The Kabuki restaurant, located in the Galleries of the Hotel Ritz, holds a Michelin star and is currently one of the most unique spaces in Lisbon to taste the haute Japanese culture cuisine in harmony with the flavors of the Mediterranean, namely traditional Portuguese flavors, with the mastery of chef Paulo Alves.
The space is divided into three floors with different environments: on the upper floor, we find the space reserved for groups and executive lunches, on the middle floor the Kikubari Bar, ideal for a signature cocktail and on the lower floor, the Kabuki restaurant room, more intimate and exclusive. The decor, elegant and sophisticated, features a mural by the Galician artist Carlota Pereiro. A world of color and rhythm, in contrast to the clean lines and minimalist tones of the space, designed by the architect Maurice Sainz.
We start the tasting with the Kabuki Appetizers, six small starters, served in an elegant black Bento Box. We immediately felt the quality of the product and the rigor in its manufacture. A unique concept of hospitality and traditional Japanese haute cuisine – Edomae. The highlight is the Ponzu (white fish), the Nigiris (with fried quail egg & caviar or sardines) or the recreation of the typically Catalan dish Pa Amb Tomaquet (with tuna belly, toasted bread and tomato – absolutely delicious)! We finish with a Mochi (glutinous rice dessert) Pastel de Nata, the perfect mix between Japanese and Portuguese gastronomy.
The team is led by the Portuguese chef Paulo Alves, responsible for introducing some of the traditional Portuguese flavors to the menu. If haute Japanese cuisine is the gateway to the Kabuki concept, the art of hospitality and the wine offer (selected by the head sommelier Filipe Wang) are the other vertices of a unique experience. We can choose à la carte, opt for one of the different menus (including a completely vegan menu) or, depending on our experience, opt for the suggestions of the chef and the dining room team, which surprise us and indicate the best seasonal products, according to seasonality and maximum respect for the sustainability of the species.
Kabuki is a true meeting point of cultures that combines Japanese rigor with Mediterranean flavors. An ideal space for a casual lunch or a more intimate dinner. We want to come back and taste the other delicacies available on the different menus.
By Carla Branco
INFO: www.grupokabuki.com