Food was really good, location was a little hard to find. Kids really liked the pasta and pizza…read more They were really friendly for a restaurant in the heart of the tourist district. Service was really good

Wow! What a great experience! Theres the outdoor seating area out front, indoor seating and outdoor…read moreseating on the terrace. The terrace is like a little secret and much more intimate and quiet than the outdoor seating in the front. The entire place is historic and incredibly decorated. Make sure you go to the bathrooms and admire the huge private dining room on your way there. The food was phenomenal, fresh cheese options, olives, pesto, artichoke spread, hummus spread... breads & croutons/crackers... light appetizer lunch on a warm Saturday was perfect. The service was impeccable, everyone was friendly and helpful. We will be back very soon! Highly recommended!

I met a few people who told me A Despensa was an absolute must while in Porto. I struggled to get a…read morelast minute reservation during my short trip and found the system to be a bit tough, but ultimately I was able to snag one right when the they opened. The wait staff was incredibly professional and knowledgeable. I was told that since I was just one person, they could make me a half size appetizer, which I really appreciated! But unfortunately the few apps I was interested in were not available in half sizes. I ended up going with bread service and the pesto pasta. Both were tasty enough and I left feeling full. I probably didn't order the best, but I didn't find this to be a particularly noteworthy meal food-wise, especially for being on the pricier end. Nice ambiance inside!

Excellent Italian. Tasty little salad with many extras. Then the baked lasagna was first rate - and…read moreI've had such tissues across America and Europe. Finally, homemade Nutella ice cream was a special ending for the meal. Friendly staff and good ambience. Would highly recommend it.

Everything here was great- service, food & ambiance. I was hungry for a simple pizza & they…read moredelivered! The special came with a garlic bread ball. It was amazing!

The Carbonara and Lasagna were delicious! The portions were large, so it's best to save for when…read moreyou are really hungry. Service was fast and friendly.

When on vacation I NEVER go to the same place twice. The point is to explore and try all!!…read more Yesterday I had the spaghetti Bolognese. It was very good. While there I saw a few pizzas come out. They looked very good. Another thing I do on action around the world is try the pizza! So when I saw the pie's yesterday? I made it a point to go there today. They made one of the top 5 pizzas I've ever had in my life around the world. Like destination worthy visit! If you in Porto, not in the overly tourist areas? Pay homage to Mamma Mia! Not to mention an impeccable clean interior decorated with class. Beautiful bossa nova music playing in the background and top quality attentive service.

Spaghetti was decent, but the pizza was underwhelming. Got it to go, so that might be the…read moredifference. Wouldn't go back and wish I had explored other options. Not a favorite while in Porto.

The cutest lunch spot that has good food to back it! The vibe is welcoming & modern. Staff is…read morefriendly and the owner had the WiFi password tattooed on his arm We sat outside and enjoyed people watching. I ordered a fresh lemonade (add your own sugar) and sandwich, the bread, the fresh arugula, cheese, meat it is a sandwich I still day dream about. Look at the presentation! Can't wait to return. So happy to see they survived the pandemic!

Amazing! A small place with a large community table in the middle and another table for six on the…read moreside. There is a smallish kitchen at the back and your food is cooked right in front of you. The food is fresh and oh so delicious! We are the chicken asparagus toastie and had the beef platter. The toasties come in sets of three with plenty of fresh fruit and salad on the side. The toastie was on a white crusty loaf. The chicken crumbled away and the cheese was stringy to perfection. Arugula, raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, almond, walnuts topped with sesame seeds was scattered around the toasties. It was absolutely scrumptious. The beef platter was beautiful. Set on a large board, served with black beans, dijon and a salad. This was probably one of the best meals I had in Portugal. The pricing was minimal at around 9euros a plate. Eat your heart out here!

We stopped here for lunch on our way back from the other side of the river. The location is lovely,…read moreparticularly on a warm sunny day when you can people watch and listen to the various street musicians. The ample outdoor seating also allowed us to bring our dogs. I had arancini, which were tasty and nicely presented. My husband had egg yolk raviolo and he enjoyed it. Prices were reasonable and service was friendly.

We got takeout from here twice as it was super close to our apartment and each pasta dish was good!…read moreWe tried the cacio e Pepe, carbonara, and the bolognese. While we did get takeout, we waited for our food each time with a glass of wine and the space inside is beautiful!

What a perfect experience for my first night in Porto. This is food theater! I had the pleasure of…read moresitting at the bar right next to where the chef prepared each dish. His masterful craftsmanship and artful care with each ingredient was an inspiration to witness. Everyone in the kitchen participated in a delightful choreography that kept the service running seemingly without effort. My server was a doll, and helped me choose the most complimentary wines for the dishes I ordered, as I opted not to go for the tasting menu or pre-determined wine pairings. However, seeing the dishes that came out for those that did order the tasting menu, I was both endlessly jealous as well as relieved that I wasn't faced with eating that much food. (Be sure to come here very hungry.) I settled on the sourdough bread with smoked butter, potato terrine with béchamel, and the wild croaker with kale and noisette. I enjoyed the bread and potato terrine the most (what can I say, I'm Irish). The wines were also delightful. I didn't love the croaker, as it was a bit tough and meatier vs. flaky and buttery, which is the texture I tend to prefer; but it was the first time I'd had that type of fish, and it might just be personal preference. I wish I'd ordered something different but the service and atmosphere made up for my disappointment with the main dish. I was too full to order dessert, but what I saw coming out for other patrons looked divine. I instead enjoyed a Porto suggested by the server, and it was seriously the best dessert wine I've ever had. It's a gorgeous restaurant, with each detail being carefully considered. I felt a bit guilty taking any photos since it was almost like a secret speakeasy -- romantic mood lighting and tables privately tucked away in the back of the building past the kitchen. Compared to prices in the U.S. or UK, this place was very reasonable for the elevated quality. I would come again to do the tasting,

Walking into Elemento leaves no doubt about the method of cooking; the smokey smell permeates the…read moreair. I was dining solo and seated at the counter. As noted by others, the counter area is on the warmer side so dress accordingly! You can order a la carte or have the chef's 8 moments menu with optional Portuguese wine pairing. I opted to forgo wine for the night and appreciated that they offered mocktails! I tried the elderflower mocktail and gin & tonic mocktail. Both were really great mocktail options, although the elderflower was a little overly sweet. I came in specifically for the chef's tasting and it did not disappoint. From the fire toasted bread to the banoffee inspired dessert, everything was phenomenal. It is difficult to pick a favorite but the black pork rump was especially tasty . Also any place that has a pre-dessert dessert is right up my alley! The pre-dessert included a cauliflower ice cream that I was initially skeptical of but one bite had me sold. Service was friendly, timely, and unobtrusive. Highly recommend making this a stop on your trip to Porto!

On our 3rd night in Porto and having ate a francesinha for lunch, we wanted something less filling…read moreand less Portuguese for our last night here. We decided to go with pizza and chose IL Pizzaiolo based on walking distance from our hotel. We came at 630 pm when the restaurant first opened and were the first patron that night. We got the chicken Caesar salad and the Diavolina (spicy salami) pizza. Firstly, on the table is a basket of bread and condiments. I recalled later on past review Yelp that if you eat it, there will be an additional charge to your bill. They don't say anything about that additional charge so be mindful of it. The charge you will see on your bill is Pao Cecete (bread) 2 euro and couvert pizzeria (condiment of butter, Olive oil and olives (2.8 euro) When we finished the sides, the waitress took our small plates and brought our salad and pizza. The pizza is not sliced at all and we had to ask the waitress for 2 plates to share the pizza and salad. I guess for some, the salad is their main meal. Chicken salad Caesar - 14.45 euro - delicious and had bits of bacon along with egg, Parmesan slices and croutons. Chicken breast was large pieces. 5 stars The Diavolina- got our craving for a light dish and something that had a light thin crust , light tomato sauce and tasty soft crust that hit the spot. 5 stars Yes, the price is a bit high but worth eating if you are craving for something like pizza.

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.