As an International traveler, I tend to enjoy the casual, street side restaurants that cater to…read morelocals. Hotels and fancier places are usually lacking in flavor, service and freshness. It's better to eat where the locals eat: Big Polis proves me right.
I ate here three times during my week in Leblon, mostly because I was assured high quality food and fantastic service, from the English menu to the friendly and helpful staff. Oh and the food?
It was fantastic. Try the Filet Mignon burger with a fried egg and pineapple. And get an acai with banana and cashew nuts. The burger had a rich bun, the filet was almost gourmet restaurant quality (cooked right, medium to medium-rare) and even the fries were plentiful, flavorful and had a rich texture.
I found myself looking for acai with cashew elsewhere, and only seemed to find it at Big Polis. All in all, I was served a fantastic meal with a fantastic view of Leblon all for about $R42. It would be much less if you got a "regular" sandwich, but the Filet Mignon was absolutely worth it!