TV chef Lúcia Ribeiro opens restaurant in Almancil

Lúcia Ribeiro was born in Armação de Pêra, she lived and worked in banking in London for 15 years. In 2012, she decided to change her life and wanted to become a chef. She went on a cooking course in the Algarve. She then returned to London to work with all the famous Michelin star chefs, such as Gordon Ramsay, Paul Walsh and Claude Bosi. When she returned to the Algarve again, she started working with 2-star chef Dieter Koschina at Vila Joya, and later became Executive Sous-chef at Pinecliffs Resort.

And, of course, what she is best known for is her TV cooking programme Cozinhamos Contigo.

"As a little girl, I used to help my grandmother cook, so I know all the original Portuguese dishes. We have so much more to offer that what many tourist restaurants offer as authentic Portuguese: roast meat and fish. We have lost the essence. Portuguese cuisine is, in my opinion, the best in the world. Because my mother was vegan, and my son too for a time, I can also cook vegan very well. What I enjoy most is making vegan versions of ancient Portuguese dishes, such as cataplana. The variety we have by region is incredible."

And so now she is opening a small inn in the centre of Almancil. The dishes on the menu seem simple, but they are very well executed. Prices are low to appeal to locals too.

Leonilde Horta is the Chef. Her husband, Jose Costa, looks after the wines. He proudly explains that they also have vegan wines. And soon, the couple will also offer cooking classes and winetastings!

It's a nice varied menu with lots of Petitos/ snacks, starting from 6 euros, and main courses from 11 euros.

Besides fish and meat, there are also 5 vegetarian/vegan options!

The restaurant has 36 seats inside and a few outside. It is simple and cosy with open kitchen behind the bar.

We start with a delicious white wine.
Then we get a nice bread basket (can also be gluten-free) with olives and Portuguese carrots .
Then follows a nice yellow vegetable soup, lovely mild flavour
For the main course we have smoked tofu with sautéed vegetables, tomato sauce and oregano, vegetables in beer batter and a powerful mushroom risotto. Delicious!!!
And for dessert, a delicious fruit salad and the homemade almond cake. Lucia tells us that all her desserts are gluten-free!

What a fantastic and pure meal. We enjoyed and are happy with this addition to "our" village of Almancil.

Opening hours:
Thursday, Friday and Saturday, lunch and dinner, all day
Sunday closed
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday open till 5 pm, so lunch and and early dinner.