If you
frequently travel from North
Goa to South Goa, this house in Goa Velha is almost unmissable. Looking at this
old Portuguese house from the outside would make many envious of the people
living there because of its beautiful location. It’s situated on the banks of
the Zuari River on one side and touches the main road on the other, yet it has
an extreme sense of tranquility that you can feel without even entering the
space.
But yes, you can go inside this beautiful and gorgeous villa
called Amrapali House of Grace, sit back for long hours, dine and in fact even
stay there, because this over 100-year-old Portuguese house has been converted
into a boutique hotel and a café.
As soon as you enter, the immaculately kept gardens overlooking
the serene river almost take your breath away. And then the outside area of the
café, which is situated on the river bank, is so beautiful that you will
instantly decide that you don’t want to rush it and would rather sit back,
relax and enjoy the view for as long as you can. And to keep you going, the
café offers you some scrumptious options.
Although the menu is
not very elaborate, it gives you fair options of small plates, large plates,
some sides and burgers and sandwiches. The options are divided in such a way
that whether you eat chicken, lamb, prawns or fish, you will have one dish at
least to tingle your taste buds.
Spiced Lamb Patty
with Date & Onion Chutney and Pickled Vegetables is surely a must try and
for prawn lovers, Prawn a la Plancha with Red Amaranth and warm Anchovy Butter
is a delightful dish, subtle flavours and extremely delicate.
From the large
plates, Red Snapper with Mixed Herbs, cooked in white wine and grilled in
Banana Leaf served with Lemon Rice is a great option. The mild flavours of the
fish offer a great contrast to the lemony rice and together they make for a
perfectly balanced meal.
Their dessert section
is one of the most inviting; the inside of the café with its tastefully
designed ambience makes for a great place to indulge in a chit chat session
with friends over a coffee and a dessert. We opted for the Chocolate Tart and
it was amazing – not too sweet and neither bitter; the flavours of dark
chocolate were just perfect to suit any kind of dessert lover.
If you move a little
further ahead from the café area, you would be able to witness the beautiful
poolside and the area that offers the stay options and this would definitely
urge you to plan a small staycation at this mesmerising property and enjoy more
than just food here.
Whatever
may be the case, Amrapali House of Grace surely calls for a visit and for those
planning a romantic lunch or dinner date, this is an ideal place. Visit and
evaluate for yourself!
