Far away in Cavelossim in South Goa there is a place where during season starred hotels and stand alone restaurants buzz with activity, but there is one restaurant that has braved the monsoons and remains open…called ‘Mikes Place’. And come season it is foremost in showcasing Goa at its best – music five days a week and a multi-cuisine menu to match. Brothers James and Mike Barretto create a place for fun and food…their motto “you’ve tried the Rest now try the Best.”The place gives you a warm feel as you enter. Wrought Iron tables with black granite tops. Cane chairs with comfortable black cushions. Place mats in a beige and green damask, one section of the restaurant with tablecloths gives the place a classy avatar in casual sinc. The ceiling is dark – a chocolaty brown reflecting white spots. The laterite stone studded bar at one end has a ceramic monk…maybe a comparatively young monk in an ‘Old Monk’ garb, probably giving a hint of the high spirits thereafter. If you remember Goa of the past, then this place reflects it.
The menu has plenty of old popular favourites. For starters, prawns, calamari and chicken were available, so the choice to order the prawns ranged from – masala, butter garlic, chilli fry, 65, golden fry, rawa fry, we decided on the masala rawa fry. The Calamari choice featured the Batter fried variety. The fish (both the prawns and the calamari) was fresh the Prawn Masala Rawa fried preparation was crisp and crunchy, a great combo with the tomato flavored tarte sauce.
For mains it was the old Prawn Curry and Pork Vindaloo both come with a generous serving to rice. The home styled recipe of the prawn curry was tasty and the prwns really big in size and fresh. Apparently seafood would be the choice recommended when visiting this place. The service staff is helpful and if one asks for recommendations they willingly help. Tips for those who have fondness for spice go for the Chicken temptation. The Chicken Cafreal Masala has been dressed up to get those salivary glands working overtime. The menu showcases a vast variety of continental grilled choice of seafood come season with a few preparations of Indian and continental preparations to woo the holidaymaker. Desserts are a disappointment…the flavour of this off season focused on ice creams only. The service is warm and polite, the ambience is warm and welcoming and come season (October to May) Mike’s Place will be rocking music et al in true Goan style – the tried and tested way.
0832 2871248, 9822160915/ 9822685909
Opp. Dona Sylvia, Mobor, Cavelossim, Goa.
