Lisbon
Pastéis de Belém
R. de Belém, 84- 92
1300-085 Lisbon, Portugal
Belém, Belém - Restelo
Phone number +351 213 637 423
Website: pasteisdebelem.pt
Prices: €€€€
R. de Belém, 84- 92
1300-085 Lisbon, Portugal
Belém, Belém - Restelo
Phone number +351 213 637 423
Website: pasteisdebelem.pt
Prices: €€€€
If you have not had a Pastel de Nata, a sweet, custard filled tart found in Portugal in general and Lisbon in particular, you have not lived. You can find these tasty little treats at most pastelerias (Portuguese bakeries) in Lisbon and elsewhere for about €1 each, a bargain in any event. But this place is the home of these custard filled tarts, having used a recipe created my monks for over 180 years.
They began making Pastels de Belém in 1837, the "Gold" standard for these pastries, following an ancient recipe from the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (Jerónimos Monastery) just down the street. They continue to sell them to this day and you can either eat-in at their restaurant on the west side of Lisbon (Belém) or get in the long line, that moves very quickly, to buy the tarts, sandwiches and other delightful pastries to-go.
We were told that Pastéis de Belém were better and different than anywhere else in Portugal and they were right! They sell so many that they are still warm form the oven when you get them, biting into the flaky pastry and sweet, creamy custard filling that is absolutely delightful. They charge a premium here where with Pastéis de Belém setting you back a lofty €1.10 here, the home of this delectable dessert.
Make sure you get the packets of cinnamon and powdered sugar to sprinkle on top, the Portuguese way, in order to enjoy these delicious morsels to their fullest potential. They will box them up for you, so take a small or large bag full back to your room for a delightful breakfast over the next few days (HINT: Do not refrigerate). If you come to Lisbon and do not try Pastéis de Belém ... YOU ARE A LOSER!
CombatCritic Gives Pastéis de Belém 10 Bombs Out Of 10 And A Spot On My "WALL OF FAME" ... More Bombs Are Better!
Ten Bombs Equates To:
Translation for Civilians:
HOOAH!: "Phonetic spelling of the acronym HUA, which stands for 'Heard Understood Acknowledged.' Originally used by the British in the late 1800's in Afghanistan. More recently adopted by the United States Army to indicate an affirmative or a pleased response." - Urban Dictionary
"The Department of Military Science and Leadership, University of Tennessee claim HOOAH 'refers to or means anything except no' ... Regardless of its meaning ... the term is an expression of high morale, confidence, motivation and spirit." - WarChronicle.com
"The U.S. Air Force stole 'HOOAH' from the Army because we were part of the Army until 1947 and rather than waste a bunch of time coming up with something new and unique like "ROO-YAH" or "HAL-A-LOO-YAH", we said 'screw it, let's go with HOOAH' ... thanks Army ... HOOAH!" - CombatCritic
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Title: Lisbon, Portugal: Pastéis de Belém Is "The Bomb" - A Must Visit When In Lisbon
Key Words: Lisbon, Portugal, Pastéis de Belém, Pastéis, de, Belém, Pastel de Nata, pastel, nata, Belem, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, business, review, Yelp, Zomato
Mascote da Atalaia
R. da Atalaia, 13-15
1200-036 Lisbon, Portugal
Bairro Alto
Phone number +351 211 983 973
Website: mascotedatalaia.com
Prices: €€€€
Pros:
- The music was fantastic!
- The food was good with a decent number of options
- The service was friendly and efficient
- The price (€25/person) for a 3-course meal, including 1/2 liter of wine/sangria/beer and a live Fado show was a good value
Cons:
- The room holding 30+ diners, 3 musicians, and 2 servers running around with food and drinks was the size of our bedroom
- We arrived with a reservation for two five minutes early only to find one tiny seat by the door available - they had to tell a lady to move so we could sit down
- The tables and milking stools they call chairs were tiny, and the tables crammed together like dominos
- They stuck us in front of the door so, beside having a step (down) inches behind my stool (a safety hazard), I got hit in the back with cold air and people as they constantly entered and exited to go outside to smoke
- The toilet door was behind one of the guitar players, so going to the bathroom during a set was impossible
- During our two hour dinner, there were just 13 songs (4 sets of 3 songs and an encore), then we were expected to leave
The cons appear to have it, but we actually had a very good time. Even though the place is more like a "Fado factory" than a "Fado House", our meals were good with an adequate amount of quality food and drink and the entertainment was impressive.
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| Chorizo |
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| Swordfish and Green Beans |
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| Steak and Broccoli |
Their focus seems to be more on cramming as many people as possible into each two-hour block than on providing a comfortable, relaxing atmosphere in which to enjoy this unique and historic Portuguese folk music. If you are expecting to have a leisurely dinner and listen to Fado over drinks over the course of a long evening, as we were led to believe, you are mistaken. Having said that, the quality of the food and entertainment, along with the fair price, made it a good overall value.
 |
| Pudding |
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| Chocolate Salami |
I have mixed feelings about this place, hence my rating. From all that I had read beforehand, a Fado House is an "experience" where you arrive after 9pm, eat and drink what you like (with a minimum of course) for as long as you like, and leave as late as you like (03:00 to 04:00 in some places). If you have just two hours, do not want to stay up too late, and want a condensed version of Fado, this is your place!
CombatCritic Gives Mascote da Atalaia 5 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!
Five Bombs Equates To:
Translation for Civilians: "Continue Mission"
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Title: Lisbon, Portugal: It Is Like Fado And Dinner In My Bedroom Over The Period Of A Short Nap
Key Words: Mascote do Atalaia, mascote, atilaia, Fado, music, bar, entertainment, venue, Lisbon, Lisboa, Portugal, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Yelp, Zomato
Copyright 2019 - 3rd Wave Media Group And CombatCritic ™ - All Rights Reserved
Read Chris S.'s review of Casanova on Yelp
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Title: Lisbon, Portugal: Be Adventurous And Travel To Casanova For A Good Meal
Key Words: Casanova, casa, nova, Italian, pizza, pasta, Lisbon, Portugal, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, business, review, Yelp, Zomato, Google, Facebook
Casanova
Av. Infante Dom Henrique, 7
1900-264 Lisbon, Portugal
Pizza, Italian
Metro: Santa Apolónia
Phone number +351 218 877 532
Prices: €€€€
Good, reasonably priced Italian food with a large terrace overlooking the river, we enjoyed our meal very much. The dining room was large with seating for 60-70 people (more on the deck) at the long tables and there is a huge glass wall overlooking the river. The main and pizza kitchens are also glass enclosed so you can see your food being prepared if you so wish. The service was impeccable in this casual setting with typical Portuguese family-style long tables. We decided to stay inside as it was just a tad chilly out on the deck.
Outside of Italy, it is difficult, if not impossible, to find properly made spaghetti carbonara, but Casanova got it right! We started our meal with the Focaccia (€4), baked pizza dough with olive oil and rosemary, and a liter of both the House Red Wine (€5.50) and House Sparkling Water (€1). I ordered the Carbonara (€9.50), penne in this case instead of spaghetti, coming in a rich, tasty sauce with plenty of bacon and egg yolk. The portion was not huge, but there was plenty to fill me up. My wife got the Pizza Boscaiola (€12), a white pizza with smoked cheese and fresh mushrooms. More crispy than the soft-crusted Neapolitan we are used to, it was the right size and thickness as well as being quite tasty. My wife's only complaint was that she thought there could be both more cheese and mushrooms.
We paid €32 for our meal, a relative bargain compared to other European countries with the exception of Italy of course, making this a nice break from the limited menu options at many traditional Portuguese restaurants and a decent TravelValue.
CombatCritic Gives Casanova 7 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!
Seven Bombs Equates To:
Translation for Civilians: "Shits & Grins"
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Key Words: Casanova, casa, nova, Italian, pizza, pasta, Lisbon, Portugal, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, business, review, Yelp, Zomato, Google, Facebook
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Read Chris S.'s review of Zebras do Combro on Yelp
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Title: Lisbon, Portugal: This Zebra Earned Its Stripes In This Officer's Opinion ... HOOAH!
Key Words: Zebras do Combro, zebras, zebra, do, combro, Lisbon, Portugal, Lisboa, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Yelp, Zomato, TripAdvisor, Google, Facebook
Read Chris S.'s review of Zapata Restaurante on Yelp
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Title: Lisbon, Portugal: Swish-Swish-Swish - Zorro Would Gives Zapata His Seal Of Approval
Key Words: Zapata Restaurante, Zapata, restaurante, Lisbon, Portugal, Portuguese, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Yelp, Zomato, TripAdvisor, Google, Facebook
No place is ever perfect and it is my responsibility as a travel writer to pass on the good, bad, and ugly to readers and future guests. I tend to go into a fair amount of detail in my reviews, trying to remain as objective as possible so that you have a much information as necessary in order to make an informed decision. Having said that, this apartment was a great value and we enjoyed our stay in Lisbon very much.
The apartment itself is rather small, but has nearly everything needed for a week’s stay. The kitchen has a coffee maker and kettle, but make sure you buy some Nespresso coffee pods from Singh before going to bed because none are provided. There is also a toaster, large fridge, microwave/convection oven combo, induction cooktop (stove/hob) and, best of all, a combo washer/dryer that worked quite well. Unfortunately, they do not provide quite enough cookware, utensils or staples (salt, pepper, sugar, spices, etc.) to cook a full meal although a couple of washing machine tablets were left from previous tenants.
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Title: Lisbon, Portugal: Airbnb - Steps Lisbon in the Historic Center is a TravelValue
Key Words: Lisbon, Portugal, Airbnb, steps, historic, center, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, hotel, accommodation, review, Yelp, Zomato, TripAdvisor, Google, Facebook
Zebras do Combro
Calçada do Combro 51
1200-111 Lisbon, Portugal
Bairro Alto - Bica - Cais do Sodré, Santa Catarina
Phone number +351 213 462 110
Prices: €€€€
Calçada do Combro 51
1200-111 Lisbon, Portugal
Bairro Alto - Bica - Cais do Sodré, Santa Catarina
Phone number +351 213 462 110
Prices: €€€€
A tiny, cute little place on a hill, of which there are many in Lisbon, with extremely friendly service, excellent food, and very reasonable prices. We spotted this restaurant on a walk back to our Airbnb from a day of touring, almost passing it up before turning around and going in. Good choice!
A small room and attractive, vintage interior with typical Portuguese family style seating for around 20 patrons, you will get authentic Portuguese dishes at prices that will not put much of a dent in your wallet. With the customary basket of bread (€0.50) and assorted spreads (€1.50) arriving post haste, we then ordered a half liter of the house tinto (red - €5.50) and a liter of sparkling water (€1.50) from our delightful hostess whom had decent English language skills. I also got a bowl of vegetable soup with green beans (€3) that was savory, not quite hot enough, and not very well seasoned although tasty with a little salt and pepper added.
I forgot to photograph the menu and the check as is normally the case, so I will have to estimate the prices and describe our orders rather than butcher the Portuguese language. My wife ordered a type of sliced meatloaf (beef - €9) with apples and honey inside, coming with a pile o' fries, rice and a small side salad. It was quite tasty with very little of the sweetness you would expect. I ordered the shrimp (gambas - €9) in a garlic and olive oil sauce very similar to what Americans know as shrimp scampi. It was a little "fishier" than expected, so I presume they add some fish sauce to the recipe, but it was quite delicious as I mopped up the sauce with some extra crusty bread.
Pretty full, we passed on dessert and instead finished our meal with a glass each of Portuguese cherry liquor and port (€1.50 each), a delightful end to an equally delightful meal that only set us back about €32 ... HOOAH!
CombatCritic Gives Zebras do Combro 9 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!
Nine Bombs Equates To:
Translation for Civilians: "U.S. Marine Response To A Verbal Greeting Or As An Expression Of Enthusiasm"
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Title: Lisbon, Portugal: This Zebra Earned Its Stripes In This Officer's Opinion ... HOOAH!
Key Words: Zebras do Combro, zebras, zebra, do, combro, Lisbon, Portugal, Lisboa, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Yelp, Zomato, TripAdvisor, Google, Facebook
Copyright 2019 - 3rd Wave Media Group And CombatCritic ™ - All Rights Reserved
Zapata Restaurante
R. do Poço dos Negros, 47-9
1200-335 Lisbon, Portugal
Santa Catarina, Bairro Alto - Bica - Cais do Sodré
Phone number: +351 213 908 942
Prices: €€€€
Simple, unrefined, local cuisine, we almost passed this place not knowing that it was a restaurant until we peaked in the small window. They were almost fully booked on a Monday night, a very good sign and we were glad we stayed, but we had to sit in the very loud "smoking room". The very friendly English-speaking server quickly brought out three small crusty loaves of bread and a plate with small containers of garlic butter spread, soft cheese, and tuna and sardine pâtès.
Having felt under the weather for a few days, I was not all that hungry, so I ordered a half-order of the chicken cutlets sauteed in olive oil and mushrooms which came with a pile o' fries and rice (€8) - it was huge and delicious - the five medium size chicken cutlets were browned to perfection and the fresh mushrooms properly sauteed. I would hate to see the full order!
My wife ordered a steak in a coffee sauce with a poached egg on top (€11.90), a Portuguese specialty having seen it on menus around Lisbon. It also came with huge piles of fries and rice. When she cut into the steak, it was practically raw, "rare" at best - a steak Gordon Ramsey would love, but not my wife. She hates anything less than meat cooked medium-well, so she asked the server to have them cook the steak a bit more, which they did without question. Maybe it is customary in Portugal for the customer to indicate the temperature of the beef when ordering. Next time we will specify that her meat be cooked medium-well or well-done when ordering, a simple mistake on all our parts. It was also quite chewy, but being a big flank steak and very reasonably priced, we could not expect filet mignon. Lesson learned.
The service was superb, the decor simple, rustic and clean, and the value of our meal amazing, coming in at just €30.70 ($35) for bread, two massive meals, a beer and a liter of sparkling water ... we shall return, even with the flaws ... HOOAH!
CombatCritic Gives Zapata Restaurante 8 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!
R. do Poço dos Negros, 47-9
1200-335 Lisbon, Portugal
Santa Catarina, Bairro Alto - Bica - Cais do Sodré
Phone number: +351 213 908 942
Prices: €€€€
Simple, unrefined, local cuisine, we almost passed this place not knowing that it was a restaurant until we peaked in the small window. They were almost fully booked on a Monday night, a very good sign and we were glad we stayed, but we had to sit in the very loud "smoking room". The very friendly English-speaking server quickly brought out three small crusty loaves of bread and a plate with small containers of garlic butter spread, soft cheese, and tuna and sardine pâtès.
Eight Bombs Equates To:
Translation for Civilians: "What-The-Fuck ... Over!"
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Title: Lisbon, Portugal: Swish-Swish-Swish - Zorro Would Gives Zapata His Seal Of Approval
Key Words: Zapata Restaurante, Zapata, restaurante, Lisbon, Portugal, Portuguese, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Yelp, Zomato, TripAdvisor, Google, Facebook
Copyright 2019 - 3rd Wave Media Group And CombatCritic ™ - All Rights Reserved
Rua de Marcos Marreiros
Lisbon, Portugal
No place is ever perfect and it is my responsibility as a travel writer to pass on the good, bad, and ugly to readers and future guests. I tend to go into a fair amount of detail in my reviews, trying to remain as objective as possible so that you have a much information as necessary in order to make an informed decision. Having said that, this apartment was a great value and we enjoyed our stay in Lisbon very much.
Centrally located just steps from the #28 tram line that zigzags east to west across central Lisbon, you can connect to metro, bus and train stations that will get you anywhere you want to go, in Lisbon or Portugal for that matter. Make sure you get a Viva card (€0.50) at one of the Metro stations or many shops (markets, news agents, tobacco stands) and top it up with 24 consecutive hours of travel on Lisbon’s trams, buses, metro and trains (€6.40/24 hours) before you get on the tram because a single ticket bought onboard will cost you €3.80. There is a great little restaurant called “Zapata” at the bottom of the street where you can get a massive, traditional Portuguese meal for about €10 per person and a small market just across the road where Singh, the owner and a wonderful person, will sell you bread, milk, coffee, stamps and Viva cards (at a slight markup) among many, many other things, between 8am and 10pm daily. There are numerous restaurants in the area with cuisines from Mexican to crepes to Cape Verde and everything in between.
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| Zapata |
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| Half Portion of Chicken and Mushrooms (€8) |
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| Portuguese Steak (€11.90 - Served with Fries, Rice and Side Salad) |
The bedroom is barely wide enough for the bed, leaving a little more than a foot (30cm) on each side and making getting in and out of bed a challenge. There is a small rack on which to hang some clothes (with plenty of hangers) as well as three small drawers in which to store a few odds and ends. The only window in the apartment is in the entry door, so natural light is at a minimum. The bed was comfortable and the room dark, being much to my liking.
The bathroom is also rather small, but big enough for the toilet, a small vanity/sink, and the shower. The floor in the bathroom was not thoroughly cleaned before check-in, the sole discrepancy in terms of cleanliness as the rest of the apartment was very clean. The water pressure was good and there was plenty of hot water, but the shower did not drain well enough, causing water to overrun the lip and accumulate on the bathroom floor. The shower had to be turned off after 60 seconds or so in order to allow for proper drainage and avoid a flood, something noted in previous reviews.
The TV is fairly new and there were plenty of channels available in many languages. The couch/sofa apparently folds down into an extra bed and I found it comfortable to sit on, but the cushion on which we sat constantly crept forward, causing us to have to push it back into place 2-3 times a day, a minor inconvenience. The dining table and chairs were modern and adequate and there was a coat rack next to the sole door on which we could hang more clothes than would fit in the bedroom. The internet was rather slow and the property managers failed to properly address my concern, telling me "did you restart the modem?" when I asked what the issue might be. I ended up using the hotspot on my phone’s 4G Vodafone UK Big Value Bundle for internet because it was much faster and more reliable than the apartment’s internet.
BnBird arranged for an airport transfer for us upon our arrival (€25) which was quite convenient, but we ended up getting an Uber to the airport upon departure and paid less than half (€12) of what their service charged us. They also offered assistance with a rental car, consisting of a message with a link to RentalCars.com.
All in all, we were very happy with the apartment with the positives far outweighing the very few negatives which I felt compelled to describe here. The slow internet, double the price airport transfer, less than perfect cleaning prior to arrival, and tiny bedroom left me no choice other than a 2 Bomb (1 Star) overall deduction. However, close to the historic center of Lisbon and public transportation, this apartment made for an excellent base for exploration of the beautiful and historic city of Lisbon and I can recommend it highly if in the $50/night or price range or less.
CombatCritic Gives Steps Lisbon @ Historical Center 8 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!
Eight Bombs Equates To:
Translation for Civilians: "What-The-Fuck ... Over!"
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Tabelog - Official Judge - "Silver"
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Title: Lisbon, Portugal: Airbnb - Steps Lisbon in the Historic Center is a TravelValue
Key Words: Lisbon, Portugal, Airbnb, steps, historic, center, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, hotel, accommodation, review, Yelp, Zomato, TripAdvisor, Google, Facebook
Copyright 2019 - 3rd Wave Media Group And CombatCritic ™ - All Rights Reserved
Obidos
Pousada Do Castelo
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Title: Obidos, Portugal: A Meal Fit For A Queen
Key Words: Pousada Do Castelo, Virgo, Óbidos, Portugal, Pousada, castelo, inn, castle, view, historic, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Yelp, Zomato, Facebook
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Title: Albufeira, Portugal: Can You Say Chicken Piri-Piri? This Place Does It Right And Is A CombatCritic "TravelValue"!
Key Words: Albufeira Gourmet, Albufeira, Portugal, chicken, piri-piri, piri, maminha, beef, gourmet, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Yelp, Zomato, Google, Facebook
Obidos
DayTripQuip
Take a bus from just outside Lisbon's Campo Grande bus station for an hour ride (€7.50 each way) to the medieval town of Obidos with its massive walls and historic castle.
Famous for their castle, one of the "7 Wonders of Portugal", Obidos is legendary in that it is said the the Kings of Portugal have given the jewel that is Obidos to their queens on their wedding day for hundreds of years.
A must try is Ginja de Óbidos, a shot of Portuguese cherry liquor served in a tiny, edible chocolate cup (€1) that you shove in your mouth for a chocolate-cherry orgasm ... HOOAH!
Beside a stroll through this ancient town, lunch or a stay at Pousada do Castelo (Inn of the Castle), Portugal's 2017 Inn of the Year, will be well worth the investment ...
Rua Virgo, 305
Óbidos Municipality, Portugal
Phone number +351 210 407 630
Website: pousadas.pt
Prices: €€€€
On a hill in southern Portugal not far from Lisbon sits a medieval town surrounded by an imposing stone wall with an ancient castle at one end. That town is Obidos, the castle is called Castelo de Obidos, and part of that castle has been turned into an inn and restaurant called, appropriately enough, Pousada do Castelo or "Inn of the Castle". The castle is one of the "Seven Wonders of Portugal" and it said that Obidos is so beautiful that the King of Portugal has symbolically given Obidos to his wife on their wedding day as a testament to his love. Pousada do Castelo was named Portugal's "Inn of the Year" in 2017.
Our table sat in a niche in front of an ornate arched stone window overlooking the sprawling valley, lush vineyards, and neighboring small village. Our server, Jorge, could not have been nicer nor more professional. We found out later that he had left his ill mother at a local hospital in order to work his shift. The restaurant is simple yet luxurious with historic works of art and ancient tapestries adorning the walls and plush, comfortable chairs at each table. The inn's monogram adorns each plate.
Jorge immediately brought out the standard Portuguese "couvert" ("cover" - €4/each), which was anything but standard in this case, including fresh breads and butter, local olives, and an EVO dip along with a bit of sea salt. The brown bread was absolutely delicious, crunchy outside with an array of toasted seeds and soft and warm inside. We also ordered a bottle of a robust Portuguese "Alandra" red wine (€16) and a liter of sparkling water (€3.50).
I started with the Creme de Ervilhas (€6), a bowl of rich and creamy pea soup topped with a bit of crispy smoked ham that was perfectly seasoned. For my main course, I ordered the Lombinho de Porco (€23), a perfectly cooked, small pork tenderloin sliced into six thick medallions, sitting atop a creamy, savory chestnut sauce and pork reduction. The tenderloin was accompanied by a disc of asparagus risotto that was crunchy outside but still a little creamy on the inside.
My wife decided on the Risotto de Cogumelos (€16), a simple yet delicious mushroom risotto with steamed broccoli that was perfectly prepared, not too thick and not too runny. The serving size was just right. Preferring sweets to soup, she followed the risotto with the Brisas do Lis (€8.50), a decadent 15th Century dessert made with eggs, sugar and almonds, similar to flan, and accompanied by a scoop of strawberry ice cream.
Our meal was wonderful, made even better by our extraordinary and historic surroundings, an absolutely amazing view, and service that was friendly and attentive without being either overbearing or evasive. It was the best €93 (including tip) I have spent in recent memory, evoking this comment from my wife: "that was the best meal we have had in our three weeks in Portugal".
CombatCritic Gives Pousada Do Castelo 9 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!
Nine Bombs Equates To:
Translation for Civilians: "U.S. Marine Response To A Verbal Greeting Or As An Expression Of Enthusiasm"
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Read Chris S.'s review of Pousada Do Castelo on Yelp
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Title: Obidos, Portugal: A Meal Fit For A Queen
Key Words: Pousada Do Castelo, Virgo, Óbidos, Portugal, Pousada, castelo, inn, castle, view, historic, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Yelp, Zomato, Facebook
Copyright 2019 - 3rd Wave Media Group And CombatCritic ™ - All Rights Reserved
Albufiera
Albufeira Gourmet
Rua da Cotovia, Loja 4
8200-286 Albufeira, Portugal
Churrasqueira - Barbecue
Phone number +351 289 587 391
Prices: €€€€
This place rocks! With a five stars out of five average on Yelp, based on just seven reviews, I was hesitantly optimistic, but I found that my hesitation was completely unfounded after eating only one meal at Albufeira Gourmet.
Can you say Chicken Piri-Piri? Sure you can! Albufeira Gourmet does Chicken Piri-Piri and much, much more. We started with some bread (€1), butter (€0.60) and local cheese (€2) - €3.60 for what the restaurant across the street charges €10 for - then ordering the daily specials, one Chicken Piri-Piri (€6 - 1/2 marinated chicken) and one Maminha (€8 - 250g of thinly sliced marinated beef), both coming with fries, rice or salad - we chose fries. We also ordered a mixed salad (€1.50), a 1/2 "jar" (liter) of red wine, and a passion fruit soda.
The chicken was as awesome as I had heard that Chicken Piri-Piri can be ... savory, spicy, juicy and succulent. I usually do not prefer my chicken on the bone, but it was so tender that the meat almost fell off. The seasoning was superb, not too spicy and with just enough kick that my heat-resistant wife did not complain and I, adding some extra Piri-Piri hot sauce, was pleasantly satiated.
The Maminha was thinly sliced, delightfully marinated, and as tender as a whore's heart (I can say that on Yelp - TripAdvisor does not allow such euphemisms and that is why I am no longer a TripAdvisor "Top Contributor" - kiss my ass TripAdvisor!). We have had more than a few steaks in Portugal, most of which were much more expensive than this, and this was the most flavorful and tender to-date ... HOOAH!
The fries were plentiful, crispy, and piping hot and the salad fresh, although I would have preferred the Tomato Salad, but alas they were out. The owner, Jorge, our server, André, Jorge's wife Sandra, and their daughter Leonora were as nice they could be, all speaking excellent English except for Leonora who was a little shy.
We finished our delightful meal with Sandra's delicious, homemade Creme Caramel (€2.50), a rich, creamy dessert that was as good as it could be. We have had some great meals in our 3 weeks in Portugal, but Euro for Euro, this was the best meal we have had by far, having paid just €27 for dinner for two, including starter, entrees, and drinks.
We returned a couple days later and bought 500g of the Maminha (€12) and a whole Chicken Piri-Piri (€10) along with two orders of fries (€1.50 each), one salad and one tomato salad (€1.50 each), a 1/2 liter of wine (€5), a Lipton Mango Iced Tea (€2), and two Creme Caramels (€2.50 each) for a total of just €40. We ate at one of their three indoor tables (they have more outside, but it was a tad chilly) and took enough home for dinner the next night. Did I tell you that THIS PLACE ROCKS? OOH-RAH!
CombatCritic Gives Albufeira Gourmet My TOP RATING - 10 BOMBS OUT OF 10 - And A Spot On My "WALL OF FAME" ... More Bombs Are Better!
Ten Bombs Equates To:
Translation for Civilians:
HOOAH!: "Phonetic spelling of the acronym HUA, which stands for 'Heard Understood Acknowledged.' Originally used by the British in the late 1800's in Afghanistan. More recently adopted by the United States Army to indicate an affirmative or a pleased response." - Urban Dictionary
"The Department of Military Science and Leadership, University of Tennessee claim HOOAH 'refers to or means anything except no' ... Regardless of its meaning ... the term is an expression of high morale, confidence, motivation and spirit." - WarChronicle.com
"The U.S. Air Force stole 'HOOAH' from the Army because we were part of the Army until 1947 and rather than waste a bunch of time coming up with something new and unique like "ROO-YAH" or "HAL-A-LOO-YAH", we said 'screw it, let's go with HOOAH' ... thanks Army ... HOOAH!" - CombatCritic
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Read Chris S.'s review of Albufeira Gourmet on Yelp
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Title: Albufeira, Portugal: Can You Say Chicken Piri-Piri? This Place Does It Right And Is A CombatCritic "TravelValue"!
Key Words: Albufeira Gourmet, Albufeira, Portugal, chicken, piri-piri, piri, maminha, beef, gourmet, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Yelp, Zomato, Google, Facebook
Copyright 2019 - 3rd Wave Media Group And CombatCritic ™ - All Rights Reserved
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Title: Albufeira, Portugal: Far Exceeded My Low Expectations
Key Words: Albufeira, Portugal, Urban Pizza, urban, pizza, pasta, Italian, Algarve, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Yelp, Zomato, TripAdvisor, Google, Facebook
Read Chris S.'s review of Restaurante La Piazza on Yelp
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Key Words: La Piazza, Italian, Rua Vicente Brito, 8005-491, Santa Barbara de Nexe, Faro, Portugal, 289 999 430, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Yelp, Zomato, TripAdvisor, Google, Facebook
Urban Pizza
Av. 25 de Abril, 26
8200-014 Albufeira, Portugal
Phone number +351 289 501 035
Website: urbanpizza.pt
Prices: €€€€
Av. 25 de Abril, 26
8200-014 Albufeira, Portugal
Phone number +351 289 501 035
Website: urbanpizza.pt
Prices: €€€€
My expectations were not very high after reading the few reviews available on Yelp and seeing "carbonara" on the menu being made with cream, but I was pleasantly surprised after giving them the benefit of the doubt and wandering in on a Tuesday night.
Tiring of Portuguese only options after almost three weeks in country, we wanted something a bit different. There are not a lot of options in Albufeira in the off-season, especially in the "ethnic" (non-Portuguese) cuisine category, but Urban Pizza happened to be open. Oddly enough, the greeter out front tried to sway us away and toward one of their sister restaurants on the sea front a block or so away, but we were hungry and not in the mood to wander.
We ordered a Focaccia, in this case pizza dough formed into a small, thin loaf and basted with olive oil then topped with garlic, thyme and rosemary before being popped in the oven. It was tasty enough and a decent value at €3.50. We also shared a Dandelion Salad (€4.70) with chunks of a mozarella-like cheese, sliced and cherry tomatoes, lettuce and white onion with a pesto dressing that was also quite good.
I decided to try a rather untraditional Margherita Pizza (€5.90), coming with tomato sauce, a local mozzarella cheese (instead of fior di latte or mozzarella di buffala), and oregano (instead of basil), adding some sliced pepperoni (€1 - salami piccanti). The pizza was not even close to Pizza Napolitana, being the "gold standard" for pizza in my experience, but it was also quite tasty and a decent value at less than €7. My wife's "Carbonara Spaghetti" (€7.50) was made with bacon, parmesan, cheese, and cream instead of the traditional pancetta, onion, and egg yolk, but it was also pretty good despite not tasting a lot like the more traditional recipe. A bit of grated parmesan (parmigiano) would have helped a lot, but our male server was preoccupied with a table of pretty young ladies that had just walked through the door.
Urban Pizza exceeded my expectations, which were not very high to begin with, and we ate quite well for just €28 ($32), including a bottle of sparkling water (€2.50) and a glass of red wine (€2.90). I have had much better and far worse Italian than we had here, but it was a good meal at an equally good price, making this a definite TravelValue ... HOOAH!
CombatCritic Gives Urban Pizza 7 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!
Seven Bombs Equates To:
Translation for Civilians: "Shits & Grins"
Read More Reviews By CombatCritic:
Read Chris S.'s review of Urban Pizza on Yelp
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Title: Albufeira, Portugal: Far Exceeded My Low Expectations
Key Words: Albufeira, Portugal, Urban Pizza, urban, pizza, pasta, Italian, Algarve, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Yelp, Zomato, TripAdvisor, Google, Facebook
Copyright 2019 - 3rd Wave Media Group And CombatCritic ™ - All Rights Reserved
We also asked for some red salsa and the server asked 'Habeñero?', to which I replied 'yes'. My butt will not like me tomorrow, but it was awesome.
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Key Words: Lisbon, Lisboa, Portugal, Mexican Mexico, tacos, El Cabron, el, cabron, tequilla, Santos, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, business, review, Yelp, Zomato, TripAdvisor, Google, Facebook
YELP WIDGET
Read Chris S.'s review of Lisbon Colours on Yelp
El Cabron Tacos and Tequilas
Largo Santos 5
1200-808 Lisbon, Portugal
Phone: 966 785 574
Facebook: facebook.com/elcabronlx
Prices: €€€€
Born in SoCal, LA to be precise, and a Texas resident for 20+ years, I know my Mexican food and this place is the real deal.
My wife and I attempted to eat here on our first visit to Lisbon in 2019, but they were closed, so we ate at a Capo Verde restaurant nearby, which was also good. Having brought my youngest son to Lisbon this time, we both had a hankerin' for Mexican food, so I relocated El Cabron and the rest is herstory (am I 'woke' ... NAHHH!).
We started with two 'House' Margaritas (€6 each - 2 liters for €35 was more than we could drink) and an order of Chips and Guacamole (€6 - full menu below).
The guac came with a smattering of chips, could have been more, and a small cup of some pretty decent guacamole, not as good as mine, but better than most.
We also asked for some red salsa and the server asked 'Habeñero?', to which I replied 'yes'. My butt will not like me tomorrow, but it was awesome.The margaritas were not huge, maybe 10 ounces, but they were strong and some of the best I have had, in the States or anywhere else for that matter, for a long time. Maybe we should have gone for the two liters (€35)? No, that would have been too much (alcohol and money) for just two people. A one liter option for €18 to €20 would have been nice, but we were told 'not gonna happen, wouldn't be prudent'.
I ordered the 'Fajitas' tacos (4 for €10), roasted pork, red onion, cilantro and guacamole, and my son had the "Crispy Chicken Burrito" (€9). Neither came with rice or beans, but the burrito came with some more chips and a little pico de gallo and a swirl of sour cream on top.
My four tacos came on "street taco' size corn tortillas with plenty o' pork and at least €6 worth of guacamole combined as well as some diced red onion, cilantro and sliced lime on the side. They were DELICIOUS!
I did not try my son's burrito, but he was very happy, so I took his word for it.
All in all, this was definitely the best, most authentic Mexican food I have had in Europe and was better than most 'average' Mexican restaurants in the US of A. The only drawbacks were 1) the skimpy number of chips that came with the guacamole; 2) the teeny, tiny thimble full of salsa we received; and 3) the lack of a one liter margarita option, bringing the price down to under €5 a glass.
CombatCritic Gives El Cabron 9 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!
Nine Bombs Equates To:
Translation for Civilians: "U.S. Marine Response To A Verbal Greeting Or As An Expression Of Enthusiasm"
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MENU
Title: Lisbon (Lisboa), Portugal: Ay Caramba, Great Mexican Food In Portugal!
Key Words: Lisbon, Lisboa, Portugal, Mexican Mexico, tacos, El Cabron, el, cabron, tequilla, Santos, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, business, review, Yelp, Zomato, TripAdvisor, Google, Facebook
Copyright 2022 - 3rd Wave Media Group And CombatCritic ™ - All Rights Reserved
Lisbon Colours Hotel
Travessa da Queimada, 44
Lisbon Portugal
Call: 914 136 996
Web: LisbonColours.com
Prices: €€€€
Lisbon is a beautiful centuries old city which reminds me very much of one of my favorite cities in the United States, San Francisco. The Bairro Alto district is very central and just a short walk away from the lovely and bustling Chiada district, a good place to stay while exploring 'Lisboa' and all of its wonders.
PROS
- We found the property easily and reception made check-in and parking a no-hassle experience
- The apartment is very central with easy access to numerous restaurants, a small market, parking, and tram/bus/metro stops.
- The 2-bedroom apartment was spacious with two very comfy queen beds, plenty of closet space, and a small balcony in each bedroom
- The sole bathroom was large and clean with two sinks and a large bath/shower combo with good water pressure and plenty of hot water ... HOOAH!
- The living area was spacious with a kitchen (stove/hob, oven, sink, large fridge/freezer, plates/silverware/pots/pans/etc.) and living room with a sofa, dining table, and TV with cable channels
- There was a small balcony in the second floor apartment living area with a view of the street below and a large window, allowing loads of air and light inside
- Each room had air conditioning/heating units with remote controls to easily regulate temperature
- The staff were very nice, professional, and helpful during our entire stay - the manager even waived the pet deposit as our dog was only staying one night before going to the hospital for emergency cancer surgery
CONS
- The closest parking lot was 350 meters away and cost an additional €15 per day, increasing the cost of the stay from €130 to €145 per day, a 12% increase
- The apartment was on the second floor (third floor in the US) and there was no elevator in the building, a definite inconvenience
CombatCritic Gives Lisbon Colours 9 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!
Nine Bombs Equates To:
Translation for Civilians: "U.S. Marine Response To A Verbal Greeting Or As An Expression Of Enthusiasm"
Read More Reviews By CombatCritic:
ZOMATO WIDGET
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Title: Lisbon, Portugal: Nice, Clean, Central Apartment Close To Restaurants And Mass Transit Was A TravelValue
Key Words: Lisbon Colours, hotel, Travessa da Queimada, 44, Lisbon, Lisboa, Colours, hotel, Travessa, da, Queimada, Bairro Alto, Bairro, alto, Chiada, Portugal, 914 136 996, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, accommodation, destination, business, review, Yelp, Zomato, TripAdvisor, Google, Facebook
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Title: Lisbon, Portugal: Nice, Clean, Central Apartment Close To Restaurants And Mass Transit Was A TravelValue
Key Words: Lisbon Colours, hotel, Travessa da Queimada, 44, Lisbon, Lisboa, Colours, hotel, Travessa, da, Queimada, Bairro Alto, Bairro, alto, Chiada, Portugal, 914 136 996, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, accommodation, destination, business, review, Yelp, Zomato, TripAdvisor, Google, Facebook
Copyright 2021-2022 - 3rd Wave Media Group And CombatCritic ™ - All Rights Reserved
Olhão (Faro, Algarve)
d
Santa Barbara de Nexe (Faro)
La Piazza (Italian)
R. Vicente Brito 8005-491
Santa Barbaran de Nexe (Faro) Portugal
Call: 289 999 430
Website: N/A
Prices: €€€€
I visited Santa Barbara de Nexe for the first time when the contractor we hired to remodel our Olhão apartment took me there to select a gas cooktop for our new kitchen. I found the small town quiet and quaint, but, otherwise, never gave it too much thought.
While reading an article in The Portugal News about an upcoming Deep Purple concert and an interview with lead singer and song writer Ian Gillan, he mentioned that his 'favourite restaurant in the world' is La Piazza in Santa Barbara de Nexe, so I had to try it ...
PROS
- The owners are from Italy and it is a 100% authentic, Italian, family operation - mom and dad were in the kitchen with son Fabio and his lady friend serving
- The restaurant is large and comfortable with a big wood-burning stove, so it was nice a toasty on a chilly winter night
- The menu has a nice selection of antipasti (starters), pizze (pizzas) primi (first dishes - pastas), secondi (second dishes - meat/fish), contorni (vegetables/potatoes), and dolci (sweets) at reasonable prices
- The Caprese Salad (€7.95) was very good, Funghi alla Crema (€7.95), and the accompanying bread crusty and fresh
- I had the Vitello alla Milanese (€18.50), coming with a side of spaghetti bolognese - the cutlets were delicious and tender, the spaghetti perfectly al dente, and the bolognese molto buono ... HOOAH!
- My wife ordered an entree size portion of the Tortelloni al Burro e Salvia (butter and sage - €9.95), her favorite, and she was a very happy camper - I concured
- My son went for the Vitello all Pizzaiola (veal cutlets in a tomato sauce - €18.50) - just like my Nona Tomasina used to make ... GRAND MAMA MIA!
- The homemade Tiramisu (€4.95) and Fondente al Cioccolato (€4.95) with a scoop of vanilla ice cream were a perfect conclusion to my 65th birthday dinner ... Grazie a tutti voi!
CONS
- Having tried, as always, to provide a balanced review, I really had to think hard to come up with anything that could use improvement
- The large wood stove was nice in terms of warmth and ambiance, but it did get a tad too warm at times
- A large group of around 15 arrived well after we were seated, but their drinks and starters arrived much sooner than ours - Fabio and his lady friend could have probably used an extra hand or two that night
- It would have been a nice touch had someone on staff, at least, wished me a happy birthday
Turns out that La Piazza is not the only great restaurant in tiny Santa Barbara de Nexe with a former Michelin-star restaurant (now Michelin Guide recommended) as well as a highly rated French restaurant and others located in the area, making Santa Barbara the 'Culinary Capital of the Algarve' ... OOH-RAH!
CombatCritic Gives La Piazza 9 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!
Nine Bombs Equates To:
Translation for Civilians: "U.S. Marine Response To A Verbal Greeting Or As An Expression Of Enthusiasm"
Read More Reviews By CombatCritic:
... And Don't Forget To Subscribe To TravelValue TV on YouTube and our sister channel, CombatCounselor Chronicles, with Over 1,250 Subscribers and 1,000,000 Video Views ... HOOAH!
MENU
HOURS
Title: Santa Barbara de Nexe: GrandMama Mia ... That's Delicious, Authentic Italian!
Key Words: La Piazza, Italian, Rua Vicente Brito, 8005-491, Santa Barbara de Nexe, Faro, Portugal, 289 999 430, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Yelp, Zomato, TripAdvisor, Google, Facebook
Copyright 2022 - 3rd Wave Media Group And CombatCritic ™ - All Rights Reserved
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