Rio is one of the worlds most exotic tourist destinations and has a restaurant scene to match. In Brazil you can dine on Mexican, Italian, Indian, French, Polish, Arab and at some of the cheapest Japanese restaurants in the world. The trendy districts of Copacabana and Ipanema are lined with expensive foreign restaurants but if you are here in Brazil you must try the regional food which may not be as spicy as Mexican but is still very good and available all over the city.
Rio is a city of eight million. Most of these cannot afford to eat at the plush charrascaria''s (barbeque houses) or the restaurant''s of Ipanema or Barra di Tijuca. They tend to rely on bars/quilo restaurants which sell cheap Brazilian food such as bife (steak) and frango (chicken) served with rice and beans often not costing more then 10-15 reals. One of the few cheap places in Ipanema was Carlito''s Grill. This was recommended to me by the doorman at the Aproador Inn who eats there after his morning shift finishes. Despite it''s prime location the major clientele for Carlito''s Grill are carioca''s. Many times I was the only foreigner there.
It does have a superb location. At the very corner of The main drag of Ipanema - Rua Visconda de Piraji, and Rua Farme Amedeo which leads straight to the beach. It''s counter bends with the corner and about twenty tables stand outside catching the Brazilian sun. You can have the option of a table or sit at the counter and watch the waiters hurry around like buzzing flies. Reservations aren''t necessary as it runs on a first come first served basis. I found it extraordinary relaxing and even in the cool evening it was a good place to watch the wealthy residents of Ipanema stream past me. One of the things I adore about Brazil is the mixture of races - some are pure white, some are jet black but most are something in between. Brazil may be the world''s best example of a melting pot.
And the food? Well, there is a western menu with frios (chips) burgers, chicken etc and a slightly more expensive seafood menu.But I always kept with their Brazilian menu. Snacks include empadinha which is a small pie with diced shrimp inside and coxinha which is chicken roled in dough and fried. Both are delicious sprinkled with tabasco sauce.
My favourite dish is fejoida which we have never got quite right when cooking it here in London. It is the national dish of Brazil and consists of a stew of pork, sausage and cured meat cooked with black beans and garlic. Served on a bed of rice and sprinkled with manioc flour this is a wonderful dish. At Carlito''s Grill a plate of steaming fejoida does not come to more then 15 reals.