Portugal

Best and worst restaurants:

Best: Adega do Alentejo in Evora
Why: Great food, nice atmosphere, and very nice and helpful owner.

Marylene Pastides in Columbia, MO USA 11/20/2009

Best: Cafe Gilao, Tavira, PT
Why: Chef is excellent- recommended by another couple and as good as they said. best vegetables of the trip. Olives et al on the house. Carla out front is a joy who made the evening superb and a perfect match for great fish.

George in Pittsburgh, PA USA 10/10/2009

Best: Casa do Alentejo
Why: The building interior is worth a visit by itself, tiles, painted ceilings, fountain. The food was very good and moderately priced, the house wine-Alentejo Borba was excellent, we shared the ":Taste of three desserts" and loved it, wait staff was superb.

Worst: None
Why: We never had a bad meal in our whole trip

George in Pittsburgh, PA USA 10/10/2009

Best: Ora Viva in Porto
Why: On our first night in Portugal (after 14+ hours traveling from Seattle) Antonio and his family made us feel so welcome. He made a special flavored milk drink for our daughter and taught us about indoor soccer over a wonderful, relaxing two-hour dinner.

Hillary Slawson in Seattle, WA USA 08/15/2009

Best: O Fialho, Evora
Why: Everything about this restaurant ranks it above the rest. The food was outstanding; the service was friendly, but not intrusive; the ambiance charming.

Brenda VanAmburgh in Fort Worth, TX USA 05/17/2009

Worst: Arco do Castelo
Why: The main dishes and wine were good and fairly priced. We ordered "naan" for 2 people. The "naan" was very strange (we have eaten Indian food around the world as well as in India and Goa) and we were charged for 3 orders. Each 33cl bottle of water was 2 euros. We were the only people in the restaurant at lunch time. The extra exorbitant charges certainly spoil a place for us.

Lorinne Lunde in Northbrook, Il USA 10/16/2008

Best: A Baiuca
Why: Wonderful restaurant, quaint location, felt very local, good fado.

Worst: Restaurante Alcobaca (in Sintra)
Why: The cuisine was good enough, the atmosphere (cave-like) ok, but the chairs very uncomfortable.

Christopher Allen in Berkeley, CA USA 05/05/2008

Best: O Pescador, Lagos
Why: Simple, bright, clean and hearty

Worst: Restaurante O Lourenco, Salema
Why: Good food but order from the menu because if you fall for the "Catch of the Day" platter that is shown to every new customer, you pay 35 euros for 2 - far above the other prices. Ask the price.

F. & C. Weiss in Victoria, BC Canada 05/03/2008

Best: Pastelaria Suica (Lisbon), Pasterlaria Vila Velha (Sintra), Atlantico (Salema)
Why: Pastelaria - the pastries!!! Good people watching on the square as well. Pasterlia Vila Velha - we ate at after walking into town from Moorish Castle and it was perfect for a light lunch w/ beer. Atlantico - we ate on the patio on a balmy Easter Sunday and had great fish.

Christy in Mpls, MN USA 02/20/2008

Best: Restaurante Machado Lisbon
Why: Piri-piri sauce on the chicken-fun and delicious..our daughter had the grilled shrimp with heads and tails included!!

Joan in JACKSONVILLE, FL USA 01/17/2008

Best: Pasteis de Belem, Cafe Brasilia
Why: The Pastel de Belem was excellent and the ambience in Cafe Brasilia was nice.

Uma Murthy in Blacksburg, VA USA 01/03/2008

Best: Restaurante Cervejaria (1/4 para as 9), Evora, Pt
Why: The fish soup with bread, potatoes, tomatoes and you choice of fish (Sopa de Peixe de Pargo) was a hoot! And very delicious. Our waiter, Joaquim, explained it all and life in general (We were early at 7:30 before the crowd).

Don Karpen in Talent, OR USA 10/16/2007

Best: Botinho in Sintra
Why: Excellent wine, and best blood sausage we have ever tasted. Extremely hard working staff.

Worst: Celeste's in Nazare
Why: We were expecting the best seafood, and what we received was grilled octopus drowned in a corn oil/olive oil mix, and fish covered in Celeste's "special" sauce, which happened to just be soy sauce!

Cort Cramer in Watertown, MA USA 10/02/2007

Best: The one on the square in Oporto
Why: We chose one I can't remember the name of on a corner in the main square. We had a lovely moderately priced meal and there was fado! A young woman sang much to our suprise though we later noticed signs everywhere announcing it. We also went to Clube de Fado in Lisbon and that was great if a bit pricey.

Worst: O Bizarro in Coimbra
Why: This place was at best mediocre. I had a meal here which was very unappetizing. I was very sorry I had made this choice.

Jane Leingang in Evansville, IN USA 08/06/2007

Best: Bonjardin in Lisbon & Restaurante Cervejaria 1/4 Para As 9 (quarter to nine) in Evora
Why: Bonjardin in Lisbon has the most flavorful roasted chicken, french fries & sangria that I have ever tasted. The setting is great fun, outdoor seating in a lively area.

Quarter to Nine in Evora has the most wonderful arroz de tamaboril - rice and seafood stew! Absolutely wonderful!! Don't miss it!

Karen Reeder in Dallas, tx USA 07/05/2007

Best: EuroAsia- Alba Feira, PT
Why: Vegetarian restaurant with a delicious buffet. Great variety.

Marty in Vaughn, KY USA 07/02/2007

Best: Fialho, Taberna Tipica Quarta-Feira (Evora)
Why: Fialho is expensive but you're assured to have the most authentic portuguese food, with the best quality ingredients. Taberna Tipica specializes in black pork which is really tasty. For dessert, ask for the "Mariquice".

Worst: Adega do Alentejano (Evora)
Why: We stayed in Evora for over a week and went to a different restaurant every lunch and dinner. This was the worst place we went to: the pork was dry and the potatoes were not that impressive. There are so many good restaurants in Evora, I think this one should be taken off the list. Others that could replace this one: Lareira, Adeguita do Farrobo.

Beatriz Costa in Seattle, WA USA 06/29/2007

Best: Vintage House Hotel in the Douro Valley, and Pousada do Infante in Cape Sagres
Why: At the Vintage House Hotel in the Douro Valley, we had an exquisite lunch sitting out on a terrace among Eden-like gardens and taking in the riverside scenery. At the Pousada do Infante in Cape Sagres, we dined on the outdoor deck and overlooked the ocean. Food was really good at both places.

Worst: Pousada Solar da Rede in Douro Valley
Why: For the expense and stiffness of service, the quality of the food was not worth the splurge.

Vicki Phillips in Denver, CO USA 05/17/2007

Best: Café Guarany in Porto
Why: Despite the fluorescent lighting, I was able to enjoy the Fado concert. The food selection was very good, and I had the last Pastel de Nata. Ginjinha comes without berries so that is the only "bad" part I can think of. The Café Guarany was very convenient because my hotel was just around the corner, and close to the "Aliados" metro station.

Worst: A Baiuca in Lisbon's Alfama
Why: I was a bit disappointed in the A Baiuca. Once it fills up (and it does about 8 PM), the earliest a space is available is 11 PM. I tried going there twice but to no avail. The best advice I can give is, take the map with you before heading to A Baiuca, and make sure you can find the place before 7:45 PM. Better yet, make reservations - walk-ins will have the worst experience.

Josh Hanz in Frisco, TX USA 03/03/2007

Best: Street vendor in Nazare
Why: There are quite a few women selling nuts, chestnuts, and dried fruit. The chestnuts and dried apricots were amazing. The best apricots I have ever tasted!

Julie in Los Alamos, NM USA 02/22/2007