Joining the ever-growing Lisbon food scene, is Basque Michelin star chef Eneko Atxa with his newly launched eponymous restaurant, Eneko, in a 600-year-old timber warehouse, once a printing factory, in the riverside district of Alcântara.
Considered a part of the capital’s heritage, the vintage space has retained its industrial architecture with copper-toned iron beams, high ceilings, fluted steel columns and bold red curtains reflected in the vast arched mirrors and multi-paned, mirrored walls. Classical sculptures bring a Baroque feel to the interiors which house both Eneko and the chef’s more casual dining outlet Basque.
The open kitchen in Eneko sits centre-stage offering a taste of the chef’s take on traditional Basque dining through two signature menus. One, Erroak, or roots, is a collection of iconic dishes from Eneko’s 3 star restaurant Azermundi, near Bilabo – think roasted and peeled lobster, juice, coffee butter and purple onion from Zalla or Iberian pork castañeta, idiazabal cheese bonbons and mushroom broth. The second, is Adarrak, or branches, which showcases Eneko’s latest creations such as red mullet in two services: flame-roasted red mullet and grilled red mullet with red peppers juice on charcoal, and parsley.
And while the cuisine may be rooted in the Basque country, the plates it is served on come from the Lisbon-based, Brazilian duo, Studioneves and the tableware from the acclaimed Portuguese cutlery brand Cutipol. §
