Hidden Gem: O Cesteiro

[dropcap]I[/dropcap]f someone offered to take you out to dinner in a shopping centre, you’d be forgiven for imagining greasy fast food, cafeteria style service and plastic cutlery.

However, in a complex off of Vilamoura’s marina is O Cesteiro, a fish restaurant which blows all of those preconceptions out of the water. After walking up a metal staircase and passing through an unassuming side door, you are greeted by incredibly friendly staff who show you the enormous selection of fish available.

From prawns to turbot to dorado, O Cesteiro is every fish-lover’s dream. First, you choose your seafood, then you choose how you would like it cooked – the staff will advise you on how to get the best out of your fish.

Although it can be pricy, you pay by weight, so you can choose exactly how much to spend! If, like me, you love fish but hate the bones, the staff will even fillet the fish directly at your table (they make it look incredibly easy!)

Not only is the food fabulous, the balcony has brilliant views over the marina, so you can see all the action whilst enjoying your meal. If you’re ever visiting Vilamoura, make sure you stop in at O Cesteiro – you’ll never get a better meal in a shopping mall.