Ipanema Restaurant
For Brazilian cuisine able to make Sao Paulo natives drool, head to Ipanema Restaurant in Southborough.
Atmosphere(6)
One large dining room is scarcely decorated with authentic Brazilian decorations. Wood tables without table cloths but with paper place mats are less than attractive.
Menu(7)
Heavy on the meat and light on the vegetables. Plenty of chicken, beef, sausage, and pork. A few light soups and salads are offered and there's a full buffet on Saturday and Sunday.
Portions(10)
Enough to put Phantom in a food coma. And the grilled meat skewer-- beef, chicken, pork, and sausage-- is all you can eat.
Appetizers(8)
The potato-like flavor of the fried but greaseless Mandioca com Linguica was mild while the Picadinho a Ipanema consisted of a tasty mixture of sauteed beef, pork, sausage, and shrimp.
Food and Drink(8)
The tasty and mildly flavored Franco con Quiabo consisted of tender chicken, well-textured polenta, and flavorful beans. Although its halibut was a bit dry, the Muqueca de Peixe was steaming with fresh shrimp and vegetables in a wonderful tomato-based broth.
Desserts(8)
The Pudim, essentially flan, covered in caramel sauce was a nice treat while the Arroz Dolce, basically rice pudding, was creamy but not too heavy.
Service(8)
Phantom's server was well versed on all menu items and courteous although quite busy due to a bit of a staffing problem.
Cleanliness(7)
Clean enough, but certainly nothing to rave about. Dishes were cleared relatively quickly and no real issues in the bathrooms.
Parking(8)
Two miles from Rt. 9 on Southville Road in Southborough. Plenty of parking available in two separate lots.
Value(9)
Appetizers between $4-$8, entrees from $8-$14, and the all you can eat meat skewers cost $16. A bargain for this much food.
