Without a reservation on a Sunday evening we stopped at this small restaurant on a popular square…read morein Tavira. Since they just opened we got a table but most were reserved so get a reservation if possible. I started with a glass of local wine which was relatively cheap but the drinks at this place were no bargain. We started with their peeled prawns in piri-piri sauce. The sauce was tasty but once again I was fooled by what they considered peeled in this part of the world. Messy. For my main I got the pork tenderloin braised in a port wine and onion sauce it was delicious but it took almost 45 minutes to prepare (so they claimed when we inquired on where our food was after a long wait). The side of fried potatoes was very good. My wife got the vegetable couscous which was not very exciting but she said "that's what I ordered". Service was good. Overall prices were reasonable but we noted that taxes were not built into prices like some restaurants...

The shrimp appetizer was yummy (12 euros), unfortunately the couscous with veggies was bland,…read moreveggies cooked within an inch of their life (mush) and served barely warmed. I tried some of my dates pork in a port onion reduction--- that was both tasty and served hot Service was solid. We arrived as the place opened, and got a nice 2-top without a reservation. Others were not as I lucky and were turned away.

Best meal I had in Portugal; one of the best meals I had in my life period…read more Stumbled by this place after a beautiful day at Tavira Island. My brother and I split the fried shrimp in garlic sauce (they weren't actually fried) and I split the octopus rice with my cousin. Both were otherworldly The shrimp was subsumed in a garlicky, hot bowl of pure flavor and the shrimp were tender, fresh and tasty. I was digging my spoon through the sauce looking for remaining strands of garlic even after the shrimp was all gone The octopus rice came out in a massive bowl of scalding like soup. This too was incredibly flavorful and we downed the entire bowl which could have fed all four of us For desert I split a slice of Algorvean almond cake and espresso. The cake was delicious and not too sweet Our server was super sweet and gave great suggestions. This place is all about the food and stays true to the flavors of the Algorve. The place is right by the ferry so it's easy to find

Another fan of the garlic shrimp. My wife wanted to share mine and it was hard to give up any of he…read moredeliciousness. Her salad was not as great but the bar was already set pretty high at that point.

ZDB is a solid choice for authentic Portuguese food at a reasonable price point. Al fresco dining…read morein the bohemian section of town lends to the charm. Fresh grilled seafood and meat dishes are properly prepared and are a good value. You can easily get away with a starter and split main and not leave hungry. Service can bog down during high tourist season (June through September) but Portugal takes life in small bites - in other words everything slows down. You can spend three or more hours here eating and drinking -- in keeping with cultural norms. Top tip: You can wander the neighborhood and see what others are eating.. The Bishops Square neighborhood lends itself to a look see before committing. We choose this way during slower months. Might want a reserve during high season.

The food was delicious. I would definitely go back. We also had the oysters for an appetizer and…read morethose were very fresh.

It was the best food and service we have had in a long time! Three of us for lunch and we snatched…read morethe last outdoor table. We ordered conquilhas (tiny clams) to start, with the couvert (yummy olives!) We asked our waiter to help us choose a white wine and he was spot on. We added a salad that was so colorful and tasty. Then robalo (whole fish) with roasted potatoes. We skipped dessert, but finished with three coffees. We absolutely loved it! And the view of Ria Formosa!

This restaurant can provide you with large lovely fresh fish but it's expensive when compared to…read moreother restaurants. The room is big enough and nice, and the staff are very friendly and helpful, but it fails by not having a kids menu, and by not being honest about the dishes, as when ordering squids, one night I've got served 2 full squids on the plate, and a few days later when ordering the same plate, I've got served 1 squid in slices... Seriously! If you don't have enough squids just say so, instead of doing this kind of low level trick by disguising the amount in slices!

Really enjoyed our dining experience! Recommended by Hotel Vila GaleAlbacora/Tavira. Very small for…read moredining, so do reservations. Excellent seafood, 3 fish highly suggested. Dining experience that should be arranged. Desert of coconut pie was truly enjoyable! GL USA

Amazing traditional Portuguese food. Service was outstanding. The food was out of this world! Can't…read morebeat the prices!!

Dined here numerous times. Outstanding! For my money, consistently the best restaurant in town…read more Fellow diners and friends always put O Tonel in the top 5 in Tavira. Cuisine is Portuguese with style. Try the lamb shank or duck confit. Perhaps the best I have ever eaten in country. Ambiance is cozy and authentic without being ostentatious. Service is prompt and courteous and not intrusive. Good price to value ratio. Like most eateries in Portugal, you can stay as long as you wish. I can dine here every day and not be disappointed or bored with the well curated menu and wine list. Don't miss this tried and true winner.

My husband and I passed by this restaurant when it was setting up for dinner and it looked like it…read morewould be a really cute dining experience. We came back right when they opened for dinner at 7pm and were lucky to grab a table as a walk-in. (The walk-in table was indoors; the rest of the tables, most of which were reserved, were outdoors.) A majority of the patrons had reservations, and many walk-ins after us were turned away or asked to make a reservation for another day. The food was amazing! I got the oysters as recommended by the server. They tasted so fresh and were great with a chilled glass of the house white wine. My husband is a vegetarian and got the pumpkin and goat cheese puff pastry--it was also very tasty. After paying the bill and exiting the restaurant, we were pleasantly surprised by the live music playing outside. We were enjoying it from inside the establishment and thought it was coming from a speaker this whole time! Overall, we had a wonderful evening and would recommend this restaurant to friends and family.

Jorge was a fantastic host. He made our meal and experience delightful. I can't wait to go back…read moreto Tavira to this very special place.

The food was good! It was a pleasant atmosphere and speedy service: I enjoyed the grilled octopusread more

Been here 2 times now with my family, for a Seafood Rice and Grilled Octopus, and the food is very…read moregood and the staff is very friendly! Only issue is when the restaurant gets crowded, the service get's a bit slow and they can forget you very easily if you seat outside. The location is far away from the town as it sits on the pier, so you need a car, but the view is great!

Amazing food! Had octopus and Seabass. All was cooked to perfection. Simple and quiet service. The…read morecook came out and checked on us a few times and even gave us a cooked oyster for an appetizer.