| Product: |
Algarve |
| Date: |
12.05.08 (57 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Delicious tasty food , nice warm and friendly staff. Great views from the terrace.
Disadvantages: Only one loo!
A Rampa - Chicken Piri Piri Restaurant, Estrada do Foia, Algarve, Portugal
Not sure whether I am placing this in the correct category as it is more of a cafe and bar but does actually serve full three course meals. Never mind, I will review it and leave it in this category for now.
As I mentioned in my review of the Algarve, this is my favourite place to eat. There is nothing posh about A Rampa but the food is delicious and the staff are friendly and always welcoming without being overly engraciating and treating you like a performing seal.
First of all where is it situated? You have to drive to Monchique first then go up the hill towards Foia for about two miles. The restaurant sits in the rock on the right hand side of the road - the address is actually Estrada (Road) do Foia. It is a small restaurant with seating inside and outside. Inside is very rustic but basic. Flowers on all the tables - sometimes plastic. I have been going for 15 years and as far as I can remember the decor has never been changed to a different design or colour. Only whitewashed. 25 people can probably be seated inside and usually this is reserved for Portuguese families on Sundays or for special occasions. Although, if there is a free table, you can sit on it. Most of the visitors usually sit outside as we did on our visits as the view from the terrace on a clear day is a one off - truly unbelievable. You can see from the west coast as far east as Portimao. However, in early spring it can be very cold outside. I remember one Easter it was freezing and about 40 people were huddled inside to keep warm. All the windows were steamed up.
The bar is attached next door but you can have drinks outside and inside the restaurant. They always have a good selection of Portuguese wines including wines from the Alentajo which in my humble opinion are the best. They are much smoother than others. Medronho is the local spirit as it is grown in the hills and brewed there also. My husband's parents owned some land in Monchique and they had medronho berries growing. Every year all the Portuguese in the valley usually get together to pick them and then distill them in their little sheds up and down the valley. I have been several times to visit the medronho brewing process and have a first taste. I think it tastes like Beecham's powders. It is smooth but very strong although you don't suffer a hangover as it is so pure or that is what the locals say. I have never drunk enough to find out. My Mother-in-law swears it is beneficial for stomach ache and sore throats. More likely it gives you a sore throat. Anyway, the local authentic brew is sold at A Rampa and if you need to buy a litre bottle of the real stuff then always ask and they will deliver.
Now on to the most important bit - the food!!
Although it is a chicken piri piri restauarant and one of the first to open in the Algarve, they do offer on the menu other specialities like grilled fish, piri piri prawns which are also delicious and various cuts of meat like pork and steak. Everything comes with chips and salad or boiled potatoes and salad. Portuguese cuisine is very simple - home-made dishes made with fresh produce. No frills.
Our choice as a family was always the touristic menu although we were never tourists as we lived there but for us it was the best value. This consisted of couverts which were olives, goat's cheese,garlic spread and masses of fresh Monchique bread. That was only a gap filler as they were always so busy and it is to keep you happy while you wait. All restaurants in Portugal serve these couverts and years ago you didn't have to pay for them. It was a gesture of goodwill but now times have changed and there is a small charge. If you don't want to have that before a meal then you can always say no. First dish to arrive is home made soup which usually is a choice of two, caldo verde or chicken noodle. The caldo verde is a delicious soup. Basic ingredients are mashed potatoes, onions and minced collard greens, savoy cabbage or kale, flavoured with garlic and salt. Before serving, slices of chourico are also often added as well as olive oil.
Sometimes, it can come a little luke warm as this is the way Portuguese eat it. We always asked for it to be re-heated as we like soups to be piping hot and no offense is taken. The main course was chicken piri piri. "Piri Piri", derived from the tiny chilli peppers that the Portuguese introduced from Angola and Mozambique which, blended with other herbs and spices, result in the infamous, fiery hot sauce that is used to marinade and baste the chicken pieces, before grilling. A Rampas chicken is the most succulent and tastiest ever and has a great reputation with local Portuguese and long term, hardcore expat residents. It comes piled high on a plate with a huge platter of salad, dressed with fresh olive oil and rock salt . Oh, don't forget the chips! - the Algarve's finest - homemade . None of that frozen stuff!
There are always a choice of desserts from creme caramel, molotoff pudding which is a sticky meringue decorated with syrup and roasted almonds, gelado (ice cream), fruit and sometimes a doce da casa (sweet of the house).
All this washed down with a good bottle of cold white, sparkling vinho verde or a bottle of alentajo red. Price abut £4 - £5 per person. Unbeatable in my view.
Forgot to mention that they are open every day and evening except Tuesday afternoon and they don't accept credit cards or didn't the last time I went.
What else can I say except that it's really good value for money. It was always the highlight of my week and I recommend it unconditionally - enjoy your meal!
Summary: Exceptional value for money
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Last comment:
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lilyellowfish1 - 13.05.08 Sounds lovely :) I'm going to the Algarve next week, so will look out rfor it xx |
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