Contrabando Av. 24 de Julho — Restaurant in Lisbon

To start of with, we visit this restaurant because it was highly recommended by a friend of us. As we checked the reviews, we considered better making a reservation in case the place was full. Luckily we arrived earlier (actually we were the first customers there). We mentioned that we had a reservation and the person that we spoke to looked at us in a weird way and told us to sit next to the window but he never took us the our the table.

Of course we assumed that we could sit anywhere because the restaurant was empty and as soon as we took the table next to the window, the guy shouted at us in a inappropriate manner and told us to sit in other table.

Since that moment we started feeling a bit uncomfortable. While we were deciding what to eat the waiters were going around and acting like they were alone which doesn’t give a professional look to the restaurant.

We ordered the totopos as a starter. The tortillas were oily, soggy and tasted like the were cooked the day before. The guacamole (in this case avocado with a pinch of salt) was a different version of what guacamole used to taste like. They served it with something we think was pico de Gallo but In reality it was just tomato with onion and some lettuce (something that we didn’t understand at all).

When the main course arrived we noticed the baby ribs were not slowly cooked as they should be and barely had any seasoning. For someone who knows how ribs are made (and has eating them in the USA) the meat is cook slowly for several hours so they get out of the bone or they can be alternatively grilled so the ribs get a smoky flavor.

In regards to the chicken fajitas, the chicken was fine, the tortilla bread tasted like store bought tortilla and the sour cream+the guacamole wasn’t out of the ordinary.

We are making this comments to try to help restaurants to improve their service because a good experience begins since the moment your walk through the door till the moment you say “see you next time” and unfortunately this will not be the case.

However we wish them the best of luck with...

Very mediocre place, that I would recommend to avoid. Had a group menu that included starters, a meat platter and dessert. The starters were nachos and chicken wings, both felt uninspired. We were served two small plates of wings for a table of 6. We asked for more but they never came.

Next was the meat platter. The pork "secretos" were dry, overcooked to death. Like eating the sole of a shoe. The ribs were dreadful to be honest, tasteless as if they were frozen for months and then boiled unseasoned - drenched with a bbq sauce to "hide" the bland flavorless mess. The only positive (but not redeeming) point was that they were tender - which isn't hard if you overcook the soul out of a fatty cut of meat. I was honestly worried of indigestion so I didn't touch the ribs after my first try - and mind you, I'm not a fussy eater at all. The picanha was the only "edible" meat there, but unfortunately it came cold, wasn't tender and you could tell it wasn't particularly good quality meat. They put a boiled corn cob I suppose as decoration, since nobody ate it. Could have grilled it at least...

The dessert were small portions of churros which were okay, albeit a bit oily.

Now, the only thing that was nice was the bottled red wine and the passion fruit sangria. I can't complain at all there.

Verdict: 32€ poorly spent.

This is the type of place that cuts corners everywhere except the marketing. It looks fancy inside, the food is sprinkled with parsley and other meaningless "decorations" so that it looks good for Instagram pictures. But it's not good, it's bland and poorly cooked. All looks. It's a money maker and you'll find no passion or care in your food here. I wouldn't be surprised if half the starters were frozen.

If you're a foodie, do yourself a favor and avoid this place. You are in Lisbon - for the same price, you can get a wonderful meal elsewhere. Even a franchise bbq chain would provide you with better...

Loved every second in Contrabando.

An old timer on my restaurant wishlist, Contrabando sits downtown between Cais do Sodré and Alcântara Mar, in the way to Belém and Algés.

It's a lively, youth focused restaurant with a speciality in meat dishes.

Starting with the beer, i had two pints of draught beer and it was some of the best beer i ever had.

While it was a regular portuguese Super Bock lager, it was so fresh and smooth that i immediately got one down and was ready to order the second one.

As for the eating part, i ordered the T-Bone steak and i absolutely pleased with the quality of the meat.

While some of the more internal parts were more close to rare rather than medium as i asked, the meat was juicy, tender and delicious and i loved every part of it.

The fries are subpar, but considering the meat's quality i won't pick on that.

To finish it off, i had the brownie for dessert and it was average to good.

The cookie was a bit rigid and difficult to cut (with a spoon) but the ice-cream and the chocolat were good complements and helped bring the whole thing together.

Nice, helpful staff, fast serving time, i really have nothing to complain.

It's a solid 5 stars and they gained a...