Genuíno - Vinho Natural e Boa Comida — Restaurant in Porto

Terrible service, worse wine :(

The website indicates that walk-ins without a reservation are welcome, but our experience was far from this. We did not have a reservation, so when we arrived, a waitress told my partner and me that we could wait for a table at a small corner table. This table was uncomfortable, located between the restroom and the staff closet, and had insufficient space for dining. We explicitly asked if we could sit at the bar, and she responded that we could wait at the uncomfortable table until bar seats opened up.

We ordered drinks to pass the time. I got a non-alcoholic beverage, and my partner ordered the orange natural wine. The wine as overpriced (7 euros) for its quality. I tried it, and it was really bad, making us even more impatient to be seated and try the food. After waiting for half an hour without any updates from the waitress, we called her over and asked about our table. She then informed us that no tables would be available for the rest of the night. By this time, many other restaurant kitchens were closing, leaving us with very few options.

The waitress either lied when we arrived, making us wait unnecessarily for 30 minutes, or arbitrarily decided she did not want to seat us for some reason.

We are visiting Porto for holidays and were looking forward to trying this restaurant due to its good reviews, but this experience left us completely dissatisfied and disappointed with the terrible service. If you value your time and want to be treated kindly by staff, avoid this place. There are so many other good options in Porto that compensated this...

I just came back to my hostel after visiting genuino and on the way back i was kind of moved by the experience I had, let me explain: I came in as a solo traveller around 9pm without a reservation, as soon as I arrived the friendly waiter seated me down at a waiting area because it was completely full. He asked me if i wanted some water and offered me the wine list, I immediately asked for some recommendations and he came through for sure. I had a beautiful orange natural wine which was earthy, full bodied and sweet. After around 10 minutes I took a seat at the bar and asked another waiter for some food recommendations. We discussed a bit what I liked and I ended up ordering the pork cheek croquettes and clam lasagna. Let me tell you that the flavors were out of this world. I cook myself quite often and I was so inspired by the way they incomperate flavors, experiment combinations and find balance in the dishes. The clam lasagna was absolutely amazing and I would come back solely for this dish. Apart from the amazing food and service was another thing; I sat next to a couple from Greece and we talked the night away about our cultures, food and Porto. This moved me in a way where I found how strangers connect over food and strike up a conversation. Genuino, thank you for bringing me joy and a dining experience that I will never forget. Food brings people together and Genuino is the perfect example of this. Until...

A short ode to Genuino’s grilled peach currently on the menu (fall ‘25) which is, in fact, a perfect dish. Everything is balanced perfectly, taking you on a journey. The salty umami of the ajo branco gives way to what’s that? A burst of some herb I’ve been trying to look up since (to no avail, though maybe perilla leaf?) The green beans snap and hold all the sweetness of late summer after a season of intense sun They are the sweetest, freshest green beans I have ever had. The almond praline is a stroke of genius, truly unexpected bursts of creativity and whimsy that pull the whole thing together. And I must return again to the ajo branco, the stuff of savory clouds which I nearly licked off the plate. This is clearly a chef who not only loves food but is a cataloger of flavors and texture. It is even the perfect size and portions of each ingredient; beautiful and fleeting as a sunset. This is master work

Nothing on the plate is wasted, nothing is garnish. Everything adds another dimension to the performance at play. The daikon in the mackerel? Amber, caramel, and inspired. Raises the dish to new heights

The wine is funky and interesting and service is warm and fun. Thank you for the best meal I’ve...