Encanto, Lisbon

Reviewer: Foodnut.com Encanto Largo de São Carlos 10 Lisbon, Portugal 1200-410 21 162 6310 Encanto Website

Best Vegetarian heaven! Encanto is a vegetarian restaurant in Lisbon with one Michelin star from star chef José Avillez. We have no vegetarian restaurant with this rank back in San Francisco, so we had to give it a try. You can book online, they have a single 12 course tasting menu that is also available in English. Our server spoke English too.

Be sure to check out our review of  Eleven Madison Park, New York for the best vegetarian restaurant in the USA.

Check out our Portugal Restaurant Review roundup

Legumes, leaves, seeds, algae, mushrooms, flowers, fruits, eggs, and cheeses are delicately prepared and served.

During the Covid 19 Pandemic in 2023, we visited them for dining.
Safety Pluses – Online menu.

At 115 €, prices are not cheap but most restaurants of this caliber in San Francisco cost far more than this. Even cocktails and glasses of wine are cheaper here.

Food quality was excellent, possibly 2 Michelin star level to us. Inventive, complex, beautiful, and simply delectable. Only 1 dish resembled a plate of veggies. Pacing was good as was quantity. They easily handle a vegan gluten free meal. Reminds us of the beautiful food at Atelier Crenn in San Francisco

Service was excellent. No worries about dietary restrictions, water refills, etc. Clearly Michelin star level service.

This is the best vegetarian meal we have had.  Vegetarians are the ones being 100% taken care of, while other Michelin star places have a plant forward menu seeking to ‘feed’ those along for the ride. Look forward to comparing it to Eleven Madison Park.

Food Review:
Mojito à Cantinho (9.5e) Rum Havana Club Añejo Especial, Lima, Hortelã, Ingrediente Secreto hit the mark. Most mojitos cost more and lack the qualify of this one. 9/10

A Nossa Caipirinha (8e) Cachaça, Lima was also spot on. Great balance. 9/10

Primo Basílico (11e) Gin Beefeater 24, Limão, Manjericão was a green cocktail with nice white foam topping. Wow, another spot on cocktail. 9/10

Copo Vinho Antonio Maderia B (9.50e) is a Portuguese wine that they suggested. Not as dry as other wines. 8.5/10

Agustina sem alcool (7e) is their Mushroom tea that is part of the non-alcohol drink pairing. They allowed us to ordered this alone. 8.5/10

Pumpkin | Wild mushrooms escabeche (vinegar marinade) | Sprouts
Satay peanut | Paprika | Lemon
Eggplant azevia (fried pastry with soft filling) | Pimenton de La Vera | Lemon
Bean | Avocado | Leche de tigre | Flowers
Gold | Hummus

The first Amuse dish was amazing with 5 different items, meant to be eaten clockwise. A variety of textures and flavors. The gold hummus looks like a chocolate but is eaten with the gold leaf. Reminds us of Singlethread. 10/10

Carrot tartlet | Pine nut milk

A tiny carrot based tart which you take a bite of, then a sip of pine nut milk. Love that milk. 8.5/10

Spelt bread | Smoked butter | Sage ashes

Good House made bread with a slightly smokey butter. 8.5/10 – Gluten free bread and olive oil also available.

Celery | Truffle | Ajoblanco | Tonburi | Grape
Beetroot | Sweet potato | Dijon
Confit egg yolk | Jerusalem artichoke | Bean broth | Truffle

Green curry | Green vegetables | Green citrus

This dish was the only one that resembles ‘regular’ veggies with a slight hint of curry. 8.5/10

Cabbage | Onion kernels | Mustard seeds | Ilha cheese

This dish with its fermented cabbage lagged behind other dishes. 7.5/10

Rice | Black truffle | Daikon | Sheep butter

The black rice is made with charcoal. It also takes the place of squid ink. Rice risotto like dish. 9/10

Mushrooms | Leek | Puff pastry

A more elaborate dish with a puff pastry full of mushroom along with mushroom broth. 8.5/10

Rice pudding | Amazake | Pear | Grape must | Almond | Bergamot

The pre-dessert was heavier than we though it would be. This dessert had a lot of complexity with its flavor profiles. 9.5/10

Meringue | Pinetree crème | Kumquat
Rabanada | Pomegranate | Jerusalem artichoke

The final dessert had a lot of Jerusalem artichoke. Surprisingly refreshing sorbet and chips. The Meringue had cheese between the layers. 9/10

We finished the meal with complimentary petit fours, which included some rich chocolates shaped as stones. Wow. A must go for vegetarians.

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