Cheap and cheerful in Porto

[currycue]

Heading to Porto tonight for a week. Most of the Porto posts on here recommend fine dining. I'm looking for a great churrasqueira, old school taverna, etc. I'm in love with Cafe Majestic so far, but want to try some other places. For example: Who makes the best Bacalhau a bras? Francesinha?

Thanks in advance!

[monchique]

So what did you discover?

[currycue]

So far the best meal we've had was at a little churrasqueira around the corner from A Brasileira. Came with a nice little fresh octopus salad too. Ate at a taverna near our hotel on Rua Da Fabrica as well as at Cafes Majestic and Guarany, but so far nothing outstanding. The receptionist at our hotel highly recommends Restaurante Abadia, but frankly I'm starting to tire of caldo verde, bacalhau and bbq chicken. Went to a pretty mediocre Indian place across from the hotel tonight: no spice. Thinking of hitting the buffet at the newly renovated Cafe Astoria and maybe doing tea sarnies in a revisit to the lovely Majestic.

Oh, forgot to mention that I finally tried Ginja and Serra cheese. Both lovely in their own way!

[monchique]

Thks for the report; Last year our experience with a Japanese restaurant on Av. de Boavista must have been similar to your Indian try... a slight lack of authenticity. When in Porto, we intend to stick to Foz Velha at lunch time (very reasonable business menu...). Otherwise there is a restaurant on the VN de Gaia side , first one after the bridge on the river that serves decent food. Pleasant if the weather is good enough to eat out.

[currycue]

No problem. Still one more day for us. Planning to try Zsa Zsa, a new Hungarian (!) restaurant in town getting great reviews. BTW, the little churrasqueira is called Icarai. It's on R. Sa Da Bandeira. Not much to look at, but a great, cheap meal.

[currycue]

Just to follow up, we ended up that last morning at El Corte Ingles department store in Gaia, to pick up some old Queso Manchego to take home (something like 55Euro for a whole wheel!) and ended up grabbing lunch at the "Meson De Tapas" on the top floor. It actually ended up being a great meal. Not the most Spanish tasting (like Spanish food cooked with a Portuguese touch) but really good, and quite reasonable for what we got (gambas, cheese, secreto Iberico, beef with mushrooms, fries and a jug of sangria that left us dizzy (strong stuff!) for only 40 euro!

[monchique]

Never thought of it because it's a bit out of the way, but I often eat at the Corte Ingles (but not in Porto yet) and their value for money is pretty good.

[jmoryl]

Another thought: if you want to check out the Casa da Musica they have a restaurant with a pretty nice prix fixe lunch, which was about 10 euros when I was there.

[jmoryl]

I enjoyed A Grade, Rua de S. Nicolau 9, right off the Ribeira. Very small family run place with traditional food. Only problem is getting a table - it is very small.

[monchique]

I personnally think Francesinha is the grossest food ever invented but this might help you: http://asmelhoresfrancesinhas.blogspot.com/ The site ranks the best Francesinhas in Porto.... For "Tripas" look at: http://www1.ionline.pt/conteudo/81191...
Bacalhau, try the restaurants on the river, and follow your nose and teh locals. No special recomendation, sorry.