Dote Odivelas Francesinhas, Portuguese sandwich restaurant in Odivelas, Portugal
Dote Odivelas Francesinhas is a restaurant in Odivelas, a suburb north of Lisbon, that focuses on serving Francesinha sandwiches made with layers of cured meat, melted cheese, and a tomato-beer sauce. The place is located on Rua Pulido Valente and prepares the dish following methods from northern Portugal.
The Francesinha was created in Porto in the 1950s as an adaptation of the French Croque Monsieur. The recipe changed over time as cooks adjusted it to local ingredients and tastes, and it eventually became one of the most recognized dishes from northern Portugal.
The Francesinha was born in Porto and slowly spread to other parts of Portugal over the decades. Eating one at a neighborhood spot like this one feels closer to a local experience than visiting a tourist-oriented place.
The restaurant stays open late into the night every day, making it a good option for a late dinner. Calling ahead to reserve a table is a good idea, especially on weekends when the place tends to fill up.
The restaurant actually runs two separate locations on the same street, both serving the same menu and keeping the same hours. This means that if one side is full, the other is likely to have a free table nearby.
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