Rockfish Fillets

"Crispy outside, ridiculously tender inside."

Filetes de abrótia are fried fillets of forkbeard, a very traditional fish in the Azores, especially in São Miguel.

The fish itself is top notch. Extremely tender, delicate, and mild in flavor. When fried properly, it gets crispy on the outside and stays soft and flaky inside.

It’s usually served with boiled potatoes, boiled yam, or sweet potato. And on the side, there’s that classic sauce made with mayonnaise and pickles. Simple, but it works.

Every restaurant does it slightly differently, but the base is the same. And when it’s done well, it’s amazing.

It’s one of those dishes that doesn’t try to impress you. It just quietly delivers.

You’ll find filetes de abrótia in many regional restaurants across the island. It’s a very common and traditional dish.

But if you ask me where I prefer to eat it, my personal favorite is Canto da Pia.

That’s the one I go back to.