Fisherman’s Wharf Panaji, Goa : Restaurant Review

Driving around Panaji city on a Saturday night gave me a taste of how weekend nightlife around the capital city is these days, after the soul fell out of it.

The few Saturday nights we’ve spent in Panaji city over the last few months have been similar. Go with great expectations, only to return quietly subdued.

We stopped by the Fisherman’s Wharf in Panaji, Goa. It’s a somewhat posh seafood and Goan cuisine restaurant that has served us plenty of happy experiences in the past. When we entered, the restaurant was semi-full with patrons, most of them tourists putting up at nearby hotels. We couldn’t help but notice the lone singer trying her very best to entertain the spiritless guests.

Let’s start with the pros. Firstly, I’ve always been a fan of the location and ambience. Housed in a heritage home, it comes with all the right feels. The open balcao, courtyard in front, along with indoor seating if you feel like it. The walls are adorned with quaint Goan artifacts along with a few pots and pans, lest you forget that the kitchen is in the vicinity.

The service is quite good. The steward was with us in minutes and came back at least twice to take our orders.

In the past, I’ve tried plenty of seafood dishes. From succulent prawns to the freshest fish, every dish was cooked to perfection and bursting with flavour. I have highly recommended the Goan fish curry, with its spicy kick.

However, this time around we asked our waiter for recommendations. He recommends the wok tossed broccoli. I’m somewhat wary about this choice. Nonetheless, we go with it.

Cooked with garlic and chilli, the wok-tossed broccoli is somewhat hit-and-miss. I can’t say it was terrible but it just didn’t hit the right spots.

Next, after some deliberation we order the grilled chicken. Presented on a bed of mashed potato, it was not much of a surprise. However, it was good to taste and came with a decent sauce. Overall, nothing to rave about but at least inoffensive to the palate.

By and large, everything in Panjim and beyond is rather expensive wherever you perch your derriere, and Fisherman’s Wharf is no exception. Prepare to pay Rs.350/- upwards for vegetarian starters and 450/-+ for seafood.

It was not quite 10 pm when we noticed most of the crowd dispersing while some seemed about ready to nap at their table.

My dining at Fisherman’s Wharf, Panjim experience is symbolic of a lot of my eating out in Panjim on weekends : practical, occasionally delectable, sometimes sloppy and lacking any zing. I am quickly losing reasons to drop by Panjim on a Saturday night again.