Poda — Restaurant in Montemor-o-Novo

Loved this cozy restaurant! The dishes are inspired by traditional Alentejo cuisine with a modern twist. We decided to go with the tasting menu and we were very glad we did. The servers explained the traditional roots of each dish and how the chef put his own twist on it, which was very interesting as it was our first time in the region. I would highly recommend doing the tasting menu if it’s your first time here or you’re not familiar with Alentejo cuisine. We loved it so much we came back two days later! All of the dishes were fantastic, but our favorites were the cold rabbit salad on bread (not on the menu but ask if they have it), the mushroom and egg soup, the purslane and goat cheese soup, and the breadcrumbs with cod. The local cheese and olives were also great! We tried three of the desserts, the chocolate mousse (so rich), the sericaia with honeycomb, and a traditional Alentejo cake with dried fruits; all three were delicious! The owner is a trained sommelier and clearly passionate about wine, he recommended us a number of great local wines to complement the food. All of the staff are so friendly and kind, you really feel that they are happy to have you there. Overall it was such a wonderful experience, I highly recommend stopping by if you’re...

The restaurant is in an old converted warehouse and looks absolutely delightful. The concept of taking the best local produce and elevating traditional dishes with more modern methods and twists is one that cannot be argued.

Unfortunately, the execution is what let's this restaurant down. The staff appear to struggle with the number of tables, and the kitchen has a tendancy to overcook their meat (while traditionally meat in Portugal does tend to be more cooked than modern expectations, it definitely shouldn't be so dry that you cannot manage a single bite without a drink to wash it down!). Incidentally noted that some of the lamb was served medium, some was well done, and some was as dry and tough as jerky- so there is definitely a consistency issue for the kitchen which could explain other more positive reviews (hopefully something that they are able to fix!)

With that said, the winter squash soup and the broth that the lamb was served in were both absolutely stunning, and the migas was fantastic. Fingers crossed that the restaurant is able to sort out its staffing levels and achieve a bit more consistant kitchen output in future - if it does, then this will be...

I just had an amazing dining experience at Poda on both a Sunday and Wednesday! From the charming ambiance to the incredible food and wine, everything was top-notch.

Each dish was stunning, and I love that they work closely with local producers for a fresh, seasonal menu. The wines were exceptional, highlighting the region’s best offerings.

The service was outstanding! Reinaldo and another lovely staff member enhanced our visit by explaining the history of each dish and wine.

Poda has a wonderful traditional feel with cultural elements from southern Portugal. My girlfriend from Alentejo said she hasn’t had food this good since her grandparents closed their restaurant in 2014—what a compliment.

I appreciated that we didn’t repeat any dishes or wines over our visits. If you’re in Montemor-o-Novo, do yourself a favor and visit Poda. I can’t...