Pão da Vila República — Restaurant in Lisbon

On Thursday 26.12.2024 I contacted Pao da Vila at Av. Republica to order a birthday cake to my about to be 12 year old daughter. After the phone call I sent all requested information through WhatsApp. I also asked if the birthday candles were included and I was informed that yes, they were included. On the 31.12.2024 I went with my family to have breakfast and pick up the cake. Right at the front we said which cake we were going to pick up and when the employee asked if we would need candles I said “yes”. We went to have breakfast, the “tostas mistas” and coffee were good but the mixed eggs tasted like nothing. I have also ordered a bread with cheese which was never delivered. At the end came the bill. The first one had the cheese sandwich so they issued a new one. The second one had not the three last items we ordered and therefore a third, correct bill, was finally issued.

I then went to the front to pick up the already payed cake when I overheard two employees commenting that they did not have all numbers. They start to look for the candles when one of the employees comments to his colleague: “this one will pass as the right number”. This was sign number one of dishonesty, a typical Lisbon “Chico-espertice”. The second sign was when the employee placed both candles immediately in a paper bag. Off course, when I opened the bag, there were two candles, one with a “7” and one with a “2”. The employee had just returned the honesty I showed when paying the bill with a complete gesture of dishonesty. Fortunately my two and a half years living in Lisbon prepared me for this common “Chico-espertice”. And being Portuguese while seeming foreign (I have an English tone while speaking Portuguese) helps overhearing these comments that employees often do when they think I will not understand them.

I don’t give only one star because the birthday cake was indeed very good.

Please review your behavior towards your customers because you actually make...

This place looks like a small cafe/bakery from the front. We stopped to see if they had a toilet with the intention of having just a drink to use their facilities. Through the back is a larger seating area and a gorgeous outdoor courtyard. We saw the food being served and decided to stay for lunch. The service was extremely quick and we had a delicious gratin of cod with salad and a glass of wine. Delicious, Very reasonable price and good service. We arrived at midday and it was quiet but within half an hour it was very busy with locals (a good sign for travellers!). Highly recommended (also toilet facilities were good...

The slowest service I have ever witnessed. Imagine the scenario: Sunday mid morning, 11 customers, at least 5 members of staff available. I ordered the most basic thing a Portuguese person usually orders in places like this: toast and latte. Simple toast as in bread and butter. Literally putting a slice of bread in the toaster. It took NO LESS THAN 30 MINUTES to get my toast. And in case you’re wondering “were they baking the bread before serving it?”. No they weren’t. Had to pay an absolute fortune for the slowest, most basic toast in my life. Do not...