Info & Advice:
Eating Out
For recommendations from the Freemaps about where to eat in the Algarve, visit our Food page.
The Portuguese have elevated wining and dining to a very important national past-time. As with any important past-time a lot of custom is built up around it. If you understand the custom, your eating experiences in Portugal will be even better.
Restaurant hours are quite rigid in Portugal.
Lunch
: noon to 2:30pm (most Portuguese go at 1pm for lunch)
Lunch is almost a 'religious' experience, the real Portuguese would never consider a sandwich a lunch. Lunch is most often 3 courses with wine! And never disturb a Portuguese man if he is having lunch! Lunch is often the most important meal of the day and taken very seriously, when not in a rush it can easily take all afternoon!
Dinner:
7pm-9:30pm
In touristy areas and big cities restaurants may serve longer hours but rarely in the countryside!
If you can't find a restaurant open when you are hungry (i.e. 4pm) there is always a coffee shop open.
Couvert
:
It is normal that most restaurants will bring you bread, butter, sardine pate, olives, pickled veggies, small cheese etc. at the beginning of the meal without you ordering it. You will be charged separately per person for these, the price for these is at the beginning of the menu. If you don't want them just say 'nao obrigado' (no thank you) or make a
little no sign and they will take them away. But most Portuguese wouldn't think of having the meal without them! It is what they eat while waiting for the 'real' food. I did say dining was a national pastime!
House Wine
:
Often the 'vinho do casa' is a very good domestic Portuguese wine and can be almost half the price of the other wine. Do try it, by the bottle, half bottle and sometimes in jars. Price and quality will very according to restaurant and region. To order just say 'Vinho do Casa faz favor'.
To Order:
Closing your menu book indicates that you are ready to order (on the flip-side, if you're still thinking leave it open)
The Table is Yours:
Once you have started a meal in any REAL authentic (not touristy) Portuguese restaurant you would NEVER be rushed or pushed from your seat for someone else. The table is yours for the evening. They will not even dare to bring you the bill until you have asked for it. If they bring you the bill without you asking, it is definitely not an authentic Portuguese restaurant but one catering only to tourists.
Daily Specials
:
Normally served only at lunchtime in typical Portuguese restaurants, they can be excellent. Ask the server what the 'prato do dia' is. Well worth a try. Just look at the other tables, many will be eating it! Some restaurants serve half portions, (called meia dose) actually they are more like 3/4 portions at less the price than the full portion. Most often meia dose is plenty!
Vegetables
:
Most Portuguese eat their vegetables in the form of soup (always homemade) or salad so many restaurants will not serve vegetables with the main meal. If you want them just say: 'legumes faz favor', normally you will not be charged any extra for this. Also if you want French fries be sure to specify this (batata fritas).
Tipping
:
In spite of what many guide books say (where do they get this information?) tipping is never included in the bill except in very rare tourist type restaurants run by foreigners. 10% is usually fine, more if you really enjoyed the waiter, food and service!
Coffee shops:
Portuguese favorite pastime is 'taking coffee'. The national snack's include: 'beefanas', fried pork sandwiches, 'prego' a fried beef sandwich, and rissois small bite-sized 'pastas' of fried cod, or shrimp mixed with potatoes. Also try 'torradas' delicious toast buttered on both sides! and toasta mixta mixed ham and cheese toastie. The burgers here are not particularly good as there are usually prefrozen packaged ones.
Ordering Coffee:
Portuguese life revolves around the all important 'Coffee Times'. As much a part of the culture as sunshine & the sea, sardines & cod. The coffee break is when much serious business is conducted; lovers meet, grandmothers gossip & show off the new grand babies & old men get together for chess.
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