Lanterna Velha

[Gary/Gaynor]

You know when you play up a restaurant because you've never had a bad meal there then you recommend that someone have a meal and it's rubbish, well happened to me. Mum, bless her nearly 80 and her elderly two sisters arrived CVO last night, staying at our apartment so decided to have a first night meal there. First offered Covert they didn't want but got charged for it even though they didn't touch it. Had the Portuguese fish dish TERRIBLE!!! Mum knows good fresh fish as she is the daughter of a Swansea fisherman (my granddad) Overdone fish, veg not fresh and totally overpriced for what they had and the service they had. She is old and didn't want to make a fuss so won't blame her, whereas I would have, sorry but I'm vocal on these thing and do not suffer bad food bad service gladly...... They paid and left. Mum is a regular visitor to CVO over the past six years with us but first time on her own with her sister and really wanted the make an impression by taking sisters out for a lovely meal. Do you think that some restaurants are cutting costs by dropping standards? I have noticed on some I'm afraid. To me restaurants on The Hill, should offer the best they possibly can as they are in a prime location with competition. We have never had a bad meal there before and neither has mum before, this makes me so damn mad as there is no excuse on this earth for poor quality food served at any restaurant. I know people will defend CVO restaurants to the death but there are limits and even I am starting to question some of them.
Rant over, sorry
Gaynor

[Canada]

I agree! Had halibut last March and it wasn't halibut..... overdone too. It used to be many years ago, although it is the same owner, think they are not attending to business. Will not go back either.

[EMM]

We used to rate this place as well but I think it suffers from the " summer syndrome " because of its location etc it is always busy in the summer and like so many does not try that hard.
We regular visitors soon delete places like this from our list of preferences once we have a bad experience.

[Barry]

We have not been back in two years following a bad experience. Having spent the evening being totally ignored by the owner, who was so distracted by his Dutch visitors, that we had to ask three times for the bill, I went home and was seriously sick after eating what I assume was a dead clam (or two) in the pork and clam dish I had ordered. There are better alternatives.

[sam]

We have always liked this restaurant, good food, good service, reasonable price. Went there last September. My meal was usual standard, but my mum had fresh fish, and said it was OK, clearly not very impressed. Perhaps they have forgotten how to cook fish?

[dj sull]

The food has always been good at Lanterna Velha and you get plenty of it. My only complaints would be that because we have a young toddler we are always stuck in that dark, depressing alleyway down the side of the restaurant with the wendy house at the back rather than the veranda at the front. Also, the last couple of times I've popped in to book a table I've been confronted by a young, surly waiter who looks at you as if you should feel privileged to be talking to him.

[Katie&Chris]

After recently visiting Carvoeiro, we ate twice at Lanterna Velha, the first time was on the second night of our stay. We didn't arrive to eat until well after 9.30 and it was emptying. We both are a fan of fish so hoped that the dishes that we picked would be excellant. We ordered Garlic Mushrooms and the Prawn Flambe for starters, the mushrooms were covered in garlic, but as I am a fan, I didn't mind. And the King Prawn Flambe was good, quite bland but the prawns were good. For main we ordered the Grilled fish kebab, with boiled potatoes and salad and the Seafood Rice. The fish on the Kebab was lovely, salmon, Haribut, Squid & Prawns, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Chris had the Seafood Rice, which contained many differnt types of seafood, it came in a large dish, rice at the bottom, the the sauce (spicy) mixed with the seafood over, Chris loved this dish,there was plenty and very tasty. After visiting here we mentioned it to a few friends, so when they suggested going back a few days later, 13 adults and 6 children, seemed a good idea. As there was alot more of us we were seated downstairs, next to the kitchen & the bar, very dull and out of the way! As I'd recommended the food we had, a few of our friends decided to try these dishes, but I have to say, the food wasn't nowhere near as good as what it had been the night we went. Whether they had a different chef, it was busier or they just rushed all the meals, I really don't know, but this time it was average. Good resturants should be consistant with quality, however busy it might be. I would rather wait that little bit longer for dishes and it be worth it, than it arrive quickly and the quality be sacrificed. Two of the guys ordered the Seafood rice but istead of having their own dish it was sent in one very large dish, but sitting at either ends of the table, this wasn't the best, however they did say it was excellent. The service from the waiting staff was very cold, no interaction with anybody, we felt rushed and, sometimes like an inconvenience. I may visit here again if there was just two of us and it wasn't busy but if there was a few of you I'd probably go elsewhere.

[Canada]

It is too bad that the place has changed so much. The staff used to be very friendly and attentive and the food was always consistant. One weekend , several years ago, the ATM machines were all down and we had no cash and they didn't take credit cards. When we told them, they said no problem come in another day to pay (we had been there before so were not total strangers). As it turned out friends of ours were there at the same time and lent us cash until the machines were working again. We always remembered that time and have eaten there often..... but this year there was no excuse for the shoddy food etc.

[Sprocket]

I must disagree with the negative comments that I have read, Myself and my family have been to Lanterna Velha numerous times over the last ten years, and the food has always been of a very good standard and I particularly enjoy the fact that they serve fresh vegetables with the main courses instead of the usual chips and salad that the most of the restaurants serve. The service has always been good even in the height of the season when it is very busy. As for the comment about the seating arrangements when young children are in the restaurant, I find this very accommodating, being a mother of 2 small boys, it is lovely to be seated away from the busy road and to have a childrens play area so at least I can relax for a little while when I am eating. 10 out of 10 for me everytime!!!!!!!

[Canada]

The owners of this restaurant used to be 2 very tall young Dutch boys. They have since parted ways, now one has Lanterna Velha (and since they both look alike) one of them now owns Oasis. Hope it doesn't go down hill too.