Refúgio da Roca — Restaurant in Sintra

Today, after visiting the cliffs of Boca da Roca, we stopped for lunch at the nearby Refugio da Roca. We were 7 people who had reserved in advance. The waiters took our orders efficiently enough, but without a single smile. We waited ½ hr for our food to come, during which time no one even thought to serve us any appetizers, like crusty bread, fresh local cheese, and home-made olives, as was the case in all the restaurants we had patronized during our 4 days in Portugal. What finally arrived at our table was one big disappointment: my husband received a few skimpy pieces of pork and wilted vegetables, while I ended up getting what tasted like a day-old, overcooked bakala, shrimp and spinach casserole literally caked with breadcrumbs. The mixed salad was tasty and fresh, but was charged as an extra dish. Not a single time did a waiter come over to our table to ask if everything was ok or even take an interest. This also turned out to be the most expensive meal we ate in Portugal, and the one we least enjoyed. We didn’t...

The overall dining experience was disappointing. First, the prices were quite high for what was offered. During the meal, I also felt a lack of respect towards children, which was uncomfortable — though I’m unsure if this was due to cultural differences. What concerned me the most was witnessing, at around 3:18 pm on February 14 (the restaurant is welcome to check the surveillance footage — I can assure there is absolutely no possibility of falsehood in this statement), a male waiter scratching his buttocks (apologies to any customers who may feel uncomfortable reading this) before directly handling the utensils. Additionally, I also found a steel scrubber used for washing dishes in the food. After reporting this to the restaurant, I only received an apology with no further solution. I hope the restaurant improves its service and hygiene standards...

I will start this review by recommending you the starter "fried squid". This dish was a 5 out of 5 with a great portion size to share and packed with flavour. We ordered grilled cuddle fish and the beef and pork kebab (the house specialty) for the main courses. There were two cuddle fish served which we found tasteless. The beef on the kabob was seeved well done making it tough. I was also disappointed on the portion size of the kebab as it was only 6 small pieces of meat and some veggies. Not worth the 17 euro price. I will finish with saying the service was great, the server came in to check on us several times and the food/drink came promptly. Also I suggest not eating outside as the flies will be all over you and enjoy your meal more...