Food

[old git's missus]

We are coming for a wee holiday in October and I wondered if someone could give me an idea what kind if food to expect .I know that fish is very popular and my hubby is drooling at the mouth as he loves fish and is really looking forward to this but myself and my 2 kids don't like fish so what can we expect , I have to point out that we are not fussy eaters and the kids are more than willing to try local dishes, we will not be seeking out British food so I'm just curious to know what the local dishes are that are not fishy!,
Thanks

[Lesley Jean]

Well there is chicken - usually with piri piri which is a hot spicy sauce/marinade, very nice. Pork is very popular as is beef so really you will find just about anything that you want. We do not seek out typically English restaurants and have found something for everyone in our family which includes a vegetarian...... so really don't worry there is plenty of choice.

[old git's missus]

Thanks for the info and the speedy reply , very helpful.
Thanks

[*sarah*]

Alot of steak is very popular and portugese steak is v.nice! You will find alot of chicken, be aware of people asking if you english and instantly assuming that we all love kebabs every day! But food very wide spread and very delicious! Definately recomend trying the crepes - piled with fresh fruit and ice cream!

[flying fish]

Best Barbied ribs on the planet are at the Oasis restaurant on the "out" road of the one-way and hopefully they are still open in October

[shoesnbags]

dont go to the GRILL think thats what it was called near the beach upstairs, i had raw pork! mum has heinz tomatoe soup!!! and service not to good,rushing round forgetting stuff when it wasnt even busy

[shoesnbags]

both italians on the hill and the chinese with the balcony were very nice aloso the steak house

[jkspoff]

I've found that most of the smaller restaurants offer a better quality of food, I suspect because they have the reputation and regulars to keep. I've had some superb meals over the last few weeks here, with 'Raphael' restaurant on the way out of Carvoeiro and the stone steak restaurant on the strip, being the best, whilst 'Chef Antonio' restaurant set back off the main 'strip' was awful. Fillet steak was not fillet steak, it was like two well done burgers, and wifes fish was partly raw and cold, so got them to knock it off the bill, I may just have been unlucky though. Overall the other restaurants steaks and fresh fish are excellent.

[bruce]

One of our favourites is Casa Velha do Pescador in Benagil, the fish is excellent, the fish kebabs wonderful, they do lovely meat dishes and the setting is excellent. Lovely views if you get to sit on the upper terrace.

[Lesley Jean]

bruce, couldn't agree more, it is a lovely place and the food is good, it is only small so I would advise booking first.

[zoinks]

I also love the Casa Velha do Pescador with its beautiful views, cosy ambience and the authentic nautical bits and bobs. Carla and her husband are lovely hosts and plied us with rather a lot of free wine on one occasion (which resulted in a rather precarious stagger back to Rocha Brava along the cliffs afterwards!)

[bruce]

I know exactly what you mean, I remember having trouble negotiating the steps and being helped into the car by my totally sober partner, but what a good night we had with perfect hosts. Cant wait for May 07.

[blue]

Typical Portuguese restaurant will serve grilled fish or meat (lamb, pork & chicken usually very good, beef can be a bit hit & miss), with boiled potato's (fish) or chips (meat) and salad or vegetables, if there is a sauce for the meat it will usually be a creamy pepper or mushroom sauce (both usually very nice) or the piripiri which is hot, the piripiri varies enormously in heat from restaurant to restaurant so be careful . Portuguese food is not madly exciting you have to go to the 'fusion' restaurants to get any variation on the menu. There is a FreeMap in many of the bars or newsagent that has loads of restaurant & bars in it, shows you their location & the type of food they serve, it's very useful to someone unfamiliar with the town. In the restaurant section of this forum some people have recently added reviews for all the restaurants they visited during their holiday, this could be very useful to you. Hope you have a wonderful holiday.

[Bonzo]

i hope thius doesnt sound too strange , but the boiled potatoes actually taste like potatoes unlike the ones bought here in the uk , i grow my own but never seems to be enough

[PTBUXTON]

Try the soup in most Portuguese restaurant's it is usually very good