Santa Marta
Pork Pastry, Sausage Palmier, Cheese Croissant, Shrimp Pie
Pastel de Nata
Lime Tart
Corn Cake
Manioc Coconut Cake
Pao de Mel
Located in Copacabana, just one block from the beach, Santa Marta Restaurante is a Padaria and Confeitaria with buffet-style service and a large collection of sweets and savories purchased by the pound.
Open from 06h00 until 22h00 daily at Av. Nossa Sra. de Copacabana 898, eight additional outlets serving Rio de Janeiro from Centro to Ipanema, it is upon entering that diners are required to take an electronic “ticket,” the device used to track weighted items from cases tended to by a polite but Portuguese-only staff.
A bit cramped with product, items sweet as well as savory lining the Restaurant’s right half to allow for seating on the left, it was after lengthy perusal that nine items were selected, the total cost of R$29.68 an undeniable bargain for what amounted to quite a lot of Food.
Opting to dine on a bench overlooking the beach, three days of rain temporarily taking a break, it was starting savory that single-bites offering Shrimp, Cheese and Pork proved largely forgettable, compromised textures making all but the Pie’s Crust flaccid and a similar issue plaguing a Egg Custard Tart that fell short of those sold at Portuguese bakeries throughout Brazil.
Improving with a Lime Tart, the tangy Cream well supported by a buttery Shell, both Corn and Manioc Cake were good but not on par with Bela Cake or Pão & Companhia which allowed the heart-shaped Chocolate and Honey Pao de Mel to steal the spotlight as Santa Marta’s best bite.
www.padariasantamarta.com.br
