Cozinha de Sónia - Vegetarian, Vegan, Indian restaurant — Restaurant in Portimão

I really wanted to like this place. It’s a tiny, family run restaurant, offers vegetarian and vegan food. What’s not to like?

Well, here’s the problem: the menu is basically dish of the day, plus a few bespoke options that, strangely, include a veggie burger.

As for the dish of the day, it seems to basically be one curry that’s been prepared for the day, with some rice and salad. It was ok, the food wasn’t actually bad, but it wasn’t particularly amazing. Masala House nearby offers better tasting food with a huge amount of variety and great service too. When I go to the restaurant I want to eat something I couldn’t cook for myself at home. I could have cooked this sort of stuff at home, even in a fairly limited kitchen.

The samosas also didn’t taste home made... maybe they were, but the pastry was crumbly - I imagine you can get samosas like this in a supermarket.

The chapati was fresh and tasty. Some of the other food was perhaps made fresh sometime during the day, but when I was served it (at 6pm, hardly an unpopular time to eat I would think) it was reheated in the microwave. That’s... not great.

So why three stars? Because the service was lovey and they’re trying, and they’re clearly a new restaurant, and I don’t want to penalise a small new place too harshly. They also said they had a new menu coming soon. Maybe there’s improvements on the way... they better come quick though!

My advice to the owners (with apologies for not giving it in person when asked - I’m British: it’s one of our national traits to not give difficult feedback in person!): you need a more varied menu, and you need to pick dishes that you can make fresh for the customer. If they are dishes that have bits that must be prepared in advance, my understanding is other restaurants prepare some of it in advance and refrigerate it (eg they might make the curry sauce in advance and pre-boil the potatoes, let’s say), but then add some fresh ingredients while cooking the dish. The microwave should not have a place in your restaurant’s kitchen. It makes anything you put in it taste worse. If you need to heat something, use a pan, even if it takes...

This epicurean enclave, this restaurant, boasts an exuberant tapestry of Indian culinary artistry that orchestrates a symphony of flavors, tantalizing the discerning palate with an array of delectable dishes. The gustatory odyssey is nothing short of extraordinary, as each morsel unfurls an intricate dance of spices, infusing the dining experience with an authentic and vibrant taste of India.

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A temporal caveat, however, emerges when one sets their sights on the coveted Dosa—a culinary gem that graces the menu exclusively during weekends. This temporal restriction, while confining the potential enjoyment of this South Indian delight, adds an air of exclusivity to the weekend dining experience, rendering it a sought-after indulgence for patrons in the know.

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Came across this place after searching for a restaurant that would cater to a group of 7 with varied dietary restrictions but all sharing a love of good food. I first contacted them via Google to ask if they could cater for us. We then connected over phone and finally via WhatsApp. Cater for a Jain Diet and a Vegan Diet - Tick. It was like walking into the front living room of their house with an open Kitchen. The food was prepared fresh while we waited and the smells were great. From the selection of small plates to start with the Paapdi Chat was stand out, for the Mains the bhatura freshly fried golden and soft, the Tofu and Mushroom currys with some extra spice upon request was amazing. There is no faulting the food here. Its a small place with lots of charm and amazing food. Thank you for...