Astória Restaurant — Restaurant in Porto

Astória Restaurant

When Service Fails the Kitchen

After at least half a dozen enjoyable lunches and dinners at The Astoria over the years, our most recent visit was ruined not by the kitchen, but by the service.

Our waitress was courteous while taking our order and suggesting wine. Then she vanished, only to be seen busying herself with her mobile phone in a corner. The restaurant was only a quarter full, leaving four staff free to chat. No issue—until our dinner failed to appear after 30 minutes.

When we inquired, the waitress vaguely blamed "the chef." Minutes later, the maître d' served a single main course incorrectly, as he didn't know the order. The second main soon followed. Both plates looked appetizing, and the taste and textures were fine, if somewhat scant. However, the food was at best lukewarm.

We finished our meals in the continued absence of our server. A junior waiter eventually asked if we enjoyed our dinner. Our honest answer was no. We explained our suspicion: the chef had done his job, but the finished dishes had waited at least ten minutes to be served, causing them to go cold.

The junior waiter reported this to our waitress, who finally left her phone to attend to us. Her response? She suggested we were taking this "personal."

Personal? No, it was a simple matter of undue service delay. When she rejected this, and I mentioned my professional standing to judge such matters, she retorted, “That’s what you say!”

The maître d’ never addressed our grievance; instead, he was observed verbally abusing the junior waiter. As we left, he made a beeline to avoid us.

A 30% “sorry” discount did nothing to remove the sour taste of this regrettable experience in a five-star hotel restaurant.

Our judgment: NNT...

American traveler - please 'thumbs up' if helpful

The restaurant was beautiful and the staff for the most part attentive throughout the entire meal. They took their time to explain the menu options and everyone we interacted with spoke English. The food was good although it was the first true restaurant that I have eaten in while in Portugal so it is had to compare to other Portuguese cuisine. The grouper with the fried rice was pretty good, the chicken was ok, and apple tart was excellent and obviously very fresh.

This was the first time I had tartar and while the flavor was ok, I couldn't get over the texture so I opted not to finish the dish. This was something the staff unintentionally and instinctively scoffed at. I could tell it was a honest and unintended reaction but I would caution against being adventurous unless you easily brush those things off your shoulders.

Additionally, if you're a tourist be prepared to take your time during diner. I am finding this to be true for most meals and they will not rush to bring you the courses or the check. Instead, they let you breathe and enjoy the meal.......

Astoria, where do I even begin? This place is like the culinary equivalent of stumbling upon a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, except the gold is made of cheesy garlic bread, and the rainbow is a menu that will make your taste buds do the cha-cha.

As soon as I walked through the door of Astoria, I felt like I had entered a food lover's wonderland. The ambiance was a perfect blend of cozy and quirky, with just the right amount of fairy lights to make it feel like you've stepped into a foodie fairy tale.

Kudos to the staff at Astoria for being the wizards behind this culinary magic show. Their service was as delightful as the food, and they deserve a standing ovation for keeping the atmosphere as bubbly as a shaken soda.

In conclusion, Astoria is not just a restaurant; it's a flavor expedition, a journey into the heart of deliciousness. If you're in the mood for a meal that will make your taste buds throw a parade, Astoria is the place to be. Prepare to have your culinary expectations launched into orbit – this place is truly out...