Affordable, authentic Portuguese food that's just a couple of minutes' walk from the monastery and the pastry shop. It's surprising how fast the crowd thins.
I really like the décor inside, with blue tiles covering the wall and brick arches on top.
Our waiter brings us appetizer, and I am glad to see that they are wrapped in plastic film. Visitors to Portugal soon find out that when they sit down at a restaurant, the waiter will, unbidden, brings forth bread, cheese and other dishes. Visitors will also very soon learn that these dishes are not free. They will be charged for anything they touch, even if it's just a bite-ful. I usually let the waiters know to just take the dishes back, which they gladly do. Undoubtedly, the dishes will make their round to another table, and another, until someone finally takes the bait.
However, at this place, the appetizers are covered in wrap. This at least, makes me feel better about its travelling.
This restaurant, besides offering some standard Portuguese fare, and some dishes for homesick tourists, also serves dishes from Alentejo. I decided to take take advantage and tried the Alentejo soup and the Alentejo pork casserole. The soup is a hearty one, with a slice of bread soaking in a clear broth rich with cilantro and garlic flavor, and an egg on top. I can imagine it a comforting dish on a cold day. The pork casserole, with clams and chunks of pork, has been one of my favorite Portuguese dishes, and this restaurant does a pretty good version of it, and a good-sized portion for less than 10 Euro.
We also tried the Bacalhau a bras, a codfish dish with egg and shoestring fries.
For dessert, I would recommend heading to the pastry shop next door for the famous Pateis de Belem. read more