Olga Maevskaia
Google
Visited in July 2024.
Brazil. Rio de Janeiro.
We've explored pretty much every restaurant in this part of town and often passed by Oiá as it was always bustling. We finally decided to give it a go. The interior is bright and beautiful, and the atmosphere is very cosy, even though the tables are quite close together. We got the impression that this restaurant specialises in Mediterranean and Greek cuisine.
Food:
We went for two starters and a main course. Our first starter was a Greek-style taco with chicken and yoghurt sauce. The tacos were tasty, but the chicken filling was a little sparse. It got lost in the flavour of the vibrant sauce and other ingredients. The crunchy onion on top was a nice touch, adding texture and flavour to the dish. Next up was the crispy aubergine and courgette chips, as described on the menu. In reality, they were more like deep-fried vegetables in a thick batter that wasn't crispy at all. It was more like a doughnut, which wasn't quite what we had imagined. Plus, there wasn't a picture for this dish on the menu. We were able to get it taken off the order without any fuss. For our main course, we had the octopus. This was cooked perfectly - tender and juicy, with a slightly crispy exterior. It was served with a pea purée, which we felt was a bit greasy due to the abundance of oil. But overall, it was delicious.
Service:
The waiters weren't particularly fluent in English, but we managed to communicate using gestures and the picture menu, which was a lifesaver. The food came out quickly and everything was fine.
Conclusion:
A decent restaurant in the heart of Ipanema. It would be perfect for large family gatherings or a leisurely lunch. All in all, the food was good and we had a lovely time.