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• Is that a Chevy 69?

This place is rather bizarrely billed as a vegetarian restaurant with meat options. How bizarre, how bizarre. However, it has a fantastic reputation so we decided to explore this residential neighbourhood that seems to specialise in laundromats and washing machine sales. Even on a Monday night Essencia was very busy. I would say reservations are recommended. That's exactly why I emailed them a week previously. The interior is dark, plush and red, I loved it. Whilst the vegan options are not in abundance, they really know how to impress vegan diners. Give me a seitan and potato combination any time and I will be happy. Tonight I was quite speechless at the quality of the food. The seitan steak separated delicately with gentle persuasion from the fork and the sturdy roast potato and garlic mash helped absorb the delicious creamy sauce. At €11 for a main course and €8 for a bottle of house wine this is a gourmet experience that will not cripple the defence unlike Arsenal's who succumbed 3 goals to Crystal Palace the very same evening. A little out of the city centre but certainly manageable on the Porto metro and some careful negotiation of the CityMaps2Go app. Worth a visit if in Porto even just for a few days.