I was very excited to try this place. Actually went here for my birthday lunch since my team at work let me choose where to go.
When we went, there was no AC in the restaurant. It was so hot - we were sweating.
FOOD:
1. Shrimp Bisque - with dungeness crab aoili
This was really good bisque. The soup really had the thick shrimp flavour and there was a lump of dungeness crab that goes well when you mix it with the soup.
2. Seafood Saffron Risotto - with mussels, shrimp, squid and fresh fish
Everything about it was really good! The seafood were all fresh and cooked perfectly. The rice was cooked with the seafood "broth" so it has a delicious seafood taste to it.
I'm very torn with this dish because I find it to be in between a paella and risotto - like it's sort of unsure about it's identity lol. And I personally love paella and risotto already so having this "in between" dish makes me wish it wasn't in between.
3. Cataplana (Portugese Fish Stew) - bouillabaisse of mussels, shrimps, clams, squid and fresh fish in a tomato broth
My friend, who's a seafood person, had this and she said it was so-so and unremarkable. I didn't try it so I can't really comment.
4. Birthday Dessert - some sort of chocolate cake
It was good, but nothing special. It was too rich in chocolate such that it might be too much for one person to finish.
OVERALL:
I had so much hope as it was very promising to hear about a highly rated Portugese Restaurant in Toronto. It was very underwhelming. It's not really something I'd be excited to go back for.