cafes/restuarants less expensive range needed please

SJ & RE · Post by **SJ & RE** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 2:50 pm

Hiya one and all,

When we come back out to CVO in Oct we would like to try some of the cheaper end cafes/ restuarants etc range and not eat all the time in the expensive usual haunts.
Portugese ones would be great to try rather than the Brit western ones, you know what I mean.
I love our usual ones but would really like to get to some of the other ones.
Directions would be an advantage as well.
We always hire a car so journeys close and further away are fine.
I am sure lots of us out there would love to get a list together. If one puts it on the site , I am happy to collate and list em.
When we go out, we can try and put responses on site later.
Many thanks ahead of times to those that would like to put ones on here for me/us.

tbbr · Post by **tbbr** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 3:26 pm

we have also thought about this and locals such as Roy have suggested that we try the restaurants inland such as Lagoa for example.

Ellie · Post by **Ellie** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 4:33 pm

In Lagoa:
Lotus ( righthand side of petrol station)..had couple nce meals in there.

Classique 21 restaurant in the main park., or if you want a nice cheap lunch,I go to the park cafe, you can get chicken baguette and drink (I usually have a fruit tea) for few euros.

or Maria's pastelaria just before the Chinese rest....same here,they do a lovely thick toastie & galao, as a cheap lunch.
.......................
and how about the harbour side at Portimao, in one of the fish restuarants? Do a great sardine lunch,salad, little potatoes (& starter), coffee at very reasonable price..and lovely setting too

Theres 'Taberna 31',in rua Mauzinho Albequerque, Lagoa.(at the end of the pedestrian way and turning right, about 5 mins walk)
I ate very cheaply there. But not sure of prices now since Luis left.
...............
I used to know so many when we lived there, in the countryside, where you could get a great lunch for low cost.. we would stop off at lotsa little places..but you can find these if you have a car and 'explore'

Bruce Wallis · Post by **Bruce Wallis** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 7:08 pm

Our "secret" cheap restaurant is a place up beyond Monte Carvoeiro. It's a local workmans eatery that has a fixed daily menu. The food is unashamed Portuguese home cooking, and is often the best meal of our stay....and SO cheap....2 courses + house wine for about 14 euros between us.

Be warned it's totally unsophisicated, and makes Chicken Georges look posh!...but the food is brilliant!

The nearest phoenetic attempt I can make at the name is "El-Condinyo"

eviljock · Post by **eviljock** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 12:04 pm

I'll second Bruce's recommendation. The place is called Casa do pasto Escondidinho. I reviewed it in this thread in 2005:-

viewtopic.php?t=3358

Last time we were in the Algarve, we went to Monte Gordo. We made two special trips from there to the Escondidinho and it was well worth the effort. It's a lovely (and very cheap) way to spend a long lunch.

SJ & RE · Post by **SJ & RE** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 1:01 pm

the list is growing. Many many thanx
Please continue as all ideas are very gratefully received

Barry · Post by **Barry** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 4:03 pm

Would also support Escondidinho. We live on QDP when in CVO so this is our "local". Try Thursday which is "chicken night" and well supported by the ex-pats. Can be a bit loud but good fun. Also just over the road from the top end of QDP is O Branco. Excellent food, with quality wine at the lowest prices we have found in CVO. Also in the village is Oasis, which has simple but inexpensive food, which we have also enjoyed.

Canada · Post by **Canada** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 3:00 pm

The family run restaurant at the intersection in Sesmarias by the water tower is ver inexpensive and there is a nice mix of holiday people and Portuguese. Great pizzas, wine is a bit cheaper than elsewhere. Chicken piri piri is the best!

biffa · Post by **biffa** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 10:21 am

Vale do Milho golf clubhouse has a very good range of reasonably priced meals and snacks.

sam · Post by **sam** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 11:30 am

Try A Palmeira in Estombar, from Lagoa go past Slide & Splash and it is a bit further on, on your right hand side. Has changed ownership recently. No vegetarian menu, but they rustled up an excellent mixed veg. omelette and chips for my son. Still excellent food and excellent value.

As you get to Lagoa, just past the roundabout with the new garden centre, on your left hand side is a restaurant (past it many times, cannot remember name). Tried it last year - very portuguese, good food, service and excellent value.
A number of cheap places to eat in Lagoa, just need to go off the main street. My husband & son recently had evening meal & drinks for 11euros, and in Porches for 19euros for the three people.

Basically, Just go a bit inland and everything gets cheaper. Some of the traditional portuguese restaurants are not obvious. We have eaten in a number of places that look like a locals bar at the front, but lead into fantastic and cheap restaurants inside.

Stevie-C · Post by **Stevie-C** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 12:40 pm

You can add me to the list of supporters of Casa do pasto Escondidinho. This summer I stayed in a villa just 2 minutes from the restaurant but not on QDP and visited Casa do pasto Escondidinho around 3 or 4 times. Each time the food was great ( everything ( except soup ) has an egg on top). No menu, you get told the options, simple cooking, great quality and very very reasonable. Also very nice staff. Visited Phoenix Nights, atmosphere not great (i.e. not many people in there) but the food especially the pork was excellent and reasonably priced.

tricky · Post by **tricky** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 2:57 pm

Hi Stevie,
I've always wanted to go to Escondidino but unless its the one that I stumbled on near the house with the windmill, I can't find it.
Can you tell me where it is, also can you just turn up?

Thanks
Tricky

Nix · Post by **Nix** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 3:08 pm

Yes!! turn up next time Stevie!!

Bruce Wallis · Post by **Bruce Wallis** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 3:15 pm

There's a catch 22 in this you know........too many people discover this place, and it will start to lose exactly what we love about it! Just turn into another tourist restaurant, and that's exactly what it isnt at the moment. It's the Portuguese equivilant of a "Greasy spoon" or Transport Cafe. Long may it stay that way!

Barry · Post by **Barry** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 5:26 pm

You need to get yourself on to QDP. Go past reception and up the hill and turn left. The egg thing was an invention from the expat chicken night, and has stayed with them. Someone asked "could I have an egg with that," and everyone else joined in. They didn't charge any extra, so now it's eggs with everything.