Eating out is one of the great pleasures of life in Portugal and there is a wide range of typically Portuguese restaurantes that reflect all levels of the country’s cuisine and culture. Eating out at lunchtime is particularly popular – lunch is traditionally served between 12 noon and 3 pm – while dinner is usually served from 7.30.

As soon as you sit down the waiter will bring you an assortment of appetizers. But beware! For one thing, these are not free and, for another thing, main course helpings are usually massive. So, if you don’t want the appetizers, just say so and there’ll be no problem. And if you can’t face a whole main course all for yourself it’s acceptable practice to ask for a half portion, or to share a big one.

Most places offer a prato do dia – dish of the day – which is usually cheaper than the set menu; and some will have an ementa turistica: a three-course meal of the day.

You can also get steak and seafood meals in a tasca (that’s a tavern) or a cervejaria (which is a beer house); while a marisqueira specializes in seafood and a churrasqueira is a char-grilled meat specialist.

Bom apetite!

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