Ever since one of Goa’s best restaurants, Chef Fernando’s Nostalgia in Raia, shut shop after a glorious innings, we have been on the lookout for a great Goan restaurant in rural Salcette.

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Martin’s Place in Jackniband, Moddi, Navelim is definitely a candidate to take on the mantle of Chef Fernando. We had a lovely lunch there recently.

Martin’s Place- the village bistro & pub
Behind Padre Pio Chapel Moddi, Navelim, Jackniband, Salcete, Goa.
Google Maps location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/AfDQbteY8ZMeo...
For reservations, call 9764368257, 9422641010
WhatsApp: 8149944457
Mondays CLOSED

To get to Martin’s Place, take the turn off for Mandopa, which is straight ahead from Navelim church, on the Panjim-Margao-Canacona highway, towards Chinchinim. As Maria, Jaya, Viola and I were coming from Benaulim, we approached Navelim from the Margao Western Bypass side. After turning right towards Chinchinim, we kept a look out for Bermuda Triangle restaurant on the left hand side of the highway. Soon after that comes a sign announcing the left turn to Mandopa and Padre Pio seminary. There is a sign here for Martin’s Place too. The restaurant is a short drive away from this turnoff. Keep going straight and watch for the next sign directing you to Martin’s Place, located in a lovely setting in this quiet and peaceful Salcette village blessed by the aura of St Padre Pio.

There is plenty of seating at Martin’s, both here and inside. We’ll sit inside on this warm afternoon. This Martin is not connected with the one in Betalbatim. The food here is very homely. The walls at Martin’s Place are decorated with images of scenes of Goan village life. Martin’s wall art also celebrates the good times when parties are on here. In fact, you must make a reservation in advance on 8149944457 (WhatsApp only) if planning to visit Martin’s Place on the weekend, as it hosts many private events and may be shut without notice. Note that Martin’s Place is closed on Mondays

The dance floor and bar are shiny and new, but Martin’s also makes space for the old. The traditional buiyaos and garrafaos on display bring to mind the Goan kitchens of yore and put us in the mood for some traditional fare.

Today, we’re having squid stuffed with choriz (Goa sausage; Rs 350), stuffed crabs (Rs 650), a tossed salad (Rs 200) and stuffed mushrooms (Rs 225) to start

The drinks, the starters, the gossip and the great company all put us in a good mood

For main course, we decided on pork amsol (Rs 270) and beef chilli fry Rs 270 with plain pulao (Rs 160).

One area where Martin has some work to do is in its vegetarian section. Whatever Jaya had from the veg menu was tasty, but none of it was Goan. Goan cuisine, however, has some really great vegetarian dishes like mergol, alsande tonnak and moogachi ghati, which were championed by Chef Fernando. Hope to see these also highlighted here some day

For dessert, we shared a cheese cake (Rs 250) and a tender coconut pudding (Rs 100). That was a perfectly sweet note to end a lovely fun time with my buddies.

Thanks, Martin’s Place. We’ll see you again very soon.

Music:
Heyday Highway / Coconut Island, Hillbilly, Work Hard for a Minute (60s Pop Version), By the Fire, Save It for a Sunny Day / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

#goa #4k #southgoa #goanfood #margao #navelim