o Carniceiro — Restaurant in Porto

This was an amazing experience, the cocktails are incredible and the food was cooked perfectly.

The team in the kitchen did an impressive job with the dry aged steak and I appreciated the steps they have in grilling the meat.

That being said, despite nailing the technique perfectly. Let me preface this saying I'm from South Africa.

The actual meat itself was pretty uninteresting, there wasn't much in terms of depth of flavor. The caramelized flavors n textures from the technique were perfect. But the whole thing was let down by the actual product itself.

The triple fry chips, while pleasant, did not have the features I'd typically expect from that process, a very fleeting crunch, but the texture of the chips vanished after 10 minutes, but well seasoned and a decent portion.

The salad was pretty simple, though the sheer size of it given that simplicity made it seem a bit lackluster. It did pair well with the meat given the dressing

But yeah, I might be harsh here, but if not for the actual product this would of been a...

Very unpleasant experience!

We very excitingly went there with my family after a friend recommended, only to be met with RUDE and OBNOXIOUS waiters, especially one waitress, who should clearly learn one thing or two about F&B establishments protocole, or just about being a decent and respectful human ! Very shocking way of speaking and behaviour, unfortunately i didn’t catch her name, she was a redhead with arm tattoos.

I ordered some meat that was the driest I’ve ever seen, i asked for a side sauce and they said NO. We had to speak to a staff member - who was professional - to have the sauce. After we complained about that first waiter’s behaviour, we saw her laughing mockingly after that staff member told her that we complained.

The staff member we talked to apologised on her behalf, and they gave us a discount on the bill. Nice gesture but still not enough because it ruined our night out.

Don’t waste your time and...

Felix (our server) and Chris (the grill master extraordinaire) were brilliant—every single time we dined here during our two-week stay.

We ate at several incredible restaurants in Porto, but O Carniceiro truly stands apart. The vibe is effortlessly cool, and the food is nothing short of exceptional. The meats are outstanding, but the side dishes deserve equal praise. The rice alone is worth a visit—if I were vegetarian, I’d still come here just for that. The green beans, the tomatoes with shallots and orange (trust me on this one), the olives, the sauces... every detail is spot on.

Our first visit was on a whim. The second time, we brought a friend so he could experience it for himself. For our final night in Porto, there was no question—we returned to O Carniceiro, because nothing else compared.

If you love meat, this place is a must. Even if you don’t, it’s still...