Casa Do Peixe - Setúbal

A restaurant is only as good as the people who run it, and the owner Luis and his staff have made this hidden gem into something amazing. After a long drive, my... read more A restaurant is only as good as the people who run it, and the owner Luis and his staff have made this hidden gem into something amazing. After a long drive, my wife and I went looking for somewhere close to the hotel to unwind and have dinner. There wasn't too much around but high rise apartment blocks, but we found an old street where A Casa Do Peixe sits in a 17th century pub. Entering the restaurant you see and smell the fresh fish caught that day from the harbor nearby. The front is rather nondescript, basic tables and tile floor with a large case of fish at the counter, and typical decor. Tired, we sat down in the empty room and waited as the staff finished setting up. Portugal is not a place for the hurried, and while we waited I walked around to check out the place. I saw a guy working a big mesquite wood barbeque and walked back to check out the patio where he stood. And there, in the middle of the city, surrounded by high rise cement, was an enchanted garden built from the imagination of the owner, Luis. Green trees and plants enclosed the space. There was a garden with flowers and green grass in the back, soft lights illuminated the stone walls, nice tables, flowers grew over the patio covers, birds were singing in the night and there was a pet rabbit on the grass. Of course, I asked if we could sit there, and my reaction to the patio galvanized the waiter. You could tell they were all proud of the space and made us feel at home. The waiter introduced the owner to us who told us that he had reclaimed the property from ruin, built his restaurant after traveling the world, and decided to do whatever he could to improve his hometown. He took over the vacant, debris filled lot next door and transformed it into this beautiful space. Fado played in the background as Luis brought us whatever he thought was good that day caldo verde, fresh barbequed fish, seafood feijoada and great house wine and port. We shared a toast after dinner with the fine Muscatel that Luis brought, as he told us Portugese history and his life. We also toasted our luck in finding such a perfect host for our last night in Portugal.

Our daughter is such a great fan of clams so when we were promised by the owner that he would have some tomorrow we decided to return the following day. I would... read more Our daughter is such a great fan of clams so when we were promised by the owner that he would have some tomorrow we decided to return the following day. I would have accepted if he had forgotten, or if he hadn 't been able to get any at the market, but not only didn 't he have any, the restaurant was closed when we arrived the next evening. We 've been a few times, and have always received the best entertainment, though seafood was a bit below par for Setúbal. Since failing to keep a promise to a 4-year-old we have never returned, though. I 'm aware this says nothing about the quality of the kitchen, but it does about the integrity of the chef...

If you are searching for a fancy restaurant, you better skip this place. A bit untraditional, gardenlike and a rabbit pet, the food however is outstanding! Luis... read more If you are searching for a fancy restaurant, you better skip this place. A bit untraditional, gardenlike and a rabbit pet, the food however is outstanding! Luis actually is a great host and I cannot find myself in the previous review. He quit working when he reached the age of 40-10, and build this restaurant with his own hands, love and passion. This is what you taste when eating the fish. A place worth visiting, I'm sure you won't regret. Well done Luis, keep up the good work! : Thank you for a great evening!

Most of the things in the menu unavailable. Set up for you to end up spending a lot. They’re trying to make you spend in anyway. They seem to appear nice but ar... read more Most of the things in the menu unavailable. Set up for you to end up spending a lot. They’re trying to make you spend in anyway. They seem to appear nice but are just trying to get the money out of you.

Warm welcome, great ambience, fish as it should be. Within 5 mins of sitting down we were tucking into our mackerel starters and being shown the fresh red mulle... read more Warm welcome, great ambience, fish as it should be. Within 5 mins of sitting down we were tucking into our mackerel starters and being shown the fresh red mullet that we had chosen to be cooked over the charcoal on the outside garden bbq. Excellent meal, great value would definitely recommend this restaurant. Thank you Luis, and your staff for giving us a memorable jantar en Setubal .