The oriental cuisine space, especially in Panjim, has undergone some noteworthy change in the past few years. Some restaurants that were once known for good food and service started going downhill till it was decided that it would be best to shut down operations, while some new ones have sprung up and have managed to impress in their capacity. However, one oriental restaurant has been standing rather tall and been noticing all the aforementioned action from a comfortable spot. Goenchin, undoubtedly Goa’s oldest and the strongest contender to being the best oriental restaurant in the capital city, has continued to impress with its consistent high quality of food and service and therefore, enjoys a loyal customer base that frequents this restaurant time and again.
In the rare event that one has not experienced dining at Goenchin yet, now would be a great time to sample their offerings, for the special menu that they have crafted in sync with the Chinese New Year, is a notch above the offerings on the regular menu.
The Crab Meat Broth soup was the first to catch our attention and hence we chose to start with it. Apart from the typical flavour that crab meat adds to the soup, the slight hint of spice makes this one a winner. The subtle spiciness managed to surprise us pleasantly. The next to land on our plate from the menu were Chicken, Leek and Snow Mushroom Dimsums that were steamed to perfection and did their job of preparing us for the main course that was next to arrive to our table.
From the main course options available, the Three Flavoured Prawns, ideally with Szechwan Fried Rice Hawkers style, is a must try. Said to be the Chef’s personal favourite, Three Flavoured Prawns consists of prawns braised in sweet, sour and spicy sauce, thanks to the main ingredients – shitake mushrooms, bell peppers and chillies that add their distinct flavours to the dish. Another dish that comes really close to being the best in this section is the Mandarin Sesame Duck – duck roasted Mandarin style with just the right amount of succulence to satisfy your taste buds. Those who are fond of vegetarian food can opt for Wood Ear Mushroom, Cottage Cheese and Asparagus Kowloon which is basically a dish consisting of the ingredients in the name of the dish, cooked in a tangy sauce. Exotic vegetables stir fried with green chilli spring onion can also be a good alternative for the veggie-lovers.
This festival of sorts featuring the new menu is currently on and will go on till the end of this month.
