There are some people that head out to dinner knowing exactly which dish from their favourite restaurant they are going to order. However, one of the joys of gourmet cuisine is putting your dining experience entirely in the hands of the chef who has prepared a menu using the freshest ingredients of the day. We are talking about tasting menus and it’s really worth opening your mind, trusting in the chef and his team, and above all experiencing something new. The variety of delicious tidbits at the following five addresses require elaborate preparation and a lot of skill, needless to say they are really raising the bar of Rio’s gastronomic scene. Have a look and treat your tastebuds!
In Rio it is difficult to find someone immune to the charm of French chef Claude Troisgros, star of animated cookery programmes where he showcases his talent. It’s precisely because of his busy schedule it is difficult to get to see him in the kitchen at his award‐winning French restaurant. But the operation of said restaurant is in the very capable hands of his heir Thomas. The two of them alone create the stunning dishes that served at this restaurant that today operates a closed menu system. With the “Menu Confiance” (R$450 or R$650 for the wine‐pairing) the diner is presented with truly exclusive creations. But it is also possible to assemble your own combinations using the set dishes. Three courses and a desert work out at R$330 while four courses and a dessert will set you back R$390. Note: The house has recently started opening for Sunday lunch.
Schedule:
Sun 12:00 às 17:00, Mon 19:30 às 00:30, Tue 12:00 às 16:00, Tue 19:30 às 00:30, Wed 12:00 às 16:00, Wed 19:30 às 00:30, Thu 12:00 às 16:00, Thu 19:30 às 00:30, Fri 12:00 às 16:00, Fri 19:30 às 00:30, Sat 19:30 às 00:30
Owner of a Michelin‐starred restaurant Eleven in Lisbon, chef Joachim Koerper chose Rio to open the second branch of his successful eatery. But you would be wrong to think that he has just lent a successful name to a restaurant and operates it remotely. Koerper regularly sets foot in Rio to make sure the Carioca branch adheres to the standard of excellence that has come to be expected. While the à la carte option is popular, but if you want to experience the best Koerper’s team has to offer, you have three tasting‐menus to choose from. The “Menu Degustação” consists of nine courses (R$330, an extra R$199 for the wine‐pairing). The “Menu Eleven” has seven courses (R$230, an extra R$130 for the wine‐pairing). And finally there is the “Menu Supresa do Chef”, consisting of 11 courses (R$395 and R$215). Note: The dessert course, consisting of sumptuous creations courtesy of Koerper’s wife Cintia, is not to be missed.
Voted as 2015’s Best Female Chef in Latin America, Roberta Sudbrack decided on Rio as the home for her restaurant. Staunch defender of simplicity when creating her dishes, or in other words, forget pyrotechnics and modern equipment, if you want quality without theatrics this chef is a no‐brainer. Her creations can be sampled in the form of three menus with three (R$250), five (R$370) or nine courses (R$450). With the wine‐pairing menus the prices increase to R$480, R$640 and R$740 respectively. Sudbrack, who is also in charge of an acclaimed sandwich house in Leblon, offers what she calls a “Basic Tuesday” where less elaborate dishes are on offer for a more the accessible price of R$125. On Wednesdays you can also get your hands on the Sudburger, one of the best burgers in town at R$78.
After closing his restaurant in Jardim Botânico, inventive chef Felipe Bronze decided on this understated premises in Leblon for his new venture. Formerly known as the “Wizard of the Kitchen” for his boundary‐pushing cooking techniques, Bronze has decided to leave his pyrotechnics to one side to concentrate even more on the already delicious flavours he conjures up. Almost all of his dishes are now prepared on the grill and can be sampled on two types of menu as well. “Criatividade” includes appetisers and four dishes and a dessert (R$315 and R$495 for the wine pairing menu composed by award‐winning sommelier and wife of Bronze, Cecilia Aldaz). “Afetividade” which includes appetisers, two dishes and dessert (R$245 and R$335).
Headed up by Rafa Costa e Silva, who was for many years the right hand man of chef Andoni Luis Aduriz at the Mugaritz, this elegant two‐Michelin‐starred restaurant in Botafogo, is one of those rare gems that produce their food from scratch. Here you’ll find vegetables grown by the very own chef, refined and expertly executed dishes on two different menus. The first is curiously named “Não Me Conte Histórias” (Don’t Tell Me Stories) which consists of four aperitifs and three dishes (R$245), meanwhile on the second menu, “Festival”, the number of dishes are doubled (eight aperitifs and six dishes for R$295). You can also pair with a tasting selection of wines and cocktails if you so wish (R$165 for four courses or R$195 for six).
