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.

The service is fantastic, the people are very friendly and helpful…read more Very cozy place. The food is delicious. I would highly recommend this place.

This place is fantastic! So different to the other restaurants in the area…read more It almost feels like you are eating in someone's house- such a cosy setting. Very relaxed and warm. The owner is such a gent. Genuinely friendly and attentive. The menu isn't too big but everything is done really well! The bring out some nibbles when you sit down and they are fantastic. The shrimp curry was delicious. The chicken curry was also fab. It comes on the bone and normally my mom wouldn't eat it like that but she said the the flavour was fantastic. I had the Mozambique prawns- monster prawns in a gorgeous light sauce/jus. The prawns are de-shelled which avoids you having to do too much work. The rice is perfect. We all managed to squeeze in deserts- a minor miracle given all that we had eaten before. The fig and almond ice cream was a real unusual treat! Absolute star of the show: the Gin and Tonics - Leonel will ask you if you like it a little sweeter or normal- try both but the sweeter version really won my heart!

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.

One of my favorite low priced Portuguese restaurants in Loule. Across from the Mercado, this…read morerestaurant serves authentic Portuguese seafood dishes and various meat choices as well. Beef and veal cuts are different in Portugal than you may encounter in other European countries and in North America, so ask questions about the cut before ordering. For steak you cannot go wrong with entrecôte (thinly sliced boneless rib eye) or picanha (rump cap) salted and grilled, with boiled potatoes or fries and a simple salad. I usually stick to the seafood offerings and my fave is prawn and monkfish skewers when offered here along with the soup of the day to start. You can enjoy an excellent meal for under 20 Euros, with a glass of wine and dessert. Even less if you order the plate of the day (prato do dia). Wait staff is very attentive and this is an authentic Portuguese restaurant that caters to locals. Not everyone speaks English so practice some basic Portuguese phrases. Use DeepL on your cell phone for help. Top tip: A must get here are the fresh grilled sardines when in season (May - July). A delicacy and they know how to grill these babies. And always end your meal with a "sharino" which is a short espresso with a shot of medronho, the Portuguese version of grappa, distilled from the medronho fruit. Potent and unique to Portugal.

Simple, lovely portugese food. Owners are an awesome family, the specials are a great deal…read more Focus on: fresh fish, in season. This restaurant is directly across from the Mercado and offers access to fantastic fish. My kids love: the bifa portugese- potatoes and gravy on a big slab of steak. Crowd pleaser. Salads are simple, desserts are fine but not the reason you go. Service is friendly snd lovely, and it's a beloved place by locals.

We opted for this restaurant as it was super close to the amazing guest house we stayed at, and I…read morewas too I'll to walk far. We were actually looking for an alternative, since the hours listed online said the restaurant was closed, but we passed this one on the way, and it was actually open on a Tuesday evening. The dining area was understated and elegant, and menus were available in English, despite none of the staff on duty speaking it. Portugese is not one of the languages we speak, even brokenly, so this did make for some difficulty for all involved. We got over the difficulty and ordered a light appetizer to go with the olives, bread, and cheese that Portugese restaurants invariably place on the table, and charge for if one eats them. We get the munchies and didn't mind the small charges, as the olives were quite good, and our ham appetizer went much better with bread and cheese. Raz ordered the cuttlefish, which neither of us had tried before. It was obviously well prepared, and definitely much more to Raz's taste than mine. The accompanying potatoes, however, were quite tasty. I had the Octopus Rice, which seemed a small enough dish, until I realized the croc holding it must have been at least 1.5 liters, and it was full up to the brim! I made a valiant effort, and even got Raz to help me, but over a third was left when I couldn't eat another bite. Word of advice to future patrons, get the octopus rice and share it as a main dish between 2-3 people. It's wonderful, heart, filling fare and there's a ton of it! We had no room for dessert, and I still felt hugely full after the walk back to our lodgings. All-in-all, it was only somewhat better than a-ok, but the rating system won't let us give a 3.5. We gave that extra half-star for being more available than the posted hours would suggests.

This family-run restaurant serves probably the tastiest Portuguese traditional dishes I've had over…read moremy 10-day trip. My boyfriend and I reached Faro at 10pm and this was one of the reataurants that was still open and was also recommended by our Airbnb host. We had the Arroz de Lingueirão - which is the most delicious Portuguese food I've had!!! It's a rice dish, the rice is of the consistency between porridge and paella, cooked in a seafood stew comprising razor clams among other kinds of shellfish, giving it a very strong seafood taste which I absolutely loved!! My boyfriend had the Açorda de Marisco, a similar stew of bread with seafood comprising shrimp, shellfish etc. The bread was like porridge, which was a pleasant surprise as we were expecting bread on the side. This tastes less strong than the Arroz, which my boyfriend preferred. Portions are huge and prices are reasonable. A real gem!!!

We found this hidden gem while wandering the streets of Vila Real de San Antonio (in Portugal but…read moreright across the river from Spain). It is the off season and many restaurants close down for a bit so we were happy to find anything to eat on the deserted streets let alone this treat. The server was happy and friendly and the food was prompt. I gave it five stars because of the environment, service, and food. I would call it comfort food, Portuguese fish and a rounded out menu for those who need a bit of everything. Their pureed vegetable soup (all the soups I've ordered so far in Portugal have been pureed so far..Ireland and France also) hit the spot. Rich and flavorful (ok I added pepper and my extra salt) it was a great way to start the meal. The tables outside are a wonderful way to enjoy the warm weather and people watch the shoppers along the promenade. When it's cooler out or you want the cozy feeling then go inside. There is a wall water feature in one corner and a fireplace feature in the middle of the front room which lends so much charm to the experience. At least pop inside for a quick look before you make your decision. We were glad that it was cold outside or we never would have known that this was much more than a sidewalk cafe. I've added the menu and pricing with some interior photos. Good place, food isn't fancy but it's good and great pricing. We drank the house red wine and it was a perfect food drinking light wine. Cheers and enjoy.

Tapas style but the servings were large and everything so well presented and excellent tastes…read more Little gem in an alley.

Our tour guide E'll highly recommended it and now we do too! A tiny place on a narrow avenue…read more Service was great. The food exceptional! Reservations needed. Lots of tapas to share. Highlights included a fig & cheese appetizer, mushroom fennel goat cheese baked in pastry and a tender beef stew. Chocolate fondant is not to be missed. All so good, we have reservations for tomorrow night!

We saw a lot of people dining outside so we decided to give Faz Gostos a try. We got pretty stoked…read moreabout it once we found out it's a Michelin-Starred restaurant. The restaurant looked so fancy I felt a bit out of place in my casual wear even though some other customers were dressed casually too. We decided to dine indoors as opposed to the outdoor seating facing the square. Our waiter communicated fluently in English. Couvert - (Couverts are served at the beginning of the meal. It's usually fresh bread, olives, sardine paté, cheese, etc. The servers typically ask if you want it but you can always ask the waiter to take it back if you don't.) The couvert here was 4 euros per head. We had three people so we got charged 12 euros for a total of four pieces of warm bread that came with salmon, tuna, and olive oil dip. The dips were so good that I can't complain about the absurd pricing. Salads Peras (pear salad)- 8 euros. My mom really liked her salad, especially the salad dressing. Ravioli Ricotta - 12 euros. It was nothing special. Risotto Cogumelos (Risotto with mushroom and thyme)- 15 euros. The risotto was too herb-y for my taste. The flavor was really strong after a couple more bites so I didn't finish it. A large water was 2.50 euros. The dessert menu was really tempting but we all passed since we were so full.

Some of the best Portuguese food we tried around the Faro coast…read more Service was fantastic! Gonzalo and Patricia were very friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable! Best service while in Portugal!