Hi Guys,

My parents and their friends are at my place from next week, they are celebrating a retirement and are looking for a fish restaurant that's worthy of such a celebration. Apart from Chocco's I'm struggling to suggest somewhere were they can get dressed up and enjoy a good evening with atmosphere, good food and wine. They're not to bothered about cost (within reason), any suggestions? It needs to be accessible in a taxi from CE

I have not been there but I have heard good reports. Expensive but what a setting.

http://www.pezinhosnareia.com/ At Praia Verde

Have a look at the restaurant thread on Ayamonte Club. Jon BXL seems to have eaten all over the place

We always enjoyed food & celebrations in La Rana in the Barriada de Canela.
In Ayamonte La Puerta Ancha, run by an Italian/Irish couple, is very good too.

"Cue Jon !!"

Actually jases100 when I read your first post I immediately thought of this resto as well, then read guessworks post.... The taxi wont be crazy and you can buy proper french champagne (i.e a 'marque' = Pommery) for about 40Euros a bottle. Much cheaper than any resto Ive seen in France itself. The Moet and Chandon is 50 - still a good price. The place that beats it on price is O Infante at the top of Praia Verde (also worth a mention) they charge 38 Euros. Cant believe the price. Since its a celebration some of the 'real stuff' is worth it.

Of course its not all about the champers.!

Its great to sit there and eat right next to the beach/ocean, service is attentive and the food is good. And some great bread!! And if budget isnt a problem then you can choose from the fresh fish on display as well. We avoid this and pick menu items as sometimes the resulting bill can be a shock.
You can start with aperitifs and chat at one of the 'gazebos' (book it) you'll see them on the web page... with a nice circular sitting area where everyone can have a chat... and then retire to a nice table for the meal itself and maybe nab a gazebo after for the coffee's and digo's!! mmmmm getting hungry just thinking of it. That would be fun and posh.....

O infantes on top of the hill will also give you wonderful views and service and fresh fish to order. We like being so close to the ocean at the beach resto. But both are good. Pre book your favourite table to get the best atmosphere. I wouldnt recommend the O infantes 1 in this particular context (the one at the end of the M-Gordo turn off at the M-Way on the r-about).

Either one (IMHO) would beat Choco's. For the ambience and the whole 'eating out by the ocean' feel... and something special - different and memorable...

I hope it all works out- whatever they choose

Jon

Just thought theres also the Yacht Club in VRSA - nice atmosphere by the boats. We havent been for a while but and recently a lot of good recommendations - and the taxi will be cheaper. I think the fish there is very highly rated....

The O Infante Jon is referring to is known as the 'Panoramico', I think. I agree that the ambience beats that of El Choco (although that remains one of our preferences).

S

Thanks Steve - yes better known as Panoramico - which was the old name before they took it over and made it O Infante 2. They have kept the signage up ( I think).

For new members - Both are found by taking the 2nd exit off the motorway - after the bridge - signposted Monte Gordo. After a couple of minutes, At the roundabout , you see O Infante 1. Turn left here on the 125 and after a couple of hundred yards you see a brown sign for Praia Verde turn right - follow the scrappy road to the end and you get O infante 2/Panoramico - cant miss it and you can park here and wander down to the beach resto mentioned above. Or you can drive down there but I bet it will be hard to park as its limited.

Incidentally if you dont take the Praia verde turn off and continue a couple of hundred yards on, there is a sign to Cabeco on the right (the next beach up) There is a resto Sam Espinhas there on the beach (also one in Manta Rota) . I recommended it before - but we got annoyed when they tried to push more expensive wine on us (more than once) and the waiter we had doesnt drink!! Also they always add cheese on the bill even if you havent had it and its not nice sending a bill back. So we have stopped going there (mostly) in favour of the new resto mentioned above in P-Verde. BUT there is another resto next to it (on Cabeco) on the beach.. they were doing it up last time - they told me it would have sushi (hmmmmm!!) and other things (so as not to compete with their neighbour) so we will try it when we are there. It will be another in the Sem Espinhas line... very nice location. All these beach restos can be walked to from Altura - that is also a nice start/end to a meal. About 45 mins paddling up the oceanside.

Finally, where I said to turn right to Praia Verde above, if you turn left, (its a x-roads) its a nice country drive back, that we often take and end up in Castro Marim or Monte Francisco. We probably use that road more than the m-way, if we are in the area or in Altura. Its really weird you drive past a village Sao Bartolomeu and there is Punjab Palace 2 Curry Resto. What a surprise that was! Seeing a HUGE curry house in the 'middle of nowhere'!! They grow their own veg/herbs. We have a take out once and it was actually very nice. But always empty - I dont know how they do business there.

You will also pass the small railway station soon after there is a small cafe/bar there on the platform that do a lunch.... it seems really local and down to earth and we are going to try it next time. The ladies in there seem really nice. Weve had a drink there before and realised they do lunch as well.

Walking inside Sao Bartolomeu you come across another bar very local and seems nice too.... and there is a resto opposite the curry-house that we havent tried.

So much to do - so much to eat!!

Hi Jon

How on earth do you find all these places? And find time to try them all? Amazing!
Love to Kath.

Steve

I'd definitely go for Pezinhos n'Areia in terms of ambience, quality of food and service. I think Jon sums it up perfectly. Have tried Panoramica (O Infante) a couple of times and don't think it is quite up to the same standard. Nice but not memorable. Yes, you pay for Pezinhos, but I think it well worth the cost, especially for a special occassion. I guess you'll get lots of replies and we all have different parameters that we judge by, so you'll probably end up confused. Wherever you go, enjoy.

Cheers guys,Pezinhos n'Areia it is I think

They ended up going to the Yacht club in VRSA, said is was excellent. Cheers for all your help