We went here for our Valentines dinner. We had looked at the menu online, read yelp reviews, and had an idea of what we wanted to order... we were super excited to try it! BUT... what they didn't mention when we made a reservation was that they had a *special* Valentines day menu, which was $55 per person. FIFTY FIVE DOLLARS PER PERSON!!! Ouch. Guess who didn't get wine with her dinner?!? It was overpriced... but the food was good. The cheese bread=good. The fried yucca root=amazing. Husband had the chicken and heart of palm soup, he loved it. I had the black beans and corn soup... LOVED it! My husband got the fillet mignon, which was so bad he didn't eat it. If you get a fillet mignon, shouldn't it be small, round, and thick? This is flat and thin. It was a fatty piece of meat too. Yuck. He liked the sides that came with it. The main course I chose was the vegetarian option, baked tabulah. I enjoyed it; I've never tasted anything like it! It had raisins, onions, and some kind of cheese on it. The rice and beans on the side were awesome!!! he most important part... the amazing desserts. Holy moly. This dessert is straight from heaven. HEAVEN I tell you! I had the tres leches cake with coconut... wowza. Heaven. Will be back for this and this alone! The husband has the 4 layer pie, which he claimed fell from heaven. Mmmmm, desserts. Overall: Hated that they had a pricey v-day menu. Everything but the steak was good. Get dessert. I don't care how full you might be... get dessert. read more

Lobster patty's were amazing and the salad was delicious as well, and I typically don't eat salads! Great appetizers, and drinks too. Very authentic food. My first time there, I will definitely be back soon! read more

Recently had lunch at this restaurant for the first time in several years. Nice atmosphere and location in the upper higher crust Hillcrest neighborhood of Little Rock. Service was polite but slow as it appeared that were just a couple of waiters for a close to full house. What surprised me about Cafe Bosa Nova were the New York prices in Little Rock. For a very small veg panini the price was just a shade under $15. You also got a small salad but could substitutes for two more dollars a cup of soup which I did. With a thee dollar ice tea my bill was $20 not including tip. My point is simply that the food value was simply not there for the money spent. $25 for a six inch panini, a cup of soup and an ice tea struck me as excessive. read more

Cafe Bossa Nova is delicious! I'd been wanting to try this restaurant for years, but heard that is was "expensive" and had just "okay" food. Well let me tell you...that advice was far from wrong! My husband and I ended up purchasing the Enjoy the City book and were delighted to see that Cafe Bossa Nova was in the book. We went on a Tuesday night, which was steady but not overly packed. The restaurant was very clean and staffed appropriately. Our server was friendly and attentive. My husband and I split the Crepes de Frango (chicken crepes baked in a creamy cheese sauce and marinara sauce, served over rice with veggies) and the Salpicao (shredded chicken, mayo, apples, carrots, sweet peas, and herbs served over rice with a mista salad.) The Salpicao is basically a Brazilian chicken salad. It was seasoned perfectly and quite delicious! Same goes for the crepes- they were baked perfectly, and were wonderful! Even the salad had fresh baby spring mix, mandarin oranges, the best slivered almonds, topped with a fantastic house dressing. We loved it all! Looking forward to our next visit. read more

After attempting to have lunch here yesterday only to discover that they aren't open on Mondays, we returned today in a more successful vein. The facilities. A kind of combination of spartan and tasteful/upscale. Modestly sized, with windows along the street side and the parking lot side, providing a somewhat cosmopolitan feel for this mixed use (partly residential, partly grocery/bar/restaurant), pedestrian-friendly area. The Service. The staff were pleasant and efficient while taking care of the whole restaurant during lunch rush with only 2 people. The Food. I know very little about Brazillian cuisine, so I have nothing to compare it to except those churrascaria/Rodízio (thanks wikipedia!) type restaurants...so this will be a favorable comparison. For starters, we had the fried rice cakes, consisting of rice, cheeses, seasonings, and a light batter...then deep fried and served with a sauce that had the look and texture of aioli, but the flavor of sour cream. these were quite good...if you live in Arkansas and don't like deep-fried + rice, it might be time for you to move North of Mason-Dixon. For main, I had the Mineirinho, which is apparently a traditional breakfast dish. It consisted of 2 fried eggs served over white rice, black beans, Brazillian-style pico de gallo, and a salad of shredded collard greens with an oil + acid dressing. The eggs were good, cooked sunny side up, exactly as requested. The beans were a fantastic improvement over the standard black beans served all over central Arkansas...which shouldn't be surprising as Brazil is famous for making amazing black beans (in particular a soup). The rice was adequate, but either slightly undercooked or allowed to sit and dry out a bit too long...probably most people wouldn't have noticed though. The Pico de Gallo was fresh, but unremarkable. The shredded collard greens was a surprise though...tasty, fresh, nutritious. We definitely enjoyed our first visit and will add this to our list of options in the future. As with many restaurant experiences, the least pleasant part of the meal comes at the end...to wit, the bill. While the portions were generous and we did enjoy the meal, it was a fairly pricey lunch...so keep an eye on that, esp when not ordering from the lunch menu. read more

I live in Hillcrest and I've eaten here a couple of times. I think it's overpriced though and I usually steer clear now. The cheese bread is fabulous and when it first opened, it used to be free, now, you have to pay for it, which I don't mind doing because it's wonderful. I'm also a vegan and eating here is pretty easy if you're a vegan or vegetarian. read more

Having been in Little Rock more than I ever imagined I would lately, I started searching Yelp for vegetarian or vegetarian friendly restaurants. I never imagined finding a veg friendly brazilian eatery as the only brazilian eatery back home is stomach turning to a vegetarian. Cafe Bossa Nova was a very pleasant surprise. They have an entire vegetarian/vegan section in the menu. It was my mom and I dining and we ordered the deep fried yucca root as an appetizer. Mom thought that the ketchup that it came with was too spicy, but I loved it. The yucca root made me think a potato had mated with a banana- and I mean this in a good way. For our entrees, we ordered and shared the Kibe De Abobora Assado (Baked tabuli with butternut squash, fresh mint, raisins and spices, layered with ricota cheese, topped with french baked onions, served with black beans and rice) and the Vegetais Recheados (Stuffed zucchini and squash with hearts of palm, olives, red pepper and fresh herbs, served with black beans and rice). Both of these items were delectable and extremely flavorful. As a side note, I ordered an iced Yerba Mate. This was without a doubt the best Mate I've ever had- and it came with free refills! The staff were very friendly and attentive. I have no idea when I will make it to Little Rock again, but when I do, I will definitely be eating at Cafe Bossa Nova. read more

This place was anticlimactic -slow service -overpriced -uneventful food I ordered the soup and salad combo ($9), although if I ordered the cup of soup ($4.25) and salad ($4.75) separately, it would have been cheaper...both were tiny portions, and I could have used the extra 25 cents for a handful of peanut m&m's. The tastiest part of the meal was the dressing on the salad. My husband ordered the fresh white tuna and rosemary wrap. We thought it was going to be a filet of grilled fish, but instead we got some good ol' canned tuna and mayo...for $11...nice. To top it all off, we had ordered the cheese-bread as an appetizer. It ended up being dessert because it came after the meal? read more

The food is very good. I loved the salad that came with my lunch. It had oranges and nuts- not your typical house/side salad.

I love going to Cafe Bossa Nova, drinking their strong Brazilian cocktails and eating the black beans and rice. Every other dish I've had has been good, too -- salmon cakes, chicken-apple salad, and the chicken crepes covered with a creamy sauce. I am usually unimpressed with their soups, even the black bean soup, which seems redundant anyway. Their desserts are outstanding. No wonder they opened up a bakery next door. The best bread pudding I have ever had, wonderful tres leches cake, and a pumpkin mousse that is better than creme brulee. On the down side, the prices are high. Beans and rice, with a small scoop of pico de gallo and a small scoop of collards, is like $11. Main dishes usually $14 and up. Lunch only slightly less expensive. I know you're also paying for the ambience, a combination of friendliness and sophistication, but sometimes I wonder where restaurants like this get the idea that Little Rock folks have so much spare money. I guess, judging by their success, some of us do. It's not enough to make me stop going. People are right: it is unique in the city, if not the state. read more

I've been here twice recently and I have enjoyed every bit of my experience! Unique flavorful dishes and desserts that are served up on huge plates. Each day brings a different recurring weekly special ... so far Tuesday and Saturday have been amazing. Can't wait to try the rest of the days of the week on future date nights. read more

The salpicao is always scrumptious and the cakes del salmao were especially good Saturday night. One of our favorite destinations.

Service is just okay but the food is good. If service were great that would have been better!! The pulled pork salad was very good and the cheesy balls as well but that appetizer is a bit overpriced in my opinion. read more

THIS PLACE IS AMAZING!!!!!! PAO DE QUEIJO (Brazilian cheese bread) is so good!! You must order at least two baskets! The best mojitos I have ever had. Entree: CAMARAO NA ABOBORA (shrimp stuffed in butternut squash with coconut sauce) is a must try! read more

It's hard to find true Brazilian, so this is a diamond in the rough. I had high hopes, as we had multiple recommendations and had heard awesome reviews. I think that is why I couldn't give it a higher review, I hd such high expectations. The two meals we tried were decent. We had the beef wrapped in bacon, which I liked - the sauce had a great wine-flavor. Also tried the salmon cakes, which were average. I much prefer a good ol' crab cake. The stand outs: the cheesy-bread, the bread pudding desert and the service. Our waiter was amazing, especially with our little girl whom he gave ample attention. We'll likely go back... I want to figure out what the hype is about and I'm confident another visit will get me there. read more

Classic little rock favorite. The salpicao is a chicken salad on white rice with a side of salad. Once you've tried it, you'll crave it. They have a delicious cheesy bread for appetizer that is a must get each time. The price is a lil higher than most restaurants but the food is worth it. read more

Cafe Bossa Nova - Salpicao - Brazilian Near Me - Little Rock, Arkansas

The only Brazilian restaurant that I know of in Little Rock, and luckily, it's a great place for dinner with unique tasty dishes, good service, and fairly convenient from just about anywhere in the area, Bossa Nova is on my list of "Go, See, Eat" places here. If you go, be sure to have a caperinha - a traditional Brazilian cocktail reminiscent of a Margarita on the rocks. read more

We've only ever been there for brunch, and it is so so good. Their chicken and waffles and French toast are each a great twist on the classics. Rotating specials are always excellent as well. Don't forget to order the cheese bread! read more

That meal tonight for my mother-in-law's birthday was incredible. Had the Saturday Special. Would get again. Actually, I've been inspired to learn how to make Brazilian food- I've never eaten traditional Brazilian food aside from your "'Let's serve an abundance of meat on sabers'", type place. Now, I'm interested in more. I feel like there's something to be said for a restaurant that causes its patrons to be inspired enough to attempt to replicate the dishes at home. Nothing short of five stars is deserving. read more

One of my favorite restaurants in town that lost my faith tonight due to horrendous service - on a takeout order... Had to repeat order three times to the guy who just couldn't seem to remember a thing. Half order is sitting in front of me going cold while I wait on other half. Only saving grace is that I didn't use chef shuttle as their delivery guy has been waiting close to an hour. I presume the food will be just as good as it always is, or as good as cold food can be. This rating based totally on service. read more

quaint little restaurant, I had the Tilapia Assada- baked pan-seared tilapia topped with basil pesto served with rice and mista salad. I had no idea talapia could taste so good! Also tried some sort of mixed drink with a blend of brazillian rums. Which was amazing! The waiter was very knowledgeable on the entire menu, including the drinks. He asked me questions to find out what I liked/didn't like and make several reccomendations based on that and he was dead on! Will def. be going back. read more

Don't depend on the looks of this place as a judgement on the food. It's maybe a little shabby but the food we tried was flavorful and delightful. My only experience with Brazilian food is with Brazilian steakhouses like Texas de Brazil. the only similarity I was able to connect was the cheese bread. Bossa Nova won that round hands down. Their bread was immensely better with cheese that I found softer and with better texture. Delicious. We also sampled the yucca root which as the appearance of home fries but the inside texture definitely mealy. I'm not the biggest fan, but maybe worth a shot. I had the beef medallions for my meal and it came in an unexpected manner. The bacon wrapping was a thicker sort and and beef paper thin. Still delicious, but not the medallions I would have expected to see. The beans it came with were super yummy. The flavor was addicting and robust. The little green salad was bright and a good contrast to the beans and meat. The same beans, greens salad and either scrambled or sunny side up egg dish looked good as well. I also heard from my table mates that the salmon cakes were good, but 'pre baked salmon' (from the menu) made me think it was canned salmon. Service was laid back and at a relaxed pace. I wished the server would have noticed my empty wine glass and asked for a refill as I didn't want to bring it up at a business dinner myself. Definitely a flavor bomb surprise that I didn't expect to find in Little Rock. read more

I'm giving it 5 stars because I think what happened was a once in a while mistake from the waitress - it took about an hour to get our food because she didn't write our order down so the cooks didn't get it, but our appetizers were free! The food was incredible so don't be shy to order something you don't understand because everything was so delicious! Brazilians know how to cook!!! read more

This place was amazing! I am Brazilian and there are no Brazilian places where I am from. I jumped at the opportunity to come here while I was visiting from out of town. We started with coxinhas, which are perfect pockets of chicken and cheese that are fried (how can you go wrong?). My boyfriend and I both had "arroz com feijao," his was steak and onions and mine was chicken breasts. Both were so delicious and authentic. Tastes like what my mom used to make growing up. Collard green salad, vinaigrette, ugh so good! Highly HIGHLY recommend. Prices were a little high compared to other restaurants in the area, but they give you a lot of food. We both had leftovers. Seriously, this place warmed my heart. Will 100% be coming back next time I am in Little Rock. read more

Cafe Bossa Nova - Arroz com feijao with seared chicken - Brazilian Near Me - Little Rock, Arkansas

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The price may seem intimidating, but trust me: This is good food. Wholesome ingredients, balanced plates, and tons of gluten-free and vegan options that do it right. The Tacos da Lapas are probably the best tacos I have ever had. And the Redeemer bowl? I would eat that every day. Even their black bean soup and salads are fresh, filling, and just make you feel good. In light of all that, the food at Bossa Nova is worth its price and more. Do not skip this gem!! read more

This is at the top of my list for delicious lunch food in a lovely environment and great neighborhood. If you have the time or inclination, they have a great wine list. The dining areas are in two pretty, comfy rooms, very open and bright. I was here yesterday, and I had my usual lunch, starting with those beautiful little cheese breads with yucca, the pao de queijo, to share. I was also intrigued by one of the soups of the day, mango gazpacho (a regular gazpacho with mango in the mix), so I ordered that and my companion had a black bean soup. Even though I always look over the menu, I almost always choose the Ipanema quiche with the salada mista (the delicious green salad that is a specialty of the house). Everything was just as tasty, fresh and full of flavor as always. I have in the past tried smoked salmon wrap, and while it was delicious, it was HUGE. I took home more than half of it. I've also tried the vegetariano sandwich, with tomato, basil, mozzarella cheese and avocado, which is yummy (my friend had this yesterday). I've had dinner here once, several years ago, and it was delightful, as well. I would like to try the brunch, too. There is a small lot in front of the restaurant as well as behind the little complex it's in, but at peak times, these are almost always full. I usually plan to park down the street (sometimes WAY down), and then I'm pleasantly surprised if I get something closer. This restaurant is consistently delicious and the service is always professional and attentive. I've always been pleased with all aspects of my experiences here. read more

A friend brought me to Bossa Nova while I was visiting Little Rock this past weekend. Well there is only one word that I took with me after I left and that's Salpicoa!!! Wow this plate was amazing! Fresh, tasty and so filling. It's chicken salad on a bed of rice served with a salad that has the sweetest and freshest dressing. It's divine! Definitely a great place for lunch! Will have to go back for dinner next time I am in LR! read more

I had lunch here for the first time yesterday and wow, was it good. We were seated right away and the servers were knowledgeable of the menu...I had lots of questions as I am not familiar w Brazilian food. The menu items are a little pricey for lunch so I went with a cup of the Roasted Garlic Soup with Asparagus and Crab meat. I get that it sounds gross but it was incredible. I also had the beef brisket salad. Wow!!! It was excellent. The food came out very quick. I had a glass of house wine, cup of soup and salad for $21. read more

Bossa Nova, I love you! :-) Every time I come back to Little Rock, I come back to Bossa Nova for yet another wonderful dining experience. I am so impressed by and grateful for this restaurant's year after year consistency in quality: amazing food, lovely calm ambiance, GREAT service! Thank you for always being there to brighten any day with the vibrancy of your dining area and outstanding beautiful, delicious, and healthy dishes - every time! You are a true Little Rock's treasure! :-) read more

Cafe Bossa Nova - Tilapia with pesto sauce over rice + salads, sandwiches, beautiful yucca and regular fries, yummy sauces and seasonings :-) - Brazilian Near Me - Little Rock, Arkansas

This was my first visit back since Covid "flatten the curve" stated a year ago and I was really looking forward to it. Great location, food, & service makes this one of my favorite lunch break picks. But I was so disappointed to discover the new menu selection has been reduced, they no longer have their lunch menu items, and prices have increased. Food is good, but too pricy for a lunch break or even a "don't feel like cooking so let's just go out" dinner. Now it's more of a date night dinner place. Which may explain why there were only 3 tables with customers during the hour I was there. read more

We made to mistake to go here last Sunday for brunch. As a former server, I'm always extra lenient of poor service and try to understand that there may be more going on than the diner is aware of. I saw no other reason for our poor service other than the fact that we were under dressed. Yes, my group of 8 were wearing t shirts, jeans and shorts and probably looked a tad worn out. What our server didn't realize was that my group consisted of professionals on our way home from an out of town trail half marathon. We definitely stood out amongst the many tables of people dressed in their Sunday best who all were able to order and received their drinks, food and checks much more timely than we were. Even after the third time, some checks were wrong. We did ask for a manager but were told there was none available. We will never be back. read more

Our favorite Restaurant in Little Rock! The food is always fresh and delicious and beautifully presented and nicely portioned. Start with Rosalia's cheese bread which are hot and yummy to bite into. The hardest thing is to not eat to many ! I always have the Feijoada, a typical Brazilian fare, served only on Saturdays. Other days I love the Salpicão a delicious twist on typical chicken salad. The owners Dan and Rosalia and gracious host, the staff is attentive and energetic. The desserts are homemade and to die for. Our favorites, if it's possible to pick just one, are the Lemon pie and 4 layer pie. The atmosphere is bright, cheery and always lively as there a many customers who come again and again and again! I always recommend Bossa Nova to any one who ask me for a great place to eat in LR. read more

I thoroughly enjoyed my experience here. I am currently dabbling into gluten free food, and when I came here, I was surprised at how delicious all of my choices were! To start off, the cheese rolls- can I just say, the are to die for?!? My chicken dish was delicious, I believe it was the stroganoff?? Perfectly balanced dish that I couldn't stop eating! And then my favorite, the chocolate pie, one of THE best pies I have ever had. To top off the amazing food, the service was impeccable. Our water knew answers to each picky question we had, and if he didn't, he asked. He had wonderful suggestions, as well as plain conversation with us. Very friendly! I can't wait to go back! read more

Delicious, ha dinner ordered the Salpacia. Was excellent. Would go again. Great atmosphere and service. Kinda pricey.

Went in for a late lunch. Food was good and the flight o soups was excellent. Service was attentive and very professional. One great aspect was our server cleared the table between courses; something that seems.to be lacking elsewhere. read more

In the past I've been afraid of trying new things, but I'm so happy I ate here about 2 mos ago. The dining experience was awesome, the decor is very colorful and puts you in a great mood, the waitstaff has always been very nice in describing their menu and drinks. The food is AMAZING !! very flavorful, light, and fulfilling. I had the Panquecas De Franco (chicken crepes in cheese sauce with rice and mixed vegetables). This restaurant has become a family favorite. read more

The food here has always been interesting, exotic, and delicious. I've never had a bad meal here. The service has also been very good with a table of 12 or a table of 2. read more

Went here on a whim, very satisfied and glad i came. Delicious and unique flavors with a friendly atmosphere.

We loved every moment of being at Cafe Bossa Nova. There were 12 of us, and we came in late -- after 8. The staff was unflappable. I had the Vegan Burrito Bowl, and the limonata cocktail. Cody was our main server, and he had a great staff of people backing him up. The food was delicious, the environment was pleasant, casual and easy. Everything about our experience was wonderful! read more

The caipirinha was delicious and tasted like a true Brazilian made drink. I was disappointed with the pao de queijo or chess bread. It was very hard and not gummy and delicious like the ones I had in Brazil. I was also unimpressed with the menu selection and high prices. read more