If you have had your fill of seafood and fish and are craving something meatier, book a table at O Sol, a Brazilian restaurant tucked away just off the main road near St. Apolónia station. It is easy to miss and largely free of passing tourists. The people who come here usually know exactly what they are after. The atmosphere is unmistakably Brazilian: warm, lively and noisy in the best possible way, with music playing and the feeling that you are genuinely welcome.
Start with the picanha — thin, tender cuts of beef grilled the Brazilian way. A portion for two costs just €39. The tomahawk steak is another good choice, also served as a sharing portion. And if you are there on a Saturday or Sunday, order the feijoada. This hearty black bean stew comes with generous chunks of beef and pork, rice, greens and farofa. It is only available at weekends, so keep that in mind when planning your visit.
The usual sides are beans, rice and farofa, a traditional Brazilian accompaniment made from cassava flour toasted in oil. But the dish that really steals the show is the beef ribs. They are slow-cooked in a special oven until the meat is so tender it practically falls off the bone. One portion serves two and costs €39. The ribs are so popular that the restaurant cooks almost a tonne of them every month.
The bar is worth a look too. O Sol has a collection of 25 cachaças brought in from different parts of Brazil, and they make some very good caipirinhas with them.
Do not overlook the Chef’s Salad, number 28 on the menu: a huge plate of fresh greens and fruit for €14. It is an excellent salad in its own right, and an especially welcome sight after a serious amount of grilled meat.
One thing to keep in mind: the portions are seriously generous. For two people, one starter and one main course may well be enough. There is also perfectly respectable house red wine, served in equally generous glasses.
And there is one more reason to keep O Sol in mind: the kitchen takes orders until 11 pm. That makes it a particularly handy spot for a late dinner after an evening out.
