We would like to secure the services of a Porto guide for a Monday morning. We would do the food tour mentioned in Rick's book, but they don't offer tours on Mondays. Also, would you share the names of any favorite restaurants? Thanks.
Posted by
Porto - Portugal
233 posts
Hi!
Cannot help with guide services, bu I can give you my opinion concerning restaurants!
But first, you must understand this: some restaurants are better at lunch, some are quite the opposite! And of course ti depends on what kind of meal you pretend... I mean, you cannot anszer "Typical dishes", as there are some things you may deslike. For instance, are you aware that we (I'm portuguese) are kind of vampiresc concerning food? We have "papas de sarrabulho" (two kinds of this dish, it depends if you are in Porto or surrounding area, or if you are more at North, like Braga) - this dish (that in Porto is a soup) is made of corn flour, pork and porks blood. also have "arroz de sarrabulho", again pork and it's blood mixed with rice. And we have "cabidela", chiken and it's blood also mixed with rice (and a lot fo vinegar). We have "morcelas", that are a kind of blood sausage.And "rojões à moda do Minho", a lot of things one of them being boiled blood. Besides that vampiresc side, we eat all (when I say we it's not true because I don't, bus most portuguese do) of the pork: nose, ears, feet... so another portuguese dish is called "cozido à portuguesa" and you can find these items from the pig.
The most tradicional dish in Porto is "tripas à moda do Porto". Every restaurant has that dish once a week. Tripas means guts (tripe).
Anyway, I will list some of the restaurants I prefer:
- Snoopy - Av. da Boavista, in front of "casa da música" (music house?)
- Palmeira - City center, R. de Sá da Bandeira
- Tripeiro - city center, R. D. Manuel
- Escondidinho - city center, R. D. Manuel
- Paparico - R. Costa Cabral
If you need some more information, pls tell!
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
123 posts
If she's not busy guiding a Rick Steves' tour, Maria Jose Aleixo is fantastic! And she loves food so she can take you to some great spots. Her email is aleixo19@sapo.pt. Here are some great restaurants she took me to:
Café Santiago is just a basic diner, but often wins awards in the very serious competition for Porto’s best signature sandwich, the hearty francesinha beloved by carnivores. You won’t walk away hungry (€10 sandwiches, Mon-Sat 12:00-23:00, busiest on Sat when lines can form, closed Sun, Rua Passos Manuel 226, tel. 222-055-797).
Ora Viva Restaurante is a humble but exuberantly decorated, long-and-skinny dining hall a block off the waterfront. The hardworking Pinto family specializes in traditional grilled meat and fish dishes--especially cataplana, a seafood stew. It’s a little less touristy than the Ribeira norm, with locals, decent food, and good prices (€10-12 meals, daily 12:00-15:00 & 18:30-22:30, Rua Fonte Taurina 83, tel. 222-052-033). Antonio promises a free glass of port wine (before or after your dinner) if you show him this book.
O Escondidinho Restaurante - http://www.escondidinho.pt/