Restaurante Fogo e Tradição — Restaurant in Coimbra

We were thrilled to find this excellent restaurant in the Santa Clara neighborhood of Coimbra. We were staying in a more touristy, crowded part of town on the other side of the river, more or less Baixa, down the hill from the uni, so this lovely local favorite (I would venture to say its reputation must already exist well beyond local!) delivered a great, traditional Portuguese meal with style. The grilled meats (we had grass fed beef and pork) and the very original and savory shitake mushrooms with pork belly (the latter were our starter) were indescribable: just plain delicious! Portions are generous, so even one main dish could be shared. We decided to savor more dishes and the staff were very friendly when we asked for a box to bring some home. The decor is simple, elegant, and comfortable, solid wood finished slabs for tables give it a rustic feel, but the light fixtures - with slatted modern wood light shades - cast pretty designs on the ceiling. The staff are friendly, open and generous with their time explaining the dishes. If you're a tourist like us, a car (hire? rental?) helps to get up the hill in Santa Clara....

I never write reviews but felt compelled to leave a review for this restaurant. We found this place by chance and I’m so glad we came here! This ended up being one of our favorite restaurants in our 1 month stay in Europe. We didn’t know what to get (or how to read the menu) so asked the waiter for help and the chef personally came out to translate the menu and made recommendations based on questions he asked us. He also recommended excellent wine pairings when we asked for more help. He was clearly very knowledgeable and genuinely passionate about each wine he recommended. Every dish came out so so amazing. The flavors were all very well balanced and highlighted each of the star ingredients so well. We especially LOVED the beef tartare, the fried octopus was so fresh and the airy breading was the perfect complement to the tenderness of the octopus, and the rice (sorry forgot what it was called) was amazing in that rich sauce. Would 100% come back if we are ever in...

If you’re wandering through Coimbra, don’t miss this hidden gem! The hospitality here is off the charts, making you feel right at home from the moment you step in. The gambas al Ájillo are hands down the best I’ve ever had—perfectly cooked with just the right kick of garlic. Their steak? Absolutely out of this world, bursting with flavor and cooked to perfection. And save room for dessert: the pears in wine paired with gorgonzola ice cream will blow your mind! This place is a must-visit for any food lover! P.S. Sorry, no photos this time—everything was so amazing that we couldn’t wait...