If it weren’t for the decoration of the entrance, it would perhaps be difficult to find Dom José, located as it is in a residential neighbourhood, but the tranquillity of the surroundings goes well with the family friendliness of Nelson and Carla, the siblings who run this well-known restaurant in Bombarral. This friendliness serves as a counterpoint to the majestic formality of the portrait of the king who, no doubt willingly, lends his name to the establishment.
If King José reigned during one of the most extraordinary periods in Portugal’s history — that of the 1755 earthquake, which stunned the known world —, you can be sure that the only earthquake you’ll feel at Dom José is on the palate. Having spent time in England, with visible repercussions on the sweets, the owners source fish, meat and vegetables from the Oeste region to create different flavours that are as genuinely Portuguese as their skill at hosting.
After checking out the carefully curated wine list and getting your stomach comfortable with the black pork belly, Iberian ham, and olives — which, along with the savoury bread, are never missing from the table —, indulge in the scrambled eggs with farinheira or the fresh mushrooms sautéed in olive oil and garlic.
Then, well, then you have to choose. The fame of the feijoada de porco preto (stew of beans and black pork) helps you make up your mind, not least because at this stage you’re already planning a return, but the panadinhos de maruca (breaded ling fish) with bean rice and tartar sauce, and the risotto negro (black risotto) with squid, prawns, and coriander are second to none.
The menu includes culinary gems such as prawn curry with basmati rice and pappadum; garlic squid with potatoes and vegetables; prawn açorda with coriander; boneless rabbit fried in olive oil, garlic, port, chestnuts, fried potatoes, and vegetables; lamb chops fried in olive oil, garlic, and rosemary with fried potatoes and vegetables; sirloin strips with fresh mushrooms, cream, fried potatoes, and fried egg; and, because some people are always up for it, Portuguese-style steak with fried potatoes and egg.
Desserts are not just the conclusion of a well-tasted meal, but an experience in their own right. From the house sweet — caramel mousse with cookies and almonds — to the suspiro with fresh strawberry syrup, indulge your sweet tooth with the apple tart with ice cream, the trouxa de ovos (‘bundle’ of eggs), the chocolate mousse with almonds, the farófias merengadas (meringue) in the oven with egg jam, the coconut cake with hot chocolate, the orange tart, or the bread pudding with chocolate chips and ice cream. And if you think we’re just praising the desserts for the sake of it, you should know that the success of Dom José’s chocolates has already led to the creation of its own brand.
The conclusion is easy: a visit to multiply many times over to one of the friendliest and most successful restaurants in the Oeste region.
