Winery Opinery 4 -ish – Jolly Sailor

A wonderfully cosy little Portuguese run venue (the venue is little, not the people that run it, although we didn’t do the stand back to back thing so I can’t be sure) in the Quinta Velha estate that has a very welcoming roaring fire on these “freezing” Algarve winter nights.

For all the times we have been told by people that Cabanas closes down for December and becomes really quiet – they haven’t been to the Jolly Sailor on a Saturday – Christmas cheer oozing out of the sound system for all the punters lucky enough to be eating in there.

Restaurants love a mixed grill / grelhada mista out here and being the man mountain that I am, it is a challenge I can seldom resist – thus far this is streets ahead of the others I have tried so a doff of the Santa hat to the chef. The Boss was very complimentary of the fish pie as well. Washed down with another top notch Portuguese regional Alentejo wine – locals are always proud of the produce of the Douro region but not for me, stick to the Alentejo, better body of flavour and cheap as batatas frites.

Usual appreciation of those that help us with our woeful attempts at speaking Portuguese (tonight’s aide / victim was the brilliant Sylviani – normal spelling disclaimer applied) Unfortunately for her I don’t believe it’s the last time she’ll endure it