Mercearia do Século | Restaurant

Hands down this was the BEST food I experienced in Lisbon on my first trip to the city. After a little workout of a walk up the street, we relaxed with a few drinks before dinner as we waited for a table. The establishment seats around 18, but the wait was well worth the dining experience. The food was incredibly flavourful revealing a food palette I never knew existed. It also helps that the owners of the establishment are a sweet couple that are passionate about their business. They're very kind and enhanced our meal experience. I can't recommend this place enough: 6/5 if I could rate it.

Make reservations in advance. Two reasons why. First, there is limited seating (I'd also like to add that this restaurant best suits couples or small groups). Second, the food is just great (and you know how quickly good news spreads)! Start with the beetroot & strawberry gazpacho, it's just like a yummy nutritious combo fruit smoothie! We noticed that the octopus with sweet potato purè and greens was popular with fellow diners so that was a no brainer (see, that's how good news spreads quickly!). The taste of the  traditional codfish stew rounded it all out with it's good old homecooking style goodness. This restaurant seems to be run very ably by a couple distinguished both by their congenitality and efficiency. The ambience resembles more someone's sitting room at home than a swanky restaurant. That and the wonderful food are MDS's biggest cachet.

My wife and I ate here during the last night of our trip to Portugal and I wish we hadn’t have waited because it was our favorite meal. We ordered the sheep’s cheese, octopus entree, chicken entree, and 2 desserts. Everything was just astounding. The food was authentic as was the service from start to finish. I can’t say enough wonderful things about this place. I highly recommend it to everyone.

I think this must be the best and the most honest restaurant in Lisbon, where both the owner and the chef in the tiny kitchen have refined the blend of spices and the combination of colours, taste and ingredients. As a starter we shared a memorable sheep’s cheese with a red bell pepper marmalade. Unusual and fantastic. I had the Polvo with tasty vegetables and mashed sweet potato, which was SO delicious. My husband had a vegetarian dish with eggplant, and he loved it. We finished with a most delicious chocolate cake.

This tiny restaurant was our best meal in Lisbon. The owner is a delightful woman who cooks during the day and serves at night. There are only a few tables and you must make a reservation. The food is authentic Portuguese served with a smile and lots of love. Not to be missed. A true hidden gem!