Avenida - Mertola

We enjoyed eating here. The prices were fair, the service was very good and the food was good. Right on the plaza but on the opposite side of the main road so it is not too loud. Definitely worth a stop if you are in the area.

Located just off the roundabout near the bridge that crosses the river, it's not the most inspiring of places to look at inside or out but it's excellent value for money. As with many Portuguese places it's a cafe come restaurant where you're as welcome to sit and have a coffee as you are to have a full meal. We ate here twice at the end of September from the Prato do dia menu and I'm working from memory for what the meals were called in Portuguese so it might be slightly wrong. On day one I had Portuguese style pork and my partner had Frango a casa at 6.5euro each and on day two we both opted for Bitoque de frango at 7euro each. Portions are huge and not fine dining but simply presented and very very tasty Portuguese fare. With wine at 5euro for a litre jug we had two each day and the beer is 1euro/bottle. The olives were not the best quality so maybe give them a miss and the bread was quite dense and crusty (the same as we remembered it from five years ago) but it only adds a little to the bill. The staff we met did not speak English but this was no problem even for us with limited Portuguese. If you want fine dining try elsewhere but for good wholesome value for money food and drink then this hits the spot.