Alma was simply one of the most exceptional dining experiences I've ever had--likely the best meal…read moreof my life and, objectively, the finest Michelin-starred food I've encountered among the nine establishments I've visited to date. In fact, though I've nearly explored Lisbon to my heart's content, I would consider returning just to dine here again.
For this visit, we opted for the à la carte menu and added the bread service and Chef's Surprises (€15)--an absolute must. The bread was accompanied by a uniquely nutty olive oil (so good I hunted it down at the market to bring home) and a deeply smoked butter that was truly out of this world. I won't spoil the "moments" and Chef's surprises that were sprinkled throughout the meal but they added an element of delight and anticipation throughout the night, with each one memorable and mouthwatering in their own special way.
Alma's cocktail menu is uniquely rooted in Portuguese ingredients, but what impressed me even more was their thoughtful mocktail selection, a rarity at this level of dining. I got the Soul (elderflower, lemon, cucumber and egg white) a delightfully refreshing treat that I hope to one day recreate at home, while my boyfriend got the Tamashi, a cocktail made with Amêndoa Amarga Ámen (a local almond liqueur) and Angostura bitters--a lovely, marzipan-meets-citrus drink that gave us the chance to sample local spirits.
On to the entrees... since we were dining a la carte, we chose an item each from their chef's classics menu and the seafood (Costa a Costa) menu.
FOIE GRAS: seared and served with grilled apple, beetroot and granola... as well as an aromatic bitter coffee foam that cut through the unctuousness of the intensely rich and buttery foie gras to add a roasted, nutty, almost smokey flavor-- just wow. the textural contrast of all these elements made this a truly mind blowing and innovative concoction~
BLUE LOBSTER: poached to buttery smooth perfection, this was a more quietly elegant dish served with roasted leek and corn in a creamy nutty almond emulsion with bright orangey citrusy notes... a gentle symphony of well-balanced flavors
Because I simply could not bear to have the meal come to an end, we had to finish off with dessert. The Bola de Berlim was essentially the Portuguese version of the German Berliner, fluffy doughnut holes filled with decadent egg custard (instead of jam) accented with a fragrant calamansi sorbet... a divine and elevated take on this classic Portuguese beach treat.
While we only ordered drinks, two entrees and a dessert, our meal ended up being so much more due to the anticipation of the surprises and moments, which were all nothing short of amazing and turned the evening into an immersive journey. If you have one meal to splurge on during your time in Portugal, this is THE ONE. As alluded to earlier, Alma offers two tasting menus--one inspired by the Chef's classics, and the other centered around fish and shellfish (Costa a Costa). Dreaming of the chance to revisit and try the latter (or both?!) one day :')