O Brasão — Restaurant in Belmonte

Review of “O Brasão” Restaurant in Belmonte

Nestled in a charming square in the historic center of Belmonte, near the iconic castle, O Brasão offers an unforgettable experience with its authentic Portuguese cuisine. Here’s what stands out:

Atmosphere • Location: The restaurant’s picturesque setting in the heart of Belmonte is perfect for enjoying the village’s historic charm. • Space: Though cozy inside, the terrace is a highlight, operational even in winter, providing a warm and comfortable dining area.

Cuisine • Main Dishes: • The wild boar stew was our choice, and it did not disappoint. Rich, flavorful, and hearty, it’s ideal for sharing (serves two generously) and a unique dish rarely found or made at home. • Other notable options include lamb chops, tender and juicy, and the traditional bacalhau com broa (codfish with cornbread crust). • Starters: • The regional cheese board is highly recommended, featuring goat cheese, mixed goat and sheep cheese, and sheep cheese. The cheeses are served with toasted bread, cornbread (broa de milho), and homemade pumpkin jam, making it a perfect starter. • The game sausage (alheira de caça) is another standout appetizer, showcasing regional flavors. • Desserts: The dessert menu offers various cakes paired with ice cream. We opted for the orange cake with ice cream, drizzled with chocolate sauce—a decadent and delicious ending to the meal.

Service • Attention to detail: The chef personally visited our table to check on everything, showcasing genuine care and dedication to the guests. • Staff: Warm, friendly, and attentive, ensuring a pleasant and relaxed dining experience.

Conclusion

O Brasão delivers a wonderful combination of flavorful traditional dishes, a cozy ambiance, and attentive service. With its unique offerings like wild boar stew, game sausage, and an outstanding cheese board, it’s a must-visit spot for anyone exploring the historic charm of Belmonte. Highly...

Friendly staff and large portions, but the food is uninspired, sometimes downright disappointing. One of our main dishes came with hush puppies as accompaniment. Mixed vegetables ended up being steamed spinach. The veal stew is actually a grilled steak.

I suspect some of the issues come from the poor English translation in the menu. Nonetheless, it does not make the food any better. It was not terrible food, just not very good. We had plenty extra that we took home, but we could never convince ourselves...

O Brasao was a wonderful experience. The food was freshly made to order, and the taste was amazing. The chef is a truly talented young woman. Our server was outstanding. The portions are very generous. The wild boar stew is unbelievable. The meat literally falls off the bone, and the roasted potatoes make a great combination. The price was more than fair at 22 euros for the boar stew, and the salad at 6.50 euros feeds 2 easily. Highly...