It takes a certain level of push to get us driving to Old Goa on a weekday afternoon but if the reason’s as compelling as the food at The Rasoda, we’ll gladly make the trek. A little over a year-old, this quintessential family restaurant serves up the yummiest Rajasthani thalis and North Indian khaana in all of Goa (nope, this isn't a tall claim). Mithai, chaat, kachoris, North Indian staples or ghee-laden Rajathani dishes… The food at The Rasoda makes you feel right at home.
If you’ve lived in Goa long enough or have had a vacation that’s run into weeks, you’ll know the yearning for chaat and chole bhature is real. And now, we know better than stopping at the first mithai shop we spot. The Rasoda doesn’t just stop at your regular pyaz kachori, mirchi vada or faluda. It goes over and beyond the realm of the typical with a vegetarian spread that includes North Indian favourites like daal, paneer, kebabs to even Amritsari kulchas, saag and makki rotis and tawa parathas. All the punjabis in the house, don’t forget to bring along massive appetites.
Spread over two floors, the lower floor has a drool-worthy mithai counter and wears a more cafe-like vibe, while upstairs is a mini Choki Dhani complete with floor seating, Warli art walls and embroidered bolsters. Naturally, the bigger families preferred the upstairs, leaving us to enjoy our massive thali in peace and quiet.
Since it was a little past our lunch time and we were unreasonably hungry, we got ourselves a Maharaja Thali; it’s one of Rasoda’s specialities and the best thing to order when you want a little of everything.
While we were warned that the helping was enough to feed four, we went for it with unwavering belief in our appetite. What followed, was a thali that was a combination of multiple plates with 40 different dishes and accompaniments. A mix of Rajasthani and Punjabi food, we loved that we got a bit of chaat, tandoori kebabs, gatta kadhi, dal makhni, gulab jamun, khasta kachori, mangodi ki subzi, papad pyaz subzi, assorted rotis and naans and chaas to wash down all the gluttony. Needless to say, it was one of the most authentic, hearty meals we’ve eaten and hands-down the only thali to cure our longing for North Indian grub.
What makes The Rasoda stand out is not just that they recreate recipes from their grandmother’s kitchen but ensure that the hospitality is rendered in true Rajathani style. So are we going back to parcel some jalebis and samosas soon? Of course, we'll be right there, sitting on the charpai.
