Lagar do Alva — Restaurant in Arganil

Great disappointment! The only plus for this restaurant was the size of the portions, shame that the quality of the food was so poor. Let's begin with the ambiance...or lack of... this place looks completely tired and ignored. On entry into this restaurant the first thing you notice is how dark the interior is, originally an old mill the owners have tried to keep much of the interior as it was, which is fine but this hasn't been done in a sympathetic way. All the wooden beams etc have been painted black to the point that it gives a depressive, stark atmosphere. We decided to eat on the balcony because the interior did not appeal and was anyway completely empty with no ambiance. Outside on the balcony there were poorly repaired wooden planks (previous customers have fallen through), the tables looked as if they had been purchased second hand in the 70's and everything looked as if the owner had lost his way and couldn't be bothered any longer. The menu presented to us looked as if it had been kicked around the restaurant floor on its way to our table. We decided to order the house red wine to have with the meal.....but there isn't any house wine (which is a first for me in Portugal), the cheapest wine is 15€ a bottle! So we opted for a €15 bottle of red wine that costs 5€ in the supermarket...it arrived to the table as if it had just been taken from a refrigerator. The food.... Olive oil is an integral part of Portuguese cuisine (which I fully appreciate and enjoy) but unfortunately every dish was soaked in oil to the point that we became nauseous. The meat, roast potatoes lacked proper seasoning and the fries seemed as if they had been reheated. To finish the experience we ordered coffee to try and take away the taste of grease from our mouths and decided to have dessert in a cafe nearby. The best bit...the bill...71€ for bread, some small plates (cheese etc), 2 main courses, wine and coffee. In Portugal you can easily find a restaurant that will give you a good meal/service, in a pleasant atmosphere at less than half the price of this one. The owner is quite obviously playing on the fact that the restaurant is situated in a picturesque spot next to the river and so he can charge whatever he likes because tourists will pay. One word describes how we felt at the end of our experience.....robbed. Considering the spot next to the river we should have wondered on a lunchtime why there was only 2 other tables apart from us, locals must know to avoid this place. This restaurant must survive on its summer trade, full of tourists that don't know any...

No dia 23 de Agosto fomos almoçar ao Lagar do Alva. Estava imenso calor pelo que a opção foi comer no interior do restaurante e não na esplanada, que tem uma excelente vista. Começámos por estranhar que a ementa fosse com QR code e sem acesso direto a preços. Para além desse pormenor, é sabido que naquela região, o acesso á internet não é o melhor, sendo por vezes inviável de todo. Pedimos uma dose de polvo à lagareiro que nos informaram ser suficiente para duas pessoas. Antes, sem que nos perguntassem se queríamos, vieram seis entradas (pão, queijo, presunto, melão, requeijão e doce). Aceitámos. Escolhemos vinho da casa e a espera não foi longa. Não temos razões de queixa em relação ao que comemos. No fim pedimos uma tigelada e uma mousse de limão. bebemos dois cafés e pedimos a conta. Aí começou o problema. Como queríamos fatura com contribuinte demos logo o número e a fatura chegou já pronta a pagar. Olhámos para a fatura e nem queríamos acreditar nos preços, ainda para mais quando não tivemos conhecimento prévio dos mesmos, pois as opções teriam sido diferentes. Vinho da casa a 15€, entradas a 15€, uma dose de polvo a 30€. Conclusão, a conta foi de 70,90€. Um roubo. Questionámos uma funcionária sobre a não existência de uma ementa física, ao que nos respondeu que ela existia à entrada. Fomos consultá-la e os preços nela contidos eram 30 a 100 por cento a menos em diversos itens e ainda nos disseram que tinha sido um cliente que os aconselhara a terem essa ementa disponível. O que é vergonhoso é que nem se deram ao trabalho de a atualizarem. Pensámos em pedir a diferença, em chamar as autoridades, etc, mas acabámos por não o fazer porque a vontade de sair dali foi maior. Vimos outros clientes de mãos na cabeça a olhar para as faturas que lhes apresentavam. Quanto ao senhor Silva, que supostamente é a pessoa responsável pelo espaço, um antigo e belo lagar adaptado e que bem podia ter ar condicionado, olhando aos preços que pratica, dinheiro não lhe deve faltar, inversamente à simpatia que demonstra (que é nenhuma). A impressão com que saímos foi de que o QR code com a internet difícil naquela região e a forma como as coisas se processaram não são por acaso. Sentimo-nos enganados com os preços. Com muita pena nossa, até porque toda a família é daquela vila, este é um local a não...

I used to go there on a regular basis but the place has become totally overpriced. A portion was supposed to be for 2 persons and we were 3. They brought us 2 and a half portions which is the quantity for 5. Despite me asking if they did a mistake . They did not react but in the end the charged us for 5 instead of 3. On top of it we refused the cheese and olives that they systematically bring to you but found out they charged it anyway in the end. This place has become a tourist trap. Avoid it. And the decoration is outdated and cheap. Also the Terrace was poorly decorated withnplatic sheets protecting us from the sun. I used tonlove the place but will not...