Chalet Vicente — Restaurant in Funchal

The typical TOURIST TRAP It was a recommendation from our tour guide as a place to get the best local Madeiran food. We ordered lapas, local shellfish, which came to the table in about 30 seconds which made us wonder how they where able to make them so quick. They where chewy and had a fishy aftertaste. As main we also went full local and ordered baked fish with passionfruit and grilled banana. This dish was, to be honest, just not our taste, but the execution was also not there. The whole thing tasted like batter dunked in old grease. After a bite we chose to forego any unpleasant toilet visits. Second main was a duck rice. This dish could have been geat if they would have taken good cuts of meat. All I found was dry pieces of what you usually trim off and rice soaked in fat. The restaurant shares a garden with a sportsbar flooded in neon light and flickering tv’s showing current games. This might be something for couples where the wife wants a romantic dinner but the husband can only think about his team and the score. You can get a little bit both at the same time. For anyone who actually wants to indulge in good local food while taking in madeira vibes this...

One of the best meals I've had in Madiera thus far.

The restaurant is connected to the hole in hole bar which makes having drinks first very easy, the restaurant itself is very well kept with great outside seating, private rooms and tables inside available.

The staff are welcoming and efficient, they will also help to explain menu items and suggest wine pairings. They stock some fantastic wines.

The menu is not lacking in variety, there will be something for everyone including vegetarians and vegans. The quality of our meal was great, meat dishes are a great choice here as I suspect they have a good butcher/supplier. The sirloin steak and calf liver was excellent, cooked well, seasoned well and tender. Seafood was fresh (however they do not devein prawns) and cooked well. We had a vegetarian join us and the Vegetable lasagna was of the same standard.

Sauces and sides were also done very well, however sides do no come with any of the menu items but they are big enough to share. Potato and maize sides are excellent here.

Price wise the value for money is good.

Will be...

After nearly a week in Madeira sampling the best the island can offer we came across this place. I really wished we hadn’t!! It’s ok is the best way I can sum it up. The beef skewers were pretty grim and flavourless. The cheese on a cabbage Leaf was weird and tasteless. The tomato soup was the highlight of the meal. I particularly liked the waitress coming over to ask if everything was okay and seeing a large piece of uncooked beef on my plate said she would ask the chef to reheat it and cook it more!!! For gods sake this is not what any restaurant should do! I didn’t eat it when it returned but popped it into the flower beds. As for the dessert of caramel pudding and a tiramisu I have two words appalling and appalling. After finally being presented with a bill of £103 all I could think of was how on earth I was so stupid to have trusted reviews. There are far better places in Funchal than this, do your homework first and leave trustpilot and Google unchecked. My final comment Walk on Past there are...