Surprisingly good food, but not functioning aircon and website, making it hard to book here: Restaurant Contrastes by Diego Ferreira (27. July 2024)

Booking a table here is a bit of a challenge – I tried calling and no one picked up. I tried booking online, but it seems like their website doesn’t work. So, frankly, if it wasn’t one of the few Guide Michelin options around Sitges, I would not have bothered. Given it was, I decided to give it a try. Personally, I think they do themselves no favour with not fixing their website. On top of that, all the food you see online when you google them does not fit what they are able to offer, which is a bit of a pity.

In any case, upon arrival, it was clear that it was going to be a hot evening, because the aircon had broken, which was not an optimal start. In any case, it was clear that the “Menú Degustación” (EUR 87.50) was the preferred choice, and it started with a “beetroot meringue”, which was actually a great start to the tasting menu.

Next in line were oysters, which – I do admit – I didn’t eat because I totally did not feel like it, given it was just too warm in the restaurant.

Then, it was time for “potato mousse”, which was nice and truly somewhat a bit of “comfort food” to get into the actual menu.

Next in line was were “shrimp on a chicken skin cracker” and while the chicken skin cracker was nice in flavour and also rather intense and the body of the shrimp was nice, the head was actually lacking a bit of intensity and flavour I would have loved.

Next was a “salmon tartare with whipped cream and truffle served on a cracker”, and while I personally almost found the portion too big, it was actually quite nice in terms of flavour profile, although, I really wouldn’t have mind if the portion was smaller.

The “mini burger with pork belly” was good, but too small. And due to its size, the bread-pork belly ration was a bit off, unfortunately.

The next course was – a bit random – “bread with butter and olive oil”., which was absolutely good, but I found the timing of when the bread was served rather arbitrary.

Apparently, they are doing quite well at preparing tartare, since the “beef tartare” was, as for lunch, excellent. Nicely cut, intense in flavour without having an overpowering element, and really just well-balanced beef tartare.

The pulpo actually turned out to be surprisingly good, too. Often, pulpo is too chewy and, hence, not really enjoyable. In this case, it was quite the opposite. The combination of the superbly tender pulpo in combination with the crumbles and the potato mousse was nice, although, personally, I would have preferred if the side dish element was not the same as the amuse bouche in the egg – just in terms of experiencing variety in flavours and textures.

The next course, and the main course, was “pigeon with a reduced sauce and pimientos de padrón”. The bird was a bit too red for me, which was somewhat not to my liking. But the pimientos as well as the sauce were delicious. The pigeon didn’t entirely work for me, though.

For dessert, they decided to go with something simple like a flan with a bit of white chocolate crumbles and berries. I mean, it was good, but it also nothing mind-blowing.

The last course of the evening was a combination between “ice cream and some foam”, which was served when I was washing my hands, so, I didn’t entirely figure what kind of dish this exactly was. In any case, it was rather nice.

The final set of ‘petit fours’ was nice as well – a bit too yellow, optically speaking, but good.

So, all in all, I’m a bit torn what to think about the Contrastes. The place is lovely in terms of interior design, but it would definitely have been much lovelier if it wasn’t so damn hot due to the broken aircon.

The staff was a bit slow in the very beginning, but then they stepped up their game, and they were actually rather friendly and professional, which I enjoyed. So, to sum it up, the place is quite okay, but it could have been better (especially from a heat perspective), which also led to a bit of a smell in the air, which wasn’t entirely pleasant, the food is actually surprisingly good even if the pigeon as a main course wasn’t entirely to my liking. I hope Contrastes by Diego Ferreira change their website and aircon fixed, then it might have a real shot.

Rating:

Atmosphere:
Service:
Dishes:
Price-Performance Ratio:
Overall Rating:

Contact Details:

Restaurant Contrastes by Diego Ferreira

Carrer de la Unió 44

08800 Vilanova i la Geltrú (E)

Tel.: +34 933 83 81 86

About the Author: Sven

I started the blog in October 2009, while living in Milan which I definitely consider to be one of the food capitals of the world. I was in touch with food since my early childhood (as my father is a former chef). Whenever I can, I travel the world to discover new places, to meet people but mostly to try local dishes and to find hidden gems! If you know a place worth going, please drop a line to: info@thediningexperience.org. Currently, I am a member of the following food-related associations: Chevalier @Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Zurich-Ville; Membre Gourmet Dégustateur @Ordre Mondial des Gourmets Dégustateurs [OMGD]; Gesellschafter @Goldener Fisch and Member @Slowfood Convivium Zurich City.