Albufeira Restaurants

MY RESTAURANT HELL

I have just returned home from Portugal (Albufeira) and fear I may never go back to their beautiful country again as a result of the treatment I received in one of the restaurants there. I visited Granfinus Restaurant in the old town (just where the train leaves you off) with my wife, two sons, mother-in-law and niece for a meal and was horrified with the manner in which I was treated.

I always looked upon the Portuguese people as open, honest and friendly and enjoy my time there much more than Spain for example. However, at Granfinus I was treated extremely poorly, found a caterpillar in my food which I gave to a member of staff as it crawled along my knife, had to go to the toilet to be sick and had stomach pains all night, asked to speak to the manager and instead was dealt with by a waiter, the waiter told me that my family could eat for free because of this unsavoury incident, was then asked to pay for the entire meals and when I refused I was called a liar and taken to the nearby Police Station (GNR) where I spent the next 1-2 hours and was not permitted to leave until I paid for the food bill. Another waiter told my wife I was lying about the bug in the food! I even asked the GNR to call the British Embassy as the restaurant owner was speaking to the Police in Portuguese and I had no idea what he was saying – I asked of course but I feel the length of time the owner spoke did not equate to the response I received in translation. The GNR did not contact the British Embassy although they seemed genuinely sympathetic to my situation. And up until the time I had to go to the police station the owner lurked in the background – why did he not come forward when I first asked to deal with him – was he too afraid I would upset the other customers in his restaurant which I did not do?

I have the documentary evidence to prove the above as I lodged an official complaint which also request the local Environmental Health organisation to investigate the kitchens of Granfinus for cleanliness and hygiene and to ensure no other guests to their beautiful country have to suffer the torment I had to suffer in full view of my family and the general public including the residents of my apartment block as four Policemen drove me in a police car to the place I was staying to get my passport for identification purposes.

I would like to share this nightmare experience with everyone who intends to visit beautiful Albfeira so as you may decide for yourself if this is the kind of treatment you would wish to experience in a restaurant while on holiday with your family.

John White, UK

Favorite Dish: NONE.

Above Praia dos Pescadores - great view of the Sea - great ambience - great food

Freshly cooked seafood - salmon, tuna, Golden Bream, Sea Bass etc etc
Don't be put off by the guy standing outside trying to persuade you to eat there - it is not a hard sell to rubbish food - the food is excellent!

It is beautifully presented on restaurant sized white porcelain plates - and it is delicious - you can also eat good meat dishes - the chiken piri piri was good and if you don't want veg with the dish they will give you salad with no problems.

Try the fresh orange juice too - refreshing!

Favorite Dish: Seared Tuna with salad and fried potatoes

The food was cooked beautifully - very authentic experience - set menu cost for starter, main course, dessert and coffee AND half bottle of house red or white wine less than 10 Euros!

You could have the most lovely homemade soup or King Prawn starter in lots of garlic and olive oil (they called it "fried shrimp"!!), followed by mixed meat Kebab, or Fish of the day, or beautiful grilled Salmon, followed by a dessert of lovely cake and the best coffee I have had in ages! Wash that all down with a half bottle of house red or white wine (which was very yummy by the way!) and I could not fault this establishment. Run by a lovely unassuming lady and spotlessly clean (I always think the state of the bathroom is a good sign in any restaurant) I would recommend you steer clear of the crowded "generic" restuarnts in Albufeira, and try this place.

You sit under an umbrella and watch the world go by, never feel rushed and enjoy the fantastic food!

Favorite Dish: Starter - Fried Shrimp to die for (huge in shell Prawns not shrimps!!!) swimming in garlic and local olive oil

Main - Grilled Salmon (perfectly cooked) and served with simple salad and boiled potatoes
or Kebab of pork and beef (chargrilled and yummy)

We added local bread on top - and you could have this with pate or butter if you liked

Albuferia has an endless number of good restaurants, the food is absolutely great with the seafood been one of the best I have ever had. At night you can see from the beach the small fishing boats out at sea to capture what will be in the restaurants the following day. A speciality is the seafood cataplana, and if you are not into seafood try the chichen piri-piri.

Nice little place round the corner from our hotel where we ate on our first night. The place was quiet when we arrived but soon got busy. I can't remember exactly what we had but do remember that we left full up and happy. Not the cheapest place in town but if you want cheap and chips then you can find that anywhere.

We are going back to the same area again later in 2008 and will be going back to Casa do Chef again.

Tricky Dicky rating 8.5 / 10.

I think the comment about O Penedo does not match our experience. The staff are pleasant (if overworked) and although the food is not outstanding the great plus point of this restaurant is the view from the terrace over Albufeira's beaches particularly if you can get a table in the right spot.

This restaurant we went to three times first I had the sunday lunch Lamb was my choice.
Some off my friends had the cod but my favourite was the home made steak pie.
I have not eaten a Knickbocker glory for years when I saw this on the menu I could not resist.
The deserts are very good from the home made apple pie banana split strawbery melba.
In all this is a great family run restaurant well worth a visit and the prices very resonable.

Favorite Dish: Roast lamb and Yorkshire pudding but my favourite was the home made steak pie with skeak chips peas and gravy.

this restaurand is very popular with the portugese people.
There is the standard menu and the specials which I had. When you go for a meal most restaurants bring you bread butter olives which they charge about 1.5 eur each.
This restaurant brought bread cheese and ham and charged 10 eur for two people so be aware.
The prices were resonable and if you want to try the local food this is the restaurant to go to.

Favorite Dish: I had suckling pig with rice in sauce with salad.