© Domingos Oliveira
Kirchberg's dining scene has gained some Portuguese flair with the opening of Taberna Londrina, a franchise specialising in the iconic Francesinha.
Taberna Londrina, a Portuguese restaurant franchise, has officially arrived in Luxembourg, opening its first location in Kirchberg on Wednesday, 27 November.
The restaurant, situated on Avenue J.F. Kennedy, shares a building with financial audit and consultancy firm EY, making it a prominent addition to the area. Founded in 2014, Taberna Londrina has established itself with more than 15 locations across Portugal. Its speciality is the Francesinha, a traditional Portuguese dish inspired by the French croque-monsieur. The dish features layers of bread, meat, and cheese, often topped with an egg and a signature sweet-and-spicy sauce. With around ten variations available on the menu, prices range from €9.50 for a toasted Francesinha to €24.90 for a premium version with fillet of beef.
"Our Francesinhas are designed to appeal to a wide audience. They're very light and cater to various tastes," said Gabriel Batista, the franchise's Operations Manager. "The sauce, along with the choice of meat and charcuterie, is a closely guarded secret, and we believe these elements are key to our success."
The menu reflects a strong influence of snack culture, offering a selection of starters like spicy chicken wings (€9.90) and garlic bread with grilled cheese (€5.90) or with added bacon (€6.90). For diners seeking alternatives to the Francesinha, the restaurant offers burgers priced between €14.90 and €20.90, two salads, two meat dishes, a fish dish, and a selection of other snacks.
The opening in Kirchberg was heavily promoted on social media, with management building anticipation over the past several weeks. This marks Taberna Londrina's second international expansion this year, following the launch of a restaurant in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, near Paris.
"Our plan is to grow the franchise," Batista explained. "This year, we've started to expand beyond Portugal. We wanted to show the world what Francesinha is all about. For now, we're focusing on areas with strong Portuguese communities. That's why, after opening a restaurant near Paris earlier this year, we're expanding to Luxembourg next."
Does a Francesinha pair best with a Super Bock beer? Batista responds with a smile: "We offer several Portuguese beers. In addition, we have our own draught beer, specially crafted to complement a Francesinha. But we also serve international and Luxembourgish beers."
Practical information
Taberna Londrina is located at 35D Avenue John F. Kennedy, 1855 Kirchberg, Luxembourg. The restaurant is open daily, with breakfast served Monday to Friday from 8am to 12pm. Regular dining hours are Monday to Sunday, from 12pm to 12am.
