PANEÒLIO Pizza Bar — Restaurant in Caldas da Rainha

I would not recommend this pizzeria for the following reasons:

1.) The tall skinny floor manager (or was it actually the owner?) appeared to be in a bad mood and therefore upon entering I was greeted with a grim face, instead of a welcoming smile.

2.) Thick bread pizza, the kind where you leave the crust behind because you do not feel like loading up on "just bread".

3.) I found mushroom stems on both pizzas we ordered. These were hard and chewy, and even sour ... maybe it was the tomato sauce; both my partner and I were unable to distinguish which ingredient was the culprit, however this might indicate that the mushrooms are from a can and/or that unripe tomatoes are to be blamed for the mediocre sauce. Either way, having worked in restaurants before: mushroom STEMS are made use of in other ways and have no place as a topping and tomatoes must be truly ripe when we are talking about a simple food such as pizza ...

4.) The fresh basil (Genovese) which is used as a garnish was tasteless and so was the mozzarella that was plonked in the middle of each pizza, the latter adding even more sogginess to what was already an acidic tomato sauce mess.

5.) You have to pay for the take-away paper cardboard box in this establishment! Unheard of, but hilarious nonetheless.

In conclusion: if you have never had pizza in Italy, or even at places like Lucca and ZeroZero in Lisbon, but enjoy a lot of trendy "Instagrammable" terms on the menu that fall flat upon arrival of the pizza ... then this is the place for you. You have been warned, enjoy at own risk!

In reply to the reply this review received:

Please do take the time to read carefully what is described, as such you spare yourself the embarrassment of not having understood the following: that a take away pizza ... does not eat in; the Genovese basil was decoration; mushroom stems have no place on a pizza unless you are cutting corners ... not to mention the sourness, as opposed to delicious acidity from quality produce. Indeed, all of the above is my opinion, to which I am entitled to and based on experiences which inform my demand for quality and high standards which were absolutely not met, but neither do you perceive a greeting smile as necessary and take it for granted that there is absolutely no reason for...

An unforgettable culinary experience – Authentic Italian cuisine in Portugal!

Last night, I had the pleasure of celebrating my birthday at Pane e Olio, an authentic Italian restaurant in Caldas da Rainha, and I must say it was much more than just a dinner—it was an extraordinary experience!

We started with a vegan cheese platter that exceeded all expectations: top-quality cheeses paired with perfectly matched jams. The bruschetta with tomatoes was simply delicious, bursting with fresh and authentic flavors.

The highlight of the evening was the pizza, and as an Italian, I can confidently say that it was one of the best I have ever had—even compared to many pizzerias in Italy! The dough was perfect, the ingredients were top-notch, and the cooking was impeccable, making every bite a true pleasure.

The entire meal was paired with a high-quality Italian wine from Salento, which enhanced every flavor of the dinner. And to top it all off, the dessert was the perfect finishing touch to a flawless evening.

Beyond the food quality, I must also praise the service: warm, attentive, and passionate—just as you’d expect from the best Italian restaurants.

If you're in Portugal and looking for an authentic Italian dining experience, Pane e Olio is a must-visit! Kudos to the entire staff for their love and dedication to...

Very big disappointment and rather average dining experience. Ventilation problem inside, restaurant was full of smoke and we ate with tears in our eyes, rather unpleasant experience. When we asked stuff if its normal and if they can do sth about it ,at 1st we were met with very nice waitress attending our table( with side shaved hair )and she was very accommodating. The smoke situation was getting worst and we all looked like lab bunnies so we asked again this time a lady with grey hair that looked like a manager. We were met with very defensive attitude and rather rude person and all we asked if she cld do sth about the smoke, ie switch fans that we cld see and that were off. Food opinion very very average flavours, pizza comes pre cut and spread on massive plates..not sure whats the idea behind it..?! Tiramisu had cream mixed with mascarpone very not Italian way of doing it. Salad was the best part of our meal and thats strange for a place that claims they all about bread and oil. Most likely wont ever return. As for you answer. Im afraid that your customer skills are as bad as your tiramisu making skills. Accusing 4 ppl of lying is the highest form of disrespect for your own...