Review Ruffles Bar – candolim Goa

If you are looking for English Pub Grub then Ruffles Bar is the place to go.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

A clean, modern holiday restaurant with a charming outside eating area.

STAFF

All staff were well presented and friendly.  Our waiter Wilson was adorable.

Melanie the owner is charming. Although she doesn’t work the floor, she is more than aware of her business.

SERVICE

We had booked and chosen our table beforehand, however diners who had eaten earlier were still seated at our chosen table.  This wasn’t a problem, Wilson apologised and had reserved the next table.

Menus given right away.  

Having visited before just for drinks Wilson remembered our drinks order.

Drinks served quickly and efficiently.

After ordering food it took the customary 20 mins to arrive.

No table check was done during the meal, but asked when the plates were cleared.

During the night, we had to ask for drinks.

 

HYGIENE

Both restaurant and the outside eating area immaculate.

Toilets clean and fresh. Soap, toilet paper but no hand drying facilities.

  FOOD

 

 

 

BEEF STEAK & KIDNEY PIE – SERVED WITH CHIPS OR MASH POTAOES AND MUSHY PEAS

OR FRESH VEG RUPEES 340/£4.15/€4.82/₽298.47/$5.19

The pastry was top-notch. A nice golden top, fell apart in your mouth. A good sized portion.  The beef was tender packed with flavour. Although there was no pieces of kidney, there was a flavour in there. The gravy again, not too thick but not too thin, full of flavour.

I was assured that the pie was homemade by the chef.

 

 

 

BEEF FILLET STAEK – SERVED WITH CHIPS OR MASH POTATOES, SALAD AND PEPPER

SAUCE.  RUPEES 450/£5.49/€6.38/₽395.04/$6.88

Not far off an 8oz steak. I asked for a medium rare, it was perhaps a tad rarer than should be, but to be honest I normally like my steak cooked rare. The only reason I asked for med rare was as a tester to check the skills of the chef. Secondly I have to say I have had some very tuff, battered steak in Goa over the years, when asked for rare. However, on this night my steak had not been under the hammer! It was juicy and succulent just how I like it.

Chips. If you read my blog you know I have a few issues with the amount of chips I get with my meal. Well my friends, I have to say this wasn’t an issue here at Ruffles.

 

Pepper Sauce.   I expected a thick creamy sauce that stuck to my steak and chips. Instead I had a wishy washy, watery thin juice. It was passable, it didn’t affect the taste of my steak, just my expectations, after being given such a lovely steak.

Salad.  If you are familiar with my reviews, then you will know I am nothing but honest. I am sorry, but unfortunately the salad was a no go for me. Apart from it being chunky cabbage and onion, okay some slithers of tomato and green pepper, it not only looked like it had been left out all day under a hot light, it tasted like it too. My grudge here is I am being given a well- cooked piece of meat and all it takes is to give me some proper lettuce. Slice up an onion, grate a bit of carrot over the top and put a grilled tomato on the side.  If you can’t give a proper side salad then please I beg you don’t spoil the meal by offering something that is substandard. Maybe, some battered or breaded onions rings & grilled tomato would have been better.

THE SCORES:

FIRST IMPRESSIONS 5/5

AMBIENCE 5/5

STAFF 5/5

SERVICE 4/5

HYGIENE 4/5

FOOD  Steak & Kidney Pie 5/5 Fillet Steak 3.5/5

OVERALL

 

 

4.5 Red Hot chillies 

WOULD I GO AGAIN?

Defiantly.

With entertainment on every night, and good food this is a perfect place for any European holiday maker to relax at after a day on the beach. If I had one fault not that it bothers me but for a tourist, there is no Wi-Fi.

Fort Aguada Road, Opp. State Bank of India Candolim

CALL US (9am - 9pm)

+91-8380072662

+91-8380082662

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Spotlight - Ashley Afonso Top One Man Band

 

 

This season I have been fortunate on more than one occasion to hear this talented young man. A great night, Ashley will have you tapping your foot and singing along to his diverse range of melodies.

 

 

 

 

 

Also Friday night at Ruffles Bar Candolim.

 

 

Restaurant Review of Eden – Candolim Goa Guten appetit!

This restaurant has something for everyone. Tandoori dishes, Goan cuisine, however the highlight for me has to be their German cuisine.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Set back off the road, opposite club SinQ at Candolim, Eden sits nestled in a beautiful garden setting adorned with trees.

Contemporary, fresh and clean. Throw in a few olive and lemons tress and it almost felt it like a Greek Taverna.

STAFF

Let’s just say they did their job. They seemed very reluctant to engage in conversation. I am not sure if this was because they felt unconfident interacting with European guests. Maybe they were new to the job, or that this was how the owner expected them to perform.   

However, the chefs Roshan and Yohla were completely the opposite. What a wonderful, fun loving couple and amazing chefs they are too.

SERVICE

Having popped in just for a drink the week before, we booked our table.  On the recommendation from Roshan, at the same time we ordered two of their specials that need 24hrs notice.

I must be perfectly honest, I wasn’t expecting either the table or the food when I arrived. I went with the stance that if it didn't happen, I would just order off the menu.

Arriving our table had been reserved.

A drinks menu was given and our order taken as we sat.

While the waiter went off for the drinks another waiter came with food menus.

Saying we had ordered two specials, there was a little hiatus as he explained we had to order the day before. Informing him we had he ran off to the kitchen.  At which time our drinks were served.

 Yohla, came running to our table saying Roshan had prepared our meal, there would be a little wait due to other tables ordering.

This was not a problem, as we wanted to relax, take in the surroundings and listen to Elvis the musician for a while.

Food was served within 25 minutes of ordering.

Although a table check was not done by the waiter, Roshan himself came to our table.

HYGIENE

Impeccable. This season I have been to some good toilets, but Eden’s! Boy oh boy they are the best. We are talking luxury, show home standard.

FOOD

 

 

 

ROULADEN -   Mustard, pork fat and onions, rolled in a large slice of beef – served with salted potatoes and veg Rupees 350/ £4.31/₽311.44/€4.96/$5.25  {ORDER ONE DAY IN ADVANCE}

What can I say, other than, OMG.  Pork, mustard and onions go together is like strawberries and cream. Wrap them up in beef and you have four of my favourite elements. A marriage in heaven. Then with that gravy, thick and so full of flavour, it made you want to lick the plate clean.

If I had one fault with the meal, I was a tad disappointed that the menu said veg and all I got was green beans. I will be honest, I am not a connoisseur of German food, so this may be how it is served. With or without extra veg this dish was excellent.

 

 

KOHLROULADEN – Beef mince wrapped in cabbage leaves with gravy and salted potatoes. Rupees 250/£3.08/₽222.61/€3.54/$3.75 {ORDER ONE DAY IN ADVANCE}

So simple yet full of flavour. Lip smackingly lovely.  I have to point out here that Roshan mince’s his own beef. Kudos to you, you can taste the difference. Once again the gravy was to die for. I would advise anyone to order another dish. Not that it wasn’t good, but as it stood as a main on its own I would suggest a side order.

 

Roshan’s Homemade Coffee Cream Liqueur – SMALL-  Rupees 80/£0.98/₽71.29/€1.13/$1.20  LARGE - Rupees 150/£1.85/₽133.67/€2.12/$2.25  

I have only one word to describe this velvety, decedent tipple. Addictive. It took me back to Christmas’s with my family many years ago, when on Christmas night, my Uncle Stan would crack open his bottles of homemade cream liqueur.

 

THE SCORES:

FIRST IMPRESSIONS 5/5

AMBIENCE 5/5

STAFF 3/5

SERVICE 5/5

HYGIENE 5/5

FOOD 5/5   5/5  5/5 

 

 

OVERALL SCORE 4.75 Red Hot chillies  

WOULD I GO AGAIN?

That would be 100% yes. And so must you. As this little out of the way restaurant, chef’s Roshan and Yhola are definitely not getting the paybacks they deserve. And there is more…

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT

Tuesday Night Elvis Charles Rumion

Wednesday Night Elvis Oleg Kasper

Thursday Night  Namana

Eden Multicusine and Bar, shop no. 1, 2 & 3 of bungalow ' LA ROSE ', Candolim Sequerim road, Dando, Candolim, Bardez
403515 Goa

 PHONE 077220 98912

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Review Kokoons Candolim Goa

A modern Indian diner that without implying, offers fine dining dishes that don’t damage the wallet.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

 Modern, fresh and clean with a noticeable cosmopolitan atmosphere. A vibe of happiness and laughter. Even the outside is appealing, drawing one curiosity that this place has something a little different to offer. So was my curiosity correct?

STAFF

Sudanshu our waiter was very attentive and gracious.  He was professional in his duties, as well as relaxed and friendly in entering in casual conversation.

Prabhjot Singh the owner’s brother was an extremely friendly man, spending a long time conversing with Mr R and I at our table.

Rakesh and Svetlana the mangers are a friendly couple. Although I think Svetlana’s English may be limited Rakesh came to our table after the meal to ask how things were and even came to bid us goodnight when we left.

SERVICE

We booked a table earlier that day with Sudanshu, a charming waiter. On arriving at the restaurant he came straight to us and took us to our table and then served us for the rest of the night.  

Menus already in place and a drinks order taken right away.

Drinks served quickly and efficiently.

During the night we never had to ask for more drinks, Sudanshu regularly came to our table to check.

Food was served within 25 minutes of ordering, which is to be expected when ordering tandoori.

A table check was done after 5 minutes of the food arriving.

Rakesh and Svetlana never stopped all evening working the floor taking orders and delivering food and drink.

The four of them made a great team that reflected in the great standard of service we received.

HYGIENE

I can’t fault the restaurant hygiene.

Toilets implacable ticked everyone of my boxes and you know how fussy I am about toilets!

FOOD

The menu offers a mix of Punjab and Russian that I have to say not only really excited me but also my taste buds. In the end we opted for a selection of Punjab curries.  

ANGLO INDIAN JALFREZI Rupees 190/ £2.31/₽166.11/€2.69/$2.84

A melange of Mushrooms baby corn broccoli bell peppers and onions tossed with burnt garlic and tomato masala served with spinach saag.

OMG Thank you. A restaurant that say veg and sends out a huge bowl of chunky veg in the most decedent smoky and silky gravy I have ever tasted. Then the added surprise of pineapple. This is a must dish to have, under the vegidelicious  section. Let me tell you this was vegidelicious.

 

BUKHARA KOFTA CURRY Rupees 220/£2.67/₽192.34/€3.12/$3.29

Cottage cheese and potato dumpling cooked in a yellow gravy.

I hear you say, “a dumpling of cheese and potato. Boring!” Oh no my friends how wrong you would be. Taking my first bite there were once again hidden extras of nuts and fruit in this scrumptious dumpling that was enhanced by the heavenly flavours of the yellow gravy. I have one word to say, “yum…my.”

 

BHATRI KA MUG FULL Rupees 350/£4.23/₽305.99/€4.96/$5.24  HALF Rupees 190/£2.31/₽166.11/€2.69/$2.84

Traditionally known as Tandoori Chicken. Cooked to perfection and for the first time in a long time we had half. Breast, thigh and leg.

 

ROTI Rupees 30/£0,36/₽26.23/€0.43/$0.45 I know I moan about the price of a roti as it is just flour and water but I forgive it this time as the little tin punnet was so cute.

 

 

 

THE SCORES:

FIRST IMPRESSIONS 5/5

AMBIENCE 5/5

STAFF 5/5

SERVICE 5/5

HYGIENE 5/5

FOOD 5/5   5/5  5/5  3/5

 

 

OVERALL SCORE 4.7 Red Hot chillies  

WOULD I GO AGAIN?

That would be 100% yes. A diamond in the ruff of Candolim.

 

 

Kokoons

Beach Road Vaddi Vaddo Opp Acacia Hotel

Candolim

Tel 7887714717

 

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