Location: Dona Paula
Top Restaurants in Dona Paula
Top 10 restaurants in Dona Paula, India
Dona Paula is a former village, and tourist destination, in the suburbs of Panaji, Goa, India. It is today home to the National Institute of Oceanography, and just alongside it lie the Goa University and the International Centre Goa.
Things to do in Dona Paula
1. Cafe Tato Panjim
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 120 reviews
Dating way back to 1913, Café Tato continues to be one of the oldest, yet finest restaurants of Goa. We have carved our way through the culinary business for decades, and can now truly say that time has only refined our authentic Goan cuisine.
Reviewed By AAMannie - Panjim, India
This place is great for vegetarian food with good service. A popular breakfast and tea joint among locals.The mushroom bajji or xacuti is spicilicious. The Goan samosa, the batata vadda and buns are good tea time options. Service is quick and efficient.
Though i've been meaning to I've never tried the thali. I hear it's a nice melange of dals, xacutis, curd and kokam juice. I think I'd prefer it to Cafe Real's or Cafe Bhonsle's.
2. Waterfront Terrace & Bar
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 246 reviews
Enjoy the exclusive 24-hour poolside and indoor restaurant at Goa Marriott Resort & Spa. Our family restaurant's eclectic international menu offers Indian, Asian and Mediterranean cuisine, all created with a twist by our innovative chefs.
Reviewed By jimjan2013 - Southampton, United Kingdom
Excellent voice of food and service, the chef's, Ashwin Menon and Mighty were outstanding, both was ever to much for them, if you wanted anything different to eat they would do it for you. Hats off to Fauzan Shaikh and his team and to Rajeev Ranan and Kellysha.
Well done to you all.
3. Venite
Overall Ratings
4 based on 278 reviews
Reviewed By ClaireFromYVR - Vancouver
This family run restaurant (and hotel) has been in business for over 50 years, and serves traditional Goan cuisine. Here is where you can try real Goan dishes like Vindaloo, Prawn Balchão, and Bebik. And I did!
It's not a huge restaurant, taking up the upper balcony floor of the hotel, about 8 tables inside and maybe 4 2-person tables outside on the balcony. It was a hot evening, so I chose to sit inside where the fan at least moved the air around a bit. (ie no air conditioning with an open to balcony.)
The restaurant is located in the older part of town, down a narrow cobblestone street inside a colonial structure. It was a perfectly safe walk around the area, which is just downhill from the Crown Casino. (I loved walking around this part of Goa!)
We had dinner. There is a daily chalk board of what is made that day - because seafood is a big part of Goan cuisine, it's comforting to know that whatever might be in season is available - not frozen!
I had the Chef's Stuffed Crab (610 or about $12 CAD), and my husband had the Pork Vindaloo with Rice (430, or about $8.50 CAD).
The Stuffed Crab has a huge portion of super fresh, no smell, and filled with chunks of crab, tossed w butter, herbs and spices. It came with fresh made chunky chips - that were actually good!
The Pork Vindaloo was a revelation. All my life I've been afraid of Vindaloo because abroad it is always so extremely hot! Well, Goan Vindaloo, real Vindaloo, is actually very mild, lovey spiced, tender stewed meat with a rich curry gravy. Not hot at all really. I could eat it!
Portions were not small.
Service was excellent. It is a family run restaurant, so expect friends will drop by, and the host is also the father of your server, so service is a tag team, but they were both very nice and friendly and helpful - English was understood, and we could ask questions.
Even though we were quite full after our mains, and did not want dessert, they gave us some anyway for free :) - so we got to sample the very tasty Bebinca - which is a pudding/layer cake.
Mains were in the neighbour hood of 450-800 INR depending on what special market price for the catch of the day seafood. That's around $8.50-$16 Canadian - for a fabulous authentic Goan food.
The ambiance is quiet, traditional, family, authentic.
Sadly they are not open on Sundays (because most business in Goa do not work on Sundays.) So we could not go back!!!
Highly recommend - for a simple, quality, authentic Goan meal.
4. Ritz Classic Restaurant and Bar
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
Reviewed By samitaaiyer - Navi Mumbai, India
Yes it’s v popular for its Goan fare but a strict no no if you are a vegetarian ! ( try the Shere Punjab nearly for mixed fare!)
The smell emanating from the dim lit closely placed tables will overwhelm any pure vegetarian!
A Mecca for the non-vegetarians who can eat away oblivious to the bones kept few inches away from you on the adjoining table.
More for eating and running rather than a relaxed meal !
Meal for two rs 1000/-
5. Tony`s Shack
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 161 reviews
Amazing Amazing Food. Hidden Gem In Candolim - Right On The Beach. By The Lower Fort- End Shack
Reviewed By NCVienna - Belfast, United Kingdom
My husband and I ate dinner here one night to have a change from the expensive eateries at the Taj. The food at Tony's was probably better (lovely chicken tikka masala and chicken sizzler) at a fraction of the prize, we sat directly on the beach and Tony and his staff were very friendly. Would recommend!
6. Mum's Kitchen
Overall Ratings
4 based on 636 reviews
Since 1997, Mum’s Kitchen has progressively served rare examples of the cuisine of Goa; it’s a growing movement striving to save the Goan cuisine from extinction. This place is also a tribute to “Mothers” from far flung corners of Goa for having contributed In compiling exclusive traditional recipes, the result being a range of food so exquisite it’s a testimony to the rich Goan culture.
Reviewed By RolandDSilva - Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Cannot go wrong with this place if it's authentic Goan food you're looking for. Every dish seems to have been thought about carefully and presented beautifully.
Staff were super helpful especially considering we were a large group.
Tried an assortment of classic Goan dishes and every single one was outstanding.
7. Peep Kitchen
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 268 reviews
Goan, Seafood, Multi-Cuisine Restaurant with Bar. Fresh seafood. Traditional Goan cuisine. Mothers recipes. Few of our signature dishes are Butter chicken, Tandoori chicken, Biryanis.
Reviewed By 3813SEY - Preston, United Kingdom
We were big fans of the food at the previous location. The new location revealed a bright and airy restaurant and food which surpassed our expectations. Over the past two weeks we have visited this restaurant 5 times each time trying at least one new dish and we have never been disappointed. The reason for visiting 5 times ...... we cannot find anywhere in the greater Panjim area that we like as much as this restaurant. The Malai chicken is sublime- words cannot express how delicious this is. The restaurant itself has been furnished with high specification furniture and fittings and the staff are extremely good. We simpily cannot fault it .
8. Laranja
Overall Ratings
4 based on 85 reviews
Derived from the Portuguese word for orange, Laranja at Cidade de Goa is renowned for its multi-cuisine buffet as well as the seafood specialities on its à la carte menu. A show kitchen with live cooking counters, salad sections, a dedicated dessert counter, vibrant orange décor, globe chandeliers and a stage for live Performances make Laranja a lively place at meal times.
Reviewed By Jeannie2207 - Windsor, United Kingdom
We ate several meals in this buffet restaurant. All were good. As well as a large variety of different dishes there were additional items which were cooked on demand, particularly for breakfast. Everything we tasted was good, including the large selection of desserts. The servers were also courteous and helpful. It was mostly very busy so sometimes it was difficult to find a table but the short wait was worth it.
9. Himalaya Restaurant and Bar
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 187 reviews
Reviewed By andreskruse68 - Clitheroe, United Kingdom
Himalaya restaurant and bar is a nice place to get some good food for a very reasonable price. It's not upmarket but has a very pleasant atmosphere. Toilets very clean. It is popular so best reserve a table in the evenings. Even locals will recommend it. We went several times and found all dishes freshly prepared and in particular the Tibetan specialities were very good.
10. Chulha
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 291 reviews
Reviewed By magrodosreis - New Delhi, India
We have spent 5 days in this lovely resort and loved it. The room was spacious and clean, the staff without exceptions friendly and competent, the food in the different restaurants very good and the pool and Gardens outstanding. The beach is big and private and you can walk for hours during low tide.
The only strange thing happened on Sunday when a rowdy crowd of men appeared and monopolized the pool. The staff tried with not much success to prevent them entering the water with their clothes. And as sudden as they appeared they were gone...
The sunset was delightful and the whole experience very relaxing.
All in all a great 5 day experience. Highly recommended.
