Ask anyone in Goa and they have their favourite seafood place — these are usually small joints or bars serving a fish thali, or restaurants known for their fish curries and fried fish. There’s much to choose from Goa’s fresh catch: the flat lepo (sole fish), chonak (giant sea perch), xinaneo (mussels), visvonn (kingfish), tisryo (clams), kalvam (oysters), black and white pomfrets and more. The simplest way to enjoy this fish is fried (with a generous coating of rava).
Fish-curry-rice is widely accepted as the holy trinity of Goan food. A plate piled high with local ukde rice, a fragrant curry spiked with sola (kokum), and fresh fish, can hit the spot. Here’s where to sample some good seafood in Goa.
Star Bar, Ribandar
“The seafood is always fresh, always served in massive portions, and it’s delicious. Star Bar (Ribandar) has mussels when nobody else has it—it’s a secret where they get it from! What we regularly order is chonak and mussels that are usually rava fried, which is the best way to eat them. Whenever I get a seafood craving, I go there.” Vasquito Alvares, chef
Starlight, Arpora
“I love Starlight (Calangute-Arpora Road, near Maharaj Wines). The fish is super fresh and tasty and I am fond of the prawn curry. I think they do some of the best prawn curries in the state. I’ve been going there for years. The recheado squid is good, too. Their basics are on point.” Gracian de Souza, consultant chef
Mafia Cocktail Bar, Pilerne
“Mafia Cocktail Bar (Pilerne Candolim Road, Marra; 07798105340) is one of those hidden places a lot of people don’t know about. It’s run by a brother-sister team. They sell out whatever catch they buy. You can never go wrong with the food there, it’s comforting.” Christopher Fernandes, chef
Kinara, Chimbel
I think every Panjim family at some point has gone to Kinara Bar & Restaurant (near Chimbel market, 9373044505) to seek out seafood. Back in the day, the owner had his own trawlers so the fish was fresh. It is still fabulous. Go there and ask what’s fresh and order that. His xinaneo—when in season— is amazing, as are the chonak, squid, and lepo. I’ve been going there since I was a kid. The place is a little difficult to find but it just proves that people will go anywhere for good fish.”Rahul Gomes, chef-partner at Pass Code Hospitality
White House, Dona Paula
“White House Bar & Restaurant (near NIO Post Office, Dona Paula; 9763110945) is a little hole-in-the-wall, old-school local place. They have other dishes but the fish is good. It is brought fresh daily and the supply is often exhausted in no time. Ask for the specials of the day, which could include lepo, snapper or kingfish.” Ralph Prazeres, chef-owner, Padaria Prazeres
Babu Moshai, Colva
“People don’t realise that Colva is the Bengali beach of Goa! In fact, 35 years back, my dad had brought the whole family to Colva to eat Bengali food. It was divine intervention that I somehow opened a bar in the same neighbourhood. Babu Moshai (Colva Beach Road; 09823951385) serves good Bengali fish (fish, not crustaceans or shellfish), especially the mustard pabda (Indian catfish). On special orders, he also gets hilsa.” Arijit Bose, co-founder, Tesouro by Firefly; founder partner at Countertop India
Spice Goa, Verem
“Spice Goa (S-115 Sonar Batt, Reis Magos Betim-Verem Road, 0832-2414940) has never disappointed me. You will find families there, out celebrating a birthday or anniversary. I’ve been to the Verem one, and ordered from the Mapusa one and nothing was disappointing. Even their vegetarian fare is good. Our staple order is the prawn in banana leaf. Our initiation began with their thali and we’ve made our way through their menu. Now, we just order the specials of the day.” Protima Tiwary, founder of creative branding agency The Mill, blogger, Dumbbells and Drama.
Vinayak, Assagao
“Vinayak Family Restaurant (House no 278, Socol Vaddo, Assagao) has been my local fish thali joint for many years now. I just love Ujwala, the boss lady who has her eye on everything that goes on! And their actual fish curry is one of the best in town and one of the cheapest thalis too.” Shilarna Vaze, chef
Cinnamon Restaurant, Margao
Cinnamon (Government Rest House, Monte Hill, Margao) has a Bhatkar thali that’s different from the rest. It’s a fish thali with 30 plus dishes including crabs, kismur, prawns curry, fish cutlets, and fried fish. They give you a hat to wear if you order it. It’s a multi-cuisine restaurant but people go there for the thali. Varun Hegde, founder, Soul Travelling
Source: CN Traveller (https://www.cntraveller.in/story/best-seafood-in-goa-as-picked-by-the-states-top-foodies/)
