I was admittedly hesitant to try this place given the mixed reviews about service and steak…read morequality, but happy we gave it a shot! Located in Ribeira Grande, the restaurant is run by a local agricultural society supporting farmers and showcasing regionally sourced Azorean beef, widely recognized as some of the most tender on the island. While it wasn't the very best steak I've ever had, it was still a pretty enjoyable meal, and I left satisfied and full. Veal Medallions: my favorite dish of the night -- flamed in an addictive pineapple-cognac sauce and served with mixed veggies and fries. this sauce was so good i was dipping literally everything in it -- the medallions, the veggies, fries and even the tenderloin below! Bife à Associação - Steak Lombo (Tenderloin): served in a white wine, garlic, and salted pepper sauce, topped with a fried egg. we initially debated the sizes, but 200g was plenty for us to share along with a 2nd dish. the sauce was a bit bold and peppery for my taste (I prefer sweeter sauces like the pineapple cognac), but my bf enjoyed it. for those who arent into the peppery flavor, the steaks also come with multiple other sauces -- passion fruit, island cheese, three pepper, and more. For dessert, there were numerous tempting Portuguese classics but we were stuffed and decided to keep it light with sliced Azorean pineapple -- a refreshing way to wrap up a hearty meal and a perfect choice if, like me, trying the acclaimed local pineapple was high on your to-do list. A surprise standout was the white sangria -- my first time trying the white version, and I loved the bright, fruity flavors. It's nice that they offer it by the glass, so you can mix and match if your party has different preferences. The venue is open and spacious, with lots of natural light thanks to large glass-pane doors that offer a view of the quaint outdoor patio. Despite some of the service complaints I'd read, we had a smooth experience. Food came out promptly, and while the restaurant was clearly busy and staff were spread thin, we were proactive about getting waitstaff's attention so fortunately didnt encounter any issues or delays. Overall a solid, well-priced spot with a convivial dining atmosphere and quality meat dishes. If you're someone who loves classic, no-frills salt-and-pepper steaks, the saucy Azorean spin might not be for you -- but if you're up for something bold and flavorful, it's definitely worth a visit!

Was very excited to try out this restaurant for the first time and it lived up to the hype! Had an…read moreamazing meal here - Bife a Associacao was extremely flavorful and cooked perfectly! Also loved the ambiance of this restaurant!

My favorite meal on the entire island of Sao Miguel -- an elevated and unique yet highly affordable…read morefarm-to-fork dining experience! If there's only one meal that you must have while on the island, this is certainly the one... so if you're reading this, trust me and make a reservation now! When we arrived, we were handed a map and given the option to walk around and explore the farm either before or after our meal. If you're coming for a later dinner, I'd recommend walking around first so you can explore the farm grounds while the sun is still out. Such a fun way to get acquainted with the rustic charm of our surroundings to kick off the night! According to the owner, they are constantly changing up the menu so no matter how many times you visit, each time will be an entirely unique dining experience... so I won't go into too many details but our selection of the day included: pea soup, salad, fish, roasted duck, and finished off with a decadent chocolate pastry/sorbet combo. Each course was beautifully presented and tasted like a hearty homemade dish prepared with ingredients of the utmost freshness and quality. This was such a fun way to get a taste of local cuisine right from the source, and you can tell that this restaurant is a labor of love -- the owners and servers clearly take pride in the quality of ingredients in the way they walk you through each course in detail. Idk where else in the world you'd be able to find such a deliciously hearty and wholesome 6-course meal with farm-fresh, quality ingredients for 60 euros... if you do, please LMK but in the meantime do yourself the biggest favor and make this a priority while you're visiting Sao Miguel!

The menu was a surprise farm to table meal with 6 courses. All the food was the freshest used by…read morethe family. The dishes were artfully put together with many tasty ingredients. Each course tasted amazing. We did the wine pairing and all the types of wines served added to the flavors of the dish. Great presentation by the chef. We are outside during a rain storm and the weather further added to the ambiance of the meal. Servers were right on top of everything but they didn't push you to eat quickly and there was no rush. It actually was delightful to take our time and have a great family conversation. Both grandkids, 12 and 10 enjoyed each course. They were very willing to try the variety of the dishes served. The servers knew what was in each dish including the seasonings. Fabulous experience by the whole family. Highly recommend this family run restaurant.

Located in Ribeirinha, just a couple of miles away from Ribeira Grande, this little restaurant is…read moreprobably one of the best restaurants (if not THE best) on the island of Sao Miguel. Offering traditional food, yet with innovative and sophisticated elements, you can get truly excellent food made of high-quality produce for not much money in a pleasant atmosphere. The presentation of the meals is very nice, the service impeccable - but a bit slow, as everywhere on the island where food is prepared freshly and not simply defrosted. The wine menu is overwhelming, and there is a great flexibility when it comes to ordering wine: often the waiters are willing to open a bottle and charge you only for what you drank from it. (make sure you ask before). We can definitely recommend this restaurant. Coming from Ponta Delgada, make sure you visit the Caldeira Velha thermal pool on your way.

Top notch! My wife and I arrived 5 minutes after they opened for dinner without a reservation and…read moreit's a good thing we did as we were seated. The two parties that walked in right after us were not so lucky and were turned away. You can order off menu as well as from the catch of the day, which are all on display and were more than likely swimming that morning. The hostess, and I imagine also the owner, explained what each fresh catch was and how many of each were available. We chose barracuda from the fresh catch and it was perfection. From the menu we chose limpets (which is a local shellfish cooked in garlic and butter) and the fried mackerel, which was mind-blowingly amazing! A complementary shot of a local liqueur is provided post-meal and was a perfect end to a perfect dinner.

This was an amazing experience from the second we walked in. We were welcomed like we had been here…read more100 times. We started out walking over to see the many choices of fresh fish. It looked (and tasted) like it was caught the same day. We started with the bread and butter along with the limpets (I have never seen these in the US before but my wife and I thought they were delicious). For our entree we split the barracuda that was prepared perfectly - nice char on the outside and perfectly cooked on the inside. We ended up splitting a dessert that was just as good as good as the rest of the meal. The service could not have been better. As we were leaving, the owner (I assume) made it a point to thank us for coming which I thought was a great gesture. I highly recommend this restaurant if you like good, fresh seafood and amazing service. .

Food was great! Steak was great for the price. MUST HAVE THE…read moreMARGARITA! Seriously so good! When I come back I will definitely be coming back This never posted from 2019

3.7/5. Lots of open tables when we came around 7pm but it did fill up as the night went on. I agree…read morewith the other reviewer with this place being more hip and trendy. They loved the Bob Marley songs and the service was just as friendly. 1. Cheese fondue dip - 3.8/5. My favorite dish with lots of cheese and bread which came in a bread bowl. Cheese was a good mix of bitter and tiny bit of salt. 2. Steak salad - 3/5. Overall nothing to write home about. It was good but not memorable. Overall, if you're visiting Ponta Delgada, this place is a good restaurant to spend a night at even if it's just one night.

Everything was great. We stopped by for a late lunch and they had their buffet going. The food was…read moreregional with everything delicious.

Five stars, incredible value. Real neighborhood joint. We've been twice on this trip, once for…read moredinner and once for lunch. For dinner, we had the steak (perfect medium rare), swordfish (the cut is always a bit thin in the Azores, but it was tasty, and came with a salad that was better than most), and the half-chicken, which was really the star of the show. Just delicious and tender, cooked rotisserie style. We also split a demi-bottle of tinto which was excellent and a steal at €5: fruity with good body and no acidity. The whole meal for three was around €44. While fries are unfortunately ubiquitous in the Azores, these were probably the best we've had. Oh, we also had outstanding garlic bread. That being said, you need to come here for lunch, a huge all-you-can-eat buffet with soup, salad, seafood and pork amongst other things. They have a fried fish with a garlic sauce that is a must--batter is crisp and light. Buffet is €8 and includes a drink!! Nice atmosphere dominated by locals and few tourists. Check it out!

Nice! A few vegan options 10.2024…read more The quinoa Vegetable bowl was very good. My husband and I both had the same. Plus a soup. It was very busy but the staff was kind and got us in. The views are incredible. You are right on the beach.

Nice bar with an ocean view. The family had ordered some seafood and deserts. Nice restaurant to…read moreeat at when looking at the sunset. The service here was great.

We are staying at this hotel and let me just say.. It is AMAZING- but thats for another review…read more This is specifically speaking on the desserts they offer during dinner time. Not only is it beautiful in the restaurant area, but there are so many friendly and helpful servers at your every turn for all your needs. Peaceful music playing, comfy couch sitting (or table and chair options) and the desserts were a 10/10. Reading through the menu, my family was hesitant on the Chocolate Cigar specifically, but they were all a 10. Super flavorful, fresh as ever, came out at a reasonably quick after ordering and as colorful as the Island. Unfortunately our vacation is coming to an end, but this is wonderful, you should definitely check it out, for regular dinner options too, or even to reside at for your stay! When we return to Azores, we will return here!

Decent pizza but quite big. I got the carbonara pizza and it was pretty good. Easy to get a seatread more

We went in 2019 and I still recall both meals. The service was ipeccable and the food was delish!…read moreThe squid and the limpets and the fish stew were a hit (as was our waiter). Sorry to be writing this so many years later but obviously it stood out in my memory. I was on a yoga trip and we went after a horseback tour. A friend is going on a similar trip and it prompted me to write this review.

Had the octopus and it was phenomenal!!! The serving size was huge and was full of fresh octopus…read more Loved the wine sauce. Also had garlic bread for a starter and it was delicious. Tried three different desserts: the hot & cold, chocolate cake and cookie cake. All were great, my favorite especially being the chocolate. It was cute and colorful in there and the staff were great!

What a wonderful Azorean restaurant this is! Located in the city of Lagoa on the south coast of…read moreSao Miguel Island, this is a perfect stop after hiking around the beautiful Lagoa de Fogo or swimming in the nearby waterfalls and hot springs. Upon entry into this unassuming restaurant from the outside, we were greeted with port wine aperitifs and that was just a harbinger of a memorable meal in store for us. Inside the dining room is beautiful and the service Portuguese friendly! Cream of carrot soup was first on the agenda and a fresh salad course came after that. Then time for the tasty Azorean Caparau Frito accompanied by a traditional Azorean fish & pepper sauce. The main course was the Azorean Alcatra meat dish served on an Azorean bollo bread(especially well-known on the island of Terceira.) A sobremesa buffet ended this feast with a fabous selections of sweets and fruits. With a couple of bottles of Portuguese vinho tinto wine from the mainland, we were all truly impressed, refreshed, and thankful for such an amazing meal. Don't miss it!