Perched above the rocks on the very edge of the sea, Avalon Sunset is one of Anjuna’s most atmospheric restaurants. Twenty one tables are arranged in three rows of seven under a flat roof, though only the ones nearest the sea are ever full. A single light bulb in a wicker shade hangs over each table, four plastic chairs arranged side on to the waves below. The menu is extensive with Mexican, Indian, Italian and Israeli food, though you’re better off checking exactly what is and isn’t available before you read through the whole list. Surprisingly given the prime sunset viewing location, prices are slightly cheaper than most restaurants in Anjuna, with mains costing between 60 and 120 rupees, port wine at 35 rupees and a large Kingfisher at 45 rupees. Pizzas start from 85 rupees but are distinctly average; the Mexican burritos and salads are far better, while the curries are good but a little bland and the Israeli dishes are the same as a dozen other places, no better, no worse. The overall standard of the food is about average for Anjuna - you can eat slightly better back along the main road but the better ambience here makes up the difference.
The service was a mixed bag on the three occasions I ate at Avalon Sunset. The waiters are very helpful and always smiling, but the time between placing and receiving an order is typically slow at around half an hour, and the lack of toilet facilities added to the ever changing availability of items on the menu can get irritating. One thing I liked was that the staff were in no hurry to move people on after they’d finished their meals, unlike other restaurants where the bill appears almost before you’ve finished the last spoon full of rice. The kitchen is outside at the bottom end of the restaurant and seemed clean enough. The cutlery and glasses were unstained and the tablecloths had at least been washed.
While the restaurant is a decent choice for breakfast or lunch, the fact that it’s not on the beach itself means it’s never very busy until the evenings, when the dim lighting and open sides provide a wonderful view of the sun setting over the waves, the sky gradually darkening until only the stars and the slowly moving lights from the traffic jam of boats heading down the coast to Panjim can be seen. You won’t find a more romantic spot in the whole of Anjuna.