Rio de Janeiro Cray !!! Portuguese Tapas at Adega Pérola
The Lowdown
Restaurant Name: Adega Pérola
Cuisine: Portuguese Tapas
Average Price per Person: R$30 to 60 BRL or $14 to 28 USD
Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brasil (see map below for details)
Recommendations: Rollmops (pickled herring), Sardinha (sardines), Pérolas do Mar (mixed marinated seafood), Polvo Vinagrete (octopus), Pérolas de Alho (marinated garlic), and Beringela Temperada (eggplant), Linguiça ao Vinho Tinto (sausage) and Bolinhos de Bacalhau (fried cod fish sticks)Ratings (out of 5)
Taste: 4
Creativity/Authenticity: 4.5
Atmosphere: 3.5
Service: 3.5
Bang for Buck: 4Crayscale !!!
Hidden towards the back of Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana district and away from the tourist-packed streets is a little Portuguese tapas gem called Adega Pérola. Founded in 1957 by a Portuguese family from Madeira, Adega Pérola has won the hearts of locals and recognized with awards which are proudly nailed to the walls of the restaurant. Adega Pérola came highly recommended by our Brazilian homies Ingrid and Flavio affirming that this spot successfully mimics the food, atmosphere, and vibes reminiscent of a tapas bar one would find in Portugal or Spain.
Tucked away on Rua Siqueira Campos across from Siqueira Campos Metro, Adega Pérola occupies a tiny boteco with just a handful of tables. A massive glass deli-style counter stretches from the entrance to the back of the restaurant taking up most of the space. The selection is almost overwhelming with an endless selection of delicious marinated dishes including sardines, squid, octopus, fish, mussels, olives, eggplant, and more. Fried appetizers, cooked meats and a huge selection of beer, wine and cachaças (Brazilian sugar cane spirits) are a must as well.
This place is always bumpin’ especially in the evenings and weekends so make sure you come early if you want to grab a table. Diners are welcome to order from and eat along the bar too. Similar to a deli, items are priced per 100g. Sharing is encouraged so try to round up an entourage so you can taste a little bit of everything. Make sure you try their best sellers – rollmops (pickled herring), sardinha (sardines), pérolas do mar (mixed marinated seafood), polvo vinagrete (octopus), pérolas de alho (marinated garlic), and beringela temperada (eggplant).
Polvo vinagrete (R$22 or $10 USD per 100 grams). The baby octopus was tender and mad tasty marinated in an herb and garlic vinaigrette finished with parsley and onions.
Trutas Escabeche (R$20 or $9 USD per 100g). This is essentially fried trout marinated in vinegar with herbs and spices. The trout had a nice crunchy crust with an acidic spicy kick.
Rollmops (R$8 or $3.60 USD each). Rollmops FTW! I’ve had a thing for pickled herring since the first time I went to Amsterdam. I love his stuff so this pickled herring wrapped around marinated sliced onion was my absolute favorite.
Linguiça ao Vinho Tinto, a Calabrian sausage marinated in red wine topped with raw onions. If you’re into red wine and meat, you’ll love this since the Calabrian sausage soaks up all that sweet red wine goodness.
The Pérolas de Alho was my second favorite dish! These marinated garlic cloves may look intimidating at first since lets face it, nobody really wants to leave with garlic breath. This isn’t the case at all though. The marination removes the spicy garlicy aftertaste and you’re left with delicious crunchy cloves of garlic!
Do you like fish sticks? If you do, order the Bolinhos de Bacalhau which are essentially fried cod fish sticks! #gayfish
Beringela Temperada (R$6 or $2.75 USD). This marinated eggplant is bomb soaking up all that delicious marinade. I have a mild allergy to eggplant and my throat mouth gets irritated whenever I eat it, but this stuff was just too good to resist.
The mussels were on point as well soaking up that delicious marinade and topped with raw onions.
Adega Pérola
Rua Siqueira Campos, 138 – Copacabana
Rio de Janeiro – RJ
Brazil
p:+55 21 2255-9425
