Review: Midori – Japanese Food in Great Style at Sintra
The first Japanese restaurant in Lisbon is still one of the top choices in town. As you arrive to the fancy and luxurious Penha Longa Resort, you get a felling of what you’re up to. Still, what I expected to be a calm dinner, turned out to be quite a busy one.
Entering the Penha Longa Hotel in its grandeur and chick atmosphere is half the fun. On the first floor, the first Japanese restaurant in Lisbon (from 1993) is still attracting Portuguese sushi addicts. And although I suspected it would be too expensive for Lisbon wallets, the fact is that I came across a few acquaintances.
The decoration is somewhat simple to what you may be expecting, if you’re used to the new trendy and design sushi houses. Here, the traditional oriental look combines with the views out the huge windows, into Sintra mountains. The name Midori, that means green in Japanese, somehow alludes to the outstanding views of the gardens.
The quality of the ingredients will for sure make up for anything. On top of that, the chef João Pinto, trained in Japan, grants a unique selection of sushi, sashimi, grill (teppan yaki), tempura and the alike.
For sushi lovers, the obvious choice is Wednesdays evening’s buffet (€38) with all you can eat sushi and sashimi along with other delicacies. It may get slightly busy sometimes, but it’s a great opportunity to 
experience this restaurant at reasonable prices. We tried a little bit of everything and although it is surely a question of taste, the fact is that I ate a bit too much.
Other days you have a la carte with great options too. In a much more tranquil atmosphere, of course. You can also choose the Gourmet Menu where you can try the rare and exquisite Toro (special fatty part of the tuna fish) and Wagyu (form the rare wagyu cattle).
As the Sun was setting across the window, I queued one last time and grabbed for more.
Where: Estrada da Lagoa Azul, Quinta da Penha Longa, Sintra (map)
When: from 19h to 23h. Closes on Sundays and Mondays
Tel: 219249095 (reservation recommended)
Average price: €50
More info: Penha Longa Resort
