A week of (over)eating

[Graham]

Just spent a very happy (but wet!) six days in Carvoiero with some friends and without the children

We managed to cover six restaurants during our stay - all varied but in my eyes all good for different reasons - as follows

(Please bear in mind on the prices that we are not known for holding back on the food or alcohol!)

Saturday - Donatos. We didn't land until 7pm so straight for Donatos. Didn't book and got the last available table. Good pizza, lasagne a bit on the average side this time but still very edible. The half litre of red wine for about 3 euros is just right for me. Total bill for 4 about 50 euros. This is now our favourite for a quick 'can't be bothered to cook but don't want to spend a fortune' night out.

Sunday - O Indiano. Taxi into town planning on a quick drink in Havana bar first but it was shut - Brady''s also shut so decided to try Bar Talvez. WHY HAVE I NOT NOTICED THIS PLACE BEFORE??? Really good atmposphere, nice decor - perfect 'up market' pre dinner drink location. Indian was very good - each dish did actually taste different and the garlic naan really superb. About 80 euros for 4. Back to Bar Talvez for coffee and brandy (but sadly they don't stock medronho?)

Monday - Rei das Prais. Taxi again (did I mention our designated driver refused to be designated?). Not being a fish eater, a bit limited on starters but the garlic mushrooms are always good if a bit dull. The pepper steak is very good here, as are the hand cut, home made chips and a real bargain at E16.50. However, the real reason to visit Caneiros is my wife's love of the tiger prawns. Superb as always, and the staff are also very welcoming whenever we go. Resataurant was only half full but I guess it was February. Luckily I wasn't paying but I would bet the bill was the wrong side of E200 - but it was Valentine's day so I think I was worth it

Tuseday - We were going to eat in but the designated cook again refused the position so decided to taxi into town and take pot luck. Considered Happy's given the good reviews on here but was jam packed so had a look at Casa da Boef. This is the first restaurant that seems to have understood that there is a credit crunch going on. Three set menus for E25, E30 and E40 per couple - two courses, a bottle of wine between two and coffee. Being greedy we opted for the E40 menu that included mussels and Beef Wellington. It was a very good choice and fantastic value for E20 per head.

Wednesday - I think the lady at taxirade actually just sends a cab at 8pm before waiting for me to call! Decided to visit Chrissie's in Lagoa. For some licensing reason they cannot charge as a usual menu so it is a straight deal - E30 for two courses, E32 for three. This includes as much wine as you can drink and we made every effort to damage their proifit margin This was our best meal of the week by a country mile - a fine amuse of smoked veal with a tuna/anchovy pate followed by (for me) a chicken sate sat on 5 different types of vegetable crisps. For main, a superb breast of pheasant on risotto with some great vegetables. We were trying to compare the food to London restaurants and for quality and presentation I put it well above the OXO tower - my friend thought it better than the Ivy. We had a good chat with the owners over a free glass of port and they are a charming couple who are obviously very proud of their restaurant and for who nothing seems to much trouble - when I asked if they had a children's menu they just said that we should tell them in advance what they would like and they will sort it. Top food, top service and incredible value given the amount of effort that goes into the cooking (did I mention the 'all you could drink' wine?)

Thursday - our friends went home today so decided to treat the wife to a trip to L'orange. -this was the first restaurant we visited in Carvoeiro 10 years ago and still holds special memories. There were only three tables occupied, and whilst the food was up to the normal standard, it is getting very expensive (90E for two and I had the cheapest main on the menu) and the menu could do with changing every now and again.

All in, we had some great meals in some fantastic restaurants. If anyone was in any of these at the same time as us I apologise for our laughter and frequent innuendos. I would have struggled to come up with such varied and high quality restaurants so close to home back in the UK.

Now for a rant - every single taxi tried to rip us off. When being picked up from the villa the meter moved before we had even gone 5 yards in one instance (we classed that as expert level). One taxi did manage 200 yards before the meter moved and I guess he was still new to the con and learning his distances. When getting a cab from the rank they still added the 80c to the fare. There is little point in having an argument (it takes long enough to get a taxi in the summer anyway without having upset them all) but I wish they would stop treating us like idiots!

[Lesley Jean]

Sounds like you all had a wonderful time, as for the restaurants a very interesting review.

We have always enjoyed and used Casa do Bife I reckon they have a great menu at really good, realistic prices and i have never had a bad meal there in 8 years!!

Chrissie's in Lagoa has been one we enjoy using in the quieter months and I agree with everything you have siad about it, the owners and staff really can't do enough for you, a good quality but slightly expensive place to eat and enjoy.

L'orange we have never liked, you wait far too long for sub standard food in my opinion. The other restaurants i must confess we haven't tried.

It is a taxi ride away but you really must try O Alambique in Poco Partido just outside of Silves - fantastic food, wonderful chef/owner, good wines and a great atmosphere. - http://www.alambique.de/

[Graham]

Hi Lesley - we have never had a problem with waiting time in L'Orange - it is a whole night out after all and I would rather it be a little slower than all done and dusted in 1 hour!

We have tried O Alambique on the recommendation of e-richard - sadly we found it no more than average and not worth a return visit.

[laserblazer]

I took my grandson to the little cafe by the bridge in Ferragudo. The mature lady and gentleman who run the place are lovely. Their English is on a par with my Portuguese but we managed with a laugh. €4.80 well spent.

[sunman]

great review Graham, a shame you caught the duff weather, it's beautiful now

I agree with all you said, particularly this nonsense with the taxis, I wrote on here before that we were charged €13 from VDM to Chrissy's, it was the older guy with white hair, set his clock running when he left the rank in town

and we've never understood the fuss about L'Orange, overpriced & average each time we've ever been there; Pimenta Preta worth the extra few hundred yards past town next time you come

[Jaylay]

Great review Graham.

[Graham]

Thanks for letting me know about the weather now - I have never played golf in such violently windy or wet conditions (but still shot a 76 which just buggers up my argument that it ain't worth playing in the rain 'cos you will always have a rubbish score )

[SAM SPARKLE]

76 round Vale de Milo is quite good Graham

[Graham]

Actually it was ROMA golf in Vilamoura

[SAM SPARKLE]

[Lesley Jean]

Hi Lesley - we have never had a problem with waiting time in L'Orange - it is a whole night out after all and I would rather it be a little slower than all done and dusted in 1 hour!

We have tried O Alambique on the recommendation of e-richard - sadly we found it no more than average and not worth a return visit.

I am amazed that you found the food average in Alambique, you did go to the right one? as there are 2 on the Algarve, the one near Silves rather than the one on the N125? We have always found the food way above average in presentation and quality.

[Graham]

Yes - was the right one. Each to their own I suppose (which is as it should be)

[e-richard]

There are some restaurants that are consistently bad (O Boteca springs to mind).
There are quite a few "Marmite" restaurants (love em or hate em - and according to this Forum, Ele & Ela fits that category), most of the restaurants are average to above average, and even the good ones have an occasional bad review/bad evening.

I'd still suggest trying O Alambique just once more. The food is usually very good.

Apart from all that , what I particularly like about O Alambique is something rarely discussed and that is how well spaced out the tables are

[Graham]

What I like about Roundup is how spaced out the guests are

[tricky]

If we want good food we go to Ferragudo