Where Asia meets Goa

For close to two decades, Tamari at Vivanta Goa, Panaji has quietly held its own as one of the city’s most enduring culinary addresses. In a dining landscape that has changed dramatically over the years, Tamari has remained reassuringly constant. Sophisticated yet not intimidating, adventurous without losing its sense of familiarity, and above all, a place that generations of Panaji diners have come to regard as their own.

What began nearly two decades ago as a speciality Pan-Asian restaurant has evolved into something more intrinsic to the city. Tamari is where business lunches stretch into conversations over another round of dim sum, where families gather to celebrate, where travellers discover Asian flavours and where regulars return simply because they know they will have a good meal. It is, in many ways, a comfort dining space for the capital city of Panaji.

“Over the past 17 years, Tamari has become much more than a restaurant for us. It has become a familiar part of Panaji’s dining culture and a place that our guests return to for the food, the hospitality and the memories associated with it,” says Souvik Bhattacharya, General Manager, Vivanta Goa, Panaji. “What makes its journey particularly special is the emotional connection it has built with generations of guests. Tamari has grown with the city, while remaining true to the consistency and warmth that people have come to expect from it.”

At the centre of this enduring story is Chef Keshav, the heartbeat of Tamari. His presence, culinary instinct and deep understanding of the restaurant’s repertoire have helped give Tamari much of its distinctive character. Over time, he has been instrumental in maintaining the delicate balance between authenticity and accessibility ensuring that the flavours remain true to their Asian origins while speaking naturally to the tastes of its loyal clientele.

It is this consistency that has perhaps been Tamari’s greatest strength. While restaurants often chase the new and fashionable, Tamari understands the value of a dish that people remember and return for. Its menu traverses the culinary traditions of Japan, China, Thailand and the wider Pan-Asian region, bringing together classics and contemporary interpretations with equal ease.

The experience begins with the setting. Located within the centrally positioned Vivanta Goa, Panaji, Tamari combines contemporary elegance with understated Asian influences. Warm lighting, polished interiors and thoughtfully designed spaces lend the restaurant an atmosphere that works equally well for a quiet dinner, a family celebration or an evening of corporate entertaining.

Then there is the food. Tamari’s Live Teppanyaki remains one of its most engaging signatures. Seated around the cooking station, guests watch as the chef works the grill with precision and flair, turning dinner into theatre. The sizzle of the hot plate, the movement of the chef and the aromas rising from the grill create an experience that is as much about the spectacle as it is about the meal.

The Japanese selection is equally compelling. Sushi and sashimi are presented with the precision and restraint that define the cuisine, allowing the quality of the ingredients to take centre stage. For those who prefer the comforting familiarity of dim sum, Tamari’s handcrafted selection remains a perennial favourite. Delicate wrappers, carefully balanced fillings and meticulous preparation make these little parcels of flavour an essential part of the experience.

Beyond these lie fragrant Thai curries, wok-tossed preparations, noodles and signature favourites such as Thai Wok Chicken and Shanghai Prawns. They are dishes that have become familiar to regulars and continue to introduce new diners to the breadth of Asian cuisine.

Tamari’s appeal, however, extends beyond the plate. Its two private dining rooms have become favoured spaces for executive lunches, discreet business conversations, client meetings and intimate celebrations. Its location in the heart of Panaji only adds to its convenience, making it a natural meeting point for the city’s business and social communities.

And then there is the hospitality the invisible ingredient that turns a restaurant into an institution. The Tamari team understands its regulars, remembers preferences and knows when to recommend something new and when to simply serve a familiar favourite. Backed by IHCL’s tradition of hospitality, the experience is polished but personal. Close to two decades is a significant milestone in any restaurant’s life. It speaks not merely of longevity, but of relevance. Tamari has remained relevant because it has understood something fundamental about dining: while tastes evolve, people continue to seek places that make them feel at home.

For Panaji, Tamari has become precisely that. A place for a celebratory meal, a business conversation, a family evening or an uncomplicated craving for good Asian food. Chef Keshav remains at its heart, the team continues to bring its familiar warmth to every table, and the restaurant carries forward a legacy built over thousands of meals and countless memories.

Tamari celebrates its place in the life of Panaji. A place where Asia meets Goa, where culinary craft meets comfort, and where the pleasure of returning is as important as the excitement of discovering something new