Restaurante Poda

The restaurant is in an old converted warehouse and looks absolutely delightful. The concept of taking the best local produce and elevating traditional dishes with more modern methods and twists is one that cannot be argued. Unfortunately, the execution is what let's this restaurant down. The staff appear to struggle with the number of tables, and the kitchen has a tendancy to overcook their meat (while traditionally meat in Portugal does tend to be more cooked than modern expectations, it definitely shouldn't be so dry that you cannot manage a single bite without a drink to wash it down!). Incidentally noted that some of the lamb was served medium, some was well done, and some was as dry and tough as jerky- so there is definitely a consistency issue for the kitchen which could explain other more positive reviews (hopefully something that they are able to fix!) With that said, the winter squash soup and the broth that the lamb was served in were both absolutely stunning, and the migas was fantastic. Fingers crossed that the restaurant is able to sort out its staffing levels and achieve a bit more consistant kitchen output in future - if it does, then this will be one to watch.

I just had an amazing dining experience at Poda on both a Sunday and Wednesday! From the charming ambiance to the incredible food and wine, everything was top-notch. Each dish was stunning, and I love that they work closely with local producers for a fresh, seasonal menu. The wines were exceptional, highlighting the region’s best offerings. The service was outstanding! Reinaldo and another lovely staff member enhanced our visit by explaining the history of each dish and wine. Poda has a wonderful traditional feel with cultural elements from southern Portugal. My girlfriend from Alentejo said she hasn’t had food this good since her grandparents closed their restaurant in 2014—what a compliment. I appreciated that we didn’t repeat any dishes or wines over our visits. If you’re in Montemor-o-Novo, do yourself a favor and visit Poda. I can’t wait to go back!

Loved this cozy restaurant! The dishes are inspired by traditional Alentejo cuisine with a modern twist. We decided to go with the tasting menu and we were very glad we did. The servers explained the traditional roots of each dish and how the chef put his own twist on it, which was very interesting as it was our first time in the region. I would highly recommend doing the tasting menu if it’s your first time here or you’re not familiar with Alentejo cuisine. We loved it so much we came back two days later! All of the dishes were fantastic, but our favorites were the cold rabbit salad on bread (not on the menu but ask if they have it), the mushroom and egg soup, the purslane and goat cheese soup, and the breadcrumbs with cod. The local cheese and olives were also great! We tried three of the desserts, the chocolate mousse (so rich), the sericaia with honeycomb, and a traditional Alentejo cake with dried fruits; all three were delicious! The owner is a trained sommelier and clearly passionate about wine, he recommended us a number of great local wines to complement the food. All of the staff are so friendly and kind, you really feel that they are happy to have you there. Overall it was such a wonderful experience, I highly recommend stopping by if you’re in the area.

Definitely recommend. Very friendly welcome, very professional crew altogether (I’ve worked in the industry, so I appreciate well trained and professional staff). Flawless English spoken by all the staff. We chose the degustation with 5 courses. It was all very good, tasty and well explained by the waiters. The house white wine was great. Food Service was well paced, not too fast. Reasonably nice inside, feeling of space. Cushions on the wooden chairs (very rare and very welcome). Would definitely go back.

We had an amazing experience at Poda. The staff was incredibly nice and thoughtful, showcasing true passion for the Portuguese cuisine and deep knowledge on all the plates that were served. The food was spectacular, together with great wine and amazing atmosphere. We will definitely come back! Muito muito obrigada pela incrível experiência ☺️

We dined here for a delicious lunch. They just opened but had everting running perfectly. The service was great. So friendly and helpful. We received great recommendations and are glad we listened to them. The pork with pork fat spread on bread - wow! We started with rabbit with cilantro/coriander. My first time trying rabbit. A light fresh dish. I love the cilantro in it. For entrees we tried the fried dogfish with creamy rice and pork fillets with a traditional side I can’t remember the name of. It was quite good. Bread with broth, kind of a polenta texture but with more flavor. They recommended a great white wine with lunch. Overall it’s a cute place with great food and service.

A really lovely meal. Clearly so much passion for what they do and the local suppliers they work with. Great to get to taste local delicious dishes and excellent wine. We had a great evening - thank you

Traditional and delicious dishes. The “Bacalhau da Maria” was delicious and transported me back in time. It was so interesting to listen to the story about the dish during medieval time and then try it. Everything is special in this place, the bread is delicious and served in a cute fabric bag. All the details and the excellent service made our experience memorable.