Are you going to spend your holidays in the capital of Pernambuco? Or enjoy the New Year’s Eve holiday? So take the opportunity to discover the restaurants that offer good food in open environments, and enjoy the rich local cuisine with the right to shade, breeze and a beautiful view. Below, my five favorite restaurants in Recife with outdoor seating.
Cá-já
Chef Yuri Machado’s house was one of the first I’ve seen with tables in the backyard, this in 2018, and also offered an air-conditioned environment. And I was soon won over with the complimentary bag to freshen up on arrival, with the hostess, a trans girl of unique grace, with the use of the hashtag #pracegover on social networks, in short, everything is very inclusive and inspiring – and that includes the creative gastronomy do Yuri, which revamps the local restaurant scene. Cá-Já occupies a 1950s house in Aflitos, a neighborhood in the north of the city, and has a loyal clientele, so get there early. To eat, I recommend the caruru guioza, the lambreta (delicious!), the citric fettuccine with shrimp and favada with beef jerky and sun-dried meat. For dessert, Bernoffe, a version of the famous banana jam made by the chef’s mother, Dona Berna, who is also responsible for the irresistible biscuits that accompany the coffee, another gem made with care. More info at @vempracaja.
Retweeted Honest Food
Reteteu occupies the veranda and a tree-lined backyard of a house in the Encruzilhada neighbourhood. And it lives up to its name: honest, real food at a fair price that can still be shared. The chef, Thiago das Chagas, makes a cuisine that seems unpretentious but that surprises with the presentation and flavor of the dishes. The juices, served by the bottle, and the drinks are also beautiful. Start with the delicious crab cakes and feijoada broth, which comes with a croquette made with the meat of the feijoada itself. For the main dish, there’s the chicken poeirinha, with bacon and corn cream, but if you can order just one dish, go for the termite stew with dark sugar sauce and fried manioc, unforgettable. For dessert, cashew raisin bridal cake with cream ice cream, cashew raisin with rum and spice glaze. More info at @reteteucomidahonesta.
arvo
The restaurant surprises with its spacious backyard where a mango tree reigns, surrounded by paintings on the walls that make up an open-air art gallery. Visiting Arvo is living a sensory experience where food, service and atmosphere provide moments of pure delight. From chef Pedro Godoy’s kitchen, creative dishes come out but with a foot in tradition, after all, “Arvo is a reinvented regional cuisine restaurant”, as he himself defines it. Start with the termite croquettes and the seared tuna served with wasabi sour cream. For those who like salads, there are seven very well prepared options, such as the Thai green papaya salad with squid and shrimp and the Caesar salad with smoked broccoli. The termite roasted in creamed corn is a starter that looks like a main course, but there are tempting options like the beef jerky tidy and the octopus rice au gratin. For dessert, go for Chocolatudo, which brings deliciousness in five textures. More info at @arvorestaurante.
San Pedro Restaurant
São Pedro started out in a space where three tables barely fit, but it crossed the street and today occupies a comfortable house, with tables protected by parasols that occupy the Patio de São Pedro. The house, also by Thiago das Chagas, shows another side of the chef, more daring and experimental, with surprising results. Try the smoked sururu with canned sweet potatoes and the fresh fish tartar with cashew nuts to be enchanted. Among the main dishes, rice reigns: shrimp, octopus and mushrooms, in addition to the famous crab rice with breaded ducks, a classic of the house. But don’t leave without trying São Pedro’s vatapá, made with crab and served with fried fish and red rice. For dessert, the dark chocolate pie with peanut ice cream is a sure-fire option. More info at @saopedrorestaurante.
Capibaribe Terrace
The location is incredible: a big house located in Poço da Panela, with a patio overlooking the Capibaribe River. For you to enjoy contemporary cuisine with local ingredients while watching the movement of the waters. There’s even a table outside, almost by the river, a privilege! Order the bean broth or the shrimp broth and go for the mini smoked potatoes covered with oxtail ragu and mustard pickles or the termite croquetas, huge! The main one is the Separadinho, a version of the traditional tidy, which brings the ingredients in small bowls. Green beans sautéed with bacon and cream, shredded jerky, onion pickles, banana tartare and garlic farofinha. For vegetarians, there are good offers, such as the zucchini and mushroom lasagna and wild fruit rice, with sauteed black rice served over a sauce of roasted tomatoes, pickled carrots, gherkin and mango puree. For dessert, the classic Cartola, with butter cheese grilled and sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon, on banana slices browned in bottle butter. More info at @terracocapibaribe.
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