This was our second trip to the Azores but our first time to Pico. We are seasoned foodies and cooks back home in NY....Translated ( not impressed easily... lol) So discovering Atmosfera was a breath of fresh air, or in this case fresh pesto! Cynthia and I combined are 125% Italian so the thought of fresh pasta etc. got us in the car and our way. This place is kind of hard to find. Great property with sweeping views in almost every direction including Mt Pico which I had climbed earlier that day. Let me preface the meal by saying the Azores aren't known for world class cuisine. We love it here, but didn't find any gourmet options on the biggest island - Sao Miguel. So it was surprising that tiny Pico Island would be the place where we finally found a proper gourmet meal prepared by a passionate Italian chef and staff. We had the pesto pasta & the bolognese sauce. The wines were local with some good and very affordable Italian options. The service is personal and warm. Desserts were outrageous; Lemon Meringue Pastry shortbread concoction Panna Cotta We enjoyed so much we returned the following night and ordered some new offerings... Carrot Onion soup - Absolutely amazing with polished presentation ( see pic) Pork Shank- Cynthia ordered this as I normally don't order pork. She let me try it and it stole the show... tender, moist with perfectly prepared roasted potatoes on the side. This dinner was so satisfying we had to skip dessert. We had a different server who was extremely courteous & polished ( which was not our experience at most of the best restaurants on Sao Miguel ). The only negative we felt was the bread. It was served room temperature and just ok. You gotta give a pass for this however , as the Azores aren't London, NY Paris, Rome or San Francisco. In one word.. Delizioso! We hope to return soon read more

Atmosfera Restaurant - Dessert - Resorts Near Me - Pico, 03

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I'm giving this place 2 stars because the location is nice and there's a pretty view. We were very disappointed with this restaurant. It claims to be Italian food but I don't find the food here Italian. There's 2-3 Italian dishes and that's it. We ordered 2 appetizers, the cheese board and shrimp cocktail. They were pricy appetizers so I was expecting a large cheese board and a traditional shrimp cocktail with large cold shrimp and cocktail sauce. Instead, we got 6 small slices of cheese, 2 thin slices of pear and 1 walnut. We also got 4 hot over cooked shrimp, a questionable sauce which was not cocktail sauce over a salad... I don't know what that was but it was not shrimp cocktail. The appetizers were very disappointing. We ordered 2 pastas. The waitress raved over the noodles being homemade. I've had homemade noodles before and they're very soft... I didn't find the noodles soft. The sauce also wasn't very good and kind of bitter. We were excited about this place from the reviews but unfortunately we didn't find it very good. With the prices reflected on their menu being on the higher side, I guess we expected more. Advice : appetizers are meant to be shared. 6 small slices of cheese and a few thin sliced pears and 1 walnut isn't enough. Google "restaurant cheese boards" and "shrimp cocktail" and see how they're typically presented at restaurants. Also, shrimp cocktail is something which is very popular and is expected to be a cocktail sauce with chilled shrimp which aren't over cooked or warm. read more

Atmosfera Restaurant - Resorts Near Me - Pico, 03

I am so happy that this place was recommended by our dive center. We spent a week on Pico island for our honeymoon with lots of dive trips, exploration and mountain climbing. The food on the island is 'hit or miss' and in a few cases I was left disappointed. However, Atmosfera left a lasting impression on our last night on the island. Per recommendations reservations is required and we drove to the restaurant a few days prior (we didn't have a phone). The view is beautiful overlooking the ocean and the grounds are well maintained. On the day, we arrived 30 minutes before the reservations...partly because we were starving. The owner(?) greeted us outside and offered us a drink menu. The oceanic view was beautiful and before we knew it, we were seated inside. This is a small restaurant and very intimate with soft music playing in the background and few patrons dining. The overall presentation of decor was inviting, well utilization of small space and quaint. The appetizers were very good..again we were starving and had 3. The carrot soup was served hot (I dislike tepid soup), creamy and smooth. The salad was a good balance with fresh ingredients. The cheese plate was delicious. We have had a cheese plate at each restaurant we visited but this restaurant must have the first selections from the producer because it was fresh and delicious. Finally, for the entrees... we shared the fettuccine bolognese and ham shank. The ham shank was perfectly seasoned with fresh spices and flavors delivered in each bite. The meat was tender and pulled away easily without need for a knife. The fettuccine was okay but not my favorite. It is a good dish but may need something (I'm not sure). As well, the local beef has a very distinct flavor that is different from my country which is an acquired taste. Finally, we enjoyed the panna cotta, a traditional Italian dessert. This was my first sample but I enjoyed the smooth, simple refreshing texture. At the closing of the meal, we were offered a sample of limoncello liqueur which we enjoyed outside watching the sunset. Overall, beautiful restaurant with a simplicity that was needed at the end of our trip. read more

This is only the second review, but that's only because no one knows about this special place. Great food, host, view, drinks, deserts... Make a recommendation so the chef can plan ahead, since it has small seating. Arrive an hour before sunset and be awed. Just a short drive from the town of Madalena on Pico Island in Azores. read more