EAT | Portugalia, Lisbon

Portugalia -- the beef institution of Lisbon. If there is an iconic place to go and have a nice stake, fries and yummy buttery sauce it's Portugalia.

90 years ago, when it first opened, Portugalia was a bear factory and a beer-house -- place where you'd go to have a few beers, have a good time and eat some good stakes and amazing sea-food.

With the passing of time, it has evolved to a nice sit down restaurant, with  locations, and more recently it has even franchised allowing you to eat some of it's famous dishes at some malls around Lisbon.

The oldest restaurant is in the heart of the city, right along one of the main streets of Lisbon -- Av. Almirante Reis. And it's a restaurant full of charm. An old building, with big windows and big doors. Just stunning. It's actually the original location of the factory and of the pub. If you haven't yet, you must visit it.

I'd say that there are 3 dishes that you really need to try here :

- the very traditionally Portuguese Açorda, a dish made with bread and prowns. Really creamy and full of flavor.

- the also very traditional Bacalhau à Bràs , with shredded codfish, shoestring potatoes, and onions all bonded with eggs. Amazingly creamy and delicious.

- And of course: their very famous Bife à Portugalia. A stake (you can chose beef, pork or chicken) with their traditional -- and secret -- sauce. And this is what I always have. Always, of course, with a nice cold draught beer.

The stake is served in a clay dish, covered with this shinny, velvety, yellow sauce perfect for you to deep your fries or a nice piece of bread. I always ask for mine medium-rare and of course with a fried egg. It's so tasteful and yummy and make me melt on the inside.