The best restaurants Brazil

Timetable

Depending on the type of restaurant, opening times will vary. Some establishments will operate mainly between 11am and 3pm, serving buffets and food by the kilo. Others operate for lunch and dinner (generally from 11am to 3pm and 7pm to 11pm). More often than not, those offering buffet and kilo food at lunchtime only offer à la carte dishes in the evening. Brazilians often eat out with their families on Friday evenings or weekends. Waiting times can be a little long. For some establishments, reservations are strongly recommended.

Budget & Tips

Restaurant prices vary widely. You can eat a few salgados for a handful of reais, a PF(prato feito or prepared dish) for around 15 reais or break your piggy bank at Carla Pernambouco or Alex Atala, where the bill will happily exceed 100 euros per person. On the whole, you can eat well for around 100 reais. A mid-range kilo will cost 35 reais a kilo, as at Le Rancho in Mariana (Minas Gerais), or 75 reais in the interesting kilo restaurants of Copacabana in Rio.

What costs extra

The price generally includes all taxes. A tip is added, as waiters' wages are not very high. Between 5 and 10% can be considered a fair tip. You can be even more generous if you feel the service deserves it. When musicians are performing, many restaurants charge for a musical cutlery. This is often indicated at the entrance or on the menu. The price can be quite high.

The local way

Some dishes are advertised as being for one, two or even three people. It's a good idea to check the actual size of the dishes on the plates of the guests around you, as some plates for one person are more than enough for two, or even three...

Churrascarias are typical restaurants serving all-you-can-eat meat. To be served by the waiters, you have to turn the little disc on the table to the green position.

In many Brazilian restaurants, whether in the Nordeste or the Sudeste, traditional feijão (kidney beans), farofa (cassava flour) and rice are systematically served as side dishes. Often derived from African, Indian and "cabocla" culinary traditions, these staples provided the calories needed for the hard days of work in the fields.

Last but not least, there are"ao kilo" restaurants everywhere. You weigh what you take in the self-service restaurant, whether it's a boui-boui or a refined restaurant serving lobster... The price will vary, of course.

To be avoided

In some boui-bouis, avoid raw vegetables and seafood. Mineral water is de rigueur everywhere. The more wary or fragile should avoid ice cubes.

Kids

Some pousadas do not allow children, to ensure the peace and quiet of their guests. This is not the case for restaurants. It's up to parents to decide whether children will disturb their guests.

Smokers

Smoking is prohibited in bars and restaurants, as in all enclosed areas intended for public use.

Tourist traps

Near the beaches and tourist spots, like Copacabana, the unavoidable touts try to bait the shoppers by offering a menu and touting a few advantages...