A first-generation American born to Portuguese immigrants, Chef George Mendes graduated from the Culinary Institute of America and worked for his mentor, David Bouley, at the chef’s original namesake restaurant before honing his talent further at Alain Passard’s Arpegein Paris. After more than three years as Chef de Cuisine at Tocqueville, Mendes left to chart his own course by opening, Aldea, to critical acclaim and a Michelin star, which he maintained for more than a decade. Mendes opened his popular Portuguese spot, Lupulo, in 2015 and Veranda in 2021. Mendes was named a 2011 Food & Wine Best New Chef and published his first cookbook, My Portugal: Recipes & Stories (Abrams) in 2014.

George Mendes has dedicated his illustrious career to giving reverence to the cuisine of his heritage, and Amar at Raffles Boston is the latest chapter of this lifelong effort. Amar offers a seafood-forward menu, bringing together Portuguese culinary traditions with local flavors sourced from the purveyors of New England, and select fish and red carabinero shrimp imported from Portugal. Bringing modern Portuguese fare of the highest caliber to Boston is George’s way of returning to his New England roots while leaning into the established landscape of champions of Portuguese cuisine that have been in Boston and its surrounding communities for generations.

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