Mum’s Kitchen, in Miramar, has been a popular name in Goan cuisine for over twenty years
Gomantak Times
If Goan food is your weakness, you will be pleased to know that there are many awesome restaurants which are totally worth checking out in Goa. And, Mum’s Kitchen is one of them. Located a few minutes walk from Miramar beach, this restaurant serves some of the finest traditional seafood in Goa, and has a warm ambience, to boot.
The brainchild of a Goan couple, Maria Suzette and Rony Martins, Mum’s Kitchen was created with the aim of serving authentic Goan fare — the USP being dishes from different corners of Goa. But, that was not the original plan. Far from it!
The interior of the restaurant is lively, yet traditional
PIC COURTESY: mumskitchengoa.com
Maria Suzette graduated in Fine Art, and along with her husband Rony Floriano, ran a successful advertising agency, in Miramar, for several years, before they decided to shift their focus to healthy, home-cooked Goan food — and more specifically, preserving that aspect of Goan culture, which was clearing dying a slow death.
And so, in 1997, they founded Mum’s Kitchen – Ethnic Cuisine Movement, striving to re-discover age-old Goan recipes, essential eats from a bygone era.
DÉCOR & AMBIENCE
The restaurant is tasteful, both, inside and out. A beautiful little garden welcomes customers to the premises, and is replete with a short pathway, fish ponds, a large terracotta frog, grey stone toadstools, and gorgeous bougainvillea plants and garlic creepers spilling over the fence.
Indoors, there are eye-catching azulejo-tiled tabletops, bright orange napkins and delightful photos. Wooden railings in traditional Goan-Portuguese style and artifacts – coconuts in baskets, garafaos, rogdos – are reminiscent of a nostalgic era.
The restaurant is a cozy, little airconditioned place with just ten tables.
Azulejos add an element of traditional chic to the table-tops
Gomantak Times
ON THE MENU
The entire menu of the restaurant is a compilation of recipes, courtesy of “mothers” from different parts of Goa. It is dominated by a mix of Portuguese and Goan (Hindu & Christian) classics — typically Hindu dishes jostling for attention alongside Catholic beef preparations.
While the list of veg and non-veg delicacies is seemingly endless, there is also a Kids’ Menu as well as plentiful local beverages (such as mango juice and sugarcane juice) and typical Goan snacks (such as beef croquettes).
And, for those of you who believe in pairing meals with wines, the restaurant offers a wide selection of some of the finest international brands (from France, Spain, Portugal, Australia) and premium labels from India.
Favourite seafood dishes at Mum’s Kitchen include the Mum’s Kitchen Special, Bimbli Uddamethi, Kingfisher Curry and Fish Rava Fry.
Maria Suzette, co-founder of Mum’s Kitchen (left); some of the Goan dishes from the restaurant's menu (right)
Gomantak Times
Hooman curry (Hindu Goan), Sungtachi Koddi (Goan Christian), Crab Xec-Xec, Chonak (sea perch) Curry, Kingfish Peri Peri, Recheado Lobster or the Hindu Goan style seafood, Pamplet Kodi, Keel Khatkhatem (bamboo shoots), Melgor (black-eyed beans), Foddi (vegetables with masala), Suntachem Karwari (prawns, friend in onions, turmeric and coconut) and Papad-Coconut Salad are other hot favourites.
The starters and dry seafood preparations taste best with a shot of the local brew, feni.
When you are done relishing the main course, go for a traditional Goan dessert, called Mangannem, a sweet delicacy prepared using gram dal, sabudana, coconut milk and jaggery.
What’s even more fascinating is that this to-die-for cuisine is prepared by staff, none of who have a culinary educational background, but are experts in their field of cooking. Could we ask for more?!
GOAN WALL
An interesting element in this restaurant is the ‘Goan Wall’, which is the perfect window on Goa, via handpicked works of avid photographers. Customers can purchase these as souvenirs, and 15% of the proceeds go to charity.
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Mum’s Kitchen has been the proud recipient of several awards over the years. Some of the recent ones include Restaurateur of the Year (The Times of India, 2021), Lifetime Achievement Award International Cuisine Conference (Indology Goa, 2007), International Hospitality Day Women Achievement in Hospitality (International Institute of Hotel Management, 2019), Best Traditional Goan – Premium Dining (The Times of India, 2021), Best Seafood Restaurant Goa (Owlers Award, 2020), Top Restaurant Awards (Conde Nast Traveller, 2020), Legendary Premium Goan Traditonal Restaurant (Times Hospitality Icons, 2019), Best in Goan Cuisine (Business Goa, 2018), Traditional Goan Cuisine (Goa Tourism, 2017) and Top Restaurant Awards (Conde Nast Traveller, 2017).
Additionally, the restaurant has also made it to Indian and international blogs.
WHERE: Martins Building, Miramar
TIMINGS: 11 am to 11 pm (7 days a week)
PRICES: Approx ₹ 2,000 (for two)
CONTACT: +91 9822175559
WEBSITE: mumskitchengoa.com