Salsa & Coentros — Restaurant in Lisbon

The food here is tasty but nothing special and does not warrant the expensive pricing. But the bigger issue is the service and atmosphere. The restaurant has a TV with no volume and does not play any music. The result is a very awkwardly quiet restaurant, especially if you are one of the first people there. Also the waiters are not knowledgable about the menu. When we asked the difference between two white wines, the waiter responded “they are different wines”. Very helpful. Service was very quick, we left within 40 minutes. For a “high end” dining experience, this is sad. Also, all the tables had the starters ready to go under a napkin. I expect that at any basic restaurant, but at a fancy one there should be more effort. The octopus and the bacalhau were presented in exactly the same way, same garnishes and seasoning. Overall a...

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Salsa & Coentros is old-school Portuguese cooking hiding in plain sight. Tourists have no idea this place exists, and that’s probably for the best.

The menu is a greatest hits album of Portuguese classics — no “modern takes,” no foams, no drama. Just the real deal, done right. Portions are generous, flavors are spot on, and nothing feels rushed.

Service is formal in that “we’ve been doing this for decades” way, but not stiff. The clientele? 100% locals, mostly old-school men who look like they’ve been coming here since the 90s — and probably have.

If you want traditional Portuguese without the tourist...

Overhyped and Overpriced – Not Worth It

This restaurant is all hype with nothing to back it up. The food was underwhelming: the octopus was just okay, and the porco preto with house sauce was closer to an appetizer than a main course. The french fries were good, but again, nothing special. The service was cold and purely transactional, adding nothing to the experience. Ambiance? Just okay—nothing memorable.

To top it off, the wine selection by the glass was shockingly limited (one red, one rosé, one white), and all three were mediocre at best. With so many better options in the same neighborhood, there’s absolutely no reason to go...