Goa is famous for its beaches, weather, nightlife and most importantly cuisine! While visitors continue to swarm to the beaches, there is a new wave of tourists looking for more authentically Goan culinary experiences than just fish curry and King's beer, as well as a new wave of hosts eager to offer these. The gastronomy culture in Goa has undergone a drastic change. Restaurants are now more focused on providing different and unique dine-in experiences. They have a defined goal about what they are intending to provide to their guests.
Here are some restaurants in Goa that have changed the food scene completely-
The Black Sheep Bistro
The Black Sheep Bistro, or BSB as its owners prefer to refer to it, is a chic eatery with a menu that draws inspiration from all around the world. It's one of the few places in Panjim (also known as Panaji) where the majority of the ingredients come from within a 100-mile radius, making it one of the few places that can legitimately call itself farm-to-table. Osso buco, crabmeat ravioli, clams and Goan chouriço are popular dishes on the menu. A sommelier with international training oversees the wide wine list at BSB, which is housed in a classic Portuguese-style structure. There are also wacky-sounding cocktails like "Hakuna Ma Vodka: It means no problems for the remainder of the night," which are offered. Check out the menu during the monsoon, when the produce from the rainy season modifies what is offered. The Black Sheep Bistro offers international cuisine made with locally sourced ingredients, including lamb Osso Bucco, Creole chicken, and Crudo nouveau (raw fish with herbs and seasonal greens).
1st Floor, Villa Braganca, Dr Braganza Pereira Rd, Panaji
Gratitude Cafe
Smoothies, salads, soups, wraps, and other healthful cuisine are served at this plant-based restaurant and yoga studio. In addition to serving western-style cuisine such as burgers and pasta, ice-cream bowls, power bowls, raw cakes, homemade nut milk, artisan teas and coffees, the best vegan cafe also uses seasonal products. Everything about the meal is exquisite. To offer a menu as they do, one must be a culinary genius. Every morsel of food and drink they consume serves as a constant reminder of the amazing possibilities that mindful living offers. Nothing is more gratifying than a filling supper that tastes divine and releases the spirit from the weight of guilt. A wide range of local and international people are catered to both quickly and deliciously by their extensive and distinctive selection of vegan options. They offer amazing gluten-free options as well as great meals at a fair price.
House no 958, Pequeno Peddem, Monteiro Vaddo, Anjuna,
Yazu
Most would agree that this beachside restaurant is a draw at any time. The evening dragged into periods of pointless conversation intermingled with deep philosophical ruminations. Uninterrupted meals of chicken and prawn dumplings with fermented shellfish sauce, carpaccio salmon usuzukuri with emulsified truffle oil and ponzu sauce, avocado sushi, and Yazu trademark chicken wok-tossed with onions and Goan cashews were consumed for hours spent on the seafront. All of the beverages were changed for a modern spin on old favourites. As a result, the Yazu Spiced Gin and Tonic is an Asian twist on the traditional G&T, flavoured with star anise and cinnamon; the Upside Down Old Fashioned is a modern version of the classic drink, made with Chinese bitters and Demerara sugar; and the Guava Peri-Peri combines spice and sweetness with vodka and a dash of bitters. The pub even features a VIP area that provides a more individualised experience right in front of the sea. Uninterrupted lookouts provide a beautiful view of the setting sun and a variety of cocktails that go with the mood or the sun's shifting colours as it descends into the ocean. The crunchy tempura avocado sushi, turnip cakes, and chocolate soufflé are all highly recommended! You can start with the salt-and-pepper chicken and the greatest red wine, LIIT & Glanco, which has mesmerising flavours and a delicious taste. Additionally, it offers delicious and authentic Asian Thai cuisine.
Marquis Beach Resort Dando, Candolim
Sakana
Sakana is a unique universe unto itself, and you must experience it to grasp it. Eliko and Mali, an Israeli-Japanese couple, created the interior design and employed Japanese artefacts to give the space a Japanese inn feel. The cuisine, includes delectable wakame salad, udon and ramen, gyoza and tofu dishes, chicken katsu, beef yakiniku, and sushi in a variety of colours, adding appeal to the overall ambience. The main courses are similarly mouthwatering, and their enormous portion will fill you up physically and mentally for the day. One of the few restaurants in Goa that specialises in just one cuisine, Japanese, is Sakana Japanese Cuisine, which is located near the Anjuna Vagator beach belt. Sakana is far superior to every other restaurant in Goa for this reason. The interiors of Sakana are calming and peaceful due to the warm yellow lighting and simple décor. Sakana's atmosphere has a distinctly Japanese vibe. Sakana offers a variety of Japanese specialities, including salads, sashimi, and sushi rolls. Among Sakana's specialities are the Hot Kingfish Sashimi, Lemon Fish Salad, and Salmon Lover Roll.
House No. 187, Mapusa - Anjuna - Chapora Rd, Vagator
Bomras Cafe
Japanese top hits from the previous 16 years are listed on paper menus printed on plain A4 sheets. The tea leaf salad mentioned earlier, the tiger prawn ceviche, the khowsuey, the Kachin beef, and the smoked pork fried rice are a few of them. And a dessert's dream: a moat of tangy passion fruit jus surrounding a wonderfully wobbling, delicate coconut panna cotta, with the fruit's seeds adding sudden, unexpected bite. The drink menu features several Bomras specials as well as a few add-ons. Rangoon Sour, Mandalay Mango, Rum & Kokam, and Tamarind Dukshiri are among the available cocktails. Then there are three outstanding local gins from Goa that you should include on your list of mementoes: Greater Than, Stranger & Sons, and most recently introduced Pumori. Susegado English Ale and Eight Finger Eddie are two further regional brews. The sweetness of the pomegranate pearls bursting from the crackling pork salad's crunchy beauty. Two orders for the grilled aubergine were placed. The sea perch with lime, chilli, and coriander sauce was also excellent. The mushy tempura is also a miss, as is the tea leaf salad. Additionally, the panna cotta was deprived of the customary quantity of passion fruit jus while still wobbling well. The Mandalay Mango and Rum & Kokum in the end are a must-have.
1152, opp. Our Lady Of Health Chapel, Mazal Waddo, Anjuna
Gunpowder Cafe
A vibrant, contemporary restaurant featuring South Indian food on the menu and outside seating in the style of a garden. Gunpowder, one of North Goa's most popular restaurants, offers a mouthwatering selection of vegetarian and non-vegetarian delicacies. The restaurant shares a space with People Tree, a design group that adds its special flair to the compound of a Portuguese-style heritage home. Whether you eat meat or not, there are many options available. As a meat lover, I'd suggest the Andhra style prawns, pandhi curry, and Kerela beef fry, while the potato stew is what you might refer to as soul food! The appam, Malabar parotta, and panna cotta for dessert are additional must-haves. To get in the mood for a delicious meal, try the sol kadi or order the tamarind-pineapple margarita, which is presented in a similarly intriguing copper glass.
No. 6, Anjuna Mapusa Rd, Saunto Vaddo, Assagao
Jamun
The mood is set for lunch that one would prefer to enjoy inside by a picture-perfect balcao. You can tell that the designers appreciate the little things by taking a look at the unique chandelier built from a variety of garrafaos and the wall covered in artefacts from all around India. Because everything on Jamun's menu must be totally "feel good and warm," as chef Picu would put it, nostalgia is served alongside a healthy dose of culinary innovation. As a result, several components of the cuisine menu are made up of items from Goan kitchens combined with unadulterated recipes from other Indian states or even both of these. The meals also come with a little story written on them for your reading enjoyment, in a sweet Jamun-style twist. Consider dishes like Stuffed Squids, Goan Chorizo Pork Chili Fry, Crab Xec Xec, and Prawn Pulao, for example. These aquatic animals are all stars in and of themselves, each with their seasonings and tales to tell.
190, Mazal Vado, Assagao
Titlie
We found Titlie, a new culinary bar that is causing quite a stir when looking for eateries that radically transformed the food landscape. The cuisine on the menu, which combines Indian and foreign cuisines, is what the chef likes to refer to as "collaborative cuisine." You will adore their Ginger Berry Bush and Saligao Straight, which are inspired by Majorda to Saligao (made with Goan mahua). Porcini French Toast, on the other hand, came out on top thanks to its wonderfully balanced sweet and salty flavours. The stuffed spinach and ricotta kulcha with dal was also enjoyed by the homesick North Indian. Because decent mutton in Goa is so uncommon, the meat-eater was biassed in favour of the Chimichurri Goat Boti. This dish, with the smokey pineapple salsa, was one helluva start. Other suggestions include grilled fish (flaky, juicy, and substantial), garlic butter-poached prawns (subtle coastal flavours), and pulled pork vindaloo with sauerkraut. If you set aside your prejudice, there is a delightful selection of vegetarian dishes, a refreshing assortment of salads, and a section with clay ovens (hello, fish tikka with tangerines and peanut butter cottage cheese tikka).
Small Vagator, 592/5, Ozran Beach Rd, Coutinho Vaddo, Anjuna
Toro Toro
Toro With excellent food, beverages, and that breathtaking river view, Toro has managed to take one of the loveliest spots and expand it to multiple levels. It is absolutely worthwhile to return for the meal here. You will adore the Pulled Pork Bruschetta, Mediterranean Grilled Prawns, and Lamb Koftas with Hummus from an extensive selection of tapas or small plates. If you enjoy sushi, you should also check out this location for sushi rolls or nigiri. Another dish not to be missed is the mud crabs, which may be had with either the traditional black pepper or butter garlic sauce or their special Rechaedo sauce to give them a Goan Portuguese zing. Along with a variety of traditional eggs and sandwiches, they also provide a unique Goan platter and a wide selection of fresh juices. Other foods we enjoy are English breakfast, spinach on toast, and mutton keema with pao.
mykonos blu ho Off, Calangute - Anjuna Rd, Arpora