Le Duque de Merces — Restaurant in Região Geográfica Imediata de São Luís

To be feared. Me and my family recently visited the lovely island of Alcântara. Unfortunately, our lovely afternoon was tarnished by our pathetic experience at this restaurant. They welcomed us in politely, but there was no menu, and we could only chose between 2 meals- Fish or Shrimp. Regrettably, we didn’t ask for the prices, expecting a regular cost. The food took an imense amount of time to arrive, to the point of the staff giving us an extra side as an apology during our wait. There were only 3 other tables occupied at the restaurant… Once our food and drinks had arrived, we soon realised that half a portion of rice, the vegetables and the fejão weren’t going to be given to us. Additionally, we got scraps of fish, instead of full pieces. Instead we shared amoungs 5 (including our guide), one small bowl of rice and 2 portions of seafood (one shrimp plate and one fish plate). They had not told us when we entered the restaurant that they had run out of the majority of the ingredients. To top it off, the greatest suprise of all was the price. 600 reis. Moreover, he asked us to pay for our Guides food, which was not a problem, except our guide never received his food. It was later revealed that the money we had payed for the non-existant meal was being secretly reimbursed to the guide. What a scam. To say the least we were extremely disappointed by the service, price, and amount of food. Do not visit unless you’re not hungry and have money & time...

I ate here with a friend. Despite the friendly appearance of the owner we had a very bad experience. First of all, I got a vegetarian dish but I had meat in my beans, while my friend found the kernel of an olive in his beans (meaning that dishes were used again!?). But the worse was the fact that the owner put a higher price to pay for what we ate, pretending that prices were different from the menu. All in all I can consider this place like a scam, maybe because there is not much competition. In any case, we were very disappointed with all...

🇬🇧 English version

A truly special place run by a local born and raised in Alcântara, with a heart deeply connected to his community. This family-owned restaurant was built with his own hands, and it shows in every detail. Beyond serving delicious food, he teaches local children about the importance of capoeira, keeping traditions alive for the next generations.

The dishes are full of flavor — we tried a perfectly seasoned fish (pescada), and it was unforgettable! At the back, there’s a beautiful green area, while the front opens to the square with a view of the sea.

The service from Mr. José was warm and welcoming. We’re truly grateful that he shared not only his food but also his inspiring life story with us.

⸻

🇧🇷 Versão em português

Um lugar realmente especial, conduzido por um morador nascido e criado em Alcântara, com o coração voltado para a sua comunidade. O restaurante é da sua própria família, construído com as próprias mãos, e isso se reflete em cada detalhe. Mais do que servir uma comida deliciosa, ele ensina às crianças locais a importância da capoeira, preservando tradições para as próximas gerações.

Os pratos são cheios de sabor — provamos uma pescada muito bem temperada e inesquecível! Nos fundos há uma linda área verde, e na frente é possível apreciar a praça com vista para o mar.

O atendimento do seu José foi caloroso e acolhedor. Somos muito gratos por ele ter compartilhado não só a sua comida, mas também a sua inspiradora história de...