We used to come here often and the food was always very good. The restaurant is under new management now and we couldn’t believe how bad it became. The service however, was still very good, very friendly staff! The prices were very high and the portions were half the size, or even smaller. The fish was nice, but all the other courses were not prepared well, so it was a very disappointing lunch. I wish them good luck but we will not come back!
636carmell
NEVER EVER GO TO THIS RESTAURANT ! Unless you want to be Foid Poisoned or Totally ripped off ! I live in Portugal for 30 years ..this is the WORST DREADFULdining experience I have EVER encountered. After entertaining a couple of my dearest oldest friends for 8 days .who are World travellers..I decided we could have Lunch in Faro before they took their flight back home..this was a Terrible decision!! We have eaten in fabulous places in Western Algarve ..Lagos area..all price ranges ..good clean fresh food !They enjoyed everything ..The Benfica restaurant in Faro should have the Health inspectors there..I will report them believe me ! And they should be closed down FOREVER ! It was a disgrace to the Algarvian kitchen .From the start one notices the EXTREMELY HIGH prices..ok ..no problem if the quality is Michelin or equivalent..but what we encountered at this place was absolutely disgraceful. We ordered crab salad with avocado and ruckola..a stinking mess of crab inards in some leaves came to the table ..inedible! As well clams that smelled off..and a Tiger prawn spaghetti with truffle..ALL DISGUSTING ! I was mortified .We sent the crab ..or whatever it was back ..no avocado to be seen .ate some of the clams that had sand inside ..and smelled off..when the horrible spaghetti came ..we gave up ..sent it back ..asked for the bill ..I was almost throwing up and really so upset that This monstrous meal could even be ON A TABLE ..Absolutely HORRIFIC ! Nobody came with the bill ..I went inside paid the bread water 2 beers and clams.40 euros....and we left ..terrible end to a lovely holiday with my very dear friends..the last impression they have of Portugal ! Disgusting !! I hope NOBODY GOES TO THIS PLACE EVER ..one risks their health to eat such rotten horrible food ..I feel lucky to not be in the hospital ! Just to mention that I lived in India over 4 decades..and my friends have lived all over Asia as well ..We NEVER EVER encountered a restaurant that would DARE to serve such a disgusting quality of food !DO NOT EVER EAT THERE !!. Shame on you owners of Benfica restaurant in Faro ..even attaching the BENFICA NAME TO THIS PLACE IS NOT AT ALL OK!
Susan F
We have known this restaurant for a number of years and it has always been a favourite with good food and excellent service. However it has recently been taken over and it has really gone downhill. It is not a cheap place so the food and service need to show that it is really worth to go there. The food unfortunately is now not overwhelming but very expensive with everything being charged for as extras. The service is very mixed and lacks leadership to bring everything together. Perhaps a Head Waiter or Manager would at least get the kitchen and waiting staff to work together. We constantly had to ask for things that had been 'forgotten' even the water. The vegetables arrived when the main course had been finished. It is such a shame as the location is great, being on the marina. Also, someone needs to constantly check the toilet facilities to make sure they remain clean and smell good; there certainly is a lack of attention to detail. So sad!
Paula Tomé
New Management since 01.08.2023. All wrong.Dinner scheduled for 20:00. We start dinner at 10 pm! Everything went wrong. No one came to take the order until 8:40 pm. Neither cover charge nor drinks we had. In this apparition we asked for water, wine, entrance. The dishes we chose were ordered later. Finally, the starters and the cover charge arrived at the same time, it was already 9:10 pm. Wine, nor see it. One more wait.Now the food that arrived at 10pm!Prohibited:* Galician octopus... with sweet potatoes?! Where does this dish take sweet potatoes??Dishes:* Seafood rice with lobster for 2 (75€) - a small pan with so much broth that you couldn't even see the rice, we thought we had been sent a lobster soup. Since the size and content were tiny, and the half lobster (for 2) was so badly cooked that you couldn't get the pulp out of the shell... And the broth was too acidic, not to say almost sour...* Seafood Cataplana for 2 too (75€), half full, lots of peppers and onions, about 4 or 5 mussels, 3 small red prawns, some white clams and... the goodness of Sweet Potato, also in Cataplana de shellfish. Where? Since when?!?Well, there we went eating the little they gave us, but always accompanied by Luso's water because the wine never arrived.We made a complaint to the employee in charge, who noticed that the shellfish rice pot they sent us to the table was for 1 portion. But even then it would be 1 serving of lobster soup. The said employee contacted the new owner, who was not in the restaurant, and he said not to charge us for the seafood rice.Okay, it was the bare minimum.We left there and went to eat crepes and ice cream, because we had eaten, almost nothing.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
Vera Jacinto
The worst dining experience ever! Hyper slow and disorganized service. Food in insufficient portions and of mediocre quality. Excessively expensive with a bad quality/price ratio. An extremely negative example for the region!!!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Quest61240088650
Amazingly kind waiters. We loved it so much. The seafood is incredibly amazing here. We enjoyed the shellfish risotto and WOW! We loved it. The place to be for seafood. Be sure to come early or reserve a spot.
YorkshireRose1958
Portions are large but the food was excellent and the one waiter was working hard to cover all the tables. A very relaxing meal.
grahammV7858MK
Great meal, had the monk fish for 2, so much and so filling. Lovely meal. Wish I'd not had the starter, as I'm stuffed.
Marciasardeira
Delicious and well served seafood or mariscada in Portuguese… great food, environment and friendly service.. best camarão tigre absolutely delicious ?
sheevahskuld
Where to start? The service was appaling, we entered the restaurant and were told it isn't a good time because they were serving the deserts to the other costumers. We were ignored for 30min, until they decided to come and clean the table. Another 10min until they took our order. In 45min we had our grilled fish that was good, at least that. The baked potatoes and broccoli were drenched in water, tasteless. The salad came already seasoned which is not normal....maybe some leftovers....i dunno. We were finishing the meal and the waiter took my glass away without warning, had to request a new one. Tried to clean the tables with that very smelly product as we were finishing our meal. Summarizing: never again. Expensive with mediocre food...
Decanter -
Wine Bar, Pubs, Portuguese, Mediterranean, Tapas Bar
Sidji
Located on Faro harbor overlooking the boats, benfixa is popular with locals and visitors for its large portions of fresh fish. However, bear in mind you can get grilled fish anywhere in Algarve! What makes benfixa special is the amazing prepared dishes such as their famous cataplana and seafood rice dishes. Both expertly prepared and loaded with fresh fish and other seafood - don’t miss it ! Portions are huge and great for sharing. Try it out ?
oupahein
Excellent local dish Cataplana pork, clams & shrimps with Quinta Carmo wine, friendly super service, beautiful setting
benjaminmN4921QB
Waiting 30 min to be served, they didn't clean the table because for COVID-19, speaking really rude to us! I don't recommend
Vanessa Barriga
(Translated by Google) Do you want to drink an excellent cocktail? So perfect place to do it.(Original)Quer beber um exelente cocktail? Logo sítio perfeito para o fazer.
We used to come here often and the food was always very good. The restaurant is under new management now and we couldn’t believe how bad it became. The service however, was still very good, very friendly staff! The prices were very high and the portions were half the size, or even smaller. The fish was nice, but all the other courses were not prepared well, so it was a very disappointing lunch. I wish them good luck but we will not come back!
NEVER EVER GO TO THIS RESTAURANT ! Unless you want to be Foid Poisoned or Totally ripped off ! I live in Portugal for 30 years ..this is the WORST DREADFULdining experience I have EVER encountered. After entertaining a couple of my dearest oldest friends for 8 days .who are World travellers..I decided we could have Lunch in Faro before they took their flight back home..this was a Terrible decision!! We have eaten in fabulous places in Western Algarve ..Lagos area..all price ranges ..good clean fresh food !They enjoyed everything ..The Benfica restaurant in Faro should have the Health inspectors there..I will report them believe me ! And they should be closed down FOREVER ! It was a disgrace to the Algarvian kitchen .From the start one notices the EXTREMELY HIGH prices..ok ..no problem if the quality is Michelin or equivalent..but what we encountered at this place was absolutely disgraceful. We ordered crab salad with avocado and ruckola..a stinking mess of crab inards in some leaves came to the table ..inedible! As well clams that smelled off..and a Tiger prawn spaghetti with truffle..ALL DISGUSTING ! I was mortified .We sent the crab ..or whatever it was back ..no avocado to be seen .ate some of the clams that had sand inside ..and smelled off..when the horrible spaghetti came ..we gave up ..sent it back ..asked for the bill ..I was almost throwing up and really so upset that This monstrous meal could even be ON A TABLE ..Absolutely HORRIFIC ! Nobody came with the bill ..I went inside paid the bread water 2 beers and clams.40 euros....and we left ..terrible end to a lovely holiday with my very dear friends..the last impression they have of Portugal ! Disgusting !! I hope NOBODY GOES TO THIS PLACE EVER ..one risks their health to eat such rotten horrible food ..I feel lucky to not be in the hospital ! Just to mention that I lived in India over 4 decades..and my friends have lived all over Asia as well ..We NEVER EVER encountered a restaurant that would DARE to serve such a disgusting quality of food !DO NOT EVER EAT THERE !!. Shame on you owners of Benfica restaurant in Faro ..even attaching the BENFICA NAME TO THIS PLACE IS NOT AT ALL OK!
We have known this restaurant for a number of years and it has always been a favourite with good food and excellent service. However it has recently been taken over and it has really gone downhill. It is not a cheap place so the food and service need to show that it is really worth to go there. The food unfortunately is now not overwhelming but very expensive with everything being charged for as extras. The service is very mixed and lacks leadership to bring everything together. Perhaps a Head Waiter or Manager would at least get the kitchen and waiting staff to work together. We constantly had to ask for things that had been 'forgotten' even the water. The vegetables arrived when the main course had been finished. It is such a shame as the location is great, being on the marina. Also, someone needs to constantly check the toilet facilities to make sure they remain clean and smell good; there certainly is a lack of attention to detail. So sad!
New Management since 01.08.2023. All wrong.Dinner scheduled for 20:00. We start dinner at 10 pm! Everything went wrong. No one came to take the order until 8:40 pm. Neither cover charge nor drinks we had. In this apparition we asked for water, wine, entrance. The dishes we chose were ordered later. Finally, the starters and the cover charge arrived at the same time, it was already 9:10 pm. Wine, nor see it. One more wait.Now the food that arrived at 10pm!Prohibited:* Galician octopus... with sweet potatoes?! Where does this dish take sweet potatoes??Dishes:* Seafood rice with lobster for 2 (75€) - a small pan with so much broth that you couldn't even see the rice, we thought we had been sent a lobster soup. Since the size and content were tiny, and the half lobster (for 2) was so badly cooked that you couldn't get the pulp out of the shell... And the broth was too acidic, not to say almost sour...* Seafood Cataplana for 2 too (75€), half full, lots of peppers and onions, about 4 or 5 mussels, 3 small red prawns, some white clams and... the goodness of Sweet Potato, also in Cataplana de shellfish. Where? Since when?!?Well, there we went eating the little they gave us, but always accompanied by Luso's water because the wine never arrived.We made a complaint to the employee in charge, who noticed that the shellfish rice pot they sent us to the table was for 1 portion. But even then it would be 1 serving of lobster soup. The said employee contacted the new owner, who was not in the restaurant, and he said not to charge us for the seafood rice.Okay, it was the bare minimum.We left there and went to eat crepes and ice cream, because we had eaten, almost nothing.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
The worst dining experience ever! Hyper slow and disorganized service. Food in insufficient portions and of mediocre quality. Excessively expensive with a bad quality/price ratio. An extremely negative example for the region!!!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Amazingly kind waiters. We loved it so much. The seafood is incredibly amazing here. We enjoyed the shellfish risotto and WOW! We loved it. The place to be for seafood. Be sure to come early or reserve a spot.
Portions are large but the food was excellent and the one waiter was working hard to cover all the tables. A very relaxing meal.
Great meal, had the monk fish for 2, so much and so filling. Lovely meal. Wish I'd not had the starter, as I'm stuffed.
Delicious and well served seafood or mariscada in Portuguese… great food, environment and friendly service.. best camarão tigre absolutely delicious ?
Where to start? The service was appaling, we entered the restaurant and were told it isn't a good time because they were serving the deserts to the other costumers. We were ignored for 30min, until they decided to come and clean the table. Another 10min until they took our order. In 45min we had our grilled fish that was good, at least that. The baked potatoes and broccoli were drenched in water, tasteless. The salad came already seasoned which is not normal....maybe some leftovers....i dunno. We were finishing the meal and the waiter took my glass away without warning, had to request a new one. Tried to clean the tables with that very smelly product as we were finishing our meal. Summarizing: never again. Expensive with mediocre food...
Restaurantji Recommends
Located on Faro harbor overlooking the boats, benfixa is popular with locals and visitors for its large portions of fresh fish. However, bear in mind you can get grilled fish anywhere in Algarve! What makes benfixa special is the amazing prepared dishes such as their famous cataplana and seafood rice dishes. Both expertly prepared and loaded with fresh fish and other seafood - don’t miss it ! Portions are huge and great for sharing. Try it out ?
Excellent local dish Cataplana pork, clams & shrimps with Quinta Carmo wine, friendly super service, beautiful setting
Waiting 30 min to be served, they didn't clean the table because for COVID-19, speaking really rude to us! I don't recommend
(Translated by Google) Do you want to drink an excellent cocktail? So perfect place to do it.(Original)Quer beber um exelente cocktail? Logo sítio perfeito para o fazer.
Just loved it
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