I discovered The white orchid restaurant in Palolem through Google Maps and decided to give it a try. The cafe, made entirely of wood with a charming bookshelf, had a sweet and inviting atmosphere.
The Wi-Fi was surprisingly fast at 50Mbps. The wooden chairs, equipped with simple cushions for seating but lacking adequate back support, were fairly comfortable.
I immediately took a liking to this quiet, music-free cafe with its decent Wi-Fi and promising menu.
The menu wasn’t overly extensive, which I appreciated, and the prices were lower than most places.
However, I chose the Mutton Kanti, a slightly pricier option that seemed special here, along with two butter chapatis.
As the only customer at the time, my order arrived quickly. The presentation was appealing. The butter chapatis were thin, large, and buttery – just to my liking.
The sauce was interesting with plenty of onions and some green pepper, a bit oily but tasty. The mutton, while plentiful, was somewhat chewy, suggesting it was either overcooked or not fresh enough.
The attentive waiter genuinely inquired about my meal, and I shared my honest feedback, which he relayed to the cook. This interaction made me feel hopeful about the quality of other Indian dishes, though I’d advise against ordering mutton in the future.
As the evening progressed and more customers arrived, the atmosphere remained peaceful.
Around 18:30, I ordered the malai kofta with garlic cheese naan. The cafe was busier by then, so the dish took longer to arrive.
The garlic cheese naan lacked cheese and didn’t meet my expectations, so I’d recommend sticking with the chapatis.
The malai kofta, however, was exceptional. It had a unique style, not the typical creamy white but with a tomato-rich sauce and paneer-filled koftas.
Surprisingly, it contained raisins, which I usually dislike, but in this dish, they were a delightful addition just popping in my mouth.
For dessert, I tried the ‘Hello to the Queen.‘ Initially uncertain if they could make it, one of the cooks stepped up and prepared an outstanding version.
It was served in a small bowl with two generous scoops of ice cream and crumbled biscuits mixed with chocolate at the bottom – a perfect execution.
The bananas weren’t fully caramelized but were sufficiently warm. The extra whole biscuits around the bowl were unnecessary, but the overall dessert was one of the best I’ve had.
I managed to work peacefully for five hours with good internet and enjoyable food. The white orchid restaurant is highly recommended for any nomad looking for a serene workspace with great food.
