Francesinha every now and then brings small restaurants to the spotlight. Afonso is a Francesinha spot, famous for that magnanimous sandwich. It is also a strange shrine for the F1 legend, Ayrton Senna. Yep, that’s right! Might be strange, but it all fits together.

A saying in Porto goes something like this: “Francesinhas are like women, everyone has their own preference.” Some beloved, others hated, but this one has, so far, gathered only compliments. Afonso’s francesinha is compact and, judging from the outside, it looks like it could be bigger. But wait until you put the first forkful in your mouth. Only then you’ll realize that its secret lies within, with a tasty thick meat galore hiding in the two pieces of bread, soaked in the special sauce. But while you’re waiting for the main star of the meal, Afonso’s waiters will tempt you with entreés: all I can say is go for the ‘bola de carne’ (Portuguese meat bread), and perhaps dismiss the rest. Francesinha is not for the light stomachs!

Afonso is also a reference for its finos (pressure beer), an art that sometimes is hardly made right. Afonso is also great to see sports events, since it has two big TV screens, carefully placed to be at everyone’s’ sight range.

I’m guessing that if Senna was still alive, he would approve this amazing little restaurant. Perhaps thats why the Francesinha is so good there: it is blessed by that eternal legend.