142704 Fri Aug 02 12:03:12 -0700 2002 5 12 Boston Area 0 763573 Have never tried Brazilian food and am wondering where to go. Looking for something authentic maybe a little divey. Any suggestions? Fri Aug 02 12:03:12 -0700 2002 0 Lollipop 1 763574 I've always been fascinated with Cafe Brasil, 451 Cambridge St. Allston, just south of the Pike (x18). Haven't actually eaten there, but a bit of asking around indicates that it's maybe good. ciao Fri Aug 02 12:06:53 -0700 2002 763573 0 Jim Leff 2 763578 I've eaten at Cafe Brazil and the food is good. They have an addictive fried chicken (reminds me of my mum's Nonya-style fried chicken), and the mixed grill I had (I think it's called Brazil 2000) included the chicken together with a pork chop and a small steak. THe chicken far outshone the other meats. The plate came with rice, vegetables and farofa (?sp). Also liked their fried plantains with linguica. My friend had a salmon dish which was very pedestrian. I've heard that their oxtail stew is good. It a a nice homey place and the owner comes to chat with you. On weekends they have live music (a guitarist). My housecleaner, a Brazilian, likes their food. Other Brazilian places I've tried: Midwest Grill in East Cambridge - they do churrascario, grilled meat on skewers that are brought round to your table by waiters who shave off as many slices as you desire. The beef, chicken hearts and linguica were the best, the pork and chicken breasts a little dry. The fixed price of $19 also includes unlimited helpings from the buffet of salads,rice and hot dishes. I really liked their version of feijoada which had lovely fatty pigs tails in the stew. Cafe Belo (Allston, branches all over) also does churrascario for cheaper. However (or therefore) their beef is not as good quality as the Midwest and their linguica were small and charred. They also have a buffet of salads and rice/stews and there was a chicken stew with coconut gravy that was very tasty. It's more like a cafeteria and you pay by the pound. Lots of Brazilian families come by to do takeout so it must be pretty authentic. Cafe Buteco on Jersey St in the Fenway - homey cafe with decent fare. I've also eaten in a restaurant on 33rd St in Manhattan (there's a whole row of Brazilian restaurants there) which was more upmarket, and Cafe Brazil is almost as good. I remember trying the caprinhas (Brazilian liquor with lime juice) and boy, they packed a punch! Finally, I've had homemade Bacalhau by a Brazilian co-worker that was fantastic! Side note: Brazilian shares some things in common with Portuguese food, since they were colonised by the latter. If any CHound has better recommendations, please share! Fri Aug 02 12:55:21 -0700 2002 763574 0 ju 2 763636 when we lived in boston, the only brazilian restaurant we frequented was cafe brasil. favourites included rabada (oxtail stew) and steak rolled up with cheese and bacon inside. the owner was always so welcoming. Sun Aug 04 15:49:35 -0700 2002 763574 0 dw 1 763583 My roommate's Brazilian boyfriend took us to this place in Sommerville about 4 years ago. It was on the second level of some building near Sullivan Sq. It was like some sort of dining hall. This restaurant wasn't about hospitality, it was there for the care and feeding of Brazilian immigrants. There was no menu, he just told this woman who came to our table what to bring for us. We shared feijoada, steak and eggs and some sort of pinkish custard dessert. It was all quite good, but not remarkable. A little too homey for me. Fri Aug 02 13:52:24 -0700 2002 763573 0 raj1 1 763586 Downtown Framingham has a plethora of divey Brazilian restaurants. My complaint, is a lack of English descriptions and English speaking. We have eaten at Cafe Brazil numerous times and never had a bad meal. Walter is very cordial, too. Somer favorites are the corn meal soup, steak rolled with ham, steak with a fried egg, Brazil 2000, feijoda. Meat seems to beking. Fri Aug 02 14:30:48 -0700 2002 763573 0 mike