Yelp Review 2025 #200: I had the pleasure of eating at Michelin-star restaurants and 50 World's Best Restaurants in São Paulo and Rio. I couldn't pass up on Lasai. They moved to a new location less than 5 years ago and it's now a more intimate dining experience with only 10 seats and 1-2 seatings for dinner only. I booked my spot almost 2 months ahead on their website. There is a deposit that goes toward your final bill. I got to the restaurant super early and they won't open the door until 10-15 minutes before first seating. Once I was let in, it was a warm welcome. They all work as a team regardless of each person's role. They evoke the true essence of "lasai" or calm with their zen-like approach working with ingredients, the diners, and with each other. First, Executive Chef Marcelo Andrade made sure he asked everyone about their food allergies/ intolerances/ restrictions. He had a menu in his head which he quickly switched when somebody in our group of 10 can't have gluten. Then, the chefs went to work. It was fun watching them cook in front of me and plate every single item from the 14-15 course meal: Salad bun, radishes Green bean crepe, pecan nut Pork, ricotta, carrot Turmeric, beef tartar, arugula Quinoa, cheese, banana, kale Savoury pumpkin custard, sea urchin Eggplant, oxtail, maxixe Slipper lobster, baroa, purslane Pão de queijo, guava Chayote, Prawn, melon, tahini Fish, hearts of palm, cauliflower Pork, brussels sprouts, mushrooms Tangerine, native bee honey, yogurt Sunchokes, cocoa, eashew nuts Everything was delicious and beautifully plated. My on-the-spot dining companions and I were discussing which dish was our favorite - it's impossible to pick just one. They change their menu often using only the best and freshest ingredients from their farm. And since I went for my birthday dinner, they gave me a birthday cheesecake. We all left with a nice box of petit fours. read more

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Lovely experience: - counter seating - service was polished and professional - lots of bites, many of them are pretty but difficult to eat, dripped or functionally was not a good 'bite' getting stuck to teeth/roof of mouth - most memorable and good their rendition of the pao de queijo - oozing cheese omg!! - also their bread course is pretty amazing and they vacuum pack leftovers and extra new pieces for you to take home - during the wine pairing the sake was served at different temperatures for different courses - also rare to provide all guests gifts and menus, the housemade chocolates were so beautiful and highlighted Rio Not the most delicious food but a nice interactive night. Would I do it again or recommend - prob not, that's why a 3. Being two Michelin stars - expected more. read more

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What a scam. This "tasting menu" is just a bunch of crackers and a few scraps of vegetables from the garden. Everything is so salty it's borderline inedible. The heavy salt saturates your palate so much that you can barely taste anything else. Half the "courses" are just variations of things with mayo on crackers. The crackers aren't even something you can neatly eat in one bite. They're oversized, two-bite crackers that fall apart the moment you try. The main dish was a tiny portion of unrendered, fatty meat that the chef cut into straight out of the oven. They didn't even let it rest. Watching the chef handle the meat that way kind of shows they don't really care about what they're serving. The desserts were just a pile of mush with no texture, like something you'd get from a gas station. Don't waste your time or money on this pretentious restaurant. Eat where the locals eat. There's plenty of good food in Brazil--this just isn't it. read more

Lasai - Oversized cracker with mayo. - Brazilian Near Me - Rio de Janeiro, RJ

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One of the most amazing meals of my life! If you have an opportunity, please go. We booked the chefs table. This is a prepaid experience per person. The attention to detail, and how each dish is explained was absolutely exceptional. The table sits about 8 but it feels like it's just you, the food and the chefs. I can't wait to go back to Rio to experience this again. It's quiet yet very romantic. read more

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I loved everything about this dining experience. The service was incredible, treated with good energy and smiles. The food was absolutely insane, the amount of detail effort passion and creativity they put into every bite is worth every penny. I can't wait to come back next time I go to rio! read more

great service and ambiance but the food is a terrible disappointment, with the exception of dessert(though 3 desserts was one too many). heavily salted and oily and almost no vegetable/greens, in spite of their advertising how they have their own gardens. Carbs were the main focus and the main main course was a Christmas ham. for U$300 per person, we expected much more. read more

What's the saying, while in Rome do as the Romans do? Lasai was one of those places we had to do while in Rio de Janeiro. It didn't dissapoint. You can certainly dine at a chef's table at many restaurants. Lasai, wasn't only that. An intimate setting of only 10 to 11 people, nine the evening we went. You're in the action. The chef and the team were interactive, engaging and delightful. The chef would stop a member of the team and correct a technique. It's as if the diners were not there. You're watching the experience unfold in front of you. The chef and the team have a great working relationship with one another. Amidst the occasional teaching moment there were laughter, smiles and good banter. The ingredients are all sourced locally, i.e. Brazil. The chef makes tweaks to the menu daily. We were fortunate to have a few firsts as well as a few lasts. As the season changes and what can be obtained due to restrictions and such, courses are modified. In fact the evening we were there, Chef showed us the notes he had taken during the night to modify the menu the following night. It was fascinating. Perhaps this is what a two Michelin star restaurant is all about. We were never this close to the kitchen team at Aquavit to know. Lasai is a must try. Nine snack size courses, three mains and two, really three, dessert courses set the stage. The courses move pretty quickly, but allow about 2.5 hours for the experience. read more

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We were excited to check this place out. The service is very professional and friendly. I'm glad they can all speak Portuguese or English to explain what each dish is. All the dishes were well crafted and plated, but not exactly the most filling. My favorite dish was the first one which had crackers. The sauce was sooo good. It is a very creative menu. I like that they are more focused on vegetables, but I would also like a larger serving of vegetables. My least favorite dish may have been the pork dish since at least a third of it was just fat and I usually do not have that part. The bread was made from them and also good and filling. You could always ask for more bread. I joked to my dinner partner that we would be full from bread and not actual food haha. I would say your stomach is comfortable at the end. For the actual dishes, we found out the menu may slightly change each day depending on what ingredients are available. So it is great if you like surprises but they do have a core set of dishes or ideas for each night. It can also take the whole night depending on your party and how fast you eat so try not to plan anything after because you will most likely be late. The decor is cool inside. It is like a restored warehouse. The entrance doors are also closed and you have to knock. It did not look like a restaurant from the outside to me. I would definitely recommend trying this out when you are visiting and looking for a fine dining experience. read more

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Cozy intimate dinner. The menu is constantly changing. The food and service were both excellent. Would definitely recommend.

What a pleasure to dine again at Lasai and be seated at Chef's Table at Rafael's kitchen. Located in a charming house in Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro Lasai has a welcoming, informal and modern atmosphere. Chef's Rafa and his wife Malena brings to the table a beautiful, intriguing and sensual gastronomy using modern techniques, Brazilian ingredients and vegetables from Lasai's and farms in Rio. Lasai is such a unique experience! If you can book at Chefs Table!! It is just a special experience that will never be the same . It might sound like cliche but watching them working like an orchestra is mesmerizing and the result is gloriously delicious. Thanks you SO much for another unique dining experience. read more

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Incredible! We thoroughly enjoyed our food and wine pairing as Lasai- cannot say enough about the genius of their master chef- the creativity of the dishes and the incredible flavor combination they created. This was only my third Michelin Star dining experience but by far my most memorable. Restaurant itself was very inviting with a great mix of devour, private spacing, and ver inviting atmosphere. Staff was out of this world- very knowledgeable and walked us thoroughly through each dish and wine pairing. read more

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Update: we visited the new restaurant and it's a much smaller and more intimate space with a maximum of 10 seats. You get to see everything prepared and watch chef Rafe and the team perform their magic. Sadly the price did increase significantly for this luxury but it makes sense as your paying for a dinner and entertainment now. Food is thankfully still great! read more

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My wife and I got to visit Lasai for the first time yesterday evening. It was an unforgettable meal. Each of the 12 small courses was unique, delicious, and a work of art. The setting is a large old home in the zona sul of Rio that has been transformed into a charming three-story eatery. On the middle floor, the kitchen is surrounded in glass, so you can see the chefs and the products they are using as you head upstairs to where the main seating area is located. The staff are polite, well informed, and speak Portuguese, Spanish and English. This is a place to savor every moment, and every bite - we spent 3 hours here last night. read more

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Located on the coast, and eschewing Amazonian ingredients in favor of local Produce and Fish, Lasai sees Chef Rafael Costa e Silva and his staff serving modern farm-to-table Cuisine in a beautiful space featuring organic flourishes and a Chef's counter. Meaning "tranquility" in Basque, and taking inspiration from the region in terms of plates offered as part of a ten course tasting, it is after ascending stairs from street-level that guests find themselves in the center of dining room lined in mixed wood plus plants, glass vessels at the center of each table displaying everything from Beets to Onions fresh from the earth. Open since 2014, shortly after Chef 'Rafa' returned from several years working with Andoni Luis Aduriz at Mugaritz, it is after traversing the dining room that four lucky guests find themselves in the middle of the action, a decision of drinks quickly followed by vegetarian canapés from which fried Sweet Potato Dumplings filled with Cashew Fruit showed best. Too cloudy to see Christ the Redeemer from Lasai's outside terrace, inclimate weather likely also why the Restaurant was less than 20% full all night, it was while sipping housemade Hibiscus sweetened with Honey that another set of Nibbles arrived, a single-bite Beet Salad impressive in its complexity while the sandwiched Snapper and Corn Fritter were also delicious. Drawing several Fruits and Vegetables from their own garden just outside of Rio, Soup poured tableside over Leeks, Pears and a Tuile delivered with Bread to sop up any residual Broth, Lasai's most successful plate came next as roasted Pumpkin enrobed in Broccoli and Pine Nuts, the Crucifers continuing onward next as Cauliflower in several forms and colors surrounded a small slice of Grouper. Under-portioned, but still a fair value at just R$345 for the tasting, savories came to a finish with fairly basic Pork amidst Onions and Carrots, the transitional Cheese course next arriving with a variety of Honeys in Soap dispensers before Dessert started with Soursop Fruit beneath tangy frozen Yogurt. Ending with two more courses, the last a tiny Meringue with Guava Jam, Chef Costa e Silva's second proper Dessert essentially utilized the same techniques as the first, White Chocolate crisps stacked around a quenelle of Acai balanced atop Cake flavored by Sugar and Nuts. read more

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Excellent 1-star Michelin experience in Botafogo neighborhood. All the staff was super nice, the environment is modern and in to every detail. The food, is everything you expect: creativity, style and presentation. It has it all. The taste, yummy! From tongue of the cow (seriously) to a small bite of miso-zucchini-taioba. And a surprise at the end of the evening, the last glass of wine & herbal tea in the terrace staring at the famous Christ created by Paul Landowski in 1931. Excelente restaurante de 1-estrella Michelin en El Barrio de Botafogo. Todo el equipo fue súper amable, el entorno es moderno y está en cada detalle. La comida, es todo lo que uno espera: creatividad, estilo y su presentación. Lo tiene todo. Los sabores, yummy! Desde lengua de vaca (de verdad) hasta un bocadito de miso-calabacín-taioba. Y la sorpresa del final, la última copa de vino & un té de hierbas en la terraza mientras se contempla el famoso Cristo creado por Paul Landowski en 1931. read more

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I highly recommend making a reservation for one of the four kitchen counter/sushi bar style seats. Not only do you get a birds eye view of all the cooking and food before they go out, you get to interact with the chefs as well. We opted for the festival 14 course tasting menu and wine pairing. Although 14 sounds like a crazy amount of food, 8 of the "courses" are bite size appetizers. You also can choose an all wine pairing or a mix of cocktails and wine (I went for the latter.) The dishes were inventive and an innovative take on Brazilian cuisine. If you only have time for one high end meal during your stay in Rio, I highly recommend Lasai. After two years here, it's been my favorite meal. PS The chef's partner is lovely and a Texas expat! read more

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It was a sincere honor to Matt and I be seated at the Lasaí chef's table at Rafael's kitchen. What an amazing experience, not only gastronomic, but also watching the harmony, synchronicity, organization, cleanliness of everyone! It was entertaining, fun, enriching and very special!! There we met chefs Nilo (oven), Priscila (stove), Alan (grill), Ian and Yuri (pastry/desserts), Vinicius and Marcelo (suex chefs), the hosting team with Zigor on management, Bruna, Carol, Efrair, they treated us as royalty, Maíra, the very best sommelier we met in Rio, and of course, Rafael, "the man". He put together the entire talented team, a gorgeous dining space, the amazing and creative menu, after years of experience in NYC at the CIA (the relevant one!), at chef Jan Jorges place, in San Sebastian in Spain and now several years in Rio at Lasaí. Thank you so much we had such a blast that we had to repeat your place during our short stay in Rio! Deserved! Foi uma honra poder sentar com o Matt, meu marido, na cozinha do Rafael. Lá eu vi o trabalho dos chefes todos aquela noite, o Marcelo e o Vinicius na direção, o Ian e o Yuri nas sobremesas, o Nilo no forno, a Priscila, minha xará, nos pratos quentes geral, o Alan na brasa. Também interagi com a Bruna, a Carol e o Efrair tratando a gente como realeza. O Zigor gerenciando as reservas e recebendo a gente no lindo salão. A Maíra foi a melhor Somelier que conhecemos no Rio de Janeiro, sem dúvida! Muitos kudos pro Rafael que colocou esse povo sensacional junto, desenhou o cardápio magnífico e tudo o mais para fazer essa experiência gastronômica um sucesso todas as vezes que formos lá (e em um período curto de férias, fomos duas!) O menu é criativo, divertido, leve e delicioso. A apresentação dos pratos é uma arte completa! O pareamento de vinhos é essencial e completa a viagem do paladar, além de acrescentar cultura e conhecimento sobre os vinhos escolhidos. Adoramos poder conversar com o Marcelo e com o Rafael e conhecer um pouco da história deles. Temos uma frustração com o restaurante apenas: de que fica muito longe da nossa casa atual. Hahaha! Brincadeira! Com certeza é um motivo compelling pra voltarmos assim que pudermos! Rafael, vc compartilhou da sua jornada e da sua família conosco, e em sua homenagem, nós adicionamos o termo "lasaí" no nosso dia a dia do trabalho e em casa. Quando precisamos de um tempo de qualidade e uma pausa para relaxar, aqui no lar do casal Curtin, dizemos um ao outro: "Lasaí". Gratidão! read more

Lasai is one of Rio's best restaurants, and was awarded one Michelin star this past year. Also being named on San Pellegrino's Latin Amerca's Top 50 World's Best Restaurant List, it's no surprise that we saved our best meal experience for our last night. Sourcing as much as possible with local ingredients, Lasai was a fabulous experience. Everything we ate was delicious and beautifully presented. Their signature dish is an egg yolk in a bed of coconut milk that has ground beef shaved on top. When mixed together and eaten with their house made levain, it brings up so many emotions. Service was fabulous, and being greeted by Malena Cardiel made this a wonderful experience. Tucked away in an unassuming building in Botafogo, the restaurant opens up to a beautifully decorated and designed space that takes you to another place outside of Rio. A definite must try spot for foodies! read more

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Great food always. A sophisticated chef. Expensive. Have been there several times, and it was alwaus satisfying. Everybody serving at the restaurant area amicable and knowledgeable. read more

Lasai is the Michelin lovechild of Brazilian Chef Rafa and his Texan sommelier girlfriend extraordinaire Malena. Rafa earned his pedigree at Mugaritz, one of the most regarded restaurants in Spain and arguably the world so, as such, I had high expectations. The restaurant just got the highest new entry award for Latin America by Worlds50best restaurants. The dining room area is beautiful; a lot of work has gone into restoring this heritage home in Botafogo. Once inside, you really feel its rustic elegance. The food is refined but described as, "farm-to-table Brazilian cuisine." I would say that, this, was at times both their strength and weakness; however, I applaud their creativity. Rio obviously needed a restaurant like this. We decided to go with the tasting menu (R.$ 185) and were advised that it would be comprised of 14 plates but it worked out to be about 10 in total, which was still more than enough. In this "festival" of Brazilian flavors and modern techniques, there were three outstanding dishes for me: the potato three ways, their play on "eggs & bacon" (coconut-yam cream with egg yolk and salted air dried beef strip) and the lemongrass panna cotta with pineapple. The perch dish was very good as well as was their very own version of the classic Pao Queijo (cheese bread). On the other hand, I found the wild boar cut to be too fatty and felt they skimped out on some of the carrots from their own garden. Some of the smaller amuse-bouches (various crisps) were hits and misses for me but overall, this was an extremely good meal and definitely worth the hype. read more

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Incredible experience. If you're looking for an exciting culinary experience while visiting Rio, we highly recommend. The staff and service were phenomenal, the food was unique and delicious. We went all out and did the festival menu in the kitchen with the full drink pairing, which we enjoyed. Sitting in the kitchen was fun -- the chefs were a very organized group with an energy that was a joy to witness. read more

No idea how it entered to Latin America 50 best list. It was the worst experience i had in a 50 best restaurant. I even couldn't finish the food. I thought i will get sick. read more

Lasai - Menu - Brazilian Near Me - Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Excellent meal!!!! The 12 courses were more than enough and i truly felt stuffed. The flavirs were very delicate! read more

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