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Recommended Reviews - Café Santiago
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Easily 5 stars! No-frills ambiance, but a totally authentic mom-and-pop restaurant. We had a real Porto Francesinha sandwich (which means "little French girl" in Portuguese)--hot, hearty, and much bigger and richer than a regular sandwich. We ordered three sandwiches, two glasses of house vinho verde, one beer, and one lemonade for just 30 euros. Not only a famous spot in Porto, but also great food and excellent value. Simple setting, good service, and great prices make this a perfect choice.
My ex pat friends took me here while I was on a layover. Not a long walk from my hotel, we arrived at 7, before it got very busy. It was a perfect night temperature-wise so we sat outside. We all had the Francesinha c/ batata and a traditional Porto beer. The sandwich is quite rich and hearty, consisting of steak, ham, and cheese on toasted bread, covered in melted Portuguese cheese, with a beer-based sauce. It was really good. But also very filling. I had half of my sandwich left over for a midnight snack at the hotel, when I couldn't fall asleep. They do charge a nominal amount to take your leftovers to go, which I found a little odd, but not a huge deal. Service was efficient and friendly. Oh, and don't forget to dip the fries (batatas) into the sauce.
I'm not sure what to say? I've not met a bifana I didn't like yet. And this place was literally empty on a somewhat rainy Tuesday early afternoon. I figured it would be packed for lunch. I asas the lonely diner. I suppose which one is best is simply subjective. But definitely like the spicy oil you can add in this case. The bread soft as a pillow, the meat spicy tender and juicy And abundant. Simple eats simply the best!
It's Porto's signature sandwich and this is the place to enjoy it. Just the right amount of clinking plates and employee's bustle set the cafe's ambiance. We sat at the counter with no wait (but there was a healthy line by the time we left). Service is friendly and attentive, and the red wine was a healthy pour. Not sure when we'll be back, but would definitely do it again.
This francesinha was bursting with flavor and it was so savory! I ordered the francesinha top (came with fries) and it was a monster dish. I just about ate the whole thing & the fries because it was too good. The inside had delicious meat, it was covered with gooey cheese and absolutely smothered with this fantastic broth. After going to Gazela eating a cachorrinho and then eating this, I was able to not eat for the rest of the day or night. Amazing value and the staff was friendly.
Cute little diner serving up comfort Portuguese dishes. When in Portugal, you have to try franchesina and we were told this is the place! It did not disappoint. Being close to the main Porto attractions, it was mostly tourists. My mom and I shared the Santiago franchesina ($16). And this was enough for 2. Loaded with sirloin steak, ham, cheese, etc all smothered with a delicious gravy. It's not a fancy meal, but an experience. You have to try it at least once in Porto :) Waiters here were quick and efficient. Also, spoke perfect English with was greatly appreciated.
Highly recommend by our guide for its local signature sandwiches Francesinha. We went out of our way to try it though it wasn't our usual diet. We went as soon as the door was opened and the room was almost full already, and soon there was a long line waiting outside. If you want to try Francesinha, this is the place. We ordered: 3*Francesinha Santiago-Bife do Lombo: the Portuguese sandwich Francesinha was loaded with everything you can think of, including bread, bologna, fresh sausage, red sausage, Sirlin beef steak, ham, cheese, fried egg, fries and francesinha sauce: It tasted a bit crunchy at first but as the sauce was soaked soon by the Francesinha, the crunchiness was gone. So my recommendation is to eat it as soon as it is served to achieve the best texture. Like I said it isn't our usual diet, it's too fattening and unhealthy, but definitely worth trying it when visiting Porto, Portugal. 3*Bacalhau à moda de Braga: fried cod with chips, onions and olives: it was ok, nothing memorable.
We didn't want to have Francesinha more than once in Portugal as we didn't want to clog our arteries too much so we settled for this place. The Francensinha is MASSIVE. It's hearty and hard to finish by yourself. I would say pay extra and just share one Francensinhas as that is an option at this restaurant which is great. We got the calde verde which I must say was my favourite. It was creamy and had lots of the collard greens in it. Wasn't overly salty and reminded me of home. The pork with potatoes I would pass on next time. It was dry and hard to stomach. Overall get the calde verde and share the francensinha with someone. The service is okay. Kind of slow when trying to get the bill but other than that no big issues
Cafe Santiago is a friendly diner in Porto known for their Francesinha, a monstrous sandwich made of bologna, sausage, beef steak, ham, and cheese in between two slices of white bread, topped with melted cheese, a fried egg, and a spicy, vinegary Francesinha beer sauce! Whoever invented this must have been looking for a hangover cure, as this salty, meaty, cheesy sandwich was as decadent as could be. On the side, we had a mixed salad of lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, and onions, which added a refreshing contrast to the sandwich; as well as the Caldo Verde, a creamy local soup made with kale and potatoes. Overall, the food at this casual restaurant was simple but tasty and came at a good value, and the service was super friendly too!
Came to get Porto's famous francesinha! If you want to avoid a wait, come on a weekday before they open. We arrived 5 minutes early and it looked like some people were already seated and eating already! We found the service friendly and quick, it's easy to use English here. Lots of tables inside and outside. Ask for the wifi password and you'll get it! As for the francesinha, I think you'll like it or you won't, it's that kind of food lol. I went for the cultural experience and while it was a bit heavy - layers of bread, ham, beef, sausage, cheese, sauce etc - I thought it was pretty good (I'm a cheese lover). They add a bit of spice automatically so if you can't take spicy let them know ahead of time. My husband on the other hand thought it was too saucy - he is not a saucy person when it comes to things like bread or rice. Balanced out the meal with a side salad and soup. Was as expected!
I have to admit that neither Jamie W nor I were all that excited about trying the Francesinha, Porto's signature sandwich, because it's a "heart attack on a plate" as Anthony Bourdain described it. Its nearest cousin is the Croque Madame only more gluttonous with multiple kinds of meat and an excess of melted cheese. Bourdain went to O Afonso to try his first Francesinha when he visited Porto. However, current consensus motivated us to come here after we watched more recent YouTube travel videos from Jamie Oliver and others. This looked like a more classic, retro-style diner like Mel's Drive-In, but there was no mistaking what everyone was ordering here whether they were tourists or locals. Tables were pretty snug, but we managed to squeeze ourselves in against the wall. We knew we had to get the 13,2€ Francesinha Santiago because it was the classic rendition (Photo 8). Fortunately they allowed us to share an order because our tablemates let us know other places around town don't allow you to do that. It was quite a sight with the fried egg on top of a monstrous sandwich covered by multiple, overlapping slices of a Portuguese cheese called queijo flamengo. The sandwich itself consisted of two thick slices of white bread toasted to golden brown. Inside was Portuguese wet-cured ham, bologna, grilled sirloin steak, fresh sausage, linguiça, and mortadella. It was all doused with their house francesinha sauce made of beef gravy, tomato paste, onion, garlic, piri piri chiles, beer, brandy, and port wine. A pile of fries surrounded the sandwich (Photo 10). Wow, I just spent two paragraphs describing the francesinha and didn't mention whether I liked it or not. I did - but I also realized it was one-and-done for me. We managed to have a couple of the 2,7€ bowls of soup. Jamie had the Caldo Verde (Spinach Soup) (Photo 9), and I had the Canja de Galinha (Chicken Soup) (Photo 7). Both were satisfying, and mine had orzo. Yes, that was enough food. FOOD - 4 stars...that was quite a mountain of a sandwich AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...very popular spot with seating squeezed together SERVICE - 4.5 stars...a veteran server treated us very well TOTAL - 4 stars...come hungry and enjoy RELATED - Exploring Porto? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/7s1tZV5h5M read more
Helpful tips There are 2 lines you can wait to be seated. One is on the main road and the other is on the back alley. We arrived from the back alley and had a good 30 mins before getting seated (for 2). The back alley has some outside tables whereas the road entrance did not. Ordered the Francesinha Santiago. Can't go to Portugal without trying their famous sandwich. Definitely for me was meal overload which I was prepared for and sadly couldn't finish. Took 30 mins sitting before I got my francesinha. Got to be honest- it was okay. Definitely had a lot of flavors with the beef steak, ham, sausage within the bread topped with cheese and egg. Now that I've tried it, I don't think I'll need to order that ever again. 4 stars Service - our waiter just took our order and came only when dropping our order. 4 stars Price - 5 stars. Price was reasonable. Considering the wait time, not sure it was worth the wait and hype read more
7 months ago
Easily 5 stars! No-frills ambiance, but a totally authentic mom-and-pop restaurant. We had a real Porto Francesinha sandwich (which means "little French girl" in Portuguese)--hot, hearty, and much bigger and richer than a regular sandwich. We ordered three sandwiches, two glasses of house vinho verde, one beer, and one lemonade for just 30 euros. Not only a famous spot in Porto, but also great food and excellent value. Simple setting, good service, and great prices make this a perfect choice. read more
My ex pat friends took me here while I was on a layover. Not a long walk from my hotel, we arrived at 7, before it got very busy. It was a perfect night temperature-wise so we sat outside. We all had the Francesinha c/ batata and a traditional Porto beer. The sandwich is quite rich and hearty, consisting of steak, ham, and cheese on toasted bread, covered in melted Portuguese cheese, with a beer-based sauce. It was really good. But also very filling. I had half of my sandwich left over for a midnight snack at the hotel, when I couldn't fall asleep. They do charge a nominal amount to take your leftovers to go, which I found a little odd, but not a huge deal. Service was efficient and friendly. Oh, and don't forget to dip the fries (batatas) into the sauce. read more
I'm not sure what to say? I've not met a bifana I didn't like yet. And this place was literally empty on a somewhat rainy Tuesday early afternoon. I figured it would be packed for lunch. I asas the lonely diner. I suppose which one is best is simply subjective. But definitely like the spicy oil you can add in this case. The bread soft as a pillow, the meat spicy tender and juicy And abundant. Simple eats simply the best! read more
Waiter was nice, tables are all squished together. Unfortunately, the couple sitting right next to us were nonstop coughing. Both dishes were extremely salty, but at least the francesinha sandwich had some more flavor to it. Not spicy at all! read more
11 months ago
11 months ago
It's Porto's signature sandwich and this is the place to enjoy it. Just the right amount of clinking plates and employee's bustle set the cafe's ambiance. We sat at the counter with no wait (but there was a healthy line by the time we left). Service is friendly and attentive, and the red wine was a healthy pour. Not sure when we'll be back, but would definitely do it again. read more
This francesinha was bursting with flavor and it was so savory! I ordered the francesinha top (came with fries) and it was a monster dish. I just about ate the whole thing & the fries because it was too good. The inside had delicious meat, it was covered with gooey cheese and absolutely smothered with this fantastic broth. After going to Gazela eating a cachorrinho and then eating this, I was able to not eat for the rest of the day or night. Amazing value and the staff was friendly. read more
Cute little diner serving up comfort Portuguese dishes. When in Portugal, you have to try franchesina and we were told this is the place! It did not disappoint. Being close to the main Porto attractions, it was mostly tourists. My mom and I shared the Santiago franchesina ($16). And this was enough for 2. Loaded with sirloin steak, ham, cheese, etc all smothered with a delicious gravy. It's not a fancy meal, but an experience. You have to try it at least once in Porto :) Waiters here were quick and efficient. Also, spoke perfect English with was greatly appreciated. read more
Highly recommend by our guide for its local signature sandwiches Francesinha. We went out of our way to try it though it wasn't our usual diet. We went as soon as the door was opened and the room was almost full already, and soon there was a long line waiting outside. If you want to try Francesinha, this is the place. We ordered: 3*Francesinha Santiago-Bife do Lombo: the Portuguese sandwich Francesinha was loaded with everything you can think of, including bread, bologna, fresh sausage, red sausage, Sirlin beef steak, ham, cheese, fried egg, fries and francesinha sauce: It tasted a bit crunchy at first but as the sauce was soaked soon by the Francesinha, the crunchiness was gone. So my recommendation is to eat it as soon as it is served to achieve the best texture. Like I said it isn't our usual diet, it's too fattening and unhealthy, but definitely worth trying it when visiting Porto, Portugal. 3*Bacalhau à moda de Braga: fried cod with chips, onions and olives: it was ok, nothing memorable. read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
We didn't want to have Francesinha more than once in Portugal as we didn't want to clog our arteries too much so we settled for this place. The Francensinha is MASSIVE. It's hearty and hard to finish by yourself. I would say pay extra and just share one Francensinhas as that is an option at this restaurant which is great. We got the calde verde which I must say was my favourite. It was creamy and had lots of the collard greens in it. Wasn't overly salty and reminded me of home. The pork with potatoes I would pass on next time. It was dry and hard to stomach. Overall get the calde verde and share the francensinha with someone. The service is okay. Kind of slow when trying to get the bill but other than that no big issues read more
Cafe Santiago is a friendly diner in Porto known for their Francesinha, a monstrous sandwich made of bologna, sausage, beef steak, ham, and cheese in between two slices of white bread, topped with melted cheese, a fried egg, and a spicy, vinegary Francesinha beer sauce! Whoever invented this must have been looking for a hangover cure, as this salty, meaty, cheesy sandwich was as decadent as could be. On the side, we had a mixed salad of lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, and onions, which added a refreshing contrast to the sandwich; as well as the Caldo Verde, a creamy local soup made with kale and potatoes. Overall, the food at this casual restaurant was simple but tasty and came at a good value, and the service was super friendly too! read more
Came to get Porto's famous francesinha! If you want to avoid a wait, come on a weekday before they open. We arrived 5 minutes early and it looked like some people were already seated and eating already! We found the service friendly and quick, it's easy to use English here. Lots of tables inside and outside. Ask for the wifi password and you'll get it! As for the francesinha, I think you'll like it or you won't, it's that kind of food lol. I went for the cultural experience and while it was a bit heavy - layers of bread, ham, beef, sausage, cheese, sauce etc - I thought it was pretty good (I'm a cheese lover). They add a bit of spice automatically so if you can't take spicy let them know ahead of time. My husband on the other hand thought it was too saucy - he is not a saucy person when it comes to things like bread or rice. Balanced out the meal with a side salad and soup. Was as expected! read more
9 months ago
really loved trying out their francesinha! it was delicious and surprisingly less heavy than i thought. if you sit outside, you may have to tell people selling things to leave you alone a few times. read more
Where in the world is Cafe Santiago? (Answer: R. de Passos Manuel 226, 4000-382 Porto, Portugal) Easier to find on social media than Carmen Sandiego, Cafe Santiago lists its famous Francesinha in two versions. The Bife do Lombo offers a higher quality cut and was recommended by staff. Despite the 3.75 euro premium, it did not disappoint. The runny egg spilled onto the beefy sandwich and was split in half and on two separate plates with fries. The tender steak, ham, and sausage, and the melted cheese and rich tomato sauce added a perfect level of flavor and moisture. Although the wait time for the dish was a bit long, it was well worth it. In addition, we ordered a small Super Bock that paired refreshingly well. Dining outside was nice, but unfortunately the weather was a little chilly and took away from the overall experience. The wait time may be a bit long, but the quality of the food makes up for it. Make sure to plan ahead and dress warmly if you choose to dine outside during the cooler months. read more
4 years ago
This was a must-try spot on our list while in Porto. The Francesinha is ranked in the top 50 sandwiches in the world and this is the place said to have the best. We arrived about 3 hours before close to a line outside. We didn't realize that we needed to put our names on a list until the people in front of us mentioned it. We put in our name and ended up waiting 1 hr 15 minutes in sporadic rain. People were getting impatient and the man coming out to yell names seemed overwhelmed as people bombarded him to learn wait times. We didn't realize that there is an entrance on both sides of the building, obviously adding to the unexpected wait. We were the last people in line to be seated, with many turned away. Unfortunately, our experience was still lackluster once seated. Extremely poor service inside, both with interactions and speed. We ordered #1-Francesinha sandwich and fries and the #6-Cachorro Santiago (the hot dog-esque dish). By the time we got our food, it was 30 minutes to close and our food was so darn cold. The saving grace? Very inexpensive for large portions and such a unique concept. Gravy/sauce had a Tabasco taste within it. Cheese great quality. Meats tender and deliciously salty/savory. read more
3 years ago
Home of the traditional Portuguese Francisca sandwich (a stacked bread sandwich with thin slices of ham, sausage, steak, a lot of cheese, and a specialty sauce. that has a little hint of paprika and tomatoes to give it a nice little kick). Also known as the Local winner for the best of this type of sandwich in the area. The sandwiches are cooked on what appears to be an oversized like George Foreman grill. Definitely a stop for locals. It's easily reached on foot. Parking is virtually nonexistent in this part of the city. We were warmly greeted and offered either indoor or outdoor seating. The shop is very small, but turnover is relatively quick so wait are not long. The restaurant is clean and service efficient. Soft drinks, beer, coffee, are all available along with dessert. A definite stop to try this sandwich, noting that it is exceptionally heavy and if you're not a big lover of this type of food, maybe sharing is a good idea so that you have room for other snacks later! read more
3 years ago
The experience was overall a cultural experience, and we'll leave it at that. We fortunately had no wait, we went around noon. The place definitely got packed up though by 12:30-1PM. The famous francesinha is very heavy, in a way that did not necessarily entice us to have more. It's a lot of bread, a lot of meat, a lot of cheese, a lot of fries, with a lot of sauce. We don't have a frame of comparison, but we'll pass on other opportunities. The services was neutral; our waiter spoke English, but it was clearly just a job to get through. The cabbage soup was heavier than expected, quite creamy, with bits of cabbage. Nothing was overly flavored/seasoned/salty, but it was both pretty heavy. read more
2 years ago
Clean and modern restaurant known for their food! There are multiple floors and lots of indoor seating, as wel as outdoor seating on the first floor. Our server was very nice, although took quite a while. The food was good overall! Had to try their famous fish, which was extremely filling! I could barely eat 1/3 of the plate. The sauce was pretty good! read more
Really yummy spot to get the famous sandwiches. It was flavorful. I thought that it would be greasy and too cheesy, but it had a perfect combination of cheese and sauce. I really liked the simplicity of the meal and it was just so filling and good. I can see why so many people go here and why there was a long wait. It was well worth the wait. read more
2 years ago
The famous sandwich lived up to its reputation. We sat at the counter and enjoyed watching the kitchen work. We paid a small split charge to each get our own plate with half a sandwich, an egg each surrounded by gravy and fries. A must eat while here in Porto Do not go somewhere else. Eat the best. read more
2 years ago
A fantastic meal! A slice of proto (sandwich) paired with a cold Super Bock truly captures the essence of Portuguese flavors. The food was delicious, and the service was excellent. Whether you're visiting a cozy restaurant or a local café, this combination is a must-try. Highly recommend for anyone craving authentic Portuguese cuisine! read more
This review is honestly slightly jaded. We had experienced food poisoning the day before so I was not honestly 100% back to eating. However, given the circumstances, the Francesinha was still so delicious and I wish I could have eaten more. The egg on top makes it more rich and the cheese the wraps the sandwich is delightful! The meats are nicely stacked inside so you do get a nice even bite which I can definitely appreciate. The only thing that I wish was different is fries. It sits in the sauce making it very soggy unless you eat it fast. The location has 2 entrances and from what I could see, the location is large and has lots of tables/seating. The service is a bit slow (which we did not mind since we were in no rush) so do not expect a very fast in/out service. read more
Definitely a popular spot for locals and a place worth trying for he Francesinha! The place was packed when we came around 2 PM on a weekday but we were seated right away and they even had a small space for our luggage. While we were dining, we saw the many guests come in that the waiters greeted like they were regulars which was pretty cool to see. The Francesinha that everyone talks about is basically a sandwich with lots of different meats and covered with cheese and topped with a gravy. You can get extra add ons like fried egg on top or french fries (though the french fries weren't as crispy and flavorful as I love so might pass on those). It's not the most amazing sandwich I've had and I wouldn't have it again but it's definitely worth a try given how popular it is! read more
Okay after hearing a number of people saying we should split this sandwich, we decided to do that for lunch. Still even though we weren't super hungry, we could have definitely each had our own. The sandwich is really as good as they say - def don't come in expecting something super fancy or novel. But if you like warm, comforting and delicious sandwich this checks all the boxes read more
4 years ago
Our server Andreia quickly fixed up my dad's crabby attitude which in itself is worthy of all 5 stars. I can happily report that the food also matched the high standard set by the great service. We only tried two different Franceshina while in Porto, but the Cafe Santiago rendition came out on top (other was from Pregar which is maybe not a fair comparison because they heavily focus on steak). Drinks were generous and poured at the table with flourish from the amazing Andreia. She was extremely attentive and shared a number of moments of sass with us (mainly directed at my dad which I appreciated a lot). For anyone wondering, there are 3 Cafe Santiago locations that are sister locations with the same menu items/recipes. The one we went to was Cafe Santiago F, and the other two are Cafe Santiago and Santiago da Praça which are all nearby. The lines for these locations were insane later in the night but we were seated immediately at ~6pm (early for a Portugal dinner time). We were hesitant to order another Franceshina after not particularly enjoying our first one but were pleasantly surprised by Cafe Santiago's. This is definitely the place to go for one of those or also if you have a family member in need of an attitude check! read more
This was our first meal once we arrived in Porto, and of course the attraction was trying their Francesinha. Given we were jet lagged, stomachs flipped to a different time zone, we opted to go with the Francesinha Santiago for 2 people. "Thank God" we did. As even having one piece shared amongst us, we were full by the end of it. For meat and carb lover, its a match-make in heaven. Having fries surrounding such a beast is a plus. In terms of crowd, it does get busy. Sitting shoulder to shoulder with each customer. But definitely enough room to cut away at this beast. I would recommend for anyone visiting Porto to try this! read more
1 year ago
In every city that we visit outside of the US, we always try their traditional local dish. Even if it is something we normally wouldn't eat - we still try it. Francesinha is the dish we were told to try in Porto. It is a sandwich, a wet one. It is made with bread, wet cured ham, linguica, sausage, steak, some other roasted meat, covered in melted cheese and drowned in tomato based beer sauce. They also crack an egg on a very top just to make sure you don't stay hungry....AND you also get a pot of warm sauce on a side to keep things moist. It sounded a bit over the top & it most definitely was. We weren't sure if we would be able to eat something like that but rule is a rule - when in Porto eat their dish. Cafe Santiago was recommended to us for good Francesinhas. There were many different variations of this dish on the menu but we opted for the regular one. Oh boy. It was really good. We took our time & finished everything! Of course those things have enough calories to sustain you for several days, however I recommend trying it when in Porto! read more
This is the stop for a Francesinha in Porto. They churn them out by the hundreds with lots of seating and multiple large restaurants adjacent to one another. The process is a bit disorganized, and you may need to wait a while (without much clear direction) to be seated. The Francesinha itself is tasty and heavy. I haven't tried others, so I can't compare to know if this is "the best." But it's certainly the most popular. If you want to avoid sitting next to smokers, ask for a table inside. read more
This is the place to be if you want to try an authentic Porto Francesinha. We coincidentally were staying nearby in our airbnb and walked over for dinner to try it. It's not something I would typically eat but when in Porto! The place was packed and it was a pretty tight space. As we were talking to our table we noticed that the Francesinha is the number one thing to get at this restaurant. About every single person had this meal in front of them. We didn't have much of a wait either because the kitchen probably had these lined up all night long ready to go. There was A LOT of meat in this thing and A LOT of gravy. A little toooo much gravy. Overall though - glad I got to try it! read more
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More info about Café Santiago
R. Passos Manuel, 226
4000-382 Porto
Portugal
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222 055 797
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http://caferestaurantesantiago.com.pt
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Review Highlights - Café Santiago
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