Restaurante O Grego — Restaurant in Loulé

The experience was a bit of a mix for us. Starting with the good things, the food was absolutely delicious. The concept was interesting, as it consists on a fixed menu with twelve dishes to try different sides of the Greek cuisine. While they ask about allergies and vegetarian/vegan preferences at the beginning, I wish I would have had a bit more of insight on the dishes from the beginning, but it was still a fun surprise waiting to see what was next. The hummus and the stew were especially good.

The bad things were mostly related to service, which is a shame. While at the beginning the service was attentive and efficient, it stopped being so along the night. We were sat outside, and the ambience started great. However, soon the little light on our table went off, and when we called the attention of the waiter, the reaction was very dismissive, saying that at this time of the year, the lights act out like that. We asked for another one and he picked one from a nearby table, which had the same issue. We once again pointed it out, because late at night we really couldn't see much without it, and the reply was that it was definitely a light issue, because that light hadn't been used for the day. There was no other solution given, and we eventually had to use our phone's torch to be able to continue eating. When we asked for the bill, we had to wait over twenty minutes, as the waiters seemed more focused on tending to the bigger groups. During that time, the chef came to greet the clients personally, which was a wonderful detail, if not for the fact that we were ignored during this whole exchange. When they finally brought the bill, we were almost ignored for the payment, in favor of a big group...

O Grego works with a fixed menu, for 29.50. In addition to the standard meze, you can choose the vegan and/or gluten-free option. We order 2x the standard menu, 1x vegan and 2x vegan and gluten-free.

After the wine has been poured, a bread basket is placed on the table containing deliciously crispy bread. And then came the other snacks / dishes from the Greek kitchen. How delicious they were. One was not yet finished when the next dish was brought.

The menu consisted of: Tzatziki, Hummus ( v,gf ), Falafel, Beetroot orange salad ( v,gf ), fry vegetable ( v,gf ), Taramosalata , Smoked mackerel , Greek salad ( v,gf ), Spinach pie (v), Cheese pie with honey and sesame , stifado with soya (v), Stifado with mushrooms ( v,gf ), Kebab with black pork . And chocolate mousse ( v,gf ). And ouzo 😊

The dishes are well thought out, the execution skilful and the flavors convincing: full, rich and pronounced, just as they should be. Philippos regularly comes to ask if everything tastes good. And his father, 88 years old and a former pilot, also regularly makes the rounds. We are impressed and happy by all the goodies. It is a wonderful place where we would like to...

We couldn't have had a better experience. Even without reservations, and luckily the beginning of tourist season, the owner welcomed us as if we were long lost friends. He doesn't have a menu but serves Greek tapas and a main dish. We started with tzatziki, hummus, and grilled pita w garlic butter. From there we ate small plates of classic Greek sides. We couldn't believe the beef stew and moussaka! Both were incredible, although by the time they arrived, we hardly had space. But when he mentioned Banoffee, magically, we found a little more room.

The food was fantastic, flavorful, and familiar--exactly what we were hoping for. But beyond that, the warm atmosphere, the charming and friendly owner, and lovely waitstaff made our visit beyond a five-star experience.

And don't expect to walk in and get a spot any later in the season! The owner said they are usually booked out several weeks. We are so thankful he could...