Casinha do Petisco

Casinha do Petisco, a tiny family-run restaurant locals love with maybe a dozen tables. The dad was cooking in the back, the mom made desserts and served, and their son served as well. Every dish was created and served with purpose and pride. We had prosciutto with melon, fresh salad, Vinho Verde, olives, bread, and the star of the night — an incredible Cataplana Mista (shrimp, clams, and fish in a rich garlicky broth). We both said we could live in that sauce because my god it was absolutely incredible. We were so lucky to get in because of the limited seats and they dont take reservations. They only serve about two turns per night because each rush is so intense for the family, but there is a 2 hour wait once the restaurant is fully seated. One chef, two servers, and a line out the door waiting because its worth it. It was honestly one of the best meals of our lives, finished off with homemade desserts that were unique to the region. If you are lucky to get in, which you need to get there early and wait on line, get the Cataplana, it's worth every second you wait. A masterpiece.

The wait for a table is long. I suggest getting there 20 minutes before it opens because that's when people start lining up and still you'll be waiting a bit for a table and service. The service is a little slow because of how busy it gets. The shrimp dish or shrimp pasta is a must ! The melon prosciutto was so sweet and delicious. Cataplana is their main popular dish so you gotta try it. It's a light coconut curry broth.

It’s the best restaurant I’ve tried in Lagos in terms of flavor! It can be hard to get a table (15 tables for 30 people in total), but it’s definitely worth the wait. Besides the Cataplana, I also highly recommend their grilled fish — perfectly cooked and full of flavor. Waiting 30 minutes is absolutely fine, but if the queue is over an hour, you might consider going to Pinhao for grilled fish (especially for their spicy seasoning) or and Calhou for traditional Cataplana.

Amazing! Best food I’ve ever had. You have to get in line around 5pm to get your name on the list either for the same day (if there’s any availability) or for the next day. The guy with the list is super super super nice! Totally worth the wait.

We had the home style stew that had shrimp, clams and pork. It came with a side of rice and potato slices. Overall the stew was very good but the pork was a bit tough so we didn’t much of the pork. The waitlist is a bit hit or miss but after sitting the service was friendly. They told some they were booked and later had people just come in. A few groups were very frustrated with the process having waited over an our or even missing their time. One couple just walked in and sat at an empty table. It’s very small and tight inside. Note that this place is Cash Only. There is an ATM outside but get ready to pay extra fees and poor conversion rates.

A very popular local restaurant. Reservations are a must, otherwise walk-ins are very difficult. The food is delicious, and the service is very warm and welcoming. I really enjoyed it.

It was our mission to get in here for food on our trip to Lagos! For our first few days in Lagos, they were closed and just when we were giving up hope, we happened to walk past and they were open with a small queue already. We managed to get a table for 9pm (make sure you don’t miss when they call your name or you’ll lose your place in the queue!) and it didnt disappoint. It lives up to the hype! We shared a prawn and clam Cataplana, and it was absolutely incredible. The sauce was so delicious! It is a very generous portion for two to share - plus it comes with rice and potatoes. I was absolutely stuffed by the end! The best dish we tried whilst in Portugal. The Syrah wine was incredible too. The guy at the door/waiter was kept incredibly busy but was very friendly. And the chef was a hero. Definitely go if you’re visiting Lagos! It’s cash only so be sure to head to the official bank ATMs to get a good exchange rate and dodge ridiculous fees (don’t use the Euronet ones scattered around old town).

Incredible experience at Casinha Do Petisco!!! Wow wow WOW. we had this restaurant recommended by a fellow Canadian (who has lived in Portugal for 7 years now) and oh my goodness, this is a MUST! 5 stars all around. Staff went above and beyond, food was out of this world, and an amazing atmosphere. Top restaurant in my books!!!

The best cataplana in the world! The most delicious fish stew you can imagine. Luckily we reserved upfront. Otherwise, the waiting time/list could be long... It was so extremely delicious that we also reserved for the day after. This time I took the cataplana with prawns. OMG!!! I ate arguably the best meal of my life at Casinha do Petisco. Catinha do Petisco is a family run restaurant, 28 years now. Father is the chef, and mom, son and girlfriend are serving customers. So friendly! Can't miss this one when you're in Lagos or the Algarve. Worthy! Only cash payments are accepted.

Our favorite meal from our trip to Portugal! This place is a must if you're in Lagos, get there early and be ready for a wait but it is so worth it. The Cataplana is so incredibly delicious, come hungry because this meal is HUGE for two people!

One of my best meals in Portugal! Everything was delicious - you could taste the love that goes into each dish. The prawns a casinha have a curry tasting sauce that was so good. The cataplana a casinha is the perfect creamy stew that includes pork, prawns and clams. Highly recommend!

We didn't make a reservation in advance and had to wait almost 2 hours (if not more) for a table. Right when we were giving up hope our name was called and I'm so thankful we stuck it out. With two weeks in Portugal this restaurant immediately became my number one dining experience. Our server was amazing and had such a positive charming personality despite the restaurant being incredibly busy. The fish was delicious and the stews are really the star of the show! Unfortunately I don't eat shellfish but I did taste the sauce from my friends plate and it was amazing. Definitely recommend getting a reservation a few days in advance.

The food was beyond delicious and the service was excellent. Our dinner here was a highlight of our vacation. Obrigada!

Great food! Great service. I'd advise you to get there around 6 and put your name down. It is a small restaurant and the wait is long. I wish they served prawns with no heads. That is my only complaint. Highly recommend!

Food is amazing! Well worth the 1.5 hour wait. Order the seafood Cataplana for 2, so yummy! I wanted to drink the broth! Everyone had to give the chef compliments, fist bumps, asked for a picture! He was quite a celebrity!!! We met a couple that travel to Lagos every year and tried to get a reservation for any of the 10 days they were staying and booked full! Only way to get in is get on a waitlist and plan on 1-2 hours!

Great food, excellent service and location. One of the best meals I have ever had! Make reservation in advance

If you are ever in Lagos, make sure you go here. It will not disappoint. Well worth any wait there is. Prawns and clams along with the sea bream were absolutely amazing.

Great food. Highly recommend this. But make reservation! You will still need to wait it's very small. Best Cataplana ever!

Great little place ( very little, 28 seats total that they make work)! There's a reason people wait in line and we almost gave up but happy we didn't. If you can make a reservation as far in advance as possible, do so but don't expect to be seated on time. Be patient as they are at the mercy of diners that linger. Same goes for walk-ups. We only waited for 40 mins and many tried to step in front of us. Don't be intimidated. We did a catalana with clams, shrimp and pork that was amazing! Says it's for 2 but 3-4 can easily share. All portions are HUGE! Surprisingly good wine selection. Beer available and I believe liquor, too. Strong recommendation but make sure you bring cash. No credit cards accepted. ATM is a block down the street, though!

The food is delicious. Cash only. Small place. Make a reservation and don't miss it if you're in Lagos. Friendly staff. Clams Cataplana is the best!

This place requires a reservation at least a couple days in advance, and it is WORTH scheduling in advance (if you're in the area)!! Loved their specialty, the cataplana. Virtually everyone in the restaurant will have this dish on their table. It did not disappoint with a great variety of seafood and pork. It comes served with rice and potatoes to sop up all that sauce, but isn't so strong in flavour that you NEED the rice/potatoes to enjoy it. It's a well-balanced dish regardless of how much carb you consume. But a little secret? Their Portuguese steak was even BETTER than the cataplana! It was incredibly moist with the most amazing sauce. We couldn't get enough (and also couldn't quite pin down what ingredients went into it). Our server gave the most excited reaction to this order and guided us on an appropriate amount for three people (particularly because we were going to order too much food!). I appreciate good service that puts the customer first.

Best restaurant in Europe. The food, the staff, price, location. U feel like your family and everything is fresh, prepared well. No nonsense family high end eating!

Wow - the best cataplana I've ever had. Darling Restaurant in the center of Lagos - chef is the owner. I highly recommend this underpriced gem with amazing food and service.

The food was delicious! Servers were very friendly. Get there very early or make reservations in advance.

we really loved the Cataplana Mixta! So delicious. The waiter was so super friendly and helpful. I have an issue w cilantro tasting like soap and they were not upset when i asked for the Cataplana without cilantro (coentro). I saw some people stop in and make reservations for a few days later...we went at 5:28 and they opened at 5:30pm but at 5:28, they were open and the restaurant was already 50% full.

The best food and service in the Lagos area. Nothing against anybody the other places. This place is worth the visit.

INCREDIBLE couldn't have asked for anything more out of this meal-- for real give me a bowl of dat sauce

This was our best meal in Portugal! Came on a Saturday night about 20 minutes before they opened and there was already a line. Unfortunately we missed the first seating but put our names on the wait list, ordered a few glasses of wine, and waited for our name to be called. It was definitely worth the wait! We ordered the house cataplana with shrimp, clams, and pork which was to die for. The broth was super rich and the seafood/meat was tender and flavorful. It came with a side of potatoes and rice which was perfect for mixing. We originally wanted to order an appetizer (not knowing the portion sizes) and the waiter kindly informed us it would be too much food which was definitely appreciated. We would have come back the next night had it not been a Sunday when they were closed. Highly highly recommend!!

Very difficult to get a reservation. Went the same day and put our names on a list. Finally got seated for dinner at 9:30 and it was worth the weight. If you go to Lagos, don't miss the Catalaplana here. Absolutely delicious. I hated to leave any behind but what they say feeds two could easily feed three. The restaurant is not fancy looking but the atmosphere is homey and you feel like part of their family. A must!

Came here for dinner. Several hours wait and very poorly organized line. They tried to turn us away multiple times. Finally got seated, service takes a while to get to you. Ordered what seemed is the house special which is homemade sauce with shrimp. You get a platter with medium sized shrimp covered with this tangy orangy sauce. Comes with bread. Very filling, you do have to remove the heads and such from shrimp so gets messy. Wasn't my favorite shrimp dish but tasty. Restaurant is cash only.

We were looking for a place for good authentic Portuguese food in the tourist city center of Lagos. Came across recommendation for this place on a travel site and decided to trust in visitors reviews. This place is like home style small shop, can only sit about 30 people and it is not on the main strip where all the other restaurants are. The line out the door is ridiculous but it is for good reasons. Hands down the best seafood meal we had while we visited Lagos. We came just before it opens for dinner service at 6pm and there are already 20 people outside of the door. There were 4 of us and we ordered the melon with smoked ham, clam cataplana, Camarao a Casinha (house special shrimp), and the house spaghetti. The clam cataplana came with rice and chips (as in fried sliced potatoes). Clams were sweet and the sauce full of flavor. The shrimp dish tho - that sauce was like magic. We wanted to lick the dish literally. So good we actually ordered another serving (and left the spaghetti alone - it was fine but completely no competition to the cataplana and ultimately that house special shrimp. You do have to plan ahead to come here - it seems like they are packed from open to closed.

What a fantastic spot in Lagos! This is definitely the "place to go" and the business of the restaurant reflects that. My friend and I stopped by at around 6:30 and put our name down on the waitlist, and went back a bit past 9 (following a lovely evening visit to Ponta Piedade!) and were seated shortly after. You are going here for the cataplana. If you can eat all of the elements, go for the classic (pork, shrimp, clams). The dish comes with rice and potatoes, and it is easily enough food for 3. My friend and I also ordered the mixed salad which was nice to balance the heavier meal, but you truly don't need to order anything besides the cataplana. Fresh, quality food in an absolutely delicious sauce. Friendly service (a bit slow but hey, we're on Lagos time!), good vibe. A must, must, must visit dinner spot in Lagos! Enjoy!

The cataplana was delicious! We even ordered more rice to have the sauce with. I made reservations and my table was ready when I arrived. The service was slow because there was only one waiter. It took a while for him to give us the menu and take our order. However the food came out fast. Overall I absolutely LOVED the cataplana and I'll definitely return if I go back to Lagos in the future.

Absolutely the most fantastic Cataplana ever!! Make a reservation, or you might not get in. The place fills up fast.

My wife and I arrived right as they opened on December 23 and did not have reservations. The restaurant is very small - only 30 seats and clearly run by a family. I asked if they had any openings and the waiter responded that they are completely full all evening - it's not possible...unless you want to eat right now. We said yes, please and were seated. We ordered the Cataplana for two and it was absolutely amazing - the sauce was super good! It was a seafood Cataplana with prawns, clams, garlic, peppers, fennel, and onions in a super - rich lobster bisque tasting type of sauce. It came with fried potato slices and rice. We took home enough leftovers for an entire meal again. We also had a half bottle of the house white wine which paired very well with the dish. The entire staff/family were very kind and accommodating people. This was the best meal and the best value we had in the old town - fabulous!

Reservations here is a must unless you want to wait a long time to get in. They take reservations at 6 and 7:30 and after that you have to put your name on a list and wait. The restaurant is fairly small so you may have a long wait. We ordered their house cataplana for 2 which is a stew that has shrimp, clams and pork. This is served with rice and fried potatoes. The stew is really good. Tasted tomato based with cream. A lot of people ordered this. Other dishes looked really good too. If we are ever back on the area I would love to try some other items. Service is slow but friendly. We had a 7:30 reservation and didn't get our food until 8:30. When we left there must have been over 20 people waiting to get in so book in advance!

This place is Incredible! Our airbnb host recommended it and said it's very tough to get a table but that he would try for us. We later went for a tour of the city and happened to find it ourselves using Yelp. They were closed at that time but said they would reopen at 6pm. We held off for about an hour or so and returned at 6 on the dot. They were fully booked but the chef/owner sat us anyways as long as we left within an hour. Good thing because it was the best meal we have had yet. Service was Great but the food!! Had the prawns and clam Catalana. More than enough for 2. The prawn home style are also popular and we hope to get a table again tomorrow. The Mountain cheese is very delicious. Sangria and beer just rounds it all off. Enjoy

It's world famous yet exceeded expectations in every way. We'll now spend years talking about this family's clam & shrimp cataplana. If you are on the fence about making the Algarve part of your Portugal itinerary, this restaurant alone should make the answer clear... yes!

One of the best restaurants we've been to savor the best Portuguese memorable dishes - wow! Warm service Great strolling area

... Sorry, was speechless for a second. It's THAT good. Visiting from NYC this is our first night in Lagos after spending time in both Porto and Lisbon. We got the Cataplana per the fellow reviews and enthusiastic recommendation from Hugo, our waiter. Love his energy. BEST meal by far that we have had. Service was excellent. Family run. Would consider going on a hunger strike (so we stood a chance of finishing the massive portion) and fly back to Portugal (Lagos) just for this meal. My only selfish regrat ( not even a single letter) is writing this in fear there will be no open tables next time I'm here.

Make a reservation or don't bother. You will end up waiting in line for 2 hours guaranteed, no matter how many times the host tells you 30 more minutes. Now for the food. Dayum...It's excellent. We got the house prawns which were amazing and so delicious we almost licked the plate. The steaks were great so tender and seasoned perfectly. We ordered the house salad, totally wilted but hey what did you expect. Go down the street for desert, all the ones here are pre-made from outside and not worth the calories. All in all the food is good but the wait is long and the staff is stressed so the overall experience is not worth it in my opinion. So much good food in Lagos to enjoy.

We tried to go the night before and saw two couples ahead of us lining up at the door and was told that it would be an hour wait. We decided to go the next day and to call to reserve a table for three at night. No one picked up. We were persistent and went by the next evening right when they open at 6:00pm. The server said that we had an hour to eat as the table was reserved for a seven o'clock seating. All the tables had "reserved" signs on them and there were a few patrons inside already. We got the mixed cataplana €30.00 and the egg omelette €8 to share between us three. Too much food! The cataplana came with rice and chips. It was phenomenal! Omelette was alright. Service was good and the chef was super cute and checked in on al the tables from where he was in the kitchen.

Hands down one of the best meals I have ever eaten! My family and I were visiting from California and I stumbled upon this place on Yelp. We walk in and thankfully it isn't as busy since it was almost closing time. I order the spaghetti, and my mom orders the platter with the shellfish. Let me tell you, everything about the food was amazing. I can't describe all of the flavors and emotions I was feeling as I ate this food!! The waiter was very nice and so was the chef! Must go here in you're in the area! Trust me, it's worth it! My family and I were about to go 2 nights in a row, but the next day it was super busy. I recommend going either right when it opens or just before it closes:)

Service can make or break a place, and while the food was delicious, the service was literally the worst I have ever encountered in over 50 countries I have visited. I understand with different languages miscommunication and will usually give them a pass for it because I am a foreigner in their country. But we were very clear and not in the wrong and they didn't even try or care to make it even slightly right. We very clearly and in multiple ways asked for our meal to be packed up and the server threw it out. It was one of the most expensive things on the menu and there was still over half of it left. We were polite but upset about it and he wouldn't do anything for us so we asked to speak to the owner. He said she was would be right over but both of them walked by our table for over 20 mins. She never came. We asked for the check and got it 20 mins past that. And then after everything they said their machine was down and we had to pay cash. It was a delicious meal and I am just upset that the service turned it from a 5 star meal to a 1 star.

The cataplana here is better than anywhere else. These guys are adding some curry type spices that take it to the next level. The portion sizes here are huge. Filet mignon wasn't as good. Cash only. Reserve several days in advance

It's been almost two years but I'm still thinking about the wonderful cataplana from Casinha do Petisco. I ordered up the mixed edition with prawns and clams and a bottle of vinho verde after hearing great things from coworker. Boy, was he on point. First things first, call for a reservation or get here early. There are only a few tables and the word is out. I was a table for one, which they hesitated to seat, but when I described to them I'd be ordered fat kid style (aka for two) they sat me right away. The dish came out and it is intimidating. Cataplana is the name of the dish it's served in and it is large! Inside there were large prawns, fresh herbs, a rich, creamy sauce, and a healthy amount of clams. It's served with white rice and chips for dunking. That sauce... I think you could serve it with anything at any time of day and it would be a hit. I rolled myself out of there with a mild sweat and a solid buzz on about an hour later and walked around the city thinking about how I should go back there again asap. Don't miss this if you're in town. Protip: grab a beer at the adjacent bodega, drink it at the outdoor table and watch the line. When a few people get on, get over there! Protip2: bring cash

From start to finish, this dining experience was amazing. Service is phenomenal and the food is even better. Place is family owned and operated and you can tell they truly care about making you feel like family when eating there. Make sure you make a reservation or put your name on the waitlist ASAP, then BE PATIENT. Trust me, it's worth the wait.

Note: CASH ONLY. Wow. If you come here and don't get the cataplana, I'm not sure what you're doing with your life. Got the homestyle cataplana and it was life changing. Prawns, clams, and melt in your mouth sausage in a truly incredible sauce. Served with rice and potatoes. Enough for 3 people!!! Stuffed myself and my friend and I were unable to finish it all. Best meal in Lagos, absolutely.

A great little place recommended by our host. Would not have looked here but glad we did. Food was excellent and staff was great! Lots of recommendations and great service. Give them a try!

Thanks for all the recommendations for this location. The service/staff was really nice and friendly. Best efforts to communicate with germans ;) The location doesnt look like much. Small and shy in a backstreet. But the totally good the food: local fresh fish. Salmon so soft, it instantly flows down your throat. Only requirement: you need to like garlic.

The seafood cataplana. Wow. You can't visit Lagos without having this dish at Casinha do Petisco. It's special, friends. It's essentially a seafood stew not unlike a cioppino. But instead of a savory red sauce, shrimp, mussels, and other delights are drowned in a saffron-infused coconut curry broth that's reminiscent of chicken tikka masala. But it's got a few special twists that won't leave you thinking you just ate Indian food with something other than fowl as the protein. You order the cataplana the moment you sit down. It takes about 35 minutes to steam, so while you're waiting, enjoy an Estrella beer or a glass of vino verde. The cataplana is an actual pan that's used to infuse the flavors of the broth and the meats inside. The result is an aromatic treasure that satisfies all senses. It's a remarkable dish that I'll have to attempt recreating at home. Chances are I won't come close, but it's better than nothing. There are other familiar Portuguese staples like clams and pork on the menu, but you really owe it to yourself to get the cataplana. Don't miss this.

My sister and I went to this restaurant on the first night of our holiday in Lagos. The line was long but moved fast and you could just tell this place was authentic by the fact that a family was running it. Once we were seated it took a while for us to order but I appreciated the fact that even though this place is so busy, they don't rush around. In saying that our food came out fast once we ordered. We ordered starters such as fresh bread, pickled carrots, olives and this AMAZING cheese. It was all beautiful! For mains we had the grilled salmon and clams. The salmon dish was amazing and HUGE so if your planning on ordering this don't eat lunch! My sisters dish looked amazing also. We then got some of the home made tiramisu and lemon cheese cake, of course they were AMAZING too. The best Portuguese food I've had and would highly recommend visiting this place.

Honestly, food was great but really underwhelmed by the service. Food - cataplana was exceptional. See the many reviews below mine that outline why it is so good. We also has the filet mignon which we asked for medium cooked, but was barely seared on each side and more blue-rare. Service - beyond just waiting for 2+ hours to try and get a table, we found the staff to be quite abrupt and dismissive. The service was better once we sat down, but trying to figure out how long it would be before we could actually get there was a nightmare

If I could give this place six stars, I would. After getting the recommendation from my host in town, I quickly googled the place and saw a blog entitled "this is my favorite restaurant in the world." Naturally I made my way over and when I saw a line at the line at the door at 10pm, I knew I was in for a treat. I heard the portions were large so I skipped the starters and went straight for Special Prawns and Clams. I'm not 100% sure but I believe this is prepared in the same sauce as the prawn and clam dish that is only for two (served in a special basin). In any case, it was INCREDIBLE. Perhaps one of the best meals I've ever had. The sauce is comparable to a Thai curry but with less spice and more herbs. Garlic, garlic, garlic... my favorite. The place is cash only but no signs are posted saying as such- be warned and come baring euros!

Small tiny restaurant. Service: friendly and efficient We ordered the seafood cataplana $25 comes with rice and fries. We also ordered the grill salmon which was delicious. Omg heaven it was the tastiest meal I have had so far in Lagos. Loved the seafood cataplana. I would recommend making a reservation because it is difficult to get a table.

We spent a week in Lagos, and this was easily our favorite place. We actually came here twice for dinner. The first time we ordered the grilled golden bream and chef special grilled prawns. We had to wait 45 minutes to get seated, but it was well worth it! The second time we came for dinner a few days later, we ordered the clam & prawn cataplana. We were looking forward to getting the fish cataplana, but found out that it has to be specially ordered a whole day in advance. If you come to Lagos, you must come here!

Like most restaurants in Portugal this place opens late by US standards at 6 PM. We had a leisurely stroll to the town to an arrived around six. Shortly after we arrived at the restaurant was turning away customers; this place is very very popular. The reason is simple: Cata plana - a seafood stew for two that is rich and chock full of clams and prawns. They say it's for two but there's enough in the pot for three or four. Not to be missed!