Restaurants in Rio De Janeiro
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Ernesto
With high ceilings and exposed brick walls, there's an old-time feel to this restaurant and drinking spot just a short stroll from the samba clubs in Lapa. Ernesto has an extensive menu, though its grilled meats, codfish dishes and German-inspired plates (white sausage with lentils) are standouts. There's live music – MPB or samba – on Wednesday (from 8pm; R$8) and Saturday (from 9:30pm; R$15).
reviewed
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Antiquarius
Serving without a doubt the city’s best Portuguese cuisine, Antiquarius is a rewarding but pricey spot to celebrate old-world cuisine with an antique-filled dining room, top-notch service and lovingly prepared dishes. Some particular recommendations include the leg of lamb, the wild boar in red-wine sauce and the Portuguese favorite bacalhau (cod), elevated here to the sublime.
reviewed
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Mio
A mix of locals and turistas gather at this longtime Ipanema favorite for tasty traditional Italian dishes and excellent grilled seafood. A huge aquarium dominates the main dining room – though diners in the front patio will have their own glassed-in experience. There’s also an impressive wine cellar (containing 700 vintages) and a humidor stocked with cigars.
reviewed
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Galeria 1618
Opened by two French expats in 2006, the art-filled Galeria 1618 offers a beautifully prepared daily special (R$70 for two), such as boeuf bourguingnon, Toulouse-style cassoulet or Tunisian lamb couscous. You can also opt for freshly made pastas, risottos and grilled fish or meat dishes, plus a dozen varieties of crepes. There's live music Friday and Saturday nights (R$15 cover).
reviewed
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Pontinho
Tucked away on a peaceful corner of Copacabana, Pontinho is a traditional open-sided boteco (small neighborhood bar) serving sizzling platters of picanha (thin cut of rump steak), grilled chicken, omelets and other satisfying dishes to a neighborhood crowd. On your way to this untouristy spot, be sure to take a stroll past the leafy Praça Edmundo Bittencourt.
reviewed
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Shirley
The aroma of succulent paella hangs in the air as waiters hurry to and from the kitchen, bearing platefuls of fresh seafood. Shirley, opened in 1954, is one of the few Spanish restaurants in town, and attracts a local following in its small Leme dining room. In addition to paella, the mussel-vinaigrette appetizer and the oven-baked snapper in white wine sauce are also recommended.
reviewed
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Marius Carnes
In addition to the breathtaking array of delicious roast meats carried from table to table, this Leme churrascaria (all-you-can-eat barbecued-meat restaurant) features a lavish buffet table. Oysters in the half shell, sushi, grilled vegetables with herbs; it all seems almost too lovely to eat. Next door is Marius Crustáceas, the restaurant's seafood equivalent.
reviewed
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Don Camillo
One of the few decent restaurants on the Copa strip, this handsomely appointed Italian restaurant has flavorful pastas and lasagnas, as well as some excellent seafood dishes. Antique tile floors, distressed wood beams and black-and-white photos make a nice setting to add to your dining pleasure. For pure decadence, try the linguini with lobster, shrimp and cherry tomatoes.
reviewed
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Amazônia Soul
This tiny new café doles out small plates of caranguejo (crab meat), vatapá (a puree of manioc, dried shrimp, coconut and dendê oil) and tacacá a complicated soup made of tapioca, shrimp and manioc root. You can also sample juices and ice creams made from Amazonian fruits. The small shop inside sells handicrafts and edible items from the Amazon.
reviewed
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Galeto do Leblon
One of the pioneers on this street, Galeto do Leblon has been around for over 35 years. Although a recent renovation has created an airy, modern feel, with floor-to-ceiling glass windows, Galeto still serves the traditional Brazilian dishes that have made it such a neighborhood favorite over the years. On Saturday, stop in for excellent feijoada (R$46 for two).
reviewed
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Fratelli
On a quiet street in Leblon, Fratelli’s large glass windows frame families and young couples enjoying a fine neighborhood restaurant. It’s the food, however, that ought to be on display: creamy linguini with langosta (lobster), polenta with porcini and Brie and plump tortellini all pair nicely with Fratelli’s decent wine selection.
reviewed
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Hideaway
Aptly named, Hideaway is secreted inside a converted 19th-century house. The all-glass ceiling (with lush greenery framing the outside) and minimalist design give a contemporary polish to the place. The pizzas, made inside a wood-burning oven, are decent, and the small lounge adjoining the restaurant hosts live jazz and Música Popular Brasileira (MPB) groups.
reviewed
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Carlota
This award-winning restaurant has an intimate ambience that sits just right with the delicate cuisine. The small but ever-changing menu features elements from traditional Portuguese cooking (like the cod recipes) as well as Eastern influences (salmon sashimi, shiitake dishes). Regardless, inventive chef Carla Pernambuco always creates some memorable meals.
reviewed
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Azul Marinho
Below the Arpoador Inn, Azul Marinho serves an assortment of tasty seafood dishes, and the outdoor tables facing the ocean have the best beachside setting you'll find in the Zona Sul (there's no traffic between you and the sea, only sand). Try one of the moquecas (seafood stew), the octopus vinaigrette salad or the famous whole fish baked in salt.
reviewed
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Capricciosa
Inside this trendy high-end pizzeria, you’ll find tasty thin-crust pizzas made with fresh ingredients. The price is high, but the chefs – working in an open kitchen next to the brick oven – are at least generous with the toppings. Among many flavorful combinations is the signature capricciosa (ham, bacon, an egg, artichoke hearts and mushrooms).
reviewed
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Café Do Rodrigues
Inside the charming Centro branch of the Livraria da Travessa bookstore, Café do Rodrigues is a suitable setting for philosophical conversation when the world – or the humidity – has worn you down. Browse for books, then peruse your finds over a torta do palmito (heart-of-palm quiche), a hearty soup or a flavorful salad.
reviewed
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Eclipse
One of the only 24-hour restaurants in town, Eclipse is equal parts juice bar, pizzeria and traditional Brazilian restaurant, with outdoor seating, a stand-up counter and a sit-down air-conditioned restaurant for escaping the heat. It can be a great (and lively!) destination when hunger strikes in the madrugada (the wee hours of the night).
reviewed
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Térèze
Under the command of French chef Damien Montecer, Térèze provides a memorable dining experience. All the elements are there, from the inventive menu (char-grilled octopus with couscous salad, black risotto with seafood, macadamia-crusted veal tenderloin), to the suggested wine pairings and the superb views over the city. Even the design is green – tables and artwork are made from reclaimed lumber and recycled materials.
reviewed
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Blue Agave
A Tex-Mex place in Rio? A sure sign that times are a-changing, this is a small, well-placed bar and restaurant where you can get good California-style burritos, huge plates of nachos and steaming baked enchiladas. TVs over the bar show the latest football games or perhaps auto-racing on ESPN. Arrive early for a shaded table on the sidewalk.
reviewed
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Cantinho do Senado
This nondescript restaurant on antique row serves an excellent feijoada (R$31), which is enough to feed two. The chalkboard menu in front lists other daily specials, usually grilled plates of steak, trout, chicken or filet of salmon, You can dine in the casual open-sided bar on the ground floor or upstairs amid air-conditioning.
reviewed
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Plataforma
This well-known churrascaria still draws a garrulous mix of politicians, artists and tourists. Dark, mellow woods in the dining room match the tones of the roast meats traveling from table to table. Also in this complex is the Plataforma Show – the over-the-top touristy Carnaval spectacle (headdresses, sequins and lots of skin).
reviewed
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Tia Palmira
On weekends Cariocas feast on seafood at this simple open-air eatery overlooking the coast. A venerable destination for 40 years, Tia Palmira keeps its fans coming back for its exquisite seafood rodízio (all-you-can-eat barbecue dinner). Plate after plate of vatapá, crabmeat, grilled fish, shrimp pastries and other fruits of the sea come to your table until you can eat no more. It's located 40km west of Rio near the coast.
reviewed
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Taberna da Glória
On a small plaza in the heart of Glória, this large outdoor eatery serves decent Brazilian staples, and in abundance – most dishes here serve two. The feijoada on Friday and Saturday still draws crowds, and if you're not up for a big meal, appetizers and ice-cold chope are a good way to enjoy the open-air ambience.
reviewed
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Kilograma
A mix of young and old converge on this excellent lunch buffet during the day. There’s a vague art-modern glow to the place, giving it a splash of style – which is a rarity among a quilo (per kilo) self-serve restaurants. Kilograma features lots of fresh fruits and salads, good cheeses, roast meats and sushi.
reviewed
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Senac Bistrô
On the bottom floor of an old mansion built 100 or so years ago, Senac serves tasty plates of seared tuna, shrimp moqueca and other Brazilian specialties. In spite of the splendid exterior, the decor inside is a bit lacking. The chocolate cake, however, makes up for any ambience issues. It comes warm and oozing decadence.
reviewed