Churrasqueira do Marquês — Restaurant in Lisbon

Everyone has covered this place already with 5 star ratings for everything. I made it a point to find the cracks in the perfection that all the other reviews have built this place up. I found none.... In fact, I was pretty much in a food coma so much so I took the receipt home without knowing why. Stuff you already know Best Chicken in Lisbon, best service, best dessert (camel drool), best sangria. I'm adding some pictures. You'll notice a few things. There's an average of 8 people waiting at anytime throughout the dining experience. For me, this means consistent demand from the locals, but not a ridiculous wait. Staff mingle with customers like they've been in touch for years. And Customers make their way very comfortably behind the counters to say hello. Everything is orderly and nobody is left waiting. You'll be attended to with such great customer service, I'm surprised its not referenced to in a business book. Just when I thought my belly was done with Chicken, Sausages and porky egg, I ordered the dessert- Camel's drool.... goodness me was that a treat. Churraqueira do Marques is the best of what Lisbon had to offer the world. If this is the benchmark of how strangers treat strangers... the world would be more wonderful. Give yourself the best Lisbon experience if you've come this far to...

We were staying at an Air BnB in the Santo Amaro neighbourhood and decided to explore the western edges of the city after visiting Belem etc. We were looking for a traditional simple Portuguese restaurant where locals eat and where has good food. We chose this restaurant because they have everything on the menu, Arroz de Pato (although they weren’t serving it when we visited), large meat menu, large fish menu etc. we had the 1/2 Frango (grilled chicken), Secretos de porco preto (black pork), Arroz de Camarao (shrimp risotto), and the grilled Salmon. All meals came with sides (either salad or potato or fries. There doesn’t seem to be an option to choose your side, but be aware that you get something with it. Except the Shrimp Risotto… I think. The food was incredible. Our server was hilarious. He didn’t speak English but we used a translation app to get by. But there were younger servers who did speak English.

Be aware that any sides put on the table (olives, bread etc you are charged for, and the meals come with olives on the side usually for example). Also, the portions are very large and generally all dishes are for sharing. Similar to Korea. The meals are put in the middle and everyone takes a bit of food onto their plate.

All in all we loved it. Tipping the servers is...

Huge amounts of food, really great quality, ridiculously small prices, kind and efficient service.

I’ve been there three times in the last 10 days, I cannot recommend this place enough.

A whole chicken with rice, fries and salad enough for two adults to get out of there in a wheelbarrow for only 14€, most desserts are 2.50€ and delicious.

The venue is unpretentious and small, sometimes it can be noisy but that’s because it gets really busy very quick because the locals know it’s great value, so don’t go there at peak times or you won’t find a table.

Some people leave negative reviews on the basis that service is not friendly, this is not fair at all. The waiters don’t stop to chat with you because it’s just three seasoned dudes servicing a very fast-paced restaurant. Even then, they are kind, helpful and professional on every interaction.

I will be going...