Cerveja e Mais (Beer and More) a Gastro Pub has been a dream 3 years in the making. A brain child of Twenty-three year old Divya Rosario that dream came into fruition on Easter Sunday this year.
The People Behind It
Divya’s family thinks she is the reincarnation of her great grandmother who ran a tavern during Portuguese rule in Goa and is now following in her footsteps. After graduating from Wilson’s College in Mumbai she had a stint working for the British PR agency Good Relations. Having the itch to start up on her own and dreaming of coming back to her Goan roots, she finally decided to call it quits and headed down to Goa. According to Divya her biggest motivator and inspiration is her single father Lyn Rosario who has had a long career in the liquor and hospitality industry since the late 70s. Together they make an awesome team she says.
The Place
Situated in the Candolim market snug in between Kashmiri Handicraft shops you may miss it as you drive by. If you do miss it then just call up Divya and she will come up right to the road to greet you with her bubbly and welcoming smile.
The ambience of the restaurant is warm with vintage wall-hangings and exposed walls reminiscences of the Portuguese colonial houses. The barewood tables and seats with minimalistic décor adds to the yesteryears charm of the place.
The Food
With focus on Portuguese cuisine the menu is absent of the usual tandoori, rice and gravy dishes. There are hundred of restaurants serving those dishes, I wanted to keep it authentic and unique and thus the focus on Portuguese cuisine says Divya. Armed with the recipes of her great grandmother and the home cooked style of cooking by her father, she has come up with a delicious and unique menu.
Their spicy & tangy Goan Chourico burger goes well with a sweet beer.
The fish lovers can try the Piri Piri Camarao (shrimp) or the lip smacking Butter Garlic Crab Sticks.
Guzzle down a cold beer with the delectable home-cooked flavours of spare ribs marinated in honey and ‘Pork on the Rocks’ made with Divya’s great grandma’s special recipe.
And not to forget the vegetarians among you there are vegetarian Portuguese delicacies like Massa Frita (Cottage Cheese and Spinach soaked in batter and tempered) and Tipo de Doce (Ladyfinger in a Portuguese Red Sauce).
The Drinks
True to it’s name Divya has crafted an exhaustive beverage list of 40+ beers from around the globe. Bira (Belgium), Asahi (Japan), Peroni (Italy), Murphy Irish Stout, Tsing Tao (China), Hoegarden (Belgium), Ksaltenberg (Germany) are some to name a few, which incidentally are not available in other leading hotels and restaurants of Goa.
If you want to be playful then try out the beer mixes whipped up by Divya. Some of these include Beer Popsicles, Beermaritas (beer margaritas), Bloody Beer (Bloodymary with beer), Beer Sangria, Beer Martinis and Beer Floats! And if you are feeling competitive then try and beat your friends at a game of Beer Pong or rule over them in the popular game of Monopoly Game of Thrones.
The Verdict
A must visit for those who want to try something unique and different from the usual generic stuff out there. We promise you will not be disappointed.
Check out their Facebook page for specials and reservations.
Cerveja e Mais is located in Candolim near Lemon Tree hotel.
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