There are many traditional restaurants in the centre of Lisbon. One of our favourites is restaurant Tascardoso. This small, rustic and informal restaurant is located opposite Jardim do Príncipe Real.
The restaurant serves traditional Portuguese cuisine, which is served quickly and hassle-free.
Tasca
Tascardoso is a typical tasca where you can taste dishes from almost all regions of Portugal. Like a corvine (a thickly sliced steak from a croaker fish), chocos assados com tinta (squid grilled in its own ink) or a bochechas de porco – stewed black pork cheeks. We chose the Bife a Príncipe for two people and half a litre of house wine. That was more than enough for two adults and a toddler.
The Tasca has been owned by the same owner for over forty years and the staff has often been working there for more than a decade. The staff is very friendly, in all the hustle and bustle we came with a baby and toddler. Nonetheless, the staff remained calm and found a table for us. The buggy was folded up and stored somewhere in a hallway, nicely tucked away. Quite a feat, since this really is not a big place.
Two rooms
There are two entrances to the restaurant. The main entrance of the Rua do Século is marked by the azulejos, the blossoming wisteria at the door and the traditional costume from the North inside. The other entrance is at Rua Dom Pedro V.
The restaurant has thirty seats and as the popularity of this place has increased with the growing interest in the district Príncipe Real, it is difficult to get a table for dinner. We came here for lunch and soon after we sat down we saw a queue grow at the door.
Payable food
The prices of Tascardoso have hardly gone up in recent years, they traditionally keep fixed low prices for simple traditional dishes. For all dishes, including brood, olijven en kaas, half a litre of house wine, mousse de chocolate, two main courses and two coffees we paid just shy of €44 (£38).
Where to find Tascardoso
Address: Rua de O Século 242, Príncipe Real
Opening hours: Monday through Saturday noon – 3 p.m. and 7 – 11.30 p.m.
Closed on Sundays.
