Restaurant Polvo e Companhia

Located in Santa Luzia, a small village known as the octopus capital of the Algarve, Polvo e Companhia is gradually establishing itself as a must-visit spot for local cuisine enthusiasts.

restaurant specializing in octopus in Santa Luzia Algarve, the establishment offers several variations of this iconic product: grilled octopus, skewers, Portuguese style…

The overall atmosphere is simple, friendly, and lively. It’s not a fine dining restaurant in the strictest sense, but a place where you come to enjoy good food in a relaxed ambiance. Right next door, you find a well-known reference: Casa do Polvo.

comparison between Polvo e Companhia and Casa do Polvo Santa Luzia: it’s almost inevitable, as both addresses are geographically close… and in the minds of visitors. But Polvo e Companhia seems to have a clear ambition: to carve out a place for itself, and even more.

Why we chose this restaurant

Initially, it wasn’t a completely spontaneous choice. We had heard about it, knew that this restaurant had good reviews, and in fact, we came to Santa Luzia with the idea of eating there… the idea was confirmed with a little click. And that moment arrives late in the afternoon, as we pass by the restaurant.

A server comes to see us, smiling, with a few jokes, a natural approach. Nothing forced. Just human.

We exchange a few words, talk about the restaurant, mention the idea of coming back in the evening… and without really realizing it, the desire settles in.

how a restaurant makes you want to go in before even entering: that’s exactly what happens here. A few hours later, we are at the table.

Does this restaurant really deserve its reputation?

Our experience on site: atmosphere, setting, and first impressions

We arrive early in the evening, with that typical April chill. Very quickly, we make a simple choice: it will be inside.

pleasant restaurant in Santa Luzia even off-season indoors: the room is large, well arranged, and above all comfortable. You can tell that the place was designed to accommodate people without losing quality. The hanging lights cast a warm, slightly orange hue, creating a cozy atmosphere. A few decorative elements adorn the walls without overdoing it. We feel good. Naturally. And then comes that moment…

“I thought it would be much more elegant…”

The menu completely contrasts with the rest. Photos of dishes, simple layout… a little unexpectedly kitschy side.

restaurant menu with photos simple and quirky ambiance: surprising at first, but ultimately quite endearing, it’s frankly something that is done a lot in Portugal, choosing photos of dishes to include in the menu. It’s true that you see less of that in France and when you do, it’s a bad sign!

The dishes: the real moment of truth

The Portuguese style octopus for Xavier

The dish arrives in a deep plate, covered with a shiny red sauce. Inside: grilled octopus, opened clams, olives, herbs.

octopus dish Portuguese style rich and flavorful sauce: visually, it’s generous and inviting. In the mouth, the cooking is perfectly controlled. The octopus is tender, never rubbery, with that slight grilled taste that adds depth. But the real highlight… is the sauce.

I made a mistake: I had already eaten all my bread with the appetizers.

Impossible to properly scoop up the sauce. Immediate frustration. So I grab the few remaining fries to not waste this sauce… but clearly, I would have liked to keep my bread!!!

The octopus & shrimp skewer for Caroline

A suspended skewer, almost staged, immediately catches the eye. Tentacles of octopus and shrimp alternate, slightly grilled and glistening under the light.

grilled octopus and shrimp skewer visually spectacular: a dish as beautiful as it is generous. The cooking is well controlled. The octopus is tender, the shrimp provide a different, firmer texture. The whole is balanced.

“Honestly… I didn’t think I would say this, but it’s really good!”

Caroline and the octopus: a gradual awakening

Caroline hasn’t always liked octopus. For a long time, it was even a block, especially because of the appearance. But since we’ve been living in Portugal, she has always said:

“One day, I would like to like this.”

Little by little, she started tasting from my plate. A piece here, another there… until she got used to it.

first time she orders an octopus dish at a restaurant alone: that night marks a turning point. And clearly, it works. The octopus is tender, accessible… and above all pleasant.

As if something had unlocked.

Our opinion on Polvo e Companhia

In Santa Luzia, we must be honest: there is octopus everywhere. Good, less good… there’s plenty to drink and eat. But here, we are clearly at the top of the game. As a big octopus lover, I can say it without hesitation:

I place it in the HOT category of good octopus dishes in Santa Luzia.

Well-controlled cooking, present flavors, generous dishes… the whole is coherent. Add to that a warm welcome and a smooth experience, and you get a solid address.

Are we going back?

✔️ Yes
✔️ Without hesitation

For the quality of the dishes, for the atmosphere, but also for one thing:

Eating outside, facing the lagoon, on a warmer evening.

restaurant to eat octopus with a view in Santa Luzia Algarve: next time, it will clearly be on the terrace.

Just for that… we will go back.