Momentos Évora — Restaurant in Évora

Gluten-free heaven!!!

After being seated, the owner brought the menu board over to us and sat down at our table and explained each and every item. He emphasized the freshness of the food, with staff bringing out examples on cue to show us. It was impressive, because I have never been to a restaurant that took the effort to proudly display what fresh ingredients would be prepared for our meal.

I chose the filet mignon, and my wife chose the mild vegetable curry. When she told the owner she was gluten intolerant, he said everything, with two exceptions, was prepared gluten-free. That was wonderful to hear because my wife had almost as many options as did I.

We were served a shot-glass full of a pear purée that tasted like it had a touch of mint. It was a tasty way to stir our appetites! Next was a lentil soup, served in a wine glass. I could clearly taste the ingredients because it wasn’t overwrought with salt.

Next came the main courses. My filet mignon was cooked medium rare, covered with a reduction sauce, and surrounded by a variety of vegetables and roots - and a slice of quince!

It was fun playing with this amazing combination of flavors. Again, there was no overuse of salt (probably none at all) because the veggies and roots carried all the flavor without needing salt. Pairing each bite of the filet with the varied items on my plate was a little slice of heaven.

The curry was served with Basmati rice, and my wife ate every drop and grain! I guess it was pretty good.

We had dessert as well: mango mousse and a walnut and caramel crisp (at least that’s what I think it was.) We had coffees to accompany our desserts. I didn’t lick the plate because there were too many people in the room, but a fellow diner caught be using my finger to wipe up and eat a little bit of the sauce from my plate and my wife’s as well.

The rave by reviews I read were not hyperbole. They were quite accurate. I asked the owner if I could move...

My husband and I made a last minute decision to change our dinner reservation to one at Momentos and we’re so glad we did. From the moment we walked into the restaurant we were greeted warmly and felt welcome and comfortable. Jorge quickly came over to our table and reviewed the menu. There were so many interesting choices that it was difficult to choose but we ended up with salads of strawberries and artichokes and tomatoes and anchovies to start and black pork steak and tuna (belly) for our entrees. Everything was delicious and the presentation was extraordinary. The foods chosen to compliment the entrees were varied and created a beautiful dish filled with flavors that blended perfectly. We had lime mousse and carmelized walnuts to complete our meal. Jorge could easily charge double the price but it’s clear he’s not in it for money or fame. His love for what he does is evidenced by his attention to detail, his enthusiasm and his desire to please his customers. Dinner at Momentos is truly an experience that pleases all of...

This was a very special meal and a special place. Jorge, the proprietor and chef, was hands on for every aspect of the experience. And the waitress could not have been nicer with her positive energy and big smile. This is a farm to table restaurant that prizes fresh ingredients. Jorge will not settle - he aims for excellence. I told him what I liked and he selected two dishes that were amazing. First was fresh mushrooms cooked in a garlic olive oil and with delicious melted cheese with a gorgeous sweet drizzle, garnished with a smoked salt and lemon zest. The main dish was two different kinds of Iberiico pork - cheeks and cutlers - surrounded by a variety of vegetables cooked to perfection. The combination of taste, texture, and color was exceptional. Jorge also paired two wines with the dishes that were excellent. At the end of the meal, Jorge sat with me and told me a bit about his background and his passion for food. A meal I...