With a reputation as one of the best restaurants in Rio de Janeiro, an ever-increasing list of industry accolades and a chef whose name is hitting the London food scene with his debut British restaurant opening this year, expectations were extremely high for Oteque. Walking through the entrance into the sleek dining room, the beating rhythm of the music mirrored the dancing Rio skyline visible from the table. With the first sip of crisp Chenin Blanc coupled with the delightful taste of the freshest seafood; it was clear that this was going to be a memorable dining occasion.

Oteque is a two-Michelin-starred restaurant that fuses fresh local ingredients with modern gastronomic innovation. The vibrant beachfront neighbourhood of Botafogo in Rio de Janeiro is the setting for award-winning chef Alberto Landgraf’s fine-dining seafood cuisine. Inspired by Landgraf’s Japanese heritage, Oteque regularly garners rave reviews and has caught the attention of the international culinary scene with its status as one of the top 50 restaurants in the world.

Landgraf developed his cooking skills working in London with Gordon Ramsay and Tom Aikens in the early 2000s, before making his name through his debut restaurant Epice in São Paulo, then launching Oteque to critical acclaim in 2018. The celebrated chef built his reputation by focusing on sourcing the very best fresh local ingredients, and then applying discipline, consistency, and precision to his cooking techniques, influenced by his German and Japanese lineage.

Oteque has retained its reputation as one of the best restaurants in Rio de Janeiro, and following its continued success Landgraf has recently launched Bossa in London, bringing his celebrated Brazilian flair to the city’s world-renowned food scene.

 

Situated between the hills of Mundo Novo and São João in this trendy Rio district, the restaurant building was formerly a house built in the nineteen thirties and today offers guests a chic dining space with a minimalist industrial interior. Upon arrival at the deceptively discreet entrance, diners are welcomed by a spacious modern room with high ceilings, muted colours and large windows overlooking the upscale neighbourhood.

The fully open kitchen adds to diners’ anticipation so they can observe chefs at work from large round wooden tables or from the chef’s table for more intimate gatherings. Every detail has been considered to provide the delicate balance between sophisticated dining and a relaxed ambience at this elegant yet informal restaurant. Expect rock and roll playlists, a simplistic table setting, and a light, relaxed atmosphere. Ultimately, Landgraf allows each course of his eagerly anticipated authentic cuisine to speak for itself.

The multi-course tasting menu uses plenty of local ingredients and ethical farming practices are a core value of Landgraf and his team, so expect the menu selection to vary depending on the season. A recent selection of dishes includes delectable combinations from raw scallops with fish mayonnaise and pine nuts to monkfish with creamed burrata and broccoli. In terms of presentation, the decision to present minimalist cuisine is down to the emphasis at Oteque on delicious tasting food and creating the most exquisite culinary fusion of ingredients and flavours. If the decadent courses of grilled octopus with tomatoes, duck breast with pumpkin or foie gras boudin haven’t quite sated your appetite, then a sweet pineapple sorbet with Jatai honey should satisfy any sweet cravings.

Another highlight whilst dining at Oteque is discovering the award-winning wine list, courtesy of sommelier Leonardo Silveira and his assistant, Laís Aoki. On hand to provide knowledge about the local and international selection of wine labels to complement the meal, they can provide suggestions for the extensive list available and all staff can help with suitable pairing ideas. If diners are also tempted by the classic cocktail selection, they can opt to begin or finish the evening enjoying a Negroni or a signature Oteque Sour at the restaurant’s stylish bar.

Rio de Janeiro has such a vibrant variety of excellent dining options, but when looking for an extraordinary contemporary dining experience, Landgraf’s restaurant deserves its accolades and provides a chic, inviting setting for diners to discover the sensational seafood cuisine from one of Brazil’s finest culinary talents.