We were looking for a place away from the loud restaurants near our hotel and decided to try Taverna Alfacinha based on positive Yelp reviews. We were so glad we went, it was an outstanding meal. The restaurant is not large and mainly has seating for 2. Other reviews complained about waits, but it would be worth it. We ate early and were lucky to arrive when another couple was leaving. Service was quick and very friendly--and like many places here they spoke good English. They do not have a wide drink list, but we had a bottle of the house wine that was really good and complemented food perfectly. For appetizers, we had bread basket, miss cheese, and the caprese. Get the bread basket if you get either. I had not heard of that cheese but it was great, semi-soft with a nice flavor. The caprese salad was nice also, fresh tomato's and mint as opposed to basil. For the main course, I had the seafood paella that was served in a hot pan right from the stove. This was excellent with rich saffron flavor and a nice mix is seafood--the calamari and mussels were particularly good. I loved it. With the said, my wife's sea bass might have been better. The whole fish was served, nice and fresh. It was cooked and flavored absolutely perfectly. The skin was crisp while the fish was moist and just melted in your mouth. Completely wonderful. It came with potatoes and some steamed vegetables, a superb dish. Definitely worth a visit! read more

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Very small and local. Very inexpensive. Service was very nice. Definitely a step up from the many "tourist restaurants" with people urging you in and plastic food pictures a few blocks away. We especially liked the soup, bread, and wine. Nothing fancy but good. read more

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I have to admit, I am really confused why this restaurant has so many great reviews. The meal we had was ok, but it was nothing special. We had a mixed salad which was very basic - bagged lettuce with shaved carrots, apples, raw white onions, tomatoes, and the toughest cucumbers to cut (they're huge with thick skins!) We also got the grilled octopus and the seafood paella. Now to be fair, we just came from a full week in Spain where we had the best paella, and the day before we had the best seafood from Estepona, so those are a tough act to follow. But this is my 4th time ordering octopus on this trip (I know, it's a lot, but I love it) and the is preparation was just ok. Nothing truly special about it. The paella was a let down. All of the seafood was extremely overcooked and rubbery. The rice itself wasn't very flavorful, BUT I used the hot sauce on the rice, and it gave it much more flavor, and it made it unique. Now the ambience was lovely and the young women who were working in the restaurant were very attentive and accommodating. The restaurant is very small, which made it feel more intimate; basically every table is just for 2 people. But when I was looking online, I found 2 other restaurants that had the same exact menu, same font and everything, but presented as completely different restaurants. And when we arrived at the restaurant, a group of 3 men wanted a table, and the hostess told them they should go to one of their other restaurants that had more room. They were playing fado music videos in the background, the singing was a nice touch. read more

This is a very small restaurant; tables are set for 2 or put together for sets of 4. The heater was turned up way too high; they turn it down upon request, yet given folks are coming in with jackets & layers, a little cooler would actually do the trick all around. The food was different - there was a variety of paella dishes or other dishes consisting of whole fish & other seafood also being served. We opted for the chicken paella & a vegetarian one. Bread & an order of olives were the starters. We share a stout beer, which went well with the meal. The paella dishes are large & a shareable item. The dishes come out piping hot to the point that in parts the rice was scorched. It was overall tasty, yet lacking, not sure what it was lacking, just not quite it. You need to try for yourself. There's supposedly a sister restaurant a few blocks away, where the host was sending folks when he knew his tables would be awhile before being able to seat anyone. read more

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Cozy hole in the wall restaurant with a variety of options. I highly recommend a shrimp garlic appetizer with the bolo do Caco bread. Fast and friendly service. I highly recommend them. read more

Taverna Alfacinha - Seafood Near Me - Lisbon, 11

Food is great and fresh. Price is reasonable. No hidden charges or extra service charges like the other restaurants around the corner. Restaurant is small but cozy. Food portion is of good size. Didn't make reservation but wasn't a long wait. Stronger recommend seafood rice if you like rissorto. read more

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We were not super impressed with this place given the good reviews. Maybe we ordered the wrong dishes, but everything seemed quite average. This was our first meal when we arrived in Portugal. We ordered the seafood paella and sea bass, and both dishes were not that flavorful. It wasn't necessarily bad, just mediocre. The seafood was decently fresh, but there was a distinct lack of seasoning or preparation that left us disappointed. Our paella did not look as good as what other reviewers' have posted if you compare our pictures. Luckily, we didn't have to wait very long before getting seated. The service was also pretty good. Our server offered us free shots of ginja at the end of our meal, which was a nice touch. read more

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This was a great restaurant in the heart of Lisbon! I highly recommend making a reservation because we still had to wait for a table even with our reservation, but it guaranteed us a seat. As we waited in line outside, there were so many people stopping to ask the hostess for a table, but the wait would have been about an hour. I did see some lucky groups manage to get a table without a reservation or long wait though, so it can't hurt to stop by and ask even if you don't have a reservation. Another thing to note is that this is not a place for big groups! Parties of 2 are best and it looks like they can manage some parties of 4. We heard from a tour guide that bacalhau or cod was a staple dish in Portugal so we tried one of these dishes. We also got the seafood paella. The cod was a little too fishy for me, but had great flavor and was cooked nicely. The seafood paella was the winner! I would definitely come back here for the paella if I was ever in Lisbon again. read more

Taverna Alfacinha - Bacalhau - Seafood Near Me - Lisbon, 11

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Small restaurant that's very cute inside. Service is really nice and we got a dessert wine on the house. The paella was very good with a lot of seafood or whatever you order. The cod was pretty salty though. At like 4:45 pm there was no wait. I would get the paella or pasta if I came back read more

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Taverna Alfacinha was a masterclass in how to turn a meal into a chore. The food was dreadful -- limp, joyless plates that felt like they'd been assembled out of obligation rather than cooked with any care. The garlic prawns were the low point: I'm not convinced they've ever been introduced to an actual bulb of garlic. Service was equally disorganised: confused pacing, things missing, and a general sense nobody was steering the ship. Worst of all, when problems were raised, management's response was to blame the kitchen staff and dodge any ownership -- which tells you everything about the culture. I can't prove it, but I left with the strong impression the food is cooked elsewhere and reheated here. Either way, it eats that way. A tourist trap. Avoid. read more

We found this restaurant thanks to the great reviews it has. The restaurant is located near Santa Justa Lift and is tiny but cozy. The waitresses were amazing and so attentive to us. We were lucky to arrive just in time as it gets packed! And people have to wait outside to be seated. We ordered bread and olives, seafood soup, seafood rice, and sea bass. The food was super delicious and fresh. The fish was delicious!!!!!!! And seafood rice had a lot of seafood as it should. The soup was good too, the only downside was the lack of seafood. Overall we had an excellent meal! read more

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Could not seat us and sent us to a sub par place they own. It was busy but no one was local.

This is a nice place to enjoy a quiet meal. The seafood was great and my family all loved their food. I highly recommend the Octopus - I never knew octopus can be so tender! The vegetables that came with it was also well seasoned. My mom got the black seafood paella, which she also really enjoyed. I got to taste it and it was indeed full of flavor, perfect for any seafood lover. My dad's pot of seafood rice was good, but I have to admit I did try the seafood rice at Uma a day after, the place next door, and it was better, but the one here was still a decent dish that is satisfying and in comparison the servers were more attentive here. Speaking of servers were really nice and patient with us when we weren't sure what to order. We also got free drinks afterwards! I believe it was limoncello? Not my preferred drink but still very much appreciated! read more

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Taverna Alfacinha, Rua dos Sapateiros 179, Lisbon 1100-577, Portugal, was a surprising find on a cold, wet January day. While unsuccessfully searching for a recommended restaurant, we stumbled upon Taverna Alfacinha, and what a find it was! The chicken paella was delicious, the shrimp garlic appetizers tasted fresh from the sea, and the suggested wine to complement the meal was delightful. Topped off by a complimentary Ginjinha, our dining experience was complete. The restaurant was quaint and cozy. The owner and waitstaff were attentive and checked on us regularly. This was beyond a happy dining accident; it was a true Portuguese dining experience. read more

The water is OFF today in this part of the city but the restaurant is still open. Service was very attentive and polite, food was very good. It was hot outside but inside it was ok/ comfortable. We were looking for a place to sort out our Booking.com disaster in the next block, so this was convenient and very accommodating to weary travelers. No pictures we were too tired. read more

food is fine and price is ok not very impressive since the family member wants to come . The service is fine not a lot of options for drinks . read more

This place has a line but is worth the wait. It's a cash only place. We got grilled octopus, grilled steak, paella, prawns with garlic, mussels with garlic, cheesecake, sangria, ginja, and tiramisu. The steak was surprisingly amazing. It was perfectly cooked and juicy. We ended up getting a second serving. The grilled octopus was delicious. The skin was crispy and it was chewy. The mussels and prawns soaked in the garlic and butter. It was amazing. The desserts were okay. The drinks were amazing. Overall a good experience. A must try read more

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A very small but seemingly lovely place to have seafood rice. Very warming service and delicious food and drinks. read more

Taverna Alfacinha - Seafood rice - Seafood Near Me - Lisbon, 11

We found this place by accident. It was busy when we arrived & waited about 10 minutes for a table. Food: 4/5 - most of us ordered the seafood paella, another had chicken paella grilled seabass. The fresh seabass tasted the best as it was cooked to perfection served with boiled potatoes and vegetables. The shrimp in the seafood paella was slightly overcooked. If you enjoy fish, go for the seabass. Service: 5/5 - it was worth it to wait for a table as the place fits 18 people maximum Ambience: 5/5 cosy place with authentic Portuguese music Value: 4/5 - decent value as entrees were priced under 20 Euros Note: we were told right off the bat that they only accept cash. TIP: a small place that's busy so get there early. They were kind in giving us a sample of the local cherry ginja drink. It was tasty! read more

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A small place for good paella We were in the tourist area in Lisbon and craving paella. We found this place nearby and went there around 7. This place is pretty small, with only a few tables; however, it was mostly empty when we arrived. We ordered 2 paellas. it took a while to cook, around ~20 minutes, but worth the wait. The portion was good and relatively good priced. I recommend if you are visiting the tourist attractions nearby and want to have a decent meal. read more

Taverna Alfacinha - Seafood Near Me - Lisbon, 11

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Tried the seafood Paella and the Mixed Paella. They seem pretty similar as you can see in the photos. Wish the Paella was more "wet/juicy", it was pretty dry. Still good, no regrets. Not pictured is the sardine pate for 1€. It's just a little tiny store bought pate container that smells like cat food. I would avoid the pate. The highlight of the restaurant though is the friendly service. One of the staff is a man from Nepal, super friendly guy. Enjoyed talking to him. If you do decide to eat here, be sure to make reservations. There isn't much seating. read more

Taverna Alfacinha - Paella mix and Paella seafood. Fun to eat with the variety of ingredients - Seafood Near Me - Lisbon, 11

This is the most delicious meal we had in Lisbon Portugal. We ordered the garlic shrimp appetizer, the clam appetizer, the black paella with seafood, paella with seafood, the shrimp with pasta, the liter of red sangria, lemonade, and an agua com gas. Everything was freshly made and so yummy! We were able to feed a family of 4 with 3 entrees and 2 appetizers. read more

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Small quaint restaurant, but it was completely packed! I was nearby, and I wanted to find a place for seafood- this came up as a suggestion. We ordered Garlic Prawns, Garlic Clams, and Grilled Octopus to share between the two of us, and it was plenty. The seafood was fresh and perfectly cooked/seasoned. Good flavors and well priced! The service was friendly. read more

Taverna Alfacinha - Garlic Prawns, Garlic Clams - Seafood Near Me - Lisbon, 11

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Cozy ambience but frequented by tourists so can be a bit noisy. The seafood paella is worth the hype. Got free whisky shots at the end of the night. read more

This place is amazingly authentic. Try their soup of the day and something light like their tomato salad. Their sangria is spot on, not too sweet. Go for their paella...really everything is good. Tip, if this place is crowded..go to Bessa, just a 3 minute walk. Same food, same prices, same management. read more

This little place had a line up but good thing I went just before closing so I only waited 10 minutes. The food was delicious!!! read more

Taverna Alfacinha - Seabus - Seafood Near Me - Lisbon, 11

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Cozy, top notch service and of-course the food is excellent. Plenty of restaurants in this area that seems very touristy but Alfacinha stands out by giving you that small town authentic local ambiance. Definitely a 4.5. Indoor sitting recommended. read more

Had the pleasure of getting a reservation at this place after hunting for really good dinner spots. Really recommend the food here in this small quaint restaurant. Reservations are a must as they were getting some people turned away. We had the seafood paella which was great! read more

Garlic shrimp was amazing. Paella was good but it did lack a little something. The chicken and seafood in it was good quality. read more

Taverna Alfacinha - Mixed paella, chicken and seafood - Seafood Near Me - Lisbon, 11

I was a but skeptical, it was a small little place. However, the food was delicious. My mother had a vegetables paella that was tomato based and delicious. I had a simple chicken, but, it was seasoned so well. Honestly, delicious. My only comment is that you had to pay for olives and bread, but, it's a small irrelevant thing. read more

If you want delicious Paella & Sangria then you must come to this little restaurant! I got the Mixed Paella and my husband got the Seafood Paella and we were both satisfied with the amount and flavor of the food. The paella is portioned for one person (but if you want to share you can). The staff there was very friendly and we got to chat with our wait for a little which really added to the experience. He recommended we try a Nepali restaurant called Yak & Yeti, so of course we go and his recommendation was on point. We also got a free shots of liquer before we get. Highly recommend. read more

Taverna Alfacinha - Seafood Near Me - Lisbon, 11

Great local choice- the food here is inexpensive and delicious! The table sitting behind us dined here multiple times on their trip- it was that good! It is a super small place though since they only have around 6 tables. They have a steady stream of customers but it didn't seem too crazy wait wise. We came around 5:30 and just took a lap around the block as we waited for a party before us to finish and we were seated around 5:50. Would recommend getting the lemonade! It was delicious and I think they make it because they asked us to taste it when it was served. We got the seafood paella and the chicken paella which were the 2 most popular orders according to the staff. Both were very yummy, if you're lazy like me, take note that the seafood paella shrimp comes with the shell on. We also got the octopus which was delicious as well, served with potatoes and vegetables. The octopus was super fresh as they just brought it in day of! Would honestly come again if we don't have anything better to eat later in the trip (if we're not full from all the pasteis de nata) but overall would recommend! read more

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Excellent food and service! One of the best in Lisbon. Away from Main Street. Very small restaurant. read more

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Fantastic hole in the wall restaurant. The seafood soup was amazing and the steak was to die for. The octopus rice was flavorful and we will definitely be back! At the end of your meal, you are given a small surprise. We will not spoil it for you, you will have to see for yourself! read more

Hmm I'd have to say, paella was just okay. They were definitely just mixed with paella powder with frozen seafood. Far from authentic paella you get in Spain. 正直ここのパエリアはお勧めできません。ミックスパウダーで混ぜたライスに冷凍のシーフードを加えただけの感じ。スペインで食べるパエリアとは全然違います。 read more

Taverna Alfacinha - Seafood paella - Seafood Near Me - Lisbon, 11

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Came here for paella, and it was okay. I ordered the chicken one, and it came out very hot and fresh which I enjoyed, but it just didn't taste like actual paella. Tasted more like tomato rice. For the app, we ordered garlic shrimp, which was very yummy. Staff was very friendly, especially the greeter who was checking the cameras for the open tables at the other location to send people who didn't want to wait. The place is tiny, but we only waited like 10 minutes so it wasn't bad at all. read more

AVOID. Service is excessively slow even if the restaurant is half empty. Seafood is overcooked, making it unpleasant to eat. My wife took a few bites of her seafood rice and rejected it. We left frustrated. The only good thing is that they didn't charge us for the food my wife didn't eat, which was the right thing to do and we appreciate. read more

The welcoming greeter was so friendly and knew the table status and wait time. He made amazing recommendations and even placed our order while we waited for our table so our dinner came out quickly. The garlic shrimp, paelha, sangria, and port wine were perfect. Got a yummy after liquor courtesy of the restaurant. It's a wonderful hole in the wall experience with a few tables, so one may have to wait. However, they have 10 restaurants in the area serving the same food, but different names. read more

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Taverna alfacinha brought us just what we needed after a long day of traveling! Waitress Rita welcomed us and recommended their wine and arroz de marisco (seafood rice). Very very tasty! Well balanced seafood broth with shrimps, mussels and squid. Don't forget their paelha negro.We closed off our dinner with pastéis de nata, fresh and hot, gotten treated by dear Rita. We will return soon read more

Nice atmosphere but the paella was pathetic. Dry saffron rice with "paella" seasoning or something, a few small pieces of seafood, and some unpeeled prawns. I thought maybe the other reviewers who said the paella sucked were just grumpy or got a bad night, but nope, they were right. Not a horrible place, but we won't be back. read more