Portuguese Feast At Bairrada Churrasqueira

There’s nothing quite like discovering a hidden patio. Especially one as lush, spacious and unpretentious as the one at Bairrada Churrasqueira on College St. A few years ago, I walked by the unassuming grill house and decided to poke my head in. A small glimmer of light guided me through the narrow restaurant to their backyard oasis. I remember feeling like I’d walked through some kind of portal; the picnic tables shaded by towering trees transported me to Europe. As memories of beer gardens and European terraces surfaced, my focus shifted to the lively diners (the majority of whom were Portuguese). I immediately knew that I had stumbled upon a local gem and have been a regular ever since…

Although Bairrada Churrasqueira has been around for more than two decades, I know many people who have yet to experience their magical patio. My photog was one of those people so I took her there this past weekend. We snapped some photos, shared a great meal and watched the Champions League final together (Bairrada also happens to be one of my favourite places to watch football games). It was our first patio date of the season so we kicked it off with some sangria…

For appetizers we ordered the Queijo Fresco (a fresh, mild Portuguese cheese) and Chouriço à Bombeiro (Portuguese smoked sausage). Served tableside over flaming bagaço (moonshine), the sausage is one of their most popular dishes. It’s crispy on the outside, has just the right amount of spice and is a great appetizer to share with the table.

Like all cuisine, Portuguese food varies from region to region. But there’s one thing you’ll find on virtually every menu: seafood. There’s all kinds of fish and shellfish to choose from at Bairrada – from Bacalhau (codfish) to clams. The standouts are the sardines, seafood platter (shrimp, mussels, clams, crab and lobster) and the shrimp. Everything is fresh and grilled to perfection. Only one complaint: our shrimp wasn’t deveined! That’s definitely a no-no in my books.

You can’t visit Bairrada without trying their famous Frango no Churrasco. The BBQ chicken is marinated in their special sauce, cooked over a hot grill and served with delicious parisienne potatoes. But it’s their house-made piri-piri that takes the classic Portuguese dish to another level. It’s not too spicy and incredibly addictive: reason alone to visit the resto.

While I devoured my carnivorous feast, the lovely staff at Bairrada whipped up a vegetarian-friendly plate for my photog: potatoes, rice and veggies topped with the delicious peri-peri (she too fell in love with the mouthwatering sauce).

Oh and we tried Sumol for the first time. We really liked the passion fruit and pineapple flavours. It tasted just like candy!

Overall we had a great lunch at Bairrada Churrasqueira. The staff are genuine (they treat everyone like family), the food is tasty and the drinks are uber cheap (can’t really find $5 cocktails in Toronto anymore). But what really sets this restaurant apart is their magical patio. For a mini escape from the concrete jungle, I highly recommend grabbing a group of friends and heading to their backyard oasis!

Special thanks to Bairrada Churrasqueira for hosting us. As always, all reviews and opinions are entirely my own.