BOX 208 Italian Food — Restaurant in Matosinhos

A really bad experience and a complete disappointment. I had really high hopes for this place, but everything went wrong. First we came inside and were ignored. Then, when we went to sit down, the waiter came to us asking if we had a reservation, we answered that we didn’t and she told us where we could sit. One minute after sitting down, she came and ask for the order and we told her that we weren’t ready to order and she left. Later, she came and didn’t even say anything, we ordered and she was very rude the whole time like she was doing us a favor. The food was normal, nothing special really , and definitely not worth the price!!! My mum makes better pasta at home! I truly advise you not to spend your money at this restaurant, it’s a waste. The quality is not that great, the service was really bad and I just can’t understand this because the restaurant has a lot of bad reviews related to this and they don’t do anything about it. How can you have a restaurant, have such bad reviews about the service and don’t do anything...

Three o'clock on a Sunday afternoon is possibly not the best time for lunch and I was the only diner, but this restaurant is open all day. Firstly the staff were friendly and helpful and attentive. The menu offered just a few wines and only by the bottle. Not wanting either a bottle or a beer, I ended up with a jug of sangria which was refreshing but really didn't complement my pasta and cost me 21 euros - I would have been better off ordering a bottle of wine and leaving what I didn't want. I ordered a spaghetti carbonara which would have upset an Italian. The sauce seemed to be cream rather than egg based, the spaghetti was in short lengths and overcooked, and the ham was already cooked and smoked rather than pancetta. For an extra four euros I could have had parmesan with it, but seventeen euros already felt a bit steep. Before my pasta I was served a few grissini which might have been crispy a few hours earlier, olives and what was apparently ricotta pate for 5.30 euros in total. My bill came to a rather...

PARKING: convenient yet messy and cars being blocked in ENTRANCE : nice and clean however confusing, but the lift from the car park does take you straight in to the restaurant, next to the kitchen, a few more chairs in the waiting area would be great STAFF: Our waiter a Brazilian guy, was GREAT, polite and helpful, the others turn their faces away when we try to get their attention STARTERS: really good no complaints DINING AREA: Room looks good and very modern however the tables they were Dirty, come one get the grease off the tables MAINS: very well presentation of the food, however the pasta is little on the cold side even thought it was literally being warmed in the middle of a big cheese wheel and the lasagna is Home made which is good but dishes are a bit expensive for what they are. DRINKS: Sangria was weak...

Overall, I really wanted to enjoy this place however it was a big let...