A Rede, Marisqueira and Vimar

fmm · Post by **fmm** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 9:12 pm

I ate at all of these last week (only had three days and they are all VERY close for me!) I was eating as a single female, so was interested to see if this made a difference. I had great tables in all the restaurants so that was good, and the service was excellent in all of them.

A Rede was by far the best meal though. The food was fresh, served nicely and tasted delicious. There is also a lot of entertainment value in the waiters which is good when you are eating on your own. Vimar was OK. However, the started was asparagus in butter and they had added lemon which did not sit well with what I was expecting. The bread was really stale as well. The main course was very good though.

Marisqueria sometimes feels a bit like a canteen if you end up inside. There is not the feeling of space you get at A Rede which is a shame. Also, the food was good, but not quite as succulent as A Rede. It is still one of my favourite restaurants though.

Having said all this, the best meal we have had so far was at A Gale. I want to try Ele Ela next time. My OH has decided we are going to munch our way in order through every restaurant in Carvoeiro. I feel this could take some time, and he has started a book to record what he ate and what he thought. Not sure what he will do with it afterwards, but I suppose he could always chuck it on the BBQ and eat it ...

orangeanorak · Post by **orangeanorak** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 10:31 pm

A rede sounds good - was it expensive

fmm · Post by **fmm** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 7:17 am

They are all roughly the same price. Starters are around 4/6 euros, main courses start at 5.5/6 euros for Chicken Piri Piri and deserts are all around 3/6 euros. Main course "special prawn" type dishes are 13/14 euros. So I would say mid to high range in pricing. My meals (where I had starters, prawn main course, desert and a jug if Sangria) were between 24/30 euros including a tip. Vimar was slightly more expensive than the other two. You can easily spend 20 or 30 euros on a special main course though it you want to!

DaGi · Post by **DaGi** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 6:07 pm

Personally I prefer Vimar. A Rede has good food, but after a few years listening to the 'jokes' of Carlos I have had it. So I am regular at his neighbour. Good food, good prices, friendly staff etc.

fmm · Post by **fmm** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 4:33 pm

Someone on another website was saying that they thought 25 euros per person for a meal was far too expensive and that 30 euros was exhorbitant. I can't see how most of the restaurants that people in Carvoeiro recommend can get lower than 25 euros (this is including 3 course, drinks and tips). They said they would pay no more than 30 euros. Now, if I eat Chicken Piri Piri every evening I can probably reduce the bill, but even then I would be struggling. btw - this person is Portuguese and lives further north, but holidays in the Algarve.

What do you think?

Thunderbolt · Post by **Thunderbolt** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 5:31 pm

I think it really depends what you want out of a meal.

You can eat cheaply as you say by having frango piri piri everynight and a bottle of water, however, if you want a starter, main course, dessert, wine and coffee, I don't think that 25 euros is too much especialy including tip.

To me going to the restaurant is a treat I enjoy so I make the most of it!

Notary · Post by **Notary** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 12:04 am

Most of the restaurants mentioned here are tourist or semi-tourist places in my view. A good meal can be had round here including pretty much all mentioned for 7euros and up. This not not be limited to frango, by any means. This is not to say that there is anything wrong with the restaurants in question, far from it. It is true that many Portuguese eat at many of these restaurants, but it is understandable that a Portuguese might consider them expensive.