Maria Rita Restaurant

âHaving kept going, I arrived in the village of Romeu at 4 in the afternoon, on the 18th of May, 1874. I inquired about an inn and soon found the only such establishment in the village, run by Maria Rita, who, I should point out, had nothing to feed us. I had them roast some bacalhau, accompanied â and for me this was a first â by black rye bread.â

40 Years of Trás-os-Montes, Clemente Menéres

 

Clemente Menéres had just arrived from Porto, determined to found âQuinta do Romeuâ, a family estate of some thousands of hectares (or acres), spread over eight municipalities in the Bragança District of Portugal, which has kept its original contours ever since. The products from the estate are biblical and complementary (on their yearly cycle): wine, olive oil and cork.

Following Maria Ritaâs death, the inn was abandoned and left to ruin, having later been purchased by the Menéres family. 

In 1966, Manoel Menéres, son of Clemente, recreated âMaria Ritaâ with his household cook and his own familyâs recipes. Profits went to a charity, since established at Romeu, to support children in need.

As time has passed, so this spirit has been kept alive, as first a son, and later a grandson, kept this remotely located Restaurant, with profound cultural roots, open for the delight of the travellers of those hidden places.

Nowhere other than âMaria Ritaâ can one get a better feel for the estateâs historic ambience or obtain a finer experience of its produce, including various Douro DOC wines, as well as choice family recipes prepared exclusively with Romeu Olive Oil and local vegetables.

Served with simplicity and affability by local girls, the harmony is perfect, the experience surprising.

Outside view of the restaurant
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