Restaurants in Rio De Janeiro
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Zazá Bistro Tropical
Inside an art-filled and whimsically decorated converted house, Zazá serves satisfying dishes with Eastern accents, and uses organic ingredients when possible. Two favorites: curry chicken with coconut milk and basmati rice; and semi-raw tuna with vegetables, grilled shrimp and passion fruit sauce. Upstairs, diners lounge on throw pillows, while candles glow along the walls. You can also sit at one of the tables on the front.
reviewed
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B
Cafecito
A few steps above street level, this open-air café attracts a mix of foreigners and neighborhood regulars (the Argentine owner is a longtime Santa Teresa resident). You'll find imported beers, desserts, cocktails (caiprinhas and mojitos), tapas plates and gourmet sandwiches (with ingredients like smoked trout, artichoke hearts and prosciutto).
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C
Porcão Rio’s
Set in the Parque do Flamengo with a stunning view of Pão de Açúcar, Porcão Rio’s is consistently ranked by restaurant critics as the city’s best churrascaria. Whether you believe the hype – or simply come for the view – you’re in for an eating extravaganza. Arrive early, both to score a good table and to see the view before sunset.
reviewed
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D
Carretão
It's all about the meat at this decent but inexpensive churrascaria. With several branches throughout the city, including an Ipanema Carretão, this popular chain serves up consistently good cuts – and heaps of them. There's a small salad bar, and you can order sides from the menu at no added charge.
reviewed
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E
Amir
Step inside Amir and you'll enter a world of delicate aromas and handsomely dressed waiters in embroidered vests. Daytime crowds come for the buffet (R$33 on weekdays, R$45 weekends), while at night the a la carte menu features all the favorites, including delicious platters of hummus, kaftas (spiced meat patty), falafel, kibbe and salads. There's a belly dancer Friday nights (at 9:30pm), while other nights you can smoke from a hookah if you snag a balcony seat.
reviewed
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Yalla
One of the few non-fancy options on this culinary street, Yalla is a small, quick-serving restaurant where you can pick up fresh tabouli or couscous salads, sandwiches on lavash bread (Shawarma, falafel, shish kebab) or pasties filled with ricotta, beef or spinach. Don't miss baklava for dessert.
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G
Nam Thai
Thai cuisine is a rarity in Rio, which makes charming Nam Thai even more of a star. The French colonial interior is a cozy setting for the eclectic Thai cooking. Favorites are the squid salad and spicy shrimp curry with pineapple. No less intoxicating are Nam Thai's tropical drinks, such as the caipivodca de lychee (lychee vodka caipirinha).
reviewed
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Zuka
One of Rio's best restaurants, Zuka prepares delectable mouthwatering cuisine – zingy ceviche or the confection-like delicacy of Zuka's original foie gras to start, followed by rack of lamb with passion fruit, grilled fish of the day with mandoquinha (a kind of sweet root vegetable) purée, seared tuna over heart-of-palm tagliatelle and many other imaginative dishes. All the grilling action happens at the open kitchen to the right (you can sit at the counter and watch the chefs in action), and the cocktails (particularly the lychee saketinis) and desserts are excellent.
reviewed
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Artigiano
Overlooking the Jardim de Alah, Artigiano is set in a picturesque villa with more than a hint of the old-world about it. Here, you will find an older, well-dressed crowd enjoying classic Italian fare, including some 20 superb varieties of handmade pasta amid the oil paintings and antique furnishings.
reviewed
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J
Fellini
One of Leblon's top buffet restaurants, Fellini has an enticing selection of dishes: salads, pastas, grilled fish and shrimp, a sushi counter and the hallowed roast-meat counter. The modest dining room attracts a mix of hungry patrons – tourists, neighborhood folk and the beautiful crowd included.
reviewed
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Sushi Leblon
Leblon's top sushi destination boasts a Zenlike ambience with a handsome dark-wood sushi counter setting the stage for succulent cuisine. In addition to sashimi and sushi, you'll find grilled namorado (a type of perch) with passion fruit farofa, sea-urchin ceviche and refreshing sake to complement the meal.
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Benkei
This casual Japanese restaurant is a favorite haunt for after-the-beach meals on weekends. Benkei does have a menu, though nearly everyone here comes for the all-you-can-eat sushi buffet, with a wide variety of rolls and sashimi, plus miso soup. You can dine on the small front patio or in the cooler, dining room inside.
reviewed
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Casa da Feijoada
Admirers of Brazil's iconic feijoada (black beans and pork stew) needn't wait until Saturday to experience the meaty meal. The casual Casa da Feijoada serves the rich black-bean and salted-pork dish every day of the week. It comes with the requisite orange slices, farofa and grated kale (cabbage), and goes nicely with a caipirinha.
reviewed
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Azumi
Some claim Azumi is the bastion of traditional Japanese cuisine in the city. This laid-back sushi bar certainly has its fans – both in the Nisei community and from abroad. Azumi's sushiman (sushi chef) masterfully prepares delectable sushi and sashimi, though tempuras and soups are also excellent. Be sure to ask what's in season.
reviewed
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O
Brasileirinho
Facing Praça General Osório, this rustically decorated restaurant serves good, traditional Mineiro cuisine. Favorites include tutu a mineira (mashed black beans with manioc), carne seca and picanha (rump steak). The feijoada (black bean and pork) here is tops – not surprising given that Brasileirinho is run by the same owner as the nearby Casa da Feijoada.
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Universo Orgânico
In the back of a small shopping center, Universo Orgânico whips up delicious fruit and veggie shakes – like the carrot, ginger, apple and linseed combo – best enjoyed with a veggie burger or savory non-meat salgados. The small grocery store sells organic goodies.
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Sobrenatural
The exposed brick and old hardwood ceiling set the stage for feasting on the frutas do mar (seafood). Lines gather on weekends for crabmeat appetizers, fresh grilled fish and flavorful platters of moqueca. During the week, stop by for tasty lunchtime specials. There's live music Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights.
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La Trattoria
Old photos, simple furnishings, hearty dishes and the constant din of conversation have made this trattoria a neighborhood favorite since 1976. Shrimp dishes are the Italian family's specialty – they've won over many diners with their espaguete com camarão e óleo tartufado (spaghetti with shrimp and truffle oil).
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Confeitaria Colombo
Far removed from the hustle and bustle of Av Atlântica, this handsome café offers truly magnificent views of Copacabana Beach. At the outdoor tables, you can sit beneath shady palm trees, enjoying cappuccino, salads, quiche or crepes as young soldiers from the fort file past. To get here, you'll have to pay admission (R$2) to the Forte de Copacabana (Copacabana fort), but it's worth the price. In Centro there's also a Confeitaria Colombo that is worth a visit.
reviewed
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Nanquim
Hidden inside the Instituto dos Arquitetos on a quiet street, this inviting restaurant has a small but excellent self-service lunchtime buffet. Pastas, seafood, risotto, quiches, vegetarian dishes and salads are among the options. The 19th-century building is a mix of rustic and modern, with designs and sketches by Oscar Niemeyer adorning the walls. A second branch in Jardim Botânico offers the same mix of contemporary design and good food.
reviewed
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Barreado
In a lush setting west of Barra, this rustic spot serves fresh Brazilian seafood with a wildly eclectic twist. Meals are prepared in the wood-burning oven, and pumpkin is the serving vehicle of choice. You can order it filled with rich delicacies such as shrimp with catupiry (a kind of cheese), scampi, or lobster and mango. Vatapá and roast meats are also excellent choices. It's located about 35km west of Rio.
reviewed
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Kurt
Entering a true patisserie should delight all of your senses, and Kurt does just that. The flaky strudels and palm-sized tortes with strawberries and kiwifruit lie illuminated behind the glass counter. The smell of cappuccino hangs in the air as classical music plays overhead. A few round tables then set the stage for the most rewarding sensory experience: tasting these delicate cakes and pastries.
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Santa Arte
Near the heart of Santa Teresa, this colonial charmer is the setting for tasty and inventive contemporary cuisine. World music plays overhead as diners enjoy grilled eggplant sandwiches, seafood pasta and, the most popular dish, a poppy-seed crusted salmon served on mashed plantains. At night, the place is at its liveliest, with occasional live music and a fair bit of pedestrian traffic outside.
reviewed
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Gourmet Praia
In a converted villa facing the beach, Gourmet Praia spreads a tasty lunch buffet of market-fresh salads and antipasti, plus a daily special (not cheap at R$65 per person). At dinner the a la carte menu includes tilapia filet with heart of palm and pine nuts, risottos and grilled dishes. The dining room overlooks an open kitchen and leads back into a hidden garden, a charming setting for a meal.
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Cipriani
On a candlelit patio beside the Palace’s pool, Cipriani serves fine northern Italian cuisine to a well-dressed, largely non-Brazilian crowd. Signature dishes such as the gnocchi, the sirloin with port sauce, and the smoked scallops all meet their mark. For dessert, tiramisu and chocolate mousse are both good options. The dress code is once again in force, so leave your Havaianas at home.
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