Restaurante Origens

We were just walking by and noticed the menu and then the Michelin award, which peaked our interest. We had to email them for a reservation but they responded within hours. Our meal was amazing from start to finish!!! The service was excellent. The food portions were also very good while the prices were well in normal expectations. Don’t miss this wonderful meal!!

Our Rick Steve’s Tour Guide recommended this location. We also saw it in the Michelin Guide App. I’m so glad I made a reservation and took my wife to celebrate her birthday. The Tasting Menu was a great experience for our taste buds and wish had more time in Evora to come eat here again. So many great details that my wife loved, from the custom made sangria to the home made cookies presented in a little box. We loved the chef coming out to wish my wife a happy birthday. This is a well run small family restaurant and truly wish them continual success.

Simply Fantastic. The flavors were perfectly matched. Service abundantly kind. Well educated Somali. Trust the chef!!!

We stumbled upon the restaurant while walking through town, so did not have a reservation. They were able to fit us in and we had the 3 course tasting menu with wine pairing option as well. Everything was great, especially the service, and it was the highlight meal of our vacation.

Small, simple, but unbelievably good restaurant. Service was amazing, food was delicious. We didn’t try tasting, we just shared a few starters and a few main dishes. All the things we chose were amazing and interesting. The chef was on site and explained all the details about some dishes, sommelier was knowledgeable and helped us choose a great local wine. The server was so welcoming and caring, it was hard to leave the restaurant.

We were so lucky to enjoy lunch at Origins during our visit to Evora. We enjoyed incredible service and an amazing meal including bread, scallops with a carrot puree I’m now obsessed with and a fish dish that was out of this world. The carrot cake to finish was the chef’s choice and perfect. We didn’t even realize this was a Michelin rated restaurant, but it’s the best of the three we visited while in Portugal. If you’re anywhere near Evora, be sure to enjoy a meal at Origins.

Perfect in every way! Beautiful and delicious food, excellent service, and a charming, comfortable atmosphere! We chose the 5 course tasting menu, and it was awesome! Every dish was unique, and delivered! Wine pairings were thoughtful and matched perfectly! A nice a la carte menu is available, as are excellent wines for every palate. A great restaurant that should not be missed!

I hope for you this place is in your future ! We shared two beginning dishes and one main entrée. Perfect amount of food. Red wine was delightful and tasted nice. The black pork cheek and the mushroom were the best foods I’ve had since Porto. Also maybe best food ever. Our server was very good.

We decided to do a day-trip from Lisboa to the city of Évora, and after a few hours of exploration of the Old Town city-center and its wonderful ancient sites/sights, it was time for some grub and vinho!! (I was dramatically parched and famished! Lol!!) Anyway, we were using another popular plant-based app (sacrilege!) that kept leading us to eateries that either weren't open, were no longer in existence, or (in one instance) was simply atrocious in service (that review will be forthcoming!). Alas, through winding alleyways, we happened upon Origens Restaurante. What a find, indeed!!! (We had actually passed the restaurant earlier; but, at first glance, we presumed it was for carnivores only.) Its outset appearance is fairly nondescript. Once inside, however, we went from Plain-Jane to Pageant Queen! :D It's cavernous and chic decor befits its Michelin recognitions, with some homey Évora accoutrements to anchor its origins from being too highfalutin. A host greeted us, and we inquired if there were any vegan options available. Ecstatically, as it turned out--especially after our eatery disappointments earlier--Origens did, indeed, have several options that were either straight-out vegan or could easily be made vegan. YAY!!! We took a table pronto and did a couple of "namastes" to get into a leisurely frame of mind. Our waitperson, Mercy Muiru (English-speaking originally from Kenya), was an absolute sweetheart, with a superior knowledge of the drinks and foods that were to come. (I cannot exclaim enough what a joy she was!! Fantastic service like her's needs to be praised!!) Glasses of vinhos were ordered and served--very impressed the way the different wines we ordered were served in appropriate glasses to suit their individual flavors--and our orders were placed. [I'm only reviewing my dishes; although, I've attached my better-half's dishes heretofore, as well, since I did have a taste of each--Woah!!] I started with an order of the vegetable (vegan) empada, which, unexpectedly, also came with a fresh side salad splashed with a honey/vinaigrette dressing. (We're plant-based and are OK with honey--which, by the way, Mercy informed me of its presence in the vinaigrette to ensure I would be OK. Wonderfully attentive and thoughtful!) The empada was smallish in appearance, but packed a splendid flavor; the side salad with pomegranate seeds was a light and perfect accompaniment. My main dish of a marinated and braised tofu (served with a cauliflower purée with small florets of broccoli) was awesome!!! The density of the garlicky tofu paired perfectly with the cauliflower purée and crunch of the florets. The goodness was overflowing! At the end of our mains, Mercy persuaded--although, the word is probably incorrect as we didn't require much persuasion after our marvelous meals!--us for a specially chef-concocted dessert to suit our dietary restrictions, which we shared. What arrived from the chef was as beautiful to behold, as it was to eat; the gelato was superb! The sips of strong espresso worked wonders, as well. I have to admit that we're not usually "leisurely" eaters; however, when you're fine-dining, you shift into low-gear and enjoy the views. ;) (We spent a little over an hour enjoying presentation after presentation, as well as good conversation with Mercy.) The bottom line is that we left both completely satiated; and, like our pillowy sobremesa, felt as if walking on clouds leaving Origens Restaurante, it was that Heavenly!!! Cheers to Mercy, and our highest compliments to the chef and his sous-chef!!! I truly hope we can make it back before we return to the States.... :D

After a day of exploring Evora, we stumbled upon a hidden gem: a beautifully decorated restaurant tucked away in a small alley. It was an intimate dining experience, even at lunchtime. Origens Restaurante has a few vegan options on the menu, but we asked the server, Mercy Muiru, to help us navigate the ordering process. Mercy was incredible! She was attentive, friendly, and warm. She showed us which dishes could be made vegan instead of vegetarian and even paired the perfect wine with our choices. To start, I had the daily soup (sopa), which was a delightful mix of collard greens, crispy tomato skins (instead of chorizo), and a creamy white bean soup. It was amazing! The main course was Pumpkin (abóbora) served over a bed of wilted spinach, pickled onions (balsamic), roasted pumpkin seeds (pepita), roasted pine nuts, and cilantro bread crumbs. It was absolutely incredible! And for dessert, we indulged in the Chef's choice of the day, which turned out to be pumpkin fritters with orange sorbet and peanuts. It was heavenly! The head chef, Gonçalo Queiroz, is a culinary mastermind! Origens is even recognized by the Michelin Guide, making it an absolute must-visit for foodies. If you ever find yourself in the area or even in Lisbon, make sure to make time for a meal at Origens. Trust me, it's worth it!

Amazing service! Food was outstanding in a beautiful setting. A lovely find on our recent trip to Évora.

everything from the greeting, to the advice on pairing the right wine, and then the food was outstanding! great ambience and attention to detail - would recommend this to anyone visiting the area

Glad we stumbled onto this Michelin rated find. Very nice menu with a delicate mix of local foods. There are sampling options and you really can't go wrong. For the lighter side, the salads with fig, walnut and citrus will appease. The scrambled egg with potato and sausage are the ticket for a heartier option. Very good over all.

A rare find of culinary talent in Evora. Selection of local produce, meat and delicacies elevated to a truly fine dining experience. The menu is designed for small bites to be shared so you can have several different courses. It is an intimate dining environment with an open kitchen in the back. The servers include the chef and sommelier who interact with the guests. Put this on your "must do"list if you visit Evora.

We came across this restaurant on our walk and we booked a table just purely by the feel of the place. The menu looked very interesting, although at the time, we thought it was expensive. We arrived at 7.30pm and was warmly greeted by the owner and very talented chef. We were offered a glass of the most exquisite red from this region and ordered two share plates for entree. Origens only serves local and seasonal produce. Whilst sipping my wine, I had the honour of watching this chef work, assembling with such care and passion, our starters. The chicken soup was like nothing I have ever tasted. Steaming hot and flavoursome, chicken moist and tender. Then we had smoked pork, pears glazed in port wine, walnuts, cows cheese and brick loaf. We could have licked the plate clean. THEN, our main! Trumpets playing, please! 8 hour, slow cooked lamb in a port jus, so moist and tender with seasonal vegetables. This restaurant should be rated number 1 in Evora and was worth every Euro we paid. It was an experience of a lifetime and will not be forgotten. Thank you Origens for a wonderful evening. Congratulations!

Fabulous restaurant! From the moment you enter until you force yourself to leave you will enjoy this special place. Michelin rated. We had superbly prepared fried cod and beautifully cooked duck breast, both delicious! A well done and reasonably priced wine list is a great feature. Truly a great experience!

Wonderful gem of a place. Slow food cooking the way it should be done. Great chef. Great service

We were greeted with great attention by the owner. The staff was very prompt and provided lots of explanation about the menu. The starter plate (shrimps) was exquisite. Followed by pork loins and lamb stew cooked to perfection. Thank you for THE real Alto Alentejo experience.