We were here for International Women's Day to enjoy the evening buffet with live music. Our expectations in a restaurant in a 5 star hotel were a bit high. However, the buffet was a complete disaster. Loveless starters and cold main courses in warming containers. All in all overcooked and tasteless. Only the cakes for dessert were reasonably tasty. The all-inclusive house wine was delicious and saved our evening. We compensated for the terrible food. The service was very nice and helpful, but the necessary etiquette and elegance for a 5 star hotel was missing. In addition to the wine, the musical entertainment from a live band was first class. A wide range of musical genres were performed with a lot of passion.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 3
CarolineLanc
Discovered this place by accident on the main drag in Olhão. Very typical traditional Portuguese restaurant. Speciality seems to be cataplana fish stews. In fact the restaurant bills itself as the ‘king of the cataplana,’ and it certainly lives up to that boast. My friend and I had the monkfish and prawn cataplana and it was AMAZING! Huge amounts of prawns and monkfish with loads of nicely cooked onion and tomato. Absolutely delicious. It was certainly big enough for three, maybe even four people with small appetites. It defeated us, sadly! With a very nice bottle of rose, olives, water, and a salad, the bill came to around €65, a complete bargain! Service was friendly and attentive. Would definitely recommend.
Semele1
We had an early-ish dinner here and sat outside. Ordered the house red wine (tasty) and the monkfish and prawn cataplana, which was delicious. Relaxed atmosphere and very friendly service. I appreciated that the tables were spaced enough that you weren’t right on top of other diners, and they even added another table to ensure there was room for the cataplana. By the time we left, the inside was full of locals who all seemed to be having a great time.
Edefig
Absolutely the best Cataplana! I believe we've visited 4 or 5 times by now with different friends and family. We have all enjoyed ourselves tremendously. Fantastic food, excellent service, nice wine. The atmosphere is typically portuguese with lots of local people. Just like we want it!
John D
We always visit Ria Formosa when in Olhao and we were not disappointed this time . Staff were happy friendly and efficient and the food, especially the swordfish and veal cutlet were excellent . The restaurant was full of locals even mid week which says it all . Food and wine great value for money .
Jonhsmith1224
We ate good fish and some clams of ria formosa very good service! Theresa já a lot of good wine e desserts
Steve A
Oh well. Booked a table at the restaurant and ordered the food, fish and filet steaks. Fish course arrived but then pork and clams in a pan arrived instead of the steak. Pork and clams returned to kitchen as we explained we ordered filet steak and they explained there would be a ~30min wait in the kitchen. After ~35mins no food so I went and asked. Within 5 mins pork steaks arrived instead of filet steaks. Oh well, food returned and half the party went to another restaurant to have their evening meal. However, recommendation of the wine by the waiter was very good and the restaurant was very busy with local clientele but we won’t be returning.
BobboyPickle
The meal I had (bacalhau and chickpeas) was in the top five worst meals I’ve ever had! The cod was ok but it was served with an entire tin of lukewarm, unseasoned chickpeas which had been dumped on the plate, along with the chickpea/fish water combined. The accompanying carrots were badly cooked and looked like they’d been peeled with a rusty scythe. The hard boiled egg (whole, unseasoned and with a grey yolk) also looked like it had been peeled wirh a medieval farm tool. The boiled, unseasoned potatoes were the best part of the meal! There was sadly more than enough; the portion was huge. I didn’t pay for it because it was so bad. Our waitress was lovely though and the wine was good for a bargain €8.50. The other food was very average.
Absolutely delicious seafood and fish. The cataplana with prawns and clams was the best I’ve ever had! Our waitress was lovely, very friendly and helpful, although the service was a little slow as she needed some more help as the terrace was full and she was alone. Definitely pre-book as it was busy! Super well-priced as well!
Thank you very much for your service
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Beautiful food at a beautiful hotel
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We were here for International Women's Day to enjoy the evening buffet with live music. Our expectations in a restaurant in a 5 star hotel were a bit high. However, the buffet was a complete disaster. Loveless starters and cold main courses in warming containers. All in all overcooked and tasteless. Only the cakes for dessert were reasonably tasty. The all-inclusive house wine was delicious and saved our evening. We compensated for the terrible food. The service was very nice and helpful, but the necessary etiquette and elegance for a 5 star hotel was missing. In addition to the wine, the musical entertainment from a live band was first class. A wide range of musical genres were performed with a lot of passion.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 3
Discovered this place by accident on the main drag in Olhão. Very typical traditional Portuguese restaurant. Speciality seems to be cataplana fish stews. In fact the restaurant bills itself as the ‘king of the cataplana,’ and it certainly lives up to that boast. My friend and I had the monkfish and prawn cataplana and it was AMAZING! Huge amounts of prawns and monkfish with loads of nicely cooked onion and tomato. Absolutely delicious. It was certainly big enough for three, maybe even four people with small appetites. It defeated us, sadly! With a very nice bottle of rose, olives, water, and a salad, the bill came to around €65, a complete bargain! Service was friendly and attentive. Would definitely recommend.
We had an early-ish dinner here and sat outside. Ordered the house red wine (tasty) and the monkfish and prawn cataplana, which was delicious. Relaxed atmosphere and very friendly service. I appreciated that the tables were spaced enough that you weren’t right on top of other diners, and they even added another table to ensure there was room for the cataplana. By the time we left, the inside was full of locals who all seemed to be having a great time.
Absolutely the best Cataplana! I believe we've visited 4 or 5 times by now with different friends and family. We have all enjoyed ourselves tremendously. Fantastic food, excellent service, nice wine. The atmosphere is typically portuguese with lots of local people. Just like we want it!
We always visit Ria Formosa when in Olhao and we were not disappointed this time . Staff were happy friendly and efficient and the food, especially the swordfish and veal cutlet were excellent . The restaurant was full of locals even mid week which says it all . Food and wine great value for money .
We ate good fish and some clams of ria formosa very good service! Theresa já a lot of good wine e desserts
Oh well. Booked a table at the restaurant and ordered the food, fish and filet steaks. Fish course arrived but then pork and clams in a pan arrived instead of the steak. Pork and clams returned to kitchen as we explained we ordered filet steak and they explained there would be a ~30min wait in the kitchen. After ~35mins no food so I went and asked. Within 5 mins pork steaks arrived instead of filet steaks. Oh well, food returned and half the party went to another restaurant to have their evening meal. However, recommendation of the wine by the waiter was very good and the restaurant was very busy with local clientele but we won’t be returning.
The meal I had (bacalhau and chickpeas) was in the top five worst meals I’ve ever had! The cod was ok but it was served with an entire tin of lukewarm, unseasoned chickpeas which had been dumped on the plate, along with the chickpea/fish water combined. The accompanying carrots were badly cooked and looked like they’d been peeled with a rusty scythe. The hard boiled egg (whole, unseasoned and with a grey yolk) also looked like it had been peeled wirh a medieval farm tool. The boiled, unseasoned potatoes were the best part of the meal! There was sadly more than enough; the portion was huge. I didn’t pay for it because it was so bad. Our waitress was lovely though and the wine was good for a bargain €8.50. The other food was very average.
Restaurantji Recommends
Absolutely delicious seafood and fish. The cataplana with prawns and clams was the best I’ve ever had! Our waitress was lovely, very friendly and helpful, although the service was a little slow as she needed some more help as the terrace was full and she was alone. Definitely pre-book as it was busy! Super well-priced as well!
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