Mistu: Portuguese Fusion Cuisine
Sophisticated trendy restaurant with delicious dishes.
Price Range
| Budget | Moderate | Premium | Fine Dining |
| Atmosphere | ★★★★☆ |
Lively restaurant with an inviting modern decor.
In Crowd: The restaurant attracts a trendy crowd, adding to its vibrant atmosphere.
Lighting and Decor: Well-lit with inviting, modern decor that creates a pleasant dining environment.
Dining Areas: The restaurant features three distinct dining areas:
Main Dining Area: The liveliest section with a bar at the back, an open kitchen, high ceilings, and upbeat decor. This area is bustling and full of energy.
Side Room: A quieter option with more space between tables and a lower noise level. We were seated here (I would have preferred the more happening main dining hall, but it was full). Ideal for a more romantic and quiet setting.
Upstairs: A bit cramped with less space between the tables. This area also has the bathrooms, leading to bathroom traffic. It is the least desirable of the three areas.
Tips:
You cannot reserve a specific dining area. If you have a strong preference, it’s best to arrive early. We arrived at 8:30 PM and had no choice of seating area.
Main dining room. Mistu. Porto.
| Food | ★★★★★ |
Amazing flavors with meticulous presentation.
Menu Variety:
The menu has a focus on seafood but includes beef and lamb options.
There were two warm vegetarian options but no vegetarian cold appetizers. Everything looked delicious with a presentation to match.
The flavors we explored
Appetizers:
White Fish Ceviche: The last time I had ceviche this good was in Lima, Peru, more than 10 years ago.
Pure white fish ceviche, purée and sweet potato chips.
Main Courses:
Artichoke Lasagna: Served with basil pesto, it was delicious.
Black Angus NY Strip: Accompanied by polenta, cauliflower, roasted vegetables, and truffled vinaigrette. The steak was flavorful and cooked medium rare (À point) to perfection. As someone who knows steaks, this was a prime experience.
À point steak served at Mistu, Porto. Perfectly cooked medium rare steak . Polenta, roasted vegetables w/truffled vinagrette side.
Dessert:
Fruit Mousse with Ice Cream and Crumble: Heavenly and highly recommended.
Seasonal fresh fruit mouse, crumble and ice cream
| Drink and Wine | ★★★★★ |
The wine list was extensive, as expected, featuring Douro wines.
Vallado. Douro 2020
Price Range: Offered something for all pockets, from bottles in the €20s to a couple in the €100s.
Wine Selection:
At the waiter's recommendation, we went for a Vallado Douro 2020 on the lower end of the price range.
Vallado Douro 2020: From a 65-hectare Douro winery, this wine had an intense aroma, brightness, and a wild fruit taste with a delicate floral aftertaste.
Additional Options:
A variety of drinks from a well-stocked bar and for what we say good mixology and presentation. We had enough to work on our bottle of Douro, so we didn’t have a chance to try.
| Service | ★★★★★ |
Cordial and efficient service.
Waiter Interaction: The waiter was knowledgeable and friendly.
Dish Explanations: Each dish was explained in detail, beyond our expectations in the price range of this restaurant.
Maitre d' Interaction:
The maitre d' was very cordial and adept at handling my initial disappointment at not being able to get a table in the main dining hall.
They explained that reservations were not for a specific room and assured us that we would be happy in the side room, which we indeed were.
Timeliness: Considering that everything was made to order, the wait time for the dishes was appropriate. The dishes were timed perfectly so that we were always busy degustating an excellent dish.
| Overall | ★★★★★ |
Our dining experience at Mistu was exceptional. The atmosphere was lively and inviting, the food was bursting with amazing flavors, and the service was top-notch. We thoroughly enjoyed every moment.
I highly recommend Mistu for a delightful evening out. The food is superb, the place is classy and trendy without being stuffy or snobby. The staff strikes the perfect balance between being conversational without being overbearing.
Considering the quality of the food and the overall experience, Mistu offers great value. We enjoyed two appetizers, two steak main dishes, a dessert, and a bottle of Vallado Douro 2020 wine, all for a total of €160. It’s a fantastic place to dine, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone looking for a memorable meal in Porto.
