Cantinho do Avillez

José Avillez holds two Michelin stars at Belcanto in Lisbon. Cantinho do Avillez is his casual-format chain — there are nine branches across Portugal — but the Cascais location is personal. Avillez was born in Cascais and the menu here contains explicit references to his childhood: the peixinhos da horta his grandmother made, the tomato rice from the Sunday lunches, the chocolate tart that made it into Belcanto's pastry line.

The room is contemporary, bright, and open to the street on Rua Frederico Arouca — the pedestrianised main of Cascais old town, which means foot traffic goes past every window but the double-glazing works. Seventy covers, a dozen bar seats, and a small terrace when the weather allows. The menu is split into tapas-sized first courses (bacalhau à Brás croquettes; tuna tartar with avocado) and mains that lean traditional — chargrilled octopus, black pork with apple purée, arroz de tamboril for two.

Lunch menus start at €25 for three courses and include a glass of wine; à la carte dinner runs €55–80 per person before wine. The wine list is 180 labels, mostly Portuguese, with a strong Alentejo red selection and house Vinho Verde on tap for €4 a glass.

Avillez himself is rarely in the kitchen — he is in Lisbon or on television — but the kitchen team trained at Belcanto and the technique shows. Service is relaxed, English-speaking, and works with whatever pace you set. This is the Cascais restaurant you take the in-laws to.

First-date-friendly because it is relaxed without being casual: the food is serious enough to give you something to talk about, the price is accessible enough that either person can pick up the bill without drama, and the pedestrianised street outside gives you a natural walk after. Book 20:00 for the terrace in summer; 20:30 inside in winter.