Estrela Do Sul - Povoa De Lanhoso

The restaurant is in a central point but there are other options. We had to wait, our food was forgotten and delayed and after all, was not that good. There are homeless people bothering you while you eat. The staff is not enough for the amount of service. Not their fault, they tried to provide a good service. In the end, the meals have 2 prices for different menus, so when you're checking your bill pay attention. It's a big no

I know, in Portugal that there is a charge for the “couvert” or bread basket, delivered unasked at the start of a meal, but for 4 bread rolls with tiny pat of butter and small piece of cheese to cost 11euro 80 for my husband and I is a total rip off. His swordfish arrived after an acceptable 30 minute wait but my octopus didn’t arrive for another 20 minutes after he was finished. Yes, there was an apology and some “free” chips but that in no way made up for the slow service and price gouging on the bread. Avoid this place as there are so many more to choose from a little further up the road

40 minutes between the first and the second person being served. The cheese omelette was dry and oversalted, the cheese was absent. The squids sauce had a funny taste though the veg soup was fine.

We had friends who having been to Lisbon were very helpful in the planning for our trip. One must do suggestion was to grab a ferry across the Tagus and have a meal at a seafood restaurant in Cacilhas on the southern shore. Both the view and the seafood, especially the octopus, were well worth the ferry ride over. As our trip drew to a close, we realized we still hadn’t done this. We’d planned it several times but always something came u and we ended up eating closer to our hotel. Finally on our last day we decided to try it. We were out and about doing some last-minute sight seeing and planned it so we’d be at the ferry docks at Cais do Sodre in time to grab a ferry over for a late lunch in Cacilhas. As the ferry came closer to the southern side of the river it hit me our friends had never actually mentioned the name of the restaurant. All we had was it was the first seafood restaurant after you got off the ferry. Well after we disembarked, we realized that the square between the ferry docks and the local transit terminal was literally lined with seafood restaurants. Not sure if we’d chose the right one or not, but going by the fact it was the first open one after the docks we settled on Estrela do Sul. Estrela do Sol like many of its neighbours was a tiny hole in the wall restaurant with only a few tables inside. Also like the others however the bulk of its seating was outside a massive covered patio. To deal with the fall chill and the breeze coming off the open water, there were several large space heaters and plastic tent like enclosures coming off the umbrellas. The result was it was actually quite warm “inside.” Loke many places in Lisbon the menu was a series of large colour photos of the dishes this time on an enormous sandwich board. A glass display tank added to this. We were quickly seated and then moved to a slightly warmer table. The place was about half full and mostly locals which seemed normal for a Sunday afternoon in the fall. We’d read that many locals from Lisbon did as we had and rode the ferry over for lunch and a bit of sight seeing on the weekend. My wife ordered the octopus which came with vegetables and potatoes. She added a side of rice and a soft drink. I went with shrimps and a side of French fries, knowing there would be enough rice for both of us. Naturally I had a large draft to wash it down. The meal arrived fairly fast and I had no complaints a bout my shrimp, and not like I was going to complain about the beer. My wife did mention on the ferry ride home that she was a little disappointed in the octopus and that it was a bit rubberier and blander than others she had before.

I am sad to report that my experience at this restaurant was far from enjoyable. The main point of dissatisfaction was the fish dish I ordered, which fell substantially short of expectations. The fish was alarmingly dry and lacked the freshness that one would expect from a quality seafood restaurant. The taste was equally disappointing, reminiscent of overcooked seafood that lost its charm along the way. It was a far cry from the succulent, flavorful experience I was hoping for. As a diner, you expect a certain standard of quality, especially when dining out. Unfortunately, this experience did not meet that standard. Adding to the distress of the poor quality seafood, the restaurant also unexpectedly charged for items presented as complimentary. This misrepresentation added an unwelcome surprise to the final bill. It felt deceptive and added a sour note to an already disappointing dining experience. One expects transparency and fair practice when it comes to pricing sadly, it was a letdown in this regard.