A Peixaria II — Restaurant in Matosinhos

This place was a nightmare. We waited 20 min in line even though there were some spaces. Once seated, they brought us an appetizer without explanation. We thought maybe they offer that, I had to ask twice why until they told us that if we eat it, we pay. We sent it back, again, had to tell them several times. Then they just put it at someone else's table. We ordered the fish platter for 2 and one fried sardines as starter, as we really wanted to try that. We waited a long time then the fish platter came, I asked about the starter, the waiter, said; "did you really order?" I said yes. he checked(!) agreed and then said "oh what should we do now? I said bring it to us. "Oh ok... ". They never came I asked 2 other waiters, we got them at the end. Without asking they brought as a side dish cabbage and potatoes ( apparently included). We said we wanted french fries INSTEAD. The waiter brought us chips, sent them back had to ask 2 other waiters again, by that time we had almost eaten the fish platter. By the way it was very windy in the shadow, nobody ever asked, and the fish platter was mostly cold from the start. Seemed like everything was lying there some time. The bill came, and they had the unwanted appetizer on it for 12.50 as Mariscos, when I told them that we didn't have it once AGAIN the waiter asked, really? You can imagine we were very pissed at that moment. The French fries were on it twice, apparently because they only include the cabbage and potatoes, we are not allowed to change. After all this mess they didn't not even offer us anything! One waiter kept excusing them. We were so pissed that we then almost paid for everything, including the unwanted mariscos, and left without the waiter "realizing" it. When I then realized and walked back to ask for the 12.50 back. We were so mad... We never had such a bad service and experience...

We took the tram from downtown Porto (Trindade station) to Matosinhos on a Monday to see the Atlantic Ocean and grab some lunch. The kind, intelligent and helpful women at the tourist information center informed us that the fish is typically brought in on Tuesdays so we'd do well to come the next day for the ultimate experience. She needn't have worried.

A short walk from the tourist information center on the beach brought us to multiple restaurants with window-enclosed outdoor seating with grills built-in to the end. We picked A Peixaria II and sat outside.

The wait staff spoke excellent English and were forthright in explaining that there is a charge for everything they place on the table. They said we could send anything back untouched for which we didn't want to pay. No problem, just different.

My wife had the salmon and I had swordfish. Honestly, it seemed totally fresh to me. My fish was light and juicy and her salmon was piping hot with nice bite-resistance and a savory sauce.

The cabbage was crisp with just the right amount of oil and seasoning. At the end; with waters, her wine, the appetizers, and our two meals, the bill was less than 50...

I recently had dinner here and from start to finish, the experience was truly top-notch. We began with a selection of appetizers: mussels, tuna, and shrimp. Each one tasted incredibly fresh, setting the stage for what would be a phenomenal dining experience.

For the main course, we indulged in grilled octopus and grilled sea bass, accompanied by a traditional soup/stew. Both dishes were cooked to absolute perfection. Without exaggeration, the grilled octopus was hands down some of the best I’ve ever had—tender, flavorful, and perfectly charred. The sea bass was equally impressive. Every bite was a delight.

To top it off, the service matched the food. The staff's passion and dedication to their craft were evident in every detail of the meal. They made us feel like valued guests from the moment we walked in, and their attention to detail truly elevated the entire experience.

While the price was a little higher than expected, every aspect of the meal, from the food to the service, was well worth it. I highly recommend this spot for anyone looking to enjoy phenomenal seafood in a welcoming, passionate environment. Thank you...