Restaurant Hunter: Market Ipanema

Though it's not exactly brand new, I tried out Market in Ipanema twice over the last few weeks, since I am always intrigued by new restaurants.

Market is set in a courtyard off of Visconde de Piraja, one of the main strips in Ipanema. The design of the restaurant is simple and chic, and very California. The entry hall is lined with plants on one side and a huge mural of fruits and vegetables on the other. At the end of the hall is a small courtyard lined with palms. In the restaurant, the interior is lined with wood, while all the chairs are brightly colored plastic concoctions.

The courtyard is the most charming part, since you can sit in the middle of the city under palms and the open sky, though it does get pretty hot out there during the day (I saw big fans, but they were turned off). The crowd is mostly well off, the typical upscale crowd, with a scattering of dazed tourists and lots of ladies who lunch. Though most of the waiters are men, there are also a few pretty young waitresses, several of them white "Ipanema" girls, decked out in tapered jeans and Converse sneakers. This is definitely not the norm for wait staffs in Rio and I found it to be somewhat unusual (men dominate the profession in Rio, especially in sit down restaurants and churrascarias, and though there are waitresses, they rarely look like girls from Ipanema). I suppose it's meant to make the place more chic.

The first time I was there, with a new American friend, we sat inside in the early evening before the dinner rush, and the service was completely terrible. Since Market's trademark are the juices, we each ordered one from the "Classics." As far as I was concerned, it wasn't great.

The second time I treated myself to lunch there before a trip to Livraria da Travessa, and I ordered the Friday special, grouper risotto and banana cobbler. I know it's really bad to order fish on Fridays (restaurants tend to discount fish at the end of the week, since they are purchased earlier in the week and aren't fresh), but I decided to give it a shot. The risotto was decent, but otherwise unremarkable (and definitely not filling), and the banana cobbler was lacking in flavor. That time around though, the service was better (including one of the mysterious hip waitresses).

It seems to me it's safer ordering a salad or a sandwich, but I take it that the most special thing about Market is the ambiance. I'm a huge sucker for courtyard restaurants.

I recommend it for cocktails and coffee with friends, but not so much fine dining.

Comments

[Robyn]

That's interesting about the fish on Friday. In the USA (at least in New York) you never order fish on a Monday (actually you should never even eat out on a Monday) because most people dine out over the weekend so the fish and everything else is delivered on Friday so it will be fresh for Fri-Sun. By Monday it's all old and the new deliveries haven't come in.

And I figured that here in Brazil, a Catholic country and all, that fish on Friday would be the way to go! I wonder if the old fish on Friday goes for sushi restaurants as well - again, I would have thought that most people would go out for sushi over the weekend.

[THiago]

In my opinion most of Rio's zona sul restaurants are disappointing and expensive, places to be seen and to eat pretentious food that ignores Brazils culinary roots.

[William]

Robyn is right. Friday is the day to order fish. In Rio it is not different.

[Bethany]

That looks like a fun, casual place for lunch-- love the chairs! :)

[Bia]

Hello there, I work at Market Ipanema and I am extremely sorry to hear that your experience was not very good here,I invite you to come back and be my guest of honour in order to try to change your impression (the girl in jeans and converse was probably me - I am not a waitress I own the place- not trying to be hip at all!- just trying to serve the customers better).We do receive fresh fish every day except on Sundays. We are struggling with service but I will definetely give more training to the team, and try to improve my friday special ! Thank you.

[Account Deleted]

Definitely we should follow our instincts and get our own impressions.As far as Market Ipanema is concerned, I fully disagree with the blogger because the food I tasted was delicious, the staff was attentive not forgetting to mention the relaxing " carioca " atmosphere we can find there.
Silvia

[Peter A.]

Ola,
Market & Foneria were 2 of my "Go To " late lunch stops in Ipanema. I am vegetarian , so both places have great pastas that can be ordered just with mushroom and accompanying salads.
Market has a groovy courtyard vibe + they play cool tunes. The garota in jeans is bonita ! Obrigado for your great blog.

[Marcos alves]

hello I work in the market and I am there for a long time + I have to speak the truth and the restaurant very good and the service is improving too may believe .. and can also give. !! thanks for the space.
ass: Mark 1 single waiter.!