Porta 23 Restaurant & Bar is a chic, modern Brazilian restaurant serving traditional fare with an exciting new twist. Come for Happy Hour and stay for dinner in the contemporary dining room, tastefully decorated for Halloween! What’s more, there’s live Brazilian Bossa Nova music on Friday evenings from 7-10pm that adds to the already sultry vibe at Porta 23.
The modest façade boasts skeletons for the holiday and opens to reveal an elegant bar where a friendly Happy Hour crowd gathers each night from 4-7pm. On Wednesdays, Happy Hour runs all day with lower priced cocktails, wine and beer. Just past the bar is the spacious dining room bedecked with light and dark wood banquettes and tables, white walls, and soft, cozy lighting that lends a romantic note.
The service is excellent at Porta 23 and you’ll feel very welcome here. We started with a classic Brazilian cocktail called a caipirinha (kai-pee-REEN-yah) and a glass of white wine. Mojitos, Margaritas, and Sangritas are all quite popular and are offered for just $9 during Happy Hour.
The Chef at Porta 23 makes everything to order from the finest and freshest ingredients. Poke crunch is a delightful starter of raw ahi tuna marinated with soy ginger sauce, jalapeño, avocado, green onion, and sesame seeds layered over crunchy wonton wrappers ($19). Porta 23’s owner, Patryck, tells the story of his grandmother’s sacred recipe for golden yuca fritters which combines mashed yuca, Manchego cheese and bits of ham into golden round fritters, meant to be dipped into the spicy marinara sauce and a drizzle of basil oil ($14). Her recipe for pao de queijo, which are delectable mini cheese breads called PDQ, will have you addicted after one bite ($9). The vibrant beet salad and spinach arugula salad are freshly tossed and flavorful. All the appetizers are generously sized and meant to be shared at your table or at the convivial bar with friends.
Porta 23 offers seasonal dishes such as the eye dazzling harvest squash, a baked acorn squash filled to the brim with plump shrimp, corn, peas, hearts of palm, and lobster infused tomato cream sauce ($32). This visually beautiful dish is a feast for the eyes and your palate, so get it while it’s in season! Spicy vodka rigatoni gets an extra kick from a drizzle of hot honey, topped with creamy burrata ($25). Both these entrées are vegetarian, yet Brazil is also famous for its juicy meats. We shared Picanha, perfectly grilled top sirloin steak served in a sizzling pan with outstanding crispy rice, verdant broccoli rabe, pico de gallo, and aromatic chimichurri sauce. Picadinho is a dish of tender diced beef in Bordelaise sauce, served with rice and beans ($28).
Family recipe flan and Brazilian style passion fruit brulee will satisfy your sweet tooth along with a cup of coffee or tea. Enjoy the live Bossa Nova music on Friday nights from the dining room or at the bar. The bar menu includes their famous smash burger with bacon, cheddar, and caramelized onions, yuca fries, truffle fries, and more.
Porta 23 Restaurant & Bar opened three years ago and the secret to their success is the consistently delicious food, cocktails, and warm hospitality. Porta 23 Restaurant & Bar is open from 11am to 11pm seven days a week for your dining, sipping, and listening pleasure. Plan your holiday party or special occasion now and visit their website for menus, photos, and to make reservations. Muito obrigada Porta 23!
www.porta23.com • Instagram