Chef Carlos Afonso earned a name for himself and a loyal following at his first Lisbon restaurant, O Frade, for his straightforward Alentejo cooking and respect for Portuguese food culture and projects. Now he’s taken that style to a much larger stage with Oitto, a two-story dining room on one of the posh-set streets in Chiado.
It’s called Oitto because the address is number 8 (“oito” in Portuguese) and because the extra T creates a figure that looks like a table when you spell it in full caps, as they do. Both are meant to suggest simplicity, a welcome change from the frankly overblown, red-velvet-banquetted steak house that used to occupy the space.
Now the decoration is simple and light, with tablecloth-free tables downstairs and seats at the bar as well as sort of chef’s table upstairs.
Likewise, the menu aims to be “democratic and accessible,” stocked with traditional dishes like rissois de berbingão (cockle pies), meat croquettes that are presented on adorable custom-made serving places, and several ceviches and tartares.
Main courses lean toward Portuguese comfort food with a twist, including a well-cooked, tender octopus with sweet potato puree, and slow-cooked baby goat over oven-cooked rice with Portuguese sausages. Soon there will also be a tasting menu option.
Unusual for serious Lisbon restaurants, Oitto is open all day long, from noon to midnight, with the same full menu. There’s also a children’s menu included on the main menu, as a further reminder of how inclusive the restaurant is.
For more information, visit the Oitto website.
Oitto
Largo do Picadeiro 8A
Chiado
Lisbon
Phone: +351 210 403 199
Daily – 12:00 to 24:00