I don't know why I've never thought of asking on here before as I've been using the site for years but mainly in the Cyprus section....!

Years ago (near 10) we went on a great holiday to Portugal and specifically to the Algarve, right on the East coast in Tavira (against the border with Spain). Back then there was only one hotel (the Hotel Eurotel ?) that we knew of and was about a mile walk into the Tavira's centre itself (which was more or less just a fishing village).

We booked a Jeep Safari with the holiday reps which included a lunch amongst other things...

Roughly (from what I remember ) we went in a small convoy of 4x4's and I think ours was an old toyota (with one lot of the drive shafts removed due to a problem of some sort making it only 2 wheel drive ! .. the rest where landrovers).
I remember we were picked up at the hotel but then driven to a what I think was a harbour type area (I could be confusing this, it was a long time back).. where we all met up... we then set off on our journey..
We did some off roading (not really anywhere in particular but obviously on route ?) and at some part went to a salt lake ? Saw lots of pink flamingos (oh I've just remembered the drivers name "Erik" who I think might have been dutch ??? and was maybe in his 50's ) and generally had a drive around on varying off road tracks...
Eventually we met up with a boat and we all got out of the 4x4's and sailed up the river between Portugal and Spain (can't remember its name ) being shown varying things and I know at some point we sailed under a massive road bridge linking the two countries.
Again at some point we pulled in and those that wanted to get out and take the walking tour could get off (some stayed in board and sailed further along the river, I think they then met up with the 4x4s further on).. We all walked up through the villages being shown how they got water from a pipe running through the village and cork tree's with explainations of how its harvested...
I can't remember if we walked all the way to the restaurant or if we met up with the rest of the party in the 4x4's (I think it was the latter)... but eventually we were taken up the mountain (which ?) to a big restaurant !
This is where you come in... I'd like to know the name of the place, pictures etc..
All our holidays since then, we've paid attention and taken photos, made sure we knew the place names etc.. because many arguements about that holiday and where we were, what we had eaten etc made us realise that we like to know these things when we get back...
The restaurant was pretty big, had lots of areas around it with pools, sunbathing, grassed areas...
Inside it was set up in lines of tables, rows where 10 or 20 people could be seated...
The food was a set menu (well it was for our party of jeep safari'ers... I think 3 or 4 jeeps more or less filled the place)
A band played traditional type music...
First a soup was brought out (a thin, clear refreshing vegetable soup) in terracotta bowls and we were told if you would like more simply tap your spoon on the bowls... we did and had 3 bowls ful !!
Then came piri-piri chicken and again if you emptied the plate full they would happily bring you more..(I seem to remember we equalled the record for the amount for one table ..lol )

Does this ring any bells?... could anyone put a name to a place?

Thanks for any ideas...

Steve