Restaurante Europa — Restaurant in Tavira

This is, without doubt, the best restaurant in Cabanas de Tavira. And this is not an impulsive opinion based on one visit or a single dish. I have been coming here for the past 13 years, so there is some perspective behind my words.

It is a traditional Portuguese family restaurant – something that is becoming increasingly rare, as so many places now adapt to trends and lose their unique character. The menu is short, limited to a few types of fish (depending on the catch of the day) and meats. But the way the fish or meat is grilled here is simply epic! You have to try it to understand that grilling is an art, not just the mindless flipping of food from one side to the other. Sardinhas, robalo, ferreira, sargo, anchova… every single dish is worth trying.

With the fish, you’ll usually find potatoes (boiled or fried) and favas (broad beans) as side dishes – a brilliant idea that makes the meal complete. And then there is the soup, which could well be a reason to come on its own. At Europa, there is a different soup every day, but always a perfect example of what a soup should taste like: freshly cooked, made with fresh vegetables. Whether it’s sopa de legumes, sopa de cenoura (carrot soup), or any other variety, each one is a small masterpiece of flavor.

The service is always friendly, polite, and helpful – with the owners themselves present in the dining room.

I wholeheartedly recommend this restaurant and encourage...

It's apparently one of the best restaurants around, but we did not enjoy our meal at all. Service was very slow, we waited around 10 minutes to get a menu, then around 10 minutes more to place our order, and then around 35 minutes for our food to be served. So, around one hour before we started eating, which we wouldn't have minded if the food itself would have been worth it, and it wasn't. We ordered stir-fried octopus, shrimp curry, grilled tuna steak, grilled seabass and mushroom sirloin. Although all sea food was fresh, everything was a little bland, except for the shrimp curry that we would recommend of you go here. Apart from that, staff were never friendly, none of them ever smiled nor do they give you any chance of being friendly yourself, they actually let you know that the wait will be long and they are not very pleased if you make them hurry or make them answer any questions you have on the food. Nevertheless, the place was full and there was a line waiting outside for a table, so take it...

I just left this restaurant. I was the first in tonight. Order sardines as a main course. Was in the company of my wife and daughter who both order fish..we order Piri Piri Prawns as a starter and what was served was a garlic prawn dish.tasty so we ignored it. Then disaster happened. To my complete amazement the staff proceeded to serve ever customer who came in and ordered after us,ahead of us. After ordering a 2nd bottle of wine they then served my wife and daughter and ignored me. When I complained after my wife and daughter were nearly finished their main course,they responded immediately. This is a restaurant that favours it's locals before tourist. I will not be back and I'd strongly recommend that you avoid this restaurant. Service is appaling. Not like anything I've ever experienced before in Portugal. Avoid at all costs . This place should tell tourists they should go elsewhere and avoid eating here. You are not welcome and we will treat...