Fresh
Seafood at the Café In Restaurant in Lisbon,
Portugal
Story
& Photos By: Mike Walsh
Our
trip in September was still perfect sun bathing weather,
as you can see by the crowded beaches overlooking the
Bay of Lisbon. However night time would be our time
to check out the incredible seafood that is one of the
signatures of a great Portugal holiday. As we stood
outside the Café In Restaurant waiting to go
inside. I thought I was standing at the Waterfront on
the Embarcadero in San Francisco looking at the Golden
Gate Bridge, so similar was the landscape. It was in
fact, the Ponte 25 de Abril. The bridge commemorates
the revolution of 1974 that restored democracy to Portugal.
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Only
local catch was served in this restaurant, offering
up it‚s fare of cod, mackerel, squid, octopus
and eel, shown first on a platter for us to choose from.
Most unique were the huge tiger shrimp, so large that
only one was needed to fill up the large first course
plate.
Live
tanks were everywhere, keeping fish fresh until ready
for a quick and simple grill, brushed only with olive
oil and a little salt and pepper. Our first taste of
rustic Portugese wines were a perfect match with the
fresh wholesome fare this restaurant had to offer. Complimented
by local cheeses and bread, the accent was on fresh
and local.
