FAMA by Luís Lavrador — Restaurant in Aveiro

I went there with a friend to celebrate a professional achievement, and we chose this restaurant based on the reviews we found online. We went there with high expectations but the whole experience was really disappointing!! Starting with charging the Couvert (bread, butter and pâté) per person, I really do not understand the logic here! What if a group of ten people goes there and only half of them ate the couvert, those who did not eat would still pay 2€ each for something that they didn’t even try?! As starters, we ordered the prawns (6 prawns) and tuna ceviche (both not included in the menu here). They both tasted nice but the ceviche was served as two mini tacos with literally un-chewable mini tortilla. We also got the vegetable soup that was average. For main dishes we ordered “Braised octopus tentacle” and the “Low temperature oxtail”. The oxtail was acceptable, a small cuboid with purée and some vegetables. However, the octopus (served with sweet potato puree and a small pot of octopus pearl barley) was dry and flavorless with very very hard skin that I needed to spit out some bites for not being able to chew them, it definitely does not represent the world-famous Portuguese octopus. After not being asked our opinion about the main dishes, our choice for dessert was the almond cake. While the cake itself (sponge cake with the “Aveirense” egg cream “ovos moles” with some almond flakes on top) was covered with an overwhelming amount of powder sugar, it was served with nice cinnamon ice-cream. At the end, all we wanted was finishing the meal with a nice cup of coffee, so I ordered an espresso and my friend ordered an “abatanado” (an espresso with some more water) and a “GLASS” of water with coffee. We got coffee from a commercial brand that was almost double the price of specialty coffee at a coffee roaster café, and instead of the glass of water I asked for, I got a 2.5€ 30cl bottle of water. Maybe having high expectations is the reason behind this negative review but I genuinely find everything we ordered very overpriced...

Returning to this restaurant for the second time, our expectations were once again exceeded. After over ten years of honest exploration in Portugal, I can confidently say that this restaurant stands out as one of the best I’ve ever experienced.

The service was impeccable – helpful, friendly, and authentic. Our request was honored, and we were seated with a view into the kitchen, which added an exciting dimension to our dining experience. The food was flawless, with the daily fish being particularly delicious, along with all the appetizers we sampled.

The wine recommendation was spot-on, perfectly aligning with my tastes as described to the waiter, who demonstrated not only expertise in food but also in wine – a definite plus. The ambiance was charming, with the entire team, aside from the kitchen, exuding warmth. The restaurant’s decor was beautifully curated, adding to the overall experience.

I’m already looking forward to my next visit. This restaurant is my top recommendation for anyone visiting Portugal – don’t...

was a very nice effort. Good dishes, clever combinations of ingredients, good presentation. The restaurant is beautifully decorated with emphasis on the wine. Some things thst the chef and the management team should reconsider are the following: Should the Degustasion menu be analyzed and be written down? I prefer this way instead of what I was told that the chef is preparing every day according to the customer a five course menu. Is it a good idea to have the bread and butter on the table before the clients arrive? Certainly not especially in a fine dining restaurant. Unfortunately the grilled beef meat - the last dish of the Degustasion menu - was full of difficult to chew vessels and fibers. The quality of this part of the beef shouldn't be used in a Degustasion menu. A Degustasion menu is the menu that REPRESENTS the quality of the chef and...