Hailing from an Army background, traveling has always been an integral part of my life. In fact, staying at one place for too long gets me restless. There are times when I want to run away to another city and start afresh, there are times when I want to take a break and travel to any random part of the country. Yes, travel excites me, and I wish to indulge in it further. More of that later 🙂
Traveling is not only about reaching new places- it’s about being introduced to a new way of living, new habits, new feelings, new experiences. It’s a lot about self discovery. And it’s strangely exciting how it helps you develop as a person. There are so many people to meet, so many conversations to be had, so many new friends to be made and of course, so many new cuisines to be tried.
I seem to have been stuck with a heavy dose of nostalgia, and here I am reminiscing the good old days back in Goa. The sun, sand, sound of the waves crashing on the beach, the breeze (sometimes strong enough to knock down your wine glass) the night markets, the beer, the food, the clothes, the bike rides at 1am, the parties, silently staring at the waves sitting next to your favorite people, those comfortable silences…there are too many reasons Goa is special to me. Hahahahaha.
While I am on this trip, I might as well pen down a few thoughts before moving on. And as fate would have it, I am stuck with a memory of food. Gorgeous food. Oh so deliciously gorgeous food. I am sure you’d agree when you’ll read what I have to say about Thalassa 🙂
A table at the edge of the cliff, soft music playing in the background, a strong wind threatening to knock down your Sangria while you try to take in the view- palm trees, a strong breeze, the sun in the sky, and the vast expanse of the ocean till the horizon…there’s no way words could do justice to this place.The moment you step into Thalassa, the blue-green-white decor instantly transports you to a sea-side cafe in Greece. Sit back, sip on some Sangria and enjoy the view that Thalassa has to offer – it’ll leave you feeling at the top of the world. And quite literally so.
The service here is a little slow, but it doesn’t matter- with a view like that, I would want them to take all the time in the world so that I can sit around for longer. The staff is extremely courteous, helpful and friendly.
The Food-
The menu has a wide range of options- something that suits all moods. From appetizers and salads to grills and meats, this place will spoil you for choice.
Here is what we ordered from the extensive menu-
Spicy Calamari Meatballs , Chicken Saganaki, Stuffed Chicken and Grilled Tiger Prawns
Before I start- the quantity of the food they serve is extremely generous (by the end of your meal, you’ll know you got your value for money) And full marks for their presentation!
The calamari meatballs was quite an interesting dish- 3 mince mutton and squid balls served with a mayo dip and salad. Do try this if you’re looking for something different- you might want to ask them to add in a little more of squids though. Nevertheless, I recommend this one for it’s concept.
One word that comes to your mind when you see the Grilled Tiger Prawns on your table- GORGEOUS. It doesn’t matter how much it costs, if you love good food (especially good grilled sea-food) you CANNOT be missing out on this. Juicy portions of 2 huge tiger prawns- enough to share between 2.
The Chicken Saganaki was delicious-Boneless chicken pieces served in a tomato sauce with bell peppers, onions, feta cheese and mushrooms makes this semi-dry dish melt in your mouth right from the first bite. This dish is accompanied with bread and a mayo dip. Highly recommended because I doubt you’d get this delicious a preparation elsewhere.
The Stuffed Chicken is another highly recommended option if you are not feeling too adventurous. A chunky, juicy chicken breast stuffed with minced chicken and feta cheese, accompanied with vegetables and rice and potato chips. I’m still drooling.
I have also tried the Beef Lasagna on another occasion and was left speechless 🙂
From it’s ambiance to it’s mouth watering food, there is nothing about this place that will leave you disappointed. What gets to you is the mad rush at any given point of the day. A view that special is usually ruined by people taking selfies all around, but we can’t really escape that anymore now, can we? 🙂
Come here with a loaded pocket (the bill for 2 was approximately Rs.3000) But as I mentioned earlier, by the end of the experience it’s all worth every single penny.
Tip- You might have to reserve a table though, there’s a huge fight to get a good table here. Don’t blame the management, once you visit the place you’ll understand why. The sunset here is one of the most beautiful, heart-stopping moments you’ll ever experience. Try getting a table for around 5 in the evening. Sip on your wine, lay back, and experience the magic.