Andaluz

Stayed near marquis de pombal and looked for a place to eat after a fantastic tour of the Gulbenkian Museum on the last day of our visit. Found this place on Unilocal.No menus yet until opening time. Good sign. Arrived just after 12 noon. Place just opened. Lovely homely feel with blue tiles on the wall and dark wood ceiling. 3 friendly lifelong waiters greeted us with broad smiles. Specials were gambas in a bread cereal, Nacos (black pig pork chops stewed) and northern composite meat sausages. My wife had octopus with garlic as a starter. She has a thing for octopi. This came after delicious cheese olives and bread. Simply done, sauted with garlic hint of chilli and parsley in olive oil. Heaven. My kids had sea bass simply grilled. Delicious too. I had the Naco and it was the best meal of the visit. Blackened salty crust with dark fatty meat which fell off the bone with a light gravy of intense flavour with tomato rice. I couldn’t stop eating and finished it in whirl of chewing slurping mmmming smacking yumming and then desolation when it was all gone!!! Even the cabbage served with the sea bass was delicious as it had been flavoured with garlic and stock. We finished off the meal with espressos, dark chocolate mousse and pineapple. The service was quick compared to dinner and we were glad we came early as the restaurant quickly filled with locals all tucking into Naco steaks and prawns. I definitely recommend this place and it beats foamy pretentious reatarants any day. I have graced many a Michelin starred table and have this was far more enjoyable. Robust intense flavours accumulated by loving preparation of the finest quality ingredients. The icing on the cake was the bill as we rolled out of the restuarant into a cab for the airport. I would have paid twice the amount eating at a restaurant in my home town. We exchanged hearty good byes and firm manly handshakes at the end. What a meal!

The squid appetizer was wonderful. The fried whole fish was terrific. No English but that was no problem.

Aqui há boa comida portuguesa, preços muito razoáveis e um atendimento de excelência! Na zona e dentro do género, é o meu restaurante de eleição! Tem a mesma gerência desde 1980, é meio escondido (embora nem por isso seja menos conhecido), pequeno, caseirinho e com os mesmos empregados há muitos e muitos anos. Tanto o Sr. Augusto, como o Sr. Carlos são extremamente simpáticos e afáveis. Escolho sempre um dos pratos do dia, que costumam demorar menos de 5 minutos a chegar à mesa (é incrível!) e fico radiante sempre que apanho como prato do dia as deliciosas lulas à lagareiro com batatas a murro. Tenho é o cuidado de chegar antes das 12h30. Uns minutos mais tarde e apanho fila à porta, garantidamente!