O António — Restaurant in Lagos

My mother made reservations for our family of six at 6:30pm by calling the number listed here on Google. The host answered and told us we could only be seated inside after 8 and so we booked a spot for 8:30 inside. We arrived on time and told the gentleman our name. He proceeded to say we never had any reservation, and furthermore, it was “impossible that we could have made one.” My mother was a bit shocked, and so were the 5 of us as we all heard her make the call two hours prior. She pulled out her phone to show the gentleman the record of her call, since he claimed she was absolutely wrong. He promptly said it was the wrong number and gave her a card reflecting a different number. We walked outside still in shock. Wanting to assume the best, we called the number again and this same man answered the phone stating he had just talked to us… my mother walked back inside to show him it was not only the number listed on Google but it was the number she showed him earlier, and that they were speaking on the correct line. I no longer wish to call him a gentleman, because at this point he doubles down and says she is wrong, that she wasn’t given any kind of reservation and that this could not have been the number she called. Our family tries to assume the best in people, but at a certain point, we can’t go without reporting this, because this man ran the restaurant and it seems the place is rotten all the way up to the top with that kind of gaslighting of an excuse for service. We hope people learn to treat others with integrity, and if there needs to be an honest conversation then I hope that takes place. We will never patronize this restaurant. And I’m glad we didn’t. We walked right across the road to another beachfront restaurant where we were treated with dignity and courtesy, where they even made room for us outside in quick turnaround to accommodate us wondering if we could eat outside perchance. My earnest suggestion, find that place and skip O António, because the fish was fresh, flavorful, the stone sea bass was elegant, as were the sardines - only to be topped by the friendly service and fair prices. Best wishes to you reader, and may you have a blessed...

I was here in mid May before the start of the busy season, so I was able to get a table very easily on a Saturday for lunch, as well as parking next to the restaurant. Both of these conveniences will most likely vanish during the peak tourist season, so plan in advance.

This is one of two restaurants on Porto de Mos beach, and one of the oldest in the area. It is a mainstay of locals as well as tourists and is spacious enough for a comfortable and warm gathering over a meal. This place is for seafood aficionados, given the setting and locale.

I was greeted by a very friendly staff, particularly my server. He noticed that as a tourist not knowing exactly what I was doing perusing the menu, he very politely waved me over to their fresh fish case. This is where they have a limited selection of fresh catch of the day, and he made some recommendations. I went with the Black Grouper fillet and Barnacles that he recommended. It was the roll of the dice, as it were.

I was absolutely and thoroughly impressed when I got the meal, prepared fresh on site. The Barnacles could not have been more fresh, the very special briny taste made it feel like I was experiencing the Ocean. The Black Grouper fillet accompanied by Mediterranean style vegetables were phenomenal; the basic salty seasoning was simple but added a very balanced flavor to the dish. With seafood like this, one can truly discern the flavor, texture and moistness of freshly harvested seafood over what one typically experiences with processed food. I could not have been more pleased with me going with the server’s suggestions. For good measure, on his recommendation I rounded off with a hearty scoop of Mango Gelato, which also was superb.

Being on the beach, this restaurant has great views if you happen to get seated by a window table. Overall, I came here with no expectations, but left with a very satisfied feeling. It was one of great surprise but in a very pleasant way. I can see why this place has been around for a long time, because they have a great offering and the place is...

This establishment epitomizes a tourist trap, leveraging its prime location while delivering subpar service and food.

Our recent visit was marred by disappointment, from the lackluster food, poor service and bad hygiene of the restaurant.

Let's delve into the specifics:

Food Appetizers: Stale bread and aged olives, visually unappealing and inedible. Main Course: The Clams dish consisted of a meager portion of 15-20 tiny clams, priced exorbitantly at €24. Also, the Peri Peri chicken lacked seasoning and creativity, merely a halved chicken cut up into pieces with no flavour. Water: The only option for water was Still Water for €2, the waiter had informed us that it's not safe to drink the tap water, even though the open bottle was clearly filled up with tap water

Atmosphere Although the view of the ocean was nice, our seating inside was disrupted by a swarm of flies/flees that were on the window (inside the dining area). It felt very unhygienic and detracted from any level of comfort or enjoyment eating our food.

Service Upon questioning the bill, instead of a civil response, we were met with aggressive confrontation from one of the waiters.

Conclusion This establishment unjustly charges fine dining prices without delivering the expected caliber of service and cuisine. It preys on the influx of tourists drawn to the area's beauty. I advise steering clear of this establishment and exploring superior dining...