Watford, Portuguese Restaurant Guide

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).

“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”.

“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”.