Pátio do Ló — Restaurant in Matosinhos

How is it that every week we say this is our favorite restaurant in Portugal then the next week, something tops it? Well king of the heap this week is Patio do Lo. I assume it’s proprietor Louis, is the namesake. Although his master chef whom we also met is named Louisa. Why quibble over trivial matters. Let’s eat! And eat we did, we trusted Louis to make this an epic meal, and boy did he! This place is classic Portuguese with thick exposed stone walls, an ample patio out back. We set near the kitchen, to check out the action.

We started with an amazing warm bread and homemade pimento butter with paprika also homemade tuna salad to spread over that delectable bread. A bowl of olives kept us from chewing the table as we were famished. We let Louis pick the wine and Game on!

The roasted salted peppers quickly followed then shorty the homemade chorizo on fire came. The waiter instructed me to turn it over a few times till we thought it was cooked. Then he expertly killed the flame, and scraped the burnt casing off most of the link then cut it for us to chow down on. My wife said maybe we could get a doggie back and take some home to make chorizo n eggs for breakfast. Not a chance! Perfectly spiced and unctuously fatty rich and meaty, we inhaled it! Just in time for the bacalhau fried crepes, to help sop us some of the chorizo richness. The next unexpected course was a pulled duck pot pie with fresh greens to accompany. Oh man it was richer than Françoise Bettencourt Meyers! Just as we were thinking some time tonight we are gonna get that steak we ordered… Nope a scotch egg was next. We never this dish had so while Louis expertly cut it in half he explained what it was all about. Basically art mixed with chef alchemy, decadence and booming with flavor. As we sopped up the remaining bits of sriracha mayo, the main event finally arrived. But before Louis put the wooden platter down, he explains to the wife, “I know you don’t like very rare meat so if it’s not to you liking, I will ask the chef to continue to cook it, are you willing to try to taste the way we think it’s best?”

Once she said a little scared.. “well… ok… The steak (for 2) was placed in front of us looking all sexy and very rare. She took a bit with Louis paying very close attention to her reaction ready to pounce and send it back to the kitchen. No need, her eyes glazed over as she barely chewed her first bite. She sat back in her chair and swore out loud, “outrageous! It so good, how the heck… what… where did you learn to cook like this what planet do these cows live on?” Louise chuckled and explained his theory of cooking and fine cuisine. We were getting a master class from a master while we ate THE BEST STEK IVE EVER EATEN.

While maintaining his panache he humbly introduced us to his master chef Louisa, and maintained while he curates and experiments she was the master.

Then the idea of dessert started bubbling up. But before they turned around to he dessert display I said no sir! I want that steak flavor to be the last thing on my palette. Louisa insisted that if we weren’t going to EAT dessert we should at least drink it. Perplexed we listen to her explain that what she was going to give us was the their normal “hooch” as the haven’t done something with the sour cherries, but this was a good substitute. Stupidly nodding our heads we went along with it. Then once the shot glasses were full, Louis took a lime and expertly squeezed some juice in each, then a dash of sea salt. I’m thinking ok this is like a tequila shot or something. Well it was a shot alright, but it was sweet. It only took a minute to register, this complex concoction tasted like I drank a key lime pie, crust n all. Brilliant.

The restaurant is very busy on weekends Louis quipped, because I said I’d be back for the prego sando the next day, my face plastered to the front glass window “let me in I want may prego” I mimed.

An absolute must if you like great quality meats curated with love, served...

We stumbled on this charming restaurant by chance on our annual Porto surfing pilgrimage. It was full and we hadn't reserved but the owner, Louis, couldn't have been more welcoming and accommodating. He offered us drinks under a beautiful olive tree in the patio garden at the back of the restaurant until a table was free.

Food was superb, wine was great (lovely vino verde), that we let Louis choose for us. He was engaging, attentive, helpful and very friendly. His passion for his restaurant and customers was very apparent....he wants them love the experience, waiting to see our reaction as we took our first bites of the dishes. We loved it all. Reasonable prices, top qualirt customer service and overall good value and thoroughly enjoyable experience.

Thank you Louis and to your team.. we'll be...

An amazing experience not only for the delicious food, but also for the service of kindness of the chef & owner. We have been warmly welcomed with the beer in the beautiful terrace. Then, we are amazed by the well worked tapas menu and the well cooked beef. The service is flawless with the special attention for different client. The cooking is not typical and traditional Portuguese way, but I do like the fusion method applied in the...