It was at the traditional Mercado da Parede – which has been getting a long-overdue revamp over the past few years – that two of Cascais’ best-loved restaurants opened their doors on June 5th: Páteo do Petisco and Burguês. The launches had been in the pipeline for quite some time, with renovation works taking a couple of years to wrap up completely.
The Páteo group, which first opened Páteo do Petisco in Torre back in 2010 (and later expanded to Mercado da Vila), won a public tender to take over the spaces. “One of our strengths was having two distinct concepts,” Francisco Vidal, one of the group’s partners, told Time Out Cascais. “That way, the local council only had to deal with one operator.”
Mercado da Parede still runs as a traditional market from Tuesday to Sunday, with a butcher, fruit and veg stalls, a deli and a fishmonger. It was already home to a Padaria Portuguesa – with the local council offices of Carcavelos and Parede located just above – and now the space has welcomed two new foodie neighbours.
“We’ve got loads of regulars from around here who used to head into Cascais,” says Francisco. “Now they’ve got somewhere right on their doorstep – and Parede’s a lively area. It’s probably one of the most street-active neighbourhoods along the coast. There’s been a real boost in local population too, so it made total sense.” “We only opened a week ago, but it’s already been buzzing!” he adds. “Another big plus is that Uber Eats plays a huge part in our business nowadays. With these two concepts here, we’re now able to serve both Cascais and Oeiras – which is something we’re really excited about.”
The art of "petiscar"
The menus are exactly the same as in the original spots. At Páteo do Petisco, it’s all about classic Portuguese petiscos – just as the name suggests. Think peixinhos da horta (green beans in tempura, €8), garlicky fried cuttlefish with aioli (€10.20), sizzling garlic prawns (€12), pica pau (marinated beef strips) with skinny fries (€13.25), ovos rotos (soft eggs with chips and ham, €9.50), eggs with farinheira sausage (€7.50), slow-cooked moelas (gizzards, €9.30), padrón peppers (€7.80), flame-grilled chouriço (€8), or sautéed mushrooms (€9.50) – just to name a few.
If you’re after something a bit heartier, they’ve got you covered with full-on mains too. There’s the teclado (a grilled meat combo) with sliced potatoes (€14), aged beef (€29), the signature Bife à Páteo (€15.50), classic bitoques (€13.50), or secretos (juicy pork cuts, €14), plus a range of other steaks, fish and seafood dishes. And for the sandwich lovers, there are prego rolls to suit all tastes – whether you’re into beef, black pork, chicken or tuna.
Between two slices of bread
Right next door, in a similarly laid-out space, Burguês is all about burgers. And we’re not talking about your average cheeseburger. On the menu, the Alto Gabarito (€15) stands tall with 150g of beef, lettuce, tomato, queijo da ilha (Azores cheese), mushrooms, onions, bacon and a fried egg on top. Then there’s the Guincho (€13.60), with the same 150g of beef, plus lettuce, tomato, brie, mushrooms and cured ham. Or you can keep it classic with the Burguês (€10.90), stacked with beef, lettuce, tomato, cheddar, bacon and onion.
To kick things off, there are some all-American-inspired starters: chicken wings (€5.50 for 5), onion rings (€4.20 for 6), or breaded jalapeños stuffed with cheddar (€4.90 for 5). And if you’re keeping it light(ish), there are salads on offer too (€12.80). The new Páteo do Petisco seats around 80 people, with a counter, an outdoor terrace and even a TV to catch the footie. Over at Burguês, there’s space for about 40 diners. Francisco Vidal says it’s a long-term move: “We’re here to stay.”
As for what’s next, the group – which also runs Páteo do Guincho at Cascais Marina – might have more in the pipeline. “Right now we’re in a solid place and the goal is to keep growing,” says Francisco. “We’re always open to exploring new opportunities – whether that’s here, there or somewhere in between.”
Rua 31 de Janeiro, 6, Parede. Páteo do Petisco Mon-Sun 12.00-23.00; Burguês Mon-Thu 12.00-15.30, Fri-Sun 12.00-23.00