I have mixed feelings about writing this review. I really want to love this place (their star pizza…read moreis a fave) but also, when you leave a place feeling a bit bamboozled by the experience, it makes you question returning.
I do find that the "forced appetizer" concept is a bit over the top here. Often times the tables have bread, olives, jam/spreads sitting at the table on arrival. If you aren't familiar with "the way", most people eat them and are blind sided when they are on your bill. BUT this place doesn't stop there. They often bring three types appetizers to the table, which if you eat them, it is likely to raise your bill by 10/15 dollars (as a guess). I always turn them down. BUT just know. That bread sitting on the table has probably been breathed on by another table that turned it away. They are taken to and from the table often and I am unsure if that app is sanitary to eat at that point. Maybe? But be warned. Don't touch the apps or send them away as the arrive. You will be billed.
Service is often, not the friendliest. We have gotten one lovely gentleman from Brazil once as a server and he was fab! But recently we got this woman that was less than friendly. Calling people "hey lady" when needing to get attention, and not patient. Maybe just say "excuse me" next time as some feedback. To be fair, it might be a direct language translation (Menina) which is acceptable in Portuguese. Even if so, the place had basically zero people the most recent visit except us and I felt patience and kindness could have been extended a little more.
FYI: they won't give you tap water (even though legally they have to when requested) so expect to buy your water, maybe if you are a local Português things are different. I am not Portuguese but I am local and this is the first place that has ever refused me a cup of water. "It tastes bad" was the reason.
As a side note: the first time we came here we arrived at 11:58. They opened at 12:00 and they told us we had to wait outside until 12...in the bitter cold and torrential rainfall. I understand not being "open" but I don't think there would have harm in allowing us the stand in the entry way for less than 2 minutes until the proverbial open gates flung open.
Overall, you likely will enjoy your meal. But just be aware of the funky little quirks about this place.
Oh ya, and paying and splitting bills can get funky with them too so just bring cash if you have more than yourself and you are splitting the bill.... I say this so you don't have to navigate it.
There is a lot of good things about this place and I hope next time, if I visit again, things will feel different. It might have been a bad few days for them. I mean, we haven't seen the sun for weeeeeeeks so maybe we are all just blue.