Bovino Steakhouse — Restaurant in Loulé

Bovino Steakhouse is an interesting concept mixing steak, wood, poor service, a nice venue, a lottery on getting a table and random phone calls confirming or cancelling your bookings. Its more of an experience than a restaurant but not one I would recommend. We have attempted to eat here 5 times and on 2 occasions actually managed to get food in to our mouths. In all seriousness before my rant on our last (and final) attempt to eat at Bovino I will balance the review by saying the food is good (not great and if you want a steak you will find better locally such as Tucanos) and the venue outside is really nice for a special occasion but it is expensive and oh that unique Bovino service.

So what happened on our last visit that made me feel I should write this and what can/should you expect. Firstly the booking system online is a breeze, it actually is made to lull you in to a false sense of security and the first rule of Bovino is dont believe you have a booking or a table until you are sat with food on your actual fork. We had eaten there a week previous after booking a week out. We tried to book again on the Tuesday but after securing a seat we recieved the 'Bovino call' which is a bit like the call in the movie the Ring where the call comes in and a few hours later you meet your doom.

When the call came in I was told I was going to be sat inside. Now for people who havent been to Bovino the interior is very much like a Miller and Carter restaurant in the UK, that is to say it is wooden. This works in the UK generating a cosy atmosphere vs. the 32 degree heat on the Algarve. I chose not to spend my dinner in a log cabin and cancelled the booking. I rebooked for the Thursday assured there were outside tables.

Thursday came and my afternoon siesta was disturbed by a phone ringing... the Bovino call. The restaurant assured me there was nothing wrong and that I would be sat outside and I went back to my day feeling a sense of dread. When we arrived at the restaurant we joined the back of the queue as customers are checked in; sadly the reception has to match up your name on the computer with a paper drawing one of the children drew in the playground. When it was my turn it took 10 minutes for her to get my name right, find my booking and locate the table on her 'map', quite an achievement given they appear to have my mobile on speed dial and my name has four letters.

As we made our way through the restaurant I smiled at other restaurant go-ers who looked concerned as they navigate a menu with more extras than a thai massage parlour. As we are lead outside we find ourselves positioned right next to the outdoor kitchen. This is perfect seat for those of you looking to top up your tan on oneside of your face or smokers looking to save on cigarettes. Amazingly they also cover this area with a tent to make sure they keep the heat in and the light out.

I make my way back to the front desk to see the check in staff but am beaten by my waitress who spots either my annoyance or the fact I was already showing signs of heatstroke and she identifies another table. On my way outside I lose the waitress; concerned for her safety and if she has slipped I make my way back to find her barking orders and an old chap who she has setting up our table inside.

Disturbed I went outside to talk to the family and tell them I am having doubts and on the way back in I find Bovino has replaced my family with another at our original table (my kids stuff still in place); annoyed I ask if they can move me to one of the many empty tables outside but to no avail apparently we had walked in to a convention for the invisible and all tables were taken.

Needless to say we walked out anyway the key take aways; book way in advance, make it clear you want to be outside and not by the kitchen and enjoy the atmosphere when you are there. If you are inside dont bother and if you are purely going for the food maybe consider Tucanos for steaks or Casa do Lago for fish and dont expect your service with a smile or any flexibility when...

The food is very much of what you expect in these parts between the fine cuisine areas of quinta and val do lobo. But to be honest the oysters are not prepared professionally , white chunks of what look like an ambilical cord or a marshmallow make for a bulbous and large underwhelming oysters. These gross appendix are not removed and left to be consumed by the poor unwitting customer who is paying top end for what is essentially below standard fine fish.

Also customer care is generally on the same level I.e. poor. Last night of our vacation me and my wife decided to organise a meal for our anniversary at the newish restaurant in quinta and was then informed upon arrival that they accidentally accepted our reservation as they did not realise they were already fully booked. Did not offer any consolation but a blunt apology and we were told to go elsewhere.

Take my advice, If you want good fish and a little respect for your regular custom then go else where !!! The steak and meat is good but not something you cant get anywhere else in the area.

Try Casa do Lago, just a few minutes up the road, your be treated with better customer service and get far better food and a far superior experience with a splendid view. Compared with this restaurant that except for a nice roof terrace, is far overated (that is not in use for dining for some reason?). Ive been fine dining in this area for 10 years, 6 months of every one of those years, so you have a well informed review believe me . Go find a better...

We have visited you several times as we holiday in this area most years and previously have had great experiences. Unfortunately tonight was a disappointment and it was meant to be a special meal with a family member who hasn't visited your restaurant before. The steak platter came out over cooked, we informed the staff who ordered a replacement, however by the time the replacement arrived we had filled up on the side dishes and the person in our group who had ordered the burger had almost finished their meal. We discussed our disappointment with someone who i assume was a manager. He offered us a complementary dessert or drink, however we did not want dessert or a drink and had to leave as had our 1 year old daughter to get home to bed. This situation could have been handled much better and a solution found. There could have been many solutions e.g. removing the steak from the bill, or even removing a round of drinks from the bill at the very least as a gesture. But the attitude was that's all we are offering so it's up to you if you take it! I was honestly shocked and embrassed that we had recommended your restaurant so highly to our family member. We paid the bill but explained we felt it was handled poorly. I am saddened by this experience on what should have been a...