The gastronomic scene of ipanema continues to gain big names. The latest hot novelty in Rio de Janeiro is the Ízär (which means star in Basque), a restaurant that opened its doors a month ago and is already bursting with people.
A new venture by the Tremä group (Mäska and Brasserie Mimolette), Ízär presents itself as a spanish restaurant classudo, which combines classic recipes from the Iberian country and others made with a twist copyright
One of the main attractions of the house is a paellera station in public view where you can follow the preparation of up to seven paellas or rice dishes at the same time.
Who commands everything there is the Madrid chef Pepe Lopez , who has lived in Brazil for 18 years. He worked as executive chef of the Arena Hotéis chain restaurants before taking over the kitchen at Ízär.
To start the Hispanic journey, the menu suggests fifteen tapas options, most of them very typical. There are small delicacies such as croquetas de jamon ibérico (R$58; four units), potatoes bravas (R$28), bread with tomato (R$24), potato tortilla (R$24) and Galician octopus (R$24). 49).
On the day of the visit, the gazpacho (R$29) – cold tomato, cucumber and pepper soup – and the fried calamari mini sandwich (R$27), in which the squid is breaded with chickpea flour -beak and smeared in aïoli.
Among the main dishes, there are recipes with a modern approach, such as duck thigh and drumstick served with fregola sarda and walnut farofa (R$ 110), but the The paellas and rices to share are not to be missed prepared live, always with the noble Spanish Bomba rice.
Don’t miss, among them, the socarrat rice (the one that forms a caramelized cone at the bottom of the pan) with grilled squid and cavaquinha (R$ 215; for 2 people) and the black rice with squid ink and seafood (R$ 225).
Also Chef Pepe López’s signature dishes are the paellas offered in two versions: shrimp, octopus, squid and clams (R$220) and campera (R$210), with Iberian ham, free-range egg, fried green tomato and mushrooms.
To close the visit the Spanish way, aim for the portion of churros (R$39) served with a creamy combination of chocolate and dulce de leche on the side.
Rua Barão da Torre, 538 – Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro – RJ
Opening hours: Monday and Tuesday from 12:00 to 23:00; Wednesday to Saturday from 12pm to midnight and Sunday from 12pm to 11pm;
Reservations by Whatsapp: (21) 99725-7473.
About Fábio Wright
A journalist from São Paulo who travels weekly between São Paulo and Rio, he has written about gastronomy for major vehicles, such as Veja São Paulo, O Estado de S. Paulo and Época São Paulo. In the last ten years, he has visited eighteen countries in search of good places to eat, drink, party and exercise bohemia. He also shares his findings in the site and Instagram Taste and Fly.
Source: CNN Brasil
