Alfarroba

First things first: Alfarroba is now all VEGAN. This is a small place near the 'Parque' metro stop in the Saldanha neighborhood. It is only open for lunch and was quite full when we were there. The woman, maybe the owner, was so friendly and helpful. You pick out your main at the counter and it comes with salad and rice. You can get a small plate with one entree or a large plate with 2 entrees (or maybe three). You can pay extra for a juice or a dessert. I had honeydew melon juice...yum. The entree of the day was like a lasagna without the noodles or perhaps more like a moussaka...lots of vegetables including greens chopped finely with a cream and nut topping...so delicious and unusual. There was a seitan dish and a lentil dish that had some Eastern spice influence making it rather exotic. Many people had a coconut pudding topped with mango sauce for dessert. Dessert is extra.
We have eaten in most of the vegan restaurants in Lisbon and I found Alfarroba's food to be very clean and fresh. It is easily reached by metro. Only open for lunch.

Updated from previous review on 2016-10-31

This is a very nice restaurant serving affordable vegetarian food. The have a daily menu and the "mini prato" is around 5€. The dishes are simple and have a home made feeling with plenty of veggies and grains.
The place is very cozy and tastefully decorated and the service was super friendly.
It is not very big so it tends to get crowded at lunch time

Updated from previous review on 2016-11-02

Alfarroba always has good lunch options (most of them vegan), excellent desserts and refreshing fruit/tea drinks. Please ask as not all vegan items are clearly marked or they might use honey.
I find it super charming and absolutely delicious each time, very recommended!

A very good place to have lunch! The only use honey sometimes, so you can have a great vegan meal here.

I always love the combination of three dishes, whole rice and vegetables available.

I also love the apricot mousse!

Alfarroba is a very small and cozy "quick meal" type restaurant, located on a lovely street corner of Rua Tomás Ribeiro - a fantastic location in the very central Picoas area. The room is minimally and tastefully decorated and the big windows let in the sun as well as the hustle and bustle of the street.

The place tends to get packed during office lunch hours as many people from the surrounding offices go there to have a quick and rather unexpensive meal. However, if you go between 12:30 and 13:00 you shouldn't have a problem finding a table.

Most main courses are vegan, as well as the accompanying cereals and vegetables. I find that even the somewhat more elaborate dishes at Alfarroba have a very authentic and natural taste, which suits well my preference for less processed and healthier food. Regarding the dessert, I highly recommend the cocoa tartlet which is simply mouth-watering. You can check Alfarroba's Facebook page to learn which dishes are available each day.

I just wish I had a place like this near where I work to be my default place to have lunch!
Updated from previous review on Thursday November 26, 2015

Updated from previous review on Thursday November 26, 2015

Smasher of a friendly little place serving soups, main dishes, hot and cold drinks and cakes. Good vegan choice and great value meals at around €5-6. There's always a meal of the day along plus a couple of others. On 5th Sept 2014 it was a soya hamburger. The soup was a delicious cream of broccoli at €1.60. There's a good turnaround here and it's popular with the locals as well as workers from the nearby office areas. Bravo. Here here for Alfarroba!!

Pleasant small place. Had two menu options on offer when we went. Food was nice and was also cheap.

Not the full restaurant service, but it wasn't trying to be.

Would go again.

lovely place for a lunch. prices are around 6€ and totally worth it!