Da Terra

Excellent little vegetarian joint. It’s a buffet but not the tacky type. Vegetarian food can often be bland but this is not the case. Would come back.

Buffet apelativo, com uma diversidade de cores e sabores incríveis! Vale muito a pena experimentar!!!

I reviewed DaTerra May 9, 2011 on my food blog.
DaTerra has been my favorite Porto area restaurant. Technically in Matosinhos, DaTerra is a fantastic vegan and vegetarian restaurant. Matosinhos is known for its accessible beaches. I recommend seeing the beach before eating at DaTerra. If you’re like me you’ll eat so much you couldn’t fathom walking more than 100 meters.
DaTerra is my favorite restaurant for several reasons. One, the food is amazing and colorful. Two, it’s buffet style with wide ranging options. Third, it’s super affordable. Lunch is € 6.50, dinner is € 8.50. Drinks and dessert are extra. They offer wine, beer, fresh juice drinks, teas and more. Fourth, the space is inviting.
These tables are near the restaurant’s entrance. It’s a small space used effectively. They’re also willing to work with large groups. Everything is very clean here, the staff is efficient, the colors simple.
Waitstaff will come over eventually. Otherwise, you can order drinks and desserts at the counter. Once you’re finished eating, you will also pay at the counter.
Since the restaurant is buffet style, you can start dining once you’re settled at your table. The food has been different every time I’ve dined. The one consistent menu item would be bread. Grab your plate, small or big, or bowl at the counter and dive in! Cold food is at one countertop. There are olive oils, black peppercorn and a few other spices there too. Hot food is at the counter keeping warm under their coverings. They also have a daily soup option. Soup is huge here in Portugal especially caldo verde com chouriço.
The food is tastefully arranged, colorful, and varied. You have quiches, curried tofu, rice, bread, pasta, red hummus and capers topping thinly sliced vegetables, vegetarian sushi rolls crusted with sesame, beet/​carrot/​mango/​strawberry salad, and more. It looked so pleasing to eat. How could a person resist these delectable options?
Then you have dessert which can be ordered at the counter where they are displayed. Once I had manga (mango) and tofu. They also regularly have a fruit pie and chocolate desserts. I’ve heard they have an amazing vegan flourless chocolate cake. The mango and tofu blended well together. You could really taste the fruit as the tofu didn’t overpower the taste buds. The dessert cost € 3.
If you visit Porto, go to DaTerra especially if you’re a vegetarian or vegan.