Goa Restaurant and Food review July August 2022

‪@CookLikeCecilia‬
Goa Restaurant and food review – July-August 2022 – Monson Season and Off-Season for Goa!!
Being monsoon season, Shravan and Ganesh, we had to sacrifice some items on the menu as the options available for seafood were far less than expected. Pomfret, King fish, Oysters, Mussels were not available in most places! Hence all the special fish thalis (we love seafood!) which are either King Fish or Chonok were restricted to only Chonok. Secondly, due to monsoon season we were not able to visit as many restaurants as planned.


1. Copper Leaf, Porvorim – 7th July, 2022
We obviously start our Goa restaurant hopping with Copperleaf and their Special Fish thali is always our first meal. Although Copperleaf Sp. Thali is the most expensive among all the thalis we have had, we have found the taste, quality and also quantity exceptional, having most number of items in the thali! Price Rs. 380/-.

2. Copperleaf, Porvorim – 12th July, 2022
Lunch ‘A la Carte’, Ordered Prawn curry rice, King Fish Rawa fry, Rawa fried Mussels. For take-away ordered, stuffed crab, fish platter and bombil fry. Took pictures only of mussels and stuffed crab.

3. Soyre, Gauns Vaddo, Mapusa – 24th July, 2022
This restaurant was a revelation and an amazing find. Happened to google for seafood restaurants in our area (being seafood fans!) and chose Soyre from the lust that came us. On our first visit we ordered al la carte, Squid butter garlic, Tisreyo sukhe, King Fish recheado, Prawns Rava fry, and Prawn Curry Rice! My sister who does not eat seafood ordered a Chicken Thali. The food was amazing, fresh, cooked to a perfect texture and delicious. The recheado was the best I have ever tasted. Prices were very reasonable. For 4 persons with drinks the bill was Rs. 2,100/- approx.

Happens to be a fairly new 3 month old restaurant. Ony hope the restaurant continues to maintain their food quality and taste!

4. Souza Lobo, Calangute – 31st July, 2022
Chose a beachside restaurant to enjoy the beach ambience. We have often patronized this place. They do not serve fish thali. Ordered Sol Kadi golgappas, Stuffed papad with crab, Mackerel Rechado, Chonok Rava fry, Prawn curry rice.
Food was not that great. Golgappas were good. Mackerel rechado was simply some chilli powder smeared on the inside of the mackerel which had no taste at all. Understand the cooks have changed at Souza Lobo so to give them the benefit of the doubt, we hope they are able to rise to their previous standard of food quality and taste soon.
Despite the food we enjoyed the beachside ambience….

5. Turmeric, Porvorim – 3rd August, 2022
Located on the Porvorim main road opposite Mall de Goa.
Planned to try their fish thali but were disappointed as they offered only “A la Carte” although their menu listed fish thali for lunch!
Ordered prawns rava fry, chonok rava fry, king fish curry and rice. Food was ok but the curry had just one slice of king fish shreded into 4 to 6 pieces, ridiculous! I don’t think I would want to go back to Turmeric.

6. Vinayak Family Restaurant, Assagao – 8th August, 2022
Heard a lot about this restaurant. Tried their fish thali, as usual the special fish thali. They had King Fish so ordered one King Fish Thali and One Chonok Thali and what do you think they served as one of the items – Ross omlete, instead of crab curry!! That was truly disappointing. Again, I would give them the benefit of the doubt, being off season, etc. etc. May try them again to see if they have better dishes during season. Alongwith the thali also tried their Stuffed Mackerel Rechado and Bombil Rawa Fry, which was good. The thalis were priced at King Fish Rs.380 and Chonok Rs. 320. Mackerel Rs.200 each and Bombil Rawa Fry Rs.430 per plate (3 pieces)

7. Soyre, Gauns Vaddo, Mapusa – 13th August, 2022
Visited Soyre again just to try their Chonok Fish Thali. Priced at Rs. 250, it was good value but could have been better in taste and quality although the Chonok was fresh, crisp and delicious.

8. Kamalabai, Mapusa – 20th August, 2022
Kamalabai AC section is not opened yet and should be functioning October 2022 onwards. Their Special Fish thali is always good and love the roti that is always served with the Thali. The Chonok Thali was priced at Rs.300 which compared to Copperleaf is quite reasonable.
9. Le Jardine, Near Municipal Gardens, Mapusa – 23rd August, 2022
We would have never found or ventured into this restaurant had I Rickshaw driver not recommended it as a good seafood and thali place. A decent place for family, situated in the heart of Mapusa, bang in front of the Mapusa Municipal Gardens. They serve Goan Rice Lager, which we tried and was good. Ordered the Chonok Fish Thali and here too were disappointed to find ‘Egg Burji’ instead of crab curry. Anyway need to try them again during “Season”. Prawns Rava fry was delicious and the mackerel recheado was OK! Thali is priced at Rs.265, Mackerel Rs. 120 each and Prawns Rs.325.