O Cardo

O Cardo is an absolute gem: an unpretentious, high-quality restaurant serving genuinely authentic Portuguese food. It is exactly the kind of modest, no-frills local spot we were looking for, focusing purely on fresh ingredients and flavour. We ended up having most of our meals here because there were so many amazing dishes we wanted to try! Really friendly and attentive staff, I think headed by lovely Cristina. She told me she's been there 23 years, which might explain her professionalism always aware of what is happening and anticipating what diners might need. Her presence alone adds warmth to the experience. The seafood is spectacular, all fresh and exquisitely cooked. The Parrilada de Mariscos (Seafood Platter) is a must-try house specialty and a true carnival of different seafood, suitable for sharing. I ordered the "for 1" size and it was more than plenty for two! It arrives as a huge tray packed with perfectly cooked whole brown crab, mussels, king prawns, clams, langoustines, and more in different smaller trays. The preparation is mainly grilled, but includes some boiled or sauced items, with accompaniments including lemon wedges and drizzled Portuguese olive oil. Also, the Arroz de Mariscos, the classic Portuguese seafood-and-rice creamy, soupy style (they call it malandro) not dry like a Spanish paella. From what I could tell, the base is rich: onion, garlic, tomato, white wine, seafood stock, and olive oil, all brought together with an assortment of shellfish, seafood, and small pieces of fish. It is deeply flavourful, rich, and truly comforting. You must also try the national staple, salt cod (Bacalhau), which is synonymous with the country. We tried two truly magnificent versions: Bacalhau a Brás: A classic, comforting scramble of shredded salt cod, onions, and fried potatoes, gently bound with beaten eggs. It’s light, fluffy, and delicious. Bacalhau Assado à Lagareiro: This is a rustic, substantial roasted dish featuring a thick salt cod loin baked in a generous amount of olive oil (miller's style). It is served with batatas a murro (punched potatoes) that are cracked to soak up all the golden oil and roasting juices. Absolutely perfect. We ended up only having the house red wine—it was thick, dark, smooth, quite strong, and offered at a surprisingly low price. Pro tip: The bread and butter (couvert) placed on the table is not complimentary, but you should pay for it just to mop up the delicious sauces in your dishes! Overall, prices are very reasonable. The Parrilada is the most expensive item (around £80), but perfectly sensible when shared. Most other dishes fall between £15 and £20, which feels excellent value given the quality and freshness. O Cardo is absolutely worth a visit

This is a rare example of how good restaurants used to be in the capital! Try it out and you will know what good Portuguese cuisine looks and Taste like :) we all had different dishes and came back to eat more. The service is exceptional and overall a great experience! I don’t understand why it only has a 3,8 on google.

Decent Portugues Food, service staff struggles with English slightly but we managed to get a seat and order food to share, there’s extra 3 euros charge for extra utensils service