PORTUGAL - ALGARVE - MONTE REI GOLF CLUB - RESTAURANTE VISTAS

Miguel Renoir Spanish Guides
Oct 21, 2019
2 min read

Updated: Jan 26

RESTAURANTE VISTAS One Michelin Star

We had a short hop over the border into Portugal for a round of golf at Monte Rei Golf & Country Club. The course is set on over 400 hectares in the East Algarve countryside. This refined country club with villa accommodations is 9 km from the Praia da Manta Rota beach and 13 km from the Castle of Castro Marim.

We topped off our afternoon on one of Europe’s best golf courses with dinner at Restaurante Vistas, which has stunning views over the course. We were warmly welcomed, and the professionalism of the waiting staff stood out all night.

The food is probably worthy of a Michelin star. The talented young chef Rui Silvestre produces inventive, flavourful cuisine.

We had the delightful Ocean Promenade tasting menu (€90 per person) as follows.

The Tide, a dish of cornflour, chopped clams and parsley sauce

Taco of scarlet shrimp from Tavera

Braised mackerel and Algarvian Salad are on top of the imitation mackerel.

Razor Clam with edible shell made from cornflour and seaweed.

John Dory Sashimi and stone crab, chives and combo (a citrus fruit from Haiti).

Scrambled egg form with truffles and bacon.

Tuna loin from Ortro, Oyster from “Moinho dos ilhéus”, wasabi and cauliflower cream.

John Dory, taggiasca olive, lemon, artichokes, tomato and fennel emulsion

Roasted line-caught red mullet, onion compote, seared langoustine, squid ravioli and harissa sauce

Coconut base, chocolate, pina colada foam and an edible red flower.

Pennyroyal and frozen beetroot crumble.

Three textures of lemon, blood orange & lemon mousse, creamy citrus fruit, passion fruit sauce and lemon ice cream.

Dark chocolate with salt and caramel (fantastic!)

White chocolate with lemon

Dark chocolate with passion fruit.

We had excellent service from our head waiter, Manuel, all night.

The wines came from two of Lisbon’s sub-regions: the first, Bucelas, which the Duke of Wellington helped popularise in London after discovering them while fighting in the Peninsular War, as he could not get any from the Duero. These wines were also served at Buckingham Palace until 1980.

They were served by the excellent and informative sommelier, Nuno.

A flute of Quinta do Boição

Espumante Quinta do Boição Cuvée (the sparkling wine from the Lisbon sub-region of Bucelas, made in the traditional method). The white wines from here are known for their fresh, mineral flavour made from the Arinto grape.