1200-410 Lisboa
Dinner: 19h30 - 23h00
The restaurant Belcanto is a serious case of longevity, considering it was opened in 1955. The proximity to the São Carlos National Theatre, scene of many operas, explains its name. It is a restaurant for business people, who fill it at lunchtime, during the weekdays. It was renovated by its new owner, the chef José Avillez, in late 2011. It is a sober space, oriented toward the traditional Portuguese cuisine, focusing on the cult of details, which are visible all the way from the décor through to the food. Divided into two rooms (one for smokers), separated by the kitchen, it has an aristocratic English club look. An installation made from old books, signed by Joan Astolfi, makes up its interior.
As for the kitchen, the remodeling has not undermined the traditional Belcanto’s menu. The chef José Avillez keeps some of the everlasting dishes, which are not so specially prepared, but contain this spot’s history. An example are the eggs à professor style, which the doctor José Cid dos Santos used to cook here all night long. This is an appetizer consisting of scrambled eggs with chorizo and fried bread cubes, a common request among regular patrons. But the chef José Avillez added some new items to the menu: sea bass with seaweeds and shellfish, pork’s souse with coriander and red mullet with vegetables roe. Also available are three fixed-price menus, one of which is available at lunchtime (includes a main course and a dessert). This restaurant is closed on Sundays and Mondays.
