The Folks Santos — Restaurant in Lisbon

We showed up for breakfast and sat at one of the front tables. There were 4 of us. We all ordered coffee and breakfast and while we waited for breakfast to arrive, I whipped out my laptop. Yes, we were sitting at a "no lap top table", the tables where laptops are permitted are in the back of the cafe. To me that means that the establishment does not want customers to occupy the front tables for extended periods on their laptops. I agree. But surely, using my laptop until my food arrives, or even while I eat (I know, don't judge! But some things cannot be helped) is not the same. Surely I cannot be forced to interact with my party in favour of answering an urgent client email if i choose so? I was not literally waiting for our overpriced breakfast to arrive. I explained this to the very very young waitress but she insisted i not be in my laptop. To really rub salt into the wound, 3 local men sitting at the table next to us, also marked as "no laptop" had their's out. They had no coffees on the table, and no utensils, so IMHO precisely the reason the policy is for. When i questioned the waitress and pointed out that she surely does not understand the substance of the Policy, she told me they were management and had to deal with important work stuff. I spoke to the 3 men, they were not managers of Falks. They were dealing with work matters but told me that they were not using the Falks wifi. I too am a manager and I too had urgent work to do. I too was not using their wifi but my own Hotspot. We canceled our breakfast and moved to a place less hostile to female travellers.

We paid for coffees that were just delivered. The coffee was disgusting and we left them undrunk. The whole time we were there one of Falks staff was sitting outside and chain smoking, with the smoke coming straight back to us. Just what I want first thing in the morning! ... Regarding your response, your house your rules. It makes no sense to me why me being on my laptop for a few minutes (i spent more time being berrated by your staff then actually being in my lapttop) offends you or your customers so much, but I can chose to go elsewhere and I did.

But, your claim that you asked the 3 men to stop using their laptops is misleading. They were there on the laptop when we arrived. While I was there, at no time did your staff asked them to stop. The 3 m3n told me that when i askwd. Your staff did, however, tell me to, twice jn the space of 5 min. You can see from the photo that we left and the men were still on the laptop. But again, your house your rules. So I will never be back nor could I ever recommend this place to anyone. .

Your establishment your rules, but your reply is bending the truth, at best, to make yourself sound reasonable. You vwere anything but. Yes I was asked twice to put away my computer in the space of 3 minutes. Your staff pounced on me with ferocity, while my computer was still starting. Whilst the 3 local men were left alone on theirs, as I arrived, and the only reason you asked them to put theirs away (if that part of your repeply is true at all), obviously after my party left, because I complained. In fact one of your waitresses insisted that they were allowed to use their laptops because they were management and had important stuff to do. I spoke to them and the men told me noone asked them to put away their laptop and that they were not the management of Folks. Your house your rules. But then own it. You pick your targets. Maybe that is okay for some but not for me.

There are much nicer places, with nicer staff and much better food to enjoy...

Food: The pancakes were underwhelming, resembling the quality of a store-bought premixed batter. For the price, they don’t offer anything exceptional.

The salmon served with the Benedicts was not deboned fully, reflecting poor kitchen practices and a lack of attention to detail. This issue was compounded by the accompanying salad, which seemed completely disconnected from the dish. It felt like an afterthought, thrown in just to fulfill the requirement of a side. A simpler, more fitting option like granola with honey would have been a better choice.

The cappuccino, however, stood out with its rich coffee beans and a solid flavor. The pistachio latte was disappointing—overloaded with syrup and topped with a dusting of powdered pistachio. It felt more like a gimmick than a true pistachio latte, lacking balance in flavor.

Kitchen Practices: The kitchen’s inconsistency was evident throughout the meal. It seemed as though there were two conflicting approaches in the kitchen: one person passionate about their work and striving to improve, while the other seemed to do the bare minimum. This lack of cohesion affects the overall quality of the dishes and this repeats in every aspect of the restaurant.

Atmosphere & Concept: The interior is unique, with a flower shop at the front, but it feels mismatched. The decor is inconsistent, with fabric-lined walls, smooth-textured furniture, and stone-textured kitchenware. This gives the impression of a place struggling to define its identity. It tries to be a coffee shop, flower shop, and brunch spot all at once, but this fragmented approach undermines the overall experience.

Value for Money: At €22.25 per person, totaling €44.50 for two people including breakfast, coffee, and a shared dessert, the value doesn’t align with the quality of the food.

Conclusion: The restaurant is in need of improvement, particularly in terms of kitchen practices and menu focus. Simplifying the concept could lead to a more cohesive and enjoyable experience. At the moment, I would rate it a 2/5, but I hope it finds its identity and improves in the future.

Thank you for...

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