Gunpowder — Restaurant in Goa

“A classic South Indian Culinary Experience in Goa ”

Not being a fan of South Indian Cuisine we were quite reluctant to try GunPowder. But after reading the reviews about it we thought of giving it a try and it was totally worth it. The food was tasty, spicy and I should say “This was the Best South Indian Food I have ever had”.

The only thing I did not like was that when I called them to book a table nobody responded beyond Hello and this happened twice. So, to be on safer side we visited this place early around 12.45 pm.

The ambiance is rustic yet chic. An Old Portuguese House is converted to a Causal Dining Restaurant with the comfortable seatings made of Wooden and Bamboo arranged in the Porch and in the Backyard. The Living Room is converted to a shopping area selling various souvenirs. When we arrived the Porch was full and so we were ushered into their Backyard Seating. Though it was a sunny October afternoon and with no ac, it was pleasant because of the Greenery around. A prior Table Booking is definitely advisable because the tables aren’t many and there is a continuous rush of tourists.

We had the following:

For Starters:

Andhara Prawn Masala Dry: The Star of the Lunch! The prawns and the spices formed a perfect balance with a very tempting aroma.

Squids Starter: I felt it had bit of burnt taste but it was okay-ish.

For Main Course:

Kerala Mutton Curry: Very Spicy! Mutton was fresh and well-cooked.

Rice

Malabar Parotta: Soft and not at all rubbery!

For Desserts:

Mango Panna Cotta: Nice not very sweet.

Walnut, Rum and Raisin Brownie: Served with Vanilla Ice-cream. Even this was nice.

Also, Alcohol is served but we didn’t have any.

Price: For the above lunch of two it costed us around 2400 odd. It is a bit higher on the Pricing Scale but the food and the décor makes it worth.

Parking: Dedicated Parking available.

Service: Pleasant. The person serving us also guided us through the Menu and advised us on the dishes depending on our choices.

Conclusion: It is a nice place to visit occasionally and when you do, do not forget to try Andhara...

Gunpowder Goa — Detailed Veg Review 🌿✨

Gunpowder is a well-known heritage restaurant in Assagao, North Goa. It’s set in a charming old Portuguese bungalow surrounded by a lush green garden and cozy courtyard seating — perfect for a peaceful lunch or dinner plan.

📍 Location: It’s located in Assagao, one of the prettiest and calmest areas in North Goa — with beautiful houses, art shops, and other cafes around.

🍽️ Food (Veg): Gunpowder’s menu focuses on authentic South Indian regional food, with classic dishes from Kerala, Andhra, Tamil Nadu, and coastal areas. The flavours are homestyle, simple, and traditional — not heavy or over-spiced.

Recommended Veg Dishes: ✔️ Mushroom Pepper Fry — Lightly spiced starter. ✔️ Vegetable Stew with Appams — Mild coconut-based stew that pairs perfectly with soft appams. ✔️ Pumpkin Curry — Subtle sweetness, goes well with rice or appams. ✔️ Bhindi Curry — Okra cooked in South Indian masala. ✔️ Gunpowder Potatoes — Dry, flavourful potato fry — great side dish. ✔️ Rasam & Rice — Classic comfort combo. ✔️ Coconut Rice or Lemon Rice — Fresh, flavourful rice options. ✔️ Filter Coffee — South Indian-style, strong and aromatic.

💰 Price Range: Veg mains are around ₹300–₹500 per dish, appams about ₹50–₹80 each, rice ₹200–₹300, and beverages/cocktails ₹300–₹500 each. A meal for two vegetarian diners usually comes to ₹1500–₹2000, depending on drinks.

🍃 Vibe: The main highlight here is the atmosphere — open-air courtyard, lots of greenery, relaxed music, and heritage Goan architecture. It’s an excellent place for long conversations and slow meals.

👍 Service: Staff is polite and attentive, service is relaxed and matches the easy pace of Goa.

✅ Overall: Gunpowder is a great option if you want to try authentic South Indian vegetarian food in a beautiful old bungalow setting. The place is calm, charming and perfect for soaking in Goa’s laid-back vibe.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5) A lovely spot for a relaxed meal with good veg options and...

EDIT (2nd visit): visited this place for a second time, and the experience was far from what it used to be. It's still always packed and busy. The service is still very professional. But the food has taken a hit. The same curries this time were full of hard spices like clove and cinnamon which ruined the experience. The solkadi had a beautiful texture but was too salty. The quantity, it seems, has reduced even more. 4 curries aren't enough for 4 people, and one curry costs upwards of 400 bucks. The appam is nice, but again, far from appetizing. And while the flavors here are still unique, they aren't as lip smacking. The mockahlua is no longer on the menu. We had the coffee nut case, which was very tasty but again, overpriced. Parking is very difficult and in uneven terrain. After paying 4000+ for 4 people, I no longer think this place offers a worthwhile experience.

Very homely atmosphere, and yet there is a lot of professionality. This place is packed with rich people & foreigners and it's hard to get in on a weekend without a reservation. Food is absolutely phenomenal. It's so good that you'll find yourself eating uncontrollably. The curries are mouth watering. The quality of ingredients is top notch. The appam is so light and melts in your mouth. You don't even realize before you finish it. Another peculiar thing about the food here is that it is incredibly light. A single person can easily finish one curry with 2-3 appams and still be hungry for more. Which is great because you get to try a lot of their food, but kind of sad because the food is a fair bit expensive. Solkadi is also excellent, probably the best I've ever tried. The dessert was also really good. I had the mockahlua. The sponge cake was very rich and soaked in rum, and the coffee mousse on top was perfectly sweet and melted in the mouth. Mind blowing experience. If you're in Goa, do yourself justice and go to Gunpowder once to try the finest...