A Fábrica do Costa - BURACO

Having visited this restaurant 3 years ago, I was surprised to read negative reports, and a mere 3.5 stars on TripAdvisor. Our visit in the last week of October when many others in the area were closed, we were met with fantastic staff, really good food, the same fantastic setting, and nothing to prevent top scores all round. See you next time!

La ría Formosa, en la parte oriental del Algarve portugués, es una franja costera formada por un complejo arco de formaciones arenosas (barras e islas) que protegen una amplia zona de marismas mareales. La Fábrica es uno de los puntos más orientales de la Ría y está protegido por la Península arenosa de Cacela. Recibe este nombre por la existencia de las ruinas de una antigua fábrica de conserva de pescado, cuando los atunes eran abundantes y constituían una fuente de riqueza para toda la zona del golfo de Cádiz. A orillas de la ría hay un restaurante, llamado Costa, a Fábrica, donde se puede saborear un buen arroz caldoso de rape con mariscos, disfrutando de unas vistas extraordinarias. A mi me encanta ir en cualquier época del año y disfrutar del paisaje y de la observación de numerosas especies de aves. En verano hay un servicio de barcos que atraviesan la ría y transportan a los veraneantes hasta la playa, pero en invierno la tranquilidad y el paisaje son una joya y sólo inspiran relajación y tranquilidad. En mi última visita coincidí con un grupo de coquineros que atravesaban la ría a pie aprovechando la marea baja y su imagen en contraluz resultaba maravillosa.

Muito bem confeccionada e simpatia de serviço. O Algarve fora do Verão melhora muito

This is one of my favourite restaurant views in the Algarve. On a clear day, the colour of the Ria Fornosa, the dunes between it and the sea, and the bird and some aquatic life (usually canoeists and SUPers), make this an exquisitely charming location. The occasion starts with the memorable dip down into Fábrica from the main road, where the expanse of blue opens up before your eyes. Once in the restaurant, the glass frontage allows the eye to take in the east to west expanse of water. The food is expensive and of high quality. Which means we mist be exacting. We could not stay long as it was a business lunch and we had not ordered ahead, one of the cataplanas. So we had the ameijoas à Bulhão Pato which were the best I had tasted for a long time. The Portuguese variety of clams, brown and succulent, with the usual butter, wine and garlic sauce that must be eaten with bread. The restaurant was unfortunately out of white grouper, or cherne, which disappointed my wife, who landed up having the same as me, the fried squid, Algarve style, which is heavy on garlic. The squid was large and perfectly formed. Texture excellent, but both of us felt it was too salty. We would usually score the restaurant 5* but because the prices are high, we need to be exacting. The lack of the publicised choices and the saltiness of the mains. Would not hesitate to recommend. Pick a sunny day and get lost in the view and food. After the meal, if you have time, take the water taxi across to the dunes.

Great location, lovely views. Personally I didn’t enjoy the grilled cuttlefish but my mother in law did so let’s say I just chose the wrong dish. It could have and should have been a great evening but they are trying to be all posh without really knowing what they are doing (the impression I had). Perhaps a victim of their own success. Not for me.