Bandalho Meat & Wine is a new restaurant in Carnaxide (Lisbon, Portugal) in walking distance of Holiday Inn Express Alfragide.
Band'alho meat & wine vibeThis restaurant was new to the neighborhood on our visit and we arrived just as they opened so we had the place pretty much to ourselves. Inside the restaurant is nicely finished and is somewhat T shaped, making the back area where we were sitting a nice semi-secluded area to reserve for a large party.
As you can see there were multiple large TVs in the restaurant and I have never been a big fan of this. The bright screens really detract from the aesthetic of the space and they distract from the two most important elements - your dining companions and the food!
This is quite a common occurrence in restaurants in Portugal. Unless it's a sports bar type of establishment and you are watching a sports match while eating pizza and wings, I just don't understand the need for TVs in restaurants, especially when featuring depressing news and disturbing images. </rant> :) Lisbon Restaurant Reviews.what we ordered.With that out of the way, let's move on to the good stuff... what we ordered at Bandalho! Sangria Tinta 12€Red Wine Sangria - 12 euros for the pitcher. Sangria in Portugal is almost always excellent. The access to quality wines here is outstanding, not to mention locally grown citrus. Add a sprig of mint and you have a refreshing beverage on a summer evening in Lisbon! They did have a special house sangria which seemed to be a white wine sangria fortified with blue curaçao among other liquors, if that sort of thing is your jam. Hamburguer a Band'alho 10€
The hamburger was really tasty with quality meat and came with a side of fries and garlicky dipping mayonnaise which is also quite popular in Portugal.
Do you see that little rocket (arugula) leaf peeking out on the right? Slide your gaze to the left and notice the caramelized onion chutney which was the show stopper, taking this burger up a notch!
Picanha Sul Americana 15€Since we were at a meat place, it seemed only proper to get a steak. We ordered the South American Picanha. What is Picanha? (pronounced peek-ahn-yah) Picanha is a prized cut of meat in Brazil cut from the rump area. It has a thick band of fat and is served thinly sliced. Although originating in Brazil, Picanha has certainly gained popularity in Portugal.
The presentation was beautiful and upscale. A pile of finishing salt and whole peppercorns were evidence that the meat was to be the star, not overwhelmed by complex flavors. It's incredible what a pinch of salt and black peppercorn can do to a steak!
The steak was slightly under my cook preference. I wish the fat had been able to render a bit more. The roasted cherry/grape tomatoes added some nice acidity. For the sides we had an adorable dish of black beans. The black beans were nice, with bits of meat inside, also slightly underdone and bite-y. The rice was lovely and fluffy, really well done! Supremo de Chocolate 5€We were quite full, but thought it necessary to try one dessert (for your benefit). A little corner of our tummies could sample the Supremo de Chocolate. Wow did we underestimate this dessert! This dessert is a chocolate lover's dream! Imagine the thickest, fudgiest (is that word?) brownie you've ever seen, topped with chocolate ganache, and some red berries. For Americans, desserts in Portugal are a bit different and a good fudgy brownie is not easy to come by, making this an unexpected delight! My advice: Get the Supremo de Chocolate. Share it. Enjoy with coffee.
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Oh, Hey!We're Justin and Marissa
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