O Fado

I was looking for an authentic Portuguese restaurant to take my Dad to as he is only in London for one night. I was worried about taking him to O Fado after reading mixed reviews, but it turns out I made the right choice. The food was delicious and the prices were reasonable considering it is in Knightsbridge. There was live Fado music/ singing and the traditional decor created a great atmosphere. The family who own the restaurant were friendly and welcoming and made a genuine effort with all customers in the restaurant. Overall, I was impressed and will definitely return. Following on from the comment below...there is a 12.5% service charge added to the bill (as standard in most restaurants and it does state this on the menu) but we had no problem paying this and more as we had such a lovely evening.

Disappointing experience.
Fairly priced for being in Knightsbridge. However the staff managed to ruin an OK night by adding again service charge on our bill, when the menu clearly states that all prices are inclusive of 12.5% service charge. Genuine mistake? I somehow doubt it. If your prices are service charge inclusive your cash register should not even have the option to add it on the bill.

I chose to spend New Year’s Eve at O Fado.
My wife is half Portuguese and I thought it would be a good surprise for her.
It was. From beginning to end, everything was well organised and the atmosphere was great.
Food was superb and in good portions and the service was amazing. We were entitled to 5 courses, aperitif, digestive, champagne and a bottle of wine per person.
The entertainment started with a guy playing romantic music followed by folkloric dances, then Fados and then live music to dance.
It was undoubtedly a very complete menu and entertainment program for a good price.
We both ended up having a wonderful evening. I will go back for the quiet ones now.

I read mixed critics about O Fado. I wondered why some people just loved it while others would be disappointed. And I wondered on which side would I be.
I’m a food lover, so food is where I lay my opinions on about a restaurant. In O Fado that is impossible.
Established 40 years ago, maybe that’s why it has so much character. A character of its own that is different from any other restaurant in London. Maybe because it’s Portuguese, not English, not from anywhere else – Portuguese to the soul.
Maybe that’s why the mixed reviews. Like a person. Some like it, some don’t.
But going to O Fado can’t be just about the food, that I actually thought it was excellent, but about the whole experience. Food, service, music, atmosphere.
I loved it.

My friend and I dined at Ofado last night and left rather disappointed. After reading the reviews, I was quite excited about trying some of their traditional Portuguese dishes. We started the meal with the fried squid (Portuguese style) and traditional codfish cakes which were both delicious. However we didn't expect the fried squid to be calamari rings nor did we expect our waiter to take back our fishcakes after realising we were given too many. The dish was taken away after we both had one each and then given back with two fishcakes on it. We were given six portions incorrectly as we were only supposed to have four. I just can't believe the waiter took away the dish! So the disappointment continues with our main course - my meat dish rather tough and chewy, and my friend's fish dish quite oily. The food was expensive for what it was and it really let the restaurant down, so I definitely won't be returning.

I’m a professional musician and I’ve heard that there was this restaurant with Live Portuguese Music in Knightsbridge that I needed to check down. I took my girlfriend as I’ve been advised the room had a quite romantic feeling, and I do think I’ve gained some points on my relationship with her. While enjoying the grateful to the senses Portuguese starters, we’ve been asked to do some silence during the performance that was about to come, “as it was done in a Lisbon house of Fado”. The incredible singer didn’t really deserved to be singing in a basement, as she was remarkable, but at the same time, she was giving the comfy house an aura of uniqueness that made for instance my girlfriend cry in admiral on the end of the first song. As from my musician point of view it was like going to a really good concert with good food at the same time. To my girlfriend it was a fine restaurant with an amazing singer as bonus. Both of us had a great night out. l should go there again to ask her to marry me. I can always count on the singer to put her already on a sensitive mood and take advantage of it.

Have you seen their new menus and website?
Each menu is different showing pictures of various Portuguese references. Really interesting and unique, you are travelling on the country learning about its culture, while you choose your food and a really enjoyable food, by the way.
I just wanted to check all the menus, but I’ve restricted myself to the ones on my table.
As I arrived home I’ve checked their website and I was not deceived. I will return to it, every month for the recommendations about Portuguese culture. And I will return to the restaurant on every occasion I can. Nice way of learning a country. Through its restaurants, abroad.

A friend told me about this place so i took my friends for my birthday dinner. I had a warm welcome as soon as we arrived and the atmosphere was really good, the only problem we had was what to choose from the menu as there was so much option. We had a big suprise when a lady started singing traditional portuguese songs with guys playing guitars(later we found out that its called fado hence the name of the restaurant), later in the evening they went on to play romantic tunes. We ha a really great time, the food was excellent, the atmosphere superb and we will be back