Casa Portuguesa do Pastel de Bacalhau — Restaurant in Vila Nova de Gaia

Indeed I was attracted by the facade full of lights, it caught my attention so I approached the entrance. Was told by the staff at the entrance that only takeaway was available and cash payment only. Not to mention that due to the current circumstances, handling cash seems a very irresponsible to process payments. I was also not asked about NIF (I'm local, so would've been nice to ask). After handing the cash, the staff went inside to grab me one Bolinho de Bacalhau. Left the place, and whilst eating it, realized it was not like the one in the picture displayed outside (and inside all over the place), and I mean the creamy cheese dripping from it. No cheese at all. Fair enough as I know there are some without, but still I went back to ask about. Questioned about whether or not it should have the cheese, was told that the one with cheese was already sold out, and apparently so was the normal one (guess I may have been lucky in getting the last one as it seems, very strange thou). The staff, sort of told me that the price was the same and he didn't seen to realize what was being discussed there. I was never offered the option to choose from the cheese or without cheese, nor informed that one was not available. Conclusion, I felt mislead, and misunderstood (maybe a language barrier there?). With very poor and incomplete customer service, feel honestly ashamed about the way we, Portuguese people, are selling our products and badly working on an economic recovery specially on the tourism field. I can not get over the fact that the product being so intensively advertised by you, the Bolinho de Bacalhau with Serra da Estrela cheese, wasn't even told to me that, supposedly, was sold out at the time, being given instead a normal...

I was excited to cross the river and come over this place to try the pastel de bacalhau.

They have an amazing building with great decoration. Unfortunately, service was bad.

After deciding to get 2 pastel, one for me and one for my wife, I asked the dude with long hair for 2 pastel. He then tried to offer me the one with a wine. Totally fine. I said no, I don't drink (excuse). Then, he said: it goes really well with the pastel. That's how you experience it. I said no, thanks. Don't want it. He kept pushing to the point that I see him rolling his eyes interpreting that it's my lost. Sure, it's my lost. So? I'm purchasing something at least. So I decided to ask him... is it okay to purchase without wine? I don't drink. Why should I buy the wine if I don't want to drink.

Honestly, I get you have to sell, but if the customer tells you 2 times no and you still toll your eyes... trust me... not cool. I can easily go get pastel somewhere else.

Too bad. I was looking forward to this place and the dude with the long hair couldn't handle his...

They have shops elsewhere, but probably none as special as this location. There’s live music in an incredibly touristy and bustling location, and the atmosphere/decor inside is great. The pastels de Bacalhau are really yummy. You could get it with port wine, and get a size of a cheesy sheep as a snack. Had all of that, but I honestly would just spend the money on the pastels, maybe the port wine if you want to take your time. There is a sitting area on the second floor to enjoy the food and the show.

On another note, Porto doesn’t have a lot of street food. Most places you eat on site, so this is one of the few places you can just grab something for a quick fix without having to sit down and dine. If you only have 10 minutes before your next porthouse reservation and need to eat something before 5 big samples of port wine, this place was the only place we found within the waterfront area of vila...