PF River: The Globe reveals the 50 best dishes made in the city

The newspaper The Globo brought together 46 experts, among chefs, journalists, artists and influencers, to each indicate five unmissable addresses in Rio. The result of this curatorship was a tasty and plural selection that makes up the Rio de PF (made dish): a delicious list of the 50 best restaurants from North to South of the city, perfect to kill the hunger with that taste very Rio.

But what is PF anyway?

The famous PF, acronym for “Plate made”, is a complete meal, accessible and very traditional in the Brazilian daily lunch. Popular especially among the middle and low classes, it is usually served already assembled, without choice of items separately, different from the model a la carte.

Originating from the industrialization period, when workers needed to have lunch quickly, full and cheaply, the PF usually includes rice, beans, a protein (beef, chicken or fish), salad and accompaniments such as French fries, pasta or farofa.

And now, the highlights on the list...

1st place – Front Bar (Praça da Bandeira)

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The great champion was the Front Bar, a small and cozy space at Praça da Bandeira. Chef Mariana Rezende, who idealized the menu next to her mother, who died just over six years ago, keeps alive a special touch on the recipes, marked by the affective memory and empathy surrounding the place.

2nd place – Downloada (Copacabana)

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In the second position appears the Downloadla, located on the second block of the Avenida Rainha Elisabeth of Belgium, near the Posto 6, in Copacabana. A bar with tables on the sidewalk, where you can observe the pulsating life of the neighborhood: residents walking, tourists asking for information in the air and the constant movement of the street.

The highlight is chicken parmegiana, with strong personality: boned overcoat filet, empanada and served with macho cheese. The dish (R$ 42) accompanies rice and mashed potatoes — and for anyone who wants, beans and farofa are added at no extra cost.

3rd place – Momo's bar (Tijuca)

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The bronze got the traditional Momo's bar, led by chef Antonio Carlos Laffargue, Toninho. With typical Tijucan climate, the restaurant refers to homemade lunch — both in the environment and in the flavors.
The menu offers options such as counterfilé with fries (R$ 50), chicken filet with mayonnaise or fries (R$ 40), liver bait with puree (R$ 35) and the classic of the house: chicken filet with mayonnaise (R$ 25). Daily there is also a special dish, such as stew prepared according to an old family recipe.

Professor Breno Cruz, from the Gastronomy course of UFRJ, recalls the historical context:
— With industrialization, between the 1930s and 1950s, this model was consolidated, especially in large cities. The number of workers grew, and together the demand for fast and affordable food outside the home.

Already the influencer Marcos Bonder, blog “Bond Buteco”, highlights how the PF became part of the Rio routine:
— Get off the beach, get a PF; after football, kill a PF before going home; go solve something on the street or not take lunch at work, eat a PF. It's more practical, it's stripped, it's not formal to have all the food separated, it's all coming together. — Opinion Marcos.

Service:

Front Bar

Unit Praça da Bandeira

Address: R. Baron Iguatemi, 388 - Praça da Bandeira

Opening hours: Wednesday to Saturday, 12h to 22h; Sunday, 12h to 17h

Tel. (21) 2502-0176

Social network: @bardafront

Unit Copacabana

Address: R. Alm. Gonçalves, 29 - Shop B - Copacabana

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 11:00 to 11:00; Saturday and Sunday, 8:00 to 11:00

Tel. (21) 99393-7133

Social network: @bardafront

Downloada - Bar and Restaurant

Address: Av. Queen Elisabeth of Belgium, 85 - Shop D - Copacabana

Opening hours: Monday, 12h to 9h; Tuesday, 12h to 22h; Wednesday, 9h to 22h; Thursday, 9h to 9h; Friday and Saturday, 9h to 0h; Sunday, 9h to 8h

Tel. (21) 97917-0998

Social network: @basixela. river

Momo's bar

Address: R. Gen. Espírito Santo Cardoso, 50A - Loja A - Tijuca

Opening hours: Monday, 12h to 22h; Wednesday to Saturday, 12h to 22h; Sunday, 12h to 18h

Tel. (21) 2148-2874

Social network: @bardomomomofficial @toninhomom

Learn more in > See here the full list of the best restaurants with PF in Rio