Total Pageviews

Sunday 10 February 2019

Lunchtime Review Sai Leela Restaurant – Calangute Goa




Sai Leela Restaurant is situated on the crazy, busy, main street in Calangute, opposite the Shantadurga Temple and bus stand.




The restaurant offers: Breakfast, snacks and main meals-veg and non veg.  As well as soft drinks and hot drinks. They also have a small selection of alcoholic drinks, at reasonable prices. The restaurant offers A/C and Non A/C, opening 24x7







On entering Sai Leela Restaurant, straightaway I said to MR R, “Does this remind you of the bus stations and market cafes, back when we were kids?”

He sniggered and said, “Actually it does.”

Then I recalled, back in my student days. I used to go to a café much the same as this in Derby, for breakfast with friends, before I started my shift at FHW shoe shop. Shabby, cheap, we called it. But we didn’t care about our surroundings. The most important thing was, they served an ample plate of excellent, inexpensive, food. Would Sai Leela Restaurant do the same?



STAFF & SERVICE

While studying the menu, MR R and I were approached by a smiling, young lady. Her English, seemed somewhat limited, as we asked when seated for a bottle of water. After a little sign language and our very limited Hindi, our request was understood. No sooner had she pulled the bottle from the fridge, a young man ran in and grabbed the bottle, apologizing for his absence. The young lady was the cleaner! Bless, I give her 5/5 for astuteness, in maintaining a customer.

The waiter was a very pleasant guy. God love him, he came back with two sparkling glasses for our water that he proudly poured, as if a fine vintage wine.

He gave us a few minutes to read the menu, then took our order repeating it back.

Food took fifteen minutes to arrive.

A table check was done half way through the meal.

HYGIENE

The non a/c section we sat in was clean. I did not get to see the A/C section as it was closed. The tables, menus, cutlery and plates all clean.  A hand wash area, a little scruffy but was passable at the back of the bar.

FOOD





Palak Paneer Rupees 180/£1.92/€2.19/₽164.86/$2.51/₴69.83

One of the best Palak Paneer, I have yet to have had in Goa.  Indian Palak (spinach) can be really bitter if not cooked right. So many times I have had this dish and it has been very thick and stodgy. The gravy sauce was so deliciously creamy and light and no scrimping on paneer.









Egg Masala Rupees 150/£1.60/€1.83/₽137.38/$2.09/₴58.19

It’s an egg in a gravy sauce, but trust me, I have had many egg masala’s but this one…OMG, and the gravy sauce had just the right amount of spice, just how I like it. Then right at the last minute…you get a kick of mint. Awesome.



Vegetable Biryani Rupees 120/£1.28/€1.46/₽109.90/$1.67/₴46.55

Perfectly cooked rice and vegetables, but the real treat is when you get to the middle of the dish and hit that curry sauce. More than enough for two.











Chapatti Rupees 15/£0.16/€0.18/₽13.73/$0.20/₴5.81









THE SCORES:

                                              FIRST IMPRESSIONS 3/5

AMBIENCE 1/5

STAFF    4/5

SERVICE 4/5

HYGIENE 3/5

FOOD 5/5 5/5 5/5

OVERALL SCORE 3.6/5 Red Hot chillies 
 
 
WOULD I GO AGAIN? Yes. Shree Sai Leela Restaurant, may be no frills, but certainly served an ample plate of excellent, inexpensive, food.
Sai Leela Restaurant
Baga Road, opposite the Shantadurga Temple and bus stand, Calangute, Goa
 
 

No comments:

Post a Comment