Oro — Restaurant in Região Geográfica Imediata do Rio de Janeiro

Delighted beyond our wildest expectations. From the moment you step into the intimate space of Oro, you know you're about to have a once in a life time experience. You're greeted with a bright and warm smile by James, the manager of the restaurant. You'll find each sitting to be intimate and spaces at the same time. Every waiter is knowledgeable about the menu, the experience and is ready with recommendations.

We were fortunate enough to be able to taste every single item on their tasting menu - get ready for your taste buds to go on a journey.

Every single item item on the menu is prepared to perfection. Taste exactly the way it is presented - perfect! This is exactly what we expected from a two Michelin star restaurant. However, James the manager made our experience, one of a lift time. He was extremely attentive, very friendly and full of surprises. He surprised us with 6 - I say again - 6 different drinks. We simply asked for a whiskey drink and he made sure we got something new and refreshing every single time! Before the main course arrived, he asked which one of the starts was our favorite - we each had a different favorite. A second later that favorite showed up on the table for us to experience again. I kid you not, a tear came down my eye with how pleasantly surprised we were! Later when it was desert time, we realized that the entire table ordered the same dessert so we asked to make some changes to make sure we get to try every single desert on the menu. James then yet again, surprised us by fulfilling our original order AND bringing out the desert we hadn't ordered, on the house! WOW - what a service.

When we called for the check, we thanked James for allowing us to taste every single item on the menu; our taste buds went a journey very little get to experience. But James had just one more surprise waiting for us, an Item that wasn't on a menu but he wanted us to try.

I'm not too sure if everything above is coherent or making any sense because I'm still shocked by the amazing experience my friends and I had. But what I'm very clear minded about is this - from the staff, to the bar tender, to the manager to the incredible chefs, this place is A MUST! I would have paid 10X and would still believe it was a steal!

I CAN'T WAIT TO RETURN!

Thank you James, thank...

Visited in July 2024. Brazil. Rio de Janeiro.

We found this restaurant in the Michelin guide. They only have a set menu, and since we love that format, we decided to give it a try. The interior is stylish. We sat at the chef’s table, which gave us a chance to watch the cooks at work.

Food: The menu is a set of appetizers, and then you can choose 2 or 4 main courses and dessert. We each got two main courses and one dessert. Dinner starts with an oyster with guava. It was a decent dish, but the combination felt a little strange. Next came the set of small appetizers, beautifully presented on a cube. These were my favorites. Each one had a perfect balance of flavor and texture—fresh, delicate, and bright. The other appetizers were a bit more filling. They probably have a slight Asian influence because they use a lot of Asian techniques and flavors. Some of the appetizers were a bit heavy because of the rice dough. It creates a sticky, starchy texture that weighs down the flavor. For our main courses, we got the shrimp both, then I chose picanha and my husband got the fish. We both loved the picanha. It’s a cut that’s typical of Brazil, and they cooked it perfectly—juicy, tender, and full of flavor. The shrimp was a little bland and lean. The texture reminded me of boiled shrimp, and it was slightly crunchy inside, but the sauces and sides were good. The fish was cooked perfectly, especially the combination with the corn in different textures. The desserts were delicious. We managed to try all three. My favorite was the Caja fruit. It was tart and light, which was perfect after such a hearty meal.

Service: The service was fantastic, one of the best we had in Rio. The waiters spoke English and always explained the concept of each dish. We felt taken care of.

Conclusion: I highly recommend this restaurant. You’ll definitely enjoy the food, atmosphere, and service. I liked the pace of the service. It wasn’t too slow. It was also nice to receive a small gift to take home with us after our meal. It’s one of the best fine dining restaurants we’ve...

Beautiful setting, great food — but a baffling and uncomfortable experience - we will never return again.

We had high hopes for this restaurant. The ambience was lovely and the food itself was delicious, beautifully presented and full of flavor. Unfortunately, everything else around the experience left a sour taste in our mouths — and for a bill of over $500, that’s just not acceptable.

I opted for the cheaper wine pairing, but I didn’t feel it matched my courses well, so I passed it to my spouse. What followed was genuinely uncomfortable: staff openly talked about it — in front of us — as if we had done something wrong. It wasn’t as if we were getting extra wine; if anything, my spouse still had fewer pours than the premium pairing. It was awkward and unprofessional. If they had an issue, it would’ve been far better to address it discreetly with us, rather than make us feel embarrassed. That moment completely disrupted what was meant to be a special night.

A few other points didn’t help: • The main courses were the same size as the snacks, which made the term “main” a bit misleading. • We noticed the table next to us received chocolates and a gift, while we received nothing. We didn’t expect anything extra, but it certainly made us feel less welcome, as though there was some uneven treatment of guests.

Overall, while the culinary execution was solid and the setting lovely, the service experience made us deeply uncomfortable — so much so that we would not return. In a city like Rio, where we’ve had amazing meals for less than half the price, I would honestly recommend saving your money and choosing somewhere else that values hospitality just as...