As introduced in our previous post, we have been noticing a change in the Lisbon vegan landscape, with the popularization – for good- of veganism, more non-Vegan restaurants adopted plant-based dishes in their menus, which, in a way contributed to our goal of promoting a more sustainable approach for food in the world, but also damaged business of strictly Vegan restaurants, that now had their clientele scattered around.
As a result, and in addition to the current economic crisis, we have seen many of our favorite restaurants shut doors in the past 12 months, a heartbreaking and bittersweet change that we hope not to become a trend. With that said, we decided to make a new content series, following our “I did not Know I was vegan” series, promoting some of our favorite restaurants in town hoping not only to promote their business, but also make sure our colleagues are doing well.
O Gambuzino, Lisbon
The first stop in our quick tour around our favorite restaurants in Lisbon, was in a cozy restaurant in the heart of Intendente, the dreamy O Gambuzino. Tucked away at the edge of Largo do Intendente, it’s a little hard to find if you’re not looking for it. Their name is based of a Portuguese mystical creature, the gambuzino. As a practical joke, adults send kids to look for gambuzinos when they want them to stay occupied for a while, knowing well that they won’t. However, looking for gambuzinhos themselves, the restaurants owners seem to have found them:
“We spent our childhood looking for gambuzinos. We searched, with sticks and sacks, behind each bush and every alley. After all these years, I’ve found their hiding place, it’s full of them,” they claim on their website.
To us, it seems that the elusive hideaway of the gambuzinhos could very well be nestled within this exact restaurant. Once you enter, you are welcomed by an atmosphere brimming with whimsy and mystique. Rows of fermenting kombuchas and ginger beers line the shelves, casting a soft glow under the gentle ambiance of dimmed lights. The open kitchen wakes up your curiosity and taste buds, while the vintage furniture evokes the feeling of stepping into a modern-day fairytale.
What to eat at O Gambuzino, Lisbon
The restaurant offers a wide range of contemporary drinks, with many non-alcoholic options, including cocktails. We chose their homemade ginger beer and juice of the day, which was grape. Both were lovely, but we especially enjoyed the juice, decorated with a tiny grape heart. That’s the thing about O Gambuzino, they really pay attention to the detail, making the dining experience even more special. For starters, we got their tacos, pica pau and gojuchang cauliflower. All of them were amazing, but the tacos stole the show as the ultimate favorites among our little party.
After that, we got a “fish” burger with sweet potato chips and gado gado, a special tempeh made out of peanuts and beans. While I was happy with the fish burger, a celery fish, wrapped in seaweed and fried into a little fish schnitzel, combined with mayo and made into a burger, the tempeh was undoubtedly the star of the table. The crunchiness and fresh put in a creative spread really sparked our tastebuds.
The food was incredibly tasty, and so was the vibe, our admiring faces could be seen in every table around the room, in a cosmopolitan vibe, making it an enjoyable night.
We were reluctant to say goodbye, especially to the dessert menu, but our stomachs were too full to continue eating. This is definitely not our last visit and we would recommend dining there to anyone wanting to experience new tastes.
From the cozy ambiance to the innovative fare, O Gambuzinho casts a spell that lingers long after the last bite is savored. Whether you’re a gastronomic enthusiast or a seeker of atmospheric havens, a visit to O Gambuzinho promises an enchanting journey through flavors and ambiance, making it a destination not to be missed on any food enthusiast’s itinerary.
How to get there: The adress is Rua dos Anjos 5A, 1150-032 Lisboa. Beware, they only open for dinners.
What we had: ginger beer, juice of the day, tacos de alfas, pica pau, gochujang cauliflower, gado gado, burger of the week (fish burger)
Must try: Ginger beer, tacos de alfas, pica pau, gochujang cauliflower, gado gado
