The Berlin ball reminds many Portuguese people of the summer months spent at the beach. If in the past you only ate the traditional “ball” without cream or with cream, these days the fillings are varied. There is carob, strawberry, chocolate, Nutella and even chocolate from Dubai. However, the Maré Shrimp & Stuff restaurant, located in the city of Olhão, proves that the Berlin ball does not have to be a dessert and that there are even more filling options.
The restaurant’s main calling card is the shrimp Berlin ball. At first glance the combination may seem strange, but what is certain is that it has won over the customers who pass by. Since shrimp gives the space its name, this seafood also dominates the vast majority of delicacies available on the menu.
New delicacy on the menu
The shrimp cream puffs are also one of the team’s most recent creations and the idea came about following a tradition that ‘orders’ the entire staff to come together annually to expand the menu. Even though the restaurant only opens for dinner, in an interview with the Expresso newspaper, Stephanie Bento, owner of the space, revealed that “there are those who show up in the middle of the afternoon to buy a box with half a dozen shrimp cream puffs to take home”.
If you want to ensure that your meal at this restaurant in Olhão includes shrimp, chef Valdemar Marques, who heads the kitchen, can prepare you a mini shrimp burger, as well as a prawn and vegetable lasagna, or even a prawn taco, mango gel and avocado.
There are dishes that do not contain shrimp
However, no one will be offended if they visit a restaurant with the name shrimp (shrimp in Portuguese) and don’t want to eat this seafood. There is always the option of tasting a sirloin steak or even a sea bass cannelloni with Algarve almonds.
As for prices, know that the cheapest are the shrimp Berlin balls, which cost 7.50 euros each; and the most expensive dish is the carabineiro bitoque, which costs 58 euros. If you only want to spend between 10 and 20 euros, you can always order a prawn and clam xarém (€18.78), a prawn and vegetable lasagna (€15.85) or a cod with gnocchi, chipotle and cornbread (€19.75).
From the markets of Olhão to the old fishermen’s neighborhood
It should be noted that the restaurant is located next to Avenida 5 de Outubro, in Olhão, so you can take the opportunity to stroll around the city before dinner. The ideal starting point is the Municipal Market, a set of two red brick buildings next to the estuary. In one of them, fish and seafood are sold freshly arrived from the sea, in the other you can find fruits and vegetables from the inland gardens. The visit is an immersion in the local environment, full of colors, aromas and auctions that reflect the city’s maritime identity.
Right next to the market, on the pier, there is a replica of the Bom Sucesso caique, a symbol of the courage of the people of Olhão. This boat recalls the historic journey of 1808, when 17 men crossed the Atlantic to Brazil to announce to Prince Regent D. João that the Algarve was free from French troops. The feat earned the village the title of “Vila de Olhão da Restauração”, a landmark of autonomy and local pride.
It’s also worth getting lost in Bairro da Barreta, the old fishermen’s neighborhood. Its narrow alleys, white facades with geometric motifs and peaceful pace of life maintain its traditional charm. Among the small squares, the sculptures of the “Circuito das Lendas de Olhão” appear, which evoke figures from the popular imagination. In the old areas of Rua da Fábrica Velha, urban art occupies the walls of the old factories, transforming traces of the canning industry into murals that celebrate the city’s collective memory.
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