The restaurant opens from 12-3pm for lunch, and 7-10pm for dinner. We arrived shortly before 7pm,…read moreand there was a line waiting already! The front of the restaurant is for take out customers, while the dining room is in the back. The waiter didn't give us any menu, because chargrilled chicken is all they serve! Not much choice for sides either - salads and fries, take it or leave it. No apologies. It's interesting to see big families having dinner here, hard to imagine, for an American, that they can all manage to be satisfied with the same dish, without some diet or preference in the way. As you can imagine, for a restaurant like this, they do one thing and do it really good. Tender chicken with a wonderful chargrilled flavor. My husband loves grilled chicken so this is like the 4th chicken place we visited on the trip, and this one is the clear winner. The fries and salad are just meh though.

Do one thing and do it well! Best peri peri chicken on our entire 2 week visit to Portugal. Arrive…read moreearly and prepare to wait but it's worth it.

We came here after trying out a local vegetarian restaurant that, after our full day of hiking,…read morejust didn't have dishes with the heft that we needed We left super satisfied. The server was multilingual and worked with us in English as we don't speak very good Portuguese. He was super helpful in showing and explaining all the fresh fish they had available, and for me making sure my gluten issue was addressed. We also had a delicious dessert of homemade chocolate mousse, and once again the waiter was very kind to point out which desserts had gluten and which didn't. Finally, he gave us a great wine suggestion that we really enjoyed. This was a laid back, traditional Portuguese food experience that totally hit the spot after our long day of hiking and we couldn't be more pleased that we picked the place!

Very nice family run restaurant with very good service and food. The staff serves the guests in…read morevarious languages and offers very helpful explanations on the menu. We had the fish soup as a starter and the stuffed squid as our main cause, both was delicious. We clearly recommend this place.

Oh. My. Sweet. Goodness. I'm in HEAVEN…read more I am hiking the "Rota Vicentina," which passes through Cercal do Alentejo. It's a really cute town that deserves a lot more noteworthiness. I stayed at a great and amazingly inexpensive hotel here and the owner's no-hesitation suggestion for dinner was this place. So off I went. The front is a bar so you're not immediately sure you're in the right place. Just follow your nose to the back restaurant area. There is a limited menu but if you take a seat and just put your dinner in the owner, Sheila's, hands, you will NOT regret it! I explained my gluten problem and she brought out a cavalcade of awesome dishes including a truly local soup and main dish of pork, pickled cauliflower, and oranges. This is the second time I've been served oranges with pork in Portugal and it's a brilliant flavor combination! My gosh, I'm exhausted from that meal. But it was so good I just had to write about it. I'm sure you can get a fancier meal in a fancier setting, but this was REAL, DOWN-HOME Portuguese country food and it was outstanding! I hope that other folks walking the Rota Vicentina and passing through Cercal see this and stop in. They will remember it for a long time!

The Passarinho is what I imagine life would be like with a Portuguese grandmother. You walk into…read morethe seemingly small restaurant expecting nothing spectacular to happen but then out pops the first friendly face of a small Portuguese woman who welcomes you to one of the tables in the back. We came at just the right time because within 15 minutes all of the tables were filled and everyone looked excited to eat. We recommend you accept their suggestion of a sampler plate of local cheese and don't forget a pitcher of "house wine". We ordered two entrées and were VERY full after finishing them. We watched sadly as our table neighbors (who had shared an entrèe) each ordered a GIANT slice of wiggly cake. Next time we will have to try that too! We paid 26€ for a cheese appetizer + pitcher of wine + bottle of bubbly water + 2 entrées. This place is great for anyone looking to really taste the local cooking and the best part is the really the elderly Portuguese women who not only cook but also serve you the food. Those are some really peppy ladies!

My husband found this local gem online and it did not disappoint. Yelp says they open at 6, this is…read moreincorrect. They open at 5:30pm. We got there right at 6 and they gave us one of only 2 remaining tables, telling us we had to be done by 7:30pm. We started with prosciutto & melon which was AMAZING!!!!! And reminded us of Italy. My children got the house style spaghetti which was a cream sauce with tomatoes and ham. Neither kid could get enough! The pasta was soooo tasty. My husband and I shared the Mixed Catalana for 2 - prawns and clams. It was the best meal we had during our almost 2 week trip to Portugal. The broth was so delicious I could've drank it with my spoon. It was loaded with veggies too. Came with white rice on the side and some fried potatoes. Also my husband got a glass of house red wine which was a very generous pour! They only take cash, which we did not know ahead of time. But luckily there's an ATM across the street. They turned tons of people away while we were eating. I guess their system is reservation only from 5:30-7:30pm and then after 7:30pm they allow walks in on a first come, first serve basis.

The food is amazing! We go there every time we are in the area. Last year, the year before that…read more The service is fantastic! My husband could eat there everyday! It is a small restaurant so you don't go there for the ambiance! It is a family run business.. The chef, his wife, son and son's girlfriend... They work so... well together and are extremely kind. It's best to make reservations as the wait is hideous if you don't. Best restaurant ever!

We stopped for lunch in Castro Verde, and we were pleased to find Villa Italia! The pizzas were…read moreamazing! A must stop if you are passing through on your way to Lisbon or Lagos.

On my way to Evora and found this small old town. Most locals ordered the Italian pizzas which…read morelooked great. I was in the mood for some pasta. The squid ink pasta with shrimps was freshly prepared as it took about 30 min. The house wine was also smooth. Highly recommend if you are near by.

Had lunch in a pleasant atmosphere with a beautiful view. The food was delicious and service very…read morefriendly and helpful with translations.

Fantastic beachside restaurant. Great lunch and dinner menu. Great view from the outside patio…read more Thoroughly enjoyed the large salad...

We came here because I asked a guy in the street what was the best place to eat dinner in town. He…read morepointed me to Jaime. We had secretos of Iberian Pork and Golden Sea bream. The fish was well cooked yet moist the french fries didn't even need salt they were that good. And lastly the Secretos were just top notch! For desert we asked for semi frio de bolacha which they served us bolo de bolacha. Really weird, but we didn't want to complain. When we got the bill we were charged for bread 2 butters and a sardine paste that we didn't eat nor touched. Mind you the food was absolutely delicious. The waiters are nice and attentive. We were served in no time even though they were busy. We might come back, but we will sure to ask for the orange complaint book if they pull this on us again!

So, this restaurant recently changed hands and has a new name. It was delicious. The owner was so…read moregracious and helped with menu choices and translation. I asked for possible lower salt options and he told me the chef would prepare without added salt. Very much appreciated! A very homey spot with nice people. He explained the food is traditional Portuguese.

Hands down the best Portuguese meal I had in Sines. The waitress was accommodating as I do not…read morespeak Portuguese.

***Please note*** This review is for Marufo 1. It is…read moredifferent from Marufo 2. Also, the location provided on Yelp is wrong -- I have submitted an update. *** *** Marufo 1 is an awesome place to eat. They have numerous great dishes but they are really known for 2 things: their grilled chicken and their piri-piri oil. Those who've read my reviews know that I eat a ton of grilled or rotisserie chicken and I'd like to think that I have a pretty good handle on what's good or not. Simply stated, Marufo 1's chicken is legit good, which is impressive because these are not your standard fat American chickens. Smaller chickens are easier to overcook, and that difficulty is multiplied by the fact that they're cooking them over raging hot coals. Yet when these things turn up with their salty & crispy skin, they are perfect. Dip that chicken in that delish piri-piri and heaven awaits. (Pro tip for those who like to dip their french fries in mayonnaise: mix some piri-piri in with the mayo...trust me!) The other shocker was the grilled steak, which was not only delicious but also cooked perfectly! If chicken isn't your thing, don't hesitate to go with the steak. Side note, and this might have been a one-off: the pork was overcooked by quite a bit and it was tough. I might give it another try another day, but I may just stick with the chicken and not risk it.

Piri Piri chicken are tender, juicy and super tasty! We love it here. We take it to go & service is…read moregreat. It can get so busy so try to go as soon as they open at 6 pm. The place is very casual. And best part other than the delicious chicken is that the prices are very reasonable. A must when in the area. Bring your cash & appetite! CASH ONLY HERE

Took a quick shopping break here at the Pingo Doce next door. Sat down in this little coffee shop…read morewith our Bulldog, who was welcome at the outside tables. Got some coffees, coke, a samosa and a rice ball for a snack. Just came together at 5 Euros. Talk about value...and it was even very tasty. There are other food items on the menu as well, in case you feel hungry, but we just needed a quick snack. Coffee quality was fine as well and it was nice to sit outside and take a quick rest from driving. Most supermarkets in Portugal have some coffee shops right next to. Like this one...and they are mostly very well prices. A great place for a snack and a coffee.