C D' Souza — Restaurant in Mumbai

A true hidden gem nestled in the lanes of Marine Lines serving Goan food like you would have in a Goan friend’s home. In what was, and still is quite a bit, a predominantly Catholic area, is situated C D’Souza. More than a restaurant it is a portal that will transport you to a different time and place. The time being, a more romantic, slow-paced past and the place, the quaint bylanes of a Goan village.

The genial, ever-smiling and helpful owner, Jude, will welcome you into a simple, yet characterful room, surrounded by antique wooden furniture and paintings by upcoming artists. He will then proceed to warn you that you will only enjoy the place if you are a hardcore non vegetarian. Music to my ears! Once it’s settled that the meatier the merrier, he will proceed to give you his recommendations. Best to leave the menu and listen to Jude…he knows what he is saying. The second warning he will issue is that the food will take time…everything is freshly prepared.

We started off with a Chicken Cutlet unlike any cutlet I’ve eaten before (& trust me I’ve eaten quite a few). This cutlet is thick, stuffed to the brim with chicken mince, coated with semolina and deep fried. It comes to your table hot and you can instantly feel the freshness of the food.

My wife ordered a pork sorpotel with pav. The pav was the softest I’ve eaten and was served warm. The sorpotel perfectly spiced with generous pieces of pork and offal. I ordered a steak with onions, potatoes ands a sunny side up egg. The steak was so tender that one didn’t need a steak knife to cut through it…a regular dinner knife was adequate. The sauce was peppered with, well, peppercorns, yet wasn’t spicy. On the contrary the grilled onions leant it a subtle sweetness. The fried potato slices were crisp on the outside and soft on the inside, perfect to soak up all that beautiful sauce. The steak was washed down with a refreshing fresh lime soda.

For desserts, they have a variety of fruit tarts and plum cake. The owner generously sent us two slices of plum cake and rest assured, I will be picking up a bar of the same on my next visit.

Talking about my next visit, it will be very soon. As I keep hearing stories of how Goa isn’t the same anymore…too crowded, too expensive, lost its soul etc etc…I think a trip to C D’Souza seems better than booking a flight to the erstwhile...

Most wonderful Goan food i have had since ages. So delicious that you want to lick the plates with your fingers. Their superb assortment of Mawa Cakes, Tarts and Coconut Custard compel you to try each one for dessert. Believe me when i say that I did. Their savouries - Puffs of different fillings fly off the shelves as soon as they come out of the oven. Hats off to their seasoned Chef (20 years experience at the Taj). He shall be more than glad to come to your table if you wish to have your own food preferences or if you want something made differently or if you desire something totally off the menu. Another added advantage is that if you are craving for a smoke before your meal arrives and if you are out of cigarettes, then, you can bumm one from him. The one Server (when I was there) - Abdul deserves a mention for his prompt and friendly service and also for his manners. I cannot end without mentioning the affable owner - Jude D'souza who welcomes and greets every customer and if he isn't too busy, shall pull up a chair next to you and regale you with stories and conversation. Jude is one of four siblings out of which, my dear friend Tommy, unfortunately passed away @ two years ago. Assisting Jude is his petite and pretty Filipino wife who is constantly running around all the time. Her beautiful and warm smile lights up the entire restaurant. This is the place to go to, with hard-core non vegetarian friends and family (Vegetaarians please excuse) for delicious and authentic Goan food with the comfort feeling of dining in a Goan home. I suggest that you fast for atleast 2 - 3 days before you decide to dine there and ofcourse, cancel all appointments for that day and enjoy food the Goan way. And Jude, it would be great if you could host a guitarist playing live and a Karoake Night on Fridays...

A dining experience that was less about eating and more about being welcomed into something personal, something intimate. The food? Authentic, rich with nostalgia, carrying the unmistakable warmth of a home-cooked meal. Every bite felt like a memory, something familiar yet special—like a story told in flavor.

Then there’s Jude, the owner. He doesn’t just run the place; he orchestrates it. A conversationalist, a host in the truest sense, making sure every detail is just right. He recommended dishes, checked in often—not out of obligation, but because he wanted to. That’s the difference. That’s what makes an experience unforgettable.

A curious twist—the place is closed on Sundays, ironically the day I’d most want to come. And with its 11 AM to 7 PM hours, dinner is off the table, so to speak. It means I’ll have to plan my visits carefully. But let’s be honest—when a place is this good, you make the time.

The buff tongue roast—exquisite. Rich, precise, unforgettable. The Goa sausage chili fry? Bold, flavorful, with just a hint of resistance—not a flaw, just character.

The chicken potato chop? Pure comfort, like something your mother’s best friend would make just for you. And everything else? Baked to perfection. Thoughtful. Intentional. Exactly as it should be!

Walking in, it’s like stepping into a different era. Fontainhas, Panjim, the 1960s—it’s all there in the atmosphere, the character, the charm. It’s not just a restaurant. It’s a moment in time, preserved, waiting to be...