Tasca da Memória — Restaurant in Lisbon

Absolutely amazing food, service and ambiance. Live music Thursday and Saturday.

I only got photos of a few dishes on our table, but everything was faultless. I’ve been in Lisbon for a year and this was the best meal we have had.

Veg tempura it was all lovely. The horseradish mayonnaise was light, but flavourful. The tempura crunch and light. A variety of vegetables, and a generous portion.

Clams a bulhao Pato my son ordered this and in the menu it reads as breaded clams, but it’s actually just clams in a light broth. Moules casserole vibes, very light and salty/citrusy. I’m sorry I didn’t order this for myself. Definitely another time.

Grouper Seviche- I really enjoyed this. Served in a thin coconut / lime sauce, it was refreshing, and the fish was super clean and fresh. No fishy vibes at all. I would add some fresh red chilis as a garnish, but I appreciate most people don’t appreciate raw chilis.

Sautéed Prawns My least favourite of it all. It was basically a bed of mash with chopped shrimp on top and then served with a light bisque poured on top. It tasted good, but I wasn’t expecting it to be cold, so maybe that’s why. The rest of the table really enjoyed it.

Duck Magret What you would normally expect. Simple and well cooked. Served with a sweet potato purée, and a lightly sweetened sauce.

Loin of Veal (ordered medium - rare) It was so tender and very tasty. My son ordered this and he normally sends back his steak if it’s cooked wrong or the meat is too hard. He ate it all, and thanked the chef.

Ceaser Salad (no bacon bits) We ordered 3 of these, one after the other. The first 1 we ordered with chicken and the other 2 without. The dressing was really good, not too heavy, just enough garlic, and the croutons were light and crispy.

Fries We ordered a few sides of fries for the kids and they came out straight from the fryer. 9/10 times we get cold fries in other places and when I ask them to bring fresh ones I get side eye. It was refreshing not to have to ask for the obvious.

Macaroons The only thing I didn’t try, but the kids all loved them and ordered a second plate.

Mousse au chocolat This was the only disappointment over the course of the whole night. Served in a glass, the mousse was layered with jam and then what felt like a melted chocolate ice cream. It gave off a more Black Forest cake vibe.

To be fair, if the mousse was called something else, it would also have been really good. The kids just were expecting something a bit more classic, and having tasted it, they weren’t wrong. The base mousse was not sweet, but when you eat it as presented, with each layer, then the whole thing makes sense in your mouth.

Pistachio Surprise. Offered to us for the celebration of our guests birthday, the pistachio cake base was topped with pistachio ice-cream, a pistachio infused drizzle and then topped with some fresh pistachios and a few chocolate macaroons. I didn’t love the cake base, but the ice cream, the drizzle, the macaroons were all yummy.

We had the house roseé with our meal, which was very nice. Light, not too sweat. Refreshing.

( I should have taken more photos. Next time I’m there I will take more...

So where shod I start:

we booked a table for 8. The restaurant was empty, but the table wasn't ready. we wanted to start with the apperitif: they poored everything into the glasses, including the sediment (the bits of the wine on the bottom that should never go into the glass) finally we managed to reach the starters, which were OK, but the quantities are laughable, especially considering that we are in Portugal. Nobody eats here 3 lettuce leaves to be happy. Main dish: arrived late and again with the quantities for children. I counted the shrimps in my curry - 7.....really? other's plates were also super small. must give a point to the kitchen. Food tasted good. Little, but good.... service: they tried. They need training. People (2 men) with potential. Good training will solve the rest. One tall man who might be a manager or an owner was walking though the room gave zero importance to numerous complaints, and excused himself by "not speaking portuguese"....when one is responsible for the service or the business....it's not what you do. Sorry. the door: the entrance is through the sliding doors. And when they open you get such-and-such draft....I hope I'm not sick tomorrow. Summarising the situation: food tasted good. Raul did his best in solving what he could. Thank you for that. You made things better. If I end up going there again it will be by invitation and hope they solve all of the problems. Because the place is nice, it deserves vetter and the people are good, and also...

O restaurante encontra-se situado no piso térreo do hotel. O restaurante do Wine & Books Hotel, do Grupo PBH (Portugal Best Holiday), localizado na AjudaUm ambiente acolhedor, agradável e leve ao mesmo tempo. À volta das mesas, encontram-se envolvidas as estantes repletas de livros, entre caladas dom as garrafas de vinho, entre outros objetos ligados à escrita, como uma máquina de escrever antiga e não só. No exterior, uma esplanada divinal que convida a desfrutar do sol, cimo os que estamos a ter. A Carta muito variada, da responsabilidade do Chefe Carlos Marques, foi elaborada com objetivo de recuperar receitas e pratos antigos, especialmente das tascas de Lisboa, reinventa-as, dando lhes uma nova apresentação, criando memórias ao mesmo tempo. O que muito me agradou foi sem duvida na aposta em produtos frescos, sazonais e típicos. Para partilhar ou comer individualmente aqui podes escolher o que é difícil aqui. Temos Pastéis de Bacalhau, Peixinhos da Horta, Ovos Mexidos com Farinheira (deixem me dizer que já provámos mas como estes nunca tinha comido, SIMPLEMENTE DIVINAIS), Chouriço Assado, Salada de Polvo, Gambas em Azeite e Alho (muito parecido às Gambas Al Ajillo), Amêijoas à Bulhão Pato, entre outros. Cada petisco é uma tentação maior que a outra. Para uma refeição, pode optar pelo Prego Especial à Memória em Bolo do Caco com Batata Frita, Carne de Porco à Alentejana, Bife do Lombo à Memória com batata frita e ovo, Bochechas de Porco com Puré de Batata e Espinafres Salteados entre os pratos de carne. Se prefere peixe, pode escolher um dos vários pratos de bacalhau, o Caril de Camarão com Arroz Branco (foi o que eu comi), os Filetes de Polvo Panados com Arroz de Tomate( foi o que a esposa comeu) ou o Bife de Atum Grelhado com Batata e legumes. A Carta não é fixa tem uma variedade na carta que é o prato do dia de carne e de peixe diferentes, como o Arroz de Garoupa com que o Chefe nos surpreendeu e temos que afirmar, que as nossas expectativas não ficaram nada defraudadas.

Para a sobremesa, mais uma escolha difícil: Farófias ( a esposa delicio se e disse A MUITO TEMPO QUE NÃO COMIA UMAS FARÓFIAS TÃO BOAS) Pera Bêbada, Mousse de Chocolate, Arroz Doce ou o Pudim da Memória, a sobremesa da casa, numa reinvenção do tradicional pudim de ovos (muito boa foi...