A Tasca do Gigante — Restaurant in Mora

When we were looking for interesting restaurants in the respective locations while preparing our little round trip through Portugal, we came across a rating of 4.9 (!). This made us curious because a 4.9 is pretty rare. What we were able to experience there developed into the culinary highlight of our trip from the very first minute. The owner gave us a warm welcome and made us feel as if we had known each other for a long time. We were allowed to sit in the outdoor area, which consisted of a single table on a narrow sidewalk. With skillful questions, he tried to fathom our food and wine preferences. His recommendations were therefore accurate, we trusted him completely and our expectations were far exceeded. The suggested red wine from the region also developed into a sensation in taste after a short period of breathing. And that too at an amazingly low price. When we asked the owner to give the chef our compliments for the excellent food, he referred us to a slightly older lady who was sitting reservedly and almost inconspicuously a few meters away from us on a chair on the side of the road. It turned out to be his mother-in-law. She acknowledged our compliments with a soft smile and a dismissive hand gesture. So the saying is true here: Eat like at mother's home. This inconspicuous lady conjures up traditional Portuguese dishes of a quality that is simply gigantic. It's not just the quality of the food that's gigantic, the friendliness and cordiality is gigantic, the individual and natural response to the guests' wishes is gigantic. The overall performance that is offered here in the smallest of spaces is gigantic. So a clear recommendation and a sixth star if there were one. Please make a reservation, because there are really only a few places available. We will definitely come back as soon as the...

One of those culinary experiences that you will cherish forever... This is a family-owned restaurant and the owner Enio was super nice since we called for a reservation (please do so if you want to come as they only have 22 places) and explained the tapas-like concept and that they only accept cash. We had several dishes from the Alhada de Cação to the Peito de Codornizes com Mostarda e Mel, all the plates went back to the kitchen completely clean and that is always a great sign! We were able to thank the chef (Enio's mother in law) for the great service and she was so happy for the compliments :) We really hope to come...

What an absolute treat and the perfect way to end our holiday in the beautiful Alentejo countryside! We were very lucky to get a lunch reservation on our last day and highly recommend you book in advance. This quaint family restaurant is very small allowing for relaxed dining and exceptional service. Enio was a gracious and welcoming host who took extra time to explain the menu. Every dish was truly exceptional - flavourful, unique and true to the region. We are back in Canada now and still talking about the octopus fritters and almond ice cream! Obrigada Enio and family - we hope we’re fortunate enough to dine...