Cascais' popular Rua Amarela (Yellow Road) has a new resident. Or rather, Residente. The new restaurant, which opened on 14 November, brings together several trendy concepts, with a focus on healthy food and brunch dishes, although it also serves more composed meals. It's a project that brings together seven partners, including those responsible for the neighbouring Malacopa and Senhor Manuel, as well as the former owner of the space, which used to be an Italian restaurant.
"Our idea is to offer healthy food, but with a focus on flavour and pleasure, seeking out the best of each cuisine," explains managing partner Mariana Sobral. "We want it to be a neighbourhood restaurant for every moment of the day, from breakfast with pastries to brunch and dinner, which can have more of a party atmosphere."
The starters have been bestsellers in the first month. There's burrata with pesto rosso and crispy ham (€12), panko breaded brie with homemade red fruit jam (€6), tuna tartare on crispy rice (€8), crispy mushroom tempura with black garlic mayonnaise (€6) and beef carpaccio with capers and parmesan (€13).
There's also a wide variety of eggs, pancakes, toasts and bowls - sweet (with açaí, muesli, pitaya or yoghurt, for example) and savoury, including roast beef (€13), prawns (€12), falafel (€10) and tuna (€12). One of our favourites was the Residente's Croque (8€), a brioche toast with cheese, ham, fried egg and hollandaise sauce.
For dinners, the goal is to add more elaborate dishes to the menu. These will be defined by the team and tested with the first customers.
A range of natural fresh fruit juices, smoothies and cocktails are available to accompany the dishes. Another of Residente's specialities is coffee: with a roasting machine available to the public, customers can make their own blend by crossing beans of different origins and adjusting the parameters until they get the coffee they like. If you don't want to worry about customising your cup, the house blend combines coffee from Brazil and Colombia. Finish your meal with vanilla and red fruit biscuits (€5), chocolate mousse (€5), banana bread (€5) or Basque cheesecake (€5), among other options.
With a terrace and a pleasant interior full of greenery and nature, Residente can accommodate up to 70 people. Soon there will be heaters (for now there are blankets) for those who want to stay outside despite the colder days.
The aim is to change the menu regularly, with seasonal products, juices of the week or month, always trying to "evolve and innovate". For the future, they are open to replicating the Residente concept in other locations if the venture proves successful.
Rua Alexandre Herculano, 114A, Cascais