Monsoon memories

Looks like Monsoon is gone and we are left with the memories of the monsoon. It's always colourful, mostly greenery all over and all other colours glow around those lush greenery. And wow those gardens, they dance beautifully with blooming variety of flowers for they are happy during the monsoon.

Back home, monsoon season is my favourite season, walking to school through the paddy fields, witnessing the paddy growth from ploughing the fields to harvesting. The long walk to the school was pleasant in this weather and most of the time I used to love getting wet in the rain. The gushing water from the stream throughout the walk was so soothing. Nature had so much those days and now we are left with buildings and apartments in place of paddy fields and streams which is now only a memory, sweet monsoon memories. 

Palacio Do Deao, Quepem, Goa

Well, I've been visiting Goa for quite a few years now and lot of research get into whenever I plan an outing. So from the very first visit, I had Palacio Do Deao in my wish list and every time only the distance from North Goa was stopping me from getting into this place. So this time I had planned a trip to South Goa and made it to Palacio Do Deao.

What is Palacio D0 Deao?
It's a Goan-Portugal architectural marvel built by the priest who discovered Quepem taluka in Goa. It's built so beautifully with amazing techniques of those days. It's huge and has a beautiful garden. A lovely couple Ruben and Celia has put in all their efforts in restoring this place and in letting this place for historical visits and for pre-reserved lunch. Do check my travel blog on my experience about the palace and the yummy food which was served at: https://travelsoiled.wordpress.com/2015/08/26/palacio-do-deao-goa/ 

I come with the strong recommendation about this place though it's far from what you might plan while at Goa but it's worth.

Giri Manja's

Part 2 of http://cutesmilealways.blogspot.in/2015/08/want-to-try-authentic-mangalorean.html 

Another recommendation goes to Hotel Giri Manja's which is near Car Street. Similar to Hotel Narayana, this was my recent find providing authentic seafood cuisine. The place is not a fine dine types but the food goes on to taste better than what you get from the five stars.

Restaurant Name:

Giri Manja's

Address:

Behind Indian Overseas Bank,

Near Badrai College,

Mukhyaprana Temple Rd,

Bunder,

Mangaluru,

Karnataka 575001

Timings: 11:00 – 3:00 (lunch only) - Sunday Holiday

Average Waiting Time: 10 to 20 Minutes

Cost for 2: 500 (depends on what kind of fish you opt)

Specialty: Sea food

They provide authentic GSB type food along with the season specific fish cuisine. I have tried most of the fish fries here and my all time favorite is the crab roast. The restaurant is a little dificult to find even for a Mangalorean but every Auto driver will know this place and you can always rely on Google Map and this restaurant is listed on Google Map.

What to order:

Like Narayana, this hotel comes which a template of meals (GSB style) which includes Boiled or White rice, fish gravy (mostly sardine curry), pickle, vegetable sabjis or curry. And the fish fries which you have ordered. Pricing and variety of fishes depends on the season. don't forget to try their cocum juice.

These are the 2 restaurants I suggest you not skip while you are on a Mangalore trip. You can refer the following website for best Mangalorean restaurants: http://www.the3hungrymen.com/  

Want to try authentic Mangalorean seafood at Mangalore?

I always want to try the local cuisines while I travel. But I never thought of finding an authentic Mangalorean cuisine restaurants in Mangalore while I was staying here. Long after I shifted to Bangalore, I found this small hotel, which was very famous by the time I could make a visit. That’s Hotel Narayana in Bunder, which is very close to Dakke (Fishing Dock of Mangalore).

One more reason for not trying out this place was, we usually have home cooked food and when we go out for lunch/dinner we always preferred chicken or fine dine restaurants. But all this while I did not have an idea what I had missed.

So here comes my 2 recommendations for authentic Mangalorean food, when it comes to Mangalore its Seafood. One is Hotel Narayana at Bunder and the second one is Giri Manja’s near Car street. (I have provided the details in the next post)

First recommendation:

Hotel Narayana

Address:

Near Kalikamba Temple, 
Gopalkrishna Temple Road, 
Bunder, 
Bhavathi,

Mangaluru - 575001

Karnataka

Timings: 12:30 – 3:30 and 07:00 – 09:30

Average Waiting Time: 20 to 30 Minutes

Cost for 2: 500 (depends on what kind of fish you opt)

Specialty: Sea food
Directions: Google lists this restaurant 'Hotel Narayana, Mangalore'

My mouth started watering while I’m filling in the above details. This is not a fancy or fine dining place. It’s a mess kind of place but the food served here will beat the quality and taste of a five star hotel. Always try to be there by 12:30 in the afternoon or be prepared to wait for at least 20 to 30 minutes and to share your table with others. I have always been here for lunch and believed this place was closed for dinner but the google listing displays the timing 12:30 – 3:30 and 07:00 – 09:30

What to order:

This hotel comes which a template of meals which includes Boiled or White rice, fish gravy (mostly sardine curry), pickle, one vegetable sabji or curry. Once the waiter gets the thali, he will come with a thali filled with variety of fish fries and you chose whatever fish you would like to have. Pricing and variety of fishes depends on the season. Don’t forget to try the special powder which is the fried remains of fish fry. Yummy..! Also, the special butter milk.

The quality and taste of the cuisine is no doubt. No one can replicate the taste of the fishes at Narayana. Yummy, mouthwatering. This place is a must try when you are in Mangalore.

August 15^th is a holiday at Hotel Narayana. I remember driving all the way to Hotel Narayana during Independence Day to find the restaurant closed. Imagine our hungry stomach craving for the fish fries of Narayana. :)

Sadly, I do not have any photographs of this place or the cuisine as I was always into hogging whenever I was at this place.