Genuine Brazilian Cuisine in the Heart of Tbilisi

The first of its kind in Georgia, and headed by renowned Brazilian chef Luiz Alberto Chimello- who has a plethora of restaurants under his belt- seven in London alone, Rio the Brazilian Grill opened just three weeks ago.

Luiz’s inspiration? His mother’s kitchen. “I miss my mother very much,” he says. “She was an incredible woman- so talented, so professional, so creative. She never needed a recipe book. Cooking was my first love- it is my life.”

A five year stint working in a bank confirmed his life choice and he took himself to Italy in 2005, where he happened upon a Brazilian restaurant and offered his help. His career as a chef took off from there and now he spends his time traveling around the world opening restaurants and training staff in the Brazilian way. He has so far opened restaurants in Italy, London, Scotland, the USA, Ukraine and now Georgia.

Rio the Brazilian Grill has already seen the elite of Tbilisi society passing through its doors- from the Brazilian Ambassador himself to various government officials, models and TV personalities. Yet the restaurant is also aiming to cater for other segments of society- with the Tbilisi State University just one block away, Rio is offering the student population a 10 % discount on meals. The deal for all is “come hungry and eat all you can” of the set price buffet: soups, daily fresh salads, a cheese assortment, and a variety of hot and cold dishes- including the famed Brazilian Grilled Pineapple with Cinnamon and Churrasco a Rodizio, already very popular with the Georgian clientele.

“They come for an original experience,” the Chef says. “And we give it to them- I don’t compromise on that.”

You will find no fusion dishes in Rio – just pure Brazilian tastes, smells and sounds.

“All the meat comes from Georgia- the beef, chicken, pork and lamb. The ingredients here are just right. Every day at Rio restaurant we offer around 15 meat dishes- pork & parmesan, chicken with bacon, lamb chops...all presented just so.”

Chef Luiz admires the Georgians and says he has enjoyed training them. The only challenge he has faced so far is trying to get Georgians to like the famous black bean ‘Feijoada’- “They just won’t go for it,” he says.

Presentation is everything- and each dish, from fresh buffet salad to spit-roast, appears against a backdrop as colorful and energetic as the Brazilians themselves.

“We are a happy people,” the Chef tells me. “Always smiling. That is how it must be in every restaurant; that is how it is here.”

And certainly the staff were very attentive, friendly and smartly dressed. The restaurant features a blend of homely and contemporary- equal parts wood and glass, with high ceilings and a cozy mezzanine.

“Since opening two weeks ago we have been giving each of our customers feedback forms to fill in before they go,” Amir, son of the owner, told me. “We value their opinion. So far we’ve been getting top reviews and ‘5-star’ ratings.”

Amir and his father Amin, from Iran, became interested in Brazilian cuisine from their experiences in China and Ukraine. They first heard about Chef Luis in Kyiv.

The only feature lacking in Rio right now is a live Brazilian band.

“We’re looking,” Amir says. “But before that we’ll have a few well-known Brazilian singers coming- we’ll let you know the line-up soon. For now, it’s a secret!”

Our advice? Give Rio a try this weekend. Not only will you leave full, but you’ll take away a little piece of that Brazilian warmth and positivity, too.

8 Napareuli Street, Vake

591 68 00 02

Open: 12:00PM - 2:00AM

Katie Ruth Davies