Restaurante Velha Casa — Restaurant in Faro

Called in for a late dinner (just me and my dog, on the outside terrace area) on Friday evening. I’d wanted the cod crumble but they had no cod dishes left and the only other meat-free dish was prawn omelette, so I ordered that. I asked if it were possible to add cheese and was told a firm, “Não.” When enquiring why I couldn’t have cheese added, I was told it’s a prawn omelette, and prawn omelette doesn’t have cheese. (It’s an omelette, for Pete’s sake, you can put pretty much anything in it! But alright, you know, the Portuguese and doing anything outside the box…)

The food was OK, prawn omelette and chips, would have been a tonne better with cheese. And a bit of salad on the side. And condiments. The house red was tasty. 4 pieces of bread with only one pack of butter. Then when I asked for the bill I was told it was coming… eventually I went inside to ask again for the bill from the slightly friendlier of the two waitresses who was setting the tables for tomorrow instead of getting me the bill she’d promised. The other surly, cheese-guarding waitress then grumbled when I asked to use my contribuinte because she’d have to “do it twice”, even though I hadn’t even been given the bill in order to ask!

Poker-faced/rude service, and boring food, I wasn’t allowed cheese on my omelette, no condiments, not enough butter for the bread, having to ask twice for the bill and to go get it from inside the restaurant, then grumbling about me asking to use my NIF. They’ve got 3 stars because the price was reasonable, the wine was nice, and they have outside seating so I could bring my dog. But I wouldn’t go again for their attitude.

The Portuguese really need to learn that, in customer service, it’s not the message you’re delivering, but how...

We stumbled across this traditional place, v unpretentious and tasty simple food, we had the grilled steak and sea bass. Staff seem perhaps a bit dry at first to the customer who is used to waiters making a fuss, but we enjoyed the chat with these dignified women who were very friendly once you made a bit of an effort yourself. I'd call them genuine and confident, and their Algarve salad (mainly tomatoes, w oregano)...

What is there not to like?

Traditional Portuguese food. Recommended by our Airbnb owner. Quiet Wednesday evening. Service friendly. English spoken. Cabbage soup starter, followed by mixed meat grill for 2. Served with salad, rice and fries. All very tasty. House red carafe good value. My wife had regional desert made with almonds and figs. I had local brandy and coffee. All in €53 not including service. Would...