Fodor's Expert Review Al Forno Baixa

One of six Al Forno restaurants in and around Porto, this one downtown is a bright, sophisticated place to eat, with the glass-walled kitchen providing added entertainment. Specials are Italian (black risotto with asparagus, various pastas) or Portuguese (baked octopus, pork in a port wine sauce). That dual nationality extends to desserts, which include tiramisu and rabanada (an eggy Portuguese concoction, served with orange sauce and lemon sorbet). Seats at the bar are handy for lunch, when there is also a €12 executive menu. At night, Thursday through Saturday, the place is packed from 10 pm on with locals heading for the lively bars of Baixa.