Tourists flock to Brazil for its beautiful beaches, Rio Carnival, the famous Christ the Redeemer statue and, of course, the delicious Brazilian cuisine. Lucky for locals of and visitors to Hartford, Connecticut, they don't need to travel all the way to Brazil to indulge in Brazilian fare. Hartford, the "Insurance Capital of the World" (due to very many insurance companies being headquartered here), has multiple dining options for those seeking Brazilian food.
Chale Ipanema offers diners a variety of Brazilian and Portuguese cuisine. It does this in a healthful manner by draining its meats of fat and using fresh fruits and vegetables. Chale Ipanema is in the Little Italy section of Hartford on the south end, and it offers up a romantic atmosphere with several private dining rooms, plus a full bar area. Open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for lunch and 5 to 10 p.m. for dinner, reservations are encouraged although not necessary.
Chale Ipanema
342 Franklin Ave.
Hartford, CT 06114
860-296-2120
On the west side of Hartford is Churrascaria Braza, a Brazilian steakhouse located in what used to be a movie theater. Once voted the best restaurant in Hartford in a 2005 poll, Churrascaria Braza is open Tuesdays through Saturdays. Guachos (meat waiters) come table side with carts of freshly grilled meats and slice off large portions of whichever meat diners choose. Churrascaria Braza basically offers all-you-can-eat dining at a fixed price. In addition to the many cuts of meat available, there is also a large salad bar. When the weather is nice there is outdoor patio seating, but all year round the ambiance is casual and fun.
Churrascaria Braza
488 Farmington Ave.
Hartford, CT 06105
860-882-1839
hottomatos.net
Open seven days a week for both lunch and dinner is the Brazil Grill Churrascaria. Started as a store offering Brazilian groceries and food to go, it turned into a buffet churrascaria in 2001. A churrascaria is a Brazilian steakhouse, and at this particular steakhouse, diners go through the salad bar, choosing greens, rice and beans first, and then stop at the grill and order a skewer of the meat of their choosing. Food is priced by the pound, so prices end up being very reasonable for the amount of food consumed. Usually a $7 or $8 meal will leave a customer quite full. Every day of the week there is a different Brazilian specialty prepared; in addition to Brazilian fare, the steakhouse serves pizza.
Brazil Grill Churrascaria
1996 Park St.
Hartford, CT 06106
860-523-5477
brazilgrillhartford.com
