Em Lume Brando

Tucked away from the beach area of Salema, this restaurant surprised us in the best possible way, giving us a high-end dining experience without any of the fuss or pretension. The monkfish and octopus were both exceptional - creative, balanced, and full of flavor. Each bite felt carefully thought out, from texture to seasoning to plating, and genuinely impressed us. Also, the service is worth a highlight as it was simply impeccable: warm, attentive, fast without feeling rushed, and at the same time incredibly professional. It’s clear the team here takes real pride in what they do and sets a high standard. This place is special so I would recommend, if you’re nearby or are able to drive to it, make the reservation and you won’t regret it.

- Raluca Oda -

This is a fantastic place. Exceptional food and great experience. Staff are friendly and lovely and had a great chat with Chef João. The food will make you want to go back again. Fully recommend.

- Sean Callanan -

Totally the best service in all the aria around. Food is perfect, drinks are amazing, but the gentleman serving our table is doing the great job, he did our day

- Katerina Ch -

Difficult 5 stars for me. I wondered whether to give 4 stars instead. Outstanding appetizers and desserts but main courses fell a little short. The place is a nice corner in this resort village by the sea. Quiet area with nice greenery around. The outside seating area is a must ( I recommend reservation if you want to guarantee outdoor seating). Service is 5 stars. We tried 3 appetizers and 3 desserts and they were first class. For the mains the ribeye steak was medium well instead of medium rare. The lamb was overdone and lacking in taste. The fish and octopus were good. My recommendation for 2 people would be to order everything in the appetizer and dessert section and share the main dish. I wanted to deduct a star for the mains but considering the rest of the meal and the service with reasonable prices by international standards, I decided to go for 5. Recommend if you are in the area.

- Raymond Libaad -

Genuinely the best meal I’ve had in my life. The pumpkin appetizer was delicious, the octopus entree was incredible, and I would highly recommend the French toast with wine braised peaches and ice cream. The only upsetting part of the experience was that we waited until our last night in the area to try the restaurant. We would have happily eaten here multiple times!

- Nicholas Schultz -

One of the best restaurant experiences I've ever had. It was so good, we went back a second time while we were in Salema! Friendly service, amazing food, and great atmosphere. Highly recommended.

- Jeff Doolittle -

Best meal I had in Portugal. Staff was friendly, food was elevated and delicious. Wish I had come earlier so I could go back more times to try everything! Recommend over all restaurants in Salema!

- Elizabeth Moore -

The place was excellent. The terrace is in a sheltered area, so even with a bit of wind, it wasn’t too cold. The menu clearly indicates dietary restrictions, such as whether a dish contains gluten or dairy, which was very helpful. The wait was manageable, and the waiters were professional. They even brought us a beetroot gazpacho as a complimentary starter, which was delicious. The food was unique and very well-prepared. The strawberries for dessert weren’t what I expected, but they were surprisingly good. The bathroom was unisex but very clean. All in all, a great experience.

- Claudia SPAGNOLO EMPARANZA -