Detailed review by Praskipark
Praskipark
Warsaw, Poland97%
Restaurante O Lagar is situated in a small remote village in the Douro region of Portugal, about 7 kilometres outside Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo. I have visited this restaurants at least three times now on my trips to Porto and the Douro and each time the restaurant has been packed out. It is popular with locals and visitors because of the very high standard the owners set. The standard of the food and service is excellent and the wine list isn't bad either for this isolated part of the Douro. The range of wines on offer cover not only regional wines but many International wines also. I was also impressed with the very fine wine glasses - unusual in this area as wine is usually served in a glass cup (copa).
Inside the décor is traditional for this region with stone walls and large olive press screws dating back to the time when the building was an olive lagar.
The immediate menu - the one placed on the tables, is short with only a few regional dishes listed like wild boar, various bacalhau dishes, home made sausages and hams, Morcela which is like a Portuguese black pudding. Other dishes do exist but have to be ordered in advance as they take more cooking - things like lamb stew which is cooked very slowly in a wood burning stove. Vegetarian dishes also have to be pre-ordered.
Home made soups are popular and worth trying as they are filling and wholesome with all the vegetables used taken from the restaurant's garden.
This region is famous for CARM Organic Extra Virgin Oil and I noticed that the home-made mayonnaise was very rich and oily. I asked one of the waiters about this and he said the texture was different from normal mayonnaise that you see in supermarkets because it is made from CARM olive oil. I am not a great fan of mayonnaise and only eat it occasionally but this was really delicious and have to give it full marks.
Meal prices range from 25 - 30 Euros including wine and a starter. Only cash is accepted. The restaurant is closed on Tuesday.
To summarise - this is a very atmospheric restaurant in a remote part of the Douro but in my view is worth going out of your way for. Food and service is excellent.
O Lagar8
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