Dona Amália - Casa de fado — Restaurant in Lisbon

I don’t typically write reviews but I thought this would be worth sharing. I had dinner and listened to some Fado at Dona Amália on São João da Praça on Tuesday night while receiving some of the most spiteful and disrespectful service I’ve experienced in a restaurant in a long time. Started off fine, they squeezed five of us into a four top at the back of the restaurant against the wall - a win win as we fit no problem without blocking any walkways. We arrived on time and quietly as we figured the music would start soon. When it came time to order, to our surprise, we were told that every person needed to order a main - no sharing, and no substituting appetizers regardless of price. This was not noted anywhere on the menu, and was not enforced with other tables who freely ordered a single main between two people. No help or recommendations were offered regarding the menu, something that once again other tables received with kindness and patience. They forgot our appetizer and never brought it (and then left it on the bill). They “forgot to make” our drinks and only brought them out after three sets of music, while everyone else received theirs (and refills) promptly. Our food only came halfway through the night - though it was fine, it was forgettable. When it came time to pay, despite our asking for the bill, they brought every other table their bills, took their money, and then began to seat and take orders from new tables. When they did bring it after 30 minutes, the host/server Ricardo simply grabbed it off the counter where it sat waiting, dropped it on our table, and turned away - no apology, nothing. Finally as we were leaving, he has the nerve to rudely patronize one of the women in our group telling her to “Just be happy” when she plainly voiced her disappointment with how we were treated. With so many options for standard Fado and mediocre food in Alfama, spend your hard earned money and your precious time on any other place. Don’t let its high rating fool you, being the one table of the evening that Ricardo chooses to single out and spare from his otherwise well reviewed service is a surefire way to sour...

I had 1 day to spend in Lisbon and chose to come to this restaurant to experience Fado for the first time and to experience a little bit of traditional Portuguese culture. I was not feeling well yet I made the trek to Alfama specifically to see a Fado performance. I ordered some bread with butter to try settling my stomach. However, the owner kept pressuring me to buy dinner and I informed him I’m not feeling well and I’m happy with just the bread and butter for now, and might order dinner later if I feel better. He then got very rude and said that all patrons “must eat dinner” as this is not a tapas restaurant. I then told him that my dinner IS the bread and butter and this is enough for me. The Fado performers were late by 15mins. While waiting, he continued forcing me to order “dinner” or leave. I even offered to pay him €15 (free money for him) as I understand there is a cost to keep a table and to pay for the performers, and I said this is the same minimum charge as another restaurant across the street, as they had clearly stated it on their menu. He then said €35 and I was shocked. I told him he is being dishonest with his customers as there was nothing mentioned on the menu or from him verbally before I entered that there is a minimum fee of €35. I said he is trying to rip me off. While this whole conversation was happening, everyone was listening and understanding what was happening. I then stood up to leave and pay for my order, and the owner tried to save face in front of other customers by saying my order was comped. I kept trying to pay for it, but he shooed me out before I could pay. I apologized to the Fado performers on my way out, who had just finished setting up and were waiting to start performing. I am shocked that I was met with so much hostility and I am not surprised that the owner’s responses to all the other negative reviews lack accountability or apologies to anyone. My night was made 1000x better when I went to the other Fado restaurant across the street, who understood I won’t eat dinner but would happily pay their...

What a lovely show! I highly appreciated that the owner was so friendly and later started singing the Fado too! But I still have a few things to criticise: We were here for almost 4 hours and it was less than 1 hour of fado. 10 minutes Fado, 20-30min break. The prices are relatively high. Of course, the Fado music has it's part to this as you are not paying for entrance. What does not make any sense is that the beer mug costs 9€ and is 0,5l and a small beer (0,25-0,3l) costs just 3€. Also the "bulhao pato" clams for 20€. They were delicious (they came with coriander so tell them if you don't want that) but for 20€ we expected a bigger amount. The sardines were fine, salad that came with could have used some dressing. and my friend had the Portuguese pork meat which was good too. I had two desserts. The mousse and the petit gateau. Both desserts were delicious! Definitely my highlight besides the music 😋✨

The room was small and they had to do the breaks for the orders and serving. But still I think they were too long and not enough singing. We didn't want to stay that long at first but the owner told us that there is a female singer coming soon so we waited.. and it took like around 40 minutes till she came (she was singing in another fado bar in the same street). Overall we had a good time. Maybe at the weekend the fado/serving balance is a little more on the fado side :)

PS: Payment only possible with...