By Marcelo Duailibe, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Foreigners in Rio quickly learn that apart from the milk and orange juice, Brazilian and American (or European) breakfasts don’t have a lot in common. Now, the Balcony bar and restaurant joins the coveted few locations in the city where both English and Brazilian “café da manhã” (breakfast) can be found, all while enjoying the beautiful view of the Cidade Maravilhosa’s famous Copacabana Beach.
This American-owned eatery has just launched their new breakfast menu, and is offering the morning and brunch crowd everything from real freshly-homemade pancakes, bagels, eggs and hash-browns, to croissants and desserts. Also fresh orange juice, French press coffee or morning cocktails, with a complete breakfast for as low as R$19.95.
David Eger, an expatriate from Upstate New York and the owner of Balcony, explains that the new menu gave them the chance to make their own bread. “Not ordinary breads, the best that can be offered. We use only the best ingredients and spare no costs … [and we also have] incredible croissants and deserts.”
The healthy portions are sure to make breakfast a big hit with the pre-beach crowd, or even for a late brunch after a long night. The wide range of options on the menu are sure to satisfy whatever the stomach is calling for.
“We are the only bagel house in the city and our coffee is carefully made, which is hard to find in Rio”, says Luis Neves, the friendly Portuguese manager, who has 35 years of experience working in the United States.
As a proper American Bar, there is also the Balcony’s Happy Hour, starting every day at 5PM. They are one of the few, if not the only, bar to offer free hors d’oeuvre, delicious “pestiscos” buffet (appetizers), with samples of great chicken wings, omelets, mini-pizzas, and spaghetti.
The lunch and dinner menus are also big draws in the large open seating alongside Avenue Atlântica. Balcony boasts some of the best, and most reasonably priced burgers, pizzas, and Mexican food in Copacabana, including the iconic “Balcony Burger” which is just R$15.95.
For some more local flavor, the 400 gram “Fillet Mignon of a Tableside Grill” (R$49.95 – for two) is in the Brazilian-style of a sizzling skillet brought table-side so patrons can cook their own thin-sliced steak to taste.
Another populate option is the “Fresh Fish of the Day”, served with the house shrimp sauce (R$34.95). Other specialties include and a variety of large, fresh, stay-fit salads.
Balcony has become well known for their expat nightlife crowd in Copacabana near the up-and-coming Praça do Lido square, and now with breakfast added to their plentiful lunch, the restaurant is set to a big draw all summer.
Another nice touch is like an American-style dinner, Balcony is open 24 hours per day. So there is no fear of missing the early-bird special, no matter what time the craving for steak and eggs hit.
Balcony Restaurant & Bar
Avenida Atlântica, 1424 – Copacabana
Rio de Janeiro – RJ, 22021-000
Tel: +55 (21) 2541-8381
* This is a paid Advertorial for Balcony Bar.