Lisbon – a final post for a while

 Myriad by SANA Hotels: the recently 

renovated hotel on the Oriente waterfront

A last few photos from my recent stay in Lisbon.

View towards Cemitério dos Prazeres (above and below)

Crest on a house in Lapa

Crab and mango salad 

I enjoy eating at Ibo (Cais do Sodré) especially of I get a table by the window upstairs where you can look across the Tagus. The only problem is that the menu rarely changes, though the food is good and they have an interesting wine list. 

Spun prawns

Roasted Cod with black olive pesto and parmigiano cheese

2009 Dão Quinta de Saes

Lisbon: four recommended restaurants (part one: Ibo)

View from first floor of Ibo

There are certainly a number of of recommendable restaurants in Lisbon with plenty of places offering good value with simple grilled fish as the best option. Here are four favourites we have been to recently – split into several posts.

Ibo, Cais do Sodre

Ibo, a mix of Portuguese and Mozambique cooking, is easily the most sophisticated of these four restaurants. Not surprisingly it is also the most expensive. We went on Saturday evening when it is certainly best to reserve, especially if you want a first floor table by the window that looks across the Tagus. The service is friendly and efficient with a good wine list and glasses to match at not outrageous prices.

Highlights of the meal? The crab and mango salad (15€), chosen by one of our party, and the chacuti de cabrito (curried kid – 20€).

Crab and mango salad

2010 Crasto (branco) Douro

The 2010 white from Crasto had attractive weight allied with freshness and minerality. It's a blend of Gouveio, Roupeiro and Rabigato. For our choice of red we stayed with the Douro, selecting the 2007 Quinta do Côa. This was a slightly less successful choice as it was decidedly Porty in style and while initially attractive it became somewhat cloying and soupy as we went deeper into the bottle. It's a blend of Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz and Touriga Franca.

2007 Quinta do Côa, Reserva, Douro

The damage for 4? Around 210€ for four starters, four mains, two desserts, coffees and a tea, two bottles of wine and water.

Lisbon@Ibo restaurant

Sitting on the dock of the bay...

Had a very good dinner with impeccable service at Ibo restaurante in Lisbon's Cais do Sodré last night. Although it opened three years ago it was the first time we had been, having only recently heard about it. The cooking is a blend of Portugal and Mozambique. We could have been outside but opted to sit upstairs, which both gives you a better view over the Tagus and keeps you away from the groups of smokers who regular leave their tables inside to have a quick fag outside.

Side of the restaurant with its view over the Tagus

View from upstairs dining room (above and below)

Three master (Principe Perfeito) approaches and passes

Nightime views from Ibo

including the diving Christ

Viewed through a glass of 2008 Meandro do Vale Meão

Douro white: 2009 Casa Amarela

Douro white: 2010 CARM

Highlights of the meal for me were the succulent breaded prawns with a variety of sauces and then the Mozambiquan crab curry. We started with a glass of white from the Douro – the 2010 Casa Amarela and the 2010 CARM Reserva. Both were good with the Casa Amarela a little richer and fuller than the CARM. Then we enjoyed a bottle of the excellent value and reliable Meandro, the second wine of Quinta do Vale Meão.

Ibo

Armazém A – Compartimento 2,

Cais do Sodré

1200-450 Lisboa

Tel: 21.342.36.11

geral@ibo-restaurante.pt