Brazilian near the Mass Pike

i think we may have discussed this before, but here goes again.

I keep passing an intriguing Brazilian place, just south of the Mass Pike on the way to the New Balance outlet in Brighton. It's called cafe brazil (421 Cambridge Street, Brighton [phone]).

I've seen good reviews on the 'net, but none from you chowhounds. Anyone been there?

ciao

Funny - I was actually thinking of posting a message about this place on my own. It's phenomenal. Be sure to try the steak -- I don't know if they import it from So. America, but it's incredibly flavorful. There are three kinds of fried Brazilian appetizers, all of which are great -- I forget what they're called, try all 3. They will give you unlimited rice and black beans with dinner. I suggest going on a weekend night, as there is usually a guy playing guitar.

--J

P.s. - the Vietnamese restaurant next door, Sai Gon, is my favorite Vietnamese restaurant in Boston, hands down. In fact, we didn't discover Cafe Brazil for a long time b/c we were always too busy going to Sai Gon.

--J

Thanks, Justin, for confirming my hunch. It's received good to very good reviews, but I trust savvy chowhounds better than most reviewers. Especially since I did get a very positive vibe from the looks of the place. I'm really glad to know about the Vietnamese, too (is it better than Pasteur in chinatown and Pho Pasteur in Allston?)

Like most chowhounds, I have a special place in my heart for places right off interstates.

ciao

> Pasteur in chinatown and Pho Pasteur in Allston

Just a quick note, Jim: C-town one is also "Pho"**. At least the one that remains is -- I know 1 or 2 sister shops around the corner have closed up; not sure of their names.

I suppose the Allston one is related...I can't picture *TOO* many Vietnamese immigrants named PASTEUR running around....

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** with an apostrophe in it actually: P'ho. Not really part of the name; just means "ramen".

Pasteur is an ubiquitous name in Vietnamese restaurants. Practically every city with Vietnamese immigrants has a place called Pasteur or Pho Pasteur.

Hmmm...I wouldn't have thought/known that. Was Pasteur someone famous (Colonial Governour?) in the history of French Vietnam??

Or do they just have a "thing" for irradiated milk....??

#:o)

I think that Pasteur was the name of a major boulevard in pre Ho Chi Minh City - Saigon. So it is sort of like calling it the Broadway Noodle house, but out of town and evocative of home.

Of course the New Pasteur on Baxter ST in NY's Chinatown is always worthy of mention.

Alan, a veteran hound like you surely goes back to the era when New Pasteur on Baxter Street was called Pho Pasteur! (also, it's no good anymore, to my intense chagrin)

ciao

I always think of it as just Pasteur, New, Pho what's the diff?

But New Pasteur heading downhill is a real tragedy. I haven't been back for about a year, but I probably have a jury duty stint coming up soon, and was looking forward to lunches there.

It was far and away one of my favorite places anywhere, esp. their pork chops, those little grilled beef rolls stuffed with sesame and lemon grass, and the soft shelled crabs (my wife's fave-- she would often choose the place for a birthday or anniversary dinner over move 'elegant' locales to have a crack at their crabs). Truly a sad day.

It's funny how postings on Boston restaurants inevitably lead to discussions about NYC ones. Not a criticism, just an observation. Sigh.

Well, here's a counterpoint: back to Boston.

Another good Allston Vietnamese Restaurant is the Ducky Wok, on Harvard Ave. Not, IMHO, as good as Sai Gon on Cambridge St., but it does have 2 things Sai Gon doesn't: cloth tablecloths and Chinese food as well as Vietnamese. (wink)

--J

It's funny how postings on Boston restaurants inevitably lead to discussions about NYC ones. Not a criticism, just an observation. Sigh.

Just growing pains, Seth, as we become more and more nationally established. The thing is for people to take it upon themselves to say "meet me on the NYC board" and carry on over there when discussion here goes from a reference to NYC chow (e.g. my message) to a full-fledged posting about NYC chow (e.g. Alan's reply).

We'll all get the hang of it, don't worry....

(likewise....if we're gonna discuss this particular topic one message further, it should go to Site Talk).

ciao