- December 2, 2019
- Posted by: Planet Goa Team
- Category: V6-Food
As the Portuguese marched into the Goan hinterlands, Catholicism emerged as a religion and the churches that were erected then prevail as mighty religious structures.
If you have been reading other food stories from this issue and if you’re a vegetarian, I whole heartedly apologize for not giving much emphasis to vegetarian treats when it comes to my recommendations or musthaves. However, I understand that it’s not like vegetarians aren’t foodies so I have put together some places that will most definitely enthrall your palate. All the below listed places are all 100% vegetarian and are must-go-to for a high-quality green meal.
Navtara
Spread across five locations, this vegetarian place is one of the most frequented eateries in Goa. With branches in Calangute, Porvorim, Panaji, Margao, and Mapusa; this restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner is quite prominent on Goa’s culinary map. Specializing in South Indian cuisine, Navtara offers an array of dosa’s, uttapams, vada’s, idli’s, and other common South Indian delights. My mother always used to say that a good South Indian restaurant is nothing without good sambhar and Navtara’s sambhar is delightful. You can also sample from a variety of chaat items, pav bhaji, and a hell lot of Chinese, North Indian along with a few continental offerings. My favorite from this place is their shezwan masala dosa, dahi vada, and chana puri.
Kamat’s
Another delightful vegetarian family restaurant located in Panjim close to the Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church is Kamat’s. At Kamat’s, there’s something for every kind of palate. Be it burgers, pizzas, thalis, South Indian, North Indian, Chinese, fresh juices, milkshakes, hot beverages or desserts; Kamat’s will surprise you with consistent expertise in everything that you sample there. On top of all that, the service is quick, the staff is super friendly, and the food is surprisingly hygienic and good quality considering the prices mentioned in the menu. So don’t forget to savour the unmatched variety of vegetarian food offered at Kamat’s.
Naivedya
I still remember those days when me and my family used to go for road trips to Rajasthan and Chowki Dhani, a heritage resort in Jaipur designed like a typical Rajasthani village, used to definitely be on our bucket list, not for staying the night but to indulge in the pure vegetarian Rajasthani and Gujarati thalis they used to serve. One such restaurant that has mastered the flavours of Rajasthan and Gujarat when it comes to a vegetarian thali is Naivedya located in Porvorim. With just the thali on their lunch and dinner menu, they leave no stone unturned to make that one particular thali of the day taste splendidly in every bite you take. And the best part is that it’s unbelievably unlimited!
Masalas and More
Masalas and More is just the place you need to visit in Candolim to satiate all your cravings for delectable vegetarian food during your vacation or residence in Goa. Just as the name suggests, Masalas and More provides a wide range of vegetarian delicacies ranging across Mughlai, Punjabi, Chinese, and Continental. If your taste buds aren’t dancing in joy yet, you must know that this restaurant also has a unique range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and they promise to quench your thirst all through the year. This vegetarian eatery is one of very few pure vegetarian restaurants in Goa that serve alcohol and plays live music so if you’re willing to bob while you hog, head to M&M! And while you’re at it, do try out their Kashmiri dum alloo, Thai green curry, cheese balls, and shahi tukda.
Jalsa at Resort Rio
If your palate is craving some Rajasthani and Gujarati cuisines and you don’t want your culinary experience to be limited to just thalis, Jalsa at Resort Rio is on the money to satiate those cravings. However, their Rajasthani and Gujarati thalis are just as delightful as other delights on their menu. Apart from Gujarati and Rajasthani, Jalsa at Resort Rio also offers south Indian snacks to munch on. Jalsa means celebration or enjoyment and that is exactly what you get at this stateof- the-art eatery in Resort Rio considering the fine-dining ambience and top notch service.
