17th Restaurant & Bar — Restaurant in Porto

Last week, my family and I decided to celebrate a birthday at a reputed restaurant in Porto. We were looking forward to experiencing the tasting menu, but right from the start, the process seemed doomed. Booking a table turned into a Herculean task as we were initially told twice that the tasting menu wasn't available, only to later be informed that we could book it but needed to pay a deposit. Though they promised to call us back regarding the deposit, the call never came.

On the day of our reservation, we arrived a bit early and were met with the absence of a maître d' or any staff to greet us. We seated ourselves at the bar and waited. About 20 minutes passed before any staff member acknowledged our presence. When our drinks were finally taken, two out of the five in our group received incorrect orders.

Our seating arrangement wasn’t ideal either. We were placed at a wobbly round table in the middle of the dining area, which was uncomfortable. When it was time for our dinner reservation, no staff member came to escort us to our table. We eventually found our way upstairs on our own.

Upon being seated, we were started off with a white port. While it was an intriguing choice given Porto's reputation for port wines, it wasn't exactly what we expected. The menu had promised matching wines for each course, but instead of receiving a unique wine with each course and an explanation about the pairing, we were given just four types of wine—fortified white, plain white, plain red, and fortified red, for a nine-course meal.

The quality of food was ehhh. Notable dishes like prawn and tuna were overcooked to a rubbery consistency. Having had the privilege of enjoying numerous tasting menus over the years, I found this particular experience to be substantially subpar. It might appeal to someone new to the fine dining scene, but for seasoned dinners, I'd rate this experience a 3 out of 10. Especially in a city like Porto, where delicious meals are available at a fraction of the price. You have to judge food in relation to the price and I have had significantly better experiences at half the price in Proto.

Here are some recommendations for the restaurant management to improve the dining experience:

1. Employ a competent manager. There was a real sense of lack of direction.

2. Hire a knowledgeable sommelier. Design a well-thought-out wine pairing for each course, living up to the standards expected from a wine country.

3. Train the staff on the menu offerings and wine pairings so they can engage with diners enthusiastically and informatively.

4. Periodically experience the restaurant as a customer would, to better understand the strengths and weaknesses from a diner's perspective. It is really evident that the owners are disconnected from the dining experience.

In summary, the evening was a letdown, and quite frankly not worth the price. Not a great way to...

Located on the top floor of a four-star hotel, this restaurant in Porto promises a stunning view of the city. Unfortunately, our dining experience fell far short of the picturesque setting.

Ambiance and Setting The panoramic vistas of Porto are undeniably the highlight of this establishment. The restaurant’s elegant decor and sophisticated ambiance set high expectations for a memorable meal.

Appetizers Our meal began promisingly with a cheese platter. The selection was excellent, offering a delightful range of flavors and textures. This, however, was where the culinary enjoyment ended.

Soups and Starters The onion soup was a major letdown, resembling an onion stew more than a soup, with a bland and uninspired flavor. The tuna tartare was poorly executed, with oversized chunks that suggested a lack of finesse in the kitchen. The ceviche, described as a highlight on the menu, was anything but. Instead of the delicate, citrus-marinated fish one expects, we were served large, raw pieces of fish that bore no resemblance to traditional ceviche.

Main Courses The mains continued the trend of disappointment. My wife’s octopus was chewy and tasteless, a clear indication of either poor preparation or lack of freshness. The codfish, touted as a specialty, was outright inedible. Its texture and flavor were so unappealing that I found myself waiting for the bill before I could force myself to finish chewing.

Service The service was very good. Friendly and attentive.

Conclusion While the cheese platter and the views of Porto were enjoyable, they were not enough to redeem the overall dining experience. The poor execution of dishes, lack of flavor, and subpar service make it difficult to recommend this restaurant. Porto boasts many culinary gems, but sadly, this is not one of them. For those seeking a satisfying meal, it is best to...

I saw many (very) good reviews for this restaurant and decided to give it a try while in Porto. Super disappointing!!! I came on a rainy overcast day - not the restaurant's fault that the view wasn't great (and that I am too nice to 'no show' a reservation). I had a reservation for the Panoramic Lunch, the menu changes weekly. I had a salad and chicken milanese - both were terrible! The salad had shredded lettuce (like one might get on top of a hamburger), a few thin tomato slices and dressing - nothing else in the salad and it was very tasteless and bland!! The chicken entree was two small triangular shaped pieces of breaded chicken (both pieces together were only about equal to 1/2 a chicken breast) plus a side of very dry and again, flavorless, spaghetti. What a complete waste of $21 euro, plus another $8 euro wasted for transportation there & back!!! There was 1 other table in there while I was dining - maybe the place only gets hoodwinked tourists like me. Coming into the hotel was also not appealing - very cold, stark...Prison-like. Do yourself a favor and don't bother coming to this...