Fortaleza Restaurants

Heard about Boi Preto from a friend who visited the one in Salvador. The Fortaleza branch looks like it is part of the Oasis Atlantico hotel, which is perhaps why many tourists miss it. Go up the stairs by the taxi rank to get in.

Really nice (and I mean really exceptional) ambience, with views from the panoramic windows across Meireles beach and up Beira Mar. They advertise themselves as a steakhouse or grill but are actually a churrascaria in the Brazilian tradition and all the better for it. Maybe a bit of a hidden gem; it´s packed with Brazilians at midday but despite the location most tourists seem to walk straight past in the evening

Favorite Dish: As a churrascaria there is no menu as such (just for drinks, of which there is an impressive selection. Over 100 different wines for example), but all the food was of a very high standard. We went twice so were able to try different things. The sushi was excellent and is worthy of a dedicated sushi restaurant, as was the rest of the buffet. But of course the meat is where a churrascaria is supposed to shine and Boi Preto didn´t disappoint, with delicious cuts of prime beef and pork served by the ever helpful staff. With the all-in price structure of churrascaria it works out to be seriously good value, despite the posh appearance. Not to be missed.

The restaurant is on Baira Mar Avenue across from Beira Mar Hotel (not sure if any connection).
It is located right on the sand, not every table has views of the ocean. The service, as expected in Brazil was mediocre....typical tourist trap. The food is very expensive for the quality. I ate codfish cakes and they were bad....did not want to eat anything else, for, the prices were ridicolous...and judging the quality of the fishcakes....assumed the rest would be the same...

Favorite Dish: nothing

The best thing there is. You pay something around US$9 for the whole thing. Waiters come and serve you all types of pasta and pizza to your table. They even have something that might sound a bit strange but tastes delicious: chocolate pizza.
It's so worth going there.

Favorite Dish: Definitely "Maria Isabel" pasta. Ask for that one.

Spettus is one of the top restaurants in Fortaleza with a great layout, plenty of space, fantastic food and for regular visitors -> a whiskey club. If you don't mind the slightly higher prices then this joint is a fantastic place to wile away an afternoon overeating and slowly pickling yourself. Have fun !

Favorite Dish: The meat !!

More Upscale (at least for Fortaleza):

Alimenta
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Nostradamus
Villa Biazi
La Trec
Sal E Brasa
Spettus
Pulccinis
Limone (self service)
Ferreiro - Iguatemi

More casual:

Colher da Pau
A Tasca
La Marea
Parque Recreio
Beira Mar Grill / Pizza Geppos

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This is hands down the best ice cream in town and perhaps Brazil. They have 50 different flavors, many tropical fruits, and they have all kinds of topping that you can have as much as you want of. I personally like to taste the ice cream, my wife tries to drown hers in creams and syrups.

The ice cream is made fresh there at the shop and the guy is always coming out with a fresh batch of something yummy when they start getting low.

The going rate is R$4.00 for two scopes. I do not know what they get for one scope, what is the point?

The new sign reads in English and Portuguese and they recently remodeled the whole place.

Favorite Dish: My favorite is Tapioca ice cream, it is excellent! The sign says that you can taste as many flavors as you want before ordering, so at least give it a try. My second choice is always the hard one... I usually experiment with a few before deciding. I think next time I will just get two scopes of Tapioca!

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This one took a little longer to discover, but once I found it I was hooked! They have the best sandwich in town. They have all kinds of tasty breads and cakes but they make a killer hot beef sandwich. The area is very nice, probably the nicest area of the city and there are a lot a beautiful shops close by. The restaurant is always very clean, the staff friendly, and the experience good.

Favorite Dish: The hot beef sandwich, unfortunately it is a little expensive, and the sandwich is pretty small. That being said, it is the best sandwich in town. Oh yeah, the clowns from Veja voted it the best sandwich in town... what are these guys following me around?

This is the best seafood restaurant in Fortaleza. My in-laws have been taking me there for years. Recently it was confirmed, voted Best Seafood Restaurant in Fortaleza by Veja Magazine. Veja is a national weekly much like Time in the U.S. Anyway the food there is really good. It is run out of the guy?s house he has the seating up front and the kitchen in the back and he lives upstairs with his family. The food is great buy the service sucks, you will have to wait awhile for your food. Of course it is hot and there is no air conditioning, he did spring for a few fans a few about a year ago.

Favorite Dish: We always get one fish with the cheese sauce and one fish with coco-nut sauce and split it between 6 people. One dish is big enough to feed 2 people easily with rice and potatoes.