Make a reservation or don't bother. You will end up waiting in line for 2 hours guaranteed, no matter how many times the host tells you 30 more minutes. Now for the food. Dayum...It's excellent. We got the house prawns which were amazing and so delicious we almost licked the plate. The steaks were great so tender and seasoned perfectly. We ordered the house salad, totally wilted but hey what did you expect. Go down the street for desert, all the ones here are pre-made from outside and not worth the calories. All in all the food is good but the wait is long and the staff is stressed so the overall experience is not worth it in my opinion. So much good food in Lagos to enjoy. read more

We tried to go the night before and saw two couples ahead of us lining up at the door and was told that it would be an hour wait. We decided to go the next day and to call to reserve a table for three at night. No one picked up. We were persistent and went by the next evening right when they open at 6:00pm. The server said that we had an hour to eat as the table was reserved for a seven o'clock seating. All the tables had "reserved" signs on them and there were a few patrons inside already. We got the mixed cataplana €30.00 and the egg omelette €8 to share between us three. Too much food! The cataplana came with rice and chips. It was phenomenal! Omelette was alright. Service was good and the chef was super cute and checked in on al the tables from where he was in the kitchen. read more

Hands down one of the best meals I have ever eaten! My family and I were visiting from California and I stumbled upon this place on Yelp. We walk in and thankfully it isn't as busy since it was almost closing time. I order the spaghetti, and my mom orders the platter with the shellfish. Let me tell you, everything about the food was amazing. I can't describe all of the flavors and emotions I was feeling as I ate this food!! The waiter was very nice and so was the chef! Must go here in you're in the area! Trust me, it's worth it! My family and I were about to go 2 nights in a row, but the next day it was super busy. I recommend going either right when it opens or just before it closes:) read more

Casinha do Petisco - one of the best meals i had during my vacation ! - Portuguese Near Me - Lagos, 08

The seafood cataplana. Wow. You can't visit Lagos without having this dish at Casinha do Petisco. It's special, friends. It's essentially a seafood stew not unlike a cioppino. But instead of a savory red sauce, shrimp, mussels, and other delights are drowned in a saffron-infused coconut curry broth that's reminiscent of chicken tikka masala. But it's got a few special twists that won't leave you thinking you just ate Indian food with something other than fowl as the protein. You order the cataplana the moment you sit down. It takes about 35 minutes to steam, so while you're waiting, enjoy an Estrella beer or a glass of vino verde. The cataplana is an actual pan that's used to infuse the flavors of the broth and the meats inside. The result is an aromatic treasure that satisfies all senses. It's a remarkable dish that I'll have to attempt recreating at home. Chances are I won't come close, but it's better than nothing. There are other familiar Portuguese staples like clams and pork on the menu, but you really owe it to yourself to get the cataplana. Don't miss this. read more

Casinha do Petisco - This cataplana is the truth - Portuguese Near Me - Lagos, 08

The cataplana here is better than anywhere else. These guys are adding some curry type spices that take it to the next level. The portion sizes here are huge. Filet mignon wasn't as good. Cash only. Reserve several days in advance read more

It's been almost two years but I'm still thinking about the wonderful cataplana from Casinha do Petisco. I ordered up the mixed edition with prawns and clams and a bottle of vinho verde after hearing great things from coworker. Boy, was he on point. First things first, call for a reservation or get here early. There are only a few tables and the word is out. I was a table for one, which they hesitated to seat, but when I described to them I'd be ordered fat kid style (aka for two) they sat me right away. The dish came out and it is intimidating. Cataplana is the name of the dish it's served in and it is large! Inside there were large prawns, fresh herbs, a rich, creamy sauce, and a healthy amount of clams. It's served with white rice and chips for dunking. That sauce... I think you could serve it with anything at any time of day and it would be a hit. I rolled myself out of there with a mild sweat and a solid buzz on about an hour later and walked around the city thinking about how I should go back there again asap. Don't miss this if you're in town. Protip: grab a beer at the adjacent bodega, drink it at the outdoor table and watch the line. When a few people get on, get over there! Protip2: bring cash read more

Thanks for all the recommendations for this location. The service/staff was really nice and friendly. Best efforts to communicate with germans ;) The location doesnt look like much. Small and shy in a backstreet. But the totally good the food: local fresh fish. Salmon so soft, it instantly flows down your throat. Only requirement: you need to like garlic. read more

See all

My wife and I arrived right as they opened on December 23 and did not have reservations. The restaurant is very small - only 30 seats and clearly run by a family. I asked if they had any openings and the waiter responded that they are completely full all evening - it's not possible...unless you want to eat right now. We said yes, please and were seated. We ordered the Cataplana for two and it was absolutely amazing - the sauce was super good! It was a seafood Cataplana with prawns, clams, garlic, peppers, fennel, and onions in a super - rich lobster bisque tasting type of sauce. It came with fried potato slices and rice. We took home enough leftovers for an entire meal again. We also had a half bottle of the house white wine which paired very well with the dish. The entire staff/family were very kind and accommodating people. This was the best meal and the best value we had in the old town - fabulous! read more

Service can make or break a place, and while the food was delicious, the service was literally the worst I have ever encountered in over 50 countries I have visited. I understand with different languages miscommunication and will usually give them a pass for it because I am a foreigner in their country. But we were very clear and not in the wrong and they didn't even try or care to make it even slightly right. We very clearly and in multiple ways asked for our meal to be packed up and the server threw it out. It was one of the most expensive things on the menu and there was still over half of it left. We were polite but upset about it and he wouldn't do anything for us so we asked to speak to the owner. He said she was would be right over but both of them walked by our table for over 20 mins. She never came. We asked for the check and got it 20 mins past that. And then after everything they said their machine was down and we had to pay cash. It was a delicious meal and I am just upset that the service turned it from a 5 star meal to a 1 star. read more

Note: CASH ONLY. Wow. If you come here and don't get the cataplana, I'm not sure what you're doing with your life. Got the homestyle cataplana and it was life changing. Prawns, clams, and melt in your mouth sausage in a truly incredible sauce. Served with rice and potatoes. Enough for 3 people!!! Stuffed myself and my friend and I were unable to finish it all. Best meal in Lagos, absolutely. read more

Casinha do Petisco - Amazing homestyle cataplana - Portuguese Near Me - Lagos, 08

It's world famous yet exceeded expectations in every way. We'll now spend years talking about this family's clam & shrimp cataplana. If you are on the fence about making the Algarve part of your Portugal itinerary, this restaurant alone should make the answer clear... yes! read more

Small tiny restaurant. Service: friendly and efficient We ordered the seafood cataplana $25 comes with rice and fries. We also ordered the grill salmon which was delicious. Omg heaven it was the tastiest meal I have had so far in Lagos. Loved the seafood cataplana. I would recommend making a reservation because it is difficult to get a table. read more

Casinha do Petisco - Seafood cataplana - Portuguese Near Me - Lagos, 08

... Sorry, was speechless for a second. It's THAT good. Visiting from NYC this is our first night in Lagos after spending time in both Porto and Lisbon. We got the Cataplana per the fellow reviews and enthusiastic recommendation from Hugo, our waiter. Love his energy. BEST meal by far that we have had. Service was excellent. Family run. Would consider going on a hunger strike (so we stood a chance of finishing the massive portion) and fly back to Portugal (Lagos) just for this meal. My only selfish regrat ( not even a single letter) is writing this in fear there will be no open tables next time I'm here. read more

My sister and I went to this restaurant on the first night of our holiday in Lagos. The line was long but moved fast and you could just tell this place was authentic by the fact that a family was running it. Once we were seated it took a while for us to order but I appreciated the fact that even though this place is so busy, they don't rush around. In saying that our food came out fast once we ordered. We ordered starters such as fresh bread, pickled carrots, olives and this AMAZING cheese. It was all beautiful! For mains we had the grilled salmon and clams. The salmon dish was amazing and HUGE so if your planning on ordering this don't eat lunch! My sisters dish looked amazing also. We then got some of the home made tiramisu and lemon cheese cake, of course they were AMAZING too. The best Portuguese food I've had and would highly recommend visiting this place. read more

Casinha do Petisco - Portuguese Near Me - Lagos, 08

Honestly, food was great but really underwhelmed by the service. Food - cataplana was exceptional. See the many reviews below mine that outline why it is so good. We also has the filet mignon which we asked for medium cooked, but was barely seared on each side and more blue-rare. Service - beyond just waiting for 2+ hours to try and get a table, we found the staff to be quite abrupt and dismissive. The service was better once we sat down, but trying to figure out how long it would be before we could actually get there was a nightmare read more

If I could give this place six stars, I would. After getting the recommendation from my host in town, I quickly googled the place and saw a blog entitled "this is my favorite restaurant in the world." Naturally I made my way over and when I saw a line at the line at the door at 10pm, I knew I was in for a treat. I heard the portions were large so I skipped the starters and went straight for Special Prawns and Clams. I'm not 100% sure but I believe this is prepared in the same sauce as the prawn and clam dish that is only for two (served in a special basin). In any case, it was INCREDIBLE. Perhaps one of the best meals I've ever had. The sauce is comparable to a Thai curry but with less spice and more herbs. Garlic, garlic, garlic... my favorite. The place is cash only but no signs are posted saying as such- be warned and come baring euros! read more

Casinha do Petisco - "special prawns and clams" - can be ordered spicy - Portuguese Near Me - Lagos, 08

From start to finish, this dining experience was amazing. Service is phenomenal and the food is even better. Place is family owned and operated and you can tell they truly care about making you feel like family when eating there. Make sure you make a reservation or put your name on the waitlist ASAP, then BE PATIENT. Trust me, it's worth the wait. read more

We spent a week in Lagos, and this was easily our favorite place. We actually came here twice for dinner. The first time we ordered the grilled golden bream and chef special grilled prawns. We had to wait 45 minutes to get seated, but it was well worth it! The second time we came for dinner a few days later, we ordered the clam & prawn cataplana. We were looking forward to getting the fish cataplana, but found out that it has to be specially ordered a whole day in advance. If you come to Lagos, you must come here! read more

See all

A great little place recommended by our host. Would not have looked here but glad we did. Food was excellent and staff was great! Lots of recommendations and great service. Give them a try! read more

Like most restaurants in Portugal this place opens late by US standards at 6 PM. We had a leisurely stroll to the town to an arrived around six. Shortly after we arrived at the restaurant was turning away customers; this place is very very popular. The reason is simple: Cata plana - a seafood stew for two that is rich and chock full of clams and prawns. They say it's for two but there's enough in the pot for three or four. Not to be missed! read more

Casinha do Petisco - Portuguese Near Me - Lagos, 08

Warning: are you hungry? This place's portion will amaze you. Please try to be here early (they open at 6 pm) to avoid the crowd. Please listen to the waiter's suggestion of wine. Please order the chef suggested shrimp. Please don't over order and end up with pot bellies like we did. read more

Casinha do Petisco - Portuguese Near Me - Lagos, 08

See all

Amazing deal for top notch fresh and tasty food. You can get any dish for max 10 euros that comes with either a drink and dessert or coffee and soup. The drink can be anything, wine, sangria, beer, water. This is a must eat while in Lagos! Everything was fantastic. read more

Casinha do Petisco - Delicious!! - Portuguese Near Me - Lagos, 08

Try to get a reservation before 7pm - after that you land on the waiting list and you may wait for hours. While we were waiting we had enough time to study the menu and then ordered right away. The food was definitely worth the wait: the vegetable soup was delicious. The grilled salmon with sea salt was so fresh and the batatas fritas delicious. The salad that came along was good and we loved the tomatoes. The white wine recommended was ok. Still 5 stars for this authentic, small Portuguese restaurant because it was a gastronomic highlight for us at the Algarve! read more

Casinha do Petisco - Grilled salmon - Portuguese Near Me - Lagos, 08

So glad I found this place before visiting Portugal! I arrived around 5:50pm on a Friday night and there was a small gathering outside the place. It wasn't open yet, but she ended up opening around 6:15pm. Since it was just two of us, we got a table. I def recommend making a reservation. I ordered the seafood cataplana and the sea bream. Both were amazing, but the cataplana was to die for! So much flavor. Also SO MUCH food between the two dishes. Very affordable. The chef was also right near our table and asked how our meal was. Great dining experience. read more

Casinha do Petisco - Portuguese Near Me - Lagos, 08

See all

The food itself is not bad - I enjoyed the cataplana, though my friends steak was undercooked. The service however was terrible. You wait hours to get a table and are forced to awkwardly wait outside. I was told it would be an hour though it ended up being closer to two. None of the restaurant staff will even acknowledge you as you wait outside the door - make sure to just walk in and put your name on the waitlist. Our waiter during the service was equally terrible. He gave one word responses when asked about the dishes, was cold and unengaged. Overall a giant waste of our time, would recommend Mar d'estorias instead - the service and food are infinitely better. read more

We found this place on TripAdvisor and gave it a try. I ordered the sea bass and it was perfectly grilled and spiced. My daughter ordered the linguine and mushrooms which was out of this world! I highly recommend this place and definitely worth the wait as it's a very small place.. read more

As many others have stated, this is quite possibly the best restaurant in the entire Algarve region, seafood wise. The clam and shrimp cataplana was out of this world, with flavour and ingredients that blew our entire table away. House wines are great here (and all around Portugal in my experience).The house-made prawns here are a MUST TRY, no debate. While the 90-120 min wait to get in here is very annoying, the high quality of food was well worth this hinderance. The head chef/owner of the restaurant even passed by our table at one point, just to say hi. I have seldom struggled to write a comprehensive review and it's quite possibly because this is one of the top 10 restaurants I 've visited in my global travels.Mic Drop. read more

We had to consider ourselves lucky because we only had to wait 5 minutes (normally approx. 45 minutes to one and a half hour) to get in. We took the typical dish of the house (shrimps, clams, pork & vegetables in tomato sauce = seafood/meat stew, recipe from the chef), it was served with rice & potatoe chips. I couldn't stop eating because it was so delicious nevertheless we couldn't finish the entire bowl, just too much. Great food, great atmosphere, great experience! read more

Amazing traditional Portuguese restaurant with charming owners. Make a reservation, because this place was PACKED! The food was nothing short of pure perfection! read more

I love seafood stews by any name from around the world. The Cataplana here had to be one of the best that I have had experienced. The grilled squid was exquisite as well. What a great little place. Even in the off season (end of April), we had to call to get reservations and all they had was 7:30. The place only seats 28 people or so. The staff was great and service was very quick & friendly. Would definitely go there again and recommend to friends. read more

Take the trouble to call ahead and make a reservation. This was, by far, the best food we had in Portugal and the prices were reasonable.

As mentioned a few times here, the prawns home style will blow your mind! Absolutely delicious and worth the wait, though it was indeed very long. Yes, as some stated the service could be better, you come here for the food and it delivers. I suggest arriving right at 6 and making it an early dinner if you can. Enjoy! read more

This was definitely worth the wait! Amazing food! But it took two days for us to finally get a table so you have to either come at 5;45pm and be first in line or keep trying to reserve the table. The line gets insane and the wait is long (though absolutely worth it). The staff is super sweet as well. read more

One of the top meals I had on a recent visit to Portugal. This restaurant is small and off the beaten path but seems to be quite popular. Also, they take reservations so as walk-ins we were lucky to get seated after a short wait. The seafood cataplana (stew) was AMAZING. We left feeling stuffed and content. read more

No words for how delicious this food was. The pork and potato meal was phenomenal. It was hands down the best meal I've ever had.

We had the seafood catalpa and it was hands down the best dish in Lagos. The menu says it feeds 2 people but it can actually feed 3 to 4 people easily. The flavors are amazing. The restaurant is small and while it's a hidden treasure that most tourists don't know about, you need reservations. read more

It is a small restaurant. We were there at 6pm without reservation. It was very full but we get a table. The cataplana was so delicious and tasty! A Place you must to be!!! read more

Best restaurant in Lagos. Hands down. Large traditional Portuguese plates. Like a homemade meal. Fantastic.

Speechless. We ordered the cataplana mix and I have never eaten anything like this before, INCREDIBLE. This is the most tasty dish I've had in Portugal. I would highly recommend! The chef works so hard to put this perfect dish together! Be sure to make reservations! read more

best meal of our portugal trip hands down. wonderful service and delicious food. tight tables but part of the charm. delicious shrimp cataplana--highly recommend. read more