Boteco
Reviews
Name: Neosha Jones
Occupation: Student Affairs Coordinator
Lives In: Miami
Restaurant Pick: Boteco
Reviewed: Boteco
The restaurant is a little hidden so it can be hard to find. Even though I’ve been here several times, I thought that I passed it but hadn’t. I always valet so that I don’t have to worry about parking. The valet was very welcoming and so was everyone else as you enter the restaurant. One of my friends was already waiting for me at the bar so she joined me and my other friend when we arrived. When we all sat down at the table she was already excited about the place. She loved the atmosphere and even said that’s somewhere that she wouldn’t mind coming alone as it’s near her home and the codfish croquettes took her back to Baltimore, where she’s from.
We sat at a table outside and my other friend and I tried the codfish croquettes that my Baltimore friend had ordered and they were very good. I probably would have never tried them if she hadn’t ordered them. I ordered the Moqueca de Boteco (a mahi mahi dish) and a steak dish (Aperitivo de Picanha) so that I could have some surf and turf. I actually meant to order the regular Picanha but since it had been so long since I was last there, I ordered the Aperitivo Picanha but that was nice because I’d never ordered it before. Then my friend from Baltimore ordered the Picanha so I got to taste hers. The fish dish came with two sides and the steak dish came with one side so I ordered salad, white rice and black beans for my sides, which were all good. I will say that the Moqueca tasted different from how I remembered it being cooked before (it’s a little more soupy now than it was before) but it was still very flavorful. I think in the future I may just order the regular Mahi Mahi instead of the Moqueca. The Caipiroska (vodka, lime and sugar) was great. I’ve tried the traditional Caipirinhas and my palate just doesn't seem to agree with the Cachaca liquor so the Caiprioska is a nice substitute. This was also the first time that I tried the pineapple mint drink (Abacaxi com Hortela) and it was nice and refreshing.
As our night was winding down, they were closing the buffet and the buffet waiter offered us a chocolate and coconut dessert from the buffet and it was very delicious. It tasted like chocolate fudge with coconut. After we tried it, the people sitting at the table next to us kept the rest of the dessert but offered us more if we wanted and told us a little about the dessert which was very nice. We also heard the live singer performing and that was entertaining. As we were leaving, my friend asked about one of the seasonings (I always thought that they were bread crumbs) that accompanies the Picanha dish and then the server told us about the different special nights that they have at the restaurant. She was very friendly. We paid our bills and my friends can’t wait to go back. I also want to go back to take the samba class. All in all it was another great experience at Boteco!
Name: Mark Economou
Occupation: Media Relations Manager
Lives In: Coral Springs
Restaurant Pick: Tavolino Della Nonna/Tavolino Della Notte
Reviewed: Boteco
We decided to visit Boteco for lunch. We arrived at about 12:30pm. We were not sure how the place would be; the route in from 95 brings you through some ‘not great’ areas. Once there, parking was a breeze. We walked in, there are about 10 tables, 3 were filled. We sat right down. The chairs and benches along the walls were wood, not terribly comfortable. The waitress came right over. There was a language barrier; we ended up having to point to things on the menu to show her what we wanted. I ordered a Dos Equis beer. She came back to say they were out of all beers except Mahou, a Brazilian beer which never came. The gentleman behind the bar, who seemed to be the owner, came to our table to explain the menu items to us, and I informed him I didn’t get my beer. He looked around and realized the waitress brought it to the wrong table. At one point we asked the waitress for a glass of water and she didn’t understand what we were asking for, until we asked for it in Spanish.
My wife ordered a Caipiroska and enjoyed it. For appetizers we ordered the meat croquettes, Bolinho do boteco and the Escondidinho de Camarao. Both were amazing. The meat croquettes were tasty and seasoned perfectly. The Escondidinho was a pie-type dish filled with yucca puree and chunks of shrimp topped with a cheese and baked. For entrees my son ordered the skirt steak which they were out of, so he ordered the Mother’s chicken. I had the Moqueca de Boteco and my wife, the Brazilian salad with chicken. The Moqueca with Mahi Mahi and shrimp was absolutely amazing. Again, seasoned perfectly with wonderful flavors. The chicken in both my son’s dish and my wife’s salad was tasty and moist. The side of Feijao Tropeiro was amazing. I could eat that as an entrée.
Dessert was the chocolate mousse and Brazilian flan. By the time we ordered, the place filled up and there were no tables. The new waitress was the only one working and seemed to be getting overwhelmed. The owner quickly stepped in and started helping. There is no air conditioning, but it wasn’t terribly warm yet. Fans were on high. I did ask why there were so many clear bags of water hanging through the whole restaurant; a check of google explained it for me. Overall the food is AMAZING, tasty, not salty at all, but seasoned to perfection with all kinds of great flavors. The location is not the greatest and the décor is basic with a few wood tables and benches.
Name: Angela Shlyakhov
Occupation: Litigation Paralegal
Lives In: Fort Lauderdale
Restaurant Pick: Tatiana
Reviewed: Boteco
When we walked in, we were greeted by an adorable smiling hostess who made us feel very welcome. I have not been to too many Brazilian restaurants and our server was upbeat and happy and explained what each dish was and made suggestions. The Caiprinha was deliciously refreshing. I would definitely suggest ordering the Bolinho de Bacalhau as an appetizer and the Moqueca as a main dish. Come at around 10 p.m. on a Saturday night to experience the Brazilian three piece band and enjoy a few drinks with your dinner. I had a wonderful experience and would highly recommend this restaurant to friends and will return for the Moqueca.
Restaurant Information
Location: 916 NE 79 St Miami FL 33138
Parking: Yes
Phone: 305-757-7735
Website: botecomiami.com
Restaurant Owners: Stefano Carniato
Executive Chef: Stefano Carniato
Pastry Chef: N/A
Type of Cuisine: Brazilian
Signature Dishes: Picanha na chapa
Vegetarian Options: Salads
Alcohol Served: Yes
Corkage Fee: Yes
Bottle Limit: None
Restaurant Hours:
Monday – 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM
Tuesday – 12:00 PM – 1:00 AM
Wednesday – 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM
Thursday – 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM
Friday – 12:00 PM – 1:00 AM
Saturday – 12:00 PM – 1:00 AM
Sunday – 12:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Meals Served: Lunch and Dinner
Prix Fix Menu: No
Take-Out: Yes
Delivery: Yes
Average Dinner Price Range (per person, full meal, tax, 20% gratuity, w/o alcohol): $20
Average Lunch Price Range (per person, full meal, tax, 20% gratuity, w/o alcohol): $15
Payment Options: do you accept credit cards and if so, which ones? Visa, Master Card and Discover
Accept Reservations: Yes
Need Reservations: Sometimes, it’s always recommended
How far in advance do you require reservations be made: One day
Accommodations for Children: Yes
Dining Style: Casual
Disabled Access: Yes
Restaurant Size: 150 people
Accommodate Groups: Yes
Private Dining Room: No
Tables with Scenic Views: No
Outdoor Dining: Yes
Entertainment: Yes. Every day.