Tasquinha do Barbosa — Restaurant in Coimbra

Update to my original review, one month on...

What a difference a month makes. We returned to Churrasqueira da Baixa to check if it deserved that 5th star and were shocked at the decline in standards here.

We entered at 12.30 and there were three other tables occupied, so hardly busy. Initially the service was reasonable, but that soon slowed as three or four more tables became occupied. By the time our mains came we were having to remind the two wait staff that we were still in the restaurant. One in particular seemed to be walking aimlessly around without taking notice of the fact that people were waiting at various stages of their meals to be attended to.

The generous portions of food that we noticed on our previous visit have now been stripped right back to barely adequate. e.g. Three thin slices of entremeada for two people! The quality of the food has worsened and the preparation was not up to the original standard.

When it came to our dessert, it was more like an episode of Fawlty Towers. We were offered a choice of two desserts and either fruit or fruit salad, which turned out to be apple and orange! Of the two desserts offered, they then realised that they only had one. How can you barely be into a lunch service and already running out of food? I strongly suspect that my Leite Creme had been made the day before as it had a thick skin on it and that they had not bothered to make any fresh desserts that day.

As if that was not bad enough, the cost of a diária has risen from 8€ to 10€. A 25% increase in a month. We will not be returning any time soon, if at all unless there is a marked improvement all round.

Original review.

I think that when @Julio Elias left his review he was either having a bad day or was reviewing a different restaurant.

To answer his review step by step. There was a large selection of drinks on offer and in our opinion the Vinho Verde was one of the best we have tasted. It was fresh and fruity and served at a perfect temperature.

Of course the price was the same for adult and child; it is a diario. Show me any restaurant with a child price on the daily set menu. If the diario did not suit Julio’s pocket for his child there was a normal menu available. Further, the price varied according to the main dish that you chose. There were five fish dishes for €8 and seventeen meat dishes at that price!. Only if you chose Bacalhau à Lagareiro or the Leitão did the cost go to €10. For a diario we found the quantity of food to be very generous. It was of good quality and well-seasoned. The staff were all very pleasant and, until the restaurant started to fill, they worked efficiently.

Our take on the restaurant was that it gave excellent value for a diario. Our only complaint was, as mentioned previously, that under pressure the waiting staff became less efficient. We entered around 12.30 and there were maybe another six tables occupied, but the restaurant began to fill as the 1 o’clock lunchtime approached for many people. Our group of four chose four different main courses; three meat and one fish and we were all very happy with our choices. Our only grumble food wise was that the chips served with two of the meals were barely warm. A third serving arrived mid-way through the meal for some reason and these were only marginally hotter.

At €8 for bread, butter and olives, soup of the day, a main course, drink, dessert and coffee all served by cheerful staff in a modern, clean restaurant, I fail to see what there is to complain about.

Only four stars for now. When the waiting staff become more organised and the kitchen can serve hot chips, they will earn the fifth star. This is definitely an establishment that I would recommend and we will be returning to see if they have earned...

Uma experiência ruim

O restaurante é bem grande, assim que cheguei me sentei perto da porta de entrada, depois de um certo tempo veio um senhor (que eu creio que possa ser o dono) todo arrogante informando que ali não poderia se sentar e se eu quisesse ser atendida, que fosse sentar a frente. Ao que parecia que estava com nojo de falar com a gente pois a linguagem corporal o manteve com o corpo a afasta-se. Pois bem, não entendi direito porque eu estava ali com fome, provavelmente iria pagar pela comida e estava a ser mal atendida, por esta sentada e uma mesa de um restaurante e que eu nem sabia que poderia sentar-se ou não? pra que colocam tantas mesas se no final você não pode se sentar? OI?

Como de costume era afrontoso, pedir uma cerveja "PEQUENA" ao que ele rebateu e falou," UMA MINI ORA POIS". A'i eu te pergunto: Pra que tanta ignorância? Fui ali pra comer e não pra debater o que era certo ou errado, os outros garçons pareciam cordiais e ao mesmo tempo timidos , sei lá. Só sei que a vide desse lugar é ruim e com certeza NUNCA voltaria aqui novamente. Pagar pra ser maltratado? Jamais!

Sobre a comida, estava boa só achei oleoso o arroz porem estava muito gostoso, no mais so tenho a reclamar do senhor de idade que é um pessimo atendente. Caso não queira trabalhar...

The restaurant has a great vibe and lovely staff, Sara was very professional and catered for all of us like a star. The food was amazing and starters, drinks, soup, main and dessert all for a package price. I highly recommend to all tourists and...