Taberna do Ganhão — Restaurant in Peniche

Braised octopus was the best that I ever had! Cooked so well! WOW! Very tenderl. It came with a side of potatoes and arugula w red onion lightly dressed w vinaigrette dressing and just raw sliced tomatoes. It worked so well together w the octopus.

The spicy shrimp on the other hand was underwhelming. Shrimps were very small in size and way overcooked. Sauce was on the salty side. Bc there was so much sauce I think it could be served with some bread or something to dip the sauce with.

I read some comments about rude staff but that wasn’t the case for me. My waiter was polite. I mean he was not overly friendly or talkative but he wasn’t rude either.

For an order of small draft beer with spicy shrimp appetizer and main course octopus came out to I THINK 46 euros coz I remember leaving them 50 considering 10% tip which I was told is what is appropriate in Portugal. I think for Portugal standard that is a pricey meal. Not cheap in US standard either but I’d still pay little extra for that Octopus plate but for that shrimp appet~ no thanks.

One of the locals told me to try their Tuna main course. I tried going on Sunday and they were closed! I was a little bummed and it was a short stay in Peniche. If I go back to Peniche I will still go back to this restaurant to try their other dishes for sure!

(Parking there can be a nightmare. I did go to dinner around 530pm and I was able to find parking in the back/further up the hill and I was seated right away as it wasn’t their peak dinner time. This was on...

We had one of the most memorable experiences in a dine out ever! First we walked 6km from our apartment to Taberna do Ganhão. We got there at around 20:30 - the place was packed and there were like 20 people waiting outside enjoying the sunset and the crushing of the waves. We asked for a table for 2 - the waiting time was 50min -1h. We decided to wait because we really wanted to eat their famous "petiscos". In the meantime and as our stomachs were already making "hangry" noises we ordered 2 beers and when I asked "how much?" the waiter said "pay later together with the food". I mean WHAAAT? The place was packed and still they just let us go out with 2 beers (in glass) while waiting for our table? What kind of place is this? :D We went out with the beers, to enjoy the sunset (check the picture) and after around 45 min we got called to our table. The food? I do not exactly remember what we ordered, but I will remember it as one of the best foods we ate in our lives! We will certainly remember this experience for many decades to come!! BTW, we are making a 100km detour from our holiday plan this summer, especially to visit them...

A visit to the Taberna do Ganhao is always a delight, not only for the eyes but also for the palate. The menu rarely changes, but it is rich and imaginative – so it never gets boring. The culinary craftsmanship is of the highest level, with appetizers that could pass as main courses, and the extensive wine list is just one part of the harmonious concept.

We enjoyed the spicy shrimp as a starter, with a balanced level of heat – make sure to get some bread to soak up the sauce. The chopped tuna with orange also paired perfectly, but bring your appetite so you can still enjoy a proper main course! The beef steak was of the highest quality, the crispy fat edge enhanced the cowboy style, and the side dishes were also given the right attention. The tuna steak was a dream, one of the best we’ve had in Portugal.

All four main courses at our table arrived perfectly on time, carefully plated, and absolutely delicious.

You can’t make reservations, so arrive early, or enjoy some drinks outside while waiting...