The fact that it is a little heathen on Rua Teófilo Otoni street, in Centro (downtown), doesn’t make L’Atelier du Cuisinier unknown by those who live in the city or is here on leisure or business. The restaurant opened in October 2012 run by chef David Jobert. His congeniality and his recipes won everyone who set at the table of the small intimist saloon, taking the house to the top of the website Trip Advisor list of best voted restaurants in Rio. The best thing to do is to make a reservation because it’s almost impossible to get a free table at lunchtime. The menu is à la carte or formule-style, made by starter, main course and dessert, at a fixed price. The closed menu varies from day to day, but it always pleases everyone’s taste with options of fish and beef.

On the day we visited the place, sous chef Carlos Eduardo made this the trilogy of starters: roquefort cheese verrin with apple, tuna tartin with lemon flavor and mixed of leaves with cherry tomato, herbs and blackberry vinaigrette. The main course was an ostrich fricassé with spices sauce, berries and mushrooms and creamy polenta (cornmeal). To end, one more trilogy. Cappuccino ice cream with grated coconut, passion fruit and apricot compote sablé breton, and mini vanilla crème brûlée. The kitchen is open, and all Jobert’s and his team’s performance can be seen making what is going to be served. The chef makes a point of going from table to table, whether it’s in the beginning or the end of a meal, to know from the customers themselves what they think. On the wine list, the French brands prevail.