The food was good! Especially the pork cheek!
However, the waiters were not very friendly when we arrived without a reservation (even though there was a table) or when we were seated. We felt unwelcomed but the reviews were good so we stayed.
Even though the food was nice, the prices threw us off. We went to a different small tapas place in Lagos the day before but it was closed Mondays so we tried Tasca do Kiko instead... the portions were similar sized but the prices for a dish at Tasca do Kiko were 30-40% more than the other place for equally delicious food (and more choice of small dishes at the other place). I don't agree with the reviews that say this place is not touristy or that the value is good here.
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
€20–25
Food: 4
Service: 2
Atmosphere: 4
Recommended dishes
Black Pork Checks
The sunshine also added extra flavor into the dishes, so everything was more than expected. Should be a nice place for wine and tapas. The prawn risotto is really good.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
€25–30
Food: 4
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Lobster and Prawn Risotto
Solid 3.5. I rounded up to 4 because there is ambition here, and that's a rare find in Lagos dining.
Kiko is hidden away from all the busy crowds of the centre and marina, down near where the fishermen's boats and yacht docks are. It's a nice break from the noise of so many people.
Service was excellent. Very hospitable and helpful. He even helped me decide on the right number of dishes and suggested specials I may like based on my tastes.
The food does have a lot of attention to detail and the chef is trying to bring up the standards of "tapas" in Lagos, that's very clear. Dishes are designed carefully and presented well.
The fish were really nicely prepared with more than just the one note flavour that I've become accustomed to in Portugal (grilled with salt). These had pepper, vegetable, crunch, and a little kick. None of which overpowered the delicate fish flavour.
The tuna tataki was a nice choice of fish, with no sinewy rough spots. Very melt in your mouth quality. It was fairly typical for Algarve (this region LOVES wrapping tataki in sesame seeds for some odd reason). Fish tasted fresh.
I was a little let down by the ceviche. It was a very strange choice of textures. There is nothing pleasant about "raw" fish and pureed vegetables together. The whole dish was like a soup. Very watery, slimy, and mushy. They sprinkled some bar snacks over top which was, again, a very odd choice, and really did it no favours. Perhaps a more sophisticated choice for texture would be better? After all, this is not a cheap dish. Getting served the same snacks you get for free at a bar, only to have them become soggy in all the juice was not a great experience. A good ceviche shouldn't feel like eating cold stew. And it's a shame because the fish itself was tasty, and the ceviche was well-balanced with the sourness. The pureed vegetables were off-putting in texture. A few tweaks of texture and the ceviche would be excellent.
Espresso was pretty standard.
The prices are pretty high. But the quality is better than most tapas places around here. If you're comparing price to quality, this place actually wins compared to other tapas restaurants I've tried.
I wanted to try some desserts that look amazing, but as one person, I was completely full and satisfied after the 3 tapas. I'm not sure why people consider these plates tiny, they are not. They are not the size of many tapas or pintxos in Spain. While you're not going to burst from a plate or two, they are substantial enough.
If you're in the mood for something a little better than standard tapa fare you stumble across in Lagos, this spot is worth a detour.
I just wish they still had scallops on the menu. Maybe one day!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Lunch
Price per person
€30–35
Food: 3
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 3
