André Freire, the manager of the beautiful Évora pousada, urged us to try a tavern called Quarta Feira (the Portuguese word for Wednesday). “It’s a special place,” André said with a smile. “There’s no menu; you have to trust Zé Dias, the owner, and go with the flow.”
As soon as we entered the restaurant, we became friends with Zé Dias. He moved to Évora from a village in Beira Alta called Quarta Feira, the name he used for the restaurant. Dias worked as a typographer until he opened this tavern 25 years ago with Luisa Batista, a great local cook.
Dias’ enthusiasm for food, wine and life in Alentejo is infectious. Everything he serves comes from people he knows well, from the producers of cheese and sausages to the maker of the clay pots that are integral to Luisa Batista’s cooking. When we asked Dias how he managed to convince Paulo Laureano, a renowned Portuguese enologist, to make the house wine for Quarta Feira, Dias replied “Of course he said yes; we’ve been friends for a long time.”
Our dinner started with slices of local sausages and prosciutto made with black pork from Alentejo. Then a warm sheep cheese seasoned with oreganos arrived, busting with flavor. Next, we had some wonderful mushrooms cooked in mushroom water, seasoned with olive oil, garlic and coriander. “The secret is all in the timing,” Dias tells us and we believe him because at this point we believe everything he says.
The meal’s main event was the house specialty: black iberian pork shoulder marinated in wine cooked slowly in a clay pot. It was so delicious that our taste buds scintillated with delight. The dessert was composed of dried figs, walnuts, cooked quince, and samplings of two conventual desserts.
The meal ended with a glass of licoroso from Herdade do Mouchão. This sweet wine with notes of fruits and spices was a perfectly simple ending to a simply perfect meal.
Zé Dias is a philosopher king who disguises as a tavern owner so that he can share with his guests the joy of living in Alentejo.
Taberna Típica Quarta Feira is on Rua do Inverno 18, Évora, tel. 266 707 530.
Salt of Portugal 
Sounds very good.
Reblogged this on The Portugal Years and commented:
This looks like a fun place to eat!
we were here back in November, walked in by chance and the thought of no menu was really scary but it was the best thing that happened to us in Portugal, we are still talking about this place, the food was so delicious, the treatment by staff incredible and funny. We love love this place, and hope to be back some day. and yes the wine was amazing!!
We had magical meal and a really wonderful night. We are so glad you enjoyed it too!
On our list for next visit 🙂
It is a wonderful place!
Amazingly good. I suggest, also in Évora, the Tasquinha do Oliveira.
Thanks for your suggestion. We will check it out!
Sorry you could not get into Botequim or Taberna Típica Quarta Feira. But it is a reason to return to Evora!