- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Bossa Nova Brazil
Rating Details »
Neighborhoods: Theater District, Hell's Kitchen
772 Ninth Avenue
New York, NY 10019
(212) 586-5008
772 Ninth Avenue
New York, NY 10019
(212) 586-5008
- Nearest Transit:
-
50th St-8th Ave (C, E)
50th St-Broadway (1)
7th Ave-53rd St (B, D, E)
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good for:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
17 reviews for Bossa Nova Brazil
I've been here for drinks on a few occasions, but never for a meal until the other evening. After ordering our meal, the wait was unusually long, even for the appetizer. The bartender was apologetic and mentioned that the kitchen was overwhelmed due to a large busload of people that just arrived. Looking around, the dining room wasn't even filled to capacity. By the time the bolinho de bacalao (cod croquette appetizer) were brought out, we were starving. They were meaty but, but not as seasoned as some other restaurants I've visited. My main course, the frango com quiabo (chicken w/ okra stew), was pretty good. My partner's was the frango "bossa nova" (fried chicken chunks), that was more like a simliar Brazilian dish called "frango pasarinho". It was ok.
I was a little turned off by our service this time, but have had good times here before. This particular bartender/waitress seemed to be a little distracted. I'll come back again, but most likely just for drinks.
Some of the gals told me to meet them here for happy hour and a bite and for starters, I was pleased to easily have found parking directly across the street. Unfortunately I was late and famished, luckily the gals made the acquaintance of the bartender, who was friendly and attentive.
I was in a snacking mood and ordered the Picandinho, beef and cheese empanadas and a tomato-mozzarella salad. Everything came out in a decent amount of time and fresh!
I'd definitely go back to try out the rest of the menu, when I'm not in a rush.
Picked it on a whim to explore Brazilian food:
The Rice Croquettes with lemon were great, the Picanha Na Chapa was delicious and flavorful, the drinks were refilled quickly, and the service and atmosphere was great. The prices could be lower but it's manhattan.
This is a dinner review.
In the beginning, the place looks nice and the decor is classy. We really like the street cafe atmosphere.
The food was pretty terrible. I had Strogonoff beef. It turned out to be very dry strips of beef (almost cracking) soaked in very watery yellow sauce that tastes nothing. The portion was not too big, but I guess it doesn't matter because the taste was unbearable.
The bill turnout to be around 50 even though we felt like we didn't eat anything.
I definitely won't recommend this one unless you go for drink and live music, dancing.
with all the options in hell's kitchen for what seemed like good food we decided to just pick one and went with brazilian~! the place was lively with music, singing, some dancing and a nice dark atmosphere. this place also seemed slightly larger than the other slivers of space which other restaurants in the area were occupying :) the whole vibe was perfectly mellow and relaxing throughout the entire meal.
we started with an appetizer of sausages and yuca. this appetizer was pretty tiny for four people, but the portions of the actual meals are pretty substantial so it wasn't a huge issue. the sausage was cut up into small pieces and was so tasty. the little yucas looked like tater tots but tasted way better. they were soft inside and slightly crispy outside with good fried flavor that went awesome with some lemon squeezed on.
i ordered a chicken dish which was a stew with okra and polenta. the meal came with black beans and rice. everything tasted pretty good, but the chicken itself was a little on the dry side and not as tasty as the other items in and around the stew. i could have done without the beans and rice. they weren't too memorable at all. everyone else really enjoyed their meals. my bf got a steak with fried eggs on top! if i were a beefeater that probably woulda been my choice as well. he said it was cooked perfect with good flavor.
for my beverage, i just had to try the caipirnhas, which is a rum drink i believe, with tons of lime and sugar. my parents have a brazilian friend who makes this for me every once in a while and i love her version, so i wanted to compare! the drink here tasted a little different, but had all the sweet limey goodness that i adore, so i give it a thumbs up. plus it was strong as heck. i nursed just one of those baby sized drinks throughout my whole meal while one of my dining partners was able to gulp through two in the same amount of time.
since there are sooo many choices and so much variety of cuisine in the area, i can't be certain that i'd return to bossa nova, but i do not regret the time i did spend here...! :D
This is a happy hour review - it's great here! caipirinhas, cosmos, appletinis, frozen margaritas, sangria for $4-5, and pitchers of margarita and sangria for a measly $15. The sangria was deeeeelicious, and the frozen margarita surprisingly strong - watch out!
We dabbled in a little food to munch on too: the yucca fries were the tastiest, in the same vein as glorious tater tots, and the chicken salad was satisfying as well; the chicken liver was overly salted, with a puddled texture, and the beef empanadas underseasoned with no garnish. oh well.
I'll definitely be back for happy hour, but i'll be sure to satiate my appetite for food either before or after.
great service, and perfect setup to come with a group.
bathrooms are not wheelchair accessible.
I was hoping that when they turned from French to Brazilian that there was a reason; like, maybe they were flying in from Brazil a top-notched-chef, no, too far fetched. A name change is not going to change the quality of the food. (The margaritas are still good though). They have Happy Hour usually posted outside on the board. I do like the atmosphere of the restaurant, not the best art work, but who looks at it all the time?? I know on one night they have live music.
We sit at the bar as it is comfortable to me. We had the Brazilian sausage with yucca, sausage was chopped in small pieces, which were too small in my opinion, the yucca reminded me of marsh mellows, (dry in texture), salad was ok needed more dressing and the beef stew was too starchy and was warm/cool, not hot. The prices are average.
Maybe I would stop in again for Happy Hour as long as they continue it, but I wouldn't make a special trip.
It's one of those Hell's kitchen's establishments that continue to exist on its ethnic appeal; cheap happy hour drinks and outdoor seating. Doubtful a foodie goes out of his/ her way to seek out Bossa Nova Brazil's food. Overly salted, muddy rice texture and overcooked cod in the Seafood Paella. Shouldn't paella be served on paella pan? Plated on a dull white flatware--stripping away the intensity and excitement of the dish.
Can one go wrong with empanadas? Yes. Regrettably ordered three beef empanadas that resemble frozen supermarket brands. Dismayed that not a single garnish was used to accompany those lonely patties--no embellishments whatsoever, nothing. The flavor was exactly how it looked: boring. Perhaps one thing that was worth mentioning in a better note was the Brazilian sausage served with yucca. Fried crispy yucca cut into neatly tapered torpedoes; shockingly tender in the inside served along with bite size sausages.
If you're meeting a meaningless date and in the mood for some $5 dollar happy hour 'Brazilian cocktails,' this is your place. Dine al fresco, people watch and hopefully not look tacky.
After too many Ninth Ave places gave me a headache and big attitude, I decided to try this place again. And, hey I actually had someone offer me a place to sit down. Although the outdoor terrace was filled, the restaurant was pretty empty for brunch. Yet the hostess(?) seeing I was by myself, suggested sitting at the bar. Usually that bothers me but the bartender, Teisy(?) was so warm and welcoming, it was perfect. For brunch (unbelievable at $10 without liquor/$14 with) she suggested the French toast. Okay...not really Brazilian but fantastic with real maple syrup and caramelized bananas. We talked of music from all over South America, the food was tasty and beautifully presented and I felt welcomed and not rushed.
Gotta try it for dinner. Hope that I can sit down again.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
4/30/2009
I love Brazilian food. I just wish I had the opportunity to taste the food at this restaurant. I… Read more »
Umm, what does that sign say? $10 for brunch? Is this a joke? No, my friends, it ain't no joke! $10 for brunch or $14 including one alcoholic drink. Are we sure we're still in Manhattan?
I'm not a foodie by any means. In fact, the cheaper a meal is the better it tastes. So this was pretty darn good. Just because it's cheap doesn't mean they skimp out by any means. My eggs florentine came with yummy potatoes and a small side salad. I couldn't finish the entire thing. My friend's french toast with carmelized bananas looked amazing and being the oh so sweet girl she is she let me have some of her bananas - mmm. Since it's a fruit it's still good for you, right?
The service was a tad slow on refilling our coffee cups but they definitely were not rushing us to make us leave after we chatted over cup after cup of coffee. Hmm, now that I think about it perhaps that's why they weren't too keen on the mutliple refills...
Bottom line: Cheap. Good food. Nice outdoor seating. I'll go back.
We stopped at this place because we were on a quest for sangria on a muggy day. Pitchers for $24 ($15 during happy hour). The sangria was really good. So much so that we got the recipe (red wine, triple sec, brandy, orange juice, lots of tiny diced fruit) to try at home.
We didn't have much food but I can see why this place gets crappy reviews. I had the cheese pastels appetizer which was so-so. The other person in our party that had food (pork I think) thought it was too salty.
All I can speak for is the sangria but that alone is well worth it of you're in the neighborhood on a hot day.
I blinked and Brasserie 52 became Bossa Nova Brazil.
K and I were looking for a brunch place on Ninth Avenue on Sunday. When our first choice places had long waits we decided to try Brasserie 52. However it had become Bossa Nova Brazil and was advertising a $10 brunch. Inside, we found a $14 option that included a choice of mimosa, bloody mary, kir royale, etc... breakfast drink fare....
We both opted for the eggs benedict, which took longer than expected, but not ridiculously so. The eggs were slightly over cooked, served with Canadian bacon over an english muffin. Sides were potatoes au gratin (which were quite delicious) and a handful of salad greens (which had too much dressing).
Overall, the brunch was nothing to write home about, but edible and quick. The restaurant is a little dark and a little too loud when crowded. However, given the pricing and good service, there is a good probability that I will be back. I'm curious to try dinner.
After one meal, I rate Bossa Nova Brazil closer to 2.5 stars, but since Yelp doesn't allow fractions, I have to round down.
I am incredibly unimaginative when it comes to certain ethnic restaurants. I MUST get soup dumplings when I go to any place resembling Shanghainese, a vindaloo is sort of a necessity at Indian eateries, gumbo is my de facto order when ordering Cajun, and at Brazilian joints, I always get the fejoida.
Fejoida, the hearty Brazilian peasant food of black beans and bits of meat scraps, when done right is a case study of how food that once only the poor ate, evolved into something truly delicious. When done wrong, it's just an offensive tragedy.
So when I sat down at Bossa Nova, I didn't even have to crack the menu. "Fejoida and a caiprihna please".
The place was mostly empty, so the bartender was able to take her time and make a really good caiprihna. I'd drink 4-5 of these guys if they weren't so damn expensive here. Out with the caiprihna's came a basket of cold and somewhat stale rolls.
Finally, the glorious fejoida arrived. A portion that was big enough for two, it came with the ubiquitous white rice, shredded kale, farofa, and upon request, a gum-searing side of hot sauce. This may be a lame analogy, but if I were to compare this fejoida to Jazz musicians, it would be a Sonny Criss or Bobby Shew compared to a Dave Brubeck or Miles Davis. It was fairly pleasing, but lacked real depth or soul. Otherwise, easily forgettable.
My companion's mains fared far worse. A strip steak, which drew the unfavorable comment, "this reminds me of something I would get at Applebees" was not worth the price paid. An order of empanada's arrived drenched in oil and contained a paltry amount of filling.
I've always said that Hell's Kitchen / Theater District attracts some of the most underwhelming restaurants in the city (with the exception of FiDi, but that's another story), and Bossa Nova does nothing to improve upon that reputation. With so many better Brazilian restaurants in the city, don't waste your time with this one.
We learned a valuable lesson last week: trust the reviewers on Yelp! The food at Bossa Nova was not only mediocre but the service, location, and drinks were also pretty meh. Stick with the proper Little Brazil area (west 46th between 5th and Broadway) for your best bets for churrascaria.
We were lured into eating at Bossa Nova because of the outdoor seating. Let's be honest: 9th avenue is not a dining destination in terms of scenery, but their outdoor tables were all full and it looked promising. I wish we had been smart enough to realize that no one around us was eating-- instead, patrons were nursing a drink since we had arrived at what looked like a OK happy hour. I wish I could say that the drinks offered some redemption for Bossa Nova but our pitcher of red sangria was unfortunately way too sweet. Even at the special happy hour half-price of $15, I don't think the sugary liquid was worth it. For the first time, I actually left sangria in my glass!
Service was another story. I am normally OK with aloof, or even poor service when I at least have the distraction of food. However, not only did it take some time to catch the hostess' attention, but once we were seated, we were not told any specials nor did we receive any bread. She was warmer with another couple that sat down towards the middle of our meal (they also received bread and were told specials) and never checked on us once during our meal. As for our food... I ordered the beef portugesa (shell steak with garlic sauce and a fried egg) while my boyfriend ordered the picanha na chapa (sizzling sirloin with garlic sauce). Both were extremely underseasoned and on the tough side. I could taste no discernible difference between the two cuts in texture or taste, and it really seemed like they cooked the steak and just tossed on some type of sauce at the very last minute. The fried egg that came with my dish was a sorry side and I was very disappointed by the waste of $19. If my dish had cost, say, $14, I would have been OK with it. But the $20+ menu that they charge is robbery. They were edible but really not up to expectations.
We didn't care to stay much longer after we finished our meal. I think the only thing I enjoyed about my meal was the rice and beans, however small a portion. I would probably give this place an extra star if it was cheaper but in short, always listen to Yelp!
as others have noted, somehow in the midst of winter, the brasserie disappeared and bossa nova popped up in the neighborhood.
we were quickly seated last night (friday) by a very friendly and competent host and were even able to snag a table outside which was great since it was the first comfortable evening in a good 5 months.
then... it took a cool 25 mins before someone decided to acknowledge us and take our order. the waiter was friendly but didnt even offer to tell us the specials for the night; we had to ask. we gave our drink and food orders since we were both hungry and parched, and in about 5 mins the waiter returned to re-confirm our order - one salad to share to start and two mains plus a pitcher of sangria. not too complicated but i guess he wants to be thorough.
so, after a half hour after being seated, we received our free bread and glasses of water. our salad arrived shortly after. arugula w/shaved parm and beef carpaccio. tasty but nothing special. i dont think they wash their arugula but i am also a germaphobe, this may be excusable due to my neurosis.
next came our dishes and were were both satisfied. the rice here is GREAT. i had the camarona na coco which came w/fat shrimps in coconut cream w/mushrooms served in a coconut shell.
so, long story short, this place is not up to par in terms of service: we witnessed 3 parties come in, be seated, and leave within 15 mins. owner was not making ANY effort to accomodate guests. waiters had no organization to their methods. host was cool, though. but in terms of food, pretty alright for a new brazilian addition to the area - a few doors down from the other brazilian, Rice and Beans. oh, and the mecca of meat around the corner, Plataforma.
The food can be great, but it depends what you order. Some of the chicken dishes, for example, contain bones embedded, and in some cases, crushed up with the chicken. These kind of dishes are inedible. I liked the beef stroganoff a lot, though. Unfortunately, I will never return to this restaurant because of how poorly I was treated there a little while ago. I had been going there often as a regular customer and even bringing lots of new friends with me. However, one night when I went with friends, we ordered sangria and asked how much it cost. The waiter told us and we were comfortable with the price. So we ordered a couple more pitchers after the first. Our waiter failed to inform us, however, that the price he had originally quoted was just a happy hour price. After happy hour ended, the price went up 100%! When the bill came, we thought there was a mistake and called him over. He brought his manager over who told me and I quote "there is nothing I can do. The price is set in the computer." I explained I was a regular customer and they should have told us about the change in price. The manager then very rudely told me I should have noticed that it was listed on the billboard outside the restaurant as being a happy hour special. Yeah, right, I should have noticed that. There were tons of people milling on the sidewalk--so many, in fact, that I didn't even notice there was a sign outside on their sidewalk listing happy hour specials at all. But I still contend the waiter should have told us the price was only good for a set amount of time. Anyway so the manager got very angry at me. I could tell he was from another country and told him that here I was used to the customer always being right. At that point he got all mad and went and adjusted the bill. So I suppose there was something he could do to fix the situation. After being treated so rudely, however, I will never return.
decent sirloin burger. nice waitress. dark. comfortable.
