If anyone is wondering what has happened to the Oriental Thai restaurant in Candolim, as previously mentioned it has now moved to the hotel Mira in Calangute.
We visited last week and spoke to the owner. he told us that they had a 5 year contract with the landlord, but allegedly he sold the land to a wealthy party from delhi. They ripped up his contract telling him it was illegal.
He is contesting the issue through the courts, but it is getting a bit unsavoury with his tyres being let down every night etc.
He is determined to stay in Goa but is very dissapointed with the legal system and is expecting the worst and deportation.
On the plus side the set up is excellent in the hotel and the food has not changed and is fantastic as usual.

Please take the time to jump in a taxi and visit yourself, you wont be dissapointed.

P.S. We do not in any capacity work for him, but are just regular customers from the early days.

We thought the Arabian beach shack at Candolim was excellent - every dish was brilliant. We also really rated Just Chinese on the main road. One to avoid is Indiana's on the Beach Road, I had major 'Goa-gut' after eating there.

We visited the oriental thai in calangute in november, had a great meal but the bloke on the next table ordered a steak it looked fantastic - going again in a couple of weeks to try the steak.

Our favourite resteraunt in nov was Nishas on titos road, baga. I don't want to sing its praises too much just in case we can't get a table when we go back.

la restraunt francaise on baga road fantastic food, pricey,lovely ambiance. dissapointed in the size of portion, its got smaller over the years!
05/06 only opened 4 days week. need to book a table, unlikely to get one if you don't.

East meets West in Baga was very impressive when we were there in November. Reasonably priced and there always seemed to be plenty of people there, which I would always take as a good sign.
Not really authentic goan though which could be a down side for some.

For real authentic Goan home cooking go to Victorias Corner in Calangute ( down same road as Molly Malones- carry on past the pub, its on the same side)
Its only a small place- justa few tables but thats what makes it so special
Its run by a lovely lady called Anna, who lives at the house next door.
She does't really have a menu, its more a case of she cooks what she has in fresh that day. We have fabulous, shark, mackerel curry, stuffed black pomfret and roast pork. She also makes the most incredible chicken- falls off the bone and has a lovely sticky sauce that you need to use your fingers to eat.
She also does fab breakfasts.
She cooks what she would cook for her family at home so it is the real deal!
I can't recommend her highly enough

Victoria corner sounds fab calhorn will try when there in 1 week 5 days (not counting of course). what about kids will she cater for them or is it best for them to eat before as not into spicy food.

As she makes everything fresh she can make things exaclty as you want them.

She does great home made chips and a fab salad as well- no problem eating it she has a special water filter machine at home and doesn't drink the tap water herself!

She also makes fab banana pancakes- she used to make me 3 at a time with fresh honey too

Ideas would be welcome for some "different" restaurants. Leaving next week for the 11th time and would like to try some other restaurants other than the norm - you know, Inferno, Casaseashell, Teama etc etc....happy to eat really ethnic, veggie - love the Plantain Leaf but want to venture a bit further - any suggestion really welcome

Why not try Florentines in Saligao (close to Candolim). This is a "local" type restaurant (avoid Sunday its full of locals). The chicken cafreal is the best -
people from Bombay order takeaways from there!

Trev

Trev
I second that recommendation Best chicken cafreal ever.
Michelle

Go to the Romano opticians in Panjim...............................

As you face the shop, there is a grot hole to the left where all the locals go, go in and go upstairs...................... this was reccommended to us by the optician....haven't a clue what the name is but its fantastic...........

Always go here for an absolute feast..................................4 of us had pakoras, bhajis, channa, rotli, etc etc with soft drinks for the equivalent of 2.80 GBP !!! And we still couldn't eat it all!!!!

Trevor, Florentine's has been recommended to us before by Arpora Julie. she says its fab and the prices are great! We drove past it in November on the way back from Panjim. It was on the right hand side, on quite a quiet road? (Unless there is more than one Florentine's of course). We really must try it when we return in 3 weeks time. Will heed your advise tho and avoid a Sunday!!!

Chicken Cafrael at Florentine is finger lickin' good - quite literally! Also avoid Mondays, when it's closed. And how about Don Pedro's at Porvorim for great Mexican food?

Try Himalaya - it is past Kingfisher Villa, on same side, run by a Nepali family. Everything is cooked fresh, you may have a little wait, but food is excellent.

Try Victorias Corner- past Molly Malones

Real Goan cooking- Anna cooks what she has available so no real menu
All cooked from fresh so takes a bit longer

"Ku"

Heard loads of great things about this restaurant does anyone know if it opens in the evening ?

Yes - Florentine is open until about 11 p m, every day except Monday's when it's closed.