Restaurante Marisqueira Fabrica do Costa

Someone from this business manages this listing.

758 reviews

#19 of 22 Restaurants in Vila Nova de Cacela$$ - $$$, Seafood, Mediterranean, European

+351 281 951 467+ Add website

Hours

Sun

12:00 PM - 3:30 PM7:00 PM - 9:30 PM

Tue

12:00 PM - 3:30 PM7:00 PM - 9:30 PM

Wed

12:00 PM - 3:30 PM7:00 PM - 9:30 PM

Thu

12:00 PM - 3:30 PM7:00 PM - 9:30 PM

Fri

12:00 PM - 3:30 PM7:00 PM - 9:30 PM

Sat

12:00 PM - 3:30 PM7:00 PM - 9:30 PM

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Ratings and reviews

3.0

758 reviews

#19 of 22 Restaurants in Vila Nova de Cacela

RATINGS

Food

Service

Value

Atmosphere

Details

Someone from this business manages this listing.

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CUISINES

Seafood, Mediterranean, European, Portuguese

Meals

Lunch, Dinner

FEATURES

Outdoor Seating, Seating, Parking Available, Television, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Table Service

Location and contact

R. de Fábrica, Vila Nova de Cacela 8900-019 Portugal

+351 281 951 467

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Details

Manage this business?

CUISINES

Seafood, Mediterranean, European, Portuguese

Meals

Lunch, Dinner

FEATURES

Outdoor Seating, Seating, Parking Available, Television, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Table Service

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3.0

758 reviews

Excellent

132

Very good

173

Average

108

Poor

117

Terrible

228

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Yes

JoMoura

1 contribution

Já não é o mesmo

Sep 2020 • family

The waiters seam to have amnesia (you ask for something several times and never comes to the table). The food is not the same anymore (we used to come here for several years, every year). They use now risotto ripe of rice for “arroz de marisco” and for “arroz de lingueirão”. It’s is not tradicional to use Italian rice for this typical dishes. The right rice is “carolino” completely different (perhaps they change, because cooking the tradicional Portuguese rice is much more difficult to cook the right way!) not the same restaurant has before. Not coming back

Written September 1, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Antonio A

Porto91 contributions

Amazing location, terrible service, tourist trap!

May 2022 • none

First visited this place almost 30 years ago. Nothing is what it used to be, apart from the location. Long gone are the days when this restaurant used to be a place of reference when you thought about Cacela Velha and the Fabrica beach. Like most of the Algarve restaurants it has became a tourist trap build on the old days reputation when this side of Algarve was a hidden gem. The service is some of the worse ive experienced. Employees have no will whatsoever or interest other then getting your money/tip, no knowlage about the food or about serving costumers. Always finding excuses to justify the bad service and attitude. The fish we had was average, the meat, clearly not fresh and the clams cooked the day before and warmed up just before serving (Carne de porco á alentejana). Other costumers were complaining about the same. Once we arrived at 15:15 and were informed the kitchen closed at 15:30, the answer from the waiter was that 15 min was not enough to cook a meal... When we asked to talk to the manager, he refused... With much sadness i Will not return, but that says little to the restaurant because he has no competition nearby and he relies on the massive tourism for his income. The restaurante also has become severely overpriced, the only positive point is the location.

Written May 16, 2022

Pirjo A

11 contributions

Lunch at Fabrica - Restaurant Marisqueira Fabrica do Costa

Oct 2022 • none

Restaurant had been completely rebuilt since my last visit. The waiter did not understand Portuguese dishes, which was as big let down. He did not know what was conquilhas - small clams that used to be the signiture dish of this place just on the waterfront where they used to grow oysters. The service was very slow and we had to catch the cutlery and napkins from the nearby tables ourselves. The prices were very high to the Portuguese standards and the service was not up to the pricing. However the food was good.

Written October 25, 2022

2 contributions

NICE LOCATION EVERYTHING ELSE A TRAGEDY

Aug 2022 • none

The worst dining experience ever in Portugal, a country I know well and love very much. the restaurant puts on such airs without having any reason to do so apart from a truly enviable location by the sea. Very confusing handling of orders (everything was very random, and we waited a lot more than tables that arrived after us). I ordered several dishes which arrived in the wrong order. the last one for my children I had to cancel because we were all finished by then. the clam’s cataplana actually has very few clams in it (tasteless), some prawns (overcooked) and most of the dish was a potato sauce. it's okay that the recipe is like this, but done that way I would have called it potato soup with some clams (the price however was clear Eur 50!). for the starter octopus’ salad, the same strategy is used: salad, onions and potatoes to give the dish some substance, and then a few pieces of octopus (I didn't count them but it would have to be done). but most surprising was the sardine dish I ordered. something happened that had never happened to me before and for which I am still “laughing". the plate arrived (later than agreed of course), I started to eat the first sardine (i think there were 5 or 6 in all), which was not bad finally, but a waiter arrived saying that the sardine wasn't for me but for another table/customer. with my mouth still full I replied that I had also ordered the sardine and that I had already started eating anyway. at first, they started saying that I had not ordered it, then they admitted that yes, I had ordered it but that they only had one portion and they had forgotten to tell me. at that point, leaving me stunned, they literally grabbed my plate off the table (plate with my cutlery on it, the rest of the first sardine eaten, and maybe even some of my spit) and took it away to take it (i hope after 'rearranging' it) to the unconscious another customer (evidently more important than me anyway). While I was asking for the (expensive) bill, at the next table been found a hair on the plate. The bill (the most expensive in 15 days in Portugal) I suspect also included the “funny gag" from the sardine scene ripped from the table. I was not seeking it but there was not even a vague sign of a discount (demonstrating the arrogance of the restaurant because it would have been a gesture of public awareness) but just some not very convincing excuses and the offer of a dessert. Dessert which I did not take for fear they would take it away to another table... Both the hair in the dish and the lack of a second plate of sardines can happen, but altogether it was really too much. Don't go, don't queue, tourism destroys everything.

Written August 18, 2022

Matilde G

3 contributions

Terrible service

Aug 2021 • none

We went there to have dinner with family and friends. We asked for "arroz de lingueirão" (razor clam rice) and when it got to our table we realized it was burnt. We politely sent it back and asked for a proper one, for which we waited for one hour. After that, the waiter came back with a slice of cake we asked for, and when we asked about the rice, we were told that the manager did not allow them to bring it because it did not smell like it was burnt. The manager was rude and there were multiple people walking around the kitchen, while cooking, without a mask even though it is a mandatory rule to wear one in every restaurant.

Written August 8, 2021

Carlos B

2 contributions

AVOID THIS RESTAURANT

Aug 2021 • couples

We chose a bottle of the best recommended Vinho Verde, when we asked a 2nd they had run out of chilled ones. The rice came almost without shellfish, which they added hurrying when we complained. Stressed service, apologizing all the time … Bill came with 2 wrong items in excess, which they corrected again when we complained (had we not a careful guest with us that makes a point on always checking the bills … ) Have been an occasional client of A Fábrica for 33 years, but to us it totally lost its charme and many of its values. Pity that this is such a beautiful spot on the seafront, one of the few things that they were not able to spoil.

Written August 11, 2021

HEHW53

93 contributions

Nothing Special

May 2021 • none

We had been recommended this restaurant and were very disappointed. The food was very average to say the least, prices high by comparison. Service ok, but the best part of it was that my husband was offered a wine to take away on promotion at €5 per bottle, which seemed fair. We had tried a glass of that wine at lunch and it was ok. Unfortunately they were unable to find more than one bottle, (my husband wanted to buy 6) so my husband told them that he would just take that one bottle: now wait for it: he was then told that as a single bottle the price was €17!!!!!!!!!!! Not a place we will return to and cannot recommend. What a shame, such a beautiful setting

Written May 4, 2021

Maria Inês

Portimao1 contribution

Old potatoes

Jul 2024 • family

High prices for quality. I ate a grilled chocolate, it was well cooked but a little ungrateful. The potatoes were old, I couldn't even eat them after tasting. The toilet was full of sand, despite being a restaurant on the beach, could have a little more careful, especially for the prices practicing this service could be more presented.

Automatically translated

Written July 28, 2024

Mario

London131 contributions

Turistic trap

Sep 2024 • couples

Estive neste restaurante muitos anos atrás e voltei recentemente, mas fiquei extremamente decepcionado. Logo que chegamos, nos ofereceram algumas coisas como se fossem cortesia, sem nos permitir ver o preço no menu. A garçonete nos perguntou se queríamos pão com manteiga ou outras coisas. Inicialmente, dissemos sim, mas logo percebemos que seriam cobradas. No entanto, não imaginávamos que uma pequena embalagem de 20 gramas de manteiga comercial custaria absurdos 2 euros! Os preços estavam excessivamente altos para o que foi oferecido. O sabor da comida era mais ou menos, nada especial, mas o que realmente deixou a desejar foi o atendimento: antipático e nada profissional. Não recomendo para quem busca uma boa relação custo-benefício ou um serviço atencioso. I had visited this restaurant many years ago and returned recently, but I was extremely disappointed. Upon our arrival, we were offered some items as if they were complimentary, without allowing us to see the prices on the menu. The waitress asked if we wanted bread with butter or other things. Initially, we said yes, but then realized they would be charged. However, we never imagined that a small 20-gram packet of commercial butter would cost an outrageous 2 euros! The prices were excessively high for what was offered. The food taste was average at best, but what really disappointed us was the service: unfriendly and unprofessional. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for good value for money or attentive service

Written September 8, 2024

José

Lisbon1 contribution

Experience not to be repeated.

Aug 2023 • family

We had a family dinner, ordered several starters, which were reasonable. The main course (specialty) razor clam rice didn't have any razor clams and it was terrible, my grouper steak was as thick as a slice of ham. We called the room manager who didn't want to know or listen. We paid a lot. A disaster, according to the waiter (Tiago) who was very friendly. I'll never go back there again.

Written August 19, 2023

Meander32303359334

4 contributions

Nonsense

Sep 2023 • family

Restaurant with a privileged view under the aunt. Decoration nothing special but beautiful view. Poor service, so-so food, crazy prices, both for what you eat, quality, quantity, and for the service. 4 we paid €175. Pay attention to the account. It must be checked, as it is not just tuna and butter that are charged unduly. We had up to 1 bottle of wine on our bill but they tried to pass it off. Anyway, the restaurant stands out for its views, which are priceless.

Written September 8, 2023

Pedro Melo

Lisbon239 contributions

Great spot but there's better

Sep 2020 • family

The spot is amazing and indeed an excellent choice when arriving from the beach. Good selection of seafood and fresh fish. On the other hand, there are better choices in the region and the price is way too expensive for the quality offered.

Written January 1, 2021

Rodrigo Silva

1 contribution

Incrivel❤️

Aug 2024 • friends

Excellent food, with excellent flavors. The sandwich rice was impeccable, the picanha was in the spot and the brown cod was with a peculiar but really interesting presentation. Very good. The staff are friendly and the location is very good.

Automatically translated

Written August 21, 2024

Freedom43214257512

1 contribution

Disgusting and Insulting tradition

Feb 2024 • friends

I'm Portuguese but my mother tongue is English and I need to express clearly how disgusting the food was. I'm actually so sick and tired of these places. Charge you as if they are any good and these stupid tourists let them get away with it. Cataplana de Peixe, with 1 type of fish that was full of scales and hadn't been cleaned of the muck inside. No normal potatoes in a Cataplana but sweet potatoes. Cooks in that kitchen just butchering our tradition.. have no business being there. Charging €55 for old fish and frozen prawns.. I will never go back. And quite frankly will not eat at a Portuguese restaurant for a while now. That's how much this restaurant put me off

Written February 27, 2024

Rui Craveiro

Ericeira6 contributions

Perfect symbiosis!

Sep 2023 • family

In contrast to recent reviews, my experience was great!! Arrival at the restaurant in the late afternoon, and with the fascinating beauty of the estuary clearly visible, until dusk begins. A fantastic setting enjoyed with the family. We started with a local shrimp, (small) very salty as we like, and accompanied with a locally produced white shrimp. Show!! Then the famous clam rice, which was delicious. This was our second visit to the restaurant, and we loved it. From the beautiful open view over the Ria, to the well-cooked food, and not forgetting all the friendly and helpful staff who passed by our table, I highlight and praise Aguinaldo for his contagious good energy and always present smile. 14-9-2023