A friend of my wife is Brazilian and went to university in Floripa. The first recommendation she…read moremade was go to Ostradamus for the oysters. Of course we heeded her advice and went for an early (by Brazilian standards) Saturday dinner there. We definitely weren't disappointed, although at their prices, I would be more pissed if I didn't like it. We started off with a dozen locally-farmed oysters on the half shell. As an American, I am used to eating them with cocktail sauce and a lot of horseradish to give them a kick. The Brazilians down them with a little lemon and hot sauce, which was good enough for me. They were about as fresh as you can get, probably pulled right out of the bay just hours ago. For our main, we had the Brazilian version of paella: It had rice, octopus, oysters, and mushrooms. I can't remember the name but it tasted amazing. My wife, who is very finicky, loved it. We paired it off with a good bottle of Argentine Malbec. The wine list was diverse but I wouldn't call it particularly comprehensive. Ostradamus's decor was modern but still functional. I loved the way the dining room was surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows as if perched right on top of a dock (it was). This was an upscale restaurant, but not to the point where it is stifling. The ambiance still had a relaxed casualness to it, at least to the early dinner crowd around 8p. There was nothing pretentious about the restaurant, a nice break from similar restaurants back home in DC. Service was good but it could have been a bit more attentive. Overall I give Ostradamus a glowing 4.75 stars. The only places I knocked them down that quarter point was that the waitstaff could have been more responsive, and the restaurant is a hike from just about anywhere in Floripa. However, you'd be hard-pressed to beat the food and view anywhere on the island. Even if you're not hungry, I'd recommend stopping in just to try the oysters and a cocktail while watching the tide roll away (thanks, Otis Redding).

What a lovely spot! From the quaint coastal town, to the old seaside building, to the beautiful…read moredock style seating Ostradamus delivered in vibes and flavors. The staff was super helpful and a couple even attempted some English. I tried some fried shrimp with sauce and a tall beer, excellent. And then paired it with some smoked oysters with cheese, plenty of food and plenty of flavor. The standout honestly though for me was the fish broth they brought me to start. 10/10 will be back

Churrascaria Mein Haus: A Queda de um Clássico de São José…read more Antigamente você saía rolando daqui, hoje sai só com dor no bolso. O rodízio ainda mantém uma variedade decente: picanha, maminha, alcatra, cupim, fraldinha... Mas é tipo retrospectiva de novela - você já sabe tudo que vai passar e quando vai passar. A qualidade das carnes é ok, mas nada que faça seu churrasqueiro do fim de semana perder o sono. O buffet quente e frio continua sortido, isso não dá pra negar. Mas parece que aquele capricho de antigamente foi fazer intercâmbio e nunca mais voltou. A farofa ainda é boa (ufa!), mas o resto tá meio "meia-boca". Mais devagar que fila do DETRAN. Os garçons até são simpáticos, mas você precisa fazer sinal de fumaça pra conseguir uma picanha ou chamar a atencao do tal carrinho de caipirinha. Quando finalmente chega, já deu tempo de você contar todos os azulejos do restaurante. Como era antes? Antigamente era aquele lugar que você levava a família no domingo, saía rolando de tanto comer e ainda achava barato. O garçom conhecia todo mundo pelo nome, as carnes vinham no ponto certo sem precisar pedir, e a sobremesa era de cortesia. Bons tempos! Dica sincerona: Se você ainda quiser ir, vá no almoço de sábado - é quando o movimento é menor e o serviço flui melhor. E fique de olho na picanha, que é a única que ainda mantém a qualidade de antigamente. Vale a pena? Se você tá com saudade e muito dinheiro sobrando, talvez. Mas tem lugares melhores na região pelo mesmo preço. Como diriam os mais velhos: "No meu tempo é que era bom..."