I luckily found Parada de Copa Restaurante in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, while searching for a late-night bite that wasn’t McDonald’s. It was past midnight, so my options were limited, but I stumbled upon a picture of a steak sandwich that looked so good, I knew I had to try it.
Once I arrived, I was seated quickly. I already knew what I wanted, but I took a quick skim through the menu just in case. I ended up ordering a fresh orange juice and the steak sandwich, which came with a side salad.
The orange juice tasted incredibly fresh and refreshing. I asked them to hold the sugar, which was a good call, as Brazilian drinks tend to be served quite sweet by default.
When the sandwich arrived, my mouth was watering instantly. The combination of pineapple, cheese, and steak on a panini looked amazing. The first bite was perfectly balanced: the bread was nice and crispy, the pineapple added a hint of sweetness, the steak provided a great salty punch, and the cheese gave it that gooey, melted goodness. I also added some hot sauce, which had just the right amount of kick. It wasn’t overly spicy, but it added a great depth of flavor, and I ended up adding more to every single bite. Interestingly, the cheese didn’t look completely melted from the outside, but it was perfectly gooey on the inside!
One quick tip: I misunderstood the menu and thought the side was a green salad, but it turned out to be potato salad. It wasn’t quite what I wanted, so I’d suggest ordering the french fries instead—they’d be a much better complement to the sandwich.
I finished the whole meal (minus the potato salad) and left totally satisfied. It was an amazing sandwich, and if you’re in the area and hungry late at night, you have to stop by Parada de Copa Restaurante.
Service
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Sit down
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Takeout
Parking
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Street parking
Restroom info
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Not sure
Pro Tips
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Get the Steak sandwich! Also, get it with french fries instead of potato salad!!