Mum’s Kitchen restaurant is tucked away on DB Road in Panaji. A board outside states "Exclusive Goan Cuisine," making the intentions pretty clear.  

Mum’s Kitchen is run by a couple of ex advertising professionals who felt an urgent need to preserve original Goan cuisine, which was getting lost in the clutter of fusion cuisine mushrooming to meet the demands of tourists.  The idea behind the menu (and the restaurant’s name) is simple: whatever mum cooks, let’s get it on the menu!

The interiors at Mum’s Kitchen are done up simply and tastefully. The mosaic lampshades and the use of blue and yellow bring alive the Portuguese connect.  The walls are adorned with traditional Goan pots and pans, earthenware and culinary aids.

Though the service isn't particularly quick, you won't mind it much because of the food quality. The spicy prawn peri peri is perfect as a starter, and the pomfret Recheiado (pomfret stuffed with red Goan ground masala) and Hooman prawn curry are exciting mains, prepared according to the best Goan tradition. The latter is served with brown rice, which accompaines it perfectly.

The pièce de résistance of the menu is the pork Sorpotel, a classic Goan dish made of diced pork and pork liver served in a spicy, delicious gravy. The pork Sorpotel is traditionally accompanied with sannas bread, which is similar to idlis and prepared from ground toddy and boiled rice.

Trust us, though Mum's Kitchen is a little heavier on the pocket than the average Goan restaurant, the authentic food they're serving is worth it.