ARTHUR AND MO'S GUIDE TO THE BEST
RESTAURANTS AND WATERING HOLES IN THE VILLAGE.
SITE CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION. FURTHER ENTRIES WILL BE MADE AS TIME AND DIGESTIVE SYSTEMS PERMIT.
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STOP PRESS!
Ana and Carlos who used to run the Piano bar (now Esmerelda's) on the front have just opened a new restaurant at Mato de Espirito Santo (Turn right at the first roundabout on the way into Tavira and follow the sign to Ana's) It's well worth a visit as old customers will know, and Ana will make her famous steak and kidney pie with plenty of extra gravy on prior request. Snacks are also available, but they will soon open a snack back next door and serve only main meals in the restaurant
(1) O MONTE.
This is the restaurant on the Quinta Velha complex.Now re-opened under new management. Louis and Debbie have left and the place has been completely re-vamped with a new kitchen and tasteful decor. The food (quite expensive)is supposed to have a French influence. We attended the opening night and heard many complaints, chiefly about slow service and undercooked chicken. However, the staff are enthusiastic and seem keen to succeed so this may be a case of Terminal 5 syndrome. We'll give it another try on our next visit and expect to find it much improved.(Nov 08) We did not visit it this trip, but heard it was much improved. On our last visit we were again disappointed. The food was badly cooked and cold. The service was terrible - we had to wait nearly an hour to be served our main course. To sum up, we found the place pretentious and grossly understaffed. A few steps further will take you to the Jolly Sailor - a much better bet. (See below)
(2) EUROPA.
A super, very reasonably priced restaurant, with a good selection of fresh fish and other Portuguese and international dishes. Unusually, the chef will prepare his cataplana for one person. You are always assured of a warm welcome from the owner. who lives at Quinta Velha with his English wife. One of our favourites.
(3) ESMERELDA'S.
Now open and serving English / Irish dishes. We did not visit it this trip, but noted the menu seemed quite expensive. It will show international football matches on a large screen TV.
(4) DONA INÊS.
A very friendly restaurant serving large helpings from an extensive menu. They serve huge steaks on a stone platter. Our visit was marred only by the presence of a party of foul mouthed golfers at the next table.
(5) DUNAS.
A pleasant little snack bar with a limited meals service. Good, unusual petiscos served from time to time. The coffee and cakes are particularly good and the bifanas excellent. Beware of the wine, which is overpriced compared with other similar places.
(6) JERÓNIMOS.
We tried this after a tip off from one of our guests. An excellent little place, cosy in winter, well run and reasonably priced, but as it's so small, either book a table or go early. If you like fish, try the "Raia Alhada" (Skate cooked with potatoes, garlic and herbs) Highly recommended.(Jul 2007. Now refurbished, food still as good. A good selection of eel dishes)
(7) IDEAL.
Serves some of the best grilled meat and fish to be found locally. Because it is so popular with the locals, it is often difficult to get a table during the season.Their signature dish is a seafood soup served in a hollowed out small loaf of bread, which is regularly ordered by locals and visitors. Octopus dishes are particularly good here. Recommended.
(8) CABANAS BRASSERIE.
Fans of the old Casa Algarvia will be pleased to know that Gill and Fernando have now moved into their new premises in Quinta de Gomeira, and that standards of service and cuisine have been maintained. Skate fried in batter is now available by special order. Added bonuses are warm plates (unusual) and no television.
(9) A TASQUINHA.
A friendly little local bar which serves food at lunchtime (two or three dishes of the day plus petiscos {mainly seafood, like Spanish tapas}) Cheap and cheerful and very popular with local work men for lunch. A good place to linger over a bottle of wine and a plate of Alfredo's delicious fried prawns. Closed Sundays.
(10) SABORES DA RIA
The new name of the restaurant in the Clube Recreativo Cabanense (CRC) Now much improved with a friendly and helpful staff. The menu is quite limited but contains some interesting dishes (Try Pica Pau) and they also serve snacks. Prices are very reasonable and you can order your wine by the litre served in a jug. They intend to open a bar on the next floor up. Views from here will be even better than those from the restaurant terrace.
(11) A FONTE
Much improved in its standards of service from when it first opened (they no longer try to push you to take expensive starters) this is a very pleasant place to eat with good food and friendly staff. They serve good bacalhau here. On our last visit we found the prices excessive although the food was of a high standard.
(12) MARISCOS & PETISCOS
A more upmarket restaurant with excellent service, specialising, as its name suggests, in seafood. You can order almost anything from the menu with complete confidence, although their seafood platter, while generous in quantity, tends to rely too heavily on whelks and murex. The Argentinian beef served here is the best I have found in the village. Excellent "cover" dishes.
(13) GRELHA PEIXE
Our current favourite. On a recent visit, we had arguably the best pork I have ever tasted. The cut is called "secretos" and consists of the lean parts filleted from the belly of the black-footed pig. These pigs are specially fattened in the Alentejo or in the Jabugo area of Spain. You may also see it on menus as porco preto, black pork, pata negra or porco Iberico. They also serve here as part of the cover, a sheep's milk cheese called "Herdade dos Esquerdos". This is like a very mild Camembert, and is just as good as anything that comes out of France. Very highly recommended.
(14) O PEDRO
The first time we tried this place we didn't like it very much. I think we must have caught them on a bad night, as this time the food and service were both excellent. Try the pork secretos or the delicious hake fillets fried in a herby batter.
(15) O MONTEIRO
A very pleasant restaurant, presided over by a large lady with a beautiful smile for all her customers. The grilled fish is always good, especially the sole and the service can't be faulted. It can be rather cold in winter as the kitchen extractor fans are so powerful they have to keep the door open to prevent the glass front from being sucked in.
(16) BAR COLUMBÓFILIO
On your way back to the house after a convivial evening in the village, you may want to stop off for a nightcap at this friendly little bar to fortify yourself for the walk back. It is the HQ of the local pigeon club or GCC (Grupo Columbófilo Cabanense) but welcomes anyone who is thirsty. During the day, you can sit outside at the back and watch the regulars playing petanca (boule)
(17) O PRINCIPE
This is the restaurant of the Pedras da Rainha complex across the road. Prices are quite high, but the food is generally good. It also has occasional dinner dances and other convivial evenings which are quite pleasant. Keep an eye on the notice board in Pedras reception for details. Currently featuring fado evenings on Wednesday nights - great value at 26€ including dinner and wine and a 12€ per head buffet on other evenings.
(18) O ESCALHO
A brand new reasonably priced bar/restaurant/snack bar which has recently opened at the bottom of Quinta de Gomeira. It's a very friendly family run place, child friendly and with a good range of sandwiches, snacks and dishes of the day. Very popular with both locals and visitors it has a super atmosphere and is highly recommended Recommended dishes of the day are fried rabbit (coelho frito) skate with garlic (raia alhada) and the typical Portuguese boiled dinner (cozido português) Also sometimes available are dried octopus eggs to nibble with your beer. Closed Thursdays.
(19) LITTLE ORANGE
This cosy little restaurant is run by an ex-navy chef and his family and serves English type food and some Portuguese dishes. The full English breakfast served here is famous throughout the village for its quantity, quality and price. What I particularly like is the extra gravy served separately. It's one of only two restaurants here that serve proper gravy. The first time we ate here we were disappointed at the standard of the pastry on the steak and kidney pie (It would have been familiar to all ex-matelots) but they have more than redeemed themselves since and we have no hesitation in recommending its food, ambience or service.
(20) MOHO.
This is the new name for the pool bar on Quinta Velha. A full range of snacks and drinks is available, although at rather inflated prices. In the evenings the music is rather too loud.
(21) THE JOLLY SAILOR.
Now under new management (again) this place is a welcome addition to the complex. Although billed as a snack bar, there are usually a couple of specials in the evening. Eddie and Elsa seem determined to make a go of the place and you are assured of a warm welcome. Pool, darts and table football are available in the games room. We expect this place to be very popular in the season, so it might be as well to book your table. Closed Tuesdays.
(20) CHARRETE.
Recently opened as an everyday restaurant (it used to be just for weddings, parties etc.) and quite near the house. Simple grilled food is available and a dish of the day, all at very reasonable prices. Because the place is so big and barn-like it is short on atmosphere and is not very well patronised.
If you want to make any comments, or recommend somewhere for inclusion, please E-Mail us at:
arthur@tinkera.fsnet.co.uk
