How to order fish by the kilo in the Algarve
Read the €/kg price, ask for your chosen fish to be weighed, then confirm the fish total and any extras before it is cooked. For example, a 900 g fish at €58/kg costs €52.20 for the fish alone.
Ask before the grill: “Pode pesar o peixe à nossa frente e confirmar o preço total antes de ir para a grelha?” — “Could you weigh the fish in front of us and confirm the total before it goes on the grill?” Copy the phrase.
Read the board as a unit price
A board marked robalo €58/kg gives a rate, not the price of one fish or a complete meal. Confirm whether the restaurant charges for the raw whole fish and ask to see that weight. Do not estimate the bill from the cooked serving: head, bones and preparation affect what ends up on the plate.
Worked example: 900 g at €58/kg
900 g is 0.9 kg. Multiply 0.9 × €58 = €52.20. Two people sharing pay €26.10 each for the fish. This is an arithmetic example, not a current Algarve market price.
Check the unit carefully. €5.80 per 100 g is equivalent to €58 per kg. A price per portion (dose) is different again: ask how many people that portion serves and what it includes.
How much whole fish should you order?
Quilo uses the following planning ranges for raw whole fish. They include head and bones; they are not edible-fillet weights or nutritional recommendations. Appetite, species and the rest of your meal matter, so discuss the actual fish with the waiter.
| People sharing | Quilo estimate, raw weight |
|---|---|
| 1 | 350–500 g |
| 2 | 700 g–1.2 kg |
| 3 | 1.05–1.8 kg |
| 4 | 1.4–2.4 kg |
If the available fish is larger than you want, ask about a smaller fish, a cut portion or a dish with a stated total price. Do not assume every fish dish uses the same pricing method.
Confirm what is included
- Sides: ask “Vem com acompanhamento?” — “Does it come with sides?” Confirm any additional price.
- Couvert: bread, olives and other starters may be charged. Ask for unwanted items to be removed before eating or opening them. Read the Portugal couvert rules and sources.
- Drinks and other orders: agree the quantities and prices separately. The fish calculator does not include them.
Portuguese displayed restaurant prices include taxes and other charges. Do not add IVA again to a published price. Source: ASAE restaurant pricing guidance.
Compare areas without assuming the price
The same checks work in Praia da Rocha, Lagos and Olhão: read the menu, check the unit and confirm the total. A waterfront address, a Portuguese menu or a street away from the tourist route does not by itself prove good value.
- Praia da Rocha and Portimão — compare the clifftop and town areas.
- Lagos — orient yourself around the waterfront, marina and old town.
- Olhão — explore the market, waterfront and nearby streets.
The Areas page is a schematic orientation guide, not a list of inspected or recommended restaurants.
Calculate before ordering; check when the bill arrives
Enter the board’s €/kg in the fish price calculator. Use a portion estimate while deciding, then switch to “I know the weight” when the fish has been weighed. You can copy a phrase containing those figures to confirm the order.
When the bill arrives, compare its fish line with the agreed weight and unit price. The bill checker shows the arithmetic difference. Ask for an explanation of a discrepancy rather than assuming what caused it.
Updated · How Quilo checks its content