ERICEIRA TRAVEL GUIDE

Portugal is a nation of fish-eaters, with sardines, mackerel and the famous bacalhau (dried, salted cod) reliably on menus in all types of restaurant. Pork dishes are also common, such as spicy chouriço sausages and pork and bean stews. The Portuguese adore their sweets and pastries, and a visit to a pasteleria will reveal all sorts of imaginatively named delights, sitting alongside the famous pasteis de nata. From bolos de mel (honey cakes) to barriga de freira (nun’s belly) and toucinho de ceu (heavenly lard), Portuguese cakes never disappoint.
In many countries, a clean plate at the end of the meal is a sign that you have enjoyed the food, but in Portugal, it is considered polite to leave a little food on your plate once you have finished.

Tipping – In many Portuguese cafes, the locals pay the exact price for their coffee or their coffee and pastry. For them, tipping is reserved for fancy restaurants, and even then some people don’t even think about adding a tip to their bill. So, the fact is, you don’t have to tip in Portugal.
However – wages are relatively low in Portugal and in cafes the wages are even more extremely low.
When going to a cafe or take a taxi, you can just round up the taxi fare, or chuck in a few extra coins in a cafe. In restaurants, add an amount to the bill – around 10%, depending on the level of service and size of the bill.