Chef Kaiser Lashkari is a notable figure in the Houston culinary scene, known for his modern Indian restaurant, Da Gama Canteen. He has received recognition for his culinary achievements and his restaurant's quality.
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Upon walking in it looked like a casual modern upscale restaurant. The restaraunt is a fusion between Portuguese and Indian. The service was kinda slow.
I tried the bullet naan which had cilantro and serrrano garlic ghee. I also tried the Mums chicken curry. The curry was mildly spicy. It had potato’s, chicken, and spices in it. However, it didn’t taste like traditional Indian curry.
BEEF MISHKAKI was what got them the big gourmand and it was my favorite. The beef was tender. The sauce carrot raita was a nice combination that gave the dish a refreshing
Taste. The yuca fries tasted like it had a zesty flavor of lime on the outside. The texture of the yuca fries were thick, soft,and fluffy on the inside.
After I went outside and ordered from their cafe to try their pastel de nata which is a Portuguese dessert. It wasn’t the best. The cinnamon overpowered the desert and was a bit too mushy for me.
Food:
To cut to the chase, we did not like the food at all. As background , we have eaten in Goa, India several times and know the cuisine well.
This is a fusion restaurant and I was prepared to cut it some slack. However we were just not prepared for how bad the food was.
The pani puri was bland af with barely any crab flavor in it. The piri piri chicken came out burnt - it probably stayed out too long in the oven after the spice paste was applied. However the favor has not penetrated to the interior.
The worst was the fish curry. It should instead have been called cauliflower with a bit of fish as there was far more cheap filling than the actual fish. Disappointing as it was an expensive entree.
The drinks were so so too.
Service was good. Ambience is good.
Noise levels were high though as the tables are pretty close to each other- have to shout to your companion across the table.
Found a new gem in the city. Normally i don’t trust “Michelin” marked places. But this one was actually great. Delicious Indo-Portuguese fusion and great service. My least favorite one was assad de bife…the steak had good seasoning but too chewy.
They also have awesome outside seating, facing the park
So, this is my second time back to Da Gama and everything is even better than my first visit. I decided to sit at the bar with Brittany again because of the excellent experience she provided for my first visit. Once again I decided to let her navigate me through the menu and she did not fail. Im not familiar with Indian cuisine and she thoroughly explained the menu to me in a way a simple guy like me could understand. We settled on the Goan Fish Curry and it was one of the best seafood dishes ive had in a long time. It had the perfect amount of spice and everything was cooked to perfection. For a drink she made me something non alcoholic since im not a drinker called the Berry Nimbi Pani and it was refreshing and bold which made me feel like I was. Watching her work behind the bar is truly impressive. This place is amazing not only for the food but for the vibe. 10/10 would recommend. .
Food was good, but the service could be improved. Our waitress was attentive and pleasant, which we appreciated. However, the experience at reception was disappointing. The staff (guy) came across as cold and unhelpful. When we were leaving, the entrance door was closed, and I was managing a baby in a stroller. He clearly saw us but did not offer to help. I had to push the stroller with one hand while struggling to open the heavy door myself, which was frustrating. A small gesture of assistance would have made a big difference.
Aloo Ghobi Bravas 4/5 It was good but very spicy.
Goan Fisherman’s Curry 5/5 I would come back for this.
Piri Piri Chicken 4/5 Not bad
Pistachio Ras Malai Cake 5/5 Yes
Crab Appetiser 3/5 This is not from the fixed menu, but crab and corn just don’t go well. Too bland.
