Tasca do Ricky

Tasca do Ricky is a small family-style tasca at Rua do Forno 21 in the old town area of Faro, in Portugal's Algarve region. A tasca is a traditional Portuguese tavern, and this one concentrates on seafood plates served in the evening only. Listed hours are Monday to Saturday from 19:00 to 22:00, and the tavern is closed on Sundays, so it suits visitors looking for an early dinner rather than a late one. Seafood plates are priced from about €10-14 (roughly $11.50-16), which makes it one of the more affordable ways to eat fish and shellfish in central Faro. The tavern does not publish a long menu in the sources available, and the specialty is simply described as evening seafood plates; visitors should expect the offer to depend on the day's market supply, as is common in small Algarve tascas. The room is small and informal, and the family-run character is part of the appeal, with a short menu and a steady local following. Reservations are not accepted from May to September, which means that in the summer season guests must arrive early or expect to wait for a table; outside those months, enquiring by phone or through the tavern's website, tascadorickyfaro.com, is the best way to check arrangements. Because capacity is limited and service finishes by 22:00, arriving close to 19:00 gives the best chance of a seat without a queue. The location on Rua do Forno puts the tavern within walking distance of the old town walls, the cathedral square and the marina, so it fits easily into an evening stroll through the historic centre. Streets in this part of town are narrow and partly cobbled, and parking is difficult, so visitors staying centrally generally walk. Prices and hours can change seasonally, so confirming before a special trip is wise, particularly in the winter months when small tascas sometimes alter their schedules.