What was Porvorim’s newcomer not too long ago has quickly worked its way into the hearts and lives of those living on the coastal side of the Mandovi River. Located on the ground floor of the Hotel Golden Plateau, The Basil Leaf is a stone’s throw away from Delfinos Supermarket, O’Coqueiro (one of Goa’s oldest restaurants) and Charlie Changs. What makes this plush little restaurant stand out is the fact that it offers a diverse menu packed with great Indian, Goan, and Oriental favourites, all at reasonable prices.
The Basil Leaf in Porvorim
The Basil Leaf in Porvorim is referred to by many as a fine dining restaurant in Goa, and while it is a step up from a casual dining joint, I wouldn’t go so far as to peg it in the fine dining category. Simple, elegant and with plush touches, it is a great option for an everyday meal out with family or friends or for a small celebratory lunch or dinner.
Like I said, if you love North Indian, Goan, and Oriental food (which most of us do), deciding what to order can take a while because every item on the menu looks better than the other. It is great, therefore, that the staff is well-versed with the menu and can recommend items to suit your palette. The manager, Sovan, suggested that I try one starter of every cuisine and that’s just what I did!
CHINESE FOOD IN PORVORIM
From the Oriental Section, I tried the Steamed Chicken Dumplings which, presentation-wise, could have been much better. But these slippery dumplings warmed our bellies without much effort, and if you need a little pick-me-up or if it’s a rainy day, these tender, chewy ones will please!
Moving on to the Goan starter, I was suggested the quintessential Goan pub-grub, batter-fried calamari. A super generous portion, these rings of light and crispy squids were not at all rubbery. They really hit the spot and we struggled to polish off the plate. Perhaps what would have made it even better is if it were served with more dipping sauce options, to take away the monotony.
Lastly, for our Indian starter, a plate of Murgh Tangdi Kebabs was placed on my table – and these blew me away at first bite! Mildly spiced and flavourful, these succulent chicken drumsticks were cooked to creamy, aromatic perfection and served with green chutney on the side. After trying one starter of each cuisine, we decided to order an Indian main course without a second thought.
RECOMMENDED AT THE BASIL LEAF
Upon the recommendation of Sovan, we ordered Murgh Musallam or Chicken cooked Muslim-style (it involves cooking chicken in mustard, poppy seeds, yoghurt and gravy). Loosen up your belts, chicken lovers – this rich, Mughal dish is ultra-indulgent, lip-smackingly spicy and tongue-tickling good! Traditionally, Murgh Musallam was served with eggs stuffed inside a whole chicken and was cooked by the Lucknowi elite. It.
But during my restaurant review of Basil Leaf Goa, I requested for small portions to cut out any food wastage, and so I was served a few pieces with a boiled egg, the hallmark of Musallam, on top, and it came with pulao on the side. Fit for royalty, this dish is pretty uncommon on menus of even Goa’s best Indian restaurants so I’d highly, highly suggest ordering it… and pairing it with garlic-butter naan to mop up that thick gravy. Bring on the food coma!
For dessert, we ordered the Gulab Jamun, but honestly, I wasn’t too impressed since it was overly aromatic, had a watery sugar syrup, was loosely held together, and taste-wise, didn’t wow. Having said that, the mocktails too could use a lot of improvement in terms of the pairing of ingredients (mint leaves and milk?!) as well as the syrups that were extremely strong and artificial-tasting.
Overall, the food is worth visiting The Basil Leaf in Porvorim, many times over, since I’m sure there will always be something on the menu that will keep pulling you back to this family restaurant in North Goa.
For more upscale family-friendly restaurants in Goa, you could check out our Mustard in Anjuna and Martin’s Restaurant in Margao.
See you next time, when I bring you yet another fabulous restaurant in Sangolda!