Alfama Restaurant – Portuguese Flavor in Midtown Manhattan

ALFAMA restaurant brings Portuguese flavor to midtown Manhattan with a modern twist on the classics. The restaurant derives it’s name from Alfama , the oldest district in the capital city of Lisbon, Portugal, whose quaint neighborhoods have inspired poets, novelists and most notably the famous, yet melancholy Fado songs that are known so well throughout the world.

The West village in NYC, often referred to as  “Little Bohemia” has also inspired many writers, poets and artists. These two neighborhoods have very distinct similarities, but who would have known that they would also inspire the name of a restaurant owned by two men who were born in different continents.

Tarcísio Costa is from Brazil but his great grandparents were from Leiria Portugal. Miguel Jerónimo is from Lisbon, Portugal. They met in 1993 while working at the United Nations in New York City. The two friends soon discovered they shared a mutual passion for Portuguese cuisine and thus began their journey to bring those authentic culinary flavors New York City.  Ten years ago, they opened their restaurant in the bohemian neighborhood of the West Village naming it Alfama, due to the similarities of the two neighborhoods.

This May, Alfama re-opened to a new location in Midtown-East in an elegant and modern but relaxing atmosphere at 214 East 52nd Street. The restaurant’s new menu takes on a fresh approach to the Portuguese classics with the talents of Executive Chef Fransisco Rosa, who comes from the “School of Hospitality and Tourism of Coimbra”. The chef puts a modern twist on the classic Portuguese cuisine inspired by the former colonies such as Brazil, Goa and Southern Africa.

“Our clientele is made up of diplomats and UN officials, due to the restaurant’s proximity to the United Nations headquarters, and several executives who work in U.S. corporations with offices in Midtown East. But we also have many Luso-Americans who visit us from California and New England (Maine, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut) and Brazilians living in New York or just visiting New York”, says Tarcisio.

The restaurant has recently received rave reviews in the New York press including this current article from October 4, 2011 in Forbes by Larry Olmsted, titled; New York’s Best Portuguese Restaurant is Back!  In an article from a Portuguese website; Restaurant Alfama, um cantinho Portuguese nos EUA by Elisabete Maia,  gives a detailed and interesting interview with Tarcisio.

Alfama offers a taste tempting Diner menu, but you can stop by on any weekday and enjoy a delicious Lunch menu with classics such as;  Pastéis de Bacalhao – (Cod fish cakes with black olive tapenade), Polvo  – (Grilled octopus, fingerling potatoes, crispy pork belly, leeks, shallots, roasted garlic and olive oil), Chouriço Flambeado , and the popular Bife a Pedra – (8- oz. organic filet mignon with a fresh garlic crust, stone-grilled at the table, Portuguese potato chips and mixed greens)