Restaurant suggestion?

[Ronald Wortel]

Went to Cepa Torto in Alijo last weekend. Very good food. Traditional dishes with a modern touch. The hot chocolate cake was stunning. Very good wine list as well.

The owners of Cepa Torto opened a new restaurant in between Pinhao and Regua. It's called DOC. I have not been there, but from people who have (a.o. Steven) I heard that it's really worthwhile.

In Porto we've been to a small restaurant on the Douro quai, called something .... Ribeira (can't recall the first two words). It was on recommendation of Euan Mackay of the Symington's. Some good hearty traditional food, and very good deserts. Nothing much of a wine list though.

By the way, I noticed this time that the 'Calem bar' is the Gaia version of D'Tonho (that Steven notes above). We had lunch here. Good quality, not cheap, but the view is worth quite a bit.

[Roy Hersh]

In Porto we've been to a small restaurant on the Douro quai, called something .... Ribeira (can't recall the first two words). It was on recommendation of Euan Mackay of the Symington's. Some good hearty traditional food, and very good deserts. Nothing much of a wine list though.

It is on the Porto side right (not Gaia)? Can you describe the location ... is it near the Pestana hotel or closer to places along the cais on the way to the bridge?

[Ronald Wortel]

Yep on the Porto side. Pretty close to the bridge, tucked in between all the cheesy, touristy restaurants and shops. It looks just like all the other restaurants on the outside (and on the inside for that matter), but the food was good.

[Roy Hersh]

Ok, so it is right in the same row as one of my all time favorites:

Presuntisco

[Ronald Wortel]

Time to bring this thread back to life, as there is quite a bit of good information in here.

People in the Douro are finally beginning to realise the potential of the area, or so it seems, because many new restaurants are opening.

There is a new wine bar / lounge / restaurant in Pinhão, called LBV 79. We haven't been there, and only looked in from the outside, but it looked very nice: modern and trendy. DOC in Folgosa is still a firm favourite, but now gets a run for its money by Castas e Pratos, located in the old railway building in Regua. A very trendy wine bar and restaurant, where it is also possible to buy all the bottles that are on the (extensive) wine list. The food is very good. Traditional Portuguese dishes are transformed into modern, well-made cuisine. Not cheap, but definitely worth it. The restaurant is on the upper level, but you can order tapas in the lower level, where the wine bar is located. Opposite of DOC, there is a new hotel/restaurant, which (I believe) is called simply Folgosa Hotel / Restaurant. We haven't visited, but from what I heard the food is uncomplicated, but good.

Cepa Torta in Alijo has unfortunately closed its doors.

We also revisited Douro In in Regua. It is under new ownership, but the quality is still good. Good wine list, but not many ports, which is both strange and a pity. Next to the restaurant is a decent wine store.

Unfortunately the restaurant at Quinta da Romaneira was closed (for the winter or forever? we couldn't quite figure it out), otherwise we would have gone there for lunch as well.

In Porto, we ate at Shis Restaurant, which is in Foz, literally on the beach. Great location. Again not cheap, but the sushi is great. The rest of the menu is a modern adaptation of Portuguese cuisine. Quality was good, but we liked the food at Castas e Pratos better. The wine list is very good.

[goncalo devesas]

The "chef" Rui Paula owner of D.O.C. located between Regua and Pinhao, in the road N.222, being more precise, in Folgosa... enormous wine list from all over the Country, Late harvests, sparkling wines, Champagne, Madeira and Port and top food, now in the next few days he´ll open the D.O.P. in the historic Porto zone, next to the Palacio da Bolsa.

Average price 50€ per person, depending on the wines...

D.O.C. It´s in the ranking of the bests eleven restaurants in Portugal.

D.O.P. will have two distinguished rooms, one with show cooking with a faster service and more affordable price and the second more traditional and at the same time innovative, ideal for a business lunch/dinner with 3 different Menus: Douro, Arts and Sea.

I´ll talk about D.O.P. in the few days and post some pictures that I´ll take myself.

Definitions:

D.O.C. - Controlled Region Denomination; ex: first quality wine
D.O.P. - Protected Region Denomination; ex: the real Serra da Estrela cheese

They only use products or wines with this high quality standars.

Definitely this is the concept that has been missing in this area.

[goncalo devesas]

Cepa Torta in Alijo has unfortunately closed its doors.

Ronald, "Cepa Torta" it´s now being replaced by D.O.P. in Porto.

[goncalo devesas]

Boucinha - is a restaurant with lots of dining rooms, ideal for big groups or a more private atmosphere, elegant , with a very good wine menu from all over the country, this was a old monks property since the XVII century and was renewed in the end of XX century.

The relationship quality/price is incredible, the person in charge is my brother in law, Rui Caldeira, that is architect, but because he is a wonderful public relations person, decided to come a board in the business with a huge success.

You may start the visit with a nice white Port/wine and very good starters in one of the marvellous gardens with sculptures from the XVII century.

8 min. (by cab) from the Port Cellars Avenue untill the restaurant, I´m now trying to help him changing the concept for better Port offers.

If someone from the community decided to visit boucinha, just mencion the name !!!!!!

[Glenn E.]

Wow, Boucinha looks fabulous!

[Eric Menchen]

Besides being an 8 minute cab ride away, where exactly is this? It definitely looks like a place to try.

[goncalo devesas]

Eric, from Diogo Leite Avenue (Cellars avenue) to Boucinha about 4,9km, 11mins:

It´s in the center of Vila Nova de Gaia in Boucinhas street, location: Avintes (a small village).

[David Spriggs]

Thank you Gonçalo! This is fantastic info!
-Dave-

PS. Happy Belated Birthday!

[goncalo devesas]

How did you know that ?

Thank you very much, my friend !!

Will you come with Roy in the Fortification Tour ?

[David Spriggs]

How did you know that ?

Thank you very much, my friend !!

Will you come with Roy in the Fortification Tour ?

I saw it was your birthday on Facebook
I will not be on the Fortification tour this year, but am definitely on the Harvest Tour!
-Dave-

[Ronald Wortel]

Cepa Torta in Alijo is open again, but now with a different owner. We haven't been yet.

We did visit Cais da Villa in Villa Real, the sister restaurant to Castas e Pratos (Regua). Also in an old railway building and following the same concept. We had tapas, which we liked very much. The wine selection is great.

Another good option is to have lunch at Quinta da Romaneira. For 50 euro pp you'll get a 4 course lunch including wine. We weren't seated in the restaurant (which is up on the hill) but in one of the quarters of the building that makes up the hotel. Beautiful location, good food, and a great place to sit and relax after lunch with a bottle of port.

[Roy Hersh]

Boucinha is good but definitely not great. Somewhat tired facility that has been brought back to life 85% of the way. The service is ok and the food serviceable. It is on a beautiful property though. I took our group there in May 2010. Guests were not thrilled, but due to the company we had and guests, it made things better. Hopefully, Boucinha has upped their game over the last year, because I would not go back otherwise.

[Roy Hersh]

Here is a brand new place to open next week:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id= ... 9570734202