Best food in town! We regularly eat here, both in restaurant and take out. The food is ALWAYS first rate! My favorites are the salpicao, Brazilian salmon cakes and black beans and rice. For appetizers, don't miss the cheese bread and the chicken and hearts of palm soup! I especially love the hot oil sauce they make--it's extremely hot but perfect on dishes!! I've never had a dish here that wasn't delicious. Also key--the wait staff has been here for years, and they can tell you anything you want to know about all the dishes. read more

Cozy atmosphere. Made reservations and was seated upon entry. The lights were dimmed and our table was glowing with a candle. The service was great. The waitress had many recommendations and made sure we were satisfied with our choices. The alcohol was reasonably priced and had a decent selection. Would highly recommend. read more

This is one of my favorite places to eat for both lunch and dinner. The service is consistently good and the food is always outstanding. I have taken several friends there at different times and they have all enjoyed their meal. Put this restaurant on your list of places to try. read more

Nice place, delicious stake beautiful atmosphere, jazz on Thursday, i loved it with my wife

Came here for a birthday lunch and because my friend does not eat gluten or diary . Very friendly service. I ordered the Torta de Frango which is something like a chicken pot pie. It was very savory and filling. My fried did the soup and salad and said the soup was phenomenal. I will definitely go back and try something different. read more

Love this place! There salpicao and their stroganoff are to die for! The tres leches is amazing and the cheese bread made from yucca root is too good to miss out on! The environment can get a bit loud at times but it is a wonderful culinary experience!! I recommend everyone give this place a try!! read more

What the what? How have I missed this place for so long? I've been to LIT at least 5 times in the past 18 months. It is amazing. First of all, vegetarian/vegan-friendly Brazilian food? That alone is a wonder, and in a town as small as Little Rock, it's quite impressive. The black beans and rice with collard greens and tomato salsa entree was awesome. Be sure to ask for the hot chili oil, but use a light touch, because that stuff is strong. It brings out the flavors nicely. The super friendly waitress brought over an order of cheese bread rolls since it was my first time there. The rolls are even gluten-free, if you are concerned about that. I will be back. I want to try the Kibe de Abobora! read more

I had lunch here with my two best friends in the summer of 2011. I had the black bean soup, which was EXCELLENT. Also noteworthy were the little yucca cheese biscuits (we had 2 baskets) & the quiche (I believe it was the Ipanema quiche). The quiche was pretty huge, but so tasty I managed to finish it off. ;) We didn't try dessert, as we were bound for Cupcakes on Kavanaugh...which is a totally different review. read more

I must have visited on an off day! We came here for Sunday brunch and arrived when they opened. Food was just ok. Service was ok but nothing spectacular. It really wasnt even hot. I ordered the french toast and it was tasty but kind of tasted like it was heated up in the microwave. This place is always busy so maybe I need to try it again... read more

Wow! This place is incredible. I had the Salmon, rice, and mango vinaigrette. Every aspect of the dish was perfect, and topped off with the coconut tres leches for dessert. Well worth the price and service was very personable. Get there before 6pm and a table is yours without a wait. read more

Had a great experience! Restaurant was full but we were seated quickly. Staff was polite and knowledgeable on the menu. The cheese bread was a nice appetizer . I had the sausage soup, a house salad and the evenings chicken special w/ lemon herb over rice. Each item was cooked and or prepared perfectly. Portion size was just right. I was able to enjoy each course without being "stuffed ", but was filled to contentment. Meal timing was great so we could really enjoy each course. I only wish I had more room and time... the deserts looked delicious! read more

My husband and I had brunch there. Good food and wonderful customer service! We would definitely be back again next time we are in Arkansas.

This is my favorite restaurant in Little Rock. When I traveled there for work, I ate here on every trip. It has multiple vegetarian options, including a soup of the day, and they are all wonderful. It is just some thrown together thing. My favorite is the black beans and rice (ask for the chili sauce). I don't know how anyone can make this 'classic' a must have meal, but Bossa Nova does. They also have fresh juice, a bunch of great Brazilian cocktails, and rice pudding. They'll even serve the rice pudding to you cold, if you prefer it that way. read more

As the other reviewers have said, Bossa Nova is great. I would also go with 3.5 starts if I could. The cocktails are delicious. The food is good but not spectacular. The salad is maybe my favorite thing. The waitstaff was very friendly and knowledgeable. I've only been for lunch, as dinner is a bit pricey, but I will absolutely be back. read more

Great little place. Do not go unless you have pao de queujo. These are little cheesy rolls that you will fight over. Gluten free. Seriously. Calpirinhas with half the sugar are a must. My favorite entre is stroganoff de Franco. I highly recommend. read more

We had lunch here today and food was delicious. We began with soup, mine was chicken soup with leeks and carrots. Her soup was shrimp and bacon. Both were delicious. We had sandwiches with salad also. She had the garden burger. I had the Pango chicken sandwich which had a sweet sauce that made it unique. Our waiter was William and he was friendly, efficient, and professional. We will definitely eat here again when we return to the area. read more

We love this little gem in Little Rock. The food is excellent! Try the Sao Picao (chicken salad with a Mista salad) or the chicken crepes!! Delicious! The drinks are good too. Oh and the cheese bread!!! Yum!!! read more

This Brazilian was the best I've ever had. Service was really good as well and there was lots of seating. This is a family owned business and is only run by said family; nobody else works there. BUT, the food was delightful. It is expensive, but worth it. read more

Extremely slow service. I went there for lunch on a Saturday. I had the salada mista which was very good. I also had the $11 starkist tuna fish sandwich. It was ok. I left immediately after I finished my sandwich which was an hour and fifteen minutes after I was seated. It was busy, but there were some empty tables. read more

I ordered the crepe with bananas and Nutella. Very good and well portioned. Came with 2 eggs and a fruit cup that was a very good mix of small diced pieces of apple, mango and maybe some pineapple. Brazilian coffee was good. The others got potato casserole and chicken tort that was also very good. read more

Wow! This might be the wonderful caipirinhas talking but this is a fantastic place. We used to live in Brazil so we know the cuisine. We dined on a Saturday evening and as is customary in Brazil the daily special was feijoada which was wonderful. My wife enjoyed the vegan cakes. No Brazilian meal is complete without flan and their's is tasty and a generous portion. Service is fast, the patrons are trendy. We're just passing through but it seems very popular with locals. In a very nice neighborhood. read more

My husband and I went to this restaurant because we read all of the great reviews and we had a coupon for buy one entree, get one free. We got the fried yucca for an appetizer ( I LOVE fried yucca) and it was okay, but the spicy ketchup to dip did not compliment it well. I got the lamb rack entree with rice and vegetables. The lamb was completely dry and unseasoned. It was very tough and chewy. I think the word that best describes it would be "awful". The vegetables were good, but scarce. The white rice was abundant, but was simply white rice. I took a couple bites, ate my veggies, and was finished, but still hungry. My husband got a salmon entree with a mango sauce. It sounded delicious on the menu, but was honestly the worst, driest salmon we have ever had. There was hardly enough sauce to even taste. It came with...you guessed it, an abundance of plain white rice and a miniscule amount of a "mango salsa" that ended up being the only thing my husband ate. The salmon went to the dog. The worst part of the whole experience was that even after the coupone for a free entree, we spent $30 on this awful meal that neither of us could bare to eat. Needless to say, we will not be returning to Cafe Bossa Nova. read more

The food is delicious but (particularly certain items) a bit overpriced given that it's not a terribly upscale restaurant. I think my dish (mineirinho), which consists of rice, beans, and eggs, was $16 or $18. The pricing was not as bad for dishes with meat ($22-24 for large servings). The food *is* quite tasty and it's the only Brazilian food in Little Rock, so I will definitely be back. I absolutely recommend. Try the cheese bread (it's heavenly) and make sure to ask for their homemade Brazilian hot sauce! read more

By far my favorite restaurant in Little Rock! Can't say enough good things about it! The pao de quejo (cheese bread) is a must try! And the sal picao is my favorite entree but there are endless amazing options on their diverse menu. TONS of gluten free options. Great for brunch! read more

Brazilian food that is great for the carnivore, vegan, and dessert lovers. Seriously, the desserts are incredible and run out. Also, really well made cocktails. Try the cheese bread, it's vegan and served warm. read more

i give it three stars cause i always go there when i am in town bc the food is great however,sometimes there are not any clean tables and you might end up waiting at a dirty table that you have been escorted to only to have the staff not notice...that has happened twice but dangit the food is great so i almost don't care about having to wait it out.... read more

Good brazillian food; good date atmosphere; tasty vegan options.

Here's what we recommend at Bossa Nova. Pao De Queijo - cheese bread (mmm! best if you can get it fresh from the oven) Bolos De Salmao - salmon cakes (my favorite...of the 3 dishes I've ordered there) Coxas De Frango Assadas - baked chicken (husband's favorite) *must request the malaqueta pepper sauce with it! Salada Mista - greens, mandarin oranges, almonds, vinegar/oil dressing (we've never ordered only it, but it comes with many dishes, and it's tasty!) Traditional Black Beans - it comes as an included side to many dishes, and I really like them, husband says they're just ok Other items we can comment on, but probably won't order again: Brasileirissimo - sirloin steak (just average overall) Panquecas De Frango - chicken crepes (too bland) Desserts: Tres Leites - creamy, cold, coconut cake (lovely) Lemon Merengue Pie - creamy, cold, lemon pie (so-so) Also, one day we were there, they had a special cold soup made with tomatoes and avocados--like a spanish gazpacho soup. Yummy! They've also had one without avocado--a bit less creamy but with a little more kick. Husband liked it better. You can see their brunch, lunch, and dinner menus online here: http://www.cafebossanova.com/our_menu.php More than one of the employees are actually Brazillian! Cool. Most servers seems to be knowledgeable. Some are more attentive than others. Atmosphere is cozy and colorful. Reservations accepted only for groups of 4 or more. Enjoy! : ) read more

One of the best restaurants in Little Rock. I absolutely loved the salsa, and my friends fawned over the guacamole. They have a pretty decent selection of vegetarian, seafood, etc. Also, the location is great. Hillcrest has a nice atmosphere. When I went in, this place was packed, but it wasn't too cramped and I definitely did not feel rushed. read more

do you need chicken crepes? do you need chicken crepes right now? cafe bossa nova is the place to go for all things brazilian... from their neat little tasty drinks, to their cheese bread ball thingies, (that you can BUY and TAKE HOME and COOK), to their most awesome house salad dressing, (that i could drink by the gallon). not only that, but our favorite waiter invited us to the film festival, and so we even got cultured! if you live in little rock, or coming through little rock, or pregnant and have that craving no one can fill, please go to cafe bossa nova. and have mass amounts of everything. read more

Food was delicious! I had the Thursday special which was fall off the bone ribs with rice, beans, and tomato salad. Service was friendly and fast! read more

I love this place. Whenever I drive through, stay in, or even think of Little Rock, I stop at this restaurant. I've ate here for lunch, dinner, breakfast and have always left regretting this restaurant is 7 hours away. The food is fresh, healthy, and yet still flavorful. Remains my favorite spot in Little Rock. I've considered getting a job in the city just to fully commit to this restaurant. read more

The ipanema quiche & fruit salad are spectacular.... The quiche is the consummate marriage of olives, spinach, feta, etc., baked to the perfect texture. The fruit salad has several delectable fruits, chopped & drizzled in a light gooseberry syrup.... Delish! I typically go for lunch, but the dinner is great as well - there is a Brazillian drink, I believe called capi de fruita (?) that is amazing! Service is always outstanding - oh yeah, don't forget the cheese bread; I joke to hubby when I pick some frozen up fm their bakery next door that they are like crack ;-) read more

Amazing!!!!!! Came on a Sunday for brunch and was so impressed that this is our new place to come! Service was spectacular and the food was addictive! Can't say enough about this place. read more

The food is really tasty, fresh, and unique, but each time I've been there, the service has been really slow. That's why I give it a 3 instead of a 4. read more

This was my first time here and I will definitely be back!! Had the fried yucca root (yum!) and the chicken was the special of the day--AMAZING! Finished it off with the peanut butter pie, we cleaned our plates!! Service was fast and extremely friendly! read more

We started with the pao de queijo - gluten free cheesy bread shaped like mini muffins. It's tasty and a small enough portion (6 little muffins) that you aren't in a bread coma by the time your entree arrives. To drink, I had the caipirinha cocktail. I hesitated to order it because it was $10, which seemed a little steep, but it was refreshing (made with muddled limes) and worth it. To eat, we split the salpicao. There was a split charge ($2 or $3), which was offputting, but our waitress (very friendly) said they actually gave a little more food for the added cost. We saw a non-split portion, and we did seem to have more food between the two of us. The dish tastes like chicken salad -- albeit very good chicken salad -- atop a bed of warm rice sprinkled with what tasted like potato chips. It's served with a side salad of mixed greens with a tangy dressing, which complements the chicken dish nicely. All in all a great lunch stop! read more

Cafe Bossa Nova - Salpicao. Tastes like chicken... salad. Served on a warm bed of rice with a salad. Delicious! - Brazilian Near Me - Little Rock, Arkansas

I love Bossa Nova! The chicken crepes were suggested to me by a friend and I fell in love with them upon first bite (the crepes, not my friend). It can be a little hard to find time to eat there, though, since they are closed Monday and early on Sunday, which are my days off. Anytime I can pop in is a very rare treat, but a treat altogether. read more

A great addition to the Hillcrest food scene, with well prepared Brazillian standards and friendly service. My only complaint - portions are too small for the price. read more

I would say 3.5 stars. The food was good but the portion small and overpriced. I had the shrimp which was very good but came with just a few shrimps for $25. The caipirinha is pretty good but service on the other hand, a bit slow. read more