Goa for the seafood lovers

Prawn stuffed papad at Martin's Corner, Betalbatim

My top picks for establishments in South Goa, India which serve Goan cuisine include:

Chef Fernando's Nostalgia is a very popular choice for those looking for authentic Goan. I tried their prawn rissois, prawn stuffed papads and other specialties including ambot tik (fish curry), chicken xacuti, and prawn balchao. This garden restaurant is nested in a forested area which results in a nice ambience. 

However, my favorite Goan full service restaurant was Sharda Classic Bar and Restaurant, located in Margao. It offers a take-out option that is a tad cheaper than the dine-in menu. The fish was fresh and their fried shrimp was mouth-watering. Other dishes including chicken sukha, chicken xacuti, and chilli chicken, all of which I preferred to have with freshly baked Goan bread called pao. Of all the restaurants I visited which served Goan shrimp curry, Sharda's was one of the best, being the most similar to what one would expect if it was prepared at home.

Rawa fried prawn at Sharda Classic

Besides the full service options located in the larger cities, most Goan beach resorts have at least one food shack in close proximity which offer a variety of Goan dishes. I generally prefer the dishes served in these establishments to the Goan dishes on offer at the more polished indoor restaurants. Joe Corns near Taj Exotica in Betalbatim beach offers authentic Goan cuisine at reasonable prices. Joet's on the Bogmolo beach is located a stone’s throw from the Bogmolo beach resort.  

If you are a seafood lover, don’t miss out on their comprehensive seafood platters which feature fried fish, shrimp, mussel, lobster and calamari. The fried seafood in Goa not only sport the spices that define Indian cuisine but, somewhat unique to the subcontinent, the seafood is served fresh - thanks to the proximity of most parts of the state to the coast.