Original, the new brunch ‘spot’ to be enjoyed in Lisbon
O Original is the new brunch place at number 25 Rua da Esperança, in Lisbon, and promises to “escape from the images made about the most unclassifiable food of all”.
The brunch menu is filled with classics – croissants, bagels, pancakes, bowls, eggs and toasts, smoothies and cocktails – which, “coming out of the Original’s kitchen, arrive at the table partially unrecognizable”. A croissant can be filled with raspberries, sour cream, orange peel and flowers (6 €) or with smoked salmon, dill and cream cheese (7 €).
The menu is the result of the many travels of ‘chef’ Miguel Mouzinho, the owner and creator of the Original, known from places like the Burger Factory, on Rua da Atalaia, or Jaquinzinho, where the Original is now located.
For starters, the aioli of fried squids (€9) or truffled mayonnaise from a board of jaquinzinhos (10€) are stops on the same trip, heading towards northern Italy along the sunny coast. The papadums, with which the calf tartar is served (€12), have been known since the last visit to Rajasthan – or one of the many vibrant suburbs of London.
The baguette changes with the mafra bread and is served with ham, arugula and cream cheese with basil, (8 €), while the mafra bread comes with a roast beef, with spinach and garlic mayonnaise, (8.50 €). Roast beef that we found again in a salad, with grilled cabbage heart, balsamic vinaigrette and roasted cherry tomatoes, (12 €), as the papadums, which come back to perfume a chicken curry with black basmati rice (14 €), and the jaquinzinhos accompanied with tomato rice (15 €)
In the hamburgers chapter, there is no lack of variety. There’s meat, classic or with truffle, fish and also vegetarian options, quinoa and beetroot (from €10 to €12).
For dessert, you can choose between lemon tart, chocolate mousse (both €6) and the cake da nonna (€5.5), the house’s ‘ex-libris’.
The Original is open from Wednesday to Sunday from 10 am to 7 pm.
Do we whet your appetite? Scroll through the gallery.
Also read: People, plants, bigeyes: In this café in Lisbon no one stays at the door