A Morgadinha — Restaurant in Funchal

The actual history of reviews of the location starts in 2008 when me and Eugene Kurtsev reviewed it, but at that time here was located another restaurant which was called ‘Old Reek’. I think since then it changed its ownership because the atmosphere of ‘Old Reek’ is really (really) incomparable with ‘A Morgadinha’. It is actually two or three steps further in comparison to ‘Old Reek’ — not merely in uniqueness of ‘Morgadinha’s atmosphere, but in its delicious food as well! Back in the days, people had come to ‘Old Reek’ exclusively because of/for immersion into its atmosphere: the food was an odd variable, actually, despite they had been labelled as ‘restaurant’, it was a chimeric form of pub and cafe with two-three stinky (indeed, worth its name) positions in the menu, one or two cheap wines and three kinds of beers. As for the atmosphere, personally I viewed it as uncanny. What ‘atmosphere’ can bring you cheeky and audacious beggar living right near the entrance and harassing every visitor ‘for coins for food’, for example… but with the demise of ‘Old Reek’ things changed now! A lot! ‘A Morgadinha’ is a top-notch place with unique, intimate, cozy atmosphere, delicious food, wide drinks menu with choice for everyone. And it is not overpriced, as well! (And the beggar was finally drawn away) R.i.p. ‘Old Reek’, triple hail ‘A...

Portuguese AND Goan Dishes! One of the owners' mothers is from Goa so it is authentic. We are staying in the hotel but the restaurant is also open to non-residents. My companion had a fillet steak - lovely meat, beautifully cooked, but 'medium' came rarer than it would in the UK so allow for when ordering. Lovely proper chips. I had a splendid Goan shrimp curry (quite spicy) with rice and bread. All very filling - no need for starter. A bottle of a special red wine that they got in for the New Year. Quiet, civilised atmosphere. Impeccable and friendly service. All for E62 for two, before tips. Highly recommended. BTW, there is also a sophisticated children's menu, in case you have any. UPDATE. We have already been back and we had: Chamucas de Legumes (vegetable samosas, home-made tamarillo and pepper sauce) (as a shared starter) Risotto Congumelos (Mushroom Risotto, truffle oil, crispy mushrooms and cherry tomatoes). Beautiful. Bodiao Confitado (Rockfish Confit? Actually a delightful local Gilthead Bream, aka Dorade - gold head, get it?) With water and a bottle of Portuguese wine it came to E61 before tip. Even more highly recommended. Try a Madeiran cocktail in the hotel...

Unfortunately, the food was a letdown here, though we loved the service and everyone was very nice.

We wanted Goan food, so we tried the Goan clam appetizer and then the chicken and shrimp curries.

The appetizer was very good - it tasted like a South Indian sambaar with clams. Prior to the appetizer, they served us delicious breads with tasty Indian spiced butters, and a tuna teriyaki amuse-bouche which was also very tasty. So we were happy and had high expectations going into the mains.

Unfortunately both the shrimp and chicken curries were bland and grainy and a bit too sweet, with some limp green beans on top which added nothing. Also both curries had the same base. They didn’t resemble any of the curries we like eating in Goa.

The dessert was also a letdown - it was pannacotta with mint foam. I give them points for ambition, but the pannacotta was too rich for me, and the mint foam tasted like and resembled toothpaste. I couldn’t finish it.

Too bad but we liked the atmosphere and service. The wine...