Review Restaurante Parreirinha - Johannesburg

Went for a year end lunch. Booked online which was super easy. I have been a few times to the one in the South, so been bragging to people in the office about it. We shared a few of the starters like prawn cakes and oysters. Everyone raved about the prawn cakes. Really really good. Mains were chicken, t- bone and trinchado. Everybody was super happy with their choices. Service was great. Vibe still feels like the original. All in all a great experience, no one left disappointed. Thank you!

What a vibe!! Like going back in time. Details are mind blowing and the nata with the cream was just excellent! 🤌🏼

My all time Best 💎 historically Restaurant!!! Very Well Know 🍤 🍗 … Well done !!! 🤩 Great to book for functions and well know on Fridays for lunch ⏰ !!! A must book !!! Definitely well worth your time and experience 🤩

Excellent fresh food. Quick efficient service. Prawns, half chicken and starter platter with 2 prawn cakes were amazing. Ordered 4 kings got 2 kings and 2 small prawns. Waiter quickly sorted it with the kitchen and was charged accordingly. Overall gem. Real food that is very affordable.

Situated in a dodgy location, albeit there are car guards, so you feel a sense of security. It's sort of like a hidden gem, so to say. There is just one veg & vegan item [a mixed veg & rice platter], on the menu, which our daughter & I shared. There is no vegan dessert, which is disappointing. Our daughter enjoyed her chocolate mousse. Husbae enjoyed his lobster & our son thought that his prince prawns were rather bland, albeit cooked well, & the spicy prawns were excellent. He enjoyed them. Our bro-in-law & my sister enjoyed their prawns, chicken & fish dishes. I am hoping to see more vegetarian & vegan items on the menu.

Awesome food. A first for me and last before they move to Melrose. Keep it up guys, thank you for the great reception

This was a really cute little place. I loved the decorations!! The Portuguese really do know how to cook. The food was delicious!! I highly recommend this place if you want a lekker plate of prawns! Note: Parreirinha is moving to Melrose Arch soon!

I've been visiting Parrerinha since the early 1990's and the food and service has always been superb, I just hope that when they move to Melrose Arch that they can keep the same atmosphere and awesome food.

Great value for money, waiters could be more educated. Classic Portuguese dishes, full of flavor. Not kid friendly, no one came to check on us but we were given a friendly departure. Overall great experience..

We took clients for lunch today and had the most delicious food reasonably priced with good service. Such a stunning afternoon. Congratulations on your new premises.

Wonderful as always. A hidden treasure! Had my son's 21st birthday here... a night to remember.

Oh my word, this was an amazing experience! From decor to food I only have compliments to give! The food was delicious, friendly staff, and myam can they get packed but I mean after tasting their food I can't blame those clients, absolutely delicious from the starter to desert! Kinda feel a tad jealous that we don't have such a gem of a place! I would most definitely travel to enjoy the food again!

We have been visiting this restuarant for the last 30 years and have always been impressed with the quality of food and service. But after our last visit we will never go back there again. We decided to go out to supper on Saturday 17/02/2018 with the family and chose Parreirinha and was totally disgusted by the meal served. I ordered the seafood platter which included prawns, clams, kingklip and lobster and considering the price at R480.00 for the platter expected to be pleasantly suprised by the meal. To my absolute dissapoinment the lobster was so tough that I had to saw through it to get a piece out and the clams had no meat in the shell. I brought this to the attention of the manager on site and his response was just not acceptable considering that he managed an environment that served seafood. His response to the toughness of the lobster was that it was normal for the size of lobster to be tough and that was all the clams they had to offer and there was nothing he could do about this. He offered us 3 prawns to compensate for the problems encountered and this is how they dealt with the complaint. Considering the price on the menu items I expected a better response from the manager.

It's so good that restaurants like Parreirinha still exist in Johannesburg. Interesting and original place with lots of character. Friendly and prompt service, good, reasonably priced comfort food. Unfortunately an item from the menu was not available, which spoiled a bit the whole experience. Definitely worth coming back

Been going to the restaurant for many years now with work and on family occasions never had bad meal and service always on point.

Their Famous Prawns were yummy, although I do prefer more of a saucy dish. Otherwise, the overall ambience and cool 'tie' decor make this spot one of those hidden gems worth visiting :-)

Went for a Friday lunch. Starters: fish cakes - probably better than the ones I ate in Ponta do Ouro. Mains: espetada, queen prawns, calamari & chicken which was prepared just right. The waiter was attentative and polite. Great vibe, in an exciting location I would not normally drive to.

8 Queen prawns - dried out, overcooked at R312! For that money I could go to a proper restaurant. When asked the waiter why he did not inform us when we ordered that is was so expensive, he said management does not want to put the price. So we're not the first to complain, it's a common problem, and they're tricking the customers. Waiter could not care less, did not even bring a wine list, terrible service on top of it. Will never go here again.

Amazing food, ambience and incredible staff! Would def recommend the garlic mussel starter, absolutely devine

Little disappointed after hearing all the hype. Very hot and very expensive for a country style ambiance. Pity the waiter gave us such attitude about his tip..... food was nice but I've had better.

The quality of their food has dropped unbelievably🖓 The prawns were absolutely dry and the chips were like rubber.most probably fried a few times. We've been their clients for over 25 years. But after the last experience never again..

I cannot believe that on Saturday we ordered 12 prawns from the pub menu in a platter with chicken and when the bill arrived I was charged R468.00 for a dozen queen prawns! The bill was corrected to R192.00 for 12 small prawns which is what we were served but help me out here ...... at most other establishments you get 6 queen prawns for R99 or 12 for R160 even Fahrenheit are offering 12 medium prawns for R99! Daylight robbery and that is the last time they see my patronage, pity as I have enjoyed their wares for many years. In fact I am left do dumbfounded by this experience with the ignorant stance by the manager on duty �

Awesome food, service was very good even though it was busy. Will definitely come back and recommend to friends.

Great food served with a smile. The owners and staff are always friendly. The food is always freshly prepaired and great.

All round brilliant experience, perfect decor, excellent service and delicious food. The peri peri chicken hit the spot and will definitely visit them again ... Yummy Yum

Wow don't judge a book by its cover. Scaly location but packed inside . Food is reasonably priced except for prawns which is pretty expensive but very good . Nice vibe and very good service

The Steak a Cassarola was nice and spicy but the chips were underdone. Other than that, the Katemba is a winner. Wine out a bottle will never be a disappointment. The rolls were extremely fresh.<br/><br/>

This restaurant is definitely worth the drive! I understand why they are famous for their prawn fish cakes. We sat in the bar section of the restaurant and the prices are very much affordable. I was thoroughly stuffed afterwards!

Great place just to be yourself and enjoy whatever you order will be spot on give you a home away from home feeling the chicken or seafood espetada a must with one or more pora rolls

Authentic Portuguese restaurant in the Deep South of Joburg! Enjoyed the Delectable food beginning with Portuguese rolls, grilled prawns as well as Portuguese Mariana wine. Good ambience too!

I've seen some of the reviews for this restaurant, and most of the people review the seafood. I had the grilled baby chicken, let me say that there isn't many places in South Africa that can make chicken like this. If you want better you must go to Mozambique.

Bang for your buck as far as their seafood is concerned. I’m a big Lango fan and find their prices per unit amongst the best. Booze is also cheap so you have a satisfactory evening without breaking the bank. Very rustic so don’t expect a fine dining experience but the food delivers. Enjoy!

I’ve been dying to go for a long time and finally got a spot on Saturday before the rugby. Sadly I didn’t take any photos, because when the food arrived at the table we all tucked in. Such a relaxed restaurant, the food is delicious and the service is great. My favourite was definitely the chicken, cooked perfectly on the grill with lots of smokey flavours. All the food was delicious though (and I hardly ever say that). 6 happy bellies left and our pockets were full too. Well priced and good value for money!

Wow what a rip off!!! I’ve been going to Parreirinha for over 20 years. <br/>Now the Prawns are SQ on the menu, everybody else quotes the price, didn’t bother to ask the price cos it’s usually around R120 for the small prawns on the pub menu. Try R192!!!! No one else in the area charges that, so that was my last visit. And all my friends......

This is definitely one of my favorite restaurants in Johannesburg. It has such a cosy vibe and the ambience is always warm and comfortable. My favourite meals are the prawn cakes, the seafood kebab and the fillet trinchado. Unfortunately I have no photos to post because pictures are the last thing you think about when your delicious food arrives!!

A real jewel in the South the food is absolutely amazing. You have your bar on the one side where you can also tuck away and for the more sophisticated there is also more cozy quiet area however a get the impression if you walk in with a tie it will be taken off you and will be fixed to the roof with 100’s other ties. Go and indulge yourself amazing Portuguese food.<br/>

We went for our team year end function. Starters were salads and crab cakes, mains were (many) platters of prawns, chicken, and rump espetada with chips and rice. And rounded off with dessert - I had the chocolate mousse. The food was faultless - I’d go back tomorrow if it weren’t so far away, and the service is excellent. Only trouble is the parking and poor ventilation/heat inside.

We went out in a big group for a Birthday dinner and loved the atmosphere. Most of the group enjoyed the meal but it was awful for the 2 vegan/vegetarians in the group (me being one of them). Our waiter was blatant they didn’t have much to offer and when asked about vegetables - he suggested boiled potatoes, spinach, chips and carrots. This can hardly be called a meal. The restaurant didn’t offer any other veg options and the asparagus starter wasn’t in stock. Very veg- unfriendly and I won’t be going back.

bad service from the waiter, it felt like they were doing us a favour. We left before we could even eat because the table we had was just cold and the waiter refused to move us or provide a heater. Disappointed after numerous excellent visits.

Been going to this restaurant for a long time and at least once a year, definitely for their birthday specials in July. The atmosphere is relaxed and casual, true to its heritage - Portuguese. Absolutely love the food especially the peri peri chicken is my best the flavours of spice and lemon satisfy my tastebuds.

A surprise date night led me to this authentic Portuguese restaurant. It's located in the residential area of La Rochelle in the South of Joburg. We felt like we were getting lost. <br/><br/>Arrived to a quiet environment, there were about 3 tabled occupied. We received good service from waiter.<br/><br/>Decided to have oysters as a starter. For my main, I ordered the Prawn Curry. Delicious And portions are more than generous (as you can see in the picture). I had no space for dessert. <br/>

We had to wait more than 15 minutes just to get a menu. Thereafter, when we were eventually served and our table cleaned sufficiently, we placed our order. <br/><br/>The chicken livers and the prawn cakes were tasty as starters with minor issues that were negligible when compared to the promise of mains that we came all the way from Pretoria for.<br/><br/>The peri peri chicken that I tasted for mains was mostly cooked and tasty. However the prawns that my partner ordered was overcooked and did not have the same amazing taste that we have come to know from Restaurante Parreirinha. With the volume of food that is offered and our naturally smaller appetite capacities, take always was inevitable. <br/><br/>My reason for writing this review was because of what happened the next day while attempting to consume the leftover food. It came to be that the rice that accompanied the prawns dish was clearly gone off, owing to the sticky texture. Almost R200 worth of prawns had to be thrown away as the prawns were placed on the bed of rice that had gone off. The issues mentioned above would've been easily negligible and not worthy of mention on its own. However, in viewing all these issues cumulatively makes one realize that the restaurant has become too busy to care about a couple that requested a small intimate table to celebrate their anniversary. Unfortunately due to the poor planning, was placed in between two large and loud groups of people where we couldn't even hear ourselves talk to each other. The conversations at the other tables were quite interesting and entertaining for us.

Loved our lunch at the Johannesburg gem! Been hearing about @parreirinha75 for ages, so we finally took the plunge and the trip to the South of Jozi. These guys have been going for 42 years and you can understand why. Delicious food, generous portions (okay - HUGE if you check out the seafood kebab!!), attentive service, impressive wine list. Not pretentious, just good food and a great vibe. Glad we booked, it was packed! Hubby had the seafood kebab and I had the Steak Trinchado - delicious! We will definitely be back! <br/>

Absolutely awesome, authentic Portuguese cuisine! This restaurant is a hidden gem - deep in the South of Johannesburg. A must try for lovers of Portuguese food. <br/><br/>The Prawn Cake starters were some of the tastiest Prawn Cakes I've ever had - full and packed with flavour. I absolutely loved them. For mains, I had the seafood skewer and it was wonderful! I have a huge appetite and even I couldn't finish the huge portion of food put in front of me! The Ice Cream kisses for dessert were great too. <br/><br/>All in all an awesome experience. Great food combined with excellent service. The restaurant has a very distinct decor - thousands of ties hanging from the ceiling rafters - I found this quite cool and out the ordinary. <br/><br/>All in all, despite the somewhat dodgy location, this is an amazing restaurant and you would do yourself a favour by trying it out. Note though that bookings are essential as the restaurant is booked out weeks in advance!

Amazing Portuguese food! We went for their annual birthday celebration. You can't beat R9 beer, R39 bottles of wine and R89 prawns. Everything from the prawns to the rice and chips were done to perfection. Loved this restaurant, just wish it were in a better area.

Been to this joint about a year back and keep craving for their delicious prawns. Every time I call to make a reservation, it's fully booked. The restaurant is quite small and always packed. It has the most odd decor of hanging ties from the ceiling. Delicious food and good service!

An absolute hidden gem! Full of atmosphere, lots of style. Friendly service, and good food. Had two of the specials - prawns with chips, and peri-peri chicken. Really flavourful and good value for money.

Very good service and the food was tasty and the quantity made me take some home haha. Only down side was the room we sat in had a funny smell and was not warm. Overall a definite return shall occur.

We came here for a birthday dinner and had a lovely evening. The area is super dodge but they seem to have decent security. You feel pretty safe and cozy once you enter. It's quite a homely experience with the roaring fireplace and friendly waiters. The family were all really happy with their meals which included the sirloin and prawn platters.<br/><br/>• Prawn Cakes: these rissoles are delicious and crispy, with a tasty creamy inside. Definitely a must-have as a starter.<br/><br/>• Prawn Curry: sticking with the tasty prawns, I tried their popular curry. I asked for half veg and rice as I had seen how large the portion of rice was on its own. It came with creamed spinach which was quite tasty. The actual curry was delicious and creamy, and the prawns were fresh and yum. I would definitely recommend it as a main. <br/><br/>Their sauces were also delicious. The lemon and garlic butter sauces they bring with the prawns are so tasty. We also ordered a few jugs if Caprihinia, which were delicious (just make sure you have a designated driver). It's definitely a place I'd come back to when I'm craving some good Portuguese food, and I'd love to get a chance to try their Caldo Verde.

Possibly one of JHB's best hidden secrets....if you have never been here, you don't know what you're missing out on.<br/><br/>A truly authentic Portuguese restaurant with loads of character and flavor. Upon entering the restaurant you're greeted by a sophisticated dining room with a warm fireplace and white tablecloths. This is the non-smoking area. We, however, always prefer sitting in the back informal smoking area as even though we don't smoke, the atmosphere is so much more festive.<br/><br/>On this particular visit we had the prawn cakes and squid as starters. Neither particularly wowed me. For mains we shared their rump Espetada with peppers and 6 King Mozambican Prawns. Whilst the Espetada was on "Mama's recommended menu", we enjoyed it but have both had better elsewhere, so wouldn't recommend it here, however the Prawns were absolutely delicious! <br/><br/>The R450 we paid for the 6 Prawns was absolutely worth it as they were delicious!<br/><br/>A lovely way to spend a lazy lunch with friends, getting your hands dirty and having fun. Oh, and buy some of their homemade Peri-Peri Sauce to take home - its always a hit with Prego Rolls.

Excellent traditional Portuguese restaurant. The service is welcoming and friendly. Family atmosphere and good comfort food. We enjoyed the prawns and the lobster which were tasty and well cooked. All managed by a multitasking super woman. Definitely a must repeat.

Was excited when I went in because the ambiance was nice and I specially liked the decor with the ties hanging from the ceiling. But the Portuguese food not great at all.

Excellent service, food and ambience. It's an amazing value for money restaurant which I highly recommend for either a group or a romantic meal.

Its been a while since I was here , wow , what a legend of a place in jhb . The venue is always full and has a great vibe . They do Portuguese food on a next level . The prawn curry is the best . The trinchdo is tender and so yummee and they serve katemba is draught glasses , what else can I say ..........

Best seafood in town! Prawn cakes must be the best on the planet. Even though the location seems dodgy it is so worth your while. Great service and cool building ( former police station) . We just love this place!

Well where to start..... first time I was here I was<br/>22 years old, I am now 40. Last time I was<br/>Here was 5 years ago (if they were in northern suburbs I would frequent more), anyway back<br/>To the review, setting foot inside today Brought back a whole bunch of memories..... decor has not changed, what's seems to be 600,000 ties hanging from the ceiling and the greeting was just as I remembered. <br/><br/>After being seated we were welcomed and given service right away, for those that know me a porra restaurant is not one without 2M beer... so the table ordered a few buckets <br/><br/>Then time came to order food, They have a starter platter which was awesome Except the Giblets that were fresh but were dry so this was dying for some type of sauce <br/>Apart from that the rest was super <br/>Rest of the table had prawn curry, baby chicken<br/>I tried all and loved each bite<br/><br/>Now after all the rambling I can say if a<br/>Place like this after all 42 years they been Around can still make good chow like that then you got a client for life <br/><br/>Well done team was good to be back

Was referred by many about Parreirinha. Nice and rustic place, felt like I was going on a adventure. Service is not even 3 star, had to call the waiter to serve us. I was pretty disappointed in the food! We ordered the seafood platter and I honestly felt like the lobster and prawns were a little over done. The fish was good however do you go to Parreirinha for good fish?

Had the lobster broth to start and it was really horrible. It was extremely peppery and salty, and bland in regards to tasting anything remiscient of lobster/seafood. <br/>On the other hand for my main I had the prawn curry, which was lovely. The prawns weren't tough but nice and soft, the sauce was fragrant and creamy. The service was also good.

Without a doubt, don't judge a book by its cover. I went and tried this placed based on recommendations. Honestly when I arrived I didn't think much. I actually prepared myself for disappointment. But there was nothing of the sort. The service was fast and friendly and the food was devine. I had their famous prawns and let me tell you, I have yet to find a place that can prepare prawns the way they do. Untouched. A must try.

Absolutely lovely place, the food is made with love and the service is just as good! The portion sizes are sufficient and prices are very affordable. I would definitely recommend this establishment even though it is quite hidden.

There is a reason this place is an institution with the Johannesburg Portuguese community and many more. Parreirinha is phenomenal! If you want delicious, mind blowing authentic Portuguese, this is the place. There is NO better Portuguese restaurant in the whole of Johannesburg! <br/><br/>We attended as a work function lunch and we were a rowdy crowd. Management took this in their stride! The waiters were a little slow at first, but found their rhythm. <br/><br/>Decor: The restaurant is an old converted police station. So it contains a labyrinth of rooms which adds to its charm. The ceiling has a quirky addition of hanging ties. There are 100's of colourful ties hanging from the high ceilings. Very whimsical. There is also a grand fireplace if you want a costly dinner atmosphere. A separate bar for those who wish to have a drink and watch some sport. It's also a smoking bar. <br/><br/>The food: The food is serendipitous. The prawns are large and you are offered choices - Queen, King, tiger etc. They are grilled to perfection, sweet and tasty. Very fresh. We also had their famous prawn cakes. So good, a lovely crust and not oily at all! <br/><br/>Traditional accompaniments like chips and hot veg were perfectly cooked and well seasoned! <br/><br/>Also tasted was the chorizo, the calamari, the giblets, the trinchado and the chicken livers. All were absolutely fantastic! Taste wise - nothing more you could ask for! Rustic, home cooking!<br/><br/>The staff: The staff were friendly and always ready to help and they spoke Portuguese and English. They were also very knowledgeable of the menu. <br/><br/>All in all this place is excellent and is no wonder why it's been open and thriving for many many years!

Old jail that used to be the Bankers Friday afternoon watering hole, was the perfect place for team year end lunch (pat on back suitably delivered). Beer Garden has a lovely vibey feel, with the green awning creating an interesting lighting effect and the "voluntarily" donated ties harking back to a different time. Food was its usual excellent quality, Prawn cakes and freshly baked rolls lovely, chicken was perfectly spiced and juicy and the prawns had a great sweetness to them. Washed down with some great Portuguese wine (what's with the prices, so low you really don't think twice about additional bottles) and overall, the only regret was the afternoon meeting that had to be attended to rather than a few more hours here

We have heard and read good things about this restaurant so we decided to go for a late lunch / early supper, 4:30pm on a Saturday. We did not make a reservation but where requested by the manager that we need to be done by 7pm as the table has been booked. The seafood was good, but cannot say the same about the chicken. Our meal was rudely interrupted by an obnoxious miserable lady at 6pm demanded that we vacate the table immediately and rudely sat staring at us with her smug face. To make things worse the manager asked that we leave the table we had been dining on to accommodate rude, arrogant customer. If that is how one customer is treated over another, Will never be back to this place ever again.....

Been here on a few previous occasions, and always find it thoroughly enjoyable.<br/>The only downside is the area in which it is situated, which could be quite scary at night, however this restaurant has been here since 1975 so it carries all the history at the current location. On this occasion we were 6 guests and everyone praised the great food. I can personally vouch for the prawns and the Seafood Kebab!<br/>Will definitely be back!

Terrible food and rude waiter. Will not be going back<br/>For the love of God save your Money & go somewhere else. This restaurant has an average of 4.6 stars - why??

I have nothing to say except this place is THE BEST !<br/>Setting: At first , I wanted to turn away. Although it may not look appealing from the outside , the inside is very homey , attributable to its family culture.<br/>Service: The service is great ,waiters at your command and friendly . Also , no time is wasted- food and service is timely.<br/>Food and Drinks: We started with the prawn cakes , which are divine . Almost like a prawn curry trapped in a brown coated pastry. Followed by a platter of chicken and prawns paired with a great jug of sangria. The chicken and prawns were juicy and went well with their sauce (beware to remove the oil). We then had mama's recommendation for dessert and the Don Pedro . The dessert was a custurd tart which was just crispy enough. All the food was cooked to utter perfection. It is not too pricey and affordable for many. <br/>You can then relax and enjoy a cigar while sipping a good wine. A must try !

After all the rave reviews I was really looking forward to divine food and company at Parreirinha. Unfortunately the experience was at best, average. They did not have their signature prawn cakes so opted for the creamy mussels for a starter. It was about 6 tiny mussels in a very bland white sauce. For mains I had prawns and they were good. Not great, just good. The place does have s fun vibe and does lend itself to fun parties for bigger groups.

Looking for a unique place for a special occasion...this bona fide Portuguese experience with it's 285 seater is deceptive and something of a labyrinth.  An iconic establishment that has stood the test of time, 6th street might look a little rough but a warm welcome awaits.  We were part of a large party, who ordered dishes to share as to try out as many varieties of not-to-missed mains. This was no time to be watching our waistlines as dishes are prepared with oodles of butter and oil. Stand outs are the Super Bock Portuguese beer and the cigar menu featuring rolled stogies from Cuba, USA and the Netherlands which allow guests to have some fun. Staff are well informed and efficient.

Situated in a dodgy location however it is truly a gem. The staff are friendly and the atmosphere is great. We ordered their prawns after hearing about how fantastic they are and it did not disappoint. The food tastes great and portion sizes are sufficient. The only issue is that is that it was very crowded around lunch time but that did not result in slow service.

Great old school Portuguese restaurant. Their baby chicken is pukka :-) and their seafood all excellent at great prices. Would suggest taking your own wine though as selection a bit limited.

Came here last night for their birthday special and were just as blown away as the first time we came here a couple of months ago. Robert was our waiter and he was attentive and clearly extremely good at his job. Our entire table ordered prawns - they were OUTSTANDING, the drinks were flowing and we had such a great time. We will definitely be back sooner rather than later!

Good people great food. Different vibe. The chicken and prawns are phenomenal well marrinated and juicy<br/>Recommended to anyone anytime make sure you book in advance

Best Portuguese restaurant in Johannesburg and possibly the country. As you walk in their doors you get a feel of what to expect. The restaurant used to be a prison way back when and this gives colour to the place. I recommend their prawns and chocolate mousse. Their staff are friendly and very accommodating and sorted us out with a dish that wasn't even on their menu. If you are a businessman don't wear a tie or they will cut it off and hang it from the roof with thundered of others . Old school simple quality. Don't let the area where this restaurant is situated stop you from coming here. Best place I've eaten in 2016.

Been to this restaurant a few times over the years , our waiter seemed like he was always in a rush and wanted us out of there sooner than later ? We ordered chicken and starter livers , although good food , can't say I was blown away , the chicken was prepared very well , chips and rice delicious , chicken could have done with more flavour.<br/>

Parreirinha is an old style Portuguese restaurant located in a converted police station. Don’t be put off by the dodgy location. Parreirinha is consistent, reliable and unpretentious. Décor has been recently been revamped but is still rustic, with the main feature being hundreds of ties hanging from the rafters. Fabulous lobster, prawns and baby chicken.

Needed something tasty tonight. The food was excellent and yes you guessed it TASTY. Definitely will go back. Only drawback was the take away beef prego roll and chip., it was dry and very bland. I will be weary to order a take away for home.

Portuguese cuisine. Mama famous prawn cakes. Most delicious chicken livers starter and recommended sea food platter. Prawns being their speciality. Since 1975 a family run business. Staff are friendly and attentive.

Been coming here for the past 20 years with my family. Great atmosphere and amazing traditional food. Peri peri chicken and prawns come highly recommended and are some of the best in Joburg.

Having frequented this place as our choice lunch venue when I started working, it was great to be back. Characterful decor and festive atmosphere. Food is good. Had the seafood platter shared by 2 people. The mussels in a tomato mix were brilliant. Prawns are good and calamari tender and we'll cooked. Service was good for a busy Saturday lunch service.

The food is always good but I am very disappointed that we tried to place a take away order for our office and they couldn't email a menu to us. They don't even have a menu on Zomato. Most restaurants have their menu on Zomato. So we are ordering from elsewhere. FAIL

My favourite little Portuguese restaurant situated in a quiet street seems to blow my mind every time I'm there. Trinchardo is a must, followed by a espresso and a 1920. Don't wear a tie, you'll thank me when you see the roof...

What a fun place! <br/>The service was incredibly efficient for how busy the place was and everything we had was delicious. We asked them to bring a platter of starters and a platter of different mains so we could have a bit of everything. <br/>The prawns were the star of the show, but we finished every bit of food we were given. <br/>That atmosphere was relaxed but buzzing with all the other guests. Everything was clean and tidy and there was some interesting decor pieces, such as the huge framed group of match boxes from around South African and the hundreds of ties hung from the ceiling. We throughly enjoyed ourselves. If you are looking for some authentic Portuguese food and a relaxed evening Parreirinha is worth the drive. <br/>

Best chicken and prawns in this city, hands down! Always visit around my birthday which is also Parreirinha birthday month where they have insane specials.

Ah yes, definitely right up there on our list, our favourite Portuguese restaurant in the South! The chilli, the vibe, the decor and the family atmosphere complete with the hands on approach of the owners, this is a gem of a place, a must in Joburg

By far some of the best prawns I have had in JHB. This is the place to go if you just want to absolutely pig out on shellfish - it tastes amazing and it is great value for money. We have had everything here from lobster, langoustines to prawns and it was all amazing, every single time. The only issue I have with this place is that the bulk of the restaurant is a smoker section, unless you sit in the cramped front part. It is in quite a dodgy area, but the ambience inside is quite unique.

The best prawns and peri peri chicken in town. We had a selection of prawns, chicken and fillet. Everything was cooked to perfection. The decor was very authentic and so special with all the ties. The waiters were very attentive and the managers presence was noticed. I will definitely be going again!

Parreirinha was 1st established in 1973 and is situated in La Rochelle but dont let the location place doubt in your mind. The decor is very Portuguese with 1000s of ties of past patrons suspended from the ceiling in side what was a Police station in the 1950s. The food is always amazing and affordable, if you're lucky enough to get a table in July for their birthday specials, you're in for a treat. I enjoy the prawn curry as they are not shy on the portion but last night I opted for the 'Steak Cassarola' Sirloin steak in a tomato and onion based sauce with a fried egg and round chips. The sauce was full of flavour and the steak melted in my mouth. We also ordered the mushroom steak which was just amazing with the most delicious vegetables. The prawns are always great and we also had some giblets (the starter portion looks like a main portion, value for money there!). If you love Portuguese cuisine, you cannot go wrong!

This tiny Portuguese restaurant is in the south of jhb in La Rochelle, there are a lot of car guards so your car is safe it's just about finding parking. The food is your typical Porra food. Mike had the baccalou de braz - it's cod fish with egg and Fried chips, it's a acquired taste and it's a lot to eat so becareful when ordering it.<br/><br/>I had a streak with an egg and it was also okay. The service is quick and it's got a great ambience

This is a very cool place in an old police station. Great food and great price. Take a tie to hang from the ceiling. The downside is that it is in a dodgie area and you have to book quiet a long time in advance.

For good, authentic, no frills Portuguese fair this is the place to come. Building was originally a police station but has been a Portuguese restaurant since 1975. Down to earth place in a nondescript building down a side street in la Rochelle.

This is an old gem. A bit of a trek to get there, a group of us took an UberVan.<br/><br/>The rafters are decorated by ties, but it looks like the least corporate place, ever. The restaurant is a warren of connected rooms, with a private area at the back for special functions.<br/><br/>We ordered a mixed platter for the table to start, which included chicken, calamari and prawn cakes. The prawn cakes are apparently something of a speciality, but I found them quite over flavoured and salty.<br/><br/>The waiter brought over an impressive looking platter of different raw prawns so we could choose the size we wanted, ranging from prince to langoustine. He also brought out a MASSIVE frozen crayfish which was in the menu for around R3k. It seemed like more of a party piece than an actual edible creature!<br/><br/>Our table ordered a platter of prawns with various butter sauces and some sides and ate until we couldn't anymore.<br/><br/>I ordered the creme caramel for desert. It was pretty ordinary, but it was also overdoing it after all of the prawns.<br/><br/>We brought a few bottles of wine and paid corkage on those, but also ordered a few Portuguese beers and shooters.<br/><br/>The bill came to just a over R500 a couple, incredible value for money.<br/><br/>Although we had an enjoyable evening, the service was good, the vibe spot on and the price was so reasonable, I don't think I would go back. Perhaps I expected more because of the fact they they are such an institution, but besides the fact that the prawns were so well priced, I found the food to be a lacking.<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>

Found this gem thanks to my adventurous wife. The area is slightly dodgy but don't let that deter you, there is guarded parking. We had the prawn curry and sardines. Both meals were lovely, our favourite was the luscious generous prawns soaked in a rich comforting cream sauce hmmmmm hmmmmm. Be sure to sit in the smoking section for lively atmosphere and red light ambience. Really good value for money. Two thumbs up from both me and the missus. We are going back this week with my folks.

Parreirinha is supposed to be THE place for prawn dishes! (Well my family think so!) I however, do not eat prawns so I went with the thought of ordering the calamari. The atmosphere and premises is really nice and rustic and it once used to be an old prison so the place has character!... Especially with all the hundreds of different ties that hang from the roof! I ordered the calamari dish with veggies. It was ok, the way it was cooked was more on the spicy side which was a bit too much for my liking! The veggies weren't that great, I expected grilled veggies or at least spinach and butternut but I got 2 gem squash filled with peas and butternut pieces mixed into a thick cheese sauce which was too rich! My family and friends all ordered prawn dishes which they raved about. Someone ordered the chicken livers for starters and they said it was outstanding too. <br/>I do understand that the current premises has such character, however I wish though that the restaurant was placed in a better area as its situated in a rather dodgy place.

Not a bad place at all. Was a little upset we couldn't try their speciality prawn cakes. The rest of the meal was really good though. Friendly service and good cold beer

One of the best meals I have had for a while. Simple Portuguese fair beautifully prepared and served in a fantastic atmosphere. From drinks to magnificent pudding nothing to be faulted

It's a vibey setting (in an old police station) and there are thousands of ties hung from the roof! I have always rated this place very highly from my previous visits but my last trip was disappointing. We were a table of 12 and I asked if we could be seated in one of the back rooms off from the smoking section. They did what I asked but literally shoved us into the corner so that nobody could even get in and out to go to the bathroom, without everyone else having to get up. It was also hot and stuffy in the room which made it even worse.<br/><br/>Their food is good but I was disappointed they only offered prawn rissoles that had so much chilli in them that none of the girls could eat them!  It's a far drive for us and I would usually make the effort, but I don't think I'll be back there soon!

We had our year end function at Parreirinha. I was well excited as it's an old police station, rustic and it's authentic Portuguese food!<br/><br/>We were unfortunately cramped into the place as there was more than one Year End function there. But we still took over since we jammed a DJ in there with a full sound system.<br/><br/>I think it's a great place. Our starters like salad, fishcakes, calamari, chorizo and other great 'tapas style' platters arrived really quickly. Our other food (our group was 40+ strong) didn't take too long either, HOWEVER I think some things like over-done Espatada, too salty Kingklip, some prawns weren't cleaned well and a bit grainy, slipped through the order cracks because they were so busy.<br/><br/>Our drinks never took long though, so I have to applaud our waiters for being really amazing with that.<br/><br/>I would however not recommend to go to Parreirinha on a hot day as they don't have air-conditioning which is such a pity.<br/><br/>

Nestled in an unlikely part of the South, what this restaurant lacks in location it makes up for with atmosphere and charm! We had the hearty seafood platter, great value with more than enough for 2! My favourite dish was the prawn rissole. Be careful of the katemba in a large beer mug, it's more potent than it appears (or maybe that was just us!). We will definitely be back soon.

I took some friends out to Perreirinha for dinner, they hadn't been there before so I thought I'd impress them with some fantastic Portuguese cuisine. It turned out to be a bad decision coz this wasnt the fantastic Parreirinha I remember. I ended the night feeling sorely disappointed and embarrassed. The service was non existent from our waiter, he only fluttered around us when we were paying the bill. We ordered seafood platters for 2 expecting a decent sized dish @ the cost of just over R300 a platter but what we got was not big enough to be shared. The fish portion was tiny and the squid heads were almost invisible. I've been numerous times to Parreirinha before but not in the last year so maybe their standards have changed or it could have been just one of those nights. Either way I was disappointed enough not to want to return.

Best prawns in town by far! Their espetada is also excellent. I usually go for a prawn and chicken combo, get the best of both worlds. Always a great vibe in a very modest setting. No need to wear a collared shirt when digging into your prawns. Just don't take a date with you if you really want to enjoy yourself.

Best prawns in jozi. Love this place. Love the vibe and especially their peri peri. Must go as it's known for its authentic Portuguese food.. which is always unbelievable. My whole family loves this spot . Must book in advance cause they always jammed packed. Love their chicken livers

The hubster and I decided to give it a try last night. The area is a bit dodge (but hey its JHB). The evening was fantastic. They definitely have the best prawns in jozi. The whole vibe and set up is great fun. Will be back to try the peri peri chicken.

It's actually an amazing restaurant or rather food experience. The are is dodgy but if you can park near a car guard then you are okay. The prawns national (beer prawns) are very tasty so is the espetada.

One of my all time faves!!!! The prawn rissoles are king here!! From the rolls to the house peri peri sauce to the prawns to the catembas 😍

My experience with this restaurant was both good and bad.Let me start with the good the food is always up to standard,the bad is the decor which was good up till now,but I think it needs a well deserved upgrade.The management and staff seem to only look after the regulars,the newbies take it you want or leave attitude.

This Portuguese restaurant is an institution in Rosettenville, and has been open since 1975.  If you looking for good prawns and peri peri chicken, well then this is the place to go to.  The restaurant is very rustic and has a sort of charm with all the ties hanging from the ceiling.  Great food and good service.

I visited Parreirinha on Friday night and the place was packed to say the least. Before my visit I had heard others rave about the food and was looking forward to, in particular, tasting the prawns which so many have raved about. We ordered the prawn cake and mussels as starters. The prawn cake was good and the mussels were okay. The sauce better than the actual mussels which tasted like it had been cooked more than once. I ordered the prawn curry as my main, and while there certainly was an abundance of prawns on the plate , the dish lacked oomph. Sad to say it reminded me of those supermarket cook in sauces. My fiance ordered chicken and prawns and he loved his dish. I left feeling confused about the experience. While the service and vibe were good, I was terribly disappointed with the food...

Amazing Portuguese restaurant in a renovated house, pity in such a dicey area, but it's been around for YEARS and there is a car guard so worth risking it. Must be safe because this restaurant is always full so booking is a must especially on the weekend.<br/>The decór is so cozy and inviting with different rooms that add to its uniqueness. Thousands of ties decorate the beams of the ceilings from years of people throwing them up there, so many memories.<br/>The food is delicious. I can recommend the oysters that are so fresh and delicious. The prawn cocktail also, so deliciously tastey.<br/>The mains I had the prawns and my BF the Espetada. The food was really good and cooked to both our liking. Great value for an enjoyable evening.<br/>The chocolate mousse to finish the very enjoyed meal was so decadent and yummy. <br/>Definitely will return again.

Very friendly staff with a great atmosphere. Thus restaurant is authentic Portuguese. Fresh rolls on the table and delicious big portions. A great place your take friends for a night out.

Having been to this restaurant many times in the past I always felt they had something unique. However the food standard in the last two visits has declined. More emphasis on packing the place than provide a good experience.

This little gem has been running for many years and how often can you say you eating in what used to be the holding cells of a police station. The traditional inland Portuguese food is fantastic and probably the best in Johannesburg. Don't forget to make sure you visit in August when they celebrate their birthday by slashing prices to almost nothing.

Came with Catherine Au and another friend for dinner one evening. We arrived and we're shown to our table where my friend was waiting already. <br/><br/>Bread and butter were already on the table. Our waiter gave us the menus. We ordered a white wine that was from Portugal. And a water for the table. <br/><br/>For starters we ordered a parreirinha platter which consists of calamari, livers, giblets, chorizo and chips. This was absolutely Devine and we polished this in no time. <br/><br/>For mains, we ordered a full chicken, curry prawns and 12 prawns. The full chicken was done well and full of flavour. The chicken was tender and soft. The curry prawns was good and the flavour of the curry wasn't too strong. There wasn't too much sauce, which would have been nice with the rice. The 12 prawns were excellent. The prawns were fresh and cooked to perfection. Absolutely delicious. <br/><br/>For dessert we had chocolate mousse, ice cream and chocolate sauce and Portuguese tarts. These were mediocre but we're still finished. <br/><br/>All in all a great night out at a very good restaurant. Awesome food and good company make this one great night. Will definitely be back.

A supper club dinner brought us to this grande dame of joburg restaurants. Unfortunately this grande dame didn't quite live up to its reputation. The service was fairly shocking, with us having to ask for cutlery and ask for forgotten meals. The famous prawn cakes happened to be the forgotten meal and were disappointing and badly presented. This isn't applying northern suburbs standards at all I can assure. The food generally made up somewhat for the service, the prawns were delicious and generous... I won't be braving the drive there any time soon though.

Loved dining here! Ordered all their specialties: starter platter, prawn cakes, seafood kebab, chocolate mousse. Everything was superb. Admittedly, their prawn cake is the star of the show, whilst everything else great, I still salivate thinking of those prawn cakes. And you can order them frozen to enjoy at home! <br/><br/>The restaurant was packed, had a great atmosphere, and a rustic, offbeat charm. Wait staff were efficient, although not the friendliest. The area is totes dodge, but this added to the experience. <br/><br/>A definite must if you enjoy Portuguese cuisine.

Not at the greatest location, but it reviews to be a well set up and booming restaurant.<br/>It has two separate dining areas. There’s a glass wine cellar, displaying a variety of wines. There’s a large amount of ties hanging from the roof, all types, presuming it is from pass guests, contributing to the décor collection.<br/> <br/>Greeted by our waiter, and he gave us recommendations on wine.<br/>We were shown the seafood available for the evening.<br/> <br/>Bread was on the table.<br/>We decided on a bottle of white wine as we were heading for seafood for the evening.<br/>We ordered a Parreirinha starter platter to share among the 3 of us, it consists of calamari, livers, giblets, chorizo and chips, and wow, this platter was delicious, and it got polished off quickly.<br/> <br/>Mains we ordered a full baby chicken, 12 grilled prawns and a prawn curry with rice.<br/>Everything was well cooked. We enjoyed it thoroughly.<br/> <br/>Dessert, we ordered :<br/>Portuguese tart filled with custard and served with cream. It was quite nice, but this can be bought in normal supermarket.<br/>Chocolate mousse: I thought it was salty and little too runny.<br/>Ice cream and chocolate sauce: was average<br/> <br/>But overall. A great evening, good setting, good food. Dessert needs little work.

Brilliant food, prawns, chicken and steak. Service was friendly and efficient. Vibe conjusive to a good evening. Well worth every cent. It's a must for a all Portuguese food lovers

Coming from far, and wanting to enjoy a little vino with our meal, we ubered our way to La Rochelle. The ride alone was an educational which was interesting on its own. A meal should always be an adventure, and the journey to this little gem was worth it.<br/>I felt as I was entering a little cave in Portugal with Pipas, wine bottles, picture frames, even money and ties on the wall. What a humble little gem, I felt at pease with the rustic setting.<br/><br/>We started with the little Portugeuse prawn cakes which had the most amazing flavor, with just enough kick. Best I ever had! We accompanied our starters with a starter platter : chorizo, giblets, livers, calamari and chips. Just that had all 5 of us full already, but we couldn't stop there. We ordered a seafood platter for the table: lobster,king prawns, queen prawns, calamari and chips. And we couldn't go there without trying the thrinchado. The meat was tender, juicy and the spice with the chips had me finishing the dish. To finish our meal off we shared the chocolate mouse, which could have been a little more rich in flavor, but this is my personal taste preference of course.<br/><br/>The wine we paired our meal with was a light and easy drinking Portuguese white called, Dona Graca Douro.<br/><br/>I would recommend this gem to everyone, you haven't lived until you taste the flavor of Johannesburg.

Atmosphere is great.<br/><br/>Really liked the old school homestyle feel. <br/><br/>The chorizo was very good and the caiparinhas were also very good.<br/><br/>However, i felt the prawns were average.<br/><br/>Will try it again to see if maybe i went on a bad day as most reviews rave about the prawns but i fel them to be mediocre.

Great Friday night with good friends ! <br/>We managed to fit 12 people into the 6 table "cave" !<br/>Being the birthday celebration weekend ( or end of ) it was packed. <br/>The food was excellent - most of the table had prawns ( some had two portions ) ! <br/>Double Digit buckets of beer at R9 were guzzled !! 🍻🍻🍻<br/>Parking is safe even through the area is a little run down !!

Visited with a group of mates last night. It's their birthday month so great value for money. But that doesn't mean the food is anything less than simply to die for. Chicken and prawns were the order of the day, and I'm still dreaming of those yummy prawns. We Ubered there, the area is a bit dodgy, but so worth the meal.

Went last night for their birthday bash special... What good deals they have! Prawns are absolutely delicious, trinchado was a bit disappointing as it was a bit too salty and the gravy was on the runny side... I prefer it with a thick gravy that I can almost scoop up with chips and chunks of crispy bread roll. Meat was a bit on the tough side. Prawn rissoles were really good too.<br/><br/>Deals were such a bargain that we ordered a chicken to take home and have for lunch today.

We went to Parreirinha last Friday with the family. I made two separate bookings two months back as during July they celebrate their Birthday month, which means great specials for patrons! So in the last month, I have been twice.<br/>Both times I ate the prawn special which truly was a fabulous meal! The whole table both times ordered the prawns, and no one had a single complaint. We also ordered the trichado for a starter and a takeaway, which also was lovely! The meat was tender and the sauce was tasty and rich! Yum!<br/>There was also a decent bottle of Portuguese wine on special and a Portuguese beer, again great prices! And I really enjoyed the wine!!!<br/>The only thing I need to mention, is that both times, there were no rissoles available which really made my heart sad. I'm a massive fan of the rissoles and I don't get to eat them very often, so when we come here I always order them, such a pity there weren't any both times!<br/>The service was fabulous, both times! The waiter staff always are very friendly and warm.<br/><br/>One complaint I do have, last Friday, we were placed in a non smoking area, which I had requested, only to find 3 people next to us smoking! We were told that that area was actually a smoking area by the patrons, until the waiter intervened. The issue was sorted out but that sort of issue is unacceptable, while enjoying a meal the last thing you really want is to start approaching people to please stop smoking. This issue should possibly be looked at for future.<br/>The prices on the normal everyday menu are quite high, and I think some items might be overpriced. Also, Parreirinha isn't in the greatest area at all, and I can only imagine within the next few years, they will need to move premises, which truly will be really sad.<br/>We had a great family dinner though, and I can guarantee next July, we'll all be back yet again, possibly even sooner!

The prawns and peri peri chicken are probably the best in the whole of Johannesburg, the drive is definitely worth it.