Santarém, Portugal
Ó Balcão
Set within a reimagined tavern adorned with striking tiles, the restaurant marries heritage and innovation, spotlighting pike, barbel, and catfish—often delicately salt-cured—to honor the ecosystem from which they are sourced. Signature plates such as the coscorão do rio até ao mar, a crisp, ethereal pancake layered with both salt- and freshwater fish, and the velvety “cremoso” of river crab and crayfish reveal a precise, sensitive hand. For those who seek authenticity without compromise, Ó Balcão offers an intimate encounter with Portuguese terroir, where river and season determine the rhythm of a sophisticated, singular meal.
