Dining

In Rio you can choose form 900 restaurants, and some out of these are also awarded for their first-class services and delicious cuisines.

Rio de Janeiro has a number of restaurants that range from classy, expensive and moderately priced eateries. In Rio you are bound to find establishments where you can look forward to great service, superb cuisine and wines. The cuisine ranges from typically Brazilian food, with its focus on seafood and vegetables to the international, churrascaria steakhouses and Asian and Pacific delicacies. The restaurants listed here are highly recommended, popular and making prior reservations are always recommended.

Feijoada is the national dish of Brazil and is prepared in homes as well in restaurants for Saturday lunch. It is prepared out of black beans, which are simmered with an assortment of dried, salted and smoked meats, often including the tail, ears and feet of the pig. This is served with white steamed rice, finely shredded kale, farofa, which is a manioc root meal, toasted with butter and sliced oranges. It is a time consuming, heavy lunch that usually renders you full and sleepy.

Seafood consists of shrimp and lobster, which are extremely tasty but quite expensive. However, fish is rather low-priced as compared to the other seafood.

Breakfast at hotels is usually served in the buffet style and referred to as "Brazilian breakfast" where you can feast on meat sandwiches, cheese, breads, yogurt and fruits of all kinds. Cereals are also a part of hotel breakfast. Eggs do not form a part of the breakfast and just incase you want that to be included you need to order for them separately.

You will notice that the Sidewalk café serves fresh and good food. For snacks and light eateries, the seating arrangement is usually done outside on the porch whereas complete meals are served inside the café. If you eat Pizza in Rio you will notice that the base is not of tomato sauce but rather an oil base, with thin crusts. If you are looking forward to experience something really different and tasty, you should order for a Frango Pasarinho, which is a delighful garlicky dish of deep fried bits of chicken.

If you haven't dined in a "churrascaria" way you probably haven't tried out the best thing. Dinning in a "rodeizio" style is considered to be an experience by itself. The tables are generally set with a variety of side dishes down the middle which may include potatoes, farofa, vegetables, and much more. You can choose from any type of meat, poultry and even fish is available at times. Some of the recent churrascarias have a salad and vegetable bar instead of side dishes on the table. Rodeizio style provides you with a feast at one set price, which often includes house wine or beer.

A. Top Restaurants

Aipo & Aipim

Eclectic, R$15 to R$45, Copacabana

Address: Nossa Senhora de Copacabana

391, Loja B, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Phone: 021/2255-6285

You can order for more than 20 salads and hot dishes at this self-serve eatery with live music. After you are through with the hot-dish and salad buffet, you can fill your plate with some grill and pick steaks, chicken, and pork cuts.

Carême

Tel: (21) 2226 0085 or 2537 2274

Address: Rua Visconde de Caravelas 113, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Phone: 021/2537-2274

French, Over R$60, Botafogo

Price: R$100. Wine: R$32.

This is a small restaurant and is decorated with mirrored walls, chequered floor. The service is up to the mark; the ambience is blended to perfection that is refined without being too stuffy and thus, makes this a perfect place for romantic couples. The main menu includes grilled duck breast on puréed potato with caramelized spring onions in a jus de cassis. Reservations are necessary and the dressing should be smart. Tourists should keep in mind that no lunch is served here and it is closed on Sundays and Mondays.

Antiquarius

Address: Rua Aristides Espínola 19,

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Tel: (21) 2294 1049/1496. Fax: (21) 2512 5756.

E-mail: informacoes@antiquarius.com.br

Website: www.antiquarius.com.br

Price: R$140. Wine: R$50.

Portuguese, R$45 to Over R$60, Leblon

In this restaurant, the most favored dish is the cozido, a stew with onions, yams, carrots, pumpkin, cabbage, bananas, and more. The cataplana, a seafood stew with rice, is also wonderful, and the perna de cordeiro (leg of lamb) is the highlight of the menu. The wine list makes an impression even on the Portuguese gourmands.

Celeiro

Vegetarian, R$30 to R$45, Leblon

Address: Rua Dias Ferreira 199,

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Phone: 021/2274-7843

This is one of the few organic restaurants in Rio that is always crowded. There are approximately 20 salads on the buffet, as well as a wide selection of pastas

It does not serve dinner and remains closed on Sundays.

Confeitaria Colombo

Cafes, Under R$15, Centro

Address: Rua Gonçalves Dias 32,

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Phone: 021/2232-2300

www.confeitariacolombo.com.br

Meals offered here are buffet-style, with classic Brazilian dishes. The best way to absorb the opulence is as Rio's high society did a century ago: with chá da tarde, or afternoon tea (R$32). But you can also just stop by for a pastry and coffee. It is closed on Sundays and do not serve dinner.

Other recommended restaurants include:

Marius is an ideal place to dine where they serve more than 30 different grilled meat dishes. It also houses an outstanding salad bar with rich, tasty vegetable combinations and you would also find a good selection of fish.

Just close to it is Crustáceos, a seafood palace that is forever crowded and hence, reservations are a must.

Porcão is famous for the different cuts of beef, pork, mutton and chicken served on spits, directly at your table, at this barbecue restaurant popular because of the frequent visits by most of the celebrities.