A Tendinha — Restaurant in Matosinhos

After a long joyous day of enjoying the finest beaches Porto had to offer, what's better than a great tapas dinner? Well, myself and some friends thought this was to be a great experience.

We were greeted by a lovely (but cheeky) older woman who sat us down to our table (after letting us know they were closing - making us feel guilty). We were made to choose what we wanted off the menu while the table was cleared as if we had a gun to our heads....Imagine a hostage situation.

Upon sitting at the table, we were rushed to confirm our meals and drink orders. We all had a long day so was expecting greatness, when in fact all we received was oil. So much oil that America would have loved it.

No joke.

Chips... straight from the freezer covered in oil and salt.

Calamari? Straight from the freezer and, yes you guessed it, covered in oil. They reminded me of weatherspoons Onion rings (if you haven't been to a weatherspoons in London, please go!)

I also had spicy chicken, but to say the chicken was spicy is a plain lie. I've had Lemon Victoria Sponge cakes with more spice.

Overall, the food tasted like it was straight from the freezer, the freshest item on there was the unopened water.

After we ate we were told that we could get 5Euro off the total bill per person if we left a good review. Who doesn't love bribery?

Don't go, unless you like freezer food and a funny member of...

Service: This restaurant has the best hospitality of any place I've been to in Porto. Maria was simply amazing! We walked in 40 mins before the restaurant reopened but instead of pushing us away she open up the kitchen and served us anyway. She catered to us the entire time, she suggested the best wines and appetizers. We shared stories and laughs the entire time, by the time we left we felt like family. Maria is the best waitress I ever had

Food: We ordered the seafood pasta and the lasagna bolognese. The seafood pasta was overflowing with clams and shrimps. We had to ask for an extra plate just to begin to eat it. The tomato sauce was seasoned to perfection and the noodles were delicious. The lasagna had excellent flavor and covered with just the right amount of cheese. It's hard to make such a common meal taste unique but the fresh ingredients and cooking style if the chef did just that. I highly recommend both dishes.

Atmosphere: A smaller restaurant with very homey decor. When you first walk in you might be overwhelmed because there isnt an inch of space not being used. But it is sort of an organized chaos because the staff knows exactly where everything is and get things to you promptly. I recommend calling ahead and setting...

A small restaurant with a very cozy environment and great hospitality manners. This is my fifth time here and is not going to be the last. Even though most of the time we arrived between lunch and dinner when they were supposed to be close, we never had been pushed away. On the contrary they always received us with open arms. Maria, the hostess, is always ready to make good suggestions and chat with you if you are open for a good conversation. Otherwise, she has the sensibility to respect your time and space. Since we relocated to Matosinhos from California last November this has been one of our favorite Portuguese restaurants.

The food is always fresh, delicious and has a good presentation. It is a tapas style restaurant with good portions to share or to enjoy the dish alone. Good variety of meat and seafood alternatives combined with a good wine or sangria will make your experience unique.

If you are in Porto and have time to visit Matosinhos we highly recommend this place. It is not one of the fancy restaurants you can find in the area but...