Restaurante Avenida, Centro Commercial Gilao, Av.Dr Mateus Teixeira de Azevedo, Loja 6,8800-379 TAVIRA, Algarve, Portugal

Restaurante Avenida, Centro Commercial Gilao,  Av.Dr Mateus Teixeira de Azevedo, Loja 6,8800-379 TAVIRA, Algarve, Portugal

Centro Commercial Gilao, Av.Dr Mateus Teixeira de Azevedo, Loja 6,8800-379 TAVIRA

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Forget celeb chefs, drizzles, liquid nitrogen foams and food stacks, traditional food still exists, thank goodness in many places in Portugal. Tavira is a "real" town on a river in the Eastern Algarve. An old fishing port(tuna) where the local cuisine reflects the riches of the Atlantic.

This restaurant which has been there forever is run by Joao Pereira and his little team of cooks(yes lady cooks -not poncy chefs) who you can see frying and boiling and grilling in the tiny kitchen area.

The fish is excellent and is on display in the chill cabinet. We can vouch for the freshness as we saw Sr.P. in the local market(which would put Harrods food hall to shame) selecting the catch for the evening meals. Meat steaks, veal and lamb chops also superb just coated with sea salt and slivers of garlic and cooked on the charcoal. Real chips, salads, eggy sugary sweets or fresh fruit for dessert. Full of families, chatting, relaxed, lively and nothing too much trouble. Even the "cover" starters would be enough for me as a nice lunch back in the UK - olives, cheeses, pate, local bread. Here's what we had one night last week: Olives, cheeses etc, grilled mullet, grilled bream,ith potatoes and salads, green beans, creme caramel dessert, fresh pear and apricots, half bottle Monte Velho white wine, one brandy and two espressos. Grand total 35 euros for two.(£24!!)

And it's air conditioned - much needed as night temperatures didn't dip below 28c.