Boteco-Restaurante Brasileiro, the City’s First Authentic Brazilian Restaurant & Bar, Opens at Magrath Road, Bengaluru

Bengaluru, April, 2022: India's first authentic Brazilian restaurant and bar Boteco - Restaurante Brasileiro opens its doors in the heart of Bengaluru’s shopping and entertainment district at Magrath Road, Bengaluru.  ‘Botecos,’ traditionally neighbourhood bars that one can find in street corners in Brazil, translates in Portuguese to a place for great drinks and easy conversation.  With its casual and relaxed vibe, an extensive menu of both authentic and reimagined dishes and heady cocktails, Boteco-Restaurante Brasileiro captures the essence of a Brazilian watering hole with an emphasis on delicious, high-quality food and great drinks. From quick bites like Coxinhas, a popular street food of lightly spiced chicken golden-fried to perfection; Entradas’ – including favourites like Pão de Queijo – traditional cheese breads, and Linguiça com Mandioca – seasoned pork sausages with cassava fries, this first-of-its-kind restaurant and bar in the City promises to introduce Bangaloreans to the vibrant and diverse cuisine of Brazil. Drawing inspiration from the Brazilian style of barbeque, Boteco also has its own ‘Churrasqueira’ section and a specially designed charcoal grill to cook meat to perfection. The country is known the world over for its diverse food culture, influenced by various global cuisines including Europe, Africa and even Asia. Boteco’s menu captures this very spirit, bringing together a fresh amalgamation of flavours to your table. A ‘Boteco’ would be nothing without its share of heady beverages and at the bar one can find expertly mixed signature cocktails including Brazilian national drink, the ‘Caipirinha’ made with imported Brazilian Cachaça or sugarcane liquor, lime and sugar, Cha-Preto, a Cachaça based communal drink which embodies Brazil’s collective spirit of friendship and fun, a selection of heady, classic and signature cocktails as well as refreshing, fruity sangrias. So what’s keeping you from this uber-cool, super-relaxed and immensely vibrant Brazilian restaurant and bar? Call +91 87920 45444 / 080 49913534 to book your table today. 

Food

Brazilian cuisine is an exuberant mix of native, European and African influences and varies greatly by region, reflecting the country's mix of indigenous and immigrant populations. The most distinctive regional cuisines are from the states of Minas Gerais and Bahia. While Minas Gerais cuisine has a strong Portuguese influence, with pork being the preferred meat; Bahian cuisine has more African delicacies. The Brazilian barbecue churrasco originated in the south of Brazil, with beef being the preferred meat, and strong culinary influences from South American countries such as Uruguay and Argentina.  With over 7,000 kms of seacoast skirting the Atlantic Ocean, there is an incredible variety of seafood in their cuisine. While beans and cassava are some common ingredients and accompaniments, freshness of produce is given tremendous importance.

Internationally renowned chef of Brazilian origin with over three decades of culinary experience, Executive Chef & Partner – Chef Guto Souza – helms the kitchen at Boteco. Brazilian food is known to be a melting pot of various cuisines including Italian, Angolian, Spanish and Japanese. Add to that Chef Guto’s creative interpretation and a variety of influences absorbed through his many travels and culinary experiments. Boteco’s menu captures this very spirit with a selection of authentic and  reimagined dishes to give you an incredible Brazilian culinary experience right here in Bengaluru. While the food is largely traditional, Chef Guto brings his unique style to the dishes with an interplay of flavours, use of local ingredients and reinterpreting dishes to create a whole new and exciting offering. 

The best way to get into the spirit of things is to order yourself a cocktail from the extensive selection and a plate of the much-loved and immensely popular street food – Coxinha – a savoury dough with lightly-spiced chicken, golden-fried to perfection. Another must-order is the moreish bread Pão de Queijo. This traditional, gluten-free cheese bread made with tapioca flour, comes with various toppings and is the perfect snack to accompany your drink - whether it be a signature cocktail, a glass of chilled draft beer or your choice of drink from the ample liquor selection. The extensive small plate section offers dishes like  Prawn Croquettes – prawn and bechamel croquettes served with red spicy sauce, and Bruschetta De Lunguiça – home-made pork sausages served with French baguettes, Linguica com Mandioca – seasoned pork sausages served with cassava fritas and Camarao Copacabana – prawns tossed in butter garlic and wine and served on a bed of roasted tomatoes.

For plated mains, the menu is divided into three sections - vegetarian, meat and seafood. Starting with the hearty plates of meat, one can find the immensely popular Carne Na Pedra, a DIY dish where thin slices of steak are cooked at the table on a hot stone and served with fries; Farofa made with toasted cassava flour and salad.  An exciting and rather unique dining experience to look forward to at Boteco is the Brazilian barbeque - ‘Churrasqueira’. Drawing inspiration from the Brazilian style of barbeque, Boteco has its own ‘Churrasqueira’ section with a specially designed charcoal grill to cook those meats to perfection. Choose from Tenderloin Steak, Belgian Pork Steak, New Zealand Lamb Picanha or a Mixed Grill. If you want to go big, opt for the Mega Meat Grill Platter to share, or the Brazilian coastal favourite Seafood Platter with grilled fish, prawns, salmon sushi rolls, crab cakes, grilled calamari and crabstick salad. Brazilian food is a community-based cuisine and choosing the Mega Platters of meat or seafood would be a great way to dine with a group. One of the few dishes eaten across the length and breadth of Brazil - Feijoada – a hearty stew of black beans, sausages and varied cuts of pork is believed to have been created by African slaves. A labour of love, feijoada, done the old fashioned way, takes up to 24 hours to make. 

And if you enjoy seafood, there is plenty on offer on the menu including Casquinha De Siri – crabmeat sautéed with coconut milk, palm oil, tomatoes, and paprika, topped with cheese and beautifully presented in the shell. There are also two traditional Brazilian fish preparations one must try – Peixe Ao Molho De Camarão – grilled fish fillet topped with prawns in a mildly spiced sauce and Moqueca De Peixe – a spiced fish stew with grilled fish and served with rice.

Although there are extensive meat offerings on the menu, there is a wide selection of vegetarian dishes to keep non-meat eaters satiated. Vegetarians can look forward to dishes like Bolinho De Aipim – deep fried cassava and cheese croquettes served with chilli sauce, and Feijao Amigo, a thick Brazilian traditional soup made with beans, parsley, garlic, bay leaves and fresh cream.  Also on offer is the Rocambole de Espinafre – a spinach roll filled with vegetables and cheese,  Risotto de Tomate – a risotto with fresh tomato sauce, cherry tomatoes, pesto and roasted almonds and Polenta Cream with Mushroom Ragu & Puff Pastry - a creamy cheese polenta topped with mushroom ragu and puff pastry crowned with a parmesan tuile. 

The Portuguese brought to Brazil their love for sweets and baking and this can be experienced on Boteco’s menu. Order the popular Quindim – a Brazilian baked custard with fresh coconut or the internationally renowned Doce De Leite Com Churros – a fried-dough pastry served with chocolate sauce and dulce de leche.

Drinks 

A traditional boteco would be nothing without its fair share of heady cocktails and Boteco-Restaurante Brasileiro, Bengaluru offers a wide variety of tipple to keep you in good spirits. These include the Brazilian national drink, the Caipirinha made with imported Brazilian Cachaça (a spicy, sweet, fruity clear liquor distilled from fermented sugarcane juice), lime and sugar.  With a selection of traditional and signature cocktails, one will be spoilt for choices at the bar. 

Recommended cocktails include Cha-Preto, a Cachaça based communal drink and Summer Punch with Cachaça, sugarcane juice, lime, pickle brine and butterfly Pea Tea. Gin lovers can order the Popcorn Gin & Tonic made with cold brew with a splash of tonic water  and gin of course. If you like a dessert and cocktail in one glass, try the Batida De Co Cachaça, a cream coconut and condensed milk concoction, to give you that sweet high. Cachaça plays a large role in the cocktail program here but for those who like to keep it simple, a wide selection of classic cocktails, fruity house sangrias and beer, along with international and domestic spirits are available. 

Interiors 

Designed by Bangalore-based architect George Attokaran (Atto Atelier), Boteco-Restaurante Brasileiro is inspired by the neighbourhood watering holes of Brazil. Housed in two storeys, Boteco brings to Bengaluru, the warmth and vibrancy of Brazil. The 100-seater restaurant and bar seeks to celebrate the rich and colourful  nuances of Brazilian culture. 

One is drawn in right from the street by an expansive 60 feet by 20 feet distinctive glass mosaic mural that captures the essence of Brazil. Brazilian icons like the bossa nova player (a style of Samba distinctive to Brazil), the toucan, the Brazilian flag and the carnival lady are quilted together in an explosion of colour. The spirit of Brazil extends further into the interior aesthetics of the space through a constellation of wall art, each capturing a snippet of Brazilian life, culminating in the central double height mural. The internal spatial design of Boteco-Restaurante Brasileiro draws inspiration from the arches at Lapa and the vibrant sidewalks of Copacabana, designed by the famous landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx (credited with having introduced modernist landscape architecture to Brazil). The ceramic tile patterns on the floor and walls further emphasize a romance with colour – typical of the tropical paradise that is Brazil. The space is imagined as an evolving tapestry of all things authentically Brazil, including the black and white photo wall, that pays homage to the greats of Brazil and Brazilian architecture. As one weaves in and out of the Lapa-inspired arches, one is bound to catch a  glimpse of one of the two private cosy nooks at Boteco. Amazonian forest-inspired wallpaper, delicate handmade cane lights and a rich landscape of large-leafed tropical plants, delicately poised inside handmade jute baskets bring home a quintessentially Brazilian vibe.  

The Team 

Boteco - Restaurante Brasileiro is the brainchild of Praveesh Govindan. It was his childhood dream to open a restaurant. His work as a mechanical engineer with Coke (in Atlanta, USA) required him to travel extensively to Brazil. He not only fell in love with the country's beautiful landscapes and beaches but also with its culture and, more importantly, its food.  Inspired to open a Brazilian restaurant, Praveesh collaborated with partner Chef Guto Souza, whose extensive restaurant experience in Rio de Janeiro and around the world helped bring shape to Boteco. After its successful 2016 launch in Pune and 2017, in Mumbai, the team decided to introduce the culturally rich Brazilian cuisine to Bengaluru this year.

Boteco - Restaurante Brasileiro

Address : Ram Kunj, 16/3, Magrath Rd, (Opposite Garuda Mall), Ashok Nagar, Bengaluru- 560025

For Reservations Call: (M)- +91 87920 45444/ Landline- 08049913534

Timings: 12:00 noon to 1 am. (subject to Govt. notifications)

Admission Policy : Persons below the age of 18 years are permitted for lunch on all days & dinner from Sunday to Thursday only.  

Average Meal for two : Rs.1800 + taxes without alcohol; Rs 2500 + taxes with alcohol. 

Open : 7 days a week.

-----