This famous European restaurant is actually worth queuing up for

That one place in: Lisbon, Portugal

Where

Cervejaria Ramiro

Why

Are touristy things necessarily bad? Is Rome bad because it’s so incredibly popular with the masses? Is the Taj Mahal bad because so many people go there? Obviously not. Sometimes, places are popular for a reason: they’re so good. Which brings us to Cervejaria Ramiro in Lisbon. This place is not a local secret. It’s not a hidden hole in the wall. It’s been reviewed more than 20,000 times on Google; more than 11,000 times on TripAdvisor. It’s well known, and it’s hugely popular, and that’s for a good reason.

Ramiro is truly great, a restaurant that started some 70 years ago as a simple “cervejaria”, or place to drink beer, and has morphed into a specialist in fresh seafood. The atmosphere at this Lisbon icon is still relaxed, the service is still casual and friendly, but the quality of the produce used and the skill with which it’s prepared are phenomenal. The crab, the prawns, the clams, the langoustines, the beer … if this is touristy, call us a happy tourist.

Order this

Don’t hold back on the fresh seafood at Ramiro. Get the clams cooked in garlic and butter, then grilled prawns, then boiled langoustines, and maybe throw in the “carabineiros”, or scarlet prawns, if you feel like you have too much money. Drink a few beers. And then finish your meal the traditional Ramiro way: with a “prego”, or steak sandwich.

Eat it here

For the classic grilled seafood experience in Melbourne, head straight to Richmond Oysters (richmondoysters.com.au). In Sydney, take yourself down to the new Sydney Fish Market in Glebe (sydneyfishmarket.com.au) and take your pick of restaurants. In Adelaide, you can’t go past Louca’s (loucasseafoodrestaurant.com.au).

More

You will find Cervejaria Ramiro on Avenida Almirante Reis, near the Intendente subway station. The cost of your meal will depend on the quantity of market-priced seafood you order, though budget for at least $100 a person. It’s open for lunch and dinner Tuesday to Sunday – book in advance to be seated in the two upper levels, or walk up and queue for the original downstairs dining room. See cervejariaramiro.com