Marisol — Restaurant in Lagos

Our experience today was profoundly disappointing, and my wife Jane and I rarely ever leave such reviews. We have traveled extensively across the world and prefer to celebrate the best of what we find, but this visit in Praia da Dona, Algarve, was so far below the standard of hospitality that it must be shared.

As the son of Portuguese immigrants, every trip back to Portugal is deeply personal to me. I take pride in my heritage and always look forward to the warmth, service, and cuisine that Portugal is known for. Sadly, none of that was reflected here.

From the morning when I stopped in just for an iced coffee, the manager rudely bumped into me and muttered something under his breath in Portuguese, not realizing I understood. That first impression should have been enough warning, but we gave the restaurant a chance at lunch. The waiter, from the very start, carried an attitude that was dismissive and unwelcoming. He was inattentive and disengaged, with earbuds in, having an entirely separate conversation while supposedly serving us. He refused me service while smiling at my wife, and when I raised concern he brushed it off by saying he had no problems with me.

The food sealed the disappointment. The steak I was served was cooked directly from frozen, and it was obvious in the spooge that came out of it — exactly what happens when meat is cooked that way. This is unacceptable and certainly not Portuguese cuisine. I never ate it. No bill was given, so I calculated my own tab at €38.50, handed €40 directly to the same manager, and was ignored without change, receipt, or apology.

The only positive of the entire visit was the very kind, patient, and considerate Swedish woman who prepared my American iced coffee that morning. Her professionalism stood in sharp contrast to the rest of the staff and deserves acknowledgment.

Never have I left such a harsh review, but this experience was shameful from start to finish. The setting itself is undeniably beautiful, yet the service, management, and food quality make this place an embarrassment to Portuguese hospitality. Until the owners take responsibility and improve standards, guests will continue to leave feeling disrespected and leaving more reviews that lead to a 3.1. Just wanted to add the CASH ONLY today cause thier so called system is down but yet WIFI was present everywhere. Is this Ownership or something...

The bartender was extremely rude when I tried to pay with a card. In this day and age, most establishments accept card payments, and it's not unreasonable to expect that option to be available. The way the bartender handled the situation was disrespectful and could have been handled much better.

I told him my non verbal 9 years old son autistic and struggle with ADHD. We come back less than a minute with the money ( 2,50€ ) but the guy just grabbed my son and said he’s stay with me until you back.

The incident where the bartender grabbed my son's hand and insisted that he stay with me until I returned with cash is completely unacceptable. No one should be physically restraining or intimidating customers, especially a child. This behavior is not only unprofessional but also traumatising my son. The bar staff should have been more understanding and empathetic towards me situation.

Once we paid the owner sent after us the beach guard because he’s didn’t like my behaviour. Furthermore, involving the beach guard and pressuring me for private and confidential information is highly inappropriate. The beach guard should not have been involved in a personal matter between me and the bar owner. It is not their place to act like a law enforcement officer or interrogate customers. This intrusion into my privacy only added to your discomfort and made the situation even worse.

Overall, it's evident that the owner of the beach bar displayed an extreme lack of respect and consideration for my son's condition and my family's well-being. It's unfortunate that such a beautiful location was marred by such a negative experience. Businesses should strive to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all customers, regardless of their circumstances.

Just check the other 1-2 stars reviews, all of them mentioned how rude and unprofessional the bar team and owner! Very sad, definitely never come back and not...

We went to the beach and this is the only restaurant at Praia Dona Ana, our expectations were low given the location. We thought it would be overpriced with below average food, but were we wrong!

We ordered the specials of the day: fried baby squid and octopus salad. Their menu was accommodating for various people like sandwiches, salads, meat and fish; however, the specials of the day and the price was worth a try. We also got French fries and sangria. They were out of mussels as this was also on their specials list, we saw others eating it and the portion was big and the mussels even bigger!

The fried baby squid was insanely good and flavorful, we couldn’t believe how big the portion was for such a cheap price. The octopus salad was generous and tasted delicious. Perfectly light and cold for a hot day. We made it a point to return the next day and eat the exact same thing. Second time around was just as good.

If you’re coming here for basic sandwiches and salads, it seemed decent. We saw people ordering the grilled sea bass, looked so good and fresh.

Service was quick and attentive. Both waiters we had were nice and friendly.

Eat their specials, eat fresh fish and seafood - you’re at the beach and this is what the Algarve is known for. Going here for anything other than their specialties isn’t...