Taste the Algarve in Gecko Bistro

When arriving at the restaurant, my eyes turned straight to the balcony, where I really wanted to enjoy my meal. With an amazing view through the golf course, the weather was great for having lunch outside.

With proper shadow, but still enjoying the fresh air, Manuel, the lovely restaurant manager, was in charge of my table, giving an amazing experience to me and the guests that I brought with me.

Let’s start

The meal started with a couvert, with bread, toasted bread and some crackers. To go with that, there was an amazing butter with garlic and herbs, as well as olives and tuna pâté.

After that, I asked for a Gaspacho or a Summer cold soup, as they like to call it, Gecko. Gaspacho is one of my favourite dishes to have, this way I may be a little bit demanding when tasting this dish in restaurants. This one definitely could win a prize. The combination of flavours was intense but still amazing. The amount of tomato and peppers was well balanced and it was not overly acidic, promoting a great tasting experience. To the soup there was added bread croutons, giving the Gaspacho different textures.

Main courses

When I read the menu, I decided that I would have fish for lunch, as the hot weather was really calling for a light meal, with flavours that could remind the sea.

I had braised corvina with lime and coriander risotto. When the dish arrived, it looked amazing, the corvina was placed above the risotto, and parmesan cheese was placed by the side of the dish, letting me add the amount that I wanted. The risotto was filled with flavour, without being extremely acidic. The combination of the lime with the coriander worked perfectly, but things only got better when I tasted the fish. The corvina was perfectly cooked and the texture of the fish was amazing. When combined with the risotto, the experience just became even better.

My guest also decided to have a seafood meal, having the shrimp “à la Gecko” served with wild rice, garlic, chilli, ginger and coriander. While it seems a wild combination of spicy seasoning, when tasted – because I stole a piece from my guest’s plate – the shrimp was not excessively spicy. The fans of piri-piri will enjoy this dish, which also has an Asian touch to it. The dish also had an amazing sauce that went really well with the wild rice that came with the shrimp.

Time for sweets

For desserts, I relied on Manuel’s decision to bring me the best option they have and all I can say is that his choice did not disappoint me. To the table arrived a passion fruit cheesecake and the Algarvian delight with medronho.

The passion fruit cheesecake had the right texture and felt like melting in the mouth. The cookie base was amazing. There was a passion fruit syrup really well-cooked, making the perfect balance between the sweet and sour flavours of the fruit. With blueberries and raspberries on top, this dessert was definitely something worth trying when visiting Gecko.

As someone from the Algarve, I was curious about this Algarvian delight. I can describe it as a fig and almond pie that had a little bit of medronho to add to the pie. I am not a fan of the drink, so I passed that part, but what I tasted was truly an explosion of great flavours. I love figs and I love almonds, and I also love this Algarvian delight. The combination of figs and almonds is well-known in the region and it worked really well on this dessert. The texture, the flavours and the thin sugary layer on top worked really well when tasted.

The chef’s inspiration

Chef Elisabete, when the meal was over, came to my table and explained to me that the idea of this new menu was to pay homage to the Algarve. The products are fresh and from local producers, enhancing the local economy and presenting to golf players and others, the flavours of the Algarve.

Besides the fish courses, people can also find on their menu meat options, as well as burgers and pasta meals. The restaurant also offers different types of risottos and a children's menu, making the restaurant adapted to all ages, and perfect for a family gathering. Those who follow a vegetarian diet will also find options in Gecko. Salads and toast are also part of the menu and this variety of meals provides a fantastic experience to every customer. For dessert, apart from the ones mentioned, people can also try artisanal ice cream, which also includes some vegan options.

Get a seat

Located in Espiche, the restaurant is really easy to find, just follow the indications to Lagos, then Espiche and when arriving in the town, people must follow the indications for “golfe”, which are in orange signs along the road.

To book a table, people can either contact the restaurant by phone at +351 282 688 270 or by email on gecko@espichegolf.pt

Currently, the Deputy Editor at The Portugal News, Bruno G. Santos, is really interested in national politics. With a degree in Journalism and Communication, he also loves to write about different topics like Portuguese culture, society and other current affairs. Press card: 8463. 

Bruno G. Santos