Santa Maria Petiscaria — Restaurant in Faro

Santa Maria Petiscaria, Faro: Flavors Amid Service Shortcomings

Overall Rating: 3/5

Santa Maria Petiscaria, nestled in Faro’s scenic Marina, offers a blend of local dishes and authentic flavors, though the overall experience is a mixed bag.

Service: Well-Meaning But Inadequate

The staff are friendly and eager to help, but their lack of knowledge about the menu is evident. Additionally, they often neglect to clear starter plates promptly, causing clutter and discomfort during the meal.

Food: Local Flavors with Highlights

The food stands out for its quality, especially the pork cheeks, which are tender and flavorful. The xarem, a traditional Algarve dish made from corn, was a delightful discovery. For us, coming from the Northeast of Brazil, it evoked a familiar taste with a unique twist.

Ambiance and Location: Prime Spot in Marina de Faro

The location is a major draw, offering a pleasant and relaxed setting by the Marina de Faro. The atmosphere is informal, matching the laid-back charm of the area.

Value for Money: Good with Some Reservations

Santa Maria offers good value for money, with fair prices for the quality provided. However, the couvert was underwhelming, missing some expected elements for a petiscaria.

Historical Context and Local Insight

Situated in the culturally rich Marina de Faro, the restaurant benefits from the area’s historical significance in fishing and navigation. The marina is central to Faro’s cultural life, hosting events like the Festa da Ria Formosa, which celebrates maritime and gastronomic traditions.

Conclusion

Santa Maria Petiscaria has potential, with notable dishes that honor Algarve’s culinary traditions. However, improvements in service and organization are needed to enhance the customer experience. The charming location offsets some shortcomings, making it a good but improvable choice.

Visitor Tip

Try the pork cheeks and xarem, and visit during less busy times for a more relaxed experience. Enjoy the marina view while savoring...

Visited once last April and had the ceviche, it was lovely but the next day it wasn’t as I was in bed and missed a full day of my trip. I was so ill with vomiting and diarrhoea. Now a year on I decided to give it another chance with my partner, we shared some oysters and fries. Again quite lovely, but I could not believe it when the two of us were unable to move the next day and almost going to the hospital. It began with my partner and then myself some hours later, this carried on for 4 days. Unable to eat or move or keep down anything. It was a nightmare. There is something going on here regarding cleanliness and bacteria in the seafood and really needs to be taken a look at as the place is great. But after them 2 experiences I don’t think I’ll ever be able to go back again. I eat out regularly in Faro and have a lot of seafood but this is the a first (well...

This restaurant was rated 4.8 before we attended . So expectations were high. In short the food was excellent but the service wasn't. Firstly we ordered three drink items and only received two before chasing. The Waiters were generally inattentive when we wanted to be served. Food wise the octopus starter was simple and perfectly cooked. The main we ordered was cod which was served with a potato rosti and was both simple and delicious. The menu was simple ,and the non alcoholic beer I ordered was a good size. The dessert was honey cake , small but very nice Setting wise the place is pretty ,being alongside a small marina. I can't give it five stars as service denied it . Google five star rating system is too simplistic. I rate it about 4.6,so...