Bacalhau Grill - Portuguese Restaurant & Market — Restaurant in San Jose

We made the trip down south expecting a Portuguese restaurant, and found a Brazilian eatery instead. They have an ample parking area, and seating both indoor and outdoor. Since neither of us read/speak Portuguese, the employee was very nice and showed us the prepared foods they had. They had about five dishes (Brazilian beans with pork sausage, octopus and potatoes, pork stew, shrimp and potatoes, stewed beef) and some fried foods displayed in front. We chose 'shrimp and potatoes' and 'beef', and they both came with rice and salad. She recommended the chicken filled fried item and we tried that with some fried cod croquettas. They also have a variety of canned and bottled drinks, including alcohol. There didn't seem to be any complimentary water, so you do have to buy bottled water if you want some. We got some fresh squeezed oj. They only had one large size, so we shared one. You pay, grab your drinks and pre-fried foods, pick a table, sit down and they bring you the wet foods with the rice and salad. We think they reheat it for you because it took awhile before we got our food, which worked out well because we were done with our appetizers of fried food by the time the plates arrived. The indoor dining area was clean and neat, except for the hand sanitizer pump bottles (a lot of eateries are doing this due to covid but they r usually gross with dripping or clogged pumps) and baskets of assorted sauce packets in a basket (Mayo, mustard, Cholula packets were stuck together and didn't seem too clean) on tabletops. If you have ever been to Brazil, the pre-prepared food was pretty authentic flavorwise. The fried foods weren't greasy, and the deep fried chicken salad was well done. The fried cod had lots of bones that you have to spit out. The beef had a gamey smell and slightly sour, the shrimp was plentiful but not deveined which I dislike. The rice was a tad hard and cold, the salad greens and tomatoes were very fresh. We kept asking if there was anything else because we thought there might be something other than preprepared foods but were told they only had the above. But as we left, the table near us got fresh fried fries (lol tongue twister) so we guess there may be some things you can get freshly made after all. We would say this is more of a Brazilian eats place, not a Portuguese restaurant. While they do sell both Portuguese style food items (which they do in Brazil) and Brazilian dishes prepared in the market, it is totally Brazilian in atmosphere, with Brazilian music, a large Brazilian flag. If you have been to both countries, you will feel like you are in Brazil, not in Portugal. While they do have lots of seating, it's closer in feel to a large taqueria in a Mexican market, than a restaurant, especially since they do not make/cook foods to order like a restaurant would do. After eating, we checked out the market and they have a lot of South American items, including lots of Brazilian foodstuffs like passion fruit everything. We got a large bag of a favorite Argentinian sweet treat (yellow bag in pic) for $22.10 (ten cents for a plastic bag). We tried to take pics to show the variety of items they carry, not just salted cod, they have a large selection of alcohols as well as chocolates, frozen foods like yuca, canned fish, sauces, snacks...

OMG what happened! When Luis (founder chef) owned the place the Febras was incredible, soft moist tender pork I've ever tasted...not sure if he marinated with something but wow! I went and ordered 2 plates yesterday and it was incredibly dry. The fact I had to do takeout due to covid didn't matter. I had it togo before since I was an addict when I lived closer. To be frank I think the new owner maybe changing the recipe or technique or something perhaps for cheaper ingredients, not sure but something is definitely different. Even the Natas tastes different. There is cod for sure but I can't put my finger on it, doesn't taste right to me, not sure if its the texture, taste or something else. Luis cared so much about the food but now the new owners are treating this like a business I feel which I think is bringing it down. I made the special trip from north for some bacalhau to cure my cravings something special but I'm afraid this little gem is losing its sparkle. My wife was so disappointed as well (she could have made it better and she's no Luis, sorry honey) and I was so embarrassed raving about this place. I do miss Luis so much. He was a great guy and was always there to greet his customers, I was loyal made a visit every week but not anymore. I wish I knew where he went. I want to see if he opened another restaurant, I would go eat there any day, even drive hours if I have to. Now for me, meh. I wouldn't break a sweat unless I want to seriously break the mundane. To the new owners, some advice, I'd recommend going back to the original recipe. I recommended this place to some friends, and one actually...he didn't say anything until we ran into each other and frankly speaking he was not impressed either, I was shocked since I haven't been here in over a year. Now I know why. Better get with the program folks. I don't want to be harsh here, in fact, I'm doing you a favor. They say 22% business will go bankrupt due to covid. If you do survive and I hope you do, don't become a Portuguese 7-Eleven. You got something real special. Put some love back into this business...

Terrible quality and overpriced. Trade Rite has LOST a loyal 10-year customer. There has been a steep decline in food quality culminating in the last disaster where they tried to pass off a terrible Guisado de Bife (Brazilian Beef Stew; see picture) as Alcatra (Portuguese beef dish).

I should not be paying premium Alcatra prices for cheap (inedible as well) Guisado. More importantly, if you are going to serve Guisado instead of alcatra do not market it as Alcatra. Even if you are going to serve Guisado instead of Alcatra (using the correct name), make sure the dish is edible. Even as a guiso, this dish was terrible and fairly inedible. On top of that the rice tasted like fritura (used frying oil); I dont even know how that is possible.

I had gone to Trade Rite for years and loved the place (previously I would have rated the place 5 stars now it gets 1 star). I would eat everything Chicharros, Alcatra, Francesinha (when it first came out), Bifanas. The pinnacle of quality came around May to August of 2019 when the Francesinha Sandwich first came out.

FYI: Alcatra takes hours to make using large chunks of meat that is slow cooked in its own juices with fat and wine. Guisados on the other hand take minutes to make using thin slices of beef stewed with tomatoes and other spices to mask especially poor quality beef and make it look like there is more beef. Therefore, it is immediately apparent this was...