Fireback is an exciting new Thai restaurant and bar from EHV International. Hidden behind an old Portuguese bungalow, Fireback serves authentic Thai food at a picturesque riverside setting in Siolim, Goa. The name is inspired by the Thai national bird, the Siamese Fireback, and also speaks to the fire-grilled cooking behind many of the restaurant’s dishes.
Multi award-winning chef, David Thompson, is the Culinary Director for Fireback. Chef Thompson’s legendary authentic Thai curries and stir fries anchor a vast menu of small plates and grills. The concept is equally led by its unique beverage program with cocktails inspired by Thai ingredients. Chef David Thompson says, “What an exciting prospect. We are looking forward to making Fireback fly.”
Rohit Khattar, Founder Chairman EHV, says, “In 1999 in New Delhi, we opened what was perhaps India’s first pan Asian restaurant, ‘Oriental Octopus’. I always nurtured the desire to open an authentic, approachable Thai restaurant and am delighted to have David Thompson, whose cuisine I have always admired, as Culinary Director for Fireback. Our accomplished team of 7 chefs led by veteran Chef Swatantra Gautam, were extensively trained in Bangkok and now are cooking with David in Goa. Our mixologist extraordinaire, Varun Sharma too travelled through Asia to bring an ideal cocktail list. We hope Goa enjoys Fireback.”
The Fireback menu showcases authentic Thai cooking in a lush, tropical setting, with flavors that seamlessly blend tradition and modernity. The cuisine is authentic and the service unfussy. The Josper grill that is centerstage, offers a host of grills and skewers – turmeric prawns; southern style pumpkin. There is a range of fluffy omelettes followed by small plates like salad of pomelo with toasted coconuts and shredded ginger on betel leaves; smoky grilled eggplant gorlae, and more.
Thai curries are showcased with an offering of massaman curry lamb, deep-fried pumpkin; soft shell crab, red curry; sour orange curry of river prawns with shredded green papaya, and much more, while stir-fries include green flat beans stir-fried with yellow beans, baby corn and minced chicken with thai basil, bird eye chillies. Some familiar dishes may be bold, fiery, and uncompromising.
The Thai-inspired cocktail list includes whisky with pickled galangal brine, gin with Thai basil and custard apple, and an innovate blend of rum, rice and mango that recalls the classic mango-rice dessert.
The restaurant is a modern glass house that steps down onto outdoor decks and a promenade overlooking the river. Dine by a fish pond or by the riverside with an outdoor bar taking centre stage. The stunning St. Anthony’s Church in the distance presides over this unique setting. The capacity of Fireback is 80 between the indoor and outdoor seating.
The interiors and exteriors have been designed by London’s Russell Sage Studio, coordinating closely with EHV’s Director Design, Rashmi Khattar. Architect Pratap Naik has worked on an ideal structure for the glass house, working with EHV’s Director of Development Vikas Bhasin, who was in charge of end-to-end project development and management.
Fireback is the latest concept from EHV International. Chef David Thompson is the Culinary Director. Chef Swatantra Gautam with over 20 years of experience in Asian cuisines, is the Brand Chef, Prantush Rai is the Head Chef and Kamal Kant Joshi is the Chef de Cuisine at Fireback Goa. Varun Sharma, EHV International’s Head of Bars, has created a unique beverage program with innovative Thai cocktails. Head of Wines, Kevin Rodrigues has curated a wine list that compliments the unique Thai flavors. Operations are spearheaded by Nikita Ohri, reporting to COO Nitin Mathur.
EHV thanks the owners of Irada Home, the property that gives Fireback its lovely setting. Irada Home is a venture by +nineone, a hospitality and real estate investment firm led by Yash Malhotra.
Address: Fireback, At Irada Home, House No. 60/1 A1, Near St. Anthony’s Church, Vaddy, Siolim-
Bardez, North Goa 403517, Tel: +91 9209717970 www.firebackrestaurant.com
Instagram: @firebackrestaurant Facebook: Fireback Restaurant Twitter: firebackthai
About EHV (www.ehvinternational.com)
EHV International, a part of the Old World Hospitality Group, owns and operates several path- breaking restaurants that are market leaders in their respective cuisines.
Indian Accent, New Delhi is renowned as the pioneering modern Indian restaurant worldwide and has garnered international acclaim for its cutting edge take on Indian cuisine. It has been on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list for 9 years and was again voted the No. 1 Restaurant in India by Condé Nast Traveller 2023. Indian Accent, New York opened in 2016 and has opened a hugely popular Mumbai outpost at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre in 2023.
Comorin, which features regional Indian comfort food with an innovative bar has been voted ‘The Best Restaurant Bar in India’ (30 Best Bars) 2 years running, and this year was voted the No. 3 Restaurant in India by the jury at the Food Food Awards with Indian Accent voted as No. 1.
Koloman, a contemporary French restaurant, received the coveted 3 stars from the New York Times. It is the company’s second restaurant in New York after Indian Accent, with a third one, a Bar, expected to open in early 2024.
HOSA, Goa has created quite a niche for itself with its unique take on South Indian cuisine. Times Food & Nightlife Awards 2023 awarded HOSA, ‘Best Modern Indian’ and ‘Best Restobar’ in Goa. It has also been awarded the ‘Debutant Restaurant of the Year’ and ‘Restobar of the Year’, both for the West Region at the ET Hospitality World Restaurants & Nightlife Awards 2023.
Fireback is the newest addition to the EHV portfolio.
EHV International is poised to open several new restaurants in 2024-25 in India, as well as overseas. In addition to growing its existing 5 brands, several other new restaurant concepts are being developed.
