Boteco - new Brazilian restaurant in Alhambra

[suvro]

An old friend visiting from Brazil suggested we go to this new restaurant in Alhambra.
http://theboteco.com/

This is near Pho79 at the intersection of Garvey and Main - address is 28 W. Main St.
Alhambra, CA 91801, phone [phone]

There were three of us, and we all had the caipirinha - Brazilian equivalent of the mojito, made with the Brazilian cane sugar rum cachaca. I had remembered drinking this at his house over 20 years ago in Pasadena, so we had to try this, even though it was lunch, and normally I don't drink alcohol with lunch. It was quite good.

One of our party ordered the Picanha off the lunch menu - described as "TOP SIRLOIN CENTER CUT. SERVED WITH RICE, BLACK BEANS, YUCCA FLOUR, VINAIGRETTE, CARAMELIZED PLAINTAINS". The service was a bit shaky, since they brought this out first. It was a pretty decent cut of meat on a sizzling platter with grilled onions, and the sides on a separate dish. We asked that it be consumed while hot, thinking that the other two orders would come soon. But it took a long time. The Brazilian friend knew the host, who came out and apologized, saying that the dish was meant for another table, since our three orders were supposed to come together. He said they would give us a second order of this complimentary, to compensate for the delay and the mixup. Our food actually still took a long time to come out. They have been open for 4 months, and have been refining the menu (fourth change apparently coming next week - where they are changing from the more heavy meat based churrascarria model to more appetizers and a good bar with happy hour) - so I am chalking the service snafu to growing pains.

I had ordered the Moqueca de Peixe - described as "SEAFOOD STEW MADE WITH COD & SHRIMP, COCONUT MILK, DENDÊ OIL AND CASHEWS. SERVED WITH RICE AND VEGETABLES". It was tasty, but not something I would go back for. I could not taste the cashew and not knowing what Dende oil is, I have no idea if this was present. It felt like a mild Thai red curry with generous portions of shrimp and cod.

Our Brazilian host ordered the Feijoada - which was not on the menu, but we were told it is on their weekend menu. It is a traditional Brazilian/Portuguese stew of black beans with different cuts of meat, though here we were told there was only one type of meat.

Since there was the extra order of the Picanha, I got to try it. The meat was succulent, but nothing that special.

Overall, an interesting new restaurant, but hopefully it will continue to polish its operations in the future.

[ipsedixit]

I think you mean Main and Garfield (not Garvey).

In any event, I give this 6 months, tops. I think this is the former Cuban Bistro spot, right?

[Dommy]

I dunno, there is that sad, less inventive Brazilian place in El Sereno that has survived for years... If they keep dishing out the good meat at decent prices, there can be an audience for it in the neighborhood...

--Dommy!

[ipsedixit]

That part of Main St. is sort of like purgatory. Not sure even a magnet like Mr. Lee's or McDonald's could survive in that area.

[TonyC]

They opened August 30, so only 2.5MO to go, then? I think they'll make 6MO. 1 year, not so much. I hope they survive, as it's sad all the Hispanics in the nabe just default to Shakeys and Alondra Hot Wings...

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Boteco-...

[raytamsgv]

I read an article a few years back about Main Street restaurants. The owners complained that there wasn't not enough weekday/weeknight traffic. Business was okay on the weekends, but that was it.

[ipsedixit]

Rick's seems to do OK (been there since before you and I were AHS kids).

Although Alhambra Place just completely went kaput. A freaking ghost town right in the middle of downtown Alhambra. Weird.

[Johnny L]

Alhambra's Main Street is a mess. I blame it on too much traffic and too little parking. Most people can't be bothered to deal with that hassle on a weekday.

It's too bad Boiling Crab and Alondra's seems to be the only ones bringing in crowds. Maybe if the city allowed more outdoor dining it could bring in people but I'd still doubt it.

[ipsedixit]

Actually Charlie's Trio is probably the busiest place on the stretch of Main.

[Johnny L]

Never been there but looking at the Yelp pictures can I safely and depressingly assume it's Olive Garden in different clothing?

[ipsedixit]

I think that's about right. Olive Garden with an open kitchen.

[Ernie]

Actually Alondra's is the busiest by far