A-Gale 2007

[Bruce Wallis]

I have spent the last 4 years on this forum euloglising A-Gale as "our restaurant". The place that was always our first port of call. The place we took our friends and visitors to. The restaurant we always had our farewell meal the night before departure.

I had been hearing rumours of declining standards. To my disappointment last week I discovered the truth of the rumours.

I can only describe it as "cut corners".

The quality of the cuts of meat appears to have declined.
Portions not what they were.
The white wine and pepper sauce, which was previously thick, rich and creamy, seemed thin and to me seemed tasteless.

What a shame.

The quality of A-Gale has always ensured that it will do well year round. I was surprised to hear reports of declining standards.
I was disappointed to find myself in agreement with that view.

For the first time in 4 years, we decided against A-Gale for our pre-Departure Eve dinner

[Stevie-C]

That's a shame Bruce, where did you go instead?

[Bruce Wallis]

A Velho in Porches. More up market, more expensive, very Portuguese menu, and excellent.

[steve]

The guy from A Gale has been operating at the Poco Partido restaurant this year and presumably rented out A Gale

[bubbles]

Antonio who owns a gale has been renting it to the current people (Carla and her husband the chef) for the last two years. Antonio has been renting the restaurant in poco partido since the start of the year and the food there is very good. Things have been different in a gale since his departure and basically if you want the old a gale you need to go and see Antonio instead!!

[Bruce Wallis]

I know about Poco Partido. Shame it isnt open over the winter.

What I find SO disappointing is that Carla and her husband were doing so well, even up until July, when we were last out. What has gone wrong since then?

Have they fallen into the trap of making as much profit as they can from the summer passing trade, by apparantly cutting corners, knowing most of that trade is only "one hit"?

I was tempted to write something in the complaints book, but knowing what grief that can bring to restaurants from the authorities, opted for this forum, in the hope that Carla, like most other Carvoeiro restauranteurs checks it out.

[Mike,Chislehurst]

Agree with you Bruce on this, had a couple of great meals in September including a Chateaubriand which can be tricky. I don't think there's a problem to be honest as this restaurant has been running under new ownership for at least 2 years now. By the way, wasn't wearing a football shirt at the time but did expand somewhat due to the size of the meals

[bubbles]

You may not believe this but very few of the Portuguese restaurant owners seem to read this forum or at least if they do they deny it!! I only joined this forum recently and saw a number of both positive and negative statements about various restaurants in the village. I told members of staff and owners about this and none knew anything about it, they said that they used to check but havent for a while.
I personally find it really interesting the reports about places by people who live here or come to visit and think that comments are useful to both the restaurant owners and potential customers. I have now made it a bit of a mission to get the restaurant owners a bit more interested and see what is being said about them, so far I´ve spoken to two, only another 2377675687.......to go!!!

[SJ & RE]

Good luck

[Bruce Wallis]

I think you will find that quite a few check this forum out. A couple (or so) of them using the forum as an "advertising medium"

That is why if I am critical of a place, I try to be specific and positive in my criticism, rather than just saying "So and so" is crap

[bubbles]

This was the problem that the restaurant owners were talking about they said they felt it was just other owners trying to run down the competition or promote their own places.
I have told them that it isn´t only that on the forum !!

[Robbie]

Bruce, like yourself my family and I always start and end our holiday with a meal in Agale and a few others in between . I know Carla reasonably well and she is well able to accept constructive criticism. I will let her know when I am down over Christmas. I am very dissappointed to hear standards at my favourite eating house have slipped. I know Carla has started to take a few evenings off after working 7 days a weeks for the last 18 months and she tends to set the standards there. She needed to take some time off or she would have become ill. All work and no play and all that. I think they may be closed over the Christmas season but it is open I'll be there and will let you know how I get on.

[Bruce Wallis]

I agree with what you say about Carla, Robbie. I have always found her very good, and I know how concentious and hard working she is.
She was away last week when I was there, it also meant that her husband who is normally the chef, was away too, so I was unable to say anything.

My findings actually confirmed what some friends, and my Villa Manager, had told me, so I do think that a friendly word might be in order. Especially as the word does appear to be going round the circle I know in Carvoeiro.
I will go back when I go back in April, and will, in the nicest possible way, tell her of our experience last week.

[aussie]

Went to A Gale end of December and found it very good value and the service was excellent and it was lovely and cosy. We both had steaks and werent disappointed. Actually the portions were nearly too big.

[sanreen]

We visited A Gale twice in the middle of December and thought our meals were very good. We had pork, chicken and fish all served with lovely sauces. They were large portions and definately good value for money. We will be back.