Jota Lita — Restaurant in Lagoa

Arrived at the restaurant, which looked busy, although Google maps said “not busy”, without a reservation, and was worried that there’d be no table available and yet the waitress (sorry, didn’t catch the name) managed to get us a table.

The normal menu looked ok, but the star of the show was the chicken scratchings on the mini blackboard, aka the “specials” menu.

The sea bream was 👌. Tasted fresh and seasoned with just the right amount of salt.

The black pork mixed board was ❤️. The different cuts of meat was a nice contrast, with one particular cut just melting in your mouth (think it was from the neck).

The black ink seafood pasta was ❤️❤️. The pasta had a lovely chewy consistency and a slight crispness having been pan fried a little which added an additional depth.

The octopus was 🔥🔥🔥and out of this world. The meat was both juicy and gelatinous, with the perfect saltiness to it. The suckers on the tentacles were crispy from being pan fried and the only thing I could complain about was that a portion of octopus was 4 tentacles and not 8!!

Portion size was good and despite wishing I had more octopus, I was actually very full after clearing my plate.

(Was hard to take photos that do the food justice, but think you’ll get the idea of the food available)

Seriously lovely meal in a more casual surrounding, with very helpful and friendly staff and above all, more reasonably priced compared to some other places around the corner.

Thanks for the lovely evening Jota Lita! ❤️🇵🇹

P.S. the homemade tiramisu must not be missed, even an Italian would have nothing...

Everything, absolutely everything about Restaurante Jota Lita is exceptional. This remarkable establishment in Carvoeiro delivered what I can honestly say was one of the best restaurant experiences of my entire life.

The affective gastronomy with signature touches creates something truly special, it's the perfect marriage of heartfelt, soul-warming cooking with the precision and excellence of an award-winning restaurant. Every dish tells a story and carries the chef's passion in every bite.

The incredible service made us feel completely at home from the very first moment. Even though the restaurant was completely full, the team somehow found a way to accommodate us, which speaks volumes about their commitment to hospitality and care for every guest.

What struck me most was how they've managed to maintain that intimate, affectionate approach to dining while delivering the polished experience you'd expect from a celebrated establishment. It's rare to find a place that can balance both so perfectly.

Though our time in the Algarve was brief, the experience at Jota Lita will forever hold a special place in my heart. This is the kind of restaurant that reminds you why you fell in love with great food and dining in the first place.

I sincerely hope to return again soon. My immense gratitude goes to the entire team who dedicate themselves daily to creating these memorable experiences for everyone who has the privilege of visiting Carvoeiro. Thank you for an...

Ate dinner here the other night (early August) and loved it.

Who: a family of four, including two young kids.

We ate: fish and vegetable soups, olive and carrot apps, monkfish and shrimp skewer, salmon special (with orange reduction), and pasta. Entree portions were quite large and all delicious, including in some creative ways (side salad with a hint of cinnamon!) Everyone loved their dishes.

Service: we waited for a table less than the estimate given (yay!) At least four staff happily attended to all our needs (and with young children, there can be a lot of needs). Particularly appreciated was them gladly giving my older daughter the very specific pasta treatment she requested, as well as giving us a couple complimentary chef's dishes. Overall, service was characterized by warmth, attention, and sincere care for us having an enjoyable meal.

Atmosphere: struck just the right balance of coziness, authentic Portuguese food/vibe, quality dining experience, price, and being welcoming/accessible to all parties (families, couples, tourists, Portuguese gourmands, etc). And the location - surrounded by loads of nightlife/dining options - is a 2-3 minute walk from the center of town.

We really enjoyed our meal and recommend Jota Lita whole heartedly. Just don't overrun it to the point where we can't get a table there next time we're...