That's the face of one satisfied diner.
Originally uploaded by Manne.
To celebrate B's and D's birthdays we were invited to this Portuguese restaurant. The place looks very unassuming and almost a bit shoddy, but the food is really good.
After I managed to decipher the handwritten menu I got quite excited about the dishes on offer. Several interesting variations on clams or squid with garlic or white wine sauce competes for attention with different cuts of meat served grilled or fried.
The website: www.ocantinho.com
No, I don't think it is a joke. That's it... Don't let the web site deter you though!
The location:
Stockwell, 135-137 Stockwell Road (map)
The staff:
Very friendly and helpful, although at busy times (and the place was very busy indeed) drink refills were a bit slow...
The place:
Minty green walls, quirky room layouts, a little bit too many tables... People don't go here for the decor, that's for sure. Also, there is something distinctly annoying about a TV in the background showing latin american soap opera non stop.
The food:
Seafood and meat dishes of a Portuguese nature. There seemed to be some Caribbean influences. We were a big party so sampled a lot of dishes, all of which were excellent. With one notable exception. W was brave and tried the dish called sun dried cod. While there was nothing wrong with it, and it most likely was cooked to perfection, it was just not a very exciting dish. The cod was a bit chewy, and served with an egg and boiled potatoes there wasn't much to make the ingredients stand out from the white plate.
I ordered the T-bone steak and I think E, who ordered the same, agrees with me when I say it is one of the best grilled pieces of meat I have sampled in London. Served with a rich sauce, fries and rice and a slice of lemon to dress the rice with, it was utterly delicious.
The gents:
Hang on. Why do I have to ask for a key to the bog in the bar? This room needs a serious make over. Not nice.
The bill:
We all had an entree and dessert, and a decent amount of food or beer each. All in all including a decent tip it came to 24 pounds per head.
The verdict:
If you like Portuguese food, I think this place is well worth a visit. Since it is a bit out of my way, unless I am visiting B and D, I don't think I will make any big detours to go here again. I really would like to try more of their dishes though, so will have to try and convince B to go here for dinner some time in the near future. I am sure her rubber arm won't need much twisting.
