Hotel Casa da Nora

We didn’t stay at the hotel, just came to the restaurant. The sea bass, sirloin, and ribeye were all extremely delicious, and the wines paired with our meals were phenomenal. Everyone was friendly and did a wonderful job accommodating us as English speakers. It’s a beautiful restaurant, with a water wheel out back. A must visit. Bravo 👏

We tried the tasting menu by Chef Rafael Ferreira at Casa da Nora in Cortes, and it was a wonderful meal from beginning to end. Every dish was a triumph. There was a delicious amuse-bouche between slices of bread, then a stunning celeriac and scallop dish, rare steak cooked perfectly, and tender pork on a skewer. We also had a local fish and mussel specialty in richly flavoured rice, similar in style to paella but NOT a paella. Dessert was refreshing, strawberries with ginger wine and ice cream. My companion’s favourite was the celeriac with scallops; mine was the skewered pork. We enjoyed it so much we’re going back tonight. Absolutely worth it, at around €60 per person.

We spent about 53€ for two people at lunch, and everyone loved the meal. The staff were friendly and didn’t rush us, even though the place was busy. Both soups, fish and vegetable, were creamy and delicious. I loved the steak with mushroom risotto: the meat was tender and perfectly cooked, and the risotto might be the best I’ve ever had. Our friends enjoyed their pork too, with grilled pineapple and mint sauce for dessert. The Sangria was fabulous, as were the mains and other desserts. We also tried the “best cheesecake in Portugal,” and it didn’t disappoint, with a thick graham cracker crust, a light, creamy middle, and loads of fresh berries.

One of my Leiria favourites ⭐️ The restaurant is beautiful, the menu and wine selection are amazing, and the food is delicious. Highly recommend, the service was amazing too 😌