Vai À Fava — Restaurant in Ponte da Barca

We had a really bad dining experience here. When we arrived in the middle of the day, the place was nearly empty (only 2 tables had guests in) , yet the host rudely told us we’d have to wait 15 minutes for a table without offering us a seat inside while it was scorching hot outside (36 C). When we finally sat down, we were given a mediocre table by the stairs, while all the nice tables with a river view sat empty for our entire visit.

Service was consistently dismissive and careless. We asked for lemonade with sugar, were told “of course,” and then never got the sugar until I had to ask again , 15 mins later, and without an apology. The same thing happened with ketchup. Requests were brushed off, ignored for 20 minutes at a time, and only reluctantly fulfilled.

The food was just as disappointing: bland, overpriced, and poorly presented. The “steak” we ordered came with what felt like packet-style fries and an unseasoned nut mash that was never even described on the menu. For what we paid, the quality was shockingly low.

The overall atmosphere made it worse we felt unwelcome from the start, as if they didn’t want us there. When it came to paying, the rude man who first talked to us, just pointed at the card machine with no smiles or thanks and just turn his back on me. Bear in mind I speak portuguese, so it was not because he couldn't speak my language.

Between the rude reception, the indifferent service, and the bad food, I would strongly recommend avoiding this place. There are too many good restaurants in Portugal to waste time and money here.

I only put 2 stars because the...

Place: nice enviroment, beautiful terrace with river views. If you eat outside good, if you eat in the inner area, you will smell like barbacue in 2 minutes (not good ventilation at all). Food: we ordered 3 dishes, 2 were ok, 1 poor and cold (The naco). We ordered bread and never get it. Wine: we ordered one botte of wine and they brougth it to the table already opened. Service: very bad. Ages to take the order, they served the first dish (to share) without giving us plates to eat, between first and main course, we made the digestion......And it wasn't just to our table. Looking around, everybody was living the same issue. As example, one couple beside us was going to order dessert and tired to wait, they just left. We did not order dessert either because we didn't want to wait another half and hour. In addition, seeing a waitress carrying a bottle of water under her arm to a table, left me speachless. It is a fancy place but It doesn't worth it at all. I am afraid, but I cannot...

I arrive at the restaurant, no indoor tables are occupied (completely empty), just the outdoors part is occupied. I ask to eat and the girl says that they are full. I mention that they have tons of free places, I mean there are free tables all around me, and her reply is that the kitchen is small... There weren't that many people and I could have waited, but ok... Hello again, if there was a group booking you could have said that, but you didn't. I think you just didn't want to serve one single person who was coming to eat. Secondly, if it was really one group who had booked the ENTIRE restaurant, you should put a notice up on the door. I'm in my 30s and I work in the sector, you were just unprofessional and don't want to recognise it. Hope...