Sentido do Mar in Lisbon

I came here by random chance… We decided to check out the very windy and rough beach “Praia do Norte” for a little sunset stroll and grab a drink before dinner. I recommend driving here if you are in Lisbon as it is really stark and beautiful, with lots of wind and harsh sunlight. It’s about twenty minutes just outside the center and really worth a visit.

We decided to have a bite here after seeing the sign’s boardwalk board of fresh oysters. They were served three ways- tempura with chili sauce, vinaigrette with salmon and wasabi lumpfish roe, and au natural with a slice of lime. I am admittedly crazy for oysters and could really live off them for days (ok, add champagne). So lets say I eat them A LOT. These were incredible. First of all, I like jam packed eccentric complex flavours, generally, but the natural oysters were actually my favorite. Somehow they were even more striking served with lime instead of lemon. Almost melting in your mouth, with wafts of the ocean tingling on your tongue.

The tempura ones had a lovely outside crunch with the same buttery softness on the inside. Paired with a lovely sweet chili sauce, giving it a teeny kick but keeping in step with the delicateness. The vinegar ones were equally as stunning, with pops of texture and depth added from the roe. We liked this place so much so that we came back a few days later for a full lunch.

This place is actually more of a Japanese fusion sushi beach restaurant but somehow with Michelin star oysters. We ordered them again and I must say an excellent repeat performance. We added a simple seaweed salad and some Carpaccio of the fish of the day, which tasted something like butterfish. It was served rather artfully on this elegant long rectangular plate. Between each slice was a little paper thin fresh lime and a sprinkling of salmon roe on top. One would think the lime would over power raw fish but it worked perfectly. I really enjoyed the bitterness and striking textures.

Plus, as a bonus, you hear the roar of an angry Portuguese ocean, it’s waves crashing harshly against the shore as your oysters melt onto your tongue.