Marcel`s Bistro — Restaurant in Santana

Maybe we just got unlucky with our picks, they just weren’t delicious to be honest. We ordered two appetizers (shrimp, mussel) and a main (pork chef special) to share, but the latter was so bad that I ate 1 bite and decided to leave my half, my boyfriend also did not finish his. It ended up being my least favorite for our whole trip of the island. If you go here, ask for a thorough description of the dish, because many ingredients are not mentioned on the menu, e.g. grilled mussels come under a thick sauce of tomatoes, and the shrimp for some reason came sprinkled with what I guess was balsamic vinegar (?).

Anyhow, didn’t work for us sadly. 2 stars because despite odd ingredients, the starters were edible and the service okay (mention: the owner asked us if the food was good, but when I politely said sorry I was not impressed, he got extremely defensive and tried to prove that his food was good?! Uhm, sir, I just had it and like I said, no it wasn’t. Weird.) On the plus side there is a cute parrot at...

Edit: @Marcel, it seems you copy paste replies. This platform is google review service and not tripadvisor, i would glady make an review there aswell no problem! Also how do you know we ate all the food? You dont even know what customer i was. Also we did not ate all the food. So please stop lying to yourself and the customers, your food is just really below mediocre, really bad! Sad that you cant handle critisism and are lying about your food, sad that this restaurant is in this world! I highly recommend other places to eat then here!

If you like big portions of food this is the place to go! Sadly the food is really bad! Sloggy fries, how hard is it to get fries crispy? Also the meat ate like rubber, still chewing! I cant believe the high rating, there are way better places to eat! Does the manager bribe people for making an good review? Worst food experience on Madeira by far! Only good thing was...

During our recent trip to Madeira Island, we dined at Casa do Bacalhau in Santana, a cozy family-owned restaurant known for its specialty, "bacalhau no forno" (oven-baked cod). The warm, rustic decor and friendly staff made us feel right at home. The cod was perfectly cooked—flaky and tender, infused with rich flavors from garlic, onions, and olive oil. Served with crispy potatoes and vegetables, the meal was a hit with our entire family, including our picky eaters. The passion fruit pudding dessert was a refreshing end to the feast.

The service at Casa do Bacalhau was impeccable, with attentive and knowledgeable staff eager to share insights about the local cuisine. Prices were reasonable, considering the generous portions and high quality. This restaurant is a must-visit for anyone in Santana, offering a perfect blend of traditional flavors and warm hospitality. We can't...