Belcanto Restaurant is a unique gastronomic journey through contemporary Portuguese cuisine in a sophisticated atmosphere — a tasteful story from Chiado’s old romantic past to the future.
Belcanto, a two-star Michelin restaurant ranked 42nd on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants List, is located in the historic center of Lisbon.
The legendary Portuguese restaurant opened its doors in 1958 as a men’s club, and in 2012 it was headed by Chef José Avillez. Under his culinary leadership, the restaurant received its first Michelin star in the same year, and two years later — the second.
The cozy and elegant interior of the restaurant disposes to a wonderful rest.
In addition to the two connecting rooms, in the space between Belcanto kitchens, José Avillez has created a special place — an U-shaped exclusive Chef’s table, where guests can enjoy surprises from the Head chef.
Nonconformist by Nature
In the Photo: Head Chef José Avillez
José Avillez is one of the most popular brand chefs in Portugal and has also made his name on Portuguese television with the “Improbabilicious” cooking show. José has published four cookbooks and, as a huge wine fan, has developed three vintage wines under the name JA together with the Quinta do Monte D’Oiro winery.
“Cook, serve and feed. Take care of those sitting in our hall. Ingredients and technique, dedication and passion of every chef and every waiter, — says José, — we are constantly looking for the perfect balance in creativity. When a new ingredient or raw material enters our kitchen, we try to serve it with the least interference, to keep its primary qualities. And how nice it is to realize, that magic can appear in the simplest and most obvious things — this is the last detail of the creative surge”.
Belcanto offers an À la carte menu and two tasting menus, LISBON MENU (165 €) and MERRY-GO-ROUND MENU (185 €), showcasing the best hits of José Avillez. For each menu, you can separately order a special Wine pairing (85 € and 120 €), as well as Non-alcoholic — fresh author’s mocktails and various fruit & berry mixes.
Both tasting menus were designed as a complete and integrated event in which the story is told in several chapters. Each has its own route, and by choosing one, you will go on an extraordinary journey.
MERRY-GO-ROUND
MERRY-GO-ROUND MENU or in Portuguese — CARROSSEL — begins with a traditional compliment from the restaurant: a light cocktail Elderini with lemon espuma & zest paprika salt and Brioche with cod liver and trout roe in a very special presentation — a composition decorated with delicate flowers is laid out on a ceramic palm.
The following Amuse bouche consists of three parts:
– Tuna tartare with oyster, cucumber and apple pearl;
– Fole gras and Port full moon;
– Avocado “pit” in tempura with cocoa
As an addition to this trio — another one aperitif alcoholic cocktail Porto & Tonica.
“Develop, transform and keep moving forward, feeling sometimes that we are not going anywhere, but we are where we should be. — says José Avillez. This menu has the spirit of overcoming that has always defined the Portuguese people. Because we are never satisfied with what we have, we love to take risks and invent new things with skill and enthusiasm. After looking at the most iconic dishes, we decided to reinvent them, introduce innovations into our traditions: new tastes, textures, ideas and sensations”.
Carrot in different textures with cashew milk is a cold appetizer, that goes especially well with a cocktail from the non-alcoholic package — as bright as the dish itself.
Before the next course — varied Bread with two types of butter.
In the Photo: Coastal prawn with pine nut milk, iced lupine and caviar
Wine accompaniment opens dry white wine Serra Oca Vinho Laranja, Portugal 2017. The wine list for Belcanto was developed by sommelier Nádia Desidério and includes a solid collection — more than 350 items. About 80% of the wines are Portuguese, but there is also a wider selection of wines from all over the world: sparkling wines, champagne, white and red, young and old vintages, rare wines from large and small producers.
In the Photo: Lt egg yolk and Jerusalem artichoke in different textures
Vintage wine Porta das Däs accompanying this dish.
In the Photo: Blue lobster curry with giant red shrimp, jowl, apple, coriander and basil
Sommelier matched the lobster with white wine Lacrau Douro Portugal 2014.
After the lobster two main fish courses are served — Hake, coriander cod sounds, fig tree leaf and Barbela wheat.
In the Photo: Braised red mullet, nero rice, squid and giant red shrimp sauce
The red wine Saroto Douro Portugal will perfectly set off the taste of these fish dishes.
At the final part of the tasting — three desserts, with which, to the surprise of the guests, snow-white sleeve is served.
The waiter will reveal the secret of such an unexpected presentation: when José Avillez was a little boy, after eating sweets he always wiped his mouth with the sleeve of his shirt, for which his mother always scolded. José decided to keep this childhood habit in its original form.
– Almond praline peach pit with peach powder;
– Strawberry crunch with chantilly flower;
– House made Nutella cherry
Sommelier Nádia Desidério has prepared aromatic pink dessert wine NV Roze’s “White Reserve” Douro for the sweet set.
Another fancy dessert serving — Quince with Azores island cheese whey sorbet.
The apotheosis of tasting menu — Petits fours — traditional Portuguese mini donuts with custard.
José Avillez: «The light, the life and the people. The history, the sea, our regions. Portugal. This is where we live and grow, are inspired, tread. Cuisine is our fado, our way of expression».
Restaurant Belcanto
Address: Rua Serpa Pinto, 10 A, 1200-445 Lisbon
Open hours: Tue – Sat; lunch 12:30 – 15:00; dinner 19:00 – 22:00; Sun – Mon closed
Reservations: +351213420607; belcanto@belcanto.pt
Instagram: @belcanto_joseavillez
Editor-in-chief: Patricia Kolari
Text Writer: Marina Timoshevskaya
Technical Director: Evgeny Fedorov Photos: EATWEEK
