Távola Lagoa — Restaurant in Caldas da Rainha

I had dinner on Saturday, 25 June 2022, with a 19.00 reservation. I brought my friend who was visiting from Dallas and we were both looking forward to trying out the new version of Tavola. Our first impression was created by a gentleman standing at the counter who told us that we weren't supposed to come in through the front door. We were supposed to use the side door because the front area was not yet finished. I'm not sure why he felt it necessary to scold us at all. There were only two other tables with customers at them in the restaurant. So, please note: Do not use the front door. Walk around to the side, where the outdoor glassed in patio is located and use that door to enter.

We were then met by a very friendly young man who gestured to the nearly empty restaurant and asked us where we would like to sit. We preferred to sit outdoors and he followed us to a table in the corner that had three chairs. An older waiter started to loudly protest our even being seated. He kept saying "You have no book you cannot sit." We assured him we did indeed have a reservation. He didn't give up for several minutes, which only caused us to feel more awkward after the scolding about using the wrong door. My friend and I just ignored him and sat down. The friendly young server asked if we wanted to order something to drink, and then suggested a white wine when we asked for his recommendations.

The menu is very diversified, focusing on fresh seafood. I ordered grilled octopus and my friend ordered the mixed seafood rice dish. We enjoyed nibbling on the olives and bread (which came with a small bowl of a seafood spread that was excellent). The restaurant began to fill up quickly at around 20.00. Our food was absolutely delicious. If I return I will definitely order the dish my friend had - it included a small lobster, fresh shrimp (perfectly cleaned!), and other seafood. My octopus was deliciously prepared, but his was the star.

The restaurant does not offer a very good view. There is a large parking lot behind the restaurant and a part of the lagoon can be seen if you are seated where we were - on the outer edge of the outdoor patio. Our intent was to have an early dinner so we could move further down the beach to take a walk and enjoy the sunset. We began asking for our bill at 20.10. The dining room was very full, and there were only the two waiters to handle the entire restaurant. There were large parties of 10, 12 and 14. Our server was trying his very best to keep up. He acknowledged our waving hands, and said he had to take care of the large group and then he would be with us. At 20.45, we got up and walked to the front counter to pay our bill which we had not yet received. There was another table waiting ahead of us to pay theirs.

I stepped back out of the way and my friend waited for someone to acknowledge him and get our bill to let him pay it. When he was given the bill, it was wrong. There were two orders instead of one for his entre. The mature server argued with the younger one that he couldn't read his writing so he put down "2" instead of "1" - Just another embarrassing moment for us as customers. The younger server apologized profusely for not being able to get us our bill, and my friend reassured him that we knew he was working very hard and there was no possible way that two waiters could provide service to the entire restaurant.

It took over an hour for us to get our bill, pay the corrected bill, and leave. We completely missed the sunset, which was quite disappointing for my friend as it was his last night visiting me in Foz do Arelho. The original Tavola remains one of my very favorite restaurants with excellent food and service. I believe that the Tavola Lagoa will improve its service and rise to the top of that list. The food is outstanding. I would not return on a weekend. I'm not sure I will return until after the summer...

We unknowingly arrived earlier than open and the woman who greeted us (Catarina) mentioned they could serve us some snacks before their full service. She quickly decided to inquire with the chef (who was just arriving to work) as to whether they might be able to serve us dinner early (it was 4:30 PM). She must have been the warmest and most welcoming hostess/server we've met in Portugal. She first offered us some snacks - tuna pate, olives, pulpo salad and bread - all so delicious, while the chef prepared for the dinner service. We ordered Cataplana - a Portuguese seafood stew in a light tomato broth served with white rice and fries. It was packed with fresh seafood, so delicious and the perfect accompaniment to the cold weather! Not only was the food delicious, the interiors of this restaurant were really well done and cozy, especially compared to others we were looking at from the surrounding area (Nazaré). We are so thankful to Catarina (excuse me if this is the incorrect spelling) for her hospitality and friendly demeanor, she treated us like family. Távola Lagos was absolutely a highlight of our visit...

Not a good experience!!! We went here for dinner as we were staying close and the reviews were quite positive. We ordered our starter and main course and it took over an hour for us to be told that the chef did not want to serve the fish soup as the onions had gone acid!!!! So we just said ok we will have our main course. My partner was served her black shrimp pasta, which looked delicious. I ordered monkfish skewers but was served cod, which I only realised after a few bites as it was full of bones. When we pointed this out to the waitress she apologised and said that she had got the order wrong. She then expected me just to eat the meal that I did not order!!!! I then asked for the meal to be taken away as it was not what I ordered she seemed not too happy. I then ordered what my partner had. By the time I received my food my partner had already finished her meal!!! They tried to charge me for my side salad, which I returned uneaten with the cod I did not order!!!! Worst meal experience in Portugal during our holiday. Not a...