***Please note*** This review is for Marufo 1. It is…read moredifferent from Marufo 2. Also, the location provided on Yelp is wrong -- I have submitted an update. *** *** Marufo 1 is an awesome place to eat. They have numerous great dishes but they are really known for 2 things: their grilled chicken and their piri-piri oil. Those who've read my reviews know that I eat a ton of grilled or rotisserie chicken and I'd like to think that I have a pretty good handle on what's good or not. Simply stated, Marufo 1's chicken is legit good, which is impressive because these are not your standard fat American chickens. Smaller chickens are easier to overcook, and that difficulty is multiplied by the fact that they're cooking them over raging hot coals. Yet when these things turn up with their salty & crispy skin, they are perfect. Dip that chicken in that delish piri-piri and heaven awaits. (Pro tip for those who like to dip their french fries in mayonnaise: mix some piri-piri in with the mayo...trust me!) The other shocker was the grilled steak, which was not only delicious but also cooked perfectly! If chicken isn't your thing, don't hesitate to go with the steak. Side note, and this might have been a one-off: the pork was overcooked by quite a bit and it was tough. I might give it another try another day, but I may just stick with the chicken and not risk it.

Piri Piri chicken are tender, juicy and super tasty! We love it here. We take it to go & service is…read moregreat. It can get so busy so try to go as soon as they open at 6 pm. The place is very casual. And best part other than the delicious chicken is that the prices are very reasonable. A must when in the area. Bring your cash & appetite! CASH ONLY HERE

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!

We were looking for good arroz + marisco/cataplana in the area and fell upon this restaurant due to…read morethe positive ratings. Everything we ordered was delicious from the clams bulhao to the arroz marisco to the Algarve tart (best algarve tart we had on our trip). Even the homemade garlic bread was good. Seafood all tasted fresh, staff was pleasant, and the restaurant had a catchy playlist going too. Only downside was how long it took to deliver our main course after starter. We were seated at a table near the front door; perhaps sit at a table closer to the front for better attention.

Jardim Rústico - Albufeira, Portugal…read more If you're anywhere near Albufeira and don't eat at Jardim Rústico, you're truly missing out. We spent a month in the Algarve and ended up dining here at least 10 out of 30 nights. We kept trying to find another restaurant that could compare--and never did. The food is authentic Portuguese cuisine at its finest. The clams, made from the owner's grandmother's recipe, are hands-down the best I've ever had in my life. Honestly, it doesn't matter what you order--everything on the menu is exceptional. Be adventurous. You won't regret it. The restaurant is family-owned and family-run, which adds so much to the experience. Vitor runs the kitchen and delivers incredible food every single night. His wife Ines runs the front with grace and warmth. Luan and Joah were there every evening we visited, offering some of the best service we've ever experienced anywhere--professional, kind, and genuinely caring. The ambiance is casual, quiet, and cozy--it truly feels like home. Every guest is welcomed like family, and this incredible team goes above and beyond to make each night memorable. If you go (and you absolutely should), tell them the Fanellas from Florida sent you. Jardim Rústico is a gem, and dining there was one of the highlights of our trip.

Casa Nova is a fantastic restaurant in Albufeira, Portugal, on the Algarve. It is located in the…read morevery lively old town area, among a great many shops and restaurants and bars. We ordered the "Algarvian Cataplana," which had a lot of seafood and some very good pork. It was fantastic! To start, my wife had a sangria. The waiter recommended the rosé one, which was a surprise. He brought the sangria in a small pitcher and put the final touches (mixing in some mint) at the table, then poured her glass. We've had sangria all over Spain and Portugal, and this may be the best I've ever tasted (yes, she let me taste). The service was friendly, the pace relaxed, and the energy great. This is well worth finding.

we wanted someplace away from the noisy, busy streets with sports bars. Funny how we found this…read moreplace so close to our apartment and exactly what we wanted. The cataplana was delicious and so filling. We had never had this dish before but looking forward to making it when we get home. The service was fun and attentive. Very good place for you to try.

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.

The restaurant opens from 12-3pm for lunch, and 7-10pm for dinner. We arrived shortly before 7pm,…read moreand there was a line waiting already! The front of the restaurant is for take out customers, while the dining room is in the back. The waiter didn't give us any menu, because chargrilled chicken is all they serve! Not much choice for sides either - salads and fries, take it or leave it. No apologies. It's interesting to see big families having dinner here, hard to imagine, for an American, that they can all manage to be satisfied with the same dish, without some diet or preference in the way. As you can imagine, for a restaurant like this, they do one thing and do it really good. Tender chicken with a wonderful chargrilled flavor. My husband loves grilled chicken so this is like the 4th chicken place we visited on the trip, and this one is the clear winner. The fries and salad are just meh though.

Worth every penny and worth the wait. This chicken and rice is some of the best if not the best…read moreI've ever had. Came fresh and hot! After a short walk back to the hotel. Still hot and fresh! Well it was smelling do good I had to stop on the walk back. I used a tall electrical box as a table and had a few bites. Delicious!

We came here because I asked a guy in the street what was the best place to eat dinner in town. He…read morepointed me to Jaime. We had secretos of Iberian Pork and Golden Sea bream. The fish was well cooked yet moist the french fries didn't even need salt they were that good. And lastly the Secretos were just top notch! For desert we asked for semi frio de bolacha which they served us bolo de bolacha. Really weird, but we didn't want to complain. When we got the bill we were charged for bread 2 butters and a sardine paste that we didn't eat nor touched. Mind you the food was absolutely delicious. The waiters are nice and attentive. We were served in no time even though they were busy. We might come back, but we will sure to ask for the orange complaint book if they pull this on us again!

What a good find while traveling around we wondered in this restaurant. Everything was delicious…read moreand the service was excellent!

My husband found this local gem online and it did not disappoint. Yelp says they open at 6, this is…read moreincorrect. They open at 5:30pm. We got there right at 6 and they gave us one of only 2 remaining tables, telling us we had to be done by 7:30pm. We started with prosciutto & melon which was AMAZING!!!!! And reminded us of Italy. My children got the house style spaghetti which was a cream sauce with tomatoes and ham. Neither kid could get enough! The pasta was soooo tasty. My husband and I shared the Mixed Catalana for 2 - prawns and clams. It was the best meal we had during our almost 2 week trip to Portugal. The broth was so delicious I could've drank it with my spoon. It was loaded with veggies too. Came with white rice on the side and some fried potatoes. Also my husband got a glass of house red wine which was a very generous pour! They only take cash, which we did not know ahead of time. But luckily there's an ATM across the street. They turned tons of people away while we were eating. I guess their system is reservation only from 5:30-7:30pm and then after 7:30pm they allow walks in on a first come, first serve basis.

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!