Little Banana Goan Restaurant — Restaurant in Goa

It's an odd name for any restaurants, particularly because the menu has everything to do with seafood and nothing to do with bananas. It's easy to miss if you were driving past since it's little more than a few tables in a driveway. But Little Banana is on Google Maps, and the food that Francisco serves is amazing enough to be recommended in places as distant as Bangkok and Sydney.

Its owner — as well as its main chef and waiter — Francisco, a tall, bespectacled fellow who looks like he might have been a garage mechanic. And chances are high that at some point during your meal, he'll swing by to ask you how you're enjoying the food — the correct answer is, "mmfphmn delicious!" — and then share his amazing story with you.

Francisco is a man who ruined his life and then rebuilt it from scratch. And he will confess his story openly to anyone who will listen. He got hooked on drugs early. It started with easy stuff, and then moved on to harder and harder ones, until he was good for virtually nothing. No one would hire him, and his marriage was in shambles.

One day, Francisco shook himself awake and realized that he could either continue this way to an early death or wake up and pick up the pieces. He travelled to a rehab centre and submitted himself to a cold turkey — and completely kicked all his addictions.

"My wife is wonderful and generous," he will say gratefully. "She took me back."

Not only that but his mother-in-law allowed him to set up his now famous restaurant in the driveway. The mainstay and #1 favorite with all guests are his crab entrées. He goes to the Goa bazar every morning and get the day's catch fresh from the sea.

We had crumb fried pomfret and a mesmerizing crab curry in coconut milk and Goan spices. Washed down with Coke — Francisco does...

Tucked away in a quiet corner in Vanelim, South Goa , Little Banana is a quiet little restaurant but packs a Big Punch when it comes to Goan flavours and Authenticity. Being a huge fan of Goan cuisine I had to try this place for the Highly recommended Little Bananas Special fish thali. From outside Little Banana looks unassuming but once you step in you are transported to the Old Rustic Goan setting. Something nostalgic for many visitors who come to dine here. It took me back to the simple Goa of yesteryears. Amazing. Onto the main event...FOOD... The Thali came with 5 different kinds of Rawa fried fish. Kingfish, Tarlo, Silverfish (Vellio), Sardines, 5 medium sized prawns and Lepo. That was the part I loved the most and saved for last. Then we had boiled rice, served piping hot, Lovely aromatic fish curry, Tesreo (clams), Crab Sukkha, Pallya, Red Bhaji, sol- kadi, Kishmur, salad, pickle and a LITTLE BANANA. All the Fish and Prawns were incredibly fresh and fried to perfection. The marinade had the right amount of spices so that the flavours of the fish are not overpowered. . All the accompanied side dishes were flavourful and spiced medium. I could see some foreign tourists too and enjoying their thali without any complaints about spiciness. The sol-kadi was amazing. My server was attentive, and was around asking what I needed. The portions were right and the price reasonable. All in all I would recommend this nostalgic eatery in Goa for those who love authentic goan flavours and laid back late...

10 months 22 days - that's how much time I wasted in delaying this write up. Little Banana, however, wasted no time at all in bringing us the most delicious seafood thalis and pork that we could stomach. We had lunch there for around 8 days of our 10-day trip in January. It didn't matter that the chonak, surmai, bhaji, or the bangda rechado fry were excellent - the tisreo outshined them all. If you're particularly fond of clams, you'll find a mouthwatering bowl at Little Banana (I didn't take a pic of this because I'm a glutton).

And all of this is cooked in their kitchen by an 80+ year old wonder of a goan chef; and managed in their frontyard by her son, Francis and their family. They make sure to serve Goan legacies in a plate and pair with a side of unadulterated nostalgia. If you're in South Goa and are looking for a good place to eat near Benaulim, Colva or Sernabatim - this is it.

Initially I was sceptical of writing this review - I didn't want it to become commercialised. But I do want Little Banana to get the recognition it deserves. Also I genuinely relished the food at Little Banana.

A small favour please, but if you're still reading and you end up going to Little Banana because of this review, please tell Francis that Mignonne (pronounced: min-non) sent you? Hehe. P.s. - Ramona's supermarket nearby sells some smashing homemade bibinca. Go buy 1/4kg at least, and try some. You can...