L'Orange....(revisited)

[Bruce Wallis]

Those of you who read this thread frequently know that I have always fallen into the "anti-L'Orange" camp.
But when such an erst-while gentleman as Roy4Eyes, invites you to return and review your opinion......how could we say no??


We duelly turned up at L'Orange last Saturday night, sat with our host at a very pleasant table outside and started with a very agreeable vodka and tonic aperitif.
The meal we had was very good, good quality and well presented, with very efficient service. (so that was a definite improvement on our previous visit)
The wine was excellent....if a wee bit pricey...but what do you expect.
My dessert was a home made Apfel Strudel, which was a definite improvement on the desserts I have had in many Carvoeiro restaurants.

So why arent we converted??

It was the feel of the whole thing.
The owners wife was front of house. A large German lady of indeterminate age, who gave out absolutely no welcoming warmth.
People complain about the formidable Chrissy from the restaurant of the same name in Lagoa. This lady struck me in the same way.
The service was efficient and polite....smiling girls who seemed mainly eastern European, but once again....no welcoming warmth.
At the end of the meal, our waitress offered us the usual "complimentary port", and we asked for a white port, a Cointreau, and a Herbeas. The waitress made her displeasure at that very apparant, and brought us back the smallest drinks possible.
Towards the end , Jan, the chef/owner, came out. Once again we wondered why? No warmth....nothing.

Would we go back to L'Orange?
To spend another very pleasant evening with Roy? Yes of course.

For a meal out ourselves?
No.
There are a number of restaurants around Carvoeiro of similar price and quality. All, or certainly most of them score at least as highly on food and far higher on the feeling of welcome and hospitality.

Sorry Roy.....good try.....but we are NOT converts to L'Orange

[roy4eyes]

OK - next time it will be BonBon on a Friday which is jazz ( smoothBrazilian style) with a warm welcome from my friend At

[Ellie]

That sounds snotty BW....Ive enjoyed a few good meals there!
I don't expect loadsa smiles and gushing attention...I like it there for the food, after all thats why one goes there?

If I were a waitress at one of these restaurants I wouldn't go around smiling at everyone ( if I did Id probably be rushed off by men in white coats....)

The last time we were there a young Russian girl was serving and we suffered complete embarrassment by a silly old English man...he was seated at table next to us. When the girl served him he asked her name...she said Olga.. and he replied 'vulgar Olga', stupid man.

Why is it that some folk dine out and believe those who serve them are somehow 'their' property?
sickens me

[jessi]

Yes we feel exactly the same way, almost all the same things happened to us , in fact we felt almost unwelcome. Very strange!

[Bruce Wallis]

That sounds snotty BW....Ive enjoyed a few good meals there!
I don't expect loadsa smiles and gushing attention...I like it there for the food, after all thats why one goes there?

If I were a waitress at one of these restaurants I wouldn't go around smiling at everyone ( if I did Id probably be rushed off by men in white coats....)

The last time we were there a young Russian girl was serving and we suffered complete embarrassment by a silly old English man...he was seated at table next to us. When the girl served him he asked her name...she said Olga.. and he replied 'vulgar Olga', stupid man.

Why is it that some folk dine out and believe those who serve them are somehow 'their' property?
sickens me

Not snotty at all Ellie. Factual and honest.

Knowing you Ellie,as a waitress you would be friendly and attentive, and if appropriate even flirty!!

Dont make the mistake that all men patronise or make a waitress their property. That comment in itself is a little patronising.

A good waitress, (or waiter) is attentive and friendly, responding to the client. Doing so well will guarantee and probably enhance the tip. Their service is part of the overall experience for the client, and deserves appropriate recognition.

[Ellie]

Of course I would flirt...what else would you expect?

But that old English fella made me angry the way he spoke to the waitress...she understood English and was visibly upset (the waiter with her looked angry too)

Have to say we were always treated courteously, pleasantly at L'Orange.

Actually, I just like to order dinner and then be left alone to eat it. The last time we ate at A Galerea (up restaurant hill on the right), I had the experience of 2 waitresses 'hovering', as if ready to snatch our plates when finished..I didn't like that.

I suppose thats why I always go to Colombos. I always feel 'at home 'there...Geninia & Marcus are very pleasant as is Pedro (and Anette when she worked there).When I walk in there, a spritzer is brought to my table & I order my meal and Geninia often sits & chats to me.
Yes they are such nice folk at Colombos

oh dear...Im getting sentimental and want to be out there...

[Bruce Wallis]

Well get your bloody hip sorted woman....and I will personally take you out to dinner in September when we are next out there!!!

[e-richard]

Those of you who read this thread frequently know that I have always fallen into the "anti-L'Orange" camp.....etc.

Given that you were predisposed not to like it, you managed to uncover all that is good about it. Good food, nice wines.
As it happens, we only use it for "occasions" such as anniversary, birthday or meeting good friends. We do not use it as a "place to eat" or be entertained - when with someone special, I prefer the staff to be distant.
So, all in all I found your review quite reasonable and accurate.

What it failed to offer you was:
a) Its not your small intimate friendly A Gale where you are known and can chat to the owner.
b) Its not like the standard A Gale type restaurants where the food is average, but the waiters make a fuss, so you think you're enjoying it.
c) Its not on the East side

But, I suspect you may actually enjoy Bon Bon. I look forward to that feedback

[roy4eyes]

Just two small points - the delicious apfelstrudel was home-made by "the large German lady" and I noted no 'displeasure' on the part of the waitresses.
Also the wines (my choice at Bruce's behest) were not he cheapest on the menu and I have paid a lot more for them in other restaurants.
In terms of 'friendliness', I personally prefer to avoid the 'boneless soup' and 'viagra sauce' type of service, but must agree that some of the 'front of house' ladies do not seem particularly suited to their chosen vocations.

[tricky]

I agree, i do like L'orange but the head waiter Paulo who was fantastic, friendly and very efficient
left last year to open a restaurant in the Alentajo (wish i knew where it was)
The german lady can be a bit intimidating. Oh and never pop in during the day to book a table
The chef/owner will not make you feel particularly welcolme.

[Ellie]

Being the only cook in this house (ok son cooks when Im away)...I appreciate anyone who cooks for me and Ive always enjoyed the food and wine at L'Orange

(I always thought the owner / chef, was Belgian?)

[EMM]

So the owner doesn,t like you upsetting his routine to give him money at a later date, another tick in the " cons " column.

So many restaraunts seem to forget who it is that keeps them in business.

[Bruce Wallis]

Those of you who read this thread frequently know that I have always fallen into the "anti-L'Orange" camp.....etc.

Given that you were predisposed not to like it, you managed to uncover all that is good about it. Good food, nice wines.
As it happens, we only use it for "occasions" such as anniversary, birthday or meeting good friends. We do not use it as a "place to eat" or be entertained - when with someone special, I prefer the staff to be distant.
So, all in all I found your review quite reasonable and accurate.

What it failed to offer you was:
a) Its not your small intimate friendly A Gale where you are known and can chat to the owner.
b) Its not like the standard A Gale type restaurants where the food is average, but the waiters make a fuss, so you think you're enjoying it.
c) Its not on the East side

But, I suspect you may actually enjoy Bon Bon. I look forward to that feedback

Dont make the mistake of attempting to patronise me Richard.

A) We did not have a closed mind. I think I was very fair about the standard of the food and wine.....and the unimpressive interface between restaurant and customer.
B) Yes my friendship with Carla at a Gale is no secret, and at places like that you get what you pay for. Its a 5 day a week level of restaurant.
However these workaday restaurants work at their clientèle....not treat them with disdain as L'Orange appears to.
C) L'Orange is a high days and special occasion restaurant, like Ele&Ella or La Belle Avita.
The food may be more or less in their league, but it doesnt compare as an overall dining experience.It appears to live on past glory when it had no valid competition. Those days have passed.
The reason there is so much debate over L'Orange is that I am in no way alone in that assessment.
D) As far as east side verses west is concerned....it appears to me that it is mainly west side loyalty that keeps that place going. Fine, I have no problem with that at all. We all have our favourites.

One of the joys we have discovered is that over the years we have been able to try many restaurants within a 20 mile or so radius of the village.
Some prove to be excellent, some not so.
The real pleasure is discovering new places, and being able to share them with friends, new and old.
In that respect......an evening at L'Orange, with Roy, was really enjoyable, and we look forward to visiting Bon-Bon with him and Carol in September...(and you and Ingrid too if you are there!)

[Ellie]

Well I like L'Orange and nothing or no one will turn me off it

Think we've been there 3 or 4 times in the past and always enjoyed our meals and wine.

I like exploring places to eat.....Ive wandered around Lagoa and stopped off in pastelarias and eaten where the Portuguese eat (all by myself) and never had any complaints about food or service.....
same in Silves too. Going to 'out of the way' places to eat and thoroughly enjoyed myself.
I never remember names of places but its something I enjoy doing

Look forward to going to the park cafe once more and to visiting Maria's pastelaria along the pedestrian bit....
they're such a nice family, who used to run the supermarket there when we lived in Lagoa. I got to know them well. Sadly the father died but Maria, her Mum & brother still run the pastelaria...
nice folk. But then most Portuguese are

[Bruce Wallis]

[quote="Ellie"]Well I like L'Orange and nothing or no one will turn me off it

Nobody is trying to Ellie.

We are all entitled to our own opinions. If we all loved the same restaurant you would never be able to get a table.
I have offered my personal opinion, and now am more than happy to leave L'Orange to you and the west side loyalists