A visit to the Embarcadero

Even with the overcast sky, we decided that last Saturday would be the day to visit the much talked about Embarcadero. Parking was right next to the development and very close to the power plant, so we went for a walk along the edge of the pier. There are restaurants lined up there, all open for lunch. Around 3pm, snack menus and the like open, and from then on, they go straight to the sunset in Porto Alegre and continue until 10pm or later, with the kitchens working at full capacity.

Before 1pm there were already lines from Press, right at the beginning, to 20Barra9, at the other end. Among them are the colorful and trendy Wills, the Peruvian-Oriental Isoj and the Italian Famiglia Facin, where we managed to get a table. The dining room offers a view of the kitchen - certainly stocked with ingredients from the head office - and, of course, the obligatory view of Guaíba.

By the way, it is imperative to say: the menu features a selection of best sellers from the restaurant in Shopping Total, not all of them. But the restaurant in Embarcadero allowed us to have a good experience: a beautiful salmon fillet with Brie and honey, accompanied by leek risotto (R$85.00) and, for the columnist, a casserole in the photo above, with succulent and tender ossobucos - suggested on the menu with soft polenta, which I asked to replace with very light rascatelli, without regret (R$75.00).

All the restaurants are set up in shipping containers - nothing against it, in Canela we are fans of one that did exactly the same and still proudly uses the name Container -, although the acoustics on the pier are obviously poor. Our bill at Facin, with mineral water, an Aperol Spritz and tip, was R$213.40.

The Embarcadero also has a large open-air space, where you can find everything from the Eat Kitchen - with an enviable upper deck and its healthy cuisine - to specialists in juices, hot dogs, hamburgers, coffees, pastries, açaí, gelatos and popcorn. There, sitting on old canvas lounge chairs, amid the cheerful buzz of passers-by, children and dogs, we enjoyed dessert - the impeccable mille-feuilles with cream and dulce de leche (R$15.00 each) served by Press.

LENARA PETENUZZO/DIVULGATION/JC

Vineria 1976 started discreetly, in the Maurício Cardoso square. Then it took off, opening its doors to the corner of Dinarte Ribeiro and Padre Chagas streets. And now it has opened its first branch, in the Jardim Europa neighborhood, next to the Cyrela Goldsztein sales stand.

The idea is to serve snacks, tapas and, of course, a good selection of wines. From Wednesdays to Saturdays, from 4pm to 10pm. Oh, and from 6pm to 8pm, it's Wine Hour - a sequence of three glasses served at a promotional price.