Xtian Restaurant – Creative Portuguese Cuisine at Vermelho Melides

Xtian in Melides is a cosmopolitan restaurant with traditional roots. Located at the tremendously-chic Vermelho Hotel, the menu features classic Portuguese dishes, elevated with creativity and sophistication. Open for lunch and dinner, Xtian has become a destination dining spot, not only for region foodies, but also for Lisbon elite. It’s a fun and fancy restaurant, without the pretentiousness sometimes associated with fine dining.

“Xtian” is short for “Christian”….as in Louboutin…as in the footwear designer, and owner of the hotel and restaurant. He insisted that Xtian feature Portuguese cuisine, embracing and enhancing the local products and flavors.

There’s a delightful selection of dishes to start, ranging from the vegetable bouquet and tomato, strawberry and cottage cheese salad, to foie gras with caramelized orange soy sprouts and marinated sardines with marinated onion and carrot, zucchini salad and zucchini puree.

Pescatarians can choose from grilled sea bass, fried turbot and cod stew. However, the grouper á bulhão duck, with roasted sweet potatoes, razor clam sauce flavored with ginger and citronella is also quite enticing.

Alentejo grouper — Grouper à Bluhão Pato

xtian cheesecake — Goat’s cheese cheesecake

For something heartier, there’s duck breast and rice with giblets and sausages, fried lamb chops and a fried veal stew with onion stuffed with barley, pine nuts and caramelized artichokes.

Plates for plant-based friends include potato gnocci strips with asparagus, artichokes, broad beans, peas and sautéed onions, pumpkin risotto with mushrooms and mini bean, quinoa, onion and walnut burgers with chopped peppers and red onion, and hummus.

For dessert, the mahogony goat’s cheese cheesecake is scrumptious!