A Brazilian Cuisine Haven in NYC’s West Village: Berimbau

You’ll find that one of New York’s most picturesque neighborhoods is the West Village. Flooding with beautiful outdoor dining surrounded by plants and a vibrant scene. Nestled on a block where you’ll find many NY staples, like Jack’s Wife Freda and The Grey Dog, sits one of our new favorite restaurants, Berimbau – a Brazilian cuisine haven. The food is so good and authentic, that they have earned high praise like being named the best Feijoada by Eater.

I mean, I knew that Brazilian cuisine is famous for their meats like their beef and chicken, but I was truly blown away by the quality of their seafood creations. Executive Chef Giancarlo Junyent (a native of Brazil) elevates your understanding of how diverse this country’s cuisine is.

Chef Giancarlo is the type of chef I’d probably follow anywhere. We started off with some appetizers – their Coxinha (chicken croquettes), Pasteis (empanadas – you get three so we tried their beef, hearts of palm with cheese, and shrimp. So impressed! We also ordered the most delicious Brazilian cheese bread called Pao de Queijo. Even baby Jordan wanted in on the action.

We ordered a couple options off their Brazilian Favorites list: the Moqueca Baiana (a seafood stew with halibut) and their beef Stroganoff for our mains, sharing everything. PRO TIP: ask for their house-made hot sauce on the side. I wish I could buy a bottle for home! It’s spicy with a tang of sweetness.

Since it was brunch, we ordered another one of their main entree dishes but this time for dessert – their Brazilian Toast which is their version of french toast using brioche and a side of fresh fruit compote – with a couple of cappuccinos. It felt so right.

Also, this is my life now haha motherhood – learning how to do everything with one hand while I hold my baby in the other.

They’ve been on the block for 10 years now and recently remodeled their entire restaurant. They offer seating both in front of the restaurant as well as an interior backyard space, and take no reservations (first come, first served). We got there at 11:30 am and watched the place pack up!

They have a beautiful open kitchen and I love that I could pop my head in after my meal to thank the wonderful people who made the delicious dishes that contributed to my memorable experience. 

On my way to look at their patio, I was greeted by Berimbau’s founder, Mario de Matos. He is so passionate about bringing part of his nation and culture to NYC. With multiple restaurants in the city – all highlighting Brazilian cuisine – he’s brought so much authenticity and wonderful hospitality to our neighborhoods.

FUN Fact: The berimbau is a single-string percussion instrument, a musical bow, from Brazil. 

If you’re wondering how to pronounce the name, Berimbau, you’ll have to really roll your R’s.

Berimbau is a great place with flavorful Brazilian dishes and tasty cocktails including some with the nation’s famous spirit, Brazilian cachaca. I recommend this restaurant for both meat lovers and vegans (lots of options) and their new full renovation provides a great ambiance for family, friends, and especially out of towners (or business partners) you want to impress with something just a little out of the ordinary. Saúde!