Loading...
Discover La Ricotta, a hidden gem in Porto's city center offering incredible value course meals. Enjoy authentic Portuguese flavors and cozy ambiance. Perfect for an unforgettable lunch or dinner in 2026!
Porto Restaurant Gem - La Ricotta
Wandering through Porto, I searched Google Maps for some promising restaurants near the city center.
That's when I stumbled upon this fantastic Porto eatery:
La Ricotta
Known for its incredible value course meals, offering delicious food without breaking the bank, I decided to book a table in advance using the Google app.
📍 La Ricotta
R. de Passos Manuel 18, 4000-381 Porto, Portugal
During my visit, La Ricotta was charmingly decorated with festive ornaments, hinting at the upcoming holiday season.
The restaurant isn't huge, but it's cozy and thoughtfully designed, feeling like a delightful little gem.
I arrived right when the restaurant opened.
While waiting for the doors to open, I carefully browsed the menu, deciding what to order.
The Full Lunch course, listed at the top, includes a starter, main, drink, dessert, and coffee.
You simply choose your preferred options from each category!
The price varies slightly depending on your main course selection, but even the most expensive option was only ~$31 (28.5 Euros).
Enjoying a full course, from starter to coffee, for under ~$32 is an incredible deal for a delicious meal in Porto!
I showed the staff member at the entrance the reservation confirmation email from Google Maps.
After confirming my name, date, time, and party size, I was welcomed inside.
It seemed like during opening hours, you could probably get a table without a reservation, but it's always safer to book ahead!
La Ricotta is spread across two floors.
The interior design and atmosphere were wonderfully cozy, making the dining experience even better.
Each table was already set with basic cutlery.
Following the staff's guidance, I settled into a round table at the very back of the first floor.
In Porto, it's common for restaurants to take drink and alcohol orders first (a Portuguese dining custom).
I started with a Heineken beer and a fresh orange juice.
Porto is known for its incredibly fresh orange juice everywhere you go!
When you order beer, the staff will even pour it into your glass for you.
While enjoying our drinks, the complimentary bread arrived.
As a city famous for its olives, Porto proudly serves them, and the staff even drizzles olive oil directly onto your bread.
They boast that it's an extra virgin premium olive oil.
Dipping the bread generously into the olive oil makes for a perfect appetizer.
Honestly, the bread in Porto is delicious everywhere!
Next, our two chosen appetizers arrived.
Spanish peppers in confit.
with Olives and Quail Egg (left)
This appetizer featured Spanish peppers, olives, tomatoes, and quail egg.
Eggplant. Mozzarella "di Bufala" & Rocket (right)
Between the two, the Caprese-style dish on the right with eggplant, mozzarella, and rocket was more to my liking than the Spanish peppers with olives.
I'm still getting used to olives, but I must admit, I kept reaching for them!
Then came the main courses.
Black Linguine Nero
~$24 (22.5 Euros)
Alcatra de Vitela E Tagliatelle (Iberian Veal)
~$26 (24 Euros)
(These prices seemed to include a small service charge.)
We ordered a black linguine pasta and an Iberian veal steak served with tagliatelle noodles.
I ordered based solely on the English descriptions on the menu, and both dishes were exotic yet familiar in a comforting way.
The black linguine included clams and shrimp, creating a refreshing and savory pasta dish.
At first, I wondered about the unique flavor, but I quickly devoured it!
The steak was perfectly cooked, and I finished the entire plate with the noodles.
A staff member approached and asked, "Would you like some cheese?" I immediately said, "Yes, please!"
You can never go wrong adding cheese to pasta; it just enhances the flavor beautifully.
Personally, I preferred the black linguine over the steak.
Stracciatella Italian Ice Cream w/Hot Chocolate
This dessert featured smooth Italian ice cream with hot chocolate poured over it.
It was the perfect sweet ending to the meal.
It's hard to describe the taste, but it was incredibly smooth and satisfying.
Panna Cotta w/Lemon Jam and Wild Berries
This panna cotta dessert was served with lemon jam.
As someone who enjoys tangy flavors, I absolutely loved this panna cotta.
Its pudding-like texture was so smooth that I finished it in no time.
And finally, coffee to conclude the meal!
Since I'm not a big coffee drinker, the strong, bitter taste (likely espresso) was a bit of a surprise.
But for coffee lovers, it would undoubtedly be a perfect finish.
I initially expected the bill to be based solely on the main course prices, but there was an additional ~$1 (0.5 Euros) added per menu item.
I checked other blogs and found similar charges, so it seems this is how prices are structured here, likely a small service fee.
Even with that, for two adults enjoying a full lunch course, including beer, the total only came to ~$57 (53 Euros)!
If you're looking for an excellent value course meal in Porto, I highly recommend La Ricotta.
It's conveniently located in Porto's city center, making it easy to find for lunch or dinner.
That concludes my review of La Ricotta, a must-visit restaurant in Porto!
The Full Lunch Course consists of a starter, main, drink, dessert, and coffee. Prices vary depending on your choice of main course, but you can enjoy all courses for less than ~$32, with the most expensive option being around ~$31.
Among the Full Lunch Course main dishes, Black Linguine is ~$24 and Iberian Steak is ~$26. These prices seem to include an additional charge of ~$1.
You can make a reservation in advance for Larricota through the Google app. However, during the restaurant's opening hours, it seems likely you can get a table even without a reservation.
An additional charge of ~$1 may apply per menu item. According to the article, two adults paid a total of ~$57, including the course meal and beer.
Discover more travel stories curated around the same theme.
Experience the magic of Porto from Jardim do Morro, a must-visit spot for incredible sunsets and sparkling night views. Grab a drink and enjoy the panorama!
Planning a trip to Porto in 2026? Discover why we chose Beiju Porto for our professional photoshoot, covering everything from booking options to pricing and our experience capturing stunning memories by the Douro River.
Discover the stunning Palácio da Bolsa in Porto! I'm sharing my firsthand experience and tips for booking an on-site guided tour of this architectural gem.
Explore Foz do Douro in Porto, where the Douro River meets the vast Atlantic. Stroll along the scenic coast, soak in local life, and witness unforgettable sunsets. Your perfect Porto seaside escape awaits!
Discover Porto's legendary Majestic Cafe, a stunning Belle Époque spot where J.K. Rowling found inspiration. Savor the famous Francesinha and soak in the historic ambiance of this must-visit gem.
Join travel blogger Melissa for an unfiltered look at Lareira, a highly-rated Porto restaurant. Find out which dishes delighted and which one left a distinctly 'salty' impression on her 2026 visit.
