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Back when she was young and playing in the Praça do Junqueiro garden, Catarina Branco was far from imagining that she would one day be feeding this lively Carcavelos block, now packed with shops and restaurants. Today, she is the owner of 7Roots, a restaurant born out of the desire to create a space that brings together the best of Portuguese gastronomy with the warmth of a welcoming bar.
The idea first emerged a few years ago, together with her husband, Luís Segura. Initially, they planned to open the space as a bar, but the concept quickly evolved into what it is today. “We started thinking about the idea of eating petiscos and drinking over several hours, in the same place. That’s something we really love about Portuguese culture, and we wanted to create a spot where people would feel comfortable doing exactly that,” Catarina tells Time Out.
Choosing Praça do Junqueiro was no coincidence. Catarina lived there for many years, in the nearby Riviera Condominium, and felt the timing was right to invest in a place that was both familiar and meaningful. “I lived here for many years. It felt like the right moment, so I decided to invest here.”
The 7Roots concept revolves around Portuguese petiscos, highlighting traditional dishes made with care and quality ingredients. Catarina explains that the connection to national cuisine came not only from personal taste, but also from the background of head chef Fábio Tarik, a long-time friend well versed in preparing classic dishes. “All these factors came together, we joined the dots and opened this space.”
Standout dishes include cheese boards (€10.90) and mixed boards (€11.90), alheira croquettes (€3.50), ovos rotos (€8.90), pica-pau (€11.90), grilled cured cheese (€5.90), but the real star of the petiscos section is the bacalhau à 7Roots – cod served in cubes with peppers and onion.
Among the main courses, you’ll find pork cheeks with sweet potato purée (€13.90), confit octopus tentacles (€16.90), a vegetable curry (€11.90) for vegan diners, and the dish Time Out tried and recommends: Portuguese-style beef fillet steak (€15.90).
Desserts follow the same comfort-first, no-fuss logic that defines the rest of the menu. Options include Oreo cheesecake with lime zest (€4.90) and a vegan passion fruit dessert (€5.50) – made with a cashew and agave base and topped with passion fruit and seeds – lighter and fresher, in line with the restaurant’s effort to cater to different dietary needs.
Beyond the food, 7Roots also has a strong bar component, overseen by Luís Segura, creating a relaxed atmosphere that invites guests to linger. “We wanted to embrace that very Portuguese idea of welcoming and looking after the customer.”
The drinks menu features a range of cocktails, including the house signature, 7Roots (€7) – made with orange, lime, rum and egg white – as well as classics like the Negroni (€8), Blue Lagoon (€8), caipirinha (€7.50) and caipirosca (€7.50). The idea is a complete experience, where you can come for lunch, dinner or just a drink, unrushed, with continuous opening hours until midnight.
Looking ahead, the goal for 7Roots is to establish itself as a true home for its guests – a place where people feel good and build their own connection to the restaurant. “Above all, I hope we can create a home for our customers, where they feel comfortable and share positive feedback. We want to build a business with real roots here.”
7Roots, Praça do Junqueiro 7 (Carcavelos). Tue–Sat 12.00 PM–12.00 AM; Sun 12.00 PM–3.30 PM.
If you’re on a roll discovering what’s new on the Cascais food scene, keep going.
From Miski, the Peruvian spot on Rua Amarela bringing ceviche, quinoa and chicha morada straight from the source, to Smashville, the smash-burger phenomenon that took over Lisbon and TikTok and has now landed at CascaiShopping, there’s plenty more worth tasting around town.