The wonderful seaside cuisine of Alfama, an ancient village in Portugal, is on the menu at this namesake bistro decorated with authentic blue and white Portuguese tiles in Manhattan’s West Village. Bacalau (salt cod) is one of the most common ingredients in Portuguese cooking, and it shows up here mixed in a dish with potatoes and peppers that is alive with robust flavors. Cooking in a cataplana—a sort of open-mouth clamshell pot made from copper—is another tradition in Portugal. The cataplana is filled with fish, scallops, and shrimp and studded with chorizo, potatoes, and tomatoes—a Hungry Man-style bouillabaisse that is complemented by an incredible selection of Portuguese wines. To keep things like they are in the old country, soulful Fado singers perform on Wednesday nights.

Alfama Information:

• Portuguese Cuisine. Lunch, dinner, Sun brunch. Bar. Casual attire. Reservations recommended. Credit cards accepted.