We went to visit the new address of Focacceria Bread Maniacs and, as we already suspected, the experience went up a notch: the new space is visibly larger, offers more comfort to those who want to taste their famous focaccias (as well as other Italian classics) and already has a terrace worthy of the name, with a few tables and a view of the Tagus and the CCB – Centro Cultural de Belém.
Bruno Marcelino and his wife, the owners of this space, thought it was time to increase their offer and so they needed a place that could hold more people, since the first location could fit just over 10 people at a time.
The new location can seat many more fanatics of these delicious Italian sandwiches, and at Focacceria BM you’ll find one for every taste, always with those “crazy” names invented by the chef.
When you combine the best charcuterie with the best bread
There’s one thing we know for sure , because it happened to us: the first bite will tell you straight away that you’re looking at a focaccia recipe that’s out of the ordinary.
You’ll immediately feel that hint of spices and olive oil, the best there is, because Bruno doesn’t mess around and that’s why he has the best ingredients and the most refined Italian charcuterie you’ll find in Lisbon.
The menu features the strangest and funniest names we’ve ever seen given to a sandwich made with this bread:
- Crazy
- Crazy
- Demented
- Insane
- Crazy
- Crazy
- Lunatic
- Bumblebee
- Wacky
- Choné
- Chalupa
In addition to the new space, the menu has also been reinforced with other fillings, which we tried and loved:
- Taralhoca (11€): with porchetta, stracciatella, spinach and dried tomatoes
- Tosca (11€): with porchetta, parmigiano cream, onion confit and rocket
- Chanfrada (11€): meatballs, tomato sauce, nduja mayonnaise, grated parmigiano cheese
Of the three new items, we’d like to highlight the Chanfrada, which is a real treat that will make the sauce run down your hands… and we’re sure it will also be a favorite with the little ones.
We tried it again and loved it… and we recommend it!
At the table with Chef Bruno Marcelino, we talked about a bit of everything, including the Chef’s homemade creations, inspired by traditional Italian recipes. All because some products arrive in Portugal very expensively and it would be a shame not to be able to offer them to his customers. So get to work (in this case with the sausages) and get producing.
We also talked about the focaccias that have the most fans: the first two on the list above, the Louca and the Doida , closely followed by the house novelties, especially the meatball one .
The Louca costs €9.50 and includes pancetta, gorgonzola cream, confit onion, pistachio; the Doida, at €12, is the most expensive, but it’s also the one that will take you to heaven, with speck, truffle cream, mushrooms, burrata, truffle oil.
Before tasting them (again), we also tried the cheese and sausage board, which also has a fitting name: Tábua Alucinada . It serves two (16€) or four people (22€) and includes focaccia, prosciutto crudo, pancetta, speck, Italian mortadella, ventricina, salami napoli, coppa, taleggio, gorgonzola cream and parmigiano cream in generous portions so that you won’t be hungry for the next two or three hours.
To finish on a high note, the desserts. They’ve gone from three to five, and they’re unique: an Arroz Doce (3€) like we’ve never tasted before; a Seia Cream Cheese Cheesecake with Pumpkin Jam (4€) that even those who don’t like cheesecake will love; a Chocolate Mousse (3€) that, as the owners say, never fails to deliver; and the new Tiramisù (5€) and Sicilian Cannoli (5.50€), which have added even more Italy to this friendly restaurant.
We need more places dedicated to focaccias like Focacceria BM in Lisbon. Now we just hope that the business grows and that it can open in more areas of Lisbon. I don’t know what you’d do with your diet!
Address: Rua Dom Lourenço de Almeida 3A (Belém)
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, from 12pm to 10pm
Reservations and menu: on the website
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