Fermata Kitchen

This new restaurant in town is run by Chef Olivier Palazzo, originally from the Ivory Coast, trained in Paris, and most recently based in NYC before Santa Teresa. My favorite dish was the burrata, a rare find in this small, remote town, layered with sweet strawberries and cherry tomatoes, balanced beautifully by pesto and a bright lemon vinaigrette. The lamb was also exquisite: tender, falling off the bone, served with couscous, and elevated by a rich date purée underneath. You’ll pay a bit more, but the setting is impeccably designed, the music (curated by the chef himself, funky house) adds to the vibe, and the service is delightful. The servers happily offered recommendations, and they did not disappoint with the matcha crepe cake for dessert: delicate layers of crepe with mascarpone, dusted in matcha powder. Light and not too sweet, it was the perfect ending to a satisfying meal.

My wife and I visited Fermata Kitchen for breakfast and were so blown away that we came back for dinner the same night… and then booked another reservation while we were there. As people in the restaurant industry, we don’t say this lightly,dinner at Fermata Kitchen was the best dining experience we have had. Every detail was intentional. The service was top tier, with Santiago and the entire serving crew delivering genuine, professional, and perfectly timed hospitality. The host and maître d’ set the tone from the moment we walked in, and later on having the chance to meet the chef himself, the mastermind behind the plates, made the experience even more special. The food, service, and overall execution are on a completely different level. You can feel the pride, the teamwork, and the vision in everything they do. For the past couple of years visiting Santa Teresa, we watched this place being built and wondered what it would become. Needless to say, it exceeded every expectation. Fermata Kitchen is now at the top of our list, and we already know where we’ll be staying and eating when we return next year, hopefully sooner. If you are visiting Santa Teresa, it would be foolish not to visit Fermata Kitchen.

Wow experience, menu, food, and the setting. Fantastic restaurant ♥️