LOCATIONIn the central hub of Kensington; undercover parking available off Doncaster Avenue.
PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIASet your tastebuds upon the fiery flavours of Portugal at Kensington’s very own piece of the western European nation, Angelo’s Portugalia. This well-dressed restaurant offers a taste of traditional Portuguese cuisine in a buzzing, family friendly atmosphere. Silver-haired Europeans share a joke in a massive mural on the back wall, which rubs shoulders with an illuminated ceramic wine rack. The enticing aroma of chickens roasting over coals permeates the large space, turning heads to the open kitchen which flanks one side. The little ones will love watching the chefs perform their wizardry over the flames; lure them back to the table with an order of grilled Portuguese sausage and diced garlicky chips.
The meat-focused menu veers from steaks to seafood, and burgers to salads, with creative presentation and bursts of spice. Meat is dressed up and delivered with Portuguese pizzazz; a prime example being the espetada – certified prime grade Angus beef, seasoned, skewered and grilled over flames, then delivered to the table on massive sticks from which diners can carve their meal. The signature frango de churrasco is equally tempting; free-range, hormone-free chicken is butterflied and basted in Angelo’s special marinade then flame-grilled over charcoals. Chanfana comes equally well-prepared. A shoulder of lamb is slow-roasted in a bath of red wine, onion and garlic until tender, then let to rest in its tangy mix of Mediterranean spices and served in a terracotta dish with boiled potatoes. Marry your meal with a glass of Portuguese red and a deliciously decadent Don Pedro dessert for button-popping satisfaction. Opened in late 2008, Angelo’s Portugalia trades seven nights a week, and lunch Wednesday to Sunday.
Lauren Barker, February 2009