Almond Restaurant — Restaurant in Kerala

A diamond, not just an almond in the crowd ;)! I ate at this restaurant multiple times during my stay in Varkala, and it consistently proved to be one of the best culinary decisions I made. Let's start with what you must order: the local Kerala food. It is nothing short of spectacular. The flavours are vibrant, perfectly spiced, and complex. I was particularly impressed that they were happy to adjust the spice level to my preference without losing the essence of the dishes. This is a sign of a kitchen that truly cares about its customers' experience.

Now, I'm usually suspicious of restaurants in tourist areas that offer an extremely wide range of cuisines, especially "continental." It often leads to a generic, watered-down menu. However, my suspicions were put to rest here. While I stuck mostly to the incredible local fare, the continental dishes I saw coming out of the kitchen looked and smelled solid and well-prepared. Fellow diners I spoke to confirmed they were delicious.

A few other standout qualities: Impeccable hygiene: The cleanliness standards are high. The dining area, open kitchen, and cutlery were always spotless, which is so important. Attentive staff: The team is wonderfully attentive, friendly and patient. They offer great recommendations and ensure you have everything you need. Freshness guaranteed: Yes, the food can take a little time to arrive—but for the best reason. Everything is cooked fresh from scratch. They also offer a pre-order option, which is a fantastic way to plan ahead if you're on a schedule.

Varkala is full of dining options, but the quality varies wildly, and it's easy to fall into the trap of generic "tourist food." This place is different. It's a genuine diamond that shines brightly amidst the ordinary. Don't miss it.

They are currently renovating the original restaurant place, which will open soon, so, in the meantime the restaurant has moved 100m to another place. Therefore, ambiente: 4 stars and...

We had all our dinners at Almond Restaurant during our stay in Varkala, and every single meal was a lovely experience. We pre-ordered our food each day, and it was always ready on time. The team would even text us when our meal was prepared, so we could simply walk out of our rooms and be served hot, delicious food right away, such thoughtful service!

We also dined at the restaurant a few times and especially enjoyed their delicious desserts. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and served with a warm smile. The staff were always cheerful and made us feel welcome.

To top it all off, the soothing Bollywood music playing in the background created the perfect cozy and relaxed vibe. It truly felt like a home away from home.

Big thanks to the Almond team especially Mr.Shamil, Mr. Raj and Mr.Ajil for making our evenings in Varkala...

Had the lobster here, which was caught a few hours ago, made with local Keralan spices. It was absolutely delicious, would highly recommend it if it's available. One of the best things I've had here. We also had their honey pancakes and seafood jaffal. The pancakes were not that good, would not recommend it. The jaffal was alright (would probably recommend chicken jaffal instead). We also had pineapple juice, madathil spl shake and oreo shake. The pineapple juice was fresh and the shake tasted very unique (in a good way). The oreo shake was what you'd expect an oreo shake to be like. The staff was extremely friendly and polite. Very nice people. Shout out to Arun and Akhil. Lastly, the restaurant also has a decent...