República do Polvo — Restaurant in Guimarães

My first visit to Guimarães (from the US) and found this place. Although a small storefront facing the street, inside is roomy and beautifully decorated...very clean lines!

Staff, at least when I was there in August, spoke very good English and I appreciated that...but English speaking staff don't make the meal great...the food does and it was fantastic!

I started with a glass of excellent white Vinho Verde which I paired with the codfish fritters (Bolinho de Bacalhau)...excellent! Then I had the grilled octopus (Pulpo A la Lagareiro)...OMG...I thought the octopus was going to be very chewy (what I'd expect in the USA)...but it was tender yet firm. Boiled potatoes and a sauteed spinach came with it.

At that point I was quite full but promised the waitress I'd be back for dessert...which I'm doing tonight! This is a great place to eat...yes, it's a bit costlier than some of the other restaurants in the old town, but it's worth it...well done Republica do Polvo!

** Update…my second visit was just as good if not better than the first…talk about feeling welcomed…yes! This time I had the octopus & prawn tagliatelle pasta dish…loaded with tender octopus & prawns…and the pasta noodles were done…al dente😊

The house red wine from Alentejo was a perfect pair with the pasta. I finished with a piece of their homemade cheesecake & a coffee…creamy smooth cheesecake…fantastic! Just make sure you leave enough room for dessert!

The wait staff and owner are just so friendly and welcoming…this is true hospitality! Don’t miss dining here when you...

Our visit to the restaurant República do Polvo was indeed an amazing culinary experience - it provided us with a deliciously different take on some familiar foods. The octopus with chestnut gnocchi was mouth watering and I enjoyed every bite. The cheesecake with tropical fruit was probably the best I've ever tried! I took a glass of their green wine with the meal, which was the most perfect complement to the food. The hospitality and attentiveness of the staff made our experience even better. They were friendly, nice and discreetly present all the time, providing us with the information about the food, but also giving us some tips about what to see in the region. All in all, one of the highlights of our visit...

Republican do Polvo was a great find on our recent trip to Guimarães. The service was great and conversation about the Portuguese language, local area and their recently opened restaurant was fantastic, but the highlight was the Octopus ! We had the Polvo Galego as well as Polvo do Chef accompanied by a Super Bock. I adore Galician Octopus and this didn't disappoint. However, the Chef's Octopus was the highlight with subtle hints of garlic, parsley and olive oil it was on point. Tender and the savory succulent taste of fresh Octopus was mouth watering. Thank you for a wonderful lunch. Special thanks to Camélia (sp) for the help with Portuguese pronunciation of Guimarães. XO Can't...