A very beautiful, clean, modern cafe on a street opposite Igreja das Carmelitas…read more
When I entered and shared that I had a reservation, which I booked through The Fork, the server who greeted me seemed confused and unsure, and told me that it probably wasn't confirmed by the manager. Fortunately after checking in it further, she was able to give me a table in the back.
It took awhile for someone to take my order, and when I ordered a flat white, they informed me the machine was broken, and they only had filtered coffee. Certainly a disappointed but, hey, stuff happens. I figured I'd just get a coffee elsewhere afterwards.
I ordered the Wild Eggs, and the dish came out at a reasonable pace. It was tasty, but not the best I've had in Porto so far -- the bread was stale, so the crust was so crunchy and tough that it was hard to chew. It was a good sized portion, though, so I had leftovers to take away.
However, no one came back to check on me or to see if I needed the check. The servers seemed busy with other tables, and I can understand, it's a busy, popular restaurant. But I got the sense I was an annoyance, and they couldn't be bothered with me. Which I also get, because tourists aren't super welcomed by locals in Portugal. Though I've felt much more welcomed in other establishments during my stay, so it wasn't very comfortable for me here.
The location, atmosphere and food is what kept this from being 2 stars, but given that the prices are on the higher end, it wouldn't be my first choice of places to revisit.