We were really looking forward to João Belhi's "special" seafood rice dinner for two on the recommendation of local friends. I was told to order it first because it takes 1/2 hour to freshly prepare. We did, along with wine, water, bread, olives, mixed salad, a cheese plate selection, and sardine paste which was the same price as the butter. Which btw they charge you to spread on the common bread they also charge you for on top of the actual per person cover charge. Yummy anticipation, well not so fast. Maybe because it was Monday night after 9pm or because the chef was too lazy to cook, idk, but what was served us was obviously a bad, just thickened fish soup with a few prawns thrown in, not fresh seafood or anyway near special. In fact no fish at all, this in an area of abundance of delicious local fish. This imposter of a "special" fish dish had $1.80 worth of shrimp, a few small clams, 3 out of shell mussel and some over cooked pieces of tough scungille legs. Oh and one tiny knuckle of a crab. The waiter, Fernando, and the lady that came out of the kitchen, serving that which was clearly the previous reviewers (Greg W) "octopus rice soup", told me, when I asked about the freshness of this supposedly just prepared pastey soft rice dish, that I was mistaken. They insisted that this over boiled rice in fish soup broth was their just prepared special seafood rice dinner for two. The fish soup on the menu was $5.50 this special dish was $30.50. It wasn't a paella or a stew, it was the soup of the day leftovers made special by lies. We got a large bowl of prawn padded fish soup. I told the waiter I'm on my vacation, I expect to get what I pay for as specified on the menu and this was clearly not the case. He again insisted this meal was just prepared. The all day simmered rice and very inedible tough squid alone proved otherwise. The cheese plate selections I was told upon ordering was a few hard cheeses, came out as ONE local cow/goat cheese brie type sliced. Look for yourself at the photos and compare. Fernando didn't hear the drums or adjust the bill. He only took off 1 euro for a sardine paste which was still in the aluminum tin and 1 euro for an overcharge, lol. and charged for all else including the bread, "seating" cover and water. Having traveled all over the world I know European tourist restaurants can be excessive in their "extra" charges on visitors but this joint is a tourist trap deluxe. I frequently eat in perhaps the 2nd largest Portuguese expat area of the world, the Ironbound District of Newark N.J. and others in my hometown of NYC. I know excellent Portuguese cuisine when I taste it, this ain't it, not even close. They wouldn't do this to a local and get away with it. Avoid this dive or go to an actual tourist trap off the Romana Bridge in Tavira where at least you'll get decent food with the tacky wall murals without lies and a pretentious attitude. They saw We couldn't even finish it, barely ate 1/4 of it, it was that bad. We left them a tip on the bill to show them our concern wasn't about the money and went away hungry and dissatisfied. Abrogado ! We won't be back, they know that, which is probably why they pull such horrible substitution tactics. Not anymore, we together can improve food quality and customer service for dining travel consumers and locals alike with Yelp reviews. Tavira is a beautiful old town known for its tasty inexpensive seafood and fresh fish dishes. It has wonderful people and many great restaurants and this one example doesn't distract from that special local seafood atmosphere. Good luck in your meals and travels. read more