Portuguese Restaurants near Santa Cruz, PT

“"Taberna do petisco" is a culinary gem that merits the attention of every discerning gourmet. From the very first bite, it is evident that the dishes are crafted with meticulous care and passion. The house specialties are nothing short of extraordinary—each offering is a harmonious blend of flavors, transforming every meal into a memorable experience.

The service at "Taberna do petisco" is exemplary. The staff is not only courteous but also remarkably attentive, remembering their patrons and adding a personal touch that enhances the dining experience. Notably, despite the absence of a tip on the first day, we were met with the same warmth and attentiveness on our return, a testament to their unwavering commitment to hospitality.

While the staff's proficiency in English may be limited, communication and ordering pose no difficulty. It is clear that at "Taberna do petisco," the universal language of exquisite cuisine is spoken fluently, with taste as the primary medium of expression.

A particularly commendable aspect of this establishment is the exceptional price-to-quality ratio. The prices are moderate, yet the quality of the food far surpasses what one might expect, offering superb value for money. The dishes are sure to impress even the most exacting of palates.

In conclusion, "Taberna do petisco" is a place I unreservedly recommend. Its unforgettable flavors, impeccable service, and inviting atmosphere make it a destination to which I will undoubtedly return.“

“Prepare yourself for the unfortunately usual poor acoustics of the place. But the friendliness of the staff, the food and the wine offer overcome this inconvenience. We start with an alheira, samosa and a suckling pig patty, we move on to the regional chopped, the only drawback of which is the already chronic lack of flavor and texture of the potatoes that currently proliferate in the supply circuits. Despite being homemade, it was soft and without much flavor. The wine choice fell on a Medusa Red from 2022, which deserves a score of 9 out of 10.

Vegetarian options: Anything“

“We have visited this restaurant on several occasions (we liked to come at the beginning of the year and in August when we spent a few days in Porto Covo, a place we loved), I highly recommend it, for the quality, service, friendliness and price.
Caldeira de Eguias is our favorite dish, very filling and very well prepared.
See you soon, we'll be back!“

“Super nice service! Very quaint bar/pub/restaurant. We were just sitting here with locals who were enjoying their beer after work. We had the sandwich with everything on it and it was really delicious!
It's charming and delicious, so it's worth it :)“

“Cold and raining day to chill out in Tasca , is new for me Quiaios Praia or Tasca but was first love connection . Good food , drinks and the people are amazing . very friendly . I m loving Portugal with this welcome Tasca Card and amazing people from the Quiaios Beach.“

“We were looking for traditional food and we found it here with super straightforward and honest owner that added to the experience. We ordered scabbard fish with bananas and it was super good. Never had it this way before and I was nicely surprised with this combo. But the craziest thing was cheesecake for dessert that had no sugar and its sweetness was coming from super good cheese that owner makes by himself. I was checking other reviews from curiosity and saw some reviews stating that owner is “not nice”, for me personally his super straightforward attitude was a blessing because I hate fake people :) For me and my friends it was amazing experience and we fully recommend this place!“

“(Translated by Google) An exceptional restaurant, friendly staff and very good food.Great for tourists who come to visit Madeira Island(Original)Um restaurante excecional, funcionários simpáticos e comida muito boa.Ótimo para turistas que vem visitar a Ilha da Madeira“

“Large terrace with a fantastic view over the airport, for those who love aviation. It's a fantastic bar for lunch or dinner, or simply drinking a coffee and watching the planes arrive and depart from the airport. I recommend it without a doubt, even for those who don't like planes. It is also a good place to watch sporting events. Unfortunately it has some less positive points, sometimes it is difficult to find parking as it is a very popular place.“

“A restaurant on the first floor of the hotel we stayed at.
All menu items are reasonably priced and very delicious.
Open as a cafe in the morning. You can easily eat breakfast.
Even when I was having dinner for myself, she asked me how much I wanted and made it easier for me to eat.
Everything was delicious, but the shrimp ajillo was especially delicious. The sauteed white fish with bananas is also delicious. The garnishes are also very good with a variety of vegetables.
Since each dish has a different cooking method and seasoning, I think it's easy for Japanese people to enjoy local cuisine.“

“Without exaggeration, one of the best meals we’ve ever had, and our favorite meal in Madeira. We got the beef brisket and pork shank, which were excellent! The meats are all marinated and smoked on-site and the flavors are truly delicious. To drink we just had the fresh squeezed lemonade which was wonderful. For dessert we had the passion fruit crème brûlée which was incredible. Wonderful and super friendly service! If you have the chance, definitely make it a point to try this place!“

“Everything from the start to the last minute was a beautiful experience! We have been served by Valter which professionally explained all the details about food, drinks etc and gave us a hint of what we can expect. Now every single food served on the table was truly outstanding! Incredible fresh, superb flavour and just right combination of spices which hit the top note! If you haven't been there yet, please go, you won't be disappointed! This is hidden gem as i call it ?Truly recommend! Thank you Valter for your outstanding service!“

“In a side street, inconspicuously located, the small restaurant offers an excellent regional and national cuisine of very good quality.At first glance, this jewel is easy to overlook at reasonable prices.We let ourselves be pampered several times.Highly recommended. [Original] In einer Seitengasse, unscheinbar gelegen bietet das kleine Restaurant eine vorzügliche regionale und überregionale Küche von sehr guter Qualität. Auf den ersten Blick ist dieses Juwehl zu vernünftigen Preisen leicht zu übersehen. Wir haben uns gleich mehrfach verwöhnen lassen. Sehr empfehlenswert.“

“Nice location for something to eat at good prices. The food tasted perfect, excellent meat with tasty herbs and fried on the grill.

Nothing to complain about Sabones da nassa ILHA.

Kid-friendliness: Great place to come with children.“

“Wonderful restaurant with local food. The restaurant is ran by a family. We met owners who started this small business in 1994, 30 years ago. Food was awesome and smile on the owners' face was authentic when we entered the place. Outstandind service done by true people of Madeira. Thanks a lot!“

“Standards exceed by far everything we have encountered so far. Personnel very friendly and cheerful, there are some Juwels to be found among the wines, trust in the sommelier who will be happy to bring them to you. We highly recommend this restaurant as a high end, lovingly decorated highlight of your culinary voyage to Madeira Island.

Vegetarian options: Vegan and vegetarian dishes available“

“Really great, very authentic Portuguese food option. There are lots of drinks and delicious food on offer, you won't find a menu in English, but the price-performance ratio is great and the food tastes really good. Great atmosphere, still feels very local and not like a tourist spot.
Went there three times on vacation because we liked it so much. Gladly again!“

“The best overall restaurant we have ever dinned. The food was great, had the beef on stone and on this occasion the best vino Verde. The service and the singing was more than we have ever expected. This place is the one "must not miss" when on this beautiful island.“

“Small little restaurant tucked away behind the garden. We had Scabbard fish in wine and octopus.
Food was delicious, waitress was smiley (rare in Madeira). The only thing we were not fan of was the dessert, it was not for our taste.“

“Restaurant, which doesn't look like much at first glance
Typical Portuguese restaurant with quality products, fresh and more than adequate quantity, all with reasonable prices. the friendly and smiling staff.
I highly recommend this address, I think we will return there this week.“

“Wonderful late dinner after an afternoon hike. We were welcomed immediately and started with amazing perfect limpets. Our fish - cod, falling apart in a bed of olive oil and potatoes -and grouper, fresh off the grill with crisped salted skin, were cooked so perfectly. Our wine and lime poncha delicious and for dessert we shared both the passion fruit cheesecake (which was more like a sweet custard) and an almond pie.“

“Very tasty food and drinks, the service was excellent... we had the terrace almost to ourselves and the waiter was super nice... even a small snack in between but not intrusive... we drove up to Monte especially for dinner and it was worth it...“

“We enjoyed the evening! Delicious food, authentically prepared at a great price! At the end there was even a short one on the house and a few sweets on top of the bill. We didn't even pay €35 for these two main courses and two drinks! That you still experience something like that. We can highly recommend the restaurant.“

“This place was my favorite place we ate in all of Madeira and even Lisbon included. The service was great and very fast! The food was so good every time we ate there with new options every day. We kept coming back and it's a great walk to the restaurant, the surrounding shops are so cute. Honestly the quality of the meat and even everything down to the seasonings and sauces are very unique and delicious. The desserts are to die for especially the cheesecake and triple chocolate cake! From what I understand it's a small family owned business and the women that run it are so full of life and kind! An absolutely wonderful experience and I could not recommend it more!“

“We ate in this restaurant today and can only say: Chapeau! First-class food, very friendly, courteous and attentive staff, the price-performance ratio is right. We can recommend this excellent restaurant to anyone who wants to eat something quieter and more select.“

“The Armazém do Sal restaurant in Funchal is located in a typical alley and offers a rustic and elegant setting. it is recognized for its high-quality cuisine, with fish, seafood, meat and pasta dishes, as well as tempting desserts. The servers are friendly and very attentive. I would just put a caveat on the quantities.

Parking: It is difficult to get around Funchal. Paid parking is recommended

Kid-friendliness: It is suitable for children there are special menus for them

Wheelchair accessibility: There are no stairs in the restaurant.“

“A genuinely incredible dining experience.

Chef Robert has done something very special here. The combination of ingenuity of recipes, local produce and flawless presentation lived up to the expectations and beyond.

The service was also exquisite.

A must see if you're a culinary fan and in Madeira!“

“The people are great and the venue is very relaxing. At least the lower terrace. The upper floor is a bit noisy due to being right at the street. So we recommend the downstairs area.
The 3 course menus are inexpensive and you have a lot of great options. The food while good is not best in class. We still visited 3 times during our stay and will come back when we come back to Madeira.“

“Not only a restaurant but also a great bakery! Food is very reasonably priced and great tasting. If you like tomatoes try their tomatoes soup...interesting! For the main course you get a lot of food. For dessert Pastel the nata is a must. Delicious! They really care for their customers menus is in six(!) Differente languages.“

“Everything good: friendliness, quantity, price, location and quality of the food. Let's see, very happy. I'm not saying it's the best restaurant in Funchal or the most organized service, but for the price, how delicious everything is and the effort they put into it, they deserve 5 stars.“

“It doesn't invite you to enter from the outside, that's the truth. We went on a recommendation and I can say that it was excellent in everything: attention and treatment, exquisite homemade food, unbeatable value for money. In fact, we repeated during our stay. More than recommended, it is a complete success.“

“My and my partner had dinner there last night. Food was lovely, seafood very fresh. Views are absolutely amazing and we actually saw 2 dolphins half way through our meal which was absolutely magical. We also ordered a white sangria, which is the best one we had in Madeira so far. We will definitely visit again before our holiday is over. Highly recommend“

“La dame qui paraît la patronne est très sympathique.
La carte a beaucoup de choses voir peut-être un peu trop a mon goût mais au résultat la cuisine est bonne et quelques produits traditionnels.poulpe morue
Petit bémol les prix sont un petit peu chère par rapport à ce qui nous est servi dans l’assiette , en sachant que les prix des restaurants à côté semblait à moitié prix ?
Je recommande quand même ce restaurant car la terrasse permet de recevoir une belle tablée“

“Very nice and funny people! The right address, away from the overpriced chic scene on the waterfront, for Portuguese hospitality. The same applies to the Forno da Centieira a few meters further. It's not without reason that we were guests in both restaurants several times and look forward to seeing you again!!“

“O.Giro was a delightful way to end our day with excellent coffees and the most amazing Churros with cookie dough ice cream in the centre.
So naughty but oh so nice. The waiter informed us they were the best in the world....he may well be right !!“

“(Translated by Google) I have known this establishment for a long time..it has had other owners..but the space itself is pleasant. There is a separate room for lunch. Very affordable prices. I recommend(Original)Conheço este estabelecimento a muito tempo..já teve outros patrões..mas espaço em si é agradável. Tem sala a parte para almoço. Preços muito acessíveis. Recomendo“

“Slow life on Madera has a name: L&LSuch a cosy and charmful place - with a great food and hospitality.Owners speaks wonderful british english - so there is a story behind this.However - they're born Madeira's fragrance. Classy one.“

“Today we enjoyed a delicious soup of the day and bruschetta at O ​​Casco, and both dishes tasted excellent! The staff was very friendly. After we answered in Portuguese, the waitress asked if she should answer in English or Portuguese. We mentioned that we were learning Portuguese, so she calmly spoke Portuguese to us, which made our experience very enjoyable. A great place for an authentic and welcoming experience!Today at O ​​Casco, we enjoyed a delicious soup of the day and bruschetta, both tasting excellent! The staff were very friendly. After we responded in Portuguese, the waitress asked if she should continue in English or Portuguese. We mentioned we were learning Portuguese, so she kindly spoke Portuguese with us, enhancing our dining experience tremendously. A fantastic spot for an authentic and welcoming experience!“

“Poncha one of the best we tried in Madeira! All flavors are delicious, except English tomato (I do not recommend this one). It's a small place on the corner, crowded, so it's hard to get a table in the evening, but you can take a drink in a paper cup to go. Affordable prices, great taste!“

“Found Madmarket last year. A superb find and returned three times.Fast forward to 2024 and visited twice again. No changes - fabulous food, great wine, excellent service and quirky surroundings with very reasonable prices. Highly recommend a visit.Will we be returning - of course!

Vegetarian options: Good selection for vegetarian, pescatarian (I am) and vegan.“

“A gastronomic place different from the usual ones, where sophistication does not prevail, but rather gastronomic simplicity of good cuisine with traditional dishes, served with professionalism.To all this, there is the hiking to get there! On the way there you gain an appetite and on the way back you burn calories.As for the rest, the landscapes and nature paint the picture of a different family lunch than usual!I recommend !“

“A rarity in downtown Funchal. Ate very well, the cook is the owner, very nice and cooks with great passion. The wife looks after the room, exceptional service. An experience to try when in the center of Funchal, one of the very few, if not the only, non-tourist restaurant. Local cuisine cooked with skilled hands. We will definitely be back.“

“Prices are very low for Funchal, large portions, tasty food. Very nice service. A specific place with a characteristic atmosphere where locals eat. It happens that when you order some dishes, they are no longer available, but this is only because they were sold out that day. Therefore, everything is always fresh.“

“I love this place, it has soul and a wonderful location. The owners are absolutely sensational people and have always accommodated us and cook excellently. Great sea bream ? and perfect poncha? I keep coming back and having an extra pleasant time here again “

“Super delicious food, friendly and personable service. The ambience may not be the best, but the food was delicious! The cakes we had for dessert (chocolate cake & cheese-passion fruit cake) were homemade and simply delicious - I can only recommend them!“

“This is definitely the best craft beer spot in the Island.
The variety and choices of beers on tap and on can is very large and good.
The quality of the beers and homemade nibbles is undeniable.
I’ve spent a week in Funchal and have been visiting Graca and Duarte every open day !

Thank you for your kindness and your very warm welcome, and for a new friendship !
I’ll be back soon

Aurelio ❤️“

“Intimate setting with sea view and live saxophone player (Not every day, check availability) who plays a wide repertoire in a Lounge style (ABBA among others)

For the menu you will find more sophisticated dishes than in most restaurants in Madeira!

I recommend the executive menu at €55 per person which includes 4/5 glasses of wine and a starter/main course/dessert!

For the starter I highly recommend the foie gras in two textures, and for the main course the beef Rossini.

The only weak points of this establishment are the waiting time between the starter and the main course, and the toilets which denote the standard of the establishment…

Small bonus, for 20€ it is possible to be taken to the restaurant in an old car which makes the experience all the more romantic!“

“Super cute little but nice restaurant directly on the way to the lookout point. The food is all freshly prepared. Even the fries are freshly cut. Super nice boss who is happy to have a chat. I recommend everyone to stop there and have something to eat and drink.“

“Absolute lace meals in which everything is right up to the loving decoration of the plate.In the meantime, once a week, duty to enjoy the food.The boss is very friendly and accordingly the atmosphere ä Re.Highly recommended [Original] Absolutes Spitzenessen bei dem alles stimmt bis hin zur liebevollen Dekoration des Tellers. Inzwischen ein Mal die Woche Pflicht das Essen zu geniessen. Der Chef ist sehr freundlich und entsprechend ist die Atmosphäre. Sehr empfehlenswert“

“We took a break here while exploring Madeira. The Bar / Restaurant popped up at my Google maps and it was worth stopping by! Beautifully located in nature, modern Ambiente and good food & drinks! I had the vegetarian burger you see on the picture and it was delicious! From coffee to cocktails, from snacks to a full on menu - everyone will be pleased!“

“It was super delicious!!!

The service was great! Everyone was very friendly and accommodating, with a genuine smile on their faces.

The food and drinks came to the table very quickly.

At the end there was a candy and a matching schnapps for everyone ;) very tasty...

Thank you for the great evening!

We'll definitely come back ;)“