Filed under: eating, featuredarticle, food, restaurant
Review: A Travessa Restaurant
They consider themselves as a rather up-market and elitist restaurant. And so it is… With over 31 years, A Travessa started as a small restaurant combining Luso-Belgian gastronomy. Back then their usual clients were artists, intellectuals, journalists and politicians. These days, A Travessa has gain reputation all over Lisbon and is considered one of the best choices you have.
The restaurant stands inside the former 17th century Convent of Bernardas, at Santos district (map). The decoration is simple but very nice will old wooden furniture. In the summer you can sit outside under the cloisters.
As tradition of the house, a meal begins with their “Delicatesses” (€7,5), seven to eight little starters that will open your palate to the rest of the dinner (these will be brought to your table even if you don’t ask for). Pimentos Padrón, olive pâté, eggs with wild mushrooms and goat cheese with pumpkin comfiture were some of the starters of the day. Although they are numerous, they are also small portions that will make you curious about what will come next. We were told that the most wanted are John Dory Fish with Champagne sauce (€30), Ray (€24,50) and Monk Fish flambé (€47,50 for two). For the meat eaters you can go for Venison with Truffles (€31,50), Fois Gras Escallops with Moscatel (€30) and Wild Bull with Mushrooms (€29,50). On Saturdays they serve their known dish “Les Mules et les Frites”, Mussels with French Fries, for which you should make a reservation well in advance.
That night we chose the Monk Fish and Wild Bull, both absolutely fabulous.
As the night set in, the lights were just low enough to give the ambience some extra warmth. This is a restaurant where you are to feel at home.
Opened from 12h30pm to 3h30pm and from 8pm to 00h00am; Closed Saturdays for lunch and Sundays
Average meal: €35 without drinks
Where: Travessa do Convento das Bernardas, 12
Tel: 213902034
