572694 Sun Nov 16 10:51:53 -0800 2008 10 56 South America 0 4177861 Hello- I will be traveling solo to Rio for 10 days over Thanksgiving. I've reviewed helpful past threads, but haven't found much about restaurants in Barra (where I'll be staying for the first week for work reasons) or Santa Teresa (where I'll spend the last 3 days). If anyone has any recommendations, please let me know. I'm more interested in inexpensive places that don't cater to tourists. Thanks in advance for any help! Sun Nov 16 10:51:53 -0800 2008 64343 tamarindo 1 4178224 In Barra-Barra Grill(churrasco),Capricciosa(pizza),Academia da Cachaca(cachaca and traditional Brazilian) Santa Tereza-Espirito Santa(Brazilian),Aprazivel(haute cuisine from Minas Gerais chef),Bar do Mineiro(local Brazilian w/cachaca, was good enough for Anthony Bourdain) Well, I would say to not limit yourself, the exchange rate isn't bad right now.None of the restaurants mentioned by myself,Aledm, Cariorker,Toot,or Mpierce64 are catering to tourists, with the exception of Casa da Feioada.You will do well in your neighborhoods looking for local lanchonetes, which is a favorite venue of mine and places for sucos, chopperias, and bares.But, bus transportation is easy and inexpensive,wanna go to Barra, get on the bus that says Barra,etc.,so try and get around.Subways, easy and efficient!Barra is not an inexpensive neighborhood but it's not far from Ipanema/Copa,Santa Teresa is very close to downtown. A Mineira is a buffet restaurant featuring Minas Gerais cuisine, one of my favorites in Sao Paulo, cheap,outstanding and plentiful. Wasn't quite clear what you were looking for as non-touristy and cheap leaves a lot of territory, so I thought I'd steer you this way.Also, it would be great to hear if you went to these places and report your finds.Many take reccs and we never hear back. Sun Nov 16 14:22:41 -0800 2008 4177861 128722 streetgourmetla 1 4188731 Shirley is an awesome seafood place - actually feels like Spain - small and intimate, classic menu! go for it -pk, theculturephile.com Thu Nov 20 07:52:58 -0800 2008 4177861 126931 pkafka 1 4192783 Bar do Arnaudo in Santa Teresa has been around forever, it serves food from the Northeast of Brazil. I haven't been in a long time but it used to be good and it's the kind of food you won't get outside Brazil. Aprazivel is supposed to be really nice, but I haven't been there yet. Barra is huge and has so many options. BarraShopping (one of Barra malls) has actually pretty good options. Don't worry that it's a mall, the food in Brazilian malls are quite different than the food court in the US, you can find many upscale restaurants in the malls. Bar do Osvaldo is another traditional place in Barra where people go for batidas (drinks with cachaca and fruit juice). But it's a bar, they don't have meals, just some tapas. Fratteli, Enotri are good Italian places also in Barra. A little piece of advice, I wouldn't take a bus to Barra... (and I am from Rio). Fri Nov 21 15:23:28 -0800 2008 4177861 17192 Toot 1 4192792 Bar do Arnaudo in Santa Teresa has been around forever, it serves food from the Northeast of Brazil. I haven't been in a long time but it used to be good and it's the kind of food you won't get outside Brazil. Aprazivel is supposed to be really nice, but I haven't been there yet. Barra is huge and has so many options. BarraShopping (one of Barra malls) has actually pretty good options. Don't worry that it's a mall, the food in Brazilian malls are quite different than the food court in the US, you can find many upscale restaurants in the malls. Bar do Osvaldo is another traditional place in Barra where people go for batidas (drinks with cachaca and fruit juice). But it's a bar, they don't have meals, just some tapas. Fratteli, Enotri are good Italian places also in Barra. A little piece of advice, I wouldn't take a bus to Barra... (and I am from Rio). Fri Nov 21 15:26:56 -0800 2008 4177861 17192 Toot 2 4197017 Hey Toot.I took buses to Barra and back.I'm curious why you wouldn't recommend this.Is it the favelas in between Leblon and Barra, like Rocinha and a bunch of others?I concur with Barra shopping, excellent food options, as there are all over Rio. Sun Nov 23 20:36:29 -0800 2008 4192792 128722 streetgourmetla 3 4212621 Buses are ok if yor are going to the beach and not carrying anything with you. If you are dressed to go out, carrying money in your wallet I would avoid buses. People get mugget in buses, which doesn't happen in the subway or in taxis. Both subway (during the day) and taxis are pretty safe in Rio. Mon Dec 01 14:38:04 -0800 2008 4197017 17192 Toot 4 4213216 I had no problem with the buses, but I do blend in and speak portuguese.I even did it at night, Sao Paulo too.I was aware which neighborhoods I would be going through, and always dressed accordingly, simple, money belt with small amount of cash in pocket,cc's in money belt. Subways are a great option too, I took them all over Sampa.Taxis are an affordable option at the moment with the current exchange rate, just be aware of bandeira 1 and bandeira 2! One guy tried to hit me with the higher rate, my Paulista wife and I were speaking in english, when she asked him why he had bandeira 2 at 7PM(I believe that was the time)he about wet himself out of shame, never heard someone apologize and stutter so much.Bem feito! Mon Dec 01 18:49:02 -0800 2008 4212621 128722 streetgourmetla 4 4267865 We took buses all over Rio, including Barra, for 3-1/2 months last year. All day time however. But NO problem. Actually beyond no problem. Everyone, including the driver, were very helpful. And my Portuguese is SO sucky :) Mon Dec 22 20:33:26 -0800 2008 4212621 131001 c oliver 5 4268137 Awesome, so I'm not crazy.I had no problems either.I'm actually addicted to public transportation in Brazil. Tue Dec 23 01:18:29 -0800 2008 4267865 128722 streetgourmetla 6 4268531 And it's so easy. Unlike in the U.S. all you have to do in Rio is look at the signs on the front of the bus and you can figure out what to take. We also bought a book that gave ALL the bus lines. And the subway is great too. Tue Dec 23 07:32:05 -0800 2008 4268137 131001 c oliver