Old(ish)-timers will have seen the metamorphosis in 2005 that transformed no-frills-bar Café Gardênia into simply Gardênia. After a big refurbishment, under the new ownership of Carlos Moraes, Gardênia has emerged as *the* restaurant in São Paulo in which to eat mouth-wateringly good lamb, which is raised on their own farm.

With over seven lamb options on the menu, choosing is the hard part. Try the rack of lamb with mint pesto or the tender paleta de cordeiro – shoulder of lamb – marinated in white wine, garlic and rosemary and served either individually or as the whole shoulder for sharing. A seat out the front affords a lush view of the towering trees clumped together on Praça das Omaguás.

Gardênia spread its wings in 2009 opening a second branch in Jardins ( Alameda Gabriel Monteiro da Silva 726, Jardim Paulistano (3088 3044) .