Xitaka — Restaurant in Ponta Delgada

We started off on a positive note with a friendly waiter, a nice soup, and some oysters. However, the overall experience quickly turned sour. My girlfriend ordered a fish dish that turned out to be a portion for three to four people, something the waitress never mentioned, nor was it indicated on the menu.

What really raised the red flag, though, was being charged for a full kilogram of oysters when we were served just five. A single oyster in its shell usually weighs between 100 to 150 grams at most. So being charged for 1 kilo (=€28) simply doesn’t add up and felt misleading.

To top it off, my own dish, the picanha steak was served cold, as were the fries. Only the beans were warm.

To make matters worse, the bill was supposed to be €86, but they inflated it to €94 without us noticing. We tipped €6, not realizing they had already added an €8 tip themselves!! Absolute scam.

We value good food and honest service, but this experience left a bitter aftertaste. With more transparency and care, it could have been so different.

Do with the above information what you will — there are plenty of great restaurants across the island. I just wouldn’t recommend this one. It feels like mass production (likely due to its location next to the highway) and, frankly, it came across as a dishonest place. Out of all the restaurants we’ve visited across the Azorean islands, this was by far the...

After a visit to the lava caves I stopped here, went to look at the menu....mostly fish so I said to the waiter thanks and went to walked out. He came after me and asked what I would like, I told him it's mostly sea food and I dont really like sea food. He looked through the menu with me and suggested steak with chips, I said I wanted a small dish and he said it was. Well when it came, it was steak and chips with fried egg on top and rice, it also had some garlic under the egg which was so nice. I was pleasantly surprised, it tasted really good. The waiter ( sorry I forget your name) came over to see how everything was, was very attentive and we struck up a good conversation about tattoos. I did feel intimidated walking in as it looks quite posh but the waiter put me at ease. He also brought over a shot of something at the end... very sweet and strong. Overall this place is a good place to come, whether its after the lava cave or if your just looking for somewhere nice to eat. Very friendly English speaking...

We keep returning mainly because of the accommodating, friendly and multi-cultural staff. Whether you wish others to join your party later, switch tables or you’re in a hurry to catch a flight they accommodate your needs with a friendly smile. Moreover, all staff collaborates to make sure you have a pleasant experience. Xitaka is particularly popular for large parties on special occasions, e.g. birthdays (better make reservations in advance). Family and friends celebrate loudly and sing together, often multiple parties during the same meal. Regarding the food, the portions are generous, the menu is extensive and includes delicious local delicacies, e.g. grilled “lapas”, creamy tarro root with Pico sausage and octopus “à lagareiro”. The prices, although not exorbitant, do not exactly correlate with the dishes quality and simple ambiance which may limit visits to special occasions for...