Gourmet Natural

Set in the former Ermitage restaurant, Gourmet Natural near Vale de Lobo and Quinta do Lago has charm, charisma and elegance in abundance. Add quality cuisine and wonderful South American hospitality and you begin to get an idea of what Gourmet Natural is about.

Book a table at Gourmet Natural .

The grounds are stunning, as is the building itself. The South American wall motifs and decorative touches fit perfectly within the walls and courtyard of a traditional Algarve villa. The wide gateway leads you round the central fountain and onto the deck, surrounded by banana palms, pine trees, & leggy tropical palms. You immediately relax into the spirit of the restaurant. Cocktail in hand, you have nothing more arduous to do than choose your favorite dish and enjoy every mouthful.

The main focus of the Gourmet Natural menu is top quality natural Uruguayan beef, grilled, not over charcoal, but fresh firewood. All the meat has 100% traceability and comes from free range Angus and Hereford grass-fed cattle. The resulting beef has low fat levels, high levels of omega 3 and vitamin E. The special grill, the Parilla, was made to the Uruguayan chefs’ specifications and stands to one side of the courtyard. Just watching chefs Santiago and Agustin expertly juggle the meat and flames is an entertainment. They are very proud of the food they serve – it is unpretentious and straightforward but of superior quality. Naturally gourmet.

The beef is available in four cuts of varying weights cooked to your liking – fillet, rib-eye, rump and sirloin. The accompaniments are tasty and inventive. At Gourmet Natural, beef is what it is all about, but there are also chicken, fish and vegetarian dishes on the menu. And no matter how good the beef is – leave room for dessert, particularly the Uruguayan rice pudding.

The team at Gourmet Natural recently opened their second restaurant in the area. Parilla Natural Steak House is at least as impressive as Gourmet Natural. The setting is a lush magic garden, the food exceeds expectations and the service makes each guest feel like the most important person in the world.

Both restaurants are the best ambassadors for Uruguay that you could imagine. The teams obvious delight in what they are doing, and where they are doing it is contagious. Not to be missed!