Queens Scene

Favela Grill





 

 

Warm up this winter with a visit to Favela Grill for the true taste of sunny Brazil. Few countries celebrate food, music, and love quite like Brazil does. Choose Favela Grill for your Valentine’s Day celebration and ignite some passion in your life. This softly lit restaurant on 28th Avenue in Astoria features exposed brick and jute-covered walls adorned with Brazilian handicrafts. Dark wood tables are set with fresh flowers for intimate dining for couples, or larger groups and families. Gracious owners, Andreia Oliveira and husband Jean Frison, make everyone feel very welcome here.

Relax with one of their great cocktails, such as the national drink called caipirinha made from muddled limes, sugar and a native liquor called cachaca (kah-SHAH-sah). You can add mango, passion fruit, or strawberries to this fabulous elixir for extra punch, or try a Favela Cosmo. The sangria is freshly mixed with fruit, served by the pitcher to your table. There’s a nice selection of international wines, Brazilian beer, and soft drinks too.

 

 

The menu is cleverly mounted on a wooden cutting board and describes all the traditional fare in Portuguese and English. The cuisine of Brazil is as large and diverse as the country itself. Everything from meat, fish, vegetables, potatoes, rice, beans, and grains are prepared using traditional recipes and combined in delicious ways.

We started with an assortment of Brazilian croquettes called coxinha which are delectably crunchy, fried croquettes and pastries filled with either seasoned chicken, ground beef with mild spices, chopped shrimp, oozing cheeses, or bulgur wheat. There are also appetizer plates served in generous portions for sharing, such as strips of sirloin steak and sautéed onions, shrimp in garlic and lemon, beef carpaccio, and crunchy bruschetta.

Brazilian cuisine relies heavily on fine cuts of quality beef and the grill man at Favela Grill will not disappoint you. My picanha (pronounced pee-KAHN-ya) is a unique cut of top sirloin that’s impossibly tender and loaded with flavor and texture. Spoon on the vinaigrette sauce that comes with it and dig in. The accompanying rice and beans and farofa (roasted yucca flour) make this a memorable and satisfying meal ($23.95). The hangar steak looked great too, topped with chimichurri sauce and served with roasted potatoes and vegetables. The friendly waiter Arturo said the Costela Bam-Bam is very popular. This enormous prime rib of beef is so tender, it eases off the bone with a nudge from your fork. You’ll find it has remarkable texture and rich flavor from slow-roasting ($26.95). The pork chop is cooked to order and served with Brazilian sausage, topped with fried eggs and served with rice, beans, and collard greens. You’ll want to walk home after this hearty meal!

Favela Grill makes nice fish and seafood dishes too, such as the grilled salmon, marinated with fresh herbs, topped with passion fruit reduction. Shrimp is sautéed and finished with a touch of coconut milk and fresh herbs for a tropical delight, served with fluffy rice and a house salad ($21.95). A big bowl of traditional fish stew will warm you up on these cold nights.

Frango means chicken in Portuguese and Favela Grill prepares tender, juicy chicken in several delicious ways. Braised chicken on the bone is made with tomato and chicken broth, served with polenta and okra. Chicken Milanese is a thin, pounded cutlet, breaded and lightly fried for a tasty meal. Chicken Stroganoff is prepared in a creamy mushroom sauce and you’ll even find classic Chicken Parmigiana with mashed potatoes. Desserts are sweet, creamy, and irresistible, especially the warm banana cake topped with two scoops of vanilla ice cream, drizzled with warm caramel sauce. Creamy flan, coconut flan, passion fruit mousse, and chocolate mousse are all tempting.

Live Brazilian music fills the air on Friday and Saturday evenings from 8:30-11:30 pm. Favela Grill is a great place to celebrate Valentine’s Day, or any special occasion, or you can make any night special with a meal here. They’re open seven days a week for lunch and dinner from noon until 11 pm weeknights and until midnight on weekends. Make your Valentine’s reservations now and ignite your passion with the ambience, great cocktails, and the true taste of sunny Brazil. Obrigada!

33-18 28th Avenue
Astoria  718.545.8250

www.favelagrill.com
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