Zazá Bistro Tropical and other Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Restaurant Reviews

Restaurant Name: Zazá Bistro Tropical

This food is described as a contemporary combination of Asian, European, and Latin-American influences.

Favorite Dish: This is my favorite restaurant. I like to sit outside. My favorite menu item is the special on Thursday. It includes salad, steak, potatoes, and dessert (I got pistachio ice cream) for only 12R. I remember looking at the menu and thinking that the other daily specials on the other days sound good too. Their menu has Portuguese on one side and English on the other.

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Theme: Other

Phone: 2247-9101
Address: Ipanema. Rua Joana Angélica, 40. 2247-9101
Directions: Ipanema

Guapo Loco - Mexican Restaurant and Bar

Favorite Dish: I only tried the chips and queso, but other people's food looked good. If you are like me and are addicted to Tex-Mex food....this is the place to go. It also looks like a cool hangout place late at night.

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Theme: Other

Directions: Fun Bar Rua Rainha Guilhermina, 48 - Leblon Rio de Janeiro,
Tel. (21) 2294-2915
Other Contact: http://www.guapoloco.com.br/

Restaurant Name: Confeitaria Colombo Restaurant

This is my favorite restaurant in Rio, especially for the atmosphere and also the good food. The picture does not do it justice.

Built in 1894 and renovated in 1912 this landmark building has preserved the charm of Old Rio with its huge Belgian crystal mirrors, straw chairs and wood engravings. Go to the lunch buffet upstairs on weekdays, the food is excellent! Even if you don't eat here, you can stop downstairs for coffee...you have to see this place (it's a city landmark)!

CLOSED on WEEKENDS!!!!

Favorite Dish: It's a buffet. My favorite was the desserts!!

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Theme: Buffet
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Website: http://www.confeitariacolombo.com.br/

Restaurant Name: La Sagrada Familia Restaurante

This restaurant is only open for lunch on weekdays. It gets really crowded here, so you may want to go for an early lunch or make reservations. This is a modern restaurant

Favorite Dish: You must order the special of the day. You will get a free decorative plate..it's beautiful! The day I went the special was delicious, it was chicken breast with rice and the creamy sauce was yummy! I think the name of my dish was "La Bricolina", because that's what was also written on the plate!

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Theme: Eclectic/International
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: (0xx21) 2252-2240
Address: Rua do Rosário, 98 sobrado - Centro
Directions: downtown Rio
Website: http://www.lasagradafamilia.com.br/rio.htm
Other Contact: lasagrada@nitnet.com.br

Restaurant Name: Porcão Rio's - the biggest location

Everyone who comes to Brazil has to go to this chain Brazilian Steakhouse. It's not cheap (39,50 Reais per person), but the food is all-you-can eat. They bring the meat to you on their big skewers carve it onto your plate. They also have a salad bar, with different things on it. Accept no substitutes, don't waste your time eating at another steakhouse just because it's less expensive.

Open Daily 11 am - until the last person leaves. This chain has several locations, but I like this one the best because it has such nice scenery.

Favorite Dish: APPETIZERS:
-Pao De Queijo (Pow-Gee-Cage-O)
Brazilian cheese bread.
-Banana Frita (Bah-Nah-Nah Free-Tah)
Cinnamon-glazed bananas.

MEAT:
-Picanha (Pea-Con-Yah) - Top sirloin cut very lean and juicy with a mild and sophisticated flavor. This cut is best served in thin slices cooked to a golden brown on the outside and medium rare on the underside.
-Linguiça (Ling-We-Sah) - Brazilian sausage: a very mild and flavorful sausage.

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Theme: Steakhouse
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: (0 xx 21) 3461-9020
Address: Av. Infante Dom Henrique s/n
Directions: Aterro do Flamengo
Website: http://www.porcao.com.br/institucional/menu.htm

Restaurant Name: Caesar Park Hotel

On Saturdays it is tradition for locals to eat feijoada (fay-show-ah-dah), which is a soup of black beans and pork. I like the plain one, without all the pork parts in it! Caesar Park has a buffet, with live music and wonderful views of the beach.


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Theme: Local
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: 55 21 25 25 25 25
Address: Avenida Vieira Souto 460, Ipanema
Directions: Río de Janeiro, 22420-000