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Recommended Reviews - Solar 31
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Solar 31 isn't really much to look at from the outside. It's a fairly casual neighborhood spot with what seems to be a lot of regular clientele. The only notable thing there being there was a loud man whose shirt seemed to unbutton at the same rate he was drinking, and it was fully open and he was barechested by the time we left. That hero aside, Solar 31 does have some of the best seafood I've ever had in my life. They can lay claim to the best bite I had during my entire trip to Portugal (hotly contested), which are the tiny, perfectly fried, deliciously salty mackerel. I couldn't believe how tasty these things were, and how powerful I felt just throwing an entire fish, head, tail and all, into my mouth in one bite. I was like a sea lion. I would gladly have done tricks if my wife insisted, just to get another. (We ordered another plate of them though, and no tricks were necessary, just a nominal fee.) Although the mackerel (cousin to the sardine, if you asked our waitress) deserve top billing, everything we ate here was a winner. We had octopus and several kinds of fish. And of course, lots of green wine. Also excellent sangria ordered by our wives, who had finally reached their vinho verde limit. Our server was a no-nonsense gem whose deadpan hilarity made our meal even better. When my friend asked about the size of a certain fish, she just brought it out and held it next to his face. I hoped she was going to slap him with it, but no luck there. When we asked what the incredible sauce that came with our prawns was, she looked at us like we were idiots and said, "Prawn sauce." Basically, this was one of my favorite meals ever.
Solar 31 is renowned for its seafood and it did not disappoint. They have the seafood on display and show it to you before they cook it, still alive and kicking. My favorites were the raw oysters, the crispy mackerel, and the crab. They cook some of the crab meat with the roe into a creamy dip and serve it to you with toast chips. It was such a unique way of eating crab!
Attracted to this restaurant because of its food, and central location, despite what others have said was a sketchy neighborhood (not), we were glad to dine here for lunch. A smallish restaurant very well served by two staff in the dining room. Décor was pleasant and inviting. Food was delicious. Service and value were great. We enjoyed (all prices Euro): Small fish grilled (Peixinhos), 15; Octopus (Polvo), 29; and black swordfish (Peixe Espada), 25. All were thoroughly enjoyed. We could not eat it all, but we tried (or at least I did). We've enjoyed octopus in numerous countries, but we've never been served a whole octopus. Very tender. The swordfish was flakier than what we have in the U.S., yet also very tender and flavorful. The waitstaff was very accommodating in allowing us to taste numerous wines before we ordered by the glass. All were very reasonably priced. Total bill was Euro $ 92.30. We definitely recommend and would return.
I had a reservation at this restaurant this afternoon and was genuinely looking forward to the meal because of the high ratings. I ordered a crab on my own, and the waiter brought a live one to show me. However, after taking it to the kitchen, they served me a clearly dead crab instead -- for a price of €45. Halfway through the dish, I had to stop eating. Some parts of the crab had an awful, rotten smell. As someone who regularly eats seafood, I can easily tell the difference between fresh and frozen. This brown crab had no freshness at all -- the meat was loose, lacked any flavor, and didn't have the plump texture of fresh seafood. It was, without a doubt, the worst seafood experience I've ever had at a restaurant. After I finished, my mouth was left with a strong, unpleasant fishy odor.
Our last dinner in Portugal and we chose this place. Neighborhood's a little sketch, but no harm no foul. It was odd to find this place tucked away from the visible happening streets of Lisbon. But it was worth the trek and the hunt. Everything we ordered was perfection and it made our memories of Portugal that much more special. The staff was our favorite out of all the great places we dined while in the country. The food and the wine was, again, spectacular. Perfectly cooked, beautifully presented, and tasted amazing. I will miss this place! We were three cousins on vacation. But the majority of the patrons dining were couples on dates. Just a funny observation we made. On our order list: Salad, grilled sea bass, octopus and razor clams. That's it! So simple and delicious!!!
Reading all of the reviews, I had high hopes and expectations walking into Solar 31. Simply put, our meal here was underwhelming (besides the soup) and I believe this restaurant may be too "hyped-up". The fish soup for our starter was really good, but everything from there seemed to go downhill. The Sapateira reminded me a lot of a crab dip you can get from the states, so it didn't taste like anything spectacular or like you were tasting something new. Also, a personal problem I had with the crab was struggling to crack open the shell - I got bits and pieces of shell everywhere and the restaurant did not provide an empty bowl to put the shells in. The sea bream was good. Another thing I was disappointed about was the price to portion ratio. It seemed like high prices for smaller portions, which I would tolerate if the food was fantastic but that wasn't really the case. I would not recommend Solar 31. Instead, if I could go back in time I would go to tascas or another seafood restaurant.
Better make a reservation because we tried to walk in at 18:00 on a Monday and it was packed. We had a party of ten and could not get in. They encourage us to come back and so we made reservations for a few days later. I'm glad we made it back. We ended up with twelve in our party. We started with clams and octopus. They only serve seafood, so don't look for poultry, pork, beef or lamb. Every thing was full of flavor and had a hint of Smoke. Some thought the grilled fish was salty, but I thought it was perfect. I am sensitive to the taste of salt. Every was fresh. No fishy or gamy taste. Staff were attentive. Loved that the chef/owner came out to explain how the food would be cooked. I especially like that staff would pick out the bones before serving a fish dish. I hate picking out bones. Lots of people were turned away. It's not a big restaurant so make sure you make a reservation. Have a yummy time. I left full and content. So will you.
The best seafood that I've had! Everything was fresh and cooked to perfection! Oyster and the crab fat was little too raw/fishy for me but the crab meat was cooked delicately that you want to get into each nook and cranny in finding meat. Only thing that was underwhelming was the bread but the best dishes were the Portugal fish and octopus. Not so picturesque, octopus was the best octopus dish we've had! Flavor was good and the texture was so delicate and mouthwatering that we wanted more! The wild seabass was too big for the 2 of us that they recommended a fish that was only found in Portugal. I do not recall the name but it just melts in your mouth and seasoned perfectly! They strayed away from ordering more but truly wish we could have tried the small sardine dish to top it off. The cooking quality was actually better than Ramiro but I'm sure each restaurant is known for specific dishes. I would definitely come here to get a fish and octopus dish hands down!
Feel this is more like a hyped up place. Everything seems fantastic but just okay. Oyster - so and so. Clam - good but not amazing. Octopus - sadly a whole octopus not cooked enough and still chewy. Crab - probably good but for 2 people this dish was a bit too much (the creamy part)
Great service and food was very fresh and delicious. Loved seeing the fish on ice as you walked into the restaurant. In a bit of a sketchy looking area, but felt safe. Staff were friendly and helpful.
One of my favorite dinners during our time visiting. The service was super friendly, and everything (and I mean everything) was out of the ball park. We got the octopus which was very tender, I had the best white sangria of my life, as well as clams and lobster. We topped it off with their version of crème brulee. Definitely what to come back next time.
Nice Restaurant! Awesome Seafood! Awesome Staff! We had the - Clams - amazing! - Shrimp - so tender and delicious. - Fried small mackerel - first time having these and they were soooooo delicious! a new favorite to add to my list of must haves! - Large Shrimp w/ veggies - was very good. I was surprised at how BIG it was.. very filling. Small venue - be sure to make a reservation to guarantee a table. Indoor seating only. Would I go back - OH YEAH! read more
27 days ago
Portugal grilled octopus is off the charts, here done so well super chewy and tender, slightly crispy char and flavorful. Shrimp was tender, other places can make this dish too oily but they did it just right, potatoes also soft and buttery. Fish soup was not bad. Decent prices as well for the quality of seafood. Complimentary water too which is unheard of here. Super popular, make sure to reserve ahead. Steep to get to tho thru narrow alleyways and stairs. Friendly service as well. Cutie interior that seems tiny when entering but it's all in the back! read more
4 months ago
Solar 31 isn't really much to look at from the outside. It's a fairly casual neighborhood spot with what seems to be a lot of regular clientele. The only notable thing there being there was a loud man whose shirt seemed to unbutton at the same rate he was drinking, and it was fully open and he was barechested by the time we left. That hero aside, Solar 31 does have some of the best seafood I've ever had in my life. They can lay claim to the best bite I had during my entire trip to Portugal (hotly contested), which are the tiny, perfectly fried, deliciously salty mackerel. I couldn't believe how tasty these things were, and how powerful I felt just throwing an entire fish, head, tail and all, into my mouth in one bite. I was like a sea lion. I would gladly have done tricks if my wife insisted, just to get another. (We ordered another plate of them though, and no tricks were necessary, just a nominal fee.) Although the mackerel (cousin to the sardine, if you asked our waitress) deserve top billing, everything we ate here was a winner. We had octopus and several kinds of fish. And of course, lots of green wine. Also excellent sangria ordered by our wives, who had finally reached their vinho verde limit. Our server was a no-nonsense gem whose deadpan hilarity made our meal even better. When my friend asked about the size of a certain fish, she just brought it out and held it next to his face. I hoped she was going to slap him with it, but no luck there. When we asked what the incredible sauce that came with our prawns was, she looked at us like we were idiots and said, "Prawn sauce." Basically, this was one of my favorite meals ever. read more
1 year ago
Solar 31 is renowned for its seafood and it did not disappoint. They have the seafood on display and show it to you before they cook it, still alive and kicking. My favorites were the raw oysters, the crispy mackerel, and the crab. They cook some of the crab meat with the roe into a creamy dip and serve it to you with toast chips. It was such a unique way of eating crab! read more
2 years ago
Attracted to this restaurant because of its food, and central location, despite what others have said was a sketchy neighborhood (not), we were glad to dine here for lunch. A smallish restaurant very well served by two staff in the dining room. Décor was pleasant and inviting. Food was delicious. Service and value were great. We enjoyed (all prices Euro): Small fish grilled (Peixinhos), 15; Octopus (Polvo), 29; and black swordfish (Peixe Espada), 25. All were thoroughly enjoyed. We could not eat it all, but we tried (or at least I did). We've enjoyed octopus in numerous countries, but we've never been served a whole octopus. Very tender. The swordfish was flakier than what we have in the U.S., yet also very tender and flavorful. The waitstaff was very accommodating in allowing us to taste numerous wines before we ordered by the glass. All were very reasonably priced. Total bill was Euro $ 92.30. We definitely recommend and would return. read more
1 year ago
I had a reservation at this restaurant this afternoon and was genuinely looking forward to the meal because of the high ratings. I ordered a crab on my own, and the waiter brought a live one to show me. However, after taking it to the kitchen, they served me a clearly dead crab instead -- for a price of €45. Halfway through the dish, I had to stop eating. Some parts of the crab had an awful, rotten smell. As someone who regularly eats seafood, I can easily tell the difference between fresh and frozen. This brown crab had no freshness at all -- the meat was loose, lacked any flavor, and didn't have the plump texture of fresh seafood. It was, without a doubt, the worst seafood experience I've ever had at a restaurant. After I finished, my mouth was left with a strong, unpleasant fishy odor. read more
8 months ago
3 years ago
Our last dinner in Portugal and we chose this place. Neighborhood's a little sketch, but no harm no foul. It was odd to find this place tucked away from the visible happening streets of Lisbon. But it was worth the trek and the hunt. Everything we ordered was perfection and it made our memories of Portugal that much more special. The staff was our favorite out of all the great places we dined while in the country. The food and the wine was, again, spectacular. Perfectly cooked, beautifully presented, and tasted amazing. I will miss this place! We were three cousins on vacation. But the majority of the patrons dining were couples on dates. Just a funny observation we made. On our order list: Salad, grilled sea bass, octopus and razor clams. That's it! So simple and delicious!!! read more
Reading all of the reviews, I had high hopes and expectations walking into Solar 31. Simply put, our meal here was underwhelming (besides the soup) and I believe this restaurant may be too "hyped-up". The fish soup for our starter was really good, but everything from there seemed to go downhill. The Sapateira reminded me a lot of a crab dip you can get from the states, so it didn't taste like anything spectacular or like you were tasting something new. Also, a personal problem I had with the crab was struggling to crack open the shell - I got bits and pieces of shell everywhere and the restaurant did not provide an empty bowl to put the shells in. The sea bream was good. Another thing I was disappointed about was the price to portion ratio. It seemed like high prices for smaller portions, which I would tolerate if the food was fantastic but that wasn't really the case. I would not recommend Solar 31. Instead, if I could go back in time I would go to tascas or another seafood restaurant. read more
5 months ago
Better make a reservation because we tried to walk in at 18:00 on a Monday and it was packed. We had a party of ten and could not get in. They encourage us to come back and so we made reservations for a few days later. I'm glad we made it back. We ended up with twelve in our party. We started with clams and octopus. They only serve seafood, so don't look for poultry, pork, beef or lamb. Every thing was full of flavor and had a hint of Smoke. Some thought the grilled fish was salty, but I thought it was perfect. I am sensitive to the taste of salt. Every was fresh. No fishy or gamy taste. Staff were attentive. Loved that the chef/owner came out to explain how the food would be cooked. I especially like that staff would pick out the bones before serving a fish dish. I hate picking out bones. Lots of people were turned away. It's not a big restaurant so make sure you make a reservation. Have a yummy time. I left full and content. So will you. read more
The best seafood that I've had! Everything was fresh and cooked to perfection! Oyster and the crab fat was little too raw/fishy for me but the crab meat was cooked delicately that you want to get into each nook and cranny in finding meat. Only thing that was underwhelming was the bread but the best dishes were the Portugal fish and octopus. Not so picturesque, octopus was the best octopus dish we've had! Flavor was good and the texture was so delicate and mouthwatering that we wanted more! The wild seabass was too big for the 2 of us that they recommended a fish that was only found in Portugal. I do not recall the name but it just melts in your mouth and seasoned perfectly! They strayed away from ordering more but truly wish we could have tried the small sardine dish to top it off. The cooking quality was actually better than Ramiro but I'm sure each restaurant is known for specific dishes. I would definitely come here to get a fish and octopus dish hands down! read more
Feel this is more like a hyped up place. Everything seems fantastic but just okay. Oyster - so and so. Clam - good but not amazing. Octopus - sadly a whole octopus not cooked enough and still chewy. Crab - probably good but for 2 people this dish was a bit too much (the creamy part) read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
Great service and food was very fresh and delicious. Loved seeing the fish on ice as you walked into the restaurant. In a bit of a sketchy looking area, but felt safe. Staff were friendly and helpful. read more
3 years ago
One of my favorite dinners during our time visiting. The service was super friendly, and everything (and I mean everything) was out of the ball park. We got the octopus which was very tender, I had the best white sangria of my life, as well as clams and lobster. We topped it off with their version of crème brulee. Definitely what to come back next time. read more
2 years ago
1 year ago
9 months ago
11 months ago
We had the scabbard black fish dourada and a sapateira. The food was fresh, the tables were clean and the service is fast attentive and very welcoming in typical Portuguese fashion. Nos dividimos peixe espada preto e dourada e comemos uma sapateira. Todo o marisco/peixe estava extremamente fresco e fomos acolhidos extremamente bem pelos empregados, em típica forma portuguesa. read more
4 years ago
A hidden gem that is not east to find on a back street. A small intimate restaurant that has fish tanks when you enter. A fish and seafood centric restaurant. Small but very nice wine list. Friendly and attentive service. Crowded and busy with mainly a local crowd. We had the Garlic shrimp and Large prawns, both very good. I highly recommend Solar 31 da Calcada. read more
3 years ago
We came at 6pm, we were the only patrons, I guess we are early. The foods were wonderful and great taste. We enjoyed the service very much, the waitress deboned the fishes for us which was wonderful. The overall experience was great and the ambience was wonderful. read more
3 years ago
1 year ago
3 years ago
DO NOT VISIT I had dinner with two of my friends and was fully looking forward to the dinner given the amazing reviews the restaurant has on trip advisor. Only after the meal did I realise the oysters were super unclean and not fresh (as you can see in the pictures) - after having the meal, all three of us repeatedly vomited. For me specifically, I was admitted to the hospital in the UK with high fever, vomiting, low blood pressure, and had to be put on intravenous drip overnight. It was certainly the meal that caused our symptoms, as we only had one meal together in Lisbon. The three of us travelled separately and only gathered together for dinner, yet all of us were sick with the same symptoms. It was utterly horrible and I advise anyone not to visit the restaurant if you could avoid it. We tried to call the owner for financial compensation, but instead we got scolded for 15 minutes through text and over phone on how we as Asians can't appreciate Portuguese cuisine - that's blatant racism and should not be tolerated. I will file complaints to the Portuguese food agencies. read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
My partner and I are currently getting over the worst food poisoning of our adult lives We ate a large spiny lobster from the tank which the manager (?) actually pulled out to show to us, we thought it was a good size and agreed to it Some of the Leg/Claw pieces were raw or tasted like tank water, and the tail itselr was somewhat overcooked The service was decent and our waiter was nice but we've been up for 9 hours emptying ourselves of this lobster read more
3 years ago
5 years ago
By far the best Seafood I have had the joy of eating in Lisboa! Just incredible fresh, taste, presentation! From the kitchen to the server! Solar 31 is a must restaurant in Lisboa! Amazing! 5 stars! read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
After six days in Lisbon, I've found that 90% of seafood restaurant menus are the same here. That said, Solar 31 seems to do it better than most. Enjoyed tonight's mean more than the first. The seabass was just perfect. Definitely recommended. read more
We were recommended by the Uber driver that any Solar restaurants offer good quality. We made a 11:45 am reservation on a weekday and there was no one. The waiter spoke close to zero English and we were given an iPad for the menu. There's English on it. We ordered the medium crab, shrimp with garlic oil and fish soup. Have to say the fish soup was my favorite as the shrimp with garlic oil was substandard. The crab dip was good but the legs were tasteless. Service was ok as they tried. There was more lunch crowd around 12:30 pm. read more
4 years ago
Amazing service and every dish was fresh, flavorful and well prepared. Would highly recommend this option to anyone looking for a great night out. read more
5 years ago
We had a delicious meal here. Try the scabbard fish entree. We arrived before the dinner crowd and it was perfect because the owner/chef came out and chatted with us for quite a while. Thoroughly enjoyable. Definitely recommend. read more
2 years ago
As other reviewers have indicated, it is short hike up the hill to a small and unassuming entrance. We were seated in the back room where it was lively and eventually fully packed. Service was good. Food took a while to arrive but it was tasty. Here is a summary of our order: - whole octopus: tender and includes head - lobster/shrimp risotto: delicious but the lobster/shrimp was a tad overcooked - whole crab: AMAZING. Our fav dish where they mix a bit of meat with the crab butter read more
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