Green Pepper is typically the kind of restaurant that will definitely NOT let you down and where, even if you are a regular client, you will always manage to get surprised, whether by the food quality, whether by the kindness and professionalism of the employees.
I will leave hereunder some more detailed information (per topics):
1. Food:
This place works with a buffet system. This one is composed by soup (always very tasty and delicious); homemade bread (carob bread); around 20 cold salads (that go from the "usual and simple" salads like carrot, lettuce, tomato, broccoli...) to more composed and mixed dishes like cold pasta with sauce; a special and homemade cold seitan salad (so delicious!), couscous, hummus...amongst many others; and 5 hot dishes.
Concerning the hot dishes, you get one dish with seitan, another with tofu, a third one with vegetables, a 4th one with rice (95% of the time it is whole-grain rice) and a 5th dish with another side dish (like purée or leguminous plants like soja...).
The great point is that you clearly note that they really pay particular attention in "pleasing" every type of client: the ones that are looking for a light and healthy meal (more with vegetables) such as the ones that are not "that strict" and want to taste a bit of everything. For me, that is really important and I think the way they establish the menu is absolutely fantastic !
You will also note that the food is always fresh and perfectly well cooked !
2. Staff:
The entire staff (the 2 employees, the 2 cookers and both bosses) is very sympathetic and, very important, they are always fully available for any question you might have (about the food composition, the way it is cooked...) and will always answer you with a warm smile; you clearly note that they are pleased to help you (by these days, it is becoming very rare to get to find places where employees act that way, mostly in the restoration area).
3. Cleanness:
The restaurant is divided in 2 "rooms" (one closer to the buffet - the best one :)) - and one a bit more distant from it.
The entire place (the rooms, the bathrooms, the kitchen) such as the whole cutlery (plates, forks, spoons...) is always nice and clean and well washed.
That's a point I pay particular attention to and, once again, at Green Pepper, they did not let me down on it.
4. Prices/Opening hours:
The restaurant is open from Monday till Saturday (closed on Sunday - that's maybe their only flaw :) ).
You can lunch from 12H till 15H30 for 7.5€ (drinks &desserts NOT included) and dinner from 19H30 till 23H for 9.95€ (drinks & desserts NOT included).
5. Atmosphere:
Every day, they put on a truly relaxing & Zen music that makes the food taste even better (actually, it perfectly combines with it) and, for those who like to watch TV while they eat, you will also be able to do it as they have a huge overhead projector that displays, depending on the days, either the local news either a Zen channel (where they do some relaxing exercises like yoga...).
I will end up with THE topic the most of you might be waiting for: desserts :)). They offer a huge variety of very, very tasteful desserts like apple crumble, some delicious tarts (there are several tastes: chocolate, apple WITHOUT added sugar, mango...) or "just" normal fruit.
Regarding the drinks, they have, on daily basis, the "Juice of the day" (composed by 2 or 3 different fruits); a lot of natural juices (with one or more fruits) such as the regular soda's, water and a really large amount of wines.
To conclude this post, I would like to share with you a quote from Paul Prudhomme (an American chef who passed away a few days ago): "You don't need a silver fork to eat good food".
Indeed, as you can see, it won't cost you more not even take you longer to have your meal in a place such Green Pepper (where you know exactly WHAT you eat, how it was cooked...) than to eat in a fast food restaurant.
I can only say that, by these days, with fast-food slowly becoming the choice "by excellence" for a lot of people that pretend not to have the time to eat in healthier places, I am truly and sincerely grateful to have found this restaurant and hope it will never close because it really represents a great benefit for all the customers such as for the town of Lisbon. read more