Restaurante Santos, Portimão

Anyone who doesn’t adapt to the new times will not survive. We need more efficiency to combat the crisis – otherwise, there’s no chance. What began as a relaxed lunch turned into an existential “think-tank” to debate strategies. Happily, we were in good hands.

This place is down-to-earth and friendly. It specialises in grills, cataplanas and Portuguese cooking.

Throughout the meal, the team headed by manager Sr. Nuno Filipe displayed their professionalism and politeness, not to mention patience (even when we said we didn’t like the jug of house wine from the Ribatejo).

It was promptly substituted by a bottle of «Alandra», for €4.50. As for the lunch , well, here the economy menu costs €8. Among choices were roasted turkey, lamb stew and grilled sardines – which this year simply refuse to get plump. One of our guests, suffering with her stomach, asked for a tender grilled steak, which the management had the courtesy of providing for the same price as the dish of the day.

It’s also worth mentioning that there’s an interesting evening menu here. And, for dessert, we appreciated the thought: we were presented with a plate with little samples of the cakes and delicacies available.

And thus we left – not with any grand answers to the questions outlined in the introduction, but with a lesson in the art of receiving clients. A very decent place, from start to finish.

Specialities: dishes of the day, grills, Portuguese gastronomy; Hours: Lunches & dinners every day (no days off); Bank cards: Credit and Multibanco; Bill: €41.30 for 4 people; Management: Séquito de Alecrim Lda; NIF 509 493 310.