Eating in Portugal is a very important daily ritual. That is why there are so many different cafes and restaurants in Portugal, which surprises tourists. In this article, we want to tell you how to understand by the name alone what you can be treated to in one place or another.
Pastelaria
The most common type of cafe is Pastelaria. Of course, the name comes from the word “pastel de nata” (Portuguese pastry). In such a cafe, you can definitely drink bica coffee (espresso) and eat pastel de nata, but not only. Often in the window of the counter you will be able to see various desserts that Portugal is famous for. Therefore, for tasting Portuguese sweets, go not to the supermarket, but to Pastelaria
The Portuguese drink coffee five times a day and love to do it in cafes, despite the fact that drinking espresso does not take longer than a few seconds. Tourists who come to Portugal not for the first time adopt this habit because it makes them feel like locals. Drinking coffee at Pastelaria is a nice break from the hustle and bustle of the day.
Quiosque
Quiosque (kiosk) is an outdoor cafe. The assortment is exactly the same as in Pastelaria. Such kiosks are usually round in shape, tables are cantilevered around the perimeter, but ordinary tables also stand next to the kiosk. Currently, they are trying to offer more options, so toasts and cocktails are being added to the menu.
Tasca/Adega
Usually restaurants with this name are quite simple – unpretentious interior, old dishes with chipped edges. The contingent can also be different. Families and companies come here. Often, workers come in for lunch, for example, from a construction site. The prices here are average, unless, of course, the eatery is located in the tourist center. Tourists accustomed to Michelin-starred restaurants avoid such places, but for an ordinary tourist or an expat who has just moved to Portugal, this is a great place to start getting to know the country, its cuisine and the mentality of its inhabitants. It is here that the dishes that the Portuguese have been eating for centuries are prepared.
Churrasqueira
This restaurant differs from the others in that they serve grilled meat or fish. Often in such places you can take food to go. If you do not feel like cooking or do not have enough time, then in Churrasqueira you can take a fresh, hot lunch or dinner. They also offer delicious bread and drinks. You don’t have to worry about being slipped yesterday’s grilled chicken, because the flow of visitors is high and everything is sorted out pretty quickly.
Cantina (Canteen)
At the mention of the word “canteen” many people associate with low-quality food of the same type, fast food and anything, but not with what it is in Portugal. Such restaurants are called “canteen” because you need to move to the checkout with a tray and look at the dishes in the window along the way. At the cash register you will already find yourself with full plates of typical Portuguese food.
Despite the fact that sometimes the queue is quite long, you don’t have to wait for the food to be cooked, as the food is already ready in the window, and the chefs are preparing the supplement at the same time. A big plus in such places is that if you are not already familiar with the names of Portuguese dishes, you can immediately see what they consist of and whether you want to eat it.
Kebab
In fact, in Eastern countries, any dish of fried meat is called kebab. In other countries, a kebab is a dish that consists of meat chips fried on a vertical spit, vegetables and pita bread, in which they are wrapped. In Portugal, cabbage, carrots, olives, corn kernels and sauce are used. In general, it seems that it is quite dietary. The meat is fried without oil, the pita bread is quite thin, and the sauce is made from yogurt and spices.
There is one drawback in such places – often they do not sell beer, although kebab and this drink go well together. Roasted meat makes you thirsty. If you drink soda, you want to drink even more.
Cervejaria
“Cerveja” is translated as “beer”, so the name “cervejaria” speaks for itself. As snacks, there can be both ordinary chips and octopus, for example. Summer in Portugal is quite hot away from the ocean, so refreshing yourself with a glass of beer is a great idea.
Marisqueira
These restaurants serve only seafood. Even though Portugal could live exclusively on seafood from the Atlantic Ocean, the Portuguese themselves are mostly meat eaters, so restaurants like the Marrisqueira are prized and often have Michelin stars. Of course, fish dishes can be found in ordinary restaurants, but only in marisqueira can you find such a variety!
Peculiarities
Some funny details can be attributed to the peculiarities of Portuguese restaurants. For example, along with the waiters, the owners of the restaurant themselves often work. They also take orders and deliver food. This gives a pleasant impression that a person loves his job, and it’s as if you are not in a restaurant, but at a party. At restaurants like Tasca/Adega or Churraqueira, the menu is often a piece of paper with a list of dishes written in ballpoint pen. Sometimes it’s hard to read the handwriting, but it just adds to the feeling of being at home.
What creates inconvenience is the opening hours. In Portugal, you can eat normally only during special hours. Most restaurants are open until 15.00 and from 19.00. Lunch later or dinner earlier is only possible at Kebab or pizzeria.
There are no special rules for tipping in Portugal. Tips are not included in the bill and no one is offended if you do not leave them.
Conclusion
The attitude to food in Portugal is really special. This does not mean that the Portuguese love to overeat or they will have a tantrum if they miss lunch. But if there is, then there is good and quality food.
In tourist cities, there are sometimes too many foreigners and it is difficult to observe the locals in their natural environment. In this article, we have given you a hint where you can meet locals in large numbers and eat well at the same time!