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Casa do pasto Escondidinho
Casa do pasto Escondidinho
I can't believe this place hasn't got its own thread so I'm starting one.
While researching our trip to Carvoeiro in March 2004 on this web site, we came across a reference to a local (i.e. non-touristy) restaurant called the Escondidihno. We determined that we would give it a go and spent two days trying to find the place (directions on the forum weren't too exact). We even went so far as to hire a car to speed up the searching process. It was all worth it.
The Escondidinho is on the far side of Quinta Paraiso from Carvoeiro. We drove through the reception area of Quinta Paraiso and kept left up a slight incline. There is a large unpaved car park on the left filled with cars and trucks. It is a very local establishment run by (we presumed) a large family presided over by a very matriarchal grandmother (age guessed at anything between 50 and 100). It doesn't open till 12 noon and I don't think it does food in the evenings (but don't take my word for it).
No-one spoke English, least of all Grannie who tolerated no nonsense. We had wisely learned the phrase "prato do dia" = dish of the day and knew from this forum that there was no menu. It boils down to: you get the couvert (best olives I've tasted), soup or pate, a main dish usually with salad, wine or beer, water, coffee and some local firewater that blew my head off. Grannie would prattle away in Portuguese, poke us in the chest, ask if we wanted white or red (she could tell we weren't the beer type) and then proceeded to go shout at her grandson in the kicthen. The place was packed with locals and other canny tourists/residents who were enjoying the best atmosphere and freshest food we came across in our whole visit. All of this for seven (yes seven) euros per person. On the days we lunched at Escondidinho, we had a very light supper of a packet of crisps in a local bar.
We liked it so much we went back another twice and were never disappointed. Grannie got to know us and almost smiled on our last visit. I can't recommend this highly enough.
While researching our trip to Carvoeiro in March 2004 on this web site, we came across a reference to a local (i.e. non-touristy) restaurant called the Escondidihno. We determined that we would give it a go and spent two days trying to find the place (directions on the forum weren't too exact). We even went so far as to hire a car to speed up the searching process. It was all worth it.
The Escondidinho is on the far side of Quinta Paraiso from Carvoeiro. We drove through the reception area of Quinta Paraiso and kept left up a slight incline. There is a large unpaved car park on the left filled with cars and trucks. It is a very local establishment run by (we presumed) a large family presided over by a very matriarchal grandmother (age guessed at anything between 50 and 100). It doesn't open till 12 noon and I don't think it does food in the evenings (but don't take my word for it).
No-one spoke English, least of all Grannie who tolerated no nonsense. We had wisely learned the phrase "prato do dia" = dish of the day and knew from this forum that there was no menu. It boils down to: you get the couvert (best olives I've tasted), soup or pate, a main dish usually with salad, wine or beer, water, coffee and some local firewater that blew my head off. Grannie would prattle away in Portuguese, poke us in the chest, ask if we wanted white or red (she could tell we weren't the beer type) and then proceeded to go shout at her grandson in the kicthen. The place was packed with locals and other canny tourists/residents who were enjoying the best atmosphere and freshest food we came across in our whole visit. All of this for seven (yes seven) euros per person. On the days we lunched at Escondidinho, we had a very light supper of a packet of crisps in a local bar.
We liked it so much we went back another twice and were never disappointed. Grannie got to know us and almost smiled on our last visit. I can't recommend this highly enough.
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Guest
Thanks for the comments. We were in CVO last week progressing the purchase of our villa on QDP. We noticed the restaurant when checking out the villa - we're fairly close to it. Didn't dare to venture in, since it looks a bit run down. Now we will give it a try, when next over. Good to see the forum working!
Ben
Ben
Having just purchased on QDP, we were invited to "chicken night" by some ex-pats who seem to go most weeks. The food is no doubt the same as is served every lunch and dinner, and is remarkably inexpensive for what you get. The atmosphere is certainly cheap and cheerful Portuguese, but all the better for it. Very different, and quite a lot of fun!
