This is one place I would reccomend the Tandoori and the Vindaloo, but always too busy for me..

Yes it does; a well-meaning thread, but the best way to check out an eating place is to actually try it

Couldn't agree more but the recommendations do act as a pointer. Jamies for example was unkown to us before we came and was brilliant !

We tried After Seven the other night, a place that comes with high praise but I was very disappointed. Unfortunately we both ate the same food so no other dishes to compare but the souffle was like a wet wash leather and the tournedos rossini ( sorry about the spelling !) was a meaty beefburger served with limp chips. We passed on wine as it was R1000 minimum but ended up paying silly prices for Bombay Saphire instead of Blue Riband but we had expected a special dining experience so wanted an appropriate drink. 4 Gin and tonics cost R660 ot thereabouts !
I can't believe they have built their reputation on what we ate so it must have been an off night !
Another place we have found is Antonio's Shack next to the big Arabian shack at the bottom of the Candolim Beach Road. I never imagined I would eat in a shack having based my experience on Baga and Calangute beaches. Candolim beach is virtually deserted at night and the cooking and hygiene is first class at Antonio's.
Finally, on recommendation of HT'ers we tried Victors. Not easy to find, there isn't even a sign. It's certainly a different dining experience due to the simplicity of the surrounds and this makes it all the more interesting. The food is excellent although not particularly different. A seafood platter was R700 each so not the cheapest either. I would recommend one visit but have had the platter I won't go back as we covered the menu !
Bomras opens tonight so we will get to try it before going home.
Seeing the snow on the screen right now brings back some reality. This time next week it will be freezing. Ouch !

Hi Dave Wales, is Bomra opening in usual spot or has it moved to Baga as rumours had it?

Davewales,

Agree, I find After Seven vastly overrated.

Just shows how subjective this thread is.

We all have very different tastes.

Papa

We too would like to visit Bomras this year as we have often heard it highly recommended, can you please confirm where it is Dave. We have been to After 7 a few times and had very good meals but it is pricey and so we gave it a miss last year as our eating out list is always too long. We do like to go to at least one 'posh' place though each year so will have a look for somewhere different this year.

Here's some new ones
http://www.timeoutbengaluru.net/Food/eating_out_details.asp?code=500&source=1

Just shows how subjective this thread is.

Bomras opened last Wednesday, we ate there on Friday. It's at the far end of Candolim on the main road, just after Stonehouse.
We had BBQ'd skewers of Goan sausage and Ox tongue plus avacado pakoras for starters. Interesting but not a gastronomic delight. To follow we both had slow roasted suckling pig with a side order of rice and noodle salad. It was absolutely stunning and was the single most enjoyable thing I ate in the whole month. I was so impressed I recomended it to someone who was reading the menu on the next table. We got chatting and seemed to get on fine. The next morning they appeared on the next sunbed to ours so I confidently asked how the pork was to which I got a withering reply that it was not very good, much too fatty ! They didn't speak to me again so I presumed I was being blamed !!! They obviously didn't realise that suckling pig is always fatty which I happen to love ! Incidentally the bill including 2 small beers was R1300 approx so not as expensive as I had thought it might be although we didn't have much in the way of drinks. Their wine is expensive though. Portion size of the main meal was very good too.

Another interesting experience was Victors, recommended here and in a poolside conversation by a fellow hotel guest. It's hard to find as there is no sign outside but you can find it just before the beach, the last tent on the left hand side after the stalls on the same road as Whispering Palms hotel, the Mermaid and the Bistro. It's the sort of place you probably wouldn't try unless recommended. A very simple tent with four tables and seating for 12 in total. You need to book the previous day as he takes your order then and brings in the food to cook. It's so basic and simple that the anticipation of what you will get builds as you wait to be served. Cooked freshly it took and hour to be served but in the meantime we were happy to sink a few beers. Worries about hygiene standards are immediately forgotten when the glasses for the beers are put on the table and they sparkled. As we had ordered the seafood platter it had been suggested we didn't need a starter. The food was simple and beautifully cooked but at R700 each for the platter but certainly not cheap. The whole operation is very clever with minimal costs in decor, staff levels, food wastage etc whilst charging top prices. The menu is simple but good. Having had the platter we felt there wasn't anything we hadn't tried, and at his prices didn't need to visit again but I would recommend it's certainly worth a visit.
Overall Cecelias, just before Stonehouse would get out top mark for overall delivery of good quality, excellent service and atvery reasonable prices. We ate there about 6 times and forced ourselves elsewhere just to be different.Average bill with 2 or three courses and a few beers was R1000.

Thanks for that Dave,Bomra`s really is top of our list for this year it sounds great and the suckling pig a must,so glad to hear that he has opened

We sat in Pizza Express on Saturday lunchtime and organised our eating out list for the next 3 weeks over a bottle of wine. We still don't have enough days to eat everywhere we want to but Bomras was definately on our list and we will try the suckling pig. We won't blame it on you Dave if we don't like it. We usually love it when we have it anywhere else so don't think there will be a problem. This time next week we will be having our first meal in the Carvery, can't wait.

Hi
I remember having a taxi driver recommend a restaurant a few years back but we never got chance. It was called Sunset on the Baga bridge area on the coastal path. Does anybody have experience of this place?

I would imagine it's one of the places across the river opposite the car park area behind Baga beach. I haven't eaten at any of them but they do offer a nicer view than Baga beach, however last year they were already charging R90 for a large Kingfisher which was R20 than the average !
You must try out Jamies which is nearby, their steaks are superb. Easy to find on the road just before arriving at Baga beach.
Staying at the MD, RASA is pretty good and inexpensive too. Much to my surprise I found myself ordering a Lamb Biryani as I seemed to recall someone saying it was excellent there. It was too, absolutely delicious ! Spice Oven in the village is good too, as is All Spice, Starlight ( as you know!) and the one in between who's name escapes me for the minute. I won't eat in Nicks as everyone seems to smoke in there.
After an evening at the Beira Mar we have often walked to calangute, eaten in the Thai in the Mira hotel which is fabulous then Tuk Tuked home !

DaveWales wrote:

nd the one in between who's name escapes me for the minute. I

It is Saffron Court! Quite good food and service!

That's the one Goangirl !

Hi Dave

Thanks for that. I will more than not venture over that way. Rasas is on my list and of course...Starlight is a must. May have a look at what used to be aubergine at the crossraods too.

Chhers,,,,hope to be there soon as long as the snow permits!

We ate in Annapurna twice this week. Annapurna is (or was) and old favourite of ours. First time ordered beef jafrezi and got a vegetable dish with cauliflower (don't know what it was called because we didn't ask for it). My husband was hungry so ate it and although he said it was nice, it wasn't what we wanted. Krishna who runs the place blamed it on the new staff and apologised. Went back again thinking it must be OK this time. The menu had been cut right down because the new staff cannot cope with the full one (no, I don't understand either - surely it is the cook that matters here!). Any way Krishna said we could have anything from the old menu (assuming you can remember what was on it. lol) we just had to ask him. So we had prawn cocktail, hot and sour soup, chicken jalfrezi and prawn kadai, one rice and one garlic nan together with a couple of drinks. It came to 1160 rupees which is very expensive for what it was (we have never spent over 800 in the past on a similar meal in there). Might as well go to Rising Waves at that price - food far superior (although totally different menu of course).

Anyone got any thoughts on Spice Garden in Candolim - recommended by someone in Mango the other night. Is it worth trying?
Candybabe

Before anyone responds, went into Spice Garden today and not a patch on Rising Waves. My husband's steak not cooked as requested and prawn curry very mediocre. One 16 oz steak, small prawn curry, 2 Foster and two Barcardi with one coke, 1120 rupees. OK but would get better in Rising Waves albeit smaller steak but cooked as requsted and better choice for me.
Candybabe

cmon folks this thread far too quiet. Im due to fly out in 12 weeks time and i aint got that many new places too try out. Probably my favourite thread as it always has a happy ending with me being stuffed full of delicious Goan quisine

I agree

We go in 10 days and would like to try new places. My usual haunts are Soumyens, Over the flames, East meets west and a place opposite but cant remember the name

We didn't get around to going to either this year, but last year Sublime in Saligao was top of our list for somewhere special, ahead of Soumyens for ambience and atmosphere, on a par for food.
I haven't seen anyone else recommend it which is surprising because it was excellent. It is a taxi journey though so I guess that adds R400 to the bill. Not open on Wednesdays last year.