Ritz Classic
Ground Floor, Gera Imperium - II, Patto Plaza, Ozari, Panjim, Goa 403001
Known for its trademark laidback life, the beach city of Goa is dotted with several restaurants that offer traditional Goan Sea Food Delicacies at prices that won’t bite into your pocket. The food preparations here can take your taste buds on a pleasure tour and even compel you to come back again and again. The best thing about Goa is that it can turn you into a sea-foodie even if you aren’t one. Ritz Classic is one such stunning example. Specialized in sea food, this iconic chain of restaurants is undoubtedly one of the most frequented destinations by locals as well as tourists.
The proof of its high demand is the fact that you need to wait for at least 15-20 minutes for your turn to occupy a vacant table. I even tried the trick of eating at different Ritz branches on different days and times to avoid waiting time. But surprisingly I faced the same outcome, time and again. So what makes RITZ worth waiting? Why is Ritz Goa’s favourite sea food destination? Why do you always need to wait for your turn at Ritz? What does RITZ have that no other restaurant in Goa has? Let’s Find Out.
In my last visit to Goa, I headed to their newest restaurant located at Patto Plaza, Panjim. I was eager and curious to know why this place is so much in demand. It was a late Wednesday afternoon, but still Ritz was running in full capacity. The manager politely asked me the number of people and then requested me to wait in the seating arena next to the reception. My eyes fell on the wall of fame where the restaurant neatly showcased their achievements and recognitions won over the years. The list included Times Food Awards, Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence and other noteworthy recognitions. They made me feel more excited and reassured me that the waiting time was worth it. After almost 20 minutes, we were finally escorted to a vacant table to indulge. The fully air-conditioned ambience and the neatly structured restaurant layout made the experience more exciting.
Without thinking twice, we chose the Ritz Fish Thali - the most ordered option from the menu. The oval shaped thali had generous portions of fish curries made in traditional Goan Style topped with an extra large slice of fried Surmai just out from the kitchen. The Thali had almost all types of fishes available in Goa including crabs, prawns, squids and mackerel, all prepared in typical Goan style, clubbed with rice and rotis. Ritz also allows you have a look at the existing fish display before placing the order for you to choose. The service was satisfactory and every effort was taken to make our experience comfortable. Some of my personal favourites at this restaurant include Pomfret Fry, Goan Prawn Curry, Chicken Xacuti and Prawns Garlic Masala. You’ve got to try them at least once. The fairly priced menu also gives you a choice of special Goan fish preparations, Chinese food, exotic desserts, a fair choice of vegetarian preparations and an inviting bar menu.
Ritz is undoubtedly a must-visit restaurant in Goa and your trip is simply incomplete without it. Keep your 4G phone handy as waiting time is expected no matter how early or late you drop-in. Probably that’s why almost all review sites have given Ritz a four and a half star rating. Going by my experience, you can effortlessly compare Ritz to a big Bollywood Blockbuster. It has everything you’d expect from a Star Goan Restaurant including house full status, high repeat value and a super-hit sea food menu.