Dining · Indian · Kerala
The Rice Boat
Shaped like a Kerala houseboat on Kochi's harbour, The Rice Boat cooks the day's catch with hand-pounded spices.
A houseboat at the water’s edge
The Rice Boat is the Kerala seafood restaurant of the Taj Malabar Resort & Spa on Willingdon Island, the man-made island in Kochi’s harbour, in Kerala. Its structure takes the form of a traditional wooden houseboat moored at the water’s edge, with windows on three sides over the harbour and an open kitchen inside; Fodor’s, which counts it among its choices, calls it a favourite of the city’s well-to-do.
Catch of the day, pounded spices
The cooking is coastal Kerala. The hotel describes freshwater fish and ocean catch prepared with hand-pounded spices, to classic recipes refined over the years in family kitchens, and Fodor’s notes that the seafood is often landed only a few hours before it is served.
Fodor’s singles out karimeen pollichathu, pearl spot fish cooked in banana leaf, and the tasting menu; other freshwater fish come grilled or in curries.
AFAR’s recommendations show the range between the backwaters and the open sea: tiger prawns with shallots and curry leaves, a crab and coconut soup, white snapper steamed in banana leaf with tamarind and pepper, and a tender-coconut soufflé to finish. The view looks across to the backwaters and old Mattancherry, and diners can ask the show kitchen to adjust the spice.
Sources: Taj Hotels; Fodor’s; AFAR
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