Casa de Pasto Toc, Toc

One thing’s for sure: we never thought we’d see the day when this important sector – which employs so many people – would be bludgeoned by the State Budget to the extent that it just has. What will mean? How high will prices rise? Well, we came here with prices in mind: at the door, a board announced “dish of the day” for just €4.20.

A new record? In we went to find out. The location is perfect – there’s even a children’s playground outside. First impression: yikes! The owner gesticulated to a table at the back (even though the place was empty) while he discussed the vicissitudes of life with a friend. Options: Salt-cod fritters with bean rice, grilled pork steaks, chicken fricassé and for those who had the time, grilled chicken. I’ll take the first one, thank you.

A great salad. Ah, and to add to the €4.20 is the price of 0.37 l of red wine (Lagoa, €1.60), dessert (a slice of biscuit cake that had definitely been round the block a few times, €2.50), coffee (€0.70) and a digestif that seemed to have largely evaporated on its way to the table (€2.50).

Grand total therefore: a not-so-incredible-record price of €11.50! In the end, our host broke the ice by telling us that he employed two others – his sister and his wife (who actually runs the business) – and that one day, he’d like to dedicate himself more to photography. As a friend said to me recently: “we’ve all got to try growing a flower in the desert”…

Specialities: grills, takeaways; Hours: lunches & dinners, closed Mondays; bill: €11.50 for 1; owner: José Luís Reis;

NIF 158 478 150.