Borehamwood, Portuguese Restaurant Guide

2021 Review: “A little corner of authenticity in an ever-more-gentrified bit of London”, this Portuguese café in North Kensington’s Golborne Road has been famous for its pastéis de nata for more than 20 years – and, despite increased competition, fans swear they’re “still the best custard tarts in town”.

This “vibey” independent coffee shop off the Chiswick High Road roasts its coffee and bakes its pasteis de nata in-house. With its menu of simple bakes, sarnies and smoothies, it’s a natural choice for a quick bite of brunch. (From their website, you can also stock up on T shirts and baseball caps as they also run an apparel range under the Tamp brand).

“Simple and so good!” – MJMK’s chain (they also own Kol and Lisboeta) of “posh Nandos” makes an outstanding choice for a “bustling if noisy” night out on the cheap. “Excellent piri piri chicken ’n’ chips” is at the heart of the food offering, but there are also brilliant sides (such as “very good African rice and slaw”) and some fab veggie options. The original SE1 branch remains the most commented-on, and has a “lovely” plant-filled upstairs. The other branches are perhaps a fraction less vibey, although the newly opened Victoria outlet wins praise as “a good airy space”.

This “hip, buzzy under-arch venue with counter seating” and distinctive blue-and-white tiling, near Borough Market, showcases “really interesting” wines and tapas-style dishes from Portugal. Founder Max Graham, from the Churchill port family, also has a second branch in the City in Finsbury Avenue Square, although this inspires no feedback (and is not listed).

“Simple and so good!” – MJMK’s chain (they also own Kol and Lisboeta) of “posh Nandos” makes an outstanding choice for a “bustling if noisy” night out on the cheap. “Excellent piri piri chicken ’n’ chips” is at the heart of the food offering, but there are also brilliant sides (such as “very good African rice and slaw”) and some fab veggie options. The original SE1 branch remains the most commented-on, and has a “lovely” plant-filled upstairs. The other branches are perhaps a fraction less vibey, although the newly opened Victoria outlet wins praise as “a good airy space”.

2023 Review: “Great atmosphere and something quite different!” – this “warm and welcoming” Buckhurst Hill operation mixes Goan and Portuguese influences. It’s a partnership between Cyris & Pervin Todiwala and the Redman-Schaffer family from Woodford, delivering “great little dishes” (‘petiscos’) and “fantastic Portuguese wines from independent estates”.

“Great fun on a Friday night, when there’s music and dancing” – this large Stockwell venue opened three years ago, near the new Thames-side developments surrounding Vauxhall and Battersea; and comes complete with an ‘Olive Tree Garden’ for the summer months. “The food is typically Portuguese – ample and fulfilling!”

“On the money in almost every sense”: innovative chef Nuno Medes opened this three-storey Fitzrovia haunt (in partnership with MJMK Restaurants) in 2022 and it continues to inspire fans with its “fabulous and interesting Portuguese cooking” – “a bit hit ’n’ miss, with some odd combinations, but the quality is undeniably good”. Ratings have slipped a bit, though, from its heady debut: service is not always super-organised and “the music needs to be a bit less loud!” (although apparently Nuno likes it that way). Top Menu Tip – “scallops with black pudding is especially good”.

“A beautiful room overlooking the Power Station” – the 16th-floor flagship restaurant at Battersea’s new art’otel showcases “classic Portuguese dishes” from chef Henrique Sá Pessoa of Lisbon hotspot Alma. A year on from its opening, there is the odd doubter who feels “they charge too much money… the best part is the view”; but most reports say it “truly delivers on both taste and ambience”.