Category: Restaurant Review

Wanna Have The Best Pizza In Goa, Davide’s Pizzeria Is Your Go To​ Place!

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

When it comes to having a Pizza at a restaurant, I am very particular, because I don’t end up enjoying them at most of the places. I don’t fancy the well known and popular pizza chains either, because for me sometimes the base is too thick, or the toppings are not up to the mark, and the biggest challenge is to find that perfect cheesy pizza. What’s a pizza without that quintessential cheese pull. But thank god for Davide’s Pizzeria, I won’t be able to complain anymore. Its hands down the best pizza place in town.

Nestled in a quaint and beautiful garden and an indoor bar, even in the hustle bustle of a tourist swarming place like Candolim, this place has its sense of calmness. As per Davide, it was one of the prerequisites. The place is very tastefully decorated with a minimalistic approach and has a perfectly inviting ambiance. Its a place where you can sit back, relax, enjoy a good meal and spend some quality time with family or friends. Play a game of Ludo, UNO, Chess or Scrabble which occupy a tiny space on each table and have been kept to add a fun quotient and also I feel its a great idea to put your mobiles away for some time and just focus on some intimate time, talking, playing and of course enjoying food with your loved ones. Also feel free to take your four-legged companions with you, since its a pet-friendly restaurant and both Davide and his partner Alciela are pet lovers.

Coming to food, trust me its as authentic as it can be. Given the fact that about 80-85% of the ingredients are imported from Italy, the quality of ingredients used is very high. They also depend on homegrown organic veggies and local produce and all the pizzas and bread are baked in house.

To begin with, I wanted to try the classic garlic bread (Crostino’ All Aglio) since that’s a favorite for both me and my son. On Davide’s recommendation, we also had the Focaccina Bianca, which was a crispy bread topped with some sauce, rosemary, garlic, and rock salt. I wish words could justify the taste and flavors we experienced while indulging in the buttery garlic bread and the crispy focaccina. Both of them were simply amazing. Gorging on these delicious bread, sipping a chilled coke over a game of Ludo with my sonny boy made for a perfect lunch time indulgence.

We were already full with these starters, but obviously, we came for a Pizza, and we had to have one. So we gave ourselves a break of a few minutes and were caught up in a beautiful chit chat with the warm couple hosts Davide and Alciela. Right from their caricatured logo, to the tasteful decor, to the style of cooking and personal attention, everything at this place reflects their personality. Both of them are so loving, passionate and friendly, that you cannot ignore the personalized charm that they bring to the place. Davide’s Pizzeria is definitely about the excellent food they serve, but it is also about the people behind it.

Oh yes, and now about the Pizza, all I can say is that I haven’t eaten a better Pizza than this in a long long time and I think I am already spoilt for my choice. I don’t think I will be easily able to like Pizza at any other place now. The dough’s freshness could be smelled, the crispiness was perfect and the main thing, cheese. Oh My God, the cheese pull was so so good that you have to try it to believe it. I had the Al Pollo Pizza which had tomato, mozzarella, chicken, garlic, chili flakes, and parsley.

I honestly had no place in my stomach and was all ready to leave, when Alciela mentioned the desserts and I could not refuse and I am so glad I didn’t because then I would have missed the best possible Tiramisu ever. A tiramisu so perfect has been almost impossible to find, a tiramisu without that overload of cream, a tiramisu which was super moist, cakey and had the perfect dash of coffee. But this Tiramisu, a recipe shared by Davide’s mother is as close to as Tiramisu is supposed to be. The banana cake was another exemplary dessert that should be given a try, but Tiramisu, dont miss it at any cost.

Well, to conclude, Davide’s Pizzeria is one my list of most recommended restaurants to visit in Goa and I highly recommend it.

Restaurant Details

Phone number

+91 9021936350

Cuisines

Italian, Pizza

Average Cost 

₹1,200 for two people (approx.) Exclusive of applicable taxes and charges, if any, Cash and Cards accepted

Address 

Ford Aguada Road, Sinqueri, Candolim, Goa

You can also read my latest review on the Sunday Brunch by Double Tree By Hilton Panaji or read more Restaurant Reviews

Sunday Brunch At Double Tre​​e By Hilton, Panaji Is A Perfect Balance Of Culinary Delights and Entertainment!

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

Often when we think of Sunday Brunch, it means a laid back food scene and when we imagine what a Sunday brunch at a five-star hotel means, we only think of a lavish buffet spread. But what if I tell you that Sunday Brunch at DoubleTree By Hilton, Panaji is not just an expansive multicuisine spread, but it offers much more than that. Organized at their all-day dining restaurant, Comida, this brunch should definitely be on your list. This brunch is more like an experience, a fun time with family and friends, a place to unwind and get rejuvenated and of course all this while you enjoy scrumptious meals and drinks.

Yes, DoubleTree by Hilton has taken utmost care to make their Sunday Brunch worth your while. Not only you get to enjoy the multicuisine food extravaganza that has dishes from across the globe, but also there is live music to make your afternoon melodious. With the brunch, you also get access to the beautiful infinity pool that overlooks the Mandovi river and a view that is breathtakingly beautiful. An exclusive kiddies zone is also accessible where kids can spend some time playing games and enjoying on their own.

Coming back to food, the buffet explores best and many different dishes from across cuisines. For example, within the Asian section, you get to savor tastes of Chinese, Thai and Malaysian, etc. and Indian section showcases food from different regions like Kashmiri, Punjabi, Hyderabadi, Rajasthani and many more. The selection of cheese and dips is something you can’t get over. From Buffalo Mozerella to Brie, Cheddar, Gouda, Emmental, Edam, you will be simply spoilt for choices. The homemade dips like guacamole, hummus, tzatziki were delicious. I had a plate full of cheese, these dips and some crackers as my main meal 🙂

But I have to accept that Indian, Continental and Asian sections were as interesting and some of the dishes that I highly recommend are:

  • Chicken Tikka Masala
  • Hyderabadi Dum Biryani
  • Laal Maas
  • Chicken Tikka
  • Paneer Hariyali Tikka
  • Tandoori Aaloo
  • Pork Chops
  • Basil Chilly Noodles

And for dessert lovers, this brunch will prove to be a heaven. There is so much to choose from. From season specials with mango to cakes, puddings and Indian sweets, the variety is huge and almost everything that I tried was fabulous. And the cocktails are mocktails were not just delicious but also very very pretty looking.

After lunch, I headed to the pool for some chilled out time and after a very relaxing swim, I reluctantly got ready to come back home. I was feeling so so good there that I actually didn’t want to come back.

I had a lot of fun at this wholesome Sunday Brunch with my sonny boy and I am sure you too will love it. The brunch starts at INR 1550 onwards and trust me its worth every penny that you spend.

Do I recommend this place, Yes I certainly do!! Its full fun, value for money and perfect to spend a Sunday with loved ones.

Restaurant Details

Phone Numbers

+91 9607975330
+91 9607975324
Table booking recommended 

Cuisines

North Indian, Asian, Italian, Mediterranean

Average Cost 

₹2,000 for two people (approx.) Exclusive of applicable taxes and charges, if any. Cash and Cards accepted

Address 

DoubleTree by Hilton Goa – Panaji Kadamba Plateau, Panjim Old Goa Bypass Road, Velha, Panaji, Goa

Wok & Roll, Goa, Dishing Out Special Mango Menu!

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

Goa has a variety of more than 82 mangoes and the Goan mangoes are believed to be the best, there is simply no match!

In season time, it becomes obvious for people at large including restaurants to extensively use this king of fruits in the food they eat. Of course, eating the ripened sweet mango as it is, is the ultimate, but the use of mango as one of the key ingredients in cooking is also seen a lot in summers. From drinks to desserts, the mango mania literally takes over and making the most of the season, Wok & Roll, has an ongoing Mango Food Festival.

The moment I entered the place, I was in awe of it, expansive space, lush greens, overlooking the Nerul creek, the place looked ideal for chilling around for a lazy lunch. Somehow I evaluate the ambiance of the place basis how it looks during the day time and I have a soft corner for places that offer a great view and are spacious and green. Wok & Roll is all of it and more. The decor is simple and minimalistic, since its an Asian restaurant, you do get to see some typical elements in the decor, but nothing overpowers the spaciousness or the greenery of the place. Although Asheen Lobo, one of the partners has been one of the first few people I befriended in Goa when I came 2 years ago, I still never got a chance to visit any of his restaurants and how glad I am, that I finally did.



To begin with, I had the Mango and Star Anise Mojito, which was very refreshing and flavourful, and soon followed the Amuse Bouche and I have to say that it was the best Amuse Bouche ever. It was like a Thai Paan and one could make their own paan picking up ingredients like peanuts, fried onions, raw onions, green chilies, grated coconut, and a Thai sauce. It really turned out to be super delicious and I would not mind munching on it anytime.

This was followed by Vietnamese Prawn & Chicken Lemongrass Skewers served with a Mango Sauce. The skewers were perfectly done without overcooking the meats and the combined taste of prawns and chicken made it little different than the usual skewers. The tenderness of chicken was perfectly complimented with the slight raw taste of prawns. And that mango sauce is definitely a steal.

Thai Mango Som Yum was another lovely starter that I had. The typical raw papaya being replaced by sweet and raw mangoes made for a great choice. It was spicy, tangy and things nice.

For the mains we had, Burmese Prawn Mango Yellow Curry, Mango Fried Rice, and Mango Sticky Rice. Everything was up to the mark and super delicious. I in particular loved the mango fried rice the most.

For the desserts, we had glass noodles and mango and that too tasted amazing. A frozen watermelon mocktail is what I had along with it, and trust me the drink was both tempting and refreshing. The presentation of this particular drink was the best.

Apart from serving great food and drinks, Wok & Roll is environmentally conscious too. They use organic vegetables and most of the vegetables, spices, and fruits that they use come from their own expansive kitchen garden. They also utilize their food waste in converting it to biogas and this gas is exclusively used for boiling the herb teas.

Ask me if I am going back to this place soon, and its a big YES!!!

Ask me if I recommend my readers paying a visit, of course I DO 🙂

I thoroughly enjoyed my lunch at Wok & Roll and I am sure you will love it too and yes make hay while the sun shines, so get hold of these mango special dishes before the mango season gets over. The time is ticking, tick tock, tick tock!!

Restaurant Details

Phone number

+91 9049022348

Cuisines

Thai, Indonesian, Malaysian, Asian, Rolls

Average Cost 

₹1,000 for two people (approx.) Exclusive of applicable taxes and charges, if any. Cash and Credit Cards accepted.

Address 

Aguada – Siolim Road, Sinquerim, Aguada Fort Area, Candolim, GoaWok & Roll address, Wok & Roll locationGet Directions 

See you again soon, and till then you can also read about my experience at The Basil Leaf or read more restaurant reviews and about other lifestyleevents and posts on my website

Wholsome ​Fine Dining Experience At The Basil Leaf

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

Situated in the Golden Plateau Hotel, right on the Porvorim Highway, is the recently opened fine dine restaurant Basil Leaf. Honestly speaking when I attended the launch of the place, I couldn’t make much of it. There were a lot of guests back then and I had reached quite late, also I tried only Thai Chicken Curry and Rice during the launch which was good, but I wasn’t really sure how it would turn out when dining on a normal regular day. So when I headed to The Basil Leaf for a lunch with my family, I had no expectations at all, but at the onset, I have to say that I was taken by a complete surprise. The overall experience turned out to be so good that it has already become a favorite neighborhood restaurant for my entire family who looks forward to going back there soon.

Another thing that added a feather to the cap was the fact that as a blogger I wasn’t given any specially curated or pre-selected menu. I was free to choose my order, and this was because the restaurant management wanted me to try, experience and provide with feedback like a regular guest. This helped me understand two things about the place very well, first, it showed their confidence in their preparations and secondly, they were open to constructive feedback and suggestions to improve.

Coming to food, I ordered the following dishes

Pan Fried Chilly Fish– An absolute must have!

Chilly Fish
Chilly Fish

Chicken Pahadi Kebab– Very highly recommended, especially for those who are trying North Indian

Chicken Pahadi Kebab
Chicken Pahadi Kebab

Garlic Pepper Prawns– A very decent preparation yet again

Pepper Garlic Prawns
Pepper Garlic Prawns

Pan Fried Tamarind Fish– Something very different and unique, must be given a shot

Tamarind Fish
Tamarind Fish

Chilly Paneer– This was ok, nothing exceptional, but not bad either.

Chilly Paneer
Chilly Paneer

For the main course, we settled for Dal Makhani, which could have been better, Hyderabadi Dum Biryani, which was great, Chicken Noodles and Chicken in Oyster Sauce, both of which were really well prepared. We ended the meal on a sweet note with some Hot Gulab Jamuns.

Hyderabadi Dum Biryani
Hyderabadi Dum Biryani
Main Course
Main Course
Gulab Jamun
Gulab Jamun

P.S.- They have something called as Cafreal Biryani, which is chef’s own twist to create a fusion with Mughlai and Goan flavors, although I did not try it, but it sounded interesting and I will surely try it soon. Just keep in mind that if you are ordering in, you will have to call the restaurant and especially ask for this one, as it is not part of the regular menu.

To sum it up, I had a great experience enjoying my food at The Basil Leaf and you definitely should give it a try.

Address 

H 818/3, NH66 Behind Delfino’s, Near teen Building Bustop, Porvorim Bardez Goa

Phone Numbers

+91 9158083333
00 08322417733

Cuisines

North Indian, Goan, Continental, Chinese, Seafood

Average Cost 

₹700 for two people

Bikes, Good Food, Great View and More At Enfield Garage Cafe!

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

In one word if I have to describe this place, it would be AWESOME! Enfield Bikes, Good Food, and A Great View, what more can you ask for, still if you want more, Enfield Garage Cafe organizes regular events to keep you amused. The Sunday Stories especially is a very popular weekly event that happens at Garage Cafe.

Overlooking the Baga creek, this cafe is a part of the Enfield showroom and this makes it even more interesting. They have indeed a huge space which looks very inviting to spend long hours chilling there. In fact, I could simply carry my laptop, breathe in the fresh air, enjoy scrumptious meal and drinks and keep looking with drooling eyes towards the numerous Enfield bikes parked there.

Well, the food here is straight up basic, something that probably everyone can enjoy. Nothing fancy, but super delicious! 
We tried the following:


Spinach and Mushroom Crepes– super-thin crepes with a creamy filling of spinach and mushrooms- I really liked it

Buffalo Mozzarella and Pesto Pizza– this is definitely a must try, my sonny boy enjoyed it the most

Beef Stew– I thoroughly enjoyed dipping the bread on this flavourful stew with such tender pieces of beef. The meat was really very good. Simple recipe, great taste

Pan Seared Prawns– Have to be my favorite from the afternoon, subtle flavors but delicious

Pricing

I found the place moderately priced and given the fact the portion sizes are quite good, I think it is affordable. The average cost for two people would be Rs 1200/-.

Final Word

I thoroughly enjoyed my lunch at this beautiful cafe and loved everything about it. Do let me know about your experience if you have already visited or will visit now after reading my blog 🙂

Address 

House # 560, Villa Rodrigues, Arpora-Baga Creek Road, Arpora, Bardez, Goa

Have You Been To Cuebebar Smokehouse Yet? If Not, You Must!

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

There is food, then there is food made with a lot of love, there are restaurants, and then there are dreams, this place Cuebebar Smokehouse Goa falls in the latter category because it isn’t just a restaurant but a dream that a young boy of 23 all has seen and pursued, it reflects his passion along with that of his friend. Arjun and his friend Bunty are the two boys behind this amazing place. Arjun who worked with Marriott in Texas before coming back to India is the main chef while his friend Bunty takes up the charge for the bar and shakes up some amazing cocktails.

It is one of Goa’s first smokehouse and grills and no place can satiate your cravings for great burgers, and sandwiches than this one. All meats are smoked for a minimum of 6-10 hours and thus the flavors are to swear by. In fact, they are so particular about smoking techniques, that they made their own smoker from an old tank.

Ambiance

The place has a very raw, rustic and garage like feel with some super awesome bikes adding the funk to the whole atmosphere. I loved the use of raw wood at certain places, especially the plank which has the bar menu printed on it caught my eyes. And you just cannot miss posing with the bikes, I am sure it is gonna be one of the most instagrammable restaurants of Goa, in the times to come.

Food


Coming to the food, because of their sheer love and hospitable nature, they served us some homemade chips and you can’t avoid binging on them. I teamed it up with an amazing cocktail called Ice Age, while I waited for my food to be served.

The smoked beetroot salad was simply amazing, healthy, nutritious and very very tasty. The goat cheese and the use of orange vinaigrette gave it an extra punch that I loved.

Orange Brined Chicken served on a bed of creamy mashed potatoes was typically my kind of food and I know I will be going back for it soon.

The Cuebebar style beef burger is a must have. Period. The smoked beef will melt in your mouth and the burst of flavors with caramelized onions is something you would definitely not want to miss.

The Cuebebar slider platter is also something you can’t miss. The pulled pork slider is something that makes my mouth water even when I write about it now. It’s definitely worth all the attention. The tender meat smoked perfectly and oh yes the onions, yum yum!

Service

The service was very quick and I did not have to wait too long to gorge on the scrumptious food.

Pricing

I found the prices very pocket-friendly given the fact they are almost like American portions and one portion is more than sufficient for an individual person. Average cost for 2 people would be Rs 500-600

Final Word

This place surely deserves to be on your list and apart from amazing food, they keep doing regular events to keep their clients entertained. So it’s my belief that you would love spending an evening enjoying great food and drinks at Cuebebar and it might become one of those places where you would go again and again. At least I can say I found a happy place which serves my kind of food 🙂

Address 

Behind SORO Village Pub, Assagaon – Badem road.

Important Information

Open only for dinners, 6 PM- 11:30 PM and closed on Tuesdays

To Experience Scrumptious Bohra Cuisine, Dig Into ‘Thaal’, Goa

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

The word Thaal is iconic with the Bohra Cuisine and hence full points to Rumama Roowala for naming her restaurant ‘Thaal’.

Little Bit Of History

Bohra Muslims, who are said to have migrated originally from Yemen to Gujarat, are firm believers in the maxim: “The family that eats together, stays together.” The entire Bohra family dines out of one platter called the thaal and it typically accommodates 4-8 people. Each dish is placed in the centre of the thaal and every member pulls his or her share. Bohras have a no-wastage policy. Not a single grain of rice is left on the plate when it is taken away.

To promote this thought and keep the tradition alive, Rumana came up with the idea of ‘Thaal’ as she too believes in community eating and bonding over food.

Location and Ambiance

Thaal which is located right opposite the Coco Beach on the Reis Magos Fort Road has both indoor and outdoor seating options. The indoor option with its low floor seating is where the traditional thaal is served. For savoring a thaal, you need to be in a group of minimum 3-4 people, otherwise, you could sit in the outside area and enjoy the smaller versions of thaal called thalis.

We chose a lazy Friday afternoon for our lunch at Thaal. Since we were just two people, me and my son, we opted for thaalis and sat down in the outer seating area that oversees the coco beach. It was a bright, beautiful and breezy afternoon, perfect to enjoy a great meal. The view was great too, I anyway am the happiest around the sea.

Food

Coming to food, we ordered two thalis for ourselves, one can choose between the starters, but the main course changes on a daily basis. But we were lucky and got to savor two different main course dishes as well. As per Bohra tradition, the meal usually begins by tasting salt which acts as a palette cleanser, it is then followed by a dessert, they consider it auspicious. So keeping with the tradition, I started by eating my dessert first, the Kalamra, which is basically sweetened curd and rice with lots of dry fruits in it. It was quite nice, after this I came to the Channa Batata, a salad with chickpeas and potatoes tossed in nice tangy tamarind chutney and the best part was some fried onions on the top, they enhanced the overall taste so much.

My starter included the Bohra Chicken Cutlets, these were simply amazing, crispy coating on the outside and almost melt in the mouth soft on the inside. Subtle flavors and a perfect texture, these definitely are worth trying.

My son’s thaali had Keema Pao as a starter and that too was excellently prepared. The Keema was delicious and the Paos soft and buttery, it made for a perfect combination.

For the main course, while I got to try Daal Gosht with Rice, my son had Gosht Biryani and both these dishes were mind-blowing. Especially the Daal Gosht is one dish that you definitely should not miss. The mutton pieces in both the dishes were extremely juicy and tender and that speaks for the quality of food. The biryani was Kacche Gosht Ki Biryani, which means that everything is cooked together and that’s one of the prime reason for getting out the best flavors. All meat is marinated overnight and slow cooked for about 4-5 hours and this explains its tenderness perfectly.

To finish my meal, Sheer Khurma, the dessert made with sweetened milk, dates, vermicelli, and loads of dry fruits was just perfect.

So I highly recommend it to both my Goan readers and friends and my readers from across the country and globe that when in Goa, this place should definitely be on your list.

Head To Burrito Boys For The Best Mexican Food in Goa

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

I have been a fan of Mexican food for quite some time now and I always love exploring new restaurants that offer Mexican food. Just recently I came across this amazing place called Burrito Boys located at the Calangute-Arpora road.

Ambiance

Nothing lavish, but the place offers a feeling of warmth and a relaxed and chilled out kind of an atmosphere. Some big benches, some table-chairs, a pool table on the side, a big bar and music console with some big lanterns make this place look quite interesting.

Food

Since I visited this place with my family and a very dear friend and in order to try out different things, we ended up having too many dishes on our table. Looking at the portion size, we realized that there was too much food between the five of us. So just a word of caution, don’t go on ordering too many dishes, their portions are really good and also very filling. Here are the dishes that we tried

Orange Braised Beef Burrito

Now, this is on top of my list in every which way, this is one dish that will take me back to Burrito Boys. The beef was so juicy and tasty that words can’t justify. These burritos were extremely filling and trust me half a portion was sufficient to satiate my hunger, but of course sometimes yeh dil mange more.

Chipotle Mushroom Burrito

Creamy mushrooms tossed in chipotle sauce and filled with beans and veggies, this is a great option for vegetarians.

Mackrel Tacos

These are absolutely a must have, beer battered fried fish loaded with an amazing house sauce in not so crispy tacos makes for a very very delicious dish.

Chicken Quesadillas

These were just amazing, I loved the preparation and the presentation too.

Chicken Enchilladas
Chicken Tinga
Nachos

The above three were good too, but I have described my favourites for you to know that those are the dishes that I personally recommend.

Hospitality

The owners of the place, Alex and Graham are both so friendly and hospitable that their warmth flows down to the entire staff at the bistro. Alex who belongs to the UK started his career by washing dishes in restaurants and enjoyed his work a lot, he apparently had no interest in cooking. As per him, the chefs of those restaurants took good care of him and slowly his interest in cooking started to take shape. Both Alex and Graham started by putting up stalls at various events that happened around the UK. When they came to Goa, they began their business in the same way and put up stalls at the Saturday Night Markets in Goa. Soon their burritos became very popular and the obvious next step for them was to have a place of their own and this how their restaurant came into existence.

Final Word

Even though their burritos are very popular at the Saturday Night Market, not many people know that they now have this lovely restaurant. So I urge all of you to visit their place and you won’t have to wait for the weekend to gorge on their scrumptious food.

Burrito Boys Bar & Bistro Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

The Flavors Of Bombay Come To Goa With Old Bombay Cafe

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

Even though Bombay doesn’t have any specific cuisine, different parts of Bombay are famous for different types of food. From the typical street food that includes Pav Bhaji, the very famous Bombay Sandwich to the food made popular by the old Parsi cafes in South Bombay, it has a lot of variety to offer. When in Bombay, you have to travel across the length and breadth of the city to savor these different delicacies, but when in Goa, you can taste all of this amazing food right from one beautiful cafe, bar and bistro.

Yes, that is the best part about Old Bombay Cafe, it brings out the best of Bombay flavors all under one roof, or rather 3 roofs :). The cafe cum bistro and bar is spread across 3 floors, with the top floor dedicated to the bar area.

Interiors

Interiors of this place are breathtakingly beautiful. It is one of the most Instagram worthy cafes of Goa. The colorful and vibrant ambiance is very craftily designed, the wall arts are just marvelous. You would actually want to stand at each nook and corner of this cafe and get yourself clicked, its actually that beautiful.

Food

I find myself struggling with the menu and deciding on what to order and what to leave when it comes to places like these. But obviously, I cannot eat it all in one day and have to leave a few things for my next visits, I tried and picked my favorites. Choosing favorites help me ensure the quality of the food because sometimes the simplest and the most popular dishes are the most difficult to get right. But, I was told by the cafe’s manager Mr. Sagar Puri that I ended up selecting all the signature dishes and these popular and simple dishes is what the cafe strives to serve with the most authentic flavors and yet with some twist.

Starters

Mutton Keema Pao Puff

Contrary to the regular Keema Pao, this was different but equally flavorful. This had lamb mince stuffed in ball-shaped bread and baked, yes baking did make a lot of difference. There was no dripping oil and I quite loved that bit.

Tandoori Paneer

I always enjoy a nicely done Paneer Tikka, and this too was perfectly done. The paneer was soft, well marinated and well roasted along with roasted bell peppers and onions, served with mint chutney.

Boti Chicken

This boti chicken is one of the most popular dishes in Bombay and I remember eating it at many different restaurants. The recipe isn’t very complicated, but the blend of spices and the way it is tenderly cooked, it has a punch of its own. Served on crispy roomali rotis with masala onions, this was really nice.

Grilled Prawns

This is one dish that I am going back to Old Bombay for, I simply loved the preparation. The prawns were delish. The spicy coating, the crunch of peanuts and the chilly chutney, ah, my mouth waters even at the mention of it and imagine my plight while writing this post just after midnight. Midnight cravings…. heard of the term?? I am experiencing it right now 🙁

Main Course

Butter Chicken

Now finding a good butter chicken in Goa has been a task for me ever since, but finally, I can now satiate my pangs for the same at Old Bombay Cafe. For me, butter chicken has always been a dish which I found at its best in Delhi and then in Bombay, but now Goa can boast of it too.

Dal Makhani

The butter chicken theory applies to Dal Makhani as well and I am so glad that I found a place where I can gorge on it. Felt like home. Coming from Delhi, and now living in Goa for close to two years, this literally was a craving I found no solace for until today. Also during my traveling years, I remember how much we sometimes miss these basic dishes, but now I can proudly say to all my North Indian friends and readers who love traveling to Goa but miss that typical food, guys this is the place for you!

Saag Meat

Another of my favourite dishes and again a very well prepared at that. The mutton was tender and well cooked, and the gravy was just perfectly done.

Final Word

After a long time, I found the flavors of both Delhi and Bombay at this one amazing place. For me, its gonna be my most frequented cafes in Goa, especially given the fact that now my entire family has shifted here from Delhi and Goa is home, we need to have a place which feels like home in terms of comfort food.

Please do visit this lovely cafe and let me know what dishes did you enjoy the most.

Details

Address 

5162, Baga Creek Road, Near Marinha Dourada Resort, Goa

Phone number

+91 7219597414
Table booking recommended

Cuisines

North Indian, Continental, Parsi

Average Cost 

₹1,600 for two people (approx.)

Opening hours

Today  12noon – 12:30AM

Old Bombay Cafe Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Habanero- A Tex-Mex Culinary Experience

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

The moment someone says Mexican, I imagine cowboy hats, a raw appeal, some Guns and Roses type music and Nachos! So it was about time we explored this Tex-Mex Restaurant & Brewery in our very own Goa, and hence Habanero happened. Living up to its name, Habanero, which means North America, looked every bit Mexican. I especially loved the vibrancy of the place, the bold colors of lamps and those big Mexican hats adorning the tables. It has a picnic table kind bench seating, which gives it a very appealing look overall. You feel as if you have entered a happy zone and this seating enhances the experience. They usually have live performances quite often and there is a decent size stage where it happens. Unfortunately for us, it was only instrumental music, but anyway the place seemed lively enough. As we settled down, the first thing we did was to pick up those hats and of course, pose and get some pictures clicked 🙂

 

The lady manager at the Restaurant was a very warm person and came forward to both welcome us and then also suggest the must-haves. So going mainly by her choice we ordered:

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Starters

Macho Nachos, Chicken

Fully loaded with chicken, tomatoes, beans, jalapenos, olives, melted cheese, sour cream and guacamole, these were simply the best. Rated amongst their signature dishes, I would say it does full justice to it. I have eaten loaded nachos at a lot of places, but topping it with sour cream and guacamole was an add-on that I had just at this place.

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Sesame Shrimp Lime Tostada

Lightly grilled shrimps, cooked with a sesame lime sauce on a bed of lettuce leaves and salsa on a crispy tortilla, it made for an interesting dish. Totally worth indulging.

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Chipotle Chicken Skewers

I totally loved these, grilled chicken chunks in sweet and spicy chipotle sauce. The first bite may feel more on the sweeter side, but as you eat, you feel the chipotle spices doing the work. I quite enjoyed this sweet and spicy combination.

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Drinks

Bloody Mary

Pineapple Mojito

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Beer Sampler

There were 3 beers served as a part of the sampler, IPA, Lager and Mango Wheat, of all three I liked Lager the best. IPA was ok, but the Mango Wheat did not leave me with any mango flavor.

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Main Course

We were so full with the starters, that main course almost confused us. We glanced through the entire menu, shifting choices between Burgers, Tacos, Mexican Rice Bowl and Pork Ribs. All of them seemed appetizing enough to order, but we weren’t sure if we would be able to finish. Hence after a lot of deliberation, we settled for a Mexican Thali. Yes, even Mexican menu has a thali, though reading the word thali with Mexican food, didn’t quite gel well for me, but it made me all the more curious to see what was it all about and how was it served.

Well to be honest, when I saw the thali, I was disappointed. I understand that thali concept basically means getting to try a little bit of everything and we are normally used to seeing traditional thali’s in many cuisines, but with Mexican, all I expected was at least a different presentation. A typical steel thali with compartments didn’t do justice to this cuisine. I was quite put off with that, the food did not look appealing at all presented that way, neither did it look Mexican. It’s my heartfelt suggestion to the management, that even though the concept is great, it would be better it items are presented in some other manner, more like a combo than a thali. Taste wise the food was very Mexican and alright, but the presentation kind of ended the game for me, as far as the main course was concerned.

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Desserts

Fried Ice Cream

This was nicely done, but the outer covering does have a scope of improvement, it should be slightly thinner, the quoting was too thick.

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Tres Leches Cake

This definitely was a very soothing experience, both of the eyes and the mouth. It looked beautiful and tasted equally good. Again a small suggestion here would be to not sprinkle too much of cinnamon powder on the cake, as it takes away the subtle taste of buttercream cake dipped in milk.

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Overall the experience was not very great but wasn’t bad either, it was good, and I can surely give another chance to the place because I enjoyed the starters and my drinks.

 

Habanero Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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