INTENSO Bar e Restaurante — Restaurant in Lisbon

Noticed this fairly new restaurant during a walk a week orso ago and decided to check it out. Lovely terrace and initially great service by a woman who clearly knows what hospitality is.

We had a very nice rosé that the lady offered us to taste before ordering the bottle.

We ordered guacamole and homemade pickles. The latter was deliciously surprising, the former too acidic for our taste and too smooth.

Next were the shrimp tacos and the ceviche with fish of the day (tuna). Four tacos came instead of three as per the menu, but they were merely assembled from cold ingredients. Definitely a first time for cold taco. The ceviche was served in a sweet soup tasting of mango with three dollops of guacamole and three dollops of a silky sweet potato cream and a too generous sprinkling of honey crusted peanuts. Needless to say that the tuna was completely outnumbered; quite disappointing.

The young man who took over the service was a bit too eager clearing the table and offered touristy small talk where people who have been living in Lisbon for a number of years are not necessarily interested in. With a loud voice he mentioned the value of the bill, something that is simply not done.

Would we come back? Perhaps for a drink on the lovely terrace; not too sure if we would order food again though.

EDIT: six hours after writing this review I experienced a severe bout of...

First of all I had the best waitress ever. She was so warm and nice to me. But when I ordered the food that I wanted I was really really disappointed. I’m a foodie and never gave something back or complained. But this time I did. For the first time I didn’t eat it. I just couldn’t eat it. I ordered Pad Thai. And it didn’t taste like Pad Thai. It tasted like noodles that were drowned in way too salty peanut sauce (why peanut sauce in Pad Thai?). Pad Thai usually tastes refreshing and flavorful. But this dish was very different unfortunately. I told the waitress that I don’t like it but don’t want anything else. I probably looked very disappointed and sad because she said to me: „Oh no I bring you something new. I want you to be happy.“ What a good person that waitress is. It cheered me up. She brought me some salmon tartar by her choice. It was better but I wouldn’t order it again. Overall I really wish that waitress the best. She was great. The food wasn’t like I imagined it to be because the pictures looked good online. I also had hummus which was the worst ever. I hope they read this. Because I want them to succeed. They have a good location, nice staff and nice interior. But maybe change the menu or...

Esta foi a minha segunda visita ao Planto, com a certeza de que não ficarei por aqui. De alguma forma, sendo Flaviense tal como o Chef Vitor Adão, há algo no menu que me aproxima de casa ao mesmo tempo que desafia o palato com o resto do Mundo. Mas vamos ao que interessa. O Planto é uma experiência gastronómica que não vai desiludir. O menu é muito inspirado na Natureza, sem ser vegan, mas com muito respeito pelos alimentos e ingredientes. Pedimos o rissol do berbigão - Os Rissóis do Adão. Um clássico do chef e na minha opinião o melhor e obrigatório. Acompanha com maionese de lima que lhe dá frescura e com um dropzinho de Mondega (um picante de raiz portuguesa e africana) que intensifica o sabor e é absolutamente maravilhoso (pedimos mais uma gotinha e tudo!). Depois para os pratos principais pedimos um Hamburguer de Barrosã DOP e Diz que é uma Sandes de Presa. O hambúrguer com queijo da ilha, tomate coração de boi em pão brioche, vem com umas batatinhas e molho romesco. Mostra-nos a diferença quando se usa carne de muita qualidade. Muito juicy, intenso e delicioso. A Sandes, ao estilo katsu sando, de presa de porco panado, massa de pimentão, sunomono de couve coração e molho de maionese kimchi, é na minha opinião a melhor. A quantidade certa de tudo, um equilíbrio incrível e muito sabor. Fechamos só com um cafezinho expresso, de muita qualidade. O serviço é impecável e têm ainda a oportunidade de percorrer um menu extenso de cocktails. No espaço, que privilegia as plantas, madeiras e iluminação, encontram ainda vários e enormes frascos de pickles, característicos também do chef. Quero muito que o Planto tenha muito sucesso, para se manter por cá e o podermos visitar...