gazz

i was going to add that "she can be very unresponsive , moody, selfish and downright ignorant " but i thought better of it!
How wrong i was

Same Difference

I can tell youve just come back from your lunch...........my inbox is popping up like mad!

moonandsixpence

Well, Having asked the question myself yesterday I tried a new reataurant last night and what a cracker it is.
Solar Do Guadiana, Av da Republica 55, Vila Real. Opposite the Marina Building. Its new in a refurbished building, in 3 parts, a tapas bar, a restaurant and a super dooper section of the restaurant.

Not much English spoken but what a great menu(in English), and reasonable prices.

As for keeping them for yourself "Same Diference", I tend to enjoy restaurants where there are other customers, and if I find a good one I happily recommend it, thats how they survive.

Adios all, enjoy if you try it.

gazz

you know me always willing to please

Same Difference

Ok ok.........I was only bloomin joking!

Right I am gonna tell you about our fave restaurant in Vila Real! Its called Santana and is owned by a husband and wife team. The wife is Portuguese and her husband is Chinese and none of them speak English but they do have a menu in English. The good thing about this restaurant is that you have a choice of both Portuguese and Chinese food. The only downside is that you do have to wait a while for your food, even though there are only 7 tables! That is because once you have ordered he goes into the kitchen and prepares everything from scratch and it is so fresh and tasty it is well worth the wait.

I always have the chicken piri piri and let me tell you, it is the best in Portugal Hubby always has the chinese dish chicken in almonds! We went a couple of weeks ago and had both those meals, a homemade soup starter, 6 beers, half a bottle of wine and it came to 19 euros! Thats why I dont tell anyone about it..........cos there aint many tables and I want to make sure I get a table when I turn up!

gazz

As for keeping them for yourself "Same Diference", I tend to enjoy restaurants where there are other customers, and if I find a good one I happily recommend it, thats how they survive.
Too late , you,ve done it now...no good trying to weedle your way back in with suggestions!

Same Difference

Shut ya face!

moonandsixpence

Thanks "same difference". Just what we are looking for, sounds great.

If we promise to go on evenings when you are not there can you please let us know where we can find this gem.

If we see you there we owe you both a beer.

Thanks again

Adios

cavalierhome

In Quarteira there is a restaurant called the Barca.

It is on that road that leads to that rotunda (roundabout) that has the big BP gas station on it.

Far from the beach and the marina.

Real Portuguese food for Portuguese.

Great prices.

In season have the sardinhas there. They make them 4 at a time for you and keep them coming HOT and when you finish those 4 then 4 more show up and so on till you say stop.

Being Portuguese myself I appreciate the difference between Portuguese food and Portuguese food made for tourists.


There are certain giveaways to knowing it BESIDES being Portuguese.

1) English menu…… Dead giveaway. The food may be good but it is NOT for Portuguese.
2) High prices relative to restaurants where PT people eat.
3) Signs like “we make English breakfast”.
4) An extensive and expensive wine list. In Portugal the house wine is all you should need.
5) Proximity to tourist things like the Marina, the beach etc.
6) Dishes on the menu that are not typically Portuguese
7) Few if any Portuguese eating there.

Predominantly in areas like Vilamoura/Quarteira GREAT Portuguese food at GREAT prices is hidden away in small dark places… It is that way because if not then tourist would quickly raise the prices.
How do you find it? Easy….. Smile and ask a Portuguese who lives in the area.
I know a few but unfortunately I don’t know directions very well so I have trouble telling you where they are.

One that comes to mind.

In Faro at the Dock next to the fire department there is a small marine museum… walk along behind it and you will find a whole in the wall restaurant where all the local workers go to eat. You will not hear any English there and no English menu either.

Go and try it. Just look around at what others are eating point at it and tell them you want that.

GREAT FOOD and the prices are so low you will want to pay more because you will feel guilty.


Be adventurous, try it that is after all the real Portugal and it won’t disappoint.

Cheers

Same Difference

As you stand with your back to the clinic near the football ground, cross the road and walk left about 10 paces and you are there..........blink and you will miss it We found it by mistake and go back all the time, we take all our family and friends that come to visit and they all want to go back

But dont tell anyone else about it.........its a secret and we dont want it full of Brits eating all the chicken piri piri!

Green_shutters

If you are in Monte Gordo do try Eurobar (It has always been known as that - over 20 years - even way before they invented the Euro) known locally as Joseph's.

If you stand with your back to the Casino walk through the square and just as you are about to leave the square it is just to your right tucked in beside Jamie who I don't recommend.

Joseph has a few tables inside in the winter and plenty outside during the summer. Packed out with Portuguese people, both locals and visitors who come back year after year which is a good sign and although they have multi language menus look out for the specials written only in Portuguese just inside the cover - you will get plenty of good food including great homemade sopas. The fish is always excellent and fresh and cooked to perfection - kept simple and has a wow factor. Don't expect to be in and out in a flash though this is a place to chill. They can forget you sometimes so be prepared to remind them - it's not intentional and they are always generous with the Porto!!!

derbyflan

Fro those going to or near Sao Martinho try the restuarant attached to the Atlantic Pensao. We ate there almost every night. Mixed kebab with mushroom sauce became my usual..... Yummzahh!

And for those looking for a great place to stay use the Pensao itself. Very reasonable at 40 euros for a double en-suite room per night with brekky for two. The hotel 'Capitao' charged 70 for the same deal and the rooms there were much smaller.

Supremegermalene

You would definitely like the 2 restaurants I recommended in Lagos then. Make sure you try them next time you are there! Casinha do Petisco have tried to have their menu translated but it doesn't really work, i.e. 'Clams bulhao pato' doesn't really translate!

G

cavalierhome

Sure it does.... it means ... Yum!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Or more conventionally it means Clams steamed opened in a white wine and garlic sauce with a touch of piri piri a sprinkle of cilantro and a dash of lemon at the end.

If you get a hold of the menu post it or pm it and I can translate it.

Cheers

Supremegermalene

LOL their menu is in vinyl letters stuck onto a board screwed onto their front wall...no don't need anything translating the whole point is that it's proper portuguese grub that has no real translation. It is just very very tasty!

G