Mary H.

Great food, service, and vibe! We sat at the counter and it was really fun to watch them prepare all the dishes. We ordered the razor clams, duck rice, and special, which was pork meat, clams, and French fries. The razor clams came out relatively quickly and were delicious! The broth was delectable and definitely needs to be soaked up with an order of bread. We were a bit envious of the table next to us, however, as they had noticeably more clams to their order. It took a bit of time for the mains to come out afterwards. The duck rice was first and it was very good! The orange zest was a great touch, and the duck was tender. The special had hits and misses. As a whole, the dish was good. But there was a bit too much going on, with too many components. Sitting at the counter we could also see how each part of the dish was added one by one after being cooked, but unfortunately meant that much of the dish was cold by the time it got to us. While I really enjoy clams and always appreciate eating more, I felt like the clams might have been an unnecessary component of the dish. I would've rather had just the pork, veg, and fries but served hot! Overall, great food, but took off a couple of stars for the disappointments.

Jennifer S.

Had a reservation on the same day at 2pm. Google navigation makes you do a weird loop around but it is right there on the hill. We were seated quickly at these weirdly high bar stools and served by Mariana who was very friendly and helped us with ordering. Almost all the seats in the restaurant are at the bar so you can look in the middle to see how food is prepped. there are other seats available in the corner and outside, so I'm sure you can request it if you want something more accessible. We ordered: Razor Clams - covered in butter and garlic and so incredibly good. Only problem is if you're lactose intolerant lol! Duck Rice - this is a bit like risotto, not sure why I had fried rice in my head. It is thick and creamy and very filling! Huge chunks of duck so you have to like duck! Turbot - Crispy on the outside and a pretty subtle flavor compared to everything else. The fennel was really good but the fish was a tiny bit overdone in my opinion!

Arthur F.

Located in Belem section of Lisbon. Wife and I had a late lunch/early dinner. The cod fish starter as well as the squid starter were amazing. We shared the oxtail entree, it was also amazing. We were satisfied and happy we ate there.

Alex H.

I have been here twice now. The staff are so friendly and welcoming when you arrive. The portion sizes are great and everything is very easy to share because you'll want to try everything on the menu! Getting a table to see the chef's at work is an amazing experience and left us quiet for a lot of our meal as we watched in awe. The music is lovely and creates a lovely atmosphere to enjoy our meal. We started with the tuna belly then we shared the octopus bean stew and the duck rice. Everything was cooked perfectly and the flavours were spectacular.

Michelle T.

There are two different O Frade locations - one in Time Out market and another standalone restaurant that is recognized by the Michelin Guide. My review is for the standalone restaurant! We walked in for a late lunch without reservations, it was a 2PM on an April weekday. We were able to be seated immediately at the counter indoors. I love how this restaurant is set up. All diners sit at a U-shaped bar and you can watch the chefs work their magic. The service was fantastic!! We ordered four dishes for three persons: the almond salad, the asparagus with eggs, the tartar, and the feijoada (whatever the dish with the black beans is called). Everything was good. I honestly thought it would be...better? Due to the Michelin guide distinction in a city known for fantastic food. O Frade is one of the better restaurants I've tried in Lisbon but I've had better tapas elsewhere. For instance, the steak tartar here is very good but not as quality as the one at Cafe de Sao Bento. The asparagus with eggs was good as well, but wasn't interesting in texture or presentation. The salad was...well, just a salad.

Terrence S.

One of the best meals we've had in Lisbon, and we happened upon this restaurant serendipitously after having a pastel de nata in Bellem around 1-2pm. This is one of 5 Bib Gourmand restaurants in Lisbon, and the distinction is well deserved. Despite showing up without a reservation we were able to be seated at the bar. The room is lively and well lit with lots of natural sunshine and the bar is seated in a semi circle, making it very easy and comfortable to talk to others and strangers seated with us. There was already bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, and water was quickly poured for us; the service was excellent and very accomodating. Appetizers: Razor Clams- one of their excellent recommendations, full of garlic flavor, some basil oil, topped with cilantro. If you plan to order this, make sure to save some of the bread because the clams sauce is amazing, full of flavor. My only critique was that one or two of the clams occasionally has sand or particles within the meat, but other than that it is near perfect. 4.5/5 Tuna Belly- Also topped with lots of garlic, as well as some sprouts and veggies. All of the flavors complement each other, and this dish disappeared real quick. The tuna was cooked to perfection and there was so much fish provided. The veggies are so flavorful too, absorbing the fish flavor. 5/5 Duck Rice- The star of the show, this is one of the best known dishes from this restaurant. The rice is flavorful but not too salty despite the pieces of sausages, and the variety of colors makes this an amazing and interesting experience. I don't know how the rice didn't get soggy over time with the amount of sauce on it, but the texture remained soft without being mushy throughout the meal. 5/5 I recommend making a reservation before coming here, but this place will definitely be one of my top recommendations to anyone visiting Lisbon.

Lan Anh V.

O Frade is worth checking out if you're in the Belem area of Lisbon. They have a Bib Gourmand from the Michelin guide. At the recommendation of one of our foodie friends, we decided to make reservations for lunch time. It's a small restaurant, so though space is tight, you can watch the chefs as they finish plating your dish from the countertop. They are known for their duck rice which we ordered and enjoyed. It's flavorful, and the bites of chorizo and orange zest balance the duck well. I did find that I'd occasionally get a bite of duck that was a little dry, but I would still recommend trying it. Their version is a unique take on arroz de pato. The razor clams come with a delicious, white wine, butter, herb broth that you just want to drink up. Soak it up with the bread! Our favorite dish was the special pie; the pork cheek filling was so savory and tender, and the pastry dough was perfectly flaky. Our party of two was full with just these dishes. Service was great. The staff are lovely and will give you recommendations if you need some guidance.

The razor clams were a whimsical and creative first dish that served to whet our appetite for the impeccable entrees to come. The oxtail was incredible flavorful, a hard hitting dish you won't forget. The star of the show, however, was the duck fried rice. The duck fried rice had several exquisite characteristics balanced in perfect harmony, an excellent closing main dish to a great culinary experience. Last but not least was the mysterious desert special. Being frank, one of the top 3 deserts in my life. Light and delicious, I'll never forget it. I don't even want to share what it was. Come see for yourself.

So glad we came to this spot! Intimate seating at the bar, friendly servers, AMAZING food- we got the razor clams, beef tartare, ox tail, and duck rice - all delicious. Wish we got the squid with garlic bc we saw so many people ordering and it looked delish. And the house white wine is so good- they make their own "Amphora wine" blended from 5 grape varietals- so different from the Napa/Sonoma wines we're used to. Would highly recommend this place and will def come back when we visit Lisbon again.

Hillary P.

Stopping in for traditional Portuguese lunch. This location does take reservations and they are highly recommended even for lunch! Located a two minute walk from the National coach museum makes it a convenient stop after doing a little bit of touring. This location is a very small restaurant with outdoor dining as well as bar seating area - maybe 30 seats total? A nice selection of beer and wine, including Amphora. We were a little early for a reservation, and with seating so tight, the maître D kindly offered us the wine menu and we went ahead and enjoyed a glass while we stood outside. We were seated at the bar where we had a birdseye view of food preparation, which was just phenomenal. Despite our servers warning, we went ahead and ordered two starters and two entrées so we could sample as much as possible. The razor clam appetizer with its finely minced ingredients and delicate flavor reminded us a little bit of an empanada in a fluffy potato like shell. The lard was thinly sliced and prepared with a blowtorch, garlic olive oil, a little lemon zest, and some salt was phenomenal with the bread as a tapas like dish. We also enjoyed the mushroom rice vegetarian dish, which had such a unique flavor that incorporated horseradish and delicate fresh herbs that it was one of a kind. The octopus with beans was clearly influenced as a stew type dish and offered unique flavors with a rich sauce. We loved the amphora wine which reminded us of a light sherry and also the crisp white wine with our main dish. Beer on tap offerings are local. Everything about this little restaurant yells come back quick!

Amy C.

Belem feels like it's a suburb of Lisbon. It's a stone's throw from the main city attractions and a surprising number of online city guides recommend "day trips to Belem" when you're visiting Lisbon. Which makes sense if you want to beat the crowds and squeeze in visits to Belem Tower and the Jerónimos Monastery early in the morning. Hitting up those two places will leave you looking for a non-touristy spot for lunch in the area. But in all honesty, I wanted to check O Frade off my list because of the duck rice (arroz de pato) on their menu. Oh, and the thought of dining at a Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant didn't hurt at all. The proximity to Belem's finest attractions was a pleasant surprise, especially since it's within walking distance of the monastery. Since I visited in the off season, I was able to take a seat immediately a little after 1 PM--it was sunny, so I wanted to sit outside, though some might want to sit inside and watch the cooks at work. We got the razor clams (a starter) and the aforementioned duck rice. You'll want to get the razor clams in the Bulhão Pato style (with white wine, garlic, and lemon). The duck rice was definitely more of a Portuguese delicacy that's harder to find outside of the country. I picked out the chorizo (of which there was plenty) since I don't eat red meat, but the flavor of the dish was delectable and the duck meat was super tender. The razor clams were also unbelievably juicy. Prices were a little higher than to be expected in Lisbon, but I suppose that was the Michelin price hike at play. Soak up some sun in the Jardim Afonso de Albuquerque down the road when you're done with your meal!

Albert L.

By the monastery and right across the presidential palace Was able to get a table without reservation during lunch time Cool concept- sit on a bar and can see how the chefs plate We got razor clamp, razed clamp pie and ox tail and special pie All were delicious- good service as well!

Peter W.

Situated proudly in the bib gourmand, this place is a do not miss when visiting Balem. In fact, do make a reservation because even on a Tuesday, people who wanted to walk in got turned away. The inside seating is like a horseshoe and chef bar seating while outside you get regular tables. We felt like sitting inside was more exciting because the chef does finishing touches for your viewing pleasure. We ordered like 3-4 items and came out stuffed! Quality: 5/5 stars Service: 5/5 stars Value: 5/5 stars