7:00 pm
The cork oak is lit
Cork-oak charcoal from the Alentejo burns slowly and leaves no taste behind. No firelighters, ever.
Santa Maria da Feira · embers lit since 1987
Cookedover coals.
Cork oak, coarse salt and patience. The grill is lit at seven and only goes out when the last plate leaves the kitchen.
The grill is lit · until 11 pm
Book a table
Nobody rushes here. The charcoal is cork oak, the meat rests before it meets the embers, and every cut takes the time it needs. For 38 years it has been done this way, and nobody inside wants to change it.
1987The year Mr Armando lit the very first grill
3Generations of the same family behind the counter
0Microwaves in the kitchen. There never were, and never will be
One night at the grill
From seven
to eleven
7:40 pm
The embers turn white
When the flames drop and the coals go grey with ash, the grill is ready. Not a minute sooner.
8:00 pm
The first steak goes out
Coarse salt in the last minute, three minutes of rest. It reaches your table still sizzling.
11:00 pm
The last glass
The grill cools down, the conversation doesn't. Nobody gets sent home with a full glass.
The menu
From the grill
to your table
A short menu, done properly. Everything from the grill comes with punched potatoes and sautéed turnip greens.
Posta mirandesa
aged Mirandesa vealCharcoal-grilled and served rare unless you tell us otherwise.
€16400 g
Polvo na brasa
octopus from Matosinhos, cooked in-houseSlow-cooked, then finished on the grill with olive oil, garlic and coriander.
€17
Bacalhau na brasa
thick-cut salt cod, soaked for 48 hoursRoasted on the grill and served in flakes with onion, peppers and plenty of olive oil.
€15
Entrecosto
Bísaro pork ribs, marinated overnightWhite wine, garlic and paprika. For sharing, or not.
€13
To start
- Pão da avógrandma's bread, garlic butter€2.5
- Moelasgizzards stewed in tomato€6
- Pica-paubeef bites, house pickles€9
- Chouriço assadoflame-grilled at your table€7
To finish
- Leite-cremeburnt cream, torched to order€4
- Pão de lóOvar sponge cake, soft centre€4.5
- Fogaça da Feiralocal sweet bread, Serra cheese€5
From the cellar
- House redBairrada, by the glass€3
- Vinho verdeMinho, bottle€14
- Douro reservabottle€22
- Draught beerpoured properly€1.8
Grilled sardines — only from June to September, and only when the catch is good.
The house
Three generations,
one grill
Mr Armando opened the door in 1987 with six tables and a grill he welded himself. The grill is still the same. There are twelve tables now, and the one at the embers is his granddaughter, Inês.
It is still a tasca: paper tablecloths, wine by the jug and the owner stopping by every table. You just book on your phone now.
Embers can't be rushed. Neither can we.Inês Castelo, at the grill since 2016
Visit
A short walk
from the castle
Opening hours
- MondayClosed
- Tuesday12–3 pm · 7–11 pm
- Wednesday12–3 pm · 7–11 pm
- Thursday12–3 pm · 7–11 pm
- Friday12–3 pm · 7–11 pm
- Saturday12–3 pm · 7–11 pm
- Sunday12–3 pm · 7–11 pm
The grill is lit · until 11 pm
Bookings
We'll save you
a seat by the fire
More than 12 people, or rather talk to someone? Call +351 960 110 716