I was very excited to find Barraca do Uruguay on Yelp last year - almost as excited as I was to see…read moreAnthony Bourdain discover them a couple years before that. As I wait in the airport to depart Brasil with a head full of fine memories, I'm giving a well-deserved review that is long overdue.
When on my nearly-annual trips to Rio over the past 10 years or so, I've always spent a day or few on the beach at Barraca do Uruguay. In addition to that they occupy the best spot on the best big-city beach on the planet, they make those celebrated sandwiches, and they are a great family to meet.
My favorite is the chicken (frango), with grilled onions, that chimichurri sauce, and a dab of the hot pepper sauce. Add a caipirinha or a can of Skol and I am very, very happy, and truly ready to appreciate the entire beautiful Posto 9 scene. Also available is bottled water, sodas, and chilled coconuts, and you should have at least one coconut-full of juice in order to keep your potassium levels up in the Rio heat.
Up until a couple years ago, they used to BBQ the meat on site; however, the city no longer allows that. Moving the BBQ-ing off-site has only minimally detracted from the flavors and the heat of the meat.
If you want to go in the water, ask and they'll guard your bag in their stand. (Bonus Rio beach tip: bring minimal items to the beach, and what you do bring, put in a plastic shopping bag, which is less likely to tempt theft than your Gucci purse or murse or whatever you usually lug around).
A day at the beach with them, including chair and umbrella rental, a couple of sandwiches, and all the beer you can handle will set you back under US$25/pp.
Hi to Fabiola, Gonzalo, Tania, and the rest of the family - I hope to see you all again very soon. Saudades :)