Fat Cats on the Marina — Restaurant in Albufeira

Useless.

Too set a scene, it had rained before we arrived (well before we arrived). We got there around midday, so coming into peak lunchtime. Most places along the marina have a section directly outside and then a section across the walkway over looking the marina.

Most places were just starting to dry down the section across the marina as the sun was now out and people were descending.

Fat Cats were not.

Fat Cats are right at the end of the marina so we had settled on them purely because we were at the end and they had a good menu (too look at), but they had no space other than a sofa?

We asked if we could sit at the sofa and order and were told we could only order snacks there, which wasn’t ideal. As we were starting to head out we were told we could sit over on the veranda as they would dry it off. Perfect.

So we headed over, a guy dried the table and we sat down. Perfect. He bought us menus, we decided what we wanted, they dried more tables, more people sat down.

Then a lady who worked there, came out and informed us they were only serving drinks, because it was going to rain. Not a cloud in the sky. Apple weather saying sun for the rest of the day, but this women decided otherwise.

Asked the man that sat us and he just shrugged. We went down the road again to the Irish Pub and got great service and great food.

A couple of the other couples followed suit.

Didn’t rain again until...

Two waitress from India were nice but I asked waitress for the vegan burger meal with chips, salad, no cheese and vegan bun . She said yes. Then she brings me mayo and coleslaw.....I asked her is the coleslaw made from vegan mayo ?she had to ask the other waitress, she said no, then why bring it to me ? I sent the coleslaw back and didn't get any apology or anything instead like guacamole (avocado), peas, nothing. Odd behaviour, especially after I ordered a vegan meal not a veggie meal. If you want to be a waitress, or a chef, then learn about food. It's important. Otherwise people will lose trust in restaurants. The burger was spicy ,oily, greasy, I couldn't finish it. It was like a curry burger which I was not expecting. Don't know why the chef made it so spicy, oily and greasy. Why? The chips and ketchup were nice and the lemonade was lovely with ginger slices and ice. Location is lovely looking at boats. Music is nice in background. Nice seats. Lovely Marina. Clean toilets. My mother did give a tip to the two Indian waitresses but I really hope they don't give coleslaw to a vegan again. Imagine if I was allergic? Or coeliac disease? And got sick? Please improve so other vegans don't get wrong items . Then because of this , I didn't order the vegan chia pudding dessert because...

Alright, so we found ourselves at Fat Cats in search of a family-friendly joint, but what we got was just another run-of-the-mill restaurant. It didn't quite live up to the hype of a 4+ star establishment, and I can't say it's a total tourist trap, but it's not blowing any minds either. The food was passable, considering the price point, but let's be honest, it didn't deliver the mind-blowing experience the ratings seemed to promise.

Now, when it comes to the ambiance, calling the place "Santa's Lapland" would probably have had the same effect, given the complete disconnect between the decor and the name. I'm all for quirky themes, but it has to make some semblance of sense, right?

On the brighter side, the staff was friendly to us, but I couldn't help overhearing some hushed discussions amongst themselves. It's always a bummer when you sense a bit of discord in the air.

In conclusion, I wouldn't label Fat Cats as a tourist trap, but it's not going on my list of must-visit spots either. Perhaps, in a pinch, if you're famished, right next door, and counting your pennies, it could do the trick. But for those seeking an extraordinary culinary escapade, this place falls a tad short. Keep exploring, folks, and may your taste buds lead you to...