SF - Bossa Nova ... Cal Brazilian?

[rworange]

Anyone been to this place on 8th St?

It looks interesting ... late night hours too ... the kitchen closes at midnight.

The menu lists 15 types of Cachaca. There are six types of caipirinhas with fresh fruit. The mojitos sound good .... regular, strawberry basil cucumber and watermelon. They have a happy hour.

Some of the dishes ...
- "Peixe Frito" Fried Smelt w/ Pepper Sauce
- Steamed Mussels with Spicy Tomato, Cilantro and Coconut Milk Broth
- Churrasquinho w/ Three sauces (lamb, beef ribeye, chicken or prawns)
- Rio Style Moqueca w/ Local Shellfish, Coconut Milk, Soffrito and Potato
- Fried Plantain Chips w/ Lime Salt
- Black Beans w/ Pork Belly
- Coconut Rice
- Chocolate Mousse with Brazil Nuts and Whipped Cream

Live music too ... anyone been?

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Bossa Nova
139 8th St, San Francisco, CA

[Melanie Wong]

I'm looking for updates on Bossa Nova. Anyone been to the happy hour, Tuesday thru Sunday 5:00-6:30pm? What's it like on Saturday evenings for dinner these days?

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Bossa Nova
139 8th St, San Francisco, CA

[Melanie Wong]

On Saturday I did make it over there for happy hour with a few friends after the talk at the main library. We waited out on the sidewalk for the door's to open. On Latin time, the employees were waiting with us too until someone upstairs tossed the keys out the window.

Loved the $5 happy hour plain caipirinha, packed with fresh lime wedges. Tried the pao de queijo (cheese bread) and the chicken croquettes (no salt cod available this day) and enjoyed both of them, especially the pao. I'd like to go back for dinner some time.

Has anyone tried it for lunch?

[bigwheel042]

The chow is pretty good (I had the moqueca - very curry-esque), but be forewarned that it gets very, very crowded and loud on weekend nights. If I weren't going for a special occasion I'd try to hit it on a weeknight.

[Robert Lauriston]

I didn't notice any particular Cal influence. Seemed like all of the staff and most of the customers were Brazilian. More of a bar feel than a restaurant. Nice fried croquettes and smelt. Good steak.

[rworange]

Thanks. Brazilian food is in the Bay Area seems to focus on the same few dishes so this seemed different ... also some of the dishes I read about like

- blue cheese corn on the cob
- Brazil Nut Crusted Goat Cheese w/ Cipollini Onion Jam
- "Hamachi Tiradito" w/ Rocoto Chili and Yuzu Dressing
- Tuna Tartare w/ Ginger, Radishes, Avocado, and Amarillo
- blood orange mojito

[Robert Lauriston]

We had the blue cheese corn on the cob. Startling combination but good.

The plain caipirinha was great. They had some flavored ones (strawberry?) that were a bad idea.

Good wine list.