Steve Solun
Google
Antiqvvm – a culinary symphony above the Douro!
My spouse and I rose in a full standing ovation for the Chef and his Team—Bravo, Maestros!
Now to the review :)
Some meals linger for flavour; a rare few reset your idea of what cooking can achieve. Our dinner this March at Antiqvvm—newly adorned with two Michelin stars—falls firmly in that second camp.
From the leafy terrace you glimpse the river, but once the first amuse-bouche lands, Porto slips away and you are carried through an eight-course (13 in our case for our honeymoon) narrative of colour, texture, and scent. We chose the full tasting menu with wine pairing, and never once looked back.
Service & atmosphere:
“Choreography” is the only word that fits. Plates arrive in silent unison, water glasses refill as if by telepathy, and dish descriptions read like poetry without ever drifting into lecture. Picture a chamber orchestra in flawless counterpoint: every gesture, pour, and plate drop timed to the millisecond, yet offered with effortless grace and an easy smile.
You never have to ask— the team already knows. Crystal stays spotless, cutlery re-aligns itself, and every question, no matter how curious, earns a thoughtful, unhurried answer.
It isn’t dinner so much as watching Leonardo da Vinci lay the final brushstroke on the Mona Lisa while a calm ensemble keeps the studio humming.
Precise, pristine, and warmly human all at once!
Final word:
The Chef and THE Team, they—and only they—stand in front of the masterpieces they deliver; we are merely lucky guests, basking in their CREATION!
If you’re ready to let dinner rewrite your definition of possibility, reserve a seat—then surrender, applaud, and enjoy the art unfolding before you.