Postigo do Carvão — Restaurant in Porto

Ok where to start?!? We called the restaurant to make sure they offered a gluten free menu, they ensured us it was gluten free, as I have an allergy. Once we arrived to this place. The only non English speaking waitress was given to us. As soon as we sat down, she came with few different plates where we had to choose which one to pick, once we tried to get more info regarding the ingredients, the waitress couldn’t help us, as she didn’t speak English, as my table was labeled with a gluten free request, I wanted to be assured about the dishes I wanted to order, so I gently asked to speak with somebody’s else, and the waitress said she speaks English so we were fine with her, at the end we picked the cod salad, and the waitress brought us something else, so we asked her that it didn’t taste like cod, so she took the place and brought us the cod, as we’re not Portuguese we didn’t know that the cod was uncooked, so we told her we didn’t know what we were getting as she couldn’t explain, we sent it back, as we didn’t want uncooked fish. So after asking her multiple times she finally sent us the manager/owner, and he had an attitude saying that they didn’t have to explain as it is a tradition plate from Portugal, (okay, but we’re not Portuguese, and we would’ve known if the waitress could’ve told us when we asked) so after explaining to him that there was a miscommunication, he apologised and left, they brought us seafood rice, which was okay, and presentation was very nice! However we asked for the bill and it took us 30 mins to get it, after that, we were being charged for something we didn’t get and for the plate we sent back, after the manager said, it was okay to send it back. So she went back again to take these two dishes off, and finally after they gave us two glasses of Porto as a sign of apology for the bad experience we had, we left. If anything I would advise to assign more knowledgeable waiters to clients with allergy requirements as it would have made our experience much better. The older waiter who came after was very nice and apologetic for the...

Porto: A City Steeped in History, Bursting with Culinary Wonders, Home to Postigo do Carvão. Step into a dining experience unlike any other as you dive into the heart of Porto's food scene, where the rich tapestry of the city's history and culture converges on a plate. Your destination? The inimitable Postigo do Carvão. Sequestered within the narrow, labyrinthine streets of Porto's historic core, Postigo do Carvão is a gastronomic treasure waiting to be discovered. Miss the entrance, and you miss an unforgettable culinary journey. But fortune favors the curious, and those who dare to delve more profound will be rewarded with some of the city's most tantalizing dishes. The restaurant's charm is woven into its tastefully adorned interiors that exude subtle elegance. But the real feast awaits your palate. Every bite is a testament to the intricate layers of Porto's history, beautifully reflected in the sumptuous flavors that make up Postigo do Carvão's menu. The true soul of the restaurant, however, is the owner and manager. He embodies a gracious host, greeting guests with a warmth that conjures a sense of camaraderie and familiarity. He sets the tone for a dining experience where service is both efficient and heartfelt. The servers echo his ethos of genuine hospitality, their professionalism sprinkled with a friendly charm that makes every guest feel special. They operate on a simple philosophy: it is easy if it ensures your satisfaction. For a culinary voyage that promises more than good food, make Postigo do Carvão your destination the next time you're in Porto. Tucked away in the city's historic labyrinth, a hidden gem offers a dining experience beyond the plate. The exquisite food and the exceptional service are just the icings on the cake – the actual cherry on top is the warmth and hospitality of the owner and his staff. Put Postigo do Carvão on your culinary map of Porto, and prepare for a dining adventure you won't...

I would love to rate this higher, because some of the food was actually quite good, namely the chorizo, broa, presunto, salmon, but then there was also the orelheira and the bacalhau "vinagrete" that were both pretty tasteless. However the biggest issue was the service. Mistakes are made and are totally fine, if you own them, but they seemingly forgot they had promised to put two tables together for us once a couple who was occupying a table for 4 would leave, but then decided not to. Gave us no reason why, simply said that they can't do that anymore, presumably because it would be too complicated to pick up a few plates and glasses to transfer it to said table, which btw remained empty for another hour, time that it took us to then leave. As we attempted to be closer as a group, we ended up blocking one path which annoyed one of the waiters tremendously, to the point that he would bump into everyone else's chairs to make a point that he was being forced to take a route that was not his favourite. Besides that there were mistakes with the orders, and one of them was incredibly delayed. A simple apology for any of these events, would have sufficed, but we got none unfortunately, even when I carefully laid out the situation to the head waiter, after paying and presented apologies myself for our group, and the whole "blocking the path" incident. Again, food wise it's decent, and the prices for the petiscos are quite ok. But the lack of care for the client and the "the house is always right" approach is not acceptable.

P.S. - When asking patrons to wait until their table is ready, perhaps don't just point at some place and say "wait there" and then beckon them back with a wave of a hand, and not so much as a please...