O Litoral

Agree with Jeremy
Service was good with warm and friendly welcome. Starters disappointing - garlic mushrooms (4) at €6, clams tasty but not cheap at €9 for starter portion. Mains OK but sea bass burnt on outside and opened out to disguise this and plaice good but vegetables overcooked and no real chips (only frozen). Dessert fairly standard chocolate mousse. Coffees with complimentary port (no choice). At €65 not cheap and have had better meals in supposedly more expensive restaurants for not much more money. Overall OK but not good value.
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" TASTE " Wine & Food

At last something different
First impression is ' Kim has imposed her taste (sorry about the pun) on the building'. Pinks and greens could look awful (they did when I played hockey for Dulwich in the same colours) but somehow look good here. As others have said, these are real tapas, as opposed to small portions of normal food, and a wide range with some very original choices mixed up with some suspiciously ready-mades. Prices are reasonable for a tapas bar but would be expensive for someone who was hungry - perhaps a range of raciones or pratos may be a thought for the future. Staff very friendly and ambience good with provision for eating inside or on balcony tables overlooking Rua Barranco.
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Restaurante Casa Algarvia

A safe bet
We have eaten here many times over the years and whilst never having had a bad meal, have also never had a memorable meal. Prices are average, service is generally good and friendly unless there is a large party or in the height of season.
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Fatacil

Good affordable grub.
First impression is of a works canteen filled (at lunchtime) with a mix of all sorts of workers from labourers to lawyers but disconcertingly empty in the evening. BUT the food is Portuguese through and through but of a high standard and only 7.50 euros for a 3 course meal with drinks and coffee. For 2.50 extra euros there is a daily special of which the Tuesday prawn curry (my only complaint is too many prawns - just joking) and the Thursday T-bone steak outstanding. The dessert menu also puts many of the so-called superior restaurants to shame. Service is friendly with a sense of humour and no distinction is made between nationals, local ex-pats and tourists. If you want genuine local cuisine you must visit - ask for the English menu or ask the waiter to explain what the dishes are - but if you want British or so-called International cuisine avoid it like the plague.
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Restaurante O Castello

Good food, magnificent setting.
After four years of despairing of getting decent Indian food in CVO this place opened and much to our surprise the food was good. A sign of a good restaurant is one which will prepare a dish not on the menu, and they did just this. One of my favourite starters is 'Prawn on Puri' - they did me an excellent one and I am now known by the name of 'Senor Prawn on Puri' !! The rest of the food is also good but prepared on the bland side - if you want it spicier, mention this when ordering - and kept warm in their unique range of candle heaters. Service is smooth and the view from the outside terrace outstanding. Tell them Senor Prawn on Puri sent you and it will always raise a smile even if no discount on the bill !!
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Ma-Ja's Restaurant/Bar

For homesick locals and unadventurous visitors !!
Whilst agreeing with the comments about the doubtfulness of having good old British food here, it certainly fills a hole for the locals who cannot be bothered to cook at home - and if you look around the whole med. area there are many ' food like mother cooks' eating places doing very well. We have never had a disappointing meal nor an outstanding meal - but that is typically British. I do however feel that Mark, with all his cooking background is working with his foot off the pedal in the interest of a more relaxing life style and would like to see him experiment a little more, perhaps with a 'fusion' type of cuisine - traditional with a south european slant. The music evenings are also enjoyable. Overall a brave effort in a poor position and one which we support fairly regularly.
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Happys

Love it or hate it !!
Libbre is a character and in this day and age of boring anonymous restaurants this what you need, particularly in the winter months in CVO - his humour is not to everyones taste but he is Happys and if you don't like it don't go. You will always get a welcome, even if only passing by the window. Last year our grandchildren got a sudden hunger whilst we were talking to him and next moment two bags of chips appeared 'on the house'. Also the last night of the season all takings are donated to charity - truly a local character. The food is limited but good - fish and chips and the skewered fish and meat excellent in huge portions - together with an eclectic mix of Dutch/Indonesian dishes. The bottle of Port left on the table at the end of the meal is a tradition and much appreciated by the non-drivers. It is crowded and stuffy and most times of the year you need to book to get in, but in spite of these 'failings' it is one of our favourite places to eat.
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China Town

No ambience
We last ate there on a cold evening in March and wherever we sat there was a cold draught either from the sliding door or, surprisingly ehough from the air conditioning which was on and fighting with the portable heaters !! The food was so-so - we chose a menu for two. The starter platter was very ordinary with spare ribs, spring rolls, prawn toast and seaweed, followed by a selection of dishes which whilst more than adequate in quantity were severely lacking in quality with greasy tasteless sauces. Service was pleasant though slow considering there was only one other couple eating and strangely enough we came out with a smell of frying on our clothes in spite of the aforementioned dreaught and air-conditioning. Not our best experience of chinese food.
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Restaurante a Rede

Viagra sauce !!
Food is good - certainly above average for 'Restaurant hill' - spoilt only by the head waiter/owner constantly rabbiting on about "No bones in the soup" and "Viaqgra sauce on everything" A new script would be an improvement.
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Restaurante O Patio

A pleasant surprise
Although living in Carvoeiro for 8 years we had never previously eaten here due to our perception of it being over-priced for the gullible tourists. Feeling sorry for them after the upheaval in the Square wrecking their business, we saved up our pennies and decided to give them a chance. Following a warm welcome from Joao and Jorge were offered aperitifs, water, bread and a melon and mango 'taster'. The menu is short but varied but after seeing a beautiful crab on the fresh fish platter decided to to share this between us as a starter, followed by fresh grouper for my wife and a different chicken supreme for myself. This resulted in a shared starter of chocolate cake and coffee with a good quality port 'on the house'. Cost was a touch under 50 euros per head which is in line with other superior restaurants in the area and we will certainly be returning.
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