Cafeteria Romaca - Porto

A modest local cafe with simple yet delicious local food fo lunch. The owners were friendly. This ess delightful discovery on the shopping street.

21/6/22 Porto Cafateria Romaca Tuesday lunch We three middle-aged guys had just checked out of Dear Porto guest house nearby and wanted a brunch to start the day. I found this place earlier in the morning just down the hill and it looked like it would fit the bill for all of us. It looked like a family run establishment just uphill from the busier pedestrian zone. We arrived about 12:10pm and sat outside on the streetside terrace but there was a smoker nearby, it was too windy and there were spits of rain so inside we went after the friendly owner gave us the menus and talked us through the menu of the day in reasonable English. Once we were inside it was actually empty but filled up with locals and the odd tourist as time progressed. People tend only to go into restaurants with other people in them, we play this game too but are happy to be early adopters if a place looks good despite being empty. We also sit near the window to be seen and 'trusted '. A TV above our table was on chattering away in background so this place is local and authentic! The menu had English translations which was useful for us (few) tourists and the prices were cheaper than those in the pedestrian zone a few doors down (I had checked a few earlier). The keen, cheerful middle-aged owner took our orders and we settled down to wait. The vegetable soup (mostly cabbage) was hot, plain but nutritious and filling. We had one each, a good start to the meal. Each of us also had the tuna in a crepe, subtly flavoured and plain but was made with fresh tuna (not canned). It was quite large and filling on a big bed of boiled, almost sticky rice. I had to finish my friend’s as he was so full. A friendly waitress delivered a large mixed salad accompaniment to each of us which had a light vinegar dressing to accompany the crepe. We managed to finish all the plates off between us and were full but the talkative owner managed to persuade me to have an apple flan to round brunch/lunch off. It came quickly and was very tasty with lemon zest and cinnamon reminding me of my mum’s (North German) Apfelkuchen! I did not regret my extra effort to take on a desert! When the boss presented my flan he saw my untouched cappuchino (I do not drink coffee with first and main courses) so offered to steam it up again as it had gone cold (very observant and thoughtful of him). It went down with the cake of course! During our stay mostly local people came and went, some were greeted as friends. We asked for the bill which came at a very reasonable €23.20. We paid by contactless and left a €2 tip in cash at about 1:15. We bad farewell to the owner as and left sated and happy, walking the down through the busier and more commercial cafe street to the station, confirming along the way that we had made a good choice. Well worth the extra few metres walk up the hill (for most) beyond the pedestrian zone!

The perfect breakfast spot, in a quiet area of Rua de Santa Catarina. Delicious homemade sandwiches and pastries and great coffee, all reasonably priced. They have a menu, just ask if you want something you don’t see displayed. Has the sweetest owners.

The perfect breakfast place, in a quiet area of Rua de Santa Catarina. Delicious homemade sandwiches and pastries and large coffee, all reasonable price. You have a menu, just ask if you want something you don't see. Has the sweetest owner.

Casero típico Comida portuguesa, muy barato, buen café, muy amable propietario. Voy a recomendar repetir