A Michelin-starred chef who leads the culinary team at Da Lorenzo – Al Giardino Segreto, known for blending Italian traditions with Japanese influences.
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Highlights
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An interesting night in an eclectic setting juxtaposed against the hotel surrounding the restaurant.
Food was outstanding and showcased local ingredients and further afield wonderfully.l (including Scottish langoustines so automatically gold star awarded). Every course beautifully and methodically prepared and presented in a way to highlight each.
Wine pairing matched well and not overwhelming.
Wonderful service. The staff friendly and attentive. The ability to watch them in the kitchen and see a team in action prepare timed dishes is interesting.
Overall a cool, calm setting where a team that knows what is expected and is delivering.
What I especially loved—and what I found truly unique—about Amelia is that Chef Paulo has created far more than a meal; he has created an experience. The food is excellent, as one would expect, but what elevates the evening into something exceptional are the visual and theatrical elements that make every moment memorable.
If possible, I highly recommend that couples and solo diners request seats at the bar. In my opinion, they are the best seats in the house. Sitting there places you right at the center of the action, with a front-row view of the kitchen where the magic happens. Watching the team work in perfect synchronization is immersive, captivating, and unlike almost any dining experience I've had. It will undoubtedly rank among my all-time favorite restaurant memories.
I enjoyed what was essentially an eight-course tasting menu, although there were so many additional snacks and surprises along the way that it felt far more substantial. I skipped the Wagyu upgrade, declined the pigeon substitution, and—somewhat regrettably—passed on the bread course, which looked fantastic. With a glass of wine alongside the meal, I left perfectly satisfied: full, but never uncomfortably stuffed, which is exactly how I like to finish a tasting menu.
Remarkably, this was only the restaurant's second week in its new location, yet the operation already ran like a well-oiled machine. I didn't notice a single hiccup throughout the evening. It was also wonderful to see Chef Paulo personally at the helm. He's apparently a huge sci-fi fan (Star Wars or Star Trek—I can't quite remember), and watching the precision and choreography of the kitchen felt a bit like observing a carefully executed flight plan in action.
Even more impressive, the restaurant was completely full that evening, yet the service never missed a beat. Amelia delivers not only outstanding food, but also one of the most engaging, immersive, and memorable dining experiences I've had in years. Highly recommended.
3
The Amelia team was friendly and welcoming. The restaurant has a cool vibe and I enjoyed the open kitchen and how many of the dishes were plated. Highlights were the langoustine, lobster and pasta course.
I do have a couple areas for potential improvement and one area of concern.
1. The dishes to me seem out of order causing a feeling of being anti-climactic. Having the final savoury dish be the pasta course and not the meat was unexpected and it made me think another savoury course was coming when there was none. This issue was found again in the wine pairings with a sweet cider followed by a champagne; the wines worked with the courses but in both cases it was anti-climactic. It had the meal feeling like it ended not with a bang but a whimper.
2. I think for the price point the menu needs one more savoury course. The wagyu was offered at an additional cost of 75€ when technically it is likely closer to a cost of 140€ because it was replacing a course already on the menu. I think more guests would consider if the course was offered “in addition to” instead of “in replacement of”.
My major area of concern.
It was communicated to the guests that we were to inform the team if had to leave the table to use the restroom as it could impact the food plating. I find this questionable to start. I was then shocked when I heard a diner inform someone from the team they were going to use the restroom and were told they couldn’t and had to wait! We are not children at an elementary school …. we are customers paying for a high end luxury dining experience. The guest seemed to not be offended by I was offended for them. I strongly urge the team to figure out a better policy. Invest in some cloches or warming trays, or if required create dishes that can survive a 4 minute delay.
I think Amelia is very good, and has the potential to be great, and because of this I felt it was important for me to share my experience both positive and where there is room to improve.
5
While visiting San Sebastian, I ate dinner at several Michelin-starred restaurants. All were amazing but this one blew me away. The food is incredible, the service absolutely impeccable, and the ambience (a sort of anti-authoritarian / rebel vibe) was fabulous. In this gastronomic mecca of a city, this was my favorite dining experience. Truly exceptional.
5
We were only able to book a lunch table, unfortunately not dinner, but we were absolutely happy with the experience. The entire journey lasted over three hours and felt truly special.
The open kitchen added to the magic — the chefs worked like a perfectly synchronized orchestra. It was a true symphony of culinary art. Every dish was phenomenal and memorable, and the wine pairing was outstanding.
We sincerely hope to return again one day.
