Faz Gostos LX – Algarvian Flambé in the Fashionable Chiado

By Gregorio | February 8, 2011 at 10:33 am | No comments | Dining, Lisbon | Tags: chiado, dining, duval pestana, Lisbon, paulo lobo, portuguese cuisine, restaurant

One of the Algarve’s best-kept dining secrets, Faz Gostos, now has a hip and trendy sister in Lisbon.  Faz Gostos LX, in the Chiado, is a new showcase for the culinary talents of Chef Duval Pestana, who specializes in flambéed and game dishes. 

The Faz Gostos enterprise began in2005 in Olhão, moved to Castro Marim near the Spanish border, and later relocated to the old town of Faro.  It is here that two Faz Gostos devotees convinced Chef Duval that he needed to bring his inspired cooking to fashionable Lisbon.   With that nudge, Chef Duval went to work on assembling a team of influential names in the Portugal restaurant scene to help him develop Faz Gostos LX. 

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Interior Designer Paulo Lobo provides the ambiance.  Lobo delivers the same level of sophistication to Faz Gostos LX as he has to Buhle, Twins Baixa, Papa Razzi.  With an old convent as a base, Lobo retains the stone walls and archways, but covers them in white paint, providing a modern minimalist feel.  A curved wall, covered in a mosaic of blue Portuguese tile is a focal point of the room.  The tiles are actually form the 18^th century, but the abstract layout redefines their look as fresh and contemporary.    

On the opposite side of the tile wall is Faz Gostos LX bar.  Here, Portugal’s Cocktail King  David Palethorpe (of Lisbon’s Cinco Lounge) designs a drink menu that is unique to the Faz Gostos experience.   

The extensive wine cellar is the product of sommelier Virgilio Loureiro.  Over 200 labels from across Portugal and around the world are selected to enhance the meal.

Yet, the main attraction here, of course, is Chef Duval and his menu of Portuguese cuisine, with a twist.  He likes to provide unique experiences for his guests by re-inventing the traditional menu.  With that in mind, flambéed dishes add drama to the dining adventure.  Specialties of tiger prawns in fresh mango, loin tips in Port wine, or Crepes Suzette, are prepared over a flame right at the table.  Other highlights from the menu include:


Two-toned velvety spinach soup
Rock lobster bisque in puff pastry crust
Fresh scallop carpaccio with salmon
Stuffed eggplant with cheese gratin
Baked codfish with scallops
Tournedos flambéed with mushrooms
Duck Magret stuffed with Serpa cheese
Iberian pork loin stuffed with smoked game sausage
Partridge nest with mushroom Duxelle
Petit-Gateau of chocolate with Ice Cream



If you would like to entrust your meal decision to the chef, three different tasting menus are also available. Each one has five courses.  Prices are from€39  to €55.  For more information, and to see the full, menu, visit the Faz Gostos LX website. 



Faz Gostos LX
Rua Nova da Trindade, Nº11
Chiado District
Lisbon

Phone:  +351 213 472 249
Email:  geral@fazgostoslx.com

Hours:  Monday through Saturday – 12:30 to 15:00 and 19:30 to 01:00 (Kitchen closes at  23:30)