Portions and the small things on the table
Uma dose dá para quantas pessoas?
How many people does one portion serve?
Não queremos o couvert, obrigado/obrigada.
We don’t want the couvert, thank you.
The cooking words beside the name
Grelhado
Grilled.
Assado
Roasted or dry-heat cooked. Sardinhas assadas can be cooked over charcoal.
No forno
In the oven.
Na brasa / no carvão
Over embers / charcoal.
Frito
Fried. The word does not identify the oil, batter or shared equipment.
Cozido
Cooked or boiled; the full dish name supplies the context.
Com / sem
With / without.
Acompanhamentos
Side dishes or accompaniments.
Sobremesa
Dessert.
A few Algarve names worth recognising
These short descriptions help identify a dish. Recipes and ingredients differ between kitchens.
Cataplana
The hinged cooking vessel and dishes prepared in it. Fish, shellfish and other versions vary.
Arroz de lingueirão
Razor-clam rice.
Xerém de conquilhas
A cornmeal dish with small clams.
Feijoada de búzios
Whelk-and-bean stew.
Açorda de marisco
A seafood-and-bread dish.
Polvo
Octopus. Look for the preparation beside the word; Santa Luzia is especially associated with it.
Carapaus alimados
Skinned, marinated horse mackerel.
Dom Rodrigo
An Algarve egg-and-almond sweet, often wrapped in colourful foil.
Use the name together with the full description and the kitchen’s ingredient information. For example, a fish cataplana can also contain shellfish.
Useful questions to show or copy
Pode trazer a ementa, por favor?
May I see the menu, please?
O que está incluído neste menu?
What does this menu include?
Há meia dose?
Is a half portion available?
Os acompanhamentos estão incluídos?
Are the side dishes included?
Não como carne nem peixe. Tem alguma opção vegetariana?
I don’t eat meat or fish. Is there a vegetarian option?
A conta, por favor.
The bill, please.
Ingredients, preferences and allergies
For a preference, sem means “without”: sem coentros, por favor asks for no coriander. For an allergy, explain the precise food and ask about preparation as well as ingredients. Removing one ingredient does not address shared utensils, a grill or frying oil.
Be specific: fish, crustaceans and molluscs are different categories, as are peanuts and tree nuts. A broad word such as marisco or frutos secos may not communicate the exact ingredient you need to avoid.
Tenho alergia ao leite.
I have a milk allergy.
Tenho alergia a amendoins.
I have a peanut allergy.
Pode confirmar os ingredientes com a cozinha, por favor?
Please confirm the ingredients with the kitchen.
Usam os mesmos utensílios, a mesma grelha ou o mesmo óleo de fritura?
Do you use the same utensils, grill or frying oil?
Há risco de contaminação cruzada com amendoins?
Is there a risk of cross-contact with peanuts?
This question names peanuts. Use the exact food relevant to you when speaking with staff.
Se não tiverem a certeza, por favor, digam-me.
If you aren’t certain, please tell me.
Sources & useful links
- DGC / AHRESP: restaurant rules, portions and couvert
- ASAE: restaurant price lists
- VisitPortugal: Algarve gastronomy
- Lagos municipal collection: Dom Rodrigo ingredients
- Porto Editora: Portuguese menu vocabulary
- Porto Editora: cooking terminology
- ASAE: food and allergen information
- ASAE / DGS: food-allergy guidance for restaurants