the portuguese restaurant Golden Guys has a new address at Rio de Janeiro . Located now in a large house in Ipanema it has expanded after great success since opening in August 2020.
Commanded by former employees of the traditional Portuguese restaurant Antiquarius, which closed its doors in 2018, it brings 90% of the menu of the restaurant that marked the era and left nostalgia in the Marvelous City. Classics like duck rice, cod à lagareiro and bacon from the sky, from the much-missed establishment, are found there.
The History of the Guys
Founded in 1977 by the Portuguese Carlos Perico, the antiquartius it was a reference in the city when it came to Portuguese gastronomy, an elegant atmosphere and the main thing: excellent service. Those who were regulars point out that the waiters were a show in themselves. Attentive, they knew the name of the customers and surprised in the details.
Years passed and the restaurant closed in 2018. Two years later, maîtres, waiters, cooks and sommeliers who were part of the restaurant team got together to give life and soul to the restaurant. Golden Guys . The name is a reference to the way the Portuguese have always referred to their employees, considering them to be true golden boys.
Moved by the dream of reliving the golden times of the old house, André Vasconcelos and Antonio Menezes (Leitão) – famous sommelier and manager, respectively, of the Antiquarius – took charge of this project, which has almost 80% of the original team from the old house.
“After I left Antiquarius, I started managing a new Italian restaurant and needed to build a team. So I gathered eight employees who had also worked at Antiquarius. At the inauguration, we were surprised by so many customers who spoke of good memories of the place. It was then that a light came on in my head: why not open a business of our own with all our experiences?”, says André.
He then began to draw up a business plan to hand over to potential investors. He got in touch with former clients, and one of them was very interested. In this plan, there was already a point of view and I had also made contact with former employees, asking if they would accept the challenge – everyone was already employed in new places.
“The response was very positive, most accepted the challenge and came with us. We did not expect such a repercussion”, she emphasizes.
3 addresses in Rio keep alive the legacy of Antiquarius, which marked an era in Rio
the new house
Gajos was opened during the pandemic in a smaller space, in Ipanema. Even with the difficulties of the time, they managed to fill the capacity allowed by the government every day.
Today, the 40 employees celebrate the expansion of the idea. The house, with high ceilings and all decorated in shades of white and blue, recalls a trip to Portugal, both in the environment and in the menu.
The cover charge (optional) includes a selection of breads, pastas, olives, dumplings, croquettes, among other delicacies (R$50). The menu is extensive and has options for all tastes, from traditional cod preparations, to meats for those who are not a fan of seafood. Different types of rice, such as duck (R$160) and squid (R$189), pasta and soups are also on the menu. Dishes are served well.
Finally, Portuguese desserts are also highlighted. Toucinho do Céu (R$45); Snowy Eggs (R$ 60); Encharcada de Fios de Ovos (R$45) and Nut Stroganoff (R$48) are some of them.
Golden Guys
Rua Aníbal de Mendonça 31 – Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro – RJ / Phone: (21) 3449-1483 / Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, from 12h to 23h; Sunday, from 12:00 to 18:00
Source: CNN Brasil
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