Everything about Brazil is sexy from the music to the beach scene to Carnaval. In this lively country even the food is sensuous especially if the food is Brazilian comfort food with a twist. That is the first surprise at the trend setting Rio restaurant Miam Miam. Here, classic dishes modified by Cordon Bleu trained chef, Roberta Ciasca, are served up beautifully and unexpectedly. Ciasca’s supremely satisfying fare is based on simple, traditional recipes from childhood. When you finish your meal, you too will be repeating Miam Miam … a French onomatopoeia for “Yum Yum”.
Five year old Miam Miam is a local hit popular with hip Cariocas (Rio natives) who hang out until the wee hours at their favorite spot. The restaurant, co-founded by three friends who always wanted to open their own place, is a shared vision not only in the trend setting menu but also in the decor. Everything about the place is unexpected, from the location in the up and coming neighborhood of Botafogo to the ground breaking mod décor, a first for Rio. Filled with 50s, 60s and 70s vintage furniture, lighting and accessories, the second surprise is that everything in the place is for sale like an antique gallery serving amazing food. The airy space with exposed brick walls and vintage graphics is divided into three seating areas spaces so that you can choose to dine in a “living room” with seating for 25, a “cantina” rather like Grandma’s kitchen with Formica topped tables arranged to seat 30 more or a tiny alfresco breezeway with a few intimate tables. Miam Miam also offers the ultimate take away too. They’ll deliver your furniture purchase right to your door!
At Miam Miam even the wait staff makes a statement, outfitted in vintage looking chocolate brown western shirts trimmed with flowers. The biggest surprise is that this trendy ambiance enhanced by local DJ’s spinning the latest tracks really pumps up the volume with their inventive cocktails, not the norm for Rio! The bar turns out killer martinis, our favorites being Lychee and the house special Miam Miam … sake splashed with passion fruit juice and grenadine. We returned several times to Miam Miam in order to savor all the delicious offerings. Appetizers included tomato bruschetta with pesto tapenade, hearts of palm carpaccio with shrimp in herb butter and divine garlic calamari. Some of the memorable main dishes were the quinoa tabouleh with shrimp and squid, beef curry with Moroccan cous cous and grilled tilapia with a ginger and coriander sauce. How we had room for desert is one of life’s mysteries, but their sweet morsels finished our meals beautifully. Some of the best were chocolate fritters with kiwi carpaccio, mini churros served with a caramel tart, coconut lemon soufflé tart with a blackberry sauce and a simple home-made guava compote.
As we walked back to our hotel, we keep saying “Yum Yum” aka Miam Miam.
Miam Miam
Rua Gal Goes Monteiro
Botafogo- Rio De Janeiro
+55 21 2244-0125
Hours
Monday- Closed
Tuesday-Friday 12pm-3pm, 7:30pm-12am
Saturday 8pm-1:30am
Sunday- Open (Times Vary)