Taberna Santo António — Restaurant in Porto

I gave 4 stars and not 5 to try to draw the attention about a couple of details I didn't like. Overall the experience is very positive.. The main positive point is the food.. Very nice and tasty.. Generous portions (mine was so big😍) and price was totally honest. The place is a very small taberna and it is often crowded as there are not many tables so I suggest you to go early. What I very disliked is one of the waitress.. Black.. Short hair and quite tall. She is not rude in terms of attitude but at the end very pressing when you eat and she removed my plate and glass when I didn't finish yet. It happened at least 3 times (one with the main, one with the dessert- I stopped her before she took this time at least- and at the end with my glass of wine). If you work as waitress you should be more careful as this point for me is unacceptable. It was just her.. Cause another waitress with short blond hair and glasses was very very nice and knew how to do her job. The other thing I disliked was the follwing.. We received the bill and it was charged something we didn't take.. To explain in a better way I have to explain in Portugal when you sit at the table you always receive some bread with paté or some bites and if you eat it they will charge you. Costumes? Personally since nobody informes you I find it a kind of cheat.. However, going back to my story we told the waitress there was a mistake and the manager came to apologise. Of course the waitress who took the bites back and served during our stay was the unprofessional one.. But this was a real mistake or just a try to make you spend more than what you got. Honestly I don't know.. Just double check the bill carefully. Finally I totally reccomend this place and even though I had these 2 unpleasant episodes I am...

Was there on a Weds night in early Sep at close to 2200, after getting turned away at another neighbouring restaurant that was full.

Says on google that 2200 is the closing time but folks were still streaming in past there, albeit a lack of food service.

Food was decent - my cod was a tad cold but well marinated. The chocolate mousse was pretty darn good and the home made port (both white and red) was nice.

Service was subpar - other than the young service dude who was quite nice, the others didn’t want to bother. The head service guy probably only wanted to engage in his effusive standard of service with folks of a certain color or gender.

Language was not an issue as he spoke English and I had a front row seat opposite the cashier where folks were coming to pay.

If you are of a particular race or gender in the 80 mins I was there you received a really good service level at the cashier counter from the head service staff with a complimentary digestive but unfortunately I couldn’t say the same for me.

Hate to say this but this was my observation over my stay there. Glad the young service staff helped me out though. He was a good guy.

In any case your mileage might vary.

Atmosphere - super local which was quite fun with local folks drinking beers at the bar and checking out the patrons. Was quite fun honestly.

To sum up - nothing too special, would not...

Was recommended to go here by our accomodation as it was close, and was personally checked by them. Did not book, but was lucky enough to only have to wait a few minutes. Very cosy and atmospheric little place and the staff were truly amazing and friendly. It's a family run restaurant, and we felt like we were part of the family by the end of the night. Diego helped us with our choices, and we had four different rissois (different fillings in each) all of which were flavoursome and well cooked. It was suggested we had the ham shank, and pigs cheeks and share them between us. An inspired choice, and one of the tastiest and succulent fall apart meals I have had. The mash was superb, the roast potatoes perfect, and everything blended together superbly to create a complete satisfying tasty meal. I had a chocolate mousse after, and it was incredibly rich, dense, and a very intense flavour. So good I almost licked the bowl!! Sadly I leave Porto tomorrow, but if I didn't, I know where I would be dining for as long as I was here. I normally don't return to places after a visit as there's so much to see in the world, but this Taberna could tempt me back to Porto in a heartbeat purely to dine here again and revel in the ambience, friendliness and immerse in the local custom with excellent food. Do yourself a favour, and if you are in Porto, don't...