To be honest, I was half-expecting a formidable, leather-clad, tattooed figure to emerge from behind one of the bikes on show. After all, I am at Storm Troopers, the newly-opened, bike-themed café in Utorda, Goa.

This restored, 250-year-old Indo-Portuguese house in South Goa is now a new destination; equal parts café, bar and a community space.

As I clamber up the red stairway, past the wraparound verandah, and step inside, I am greeted by a woman dressed in black, all smiles. Neha Bhola is a biker and mountaineer, whose passion project, Storm Troopers took shape, not as a fad, but as a leap of faith. “I knew I wanted a place like this and started the search last year. Standing at this crossroad in Utorda one day, I was eyeing this beautiful old mansion, wishing for a place like this, and the next thing I knew, it was up for sale, and I was the next owner.”  An Army kid, Neha was the typical rolling stone, but always had a penchant for Goa. She dreamt of having her own café like space, where she could showcase the bikes that she so dearly loves. .

Vintage spirited

The setting is central to the experience. This Goan-Portuguese home in Utorda has been restored with restraint; heritage tiles, weathered wood and generous courtyards have been preserved.

There is a garden space in front, and the cheery yellow and white façade is welcoming. From the ceiling of the portico, there hangs a model of a motorbike, harkening back to 1913 from the famed James Cycle Company in the UK, with a front that seems more like a bicycle, with its lightweight handlebars and pedals.

“This is not just a showpiece. It still is very much functional, and it took me eight-and-a-half years to restore,” points out Neha as she takes me around, stopping next at her late father’s old Bajaj Chetak scooter-front, which she has wall-mounted, like one would, a prized taxidermy mount. Anchoring the space is a curated display of six to eight vintage motorcycles, each celebrating the romance of the open road, that Neha collected at various stages of life.

Smoky grills and hearty fare

Food here draws inspiration from global journeys and roadside discoveries. Think comfort-forward, flavour-led and ‘unfussy’. The menu is the brainchild of Chef Aditya Raghavan, better known as Big Addie. Aditya has a PhD in Physics from Los Angeles and is a certified cheesemaker having worked in Canada for several years, before settling in South Goa. I start with the Mediterranean prawns, dense with flavour. The yakitori chicken skewers do not disappoint either. The pan-seared barramundi with the ratatouille base comes next and is a story of high-contrast texture. The pork shoulder chops in gochujang sauce pack in a definitive punch. And, though I give the burgers a miss, I have heard many a good thing about the patties.

Through the day, anytime from breakfast onwards, expect the most delicious Turkish eggs, perfectly grilled burgers, BBQ-style beef, brunch boards, smoked meats and world bowls, which stand up as meals in themselves.  If you are a dessert lover like me, you may find the choices a tad limited, but I was told that this was being worked upon. And, if you have to choose one, try their carrot cake French toast; an ingenious creation.

From matcha lattes to craft cocktails

The cocktails are well balanced and crafted from locally sourced ingredients like bimli (star fruit) and kokum. The kokum highball-style cocktail has been the crowd-pleaser ever since the opening. The beverage menu has been created by Dev Narvekar, an ace mixologist from Goa known for his creative charm behind the bar.

The reigning beverage and current Gen Z favourite, matcha gains pride of place on the menu as a deliciously, satiny latte. Regular rider meet-ups, heritage bike displays, travel talks and creative popups is something Neha has in mind for this friendly, community-led space.

₹2,000 for two. Open for lunch and dinner. Closed on Tuesdays. At Antonio Pereira Waddo, Utorda, Goa. For more details, call 8459791207.