Butchers Almancil — Restaurant in Loulé

Best steak ever.

My partner and I ate here for our last meal in Portugal before heading home, and boy were we in for a treat.

Bearing in mind it was mid-January, mid-week and early in the evening, the restaurant was surprisingly busy. We laughed off the receptionist at our hotel who suggested booking a table, and felt embarrassed when we did - thinking it would be empty. But on arrival we were glad we did.

The establishment didn’t look much from the outside, but once inside the decor was fantastic. We sat near some unused stairs, and the concrete/wood textures throughout felt very modern. The drinks menu was impressive, just as the quality of their cocktails. My partner enjoyed a glass of white wine with his meal, and later a cheeky margarita as I wolfed down a desert.

But to the steak. My partner ordered a sirloin, medium, with chips and a bernaise sauce. It was a few moments coming to the table, which wasn’t a problem for us, especially as it tasted so good. Having eaten at places in London such as Hawksmoor and Flat Iron, he was very impressed - suggesting it could be the best steak he has ever eaten. The portion looked small but was very filling. The chips were delicious too.

I had a fish with some sweet potato fries, and it too was delicious - but the focus at this restaurant is clearly steak. A 10/10 must-visit for meat eaters in Faro.

Best advice: Book a...

Slow/uncoordinated waiting and kitchen service and very questionable animal rules inside the restaurant.

Starters took about 30 min to arrive. They forgot about one of them (couvert) and we had to ask for it again. Children's food came as we were finishing the starters. They finished way before our main course arrived. Essentially we didn't eat "together". We waited 40 min for our main course to arrive after we finished the starters. Music too loud. You only hear loud beats. This makes everyone speak unnecessarily loud. Too warm inside, I was sweating. I think the AC was off. This one takes the cake: they allow dogs inside the restaurant which is something I've never seen in Portugal in 40 years - I understand it's legal and up to them to decide. But imagine trying to enjoy your Tomahawk and having a dog barking loudly near you inside a restaurant and even going to your feet to sniff them....

A very comfortable restaurant, great atmosphere, with exceptional quality beef. Doesn't matter if you order a burger or a Ribeye steak they will both be the best you have tasted. If you don't want beef, or even meat there are other great options as well. Why only 4 stars, well the wine list is exceptionally long and complicated, as is the menu and so ordering takes longer than it should. The staff are great, friendly and helpful, possibly not enough of them as the service can become very slow. The food is worth the wait actually but it doesn't seem like that at the time. I have been once for lunch and twice for dinner. Lunch was no problem and the first visit for dinner left me singing praises for Butcher's to anyone who would listen. The second dinner visit, accompanied by 7 of those I had recommended it to dragged on for ages and no...