i visited goa for the first time a few years back and went to sublime based on a recommendation from a friend. now every time i visit goa, i make it a point to have a meal there during my stay.
sublime is the perfect example of fusion cuisine that has been done well. the myriads of flavor pallets, textures, and spices, are perfectly blended without overpowering each other to create a new cuisine of its own. it's a well designed mix of formal gourmet styles with hints of inspiration from across asia and goa.
the focus is on the fresh and organic ingredients which create a lasting impression. the first time i visited the restaurant it was located on the beach which created a relaxing ambience that made you feel like you were truly on vacation. it has now shifted to assagao where they have recreated the same ambience but with a different aesthetic. the vibe is still very romantic with dim lighting, candles, beautiful furniture, it creates more of a polished look than a laid back one as you are eating surrounded by the vivid architecture of the classic portugese style villa.
both times i have gone there for dinner but i know that their menu varies through the seasons and also through the different times of day offering lighter courses during lunch hours and more heavier and decadent ones during the evenings.
this particular evening we decided to order the following dishes:
1. asian style chicken salad cups; with mint, tamarind, and fried garlic: rating: 3.5/5
the salad cups looked great presentation wise. the lettuce was crisp and juicy which gave you a nice crunch every time you bit into it. the chicken was also cooked well, not too dry. the only thing that stood out to me was that the marinade was a bit too tangy. it could possibly have had too much tamarind. i felt it needed more of the peanut sauce to balance it out.
2. dynamite prawns: rating 5/5
the prawns were amazing. perfectly crunchy and fiery in every bite. the sauce was not too overpowering as they had coated the prawns with just the right amount of it. they were also cooked extremely well, soft on the inside and a bit of a crisp on the outside.
3. sous vide cooked belly of pork; with chinese five spice, elephantfoodyam, carrot puree, green beans, red wine reduction demi glaze and crispy onion rings. rating 5/5
usually i avoid pork belly as it is extremely heavy but this was anything but. there was an earthiness flavor created from the red wine reduction which was absorbed into the meat making it soft and tender. the belly practically melted in your mouth and was paired with crunchy onion rings to balance the texture of this dish.
4. emperors balls with salted caramel and sesame: rating 6/5
delicious! crunchy on the outside and chewy and creamy on the inside. you would never think salted caramel and sesame would go together but they actually the pair up quite nicely. this desert is not too sweet or salty, well balanced in flavor and texture.
overall i had a wonderful meal and would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting goa!