Avo’s Kitchen

House No 47, Saunta Vardi, Anjuna Mapusa Rd, Assagao, Goa 403507

Mob: 0 95183 05003

Meal for two: Approximately `1300 + taxes, without alcohol

On the slopes of Assagao lies a grandmother’s recipes that have been carefully curated to bring to diners a feel of good old classical cuisine in Avo’s Kitchen. Avo in Portuguese translates to grandmother and this establishment pays tribute to wholesome cuisine to cockle one’s heart. A few steps below, the seating is spacious and service prompt. Start off with the Caldo Verde – this Portuguese ‘green broth’ is a staple in Luso Goan cuisine, with leafy green vegetables, black pepper, potatoes and salt for taste. The portions are appeasing and the flavour profile robust. The Bharillo Paplet – stuffed pomfret – is a delicacy with fresh ingredients of cilantro, grated coconut, ginger, garlic and home-made spices that will have you request for seconds. Hold on and order the Kalvan Rawa Masala Fry, the fresh catch oysters coated with Goan fiery masala dabbed in semolina and fried to a golden crisp are sure to send your taste buds chasing a cold lager on a sunny afternoon. The creamy stuffed crabs are deshelled and the meat in a creamy butter garlic sauce is definitely a crowd-favourite synonymous with the beach shacks of Goa. A street food party favour lies with the Corn Spinach Rissois – small breadcrumb croquets enclosed in pastry rolled and deep-fried, this brilliant tapas bar snack is sure to bring a smile to your face.  For the carnivore, look no further than the Chicken Cutlet Poie – a thin slice of chicken marinated in cafreal masala with a semolina coat and deep-fried – a staple for many Goans. Sign off with tavasali for one’s sweet-tooth fix. This eggless indigenous cucumber cake made with fresh-cut cucumber, jaggery, coconut and sprinkled semolina is prepared in the houses of the locals.

For a dairy offering, serradura aka sawdust is a quintessential Portuguese offering of layers of sweetened whipped cream and crumbled biscuit powder.