Café Palhinhas — Restaurant in Odemira

4 stars for the food (too much salt sprinkled on the fish), 5 stars for the price and views. We originally planned to go to the neighboring A Azenha do Mar, which has many more reviews. However, the couple sitting in the car parked next to us convinced us to go to Cafe Palhinhas for the better view and better prices, so we did.

The restaurant is unassuming, and the view is spectacular. The outdoor seating is at the edge of the cliff, so you're face to face with beautiful vistas. They look to have menu items that you need to call in advance to order, mainly stews and soups. We ordered: Octopus patanischa (6 pieces), 9.50 Euros. These were like octopus egg fritters, and they were very tasty. Fried moray eel (2 pieces), 7 Euros. Some people loved this, I did not. I thought it was too tough. I prefer my eel as Japanese unagi. Mussels, 11 Euros. Tasty! Fried prawns, 12.50 Euros. These were cooked in a spicy garlic oil sauce (mop that up with bread), and they were delicious. Octopus salad, 8.50 Euros. This was raved about in other reviews, so we ordered two. The octopus was very tender and fresh. The salad comes with a lot of onions though--a bit too many for my taste. Dourada (sea bream) 1000 kg, 40 Euros. Very fresh and tender, too much salt on top. Robalo (sea bass) 1000 kg, 40 Euros. Also fresh and tender, though less meaty. Too much salt on top. Bico amarelo (white wine), 17.50 Euros Their traditional dessert, 4 Euros, which was a cinnamon roll-flavored marshmallow cake with sliced almonds. Some people loved it. I wasn't a big fan.

We had also ordered bread and olives, which they didn't charge us...

Food always 5 Stars, Service 1 time 5 Stars 2 times 0 Stars I have to say I really loved this hidden restaurant when I discovered it 2018. Service and Food both 5 Stars. The interior was the same as today but you came for delicious food, great views and nice people.We visited in 2022 again and the food is still great and the view over the see as well. Service was 1 out of 3 times perfect but 2 out of 3 visits a disaster. First time we did not get all of what we ordered - means the kids got nothing of what we ordered for them. Last time was even worse - we know the bill is ALWAYS handwritten but so far that was never an issue as it was ok. We had the same menue (fresh fish) always but the last time it was 40 Euro more expensive (and also the waiter has forgotten the vegetables which are part of the menue) for the same amount. After asking the waiter how this can happen as we always have exactly the same menue he just said the fish is bigger this time (well, it wasn’t) and then he added even more stuff to order that have been overseen by whoever makes this calculations. Honestly? Get yourself a proper cash system and a professional service and we’ll come every day. But these very unprofessional experiences suck when you are...

Plan in advance. Book a table. Bring your own shade and something to sit on. Bring your own drinks and something to eat if you're hungry. Had a reservation for 8 for lunch. Specifically requested shade. We were given a concrete bench in the blazing sun. Brought own umbrella from the car. After nearly 2 hours we were asled if we had orderedany food. Nobody had even offered a menu yet and we had to bring our own drinks. Eventually someone came with 1 menu between 8 people. And when we ordered we were told thay had ran out of food. If you're very lucky you might have an enjoyable experience here but we drove more than an hour to sit in the searing sun looking at a concrete wall and were totally ignored for 2 hours by all the staff. Dont waste your time on this restaurant. Bring a picnic and enjoy the views from...