One of the most interesting meals I have had the pleasure of having in Lisboa (or maybe anywhere in the world). When you find Estrela Da Bica, it is on a side street right off of the steep street with the trolley that is famous. There was a small open door with a sign asking us to wait outside to be seated (so as not to crowd the restaurant). Make sure to follow these instructions, as my family and I watched some other unaware tourists walk straight in, grab a menu, and promptly get asked to go wait outside. After a minute or two, we were seated by one of the staff (possibly the owner?). The staff was all women, and they seemed very proud of their restaurant. The decor was quirky and very homey, with various mismatched tables and chairs. We were informed that the food is all meant to be shareable plates, and we started off by just getting some sourdough bread with dips. There were multiple different kinds of bread and the dips kept them interesting, one being a fish spread. One of the appetizers caught my eye instantly, the roasted pork belly, banana mash, and pico de gallo. I usually like banana flavors mixed with savory (I've tried weird combinations like a peanut butter banana hamburger before) so I knew I had to try this. The outside of the pork belly was perfectly crunchy while the inside was tender. As I expected (but I would guess most people wouldn't), the banana mash complimented the rich savory flavors of the pork belly. For the mains, we ordered the pink marlin tataki with pineapple chutney, potato and rosemary sourdough pizzeta, roasted Hokkaido with butternut mash, dried nuts sand, and house kimchi, the confit codfish cheeks with poached egg and crispy chips, and the pork cheek ravioli with mustard sauce and buckwheat popcorn. They were all intriguing flavor combinations that I would never have thought of in my life!! What stood out to me was the confit codfish cheeks with poached egg and the crispy potato chips. We had tried other codfish dishes around Lisboa and had noticed that it was the most common fish there. But this combination was luscious, with the soft egg coating the fish and the chips adding a nice crunch to every bite. It was like a fish carbonara in a way with the poached egg providing a sauce. This was the standout dish to me, representing what Lisboa is all about while not being afraid to take risks. All of the other dishes were interesting too, and each left me with new ideas of combinations that I would have never thought of. After the dinner was so impressive, we were enticed by the dessert. We got the chocolate mousse and basque cheesecake with guava jam. These were Like I said, the staff seemed proud of their establishment and rightfully so. Estrella da Bica may be a small, simple, establishment, but they are not afraid to push the boundaries of gastronomy. This was the kind of restaurant that flies under the radar, but I consider myself lucky to have stumbled upon it. read more

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One of the best meals I had while visiting Lisboa. We were randomly walking the place and struck up a conversation with some New Yorkers. They mentioned that they'd come here two nights in a row. Naturally we had to check it out. We ordered a bunch of entrees to maximize every little bit. The Ribs and the Brussels were to die for. Very unique flavor profile on the ribs and they effortlessly came off the bone. The Brussels were draped in this amazing sauce that just took things to the next level. Of course we paired with various wine options. It's funny to think about how carefree you can be on vacation. We were seated outside on a sloped hill. The atmosphere and food were so good that it didn't even matter. Our waiter was fabulous. This is a place you need to try. read more

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Cash only, NO credit card accepted There were two servers working that day. One of the two servers told me that this restaurant is only accepting cash, not credit card, for payment. To confirm this, I asked the other server. The second server confirmed that indeed this restaurant is only accepting cash, not credit card, and further told me there is a ATM machine not very far from here to take cash. This is the only one not accepting credit card, among the restaurants dined in this city. This information may be useful for other customers to know. read more

Lovely old style Portuguese bistro with some of the most delicious wholesome meals. And the staff are warm, fun and take care of every need.

We loved the food. The pork ravioli, the pork ribs, mussels, croquettes were amazing. Cute hole in the wall. Service was on point. I tried to take pictures of the food but the was finished before a picture could be taken read more

This place was hands down the best meal I've had in Lisbon. I live in NYC and consider myself a bit of a food snob and this place did not disappoint. I ordered the sardines on toast, grilled cabbage with Stilton sauce, and the pork ribs. Everything was delicious but the grilled cabbage was the highlight. The sauce was so good that I had to ask for a few pieces of bread so I could soak off all the sauce. I left there full and very happy! read more

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This is a lovely little unpretentious local testy and was a real find on our trip to Lisbon. The owner and staff were so welcoming. On a small side street next to the Bica funicular we had a table on the street, which seems to be shared with the coffee shop opposite in the day time. The food was delicious and some of the best we had in Lisbon. Portuguese wine can be a bit of a mine field with lots of local grapes and varieties not found elsewhere but the staff were really helpful in finding something we loved. read more

Estrela da Bica - Bars Near Me - Lisbon, 11

Slightly chaotic service but entertaining to people watch. Great food, limited beer options, the wine list is a blackboard, not on paper. Great value and ambiance, if you're happy to wait around for it. Definitely recommended! read more

Really good/great food. Not your average Portuguese fare by any stretch. Wait staff is nice and helpful. Best meal I've had in 2 weeks! read more

Absolutely wow. A little scrappy and a little rough around the edges for a foreign visitor. But it's all part of the magic. I felt like I was eating in a casual restaurant in the 70s but with a michelin level chef serving traditional Portuguese fare read more

The slowest table service I have ever experienced in my 30 years of existence but the food, holy fuck balls guys: that stuff is amazing! Quite a bit of a wait to get seated but once we entered it was truly an amazing experience, very intimate seating arrangement and some exceptional dishes that they served read more

Estrela da Bica - Tuna - Bars Near Me - Lisbon, 11

First night out in Lisbon and we have to admit we struggled to find a restaurant that also had good vegetarian options for my wife. But then we found Estrella da Bica. We had no reservation, so we had a little wait however our table was ready way before the time which was originally quoted. Ok, let's start with service. The lady with the British accent was fabulous. A no nonsense attitude to service whilst being extremely friendly and forthcoming. Her suggestion for my taste of white wine was excellent. Also, her suggestion of 4 tapas style dishes for the two of us was plenty in the end. The place was busy, but the service staff had everything under control with no long waiting times. Thumbs up. Now to the food. We had the bread with pate & olives, cheese with jam, the smoked beetroot and the pork ribs. The bread and cheese, that came out promptly,was excellent. The apple jam with the cheese just worked perfectly together. The bread came with two types of breads, one a sourdough like, the other focaccia style. The focaccia was fantastic, and even better with the pate spread. My wife was extremely happy with the smoked beetroot dish, whilst I just had to ignore the fact that beetroot made it on our dinner table (just a personal preference; food that colours other food it comes with should just not exist). Pork ribs were tender and well marinated. It was an all round excellent dinner at Estrella da Bica, I can only recommend the place. read more

As a vegetarian it isn't as easy to find a great restaurant without sacrificing quality or creativity. Went there with my friend who goes with meat and I enjoyed a wonderful vegetarian dish. Will return sooner or later, staff very friendly and relaxed. - Alex's girlfriend read more

Estrela da Bica - Bars Near Me - Lisbon, 11

This was our last dinner in Lisbon. Nothing short of a dream. You must go. We didn't have a reservation but showed up 15 minutes before they opened because our friends had recommended this place to us. Service was great, food was incredible, wine was perfect. Get the oysters! read more

I wentto Estrela da Bica again last weekend and my opinion is only confirmed! A great place for good food with a twist! They changed the menu, we were 7 and tried practically everything and all the dishes were delicious! Definitely a keeper! I hope to be back soon! read more

great food everything was very great, can wait to go again keep up the great work there.

Great spot. Romantic and intimate, cosy. Low lights and tables close together, but we managed bringing the baby and survived. Tasty and varied food for everyone. Just order a bunch of things and split. For dessert liked the strawberry and cream plant. read more

The service is amazing, as is the ambiance. We did have a slight problem with ordering one thing, and a different thing coming out that we would've rejected, but it doesn't matter. The attentive staff, and look/feel all made up for it. This is a very cute, intimate date-spot, and I would definitely go there again. If you're looking for purely Portuguese dining it may not fit the bill, as it's modern cuisine. Pretty affordable for what you're given, and extremely cozy. If you're craving tapas, it delivers. read more

Estrela da Bica - Cod - Bars Near Me - Lisbon, 11

Small place whose appearance and prices completely defy the quality, presentation and sometimes even inventiveness of the dishes. A gem of a place, one of the rare finds anywhere on the planet. If the place would be more posh and they'd charge four times as much it would be *the* place to be. Luckily that is not the case and we can enjoy it in its casual and friendly way. Busy, noisy and totally awesome. read more

Estrela da Bica - View from inside to outside - Bars Near Me - Lisbon, 11

After our long day visit to Sintra, we wanted to stay close to our apartment for dinner. So we headed out to explore the area and find something tasty. We entered what looked like a strong possibility, only to find the menu not to our liking. Continuing our search, we found many places very full. We followed the tram tracks down the hill and came to an intersection with numerous options. A pleasant sidewalk dining opportunity beckoned-Estrela d Bica. We were able to snag an open sidewalk table. Greeted warmly by our server and given the menu, which consists of mostly small plate for sharing with a few main courses available. Many things sounded delicious. Starter of choice was the croquettes made from artisanal sausage and served with a sweet mustard. Definitely some of the best croquettes we had on this trip. Really full of porky goodness with tasting greasy. As we waited for our next course, we noticed an increase in the level of customers being seated. And the increase in difficulty that the two servers (that we could see) had in covering it all. We had both chosen salads. Mine was the seasonal tomato, fresh figs, and balsamic while my wife's selection was the fennel salad with oranges and nuts. Both of these we were extremely happy with. The tomatoes & figs were so flavorful and balsamic was the perfect compliment. The fennel salad's citrusy dressing was again a perfect addition to that salad. Great choices. By now getting our servers attention was becoming difficult to get something or ask a question. My wife loves a good steak and the striploin sounded delicious, served with a whipped hollandaise. It came expertly cooked and the sauce was a revelation, deep flavor while being very light. First time having anything resembling a hollandaise with beef but they were great together. The pork confit ravioli I had chosen came in an interesting mushroom/mustard sauce that had a unique flavor profile. Didn't love or hate it. But it was tasty. Very little in the way of pork flavor but I ate every bite. Once finished, it was clear that the staff were being stretched thin. But passing on dessert wasn't an option when one of the menu items was dark & white chocolate mousse with a hazelnut praline. We'd seen it go by while eating and it looked exciting, so we did order it. Unfortunately, we never got to try it. After a full twenty minute wait, we flagged own the server to ask about the delay and he apologetically told us he had forgotten to put the order in. Disappointing to say the least. But except for that one miscue, we really enjoyed the food served here. Recommended. read more

Lovely cute little spot in the gorgeous area of Bica. The food was great in some parts, and not great in others. Recommended was the goats cheese salad, or the many types of bruschetta. All inventive, tasty combinations. Not so recommended were the deep-fried-til-they-no-longer-existed wings, and the beaten-til-its-goo-guacamole. The staff were also very nice, until our group was too loud and we were asked to pipe down as we were apparently putting other punters off! Eeks! To be fair to the staff, they were very lovely about it and rather embarrassed, but the point also needs to be made that they took the booking for such a large group (13 in total) even though the restaurant itself wasn't suitable. It wasn't that our group was unreasonably loud, it was more that the restaurant wasn't suited to it. The walls are tiled which echoes sound, and we were all completely squashed around one square table that I'm guessing normally seats around 8. Most other groups were in 2s and 4s, so the balance seemed all off, and in the end it was also difficult for us to enjoy our meal, and we left earlier than planned. I would recommend it, though only for small groups, and chose wisely from the tapas menu. read more

Amazing restaurant! Make sure to reserve a table if you dont want to wait for a table after 8pm. Food was simple yet very delicious, and very reasonable priced. The main courses can fill you up easily, but you could also go for a selection of their snack-dishes to share around the table :) Service was very attentive and polite. The restaurant itself is very cosy and the decor is quite peculiar in a good way! Would totally recomend to everyone traveling to or living in lisbon :) read more

Estrela da Bica - Codfish lasagna and Oso buco with creamy polenta :) - Bars Near Me - Lisbon, 11

This restaurant was recommended by a Lisbon native and didn't disappoint. The atmosphere is festive and the staff is extremely jovial. We arrived before the dinner rush and got a prime seat outside. The outside tables are communal (for parties of two or three) and a nice couple from France joined us for dinner. We took advantage of July being sardine season and splurged on the grilled sardines with potatoes and peppers. The chef grills these nearby and the smell was divine. He was even kind enough to give us extra! The vibe of this restaurant is warm and we felt like locals having a great night out in Lisbon. I highly recommend everyone check-out this gem. read more

We had a difficult experience with this place. Our first night in the city, we were super excited to try the food in Lisbon. When getting there we were treated as dogs basically, sat outside for a very long time while there more than a couple of tables available. Talked to a lady who seemed to be the owner or manager of the place, as she could not care less. after all the waiting we were starving. We get inside and find out the restaurant just serves appetizers. Ok. We ate and the food was good, not very different from anything else. Servers were very friendly! + after finishing our food we asked for the check about 5 times and waited for longer than an hour for it. Overall, not a good experience. Also, they only accept cash. read more

The atmosphere, waiters and food were all amazing. We had the main dishes of the day (pork and octopus) and loved them so much!

We were lucky enough to get a table here on a Friday night - we didn't realize they hold a table for one reservation all night in Lisbon's restaurants before arriving in the city earlier that day. There was a mix of locals and tourists. The food was good, but not very memorable. We felt the portions were a bit small. The drinks were very good, and the ambiance was wonderful. read more

Loved everything about this place. Understated vibe, casual but cool and cozy. Delicious food, not too heavy. My boyfriend and I skew vegetarian and loved our meal here after several weeks of eating a lot of fish and meat on our travels - dirty rice and beans, shrimp dim sum, salad with padron peppers and a delicious tofu satay. Top it off with wine and 2 luscious desserts including the famous chocolate cake. No dish was over the top or trying too hard but every dish was spot on. read more

À very authentic Lisboa restaurant packed every nights. Make sure to book in advance if you want to come during a weekend. Very good cuisine, many things to try and to share. read more

Short version: A beautiful restaurant with a good atmosphere (from the surrounding) and bad vibes (from the service). We were not blown away by the food, but it was definitely good. Portions were too small. I would give them 4 stars for the food, 2 stars for value / price and 1 star for service. I make three stars or if it. Long version: Okay, so we had ordered a table top celebrate my birthday and when we arrived it all looked good. We sat down at the table with my name and waited for the waitress, who came after seconds with the menu. Unfortunately she was not in a friendly mood. When we asked her to recommend a Vino Verde, she said they are all in the menu and left. After a while she came back but we weren't not ready yet. After that she ignored us for the rest of the night. After waiting for 5-10 minutes, we asked her colleague who answered some questions and we ordered a few starters and the duck from the main menu. He was reserved, maybe her bad vibes had infected him. But we didn't want to let us destroy my birthday, so we kept on enjoying a beautiful place and tried to ignore all bad vibes from the service. Then came the duck. It didn't really look like a duck, our first impression was: where is the duck and why do we get potatoes? But then we tasted the potatoes and that was the duck. It tasted good, but I do not understand why they had done this to the duck. It would have tasted as good with the duck served as duck and not as potatoes. The portion was not much, this was a main dish but from the site it could have also been a starter. After that we had dim sum. These were really great. Then tataki tuna. It was okay, but five coin-sized pieces was like nothing. After that we had pig rips and this was the best this night. read more

We so enjoyed our first meal here we returned twice again during our vacation in Lisbon!

we had the more portugues dishes only, so no idea how the fusion dishes are. all we ordered was tasteful, the wine was fine and the service good. I like the style and design of the restaurant. read more