Hotel Lajoy

Critic´s Review

• Food: 2.5 / 5
• Service: 2 / 5
• Decor: 1.5 / 5

-By Odette Mascarenhas

Motel Lajoy was once a huge, sprawling motel, one of the first in Goa. Though the motel has been long gone, with a new commercial complex in its place, there is now a small restaurant there. Hotel Lajoy serves some delicious Goan cuisine, besides North Indian, Tandoori and the standard Chinese - Gobi Manchurian, Fried Rice, noodles and soups. Goan food is the speciality here and we recommend the Fish Recheado, fish stuffed with the spicy Goan masala, which can be had along with a Prawn Curry (Rs. 90) and rice, or just by itself along with a salad and chips. There's a large variety of fish to choose from including red snappers, kingfish, mackerels and much more. They also have some superb Goan-style shell-fish like clams (tisreaos) and mussels, and if you're looking for a combo meal, try the Special Fish Thali (Rs. 80) which comes with two of the most common Goan vegitarian dishes, Patal Bhaji (made with peas) and Sukhi Bhaji (potatoes), along with the digestive drink called Sol Kadi (made from kokum) and kingfish. Apart from all the popular North Indian and Tandoori dishes like a superb Butter Chicken and Chicken Tikka Masala, etc, they also serve a couple of Maharashtrian dishes, like the spicy, red masala Chicken Kholapuri and Chicken Sukka Fry, which is quite on the pungent side. If you’re looking for a complete meal in one dish, go for the unusual Squids Biryani -yellow biryani rice with spicy calamari. Good food is to be found at reasonable prices here, right on the NH17 between Panaji and Mapusa.