(A collection of 8 European McDonald's reviews - spread across several years - #8) I had not planned on eating here. I have come to discover that the more sparsely populated and trafficked Algarve is more appealing than the larger towns in this much-loved Portuguese region. I was driving down the street and this McDonald's came into view. I hadn't eaten lunch. I had arrived to the Algarve a few hours prior, thus I went in. Everything at this location was tidy and clean. I'm referring to the dining room, its parking area, its outside kids' area, and all its other aspects. They were not that crowded and the employees were very helpful. I had a Big Mac combo. I'm sounding like a broken record. It's either that or a Filet-O-Fish, since I am not a fan of the Quarter Pounder or any of those newfangled heavily stacked burgers. I ate in because the vibe was understated, and in a good way. When traveling, I often skip a meal, especially if a breakfast buffet is provided or the third meal might be a snack. I'm sure that's what I did that night, probably opting for a bite to eat. Vila Real de Santo Antonio is the easternmost and last town in the Algarve along the A-22. It has a river at its eastern border which separates it from Spain. Vila Real de Santo Antonio wouldn't be considered a postcard sort of town, but it is clean and relaxed. Nearby towns such as Monte Gordo and Manta Rota tend to be more touristy, with crowded beaches during the summer. As such, this McDonald's serves this cluster of towns and probably hums when the tourist season is in high gear. I'm going to go with labeling it "a very laid-back McDonald's," which makes for 4 words and a corresponding 4 stars. read more

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