns and Tandoori Lobster Address - No. 3, Satt Adhar Complex, Mumbai Goa Highway, Near Karaswada Junction, Mapusa, Goa 403526, India Contact Number - +91 83 2225 7148 9. Antares - Antares is a fairly new restaurant located in Ozran Beach in Vagator. Its claim to fame is that it is co-owned by Masterchef 2014 finalist, Sarah Todd, which is originally from Australia. It is actually a part of a beach resort of the eponymous name. The restaurant has a laid-back ambience with a terrace sitting area providing for panoramic views of the sea. The thatched chairs and wooden tables provide for a rustic dining experience. The cuisines served are mainly Goan and Australian. The menu is very limited though so if you're someone whose fond of options, then you might be disappointed. What the menu lacks in variety, it makes up for the delicious dishes, few as they may be, that they serve. A must try here is the Fish Wrapped in Banana Leaf, which type depends on the season or the catch of the day. With accompaniments of broccoli and toasted almonds, this light meal would delight your taste buds. Their Grilled Tiger Prawns come with an herb butter and mushroom risotto, also a good complete dish. On some nights, there are live performances here to entertain guests as well. Cuisine/s - Goan and Australian Best Seller - Fish Wrapped in Banana Leaf and Grilled Tiger Prawns Address - Small Vagator, Ozran Beach, Vagator, Goa 403509, India Contact Number - +91 99 9980 7072 Prawns in Antares (Image from Antares) 10. Zeebop - Zeebop is more of a beach shack close to Utorda Beach in South Goa. It's the perfect place to feel the sands underneath your feet whilst dining. The ambience is the usual, just plastic chairs and tables under thatched shades. You don't usually go to Zeebop for the ambience but more for the delectable Goan and North Indian dishes that they have. Prices for meals here are on the mid-range which is acceptable since the servings are huge, enough for two persons already. Goan Prawns Curry Rice here is a complete dish, prawns in a slightly tangy yellow gravy served with steaming white rice, it would leave you wanting more. In case you do, the Lemon Butter Lobster is there to catch you, also tangy but very flavourful, with juicy lobster meat to satisfy your seafood cravings. Cuisine/s - Goan and North Indian Best Seller - Goan Prawns Curry Rice and Lemon Butter Lobster Address - Utorda Beach, Utorda, Salcette, Goa 403707, India Contact Number - +91 83 2275 5333 Conclusion So did this guide made your mouth water with its assortment of seafood restaurant recommendations in Goa? The best part of eating seafood dishes is that they are undeniably healthier than meats so it won't be as guilt inducing. Of course there are also some more restaurants in Goa that specialise in other cuisines such as Italian, Indian and Asian, with various dishes aside from seafood ones. But for those who want to enjoy authentic Goan cuisine, you have the guide above to help you. Good luck and I hope this helps you!
