I read the other reviews and went there. After a very tiring day we almost gave up on the steep climb.There were only 2 families in the restaurant which is sad, because we all had very delicious meal. The staf was very nice, the food excellent cooked and a very nice open interior.

This restaurant located in front of the Old Cathedral in the old city is a real good surprise after the steep climb from the river. The reasonably air-conditioned room can seat few diners, both foreign and Portuguese. Service is excellent and unobtrusive. The quality of the food for the price paid cannot be beaten : excellent melon for starters, deliciously grilled sea-bass and above all stewed goat-meat in a sauce I would love to be able to make again at home. Delicious home-made cake to finish the meal. And finally the owner offered us a glass of old Port wine ! An excellent remembrance.

The restaurant was fully booked with private parties when we asked for a reservation. We were invited to come at 7:30pm before the groups. Greeted by the chef/owner, given a couple of options for main course, we were treated to a special private dinner. The house wine was very good, the dourado & pork loin were superb. And the individual attention made for a night to remember.

I had the impression - from the high, arched ceiling, the heavy wrought-iron light affair hanging from it, and the quiet, discreet service, which was great - that this was a very old establishment.

Anyway, I liked it a lot. Very good food. The dorado - a sort of fish - that I had on the head waiter's suggestion was PERFECT, and so was the half-bottle of wine I had with it (on his suggestion too).

Most of all I liked the quiet, restful atmosphere.

Many of the other people eating there looked as if they may well be teachers at the university, but if so it would obviously be different outside the academic year.

Prices maybe slightly higher than in other places, but still very reasonable.

(The position of O Trovador makes it particularly ideal for anyone visiting the old cathedral, Either tired after seeing the cathedral in the morning and not wanting to face more steep Coimbra streets quite yet, or arriving and discovering it's closed for a midday pause and you'll have to wait until it opens again in the afternoon, you can go across the street and sit down and rest for a while in O Trovador, and enjoy a very, very good Portuguese lunch.)