Casa Guedes is a mini chain of five restaurants in the Porto area with a focus on Portuguese food at fair prices. They nickname each of their stores with a third word to differentiate locations. Be sure to give the correct location if you're meeting someone. The Oliveiras location is a few steps farther than the historical center, serving a mix of tourists and locals. The inside is cramped with tables; many are two seaters. Service is swift. They are motivated to turn tables to rotate diners in and out.
The Food:
Octopus, €23.90 - 4 Stars
This platter arrived, and I was floored to see an entire octopus. I was expecting a few tentacles, as is commonly the case in the US. The octopus is not grilled. It is perhaps poached, lightly seasoned. The result is very tender, but not particularly flavorful. It is served with smashed baby potatoes and some stewed greens. The greens are gritty or sandy, not sufficiently washed.
Codfish, Braga style, €22.90 - 5 Stars
The cod is a sizable piece, breaded and deep fried, served with veggies. The platter is filled with housemade chips or crisps. This dish is perfect exactly as it is. Highly recommend. read more