Restaurante O Cabeço — Restaurant in Alcobaça

We have eaten at this little gem several times in the last six years. We had not been in awhile, and decided today we would return. We have never had a bad meal here. Until today. We ordered the atun, we asked for it to be “mal passado”, or medium rare. It was cooked perfectly. The sauce was delicious, but one bite of the fish, and we were afraid to eat more. It tasted “off”. We enjoyed our other dish of lamb, which was so delicious, and was honestly enough for the two of us, especially after our starter of soup, and the bread, olives, pickled carrots and tuna pate. The restaurant was super busy,(as usual), and while the service was very good, it was not as attentive as I remember. When the waiter cleared our plates, we mentioned that the tuna tasted old. She insisted it was fresh, which I am sure it was, a day or so before. I asked her to please have the chef taste it, so he/she would know the fish was off. We asked for the check and were told to pay at the bar. I could tell we were being discussed by the staff, as they kept peeking around the corner. The waiter who took our card, told us we didn’t like the fish because it was “rare”. While we were not looking for a “free meal”, we were hoping that the chef would address the issue of serving fish that was clearly not good. I have worked in the hospitality industry for most of my life, and am a retired chef myself. I am so disappointed in the Chef and the staff of this establishment, that we will not return or recommend anymore to anyone. A bad piece of fish can happen, even with high standards and practices. What shouldn’t happen is for the staff and chef to not listen to a customer’s complaint...

Absolutely one of the best dinners I have had since moving to Portugal!! I cannot say enough positive things about this restaurant. From the moment you enter the door you’re greeted with a charming host and the dining has warmth and character and so inviting. The service is excellent! The staff is friendly and very attentive. Then the food! Absolutely delicious! We ordered the shrimp with guilho appetizer to share and we were no going to order bread but was strongly suggest we order the bread because the sauce with the shrimp is amazing and we will want to soak up the bread, glad we took her advice because the sauce is to die for! I ordered the duck Margret…fabulous! I don’t often desert but something caught my eye and had to order it , it was the Alcobaca apple brûlée. It was so flavorful and unique because the brûlée was inside the apple! I’m a foodie and was so impressed with this restaurant and so glad I found it. I will definitely be back and Highly Recommend this restaurant and you won’t be disappointed. You should definitely make reservations and I found it best to contact them...

Had an absolutely amazing meal at a truly special spot. This restaurant is just outside Alcobaça in a unique, rural setting. It’s so idyllic. The place is tastefully decorated, and the staff are super friendly. We ordered some delicious starters (fried calamari in breadcrumbs, prawns in garlic oil, and a few tasty bites from the house) and equally fantastic mains. We had Iberian pork, grilled octopus, and for the boys, a risotto and linguini (pasta) with octopus, prawns, mussels, and mushrooms. So tasty… you’ll be licking your fingers! The service was incredibly friendly, and we enjoyed an excellent wine (the Douro Duas Quintos Branco 2023). This restaurant is a real hidden gem. Highly recommended for foodies who want to enjoy great food and life in a...