Was recommended to come for Friday fish and chips or Sunday lunch. Went on a Thursday night and it was very disappointing.
A waiter fiddled with the TV for 15-20 mins to find some live football, instead of handing over menus.
The wings and calamari starters were fine. The main Piri Piri Chicken was bland and not seasoned well - just drenched in piri-piri sauce.
The burgers were the same - really bland the buns were so cheap.
The Guinness was not great - really tasted of chemicals.
Not a good experience and would not recommend for food.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 2
Karen Leinasars
Lovely staff, excellent service
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Inês Belo
We were going to drink a coffee after dinner, they don't serve coffee, only cold drinks or alcohol. The employee who was on the terrace does not speak Portuguese. Lots of cockroaches, on the wall near the umbrellas, near the tables, the TV. I don't recommend it at all.
Atmosphere: 1
Service: 1
Xazi
Service was friendly and fast even when busy, the food is good but average. Still, its a great place to sit out, have a drink and eat, prices are fair.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Full English Breakfast
annemerel westerhuis
Really loved the fish and chips on fridays
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Anthony Glansford
Only came for drinks, very pleasant staff and excellent service
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Sarah Trotman
Food was very good with very generous portions. Would recommend for food and drinks
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lucienne Terlouw
Great value for money. Quick and friendly service. Beautiful location.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Dave Abernethy
I live and own an apartment in O Pomar, and frequented The Old Barrel nearly daily for the first 6 months living here, almost daily. Over 70 visits in 6 months. I never had anything other than good service, until 2 months ago. I’m an American, and am retired US military, and have traveled in an out of uniform all over the world fir over 59 years, and I do my best to fit in. I have always tried to fit in and not be an ugly American.
Two months ago we invited friends for dinner at the old barrel, and after our friends paid for our meal, an English regular followed us out of the restaurant, and after following us for a few meters, stopped us to admonish us all for not tipping 10%, which in his words is standard here “to keep the Portuguese on par with Americans.” Further, he claimed all Americans earn a minimum wage of $20 an hour, and we “offended the staff” due to our poor tip. For the record, the federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, 6 euros, but two states do have a $20 minimum wage, out of 50 states.
The English guy who for some reason knew what my friends had tipped, and since he was a regular at the old barrel thought this was his business to cite faulty facts and harass us North Americans, as he called us, and this was inappropriate. The fact is tipping is not expected in Portugal, although we frequently tip for great service, which occurs often, but that is my choice, not the restaurants.
So, my wife immediately went back and tipped our English waiter 5 euros, making our tip alone 10%. We thought this was a one time incident and desired no more drama.
The following evening, we brought two other friends for dinner there, and this time the entire staff was uncharacteristically standoffish with us. We just ignored this until we asked for a to go box, and when returning to the table with the food in foil, the waitstaff threw the wrapped food at my wife. My friends and we all noted this rudeness and we just paid and went home.
The following day, I went back to the old barrel, where I remind you had frequented for over 70 visits in 6 months, with no issues, and I asked for the manager, and informed the managing staff of the two incidents. I was told that they knew who the English regular who had harassed us about the tip, as he was sitting outside, and I was told that neither the poor service or being followed out by their customer, who for some odd reason knew of my friends tip, was their issue. Wow.
The following day I wrote an accurate, and fair, review here. The owner then called me and decided he wanted me to take down the post. I hung up on him 3 times before he would stop talking. The short: none of this was his problem, as I had supposedly “raised my glass with my hand” and “had summoned his staff like they were less than human.” Wow. I have never summoned anyone. He then continued, his staff had only treated me so poorly because of this gesture when ordering a second beer. So, we three customers deserved this treatment and, “most people would not write a poor review, and would just not frequent his restaurant if they encountered poor service”. I took down the post, and expected the owner to make it right. Well, it’s been 2 months, and nothing. Nothing and I walk by this restaurant almost daily being it’s right out my front door.
So, here are my experiences. I should add I have talked to a couple other property owners here, and they received the same treatment for raising their glasses “inappropriately when ordering a drink.” Both my wife and I owned businesses, and each worked at restaurants, as my wife’s parents owned one, and we do not tell people they deserve poor service. In fact, we make it right, and the owner’s initial response to me on the phone was, in his words, was if I kept the post up, he “could slander me with the best.”
So, the bottom line is I do not do drama. Just treat people kindly, don’t take things personally when working with the publ
We stopped in at the Old Barrel for drinks and a rest while exploring Cabanas. The staff were friendly and patient with our limited Portuguese and, in fact, spoke very good English when our Portuguese ran out (too quickly). They had a tennis match playing on a large screen TV and several others were watching.
Good beverages, pleasant surroundings, and gracious hosts - a very good experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Dave Mobey
Visited Cabanas for 5 days, The Old Barrel was our closest. Ate there twice and had the specials both times. All were really good, especially the Moussaka, best ever. Good prices for drinks, with a happy hour and Somersby on draught.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tony Summers
Happy hour for drinks is a bonus and creates a great atmosphere, food tasty and service is friendly.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Klaus Mathes
Best price performance ratio. And at only 12 euros for a complete menu (couvert, main course, drink, dessert and coffee) you can only say good things (and thank you).
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jeremy Kinch
Stopped in for a pint, no food but my crew at and said it was great. Service was quick and friendly.
An Irish bar in the cabin village, the orchard. ?
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Was recommended to come for Friday fish and chips or Sunday lunch. Went on a Thursday night and it was very disappointing.
A waiter fiddled with the TV for 15-20 mins to find some live football, instead of handing over menus.
The wings and calamari starters were fine. The main Piri Piri Chicken was bland and not seasoned well - just drenched in piri-piri sauce.
The burgers were the same - really bland the buns were so cheap.
The Guinness was not great - really tasted of chemicals.
Not a good experience and would not recommend for food.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 2
Lovely staff, excellent service
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We were going to drink a coffee after dinner, they don't serve coffee, only cold drinks or alcohol.
The employee who was on the terrace does not speak Portuguese.
Lots of cockroaches, on the wall near the umbrellas, near the tables, the TV.
I don't recommend it at all.
Atmosphere: 1
Service: 1
Service was friendly and fast even when busy, the food is good but average. Still, its a great place to sit out, have a drink and eat, prices are fair.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Full English Breakfast
Really loved the fish and chips on fridays
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Only came for drinks, very pleasant staff and excellent service
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Food was very good with very generous portions. Would recommend for food and drinks
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great value for money. Quick and friendly service. Beautiful location.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
I live and own an apartment in O Pomar, and frequented The Old Barrel nearly daily for the first 6 months living here, almost daily. Over 70 visits in 6 months. I never had anything other than good service, until 2 months ago. I’m an American, and am retired US military, and have traveled in an out of uniform all over the world fir over 59 years, and I do my best to fit in. I have always tried to fit in and not be an ugly American.
Two months ago we invited friends for dinner at the old barrel, and after our friends paid for our meal, an English regular followed us out of the restaurant, and after following us for a few meters, stopped us to admonish us all for not tipping 10%, which in his words is standard here “to keep the Portuguese on par with Americans.” Further, he claimed all Americans earn a minimum wage of $20 an hour, and we “offended the staff” due to our poor tip. For the record, the federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, 6 euros, but two states do have a $20 minimum wage, out of 50 states.
The English guy who for some reason knew what my friends had tipped, and since he was a regular at the old barrel thought this was his business to cite faulty facts and harass us North Americans, as he called us, and this was inappropriate. The fact is tipping is not expected in Portugal, although we frequently tip for great service, which occurs often, but that is my choice, not the restaurants.
So, my wife immediately went back and tipped our English waiter 5 euros, making our tip alone 10%. We thought this was a one time incident and desired no more drama.
The following evening, we brought two other friends for dinner there, and this time the entire staff was uncharacteristically standoffish with us. We just ignored this until we asked for a to go box, and when returning to the table with the food in foil, the waitstaff threw the wrapped food at my wife. My friends and we all noted this rudeness and we just paid and went home.
The following day, I went back to the old barrel, where I remind you had frequented for over 70 visits in 6 months, with no issues, and I asked for the manager, and informed the managing staff of the two incidents. I was told that they knew who the English regular who had harassed us about the tip, as he was sitting outside, and I was told that neither the poor service or being followed out by their customer, who for some odd reason knew of my friends tip, was their issue. Wow.
The following day I wrote an accurate, and fair, review here. The owner then called me and decided he wanted me to take down the post. I hung up on him 3 times before he would stop talking. The short: none of this was his problem, as I had supposedly “raised my glass with my hand” and “had summoned his staff like they were less than human.” Wow. I have never summoned anyone. He then continued, his staff had only treated me so poorly because of this gesture when ordering a second beer. So, we three customers deserved this treatment and, “most people would not write a poor review, and would just not frequent his restaurant if they encountered poor service”. I took down the post, and expected the owner to make it right. Well, it’s been 2 months, and nothing. Nothing and I walk by this restaurant almost daily being it’s right out my front door.
So, here are my experiences. I should add I have talked to a couple other property owners here, and they received the same treatment for raising their glasses “inappropriately when ordering a drink.” Both my wife and I owned businesses, and each worked at restaurants, as my wife’s parents owned one, and we do not tell people they deserve poor service. In fact, we make it right, and the owner’s initial response to me on the phone was, in his words, was if I kept the post up, he “could slander me with the best.”
So, the bottom line is I do not do drama. Just treat people kindly, don’t take things personally when working with the publ
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 4
Service: 1
Restaurantji Recommends
We stopped in at the Old Barrel for drinks and a rest while exploring Cabanas. The staff were friendly and patient with our limited Portuguese and, in fact, spoke very good English when our Portuguese ran out (too quickly). They had a tennis match playing on a large screen TV and several others were watching.
Good beverages, pleasant surroundings, and gracious hosts - a very good experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Visited Cabanas for 5 days, The Old Barrel was our closest. Ate there twice and had the specials both times. All were really good, especially the Moussaka, best ever. Good prices for drinks, with a happy hour and Somersby on draught.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Happy hour for drinks is a bonus and creates a great atmosphere, food tasty and service is friendly.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Best price performance ratio. And at only 12 euros for a complete menu (couvert, main course, drink, dessert and coffee) you can only say good things (and thank you).
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Stopped in for a pint, no food but my crew at and said it was great. Service was quick and friendly.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
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