Page 44 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL EATING IBERIA

their catch most likely ends up on restaurant
menus of the many restaurants serving tourists
and locals who flock there throughout the year.
Most visitors wander the town’s narrow cobble-
stone pedestrian streets of the seaside old town
flanked by eateries and shops housed in colorful
contemporary and 19th-century buildings.
While many of the dining spots in the Old
Town area are just fine or even outstanding, there
are more than a few that are tourist traps serving
unappealing, poorly prepared meals at premium
prices. Make sure to consult TripAdvisor or get
recommendations from your desk clerk or host if
you’re in a home share.
Cascais also offers dining to suit every culi-
nary whim and wallet, and while the biggest con-
centration of eateries is in the historic center, we
found that most of the best are tucked away in the
narrow back streets of the town.

In general, the restaurant standards are high
andpricesarepleasantlylow.Wealsonoticedthat
most restaurants were locally owned and oper-
ated. Service is generally good and friendly, al-
thoughatpeaktimesserversarespreadthinsoit’s
best to adopt the unhurried Portuguese pace and
relax. Don’t expect the waiter to the bring check;
like most European countries you must ask for it.
We were fortunate on this visit to meet with
local American expats to help us find the out-of-
the-way places where the locals frequent and vis-
itors delightfully discover.

44 WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE 2020