Taberna do Manelvina — Restaurant in Caldas da Rainha

Probably worth booking ahead as we were lucky to find a table and by the time we were done people were queuing out the door. The waiter was super friendly and helpful, and asked if it was our first time, which it was. We went for a kind of ongoing platter buffet - started with a chourico, alheira, morcela combo, went on with some pork and then some beef, and finished off with "touro" - the bull. Which was slightly blue for our taste, but was absolutely bloody lovely.

We were two adults and three kids under twelve. We ordered for three people and it was more than enough for all of us. Adults had two jars of the house red which was delicious, and we all had a dessert on top of that.

Then the waiter brought over a bottle of "agua de luzo" and a bottle of "cascol" and two shot glasses as well as five little cakey things for us all. The "luzo" is some kind of aguadente (I think) and the "cascol" similar to moscatel. Both nice, both freebies for the end of the meal which was a nice touch.

Would definitely go again, really enjoyed it, but not one for...

Interesting place apparently owner used to be a bull fighter and there are trophy heads of real bulls on the wall. .

The food is a little aquire taste but they have good steak as well. . Mainly though it's all about pork cooked in many different ways some I've never seen before and didn't really like ..I'm not a big pork lover myself.

You can choose from a menu or just allow them to surprise you and they bring dish after dish to share or meat and chips with salad etc and they have a wide rance of local and international wines too.

Not sure if I would return as it's not my thing. Chips are way too greasy and all in all apartment from the good salads the meal felt a might unhealthy but it's all about...

Lunch on a gorgeous December Tuesday. We were seated in the front room since we hadn't made a reservation. Plenty of tables were available. We had the regular fare which involves a new dish arriving every few minutes. Salad and bread were quickly followed by lovely chorizo. Nicely cooked strips of pork belly and fries came next, then the black pork. We couldn't say no to the perfectly cooked steak that came last. Or almost-last. After we convinced the incredibly friendly waiter we couldn't possibly handle dessert, he brought the complimentary aperitif with a small coconut tart. Very reasonable price for the top-notch food we ate. Absolutely...