Vinum — Restaurant in Vila Nova de Gaia

Unfortunately our worst restaurant experience in all of Portugal during this trip. We had high hopes based on the rating and reviews. We were we in for a horrible surprise.

Just to summarize. The food was just ok, but seemed very poorly executed. The atmosphere was fine, the decor was good and there was a very good view. The worst part was service. The service was the worst we have had in a very long time. Especially at what seemed to be a high-end restaurant. Also when we confronted them on it, they did not disagree and took our money anyways. Nothing was offered or attempted to make up or make it right. We will never go back.

If anyone is interested, here are the details of the experience.

The arrival was fine, we were seated fine. Our waiter came forth promptly and gave us menus and got us water. The first sign of issue was he came back fairly quickly after that and wanted our orders (drink and food). We instead said we had questions. He answered those and we ordered wine and bread. He then left and again came back fairly soon and asked for our food order, we had only really decided on the starter. But then he said we had to put our entire order in all at once. We thought that was odd, but ordered a starter and two entrees. Eventually, we received the bread and wine. The bread and olive oil was the high point of the meal, they were both very good.

Next we waited quite a bit of time for the starter (a salad). I'd say at least 10 minutes, but we thought maybe they were busy. But then looking around the room, there were only 5 tables with customers and all of them had food or were finishing. Although we found out later there was a small party in the other room.

This is where it really went downhill. That was the last we ever saw of our waiter. We finished the salad, which was pretty good. Then we sat without service or anyone even coming to the table. We emptied our waters and they sat empty. We sat without any waiter contact for over 15m! The finished salad plate and our finished plates sat on the table the entire time. Nothing was cleared.

Then the busboy or back-waiter came up to us and cleared the plates and offered to check on our entrees. Another 10-15m passed before we received our entrees. Note that is 25-30m between finishing our starter and entree.

The entrees sounded good on the menu (both fish), but were poorly executed and just ok. One of them had some raw uncooked vegetables on it. The fish on both dishes were not seasoned well either.

Then we were left alone again. The entire room was now empty except for us. No waiter, no back-waiter, nobody. After another 15m, we got up and found a waitress and told her we wanted the bill and were leaving. She disappeared. After another 5m, our back-waiter re-appeared and brought the credit card machine. We paid our bill.

I then explained to the back-waiter that we were very unhappy with how we were treated and with the entire restaurant. I explained everything in detail... and he offered no disagreement with any of it and apologized. That was it. He could do nor offered more. We then just got up and started to walk out.

I did see what may have been a Manager roaming around the main room area earlier. But when we walked out ... the entire main room was abandoned... no staff to be seen or found. No Manager would show their heads to us to apologize or explain.

I find this entire experience unforgivable for what is touted as a high-end restaurant.

We do understand restaurants can have bad nights for any number of reasons. But then it is upon them to do something about it and make it right. Not only were they too cowardly to have a Manager come forward and apologize and explain, they also made no efforts to make this right or better.

They took our money, had a back-waiter say sorry, and then ran away and hid.

We not only will never go back but also cannot recommend anyone go there unless they want to take the risk of an awful experience, which they will still...

Dear Vinum Team,

I’m writing to express my disappointment following our recent lunch experience at your restaurant in Porto (20.07.2025). The reservation had been made in May (11.05.2025).

We had a 14:30 reservation for six people and arrived ahead of time, yet were not seated until 14:50. While delays can happen, this set the tone for what became a frustrating and underwhelming experience.

We selected the Vinum tasting menu with wine pairing for four guests, while two chose à la carte. Initially, service was slow—even just to receive menus and place drink orders. However, once our first host took charge, things improved significantly. He was professional, knowledgeable, and engaging, especially in explaining the dishes and wine pairings. We were genuinely enjoying ourselves.

Unfortunately, everything changed when his shift ended. He introduced a new host just as the fish course arrived. From that moment, service deteriorated rapidly:

The fish was served without the accompanying wine. I had to leave the table to request it. The new host did not attend to us directly but sent another staff member who attempted to pour wine into used glasses. We had to intervene and ask for fresh glasses. No explanation of the wine was provided, and it arrived after the fish had been eaten. The delay before the next course; the house special Beef Rib; was over 40 minutes. We had requested medium rare, as recommended, but what arrived was raw and charred. Though I enjoy rare meat, this was simply undercooked. We returned it politely, but the wine pairing was consumed without the dish, and the vegetables were left to go cold.

When the meat was returned, it had clearly just been reheated, not replaced. It was tough and nearly inedible. After another long wait, I had to again seek out the host to complain. Our table hadn’t been cleared, and dessert hadn’t been offered. We felt forgotten and uncared for.

Eventually, dessert was served, but by then the atmosphere had soured. Staff were cleaning and spraying tables around us during our meal. Before we finished dessert, we were asked to move to the terrace for coffee so they could clear the room. We complied, but again faced a long delay for the bill. I had to find the host once more, who had forgotten us and was briefing the next shift at our table.

This experience was meant to be a highlight of our visit to Porto. Instead, it was a disappointment. While we expected a premium price, we also expected premium service and a memorable experience. Sadly, Vinum did not deliver on its promise.

We regrettably paid in full, and left very disappointed.

If late lunch bookings cannot be properly supported, I strongly suggest reconsidering offering them. Guests deserve to feel valued throughout their visit; not just during the first half of their...

Worst service ever, and even worse if you have allergies!!

Having a great vacation in Porto includes a great experience with great food and port wine. So I decided to surprise my wife with a dinner at Vinum, which should prove to be one of my biggest mistakes.

I started booking online, and being at a famous restaurant, the time slots were limited. So I chose 3:30 pm as the only slot available.

I might have known to be more aware since the waiter didn’t mention anything about my wife being intolerant of gluten (wheat), even though this was put as a comment in the booking. Well, we mentioned it when ordering the traditional meny. At this point, it was mentioned that changes would be made to the menu, including an another dessert—all good. So now we have started the experience, but not the one we expected.

Now they offered glutenfree bread but came back and explained it was sold out, so either we could wait 25 minutes for some corn bread or she could have some tortilla chips. Thankfully, she chose the chips, or we might have been kicked out earlier.

I have no comment’s on the food that was as expected, but the service certainly left a lot to wish for. When ordering a standard menu, I didn’t look too much at the wines served, as I expected them to be as offered. However, they changed the 20 years of Tawny for a normal red, and I didn’t look until we should have the 30 years. We got a smaller gap of 20 years together with the 30 years. The confusion might have happened because we always got the wine after the food.

We were impressed by the big bottles of port they served, but at no time did they leave the bottle at the table as with the other tables. Then we came to the cheese, and here it all collapsed. My wife got wheat crackers with the cheese, and only because I found it strange that she didn’t get something else, and when we asked, they said it was not glutenfree, and they changed them for tortilla chips on the same plate. No apology is given. Then they mentioned that the dessert was not glutenfree, and we explained that we were told that an alternative would be served. The point is, if you have allergies, be aware at this restaurant!!!!

Last but not least, at 6 p.m., just before getting served coffee, we were kindly asked to leave since they were preparing for dinner. At no time did we ask them to hold plates, so lesson learned: don’t order the menu at 3:30 pm.

Greetings from one who had to swallow his...