Take in gorgeous views of the capital city with dinner and drinks at Goa’s newest (and only) off-shore restaurant! Be it at peak summer time, or at sun-down on a particularly pleasant day, dining al fresco at this vibrant waterside restaurant while you gaze at the river can be the ‘off-beat thing to do in Goa’ that everyone seems to be seeking!
It’s perfectly acceptable to spend days on end lounging on the beach. But it’s also a good idea to balance out your holiday with a mix of beach-side experiences, offbeat things to do like Cycle Tours and Kayaking in Goa, visiting food trucks for cheap eats, and… planning a day full of off-shore activities.
Whether you live in Goa or are just passing through, you’ve undoubtedly driven past Panjim and seen the handful of off-shore casinos floating on the Mandovi, Big Daddy Goa being the most recent entrant. But have you noticed Watermark, an off-shore restaurant offering, not glamour and high-stake thrills, but contemporary food with a view of Panjim and the Atal Sethu Bridge?
A couple of weeks ago, I happened to visit Watermark in Goa. Unlike other off-shore destinations in Goa, one doesn’t need to hop on a motorboat to reach it, you just have to saunter on the boardwalk before being welcomed aboard. Also worth mentioning is that Watermark is not on a boat, but on a raised platform above the Mandovi!
Spanning three levels, Watermark Goa offers a choice of seating options. While the top section is breezier and more open, with a better view of the Atal Sethu Bridge, I found the lower section to be far more spacious, with fewer tables, and that’s where I chose to sit. The lowest section is the kitchen and through these doors come Indian food with modern twists. The top and middle levels have their own fully-stocked bars with a variety of imported liquors and domestic spirits.
I visited at around 6 PM one evening, and I’d definitely recommend going at around this time just to catch the sunset! Watching the sky change colours, the Atal Sethu lighting up, and getting a glimpse of the chaos of Panjim’s rush hour traffic from a distance, as people set off for home, is a fine way to spend an evening! The on-board DJ starts at around this time, too, and personally, I’d have preferred listening to the sound of the water over the sound of the latest hits. Alternatively, some soothing low-volume music would have really set the tone of the evening. The thumping beats, loud volume and selection of music did sour the ambience a little.
Coming to the food! The menu is pretty vast and quite funky with a mish-mash of popular dishes in new avatars. If you like experimental food, you’d have a field day! I started off with Butter Chicken Croquets – and what appeared was so colourful, its bound to make anyone whip out their phone! Taste-wise, it was different, but enjoyable – I mean, butter chicken in a crispy, deep-fried case – hmm… not much to dislike about that. What do you think?
The Honey Chilli Potatoes were good – great quantity, nice and crispy and with that sweet-spicy sauce generously stirred in. Junk food lovers or those on a cheat day would enjoy indulging in this one! I definitely did.
Bhuna Ghee Roast Chicken was another Watermark Signature Dish that I tried. The heavy plate held 5 pieces of boneless chicken alongside 5 rice balls, which I was quite confused by, especially since the rice balls weren’t really edible but seemed to be for presentation purposes only. The chicken was quite dry, making me wish I’d gone for a safer food option.
For drinks, I tried the Blue Woo, which was quite refreshing, and the Chocotini, that didn’t really enjoy since a thick-ish mocktail served in a flute glass can be difficult to drink – and there seemed to be something off about the mix of ingredients.
If you’re wondering what other experimental dishes the chefs have up their sleeves – think Pav Bhaju Au Gratin, Dal Makhni Foam with petite Garlic Naan, Gajar Halwa Tarts, Spaghetti Kheema Pao, Chole Bhature Fondue… and in general…dishes that have you thinking to yourself, “who would have thought of that!?”
Apart from experimental cuisine, Watermark Goa has one page dedicated to Oriental Cuisine – and its here that you’ll find Indian favourites such as Manchurian, Chilly Paneer, Thai Curries and Schezwan Fried Rice. Additionally, Indian food ranging from Biryanis to Kadhai Paneer and Dal Tadka to Bhindi do Pyaaza also feature.
Hope you enjoyed reading this! If you do end up visiting, remember to tag me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!
You may also like to read my earlier blog posts on a First Timer’s Guide to Pushkar and Mahe – a Modern Coastal Restaurant in Goa