This was our first meal in São Paulo, arranged by the concierge at the Renaissance. The restaurant…read moreis in the Jardins area and has been around since 1990. Chef Mara Salles is well known for celebrating Brazil's regional cuisines, and the restaurant has earned a Bib Gourmand recognition for its quality and value.
We had the option to sit inside or on the patio, and since the weather was perfect, we chose the patio. Inside looked inviting too--warm wood, white tablecloths, and a stylish bar.
The service was friendly, though our server didn't speak English, which made ordering a little tricky. We used a translator app several times, which worked fine but slowed things down.
The food was worth it. We started with the zucchini chips (addictive!) and quickly learned the chilies on the table are very hot--be careful. For appetizers, we had the Comissão de Frente (pastries filled with shrimp) and the Bolinho Errado com Aioli de Pequi (manioc balls with homemade cheese). Both were excellent.
For mains, we tried the Bobó de Camarão, a shrimp dish in creamy manioc with coconut--rich and comforting. The Barreado, beef slow-cooked for 10 hours in a clay pot, was tender and deeply flavorful.
Overall, Tordesilhas gave us a warm welcome to São Paulo dining. The food was authentic and memorable, and while the language barrier made things a little slower, it was still one of the highlights of our trip.