Food: Started off my Portugal vacation with my first meal here! Ordered several dishes and shared…read moreit with my friend and I could not have been any more happier! Loved all the dishes we ordered and was extremely happy and satisfied with our first restaurant once landing in Porto! Cost: Reasonably priced dishes (maybe a tad on the expensive end) but the quality of the dishes were worth it! Environment: The restaurant is very cozy! Initially I thought it was super small but the rooms are just very long and they have a decent amount of seating available however it does fill up fast so after reading some reviews I did choose to make a reservation just incase! Service: Good service, had no issues and all the dishes came out in a timely manner. Uniqueness: Cozy restaurant with plenty of dishes to choose from!

A memorable meal in Porto! It really doesn't get much better than this. A Cute restaurant just…read morefar enough fro the super touristy area on the water, to enjoy a peaceful meal. We were very lucky they had 1 table left as we walked in on a whim without a reservation. We decided to share everything we ordered and then order extra of our favorite dishes. Servings are small, more of a tapas style. It turned out to be the perfect plan. We had several favorites, but overall we enjoyed every dish. All 5*... Vegetable tagliatelle Toast w/ ham, brie and tomato jam Mushroom company Cod ceviche with toasted hazelnuts and apples

I have to admit that neither Jamie W nor I were all that excited about trying the Francesinha,…read morePorto's signature sandwich, because it's a "heart attack on a plate" as Anthony Bourdain described it. Its nearest cousin is the Croque Madame only more gluttonous with multiple kinds of meat and an excess of melted cheese. Bourdain went to O Afonso to try his first Francesinha when he visited Porto. However, current consensus motivated us to come here after we watched more recent YouTube travel videos from Jamie Oliver and others. This looked like a more classic, retro-style diner like Mel's Drive-In, but there was no mistaking what everyone was ordering here whether they were tourists or locals. Tables were pretty snug, but we managed to squeeze ourselves in against the wall. We knew we had to get the 13,2€ Francesinha Santiago because it was the classic rendition (Photo 8). Fortunately they allowed us to share an order because our tablemates let us know other places around town don't allow you to do that. It was quite a sight with the fried egg on top of a monstrous sandwich covered by multiple, overlapping slices of a Portuguese cheese called queijo flamengo. The sandwich itself consisted of two thick slices of white bread toasted to golden brown. Inside was Portuguese wet-cured ham, bologna, grilled sirloin steak, fresh sausage, linguiça, and mortadella. It was all doused with their house francesinha sauce made of beef gravy, tomato paste, onion, garlic, piri piri chiles, beer, brandy, and port wine. A pile of fries surrounded the sandwich (Photo 10). Wow, I just spent two paragraphs describing the francesinha and didn't mention whether I liked it or not. I did - but I also realized it was one-and-done for me. We managed to have a couple of the 2,7€ bowls of soup. Jamie had the Caldo Verde (Spinach Soup) (Photo 9), and I had the Canja de Galinha (Chicken Soup) (Photo 7). Both were satisfying, and mine had orzo. Yes, that was enough food. FOOD - 4 stars...that was quite a mountain of a sandwich AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...very popular spot with seating squeezed together SERVICE - 4.5 stars...a veteran server treated us very well TOTAL - 4 stars...come hungry and enjoy RELATED - Exploring Porto? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/7s1tZV5h5M

Partner and I wanted to try some authentic Portuguese items and we were recommended to try the…read morefrancesinha. Got my expectations up too maybe it's not really up my alley. Definitely a lot of protein but I also didn't really taste the protein much. We ordered one sandwich to split and they asked us if we wanted it cut in half and we said sure. Saw the bill and saw that we were charged 2.5 EUR. We could've just honestly just shared the plate. We also enjoyed sitting at the counter, but unfortunately we noticed that the staff were handling food while touching other surfaces (like rags or parts of their body) with the same gloves. At that point, the gloves don't really serve their purpose. It might be something worth paying attention to, especially since guests at the counter can clearly see the food preparation.

The Padrón Peppers, the Cod Fish Croquettes, the Bruschetta with Sardines were all flavorful and…read moredelicious. Good Sangria and white Port. Good outside seating and ambiance and service.

I had to remind the waiter 2x about the 4th dish ordered. The food generally bland. I was nearly…read morefinished w the 3 dishes and 2 glasses of wine ordered and still no pork. Added salt and pepper 2x, the hollandaise that came with the squid, the olive oil and garlic served with the olives and still no flavor. A let down since it is across the street from my place.

We waited in a line for about 20 minutes for a seat, pretty close to closing time. Our friends who…read moreheard this were pretty surprised, as they encountered no line on a different day. Maybe we just got unlucky? The franceshinas were delicious, and really hit the spot for late-night food. The lombo de porco and bifa were both fantastic. It sort of reminded me of a Croque Monsieur, but also very different. I loved the Port wine-based sauce. Very saucy and soggy (in a good way). Service was a bit slow. We were worried about running into closing time, but it turns out they just don't accept new guests after closing. There's no rush to finish your meal if you're already inside.

Let me paint you a picture : It was my first night in Porto. Prior to this solo trip I was taking…read morePortuguese lessons on Duolingo. Upon arriving, I realized I was learning Brazilian Portuguese which is slightly different from what was spoken here. I was hungry. It was dark out. I wanted to try a Francesinha. Then I found this place nearby and decided to order pick up because I was too nervous to eat there. Walked about and said Olá! The employee was so NICE. Gave me my order. Said a bunch of things in Portuguese super fast that I did not understand. I smiled. Nodded like an idiot. He smiled. Said enjoyed. I walked back to my Airbnb and opened my bag. The Francesinha looked divine. Took a bite. AMAZING. Took another bite. Fell in love. Took a third bite, this is not helping my high cholesterol for sure but I'm gonna keep eating. 5/5. Go here.

This was another spot I visited while I was in Portugal that was *not* on my list - a truly…read morewonderful seafood restaurant around the corner was, that I got to before noon because I wasn't sure when they opened (turned out: 12:45 that day), so I was wandering around with an hour to kill and found this place. They have flights, including one that's 15 euros where you let them know what you're looking for and they pick out the 3 bottles, which is very neat. I told them I was in Porto mainly to try Port wines, and didn't have much familiarity with other, non-fortified Portuguese wines, and would love an intro flight, but no roses. Got a mini-lesson in the wine regions of Portugal, along with a wonderful green wine, a great Duoro valley red, and a truly fantastic red from Alentejo, a wine region I had not previously heard of, but immediately went on my radar the rest of the trip. (They also sell bottles; I bought a bottle.) Note, they said they only guarantee they'll do flights (as opposed to full-priced full glass pours) after 4 pm, but if they aren't busy for the food lunch rush, they'll do them earlier in the day (on a rainy Thursday in January they were more than happy to.) Actually liked the place so much, I came back the next afternoon and had another glass of a different Alentejo red - they only had one open for tasting in the price range that fit the "intro"-priced wine flight, so I spent... I believe 11 euros on a glass of a fancier bottle they recommended. It was also quite good, though I think I actually preferred the first one. Also had one glass of a very reasonably priced tawny Port while I was there - they had several, but obviously, I was already well into my plan to taste Port directly from all of the nearby tasting rooms across the bridge, so I just picked one here. (Unsurprisingly, it was also quite good.) They do also sell food, but I can't comment on it. Great place for quick wine tasting, though.

Overall, a great experience. Originally found this via my Lonely Planet guidebook (yes, the…read morepaperback book, lol; old school, I know.) The space is upscale and has good air conditioning. I find the American country music playlist pretty amusing. The service is polite and the server spoke English well enough to explain where this wine came from, pairings for thiss and that wine, etc. I was only there for wine tastings, and maybe a snack to pair with. Good stuff overall. I love the menu! It's very explanatory; you could spent 30 minutes reading and absorbing some of the info about Portuguese wines, so definitely keep it after you order to browse and read. Pro tip: They have spit buckets. Ask for one and use it. Can taste more wines with less intoxication. Only miss was that they served me the aged white ports, which are chilled, a few minutes before the desert things that I was pairing them with. This let them warm up a bit before I could pair them with food, especially since I asked for small pours. Bathrooms: Spacious, bougie, clean, and functional.

This was one of the best meals I had in Portugal! The tapas was delicious and the restaurant was so…read morecozy! Prices were very reasonable, but be sure to bring cash because they do not accept card.

Cool ambiance with good small plates. Love the vibe and the service. Nice neighborhood. Cash only…read moreFYI

What a perfect experience for my first night in Porto. This is food theater! I had the pleasure of…read moresitting at the bar right next to where the chef prepared each dish. His masterful craftsmanship and artful care with each ingredient was an inspiration to witness. Everyone in the kitchen participated in a delightful choreography that kept the service running seemingly without effort. My server was a doll, and helped me choose the most complimentary wines for the dishes I ordered, as I opted not to go for the tasting menu or pre-determined wine pairings. However, seeing the dishes that came out for those that did order the tasting menu, I was both endlessly jealous as well as relieved that I wasn't faced with eating that much food. (Be sure to come here very hungry.) I settled on the sourdough bread with smoked butter, potato terrine with béchamel, and the wild croaker with kale and noisette. I enjoyed the bread and potato terrine the most (what can I say, I'm Irish). The wines were also delightful. I didn't love the croaker, as it was a bit tough and meatier vs. flaky and buttery, which is the texture I tend to prefer; but it was the first time I'd had that type of fish, and it might just be personal preference. I wish I'd ordered something different but the service and atmosphere made up for my disappointment with the main dish. I was too full to order dessert, but what I saw coming out for other patrons looked divine. I instead enjoyed a Porto suggested by the server, and it was seriously the best dessert wine I've ever had. It's a gorgeous restaurant, with each detail being carefully considered. I felt a bit guilty taking any photos since it was almost like a secret speakeasy -- romantic mood lighting and tables privately tucked away in the back of the building past the kitchen. Compared to prices in the U.S. or UK, this place was very reasonable for the elevated quality. I would come again to do the tasting,

Walking into Elemento leaves no doubt about the method of cooking; the smokey smell permeates the…read moreair. I was dining solo and seated at the counter. As noted by others, the counter area is on the warmer side so dress accordingly! You can order a la carte or have the chef's 8 moments menu with optional Portuguese wine pairing. I opted to forgo wine for the night and appreciated that they offered mocktails! I tried the elderflower mocktail and gin & tonic mocktail. Both were really great mocktail options, although the elderflower was a little overly sweet. I came in specifically for the chef's tasting and it did not disappoint. From the fire toasted bread to the banoffee inspired dessert, everything was phenomenal. It is difficult to pick a favorite but the black pork rump was especially tasty . Also any place that has a pre-dessert dessert is right up my alley! The pre-dessert included a cauliflower ice cream that I was initially skeptical of but one bite had me sold. Service was friendly, timely, and unobtrusive. Highly recommend making this a stop on your trip to Porto!

Very nice and cozy place. All the staff are very friendly and can speak English. The menu is also…read morein English so don't be afraid to try. All the food we tried very delicious but my favorite is the chocolate and banana dessert.

This was our favorite restaurant experience in Porto. I found this recommendation from Reddit and…read moreit did not disappoint. My husband loved the octopus and my son enjoyed the lamb. I thought the veal was also amazing. We came for dinner twice. It is a must when you are in Porto. Service was excellent and the ambiance and view from the windows was lovely.