A new family-run café has opened in Watford selling traditional Portuguese food.
Café De Lisboa opened in the former Piranha Comics unit in The Parade on September 23.
The café has been decorated with a warm yellow on the lower half of the walls and white paint on top.
- Last-minute deals on final Wilko items before store closes
- CCTV sparks two arrests and prison recall
It allows the artwork showing prominent Portuguese locations to take centre stage on the walls.
The café is owned by husband-and-wife team Aamir and Ana Ramos.
Aamir, who has lived in Watford all his life, told the Watford Observer that the opening day was “really good and very community focussed”.
He added: “A lot of people came in with their families and people from Brazil and Portugal have come in too.”
The café sells baked goods and cakes, desserts, sandwiches, bifanas, pregos, and a speciality in its pastel de nata — which is a Portuguese favourite.
The pastel de nata is made on site and is being sold in the traditional custard and cream flavour as well as, coconut, raspberry, and blueberry flavours.
So far, the favourites among customers are the traditional and coconut flavours, Aamir said.
Aamir and his wife, who is from Portugal, decided to open the café to bring traditional Portuguese flavours to the town.
He said: “There are lots of shops like this in London and we wanted to open one here.
“We felt that there is a huge Portuguese, Brazilian and diverse community here, which is why we wanted to open the shop.”
Some of the staff are fluent in Portuguese. Aamir said: “Some of the Brazilian and Portuguese customers have come in today and can speak to staff in Portuguese. It’s great that we can offer that.”
The shop’s next step is to expand the menu as it has already had requests to introduce Portuguese breads.
Aamir said: “It has gone really well so far, and everyone has been lovely.”
One of the customers, Priscila, 42, who lives in Watford, attended the opening with her two daughters.
She said: “I Love Portuguese dishes. The shop is clean, it is light an airy and the food is delicious. It is a good place to bring the family.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here