ALGARVE ON YOUR PALATE | THE VERY BEST OF THE EAST
O Infante E . N . 125 Altura , Castro Marim Tel : + 351 281 956 817
Located just minutes from the Spanish border , O Infante caters to an assortment of locals , Spanish day-trippers and wellinformed tourists .
Clearly visible from the N125 , the restaurant overlooks the sands of Praia Verde and is popular with groups celebrating special occasions . I am pleased to say that its local reputation is well deserved .
Service is accomplished and professional – O Infante is a place to dine and not simply a place to eat . While the large number of waiters may seem intimidating to early diners , this well-oiled machine is a pleasure to watch as the establishment begins to fill .
Upon entering the restaurant , a large tank containing crabs and lobsters is visible . A large platter of shellfish including these delicacies is one of O Infante ’ s signature dishes .
The gargantuan platter for two includes lobster , king crab legs , prawns of various sizes and both mussels and clams , all accompanied by bread and fruity rice . The platter could really serve four , so anyone choosing it should prepare for a feeling of guilty decadence upon failing to finish every succulent morsel !
The restaurant ’ s large menu also offers a number of meat dishes for sharing . On our last visit , however , I bypassed these to enjoy a one-person main course consisting of three fillet steaks with three sauces
Expecting one steak divided into three , I was surprised and daunted to receive three generous slabs of meat , accompanied with béarnaise , peppercorn and mushroom sauces as well as chips , rice , green beans and delicately crispy onion rings . The same side dishes accompanied my wife ’ s choice of lamb cutlets and both were flawless plates of food with meat cooked exactly as requested .
Such generous main courses usually cause us to bypass dessert on our visits , but the menu offers typical Portuguese stables including chocolate mouse and molotov . The wine list is extensive and the usual Portuguese favorites are present and fairly priced .
O Infante offers decent value . While shellfish is inevitably pricey , other options are priced competitively . My wife and I are happy to join the many others in the area who choose O Infante for their special occasions .
Ben Taylor has lived in the East Algarve for three years . When he ’ s not busy cooking , eating and enjoying the sunshine , he writes about Portugal , wine and cuisine for a number of publications and websites .
32 | Summer 2012 | www . portugal-life . net |