Well, at this point, I have exactly two reviews left to write from drafts I wrote while I was in…read morePortugal in January, now a whole 6 months ago... I figure I should really finish them before they become *hopelessly* obsolete. This place was very much on my list, as I'd heard great things. I will say, I definitely do recommend adding Coimbra to your trip if you're going between Porto and Lisbon, the food here is great (other than one hole in the wall sandwich shop that gave us food poisoning :p.) Granted, this feels like the sort of place where the menu might change completely in 6 months, but if any of it is still there, or regardless, as a feel for the overall quality (i.e. mostly great; slightly inconsistently so). Between the two of us, we tried: The soup of the day - excellent (though, granted, probably not the same soup you'll get if you're there, if it's a "soup of the day"). Bread to go with the soup (has to be ordered separately, but inexpensively so) - also great. A duck croquette appetizer - good but skippable. Not a lot for the price, and the duck was rather drowned out by the sauces (great sauces though). Duck rice... was just ok. Wasn't a lot of duck in it - it was mostly just... rice? Very skippable. Beef cheek stew, omg. If this is still on the menu, don't skip it. A little price for the size, but unlike the other bowl, hearty, filling, and just wonderfully tasty. Also just love how much less of a markup there is Portugal on wine, where a glass of house rose of this quality for the equivalent of 4 euro would be near unheard-of. The food may have been a little pricey, but that was a great glass of wine, for 4 euros.

Amazing food in a room with a stone wall that feels like secret cave. But the food is the star,…read moreeverything we had was delicious. Service was prompt and friendly.

After hours of hiking in the forest, we stopped here for a dinner. The place is small and on two…read morelevels, but service is wonderful even when busy. The walls are lined with hundreds of wine selections from the best of Portugal and I have never seen a wine menu as complete. Every region is listed with all the offerings. The food menu is not huge but more than adequate for everyone to find something to enjoy. We ate extremely well (pork and octopus dishes) as servings were large and the price was low. I just love this restaurant, and can't wait to visit again.

We were staying a night at the near by Bussaco Palace and swung by here for dinner and were blown…read moreaway. Upon arrival we weren't sure if we'd get a table since we didn't have a reservation, but the place wasn't too busy and they sat us right away. At first glance we weren't impressed, but once the food came out we were in shock -- it was phenomenal. I ordered the octopus and not only was the portion size humongous, it was definitely one of the best octopus dishes I've ever eaten. The large salad we got to share was also enormous and delicious, and my partners grilled prawns were equally tasty. Service was standard, waitress was very kind. The prices were reasonable and likely a great deal considering the serving size. This place my our trip to the region of Portugal and if I ever come back, I'll definitely make a reservation in advance and come by.

In a town where all restaurants have the same dish it is difficult to differentiate…read more This restaurant is amazing! A exceptional service Really tasty food Exceptionally clean and well decorated. I eat regularly at Mealhada. This is my favorite spot. A must

Really juicy leitao but I wish the skin was crispier! Super good potato chips and the gateau au…read morechocolate for dessert was amazing. Pricey but worth it. We also had to wait over an hour for a table for 7 since the place was packed! Our waiter was also super friendly and recommended desserts and wines for us. Very professional staff and clean location, overall a great Portuguese experience!

Delicious food, amazing service. Get the red sangria, so yummy. Also get the dessert with chocolate…read moresalami, trust me, amazing!!

A very charming restaurant around the corner from our hotel. Very nice menu and wine list at…read morereasonable prices. Also great service. My wife started with the Vegetable Soup , very good. I opted for the Garlic Shrimp which had their heads on, also very good. My wife chose a funky dish for her main, looked like ham and eggs, 4 fried eggs over Spanish ham which is over potatoes. Unique and great. I chose an excellent trio, octopus, calamari, and shrimp over small roasted potatoes. Accompanied by a vegetable medley, squash, zucchini, carrots , and mushrooms. Great. I highly recommend Dux Taberna Urbana for a memorable dining experience

Excited to try this local 7 table gem while in Coimbra. Lisa E. (always right) suggested lunch…read moresince dinner cues start an hour before opening and waits can be another hour or more. We arrived at 12:05 pm, second in line behind a group of 8. Seated 20 minutes later in cozy quarters. Fresh rustic bread on the table. Menu difficult to decipher but we had a translated copy on our phones. We ordered a jug of house tinto, and half orders of aporcolhados mushrooms, roasted wild boar and grilled ribs with special sauce. The kind waiter said we ordered too much, we didn't agree until a huge crock of rice and beans hit the table with the 2 meat dishes. The mushrooms were cooked with bits of meat and bone as well as slices of traditional and blood sausage. Fabulous! I loved the tender boar slices accompanied by roasted cabbage and potatoes. Lisa favored the slightly charred ribs in a spicy vinegary sauce. Oh, and that rice, I promised her I wouldn't post the photo of her devouring the last bits from the serving ladle. So, too much food? Nothing a outdoor rooftop nap at our hotel wouldn't cure. Breakfast today was the leftover boar with the hotel's scrambled eggs.

This is a Top hole in the wall Gem in Coimbra and probably one of the best in Portugal overall…read more Quality- the pork ribs were my personal favorite. This is the type you spend a lot of time nibbling on and trying to get every last piece of meat out. It was incredibly flavorful with hints of bone broth, truffle oil, and various spices. I think I spent like 5 minutes on each piece trying to get every piece of meat out. It came out piping hot, the fresh aroma smelled like a mix of beans, thyme, garlic, and truffle and I smelled like it afterwards. The lamb stew was also delicious. I am allergic to lamb but had to try it this time and was not disappointed. This is the only time I've actually liked a lamb dish because the gamey flavor was not there. It was cooked very well. The vomit dessert was not too sweet and unique. It cut through the savory food I just had here. Quantity- all of this for 25 euros. Totally worth it. This would have easily gone for 70-80 dollars back in the states. We get a lot in each dish. Atmosphere- loved the college town vibe here. The place was cozy but had enough space so we weren't cramped. Service- awesome waiter. He was funny and gave great suggestions on what to get. Tipped him a lot for the fantastic service.

Get here early as the tables filled up within 15 minutes of opening (seems like they may accept…read morereservations). This was our best meal visiting Portugal five days in. Not to say we didn't have alot of good food, but here each dish received high marks. The chanfana is the local special, so would highly recommend you get that. All of the meat was done well... Crispy outside and fall apart, fork tender on the inside. The staff were also very friendly and personable.

This place is cash only!!! Fortunately there's ATMs nearby. The address on yelp was incorrect. They…read moremoved (maybe?) to Praça do Comércio 110, 3000-116 Coimbra, Portugal, Google Maps has the right address. Our hotel front desk recommended this place. The food is quite good and reasonably priced. We ordered grilled octopus and grilled fish, and fish soup. Our waitress somehow couldn't take our order in time (she was just going around serving other tables). Other than that it was a nice lunch experience.

This restaurant is located inside a historic postal coach station, where carriers used to switch…read morehorses, and it's quite beautiful, decorated in wood panels and painted tiles. They are known for their piri piri chicken. The chicken is nice, it's a small breed, the size of a cornish hen or pigeon, and perfectly grilled with crispy skin and moist meat. However, I expect some spice, and there's none. Which is still okay. What I don't like is that they brought some salad and potato chips, which turns out to cost extra. I am used to restaurants bringing olive, bread and other appetizers to the table, which they charge if you touch them. I'm fine with that once I know the rules, and know to send back what I don't want, but bringing un-ordered side dishes and charging for them is a first for me. Also, we ordered water, and when we wanted to take the still half-full bottle with us when we left, they didn't let us. Which is another first for us.

This is an awesome restaurant. Try the chicken and the dark sauce rice with chicken. The animals…read moreare all born here. The olives are awesome too! The house wine is great!

My bestie who is a local brought me, a filthy American, to this absolute local gem... (may his…read morepeople forgive him for this). The food took an unholy amount of time to come out, and it wasn't even busy. I'm convinced it's because I'm American. It's fine. I'll process it in my diary later like a mature adult. Anyway, the wait? Worth it. If this restaurant were a toxic relationship, I'd stay. No notes. The leitão (baby pig) was succulent (I hate that word, but it's accurate), and the skin crackled in your mouth: sharp, loud, and wildly satisfying. It came with a rich, savory jus that didn't need to save the dish, just hang out and enhance what was already perfect. And unlike most American food where you need sauce to disguise the mediocrity, here the pig and the jus were like Simon and The Garfoonkul, both could stand alone, but together? Magic. My friend didn't love the sparkling wine (he has a palate that whispers "Michelin star or bust"), but I thought it was solid! He said the grapes came from the vineyard across the street. Like, literally, across the street. I thought this was so cool! Also, let the record show: I fed him In-N-Out when he visited the States, and this is what he gave me in return. No regrets. None. I may never return to Porto but I hope to return here one day. Dessert: the Molotov cake (egg-white cloud dessert)? Tasted like air and lies- hard pass. Sides: slapped.

A world-class culinary experience. This should be the destination of any visit to Portugal…read more Roast suckling pig with the crispiest skin and juiciest meat you'll ever have, with beautiful sides, accompaniments, and other dishes as well.