Article A Culinary Journey to Portugal in the Heart of Germiston
Mundo Português Restaurant A Culinary Journey to Portugal in the Heart of Germiston.
Nestled in the serene suburb of Primrose, Germiston, Mundo Português Restaurant offers an authentic Portuguese dining experience that transports you straight to the vibrant streets of Portugal. From the moment you arrive, the establishment’s charm and warmth make you feel like part of the family.
Ambience and Atmosphere
Safety and comfort are paramount at Mundo Português. The restaurant provides secure, boomed-off parking monitored by security personnel, ensuring peace of mind for all patrons. Upon entering, you’re greeted by a breathtaking interior, adorned with air-conditioning and stunning wallpaper that captures authentic Portuguese scenery, setting the stage for an unforgettable dining experience.
Service Excellence
The phenomenal waitstaff are both friendly and exceptionally knowledgeable about the menu. Their attentiveness is evident from the moment you arrive until your departure, ensuring that every need is met with a smile.
Generous Portions and Value
Mundo Português is renowned for its extremely generous portions, offering amazing value for money. Each dish is a testament to authentic Portuguese cuisine, prepared with passion and precision.
The Hidden Gem: The Secret Bar
A standout feature of the restaurant is its “secret” tucked-away bar. This intimate space, designed to resemble an underground wine cellar, boasts a few tables, creating a cosy atmosphere. The bar features a gorgeous custom-built steampunk-inspired coffee machine, filling the area with an irresistible aroma. The coffee it brews is world-class and simply amazing.
Dessert Display
A table displaying a mouth-watering selection of freshly prepared desserts is a delightful touch. At the end of your meal, these desserts are brought to your table for selection, adding a personal and indulgent conclusion to your dining experience.
Culinary Delights
Starters
- Cabeça de Lula Frita com Maionese da Casa: Crispy deep-fried salt and pepper squid heads served with a lemon-infused mayonnaise dipping sauce. Each bite is perfectly seasoned and fried to a golden hue, offering a crispy exterior that yields a moist and tender interior bursting with flavour.
- Beef Trinchado: This authentic, flavour-packed dish features perfectly seared, melt-in-your-mouth tender cubes of well-seasoned rump served in a rich wine and garlic sauce. Accompanied by fresh bread to soak up the moreish sauce, it’s a 10/10 experience.
- Lulas Grelhada: Masterfully grilled calamari tubes, tender to the tooth, served in a delicious Portuguese lemon butter sauce which enhances the natural flavour of the calamari, perfectly pairing with the olives.
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- Lulas Grelhada
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- Beef Trinchado
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- Cabeça de Lula Frita com Maionese da Casa
Mains
Choosing a main course is a delightful challenge, given the diverse menu featuring seafood, steak, chicken, and a broad selection of freshly prepared authentic Portuguese daily specials. There’s a dish to satisfy even the fussiest of eaters.
- Galinha (Mozambique Peri-Peri Chicken): This full flame-grilled authentic dish is the juiciest, most flavoursome chicken we’ve ever tasted. With just the right amount of heat and an indescribable depth of flavour that permeates the entire bird, it leaves one speechless. The chicken is served with options of rice, vegetables, chips, or a combination to suit your preference. The chips are perfectly fried and seasoned—crispy on the outside, and light and fluffy on the inside. The savoury Portuguese rice soaks up all the juices, resulting in a one-of-a-kind flavour-packed gravy.
- Maruca Grelhada (Grilled Kingklip): The best piece of fish we’ve ever had. The unique seasoning creates the most amazing crust across the fillet while searing it. The rich flavours from their seasoning rub penetrate deep into the Kingklip’s flesh, which flakes with the slightest touch. Not a single bone was found in the entire fish, showcasing the attention to detail in its preparation. Served with blanched fresh seasonal vegetables, still retaining a decent crunch and vibrant colour, it was the perfect side to accompany a perfectly prepared piece of Kingklip. The portion size and value for money are unbeatable.
- Bife à Portuguesa: A steak served with a fried egg on top and chips, with the option to include a piece of ham and cheese in addition to the egg. The generous portion of the rump is perfectly basted and flame-grilled to the perfect temperature. The accompaniments are a marriage made in flavour heaven. The egg, prepared sunny side up with a soft yolk, oozes its golden goodness over the steak, elevating the flavour to new heights. This steak could easily rival, if not surpass, those we’ve had at high-end fine-dining steak speciality restaurants.
Each main course is a masterpiece, and it’s evident that this level of excellence is standard, as we heard every single table passing along compliments. This was authentic, unsolicited honest feedback.
Throughout our entire dining experience, there was a constant buzz and an incredible atmosphere of happiness and pure joy throughout the entire dining room. Regardless of where or which table we looked at, there were smiles, laughter, and people just enjoying themselves in an incredible environment.
Desserts
The selection process was torturous, as all the scrumptious desserts looked out of this world delicious. We finally managed to settle on these choices:
- Pastel de Nata: If you haven’t had a Pastel de Nata before, stop what you’re doing right now and get some. These authentic Portuguese custard tarts are in a league of their own. Biting into one feels like cutting through a million layers of the most crispy and buttery pastry that then gives way to a smooth, silky, and sweet custard—the combination is the stuff dreams and legends are made of. If we could have ordered and indulged in a million of these, we would have.
- Pudim de Ovos (Crème Caramel): This choice instantly transported us to our childhood. We couldn’t have imagined ending a perfect meal with a more perfectly prepared and presented dessert. We couldn’t help ourselves from wiggling the plate to watch the Crème Caramel do its jiggly dance.
- Bolo de Bolacha Maria com Natas (Maria Biscuit and Cremora Tart): To be honest, we’re extremely disappointed in ourselves for not having tried this years ago. Move over, Malva Pudding; there’s a new dessert king in town. We couldn’t get enough of this and devoured the whole thing before anyone even had a chance to ask. With layers that provide the perfect crunch followed by creaminess, it was just perfect, and we can’t wait to go back and have this dreamy dessert again.
After our meal, we retreated to the “hidden bar,” where owner and restaurateur Paulo Loureiro gave us a masterclass in authentic Portuguese brandies and cognacs and how they can be masterfully paired with freshly brewed espresso. This type of one-on-one interaction is truly unique and what makes Mundo Português Restaurant a one-of-a-kind establishment with hospitality that is unmatched in the industry.
Following the incredible time we had at the restaurant bar, we headed upstairs to the more casual “Sports Bar and Dining Section,” where we sat on their massive open-air outdoor seating area overlooking the beautifully maintained. We were joined by the other owners, Robyn and Amandio Martins Cordeiro, who shared the history of the grounds while serving up some of the most refreshing gin cocktails.
We sipped on our drinks as we watched a picture-perfect, Instagram-worthy sunset—talk about the ultimate way to end an already perfect dining experience!
The conversation flowed effortlessly, as did the incredible hospitality. We could not have asked for or even imagined a more flawless way to wrap up what was truly a world-class culinary adventure.
If you’re searching for an authentic, unpretentious Portuguese dining experience, set in a stunning location, with remarkable service, unbeatable prices, and generous portions—you’ve found it! Just don’t be surprised if you bump into us there, because we’ve also found our new happy place!
We would like to say a special thank you to Paulo Loureiro, Robyn and Amandio Martins Cordeiro, and their entire amazing team for an unforgettable dining experience.
Mundo Português Restaurant is truly in a league of its own, offering everything from outstanding food to top-tier service in an atmosphere that feels like home.
We look forward to visiting many more times and raising our glasses with you again soon! 🙌
Make sure to check out their website and social media platforms for more information, and don’t forget to take advantage of their incredible offerings and upcoming events!
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