At 'Roast', the roasts are prepared with all the time in the world

Source: Evasões

There’s food at all hours in this young Porto eatery. The star of the show is the rotisserie — a low-temperature roasting technique.

At the far end of Rua 5 de Outubro, well beyond Boavista Roundabout, on the ground floor of a recently opened Holiday Inn Express Boavista, you will find 'Roast'. From noon onwards, it takes on three different identities. On weekdays, lunch is served from 12:30 to 15:00, with a different protein taking the spotlight each day (pork skewers on Monday, codfish neck on Tuesday, beef short ribs on Wednesday, salmon loin on Thursday, and pork belly on Friday; a vegetarian option is also available daily). These dishes are part of set menus starting at €10.50, and diners can choose from sides like smashed potatoes, coleslaw, baked rice, and more.

From 15:00 to 19:30, the focus shifts to snacks and small plates, featuring options like pica pau, ovos rotos, and chicken wings. Dinner runs from 19:30 to 22:30 with a full à la carte menu offering a wider selection, from beef tenderloin to pork shank, salmon loin to sea bass fillet, and mushroom risotto to cauliflower with brie and mushroom sauce. Every day, regardless of the meal, you’ll always find rotisserie chicken, hake fillets, and the chef’s salad — a creation of Carla Oliveira- in a space curated by renowned chef Miguel Rocha Vieira.

At the heart of the open kitchen, the ovens are the soul of Roast, where much of the food gains its distinct flavor and texture through the slow rotisserie roasting method. A smoky touch runs through many of the dishes. Among the snacks, the meat croquettes — rich in flavor and served with barbecue sauce — are highly recommended, as are the peixinhos da horta with tartar sauce.

For dinner, try the confit codfish, perfectly matched with a low-temperature egg, truffled mashed potatoes, and sautéed vegetables. Or go for the barbecue-glazed ribs — the meat falls off the bone with just a breath. The pork belly, both crispy and juicy, is another standout. If you’re choosing just one side, the smoked carrot purée is a winning choice.

And for dessert? Make the most of that rotisserie magic with the Roast cheesecake, served with oven-roasted pineapple that arrives at the table sweet and intense. The drinks menu has something for everyone — beers, wines, cocktails and mocktails, sangrias, and soft drinks.

Roast
Rua 5 de Outubro, 578, Porto
Tel.: +351 229 764 171
Web: roastporto.pt
Open daily from 12:00 to 22:30
Lunch menus from €10.50; average dinner price: €24 (starter, main dish without sides, dessert)