Since D’Arlete opened its doors in January, tongues have been wagging for all the right reasons in Portimão
Located at the top of Rua Santa Isabel, the small restaurant is injecting life into what was once the city’s shopping artery, offering a sophisticated yet relaxed culinary experience.
The restaurant was founded by German chef Jan Stechemesser, his husband Robson, and their friend Vera Gaspar. Together, they transformed what was once a grocery store owned by Robson’s mother into a vibrant and welcoming eatery.
With a keen eye for aesthetics, professional photographer Robson oversaw the décor, whilst Jan and Vera, who met whilst working at the Relais & Châteaux Grand House hotel in Vila Real de Santo António and describe themselves as “the perfect culinary duo – as inseparable as pot and lid, or Laurel and Hardy”, focused on the menu and service.
The restaurant’s stripy green and white awning is its calling card: a fresh, appealing look that draws curious customers in.
Behind a floor-to-ceiling window, the contemporary interior mixes dark green tiles with wooden tables and chairs, whitewashed walls punctuated by round mirrors, and wooden light fixtures fitted with fans for hot summer days.
With space for 16 – and a few more on the little streetside terrace – the dining room offers a warm and intimate atmosphere complemented by low lighting and a mellow soundtrack, ideal for a romantic dinner or fun gathering with a small group of friends.
Every detail has been carefully thought out, from the cleverly fitted wine cellar at the back of the room where a great selection of wines from small producers are stored to the tailored placemats and recycled wine bottles on which they handwrite clients’ names to reserve their table.
Concealed behind metal shelves brimming with bottles of olive oil, homemade liqueurs, and other tipples, chef Jan can be seen concocting his creative dishes.
His cuisine is based on seasonal produce from the market and local producers, which are transformed using contemporary techniques he learnt working in the kitchens of fine dining restaurants. The result is a menu featuring international inspirations alongside traditional Portuguese flavours.
D’Arlete is open for lunch and dinner from Wednesday to Saturday and for brunch on Sunday. Its menu varies depending on the time of day. Lunch can feature lighter dishes such as seared tuna with a fresh salad or gourmet pregos, whilst the evening menu is composed of tapas and large plates to dig into, which are intended to be shared and savoured with time.
The evening experience starts with a selection of colourful cocktails and a bread service accompanied by an Algarvian carrot spread, homemade flavoured butter, virgin olive oil, and marinated olives. Starters feature exotic dishes such as ceviche made with fish from the Algarve coast and beef tartare tacos with homemade pickles, alongside a variety of typically Portuguese flavours like alheira with scrambled eggs and Bulhão Pato clams.
Main courses include fresh seafood pasta with clams, prawns, and scallops, red mullet from the market served with squid ink risotto, and low-temperature black pork tenderloin with pesto gnocchi, cauliflower purée, and black garlic.
To finish on a sweet note, chef Jan suggests delicious Carob Cannolis, a passion fruit tartlet, D’Arlete Cream Milk or a plate of soft sheep’s cheese with roasted pear, walnut bread and homemade jam.
And because the idea is for customers to feel at home and take their time to savour every morsel, there are no shifts; you can stay as long as you like. Well, almost!
Sundays are brunch days. The fixed menu is available from 12pm to 3pm and features a selection of bread and pastries, Portuguese charcuterie and cheeses, truffled scrambled eggs, waffles, and fruit.
Those with a hearty appetite can also order sardine bruschetta, ceviche, corn tacos, or a steak sandwich. It promises to be a fun, friendly, and delicious experience. A word of advice: book well in advance, as this little gem fills up quickly.
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