Restaurante O Carlos — Restaurant in Sal

I visited this restaurant after seeing multiple recommendations in Santa Maria groups, hoping to enjoy some fresh seafood. I was particularly looking forward to lobster, but they didn’t have it that day, so I opted for the mixed seafood skewer while my wife chose the clams.

Unfortunately, it was a huge disappointment. The skewer was made with small frozen cuttlefish—the kind you can find in any supermarket—and the clams were no different. Definitely not what I expected from a restaurant in such a prime location.

As we were leaving, the owner asked if we had enjoyed our meal. I told him honestly that if I wanted frozen seafood, I could have stayed home (in fact, I wouldn’t even eat that at home). He apologized and said I should have ordered the fish if I wanted something fresh. Yet, just before I walked out, I overheard him recommending the skewer to another table…

If you’re looking for fresh seafood, there are far better options in the village. This place simply isn’t worth your time or money. And to top it off, the meal...

The food was very tasty and fresh. We ordered two fish of the day and a skewer with tuna and langoustines, along with two salads, rice, fries, and two lemonades. We really enjoyed everything. For me, however, the tuna could have been a bit more juicy.

One downside for me was the service – stiff, with facial expressions as if they were working under duress. The chef as well, her expression and the way she moved around the restaurant were a huge minus. Additionally, the waitress behaved very inappropriately, because I had finished my meal a minute earlier while my husband was still eating, and she came and took the plates away from under my husband’s nose, including mine. In my opinion, that should not be done in any restaurant – I have never seen anything like it. Later, the same waitress came and took our napkins and gave them to another table – another huge minus.

The price for the skewer was not really worth it. The lemonade, however, was real lemonade – super...

Situé sur la route principale de Santa Maria, O Carlos est un charmant restaurant aménagé sous une véranda, parfait pour savourer un repas dans un cadre agréable. La carte, riche en poissons et fruits de mer, a de quoi ravir les amateurs de produits de la mer. Nous avons commencé par un carpaccio de thon et un tataki, tous deux servis généreusement et avec une touche d’originalité qui se distingue des autres restaurants – un vrai délice ! En plat principal, nous avons choisi le kebab fish, une brochette mixte de fruits de mer et de poisson, ainsi qu’un poisson grillé, servis simplement. Si la présentation est attrayante, nous nous attendions à un peu plus de saveur dans les assiettes. Le seul bémol majeur de l’expérience reste la rapidité du service : à peine la commande passée, les plats arrivent, rendant difficile la possibilité de profiter du moment. Vous n’avez même pas le temps de savourer votre vin que l’entrée est déjà servie, et les plats s’enchaînent sans pause. Ce rythme effréné, malheureusement courant dans de nombreux restaurants de Santa Maria, donne l’impression d’être un peu expédié, empêchant de profiter d’un moment plus relaxant. En somme, si la cuisine vaut le détour, un peu plus de lenteur dans le service permettrait de profiter pleinement de cette...