Demystifying Tascas
I remember when I first moved to Lisbon, I would walk past these tiny restaurants with bright, doctor's-office fluorescent lights, paper tablecloths, and a TV in the corner blasting a football match. To my American eyes, they looked "unpolished." I’d keep walking until I found a "nice" restaurant with English menus, dim lighting, and expensive mains.
Looking back, I realize I was missing out on the best meals in the country.
That first place I ignored? That was a Tasca. For us English-speaking immigrants, the Tasca is the holy grail of Portuguese dining. It’s where you find the most honest...