Daily 6pm-midnight. My Favorite Village bar in Goa. Maurice, the Goan owner, has created a true village tavern. If you manage to find this off-the-beaten path bar located in an old villa, head upstairs and grab a table on the balcony and ease into a few glasses of wine and some delicious snacks in a relaxed ambiance with good music and soft lighting. The starter are perfect for an evening of grazing, and the Cantare platter at under Rs 500 is a good option. The dinner menu does offer a small selection of main courses. The drinks list is extensive with both local and imported offerings as well as pitchers of sangria.
Cantare in Konkani means ‘song’ …and yes, we have a song to sing when we visit the old wood paneled lounge situated in the by lanes of Saligao away from the madding crowd. Mr Marius Britto has converted an old double story Goan mansion…antiques et al, to create a cosy niche for people to unwind and relax, perchance break into song after watching a football match on a six feet by six feet projection screen. Climb up a wooden staircase to old world charm. The menu holds an assortment of varied ‘finger food,’ although there is a choice of burgers and continental preparations – for the ravenously hungry. Nibble on the tortilla Chips with mango salsa, or the tomato and Basil Bruschetta. As the mood warms up, the kitchen turns out some hot Crispy Fried Calamari or Tempura Prawns. Dip the snack into the mayo and crunch on the starter between sips of your favorite spirit.
If however you want to linger on…the ambiance does soak into your very fiber, then try out the walnut or Feta Cheese Salad or the BBQ Chicken. That Honey Glazed Chicken Breast in the BBQ sauce is saliva tempting. Besides the traditional burgers, the Rosemary Fish is a hot favorite. A simple grilled preparation flavored with rosemary and accompanied with a potato medallion and blanched spinach – simple and very tasty. If you are there just to chill out after a heavy meal elsewhere, order a Thai style coffee or an espresso. Accompany that with a Chocolate Genache or a Ket Lime Pie. The chocolate and biscuit pudding or the lime flavored creamy pie is just the ‘digestive’ for those with the after dinner cafe habit. However, to pep up your spirits, a spirited nightcap would be just what you would look for. And the spirits could even ignite a song.
0832 2409461
Cemetary Rd, Bardez, Saligao, Goa – 403516
