Essência Restaurant

Essência is the project of the Portuguese-Hungarian husband and wife duo, Tiago and Éva Sabarigo. Before venturing out on their own, Tiago was head chef at another Michelin decorated establishment, Costes Downtown, while Éva came from the hospitality industry. Essência is a casual fine dining restaurant: the high-ceilinged hall features exposed brick walls, plush mid-century modern furniture, and bare wooden tables.

The five or seven-course tasting menu, “May 17th,” bears their daughter’s birthdate and features dishes from both countries, with a focus on fish-forward Portuguese fare. Highlights include the creamy foie gras, a traditional produce of Hungary, the grilled octopus atop a bed of chorizo-infused toast, the deceptively simple-sounding filet of cod, and the desserts: a rich Portuguese caramel pudding and a play on a Hungarian poppy-seeds pastry called mákos guba. The seven-course tasting menu costs €125 per person (€200 with wine pairing). As with the food, the wines are sourced from excellent Hungarian and Portuguese producers.

Tiago Sabarigo is a technical chef firmly in control of ingredients, combinations, sauces, and plating, but there's room for more creativity when it comes to assembling the menu. The servers, including the sommelier, are remarkably knowledgeable and kind.