Taberninha do Manel — Restaurant in Vila Nova de Gaia

I visited for a lunch on April 4th, and I had the worst experience, so I decided to post a review even though it was late. Although it has a lot of tourists reviews and currently has a score of 4.3, But based on my experience, I absolutely cannot agree with that score.

I think the reason why there are so many reviews is that most of the tourists who leave after dining in the area don't have experience comparing other restaurants, so they simply evaluate it based on the view given by the location. I lived in Porto for a month and visited various restaurants there, so a comparative evaluation is possible.

We ordered seafood rice and clam, and those two dishes are the most common menus you can eat anywhere in Porto. As you can see in the pictures, in the case of the clam dish, the contents were so poor that there was nothing to eat and the seasoning did not match. The seafood rice, I've had seafood rice several times at other restaurants, and that in the place was really the worst.

Even in the case of service, I ordered bread to eat with clams, but I had to ask for it 4 times, and the clams cooled down while waiting for the bread. Besides, the seafood rice my wife ordered came out 20 minutes after my clam dish. I had such a sham service but no one apologized.

If anyone is thinking of using that restaurant based on the number of reviews, Consider using “Tempêro D'Maria “or “Sabores da Fininha”. In terms of food quality, service, and price, it is far superior to...

the waitress was unhelpful, we were greeted very badly.the lady was busy singing and conversing with the customers of the other table.Not cared for the ruin of the waitress, We ordered two glasses of 10 year old port wine, one of the most expensive, which was served us cold, fridge.We drank that very Perplexed, because we were just in a cellar where they had just told us that that wine was served at room temperature.After a while the waiters brought us bread and olives, which is customary in Portugal.But we were even more perplexed because our wine was sweet, not matched with that salty snak.so we did not eat it.After a while the waitress told us so rude that the bread and olives were not for us but the side table and told us that we had to pay for it.We had believed that those things had been offered to us, and we refused to pay them.The waitress took this dish and gave it to the table side by side, not caring about the fact that we had eaten some of the olives and the bread.Luckily, the gentlemen in the side table were kind enough.Shortly afterwards we come to our table another salty dish we did not order.We told the waiter that we had not ordered it and it was table side by side.The maid waitress got upset with the other employees for this continual mistake, but then it turned out she had been wrong with the orders.We paid and went away, really sad for the treatment we were...

Taberninha do Manel is nothing short of extraordinary. Nestled along the iconic Douro River, it offers a dining experience that feels like stepping into the heart of Portuguese culture. The views alone are breathtaking—panoramic sights of Porto’s historic architecture bathed in golden light as the sun sets.

The food, however, is where the magic truly happens. Each dish is a masterpiece, blending the rich heritage of Portuguese cuisine with the finest, freshest ingredients. From the perfectly seasoned meats to the sumptuous seafood, every bite tells a story of tradition and passion. The wine selection is equally remarkable, offering a curated range of local favorites that elevate the meal to new heights.

What sets this place apart even further is the service. The staff radiate warmth and hospitality, treating every guest like family. Their deep knowledge of the menu and willingness to personalize recommendations make you feel completely cared for.

Taberninha do Manel is not just a restaurant—it’s an experience. It’s a place where the soul of Portugal comes alive, where food and wine are celebrated, and where unforgettable memories are made. An absolute must-visit for anyone who craves authenticity, beauty, and...