Sant'Avó — Restaurant in Lisbon

I’ve decided to simply paste below what I sent to my family describing our first day in Portugal, which provides my honest review of this magical experience.

“The highlight of our day was dinner at Sant’Avo. Everything we ate was DELICOUS (and affordable!!). Like nothing I’ve ever tasted before- unique combinations of spices. I kept telling Tom how “I wished my mom was there” so he could see her ability to distinguish spices “in action.”

The appetizer fish soup had a strong cilantro and subtle coriander and cumin flavor- it was a soup that made you feel warm inside, with a similar consistency to butternut squash soup. For the main course, Tom had crispy, flavorful rice with pulled pieces of pork and some of the smokiest sausages we’ve ever had- the flavor was indescribable. I had a hearty vegetable and squid stew that felt like something a Portuguese mom would make for you on cold days - it was home in a bowl. For dessert, we had their chocolate mousse with walnuts and it blew us away- and Tom isn’t even a dessert person.

But the real highlight was the bustling street with colorful trams and tuk tuks moving by up and down the steep hill that we were perched at the top of. You could see down the hill to the ocean, the orange tile roofs and yellow buildings contrasting with the cerulean waters and blue tiles that decorate much of the building fascades. A local musician couple, Lads d’ Alenquer, performed live music alternating inside and outside the restaurant. They were talented singers and musicians and played a variety of instruments- violin, harmonica, ukulele, piccolo (?), drums, and more. People passing by would smile or clap as they passed by. A little girl garbed in a Mickey and Minnie Mouse outfit, fascinated by the music, kept coming out of the restaurant to follow the singers- it was very cute. Some songs were upbeat, and they got the crowd involved singing “Ai Ai Ai!”, while others would have moved mom to tears. The general environment combined with the food was truly special and something I think I’ll always...

I rarely do reviews, but I had to leave one for this restaurant.

I had an absolutely amazing experience at Sant’Avó in Lisbon. From start to finish, both the customer service and the quality of the food were outstanding.

I tried the Púcara de legumes, cogumelos e grão com arroz branco (vegetables, mushrooms, and chickpea casserole with white rice), and it was simply delicious—beautifully prepared, full of flavor, and presented with care. The staff took the time to explain each dish, which made the whole experience even more special (look out for server Arthur, he is simply the best!)

To pair with it, I had a smooth red wine called Monte da Seda, which complemented the meal perfectly. For dessert, the chocolate mousse was rich, creamy, and the perfect ending to a wonderful dinner.

The restaurant’s old-fashioned Portuguese décor, inspired by the early 1900s, creates such a unique and cozy atmosphere—it really feels like a step back in time, in the best way.

⚠️ Tip: Make sure to book a reservation in advance, as the restaurant is often fully booked.

Highly recommend this gem to anyone visiting Lisbon. Exceptional food, outstanding service, and a truly authentic...

After being told to wait 10 minutes and ending up standing in the cold for over an hour, it was extremely frustrating to watch several people being seated ahead of us, without any clear explanation.

We asked around 10 times if it was nearly our turn, and each time we were told that it was, which clearly wasn’t true.

The explanation we were eventually given that “everything was reserved” only came at the very end, and even then, no one ever informed us that all those people passing ahead of us had reservations, which could have avoided the whole situation.

We can’t guess who has a reservation and who doesn’t. At the very least, there should have been honesty and transparency from the beginning. Had we been told that the wait would be this long or that they couldn’t accommodate walk-ins, we would’ve made other plans right away.

The way we were treated makes no sense, and leaving customers out in the cold with no clear information shows a lack of consideration that is simply...