What a great little spot if you don't want to dine in the main fence seat restaurant, there's a bar next-door, which is a lot more casual. You could sit at the bar and enjoy a beautiful meal. We had the seafood with the pasta, which was incredible and also a picture of sangria which we loved Service was super friendly. Can't wait to go back. read more

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Came in on a weekday for lunch with my aunt and uncle. I got the beef Portuguese style (my favorite meal at any Portuguese restaurant) and it was delicious. My uncle got the same thing and also enjoyed it. My aunt got a chicken entree which she was not a fan of, hence the 4 star review. Overall it was great and I'd come again read more

The food at Lareira is absolutely delicious. This place is serving authentic flavorful Portuguese dishes. On Wednesdays they have the "Francesinha" which is like a sandwich that has steak and ham inside and then it's covered in a special sauce with French fries in the side and an egg. I highly recommend this fish as an appetizer to share. The dish is absolutely delicious but it's def heavier. All the fishes we had here were very good. The service is also great, the waitresses are friendly and attentive. A must try here is also their sangria, it's so delicious and perfect amount of sweet and tart! If you're in the area I highly recommend you check them out! read more

Long Island's oldest Portuguese restaurant! This spot is an absolute gem!! They have daily specials and everything is made fresh! Highly recommend the cognac shrimp & smoked Portuguese sausage! Service is always amazing & the ambiance is relaxed- they have tvs to also watch the games! read more

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From my first review to now, I have made Lareira a frequent stop for my wife and myself. I am so glad that it's just a short walking distance from my house, but usually drive anyway. This is one of those places that make you feel like your eating in your own home.. EVERYONE is just so friendly and attentive to your table. You feel like you've been with long time friends by the time you leave. The ambiance here is comfortable and relaxing. It's a good place to be. Food is AMAZING even though I usually order the same thing every time. - Filet de Solha a Algarvia - fillet of sole sauteed with lemon, white wine & topped with almonds. I can't get enough. Although now I am getting a bit adventurous and ordering Paella, also DELICIOUS. My wife has had the Lamb Chops and various chicken dishes, all fantastic. We always start with the amazing baked clams and Onion Soup. I also highly recommend a pitcher of SanGria. Pedro is the owner and a FANTASTIC person. Say hello, you'll see how good of a person he is. KUDOs to the team at Lareira. I hope to see you on Sunday. read more

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Been here twice: Once before COVID with my co-workers, once after COVID with my family. I seem to remember the food being quite a bit better the first time. For my second visit, I ordered the Bacalhau a Narcisa. That was a mistake. I wish I'd ordered the Bacalhau Assado na Brasa instead. Though constantly picking bones out of my meal aside, the fish itself was pretty bland. My brother also thought his meal was bland (he ordered the Paelha). He didn't even want to take his leftovers home. The restaurant was also uncomfortably warm the whole time. It was a mild day, and yet it didn't feel like the AC in the place was turned on at all. I nearly complained to our waiter. I might be willing to give this place one more shot, but definitely for dinner. And I don't think I'll be going with the bacalhau next time. read more

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Came here on a whim for a birthday dinner. The only guidance I was given was "I want seafood". The food here was delicious and fresh! A great choice. Clams were savory, paella was delicious and a big portion. I was able to still take some home. Sangria was refreshing. I would definitely come back and try more food. Service was quick and kind. Ambiance feels homey but upscale. The entrance made me think I was in the wrong place but it opens up into a dining salon for lack of better words. Great food! Great spot! read more

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1/15/25. Meat bread and rolls were initially served. Then we ordered my favorites. Started with the grilled octopus and shrimp turnovers, then the baby lamb chops and cognac shrimp. Food and service (by Jack) was great. One of my top Portuguese places. read more

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A repeat visit, taking friends visiting fr Marco Island... outstanding and a treasure. Wonderful waiter! read more

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Nice venue, quite spacious and clean. Good friendly service. Add to that great authentic food and enjoy your meal.

The best authentic Portuguese food, in the heart of little Portugal (Mineola). The owner, Pedro, is wonderful and you cannot go wrong with any option there. Hospitality, staff and food is 10/10. Thank you!!! :) read more

This homey little place unfortunately left us a bit underwhelmed. I love Portuguese food and while the staff was very nice, it was kind of slow and the food left me a little dissatisfied. The lows: -our drinks took a very long time to come out and none of us were pleased. We all got something different. Actually the Moscow mule was fine. My capriniha tasted like bad sour mix and alcohol that was just burning my throat -the shell steak with egg was fatty, the clams and chorizo was a bit skimpy although the broth was good -the paella was mushy and left more to be desired. We've just had better -they didn't have octopus and I feel like that's a Portuguese staple The middle ground: -the bacalhau was good. It was a nice serving size -the sardines were also good just a lot of bones but that's the nature of the fish The highs: the snails and the squid appetizers. Both very good! If all the food was to that caliber it would be a mucho different review with a much different rating read more

Medium-sized, 2-room Portuguese restaurant on Jericho Tpke., next door to Bakers of All Nations (mostly a sweet Portuguese bakery/cafe) with street parking. My first time here. Our reservation for 5 was honored and we were greeted and seated promptly. They had unnamed house red or white wines by the glass on the menu, so I asked but Chianti was not among them, and I passed. They put out some fresh, round dinner rolls and very mild, salami-like sausage bread in a basket for the table. Some of us (not me) had nothing-special, mostly green salads. All the entrees came with two sides. As you can see from the photos below, their presentation was most appetizing. There were several specials listed on the wall (including rabbit) and one of the cousins ordered the duck a la orange with potatoes and mixed veggies. It was a generous portion (both legs flayed) and described as "excellent." My wife enjoyed their grilled salmon with mustard sauce ("salmao Dijonnaise") (actually she said she loved everything). My son had the shell steak with potatoes and mixed veggies, but it was too much, so he took half of it home. I had the grilled cognac shrimp ("camarao grelhado") with mixed veggies and saffron rice - all good except I didn't like having to shell the shrimp. Next time I'll ask the kitchen to do that for me. The sauce had a little bite , but was tasty and there was none left after I used one of the dinner rolls to mop it up. Dessert was reluctantly ordered, but then relished and devoured. My favorite (we shared them) was the tiramisu, but others enjoyed the flan, tartufo and the very light "Molotov." In terms of stars, only one of us (the other cousin) said "4" and the rest of us said "5", so "5" it is. On the way out, I said hello to a fellow neighborhood Yelper Elite, Joel. read more

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Went for the first time on a Friday night, unassuming exterior, warm and homey interior. Surprisingly not crowded. Seated promptly with a big bowl of olives and bread placed on the table. Service was great, and there's a cocktail and Portuguese wine menu. Service was great and unrushed. The shell steak was large and perfectly cooked as was the fish. Both came with sides. We were too stuffed for dessert. Highly recommended! read more

This was recommended by Joel and this was a great pick!! Delicious food and very fair prices!! I will return for sure.... read more

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This place has the comfort of a family kitchen. I trusted other diners' opinions and found this place. Lareira Restaurant serves food when it tastes best. Their staff delivered service beyond any I've encountered before. I vouch for the tasty dishes and the pleasant surroundings. read more

Amazing staff and amazing food. The desert is to die for!!! Very pleasant and cozy atmosphere. read more

Lareira Restaurant - Molotoff and Pudim dessert - Portuguese Near Me - Mineola, New York

I can't understand how I hadn't been to this restaurant in all the years it's been open. Fantastic food combined with wonderful service in a very enjoyable venue make for a fantastic experience. Among my favorites are the Cognac Shrimp (one of the best marinades ever), Stuffed Veal Chop (Fred Flintstone would be envious), Chorizo and Octopus (2 separate appetizers) both moist and as flavorful as any I've had. I look forward to coming to this restaurant for many, many years read more

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Everything was just OK on this Monday night when we visited. No other customers besides us and I'm not sure if that's typical here. Bread: one had some ham in it which was interesting and good the other roll didn't taste so great...mostly crusty and flaky Food: Mariscada em Molho de Champagne (Linguine with seafood in champagne sauce)- tasted good but not worth the $40. I'll always be comparing my seafood linguines with Vincent's clam bar, which has been the best I've ever had. Steak with ham and egg- interesting combo; we've never had Portuguese food before and the dish was just OK. It was nice to try out a local business but our experience was very plain and definitely not worth the prices. Menu online doesn't included prices so I've added an updated menu in the pictures below. read more

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Family run restaurant, nice Portuguese cuisine , mostly seafood. We returned with friends at least 4x and they were also impressed. We discovered this because La Barraida, a more popular restaurant not too far is always over crowded. read more

Nice comfortable place that was half empty at 7pm on a Friday night. Service was good. We had empanadas for the table that were just OK. I had paella which was pretty good but I added lobster for $15 dollars. Although I was able to get some meat out of the claws, the tail was empty! It was full of rice. My wife had shrimp and scallops over mashed potatoes which was also OK. The house sangria was pretty good. All and all it was a decent experience but nothing stood out. By the look of the small crowd the place may be struggling read more

Came here for a birthday. Within our party we had appetizers (snails, grilled squid, fried codfish fritters, seafood boil special) and entrees (meat skewers, junior paella, duck, seafood linguine, octopus, and lamb). Amongst our selections, I found all of them to be decent or better, but a few of my party mates felt they were hit-or-miss. The snails we very good, garlicky, and savory. Friends felt the seafood boil was literally seafood boiled... no extra flavor, nothing to write home about. While I enjoyed my skewers, I notes the meat was a bit dry, possibly overcooked. The accompanying sauce was good, necessary for the meat. My friend said The paella was lacking in flavor... seafood was cooked well, but tasted bland. A number of my fellow party guests felt their dishes could've been made at home. Good, but average, not great. At least the sangria was yummy. I was on the fence with a 3.5 rating, since all my friends didn't love their meals, but they treated our birthday guest of honor very well, so I bump them to a 4. Attention & service was good, but slow, from dinner to dessert we were there for almost 3 hrs. Good thing was we were never rushed. read more

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Will return. Homey, pleasant decoration, good service and large portions. The restaurant seems to have three sections, two dining rooms and a bar. We went early at 5 pm on a Wednesday, there was only a couple sat at the other end of the room. The olive container has two sections, one for the pits, which I find cute and practical. Now I'll be on the lookout for a similar one in stores. Foods are fine. Love their appetizer clams w/ smoked sausage. The duck is on the sweet side and flat tho. Sardine is fine. Great breads but the butter could be better, and the table cloth could be cleaner ... The staff chased us out to return our credit card: thank you! Street parking, I think. read more

That tiger shrimp plate is probably the most succulent dish I've ever had. The shrimp had so much flavor. The sautéed veggies were nice and crispy. The marisco soup and the garlic soup are the two that I recommend. Check them out if you are in LI. read more

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Delicious food, great service. We had a later family dinner here tonight. The 4 of us ordered different dishes, all delicious. The steak and shrimp special was very large, and my son polished it off it was so good. The shrimp were large and flavorful. The chicken was juicy and the vegetables cooked perfectly. Peito De Frango Recheado was amazing. This is our second time eating here, we will definitely return read more

During Covid where delivery is the norm, it's important to find a reliable restaurant with excellent food for you and your guests. We found that this week in Lareira and felt compelled to write this review in support of this amazing restaurant!! I recently called Lareira to place an order for 8 and spoke with a kind man named Pedro (I believe he may be the owner). He recommended several dishes and Sangria based on my choices and party size. I am so glad I was well advised on quantity as I would not have gotten enough and may have had a very unhappy family otherwise haha! Delivery -- The food came delivered in a very professional yet attractive carrying case that kept all items at the perfect temperature to travel. This was extremely important to me as nothing came soggy or overcooked in transportation which I have experienced quite frequently during Covid as our family has been ordering in much more often. FOOD -- WOW! We ordered a variety of food items to make it more family style rather than each person choosing their own dish. Here's a snapshot of what we had: Rissois de Camarao and Carne (Shrimp and Meat turnovers), a dozen each. They are similar to empandas and absolutely delicious. The meat was very well seasoned, and the shrimp had both whole and small pieces. We ordered one of their homemade hot sauce bottles and will now be replacing our Franks hot sauce in the fridge as it's flavor is far more robust!...it too, will go on EVERYTHING! Camarao Ao Alho (sauteed shrimp with traditional garlic sauce) appetizer. I wish we had gotten this as an entrée order as I went back for more and it was gone! We had some bread and dipped it in the sauce which I definitely recommend. We even kept the left over sauce and made a wonderful dish the next night it was so good! Chourico em Aguardente (Smoked Portuguese Sausage roasted over fire water). This isn't your traditional sausage and can't be compared to most. It has a natural smokey flavor to it as if it were done just before they sent it over. I understand that if you dine-in they flambe this tableside....I would imagine that to be equally as wonderful. Paelha Marinheira - This was my absolute favorite!!! The Paella comes with safron rice, lobster, shrimp, scallops, clams and mussels. The medley of flavors was amazing and the entire dish was enveloped in a rich sauce. Unlike many other places that give you small pieces, Lareira really hit the mark. The lobster was still in its shell (broken apart) but still whole, mussels and clams too. The shrimp was butterflied and deshelled and the scallops were tasty and cooked just right. Scallops can be tricky, we've ordered them out before and had some bad experiences.... but not here! Camarao Grelhado (Grilled tiger shrimp with lemon & Cognac) Entree. YUM YUM YUM! The shrimp were large and partially deshelled which I think added a ton of flavor. The dish came with saffron rice, and vegetables in a tasty sauce (yes, I definitely dipped bread in that too). The sauce had a little bit of a kick to it, possibly their house hot sauce?? This was my wife's favorite dish for sure! Espetada Ribatehjana (Grilled skewer of beef & pork served on a skewer). Let me start by saying thank you again for the recommendation Pedro, this was a great add! The skewer had small pieces of onion (slightly caramelized during cooking), beef and pork as well as chourico. This was a nice add to mix in with the different fish dishes. Peito de Frango Recheado - (breast of chicken stuffed with shrimp and spinach) - Mmmmm. The chicken was cooked perfectly and still very juicy with whole pieces of shrimp and spinach in the center. It had a sauce with it similar to a marsala in consistency. Bife Grelhado (Grilled angus sirloin) - I don't normally get steak for take-out because it often doesn't travel well. This was NOT the case from Lareira. The steak was warm and juicy when it came, not overcooked or tough. It was on a bed of white rice with mixed vegetables and cut like butter. My whole family (including the kids!) loved it. SANGRIA!!!!! My wife and I have tasted more Sangria varietals than we can count but Lareira's goes into our top 3! I wasn't even considering getting alcohol with the meal but I'm so happy I did. The Sangria was filled with delicious fruity flavors but it was not too sweet and DEFINITELY stronger than we even realized upon standing up! hahaha Lareira has set themselves apart as a reliable dining experience during a time when many restaurants are struggling for quality and consistency. I'm looking forward to trying different items on the menu as we're already placing our order for Christmas eve =) Thank you Pedro for a wonderful experience that made my mom's 68th birthday dinner a million times better than we could have hoped for during this time! read more

Lareira Restaurant - A little bit of everything!! - Portuguese Near Me - Mineola, New York

Our Portuguese friend who was visiting want some home cooking and we picked this place to give it a try. The service was excellent but the food was subpar to say the least. The steak my husband ordered was fine. The sardines my friend ordered, he knew he should not order because he said Sardines are not good in months with "R" nevertheless he wanted to try them. They were not fresh according to his expert opinion. The skin lifted in one go only on one of the sardines which he says is a sign of freshness the others were old. The bacalo I ordered was off and we sent it back and the restaurant did take it off the bill without us asking them to. Sadly the restaurant needs to refresh their dining area (carpeted section) as the smell is stale and just a bit depressing. We took a risk but it didn't pay off. read more

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How have I never been here before? Will definitely come back! It is a nice and relaxing environment, somewhere you would go to relax and eat, not for a rushed meal. Three of us arrived here around 7 pm on a Thursday night. The restaurant side was empty but there were diners in the bar side (separated from restaurant by a wall - the bar has a separate entrance from the street). Two or three other tables arrived for dinner after we did. There was warm bread and spicy olives for the table. We started with the mussels appetizer and it was delicious! (Note that one of us doesn't like balsamic vinegar so wasn't a fan.) We also received complimentary beef empanadas, which I didn't try but was told were very good. I had the grilled sardines, and the others had the steak with a side of rice, and the veal & chicken. Everyone was very happy with their food and the portions are generous - we each had leftovers. Somehow we found room for dessert and shared the pudim molotof, the chocolate mousse and the cheesecake. (We were told there was no flan because it is made fresh for the weekends.) The pudim molotof and the chocolate mousse were the favorites of everyone. (I didn't have room to try the cheesecake.) The cappuccinos (they have both decaf and regular) were the perfect end to a great meal. I would also like to mention that our waiter was very nice and friendly and offered great suggestions. read more

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Great food, service and always a great meal!! We come here once a year at least for my mom's birthday. The paella is top notch and I recommend this restaurant to anyone seeking out Portuguese food. read more

Absolutely adore this restaurant! When you enter- the cozy decor greets you & the friendly staff welcome you to a wonderful experience. I've been to a few Portuguese restaurants on LI & their claim to be the best might just be spot on! Start with the sangria- both white & red are excellent! Fresh fruit, not too sweet, not too strong ( but it will definitely creep up on you)! The shrimp appetizer- Camarao ao Alho- delicious shrimp with a delicious sauce with just enough spice. I've been several times & each visit I try a new entree- everything is delicious- especially the Junior Paelha, Mariscada a Lareira & the Grilled Skirt Steak. I recently hosted a retirement party here for about 40 guests Excellent value , service & amazing food. Dinner was buffet however the appetizers & desserts were abundantly served family style. (Excellent grilled ribs!!!) Pedro (the owner) was wonderful to work with. The group had such a great time they asked me to plan our holiday party here! I'm also considering offsite catering for a summer bbq. read more

Wow. Total satisfaction: delicious food, welcoming atmosphere, great service, fair prices. This place is a carnivore's (and probably pescadore's) dream. FIrst thing I noticed which was really neat -- the bar is totally separate from the restaurant - not just a divider, but a completely different room and a separate entrance, too. Entering the restaurant you get a warm feeling right away...a peaceful fountain is murmuring and the Sun King is smiling down on you above an archway leading right into the dining room. We were warmly greeted as though we were old friends, in spite of being total newcomers who are not Portuguese! I ordered a red Sangria which was fantastic -- rich deep wine, just enough ice, with apples and oranges cut in small chunks instead of slices, making it much more pleasurable to sip the drink (and also not taking up too much room). It was a strong wine, generous pour, and at $8 well worth it. I managed to stick to one though if it wasn't a work night I would have gone for a second! The bread basket arrived rapidamente, which featured heavenly light and airy rolls that melted in your mouth and was accompanied by a dish of oil cured black olives which were so delicious. While waiting for our entrees, we were delighted to be presented with two complementary empanadas. These were fresh and hot out of the oven and really honed the appetite. Basically a free appetizer. My husband is a big fan of duck so his choice was obvious, and the oven roasted duck got raves. A full half-bird in rich orange sauce, not overly sweet, accompanied by vegetables. I ordered pork and clams. I stand before you to confess that I have never before had pork and clams, so I have not yet a benchmark on this dish, but I can tell you there must have been 10 ounces of meat, hearty chunks of cut-with-a-fork tender pork loin, a wonderful sauce that was delicate yet had substance with a truly unique flavor blend. Not at all spicy. The clams only numbered four, in shells -- I was hoping there would be more. I think clam broth must have been incorporated into the sauce, along with diced roasted potatoes. The dish was garnished with a few cauliflower blossoms that had been marinated in a magical hot pepper essence. A wonderful surprise and great addition to the dish. The service was perfectly attentive, friendly, and polite. The dining room, entryway, and restrooms were spotlessly clean. Decor was lovely, rustic and had a very authentic feel. We took home huge quantities of leftovers. I love a restaurant experience where you have a great meal and take care of tomorrow's dinner at the same time. Can't find any fault here and can't wait to return! read more

Lareira Restaurant - Warm welcome - Portuguese Near Me - Mineola, New York

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Wonderful food and service.. If you are looking for a Potugese restaurant with fresh seafood and traditional dishes this is it. One of my favorite things about this restaurant besides the food is that you can actually have a conversation without shouting read more

Highly Recommended** Food: 10/10 Service: 10/10 Ambiance: 10/10 Bonnie G,. and I brought another couple to once again experience the wonderful Portugese food served at Lareira. We were delighted to see Pedro, the owner, and commented that we notice the place had new life...new ceilings, carpet, paint etc...but still the same old Family warmth and service!! Our friends had not had Portugese before so we hoped they would be happy...and they were. We started with the complimentary Portugese potato chips and wonderful marinated olives and at first opportunity ordered a large pitcher of their famous red sangria. We ate so many olives and chips we had to temper ourselves lest get full before the appys...which were: Seafood stuffed mushroom caps - delish Flambe Chorizo - crisp and tasty On to the mains: They had the braised Bunny as a special that evening which I ordered and it was savory and delicious... Bonnie G. had the Mariscada in spicy green sauce which was packed with delish fresh seafood with a sauce I ate like soup. Our guests had a Sirloin Steak prepared as ordered and a really nice Salmon Filet. We had a 2nd pitcher of Sangria which really was the final straw...we were nicely pickled and certainly stuffed. lI think we shared dessert but honestly can't remember..... Our guests commented how friendly the staff was and that the atmosphere, although more formal then sportsbar Portugese was like eating in their family dining room! A real compliment....Cant wait to return! read more

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I can see why families from the area may like the restaurant, but it wasn't for me. It has a very home like feel and family style dishes. The fish was lightly fried in a batter, which was not oily but the dish lacked dimension, with side of plain yellow rice with steamed frozen veggies. The pork with mussels was a large dish and it was generous but the flavor wasn't memorable. read more

The food here is delicious! Wednesday night Francesinha is the best. A must to pair with this is the pitcher of red sangria. The owner Pedro came over not once not twice but three time to check in on us. The hospitality here is amazing. A must visit for authentic Portuguese cuisine. read more

An expected find. The place is charming. Service was great and the food and drinks were delicious. I love Portuguese cuisine and the dishes I had exceeded my expectations. read more

I wish I discovered this restaurant sooner! I can't believe I've lived within 15 minutes of this place for the past 10+ years and have never been here. As someone who enjoys trying all types of different cuisines, I was surprised to find such an authentic Portuguese restaurant in the area. Cane here with 3 friends on a Friday night around 7:30pm with no reservation and to my surprise there was no wait at all. In fact, there were only a few tables seated. After trying the food, I think this place could use some more business! For the food, we shared a seafood appetizer - the Cataplana de Marisco. It came in a hot pot with shrimp, clams, mussels, chorizo and onions in a nice savory broth. The broth was splendid! Main course - Bife A Casa (grilled angus sirloin steak topped with fried egg and thinly sliced potatoes and brown gravy sauce) This was amazing! Other dishes my friends got - Carne Alentejana (marinated pork, sauteed with potatoes and little neck clams) pork was super tender, dish was flavorful Paella Marinheira - Seafood paella We also got sangria for the table which was really good, not too sweet. Portions are also huge so definitely worth the price. Highly recommend this family run establishment if you're looking for authentic Portuguese food. Will be back here again! Personal opinion- Only criticism would be that the ambience is a little dim on the lighting and feels a bit antiquated. However gives more of a homey vibe read more

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Great food. Authentic great drinks. Service was alarming good. Finally authentic Mexican

We checked this place out after hearing about how they helped a neighbor in our community. This brick and mortar restaurant is very unassuming and you've probably driven past it many times. They really have something going with their delicious and authentic dishes. We got seafood paella, fillet of sole special and pork with clams and potatoes. The last dish was my favorite. I couldn't believe how tender the pork was. We ordered takeout and the dishes were expertly prepared on time for pick up. When we can, my family and I will dine in and try out the sangria and some new dishes. read more

We had a good meal here. Waiter was very nice and helpful with descriptions and suggestions for us who are not familiar with Portuguese cuisine. We were there between lunch and dinner hours, so not crowded, and we were not in a hurry so the longer wait between ordering and getting our food didn't matter. read more