Links
Respond
These are a few personal recommendations by Bill Silvert, webmaster for this site.
2007-08-14
New Bistro in Peral
There are plenty of good places to eat in Portugal, but we have decided to add another and have just opened the Centro de Investigação Gastronómica, or CIG for short. It is in Peral, a small village in the concelho (county) of São Brás de Alportel, about 20 km north of Faro in the Algarve. For more information check out its website, http://cig.cafeperal.eu.
2004-03-26
Loulé
Although I don't recall the name, recently my wife and I had lunch at a Danish restaurant in Loulé which we enjoyed very much. I doubt that there is more than one such restaurant, so it should be easy to find, even though it is on a small side street. Well worth a visit, especially if you miss herring and other non-Portuguese dishes.
2004-03-25
Expat Supermarkets
Expats often long for foods from home. It seems generally agreed that the best supermarket in Portugal for foreign foods is Apolónia in Almancil, although a variety of items can be found in many other markets where there is a foreign clientele (such as herring in the Algarve).
There are a few ethnic groceries around, such as some Russian shops. In such a shop in Costa da Caparica I found excellent whole-bean cranberry sauce bearing the German label Moosbeeren and the Russian word КЛЮКВА. An interesting trend is that some of these Russian shops have closed, but the ethnic specialties have become mainstream - we now buy our cranberry sauce at Intermarché!
There are a few ethnic groceries around, such as some Russian shops. In such a shop in Costa da Caparica I found excellent whole-bean cranberry sauce bearing the German label Moosbeeren and the Russian word КЛЮКВА. An interesting trend is that some of these Russian shops have closed, but the ethnic specialties have become mainstream - we now buy our cranberry sauce at Intermarché!
Faro
Taska in Faro is a popular favourite which we enjoy very much. My friend John adds that it's a great place to eat, although he finds it somewhat pricey, and he reports that Maktostis, which is practically kitty-corner from Taska, is a nice little cafe that serves simple meals, but it's a nice place to "hang" with friends (they have an outdoor patio, too).
John adds that there's Taska Raska, which is a really good, affordable place to eat. Great people, too (as you know, good service is a little hard to find).
On the other hand, I have heard discouraging things about "O Seu Cafe" in the same neighbourhood. I haven't tried it myself.
John adds that there's Taska Raska, which is a really good, affordable place to eat. Great people, too (as you know, good service is a little hard to find).
On the other hand, I have heard discouraging things about "O Seu Cafe" in the same neighbourhood. I haven't tried it myself.
Almancil
A recent surprise was the Poacher's Inn in Almancil, which is very unprepossessing from the outside, but quite a decent English tavern inside, with a nice Ploughman's lunch and good steak and kidney pie. They have a pleasant garden for outside dining too.
Ourique
O Lobo in Ourique is very nice, and Ourique is a pleasant town. Unfortunately O Lobo is closed on Saturdays.
Lisboa
In Lisboa I find that the Pateo Alfacinha makes a big hit with visitors. They have two restaurants, one is fairly traditional, but the other is old-style Portuguese food, wine in a jug, that sort of thing, and very nice.
Sobral de Monte Agraço
In Sobral de Monte Agraço, an out-of-the-way town a bit north of Lisboa, the restaurant Vilamanjar over the market is one of our favourites. The host, Sergei, has been of great help to us in finding quality wines as well.
About this Blog
I use this blog to let readers know about nice restaurants and cafes. Normally I am reluctant to do this since who wants to share his secret finds with the rest of the world (as Yogi Berra put it, "no one goes there any more, it's too crowded"), but so few people are likely to read this blog that my secrets are safe.
Keep in mind that I may misspell names and goof up in other respects. Typical of me!
Keep in mind that I may misspell names and goof up in other respects. Typical of me!
