O Maleiro, Peso da Regua 09-2020

A daytrip from Porto is the Douro valley, known for the most beautiful road in the world (N222 along the Douro river), wine and scenic views. After hiring a car from Porto and driving about for the day, full of windy little roads and steep ascents and descents to all kinds of recommended views, it was time to head back to Porto and get a meal along the way.

We arrived to Peso da Regua around 6pm looking for dinner. The main restaurant on my list was The River Restaurant for roasted goat, but unfortunately they didn't open until 7.30pm. After a wander around the bridges, it was just too long to wait. A Google search found O Maleiro closeby and with roast lamb on the menu. Again unlike what Google said, it opened for dinner at 7pm and we got there around 6.55pm and they were happy to accomodate.

I was disappointed that when I chose the roast lamb, they said they were only serving the short day menu. Shame. The options there seemed less enticing but we settled on two. Seated outside meant we could watch a glimpse of the Douro river as the sun set, enjoy wine served by the bottle (then charged by how much of it was consumed) and listen to the sounds of the homestyle kitchen preparing their food.

- Secretos de porco preto na brasa €14 - the Portuguese version of the Spanish Iberian black pig was extremely juicy and tender with the fat and meat grilled until they fused together to a beautiful taste and texture. Potatoes looked like crisps/chips to my dismay, but that faded when I realised they were thinly sliced potatoes freshly fried and hot, some thin to be crisp, some thicker to have a little soft potato in the middle. Buttered rice came with it too for even more food;
- Lulas grelhadas €12 - two large whole squid grilled and well charred with potatoes and salad.

A value meal that was unexpectedly excellent and perhaps my favourite of the whole week in Porto.