El Santo — Restaurant in Lisbon

Tucked away in a little lane way off a busy intersection by Jardine do Principe Real you will find this hidden gem. The moment you step through the beautiful front doorway which is decorated by a garland of red roses, you will be greeted by one of the friendly and attentive staff and shown to your table. I will mention this place gets busy so it's not a bad idea to make a reservation. I didn't know this, never having been there before so being just one person, I was offered a very comfortable seat at the bar.

The dining room is wonderful. It's warm and clean and cozy without being crowded. It's colourful, modern and culturally appropriate and the music is enjoyable without being too loud that you can't speak over the top of it. Once I ordered, it didn't take more than ten minutes for my food to appear and wow was I impressed. The presentation was absolutely outstanding and I couldn't fault anything from the choice of plate to the presentation and the flavour just exploded in my mouth; it was phenomenal!

I ordered the beef tacos and the only thing I could fault was the fact that I could have eaten six and there are only three in a serve. On the upside that did leave space for dessert which was in itself a wonderful experience.

Now margaritas are my drink of choice and I have downed countless versions in my time but I have to say the Tommy Margarita really stands out from the crowd. Made with agave instead of sugar so it's less sweet and quality tequila, the barman really knows his stuff. This would have to be one of the best Margaritas I have ever had the pleasure of drinking and it was the absolute perfect accompaniment to the spicy beef tacos.

I hadn't actually eaten all day so at this point I still had a little space for something more. I asked the one of the waiters for his personal recommendation. He said the caramel dessert was his favourite and despite being a little bit vague on the details he assured me it was excellent so I thought I'd give it a whirl. I was not disappointed. It turned out to be a very generous individual serve of cheesecake with an exceptionally good salted caramel sauce over the top and some first class plating up. I might have had a little space left before I started on that but I certainly didn't by the time I was finished. I floated out of the restaurant on a food high. Feeling like I'd had one of the best meals I've had in years, definitely the best Mexican and thinking I would definitely have to come back here again at least once and very possibly twice before I leave Lisbon at the end of the week. It's not the cheapest place around but it's worth every penny. I felt like every member of staff brought their A game. Could not have been...

My recent visit to this delightful eatery began with the intention of enjoying a simple appetizer, but the exceptional cuisine compelled me to transform it into a full meal experience. Upon arrival, the service was prompt and attentive, although it did become noticeably slower as the restaurant started filling up. To ensure you secure a table, consider making reservations or arriving early. Also, please keep in mind that there is a time limit on table occupancy.

We opted for the pulled pork tacos, which proved to be an outstanding choice. The flavors were well-balanced, and the ingredients tasted incredibly fresh. It became clear why this establishment fills up so quickly – the quality of the food is undeniably excellent.

I highly recommend stopping by for a visit, especially if you're looking to turn an appetizer into a satisfying meal experience like we did.

As an added bonus, be sure to take a moment to visit a historically significant and ancient tree located nearby. Please note that capturing a picture of this impressive natural wonder requires bright lighting conditions to...

The cocktails are good although we got more ice than anything else. We got the beef burrito and the steak with vegetables. The burrito was simple, spicy and good (nothing to write home about). The steak meal was a good portion, however, it lacked tremendously in flavor; disappointing, considering it was the most expensive item on the menu. We also had the loaded nachos as an appetizer. It had good flavor, but it was really small, not good for sharing. The service was virtually nonexistent. We were never asked if we wanted more drinks, or if we needed anything else. In fact, when I was almost done with my steak, the waiter came with ONE asparagus spear. It was supposed to be part of my meal, however they forgot. The restaurant itself is beautiful inside. For me, the whole experience was definitely not worth the bill. In total we had two drinks, one appetizer and two entrées. It was definitely not worth...