Tasca do Barrocas — Restaurant in Alcácer do Sal

Any other people with this experience with children here please reach out to me! 👀 The owner inappropriately kissed my daughters head on two seperate occasions and beliteled my son repeatedly. After reading other one star reviews and on reflection it seems we were abused at this restaurant by a form of "gaslighting masked as a joke" if you read the one star reviews it seems there is a pattern here. The ladies that cook for him also appeared scared. Below is an exact account of the experience We arrived first comers to the restaurant. The owner seemed " a character" calling me ( drunkenly ) to follow him to the bar to take a shot with him before the meal, no words were spoken it was an odd moment. It was like being with Keith Floyd. He seemed drunk, I wanted to film it. I was also happy to be starting with what seemed like a memorable experience. As the meal began he played a game with my young son of being extremely stern and staring at him every time he came to the table, then breaking off just before the tension became too strange for everyone. the fun/joke eventually being lost altogether and a strange uncomfortable power play feeling at the table. He kept making sure I was topped up with beer and wouldnt take no more for an answer. I was " looked after". I started to feel like he was keeping me on side by purposefully looking after me with drinks. At the end of the meal he stood over the table and stared at my 6 year old son making him finish the rice on his plate in front of him. Every time the tension became too strange he cracked into a smile. He then made my daughter do the same, he made her try the rice she didn't want to try by physically holding her head " jokingly " in a force feed kind of way, every time the tension became too much he laughed and then kissed her on top of her head. He repeated this process twice. My partner and I decided enough was enough when we realized the behavior was far from a fun game and she took the kids away from the restaurant while I asked for the bill. We spoke as a family after and the kids said they felt like he " invaded their bubble and was super creepy and nasty" We felt the same and began to feel guilty we had allowed the behaviour to go on as long as it did without acting. Please reach out if anything like this has happened to you or your children here...

The weird man over steps boundaries with children disguises it as a 'Joke'

Gaslighting is a form of psychological manipulation where the abuser makes someone doubt their own perceptions, memories, or sanity. When this behavior is masked as a “joke,” it becomes particularly insidious and difficult to confront.

A gaslighter who says hurtful, belittling, or undermining things and then dismisses them as “just joking” is using humor as a shield. This tactic allows them to avoid accountability while making the victim question whether they are overreacting. For example, a partner might mock your appearance or intelligence, then laugh and say, “Relax, I’m only joking.” If you express hurt, they might accuse you of being too sensitive or say, “You can’t take a joke.”

This is a subtle form of emotional abuse. The repeated experience of being invalidated or mocked in this way can make a person begin to second-guess their emotional responses. Over time, they may suppress their feelings, stop speaking up, or lose confidence in their ability to interpret social cues. The goal—conscious or not—is control: keeping the victim off balance and unsure of themselves.

The danger lies in how normalized this behavior can become, especially if the gaslighter presents themselves as funny, charming, or socially well-liked. Victims may struggle to explain why they feel so uneasy or hurt by what others see as humor.

Healthy relationships involve respect, not ridicule. A true joke is shared and mutual—both people laugh. If only one person is laughing while the other feels small, embarrassed, or confused, it’s not a joke. It’s a manipulation tactic.

Calling out these moments can be hard, but setting boundaries and recognizing that repeated “jokes” at your expense are not harmless is the first step in reclaiming your...

Great food and wonderful owners. The chef (owner) came to our table after we asked questions regarding gluten to the server. (My wife has celiac). Almost everything was naturally gluten free and we ordered “arroz con bacalao”, a mix of grilled meat (beef and pork) that came with a tomatoes salad and homemade chips. And a jar of their house white wine. Espectacular taste and the freshest produce, I very much love Portugal and it is because of restaurants like this. Simple, humble, great people and great food. Wish I would have taken pictures but was too busy...