As I sat on the macrame beach swing, sipping on fresh coconut water, the sound of the waves and gentle breeze on my skin, I was at ease. It was the golden hour—I managed to catch it at the right time and served as the perfect lighting for my Instagrammable pic. No wonder this is the ideal selfie point at Goa’s latest culinary spot, Blue Turtle. Digging my feet in in the white sand, I watch the sun go down and head back in to check out the restaurant and bar’s offerings.
View this post on Instagram
Blue Turtle gets its name from the beach it is located on, that is, the Turtle Beach, the nesting site of Olive Ridley Turtles. Unlike the other beaches in North Goa which are chock-a-block with shacks, Blue Turtle is situated on the quieter side of Morjim beach–away from all the crowd and cacophony, which for me is one of the highlights of this spot.
Helmed by the restaurateurs & partners Rohan D’Souza, Hitesh Keswani, Praveena and Dean Sanfrancisco–who are also behind Goa’s popular spots Lazy Goose, Toro Toro and Pisco By The Beach–Blue Turtle offers beachfront dining with tropical vibes and an escape from the everyday chaos.
Tropical Vibes Only
With cane furniture and macrame lighting in one section, and a low seated dining area flanked by an entire wall of vases in another, Blue Turtle’s interiors blend laid-back with luxurious vibes seamlessly. The space is designed in such a way that you can come in, spend a day relaxing at the beach and then return to unwinding with drinks and food. Beach beds and shower rooms are at your disposal to freshen up when needed.
Sip on some refreshing cocktails by the bar or even walk with your choice of drink outside by the beach, or even better, use the restaurant’s beachfront as an area to take a ten minute walk in between your meals so that you can keep going back for more. At least that’s what I did.
Sip & Savour
So what’s on the menu? A mix of Mediterranean, Asian and Goan flavours, that are sure to tantalise your tastebuds.
I began with the Braised Prawn Butter Green Chilli Garlic (served with toasted bread) and the Grilled Local Chonak in Recheado masala; headed into the mains with Grilled Fillet Beaf Steak and Crab Claw Meat, River Prawn and Clam Spaghetti; and had just the right amount of space to accommodate the Thai dessert Tub Tim Grob served in a coconut with red ruby chestnut and fresh coconut jelly.
Other must-tries include Double-Baked Goat Cheese & Asparagus Soufflé, Black Bean & Roasted Sweet Potato Soft Shell Tacos, Crispy Pork Belly Lettuce Wraps & Japanese BBQ Beef Skewers, Steamed Vietnamese Baby Mud Crabs. But if you’re coming to a restaurant whose menu is created by Chef Rohan, you can’t miss out on the fresh catch in authentic Goan favourites that draw from his Goan heritage. Must-try Signature Mud Crabs and Lobster dishes; Tiger Prawn, Mangrove Whole Red Snapper, Fresh Water Prawn Recheado, Kingfish Curry and Prawn Curry made with stone-ground paste; along with traditional Aged Pork Sorpotel, Choriz Pulav and Chicken Vindalo are all on the menu.
Don’t forget to pair your meal with cocktails like the spicy Mucha-Cha with tequila, pineapple & jalapenos, or the sweet and sour Litchi Blossom (gin, vermouth, litchi and lemongrass), among many others.
ELLE’s Verdict
Lip-smacking food and refreshing cocktails with a beach facing view, sundowners and sunsets, leisurely lunches with live music and beat drops by a resident DJ towards the evening—Blue Turtle has it all. And what takes the cake is that the restaurant sorts out parking as it comes with an expansive parking lot for your personal vehicle.
Cost for 2 : Rs 2,500 + taxes
Address: Blue Turtle, 174/6A, Gawdewada Rd, Morjim, Goa 403512
Time : 12noon to 1am
Contact : 8263960079/8805808843
