I have taken great pleasure in performing a deep exploration of the incredible culinary offerings of both the Mediterranean and Southern Europe over the past couple of years, a result of feeling inspired by my husband Saifallah’s stories of eating tinned fish, olives, and bread across the gorgeous cities of North Africa and Europe. When I read about the opening of a tiny Portuguese restaurant in Cypress Park, located on the Northeast side of L.A., I was excited to grab a seat for a delightful summer date night al fresco.

Serving traditional Portuguese small plates along with natural wines, Barra Santos has become a hot destination for L.A.’s eastsiders, its sidewalk packed Wednesday - Sunday with patrons eager to be seated. I prefer to stroll up at 4 pm as the restaurant opens so that I can easily grab a table and unwind with a glass of wine.

Food & Drink - What To Order

The menu at Barra Santos features a variety of Portuguese favorites, including grilled sardines, bacalhau fritters, and bifana, a spiced pork sandwich that pairs well with wines.

We began our order with the essential Lisbon Special ($28) which includes succulent olives, the cheese of the day, slices of seeded baguette baked by city-darling Bub & Grandma’s, and a generous serving of fatty Iberico Ham. I wanted to pair our savory snacks with a funky Portuguese orange wine and ordered a glass of 2021 Adega De Penalva, Dão 'maceration’ ($14), while my husband, a lover of a dry white, ordered a glass of the 2021 Quinta Do Pinto Arinto/Fernão ($13). It was a beautiful start to a lovely evening at Barra Santos.

Wanting to experience the menu to the fullest on our first visit, we proceeded to order a few more plates: Tuna Crudo, Buttered Sardine Toasties, Maria’s Bacalhau Fritters, and an Edive Salad. Each dish was made with fresh, high-quality ingredients, and the flavors were delicious.

The Scene

The atmosphere at Barra Santos is inviting and genuinely cool. It’s a perfect place to enjoy a glass of wine along with some snacks, either on a super cute date or with a couple of friends. Smaller parties are encouraged due to the size of the restaurant. Pulling up to the bar to enjoy the buzz of the space could also be fun if that’s what you’re looking for.

I appreciated how friendly and knowledgeable the staff was, always happy to make informed recommendations, especially with the wine menu.