Kefi – A Lebanese Cafe and Bistro

Review and recommendations

Tranquil, quiet, clean, and airy with fresh, wholesome food inspired by the Mediterranean – this is the essence of Kefi, a café and bistro in Assagao. Kefi, a Greek word, roughly translates to joy, spirit, or a zest for life. This thoughtfully designed bistro is open 24/7 with indoor and outdoor seating. Vegetarians, vegans, and anyone seeking healthy, flavourful food will be drawn to its menu. Whether in Goa or in the rest of India, many establishments fail to execute Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food adequately. However, at Kefi, owner Tony Dewan ensures that guests experience the kind of food he grew up eating in Beirut. You can find Levantine staples such as fatteh (toasted pita layered with chickpeas, garlic yogurt and pine nuts), mjaddara (rice and lentils tossed with caramelized onions) and various kinds of mana’eesh (soft flatbreads with za’atar, cheese or other toppings) along with a full menu of cold mezze.

The menu places a clear emphasis on plant-based eating with a couple of non-vegetarian options. Fresh soups, salads, and mains with a medley of inspiration aim to deliver nourishment to the body. Creole, Mexican, Keralite and Goan flavours characterize the mains – Cajun jambalaya sans the sausage and chicken; a vegetarian chipotle bowl; Kerala-style vegetable stew and even a vegan meatball xacuti!

For those with a sweet tooth, do not miss their dessert counter. The in-house bakery does everything from sourdough to gluten-free bread to customized cakes, but they seem to love experimenting with changing roster of pastries, muffins, and pies. They’ve been known to make pistachio ma’amoul (stuffed biscuits made with semolina flour and ghee) and donuts. Kefi is also serious about its coffee bar. For health nuts, kombucha, non-alcoholic beers and superfood smoothies cover all the bases.