Gecko Café

If you want to experience food made with love, don’t hesitate to visit Mani and his brother in Mahabalipuram. Highly recommended. Eating in India can be a challenge if spicy food isn’t your thing. 🌶️ It’s my first time in India, and I really wanted to try some local specialties. I quickly realized my stomach couldn’t handle it — and my taste buds pretty much stopped working after the first bite! Yesterday we went to a restaurant, and I explained my problem, asking for a dish from the menu that wasn’t spicy. They assured me that any dish could be made “no spyci.” I couldn’t believe it — after all those explanations, the food turned out to be the spiciest thing I’d ever eaten in my life. So today at lunchtime, we decided to try our luck at another place, and I braced myself for another bowl of plain white rice. Luckily, we met Mani and his brother at Geco Restaurant. Mani is a surfer and also owns a boat with which they catch the fish served in their restaurant. From the very first bite, I loved the food, it was cooked with care, just for us: a fish cooked in butter, garlic, and lemon, with rice full of exotic flavors that transport you straight to heaven. And it wasn’t spicy at all! and it was completely gluten-free. Everything was complemented by a fascinating conversation with Mani, where we talked deeply about the environment and life itself. We enjoyed it so much that we went back again in the evening and had prawns they had caught earlier that same day. And if I ever come back to Mahabalipuram, I’ll definitely visit them again! 🌸

Me and my three daughters had a great experience here. Yesterday evening we had a delicious white snapper and fried calamari. Today we had a cooking class with Mani and his brother Baskar. This was very interesting and informative. We learned some basics about south indian cuisine. I can only recommend this place. Thank you Mani.

We had an awesome meal at Gecko cafe. We enjoyed a paneer curry made to our desired spice level with multiple naans. The flavour was great and food came quickly. Additionally the service was wonderful and atmosphere was relaxing. Highly recommend!

Delicious food. Had a wonderful cooking class with Baskar this morning. We prepared 3 main sauces which form the base of many dishes. Very informative. Great experience. Lovely. Thank you xxx

Eating at Gecko Café was not only about the excellent food and the excellent fresh fish…it was a real experience. The owner took the time to show us the fish that he had fished earlier in the day, he explained to us the techniques of fishing and the story about the restaurant. Coming from a family of fishers my grand mother, mother and I loved everything about the dish that was prepared for us with love. We appreciated the moment and would like to thanks the owner for the amazing experience ! We would definitely come back ! I encourage everyone to eat there and support this restaurant. Thank you again and see you very soon… Ines and her family from France and Pondicherry.

We ate at Gecko Cafe twice during our stay in Mahabalipuram. The owner has a lovely way of making you feel like you're a guest in his home. The whole red snapper was delicious and very fresh. We also had the fried chicken and chips which were both cooked perfectly and satisfied a craving for fried food! The coconut vege curry is was perfectly cooked - light, fragrant with delicious flavours. Thank you for the local travel advice and the great conversations. Long life the gecko in Gecko Cafe !!

It was amazing! I had the best fishfoood of my life! The owners are the most welcoming, friendly people ever. And had a great cooking lesson on the next day, I would really reccomend. Thank you, I will come again!

We had a wonderfull lunch time at Geco. Fresh delicious fish cooked just with garlic and butter; very nice lemon rice, some prawns, all together with some cold beers. None was spicy. Highly recommended place !!!!!