Aprazível

Description:

• When owner and chef Ana Castilho opened her house for a community event in 1996, she thought it would be a one-time happening. Now, 10 years later, she still runs her restaurant out of her home 4 days a week and things show no sign of slowing down. Part of the charm is the house itself. The restaurant takes up several rooms and spills over into the garden. And then there is the view of downtown Rio and Guanabara Bay. The kitchen serves up an intriguing variation on Brazilian cuisine, with an emphasis on tropical flavors. Interesting starters include fresh grilled palm hearts, and pumpkin cream soup with prawns, tart apple, and cream. A popular main course is the peixe tropical, grilled fish in an orange sauce, served with coconut rice and baked bananas. A more hearty dish is the grilled lamb chop au jus and couscous. Desserts are best savored slowly. Our favorites were the Morango do amor (strawberries flambéed in orange juice and Cointreau) and the Folia de Ouro Prêto (grilled pineapple served with lime zest and coconut ice cream and a dash of Limoncello lemon liquor). Live Chorinho music on Thursdays.

• © Frommer's 2013

Awards:

Frommer's

•  Very Highly Recommended 2010