Porto is an exciting city that feels more intimate that its metro population of almost 2 million people. Characteristic cafes and bars are filled with locals called Tripeiros (tripe eaters) and tourists alike, both drawn to the Port Wine industry.
Food in Porto can be heavy on the pork (Bifana) and sausage (Francesinha), but nothing delights me more than sitting down to Petiscos, and a glass of wine.
Petiscos is known as the Portuguese version of tapas. But, don’t say that to a person from Portugal! To them, it’s something completely different.
Tapas has it’s roots in the bread used to cover glasses of wine to keep flies and dirt out (see out Foodie City Guide of the Sherry Triangle for more on Tapas). While restaurants specializing in Tapas are all over Spain, Petiscos, sometimes snacks and sometimes just smaller versions of larger plates, are not as widely celebrated in Portugal. Some popular Petiscos include seafood like Octopus Salad or Clams and meat stews.
My favorite place for Petiscos also serves the simplest dishes.