With its large, bright yellow terrace, it's hard to pass by Sapinho without seeing it. Hidden away on a small square on the Butte Montmartre, this Portuguese restaurant has been delighting local residents since it opened three years ago, driven by founder Rafael Dos Santos' desire to honor his Portuguese roots.
The name ("little toad" in Portuguese) is a tribute to his grandfather, who was given the nickname "sapo" in his native village of Parada, in the Bragança district. The decor, too, resembles that of a real traditional Portuguese tavern, in its own right but contemporary all the same, with azulejos on the walls, cobblestones on the floor and terracotta crockery on the tables.
From his origins - he comes from a family of farmers and winegrowers - Rafael also draws his love for beautiful and good products, from the sea and the land. A noble vision of cuisine that he shares with the establishment's chef, Rachel Fontanier, who imagines a family cuisine that respects the seasons and terroirs - knowledge acquired during her time on a permaculture farm in Portugal's Alentejo region.
While the organic vegetables are local and the fish comes from sustainable Portuguese fishing, the rest of the products are also perfectly sourced. And what could be better than to call on the family circle for the assurance of choice products? The artisanal cheeses are imported by one of Rafael's cousins, as are the sausages (Alheira made from bread, poultry, olive oil and garlic; and Butelo, a smoked bone sausage), from another first cousin.
At dinner (lunch and dinner on Saturdays only), Sapinho 's atmosphere is one of good cheer, as gangs of friends gather around a glass of fine wine. Wine is the second mainstay of this little 28-seat tavern, with some 50 Portuguese and Franco-Portuguese wines on the shelves. Cocktails, too, are tinged with flavors from the Land of Carnations, as with this Porto Tonic made with dry white port, tonic and a twist of lemon.
There's plenty to discover on the plate, like this dish of crumbled cod (23€), typical of Portugal, mixed with candied onions, olives and steamed potatoes with a flavor akin to rösti; or this diabolical white bean stew (22€) in the style of a cassoulet, with veal shank, roast pig and delicious Portuguese chorizo.
You won't want to miss the aerial cod fritters that come in threes to the table (9€), the Maison's best-seller since it opened, and one that won't be leaving the menu anytime soon. The sweet potato Madeira cake (8€) is another fine discovery, to end the meal on a rumy note.
In addition to a menu that changes with the seasons, Sapinho brings a bit of Portugal to Paris all year round, celebrating major Portuguese festivals such as the Festas dos Santos Populares in June - when sardines are grilled by the kilo, Sunday barbecues in September and the chestnut festival in November.
As for the owner's other address, L'Escalier, 2025 promises to be full of new developments, so stay tuned to find out what Rafael Dos Santos has in store for you!
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Location
Sapinho
85 Rue Lamarck
75018 Paris 18
Official website
www.sapinho.fr
Where to eat good pastéis de nata in Paris? Our good addresses
