Ghoomar Restaurants - Goa — Restaurant in Goa

We, a strictly non-vegetarian Goan family, were eager to explore Ghoomar Restaurant on Monday, 13th November 2023, with the intent to try their renowned Rajasthani thali, which we heard was very authentic. Although my family was hesitant about exclusively trying vegetarian food, I convinced them to give it a try.

Arriving at the restaurant, we admired the Rajasthani-themed ambiance with its paintings and decor. We informed the waiter that we'd like to order two thalis for us adults, while the children preferred lighter vegetarian dishes, considering a single thali might be overwhelming for them. However, the waiter insisted that all four of us must order the thali without the option to share our meals.

Despite explaining that we were non-vegetarians trying to experience vegetarian food without the capacity to finish four thalis, the restaurant staff remained adamant about their policy. We felt disappointed as our request for flexibility, considering our eating preferences and children's appetites, was disregarded.

It's common in Goan non-vegetarian thali restaurants to allow sharing due to varying eating capacities, unlike the rigid policy enforced at Ghoomar. This inflexibility led us to feel disheartened, as we believe customers should have the freedom to order according to their preferences.

The disappointment stemmed not just from missing the opportunity to explore the cuisine but also from feeling like the restaurant prioritized profit over customer satisfaction. Our eagerness to venture into vegetarian dishes was overshadowed by the restaurant's inflexible approach, leaving us feeling...

After my Ghoomar experience, I request Google to add Zero or Below Zero rating.

To start with the location is at tip of turn and slope on busy Chogm Road, with limited parking space.

The interior is well and amazing. You are greeted and you can here live classical music. The ambience and entrance was a pleasant experience and that's were it ends.

The utensils are wrapped and open. I was host for an official lunch, being Tuesday had to opt for vegetarian hotel or else even roadside eatery would have been better options.

In my plate their were only 7 bowls in other 2 guest it was eight. The glass had a crack and chipped and we asked to be changed.

The service is one of the worst, the servers are not groomed with not so clean clothes. They are at times rude and untrained.

They spilled buttermilk while serving and spill food too. While serving since I had one bowl less, he took and empty bowl from other person plate and gave it to me. Such thing I have never experienced.

There was a hair in my daal and I asked to replace the bowl, instead of taking it back, he kept it on table. I had to ask him twice to remove it.

The Rajasthani culture is to persuade the guest to eat, over here it was rudeness.

It was not only us but even our adjoining table also had bad experience. Even in billing counter there was another lady complaining about bad service.

All this for 500...

This place was such a great find! We walked in just 10 minutes before closing — we were starving and honestly didn’t even check the time. But they welcomed us so warmly, you’d never guess it was the end of their shift.

They greeted us with turbans and big smiles, instantly making us feel at ease. The place itself was really pretty too!

The food? So good. I’d never tried it before, so I don’t have a comparison — but I really enjoyed the bati churma, the hot rotis, a dry leafy sabji, that refreshing green drink, and of course, the jalebis. They also served a sugar-free kheer with some kind of powder sprinkled on top — it was a surprisingly delightful little treat.

I usually double-check reviews even for hidden gems, just to be safe. But this thali caught me completely off guard — I thought I’d walked into a generic spot, and instead I was served an all-out Rajasthani feast! 🤣 So filling, and so satisfying.

The staff was lovely too. We didn’t even realize it was their closing time until my dad explained we’d been hunting for a place to eat.

I wish I’d gotten the food names and clicked some more pictures, but I was so hungry I was just focused...