Vaccarum Tapas & Francesinhas — Restaurant in Porto

Me and my fiancé were looking for a place to have steak on our trip in Porto. Came across Vaccarum that seemed to have good reviews and we both ordered steaks with french fries. We were not asked how we wanted the steak to be cooked which seemed strange. Food came out in 5 minutes from ordering. Quite cold but we were absolutely starving as we had walked all day in the sun so we didn't think much (hence no photos) Chips tasted like plastic. The couple next to us also ordered french fries that looked completely different to the ones in our plates. We were quite disappointed but we thought since we have eaten a bit of the steak is too late to say anything. When they came to get our plates (that visibly looked full) we were not asked how our meal was like the table next to us were. That is when I asked if the chips were freshly made to which the waiter was adamant they were very fresh and that is what made me quite angry at this point. We paid the bill in full as we were offered a dessert we turned down. My fiancé grew up in portugal and he wanted us to have traditional steak with chips which we always have when we are here. This meal was...

So we're out wandering the streets checking out places for dinner when we stumbled upon the Vaccarum. Looks great from the outside so we decided to venture in and see if there is a table for 2. The gent at the door gets us seated quickly and menus are offered.

Then a lovely young lady appears and asks what we would like to drink. We asked about the local red wines and she recommends one to which we agree. The bottle arrives and is served. Delicious !

We then ask about house specialties. Our server offers up a few options and we decide to go for the Cod filet with baked potatoes and veggies. Our second choice is the Angus steak with salad and baked potatoes. The meals arrive and are almost instantly proclaimed as the best fish and steak we've had in a long time. Each dish was cooked and presented perfectly. The taste texture and flavors were amazing. Definitely a wise choice thanks to our server.

The decor is tidy, uncluttered and inviting. Simple but yet cozy.

Our last night in Porto. Glad we stumbled...

We came here specifically for the Porto Sandwich, Francesinha, and without a doubt, this is the BEST place to try this specialty.

As a party of two, we shared one Francesinha and the soup of the day. The waiter acknowledged that we were sharing the dishes, and when the food arrived, the sandwich was already cut in half. We were pleasantly surprised by this thoughtful gesture. The service here was exceptionally friendly.

The Francesinha was delicious, with its combination of toast, three different types of meat, a generous amount of cheese, and a sunny-side-up egg (with a runny yolk!). It was a burst of flavor. However, the sauce was a bit salty for my taste.

The vegetable soup was lightly seasoned (which I appreciated), but it was quite plain as the natural sweetness of the vegetables didn’t come through.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this place for...