When I arrived in India on my one month solo trip to Goa, I headed straight for Ashvem. I was happy to learn I was staying close to what I’d heard was the best French restaurant in Goa. According to Condé Nast Traveller it’s one of the best restaurants in Goa, while Grazia France celebrates its excellent creative French cuisine. It’s called La Plage. Read on for my review.
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Where is La Plage restaurant in Goa?
I’d heard from fellow travellers and read in my Lonely Planet Goa guide book about this venue. It’s known as one of Goa’s best restaurants.
This French restaurant in Goa is located between Ashwem and Morjim beaches. I had to check it out.
I popped in for a cup of tea one morning and there were only a handful of people there. However, when I returned for a spot of late Sunday lunch, the place was packed. Many tables were reserved and there was a queue for the next to be available.
It seems this is the place to be for a Sunday gathering.
Explore the map below to find places to stay near La Plage on Ashvem Beach:
My visit to La Plage
The ambiance at La Plage restaurant on Ashvem Beach is informal. While the restaurant is open air, you are thankfully shaded from the heat of the Goa sun.
The waiting staff were stretched looking after the many customers. I often had to flag them down as they passed. Though to be fair, it wasn’t a straightforward affair.
Several solo diners and couples joined our large table and ordered at different times. This is an example of how relaxed this restaurant really is.
The menu looked tempting.
The chefs had clearly put a lot of thought into the appetisers. For mains, they offered an array of burgers, steaks, fish and seafood. Desserts included a chocolate thali of eight cocoa-themed sweets.
For non-meat eaters, vegetarian options are clearly marked on the menu.
What I ate at La Plage
Appetiser
To start, I opted for the chilled green pea and spring onion ‘cappuccino’ with mint.
Just like the description, it arrived in a mug on a saucer. It certainly looked appealing – a foamy concoction topped with a sprinkling of paprika.
The taste didn’t disappoint either: creamy, cool and fresh, with a surprising chilli kick to the back of the throat.
Main course
For my main course, I chose the fillet of fish with home-made mustard and sweet wine, and roasted Provençal vegetables.
The delicate fish, which I found out was white snapper, was complemented well by the creamy yellow sweet mustard sauce. While I was expecting more of a mustard bite, it allowed room for the flavour of the fish to shine.
The vegetables were succulent: roasted aubergines, courgettes, shallots, garlic, red peppers and tomato. Their deep, caramelised taste was vibrant, yet didn’t overpower the lightness of the snapper.
A well-sized portion, this was definitely a winner.
Dessert
In the name of research I felt obliged to sample one of La Plage’s famous desserts.
I opted for panna cotta with fresh vanilla and mango coulis. For some reason, instead of the mango, it arrived with a sparky strawberry coulis on the side. And it was a delightful pairing.
With a lovely smooth texture, the warm vanilla flavour bedded in beautifully with the slight sharpness of the strawberry.
I learned that the chefs had adapted this dessert to accommodate vegetarians. They did this by replacing the animal gelatine often used when making panna cotta, with a type of seaweed. It worked well, because I could taste no hint of this.
Everyone else’s desserts also looked delicious. I sampled a taste of the caramel ice cream which was rich and buttery.
Final thoughts on the best French restaurant in Goa
Overall this was a very enjoyable experience. The shortcomings of the service at this busy time were compensated by the sheer quality and consideration of the food.
When I visited, my three-course meal cost the equivalent of around £13. This is several times the usual cost of a meal in Goa. Even so, I would definitely recommend La Plage to anyone visiting North Goa.
This is a rare opportunity to sample high quality French cuisine in a relaxed beachfront environment.
Latest update on La Plage, Ashvem Beach for 2025
Great news: the best French restaurant in Goa, La Plage, is now open for the 2025 tourist season.
It’s open every day except Wednesdays, from 10:30am for your morning coffee until last dinner orders at 10pm.
Don’t miss it.
Next up, check out my review of the wonderful nearby town of Arambol.
Ciao, Bella! The results of your findings are making me dribble, literally! I think your position in Gourmet is now secured… This is fantastic! Aahhhh, keeping your feet in the soft sand while seating by the table… must make it all taste even better 🙂
P.S: While we’re on the food subject. Last night on Glengall Rd, was a gluten/dairy free cooking happening, which resulted in a set of gram flour pancakes with apple and cinnamon. The recipe evolved a few times during preparations and the final version will be awaiting your profound analysis. xx
I love this review, and how tirelessly you just give and you give, ordering dessert for the sake of the review. One for the team as always m’dear!!!
PS As I was fortunate enough to be privvy to the gluten/dairy free cooking extravagnaza last night (previous comment) demonstrated by the delightful JB, I am willing to help with the profound analysis. We can talk you through it, bite by bite! xxx
Ooh, sounds delicious! Can’t wait for the lowdown! xxx
Tom better watch out! Bella’s Diner beckons!
Ha – I am no match for Tom, he’s my inspiration! Though I like Bella’s Diner, I might keep that…
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Great review, Claire! Loved the main dish – my kind of food! Interesting regarding the seaweed instead of gelatine; I’m not vegetarian, but, for example, find it revolting that gelatine is used in liquorice allsorts!