In a nutshell:

A jewel of Gurgaon – A tiny restaurant serving Authentic Goan food, run by a Goan Couple in a home like environment.

Address & other details: Bernardo’s
TELEPHONE : +91 9811571379
Timing: 1 PM to 3:30 PM, 7:30 PM to 10:30 PM (Tuesday Closed)

Meal for 2: Rs. 700 onwards

Cuisine type : Vegetarian & Nonvegetarian

Disclaimer: All restaurants / eateries reviewed by YUMMRAJ were visited by YUMMRAJ himself & he has paid for the full Bill & tips also. http://www.yummraj.com does not have even one featured / sponsored reviews. YUMMRAJ believes in going to a restaurant in anonymity, as a normal guest, experience everything & give a honest account of the same to you.

I rate all the food items & then give a final overall rating which is a simple average of the individual item ratings. What the ratings stand for: 5 = Excellent, 4 = Very Good, 3 = Good, 2 = Fair, 1 = Disaster.

Description:

While reviewing this restaurant YUMMRAJ will violate one of his own principles that says YUMMRAJ  ‘Goes to restaurants in anonymity’. YUMMRAJ had some excellent food here on two occasions with other foodies & the Restaurant knew that reviewers & foodies at large wud come. So YUMMRAJ will just tell u a story & not rate the food here. Of course YUMMRAJ paid for the food.

This restaurant is run by an elderly couple from Goa & they serve authentic Goan food. The property in which they are currently located is, I understand, the 8th location that they have shifted to, in the last one decade. However such is the magic of their food that people keep following them wherever they go. Reminds me of the Pied Piper of Hamlyn:)

The experience of eating out at Bernardo’s is totally different. If u expect ‘healthy ingredients only’ food, do not go there – what I mean is fresh & good ingredients but not necessarily things that r best for health if eaten regularly e.g. lots of red meat etc. If u cannot handle spice / hot, do not go there. If u expect white gloved service / at least prompt perfect professional service, pls do not go here.

However if u love eating authentic food cooked ‘dil se’, this is the place to be. If u appreciate the warmth of talking to the hosts , if u like the idea of ‘feeling like u have come to ur aunt’s place who just happens to b a great cook’ – u r in the right place.

The interiors are very nicely made. What stands out are the decades old black & white photographs of Goa including those of the hosts.

Almost anything Pork is great here. Love the Vindaloo here. Just the color & the look starts salivating me.

Home-made Chorizo curry (Chourice) is again amazing. This is actually ‘home – made ‘ sausages cut & made into a curry.

Chicken Xacuti was excellent as well – the flavors of the curry r just too good. The crab xacuti was very enjoyable as well. I guess anything Xacuti here is good.

Tried Almondegas de Camarao (prawn and coconut cakes) – Found those to be good but way short of being great.

Tried Beef Chilly Fry – Was again ‘almost Good’ but not as intense as I expected from a red meat dish.

Loved the Goan Fish curry. Not too thick not too thin gravy with boneless slices of fish. Intense, coconut based , spicy but not overtly spicy.

Last time I had a chourico (home-made Choritzo) pulao – Awesome is the word. Watch out for it.

Chicken liver was finger-licking good. Have not had it so good in many places.

Prawn Recheido floored us as well. Soft n juicy prawns …..ah ha ha……

For Vegetarians there are options of course. I liked having the veggie curry called Khatkhate. It was a mixed veggie curry. The only problem was the use of full corn on the cob – that was not good & had to be thrown off.

The veggie dish Coconut, potato and peas croquette was interesting but suffered overall due to it being sub-optimally salted.

Coconut pulao is usually very good here. On one occasion I found the rice to be sub-optimally cooked. The same is evident from the picture as well.

Needless to say we love the Goan dessert ‘Bebinka’ here & on occasions we have bought it from Bernardo’s & sent them to friends in other cities as well.

Overall, it is fun to be here & to enjoy great authentic food in a non-formal home-like environment. Make sure u make ur reservations coz space is very limited in this tiny restaurant.