Portugal's Sintra｜Hidden Gem Restaurant Discovery (4.3★ Must-Try!)
🚨 Foodie Alert: Went to the highly-recommended Incomum only to find it fully booked 😭 But sometimes, the best discoveries happen when you don't follow the crowd!!! 🏡 Romaria de Baco - The Accidental Find Tucked away in a quiet alley of Sintra's historic center 🏙️ Tiny 2nd-floor entrance (easy to miss if you're not paying attention!) 👀 Despite its unassuming exterior, the place was packed when we arrived!!! First Impressions: • All-female staff (rare find in Portugal!!!) 👩🍳💃 • 10-minute wait (totally worth it!!!) ⏳ • Cozy, authentic atmosphere with impeccable plating 🍷✨ 🦐 Seafood Stew - My New Favorite Dish This wasn't just "good" - it was life-changing!!! 😱 What made it special: 1️⃣ Generous portions: Big chunks of fish beneath the shrimp & mussels 🐟 2️⃣ Perfectly cooked sides: Pan-fried then stewed baby potatoes (crispy outside, tender inside!!!) 🥔 Caramelized onions that melted in your mouth 🧅 Pro Tip: The potatoes were so good we ordered seconds!!! 🍴💯 🐖 Red Wine Pork - Unexpected Delight Who knew pork could be this amazing in a traditionally beef dish?! 😱 Surprise highlights: • Fell-off-the-bone tenderness 🥩 • Zero gamey taste (even for a pork skeptic like me!!!) • Rich wine reduction that coated every bite 🍷 • Creamy mashed potatoes that stole the show (dipped in sauce = heaven!!!) 😍 Dish Rating: 11/10 would cry if I had to leave Portugal without it!!! 🥲 💰 Value Check For Sintra prices, this was absolute robbery (in the best way!!!) 💸 Full meal for two with wine = ~€35 (including tip!!!) 📍 Location Notes • 15-min walk from Sintra Palace (perfect post-sightseeing meal!!!) 🏰 • No tourist crowds - just locals enjoying authentic cuisine 🇵🇹 Final Verdict: This place deserves its 4.3 rating and then some!!! If I could eat here every day of my trip, I absolutely would!!! 🙌 #SintraEats #PortugueseFoodie #HiddenGem #TravelFoodie #RomariaDeBaco #FoodieAdventures #WorthTheDetour
