Ria Panorâmico — Restaurant in Olhão

I was looking forward to this restaurant prior to my trip. I called up to book my table reservation and got all dressed up for the night out. On arrival I was pleasantly greeted by the staff. Was given the choice to seat upstairs or downstairs, however the menu upstairs was only tapas so I returned downstairs for more menu options. The male bar staff on the upstairs wasn't so much friendly or helpful, perhaps the language barrier or who knows. Ordered a cocktail and had to return downstairs but was told I must pay for drinks even though I was dinning downstairs, and waited a wee while before card machine arrived. Food downstairs wasn't up to my standards, the fish came swimming in a bowl of oil. Not the closest choice to healthiness, the prawn special was just prawns sprinkled with sea salt. I enjoyed the salad but again not keen on the heavy oil, as I'm quite a fussy healthy conscious eater. The chips were covered with salt, wish it was an option to add rather served with. I ordered it for my toddler which I don't give salt. For what I had eaten in the town for much less as compared to this upscale restaurant, I was a tad disappointed but the ambiance and views were breathtaking. Maybe my chosen options weren't the best and perhaps I was unlucky this time. However, I would still recommend this place as it's a lovely location with great...

Firstly great praise for the barman in the cocktail lounge - excellent service and really good cocktails. Restaurant less impressive. We were told we wouldn’t be able to have our cocktails upstairs because the restaurant was fully booked so, if we wanted to eat, we had to take our drinks straight down and order food. There were 3 tables plus ours occupied when we arrived and 10 free (outside). The menu is interesting and varied but has very few veg options. Staff were helpful and explained that the portions were tapas size. Couvert - 1 bread roll, garlic butter and 10 or so olives between two - was underwhelming and definitely tapas size. Tempura octopus very good, very small portion. Seared tuna - excellent. Stuffed mushroom hot and tasty and the goat cheese parcels similarly good. The food is pricey for the portion size - particularly the octopus - even allowing for the tapas element. We didn’t have wine because we both had two large cocktails to get through - not my preferred drink with a meal. The waiter was efficient to the point of making us feel rushed and asked if we’d like to take coffee upstairs so we could vacate the table. We declined, paid and left. Not a relaxing evening and still 10 tables empty as we left at around 8:45pm. We live in Fuseta and will definitely go again for cocktails...

Take a seat, grab a drink, enjoy a view across the Ria Formosa to the Atlantic beyond. This restaurant is a worthy pit stop even if you decide not to dine here.

Beware the couvert, which was a ball of nice bread, some surprisingly bland butter, olives...and that was it; overpriced but good for a snack to share.

The bottle of expensive water proffered on seating is not necessary as Fuzeta tap water is perfectly good so just ask for that (it's now illegal to refuse you, by the way).

The menu is very hit and miss. When they hit it's a bullseye: on this visit I had perfectly cooked polvo tempura in a sweet potato purée. Fantastic.

The smile was wiped off my face by a sardine bruchetta, which sounds like it's going to be a whack of grilled fish and tomato and olive but arrives covered in a blanket of melted and hardened cheese. Which is like putting a fire blanket over a camp fire. Awful. To their credit they didn't hesitate when I asked them to take it off the bill.

I've dined here a few times. There's always something good and always a disappointment. They're trying too hard to run such a broad menu but they mostly get it right and it's worth rolling the dice to enjoy the visita and warm hospitality.

PS. Bring your...