Louro - Gastronomic Restaurant

We had the good fortune of dining at Louro last night, and had the Summer Discovery menu with the wine pairings. An absolutely sublime experience. The food was so thoughtfully prepared and composed, and the staff were extraordinary in their descriptions and delivery. Be prepared to be taken on a culinary journey of Portuguese excellence.

Excellent inventive and tasty meal. Looked and tasted wonderful. Worth the journey it’s certainly off the beaten track. All the courses we had were great more expensive than many in the area but a different more modern style of cooking.

Many restaurants in Northern Portugal tend to have similar menus and serve very large portions of food, quite often for two people. Some great, some not so great. If you want a complete break from huge portions of salted cod with chips and like "fine dining" then Louro is definitely to be recommended. We went on a Tuesday night in September - small number of tables so booking essential as the restaurant was full by 9pm. There is an a la carte menu where starters are priced around €8 - €10, mains around €25 and desserts €8 or there is a five course tasting menu priced at €45. We had the tasting menu which was excellent value for money. Basil sorbet with panna cotta and octopus terrine to start followed by sea bass and tenderloin both cooked to perfection - the tenderloin was medium / rare which was perfect for us. After a spearmint palate cleanser the dessert was kefir ice cream with plums. No wine flight but Louro had a good list of wines by the bottle and also by the glass. We had wine by the glass to match the food - selection of local vinho verde, alentejo and douro wines for between €3 - 5 a glass. All in all a super meal. Perhaps the only negative is the restaurant space itself - a large room, harshly lit in places, perhaps lacking in atmosphere (certainly if you prefer the hustle and bustle of traditional restaurants in larger towns). This didn't bother us - it's all about the food here. In summary; excellent food and wine, very well presented, good service and exceptionally good value for money when compared to many "fine dining" restaurants in the UK. We enjoyed Louro and would return without doubt. It's a cut above all the other Michelin Guide restaurants we visited in Northern Portugal.

This is a unique restaurante nearby Viana do Castelo. They have a degustation menu that I really recommended. The restaurante decoration is beautiful (inside and outside). Outside there is a small garden with traditional espigueiro and table. The staff is very friendly, but there some of them with not a lot of experience. Worst of this experience was the bathroom, it is not in accordance with the decoration of the restaurant.

You should not miss this food-experience! Very accurate, very professional, very tasty, very real! There is a legion of infatuated chefs, but this is a "real thing" experience. I hope it lasts.

Exceptional experience. I would say that a holiday near Viana do Castelo is not complete without a dinner a Louro.

An absolute most. This is a list pearl. A mandatory visit. Absolutely amazing food.

A breath of fresh air and what a joyful visit. Exceptional food. We had th 'Discovery' tasting menu and every single course was phenomenally executed. Service was second to none. If you enjoy brilliant, delicious food, great service and ambiance, please visit this incredible gem of a restaurant.