The thing about hole in the wall establishments is that a good portion of them are made for the food. Naturally, one would think that all restaurants are created for this reason, but as in all industries, many maintain the goal of profit as their top priority. The hole in the wall represents the independent artists of the culinary world, those that believe whole-heartedly in their food that they are willing to scrape by on whatever minimal finances they may be able to conjure. In addition, they are great places to truly get a taste of local flavors from all over, because the owners will tend to cook the sort of food they grew up with and know. Some of the best meals I have ever eaten have come from hole in the walls. Of course, that is not always the case.
Rio De Janeiro has a nice enough décor with a good amount of character and Brazilian flavor. I would have expected more yellow and green (as these were actually lacking), but I suppose they would have been a bit too predictable. Although it is a relatively small establishment, they manage to deter any sense of claustrophobia with a large front window that looks upon the street and a Brazilian flag to welcome all customers. The sitting area is pretty bare and is essentially made of two basic areas. One wall has a sort of bench table attached to it with about four stools, and the opposite wall contains a narrow sofa with orange cushions. It struck me as a place to sit and wait for your food to arrive on a takeout order because it does not seem like a very comfortable spot to eat at.
The sandwich shop also has some interesting almost graffiti-like artwork on part of the wall and ceiling, which I think adds a nice street sort of character that fits in nicely with the local sandwich shop appeal.
The menu consists of a few sandwiches, salads and soups. The sandwiches vary from chicken, steak, taco-esque and vegetarian, all served with a Brazilian twist. I chose to try their hotdog and barbeque steak sandwich. As the kitchen is in the same space as the sitting area, you can watch as your food is being prepared. Both sandwiches were made via one of those sandwich-grilling machines — the same sort many of us use at home. Next to it is a variety of sauces that I have seen before in various supermarkets.
The issue I had with both sandwiches was that they did not take much effort into making them. The hotdog was basic and the steak was a bit too tough for my liking. Furthermore, the same kind of bread was used for both sandwiches — which was evidently bought from the market along with the sauces used. Also, the hotdog was too small for the size of bread, leading to one bite of meat and another of just bread and toppings. It is not that they were bad, they were in fact adequate, but I could not help and think that I could easily make a far better sandwich at home — not a great sign.
If Rio De Janeiro was my sandwich spot, I would put more effort in ensuring that customers got a homemade meal that they would not make at home. Here are my suggestions: Use bread that you cannot purchase from the local market, make your own sauces, buy high quality ingredients and don’t be afraid to be more creative with your cuisine. Also, don’t put lettuce in a sandwich before you grill it, as it will make it soft and old.
My general support of hole in the wall establishments makes me want Rio De Janeiro to succeed, but I do think that they will with some slight improvements. I would encourage people to visit because it is a different sort of experience with positive aspects, but I would also welcome some changes over time.
