Where to eat in the Algarve, Portugal

Dom Sebastiao Restaurante in Lagos

Don Sebastião stands out on the Rua 25 de Abril. Walking up from the main square the yellow and white parasols on the outdoor tables reflect the colour scheme of the restaurant and it is hard to miss.  In high season you will find it difficult to find an empty outdoor table but try inside the restaurant, where the old rustic charm is still in evidence.  This is where you find the local families, and if it's good for them, chances are it is very good indeed.

Interestingly, it is one of few restaurants that do not automatically serve couverts.  They are there if you ask, and are well worth the €2.30 with bread, butter, olives, liver pate and local cheese.

On our visit this time we had soup starters - gaspacho, which was very fresh and tasty and a hot smooth vegetable soup.  Both were superb and were large helpings.

For main courses we tried Chicken curry and Lamb chops with mint sauce.  The meals were presented well.

The curry was served in an earthenware pot which contained what looked like more than a half chicken covered with an aromatic, spicy but not over hot, sauce.  The rice was fluffy and light and served in a separate bowl to keep it hot.

The lamb chops - well, how many would you expect? 3? maybe 4?.  What about 7!   Excellent meaty chops, cooked to perfection in garlic butter and served with broccoli and chips.  I loved it, although the other half was still commenting about the garlic smell a day later!

By this time we had no room for desserts, but other diners were enjoying the honey and almond tart which received very favourable comments.

Good coffee and generous helpings of special reserve brandy (one I later tried to find in the shops), completed the meal.  Or so we thought !  With the bill came a wicker basket of almonds and figs and complimentary almond liqueur or port.

It's an amusing way to complete a meal; trying to crack almonds without shattering the nut all over the table or worse still trapping your fingers in the nut crackers is one that we hope to repeat next time we are in Lagos.

Don Sebastião Restaurante can be confidently recommended.                         Jackie & Tony 2006

If you would like to know more about Portuguese Food and Drink, why don't you dip into our Restaurants in the Algarve section and our series of articles on Portuguese Wines and Ports.  We also feature some Traditional Portuguese Recipes and a glossary of useful Portuguese food & drink words and phrases

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