Where to get an authentic taste of Portugal in Pretoria

Whether you’re looking for Portuguese seafood at an upmarket eatery or in an intimate setting with tapas-style fare and platters, Pretoria has a wonderful selection of restaurants to satisfy your tastes, we chose our two favourites

O'GALITO CENTURION

Situated in Centurion Mall, O’Galito Centurion offers elegant dining in an intimate and relaxed atmosphere with its warm red and grey interior.

Tables are dressed with white cloths, and candle burners and faerie lights hang above folding doors that open up onto Centurion Lake.

O’Galito has an à la carte menu and focuses on seafood. For starters, try the fresh mussels in a creamy wine and garlic sauce, or charcoal-grilled Portuguese sardines topped with roasted green peppers, onions and olives.

For mains, the trinchado in creamy wine and garlic sauce with a touch of chilli, or the Portuguese-style ribs basted with barbeque or peri peri are mouthwateringly good.

If you prefer to share, the O’Galito platter with mussels, prawns, baby lobster, calamari, oysters and fresh fish is perfect for a group. Wash it down with a Portuguese  wine such as the refreshing Casal Garcia Vinho Verde.

Call 012-663-2016.

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CASA BOURGUESA

Located off Cliffendale Drive, Casa Bourguesa Tapas and Grill is a cosy 68-seater bistro-style restaurant – the 29th restaurant by husband-and-wife team, Claude Graham and Louise van Rensburg. It offers tapas-style dishes for a variety of tastes in a European cafe-style setting and is filled with quirky memorabilia from Claude's personal collection, including framed French magazine cover prints of the 1900 “Le Petit Journal”, and a Napolean bust.

To begin your meal, opt for the chicken livers grilled Portuguese-style (choose from mild or hot), and the Chouriço Assado, a grilled Portuguese sausage served on a ‘piggy’ dish, flamed in brandy. For mains, be sure to try the Portuguese chicken, grilled and basted with lemon and herb or peri peri.

The soothing international music, homely ambiance and extensive choice of meals make Casa Bourguesa Tapas and Grill ideal for a business lunch or family gathering. Be sure to grab a bottle of tasty homemade anchovy and olive tapenade on the way out.

Call 012-991-0781.

This article was originally published in Sunday Times Neighbourhood: Property & lifestyle guides. Visit yourneighbourhood.co.za, like YourNeighbourhoodZA on Facebook and follow YourHoodZA on Twitter.