Keegan D.
Google
Replying to the owners response:
The food was good but not worth. When businesses confuse reimagining with repackaging, they risk alienating the very customers they’re trying to impress. Real innovation enhances the experience, not the adjectives.
Because when innovation forgets the customer, it stops being innovation - and starts being imagination. 💡
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We visited Juju knowing it’s a fine dining spot, and we had already read reviews mentioning that the pricing is on the higher side. So yes — it’s expensive, but that’s expected. This review is not about price; it’s all about the food 🍽️, ambience 🌃, innovation 💡, and overall experience.
📍 Location & Ambience
Located in a quiet, upscale neighbourhood in Colva, the restaurant offers ample parking 🚗, which is a huge plus. The ambience is modern, elegant and trendy, with flashy lights, contemporary décor, and a refined vibe that makes it perfect for a special night out.
🎶 They had both recorded and live music during our visit. While the live crooner was a nice touch, he seemed a bit off beat— confused with pitches and not the most polished performance.
👨🍳 Service & Experience
☑️ Service was quick and efficient – we were pleasantly surprised by how fast the dishes came out.
☑️ The menu has fancy, creative names, so you’ll likely need a bit of help deciphering it.
☑️ Thankfully, the wait staff were polite, well-informed, and happy to explain each dish. That really helped enhance the experience.
🍴 What We Ordered & My Thoughts:
1. Goan Chorizo Chilly Tacos 🌮 – 3 pieces, tasty but not innovative.
2. Chicken Tenders Travencore 🍗 – Boneless skewers on a flaming grill, well-cooked, but nothing out-of-the-box.
3. Black Olive & Sundried Tomato Chicken Tikka 🐓 – Think Malai Tikka with a twist. Good, but nothing new.
4. Tandoori Chicken and Bacon Quiche 🥓🥧 – Flavourful but tiny! Blink and it’s gone.
5. Dill ka Tikka (Paneer) 🧀 – Soft and delicious. 3 tiny pieces gone in seconds, but again, nothing new.
6. Gun Powder Calamari 🦑🔥 – Absolute showstopper! 10/10 – The BEST I’ve had in Goa. Perfect crunch, toasted curry leaves. Absolutely brilliant!
7. Cheese Garlic Naan 🫓🧄 – Okay.
8. Thalaserry Chicken Biryani 🍛 – Served in a banana leaf with raita. Tasty, with generous pieces, but I’ve had better elsewhere.
9. Kori Gassi 🍗🥥 – Authentic and comforting, but common in Mangalorean households like ours 😊.
10. Fish and Chips 🐟🍟 – Standard. Nothing surprising.
11. Penne with Cheese Sauce 🍝🧀 – Cheesy and comforting. Kids would love it. Nothing innovative.
12. Tender Coconut Rasmalai 🥥🍨 – 10/10 – beautifully innovative! Coconut milk, tender coconut bits, rasmalai, and shortbread. Absolutely divine! I shamelessly licked the bowl clean!
13. Mysore Pak Cheesecake 🍰 – Loved the Mysore Pak base twist, but portion was tiny.
14. Mocktails - Virgin Mojito, Pineapple Basil Lemonade and Ginger Honey Lemonade. Very refreshing.
📋 Final Notes:
☑️ Menu leans heavily towards South Indian flavours.
☑️ Limited options, especially for those who prefer boneless chicken.
☑️ Clear Veg/Non-Veg demarcation is appreciated.
☑️ 10% service charge is added but can be waived off on polite request.
🌟 Final Verdict:
Juju is all about ambience, presentation, and a curated fine dining experience. While some dishes were standard, Gunpowder Calamari and Tender Coconut Rasmalai truly stood out. Service was on point, and the staff made navigating the fancy menu easy. The music could use a little tuning 🎤😅, but the overall vibe is worth checking out if you’re ready to splurge.