Rian Restaurant Home made dishes — Restaurant in Goa

I first heard about Rian through the ever reliable source that is a random Reddit thread. This was my first time in Palolem and my first time in Goa in about a decade, so food exploration was the main agenda.

Getting there was an adventure in itself. Monsoon season, potholes & construction rubble everywhere, and me clinging on at the back of a scooty while my girlfriend, who has nerves of steel, navigated the chaos. After looping around the same potholes twice, we finally called the restaurant. The owner personally guided us on the phone. Points for customer service.

The ambiance is so subtle it's practically non-existent. But, and this is a big but, the place was spotless. Not a single fly dared to grace our presence. Tables were spotless too. Very functional.

But let's be honest, we weren't there for the decor. The food, dear lord, the food - the real reason we were here.

Here's what we ordered.

Rava Fry Fish: Golden, crunchy, but not oily. Basically a perfectly seasoned crust, so flawless it seemed to have been applied with a paintbrush.

Rechado Fry Fish: A fiery, garlicky wonder. Just spicy enough to make you feel alive without completely obliterating your taste buds.

Goan Thali: We were vary about this because it often can often be a jumble of average curries. Here though, every little bowl was flavorful and each begging for another spoonful. Nothing felt like filler.

Prawns Balchao: Balanced heat, perfectly cooked prawns. Enough said. The owner himself admitted it was a family secret, and after tasting the perfect balance of tangy and spicy, I'm pretty sure he's some kind of culinary magician.

Bread (specially arranged): Not on the menu for lunch, but the owner actually had fresh Goan bread arranged for us. Hot, fluffy, and the perfect mop for all that masala.

And yes, we washed it all down with bottled Thums Up. The real glass bottle deal, not the plastic imposter.

The owner also moonlighted as our lunch storyteller, explaining the family recipes and what goes into each dish. Honestly, it added a really nice touch.

Final thoughts: When we walked in, I wasn’t expecting much. But the food hit like a plot twist I didn’t see coming. If you’re in Goa, skip the overhyped beach shacks and give Rian a try. This place might not look like much, but it runs circles around half the ‘Instagrammable’...

Tldr: Authentic Goan food in South Goa, friendly and knowledgeable chef Mauvin, great prices, quiet and laid back ambience.

What to order - Goan pork sausage polle sandwich, Goan pancakes, rava fish fry, Goan cafreal, fresh fish prepared as per the chef's liking, freshly squeezed orange juices and tea.

Looking for a restaurant that served Goan cusinie in South Goa near Palolem is surprisingly hard. While most cafes and shacks can cook up a decent continental spread, places like Rian are hard to come by.

The place is a stone throw away from Palolem beach but not on the beach so it's quieter and lets one focus on the food. The menu is limited to classic Goan dishes.

Our first time here we tried the rava fish fry which was cooked to perfection with a spicy semolina crust with fresh lemon, a perfect appetizer. We had the Goan pork sausage dry which was juicy and spicy. We then had chicken cafreal which is a coriander based curry, the coriander was sharp and went well with the rice.

The next time we came, we were craving Goan pork sausage and polle bread, which is a form of Goan bread that is freshly prepared and eaten. We called ahead and the owner Mauvin said that even though the bread is only available at night, he was able to procure two pieces for us. He made us a sandwich with the sausage, the bread and some veggies. Hands down one of the best sandwiches we've had anywhere. We followed this up with fresh orange juice and great milk tea.

Had a nice chat with the owner Mauvin on how he started the place, it's a good story, do make sure to ask him.

And if you enjoyed the food, leave a a rating and a review and help out this Goan family business put out more...

I got a chance to visit this place recently.Had a pleasant experience of trying goan food.

But unlike the prices that are shown in the google images, their prices have increased and the quantity that they used to serve before has decreased. So I was very dissapointed on that aspect.

Because this place was popular for its authenticity and rawness. But now it has become just another expensive restaurant who have become conceited because of its popularity. They have recently updated their prices and now it is as high as a 4 star restaurant,

I did not get the value for my money. So I would recommend to rather visit a shack with beach facing view, and enjoy thalis as good as this one and at much lower prices.

Things we ordered Rians special thali - Rs 800 ( it was not up to the mark, even at this price they provided only one veg curry which is a shame ).

King fish thali Rs 400 ( here also i was provided only 1 veg curry, 1 sol kadhi, 1 fish curry with very thinly sliced piece of fish ( as thin as an onion ring ) just 1 piece. Even though the price I paid was 400. They gave us half of a paratha. Not even 1 full paratha. In other restaurants we got 3 rotis, in fish thalis of just Rs 250.

Also even though the prices are so high the shop doesn't maintain good hygiene standards . Hand wash basin was not cleaned properly, table clothes were having left over food sticking to it, very limited fans for few guest. Rest of the tables don't have fans.

Note : Taste is good, but if you want to save up your money or are on a budget then don’t visit this places because of its hype, you ll find much...