Daniel Restaurante – Home-style Portuguese Cuisine, Porto
Monica Tindall
One of the coolest things about hanging out with winemakers (besides fabulous company and great wine) is the “in” to restaurants that do both food and wine extraordinarily well. Finding authenticity off the tourist path with locals with similar expectations of a gourmet experience is priceless. One such example that Gil Frias, Commercial Director of Grupo JMV, shared with us is Daniel Restaurante in Rio Tinto.
As tourists in Porto, we’d never have found this place. While it’s only a 25-minute metro ride away (or there’s plenty of street parking if you prefer to drive), it’s far from the historic district, so something that would be unlikely to pop up on your radar. Unless, of course, you follow blogs like this one that often has a gourmet insider, ensuring we’re well-informed.
The front room exudes charm, adorned with dark wood and photographs, but those in the know seek out the garden patio. A stroll through the main dining area and backroom reveals a hidden garden not apparent from inside.
Daniel Restaurant is run by the husband and wife team, Daniel and Theresa. The third family member, their gorgeous Labrador Bill, sits quietly in the garden out the back, knowing he must not ask for food but doing his darned best to seduce with innocent eyes, hoping someone will give in and break the “don’t feed the dog” rule.
Daniel Restaurante Menu
The cuisine at Daniel Restaurante is described as traditional Portuguese cuisine – “mommy’s home food” – dishes you’ll only find here or in your own Portuguese mother’s home. It embodies the traditional way of welcoming guests, offering a cosy, friendly, and familiar ambience with slow-cooked dishes, a rarity in today’s dining scene. The menu, featuring one meat and one fish dish daily, is printed on the back of a business card. Gil, who has been coming here for the past two decades, jokingly claims they might have served him more meals than his own mother.
Daniel Restaurante Wine List
Daniel Restaurante proudly features local wines, and we begin with a lovely white from Douro. The Borges Quinta da Soalheira Branco 2022 is a delightful blend of Viosinho, Rabigato, Côdega, and Gouveio grapes. It offers vibrant citrus and subtle floral aromas, followed by a refreshing and balanced taste. The wine’s elegant character shines through, accompanied by a well-rounded acidity. This versatile white wine is a perfect choice as an aperitif or to accompany seafood and salads, enhancing the dining experience with its fresh and harmonious profile.
Starters
Within minutes of arrival, a selection of appetizers graces our table. Codfish, combined with flour and parsley, is transformed into delectable fritters known as “patinhas de bacalhau.” A simple and refreshing salad of large tomato slices, lettuce, and rings of white onion accompanies the fritters. Additionally, a platter of local cold cuts and cheese confirms the love of cured meats and dairy so profound in this part of the world.
Mains
With the main course, we move to the Borges Quinta de São Simão da Aguieira Encruzado 2022, a single-varietal Encruzado. Its nose exhibits a refreshing and youthful character, unveiling tropical fruit aromas. With further exploration, hints of lime and fennel emerge. This wine demonstrates elegance and a full-bodied presence on the palate, complemented by well-balanced acidity. It culminates with a persistent finish that lingers.
The main course consists of a generously-sized shared platter of succulent roasted beef – some of the juiciest we’ve encountered. The Barrosã breed comes from the north of Portugal and even has its own protected geographical status of DOC. Theresa marinates it for one and a half days in wine, garlic, and herbs before slow-cooking it for three and a half hours in the oven. Resting atop a bed of roasted potatoes cooked in the meat’s savoury drippings, it offers a traditional and filling experience. A side of white rice, a staple of Portuguese cuisine, is also served.
Dessert
To accompany dessert in this city, Port is a must. It’s rare to find white Port in our part of the world (Malaysia), so we’re delighted to try Borges’ Soalheira 10 Years White Porto. It showcases a radiant golden colour with a complex bouquet of roasted nuts, honey, and gentle spices. A harmonious interplay of sweetness and acidity on the palate creates a well-balanced sensation. The scents initially detected on the nose persistently unfurl, offering a lingering and gratifying conclusion to the tasting experience.
For the sheer enjoyment of it, and thanks to our wonderful host Gil’s penchant for answering all of our inquiries with tangible examples, we also indulge in the Borges Soalheira 10 Years Tawny Port, a blend of Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Barroca, Tinto Cão, and Tinta Roriz grapes. Its reddish-blonde hue first catches the eye, trailed by aromas combining the warmth of wood and the essence of fruit. Upon tasting, the wine reveals an abundance of dried fruits, delivering a sweet and lingering finish. This Port makes an exceptional dessert partner, and I can easily envision its compatibility with various cheeses.
A luscious Torrié coffee pudding awaits us – a delightful combination of egg yolks, sugar, milk, two shots of Torrié coffee, and caramelised condensed milk. Prepared in a pressure cooker, it offers a smooth texture and a hint of sweetness with a light coffee kick.
Rabanadas, a Portuguese Christmas dish resembling French toast or bread pudding, is also served. The bread is soaked in milk and egg, flavoured with cinnamon and lemon, and accompanied by a red Port sauce. Theresa, the chef, joyfully declares, “Every day is Christmas at Daniel.”
We savour Matateus, sweet almond and coconut puff pastries, and a Torrié coffee espresso to round off the meal. The story goes that the pastries were named after a local football hero around 50 years ago when they were first invented.
Friendship & Wine Go Together
Because it’s our first meal together, and we’ve struck up a good conversation with the restaurant owners, Daniel surprises us with a bottle of Fita Azul Reserve Brut Nature Sparkling to celebrate. After all, new friendships, accompanied by good food and wine, are always worth commemorating. The Portuguese bubbly unveils an elegant and full-bodied experience. Crafted with a blend of Gouveio, Malvasia Fina, Côdega de Larinho, and Arinto grapes, employing the traditional Champagne method, this sparkling wine offers a smooth mousse and good volume. Its structure is commendable, and the bouquet showcases floral scents mingled with enticing white peach and brioche aromas.
Reasons to visit Daniel Restaurante: authentic Portuguese cuisine; only one meat and one fish dish to choose from, so there’s no pain in decision making; lovely family feel; well-chosen wine list; meet Bill the Labrador; choose the garden patio.
Daniel Restaurante
Rua do Mendalho, 149 445 334 Rio Tinto
Porto, Portugal – Link to Google Map
+351 224 801 369 or +3519935670
Daniel Restaurante Opening Hours
Monday to Saturday: Lunch & Dinner
Closed: Sunday
Find more recommendations for gourmet travel to Portugal here and stay up-to-date with the latest gourmet and travel recommendations here and here.
Another lovely cosy place! That Barrosã Beef looks so good!