The Brazil Travel Site

Review of Vecchio Sogno Restaurant in Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Fine Dining at the Foot of City Hall

When in Belo Horizonte, most people end up spending much of their time in the Savassi and Lourdes areas, two of the more “noble” neighborhoods of the city, where plenty of food and shopping options are available for the choosing. Not far from these culinary centers is the reputed Vecchio Sogno. When you’re ready for something unique and elegant in the gastronomical arts, make a reservation at Vecchio Sogno in the Praça da Assembleia, the City Hall of Belo Horizonte.

About Vecchio Sogno

The restaurant is the passion of chef-owner Ivo Faria, award winning chef of national repute, having studied under Lucien Iltis, chef to Brazilian president Juscalino Kubitschek of the 1960s “bossa nova” era, and head chef at the Copacabana Palace. After further studies in Switzerland, Ivo returned to Brazil and eventually opened his dream restaurant, Vecchio Sogno (meaning old dream). The signature of its creator comes through in its atmosphere and its dishes, both demonstrating the artist’s touch.

The Food

Basing his menu on Italian cuisine, Chef Ivo is wonderfully inventive. He works with both imported and local ingredients to make such creations as:

• salmon spinach cakes.
• ricotta tortelli with lamb leek sauce.
• shrimp in mushroom mango sauce with potatoes and spinach.

Naturally, the pastas are all made fresh and the meats and poultry are Brazil’s premium quality. Speaking of premium quality, Vecchio Sogno keeps a temperature-controlled wine cellar with domestic and international wines, a full bar, and a dessert menu featuring mousse and Crème Brulée, among other morsels. The integrity of the place is demonstrated everywhere, but especially in its semi-open kitchen, where a dozen culinary technicians work in unison as they have done since the restaurant’s opening in 1995.

Comments

I visited chef Ivo Faria one afternoon, toured the facilities, peeked into the wine cellar and photographed the cooks working their magic. Afternoons, are relaxed and quiet, but the place really begins to cook at happy hour and beyond. I was able to sample my early dinner of ricotta tortelli in lamb leek sauce. The food was artistically cooked and presented and the service was first-rate. This is an excellent place for a business dinner or elegant social dining experience — not necessarily for those interested in a wild night out.

Details

• Hours: Vecchio Sogno opens for lunch at 10am and continues until the last customer leaves. The Dinner menu begins around 6pm.
• Prices: Plates range from $20 to $50 per person.
• Getting There: Rua Martim de Carvalho 75, Praça da Assembleia in Santa Agostinho neighborhood. Take a taxi to the Praça da Assembleia, about 10 minutes from downtown.
• Contact: 31-3292-5251 or www.vecchiosogno.com.br or email: vecchio@vecchiosogno.com.br
• Special Notes: There is a salon for non-smokers and spaces for large groups.

Family Focusing on Food

Originality and diversity are the notable themes at Aromi, one of Belo Horizonte’s most diverse lunch spots. Using the traditional “a-quilo” buffet, Aromi is anything but typical with its recipes. Here you’ll find dishes from all culinary traditions, such as chicken and cheese crepes, pasta putanesca, or Mexican tortillas. You always get a choice of meats, plus specialty items like chicken pot pie or lasagna. There are always plenty of salad options and many special veggie dishes, like deviled eggs or salad with raisins and apples. Even the traditional Brazilian rice and beans are more spicy and savory than usual.

Lunch is reasonable at under R$15 per kilo (with some specialty items priced separately). You’ll probably get out of there for under R$15 per person and have a lunch you’ll remember for a long time. Located in one of the city´s older buildings (a colonial-style, three-story home) and easily accessible on Avenida Afonso Pena near Avenida do Cortorno, it has three floors of seating with plenty of space. However, some days it can get rather crowded and you’d do well to arrive a bit early. They offer a
discount for customers arriving before 11:30 a.m. The old building is quaint, but it lacks a bit of interior design. That’s probably because they’ve been focusing on the food. It’s a family owned and operated place and what they may lack in slick decorations, they make up for in sincerity and simplicity.

Compared to other lunch offerings around town at about the same price, Aromi is a clear winner.

Aromi
Avenida Alfonso Pena 3112
Open 11-4 weekdays and 12-4 on Sunday
Closed Saturday
Food Price Friendly Staff

What’s in a Name?

Who wants to be seen eating at a place called “Big Piggy?” Well, when you get a glimpse of what’s on the menu at this high-end, rodízio-style buffet restaurant, you won’t care what it’s called. Porcão is without a doubt Belo Horizonte’s most outstanding and impressive dining experience. Located in the hills of the city’s upscale, south-center district, Porcão offers one of the city’s most majestic views. Open at 11:30 for lunch, you can look out over the city and the Serra do Corral Mountains. At night, the city is a sea of sparkling lights below you.

But you may have trouble taking your eyes off of the food. Porcão offers a banquet spread that would make any big piggy feel something like King Henry VIII. You’ll find every type of meat, chicken and fish you can imagine, in a buffet-style, all-you-can-eat splendor. Besides the buffet, there’s a sushi bar, fondue table and barbecue. The food continues non-stop from opening until the last customer leaves in the morning hours, with a buffet change for dinner at around 6 p.m.

Let’s talk about fish. Ironically, Porcão, famous for its barbecued meats, has some of the best sushi in the city, with Hamachi and Maguro served up in huge portions. Plus there are catches of the day, delicately cooked in a variety of ways; fish stew; and heaps of shellfish. If you’re particular, you can get any dish cooked to your specific orders. (Remember, this is all for one price—all you can eat.)

Should we talk about meat? Rodízio-style means the attentive waiters will be comin´ round to your table with various barbecued delights throughout the night. Just shake your head if you want a taste. You’ll get choice cuts of beef, pork, lamb, chicken and fish. To add even more color, the buffet offers various salads featuring pasta, greens, shellfish and more.

With its huge lunch and dinner buffets, off-the-menu dishes, scotch bar, wine cellar and views, you might want to just come in for lunch and stay all day. You probably won’t get around to sampling everything, even if you do. But you are welcome to try…and live up to the Porcão name.

One price buffet: R$39.90 lunch or dinner
Drinks and desserts charged separately
Scotch bar with dinner menu selections
Wine cellar
Playground for kids
Parking and valet

Av. Raja Gabaglia 2985
Open 11-midnight every day
Porcão also has four locations in Rio, and others in Brasilia, Recife, and Niterói.