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Portuguese food and eating out in the Algarve
Traditional Portuguese restaurants tend to be relatively cheap by European standards, but if you want the best value for money, then you need to head inland a few miles away from the tourist areas. If you find a restaurant popular with the locals, then you’re definitely on to a winner. If you there at lunchtime, do what the locals do and go for the dish of the day (Prato do Dia). You won’t go far wrong and you’ll also get a glass of Portuguese wine or beer thrown in for good measure.. For more international style cuisine, then the popular towns and resorts along the coast, are where you’ll find most of these. You’ll be able to get everything from Chinese, French, Mexican and Italian to the universally popular burger and chips. Food is a very important element in Portuguese life. After kick-starting the day with a bread roll and a cup of coffee, everything starts gearing up towards lunch time. Lunch is an important meal. Staring round about noon, it is a relaxed affair often going on for two hours or more. No grabbing a quick sandwich from the supermarket in between phone calls here. It is not surprising, therefore that the evening meal is served quite late, around 8pm. If you want to avoid the busy times at traditional Portuguese restaurants, then eat early. Portuguese food – a simple style of cooking with great ingredients The flavours of Portuguese food are heavily influenced by the foods and spices that were introduced by explorers and invaders over the centuries. These include onions, garlic, figs, almonds and curry spices, cinnamon, paprika and the Brazilian spice peri-peri. The Moors introduced fruits such as oranges and lemons.Using these ingredients, the seafood from coastal area and with their love of meat, the Portuguese have developed their own style of cooking. It is generally simple wholesome fare, using fresh ingredients and spiced in a subtle way, rather than being hot and fiery. Portuguese food is not what you could call haute-cuisine, just simple and well prepared. Perhaps this is why you won’t find many Portuguese restaurants outside Portugal. Because of their love of meat and seafood, vegetarians are not best catered for in the Algarve, despite the vegetables being incredibly tasty. This is changing slowly because of the influence of the tourist and international restaurants score better in this respect. Click on the link find out more about great Portuguese dishes to enjoy on your Algarve holiday.
Although not well known outside Portugal, the Portuguese are rightly proud of their cheeses. Find out more about Portuguese cheese here.
Algarve RestaurantsAlgarve restaurants serving traditional Portuguese food tend to be quite plain but rustic with none of the sophisticated surroundings associated with more up-market international ones. But that’s okay, as it is more in keeping with the food that they serve.
You’ll find that restaurant portion sizes can be quite generous. Great if you’ve got a large appetite, but don’t be afraid of asking for a half-portion (meia-dose) if you’re not that hungry.
Service in Algarve restaurants is not always the fastest, but you will find staff very friendly. They also love children, so no problems taking your little ones out to eat with you.
When it comes to the bill, a service charge is not usually included on the bill and tipping is at your discretion. If you do, then 10% is more than adequate, but anywhere from 5% upwards will do.
Be aware that many Algarve restaurants, even some of the bigger more popular ones, do not accept credit cards. Hard to believe in this day and age. So check with the restaurant before you sit down if this is your only form of payment.
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