Joaquina — Restaurant in Região Geográfica Imediata do Rio de Janeiro

We went there for dinner without a reservation and the host said a table was about to leave and we were first on the list so we should get to a table in 10-15 minutes. We got so drinks to pass the time which were lovely. About 45 minutes later we still didn't get a table and another group that came in after us got a table and the host claimed as we were a party of 6 and they were a party of 5 the table was more suited for them as it was smaller. I think it would have been more appropriate if they gave us the option of getting the smaller table or waiting....we waited a further 15 minutes till we finally got the table. We decided to wait because at this point it was late and no where else to go. We order starters which were great until it wasn't. One if the people in our group is lactose intolerant and ordered the wedges with vegan aioli sauce and a few minutes after we all started eating the host came back and she told us the kitchen may have made a mistake and that cause isn't the vegan sauce and she took it back and changed it and they sauce was definitely different. This was extremely inappropriate and dangerous especially because we did tell them before we ordered...we had someone with a nut allergy too we're just thankful that kind if mistake was not made with them....I decided to give them 3 stars because the food was good enough and the waiters were nice but the experience as a whole was not great so definitely...

Hard to leave a review after going only once, but I went two days in a row and it seemed like completely different restaurants. The first day I got picanha which was excellent, as was the service.

Second day, not so much. First, I asked for a drink without ice (exact same as before) but ice came in it. Usually not a big deal, except it’s canned, not a fountain drink and they poured it out to remove the ice instead of giving me another. This is akin to charging me extra for their mistake- refills aren’t free.

We got the same exact appetizer as the day before. Today, they brought less sauce (one ramekin instead of two, without the sweet one) and gave no appetizer plates nor silverware, which they did yesterday automatically.

We ordered Fettucine pasta with filet mignon. The server didn’t ask how we wanted the steak cooked, which should always be asked. As he was leaving the table, I got him back, and ordered medium rare, which they call “mal passado” here in brazil. It wasn’t a filet, but two pancake thin pieces of steak cooked well done. I’d call it multiple thin skirt steaks, definitely not a filet.

Because the service was so drastically different and the second time had so many small bad things, I wouldn’t recommend this place as the service is wildly inconsistent.

Cheira ruim anoite (13/03/23)—terrible smell. Left...

Superb food right across from the beach. Authentic (we appeared to be the only tourists dining this evening outside amongst the locals, serving for a) vibrant, lively atmosphere (which we enjoyed) that is also family friendly (the kids on the table next to us were provided with materials for coloring although they were more engrossed with their games on mobiles). The entire dining experience was pleasant from the beginning to the end with friendly, attentive staff that also checked in on us whether we were enjoying our meal and provided very good recommendations of local dishes to try, eliminating the decision making process completely for someone willing to try the local specialities; with that said, a very pleasant surprise was the interactive menu (a tablet) which we were provided with containing multiple pictures of all avaliable dishes which was of course in English. When we asked for additional hot water for tea they promptly provided this without question. Definitely coming back to this one, especially as it just down the street from our hotel,...