Olga M.
Google
Visited in July 2024.
Brazil. Rio de Janeiro.
We stumbled upon Noa while exploring the neighbourhood and were immediately drawn to its lush, verdant terrace, offering a welcome respite from the bustling street. The positive reviews we'd seen online sealed the deal, and we decided to take a break from the city's hustle and bustle.
Food:
We ordered two appetizers and a main course. The portions were on the smaller side. For starters, we had calamari and prawns in a tempura coating with a dipping sauce. They were fried perfectly, with a light, crispy, and non-greasy breadcrumb coating. Next, we tried the mini crabcake burgers, which unfortunately were not to our liking. The crabcake itself contained mostly mashed potato, with only a hint of crab flavour detectable, mostly by its fibrous texture. The bun was decent, but the overall taste was heavily bread-forward and lacked balance. For our main course, we had prawns with pasta and a creamy, tangy mousse. The prawns were cooked flawlessly – crispy, slightly caramelized. The pasta was also good, smooth, al dente, and the mousse added a nice flavour, though it felt a little heavy on the cream.
Service:
The service was good. Our waiter spoke some English, and the photos of the dishes on the menu helped us make our choices.
Overall:
Noa is a pleasant restaurant in the heart of Ipanema, serving Mediterranean cuisine with an Italian twist. It’s definitely a good option for finding something delicious. The restaurant itself is attractive, making it a great spot for a relaxing meal.