Portugalia Restaurant

Portuguese restaurant · Wellington Harrington

Portugalia Restaurant

Portuguese restaurant · Wellington Harrington

3

723 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02141

Photos

Portugalia Restaurant by null
Portugalia Restaurant by Karen Wilber/Eater Boston
Portugalia Restaurant by null
Portugalia Restaurant by null
Portugalia Restaurant by null
Portugalia Restaurant by null
Portugalia Restaurant by null
Portugalia Restaurant by null
Portugalia Restaurant by null
Portugalia Restaurant by null
Portugalia Restaurant by null
Portugalia Restaurant by null
Portugalia Restaurant by null
Portugalia Restaurant by null
Portugalia Restaurant by null
Portugalia Restaurant by null
Portugalia Restaurant by null
Portugalia Restaurant by null
Portugalia Restaurant by null
Portugalia Restaurant by null
Portugalia Restaurant by null
Portugalia Restaurant by null
Portugalia Restaurant by null
Portugalia Restaurant by null
Portugalia Restaurant by null
Portugalia Restaurant by null
Portugalia Restaurant by null
Portugalia Restaurant by null
Portugalia Restaurant by null
Portugalia Restaurant by null
Portugalia Restaurant by null
Portugalia Restaurant by null
Portugalia Restaurant by null
Portugalia Restaurant by null
Portugalia Restaurant by null
Portugalia Restaurant by null
Portugalia Restaurant by null
Portugalia Restaurant by null
Portugalia Restaurant by null
Portugalia Restaurant by null
Portugalia Restaurant by null
Portugalia Restaurant by null
Portugalia Restaurant by null
Portugalia Restaurant by null
Portugalia Restaurant by null

Highlights

Homey, casual restaurant decorated with regional regalia & featuring classic Portuguese dishes.  

Featured in Eater
Placeholder

723 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02141 Get directions

portugaliacambridge.com

$$ · Menu

Reserve

Information

Static Map

723 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02141 Get directions

+1 617 491 5373
portugaliacambridge.com
portugaliaincambridge

$$ · Menu

Reserve

Features

takeout
dine in
delivery
Tap to pay
reservations
wifi
payment credit card

Last updated

Jul 10, 2025

Powered By

You might also like

Terms of Use • Privacy Policy • Cookie Policy
 © 2025 Postcard Technologies, Inc.
@eater

"Portuguese restaurant has shut down after 40 years." - Erika Adams

Boston Restaurant Closings, June 2023 - Eater Boston
View Postcard for Portugalia Restaurant
@eater

"Portugalia Restaurant, an East Cambridge landmark for classic Portuguese fare, has shut down after 40 years." - Erika Adams

Portugalia Restaurant, a Portuguese Mainstay in Cambridge, Shuts Down After 40 Years - Eater Boston
View Postcard for Portugalia Restaurant
@eater

"This Portuguese restaurant has been open for over 25 years in East Cambridge, and it specializes in salt cod and northern Portuguese food. Eating there feels like you’re dining in someone’s home, in the best way. Order the cod fritters, which have an incredibly unique texture; for even more salt cod, try the bacalhau a ze do pipo, which is baked with a tangy, flavorful tartar sauce and piping hot potato puree." - Karen Wilber

Where to Eat and Drink in East Cambridge
View Postcard for Portugalia Restaurant

Jea Kim

Google
After reading all the positive reviews about the food here, I was finally excited to try authentic Portuguese dishes from this place. I got a takeout of the chourico grelhado, bacalhau lagareiro, and mariscada but was quite disappointed to find out that the food was mediocre at best. The grilled Portuguese sausage appetizer was very dry, and its spice seasoning was too subtle to taste. Bacalhau was better, but there were more potatoes than the cod. Mariscada was the best dish among the three until I found that they didn't wash the clams thoroughly enough. One of the clams was still packed with mud, and it was definitely not a pleasant experience. It is possible that I caught them on an off day, but the food wasn’t good enough to make me want to go back. There are other authentic Portuguese restaurants on Cambridge St, so I would probably go there next time to taste the difference.

Silas C

Google
Really good food and service. Sangria was a little bland not really recommended. The bacalhua was great and so was the appetizer fritters made with it. The mussels were ok. A little small and not that flavorful.

Hasan Hammad

Google
Randomly came to this place when we were in the area. Figured you can't go wrong with Portugese food, and we were right. The place was quiet up front, but in the back had some sort of party going on. Our waitress was fast and polite. Food came out quick and very flavorful. It had that "made at home" kind of taste. Glad we found this place so we can come back again in the future.

Tiffany H

Google
Absolutely Horrible! The first thing I told the waiter was that I have a serve TOMATO ALLERGY! I ordered the Camaraoa Chico (description: shrimp in beer sauce). When the food came out it was obvious it was in a tomato based sauce and luckily I didn't attempt to eat it. For an entree I ordered the Bife a Portugalia, and the meat was over cooked with a rubbery texture, even the lemon wasn't fresh. The decor is outdated and the service is sub-par. In conclusion, I would never go back again!

Steven Adelson

Google
What a marvelous meal my friend and I had here! We shared a bowl of tasty caldo verde. Our tasty entrees included the mariscada and paella over rice with a side of terrific Portuguese fries. We also shared a lovely bottle of Aveleda Vinho Verde. Setvice was great; portions were large and the prices were very fair. I highly recommend others to dine here.

Ninjanugets123

Google
This place is AMAZING. I've never had portuguese food before, but the quality of food and level of execution was on another level. Me and a friend got takeout - i got the Bacalhau á zé Do Pipo, and my friend got the Mariscada. The salted cod was crisp on the outside and so tender and juicy on the inside. I typically don't enjoy cod as i find it often too lean and overcooked, but this has made me reevaluate that all. It was topped with a delicious remoulade too. The bacalhau also came with really good mashed potatoes, mixed veggies, olives, and two pieces of bread. The bread seemed slightly tough, but still was good. Portions are huge too, probably 2-3 meals for a single entree. Worth the price. I highly recommend.

Kaiwen Chen

Google
My friends and I stumbled in here because there wasn't a wait so we figured we'd try it. This dish comprised of pork, potatoes, and clams. The pork was flavorful but wasn't too dry which I was pleased with. The clams and potatoes were decent, and the whole dish paired nicely with the rice. Unfortunately everything was just too salty for me. Overall it was good but nothing too spectacular.

Xinxin Zhai

Google
The food is flavorful, but when we had our dishes, one dish was close to cold, one was fresh out. Asked medium steak, but it was almost well done.

Jason P.

Yelp
Good Portuguese is always a treat so finding Portugalia was a pleasant Sunday surprise. Portugalia has a cozy ambience - you can tell the staff / owners have a stake in the local community. I saw them chatting up customers tucked in a back corner and sharing pictures of family. This homey ambience displays itself in the menu - the traditional bacalhau (Portuguese salt cod) takes a prominent section. I opted for a Seafood Paella and a Portuguese appetizer sampler. Unfortunately, the fried cod was unavailable for the sampler the fried shrimp replacement was a star. Crunchy , soft with a nice bite and savory seasoned batter - the shrimp was one of the best I ever had. The paella itself was good but not the best - I would have loved it to be more crispy and less soupy. The seafood mix with meat was interesting and the peas a bit heavy yet it worked together. The seasoning could have been better but given that paella is not a typical Portuguese dish, I would say the quality was all right. Great atmosphere, good food. Will come back for the fried cod!

Joanie L.

Yelp
We had a fun meal here last nite. I don't think I'd ever gone and if I did it was ages ago. We had great service from a local and thoroughly enjoyed our cod fritters and seafood stew w rice ($9 and $24.95). The rolls they serve are fresh and warm. It was the right amount for two of us to split. Nice bottle of vinho verde for just $22, good stuff.

Tim B.

Yelp
Amazing authentic Portuguese food with service which makes you feel like you are part of the family. Had the Steak Portugalia style and I must say it blew away every similar steak I've had in Portugal over the past 25 years. This is a must stop for a hearty traditional meal at fair prices!

Rob W.

Yelp
We heard there is a good Portuguese representation here in Cambridge so we had to try a portuguese spot. I was tempted to try the paella since I don't think my kid has had that, but not a portuguese dish :). We ordered the mussels appetizer and the clam appetizers. Both were great. I think they had the same, at least similar, broth, but the clam dish had more broth. The mussels were super meaty. Delicious. Came with hot rolls, which were great. The kid had the seafood stew (Mariscada) and loved the scallops and the cod. He really enjoyed it. I had the Feijaodo, mixed seafood dish in white beans, (had to have the beans at a portuguese spot) and it was also super good. Rice was a tad too buttery for my son's liking, but butter probably is a good thing for most. Wish I had ordered cod, maybe next time. Service was super friendly. They have a bar adjacent.

Sarah C.

Yelp
Delicious authentic Portuguese food! My go-to restaurant in Cambridge. The wait staff are so friendly too.

Patti F.

Yelp
We arrived late on a Monday night so sat in the bar area to watch the U.S. Open with locals. We liked the cozy atmosphere and the food was delicious and large portions. My husband ordered the seafood pot which was full of scallops, shrimp, fish and squid. I ordered the chicken stuffed with asparagus and cheese. It came with 2 sides , Portuguese potatoes and collard greens, it was very delicious

Evora M.

Yelp
Do not eat here Casa Portugalia was closed for the week. So we decided to give this spot a try. AGAIN , hoping they improved from the last meal , which was terrible. Terrible decision. I will leave the inexperience or whatever you might call it of the waitress out of it. Let us focus on thw food. I ordered the Grilled cod. Once it arrived; it was incredibly salty. After several attempts to let the waitress know. She took the food and mentioned she would bring this up to "Maria". That was the last I heard of it. I will not return.

Elizabeth R.

Yelp
Great store, and sales team. Amazing selection of great prepared food, wine, nuts, pottery, olive oil, and tuna (and so many other great food items)! Before you leave, try their cafe which is fantastic and they make delicious sandwiches and the best coffee! So much is great! Although it's a long drive from Boston my friends and I make it a point to shop here three or four times a year! Try it. You won't be disappointed! Shopping there is an experience!

Matt C.

Yelp
I Haven't been to Portugalia in years , we had a group of 9 celebrating a baptism And the food was better than I last remembered . It's great to see this restaurant still open and doing well after all these years in the neighborhood. I wish I had pictures of the door ..

Talitha G.

Yelp
The food was so flavorful. This place is a must try. I happened upon it by accident and hungry and have no regrets. It was a Tuesday night so it was not busy. I had never had Portuguese food before so the dishes were unfamiliar. There were two of us and we got the Paella and chicken plate called Frango Creole and asked for it spicy. I had mashed potatoes and sautéed collars greens on the side. The chicken dish was so flavorful and the spice was just enough to add a zing and yet not be overwhelming. The sides were tasty as well. I would definitely come back!

Carlos P.

Yelp
99 cent sumol they sold it for $3 each the food is over priced my first and last time here almost $50 for a sandwich and bacalao this restaurant is overpricing and I'm not even broke just thought the price doesn't match food

Bright S.

Yelp
Delicious food, healthy, incomparable flavors, served generously, in addition to nice people. We enjoyed all the food.

Chris C.

Yelp
Portugalia - food was decent but not particularly Portuguese - at least what we had. One of my favorite soups is Caldo Verde and theirs was utterly lacking in linguica, and creamy (the potato was puréed not in chunks - which I've never seen before.) Amd there were only some ship added strands of kale. Caldo Verde is rustic, they tried to hard to upscale it. it wasn't bad tasting but definitely needed more kale, potato and sausage. I wanted the bacalao (salt cod) but they were out of cod. When it's a whole section of their menu. Sad! So I got the seafood casserole - shrimp scallops and white fish in a casserole with bread crumbs. It was very tasty but would have just as easily come out of the kitchen at the 99 restaurant. My friends mixed grilll was similarly "not Portuguese." The best part of the meal was my side vegetables - perfectly cooked mixed veggies and collard greens (again, not sure Portuguese eat a lot of collards.) The restaurant was pretty much dead on a Thursday evening which isn't a good sign. The waiter was a little grumpy and definitely confused at how to split the payment across 4 cards - even with written totals. All in all not awful but nowhere I'd go back to.

Mert R.

Yelp
This is a neighborhood restaurant but the food was excellent .. my friend recommended this place and it was worth it.

Nicholas T.

Yelp
Visited this restaurant for my grandfather who is originally from Portugal. We love coming here for traditional Portuguese food with bold flavors and fresh ingredients. The service was great and our big party had a wide variety of dishes. The shrimp, cod, and steak were all cooked perfectly and bursting with flavor. I highly recommend the Calde Verde as it brought me back to the days my grandma used to make it from scratch when I was a kid. Will definitely be back!

Daryl K.

Yelp
We were a group of 5 who ordered just 3 dishes and shared (servings are big, just saying!). We ordered the paella, bacalhau a gomes de sa, and carne de porco alentejana. We didn't like the paella but the bacalhau (cod) and pork dishes were truly excellent (and made up for the quite disappointing paella). It seemed like the paella lacked flavor and the flavors didn't mature in the dish. I'd eat here again still! The wait for our food was longer than average.

Roland G.

Yelp
Fresh and delicious, and totally worth it. I brought two friends here, who were visiting from Brazil... They couldn't get enough, Because it was all so wholesome.

Loraine L.

Yelp
Family restaurant, great menu, specials, nice wine list, dessert and coffee. My first Portuguese meal from appetizer Kale soup, sausage (it had a name, came in a fire boat too; I just can't remember), Gamba Africana made with a little spice just as I like my meal, rice, potatoes, I had dessert too, it was awesome just as everything else on the table just can't remember that name either. Service was excellent. The owner and daughter both took care of my colleague and I in making my experience exceptional for which they truly were successful. Great vibes, cozy, warm environment, well-know local awesomeness. I'm even told celebs of Boston come home to eat there and presidents too.

Mike P.

Yelp
Can't wait to get back here and sit down! Great service and food! Never disappoints. Really, true home cooking!

Merve K.

Yelp
We came here with my friends and it was the first time for us.We really enjoyed the food and atmosphere.Portions are very enough,we had left over. The staff was pretty lovely and even though she was working by herself, she did everthing perfect.We live in nj but hope to go back there.

Cindy Z.

Yelp
We stumbled upon this quaint family restaurant for a spontaneous dinner and was treated to some great seafood and Portuguese appetizers. Walking in, the entire set up and decor of the dining room looked to be a grandmother's home kitchen and living room. The food was comforting and homey as well. Food: Portuguese tapas appetizer: this came with a number of different dishes, such as the Portuguese sausage and cod fritters (I forgot the actual names). They had come with several dips and it took a bit of trial and guessing to decide which sauce went with which. Salted cod: their menu had an entire section devoted to salted cod dishes, so we grabbed a dish with potato puree (similar to mashed potatoes then baked) and vegetables. As I'm not really a fan of cod, this dish wasn't my favorite. The red pepper sauce on top of the fish (also came non-broiled in the tapas dish), though, was very savory and made the dish much more exciting. Paella: this was probably my favorite and although it is a Spanish dish, was also recommended to us by the waitress. In general, most of the dishes here were on the lighter side, but the rice, peas, and abundance of seafood was flavorful enough for a nice, comforting dish. Recommendations: a simple date night location with plenty of leftovers for a second round.

Kent L.

Yelp
In Cambridge in business, I was looking for a local neighborhood spot to have an easy dinner. Portugalia appears to be a bit of a local institution, on Cambridge Street in what seems a Portuguese neighborhood by looking at the surrounding businesses. Service was prompt and courteous. A dish of Olives served as a nice welcome snack. So many Portuguese dishes on the menu, including several baccalau options, it was hard to choose. I settled on the Fishermans Stew and a glass of Vinho Verde. Delicious, chocked full of seafood and white beans, and truly amazing flavor, served in a portion too large for me to finish. I sat in the dining room, but there was also a lively simple bar next door. Everyone around me seemed to be speaking Portuguese so I'm guessing this is as authentic as it gets. I would definitely return.

Manuel d.

Yelp
I've been coming to this place for years and every time it doesn't disappoint. The food is amazing they also have a cute bar that you can have drinks and scratch tickets. Whenever I want Portuguese food this is the place that I go. I have to drive an hour which I do from New Hampshire

Michael M.

Yelp
As a Portuguese I don't recommend this please. Service and food sucks. Just being honest.

Tod B.

Yelp
This was probably the worst Carne Alentejano I have ever had. The place looked right and the waitress was great, but the food was mediocre at best.

Cecilia L.

Yelp
3.5 stars for Portugalia. We were practically the only diners on a Saturday night other than a boisterous private party. I was a fan of the olives to start, as well as the $5 house wines and yummy $18 sangria pitchers. Loved my Camarao Africana, shrimp sauteed in a spicy or mild creole sauce (I got spicy, which was zingy but not too hot at all). However, bf didn't like his paella, which was a bit bland -- white rice, white seafood and meat, white broth and tons of peas. Another friend got a grilled steak dish which turned me off with the humongous ring of fat around the side, and the salt cod had tons of bones, though I recognize that's just the nature of cod and the traditional way it's served. Pork with balsamic marinade was tender and flavorful, and everything seemed very fresh. In all a good dining experience, but I won't be rushing back. Most entrees come with a choice of two sides. Whatever you do, make one of them the Portugese fries, heavenly crispy disks of fried potato that will soak up the sauce on your plate.

Jeff F.

Yelp
As someone who has eaten at dozens of Portuguese restaurants, I was really looking forward to eating at Portugalia since it would be nice to have a go-to Portuguese spot in Boston. If you grew up in Fall River, New Bedford, Elizabeth NJ, etc..., Portugalia will remind you of home. Here's the rundown on the grub: - Camarao (Shrimp) A Chico- ok, but not as good as Shrimp Mozambique - Bife (Steak) Portugalia - decent, but not really memorable - Paella - Can't believe anyone is pumping up this Paella - pass Food was 2.5 stars, but I rounded up for service & authentic atmosphere. Ultimately, this confirmed that I have a strong bias for Azorean and against continental Portuguese food.

Jenny N.

Yelp
It may not look like much on the outside, but Portugalia is great for a rib-sticking meal. The food was solidly good, with lots of seafood options. And the boyfriend enjoyed the warm bread basket so much that he ate 6 rolls... Our table of 6 shared a pitcher of sangria. I ordered the seafood casserole and it was chock full of scallops, shrimp and fish baked in a cream sauce with breadcrumbs. While the sauce could've used a splash more cream, the seafood itself was great. The side of Portuguese fries was a little too oily and soggy for my liking, but I ate them all anyway. I also enjoyed the garlicky sauteed collard greens. Overally, I think it's a great group restaurant. Portions are generous and prices are fair considering most entrees come with a choice of two sides.

Luisa O.

Yelp
I live down the street and I am Portuguese (continental , not the Azores, and yes the cuisine is different) and have eaten Portuguese food my whole life. When I don't feel like cooking, I go there. It's good, not that expensive for what you get and the waitstaff is nice. It's not haute cuisine, but it's good.

Joshua P.

Yelp
Great food. Quiet and unassuming. Find it to be a great place for work meetings over lunch.

Elena H.

Yelp
To begin with they were cold and unwelcoming when we walked in. We weren't given silverware until we asked for it. Coming from a Portuguese family my husband has been eating Portuguese food all his life, including trips to Portugal and knowing what wonderful and hospitable the Portuguese people they are. This unfortunately does not do their food or culture any justice. Such a disappointment. The food was unbelievably bland, dry and very far from appetizing. After our dinner we headed to another place to actually eat. If you want true Portuguese food I suggest traveling south to Fall River and going to Sagres. It is the closest you will find short of a trip to Portugal. Just skip this restaurant and find anywhere else to go. Not worth even half of what we paid.

Allison B.

Yelp
When I studied abroad in Spain, I found that my fellow students and I brushed off traveling to Portugal in a similar manner that we Americans do to Canada. Pff, it's right there, and if I'm gonna travel I'm gonna go big! Funnily enough, those who did have the foresight to travel to the other part of Iberia said it was the most unexpectedly cool place they went. And if Portugalia is a snapshot of that idea, then I'd say they must be right. The decor of the restaurant is absolutely lovely (sometimes I can be a sucker for pottery), and despite our 8-person party size, service was quick and friendly (my #1 criteria - I never had to request that my water be refilled). The Caldo Verde (potato, leek, and linguica soup) was a perfect pair for their hearty bread, and the fish croquetas were a delicious precursor to their flavorful paella (the saffron really came through more than other paellas I've had in the past), and the grelhada mista - a skewer of various grilled meats, sliced potatoes and tomatoes. Lastly, the flan came topped with toasted coconut - an accompaniment I've never seen before - which proved to be the perfect touch! Highly recommended. So Portugalia, thanks for a delicious meal, and curses for reigniting my traveling bug.

Loan V.

Yelp
What a hidden jewel! I've worked in the Kendall/MIT area for almost 3 years and my coworkers and I have certainly done our share of venturing out to find some delicious food. My friend and I looked up a place nearby for dinner and we found this place on our yelp app. Since all the reviews seem to rave about this place we thought we'd give it a try. Do not let the calmness and ordinary looking restaurant fool you. It's true what they say about not judging a book by its cover. We were hesitant but decided to try it anyways and lets just say we had to fight our belly and convince that it wasn't full...lol! Any case I got the Grelhada Mista (meat & poultry) with my side choices of roasted red bliss potatoes and veggies. My friend got the Feijoda a Pescado (seafood) w/rice and we ordered Portuguese Fries to share. Words couldn't come close to describing how the food tasted but I'll try...AMAZING! We also got this lemon meringue thing to share and that was really yummy too! So this is a definite must try restaurant! Boy this review is making me hungry, I may have to go back again very soon!

Andrea M.

Yelp
Come here if you're looking for frozen food in an unremarkable setting. I had the Mariscada - shrimp, fish, squid, mussels in a broth. Sure, the seafood was plentiful - because it was all frozen. The broth itself was tasty, thankfully, because otherwise the seafood would have been completely tasteless and a little chewy. My boyfriend had the seafood casserole - it was ok. His side of green beans clearly came from a bag. The cod fritters on the appetizer platter were good - probably the best item of the night.

Aleksandra D.

Yelp
Terrible customer service. Didn't hear a pleasant word from a waiter throughout the dinner. Thought the food tasted good, and at least it's a good thing about my experience with a restaurant, but ended up getting a food poisoning.

Robert S.

Yelp
I was very happy with this place and will look forward to going back. I stopped by today for lunch at about 2pm and I had the place practicaly to myself. As other reviewers have pointed out the exterior is nothing to write home about. It doesn't look great. Inside its lovely and clean. The decor is fine and will not get in the way of enjoying your food. They had a number of lunch specials and I wasn't sure which one to pick. I had to ask the waitress which one was her favorite. She pointed out three and I chose "Bacalhau a Brás" which turned out to be a salt-cod casserole with egg, onions and potatoes. They prepped me with delicious (very) hot rolls and small dish of olives. The food was presented well and the portion was quite large. I shouldn't have eaten the whole thing, but I couldn't stop. In any case, a lot of places seem to try to overload patrons with food when the quality isn't high. In the case of Portugalia this wasn't a problem. The food was rich in flavor and I couldn't stop. It was delicious. I'll have to go back to try some other choices on the menu.

Jessica I.

Yelp
Going off the beaten path while traveling is often a rewarding experience, and our experience at Portugalia was no exception. We stayed in Cambridge on a visit to the Boston area, so we knew we had to go looking for some of the famous Portuguese cuisine. My husband is a research freak, so I left it to him to settle on one, and this was his selection. We arrived on a Sunday as a nearby church was letting out, but thankfully our fears about running into a horde of churchgoers did not come to fruition. We did, however, encounter several Portuguese families there, plus a couple of what looked like newly-minted Cordon Bleu graduates. We took those as promising signs. The food was excellent Portuguese comfort food. We started with bowls of the caldo verde soup, which was just the right balance of potato, collard, and linguica. My husband went with the shrimp-stuffed sole, and I chose the bacalau with tartar sauce and potato puree. My first bacalau experience was pretty amazing. I had to pull out some pin bones, but once I got past those, the flesh was firm but tender, and had just enough tang from the salt it was cured in. We asked our kind young server to recommend a bottle of vinho verde, and she came through for us. The Quinta da Avaleda was a mere $16, but proved a worthy companion to our meal. We actually went looking for it when we got home. On the day we were there, I think our server got stranded by a coworker, because she was taking care of the whole dining room. I sincerely hope she doesn't have to do that all the time. She did a great job, despite having to deal with a pack of assholes who decided- right after their food came out- that they wanted to have it packed up to go. This is a family-friendly place, unfortunately for us. Stick two people who don't like kids in a restaurant, and guess what ends up at the next table? But for you folks with crumb snatchers, you'll feel right at home.

Carlos Eduardo L.

Yelp
Worst experience I've ever had. Not about food but customer service. First of all this big group I was with were told they couldn't split the bill which in my opinion was just an excuse for laziness. The main point though was when the owner, a very rude lady, just simply pulled the menu from my friend hands which he was still looking at, saying there was anything else he could change on that dish he ordered. She didn't give him a chance to get an appetizer or maybe a side. One week later my friend who paid the whole bill was on phone call with them trying to solve some overcharge they made on his card. I definitely don't recommend this establishment to anyone!

Stephanie P.

Yelp
It's good! They have some rather interesting dishes that are quite unusual and I've never seen in my 26 years of being Portuguese. Even my dad had never heard of half of the dishes. That said, the food was pretty damn good. Not the best I've ever eaten but certainly nothing to turn your nose up at. My biggest complaint had nothing to do with the restaurant but some rude patrons who gave their 5year old a phone on maximum volume to play with and then spent an hour running around the restaurant screaming. Would have been nice if management had asked them to turn down the phone at least. Overall, id go back here. Food isn't as good as Casa Portugal but at least the waiters here are friendly!

Anna F.

Yelp
I am grateful to Portugalia for staying open (one star), and I love Saozinha, who is always welcoming and considerate (another star). The dining room until a couple weeks ago had been freezing (despite numerous requests to turn on the heat), the food indifferent, and the service slow and unfriendly, but today my patience finally ran out. The longtime male waiter who is always borderline rude gave me an especially cold shoulder on my coming in (I was the only customer in the room). At the end, he explained my crime in broken English: Apparently, the last time I was there during his shift with my two kids I dropped some used baby wipes under my seat (there is no changing table in this supposedly family restaurant and I was forced to change the baby in her car seat--I was fast and discreet and as always the only customer in the room). After chewing me out, he threw me my check and turned his back on me without thank you or good-bye. Again: I'm often the only customer there; I always tip; I have brought friends and family to eat there despite terrible service; I"m always very polite and this is what I get for being a faithful patron. PS My colleague and I saw a mouse once running across the dinning room floor. The waiter refused to make a note.

Sandra S.

Yelp
Not that great!! Camarao do Chico was not that good. The shrimp were so little. The seafood casserole was very soupy.overall never going here again.. Go to Fall River or New Bedford for great portuguese food

Jen P.

Yelp
After reading about Portugalia on Yelp, I decided to try it out this past weekend and was quite impressed. The food was excellent, the portions were generous, and the service was good. I had the white bean and seafood stew that Paul S. mentioned, and it was very tasty. They did not skimp on the seafood, either. It was maybe $15 but it was a huge amount with plenty of shrimp, scallop, and squid tossed in. I ate the leftovers for lunch the next day and still didn't finish it! My companions had the seafood casserole and a steak dish with Portugese fries. We also all had a Portugese soda called Sumol - try the pineapple flavor. The only thing that wasn't great was the Portugese fries, which were a little dry, but that is a very minor complaint. Overall, well worth the trip and I will definitely go back!

Liz G.

Yelp
After leaving disappointed at Casa Portugal down the street, we decided to go to Portugalia. We walked in from Boston and entered Little Portugal, as we opened the doors. Ceramic plates dressed the walls (no one said us Portuguese were known for our interior decorating) and Portuguese men with mustaches dressed the bar. Ordered the Bitoque, which is a tougher cut of beef topped with a sunny side up egg. The lunch dishes come with two sides of your choice. I opted for Portuguese french fries and rice, which were good but not as good as next door at The Snack Bar.

Brian Z.

Yelp
Stopped here on Easter evening for dinner. Everything was great! Not too busy, service and food were spot on. Will definitely return again!

Daigo F.

Yelp
Used to be very smokey when you walked in in the bar part (to the right), but that has changed, and it is awesome! I almost always get Paella, it is BIG. they give you the whole pot. And it's chicken, sausage AND seafood... They usually cook to order, so don't get it if you are in a hurry. But while you wait, enjoy the olive that they give you. I can drink wine and eat olive all day. The bread is great, too. Especially when I am dipping them into the olive oil. There is a little town parking lot (with parking meter) behind the building. Just go down the little street right by the building, and usually you can find a space there.

William L.

Yelp
Didn't even know the name of this place when we walked in (actually found it on Yelp by searching for Portuguese food on Cambridge St), but was pleasantly surprised by what this place had to offer. I have very fond memories of Portuguese restaurants from growing up near Pawtucket and North Providence. The food at Portugalia reminded me for the first time in many years how good this stuff can be! I had the Pork + Clams + Potatoes dish and it was delicious and so so so much food. Perfectly cooked clams; just the right size (teeny tiny). Tender pork. Fried potatoes! What's not to love? GF had Fish + Tomatoes + Onions which was also really delicious. Had a bottle of Vino Verde and it was great. They even brought us an ice bucket. Felt like the fanciest 16 dollar bottle of wine EVER. Waitress was a peach. Will definitely be going back to see if this place to see if they can bump themselves up to 5 stars.

Jude C.

Yelp
Great find. I was originally headed to other restaurant when this place caught my eye. It was my first venture into Portuguese food. What a delicious treat! I had the Feijoada A Pescado and it was wonderful. It was like a great home cooked meal. Reminded me of my grandmother's food and the nostalgia of childhood. It was so filling that I couldn't finish it and since I was visiting from out of town, I sadly had to leave my leftovers, but the happy memories will remain.

Katherine H.

Yelp
Just went here for dinner and the food was great! My boyfriend and I both got chicken dishes and they were delicious. The salad and sides generally weren't anything to write home about, but the chicken and sauce were really good. Decent sized portions and friendly staff. Service was also pretty fast. The prices weren't bad, but also weren't great. I would definitely go again!

Thomas F.

Yelp
Every now and then, you walk into a restaurant, not expecting much, and it knocks you off your feet. This was one of those. This place LOOKS like it must be one of the worst dive bars in town, so my expectations for the food were low. Imagine my surprise, then, when the food I received was such that any of the finest restaurants in the city would have been proud to serve it. The presentation was elegant. The flavors were sophisticated and delightful. The preparation was perfection. Oh, and the portions were generous. Not only would I recommend this restaurant to friends, I am in fact already planning a dinner party there. I can't say good enough things about the food.

Mary O.

Yelp
so delicious!! I had the muscles in tomato sauce and it was super. Lots of pepper, onion and spices in the broth served in a big old cast iron pot; yummy warm bread to sop up the broth. Bud on tap made my husband happy as did his steak sandwich; not shaved steak but a tender fillet on tender Portuguese bread. We're going back for sure.