We will travel to Portugal this summer and are looking for restaurant (dinner) recommendations - we are interested in high-end and small mom-n-pop places and everything in between. Anybody with recommendations for good restaurants in Porto ?
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I only had 2 nights in Porto, 15 years ago, so my recs are out of date.
I’ll mention the traditional dishes we tried in Porto.
We had Portugese Duck Rice/ Arroz de Pato, and Espetada (skewers, which might include seafood as well as steak, which originated in Madeira but we tried in Porto)
I ordered a Francesinha, which seems to polarize HOs.
Porto is known for its tripe, which I didn’t seek out.
You might find this article interesting.
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@honkman
For high end,
Pedro Lemos in Foz, new location (tasting menu only)
Casa de Chá de Boa Nova right at the water’s edge at Leça da Palmeira in a building designed by Pritzker prize winner Alvaro Siza (tasting menus only)
Yeatman in Gaia with 2 Michelin stars (tasting menus only)
Cozinha das Flores by Nuno Mendes (a la carte)
for family-run, sophisticated (not a mom and pop):
Taberna dos Mercadores and the other restaurant from same family, Adega SĂŁo Nicolau
https://tabernadosmercadores.eatbu.com/?lang=en
https://adegasnicolau.eatbu.com/?lang=pt
something in between:
Almeja
Here is a good list of some classic, traditional places
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O Caracos 150% . Mum and twin daughters place in an old and fascinating area and a patio with a gorgeous river view. Inexpensive, local homemade food, whatevers going that day. A real hidden gem. I could eat here every day. Rua das Taipas 27, 4050-599 Porto, Portugal. Please Google. There’s a Facebook page.
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A Caraças web page for booking
https://restauranteocaracas.eatbu.com/?lang=en
Then says no reservations lol. A visit to the kitchen is everything. Hoping you make it there
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Can you not reserve via the online form or by email?
“Of course, we are also barrier-free to accommodate all our guests. You’re always welcome, we don’t do reservations so just come around for a great evening. We’re open all week, except Sundays”
Got it!
Second Taberna dos Mercadores. Reserve very early or come earlier and stand on line
Was just about to recommend O Buraquinho da Se, but looks like it closed last year. Maybe the best Octopus I ever had.
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@honkman
For a weekend seafood feast in Porto, I highly recommend O Valentim in Matosinhos, across from the fish market at Herois de França where seafood restaurants are lined up in a row, with their outside grills. There are many fine marisqueiras in Matosinhos (such as O Gaveto or Bourdain’s Esplanada Marisqueira Antiga) but our hostess highly recommended this one and her recommendation was spot on.
Their rice with seafood dishes are outstanding and it’s not the least bit tourist-orientated. On weekends mostly local and Porto families. Go via metro or Uber or taxi.
https://ovalentim.com/?page=restaurante
A bit more about Almeja and Taberna dos Mercadores from Culinary Backstreets, which does an excellent food tour in Porto (also in Lisbon)
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I went there in 2019 and still think about how much I enjoyed the simplicity of the affordable and satisfying menu
Can’t go wrong with cachorrinhos at https://www.cervejariagazela.pt/ and bifanas from Conga Casa das Bifanas and pernil sandes at Casa Guedes
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How lovely. How did you discover it? ( Was it from me?) Do you remember what you had? We became very friendly with the twins, staying just a couple of doors away. We would so love to return.
My daughter and her husband have been to Porto a couple of times and high recommend
Taberna Folias de Baco, Very small; reservation recommended). She adds: “If they want to try “the” sandwich, called the Francescina, note that it requires starvation because it is a big meal. It’s steak, ham, cheese and sits in a tomato beer based broth and comes with a shovel-ful of French fries.” And, “As corny as it sounds, there is a restaurant buried inside a museum (targeted for kids). The museum is called “World of Discoveries” and the restaurant is Alfandega Douro. I didn’t think I would like it but I loved it.”
Should you chance to hit Lisbon, she recommends Tempero Gaucho.
Please advise if you try any of them.
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We ended up at O Caracas after a failed attempt getting a table at Taberna Santo Antonio. Both of us ordered slow roasted veal, portions were so large we didn’t get the cheesecake for dessert.
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We will hit a few places in Portugal - Lisbon, Manteigas, Porto, Braga and Peniche
