La Paparrucha — Restaurant in Lisbon

We were happy to land in Lisbon on Christmas, visiting for the first time. I made a reservation at La Paparrucha a month prior noticing that many restaurants were booked on Christmas day. I was happy to find a late reservation at La Paparrucha and booked it for 9pm. We arrived on time and were met by an unwelcoming manager who kept questioning whether we had a reservation-- he said he didn't see our name in the system and left the lobby area to "see if there are any tables" for us. My family and I waited in the lobby while he went elsewhere. A hostess came and asked if we needed to be helped. I explained that we have a reservation and that the manager went to check for a table. She was disingenuous because she already knew that and said "we don't see you in the system" and asked me for proof. I showed her the confirmation email from my phone and she asked to show it to her manager. She did, and then we were seated. I was so upset to walk into an EMPTY RESTAURANT- LESS THAN 50% OCCUPIED and it only got more empty as the night went on- the restaurant was never filled. This is what DISCRIMINATION can look like. They sat us at the least desirable table in the room, near the register and stairwell, a highly trafficked area in the middle of the dining room. There were multiple tables near the windows with great views where all but one table remained empty the whole time we were there. Why not allow guests from another country enjoy the views of your great city and frankly the best of what you have to offer, especially if it's possible? The manager walked around looking quite intense and unpleasant. He never stopped by our table to apologize for their "system glitch" that didn't recognize our reservation, or thank us for our patience, or thank us for providing our proof of reservation. He never spoke to us again after challenging the reservation. And then on top of that- THE FOOD WAS TERRIBLE!!!! I can't believe the ratings this place has, but I wonder if the kitchen gave us their least best effort. Everything was unseasoned and bland and didn't carry the grilled favor the menu promised. Meat lovers, find another restaurant to eat- you'll be disappointed and THIS PLACE GIVES A BAD NAME TO ARGENTINIAN CUISINE. Fellow vegans, you'll be disappointed too- they couldn't even get roasted vegetables right! Trust me, La Paparrucha was our only hope on Christmas day- everything else was booked or my family and I would have left immediately. Our server was kind and worked around language barriers - thank you Google translate! I appreciated that she made sure to account for allergies and provide a wine suggestion. But we certainly knew we were targeted as Americans when she asked if we would tip her. We did tip her even though that's not a thing in Europe and despite how we were treated by the manager. I regret tipping in hindsight because it was a bad experience and terrible food-- but that wasn't the fault of the server, so we tipped when she asked for it. To top off our experience, a GIANT ROACH appeared and scurried around the dining room just as we were paying the bill. So symbolic of this place! I wish I could...

Long review. Short version: amazing place, amazing food, superb view, one of the best views in Lisbon off the terrace and, most importantly the service was outstanding.

Going to La Paparrucha is not a new experience. The restaurant has always provided a great dining experience and remains solidly in my top3 places in Lisbon to "eat meat", especially with customers or anyone I'm showing off Lisbon to. The terraces offer an amazing view of Lisbon and, in milder weather, are amazing places for a few drinks. The restaurant offers sinful cuts of meat with a flawless understanding of what rare and medium-rare (sadly a somewhat rare thing), delicious chimichurri, a better-than-most assortment of sides and a great wine list. Having written the bulk of a normal review, what has prompted to make it a point to write a review was what I consider most important in a service-industry establishment - the service.

A few minutes into being given menus and appetizers, La Paparrucha was delivering on my high expectations. They would soon be vastly surpassed. Enter Lucia Monteiro, our server, and unofficial sommelier. The group of mostly foreigners didn't know what to drink, they shouted somewhat contrasting styles (fruity, dry, balanced I think were the characteristics mentioned). With incredible class and grace she took the challenge making it sound not at all far-fetched and suggested two incredible wines which accompanied each step of our meal incredibly (and seriously increased our guests experience and their opinion of our restaurant choice, through little merit of our own). Lucia followed this up with stellar recommendations for digestif, suggesting my favorite drink, from a producer I am now a fan of but was before unaware of.

I would recommend the wines individually or the "aguardente" (Portuguese brandy), but in truth those will change, vary according to stock, year, etc. What I truly do recommend is that you go to La Paparrucha, have a wonderful evening and, if possible, I'd not chose a bottle of wine without asking for Lucia's delightfully delivered expertise.

Disclaimer: This raving comment may seem exaggerated but the experience I had was one of the best,...

An Unforgettable Dinner with Argentinian Charcoal-Grilled Meat and Excellent Wine at La Paparrucha

My recent dinner at La Paparrucha in Lisbon was truly exceptional. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with warm, professional service that made us feel genuinely special. The restaurant has a stylish yet cozy atmosphere, with a breathtaking view over the city — perfect for a memorable evening.

We started with empanadas as a starter — crispy and full of flavor — and then moved on to their Argentinian charcoal-grilled meat, which was the highlight of the night. The meat was grilled to perfection: juicy, tender, and bursting with flavor. It’s clear they use top-quality ingredients and truly master the art of grilling. We paired the meal with a delicious Argentinian red wine that complemented everything beautifully.

The service was outstanding. I had my eye on a specific table with a great view, but it was already reserved. To my surprise and delight, the staff managed to move us there anyway. That gesture alone showed how far they were willing to go to make us feel like royalty.

La Paparrucha is a restaurant I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who loves excellent food, grilled meats, and great wine in a beautiful setting. I will definitely be...