Adega São Nicolau

Stumbled here when our previous reservations fell through. We decided to let our nose lead the way and ended up here when we realized there was a line of people waiting. Despite there being a long line we got seated fairly quickly. They offered us complimentary wine as we waited on the steps! The seating is lovely and on the street. This is one of the BEST meals I had in Portugal. Our server was extremely kind and handsome. The food was so delicious I almost licked the plate. Fresh delicious. You can not go wrong.

If you want to eat something near the river side, I would pick here! Prawn was good. Sauce was with deep seafood favor. Octopus was pretty ok as well. Staff were nice. We went there for just simple food and a glass of wine then liked prawn so ordered more food to just have dinner there!!!!!

Adega São Nicolau remains one of those Porto institutions where you walk in expecting a pleasant meal and walk out feeling like you have survived, or perhaps enjoyed, a minor historical event. Tucked beside the Douro, this old school tavern still dishes out enough tradition to qualify as a UNESCO carb site. We dove into the octopus rice, which arrived like a warm ocean hug. Rich, comforting, beautifully seasoned. If Neptune ever opened a restaurant, this would be his signature dish. Truly excellent. The cod, however, pulled a small plot twist. Tasted good, smelled right, looked heroic, but chewed like it had just completed military service. Not terrible, just a bit on the tough side, as if the fish had opinions about being eaten. Service marched at its usual brisk medieval tempo, and the atmosphere remained a delightful blend of locals, lost tourists, and people pretending they reserved a table three months ago. Final verdict: come for the vibe, stay for the octopus rice, and approach the cod with the same caution explorers used when opening unknown treasure chests in the year 1500. After all, legends are legends, but fish have moods too.

My companions and I had an excellent meal here! I tried to make reservations via phone but my call wasn’t answered. So we just went there for a late lunch, and had a wait of 20 minutes. The staff is efficient and they try to sit you asap. Once you have your table, the staff is really helpful and answers your questions. The food comes in quite fast. The octopus rice was splendid and the octopus fillet was unbelievably tender. The tripe was the highlight for me though. It was so rich, complex, and tender. I hope it was easier to get reservations, but it’s worth the wait. It was an amazing meal for our last day in Porto!

What an amazing find! The inside is like you're in a wine barrel. The wait staff was attentive and knowledgeable...and fun. The food was amazing. I had the Lagareiro Octopus and it was one of the best things I've eaten over my 2 weeks in Portugal. My sister had the Lagareiro cod, which was also delicious, but the octopus was outstanding. Go there - you will not be disappointed

I think I had high expectations on this place, ended up being very normal. Food wasn’t bad, the bread to start was old. We got the bacalhau and sardines which were alright. The service wasn’t good, wait staff was not pleasant. Overall I think there are much better places in the area.

This was our first dinner place in Porto and it did not disappoint. You may have to wait a bit for a table, but it would be worth it. It’s close to the river but tucked away on a little narrow uphill street that lends a quaint atmosphere of authenticity to it. The portions of the mains is pretty big, I’m a hearty eater, I can really eat a lot, but the servings for one main would be good for two people, particularly if you would be doing an appetizer, and dessert after. My partner and I made the mistake of getting one main each. We tried the Tripe stew and the veal stew. Both were very rich. The tripe was tender, not gamey, and was stewed with white beans and some carrots making it a very filling dish. The veal was also very tender, perfectly seasoned, and had a moderately thick sauce perfect for sopping up with bread. We also had the croquettes for starters which were a bit too creamy inside (the outer shell was nice and crispy, and the jesuit crackers which were light and fluffy. We were very full in the end so the climb/walk up the hilly parts was a wee bit challenging but kinda welcome. Pro tip: just really think about whether you need to have two mains, best to share one.

Fantastic spot, not as touristic as the restaurants on the river. Great spot in Porto. Very nice food. Tip: go really early otherwise the waiting list is long.