If you're looking for a chaotic dining experience....this is not the place for you. If you're into lackluster wait service...skip this venue. If you want bland food...DO NOT COME HERE! After an appointment in the city, the Honey casually mentions he wants to have lunch here. Apparently, he discovered this neighborhood gem years ago when he worked in Queens. Uhh excuse me sir, you certainly have been holding out on me!! We walked in and were greeted promptly by Sophia who seated us. She returned shortly with a smile and asked if we wanted drinks? This part became easy once we opened the drink menu and saw Spicy Margaritas! That happens to be our thing. We started with the octopus and steamed clams appetizers. When I tell you that both of these dishes are bursting with incredible and delicious flavors! I suggest you save some of the warm bread they provide, to soak up the sauces. I was doing my happy dance, in between bites! My Linguini Com Frutos Do Mar entree' was bursting with fresh clams, mussels, shrimp and calamari. His Bacalhau Assado, with hot olive oil and garlic? Baybeee when I tell you delicious (chef's kiss)!! Okay..yes I left him enough to take some home...after I tried a "taste" or two! We finished with Pudim Flan and cappuccino for me. The smart and sophisticated vibe...attention to detail. With the friendly professional service gives this eatery a better than Manhattan feel. I also find the decor to be lovely. There is also a full bar on the other side of the dining area, accessible through a small door. The bar does have a separate outside entrance from the street as well. Now that I've found out about this place, I'm telling everyone! There is absolutely no excuse for you to not stop by for lunch, dinner or even drinks at the bar. Thank me later..... read more

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So this is my first time eating from this place and I am very impressed. It was recommended by my daughter in law so I told her to get me what she would get and it was the garlic mash with the lamb chops and there was supposed to be veggies be there was none. Anywho the lamb chops were really good the mash was too but I need it to be more garlicky lol. I will be going to the actual restaurant in the near future to see what all they have to offer. read more

O Lavrador - Lamb chops and garlic mash potatoes - Portuguese Near Me - Jamaica, New York

Food is great but service is trash. Cesar the bartender/server is Incredibly disrespectful and doesn't show any signs of courtesy with the way be talks to customers and will run around even when it's busy just to interact with other customers. It took literally forever just to get him to come over. He is incompetent and impolite beyond anything. read more

I have been in this location and order from Uber Eats . It's an authentic Portuguese and Spanish Restaurant that's newer the Van Wyck expressway . The service was excellent . It reminds me of old Spanish Restaurants you would find in Spain . Comfy and cozy . There is also a bar . The dish I come here for is Paehla Marinheira (sp) and it's generally made for 2 . It's expensive but it comes with lobster , crab and mussels . I've also had the linguine with seafood which is flavorful with clams , mussels and shrimp over linguine . You can order both dishes online as well . The calamari is good ! The dish I love is the shrimp piri-piri . They take credit cards and before I forget try the Peach Sangria! They are open for lunch and dinner . read more

O Lavrador - Portuguese Restaurant - Portuguese Near Me - Jamaica, New York

I had a great time at the bar area. The calamari and drink were great! I ended up staying for hours and they did not rush us out of the place. read more

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Food was excellent! Been here once before and was not disappointed but this time around everything was delicious. It does get very busy and loud on weekends. Don't leave without trying the bolo de chocolate. It's the best I've ever had! read more

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In a word OUTSTANDING. I had never been to this old time neighborhood staple before but i loved it and will be back! A pitcher of Sangria is a must and I devoured my Shrimp and Lobster in Champagne sauce. We had shrimp in garlic sauce and The Prime Rib all were excellent. Desert Poached Pair in wine and a coffee. A fine evening. read more

I love the food here, O Lavrador is so good. Their fish cakes and seafood pasta are really good. Everything is so tasty and drinks are good. This is a great spot to get some really good food, good drinks, and relax. If you're in the area, you have to check it out! read more

Well, I did it again! After my last visit, I swore I'd never go back unless it was just to go to the bar , the bar,has to be the reason this restaurant is still in business because the food just keeps getting worse. I was here last year ( see the review) and the meals were AWFUL. This place used to be a Hidden Gem that I frequented quite often and referred many people to. Now I have to warn them, don't go back! It has changed drastically and horribly. We didn't even take the uneaten food to go. PS the sangria was good. read more

Old Portuguese place in Jamaica. Small parking lot. Good sangria, strong and fruity. Got the seafood paella. It was ok, but nothing to write home about. Patrons looked old school and locals, popular place. Bar on other side of restaurant. Maybe I needed to try other dishes. read more

O Lavrador - Paella - Portuguese Near Me - Jamaica, New York

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Eh , We came by because I was craving paella and so I found this "authentic Portugal and Spain restaurant so we decided why not .... Its a neighborhood restaurant so you'll probably only find people who work or live nearby dining here so its never really crowded and I see why . its looked like a traditional restaurant, wood, bright lights, red napkins .... You know , traditional- that I didnt mind . The service wasn't bad , actually service was great. The hostess /waitress was very friendly and knowledgeable and accommodating. We ordered cod fish cakes (where in my opinion you can totally skip) and peri peri shrimp (tasty home made dish, great to dip some garlic bread with) and of course my paella . Let's just say they need learn how to execute flavors in that rice dish better . I had to go home and add so many things that were missing (from the saffron to the simple garlic) the food was bland . And worse yet, rhetorical lobster wasn't cleaned so we bit into ... YUCK. Its probably my fault, who craves paella and expect to find a good one super random in NYC (obviously me/ especially since we ARE IN THE MELTING POT CITY) Over all however it was 3 stars . The drinks at the bar weren't bad . They serviced with a smile and it's a great no frills restaurant to bring a larger party . Sadly I wont be back . read more

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First time, have yo say the staff was very welcoming. Had a reservation so was seated right away, ordered drinks which wasn't all that, that's why I'm giving them a 4star. Could have done better on the drinks. Our food didn't take very long to come, but boy oh boy. The food was definitely delicious. The seafood dish, was great, just needed some more flavor. Then we went to the bar section which we had an amazing time! Loved when the rang the bell when it's a birthday. We were able to request our own songs! Great place, vibes were nice. read more

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Love love the fish and rice. Very quiet during the week to get full authentic experience go during the week. Weekends are a bit more busy but it is to be expected when food is good. read more

Service was good, drinks were good, ambience was normal, food was bland. I was also promised a tequila shot for having to move from one table to another and they never delivered. I wouldn't recommend this place. There are way better Portuguese restaurants. read more

Another amazing dinner at O Lavador! The service was fantastic. The food was amazing. The crème brûlée was perfect. The restaurant is always clean and never too loud, which is great for an intimate dinner. read more

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I've made this spot my regular treat to myself. The food is reliably excellent and the servers always deliver. Workers here pay attention to every detail. This restaurant combines mood and excellent staff. I strongly suggest this place. read more

This restaurant provides true pleasure. They offer quality produce, delicious spice blends, affordable costs, and nice service. O Lavrador succeeds in multiple areas. Impressive one-on-one care. We're definitely returning. read more

The restaurant proves that some places really are worth the wait. The employees maintain a friendly demeanor. The food taste was simply wonderful! The service is exceptional while the food is tasty and reasonably priced. This restaurant gives you obvious reasons to dine. read more

Food this good needs no fancy description. This spot deserves recognition beyond standard ratings. The items were handled with care. The entire staff puts customers first. I'm thankful for the online suggestion.This place exceeds descriptive vocabulary. The staff here provides exceptional attention! The food experience climbed to new heights with each plate. The staff exhibits kindness, warmth, hospitality, and expertise. The staff was helpful, the meals tasted great. read more

The broad Bronzino is excellent. We found the staff to be very friendly in the general vibe at the bar was also festive. We also had the paella that has a combination of meat and seafood. While attractive represented, it was a little short on flavor. We needed to add salt and pepper sauce to spike it up. read more

O Lavrador - Bronzino - Portuguese Near Me - Jamaica, New York

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Family friendly! Best lamb chops. Amazing service from Danny. Nice date time and sports night.

This lovely restaurant is serving Portuguese food at very reasonable prices. Friendly staff. My only complaint is that the steak called "filet mignon" on the menu is not really that cut. It was good, just not filet mignon. read more

O Lavrador aka O Lavs Being frequently in the area some days, I finally had an opportunity to check them out. Indoor dining restrictions were partially lifted, so I chose an early weekday, not so busy time of day to plan my visit. I have heard of this place more times than I can count. O Lavs, as some of the regulars call the restaurant, has a long-standing history with the neighborhood as they've been around since 1981. How wonderful is that? O Lavs Spanish-style décor with hardwood floors plus brick walls were a standout to me, offering a unique and inviting atmosphere. The highlight here is their Portuguese-Spanish cuisine which lived up to the constant conversations I've had and did not disappoint. Rounding things out were the staff that remained friendly despite the whole pandemic thing. Temperature checks, plus Contact Tracing were required at the time of my visit. Plus, face masked and gloved waitstaff. Now that things are gradually opening, hopefully they'll get the additional customer support needed to stay around for another 40 years. TIP: Parking Lot available on-site. read more

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Wow! Great food for a great value. Decided to try this restaurant as a lunch spot near my job. It was about a 10-minute Drive but very worth it. Many of us ordered a variety of food I personally had one of their hot paninis and mashed potatoes. The mashed potatoes with creamy a huge portion purified. The Panini was grilled chicken with vegetables and mozzarella cheese absolutely perfection. Everybody else appeared to enjoy their meal. I would love to go back and try one of their drinks or larger meals myself. We spoke to the workers briefly and I can say they were so kind and welcoming even for a pickup order. We will be back again read more

O Lavrador -- more like Oh Hell NO! My friend came over to visit and we decided to order food. She swears by this place and said the food was great. Due to her raving reviews about O Lavrador I really was excited to try something different. I've never had Portuguese food before. I asked her for recommendations and we ultimately decided on Camarao a Piri-Piri, Rissois de Camarao, and Frango a Lavrador. Our order arrived less than 45 mins and everything about it was all wrong. For starters my friend's food wasn't spicy, the sauce was watery instead of creamy and thick. She was truly disappointed. My food came in a fancy aluminum tray as if I was hosting a party. Upon opening the tray I couldn't believe my eyes -- it was tray of the incorrect order and the food was bland. What I ordered was the Frango a Lavrador which consists of Chicken Cutlets Sautéed in Light Red Sauce with Shrimp Served with Rice and Vegetables. I received the complete opposite. I have no idea why O Lavrador decided to send me a tray of chicken cutlets with mushrooms, rice, and veggies. I also asked for garlic scampi sauce instead of the red sauce. Please do not get me started on the Rissois de Camarao. They reminded me of frozen fish sticks they used to serve at my junior high school. The stuffing for the mini turnovers were not only bland, but they were filled with Mac and cheese instead of shrimp. Everything about our dinner was incredibly terrible. read more

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O Lavrador is a unique Portuguese restaurant housed in a European-style hacienda with brick arches and an elegant dining room. Family-run for 43 years you must make this your destination for excellent Portuguese and Spanish food, fabulous wines and great service and the prices are very reasonable! read more

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A gem of a spot. Authentic delicious, classic treasure in a remote part ofJamaica. Outdoor feels like a spot in Lisbon. They specialize in seafood and it's special. Ate and drank: Port aged 10 years Faldo verde Mariscos and housemade potato chips Total $49 They serve the port in plastic which is not my favorite but the port $10 was terrific. Soup with sausage was hearty. The seafood stew Which was grilled with a parihilada sauce was amazing! Having been to Portugal I can truly appreciate the delicious simplicity of the cuisine and how special this spot is. read more

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It was a tremendous disappointment. Service was cordial and attentive but the food was just not good. No flavor at all. All was bland and tasteless. We ordered a lot of things to really give it a shot. This was an option for our Christmas party ..... was an option. 8 out of 9 did not enjoy the food. Waitress was super nice but that was it. Place was very clean. Definitely need a new chef and better ingredients. Appetizers 3/10 Entrees 3/10 Dessert 7/10 Service 8/10 Ambiance 9/10 read more

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Staff was nice but Food was very garlicky. I had the clams appetizer and the garlic was very overpowering.

Staff was super nice and welcoming. The lamb chops and garlic mashed were AMAZING!!! Their chicken was seasoned and cooked so well, it fell off the bone but was still juicy and very tasty. Their rice and potatoes were a little bland but nothing that a little hot sauce couldn't fix. The setting was cute and nice for a date night dinner. Calamari was excellent as well. They have a heavy seafood menu and my son is allergic to crab so my husband and I will be visiting again to try the seafood options! read more

O Lavrador - Lamb chops and Mashed Potatoes - Portuguese Near Me - Jamaica, New York

What a hidden gem tucked away walking distance from the LIRR/Air Train! The food is so flavorful with quite hefty portions. This is the paella for one. We couldn't even make a dent in it after having the shrimp appetizer. The service was attentive and friendly. There's quite a lot of space in the dining room and additional space in a separate bar area next door. read more

O Lavrador - Portuguese Near Me - Jamaica, New York

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This is a consistent 5 stars restaurant. The staff is always professional and attentive. The food is fresh and exquisitely prepared. During this visit, we discovered a separate entrance to the bar and sports lounge. In the restaurant, there were about 6 tables of patrons. We felt like no one was there but us because we were seated separately at least 10 feet from other tables - very comforting. We tried the Iberian platter and was very happy with our choice. Everything was seasoned perfectly. It's a platter for 2/$25 with fried Portuguese sausages, fried calamari, shrimps in garlic and clams seasoned with garlic and wine. The yummiest. Glad we saved some bread, It came in handy to sop up all the delicious broths. The Vegetable linguini completed the platter nicely. I still had to have a small plate of grilled octopus just because. Needless to say, hubby was very delighhted and mentioned it good to know a Yelp Elite. Yup that's me. If you're in the neighborhood stop by and give them a try. read more

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Valentines Day 2019 and it's the weekend of our annual ski trip. She's not going on the trip, so I had to scramble to find a place for a nice romantic dinner the night before. O Lavrador was just the ticket. Though the neighborhood is a little sketchy at night, the restaurant is brightly lit. The reservations I made weren't really necessary on a Thursday night, but they had at least a half dozen parties enjoying their meals when we came in. The style of food is Portuguese style seafood. Everything on the menu is spelled slightly different from their Spanish counterparts you would normally see and the cooking style is similar, but a variation. We start with some very dense crusty bread followed by the Iberian Platter for 2 with 4 different sections of appetizers. The Grilled Chorizo, Shrimp in Garlic Sauce, Garlic Clams & Fried Calamari were all so good that I could have eaten this as my entree. The Paelha Valenciana was flavorful with plenty of chicken, chorizo, calamari, clams, mussels, shrimp & scallops in the saffron rice. As someone else had asked, it wasn't soupy until you reached the bottom. The Espetada de Carnes was a surprise with nicely seasoned and grilled steak, chorizo, chicken, onions & peppers served on a vertical hanging skewer. The Seafood in Champagne Sauce could have been better. The split 1/2 lobster with scallops & shrimp were in a lobster bisque type sauce and you can taste the liquor, but if was just a singular flavor. Save some bread to sop up the sauce. We weren't in the mood for dessert, so got a couple of really good cups of coffee and according to my son, got the best hot chocolate he's ever had. The service was great though. The next table even had their chorizo flambéed tableside! read more

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Great food, service and they have a formal dining area, on the other side they have a sports bar and dining. read more

O Lavrador - Lobster and a side order of potato chips Portuguese style. - Portuguese Near Me - Jamaica, New York

Came here for the first time for a family dinner and it did not disappoint! Staff were so nice and helpful. Place is nice and clean and they do have outdoor seating as well. But since it was hot we sat inside. StarTed with drinks and appetizers. I ordered the passion fruit caipirinha and it was so refreshing. For appetizers we ordered the sausage, grilled octopus and shrimp. For main course we ordered a seafood platter to share, paella and beef with seafood as well. It was a nice dinner and really enjoyed the food. Would definitely come back. It's a good family place. read more

This restaurant is only a few minutes away from my house, I'm so mad it took my husband and I so long to try it. It was fantastic and more than expected. My husband got the stake (he can't remember which one) and I got the paelha marinheira. Both dishes were delicious and paelha could've served us both. It was a lot of food. Food: 10 stars +taste Caribbean pepper sause. Service: 10 stars Family and large group friendly read more

My husband & I visited Lisbon, Portugal last September and we enjoyed the dishes especially seafood so much. After we came back, we tried to yelp Portuguese restaurant around our neighborhood and we found O Lavrador with great reviews. Although the waitress can't speak English but she is really friendly and served the complimentary bread. It wasn't my type, too hard and chewy for me. We had Iberian platter for 2 ($25), Paelha Valenciana without lobster ($27) and Grilled Filet Mignon ($26) and we could't finish all and ended up taking out the Paelha. The Iberian platter was the best especially the fried calamari, it was super juicy and soft with crispy but thin layer outside. They also have Prix Fixe menu for special holiday and we would like to try next time. read more

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Nice meal! Staff was nice and attentive; service and food were great. Will return on next layover at JFK. read more

O Lavrador - Paelha Marinheira! - Portuguese Near Me - Jamaica, New York

Food Very good. They will prepare how you like Service is friendly and informative Ambiance. Ver nice formal dining room I prefer the bar area next door. Attentive bartenders. Good conversations. Nice mature crowd. Excellent drinks. read more

Great food and ambiance. I'll definitely go back. The service was also great. I liked the lobster and shrimp dish. Next time I'll get the pork chops. read more