A Taste of Portugal but definitely in London Bridge
This place takes you on a culinary adventure with Portuguese small plates and a killer wine selection. I was sitting at their open kitchen counter in their cool azulejos-tiled dining room, enjoying our wine with my company. But here’s the thing, the staff seemed a bit lacking in motivation. Guess they weren’t feeling the same energy as us hungry diners.
Although the presentation of the dishes was legit, the snack dishes were too salty. But the meat dishes saved the day. They had some tasty flavors going on, but then it felt like they were just teasing us, leaving us wanting more. Good thing those potato dishes are a hit. People can’t get enough of them, and I get why.
What I Ordered:
Croquetes de alheira
The textures in this dish were on point. I had the crispy crust alongside the velvety smoothness inside -contrast. But, the smoked sausage filling was a bit too heavy-handed on the salt.
Bacalhau
Tthe sidekicks—olives, potatoes, and onions were creating a perfect harmony of flavors. Those potatoes? Cooked to absolute perfection. But here’s where things took a bit of a salty turn. The star of the show, the cod, didn’t quite hit the mark. It had this overpowering saltiness…Bummer.
*Bife de cebolada & tutano
The dish that stole my heart at Bar Douro. The beef was tender and juicy, and they topped it off with caramelized onions that brought a sweet and flavorful twist. The natural sweetness of those onions balanced out the richness of the beef, creating a match made.
Arroz de pato malandrinho
The duck was a tender and flavorful, and the rice was seasoned to perfection. The chef nailed it with just the right hints of herbs and spices.
Conclusion
Some of their dishes capture the authentic flavors of Portuguese cuisine. With an impressive selection of Portuguese wines, ranging from crisp Vinho Verde to robust reds, their diverse wine list caters to every palate.
If you’re in the mood for tapas-style small plates paired with Portuguese wines, you could try this restaurant.
