Soul Curry, Panjim — Restaurant in Goa

My experience at "The Coastal Tawa" in Margao, which had already raised the bar for Indian cuisine, was eclipsed in less than a week by another multicuisine restaurant called "Soul Curry" in Panjim.

A leisurely Sunday afternoon … an impromptu drive to Goas breathtaking capital city – Panjim … a random search on “Best restaurants near me”…and that how we got to be here. We made our decision solely based on the number of reviews and restaurant ratings ... and we were spot on.

Given that it is located in a peaceful, beautiful neighbourhood, I would unquestionably classify this as a hidden gem. Parking is a little difficult, but possible, you will have to park in the by lanes near the restaurant. We had a short wait, and I've heard that this place could call for lengthly queues during busy times, so I suggest making reservations.

An extremely well-kept dining room with warm lighting and turquoise, blue, beige, and white tones created a cozy ambiance. The tables were spotless; before each customer was seated, they were cleaned thoroughly.

Our cheerful server, Anup, assisted us in selecting from the menu and offered suggestions. The service was prompt.

In regards to the food, I wondered, "Was I too generous with my ratings of other similar restaurants?" 😁… that feeling of wanting to revisit all of your previous assessments because your present experience greatly surpasses them. Our entire meal was a fantastic experience. This is what we ordered.

Cream of Seafood soup : comforting, savoury, and an indulgent seafood soup made with a blend of tender seafood - shrimp, squid, and fish. A flavourful broth enriched with cream, butter, and aromatic herbs.

Murg Banarasi Kebab: grilled tender and juicy boneless chicken cubes in a rich blend of spices, and herbs . The taste was rich and aromatic taste and had a melt-in-the-mouth texture.

Murg Malai Tikka: These tender chicken pieces, which had a texture similar to the banarasi kebab, were infused with delicate spices, cream, and cheese. I'm still salivating.

Chicken Dry Fry: Sautéed with curry leaves and chilies, this dish was bold and flavourful. The chicken pieces were crispy on the outside and oozed umami on the inside.

Paneer Lababdaar: Soft paneer cubes in a spicy tomato-cashew sauce made this dish rich and creamy. It was full of flavour, with a hint of sweetness and mild spice.

Murg Tikka Masala: The grilled chicken gave the meal a smoky flavour, while the garam masala increased the spice levels. The gravy was made with tomatoes, much like paneer lababdaar. Very flavourful overall.

Chonak Thali: A Fish Thali with a vibrant spread offering a delightful balance of coastal flavours and textures. The thali comprised of a. Tisryo Sukha (dry clams curry) brings a spicy, coconut-infused punch. b. Turai (Ridge Gourd) vegetable with grated coconut adds a light, mildly sweet contrast. c. Kismur, a dry chutney-a mix of dried prawn, onions, and coconut, gives a smoky crunch. d. Bhendi Prawn Curry which delivers a rich, tangy gravy with okra and prawns. e. Fried Chonak fish was crispy and succulent, showcasing local coastal flavours. Served with steamed rice, sol kadhi, a roasted papad, a soft chapati, fresh salad, a banana, and a sweet finish of Gulab Jamun, this thali was wholesome and satisfying.

Buter Naan and Cheese Chilly Garlic Naan

9.Caramel Pudding

Fruit Salad with Ice cream

Mini Gadbad Ice cream

The restaurant also gave us a complimentary bowl of seafood papadams in addition to the above.

All the dishes were reasonably priced.

This restaurant surely calls for more frequent visits to Panjim … and it's also one that you can't afford to miss … so be sure to include it to your list of must visits...

I am writing this letter to express my deep disappointment and concern regarding an unpleasant experience I had at your restaurant, which has compelled me to bring the matter to your attention.

On our recent visit, we encountered unacceptable behaviour from a staff member, whose name, as informed by the manager, is "Mahadev" (though I cannot verify the authenticity of this name). We were seated and waiting to place an order for a rice item, but despite several waiters passing by, none approached us or showed any intention of attending to our table.

When my mother politely asked a nearby waiter about the delay, she was completely ignored. The situation worsened when the waiter referred to as "Mahadev" responded rudely and began arguing at our table, displaying a shocking lack of basic etiquette and customer service. His appearance was also unprofessional—sleeves rolled up, tattoos visible, noticeably unhygienic, stinking of sweat and an overall demeanor that was far from appropriate for a hospitality environment.

What added to the disappointment was the manager’s inability to manage the situation effectively, despite making an attempt to calm things down.

Additionally, I have observed a concerning inconsistency in how complimentary items, such as wafers, are being served. On two separate occasions, including the most recent visit, the tables adjacent to mine received complimentary wafers, while ours was ignored however the have served it first few times that I have visited. It appears now that such gestures are selectively offered based on group size or some other internal bias, which is highly inappropriate and reflects poorly on the establishment’s standards of customer treatment This review is not about the complimentary items, but about the unfair and biased service along with Attitude of Rude and perhaps uneducated waiters, which has no place in a professional hospitality setting. As a regular customer who typically visits with just my wife, I expect to be treated with the same respect and attention as any other guest.

Due to this deeply unpleasant experience, we could not even focus on eating so we wasted food on plates and had our food packed instead. This incident has left such a negative impression that I do not intend to return, and I will be sharing this experience with others to ensure no one else faces such treatment.

If customer satisfaction truly matters to the management, I request that immediate and strict action be taken against this the concerned staff member , send him to school if he has never been there before so that he learns manners from a teacher atleast , and necessary steps be implemented to ensure such incidents are not repeated in the future. For me atleast soul curry is...

Excellent food and service! I'd give it 5 stars for the food, ambience, it's quiet location, and service.

The restaurant is aesthetically beautifully - fine dining at its best. Yet, it offers a plethora of options in terms of food for veg and non-veg. The fish here is excellent, with me following my strict vegetarian diet that was finally broken to taste the sumptuous meal. Who can resist freshly fried fish?! The fish is as fresh as it can be and you must not forget to try the fish thali. I absolutely loved every element although I could not finish it all!!!!! Satiating fish curry, ambot tik, fried chonak, shellfish, and much more. The highlight of the thali is the SOL CURRY - gosh! You should not miss this.

Apart from the veg food, I had breakfast here daily, and the Goan Pao bhaji is the most amazing one that I have eaten in Panjim. I tried the alasande bhaji, chole bhaji, and peas with potato. They all had a great combination of masala that was filling for the tummy and a good enough meal for me. This is quite unlike the measly+watery portions (where you cannot even locate the bhaji) served in other popular eateries in Panjim. A must-try for vegetarians looking for authentic Goan pho-bhaji.

I'd also like to mention the Veg Thali. Something that is rare to find in Panjim because I seek good vegetable preparations. This thali aced it with a healthy quantity of vegetables dishes+dal+salad+the traditional Goan kappa (YES, I haven't been served the kappa anywhere else). This was cooked to perfection. The rotis were soft (yes, that's a tough one to find in Goa as roti is not a staple form of the diet and I am a healthy roti-eater who needs them perfectly made - soft and thin). The futi kadi was light and delightful to cool down the body on a hot Goan day. There's also a slice of watermelon and the dessert includes a gulab jamun.

I also tried the perfectly-made American Chopsuey and the Caramel Pudding with the latter melting into my mouth. If you are looking for an amazing dal, do try the the Dal Makhni, smooth and luscious to taste. The Punjabi food is rich to taste.

All in all, the staff takes great care of you and your special requirements. So, whether it is veg or non-veg food, your next stop should be Soul Curry for a fine dining experience at an...