The best restaurants Rio De Janeiro

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 at lunchtime and in the evening (generally from 11am to 3pm and from 7pm to 11pm). More often than not, those offering buffets and food by the kilo 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 20 reais or break your piggy bank eating at "Claude" (Claude Troisgros in Rio), where the bill will happily exceed 100 euros per person, and much more at Lasaï. On the whole, you can eat well for around 100 reais. A mid-range kilo will cost 45 reais a kilo, as at the Rancho in Mariana (Minas Gerais) or 85 reais at the Catete Grill restaurant in Rio, but prices tend to be highly inflated.

What costs extra

The price generally includes all taxes. A tip is added, as waiters' wages are not very high. Between 5 and 10% is a fair tip. You can be even more generous if you feel the service deserves it. When there are musicians performing, many restaurants charge for a musical place setting. 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 those 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. Let's not forget that meat production is destroying the Amazon, and a diet that includes too much meat is not necessarily good for your health.

In many Brazilian restaurants, the 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 hard days working in the fields.

There are also "by the kilo" restaurants. These are buffets where you weigh the food you serve yourself and pay the price according to weight. These establishments are generally highly recommendable.

To be avoided

In some bouibouis, raw vegetables and seafood should be avoided, even if the catering sector is making significant progress in terms of health. Mineral water is the rule 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

Close to beaches and tourist spots, such as Copacabana, the inevitable touts try to lure customers by holding out the menu and extolling the virtues of the restaurant they're promoting. As is often the case, places full of tourists are to be avoided, and you don't necessarily go out of your way for customers you'll probably never see again.