Who has the best Portuguese food for Day of Portugal? Try one of these SouthCoast spots
June 10 is Dia de Portugal, or Day of Portugal.
Celebrated by members of the Portuguese community all over the world, it commemorates the death of Portugal’s epic poet Luís de Camões.
He is the author of Os Lusíadas (The Lusiads), an epic poem celebrating Portuguese history and the country’s role in the Age of Exploration during the 15th and 16th centuries. It’s often compared to works like the Aeneid or the Odyssey.
Camões was an adventurer in addition to being a poet. He survived a shipwreck, which is true, but part of the folklore surrounding him is that, while escaping the wreck, he saved Os Lusíadas by swimming with one arm and keeping the other arm, which held his work, above the water.
Because his date of birth is unknown, Portugal celebrates him on the anniversary of his death.
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Thankfully, anyone on the SouthCoast who wants to celebrate Day of Portugal need not survive a shipwreck to do so, or even compose a Homeric poem.
The SouthCoast is home to a vibrant Portuguese community, with immigrants from the continent as well as all of the islands, who brought their culture here with them.
You don’t have to go far to find a good Portuguese restaurant.
As folks in Greater Fall River, New Bedford and Taunton gather for annual Day of Portugal festivities, they will surely have their pick of classic feast fare — from caçoila (marinated pork) to steak sandwiches to chouriço and peppers on a papo seco (Portuguese bread roll). But while you're in the area, why not explore more authentic Portuguese cuisine at local eateries.
There is certainly no shortage of tasty options.
Here's a list of some Portuguese restaurants from around the SouthCoast — in no particular order — where you can celebrate Day of Portugal with an epic meal:
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FALL RIVER
Marisqueira Azores Restaurant | 1445 South Main St., Fall River | http://dineoption.com/MarisqueiraRestaurant
Caravela Family Restaurant | 637 S Main St., Fall River | https://www.caravelafallriver.com
Sagres Restaurant | 177 Columbia St., Fall River | https://sagresrestaurant.com
Caldeiras Restaurant | 990 Pleasant St., Fall River | https://www.facebook.com/caldeirasrestaurant
Estoril | 1577 Pleasant St., Fall River | http://www.estorilrestaurant.com
Terra Nostra Restaurant | 262 Rodman St., Fall River | https://www.terranostrarestaurant.com
Mesa 21 | 21 Lindsey St., Fall River | https://mesa21fallriver.com
T.A. Restaurant | 408 S Main St., Fall River | https://tarestaurant.us
O Gil's Restaurant & Bar | 915 County St., Fall River | https://www.ogils.com
Clipper Restaurant | 455 S Main St., Fall River | https://www.facebook.com/TheClipperFR
Fall River Grill | 363 2nd St., Fall River | https://www.fallrivergrill.com
BarCa Restaurant | 85 Columbia St., Fall River | https://www.facebook.com/BarCaRestaurantes
Avo's Feast | 1601 Pleasant St., Fall River | http://avosfeast.com
Liberal Club Restaurant | 20 Star St., Fall River | https://www.facebook.com/liberalclubrestaurant
Twins Restaurant | 374 Miller St., Fall River | https://twinsrestaurantma.com
Sousa's Café | 1234 Bay St., Fall River | https://sousa-s-cafe.my-free.website
Mister Chicken | 652 Bedford St., Fall River | https://www.mister-chicken.com
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NEW BEDFORD
Antonio's Restaurant | 267 Coggeshall St., New Bedford | https://www.antoniosnewbedford.com
Alianca Restaurant | 98 Cove St., New Bedford | https://aliancarestaurant.com
Cafe Portugal | 1280 Acushnet Ave., New Bedford | https://www.facebook.com/Cafe-Portugal-348438405359249
Churrascaria Novo Mundo | 98 County St., Suite C, New Bedford | https://www.churrascarianovomundo.com
Nuno’s Restaurant & Lounge | 436 Belleville Ave., New Bedford | http://www.nunosnewbedford.com
Tia Maria's European Cafe | 42 N Water St., New Bedford | http://www.tiamariaseuropeancafe.com
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SOMERSET
Piri Piri Kitchen | 970 County St., Somerset | https://piripirirecipe.com
SWANSEA
![Piri Piri Kitchen's Portuguese burger. [Herald News photo | Colin Furze]](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/nLHxXBljn5VKpv8dAQGdfg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/the-herald-news/48e247faf28d2e061efcde3dfbb325b2)
Cornerstone Bakery & Restaurant | 1713 GAR Highway, Swansea | https://www.cornerstonebakery.net
TAUNTON
The Pearl | 76 Weir St., Taunton | https://www.thepearltaunton.com
Taunton Eagles Restaurant | 29 Oak St., Taunton | Call 508-828-1904.
Taunton Sports Club Restaurant | 33 Baker Rd. W., Taunton | https://tauntonsportsclub.com/tsc-restaurant
TJ’s Diner | 4 Alger Ave., Taunton | https://bit.ly/3xlEyuT
TIVERTON
Barcellos Family Restaurant | 1214 Stafford Road, Tiverton | https://www.barcellosfamilyrestaurant.com
Spring Primavera Restaurant | 118 Main Road, Tiverton | https://www.springprimaverarestaurant.com
WESTPORT
Portas Da Cidade | 231 State Road, Westport | https://www.portasdacidade.com
This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Day of Portugal Portuguese food in Fall River, Taunton, New Bedford
