Originally Posted by MikeCol

They also have a specials menu after 7pm which includes a delicious tuna portuguese style and steak portuguese style which has a , wait for it, fried egg on top. You'll be counting the days until you are back after finding out what you have been missing.

Recently we were going to the Mesa de Cume restaurant in Portugal and when we got there it was closed. Because they didn't want us to have a wasted journey they recommended a place a bit further along the road (which leads eventually back down to Sta Catarina) in a hamlet called something like Bempareis. The restaurant is run by an old couple and is very rustic but the food and views are great ( its like going to your grannies for dinner). The name escapes me but as its the only one there you can't miss it. Bryony

Originally Posted by Jon-Bxl

Hi

Found great new resto!

Firstly, Ive copied a link on another thread that recommends restos to bring the threads together.

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=727793


I wrote this:

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showp...53&postcount=7

If you follow this route in reverse, i.e the 'back road' from Monte Francisco to Altura you will see a signpost to a village called Rio Seco. It's rude to say 'middle of nowhere' - lets say 'off the beaten track' a small village of a few houses - some horses and ..... the resto Ze Da Tasca. 281 531 081

We went there yesterday and their dishes of the day at 7Euro were great. But on 2 occasions I found myself standing up and looking over the resto to see what was being served. Once a big 'paella tin dish' with a delicious looking tuna and onions and another time some great looking big steaks served on a wooden platter with a carving knife and fork. Yummmmmm! I wish I could understand Portugese so could understand all the options. But next time we are going 'off piste'... err 'off daily special' to try the other options.

The resto was packed on a Tuesday lunchtime and apparently get around 100 - 150 covers a day - its a place known to the locals and we thought we were the only tourists there. But we found another couple Portugese/French (we speak some French) that had come there from the western Algarve only because the resto was featured on the Portugese TV station RTP! And had some difficulty finding it. We bought them a drink: 2 big wines, 1 33cl beer and coffee all for 2.60 Euro! House white wine was good - and very cheap! Im sure the red is good too. Amazing find in this tiny hidden village! They actually have an English menu and there is a gentleman waiter that speaks some English (Mondays day off).

We also tried the new beach bar at Cabeco beach (the one just up from Praia Verde - drive towards M Gordo and turn right at the next sign after P Verde - and also mentioned in my post above ). Same company as the resto next door - but a very nice place with drinks etc Sushi and some more bar-type food. Bean bags on the beach - great! A 33cl beer was 1.50 so not a rip off either. So they dont compete with their neighbour. I used to recommend the neighbour resto (Sem Espinhas) but after the new resto on Praia Verde opened (http://www.pezinhosnareia.com/ ) - I shifted preference to that. And also because I got fed up after 3 times of being there being pushed more expensive wines and being charged for cheese we didnt have. I was also a bit embarrassed as I was with friends. Once a waiter less than half my age was recommending a 'better' wine and it turns out that he doesnt drink alcohol! Anyway its a nce location and the food is good, and the addition of beach bar makes that beach very appealing... they just need to sort out their service model.

We enjoy parking at Altura and walking to these restos on these beaches.... very nice and in Altura you get a 33cl fresh orange juice for an euro! Delicious after the walk! (About 30 mins)

Happy eating

Jon

Ps at 6:15 this morning we could hear the music and partying from the Ayamonte festival! All the way to CE!! We're planning to go to bed early and set the alarm for 2am to go there. Too old to do an all-nighter!

Originally Posted by MikeCol

Hi Jon, have just been to Ze Da Tasca for Sunday lunch and it was amazing. We had the beef that you mention. If you have the beef you only need one between 2 as you get half a cow all you need then is their lovely fresh salad and excellent house red. Regards Bryony
P.S. the pork is brilliant too, and the fish and well, everything

Originally Posted by The Pope

Curry house arriving opposite pasta gansa..

Punjab Palace.....

Originally Posted by Jon-Bxl

We stumbled on a great resto on the way in from the airport. We took the 125 as we don't want to have toll charges for a week so that we aren't paying anothers charges, and have a clean sheet. No transponder. When we leave we will offer a slap up meal for us and friends who will pay the toll after we leave as we will surely take the m-way back, and cars without transponders are significantly cheaper. So we can have a few slap up meals on the difference!! Much more fun, and paying the tolls whilst here is easy as we are often in Portugal and payshops paying for internet anyway.

There are loads of resto's on the 125. This one is nothing special to look at - no posh decor inside, but.... this one is famous for its fish. Unlimited fresh grilled fish for about 10 Euros.... just keeps coming till you blow up! (Mr Creosote 'waffa thin mint' ). Rodizio. We've seen several that do this. By chance there were Franco-Belge people on a nearby table. They spend 5 months a year there and always come to the resto that they rave about. We were late so didn't have the fish as we knew we would be the only ones left eating. So we took the dish of the day. A wonderful roast pork dish. FIVE euros.

I also had one of the best ever house wines quality/price ever. Couldn't believe the price for a BOTTLE. 4 Euros. Yes I said FOUR resto price! A Pias from the Alentejo region. We have bought more at the supermarket when we got here. I had not heard of Pias before.

Details/map below. A good place to stop on the airport run....and you could see that many people had eaten there as well

Originally Posted by Jon-Bxl

Aaah so he's coming to our town! We were amazed to find Punjab Palace 2 on the 'country road' from Monte-F to P-Verde. A few yearsd back when we first came here and were exploring around. It was so weird to see a HUGE curry resto in the middle of nowhere. In rural surroundings. I think I posted an incredulous post about it - what a surprise to see it then.

Its closed now of course. He has restos in Tavira as well and has Indian chefs. In the country place he had a big herb garden for fresh herbs... hopefully he still has them somewhere. We had a very good take-out from them. The fresh herbs were prominent and made it really tasty.

He told me that he put in an offer on Jags old place in town. (Years ago)

This is good news - we eat local food normally - but after a while sometimes a fry up, curry or burger just tastes great -! (Though personally, we avoid the pizza + pasta places in Spain)

I wish him good luck!

Jon

PS Pasta Gansa is that the old pizza place in the photo below? Whilst playing with Google maps (below) I realised that Coronacion plaza is the bull ring - not the plaza next to the marina. Also Ive been calling it 'Lotita plaza' - where Gavins places are - wrong. All these years later and only just seen my errors .

Originally Posted by olivia

The increased traffic now using that road might have been a good thing for those restaurants, do you think so?