I remember the first time I went to New Martin's Resaurant. I didn't know what to expect. I wanted to go to my cosy, safe hostel bed and eat me some toast and tea.
But Martin's is epic. Thank God I went.
As you head down Colaba Causeway, away from Regal cinema, you'll reach a temple, otherwise known as 'that turning opposite Theobroma'. Once you take that turn, take the first right and walk about ten paces. And you're there. It's a tiny place, but very clean and very, very good at what it does. Note to you, though, it's only open in the mornings from 12.30 to 3.00 and in the evenings from 6.30 to 9.00. And it's closed on Sunday. And at mealtimes, if you want to sit as soon as you reach, I'd suggest you get there early-ish. Or after 1pm. Because otherwise you'll have to wait outside while people chow down on something that smells amazing. The service is brilliant, though, and everything comes out to you very quickly once you've ordered and they're very prompt with the onion and lemon that you're to eat with the food.
Goan food is generally supposed to be drugs and booze and fish. Popularly, at least. Martin's serves a dish I had never heard of before, though it's a thing, apparently: Goan sausage chilly fry. It's basically a sort of pickled pork sausage that they then make into a tangy, onion-y dish which they serve with pav. The first tangy bite can send you to heaven. They also serve a very ncie Beef Chilly Fry. Again, to be eaten with pav, it's good beef, spiced to perfection and it hits all the right spots. One must also definitely try the steak onion and chips. And the fish curry-rice. I haven't eaten the fish fry or the sausage-egg business, but it seems to do okay. The one encounter with the vindaloo was not one of my better experiences. But I must insist that you eat at Martin's if ever the thought crosses your mind.
Sadly, it isn't the place to take your vegetarian friends because they don't do vegetarian. They have a dal and vegetable on the menu; but I don't know how that will work out.
The menu is another very quaint thing about Martin's. It's a chalk-board with all the items listed on it, with the drop-dead-gorgeous prices and when they run out of something, they put a little cross next to it, much like they're playing a long drawn-out game of battleship.
And the prices. Assuming you have a regular appetite, one dish is enough for one person. The heavier stuff like Steak and Fish-curry-rice might even be rather stuffing. And so you're spending around Rs. 70-100 per dish. Which, in my opinion, for the food you eat is pretty brilliant.
So the next time you want to try out something different on Colaba Causeway, think about Martin's. It's addictive. And if you're only going to be going there the one time, you HAVE to eat the Goa sausage chilly fry.
And when you leave, take a look at the Dry Cleaners next door. They have the most amusing felines on the premises.
