So there I was, I had arrived to the Azores!
Sao Miguel to be specific. Ya know the Portuguese Archipelego.. Or officially the Autonomous Region of the Azores!
Anyhow, let me not get off track.
This is about food and one restaurant to be exact: Rotas da Ilha Verde - which is not only is it the #1 Restaurant in Ponta Delgada (according to Trip Advisor at the time of my visit) but it is the ONLY vegetarian restaurant on any of the islands. SCORE!
If you know me by now, I get bored pretty easily -
it doesn't matter what we're talking about, if I have the same routine/food/whatever over and over again I just get bored.
And I need a break...otherwise I may never enjoy that thing/place/whatever ever again!
Keeping this in mind and knowing that the island that we were at only had one suitable restaurant had me a bit concerned. How can I eat at the same place everyday of my vacation???
So during my trip planning and research I tried and tried again to find a variety of choices - ya know maybe Italian, Thai, Indian...
Whatever, but that whatever had to be a cuisine that had "accidentally vegan" menu choices.
Well, I almost came up empty handed. And then I did come up empty handed.
I had found an Italian restaurant on the island (yea like only one), but then once we got there (to the island), were quite hungry and searched for the establishment, it was no longer established and we were back to ground zero. But alas, we knew we had Rotas to try and to hopefully enjoy.
Later that first night (and each night thereafter) we drove the 30 or so minutes from our Hotel in Caloura to the restaurant (I was actually commended by a local the following day at being able to locate this small cafe - granted that the local didn't realize that I am pretty good with a map!)
Anyhow, back to business and you are here to read about the restaurant and the food. Let me carry on...
It was just after 8pm (they open at 7pm) and we walked in looking to be sat (we had no reservations).
Sao Miguel to be specific. Ya know the Portuguese Archipelego.. Or officially the Autonomous Region of the Azores!
Anyhow, let me not get off track.
This is about food and one restaurant to be exact: Rotas da Ilha Verde - which is not only is it the #1 Restaurant in Ponta Delgada (according to Trip Advisor at the time of my visit) but it is the ONLY vegetarian restaurant on any of the islands. SCORE!
If you know me by now, I get bored pretty easily -
it doesn't matter what we're talking about, if I have the same routine/food/whatever over and over again I just get bored.
And I need a break...otherwise I may never enjoy that thing/place/whatever ever again!
Keeping this in mind and knowing that the island that we were at only had one suitable restaurant had me a bit concerned. How can I eat at the same place everyday of my vacation???
So during my trip planning and research I tried and tried again to find a variety of choices - ya know maybe Italian, Thai, Indian...
Whatever, but that whatever had to be a cuisine that had "accidentally vegan" menu choices.
Well, I almost came up empty handed. And then I did come up empty handed.
I had found an Italian restaurant on the island (yea like only one), but then once we got there (to the island), were quite hungry and searched for the establishment, it was no longer established and we were back to ground zero. But alas, we knew we had Rotas to try and to hopefully enjoy.
Later that first night (and each night thereafter) we drove the 30 or so minutes from our Hotel in Caloura to the restaurant (I was actually commended by a local the following day at being able to locate this small cafe - granted that the local didn't realize that I am pretty good with a map!)
Anyhow, back to business and you are here to read about the restaurant and the food. Let me carry on...
It was just after 8pm (they open at 7pm) and we walked in looking to be sat (we had no reservations).
NOTE: The restaurant offers lunch hours as well as 2 seatings at dinnertime 7pm & 9pm - Monday thru Saturday, Closed on Sundays
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Initially we were told that they were full and didn't have a table until 9pm.
I asked that 'John' take my name and that we'd return in an hour. Around this time, a lovely couple that had over heard our conversation noted to us that they would be leaving in around 10 minutes.
Which was great news to us, being that we were mighty hungry by this time of day. So being that the interior is a bit cramped to be standing around, we stepped outside and opted to wait out there.
Once we had reentered the cute and homie little cafe, we were offered a table by 'Carolina', and then began to study the menu.
While we were busy "studying", another couple had walked in without a reservation and were turned away - there were no more tables available for the rest of the night! Yikes - that could've been us!
Well, I wasn't gonna let that happen and go a single night without having dinner; So I kindly called 'Carolina' over to our table and had made reservations for each night of our vacation right then and there!
Now it was time to order, each of the entrees can be made vegan, the entree sized salads were vegan, they can adjust an appetizer or 2 to be vegan and occasionally the special and/or soup of the day is vegan, so we had a lot to choose from and I can tell you that by the weeks end we definitely made our way through just about each item on the menu that was available to us!!
I asked that 'John' take my name and that we'd return in an hour. Around this time, a lovely couple that had over heard our conversation noted to us that they would be leaving in around 10 minutes.
Which was great news to us, being that we were mighty hungry by this time of day. So being that the interior is a bit cramped to be standing around, we stepped outside and opted to wait out there.
Once we had reentered the cute and homie little cafe, we were offered a table by 'Carolina', and then began to study the menu.
While we were busy "studying", another couple had walked in without a reservation and were turned away - there were no more tables available for the rest of the night! Yikes - that could've been us!
Well, I wasn't gonna let that happen and go a single night without having dinner; So I kindly called 'Carolina' over to our table and had made reservations for each night of our vacation right then and there!
Now it was time to order, each of the entrees can be made vegan, the entree sized salads were vegan, they can adjust an appetizer or 2 to be vegan and occasionally the special and/or soup of the day is vegan, so we had a lot to choose from and I can tell you that by the weeks end we definitely made our way through just about each item on the menu that was available to us!!
 Starters |  Main Dishes |
The restaurant itself is rather quaint, and almost like you are walking into someone’s home. Warm colors, antique furnishings, adorable flower pots on each table, and some crafty handmade decor. Some of the “crafts” were also available for sale. A changing selection of various music playing in the background. Definitely a unique and hippy chic environment to say the least, and I say that in the most positive way possible!
 I loved the fresh flowers on each table!  More menus...  Back room.  Looking towards the back room. |  Each menu is custom & unique.  Front room.  Back room/door to kitchen  Love the flowers! |
It was all very comfortable and relaxed, and the 2 servers definitely make you feel at home with their warm, welcoming, and inviting personalities.
We really grew quite fond of them over the course of the week we were there and even hugged them farewell on our last night. Promising to return!
*Azorean natives have such a wonderful and kind, friendly and non-judgemental characteristic nature that was truly incredibly refreshing to be around!
Both ‘John’ and ‘Carolina’ would warmly cater to each of the 6 tables in the two rooms of the small restaurant. They really made each visit memorable, treating each individual like an old friend, and greeting us by name upon each night. It was really like being welcomed home by family. (Warms my heart.)
We really grew quite fond of them over the course of the week we were there and even hugged them farewell on our last night. Promising to return!
*Azorean natives have such a wonderful and kind, friendly and non-judgemental characteristic nature that was truly incredibly refreshing to be around!
Both ‘John’ and ‘Carolina’ would warmly cater to each of the 6 tables in the two rooms of the small restaurant. They really made each visit memorable, treating each individual like an old friend, and greeting us by name upon each night. It was really like being welcomed home by family. (Warms my heart.)
And now for the food, well I’m gonna let the pictures speak for themselves here.
Letting you know that each dish was DELISH.
My top 3 entrees were:
Letting you know that each dish was DELISH.
My top 3 entrees were:
- Tofu with Tangerine Curry Sauce
- Seitan Steak with a Coffee Mushroom Sauce
- Chestnut Risotto
 Tofu and Tangerine Curry Sauce  Fried Tofu - omg good! |  Chestnut Risotto  Fried Tofu |  Seitan Steak with a Coffee Mushroom Sauce  Tomato Confit Salad |
 About to indulge in and enjoy my risotto!  Stuffed Zucchini, with a side of fried sweet potatoes  Trying a bite of Dave's stuffed Zucchini  Local Guava Soda  Going in for a bite!  Happy diners!  Cream of Cauliflower soup  Eggplant Cannelloni  Carolina makes the BEST soy Cappuccinos! |  Creamy Deliciousness!  Dave is a happy camper!  Cream of Sweet Potato soup  Tomato Confit Salad (soooo good!)  Roasted veggies in Phyllo with a side of Pineapple chutney  Pasta with sautéed veggies and housemate "cheese" sauce.  Eggplant Cannelloni  Pineapple Samosas (NOTE: drizzled with Honey) |
 Checks always delivered in little toy trucks/carts! |  Check delivery boy! LOL |
You have no idea how happy I was that the only place I could eat on the island actually had AMAZING foods!
And you also have no idea how much we looked forward to going to Rota’s each and every night not only for the food, but for the atmosphere and to visit our new friends as well!
And guess what…I didn’t get bored even once!
And you also have no idea how much we looked forward to going to Rota’s each and every night not only for the food, but for the atmosphere and to visit our new friends as well!
And guess what…I didn’t get bored even once!
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