Churrasqueira Ícon do Algarve

This restaurant is in the heart of Portimão, and its philosophy is to appeal to all the five senses, something it’s certainly seems to have achieved – in fact the house motto is “let your senses guide you”. Service is fast and attentive, and when you’ve finished your main course, don’t forget to put your knife and fork together as dessert is sure to be on its way…

You get the menu’s suggestions of the day right at the front door. From the bean or spinach soups (€1.30 each) to start with, dishes are served in full or half portions – main courses costing between €8 (full) and €6 (half). The day we visited there was “Jardineira” (a chicken stew), Chicken fricassé, “Pataniscas” (little fritters) w/ green bean rice, BBQ grilled chicken (€6 for a half portion), fried squid rings and pork kebabs.

For those who’d prefer something lighter – particularly as summer seems finally to have arrived – there are salads of salt cod and chick pea (€12/ kg), fish roe (€12), seafood (€10) and octopus (€15). We began with some homemade bread (€1), a little sheep’s cheese (€2.50) and some olives (€0.50).

To keep in step with our budget, we went straight to the main courses and chose a half portion of chicken fricassé with green bean rice, and a half portion of “pataniscas” (a little doughy but filled with salt cod). The portions are all generously accompanied by chips, rice or black beans.

We’d recommend a jug of red “Palmela” wine (€3.50) – but if you’re having grilled meat, the “Herdade de Serves” red from Estremoz (€6) would go a lot better.

From the choice of desserts, which we’re told are “more than simple desserts…” - prices for which vary between €2.10 and €4.50 - we opted for the cheapest, a simple “Dom Carlos” (€1.70), a kind of cake with chantilly cream that, to be honest, did not “conquer our senses from the first to the last spoonful” (as it really didn’t appear to have been homemade).

Hmm... and if you ask for a coffee at the end, you may well have the right to a mini-chocolate, which you can enjoy later – if it doesn’t melt beforehand in your pocket…

Specialities: Grilled meat (particularly chicken), dishes of the day, traditional Portuguese cooking, take-aways; Hours: Lunches & dinners, closed Sundays; Bank cards: Credit & Multibanco; Bill: €22.60 for 2; Owners: Icon do Algarve, Lda.; NIF 507487320.