Pensão O Laranjeira

I ate at O Laranjeira every day I was in town, and you'll want a reservation, maybe even two. Locals know about this place. The ingredients are incredibly fresh, the welcome is warm, and the cooking has real depth. It feels like a Portuguese grandmother's best meal, made with love, but with a modern touch toward healthy food, fresh local ingredients, and delicious preparation. Don't speak Portuguese? Just walk in like you own the place and catch a server's eye. They'll welcome you like family. For Portuguese cuisine in Viana do Castelo, I can't recommend O Laranjeira highly enough.

The food was pretty good, though the price felt a bit high for the quality. The cabrito was tasty and about what you'd expect at a simpler place, and I'd have liked more greens. My friends enjoyed their steak, which was a good size and cooked just right, and the prawn pasta. With wine and starters, the bill was €91 for three. O Laranjeira itself is attractive, modern, and cozy, with pleasant lighting that's not too bright. The staff were professional, courteous, and spoke English. Like a lot of Portuguese restaurants, it felt as though some of the price was for the surroundings.

We could watch the staff working in the open kitchen, which was interesting. There were great food choices, and the Albariño paired perfectly with what we ordered. Everything was perfect.

Clean and right in the center, with delicious food that was prepared really well. The waitress and owner were both wonderful and very helpful with suggestions from the menu. A delightful Pension, and I'd definitely recommend it for a full Portuguese experience.