Bar Nelson Leiteira

Empty chairs at empty tables — usually a good reason to give one pause when choosing a restaurant, but like the previous reviewer, I felt sympathy for the owner so I stopped in for dinner.
I’ll have to say the bass was pretty good, the soup was good but not great, and I was somewhat put off by the cold, day-​old bread. Moreover, the service was what really put me off, also cold and day-​old. I tried to make eye contact with the owner, and later with a young waiter I assumed was his son, using gestures, smiles and the very few words of Portuguese I knew. Their response: mostly cold indifference. A homeless man came in begging for a bite to eat, and was greeted similarly: cold indifference. Must be a template they developed.
One can only speculate as to the reasons for this sharp contrast to the warm hospitality I’ve experienced everywhere else in Lisbon. Restaurant in receivership? Life has gone on long after the thrill of living has gone? I’ll surely never know the answer, but perhaps a kind local with a similar sense of sympathy can stop in and gently draw out the answer and provide some friendship.

Um pequeno café, onde gosto de ir beber o meu cafézinho, e vez por outra almoçar ou lanchar. Tenho que admitir que frequento este espaço mais pela simpatia dos donos, do que propriamente pelo ambiente.
Um típico café português, muito frequentado pelos idosos do Bairro Alto. A cozinheira faz toda a comida numa cozinha minúscula, estando o café quase sempre cheio à hora de almoço.
A comida que mais aprecio neste café são sem dúvida as bifanas e as maravilhosas sopinhas caseiras.
Os pratos do dia variam entre peixe e carne, mas nunca são os mesmo. É chegar lá e perguntar o que há.