Braseiro da Gávea — Restaurant in Região Geográfica Imediata do Rio de Janeiro

It was jampacked and this was expected as it was Sunday dinner time. What iI really like about this, is the culture of family. I felt that I was dining with a family owner. They tried there best to speak to me in English and for me it was the best. I spoke to them a little bit local and I guessed, that was also fine.

The one I ordered was the recommended food set. Yes, for one, it is too many, but anyways I was planning the rest to go. The beef picanha was tasty, freshly cooked, seasoned well and got it right on medium rare. It is accompanied with brocolli rice, which is new to my taste. The yellow one with banana, which I enjoyed as well. Fries which I failed to touch and the amazing simple salsa that complemented the beef.

The place was tight but manageable as again it was Sunday dinner. I felt that all the people working there loved serving customers food. Smiles on their faces and appreciates you being there....

The food is decent but I found the waiters very rude and dishonest. They told us (a couple) that we would have to order an entire beef or fish or chicken platter each when clearly (from both reviews and the portions that were served) this was enough food to feed 5-6 people. They refused to let us order a single dish to share and it felt very dishonest and persecutory. This was disappointing as we’ve generally found the people in Brazil to be very kind and while I am in general in favor of a ‘tourist tax’ (I.e. rarely haggling, allowing for some inflation of prices to support the local people) but coming from an established venue, this felt...

Besides known for their excellent meat and their perfect ambience, I would like to just give a word about the owners of this fantastic restaurant. I met Marco’s literally the accident, I fell outside his restaurant, not only was he one of the only people in all of Rio that spoke English but he attend it to me, drove me to the hospital stayed with me the entire time and gave me that kind of human nurturing that only a special person can give. So if you’re out to meet an ambassador of the kindness of Brazilian hospitality and humanity you definitely want to stop by his restaurant and have a drink with one of the kindest souls I have met in...