Rochas Cafe and Bistro: The Portuguese Grill House — Restaurant in Kerala

I don't live in Kochi, but I usually spend a month or so every year in the city (as my family are based here). I love to try out new places but most of the hip/fun new eateries in the city tend to be quite disappointing, either due to mediocre food, poor service or hygiene related issues. Rochas however, proved to be different.

The cafe and bistro has ample parking and indoor and outdoor seating. There is a swing and hammock chair outside, with a backgammon table to entertain yourself with. It has a slightly rustic vibe and leans more towards the casual side. It's a great spot for families with kids, friends or a date night. At night, the place is lit up with some fairy lights and dim lighting, which add to the warm ambience. Overall, the restaurant is a little on the smaller side, so if you're planning on going as a big group (say 8 or more) I'd advise calling up beforehand to check seating availability.

Service: There appears to be only one or two servers, who are friendly, polite, and generally knowledgeable about the menu. If asked about a dish they're not sure about, they do check with the chef, which is something I appreciated. They also give you a heads up if you're ordering a dish that takes a while to prepare. Note: everything is freshly prepared, so it does take a little longer than at your average restaurant in town. So if you’re looking for something quick or just to grab – this is not your place.

Drinks: We tried their mojito and red wine sangria. The mojito was yum, but the sangria wasn't quite what I'm used to. I do think it could use with a little more red wine and sweetness, but overall not bad. Their oreo shakes were also super yum! Definitely something kids would enjoy.

Food: We tried a variety of dishes, but my favourite was the seafood cataplana. This dish took a loooong time to prepare (avg 40 mins) so next time I'd call up beforehand. The seafood cataplana is of small portions, made with a different kind of rice and a medley of seafood prepared in some spicy sauce. Cataplana refers to the cookware used to prepare this dish (it also comes presented in it). If you’re looking to try something different and very Portuguese, try this out! The Mongolian grill and loaded cheese fries were also delicious. They do have a breakfast menu, which I'd like to try the next time I'm in town. I’m not very familiar with Portuguese dishes, so can’t attest to whether what we ate was 100% true to the Portuguese cuisine.

Aesthetics/decor/hygiene: Hygiene is always a big thing for me when eating out. These guys have kept the restaurant clean; no food debris on the floor or seats, the staff look well kempt and the uniforms look in good condition. No odour of sweat clinging to the furniture/décor/staff (something I come across often). It is air-conditioned inside. The outdoor area too is well maintained, as are the surroundings. I do think they have the potential to spruce up the garden a bit more but overall a clean,...

Well, one of those dull evenings that turned out spectacular! The excitement is just inexpressible.❤ On arrival, everything about this cafe felt unique and special. For a moment or two, I felt carried away lost in thought as the ambience and the vibes of this place took me far off from the mainstream buzz and rush of kochi away into a more calm, serene and pleasant location with a certain charm of its own.🤩 This cafe is well lit, has a certain distinctive theme with fine decor and ambient seating for quite a mob. Considering the ongoing pandemic, it's a blessing that they are takeout friendly and also provide adequate dining facilities with special emphasis on sanitation measures and hygiene.

The hospitality by the staff was just phenomenal. They kept us pampered throughout and answered all our queries regarding the menu with utmost patience. They were very eager to help us in picking out the right dishes and even put out their suggestions based on our needs. The menu is well spread which mainly encircles around authentic Portuguese dishes which is not so familiar in the state but is certainly worth a try.

Although, it might be a tad expensive and runs into the fine diner territory, I would rightly say, that the price is justified for these guys know what they are truly doing.

Hands down, it was perhaps the best pork that I've had a restaurant in the recent times as everything from the preparation to the quality of the meet was outstanding.👍🏻 The prego was a wonderful Item in the menu and the bread was just too soft and fluffy which brought in an extra tinge of goodness to complement the already well done meat. The chicken wings are another must try item in the menu and it is yet another perfect example of how good meat and the right flavors can stimulate your taste buds to their climax🙌🏻 We had ended the day with their sticky toffee pudding which was again excellent.

I was told that their donuts also are one of the best out there and I would definitely come back for those pork ribs and the donuts.

Overall, I would recommend this place to all the passionate foodies and for all those who'd want to spend a good evening at a cafe and walk back home with a sheer satisfaction of having rightfully spent every penny, then this is a must try. It's a sure no brainer, and trust me you won't be disappointed.

Will come back here all along for its charm and for the lovely...

Ever since my family gave me some good honest opinions on their experience about this place, I've been wanting to try it out someday. The moment came exactly on the day of the wedding anniversary of my parents and after much ado, we finally voted to have the ceremonial dinner here. Contrary to my initial thoughts, the place presented itself to me as a modest, non pretending, home extended kinda family run business. A genuine simplicity was seen in the rustic and laid back interiors as well as with the modest decor & furnishings. Despite being a weekday, the bistro was packed with a buzzing crowd and there were a few mins waiting until we were assigned to a comfortable table & couch.

Upfront, you gotta give credit to the Rochas team to introduce the Portuguese cuisine to the people of Kochi which until now with the exception of maybe a couple of restaurants in fort kochi, is pretty unheard of. Coming to the food, we ordered the pork poutine as a starter and a couple of drinks of apple martini & the passion art. The starter was indeed a showstopper and along with the fizz of the drinks, it genuinely kick-started the desire for indulging in more delicacies. Then came the smoked brisket along with Portuguese roll & butter bread as condiments. Juicy, tender & easy to pull apart with a smokey aftertaste that hit the right savoury notes, the brisket was exactly what we had in mind. Portuguese seafood rice (arroz de marisco) had a unique flavour to it which was really good, though I felt it was a bit pricey at 1200/- considering its portion size. Lastly the Espetada chicken being a tad on the spicier side was the average dish of the night among all.

On the whole, it's fair to say that we had a warm & delectable experience and thanks to Rochas for adding another night to the list of memorable eatouts. To anyone who is earnestly looking to experiment a new cuisine that's not so easy to come by, look no further than Rochas. The menu is fairly large and it is recommended that you come in a group of at least 3-4 so that a good number of dishes could...