Kefi - A Lebanese Café and Bistro and Bar — Restaurant in Goa

Our daughter, who is familiar with Goa and is a frequent visitor to Kefi, introduced us to this wonderfully quaint 24/7 Lebanese Café & Bistro in Goa, where we visited this morning for a brunch. Our first day in Goa could not have got off to a better start.

Kefi is located on the Anjana Mapusa Road, and is built in a typical outdoor shack style in the courtyard of a quaint building. We were greeted by a very friendly Sunil, who immediately made us feel at home. He took us through the menu and helped us finalize our order. All the staff on duty were dressed in identical T-shirts, at the back of which a printed message proclaimed – “We have found our Kefi – Have you found yours?” Well, apparently we too were about to “find” our Kefi soon! One thing that did strike us immediately though was that all the staff on duty wore warm and pleasant smiles along with their uniforms and immediately made us feel right at home there.

There were three of us, and between us we ordered a 3-eggs Mushroom- Spinach Omelette, a “Kejriwal” and a Grilled Chicken Sandwich. The Mushroom- Spinach Omelette was served with two slices of toasted brown bread and butter. As described in the menu it was loaded with sauteed mushrooms and spinach, and was indeed a treat, and I washed it down with an excellent Café Latte.

The Grilled Chicken Sandwich, though not officially listed separately on the menu and served on my daughter’s request, was pretty awesome as well, and was served with a liberal helping of potato wedges. My wife had ordered a fresh watermelon juice to go with this.

For those wondering what a “Kejriwal” was, it is described on the menu as “a toast with double fried egg sprinkled with Cheese, Green Chilies & Ginger to give you the zing you need in the morning” and it certainly lived up to its description. My daughter ordered a Cold Brew – a chilled black coffee - to go with it.

While we were still trying to finish the generous helpings, Monica, another smiling colleague of Sunil’s brought us three complimentary Mojitos – each with a different flavour base. One was the regular classic, the second one was watermelon, and the third one was kiwi. She requested us to taste them and give our feedback, as they were planning to launch a Mojito festival as from tomorrow. As was the case with the food, the Mojitos were excellent too.

While we were finishing our food, they set up one corner for live music, where a foreigner started performing and sang a couple of songs to very soothing beats. The performance was still on when we left.

Another thing that Inotives was that unlike most restaurants they don't serve the bill in a folder. Instead they used a large, colourful ceramic cup for this 🙂

Before our departure, I took Sunil’s permission to click a few pictures of the bistro as well as the exteriors, to which he kindly consented, and in fact clicked a few pictures of ours as well.

It was a great start to our Goa trip and we really enjoyed the food as well as the warm hospitality. I can foresee myself visiting this place again very soon. Highly...

I wrote this about a month ago and since then we discovered a new dish. So, here's an update: The dish is called "Kerala Stew" and it's amazing! A coconut milk based stew with lots of vegies, served with rice. So, if you want a spicy hot taste, you can ask for this one with extra chilies! It already comes with a couple red-hot dried chilies. End of update Great tasting food and excellent service at very reasonable prices! Kefi has become our favorite restaurant in the short time that they have been open. We love their food and their service. Most ethnic restaurants in India (Middle Eastern, Italian, Chinese, Mexican, etc.) prepare their foods such that it tastes more or less like Indian food (hot/spicy and with a hint of Indian spices) so that the Indian pallet can enjoy it and be satisfied. That means for example the Mexican food does not taste anything like what an authentic Mexican restaurant would serve. If you are looking for that kind of food (tasting more like Indian food), Kefi is not the place for you. At Kefi they serve authentic Middle Eastern food that is out of this world! They also make their own pasta and have some amazing pasta dishes. In addition they have a Chipotle Bowl that is fantastic! In short, if you are looking for great tasting (and mostly) vegetarian food with vegan options, Kefi is the place to go. Oh yes, don't forget to check out their baked goods. They have some amazing stuff for your sweet tooth as well as great homemade bread. The food is made fresh, so be a little patient. In addition, if you are like me and don't eat garlic, just ask for the food without it and they will make it for you specially. Before Kefi, I could never enjoy Hummus and Baba Ganoush because almost all restaurants prepare them with lots of garlic. Since discovering Kefi, I've eaten more Hummus and Baba Ganoush (in 3 months or so) than I ever ate before in my...

This quaint little Cafe cum Bistro in Assagao will literally transport you to the Middle East! Kefi, serves massive portions of delicious Lebanese platters & more without burning a hole in your pocket! 🥰

On my visit here, I tried out some of their seasonal shakes, to be honest their Muskmelon Shake was delicious & so was their Red Beet Smoothie, that was made from beetroot & fresh fruits. I also tried their Watermelon Feta Salad with walnuts & olives, that was super refreshing, sweet & salty, making it perfect this Summer! ✨

I also tried their Za’atar & Cheese Manakeesh, which technically a Lebanese pizza enjoyed for breakfast! For those who don’t know, Za’atar is a Middle Eastern spice blend that’s primarily made with sumac, thyme & sesame seeds! 🤭

I also tried their Levantine platter which was super hearty & scrumptious! It comes with over 5+ dips like Baba Ganoush, Thoum, Tahini, Chankleesh & more! Shawarma, which is a Middle Eastern dish made from meat specifically, but their Vegan Shawarma just hits another spot! Trust me, it will have you hooked to the very first bite! It is ridiculously tasty, completely addictive. ✅

Besides that, they also serves meat that has some really good options, from which I tried the Bad Boy Double Patty Burger, which oh my god was so succulent & so yum! 😍

The menu at here has been crafted after much thought. There are so many options to choose from whether you are a meat eater or not! I can assured you that the place might be a small one, yet beautiful place! The staff too, is very welcoming & will make sure to attend to you quickly! Make sure to ask for Sunil whenever you drop by, he will make sure that you have a good time while you’re there! 💕

I’d definitely recommend this place for people looking to indulge in authentic Middle...