Polvo à lagareiro: how to put it on the menu
Polvo à lagareiro is octopus boiled until tender and then roasted in the oven or over charcoal, served with crushed baby potatoes and drenched in hot olive oil with garlic.
Updated October 2026
How it reads on the menu, in each language
| Language | Name | Line for the guest |
|---|---|---|
| Portuguese | Polvo à lagareiro | Polvo cozido e assado no forno com batatas a murro, muito azeite e alho. |
| English | Polvo à lagareiro | Tender octopus roasted with crushed baby potatoes, generous olive oil and garlic. |
| Spanish | Polvo à lagareiro | Pulpo cocido y asado al horno con patatas machacadas, abundante aceite de oliva y ajo. |
| French | Polvo à lagareiro | Poulpe cuit puis rôti au four avec pommes de terre écrasées, beaucoup d’huile d’olive et d’ail. |
Usual allergens to check
- Molluscs
A guide based on the traditional recipe. Only your recipe and your suppliers tell you what the dish contains. How to list allergens
What Polvo à lagareiro is
A “lagareiro” is someone who works at an olive-oil press — the name tells you olive oil is the star of the dish.
How to write it for visitors
For many visitors octopus is new; the word “tender” in the explanation helps overcome doubts. Say whether it comes as whole tentacles or in pieces, and whether the price is per person or for two.
Where and when it is eaten
All over Portugal, especially in seafood restaurants and fish restaurants in the Algarve, along the coast and in the Azores.
Frequently asked questions
Which allergens does polvo à lagareiro contain?
Molluscs (the octopus). If you serve it with bread or with potatoes fried in shared oil, check those sides too.
How do I explain “lagareiro” in English?
You do not need to translate the word. Explain the dish: “octopus roasted with crushed potatoes, olive oil and garlic”.