Salitre sits on a sleepy side street of Ipanema.* It's a beautiful neighborhood that offers a respite from the frenzied Zona Sul beach scenes, and the restaurant's second floor allows you to perch alongside sidewalk trees and make the most of this lovely setting.
If it's a relaxed, modern, trendy vibe you're looking for, Salitre delivers. If it's flawless service and memorable cuisine, then this probably isn't going to top your list. The Flank Steak was tasty, as Brazilian beef is a pretty good bet in general, but I'm left wondering if that's only because the dish was covered in potato mousseline and truffle oil (not a bad thing, but also not exactly a spotlight on the meat itself). The Roasted Heart of Palm, a life-changing highlight at other Rio establishments, here came across as straw-like, and served on too-hard bread. The servers got orders wrong more than once, despite calm demeanors and smiling faces.
In other words, Salitre isn't perfect. What sticks out most from our meal here is the location. I'd definitely recommend that aforementioned second-floor balcony table, or perhaps the street-side seating on the ground level, something that allows you to enjoy the relatively still outdoors of an otherwise spirited city.
*Sleepanema, if you will. I'm here all night, folks... read more