Everything seemed to be going well for Pedro Gato, the man behind Sandocas – the sandwich spot at Casa da Guia that had locals raving over its bread stuffed with beef or pork and gooey Seia cheese. But then disaster struck, quite literally, forcing the beloved food truck to shut down.
When Storm Martinho hit in March, Avenida Nossa Senhora do Cabo, right by Casa da Guia, was one of the hardest-hit areas, with several trees falling and emergency crews called in for major clean-up. Sandocas was among the casualties: both the truck and trailer were damaged, and the outdoor terrace was completely destroyed.
“The reconstruction works took six months to complete. Just rebuilding the wall alone took two months. We could only reopen after all that time”, Pedro tells Time Out. “It was a very complicated situation. The bills kept coming and there was no money coming in”. It was half a year of suffocating pressure for the man who is also a personal trainer, with debts and loans piling up and relying on the support of friends. “Some organised parties where I sold sandwiches, but it wasn’t enough. In six months I only sold a hundred sandwiches. It was miserable,” he admits, adding that he even set up a GoFundMe to try to keep things afloat.
Now – as of August 25 , to be precise – Pedro is back in business, and feeling better than ever.
In Sandocas’ new chapter, the food remains just as people remember. The menu offers three sandwiches, available in regular or XL: beef (€10/€13), pork (€8/€12), or cheese-only (€7). There are fries (€2.50) to accompany them, and extra toppings if you fancy.
The space itself has been revamped: the terrace now has proper tables and chairs instead of pallets, and Pedro shares plans to expand it further, adding more shade and lighting. All of it shows he knows the business is back on track. “Sales have had a real buzz since we reopened. People missed us, and those who hadn’t been before are even more eager to try. I’ve had visitors tell me they should have come on the day of the storm. The feedback has been fantastic – everyone says it’s the best sandwich they’ve ever had”, he says.
For those who haven’t yet discovered Sandocas, Pedro and his stories – even the one about how he came across the homemade spice he uses in his recipes – might seem a bit over the top. As José Diogo Quintela once joked in a sketch for the beloved Gato Fedorento: “the boast factor is through the roof”. But one bite of these smoked meat sandwiches quickly proves that any hint of bragging is more than justified – they’re easily among the best bites in Cascais.
Avenida Nossa Senhora do Cabo, 101, Cascais. Mon-Sun 11.00–21.00