Cantinho D’Mari Lunguinha is a no-filter local grill: simple, affordable food done right, very cold beer, and a genuinely Espargos atmosphere. It’s not a tourist restaurant and doesn’t try to be. Ideal if you want something real, not polished.
Where you eat surrounded by people who aren’t on holiday
In Espargos, not everything revolves around restaurants designed for visitors. There are places where locals set the pace, beer arrives properly cold, and nobody worries too much about whether the photo looks good. Cantinho D’Mari Lunguinha is one of those places.
No flashy façade, no grand promises. Just grill smoke, simple tables, and the clear feeling of being somewhere that existed before you arrived and will still be here after you leave.
What this place really is
Cantinho D’Mari Lunguinha is a popular local grill restaurant, frequented mainly by people from Espargos. You come here for grilled chicken or pork, something cold to drink, and unhurried conversation. That’s it.
The food is simple, direct, and inexpensive. No frills, no reinvention. If you like honest food without a speech attached, this works. If you’re after polished service or a carefully curated experience, probably not.
The atmosphere is usually lively but not loud, and depending on the moment you can eat indoors, at the bar, or outside on the terrace.
Getting there (and why it’s hard to miss)
It’s in Espargos and easy enough to reach, although Google Maps sometimes seems to improvise in this part of the island. Asking around is still a solid local strategy — and it works surprisingly well.
The area itself is easy to move around in and to stop nearby, especially compared to more tourist-heavy parts of Sal.
What you eat (and what you don’t)
The menu revolves around the grill:
– Barbecued chicken, a clear favourite
– Grilled pork
– Simple, no-nonsense sides
The food usually comes out very well, and value for money is one of its strongest points. Don’t expect a long menu or refined options. You eat what’s available — and what’s available generally delivers.
The beer arrives genuinely cold, a small but important detail when the heat kicks in.
There are places where food doesn’t try to please you. It just does what it needs to do.
Service: expectations matter here
This is the most delicate point. Many experiences mention correct and friendly service, but there are also comments about abrupt moments or a blunt attitude, especially during periods of management change.
This isn’t visitor-oriented service, and it’s not particularly diplomatic. It works best if you arrive with a local mindset: order, wait, eat, done. If something bothers you, it may not be smoothed over.
The restaurant has publicly responded to criticism, stating that official rules are followed and there is no discrimination. Still, it’s fair to say that not everyone experiences the place in the same way.
When it works best
It’s a good fit for:
– Casual dinners
– Eating well without ceremony
– Anyone wanting to step outside the tourist circuit
This is not a spot for special occasions or long, refined dinners. It’s more of a let’s eat properly and move on kind of place.
Things to know before you go
– Don’t expect tourist-style service
– The food is simple, not creative
– The atmosphere is genuinely local
– It won’t be for everyone, and that’s fine
This is not a neutral place: you’ll either like it, or it’s not for you.
Closing, no sugar added
Cantinho D’Mari Lunguinha is a real place, with clear strengths and visible rough edges. When it works, it’s cheap, tasty, and authentic. When it doesn’t, it can feel abrupt. But that’s exactly why it isn’t a set piece — it’s part of everyday Espargos.
Not every place is built to please. Some exist simply to feed the people who were already here.
