Mehfil: a gathering of Friends , Food ,
and Fun .
If you’ve ever walked around Tavira,
you probably recognize the friendly face greeting you
in Jardim de Alagoa. That’s Johnny!
Johnny’s journey started back
in 1998 when he opened his first restaurant in Faro.
By 2003, he had made his mark by opening the first
Indian restaurant in Tavira. He’s best known for running the Punjab Palace
from 2007 until 2021, before taking a short break to move to England with his family.
It didn’t take long for the family to realize how much they missed their hometown of Tavira and decided to come home. Upon returning, Johnny initially reopened his Italian/Portuguese restaurant, but his loyal customers had other ideas!
Being well-known in the area, so many of you urged him to bring his authentic chicken curry, paratha, and saag paneer back. Johnny listened, and Mehfil Indian Restaurant opened its doors in March 2022.
What is a "Mehfil"?
Traditionally, a Mehfil is a venue for indoor recreational activities, a place where poetry, music, and dance are celebrated in South Asia. For us, the meaning is simple: it’s a gathering of food and people. It’s a place for friends and families to come together and enjoy life.
We recently completed a total refurbishment to make the space more welcoming. We’ve relocated the bar, added extra seating areas for larger groups, and commissioned beautiful hand-painted murals to adorn the walls.
Whether you are stopping by for a spicy curry, a wood-fired pizza, or just a cold drink, we are happy to have you back, and yes! We deliver too!


