Saturday, August 29, 2009

Aska Lamen House (Liberdade)

466 Rua Galvão Bueno
Liberdade

I love this place for many reasons...One, it's the only place in Sao Paulo I even know to go to for a bowl-o-Japanese noodles. Two, it's cheap. You can get out of there, stuffed, for 20 Reais. Three, it's delicious. Four, once you get a table (you could wait 30 minutes-1 hour!!), it's really quick!

I also love the rules on the front of the menu...it's such a small restaurant by Brasilian standards that they are like Japanese restaurant czars about their seating and eating policy. I wish I had taken notes...but things like...if you are two people, sit at the counter, not at a table; on the weekends, you might have to share a table; only one refill of broth (but not on the weekends or holidays), and some other weird stuff I have never heard of in a restaurant, but I think is standard for Japanese restaurants?

The menu is not really that understandable if you are not Brasilian or Japanese, but I really don't think you can go wrong with any of it! The guioza is delicious (some of the best I have had in SP, I think), and Mary K. told us how to create the best dipping sauce...1 part soy, two parts vinegar, and a little bit of the hot stuff. It made all the difference!

This is a place to frequent, if you don't mind the wait and rush...because the big bowl-o-noodles will keep you full all day long. :)

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Frevo (Jardim Paulista)

Frevo
Rua Oscar Freire, 603
Jardim Paulista
Multiple Locations
http://www.frevinho.com.br/

This fancy lanchonete is famous for its roast beef beirute sandwich...and sandwich in a pita. I went for the classic, the first thing on the menu. Simple...just pita bread, roast beef, melted cheese, tomato and oregano. The whole sandwich is toasted in the oven. In my opinion, and could've been just the night we were there, it was nothing special. In fact, it was really dry and I needed to put hot sauce and ketchup on it to give it some taste. It was disappointing.

However, the burger...specifically the cheeseburger with grilled onion that I split with Janhavi...was one of the best burgers I have had in Sao Paulo. The bread is soft and fresh, and the meat is tasty...the onions were grilled just right, and the burger seemed to literally melt in my mouth.

We also ordered fries for the table..fresh and just right blend of soft and crisp. And everyone ordered fresh juices, which were sweet and cold and really hit the spot. Strange thing, though...only Coke and Guarana on the soft drink menu.

I will dreaming about the burger tonight...and I think I will try to find a better beirute somewhere else.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Black Dog (Jardins)

Black Dog
Alameda Joaquim Eugenio Lima, 612
Various Locations
http://www.blackdog.com.br/

Quite possibly the most interesting hot dog I have ever had. Still trying to decide it if it was delicious or disgusting. In my defense, I really only ate at Black Dog because it is situated on Eugenio Lima, where I really wanted to scope out some buses that pass by there. I was specifically looking out for the 669A, which goes straight down Santo Amaro from there. Unfortunately, there wasn't a parada (stop) there like I thought, but it was still a thrill to see the bus go by, knowing that I don't have to walk all the way to Brigadeiro Luiz Antonio to catch a bus to Moema. But back to the dog.

Here is what comes on the dog:
Two hot dogs (your choice of regular, spicy, soy, or chicken), sliced open. Vinaigrette. Cheddar cheese. Corn. Mayonnaise. Requeijao. Crispy potatoes. Parmesan encrusted mashed potatoes. Chopped tomatoes. Oregano.

The best part? The bread. And the parmesan-encrusted mashed potatoes. Surprisingly gourmet and delicious. Not disgusting! All of the other stuff...well, I admit I fore-went the mayonnaise and requeijao...it just seemed that it would be tooooo creamy....and gross. I only got a mini, and I didn't eat the whole thing. And I just don't get it...who thought of of putting it all together like that???? I know who. Drunk people.

Black Dog is open 24 hours for a reason...and the "praia" of bars across the street are probably what keeps this particular location in business. I'll definitely take my drunk friends here. And they will love it. And they will be soooo Sao Paulo. :)

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Lanchonete da Cidade (Jardins)

Al Tietê, 104
Multiple Locations
http://www.lanchonetedacidade.com.br/

I don't LOVE this place, but I like it a lot. It's fun. It's spacious. There are always romantic couples, groups of business men, families with young kids, and tables of teenagers out on the town hanging out at this throwback 50s diner-type restaurant. The burgers are okay...I tend to get the Bom Bom every time I go. It's a tasty burger on a nice French bun. But really, the best reason to go to LdC are the fries and onion rings. Specifically, the Rustic Potatoes (Batatas Rusticas on the menu) are crispy fried rounds surrounded by rosemary and roasted garlic. I could (and have) eaten an entire portion all by myself. The onion rings are also really special...little and crispy. Save some to put on your burger, if you can...although it might be not be possible b/c they are so delicious. I am pretty sure that there are better burgers in town, but for a big group of people (and even vegetarians!), this is a fun place to head out for dinner.

Sottozero (Jardins)

Multiple Locations
http://www.sottozero.com.br/


I admit, I was a skeptic. I am an ice cream snob and I really hate BAD, artificial-tasting fake ice cream. So when Sottozero was suggested over my fave place to get something cold for dessert, I went kicking and screaming. I'm glad we took the long walk down Augusta. :)

First, Sottozero isn't ice cream. It's Italian Gelato. In Austin, Texas, I was loyal to Teo, the local gelataria that I believe has the best gelato in the city. Sottozero, although a chain, and not quite as quaint or homey, has 5x as many flavors. I didn't taste all of them, but there wan't a bad one that I did taste.

Mostly, I was interested in the "natural yogurt" flavor, because that's the Yogurberry taste I am into these days. While the texture was different, the taste was quite similar. And for 9 Reais, you can get a lot more for your money. I'm not exactly sure how natural it is, but it tasted pretty fresh. I would definitely get it again. I complemented it with mango, which was, literally, like eating a mango. It was a perfect dessert.

There is a location in Shopping Ibirapuera among other places around the city, and I will definitely head back.