Vila Nova

The staff were friendly, and the presentation was great. Everyone enjoyed their meal: three of us had fish and two chose meat, all delicious. I’m not sure what the Portuguese steak was called, but I’d order it again if I’m back.

We asked whether the fish fingers contained egg because our four-year-old has an egg allergy. The waiter rudely said, “of course they do, they have breadcrumbs,” and wouldn’t check the ingredients when we explained they’re often made without egg. We then ordered our son a steak without sauce and duck for my wife and me. The duck arrived, but no steak. After we asked, the waiter flapped his arms and said, “I recommend the steak but you didn’t want it.” There was no apology. He offered to make one quickly, but by then it was too late and we declined. The duck was overdone. The waiter seemed more interested in being right than keeping customers happy, and the restaurant missed out on more than 20 euros. Before that, getting there had already felt stressful. When my wife phoned to reserve, she was told to arrive at the exact time, not a minute early or late, which is a lot to manage with a child. When we arrived, every other table was empty. This was a meal that could have been nice, but the waiter’s rudeness and arrogance ruined it. I’d first given two stars, then changed it to one after the restaurant replied. That response showed the same level of arrogance.

We had a really enjoyable dinner and felt very welcome. The service was excellent, and so was the meal. I’d highly recommend Vila Nova if you’re nearby.

We arrived without a reservation at 6:45 pm, and the waiter seated us, but kept reminding us that we’d have to wait for service and food because we hadn’t booked. The attitude felt awkward. It was strange to be seated and then treated as if they were doing us a favor. The food and the experience were just okay, so we wouldn’t return. We’ve paid less at busier restaurants where we were greeted with a smile.