O Boteco

I went here with friends otherwise I would never have picked it. Zero options for vegetarians for mains. I ate a side dish and it was miserable. And very overpriced for what you’re getting. Service was lacking, it’s an overpriced tourist trap with a boring wine list and a half ok location. How is this over 4 stars? Save your money, and your time.

Beautiful restaurant in a great location. The amazing decoration creates the perfect environment for a fine dine. The top quality food, highlighting the Picanha and Feijoada, makes it worth every penny you pay and the staff was nice, likeable and always ready to help (a special thanks to Diogo for improving our experience through his service).

Inattentive service and way overpriced food that shouldn’t really be called “Brazilian.” I never give bad reviews but this one deserves it - nearly €90 for a mediocre lunch with poor service. Stay away.

What an experience we had that night. The interior is amazing, stylish, staff is super welcoming and friendly. The food and drinks were amazing. A big and special welcome to Adriana, the manager and her staff who made our dinner a truly beautiful experience. Definitely going back there

Very nice environment. I had a Feijoada which was a bit salty for my taste but overall the food is pretty good.

Serendipity is when you glance at the morning’s edition of NiT on your tablet and notice a piece about the reopening of a well-known chef’s restaurant that turns out to be right around the corner . . . And even more so when you decide, mid-afternoon, following a workout and a long walk, to stop by for a quick cerveja pequeno and a bit of scouting. Our homework had been limited to the NiT piece and having put Cevicharia, the chef’s notable venue up the street in Principe Real, on our culinary exploration list. Two hours later, we finally left after getting to know Chef Kiko Martins a bit and trying a few of the most delightful dishes we’ve discovered here in Lisbon—and, of course, downing a bit more than a cerveja pequeno. First off, O Boteca’s location is stellar, facing the iconic statue on Praca Luis da Camoes in the heart of Chiado, with its high windows bringing in vast helpings of Lisbon’s incredible sunlight to dance around the playful bright red and green wine-bottle chandelier and the brilliantly tiled parrot hovering at the back wall. With the entry area’s wood-paneled bar serving an inviting sense of welcome, the restaurant immediately charms with its eclectic Brazilian vibe featuring tiled floors and a wonderful stamped ceiling complimenting the gentle division of the spaces, each with its own touch of individual flair. But a restaurant is about food, so, charmed by the atmosphere and the friendly staff following Chef Kiko’s initial welcome, we decided, what the heck, why wait! So, let’s see the menu . . . Aha, no English version, so all the more reason to work harder on our studies of Portuguese. Of course, O Boteca focuses on beef—the logo is a magnificent steer’s head—and from a Brazilian perspective, so the staff guided us through the recommended choices, helping us determine just the right combination for our late afternoon snack. We settled on sharing a couple items: first, the Salada de polvo com gelado de pimento, a delicate plate of sliced octopus with a light dressing and a scoop of pimento ice cream! Right, a savory ice cream of roasted red peppers. What an imaginative combination of tastes and textures, that allowed the polvo’s simple, clean flavor to shine. Wonderful start! Next, we weren’t quite ready for a steak, so we opted to split their burger de picanha com presunto, and were impressed when it was served just like a steak, with no bun, winning pride of place on the plate and topped with crumbled bread in a nod toward tradition, diced presunto, and a scattering of tiny, pickled baby red peppers from Brazil—yes, we asked for more of them! The beef was done to perfection on the rare side of medium rare, and the grind of the meat was the finest, most delicate and flavorful we have ever tasted. But no burger is complete without fries, so we opted for the batata frita com alecrim—with rosemary. The fries were of the smaller variety, dusted with the fresh herb, and, piping hot, they made the perfect foil for the rich beef. We had no room for a dessert, but Chef Kiko stopped by again as we sipped our espresso and shared stories of his fourteen month travels around the world with his wife several years ago, where they spent time living with different folks from South America to India to Bali and even the US and Canada, learning about traditions and meals and the many flavors and approaches that now color Chef’s own cuisines. So, our cerveja pequeno turned into just a wee bit more and we couldn’t have been happier. Next time you’re in Chiado—or in Lisbon, for that matter—it’s well worth stopping by O Boteca for a touch of the Brazilian vibe and some worldly flavors and preparations. Highly recommended.

I went to this restaurant yesterday (11/08/2021). The behavior of the restaurant staff is really great & welcoming. Their food quality and taste is truly remarkable. I specially like their dessert items. Which is really delicious and exceptional decorated. The atmosphere inside the restaurant is nice, everything is very tidy and clean. So my recommend is that those who come to visit Lisbon must come to this restaurant, I hope you will not be distracted.

What a restaurant! The interior is as stylish as the food is delicious. Staff is very friendly. If you want to taste a good Picanha in a beautiful environment with a chill vibe this is it!!