Over the last couple of months, whenever I have passed through Lavelle Road, my mind has been fixated on only one place – Lady Baga. This restaurant has been on my foodie hit-list from quite some time now. However, due to my busy schedule, I was not able to visit it. And when the day finally came, courtesy a friend who was in town and happened to invite me to this very place to catch up! More than the meet, I was more excited about getting to check this place out – Known for its quirky interiors and exquisite food.
SHORT REVIEW:
Let me make it clear at the very onset that this is a shack-like restaurant that gives you great vibes. However, it is not an “Authentic Goan” restaurant if you’re looking for one. Don’t let the name mislead you. The food is an amalgamation of various cuisines from across the coastline. I absolutely loved their Goan Surmai Fish Curry alongside the Chilli Coconut Rice. They serve cocktails and alcohol too!
MUST-TRY:
Bebinca, Squid Butter Garlic, Goan Surmai Fish Curry, Chilli Coconut Rice, Baba-O-Riley (cocktail)
DETAILED REVIEW:
While the entrance to the restaurant which is located on the first floor is a bit narrow, it kind of gives you the climbing-up-a-shack feel. Don’t be fooled by the narrow entrance though, as the restaurant in itself is huge. Spread over two floors, the ground floor even features a flea market and a sandy patch overlooking Lavelle Road. A perfect place for a romantic date!
However, I decided to take a table on the second floor, which is again completely hippie themed. I was told they even have a massive projector screen which adds to the ambience late in the evening. This place is a heaven for the insta-addicts/snapchatters, as the walls are adorned with bright graffiti – A total visual treat!
If you’ve not already impressed, let me give you an insight into their drool-worthy menu. Although I generally order a lot of items, this is one day I abstained from doing so, as me and my friend both were not too hungry. Moving on to the items we ordered:
Baba-O-Riley – This is an interesting cocktail, not found on the menu of any other place. I was expecting a tall, fancy glass with garnishing and stuff, but was pleasantly surprised at how simple the presentation was. But let this not fool you into thinking that the drink was as simple! It had a complex mix of flavours – Sour being the most predominant, followed by a mild bitter-sweet taste. Perfect on the palate! This one gets a hands down 5/5!
Lady Baga’s Bubbly – This one again, although a mocktail, is an interesting combination of apple juice, iced tea, sprite and a dash of orange. Very refreshing! It is so easy on the palate that it can be emptied in seconds!
Rissois Verde – This is the vegetarian version of the popular Rissois (which is usually made of prawns, something that I cannot have due to my wretched allergy!). The Rissois were served alongside a tomato sauce and a honey-mustard dip, which tasted amazing.
Lemon Butter Garlic Calamari – Hands down one of the best Calamari I’ve had. The squid was cooked really well and the sauce was perfect, not overly sour nor salty as it usually tends to be. The quantity was massive too!
Goan Surmai Fish Curry – Being a Mangalorean, I am very particular about fish dishes. This Kingfish/Seerfish curry was spot on, with the right amount of spices and a dash of sourness, probably due to the addition of tamarind/kokum. Tastes best with Chilli Coconut Rice/Red Rice.
Chilli Coconut Rice – On hearing the name of this dish, I was quite skeptical, but as I like trying new stuff out, I decided to give it a try nonetheless. And I am so happy I did. I’ve never tasted something like this before, although it is supposedly quite common in few areas across the north-western coast.
Red/Brown Rice – This tasted exactly like the rice found on the coastal belt (Mangalore/Kerala). Unpolished rice that is extremely healthy, but may take some getting used to, if you’re having it for the first time.
Gire Mire Pork Spare Ribs – Another dish which I’m quite critical about is Pork Spare Ribs. With all the other dishes having been exceptional, I had high hopes for this dish. It arrived beautifully plated, alongside fries and veggies as sides. The fries and veggies were crispy and fresh. The sauce in which the spare ribs were served also was amazing. However, the spare ribs were not cooked properly (happens often, very hard to get the consistency right!), making it almost next to impossible to chew on. Realizing this however, the staff immediately came over, apologized and offered to replace/cancel the dish – A really good gesture indeed.
Bebinca – As my regular followers would know, I’m not much of a desserts person. Egged on by my friend however, we decided to order the bebinca. In particular, I don’t like Bebinca at all. However, this dish was totally different. It was so soft and melted in the mouth! It was served hot, with a dollop of vanilla ice-cream on top and a generous drizzle of caramel sauce. Heaven! (Without being overly sweet, mind you!)
After having all of this, I was really full but extremely satisfied. My only regret was the fact that I could not try most of their specials, which sadly include prawns as a base, as a sauce or as a topping. Damn you, prawn allergy! But all in all, it was a day well spent, with yummy food, great drinks and awesome company! What more can a human ask for? (Other than doggos for company, of course!)
My overall rating - 9/10