Swiss

Casa da Suiça (Rua Cândido Mendes 157, Glória, tel. 21/2252-5182, www.casadasuica.com.br [1], noon–3 p.m. and 7 p.m.–midnight Mon.–Fri., 7p.m.–1 a.m. Sat., noon–4 p.m. and 7p.m.–11 p.m. Sun.), a decades-old Swiss restaurant housed on the ground floor of the Swiss Consulate, is one of the more unexpected culinary presences in Rio [2]. Although the chef is actually Austrian, he has had his work cut out for him trying to convince Cariocas that there is more to Swiss cuisine than the quintessential fondue. His attempts to prove otherwise result in dishes such as pork stuffed with ham and emmenthal cheese and filet mignon with oysters.

However, in spite of the tropical heat and humidty, the fondues—particularly the classic cheese with herb version served with chunks of fresh pears and mushrooms—are in high demand. While the restaurant’s cozy dining salons ooze Old World charm, on “winter” Sundays the delightful back garden is the place to stuff yourself on raclette.