Restaurante Moinho Pimenta

These include regional sausages from the Ribatejo, olive oil from the presses of the north, and most significantly an exclusive selection of wines (not necessarily expensive).

It is well worth seeing some of the examples. In the red, «Quinta do Casal das Freiras» is worth a mention. At €11 a bottle – a wine made from Syrah grapes, production of which is limited (in May, for instance, it has already sold out in the shops) and the vines of which, in days gone by, belonged to the religious Order of Christ. Another treasure is the homemade green “espinheira” wine produced by an small-scale grower in Vila Nova de Cerveira, deep in the Minho region, almost touching the border with Galicia’s town of Vigo.

Only the label is legal, so that it can be sold. Another gem is the «Quinta da Arrancada», a full-bodied white wine produced on a property of only 20 hectares, situated south of the Serra da Gardunha. Intriguingly, it is José Silva himself who visited all the best small wine producers in Tomar, Almeirim and Cartaxo and brought these wines down south. We should add that the “sangria” here is made with a «Mouchão» base.

This is the traditional spiritual drink of Tomar. And, in keeping with this attention to good wines, the management decided to run with gastronomy with a Mediterranean influence.

The pastas (costing between €6.70 and €9.50) are the house specialities, although there are also pizzas and other dishes with meat and fish - for example, the chicken supreme in a sparkling wine sauce (in the photo).

Other menu highlights include the risottos: chicken risotto with saffron (€9.50), fish and shellfish (€10). Anyone who remembers the place before will be impressed by the changes in décor. Children are also welcome and there’s a place for them to play.

Very soon theme nights are planned with live music and fado.

By day, dishes of the day here cost €3.99 at lunchtimes.

Specialities: pastas, pizzas, Mediterranean cooking; Hours: lunches and dinners, closed Wednesdays; Seating: 34 places; Parking area; Manager: José Silva; NIF 507 834 151.