What It’s Like to Eat at Tasca Baldracca in Lisbon
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Discover what it’s like to eat at Tasca Baldracca, a modern restaurant in Lisbon. This restaurant review includes photos from multiple meals as well as practical information.
In a town that was previously lacking a solid middle ground between luxury and lunch pail dining, Tasca Baldracca epitomizes the kind of restaurant where we love to eat. With its smattering of four-top tables and a funky black-and-white stenciled mural, this tasca (tavern) feels more like a hip, modern dive bar than a culinary temple.
But don’t be deceived. The food and service at Tasca Baldracca are both top-notch.
Despite its seemingly simple atmosphere, Tasca Baldracca’s three Brazilian owners have serious chops. Pedro Monteiro honed his skills at Taberna Sal Grosso, Via Graça and Fábrica da Musa in Lisbon while Bruno Gama was a go-to kitchen specialist for Lisbon’s ubiquitous Chef Kiko. Then there’s Octavio Delmonte who brings big-time Spanish chops from his experience in kitchens in both Northern Spain and Costa Brava including a stint at El Celler de Can Roca in Girona.
Planning a Lisbon Trip?
Book these early. Lisbon is a popular destination.
- Food Tours: Undiscovered Lisbon Food & Wine Tour with Eating Europe or a Food & History Tour of Baixa and Chiado with Devour
- Local Experiences: Lisbon food experiences with locals on Airbnb or Devour’s Bairro Alto food and wine tour
- Day Trip: Sintra, Cabo da Roca and Cascais tour from Lisbon
- Places to Stay: Hotels at all price points or an Airbnb apartment with a kitchen
- Rental Car: Rent a car for trips to destinations like Comporta and the Alentejo. There’s no need to drive in Lisbon.
With the trio buzzing around the dining room while carefully keeping their eyes on the kitchen, their experience and dedication to serving excellent food are both impossible to miss. However, it all came together for us when Daryl recently wandered by Tasca Baldradca on an unusually hot Lisbon afternoon.
Monteiro, who was holding court with his cohorts that hot day, took time to chat. He shared that he’s lived in Lisbon for nearly a decade and has had a front-row seat to the evolution of Lisbon’s dining scene. For him and his partners, this tasca is an extension of their nearby home.
Food at Tasca Baldracca
Tasca Baldracca serves excellent versions of Portuguese classics with little twists from Brazil. We’ve rarely eaten better polvo (octopus), and, considering the general excellence of the cephalopod served everywhere in Lisbon, that’s quite a feat.
The tasca also serves an outstanding arroz de pato (duck rice) with a crunchy caramelized bottom, nicely fried yet rich moelhas (gizzards), a daily selection of fresh fish and a version of lamb tartare that tartare-obsessed individuals (i.e., Mindi) can’t resist.
We often skip the selection of bread and spreads that define the typical Portuguese couvert. These bites typically involve a small charge and don’t add meaningful value to the dining experience. This isn’t the case at Tasca Baldracca.
During our initial visit, the opening bites featured a lip-smacking wine-spiked chicken liver pâté and fried olives. Artisan bread from Lisbon’s Millstone Sourdough provided an ideal platform for those goodies. In recent visits, the chicken liver pâté has been replaced with an excellent spiced cream cheese, but we say bring back the pâté!
Thoughts About Tasca Baldracca
Tasca Baldracca’s owners make us feel like honored guests every time we break bread at their crowded, popular space. Sometimes, they take a few minutes to share an after-dinner drink with us. If you’re lucky, they’ll do the same with you.
We often wonder how long restaurants will continue offering family-focused hospitality as they evolve past their ‘newness’ into a state of maturity. However, we’re not particularly concerned about the future of Tasca Baldracca or its neighbor O Velho Eurico. Both are leaders in the emerging breed of modern Lisbon tacscas and both have bright futures that we’ll be watching with close eyes.
Tasca Baldracca is located at R. das Farinhas 1, 1100-177 Lisboa, Portugal.
💡 Frequently Asked Questions
Reservations are a must at Tasca Baldracca. You can email the restaurant at [email protected] to reserve a table. If you live in Lisbon or are staying nearby, you can alternatively stop by in person to request a reservation.
Tasca Baldracca’s a la carte menu is moderately priced. At the time of our most recent visit, plate prices ranged from €8 to €17. As always, prices are subject to change.
No. Tipping is optional in Portugal.
Tasca Baldracca doesn’t have a dress code. Feel free to wear whatever makes you happy.
Depending on where you’re located in Lisbon, you can walk or take a bus, metro, car share or taxi. We typically walk up the stairs from Baixa to Mouraria, which takes us less than 5 minutes.
The restaurant recommends four dishes for two people. We agree with this recommendation, though you can order more or less depending on your appetite and budget.
🇵🇹 Lisbon Travel Checklist
Check out our guide to eating in Portugal as well as our picks for the best Portuguese foods and the best Portuguese desserts before your trip.
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