Rio 40 416.654.6363 http://www.rio40restaurant.com/ open daily lunch & dinner
Rio 40 reminds me of a hotel restaurant I went to while on vacation down south, it has that kind of feel to it. The tree lined patio is nothing fancy, just comfortable and great for people watching. The prices are very affordable and regulars make up most of the crowd.
A pitcher of white sangria starts the afternoon off right, along with bread, olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Next, I order a few items off the Brazilian, Italian and Portuguese menu.
The house salad is a simple mix of greens dressed in olive oil and balsamic. Strips of battered fish “fish fingers” sprinkled with fresh lime are nice, served with an interesting rose sauce (mayo mixed with ketchup).
Rump steak topped with caramelized onions and fried cassava tastes very similar to liver and onions. The cassava is wonderful, crunchy outside and fluffy inside. I ordered a side of Farofa, made from ground cassava dried and seasoned with bacon, is salty and melt-in-your-mouth tasty. I’d use that sh*t on everything!
Bland mozzarella and green olives is a definite dish to skip.
Overall it’s just a casual spot to hang out and grab a drink and a snack.
