Casa Agrícola — Restaurant in Porto

Boy, were WE lucky!

Deciding to "go large" on our city break in Porto, we wandered in at around 7 pm to be told, no the restaurant doesn't open till 7:30.

So we waited - with a glass of wine, of course.

Ascending the stairs at the allotted time, we were shown to the ONE AND ONLY unreserved table in the place ( this is MONDAY night, bear in mind).

A delightful dining experience which I won't detail too much- a glorious mushroom risotto for my wife, and I FINALLY got to try baked cod ( after a mere 25 years wait).

The building itself is old - a former farmhouse I believe: and a true anachronism in this are of beautifully developed high rise properties. The interior does not disappoint either, and the staff are genuinely proud to work here.

The meal, coupled with a charming douro white wine, excellent and accomodating service and a VERY pleasant surprise when the bill came- I would happily have paid twice what we were charged)- left us very satisfied and more than convinced we love Portugal.

What...

Google Maps won’t stop asking how it was, so - fine, I’ll tell you: it was good. Went there for a birthday once, then again with colleagues after a team-building thing. I wouldn’t keep going back if I didn’t like it (wink wink, nudge nudge).

They’ve got a solid beer lineup - some nice Belgian names (yes, please) and Guinness too, though my enthusiasm there faded the day I discovered Super Bock’s stout. Game-changer.

Food-wise: small bites, or as the locals called them that night, tapash. I didn’t correct anyone - this time. Portuguese crowd, Portuguese rules. (But let’s be honest: they’re petiscos, ok? Just saying.)

On a Thursday evening it felt more like a Friday night - lively, loud, and kind of lovely.

Me liked - if I only didn’t have to wake up early the next madrugada (non-Portuguese speakers: that’s a very early morning - basically a time that technically exists but...

I really enjoyed my meal in this cosy restaurant, with its very friendly & helpful staff. The ambience was restful and calm, with soft music and muted lighting - just what I needed after a stressful day! I can recommend the fried salted cod (bacalao) with potatoes, braised kale and boiled egg - a traditional Portuguese dish. The house white wine (local Duoro region) went very well with the fish. The creme brulee turned out to be the warm variety - a sugar bomb for sure, but very tasty. The pricing is in the upper mid-range, but certainly worth it, and I wouldn't hesitate to...