No, this venue isn’t in Wan Chai and we’ve gone one better and gotten off the island all together.

Is Macau too far to go for lunch? Not if you’re going to A Lorcha.

A Lorcha is as popular as that Macau institution Fernando’s. Although the wait tends to be shorter, reservations aren’t a bad idea. It’s a small place, but the efficiency of the staff makes it feel less crowded than it really is. The menu is quite large and consists of all the Portuguese staples like cod, clams, sardines, chorizo, and grilled meats. It’s nearly impossible not to over order here. Most of the dishes are under $100, making you that much more inclined to add items to your order as you see them being set on the table next to you.

The meal starts with piping hot crusty rolls that are a perfect vehicle for sopping up all sorts of liquids, including the beer and tomato sauce served with the steamed clams. While it seemed we got more empty shells than clams, the pungent broth made up for it. Staying in the seafood category, we also worked in an octopus salad that was fork tender. 

As is the case at Fernando’s, the grilled chicken is one of the highlights at A Lorcha. It sounds so simple but it can separate a great kitchen from merely a good one. We ordered ours spicy and received tender meat and a blistered skin. The ridiculous amounts of salt and oil made it that much more enjoyable.

The tomato and onion salad was humdrum, but by then the sangria was kicking in and all was well. The tab was $480 all up, and that included a great pudding covered in crumbled biscuits.

289 Rua do Almirante Sergio, Macau