Restaurant India News: Vaarta Debuts in Goa, Reimagining Indian Street Food with Interactive Dining

In a restored 160-year-old Goan home tucked away in Sangolda, a new restaurant is quietly changing the way Indian street food is experienced, Vaarta, a fine-dine yet deeply approachable concept, opens its doors with a simple but powerful idea: food is never just about flavour it’s about memory, conversation, and belonging.

Unlike conventional street food destinations, Vaarta is not a chaat counter or a nostalgia-themed café. It is a carefully thought-through dining experience that gives Indian street food the time, dignity, and emotion it deserves, set within a heritage Goan home that already carries stories of its own.

“Vaarta was born from a simple longing, the kind of food that carries memory and invites conversation. I didn’t want to recreate street food; I wanted to give it the space and respect it deserves,” said Neha Mehta, Founder of Vaarta.

What makes Vaarta first-of-its-kind in Goa is how interactive nostalgia is woven into the experience. Guests are welcomed by a live Puchka counter that anchors the experience, where each puchka is assembled fresh. They can choose from fillings like Aloo Masala, Aloo Dum, Dahi Aloo and Churmur, before selecting from the house-made waters from Sharp Jaljira and Tangy Tetul to sweet Saunth and cooling Pudina recreating the anticipation of a bustling street-side ritual, now reimagined in an intimate heritage setting.

Adding to the theatre is a ‘Make Your Own Barf Ka Gola’ cart, brought directly to the table, allowing diners to personalise flavours, textures, and spice levels turning a familiar childhood treat into a shared, conversational moment.

The 160-year-old home has been thoughtfully restored, with its original arches, aged flooring, and vintage windows preserved . The lighting is interconnected across the space, and the use of vintage round bakelite power switches has been intentionally retained to bring in an old-world, nostalgic feel. 

The menu is rooted in Indian street food traditions from across cities and states, approached with care, restraint and deep respect for their origins. 

In a state known for beach shacks and global cuisine, Vaarta offers something different: an intimate return to Indian flavours that shaped childhoods and cities alike.