Poee & Co 24 Hour Eatery: From Goan tables to global tastes

Goan Poee is a traditional leavened bread known for its unique texture. Famous across the corners of Goa, this bread is made with a blend of whole wheat and refined flour, giving it a soft, airy interior and a slightly crisp crust. Often enjoyed with gravy dishes like roce omelette or xacuti, poees are also a popular breakfast choice that has been on Goan dining tables for generations.

Concept

Giving a new twist to Goa’s iconic bread is Poee & Co, 24 Hour Eatery a 24/7 restaurant in Panaji. Offering a fusion of global cuisines with a distinct Goan touch, the restaurant places the traditional poee at the heart of its menu.

Menu

From sandwiches and rolls to desserts, the eatery has reimagined the much-loved bread in creative ways. General Manager Amit Rawat explained that the idea stemmed from conversations about poee’s limited recognition outside Goa.

Inspiration

“My team and I would often enjoy roce omelette with poee, and we realised that people in places like Delhi and Mumbai had no idea what poee was, people had heard of naan’s, pita bread etc but not poee” Rawat said. “That’s when we decided to create a restaurant that revolved around it.”

Flavours

The menu at Poee & Co 24 Hour Eatery highlights diverse influences that reflect Goa's multicultural culinary heritage. Dishes incorporate flavours from Saraswat and Portuguese cuisines, blending tamarind and vinegar-based preparations. "We focus on creating unique dishes featuring poee, such as sandwiches, rolls, even desserts made of poee, and a tiffin thali," Rawat explained. "We call it 'Panjim cuisine' because it brings together varied elements found across the city."

Research

Maintaining authenticity while experimenting with flavors was key during menu development reveals Rawat. "Our chef, Saurabh Tyagi, spent six to seven months researching local eateries in Panaji and Porvorim to curate dishes that resonate with the local palate," Rawat added.

Innovation

Chef Saurabh Tyagi describes Poee & Co. 24 Hour Eatery as a space where tradition meets innovation. Crafting the menu has been an exciting journey balancing nostalgia with fresh, bold ideas," said Tyagi. "From reimagining classics like mango serradura, poee fungi melt, poee katsu, and watermelon pizza to our keema salli and more, each dish tells a story. It’s been a rewarding experience bringing this vision to life, ensuring each plate offers comfort, surprise, and delight."

Local sourcing

The restaurant partners with a local poder (traditional Goan baker) to source its poee, ensuring freshness while supporting the local occupation. "We don't bake it in-house; instead, we've provided our recipe to a poder, and they deliver fresh batches daily," Rawat said.

Customers

Although the eatery attracts some tourists, its primary focus is on serving locals. "Over 60-70% of our customers are regulars," Rawat noted. The restaurant adapts its menu seasonally based on customer feedback, introducing items such as mango-flavoured serradura during the fruit's peak season.

Beyond poee

While Poee & Co 24 Hour Eatery may draw its name from the traditional Goan bread, its menu also offers much more.

"Our menu starts with poee, but it's not just about poee," shared the team. "Around 70-80% of our offerings go beyond that. Based on guest feedback, we've introduced new options like Vietnamese dishes, which will be available starting next month."

Ambience

Poee & Co 24 Hour Eatery offers a calm dining experience with a 64-seater space designed in neutral tones, bamboo furniture, and green hues inspired by the texture and feel of poee bread.

"We wanted to create a soothing space where people can relax and enjoy a meal," shared the team behind Poee and Co. "When exploring Panaji, we realised there weren't many places that offered a quiet, peaceful atmosphere. That's what guided our design choices, with our interior designer bringing that vision to life."

24/7 operation

Operating 24/7 has been both a challenge and a strategic move. "Panaji lacked many late-night dining spots, so we decided to keep our doors open round the clock," Rawat said. "During events, we've had guests dining until 4 or 5 a.m."

Expansion

With plans to expand to other Indian cities, Poee & Co 24 Hour Eatery aims to introduce poee to a broader audience. "Just like naan is known nationwide, we want poee to become equally recognised," Rawat said