I have a lot of people ask me for recommendations for ‘perfect
date night’ spots. And mostly, I cant think of any. But now that I discovered
this hidden gem in Fontainhas in Panaji, let me tell you about this
serene space.
The large green colonial building housing this quaint restaurant
– Desbue – is a part of the La
Maison homestay. I passed by this place occasionally during my frequent walks
in Fontainhas, but it was only recently – out of curiosity – that I actually entered.
It was totally unplanned, I wasn’t even dressed the part.
A friend who was down in Goa and I were heading to lunch at
Viva Panjim, but we hadn’t booked a table and it was super crowded. As a result
of which we walked out and took a walk towards the St Sebastian Chapel in
Fontainhas and decided to enter this fancy looking place!
On stepping in, you enter a classy European restaurant which
smells and looks fresh! The décor – hues of gold and green – curtains, chandeliers,
mirrors, cushions and cozy couches line the room with large windows. As you
move further, the restaurant décor got more vibrant and colourful. How dreamy!
The menu is limited to European delicacies, however, you
have an option of customising it. For example, the wait staff will inform you
that the food will be blend for the Goan palate and enquire whether you want
condiments and spices added to your order.
We, however, chose to try what the chef presents while we
ordered our steamed fish which was delightful. The Leaf Steamed Fish @ Rs 550/-
came with coconut rice, cabbage slaw and fish sauce. The fish was cooked right
and made a perfect meal.
For dessert, we tried the Green Tea Panacotta, which looked
great, but the taste didn’t match up. It was a slight turn down, but the tea
was enough to brighten our moods. We ended our meal with a cup of flavourful
Rose In The Bloom Tea @ Rs 120/-. An infusion of rose petals, liquorice,
fennel, aniseed, black pepper, white pepper and nutmeg, this herbal tea left me
wanting for more.
Related post: Luncheon at Latitude at Vivanta by Taj, Panaji
