Food review: Restaurant Amara

The restaurant is not visible from the road. And that is probably the only reason the restaurant was not fully booked tonight..., because the food, ambiance, service and price are certainly not to blame.

Located on the 1st floor, Amara has a beautiful view over the golf course. You can park your car in front of the door.

The welcome is very friendly and professional. You can choose to eat inside, or on the new roof terrace. The restaurant is beautiful, luxurious and warmly decorated. Really well done.

It is small and intimate, with only 10 tables. There is also a bar, behind which the staff stand when they are not in the restaurant. This way, they keep a good overview and therefore deliver very attentive service. Next to the bar is the space for the musicians. Tonight there is a singer and saxophonist, who play beautiful jazzy (background) music. The music is very cosy and not overpowering.

Amara is five years old, and since this year it also has a roof terrace, with five tables. From here you have great views of the golf course and the sunset.

You can choose a 3-course (45 euros) or 4-course menu (55 euros). Unlike most tasting menus, here you get to choose your own from the extensive menu. The menu offers beautiful fish-meat and vegan dishes. You get gourmet Michelin star level food here, for a friend's price!

The team is young but very experienced and extremely friendly and welcoming. Both the manager and the sommelier are called Daniella. And the friendly waiter is Rafael.

Chef Nelson Candeias' team turns every dish into beautiful paintings, you can see and taste the passion and love for gastronomy.

On the advice of Daniella with a lovely glass of fresh chardonnay from Lisbon.

Then comes the couvert, 3 types of bread with delicious olive oil. And a delicious vegan butter. You don't see that in many restaurants yet. Classy!

As a starter, I have an avocado with couscous roll, accompanied by a strawberry gaspacho. This is delicious!

This is followed by the roasted celeriac steak with pumpkin and granola, surrounded by a potato foam. What delicious flavours!

For main course I have roasted avocado and courgette with apple sauce, it looks beautiful and tastes great!

For dessert, I get coconut and peanut ice cream with banana. Daring for a dessert, but scrumptious! This is served with a delicious 20-year-old Port.

This is an unforgettable experience. This is Michelin-starred food at a fraction of the price. The service is warm and welcoming, the atmosphere in relaxed and the food is great! We will definitely return to this hidden treasure soon!

Link: https://www.hotspotsalgarve.com/restaurants/amara-four-seasons/

Rating: Food 9.1 Service 9.0 Price/Quality 9.2 Atmosphere 9.1

TTL rating 9.1

Vegan friendly: 4/5

Meet Peter Cruiming, an Algarve-based food blogger. Residing in Almancil with wife Marlot Anna, a professional photographer, and their 7-year-old son, Elyas. Explore daily Algarve dining stories at www.HotspotsAlgarve.com, focused on Peter's passion for healthy and vegetarian food.  Photo by www.MarlotAnna.com. 

Peter Cruiming