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Brasília enjoys what is generally regarded as one of the best restaurant scenes in Brazil, behind only the much larger cities of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The city has by far the highest per capita income in the country, and in recent years this affluence has been reflected in the rapidly expanding range of dining options. Brasília may be relatively small, but nowhere else in the country can you find such a variety of fine regional and international restaurants and cheerful local bars and eateries all in close proximity to one another.
If you're a bibliophile or a fan of the arts, you might enjoy the frequent book parties and art exhibits at this restaurant. On weekdays the lunch buffet is very popular with the business crowd. On weekends people flock here for the feijoada (meat stew with black beans). Among the regular entrées, the shrimp risotto is one of the most popular. There are five other locations in Brasília, but the original stands out because of its greenery-filled verandas.
The kitschy decor is one of the main attractions of this restaurant—bulldog statuettes, miniature porcelain dolls, used vinyl LPs, and other antiques cover the walls and hang from the ceiling. The chef-owner, Mara Alcamim, is always on hand and regularly checks to make sure patrons have enjoyed the food. Favorite dishes include the intriguingly named "sexy shrimp" (they're with a sauce of Brie, champagne, and caviar, accompanied by a strawberry-and-sage risotto).
