Tres Palmeiras - Alcoutim

We’ve been coming to Tavira since 2017 but have never been by Três Palmeiras when it was open until today! What a great meal! 4 perfectly grilled fish, grilled bread, potatoes, salad, olives and fresh bread. We were offered fruit and coffee for dessert, but declined so much food! I was doing a happy dance the whole time I was eating the fish it was incredible!

We noticed Tres Palmeiras when we were looking for our guest house. There were many people waiting we noticed billowing smoke coming from the BBQ. After we checked in, we went to have a nosey around 230pm. Had thought it was BBQ chicken they were serving but turned out to be fish. We had a look at the menu where there were different seafood dishes from about 10€. The restaurant was quite quiet then the BBQ pit didn't seem to be smoking so we went back another day. Read the TripAdvisor reviews in the meantime and it seemed customers are just asked for drinks orders and are served mixed fish with sides and the meal ends with fruit. All sounded very random cool and we were looking forward to it. We turned up around 1230 one day and the whole place was heaving with the restaurant full of diners and many more waiting around/ queueing. We didn't know the system so joined the queue but approached one of the staff and were told to write our name on the board alongside the number of the diners. More and more people turned up and more names were put on the board! You have to be around when they call your name or you lose your place, so it's all quite tense! We translated another sign through an app which explained they specialised in grilled fish and didn't have cuttlefish maybe just on the day? Also said they don't serve soup, which was funny : It was around an hour later before we were seated and able to order. Staff brought boiled potatoes, salad, olives and a few slices of bread. We asked how the system worked she explained we can have mixed fish or we can order off the menu and choose the fish we wanted. We decided to stick with the mixed fish and got two types of fish alongside two slices of grilled bread with a chilli garlic oil so tasty!!! There were two good sized fish per person so there was than enough to go around and alot more than you would get at other restaurants. Not sure what fish we got might have been a dourada/ bream and something else but all were cooked to perfection!!!! The skin was not overly charred and was nice and crisp. And the flesh of the fish was flaky tasty. The fish were lightly salted but there was nothing else, not even a slice of lemon, so you can really taste the flavour of the fish in all its glory. It was really, really excellent!!! Simply the best grilled fish we have ever had : We were offered dessert/ coffee/ fruit at the end and having seen the baskets of fruit in the restaurant and TA reviews, decided to ask for the fruit. Everything was fresh there were 3 pears, 2 flat peaches, 3 oranges and 1 apple in the basket and we had everything except for the apple a couple of oranges. The real surprise came when we got the bill. We weren't sure how much it would be as we didn't ask for the price when we ordered but it all came up to 26€ for two, including drinks. So the sides, fish fruit came up to only 11€ per person!! That is amazing value for the quality quantity of food we got! No wonder locals and tourists alike flock there. We were tempted to return for dinner that day but couldn't really eat alot more and when we drove past around 630, people were already waiting! We spent around 2 hours eating and some people who were seated way before us seemed to be there alot longer and weren't rushed. The nice thing about the place is it's unpretentious rustic, and they let the food speak for itself. Staff are nice and efficient and in spite of the popularity, weren't arrogant or standoffish in anyway. If we had been in Tavira longer, we would definitely have visited again though it would have meant spending three hours of our day on the meal lol. Tres Palmeiras is definitely recommended if you want the best grilled fish you would ever have at an unbelievable price! Don't miss out on this exceptional restaurant!! Your tummy will thank you for it!!

Cycled past this restaurant, my better half loves fish, so we stopped, its very basic and rustic, that's not a problem, there was a large number of people waiting to get in.. The food was fine for my better half, but I struggle with bones. The portions were generous and I did enjoy what I had.. Staff very friendly and the food is really freshly cooked. Excellent value

Great for fish lover s to eat not vegans) traditional grilled BBQ) fish, at reasonable/ cheap prices. Locals not many tourists, and be prepared to queue if not early. Fact locals queue, is sign how it is valued. It's proper food not looks pretty tastes bad, it tastes great, but if you can't use your fingers be happy to spend twice as much for material table cloth, cover charge and pricey wine.

Returned after meaning to go back for years , not disappointed set menu for €10 as described in previous reviews. Not for those who like their fish filleted . Authentic experience