When you travel to a country that is steeped in history, it is always expected that you will dine in restaurants that reflect that fact. In Portugal, you will not be disappointed in what you find, as the dishes they serve, as well as the décor are not far from what was available in the past. This certainly does add to the ambience, and leaves guests feeling as though they have stepped back in time, as they wished to do.
One thing that I have seen many a visitor reflect upon, aside from the presentation and assembly of a good old hearty cataplana is how ingenious some restaurateurs have become in the set up of their places. In and around the region that we live in we can pop into a local spot and watch the chef prepare fresh fish, chicken, or pork on an open grill. Though I know this has been laid out this way because their was simply no other way, it is quite nice. The fragrance fills the air of the very meal you are preparing to indulge in, and the freshness of the ingredients is confirmed through the very sight of it as it is carried over to be laid down on the grill. A lot can be observed, and enjoyed at such old fashioned establishments.