O Petisca — Restaurant in Madalena

I truly believe if you are not a local, you are not welcomed here. My husband and I went to this restaurant as we had passed it coming back from a tour of the lava caves. We stood at the front for about three minutes with no one acknowledging us. No big deal as we had learned many times in Portugal that you’re pretty much just supposed to sit down at an empty table. I went in and let a different server know that we had sat down and asked if that was okay. She said yes. We were there for about 10 minutes, not having been approached or brought menus. It was busy so we chilled, until we saw a few locals come and sit at an empty table behind us and immediately another server went up to them. A couple minutes later she brought them back beers (we still had no menus), so I caught her eye by doing a small raised hand and polite smile. She put up her index finger (kind of a rude indication of “1 minute”) and went back inside. She then returned to another empty table right next to us and cleared it off, without looking at us. Another Portuguese couple sat at this table, and she finally brought us menus when she brought them menus. She said, “you can eat from the buffet”, and I said, “thank you but I’ll order from the menu” (I’m a vegetarian so that was my best bet). She said, “since you are in a rush that will take longer”. We never had said anything about being in a rush (other than trying to politely catch her eye that previous time.) I told her I knew what I wanted to drink (just a water) and she walked away inside without saying anything back to me. She came back out two minutes later to the couple next to us and took their food and drink order, then returning with their wine. These folks had literally just gotten there when we had waited for 20 minutes without ordering drinks. My husband and I were very hungry and super thirsty so my husband said, “maybe we should just go”. I thought and said that surely she’d return for us. When another almost 10 minutes went by and we saw another new table get their drinks before she even asked for our order, we finally left. It left a bad taste in our mouth because we are nice polite people and were not rude at all even though we felt her negative energy. Obviously I can’t prove it but I felt she had something against us. Long story short we do not feel welcomed here and will never return. We would much rather go to one of the many other places on Pico to eat where people were...

Delicious food, great ambience, excellent service. Peekaboo views of the ocean. We ate at O Petisca last night with another couple. The appetizers were delicious especially the octopus stew and the tuna in olive oil. The main course was equally great. Large portions. At the end of the dinner the owner Daniel came over to the table to check on our dinner. As always he was charming and offered us a nightcap courtesy of the house. We highly recommend this restaurant. May 16, 2024 - we went for the midday buffet. You can choose the buffet or order from the menu. Today's buffet consisted of appetizers, soup and at least eight choices of proteins (pork, cod fish, fish stew) along with a generous selection of sides. We ordered a 1/2 liter white wine. Once again the food and service was great. It's a 7- minute walk from the center of town. After a great meal you can choose to stroll...

O Petisca is a remarkable dining experience that never fails to impress. From the consistently delicious food to the attentive and friendly service, every aspect of the restaurant exudes quality and care. The atmosphere strikes the perfect balance between upscale and casual, making it ideal for any occasion.

I cannot recommend O Petisca enough, and urge you to try their exceptional dishes, paired with the local Pico wines. Be sure to sample the delectable chilly bites, which are bursting with flavor and perfectly complement the restaurant's ambiance. Additionally, the fresh fish of the day is always a standout choice, showcasing the kitchen's mastery of seafood and their commitment to using only the finest ingredients from Pico island.

Whether you're a local or just visiting, a meal at O Petisca is an absolute must. It's an experience you won't...