O Calhau — Restaurant in Funchal

I went here last night with two friends hoping to have a nice dinner. When we first walked in, the staff seemed preoccupied (understandably so) and just vaguely motioned in a direction towards the tables for us to sit down. We sat for 30 minutes waiting for someone to take our order. The server came and took the order of a man sitting right next to us who came in about 20 minutes after us. They were actively serving everyone around us but completely ignoring us (never once did anyone say anything to us or apologize for the delay). We tried to be understanding as there were a lot of people and the servers were busy. However, after 30 minutes of no acknowledgment (while they were taking care of everyone else and bussing tables) one of us approached one of the servers to ask him to take our order. He nodded and seemed to indicate he would be there soon (although he was a bit dismissive). He was willing to speak English with at least 5-6 other tables nearby as well so I don't think the language barrier was the issue. While I hesitate to speculate the reason behind this treatment, we were 3 minority race people in our 20s in a restaurant full of older white diners. Regardless of the reason, the treatment was unacceptable and unlike any I've experienced before either as a diner or when I was a server myself. We waited another 10 or so minutes (with the server walking all around us to serve the other tables) and then decided to leave. I found the servers to be incredibly rude and disrespectful and I would not recommend anyone go here. On the other hand, we went to La Pasta a couple streets over and the food and the service were...

I went to o calhau funchal today with my mum and dad and my sister mollie for lunch I really enjoyed my lunch it was very tasty and yummy I really enjoyed the bread with the butter and the garlic taste to it that made taste so lovely That was the best lunch I have eaten in the whole wide world I glad we came to this restaurant for lunch today it was great choice eating there today and they do such lovely food here I sure everyone else comes to this restaurant would agree as well The staff that work there are very kind lovely friendly The service there is very good amazing wonderful I had a very lovely experience there today with my mum dad and my sister mollie This place gets it's very first 5 out of 5 star rating by me enjoy reading your google review by me Have a lovely rest of your day 5...

The waiter didn’t pay much attention to our table but was pleasant when speaking so for that I’ll give a 3 star for service.

The food was atrocious for the price paying, anybody coming to Funchal, you have a plethora of cheaper options that serve 10x better quality. The Octopus was dry and leather like. The steak served on a pebble stone was horrendous. The mushroom and goats cheese plate was undercooked, believe it or not. We left half of our meals and whilst we paid in full and didn’t ask for anything in return, their seemed to be little care of the restaurant that we had had an unpleasant food experience.

Don’t know how the reviews are above a 4 overall. Save your money and go elsewhere and actually get some quality food!

This has been our only negative food experience across a whole...