Reviews Spice Studio

Let me just start by sharing that the menu contains coastal specials and we filled ourselves on the murgh dakhni and assorted breads (naan) which were quite satisfying the drink we drank was called : kuch nahi which was quite different from my choice of pinacolada or a mojito and I was impressed ..

The ambience is very pretty and quaint for a romantic dinner for two or a family crowd .. we got a lovely spot beside a banyan tree and they also offer a private seating for intimate dining experience

Went for dinner. Sound of waterfall while dining was a great touch. We tried non-veg starters and the Goan dessert platter. Attentive staff. Loved it.

Tranquil fine dining set up with some good Goan/English live musicians. We really enjoyed listening to them. Great food and music yes together a lethal combination loved it. The restaurant is located on an elevated platform that spreads naturally around a banyan tree and surrounded by a water body, it features a menu celebrating regional fare from across India and an extensive array of seafood. You can choose from cuisine from the Northern region of the country (Punjab, Rajasthan, Kashmir and Awadhi style), South India (Kerala,Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh), Eastern influences (Assam, Bengal, Orissa), cuisine from Western India (Maharashtra, Gujarat) and our very own Goa. From fresh produce and spices to the serving style is unique to these regions. For starters, we opted for Kashmiri style Jaitooni malai paneer and Goan potato chops. Tamatar aur tulsi ka shorba soup is a must try. For main course we ordered for Sahi Paneer and northern style Kadhi Pakoda. For dessert we loved the baked rasgulla and jalebi rabdi. Delicious meal indeed and stunning ambiance and very attentive staff!!! They serve some good cocktails and the kokum based drink was super awesome.

Loved it !!!!
Fabulous ....
Had the naali Nihari outstanding
Murg makhani ............fabulous best ever
Service excellent
Ambience super
Pricing very good ... Total value for the food experience .
The chef was personally around to see us through ... And to watch our first reaction to the food ... :)
She took joy and delight in her food ...
Superb experience !!!!!
A must go if ur in the south !!!

We dined at the spice studio during our stay at the alila diwa. Content with four days of non stop sea food meals we opted for a north Indian cuisine at the restaurant. To our wonderful chef edia and her staff cooked up some delectable north Indian food for us. Based on a limited menu the restaurant does justice by perfecting what is mentioned in their menu.
The food we ordered was delicious and healthy cooked with subtlety and richness of Indian spices. Coupled with a beautifully designed ambience and the sound of streaming water, this was a special birthday dinner for us.
A big thank you to the people behind serving and catering to guests at alila diwa goa.

We had fun on our trip to Goa in Jan and visiting Alila Diwa was one of the highlights of our trip. It really got us thinking about the important role our senses play when we’re reviewing a restaurant or critiquing a meal. Alila Diwa sent us an invite for their tried and tested concept – Dine in the Dark; something they started in 2014 during the International Earth Hour.

We got there a lil earlier to check out the hotel. We were truly mesmerized by the expanse of rice paddies that painted a lush green canvas; so soothing to the eyes. The place was serene; the beautiful traditional Goan style architecture strum those unsung chords that pull you closer to the roots of the rich culture and history of Goa. The infinity pool is an amazing sight, with the rice paddies as the backdrop. The sun was at its best, melting into the horizon. It was picture perfect. We were in awe.

The Dine in the Dark experience is hosted at Alila Diwa’s restaurant, Spice Studio. This restaurant is actually elevated and surrounded by water. With a huge banyan tree spreading its branches around makes for an absolutely magnificient sight. Spice Studio boasts of an extensive selection of seafood and culinary delights from all across India. Interestingly, every Thursday it is transformed into this (virtually) pitch dark, completely quiet place, where a meal is enjoyed in complete darkness. After sunset, you cannot see anything besides the moonlight touching the water; you can only hear the breeze brushing through the leaves and the gushing sound of the water fountains and the ripples that follow after. 

We are not afraid of the dark, so it felt more like an adventure when we were escorted to the restaurant. It was pleasingly quiet, making us automatically lower our voices to a mere whisper. The waiters led us to our table. I suddenly realized I had closed my eyes to let everything around me take over my senses. Slowly our ears could hear more and our sense of smell quickly located the kitchen. Mission accomplished, the concept was now crystal clear. In complete darkness our sense of smell, taste and hearing had heightened. So when you are not able to see your food; you are more inclined to taste better (or more earnestly) and appreciate textures better. I was reminded of the scene from one of my favourite movies “Ratatouille”; where Remy, the rat chef asks his brother Emile to close his eyes and enjoy the beautiful combination of cheese and fruit. There were fireworks of flavours in the scene. That’s exactly what happens to you when you dine in the dark.

We were not informed about the details of the menu in advance. We were asked for our meat preference and if we had any dietary restrictions or allergies. We were relieved to know that the non-veg would be boneless. Soon the food arrived. We were served food in a thali. Rich aromas of spices and kebabs spread our table and got us salivating. It was pitch dark so we couldn’t see a thing. We laughed, as it was our first time that we didn’t lock horns with our opinions of how the food looked. It became a fun game of guessing the dishes that were served. We ate slowly savouring every morsel of food. There were different textures, different temperatures and tastes. Our palates were going through a great time tasting every element of the thali.

We were served a mix of Rajasthani, Punjabi, Maharashtrian and South Indian dishes. These were the dishes that were served in our thali –

Tawa Murg Tikka, Amritsari Macchi, Sabudana Vada with Khajoor Stuffing, Methi Neem ke Tandoor Aloo, Dhaniwal Korma, Murgh Methi Masala, BHarli Vangi, Vengaya Kuzhambu, Moong Masoor ki Dal, Gatta Pulao, Shrikhand Sandwich and Ada Payasam.

We were given the menu at the end of our meal. We were so curious to check if we guessed it right, and I am proud to say that I got 9 out 10 of the dishes right. We were asked to switch off our phones before we entered the restaurant so that we were able to enjoy the whole experience without any disturbance. Our habit of clicking pictures before every meal was thrown out of the window but we were not complaining. The food was not extraordinary at this meal but bringing together Indian dishes that are varied in terms of flavours, tastes and textures and still be able to present a well-balanced thali was commendable. We were impressed. 

It was really interesting to see the staff work their way to every table, handle food and drinks; go in and out of the kitchen and handle service with ease; all in the dark. We loved the concept, and it is something that everyone should experience when they are in Goa. We leave this post with just a couple of pictures to let your imagination take over. Some things in life are better experienced in the dark and now we know eating is one of them. ☺

Awsum is the word be it ambience... Dim lights, music n water all around along with yummy food. Though a vegetarian we enjoyed our platter. Food to die for

Spice Studio is the best restaurant serving multi-cuisines. The ambiance is very good with water & greenery all around. The place is decorated with many herbs, spices & pickles in china & glass jars which makes the place more interesting. The open kitchen gives a peek inside the about whats cooking & hygiene the place is. A big platter came in after the order was placed which had many kinds of papads, sauces & pickles. Murgh Makkhani, Shahi Paneer & Yellow Dal with Hing Tadka. The food was very aromatic & looked very beautiful. It was served well & tasted delicious. Murgh Makkhani was spicy & chicken was tender. Dal was simply awesome & Shahi Paneer had big chunks of Paneer with thick & aromatic gravy. Tandoori Roti & Lacchha Paratha accompanied very well with the food. The portions were big. Staff is very polite & shows the standard of a high grade restaurant. Don't miss their home-made ice-creams, especially fennel and cashew & cinnamon and caramel. You can also buy a jar of pickle or box of spices to take home. Overall a good experience & a memory to cherish. Recommended & would visit again.

The Menu has a great twist to South Indian Cuisine and specifically the Kerala Food. This restaurant is part of Alila Diwa, South Goa. The Complimentary Chips Platter with various Dips was Awesome! Derryl and Girish explained the Menu in detail and their service was top notch. This Restaurant is only operational in the Evening but We definitely would like to Dine in for lunch too.

This is an awesome place and a must visit. The food is really good and the taste is fantastic. I was here with my family and they loved it.

We enjoyed the serine ambience of the restaurant in the service of Mr. Aston. It was a overall wonderful experience. The food was extremely delicious along with the suitable beverages. Mr. Aston was very polite and humble to give us very good suggestions on what to order.

Fabulous experience ! The ambience is really the icing on the cake.. also visited the Itc tempero which is relatively close by but the ambience was a damp squib. Felt I was in Disneyland. Spice studio has been stunningly designed and the chef makes sure the food lives up to its appearance… it’s a shame it was only open for dinner.. I might have lived here for my stay in Goa

The food is delicious here, the staff is very professional and helpful, though the menu is very limited, i m really happy with the taste. Loved the ambience and beauty of the place. Loved the dips they give with the starters.

Incredible evening in a beautiful setting! Food was divine and service exceptional. Highly recommend

I like good and tasty food and there I ended up at Alila Diwa, Spice Studio Resturant. It’s was great experience. The ambiance is very welcoming and charming. Amazing food and service. Staff are extremely knowledgeable and make great recommendations. Not to forget the Generous Mr. Bhushan Thakur (Team Leader) a gem of a fellow. His attitude, knowledge, friendliness and most importantly his smile makes him Gem. I would request everybody to do see him and I'm sure his gonna make your day.

Had a great dining experience, Ambiance was nice, food and service was really good.