With over 200 restaurants in Candolim alone, the big vacation dilemma if you’re staying in that part of the state is deciding where to eat. Roadside shacks, fine dining spots overlooking the beach, and everything in between serves up fare to please any palate.
Restaurants in Candolim
Rather than relying on the contradictory opinions on review sites, I’ve listed down the restaurants in Candolim I’ve personally tried with good, bad, and ugly opinions. As always, I’ll keep updating it when I try out new places, remove ones that have shut down, and update the reviews of existing ones depending on whether the experience is better or worse than before.
JAMBALAYA
Not many restaurants on the busy Candolim stretch can boast of beautiful aesthetics, delicious plates, and live music that suits most people’s music preferences! Jambalaya is extremely pretty, the service is cheery and the food is good, too. For most of us locals, going to Calangute-Candolim fills us with dread – with loud Bollywood tunes (or worse, karaoke); adulterated Goan food, no parking, and rowdy crowds.
But Jambalaya was a refreshing find! The music was absolutely banging and we had so much fun watching everyone dance while enjoying our meal. Mum wanted to go back the next day. The staff seems to know their regulars well (and they do have a lot of regulars), and we were intrigued to see how many people kept steaming into the place thanks to the colour, tunes, and good vibes the place exudes.
SPICE MANTRAA
I’ve been to Spice Mantraa several times and have always had a fabulous experience. The quiet, air-conditioned interiors are cool, bright, and vibrant – it is totally refreshing just walking in off the bustling Candolim streets. The music is upbeat, the staff go out of their way to talk to you and introduce themselves, and of course, the food was wonderful!
They do the best Dahi Kebabs so please don’t miss out on them! The Tandoori Pomfret and Prawn Chilly Fry are decent in terms of Goan food, but Indian food is where they excel. Try the Chicken Bhuna, Dal Makhani and Naan which are delicious! Don’t miss their whacky and ingenious desserts! I tried the Chickoo Ensemble which had luscious chickoo semifreddo on sticky saffron rabdi with fresh pieces of chickoo and cashew nut crumble – true harmony on a plate!
TUSCANY GARDENS
Perfect for date night, Tuscany Gardens is a romantic restaurant where you can dine under the stars. The twinkling lights, hanging lanterns, candles on the table, and overhead vines contribute to building an ambiance that fits into a novel. Tuscany Garden prides itself on delicious, hearty Italian fare and is reasonably priced for the massive portions it serves. I tried the carbonara and pesto pasta with chicken – both were impeccable! Next time, I’m going for the pizza!
Cost for 2 – Rs. 1000/-
CAFÉ CHOCOLATTI
If your idea of heaven is sitting in a lush green garden, nibbling on brownies, scones, and pancakes, this is the place for you! Nestled within a high-walled garden with tropical plants and a lawn, Café Chocolatti is right on the main road yet has a secluded feel. They serve up some epic breakfasts and desserts but is a great place to go for a quick catch-up over coffee and snacks. Everything is made fresh, in-house!
PRICE FOR 2 – RS. 1000/-
DE CANDOLIM DECK – To tell you the truth, I entered this restaurant because it looked brighter and was less crowded than the ones beside it. While it has a lot of negative reviews online, I’ll be fair and say that what I tried wasn’t completely terrible! In fact, the Choris Chilly Fry was great! The Vindaloo, however, was a far cry from Vindaloo. Would I visit again? Not if I had a choice. And definitely not if they’re playing that terrible Bollywood music!
COST FOR 2- Rs. 1300
Got any places you think I should try? Have you dined at these places before? I want to hear it all, so comment below and let me know! If you’re craving something like Naga food, Rajasthai food or other types of regional cuisine, read my blog post on where to get regional Indian food in Goa.
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Bye!