Olhão, Faro, Portugal: Olhão's Very First French Restaurant ... HOOAH!

Chez Henriette French Cafe

Urbani Zacao Village Marina Lt 23 A Lj A

Olhao 8700-240 Portugal

Phone: +33 633 482 289

Facebook.com/ChezHenriette

Prices: €€€€

Finally, a French restaurant in Olhão ... HOOAH!

I had no idea there were several new restaurants at the west end of restaurant row along the Ria Formosa and adjacent to the marina, so when I heard about Chez Henriette, I contacted the owner, Fanny (get your minds out of the gutter Brits), post haste.

They do not have a website, something I do not understand in this day and age, and, like many Portuguese restaurants, use a Facebook page instead. What about those customers who do not want a Facebook page? It was not easy to find their page, but I eventually located it by asking Fanny. The also really need to get a Portuguese phone number so customers do not have to make an international call or download WhatsApp in order to call them.

The menu consists of just three Specials daily, no starters, no soups and just one dessert by the time we got there, but their drinks menu is abundant with option, although there were only three choices of vinho tinto (red wine). THe prices for drinks and food are very fair, just €2.75 for the most expensive glass of red. It was not bad.

I ordered the special, chicken, gravy and vegetables in a potato puree casserole (€10). There were more potatoes than chicken, but it was very tasty and a decent value for the price, coming with a small, simple, fresh side salad.

My wife had the leeks with ham and vegetables special covered with a bechamel sauce, then baked in the oven, also just €10, but it did not come with a salad for some reason. She likes cooked carrots, I do not, and there were many of them topped with leeks and rolled ham, so I had made the right choice. It was very good, sans carrots in my taste, and my wife enjoyed it as well.

I understand that it is favorable and cost effective to do a few things well instead of having an enormous menu, but it would be nice if they would expand the menu just a bit. A couple of starters would be nice, especially escargot, my favorite, along with some crusty bread and french onion soup perhaps. A small selection of desserts and a few more wine options would also be ideal.

For the price, we had a very good meal, leaving satiated, not gorged and enjoyed the colorful, eclectic surroundings as well as Fanny's excellent service and sweet demeanor. We shall return!

CombatCritic Gives Chez Henriette 7 Bombs Out Of 10 With A Little Room For Improvement ... More Bombs Are Better!

Seven Bombs Equates To

Translation for Civilians: "Shits & Grins"

Read More Reviews By CombatCritic:

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Read Chris S.'s review of Chez Henriette on Yelp

Zomato - #1 Ranked "VERIFIED" CONNOISSEUR (13) - Over  4 Million Review And Photo Views ... And Counting - #1 Reviewer in Portland, Oregon!

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Title: Olhão, Faro, Portugal: Olhão's Very First French Restaurant ... HOOAH!

Key Words: Olhão, Faro, Portugal, French, Chez Henriette, chez, henriette, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, business, review, Yelp, Zomato, TripAdvisor, Google, Facebook

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HOURS

Portland, OR: Great French Cuisine, Outstanding Value ... Chez Machin Is Magnifique (Round 2)

Chez Machin

3553 SE Hawthorne Blvd
Portland, OR 97214
Southeast Portland - Hawthorne, Sunnyside
Phone: (503) 736-9381
Website: chezmachin.com
Prices: $$$$

Chez Machin is a small place in the Hawthorne neighborhood of Portland I found with two friends last July (read my initial review), so when I brought my wife to Portland with me this time, we had to return.

Happy Hour runs from 3 to 6pm with a $3 cup of French Onion Soup, $6 Escargots, $5 crepes, and wine for $5/glass or $5 off bottles. We ordered an escargot, a cup of soup, a ham and cheese crepe, and the Baguette with Cheese and Fruit ($3).

The escargots were again tender and full of buttery, garlicky goodness and the onion soup was much better this time than last with plenty of melted cheese atop a big crouton. The baguette and cheese came with half of a sliced apple and a few red grapes, simple, but a nice tapas for the price. The crepe was also well done, appearing to be made from whole wheat, light on the ham and cheese, and topped with swirls of crème fraîche.

We also ordered a the entree "special", pork loin stuffed with chorizo and wrapped in bacon atop a homemade basil pesto ($17.95) with buttered potatoes and green beans. The two large slices of loin were decadent, sumptuous, and superbly done with just the right mix of three varieties of pork ... loin, chorizo, and bacon. The pesto sauce finished the dish precisely and the potatoes, butternut squash and green beans were cooked to perfection - magnifique! 

Our server, Heather, was efficient, friendly, charming and professional. My wife and I ate and drank extremely well for $46, plus tip, a virtual bargain considering how well we ate. Once again, we were not disappointed, but elated by the quality and value of this quaint little French bistro on Hawthorne.

Once Again, CombatCritic Gives Chez Machin 9 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Nine Bombs Equates To:

Chez Machin

Read Reviews By CombatCritic:

Yelp - Elite '14/'15/'16

Tabelog - Official Judge (Bronze)

Zomato - #1 Ranked Foodie





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Read Chris S.'s review of Chez Machin on Yelp

Chez Machin

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Title: Portland, OR: Portland, OR: Great French Cuisine, Outstanding Value ... Chez Machin Is Magnifique (Round 2)

Key Words:  Portland, OR, Oregon, French, Chez Machin, chez, machin, escargot, Hawthorne, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Yelp, Zomato, Tabelog

Translation for Civilians: OOH-RAH! = "U.S. Marine Response To A Verbal Greeting Or As An Expression Of Enthusiasm"

Portland, OR: I Adore Bargains And French Food, So I Loved Chez Machin!

Chez Machin

3553 SE Hawthorne Blvd
Portland, OR 97214
Southeast Portland - Hawthorne, Sunnyside
Phone: (503) 736-9381
Website: chezmachin.com
Prices: $$$$

Chex Machin is a small place in the Hawthorne neighborhood of Portland, my two friends and I were the only diners at 5pm on a Sunday so we got all of the attention we required even if it was unenthusiastic.

Happy Hour runs from 3 to 6pm with a $3 cup of French Onion Soup, $6 Escargots and $5 Off bottles of wine. We got two orders of escargot, a cup of soup and a bottle each of a red Bordeaux and a white Riesling ($23 each after discount). We also ordered a Brie en Croûte ($9.95) off of the main menu as well as a Salade Lyonnaise ($9.95). The escargots were tender and full of buttery, garlicky goodness, but the server seemed to be hoarding the bread, bringing out tiny soup cups with 4-5 thin, small slices of baguette at a time. The brie, in puff pastry, was served with a berry compote and was tasty, but a bit underwhelming for the $10 price tag. The onion soup was good, but not the best I have had with more bread than cheese and the Lyonnaise salad scrummy with a poached egg on top of lettuce, crispy slab bacon, and croutons. 

We decided to order three different entrees in order to taste a bit of each. I had the Boeuf Bourguignon ($15.95) and my friends ordered the Steak Marchand de Vin ($24.95) and Chicken Cordon Bleu ($15.95). The chicken and steak came with green beans, but mine came solo although I did get a Salad Maison ($3) off the Happy Hour menu that was very good. The 10 ounce flatiron steak was tender, cooked a perfect medium, and served with a delicate burgundy cream sauce as well as au gratin potatoes and sautéed green beans. The cordon bleu was also very nicely done and the dijon cream sauce was the perfect accompaniment.

The waiter was efficient enough given that fact that we were his only table, but a bit stuffy for such a relaxed, casual bistro. The three of us ate and drank very well for the $141, plus tip, I paid for dinner. Oops, I forgot to tip the waiter ... just kidding! He was rewarded handsomely even if he was lacking a personality, giving him the benefit of the doubt considering that he was young and probably had a long Saturday night.

CombatCritic Gives Chez Machin 9 Bombs Out Of 10 ... They Would Have Received My Top Score Had The Waiter Been Slightly Friendly ... More Bombs Are Better!

Nine Bombs Equates To:

Chez Machin

Read Reviews By CombatCritic:

Yelp - Elite '14/'15/'16

Tabelog - Official Judge (Bronze)

Zomato - #1 Ranked Foodie





... And Don't Forget To Subscribe To TravelValue TV on YouTube

Title: Portland, OR: I Adore Bargains And French Food, So I Loved Chez Machin!

Key Words:  Portland, OR, Oregon, French, Chez Machin, chez, machin, escargot, Hawthorne, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Yelp, Zomato, Tabelog

Translation for Civilians: OOH-RAH! = "U.S. Marine Response To A Verbal Greeting Or As An Expression Of Enthusiasm"