Cafe Tato since 1913 (Patto) — Restaurant in Goa

A Goan Breakfast Institution – Pure Soulful Bliss!

Cafe Tato is, without a doubt, one of the best breakfast restaurants in Goa! For any tourist wondering where to find a fantastic breakfast or brunch, especially after a night out, this is your must-visit destination. They're open from morning till night, serving an exquisite, vegetarian-only menu that consistently delivers wonderful food.

The soulful Bhajis here are a true reflection of decades of experience, profound respect for flavors, and an unwavering commitment to food preparation. Thanks to a dear friend from Panjim, I've been visiting since 2009, and to this day, the sheer thought of eating here brightens my entire day!

Based on my many visits, here are my recommendations:

1. You absolutely must try the Sangam Bhaji (a perfect blend of two gravies) or the Mix Bhaji (which often features four gravies of the day, as seen in photos). Pair them with either soft Pav (local bread) or fluffy Poori.

Don't be shy to ask for an extra plate of bread or poori if you have some delicious gravy left – I always end up ordering a single gravy with Pav after my share of Mix Bhaji!

2. If you prefer something simpler, the Patal Bhaji, a delightful white grams gravy, is excellent.

3. For those who aren't gravy fans, the Suki Bhaji, their signature potato dish, is incredibly flavorful.

4. Their Chilli Bhaji was amazing! I enjoyed it with chutney, but it truly shined when tucked into the Pav.

5. Don't forget to try their refreshing Cold Coffee or the classic Nescafé coffee preparation – both are worth mentioning.

6. They also offer popular South Indian breakfast options like Idlis, Sambar, and Dosas.

Tip: Don't be shy about asking for the bill after just one plate. For me, the portion sizes are on the smaller side, and I usually need at least 2.5 servings to feel perfectly satisfied!

Fun Quest: Ever wondered about the origin of the word "Tato"? It's an interesting bit of local history...

When we walked into this little cafe on our first day of the trip, little did we know that we would be having breakfast for the next 5 days here! Warm, homely and simple food which was especially easy on the pocket (and stomach) , this cafe had traditional goan bhajis, paired with fluffy paos, puris and breads. We tasted all bhajis expect the Usal ( due to lack of availability) and found all of them flavourful. The Patal Bhaji was made of Potatoes and dry, the Alsande was Rajma, the Biya was made of Cashews and the Sangam, which as the name suggests was a medley of all. The quantity could've been a little more as we had to order 2 or 3 bhajis individually but the taste was on point. We were catered to with great warmth by Sanjay, Rupesh and Kabir across a span of 5 days. Rupesh was kind enough to give a complimentary taste of their fluffy Banana flavoured bread (puri it was) and Sanjay brought for us a slice of their traditional goan sweets.( Disclaimer- I am not writing this review under the influence of these freebies at all. 😂) . We tried the hot chocolate, which was not very different from Bournvita Milk and the lassi felt like blended shrikhand and i wouldn't rate them that high but the tea was nice & sweet and paired really well with their dishes offered. Cafe Tato also offers South Indian cuisine of which the Idlis I tried on the last day. The sambhar was great but the idlis could've been a bit fluffier. All in all, do try their bhajis and pooris for breakfast. You will...

Since my highschool days (1967) I have patronized Cafe Tato near Garcia de Orta municipal garden and now it's regular visit to their branch at EDC Pato plaza. TATO, ARAM, BHOSLE, REAL et al are some of the last typical Goan hotels surviving in capital city Panaji and their menu is unique in catering to taste of the Goans with a choice of other south and north Indian refreshments added for tourists. Cafe Tato at EDC Pato plaza was first such hotel in Goa and India to offer very nutritious probiotic Goan sweet Ragi or Nachni flour based SATVA, nice square puddings which melt in mouth. I strongly recommend their Goan spicy preparations like mushroom bhaji, Olsondo bhaji, potato bhaji, biya bhaji and tomato bhaji. Goes well with local Goan bread or puris. Cafe Tato has retained Ethnic Goans touch, quality of its menu however service at Pato branch is very slow. If you are in Panaji first visit their small place near the Garcia de Orta garden and then try more spacious branch at EDC Pato plaza near KTC bus stand Panaji. The rates are very reasonable for quality, ambience...