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Reviews - A Vela

Reviews

8.8/10

Fabulous
340 reviews
Ambience
8.6
Food
8.7
Service
9.3
Real experiences from real diners
Ratings and reviews can only be left by guests who have booked with TheFork.

All reviews

  • Steve D.11 days ago

    10

    A new addition to the menu, a pork dish from Alentejano was very enjoyable. Nice to have different authentic Portuguese food

    A Vela

    Thank you for your kind words, Alentejo cuisine is always good. Thank you very much.

  • Andre S.17 days ago

    10

    Antonia was a great host and server. Food was fantastic. Octopus salad and lamb stew outstanding. Andre from canada.

    A Vela

    It was truly a pleasure to meet you, thank you very much for your kind words.

  • Steve D.6 months ago

    9.5

    As always rage front of house welcome makes dining here a real pleasure, which is then followed by great tasting food, some excellent and good value house wines, and the bill is no more than restaurants nowhere near this good.

  • Craig S.6 months ago

    10

    The food and the wonderful staff 🍀💚

  • Therese L.7 months ago

    7.0

    The food was okay, nothing special but the service was very good. The restaurant itself looked a little tired.

  • Pietro E.8 months ago

    9.5

    The octopus was exceptional! All the main dishes of my table were good. Not as much as the starters.

  • Nicola S.8 months ago

    8.5

    Warm welcome, attentive staff. Lovely cocktails, well priced. Both of us had pasta, lots of fish and prawns, delicious.

  • Asim S.8 months ago

    7.5

    Service was great. The lady (manager or owner) was exemplary to be honest. Ambience was great too. It’s a lovely restaurant. The food was ok. I felt the prawns were overcooked and the seafood rice was good. I think there is better quality food in other places for similar prices, but it was still an enjoyable evening.

  • Terence M.8 months ago

    10

    My favorite restaurant in Carvoerio. The Octopus Carpaccio was a masterpiece and the Bacalhau with mashed potato, onion and cream was also delicious.

    A Vela

    Thanks for your words. We allways do ouro best . I'm só gratefull for having you as customers.

  • Seamus O.9 months ago

    9.0

    The quality of the food was very good and the service was excellent

  • Denise L.9 months ago

    10

    So, everybody has a favourite restaurant but I have been coming to Carvoeiro for 30 years and in my opinion there is nowhere as consistently good as A Vela. Antonia is an exceptional host and remembers every one who has visited previously. The food is outstanding. The best steak on stone, superb prawns and the Codfish (needs to be pre-ordered) is a standout dish. Excellent value compared to anywhere else in the heart of Carvoeiro. I cannot recommend this restaurant highly enough!

    A Vela

    Thank you so much, I do my work thinking about all my clients, I do it with a lot of love, grateful for your words. All the best to you.

  • Byron M.9 months ago

    10

    Good food and service. Thank you. Best deserts in Carvoeiro!!!

    A Vela

    Thanks you for your words ,

  • Ann Gallier P.10 months ago

    10

    The food was so fresh and simply prepared but delicious! Out of the five restaurants that we tried in the Algarve region, this was our favorite.

  • David P.10 months ago

    9.0

    Service was amazing main courses were excellent unfortunately desserts were a little expensive and were not fantastic

  • Phillipa L.10 months ago

    9.5

    The food was excellent and the owner makes it a friendly personal experience. If you are a good piano player they have a beautiful baby grand upstairs you can play with permission and have drinks whilst listening to your own family concert - great fun

    A Vela

    Thank you so much

  • Kieran M.10 months ago

    4.0

    We had high hopes for this restaurant given other positive reviews that we had read and it always being busy when we had walked past. We were a party of 6 with one child. The lady serving us was very polite and attentive at first and explained the menu to us and took our orders. We all opted for different dishes to try and sample a bit of everything. When the food arrived it was a massive disappointment, one of our party ordered the 'fresh' calamari, which arrived almost burnt and was absolutely not fresh, they were the type that you would buy from a supermarket that look like onion rings, his chips were also cold, it was so bad we asked to have his meal changed. I ordered lamb, it was absolutely swimming in oil, it was bland and came with 3 potatoes and 1 broccoli floret. Upon completion of our meal we did tell the hostess who I believe is the owner how disappointing the meal was, all she could say was "we tried our best". I would definitely not recommend this restaurant

    A Vela

    Mr Kieran, I read your comments very carefully, I'm sorry to say but we don't have anything frozen, the squid comes from the Algarve coast, that must be why you're not used to the taste of fresh products. As I told you, we do our best. If I have been managing my restaurant for 21 years, it is because it is of high quality. I am sorry that it was not to your liking, because not even JESUS pleased everyone. Take care. and enjoy the good moments in life...

  • annette w.10 months ago

    10

    Excellent vegetarian food -tasty and as good as home made. Lovely service- friendly and helpful but not too pushy. Will go back definitely

    A Vela

    Thank you for your review, we try to be as genuine and Portuguese as possible, simplicity always wins. It was a pleasure to meet you.

  • Steve D.10 months ago

    9.0

    The front of house welcome sets the scene for a great dining experience. House wine is exceptional value and the food always excellent. My favourite are the signature dish cheesy potatoes just delicious

    A Vela

    Thank you so much it is so Nice to know that we make someone so happy.

  • Michael R.10 months ago

    10

    Been visiting A Vela many years. Antonia and staff always provide an excellent service with delicious food. Definitely recommend.

  • Mary H.10 months ago

    10

    Love this restaurant! Fabulous owner, amazing food, my favourite restaurant in Carvoeiro!

    A Vela

    Thank you very much, it is gratifying to read these words, it is always a pleasure to see you. I wish you all the best.

  • Kristin C.1 year ago

    10

    The owner greeted us with such a warm smile and was so friendly. If you want a nice meal in a charming restaurant, this is the place. Although it’s in the heart of downtown Carvoeiro with other touristy restaurants and trinket shops, the restaurant felt authentically Portuguese. My husband had the codfish with a cornbread crust and I had the monkfish and shrimp skewer. Both were delicious, but made even better by the wonderful service.

    A Vela

    I am very grateful for your words, we always do our best to make everyone feel at home. I wish you all the best. I hope to have your presence soon at my restaurant

  • Melissa G.1 year ago

    10

    Service was fantastic. Owner was accommodating and friendly. Highly recommend to support a local family

    A Vela

    Thank you so much

  • Michael R.1 year ago

    10

    Visited A Vale many times and always provides excellent food and service! Well done to Antonia and staff

    A Vela

    I'am so grateful for your words , is always a pleasure to see you. Take care , see you next year .

  • Chris T.1 year ago

    10

    Absolutely fantastic in every way

  • Stephanie L.1 year ago

    10

    Such a great little restaurant in Carvoeiro. Authentic Portuguese food. Delicious meat & fish. Loved the sardines as a starter. The chef Antonia was super friendly too. Decent prices for the quality

    A Vela

    Thank you so much

  • Francisco P.1 year ago

    6.0

    Good overall, nothing particularly remarkable

  • Marjorie H.1 year ago

    10

    would definitely recomend Vela. The food and service is amazing. The staff cannot do enough for you. The desserts are all home made and delicious 😋

  • Frank J.
    Frank J.1 year ago

    10

    First class friendly service, good menu, cheerful atmosphere. Big recommendation.

    A Vela

    Thank you so much for your words make me so HAPPY

  • Sue S.1 year ago

    9.0

    The owner I assume female) and the food delicious

  • Paulo P.1 year ago

    10

    Excellent food and service.

  • Mo M.1 year ago

    8.5

    Always a very warm welcome, food mostly delicious. Great wines. We always visit when we ate in Carvoeiro.

  • david w.1 year ago

    10

    Excellent meal. Octopus was superb, so was sea bass. Will go back. All round Excellent standard

    A Vela

    Thank you so much for your words ,make me so happy. See you soon

  • Michael R.2 years ago

    10

    We've been coming to Carvoeiro for many years and always visit Antonia at A Vela several times during our visits. Never let's us down. Always a good experience and excellent food! Would recommend!

    A Vela

    Thank you very much for your words, that make me so happy, I do always my best . See you next year

  • Ken D.2 years ago

    10

    Our family have been regular visitors to Carvoeiro for twenty years, and always ensure we have a meal at A Vela. Good food, good service, good ambience, and Antonia (the owner) is always most welcoming of us.

  • Richard B.2 years ago

    10

    My wife and I had the Cataplana which was fantastic as were both my daughters meals, the service was excellent. We will be returning and perhaps next time even do the baking course with Antonia

  • Roger L.2 years ago

    9.5

    Wonderful dinner for our travelling group of 8! Among the best dinners we've had in Portugal - pork tenderloin, salmon fillet in brik, monkfish, A Vela salad. Sparkling vs still water got a bit confused - overall excellent!

  • Eman A.2 years ago

    10

    The experience was excellent. They were attentive, and you can’t fault the hosting and the service was fantastic too. Couldn’t recommend it any more.

  • Pierre D.more than 2 years

    10

    A really warm welcome, excellent cataplana, great diner experience. I strongly recommend

  • Nicola K.more than 2 years

    9.5

    Great find so glad i booked this little gem, really friendly staff and great food excellent t-bone steak and desserts were home made and delicious. Will be returning.

  • Eliot G.more than 2 years

    10

    Great food and service from Antonia and her team. Amazing service even when we had a couple of corked bottles of wine. Brilliant and worth a trip. Dishes to try - Portuguese Pork, Monkfish and prawn skewers and prawns curry.

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