Viva Panjim

Viva Panjim! Literally. To say the least, this restaurant is a blessing to food lovers in Goa. If you enjoy Goan cuisine, this is the place to be. We found this place on the net listed amongst the numerous restaurants in Panjim but since it had a mention of local cuisine, we decided to give it a try.

Viva Panjim is located in a very small bylane close to the Panjim Church. We called the restaurant for directions to reach the place and the owner very politely guided us. A tiny board shows the way to this place we call heaven. In front of us was a beautiful orange and white heritage house. I do not know the style of architecture of the house, but to me it looked like one that you see in those nice paintings. There were small tables and chairs outside the house for those who like to enjoy their meal outdoors. But since we were keen on seeing the house, we opted to sit inside.

The beautiful exteriors

There is an A/C section as well as a non-A/C section. The hall where we sat had a bar counter with a huge antique mirror. Most of the furniture around were (or at least looked like) antique. The owner of the place Linda De Souza spent a good ten minutes chit chatting with us about everything from the history of Goans, its connection with Mangalore, to the kind of fish that is available at the markets. Felt quite at home I must say! Chef Linda De Souza has won many awards for her cooking and her restaurant, most of which are displayed at the restaurant.

A view of the interiors

The menu mostly offers local Goan and Portuguese cuisine, and Linda is around to help you choose in case you are in doubt. It was my birthday lunch that day and I decided to treat myself with a little extra than I do everyday.

It was a sunny afternoon and to beat the heat, I ordered a Gimlet which is gin, lime juice and lime cordial. The freshness of the lime and ice was very soothing. Vinod ordered a Goan Rumba, a cocktail made with Goan fenny, rum and pineapple juice. To go with it, we ordered a plate of rava fried mussels. During this trip, we’d fallen in love with mussels and hence you’ll see them in all our reviews. At Viva Panjim, the mussels were fried to perfection. Mildly spiced, this dish went very well with our cocktails.

Gimlet

Goan Rumba

Crumb fried mussels

The next interesting thing that caught my eye in the menu was the Pigling Torradinho. This Portuguese dish consists of delectable pieces of meat sautéed with onions, black pepper and spices that melt in your mouth. This dish is something you just can’t get enough of. We recommend this to all pork fans. Given the extremely good taste, the quantity could have been better. Well, there’s no harm in ordering a second plate/ helping.

Pigling Torradinho

Port Wine

Fresh Lime Soda

For our second round of drinks we ordered a glass of chilled Vinicola port wine and some fresh lime soda. Nothing to write home about here. For the main course, as recommended by Linda we tried the Prawn Curry and rice. Five stars for this one! The thick coconut based gravy with mild chilly was delicious. The quantity of rice though was little and sufficient for one who is not too hungry.



King fish recheido



Prawn Curry and Rice

As an accompaniment we ordered a king fish in recheido masala. This is another of our favourites. After all the places I have tried for Goan food, I can say that this was better than all of them and was closest to the authentic taste. Extremely spicy, the ingredients for this masala are ground in special Goan vinegar. For smaller fish like mackarels, this masala is often used as a stuffing.

Prawn Balchao

Since the rice was not too filling, we went in for some Prawn Balchao. This is not to be missed when you’re trying the local food. This fiery red dish is almost like a pickle but can be eaten as a side dish as well. The prawns are simmered in a smooth paste of ginger, garlic, onions and tomatoes along with a whole lot of spices and vinegar and is not for those who can’t handle spice. Since the Balchao had a thick gravy, we ordered for Goan Pav (bread). Though they look like buns, they are not as soft. It requires quite an effort to bring them down to pieces. But all said and none, it compliments the Balchao.

Goan Pav

Viva Panjim didn’t just offer us the best Goan food, but it also gave us the perfect place to relax and have a relaxed lunch. Our meal cost us a little less that Rs 800 and we’re surely going there, each time we are in Goa. Viva Panjim! Viva Goa!

Pay by : Cash or Credit Card

Restroom : Very clean

Average meal for two : Rs 800 (including drinks)

Mel’s overall rating : 4.5 out of 5

Location: Behind Mary Immaculate High School, Panjim. Ph: 0832 2422405 / 09850471363.