Portugal Wine Bar and Grill serves up seafood for the adventurous foodie

Stuck in a bit of a food rut, Features and Special Sections writer Kellie Abernethy and her husband, Brian, ventured to Palm Coast in search of something out of the ordinary — Portuguese food at Portugal Wine Bar and Grill.

What's the place like?

The interior is one large room with a half wall dividing the dining area from the cocktail seating area, which could double as dance floor. With cool orange walls, the interior is bright and inviting. We hopped in on a Saturday night to find a lively atmosphere and a full dining room, bustling with birthday celebrations and date nights. We happily sat at the bar and sipped sangrias for a few minutes until our table was ready, enjoying the live music in the cocktail seating area.

What's on the menu?

Upon greeting us, our server asked if we had ever had Portuguese food before. No, we said. He asked if we like seafood — we nodded. "Well then you are in the right place," he said with a smile that told us we were in for an experience. While the menu offers soups, salads, vegetarian options and meat, the star of the menu is the seafood selection. Grilled sardines and octopus beckon to the adventurous foodie yearning for an authentic Portuguese dish, while tried and true options such as garlic shrimp and grilled grouper are on stand-by for the person looking for something a little more familiar.

What did you have?

Taking a cue from our server, we opted to start with crispy calamari for an appetizer while we decided on entrees. The calamari arrived promptly and was lightly breaded and fresh, served with marinara sauce on the side. Our server returned and asked us if we like spicy sauces. The spicier the better, we said. He delivered a mouth-watering sauce comprised of garlic, crushed red pepper, jalapenos and other spices that gave the calamari a smoky-yet-spicy flavor. We were hooked, and impressed with his recommendation.

Seeking a true Portuguese experience, I asked him what he thought was the most authentic Portuguese dish on the menu. He grinned and said the grilled octopus on a clay tile. Gulp. When in Portugal, right? Brian also opted for seafood and ordered the Seafood Mariscada, a combination of lobster, shrimp, clams, scallops, calamari and mussels with a side of rice.

The grilled octopus arrived in a medley of roasted potatoes, red peppers and onions on a clay platter. The octopus was surprisingly similar to scallops and tossed in a savory garlic seasoning with subtle spice. The potatoes and peppers offset the texture of the octopus, and overall the dish was a generous portion. Brian was impressed with the fresh seafood in his Mariscada, but the real surprise was the green sauce it was served over. The Mariscada comes with a green or red sauce, but our server suggested that the green was more authentic, so Brian ordered the green. He wasn't disappointed and found the green sauce brought the dish together, complementing the seafood without overpowering it — the icing on top of an already great dish.

How much did the feast set you back?

We took a hit on this one, but agreed this quasi-trip to Portugal was worth it. The total came to $61.90, before tip.

WHERE: 15 Palm Harbor Village Way W, Palm Coast

HOURS: Sunday- Thursday: 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m.

Friday-Saturday: 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.

CONTACT: 386-225-4753, portugalwinebarandgrill.com

Portugal Wine Bar and Grill