Banzé na petiscaria — Restaurant in Lisbon

I frequently travel, including at least one international flight every week. Today, upon arriving in Lisbon for a 24-hour layover, I eagerly made my way to 'Banzé na Petiscaria' restaurant with high hopes for a delightful dinner experience. However, my evening took an unexpected turn.

As I stepped into the restaurant, I was greeted by a rather unwelcoming "stop, stay here" from one of the waitresses. Despite the restaurant's outdoor tables being occupied, I was directed towards an available table inside. A different waitress guided me towards one of the two four-seater tables, and at that point, I was content with the arrangement.

Soon after I started perusing the menu, the initial waitress returned to my table and insisted that I relocate to a different table situated at the far end of the restaurant. I politely declined her request, expressing my preference to stay where I was. I conveyed that I'd rather explore other dining options where patrons are treated with respect and their patronage is valued.

This incident left me feeling discriminated against. Frustrated, I gathered my belongings and headed towards the exit. Just as I was about to leave, what appeared to be a manager or supervisor intercepted me. He attempted to persuade me to stay, mentioning that the restaurant was practically empty inside, save for a lone couple at one table. While the manager's efforts were appreciated, my interest in dining at their establishment had completely waned by this point.

The entire episode left me disheartened. All the employees involved seemed to lack the professionalism and courtesy that I'm accustomed to experiencing, especially during dining outings in the United States. It's disconcerting to be seated only to be asked to relocate shortly thereafter. Unfortunately, due to this unfortunate experience, I cannot recommend this establishment. Lisbon boasts numerous other eateries in close proximity, offering better food options and superior...

My first dinner night in Lisbon on this trip was a success. When I mentioned to the desk clerk at my hotel that I was interested in octopus, he highly recommended Banzé. It was a good match for me.

The restaurant is well-designed and inviting. I chose to eat outside because it was a pleasant evening in Lisbon. But the indoor dining would have been just as suitable.

The menu is small but contains a good selection of dishes. My experience with restaurants with large menus is that they cannot give adequate attention to each dish. Small menus reflect that the restaurant does a select number of dishes very well.

I did not need to look at the menu. I knew I would have polvo à lagareiro -- octopus and potatoes covered in garlic and hot olive oil. Simple ingredients. Perfectly combined.

Portuguese octopus is famous for its soft, creamy texture. My dish was no exception. It was the perfect dish to celebrate my return to Lisbon.

All of the staff (including the chef) were friendly, chatty, and more than willing to humor my tales of cooking in México.

Who could ask for anything more?

UPDATE -- 30 March 2025

I returned for dinner tonight. I am a big fan of cuttlefish cooked in its own ink. The restaurant offers a cuttlefish rice dish that may be my new favorite. The ink is still there, but it is diluted with a broth and just a touch of cilantro. The dish is prepared for two. And, even though I did my best, I could only eat about a third of it. I strongly...

Mediocre food, nervous atmosphere, too pricey for what it is.

We went to this restaurant for dinner based on our hotel concierge recommendation. We sat for 20 minutes, before someone gave us any attention. We ordered 5 dishes and a bottle of wine. Appetizers and main courses came at the same time, so we felt like we had to eat fast.

Pea soup was really good and refreshing. Entrecote (premium cut) stake was out right awful. Most expensive stake in the menu. In the menu it says (braised), it is not. It was a grilled flat piece of meat overcooked and as dry as piece of old leather. Other dishes were mediocre at best. The atmosphere was terrible. 3 waiters running around like chickens without heads. Zipping back and force like crazies, even though there weren't that many costumers. It was the nervous energy of the place. We felt like we had to eat fast, chug our wine, and get out of there. It is not a place to have a relaxed nice dinner. It is too pricey for what it is. We stayed a week in Lisbon and visited more that a dozen restaurants, and this one was the...