oS aMericanO's — Restaurant in Peniche

This restaurant was recommended to me by Diana from Peniche360 (I highly suggest taking one of their tours, see my Trip Advisor review) and I was pleasantly surprised to find that instead of your typical wine bar environment it felt more like I was sitting down to eat at someone’s house with the rest of their family. The owners had many years of experience in the New York City restaurant industry, which definitely showed. I ordered the branzino, a fish more commonly found on a menu in an Italian restaurant than a Portuguese restaurant, which typically features salt cod, sea bass, or sea bream. Plus, the presentation and preparation was more flavorful and beautiful than what generally arrives on your plate coming out of a Portuguese restaurant kitchen. The use of olives, tomatoes, garlic, and plenty of fresh citrus and herbs gave the dish a distinctive Mediterranean flair, while the traditional Portuguese preparation would have been much simpler, consisting of a grilled or roasted filet dressed with olive oil accompanied by potatoes and a vegetable. This is not to say that authentic Portuguese cuisine is bland and unappealing—on the contrary, I found it to be consistently delicious everywhere I went because it is heavily dependent on the freshness of the ingredients that aren’t hidden by breading or sauces. However, I can see why this expats flock to this restaurant (the place fills up with Americans when they serve up a traditional Thanksgiving dinner every year) because there are times when you’re craving the comforts of home, and as an Italian-American from Philadelphia, this meal tasted like home to me. But the owners have not lost their European roots either (husband is Portuguese, wife is Russian), which showed in the way that they came out to the tables and chatted with their customers like they were old friends (and indeed, some of them actually were). Make no mistake about it, this couple oozes charisma, which is becoming a necessity to stay afloat in the “industry” these days, particularly in small towns like Peniche where everybody knows everybody and the tourist hordes disappear in the off-season. Sure, it might be the fun items on the menu like “Piggys in a Blanket” and the chefs’ skill at creating reductions and glazes that wows the crowd, but it’s the warm and welcoming, convivial atmosphere at Os Americano’s that keeps them...

I can just tell by the owner’s response to the negative comments that he is not customer oriented.

I ordered the cod (main course) and stuffed pepper (appetizer). Both were recommended by my server. Server comes back and lets me know that they are out of the stuffed pepper. I was going to just stick w the cod but server was trying to sell me on another appetizer so I went w the sausage. He comes back shortly after to tell me that they are out of sausage too. Ok. Fine. My server was so polite and friendly I wasn’t upset about the situation but just thought it was odd that the kitchen wasn’t communicating w their servers to tell then ahead of time what they are out of. I decided to just stick w the cod. I did order a side of bread and butter. That came right away as you would expect. Bread and butter tasted fine. Nothing extraordinary. The white wine the server recommended was good. Cod took a while to cook which was fine. When it finally came I was so excited bc I was so hungry. The presentation looked very nice but…. when I took a bite it was SOOOOO CHEWY!!!!

When done properly cod is tender and flaky while holding together while falling apart…..how they prepared it totally the opposite!

I didn’t even finish half and asked for the check. Server asked if I wanted to take it home and I just said I have no refrigerator 😄

I think the best experience from this restaurant was not the food but the hospitality of the server. He was very polite and welcoming. I was trying to be a good patron too by even offering to switch tables so that they can arrange the tables in a way to accept larger parties. I felt the owner there or restaurant mgr whoever he was could’ve came over and acknowledged that. The server did all the thanking. Five stars for the server! Minus...

I had the pleasure of dining at this incredible restaurant in Peniche, and I can confidently say it’s the best one we’ve tried among the many we’ve visited. The cuisine is simply genius – every dish we had was bursting with flavor and cooked to perfection. The ambiance is wonderful, offering a perfect blend of comfort and style. The atmosphere is welcoming and sets the stage for a delightful dining experience. The waitstaff are amazing – friendly, attentive, and genuinely invested in ensuring that guests have a fantastic time. A special mention goes to the owner and head chef, who is not only an outstanding cook but also a warm and gracious host. Her passion for food and hospitality shines through in every aspect of the restaurant. Given how popular this place is, I highly recommend making a reservation. They are often fully booked, and for good reason. This is a must-visit spot in Peniche, and I can’t...