Artigiano
Ambiance: 5/5
Absolutely gorgeous, decadent, ornate decor inside with a beautiful terrace, two levels.
Food: 3.5/5
Food is very good, not exceptional but excellent for the price. (Very reasonable!)
Overall Impression: 4/5
This makes the top 10 list based mostly on atmosphere, it is quite magical. And it's very affordable, with a huge menu and wide selection... the service was excellent as well. Great location right by the canal between Ipanema & Leblon.
If you go:
Be careful if you have a nut allergy as many dishes (including dinner rolls the night I was there...) have nuts.
Address:
Av. Epitacio Pessoa, 204, Ipanema
Celeiro
Ambiance: 3/5
Nothing special but a cute litte bistro. Paparazzi included (frequently camped outside...) Great patio.
Food: 5/5
Amazing. Quilo style organic dishes, absolutely delicious, food you can feel good about because it is healthy! Enjoyed ogling at but did not sample some decadent looking desserts...
Overall Impression: 4.5/5
This makes the top 10 list based mostly on food, because it is amazing! Unique, delicious, healthy dishes in a comfortable laid back, relaxed setting, convenient location. A bit pricey for quilo - about $35-40 R per person for lunch.
If you go:
Try the desserts and leave a comment on the blog so that I can live vicariously through you! Watch for Brazilian celebs (they apparently hang out here... but I can't pick them out, but the paparazzi is there). They also do take-away (which I imagine will come in very handy...)
Recommended Dishes:
Not sure how helpful this will be as I imagine it changes daily? The ratatouille was amazing as was the strawberry salad.
Address:
Rua Dias Ferreira 199, Leblon
Web Site: www.celeiroculinaria.com.br
Le Vin
Ambiance: 4/5
Beautiful, an old house converted into a restaurant. Several different rooms and even a two-level patio.
Food: 5/5
French dishes although not too heavy as per typical French, and very flavourful. Entrees in the R$30 ish range.
Overall Impression: 3.5/5
This makes the top 10 list based mostly on food... the service was, well, terrible! But the dishes were so unique and delicious and the atmosphere very unique, so it makes the list. Hopefully you are not as thirsty as I was the day we went...
If you go:
Again, just don't go thirsty or in a hurry and you will be fine! The location is very good, close to the posh in Ipanema (H. Stern & LV). Sit outside if possible.
Recommended Dishes:
The salmon dish with the whipped potatoes is absolutely amazing. Maybe the best thing I have eaten all year. And I didn't even eat the whole thing, just a couple of bites of my husband's. The fruit salad with mint tea is also divine.
Address:
Rua Barao da Torre, 490, Ipanema
Web Site: www.levin.com.br
Manekineko Sushi - Leblon
Ambiance: 3.5/5
Funky red and black interior - upstairs seems much nicer than the basement.
Food: 4.5/5
Excellent sushi, the best I've had in Brazil. Innovative flavours and high quality fish. Reasonably priced as well!
Overall Impression: 4.5/5
Excellent sushi, what more can you want. Great location as well.
If you go:
Make a reservation - it gets pretty packed. Try the buffet, and let me know how it is! They also deliver, and there are a number of locations - Barra, etc.
Address:
Rua Dias Ferreira, 410, Leblon.
Web site: http://www.manekineko.com.br/
Marius Churrascaria
Ambiance: 5/5
Funky crazy beautiful decor complete with a crystal gravel floor in the bathroom (which by the way always smells of decadent lemongrass.
Food: 4.5/5
Everything you could want. Offers either a seafood or "carne" option for the churrascaria bit but take my advice and grab yourself a couple of crab legs from the buffet and stick to the meat for the main course. Maybe it's my snobbiness of living on Vancouver Island as a child but they do the meat much better than seafood. Desserts are to die for but note that they are not included! Expect to pay about $150 per person with drinks if you do dessert and everything.
Overall Impression: 4/5
Yes, it's a tourist trap. Yes there are more people from Florida there than Brazil. But the staff is fun, the decor is awesome and the food amazing. The experience itself is a must for guests.
If you go:
Pick the meat over the seafood!
Recommended Dishes:
If you can do it, try a little of everything... the mint sauce for the lamb is divine and so are ALL of the desserts.
Address:
End of the beach in Leme (Copacabana).
Web site: Is pretty damn crazy! http://www.marius.com.br/
Nam Thai
Ambiance: 4/5
Typical beautiful decor of a Thai restaurant you'd expect anywhere. 
Food: 4.5/5
Spicy (really! Yes, actually spicy food in Rio!) Thai dishes – very flavorful. A bit on the pricey side for Thai, but being that there isn't much competition in the "Thai" space here these days, understandable. Entrees in the R$35 - R$45 range.
Overall Impression: 4/5
Excellent! Great location as well. Excellent portion sizes and with those flavours, who can stop? Don't over-order!
If you go:
Don't sit near the bar or washroom entrances - we didn't either but felt sorry for those who did, a very congested/tight little area.
Recommended Dishes:
The red curry salmon and green curry chicken were outsta nding.
Address:
Rua Rainha Guilhermina, 95, Leblon
Web site: Nam Thai
Quadrucci
Ambiance: 4/5
Great patio. Good for people watching.
Food: 4.5/5
The
fish dishes are excellent as is the lasagna, the desserts DIVINE. $R30
- $R60 range. Two of the three times I have been there I asked for a
side of vegetables to add to my entree and they were nicely done and
they did not even charge us for it.
Overall Impression: 4/5
I
have been three times and would not have recommended it for a "top 10"
place until after the second time. But it has been consistently great
every time, very nice atmosphere and location.
If you go:
Try and sit outdoors.
Recommended Dishes:
The
fish dishes, the lasagna, and ok seriously you HAVE to try the apple
crumble dessert with the frozen yogurt. It is the best dessert I have
had in a very long time. Not as good: the carne dish with brie and
mushrooms, served with pasta ... it sounds incredibly tempting and it
is divine for about three bites and then it is exactly how it sounds -
too rich and heavy. Coerce someone else into ordering it and then steal
a bite or two...
Address:
Rua Dias Ferreira, 233, Leblon Telefone: (21) 2512-4551
Web site: http://www.quadrucci.com.br/
Salitre
Ambiance: 5/5
Inside is like a big wine room, upstairs patio faces the street and is beautifully candle lit at night.
Food: 4.5/5
Lovely risottos and fish dishes. My favorite is the salmon with lemon risotto and vegetables. Yum!
Overall Impression: 4/5
Great service, I love the placemats (check them out when you go), nice wine and alcohol store as well, oh and they sell cranberry juice, how convenient. Washrooms are a tad sketch - if you were dating (two stalls side by side, one for men the other for women). But don't let this scare you away.
If you go:
Make a reservation so you can sit upstairs on the balcony and enjoy the view, street, candlelit, open air.
Recommended Dishes:
I may have mentioned the salmon with lemon risotto and vegetables?
Address:
Rua General San Martin, Leblon.
Sawasadee
Ambiance: 4/5
Pretty patio, candle lit at night.
Food: 4.5/5
Delicious, flavour filled thai dishes. Too many to choose from! Beautiful presentation.
Overall Impression: 4/5
Staff is very attentive, wonderful service and quality.
If you go:
Ask for the spiciest dish on the menu... oh and if you can, go in Buzios as there is also a location there!
Recommended Dishes:
Green curry.
Address:
Rua Dias Ferreira, 571 Leblon. T: 2411.0057
Via Sete
Ambiance: 4/5
Pretty casual, perfect for lunch, great patio. Beautifully lit at night. Good for people watching.
Food: 4/5
A lot of selection for salads, etc. A bit on the expensive side, $R30 ish for salad dishes.
Overall Impression: 4/5
Overall very good, excellent service and location. The best caesar salad I've had in Brazil and that's important!
If you go:
Sit outside and people-watch!
Recommended Dishes:
Caesar salad with salmon... you will not be disappointed. Really amazing desserts too.
Address:
Rua Garcia D'Avila, 125 Ipanema.
Web site: http://www.viasete.com.br/
Zaza Bistro Tropical
Ambiance: 4/5
Beautifully set up – tiles, colored lights, candles everywhere. A bit rustic/shabby chic which I like. Loses a point for buses constantly buzzing by (it’s often very LOUD especially if you sit outside).
Food: 4/5
Asian/Thai inspired dishes – very flavorful. Definitely not spicy, though. They will try to warn you that certain dishes are very spicy but this is by Brazilian standards where nothing seems to be spicy, not North American standards. Everything we have tried has been very good with exception of the lamb. Price – Entrees in the R$35 - R$45 range.
Overall Impression: 5/5
We really love this place, the first time we found it was our last night in Rio last year when we visited and it was a really incredible night. We’ve been back several times since returning.
If you go:
They do not take Visa or American Express! Check out the bathrooms. Upstairs is a little sit down area with pillows (no chairs) where you have to take your shoes off, etc. Moito legal.
Recommended Dishes:
The banana crème brulee is not to be missed. Highly recommended: the appetizer and dessert tasting menus. Everything we have tried has been very good with exception of the lamb.
Address:
Rua Joana Angelica 40 (Corner of Rua Angelica and Prudente de Morais), Ipanema.
Web site: http://zazabistro.com.br/
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