Maracane - Menu

Our mistake not to have read the tripadvisor reviews and follow any of their suggestions. We went to this restaurant as recommended by the concierge of our hote... read more Our mistake not to have read the tripadvisor reviews and follow any of their suggestions. We went to this restaurant as recommended by the concierge of our hotel (who had honestly thought that it was good) as we asked for authentic portuguese dining experience on a sunday night. She even mentioned that they would be pleased to offer a welcome drink when we get there and say that they were recommended by the hotel. For starters, on entering the place we weren 't quite sure if we had come at the closing time we had wandered into the non smoking area and only half the tables were laid. After the initial luke warm reception, we almost believed that only one of the waiting staff could speak english (had not seen the previous review that said that all the waiting staff were fluent in english and french). After specifically asking for recommendations from the menu for authentic portuguese cuisine we were sort of directed to two dishes but not a good description of what it would be even when extensively questioned about the actual content of each item. But as soon as we mentioned the recommendation from the hotel and the mention about the welcome drink the attitude changed to positively aggressive about the misinterpretation of our hotel staff about the offer of a welcome drink. We would expect the hospitality industry has better front office manners. It was unclear as to whether the offer was still valid, they however brought in the ?courvette the olives bread ham butter and fish pate (some items before the starters on the sequence of menu) without being asked. We are now led to believe (after reading a bit about it) that this is the norm in the restaurants in Portugal. When they knew for sure that we were tourists and did not know the norm, they would be well advised to explain their traditions to help us decide before embarrassing the guests by bringing items without being asked and literally force the guest not to be impolite. It would not have been an issue to have clarified before bringing items that were more expensive than the mains that we were ordering without as much 'by your leave ' if they had not raised a stink about the suggestion of a welcome drink. If they have such an attitude to spending their money, it looks hypocritical that they would expect the guests to part with their money without a question. We however, wanted to experience the 'real local dining ' and thought it not a bother to pay for any extras (the fact that these extras were something that we needed to pay for, was only mentioned when we asked why he had brought the items to the table). To be fair to the cook, the salmon/prawn and rice dish was good and thoroughly enjoyed by us, but the baked cod( we found too late when eating that it was salted fish not fresh) was a disappointment for the lack of explanation prior to ordering not however for the cooking. It is a unique experience, that could have been avoided as salted fish is not something that we would willingly have tried unfair to say if the actual item was good or bad. The other aspect that appears to be the portuguese style is huge portions both the items could have been shared by two people without any hesitation. The waiting staff did say not to eat all the courvet/starters that he had brought as the portions would be big (if he knew it so well it may have been best not to bring in the extras). For their behaviour they were paid back in kind with no tips to the waiting staff and this review. Our points for the management would be 1. The staff clearly lacked professionalism in the way they handled an enquiry trade is built upon recommendation and good will whatever the annoyance, a guest has to be handled professionally not an exasperated impromptu conference between staff in front of the guest and increasing the awkwardness of the situation. 2. Racial prejudice has no place in the hospitality industry it was very clear that being of asian origin we got an inferior treatment as our first thought was that were these staff dissatisfied with their management and therefore set to spoil the image of the restaurant but the other patrons of the place were treated in a deferential manner 3. We have fed back to the hotel concierge not to recommend the place to people of our ethnicity as it would reflect very badly on their good will.

The restaurant has two zones, for smokers and non smokers, bit do not worry as a non smoker you feel nothing. They even have two separate entrances. Bit old sty... read more The restaurant has two zones, for smokers and non smokers, bit do not worry as a non smoker you feel nothing. They even have two separate entrances. Bit old style you will see the professional waiters dressed in typical uniforms. The nice surprise they speak fluent English and some of them fluent French. Good service and good recommendations. Fresh fishes and seafood. The grilled octopus and grilled fish called grouper (I hope the selling is correct are excellent! Menu is also great for kids. And the best sangria :