Restaurants and Cafés

In a very convenient location in the heart of Borba, O Espiga is a cosy restaurant with a bar where a terracotta brickwork counter and shelves decorated with old wines do the honours. The rustic and typical Alentejo dining room is decorated with a motif of regional wines in small bottles from the 1970s and 80s that are placed decoratively in the centre of the tables in a clear invitation to get to know the best in the region: they were once part of the former cellar where the restaurant was set up. The environment is friendly thanks to the couple Isaura and Joaquim Espiguinha, who have been responsible for the kitchen and restaurant since 1986. 

The cuisine is clearly regional and blends simplicity with skill. There is a decent selection on the menu with dishes, such as the Alentejo-style lamb stew, the ganhão chickpea stew, the bacalhau migas with pennyroyal and bacalhau grilled on a tile. The starters and appetisers include codfish cakes, meat rolls, fired or grilled farinheira and grilled cacholeira sausage. Then there is seafood with fried prawns using the restaurant’s own recipe, boiled wild prawns and shrimps in a garlic sauce, among others. Fish dishes include baby squid with baby shrimp, strips of fried cuttlefish, grilled cuttlefish, dogfish with clams and swordfish and onions. There is a selection of meat dishes to choose from, such as veal skewer with prawns, grilled ribs, grilled Alentejo pork plumas, country-style mixed grill and grilled Alentejo pork segredos. Desserts are all made at home with commitment and skill and the sericaia with Elvas Plums PDO, the chocolate mousse and the crème caramel are irresistible. There is a good selection of wines all from Alentejo. Service attentive and friendly!