SEM Restaurant

I was initially drawn to SEM by its zero-waste philosophy and the relatively accessible reservation process, but I had no idea I was about to experience such an exceptionally delicious meal. Often, concept-driven restaurants can lose focus on the palate, but here, the culinary execution is truly brilliant. The atmosphere is effortlessly cool, set to a backdrop of American indie music, and the commitment to sustainability is evident in thoughtful details like the use of small cloth napkins instead of paper. The team operates with a seamless, versatile synergy; watching the staff multi-task with such perfect chemistry was a pleasure in itself. At €78 per person, the tasting menu offers a beautifully curated journey, and every dish felt imbued with sincere care. We opted for the oyster supplement (€5 each) to start, and they were a highlight—carrying a fresh scent of the sea and shucked with absolute precision so not a single trace of grit remained. The kitchen thoughtfully provided a variety of sauces that elevated, rather than masked, the distinct flavors of the oysters. For the main course, the duck was exceptionally well-prepared. I was also deeply impressed by their use of house-made vinegars, which they cleverly incorporate into their ever-changing menu to brilliantly lift and brighten the flavors. The beverage program is equally stellar. We tried the curated wine pairing (€50), which complemented the menu perfectly. We also explored their by-the-glass offerings, enjoying a crisp Filipa Pato Espumante and a lovely Gamine Tinto, both of which showcased excellent local winemaking. Portion-wise, the tasting menu leans slightly light. I found myself wanting just a bit more, so I opted to add an extra serving of their fantastic homemade bread and butter for €5. It was the perfect amount to finish the meal completely satisfied, without feeling the need to order an additional cheese plate. The final small dessert wrapped everything up on a high note. If you appreciate restaurants that marry profound environmental respect with outstanding, detailed gastronomy, SEM is an absolute must-visit in Lisbon.

An absolutely exceptional dining experience. We loved Sem’s concept of zero waste and their creative use of local and even invasive plants and animals — it’s such a refreshing and forward-thinking approach to fine dining. Every dish was beautifully presented and full of unique, complex flavor combinations that stood out from anything we’ve tried before. The “low impact” wine pairing featured fantastic local Portuguese wines that complemented the dishes perfectly. The service was warm, attentive, and professional — you can really tell that everyone here is passionate about what they do. The restaurant itself is beautiful, with a cozy, modern vibe and shelves full of fermentation jars that are actually used in their creations. A truly memorable experience and one of the most innovative meals we’ve had in Portugal. Highly recommended.

So close to being an incredible restaurant. We loved the concept, the servers were great and all the food was good but pacing was incredibly slow, we were there for nearly 2 hours and finished each dish in 1-2 minutes. The price seemed very high for a 5 course meal with very small dishes. We've been to incredible tasting menus in Paris and New York that were 8-10 course of incredible food for about the same cost. Still a good experience if you don't mind the pacing, value and aren't arriving very hungry.

If you care about where your food comes from—and also want it to taste amazing—this is the spot. Had no idea until we arrived this restaurant serves pretty good grub with a major focus on sustainability. Each course was extremely well thought about by the incredible chefs there focusing on serving dishes thats hearty without being heavy, creative without being weird-for-the-sake-of-it, and you leave feeling full but not weighed down. The service was spot on and each dish was described just as we expected, the story behind the source with a focus on how little wastage was used to prepare the dish. All ingredients and wine we had were sourced locally or at least a few hours from Lisbon. This restaurant I don't think is for everyone (if you are your meat and 2 veg kinda person without caring where it comes from) maybe keep scrolling! But if you're not, definitely give it a try.

5 stars on every aspect of it. The restaurant believes in the sustainability, the dish they create is truely reflects their belief. I dined there alone and they made me feel very comfortable by having a nice conversation with me time to time. Incredible restaurant. It is one of a kind. Reservation is a must since it is pre-fixed 6 course of meals. Wine pairing was amazing, too.

First time we tried this restaurant in Lisbon and it was an interesting experience. good sound acoustics in the restaurant. The staff is professional and attentive! The food is good but not overwhelming and you will get a lot of fermented food. At the end the menu says 7 plates but the first 3 come together and it felt more like 1. I like fermented food but not in every dish. And even fermenting honey even though it does not get bad - I just didn’t really get. Overall the food just wasn’t really to our taste but that can happen. I also found that the waiters were just about nice. Going to a place like this and paying that amount of money you expect at least a friendly happy atmosphere. And I didn’t really get that. It felt more like they didn’t want to be there.

An absolutely terrific experience. It’s a lovely space, wonderful staff, and next level food. Their hyper-local and zero-waste philosophy coupled with awesome talent result in interesting and delicious food that wow the senses. The team of Harrison, Baptiste and Lucy were engaging, fun, attentive and informative. And watching the open kitchen it was clear that they all love doing what they’re doing, and take joy from the smiles and excitement coming from the guests.

Starting with the good/great here… both bottles of wine we had were tremendous, both the skin contact and the red and both were recommendations from the team and fairly priced. More good… all of the food we had was amazing - white fish with cockles was very special and plating on all was flawless. Only issue… the tasting menu felt 1 or even 2 dishes short - even with us adding one of the supplements. I imagine this is likely holding them back from higher recognition (michelin or otherwise)