Our Origins
When owner Carlos Silva arrived to Miami from his native Portugal in the 1990s, he was so excited to see a Portuguese restaurant preparing for their grand opening that he eagerly knocked on the door and was greeted by the owner. He obliged his fellow countryman with a preview of the menu – a perfectly cooked grilled bacalhao (codfish) with vinho verde. At the end of the meal, Carlos gratefully handed over a twenty-dollar bill and thus became the very first customer of Old Lisbon Restaurant.
A few years after that fateful visit, Carlos became the owner of Old Lisbon and with his vision and hard work, turned this once humble restaurant into an iconic Portuguese fine dining restaurant chain with three locations.
Our Founder
Carlos Silva
Under Carlos’ leadership, Old Lisbon Restaurants are renowned for its distinctive and celebrated Portuguese culture throughout South Florida. Carlos made it his mission to give South Florida a true Portuguese gastronomic experience and has done so fore more than 30 years!
He is also the founder of the Restaurant Owners Club that provides the members with a modern business platform designed to thrive in the industry. Carlos brings his lifetime of experience and passion, delivering insights unavailable from any other source. In all his endeavors, he encourages current and future leaders to adopt a long-term perspective in order to build sustainable food service operations and to place as much value on hospitality as they do on business.
Our Executive Chef
Carlos Abreu
They say the eternal companion of the Portuguese is the Atlantic Ocean, but more so if a Portuguese is born in a village facing the sea. Carlos Abreu grew up in the former fishing village of Ericeira, where the waves break so strong and where seafood remains king.
From very young he went to Lisbon to work as a chef in the house of fado in Barrio Alto, in the restaurant Faia, where he cooked for nearly a decade for lovers of fado, traditional Portuguese music known for its melancholic and nostalgic notes. The fado brings a connection closer to the sea. With an adventurous spirit at heart, Miami gave Chef Carlos the opportunity to experience another culture and create his new beginning.
