Portuguese Rotisserie 2.0

The Pitch

The Ferreira name made the news recently during Grand Prix weekend, when daughter Sandra posted an emotional video decrying the fire department's snafu at her family restaurant, forcing the evacuation and dismantling of the terrace during its most profitable period of the year.

Though it went viral, the video is not what put the Ferreira name on the map.  Father Carlos, later joined by his two daughters, now sit at the helm of a group which counts four restaurants – at one point five.  The maison mère of Café Ferreira – one of the best destinations for seafood in town – was followed by Café Vaso da Gama and more recently by two outposts of Campo.

Today I finally visited the first of the two locations, situated around the Maisonneuve/Peel corner, steps away from the family's two other downtown institutions.  The sweltering heat outside had subdued by 8PM on this Monday evening, so my two friends and I decided to enjoy our dinner on the small patio in front.

tagged:  CATCH SOME SUN OPEN ON MONDAY

The Mood

Given the people and pedigree behind Campo, it comes as no surprise that the vibe and décor are elevated compared to other Portuguese chicken joints.  While still casual, the interior is eye catching thanks to mosaic-tiled floors, white brick walls and modern wall-mounted tables and stools.

A touch of fun is added via the flaming chicken neon logo and hanging family photos throughout.  That said, the ambiance is gloomy and reddish, which may work in winter, but was too dark for a beautiful summer night.

The Food

The word campo meaning "field" in Portuguese, the naming here evokes images of chickens running free dans les champs.  The poultry is marinated for 24 hours in piri piri for that signature Portuguese kick.  The result is a tender, lightly spiced bird which can be ordered by itself with sides or in a sandwich, poutine, salad and rice bowl.

Also on offer are wings as well as a handful of sides and desserts.  Finally, a meal here can be rounded out with a small selection of wines, beers and cocktails.  Myself I went with a Super Bock lager and the chicken sandwich.  The latter came in a traditional papo secos roll and was simply loaded with hefty shreds of Campo's grilled chicken.

The Verdict

Being a huge fan of Café Ferreira, Campo has been on my radar since its opening in 2016.  Although I may have tried the Time Out Market location years ago during an influencer event (I can't recall), today would count as my first foray here.  For a city rife with churrascarias all over the place, and damn good ones I might add, Campo comes off as one more out of many.

Where it does stand out is with the setting and branding.  Whereas its peers are centered in or around the Plateau and tend to be casual/takeout operations, the Ferreira family's rotisserie gives the downtown crowd a dine-in, sit-down option worthy of an extended stay with food as well as drinks on offer.

Price per person:  $19.75