Grumps — Restaurant in Goa

Great ambience, great food and alcohol and a laid back atmosphere. Somewhat upmarket patrons. Try this place and you will be surprised. Edit: So I need to get this out of my system. The short review above is still valid but I wanted to add some more funny context to it. The short review above is there because it was a spur of the moment thing as I was there in the establishment. Now I have some time to write more about the experience. My older relative was invited to this place by their friend and I was invited to accompany them. I agreed. It was a Saturday night and the meetup would go on late at night and into the early next morning. We arrived in a car outside the establishment but were unsure where the place was to go and no obvious signs except on Google Maps (it was also dark). We eventually went into the establishment after a short walk, which has these double doors to go in. Now before you enter you don't think too much about the place. But as we entered the place, it looked quite cozy and welcoming. The warm ambient lighting created a laid back atmosphere which I like. Bar to the right, air conditioned room with seating for small to medium groups to the left. And there is a larger open area seating beyond this. It really did feel like a best kept secret (I wrote this in my original short review but I edited it out now as "the best kept not-a-secret in the area" which admittedly sounds cringe and not very descriptive as intended). This place is after all new as it was opened just a month or so before. We were welcomed by the owners, Mr. K and his wife. Friendly people. We met the friend and we set about ordering drinks and some food. I am terrible at ordering drinks so the lady barkeeper kept asking me politely what I wanted and how I wanted it. I eventually settled on a beer and a prawn dish with a buttery gravy. A big group was already there celebrating after the conclusion of a sports tournament. Everyone was in a good mood and spirits. The place and the food and the drinks was a big contributing factor to this. Our host and the relative set about introducing us to the group and it was great. The owners also joined the group when they weren't too busy. I am not a big conversationalist so I just talked less and heard more. Everyone seems to have had very diverse experiences. So I kept to myself and my beer and meal, which is fine. This place is about relaxing and enjoyment. The establishment also plays music (no idea about live music) which includes hits from the 80s/90s from genres like pop, edm and hip hop which fits the place and the vibe it's going for. Though it may be because of the groups that were there at that time. The food itself was great. The prawn dish ordered with the gravy was quite tasty if slightly sour for my personal taste. I can't quite comment on the drinks as I only had a beer but people were constantly ordering a lot of drinks so it must be good. Now I wrote the short review above right then as the night went on and I felt like I should give a review. My intention was to praise the place for what it is and its future. So I wrote and posted it. What I didn't expect was to hear back loudly what I wrote from Mr. K's wife and it's criticism to her staff and/or her friends! She must be checking the Google Map reviews of her establishment and must have come across my very recent review. This was just like an hour after posting. She seemingly didn't realise I was still there near the bar or didn't remember I had greeted her like an hour or two before! From the tone of her voice I assume she didn't appreciate my praise, criticizing my writing style and wondering who the hell this writer was. A critic being criticized was a funny moment for me. Part of me felt a little sad that my well intentioned appreciation in fact was not appreciated. I thought I should go explain the situation to her. But I chose to just let it go and keep mum and just enjoy the rest of the late night, the meal and the beer. I try not to be grumpy. Anyways, good luck Mr. K and your wife! This place is great...

Riches to rags.. if food standards could nose dive like the Sensex on a Trump Tariff day, the Grumps menu, and every single appetiser and main course we ordered last night (bar bites, small plates ans big plates in the menu description) was a similar disaster.

All appetisers were fried, tasteless and paired with sauces and garnish that left us in disbelief. How does the Grumps chef go wrong with fried potato, a national staple? The answer is by dumping a terribly tangy sauce and nuts and god know what else, to make a gourmet chaat which is at first bite shocking and inedible.

The corn cakes again chaat inspired, and then the crab cakes with an over zesty sesame sauce with no balance whatsoever.

I had the fish-chonak for mains, came with an Asian wonton sauce, the kind one uses at a momo cart, and a side portion of rice. My wife ordered the Dan Dan noodles, a sweet Maggi inspired pasta resembling strange concoction with a sprinkle of chopped mushrooms and bok choy! The chef should definitely take a break and rethink his career options in life, because this was again a disaster of epic proportions!

We celebrated my last birthday at Grumps with a bunch of close friends, the food, by far an awesome culinary experience. I’m still in shock that the menu could go from a strong 8/10 to the worst meal I’ve had in the last few decades in any restaurant, and that too in this country of ours where the food scene is so evolved.

P.S. In my younger years, I was in the restaurant business for 15 years, and have worked with some amazing chefs globally. On an average, I eat out at the very least 5 meals every single week since over 30 years, in Restuarants and cafés, and have never written a negative review in my...

Rating: 2/5* "A Disappointing Experience – Not Worth the Hype"

I recently visited Grumps in Goa, and unfortunately, it did not live up to expectations. If you're looking for a true Goa vibe or a memorable fine dining experience, this is definitely not the place.

To start with, the service was rushed and impersonal. The staff seemed more focused on getting customers in and out quickly rather than ensuring a pleasant dining experience. We were barely seated before our drinks were brought out, and the food came out even faster, making the entire meal feel like it was being served on a conveyor belt.

The menu was extremely limited, with only a handful of options to choose from. It's not even close to the diverse, flavorful offerings you'd expect from a coastal destination like Goa. The food was mediocre at best — I would rate it a 5/10. Nothing stood out, and the flavors were dull and underwhelming.

If you’re visiting Goa and hoping to enjoy that laid-back, beachy atmosphere with great food, Grumps is a letdown. The ambiance felt more like a rushed city restaurant than a place that captures the essence of Goa's relaxed charm.

This place might be okay for locals with limited fine dining options, but if you're coming from a metropolitan city where fine dining experiences are more sophisticated, you'll find this below par at best. Save your time and money, and look for a better spot that truly reflects the vibrant...