Review: Brazilian fine dining at Bossa
Review: Brazilian fine dining at Bossa
We tried fine dining the Brazilian way…
Hidden behind the chaos of Oxford Street lies Bossa, a new – and frankly exceptional – Brazilian restaurant that opened in May 2023. With the Brazilian embassy literally next door, this serendipity signals authenticity for the restaurant’s newly launched lunch menu. Two courses for £40 or three for £45, it’s an absolute bargain for Bossa’s sublime standards and Mayfair location.
With help from a wondrously smoky mezcal-aided take on the classic caipirinha, we launched into our Brazilian escapade with wild mushroom tapioca and mussel escabeche in carrot juice and parsley oil. For many, tapioca has the potential to trigger PTSD by serving-up memories of sloppy school dinners. But not so at Bossa. Fluffy and marshmallowy, the tapioca made a surprisingly light base for mushrooms that didn’t shy away from their earthy roots. Utterly delicious. The escabeche saw mussels bob around in a bright orange lake flecked with emerald green polka dots. It tasted as vibrant as it looked.
Next up: tender, light and juicy bavette served with a smorgasbord of unusual accompaniments, including dried banana ‘farofa’ (that’s toasted cassava flour to you and me) which, with its garlicky punch, was a far more interesting way to add flavour and texture than a peppercorn sauce. My beautifully presented glazed aubergine sat on a silky bed of chickpea puree, with pickled moons of red onion dancing on top. It was at this point that Bossa’s Head Sommelier, Lais Aoki, popped up with her encyclopedic knowledge, on-trend asymmetrical haircut and neckerchief. Under her expert guidance, I opted for the Trebbiano On The Rock, a crispy and citric orange wine from south Brazil. A decision I did not regret.
We ended on ‘quindim’ – possibly Brazil’s signature pud. The bright yellow orb of egg and coconut custard arrived in a corona of coconut shards, like delivering a flash of Brazilian sunshine to our table. For me, it proved too sweet and chewy. But my dining partner guzzled with glee. The chocolate tart offered redemption in the form of faultlessly creamy, smooth and glossy chocolate piped onto a crunchy base, with neither layer fearing a cocoa overload. Perfect. Just perfect.
It’s clear that Bossa has given Head Chef, Nilson Chaves, a chance to use his experience at the Rio de Janeiro two Michelin-starred restaurant, Oteque, to put a fine dining twist on traditional Brazilian dishes. What’s more, the paired down lunchtime menu, with its four offerings per course, is a bonus for anyone who, like me, suffers from the choice paradox.
Price (lunchtime menu only): 2 courses for £40 or 3 courses for £45
Website: bossa.co.uk
Address: 4 Vere St, London, W1G 0DG
Socials: @bossa.mayfair
