Experience the Best in Local Seafood Flavors at Lisbon's Belcanto

If you get this wrong, it's dangerous.

Some of these are stones and some of these are food.

This is a dentist nightmare.

(Portuguese music)

Belcanto's my take on Portuguese food and culture.

We are a small country, but we have very different regions

with very different kinds of food.

I was born in Cascais, near the sea.

So, I think like 60 or 70% of my influence

are from the sea.

How important is the Michelin Star rating to you?

Very important, it's the oldest guide in Europe,

the most well-known.

But, the most important thing for us

is to create special moments

for the people set up at our tables.

You image the smile of people's face,

that's why you still want work 16 hours a day

and to search for this perfection that we think

that someday we'll achieve.

Let me show you the kitchen.

We are preparing everything for lunchtime.

[Jamie] It reminds me a little of an orchestra.

Everyone has their own different instrument to play.

Yes and I actually, now we have a lot of noise happening

because we are preparing, but during service,

you cannot hear a thing and we only hear

like the chef singing the requests for the guests.

(Opera music)

I'm sitting here with Rui,

one of the regulars here at Belcanto.

We're at the chef's table, which means

we're about six feet away from the kitchen.

So this is what I think a great chef does.

He plays with your senses.

This is the tuna tartar.

So, try not to eat the flower.

Mmm. Wow. That's magic.

[Waitress] It's the Dip in the Sea.

The signature dish?

Yes, it's the oldest dish from the chef.

It's sea bass with seaweed and seawater.

2007? 2008?

2007.

I love the fact that much like wines,

you know, that you see the vintage,

this was the date this dish was produced

and it has been on the menu since

because people want this dish.

My goodness.

Any particular reason why

you keep coming back to Belcanto?

You come back here because the food is what you've seen

because the ambiance is what you've seen,

because it's a traditional place and because to my taste,

it's the best restaurant in Portugal.

Fantastic. Well, here's to Belcanto.

Here's to Belcanto. Cheers.

(salsa music)