This place is a very conscientious vegan place, with an emphasis on live foods. We had the macadamia leek pate with raw crackers, and it was stunning. Our main pates were both raw pancakes, one with very creamy mushrooms and the other very crispy raw veg, both including salad on the side. It is a little pricey, but really not that different from anywhere else. The mains were all about R30-35. The only downside of this place in my opinion is that it's in the interior of a galleria, next to a theater, so it lacks atmosphere somewhat and can also less relaxed when lots of people are milling about before a show starts, but that's the only detractor for this place. In a nutshell the food is inventive and delicious and above all nutritious and a fair price for the quality you get.
I don't normally go for raw food but this place was close to where I was staying and so I tried it and I'm glad I did! I'm not sure if he was the owner but a guy working there named Alex was super helpful. He spoke very good English and was able to suggest a juice, some raw food and even a dessert. I had a raw but type burger. The best part was the cashew cream with strawberries for dessert!
We aren't raw, but after reading mixed reviews on Veg Social Clube, I wanted to try this place while in Ipanema. It's not too far from the beach, and it's nice to do a walk through the Leblon neighborhood, which is very safe and well designed.
We shared the tofu burger and pesto gnocchi. They have an English menu and a couple English-speaking servers. Just make sure what you order is also vegan, as they aren't 100% vegan at all. I had been CRAVING a veggie burger, and while this wasn't quite the same as what I get back home in the states, it was pretty good. The gnocchi was even better.
I would give this place two big thumbs up if it weren't for the cost. $15 for a tiny veggie burger with zero sides (no fries, no soup or salad, nothing) is steep. The portions were small.
That being said, we enjoyed our lunch here, and I loved looking at the bookstore right next to this place.
FYI - this is on the first floor of a small shopping center, so just go inside and find it towards the back. You won't see a sign out front. :)
I had my first raw food experience in Universo Organico and it couldn't be better.
The raw zucchini lasagna is one of the best things I've had the chance to taste in my life and Universo Organico is a mandatory place for vegans in Rio. Yes, it is expensive, but it's totally worth it.
We still haven't covered all the vege restaurants in Rio so this may be a bit premature, but we wouldn't be surprised if this is the best gig in town.
The menu is a bit schizophrenic... at first it looks to be all raw vegan and then you notice some cheese popping up here and there, then you spot some cooked food in a cabinet (pastries filled with cheese) and then you spot the word 'chicken' on the menu and things get confusing. Nevertheless, it is mostly raw vegan and organic - and they do it very well. Just make sure you know what you're ordering and you'll be fine.
The drink list is quite interesting and varied - they taste good but are mostly fruit based, so if you're after more vegetables in your juice, the Veg Social Club a few doors down is much better.
The food menu is pretty standard raw veg fare, but they do it well, with very nicely balanced flavour profiles. The mushroom hamburger in particular is great (not huge though). Other options include raw pastas, lasagnas and salads. The desserts are nice too but you do need to have a sweet tooth... the combination of these with the fruit juices was too much sweetness for us in one sitting. We also noted they sold agave in their store inside and we are not big believers in the healthfulness of that product - others will like it no doubt though.
We were quite lucky in that one of the waiters spoke good English so was able to answer our questions and explain things a bit. The others weren't English speakers but were friendly and generally helpful nonetheless.
The ambience is average since it's set in a shopping mall type location right next to a theatre. Not a whole lot to look at, but not unpleasant either. They also do deliveries. People have mentioned the high prices - compared to American prices though they are not too bad, you just have to change the mindset a bit... good food does not come cheap, particularly when it is hard to find.
The food is totally delicious, wish I could try everything they sell. But it is excessively expensive and cares just about the health benefits of vegan diet. The place is kinda new agey. The juices are called things like Yellow Chakra or Light of Uranus which is something that I personally dislike. Anyway, it is a great gourmet vegan place. I highly recommend it if you can afford it.
Two specific things I highly recommend:
The white chakra juice
The brownie with banana cream
I and two friends spent a few days in Rio and discovered this wonderful place thanks to Happy Cow on our second day. Situated in close proximity to another vegetarian place, this outdoes it in every respect. Extensive menu, fabulous food presented beautifully. Staff are friendly and helpful even though they spoke limited english when we visited in November 2008. a little pricey compared to other places, bit worth it for the taste! Situated at the back of an arts centre, there's a lively buzz in the evenings. The lasagne was amazing, full of flavour. We loved a dish with cashew cream, shame I can't remember it's name! Make sure you try the delicious refreshing juices - we loved the award winning Sunlight juice. Desserts are delightful in their flavours. The choice of drinks and dishes is impressive. We enjoyed several meals here, all of which are unforgettable. In our opinion, it's the best place for vegetarians/vegans in Rio.
I'd like to see it open for a little longer in the evening, to 10.30pm.
We stumbled on this hidden gem by accident. It's a very humble looking little place but don't be put off. We were so excited to eat raw food in Rio. The food is great and the owner is super friendly and speaks english.
8 Reviews
First Review by miss tansy
mg66
Points +102
Great vegan/raw spot in Leblon - Edit
This place is a very conscientious vegan place, with an emphasis on live foods. We had the macadamia leek pate with raw crackers, and it was stunning. Our main pates were both raw pancakes, one with very creamy mushrooms and the other very crispy raw veg, both including salad on the side. It is a little pricey, but really not that different from anywhere else. The mains were all about R30-35. The only downside of this place in my opinion is that it's in the interior of a galleria, next to a theater, so it lacks atmosphere somewhat and can also less relaxed when lots of people are milling about before a show starts, but that's the only detractor for this place. In a nutshell the food is inventive and delicious and above all nutritious and a fair price for the quality you get.
Read morePros: Inventive, Good live/raw selection, Delish
Cons: Atmosphere could be better, Might be hard to find, near theater
Guest
Ageorge06
Points +110
Extremely helpful and thoughtful staff - Edit
I don't normally go for raw food but this place was close to where I was staying and so I tried it and I'm glad I did! I'm not sure if he was the owner but a guy working there named Alex was super helpful. He spoke very good English and was able to suggest a juice, some raw food and even a dessert. I had a raw but type burger. The best part was the cashew cream with strawberries for dessert!
Read morePros: Wonderful staff, Great service, Delicious dessert
Guest
Vegtravel4
Points +319
Pricy; cooked food is tasty - Edit
We aren't raw, but after reading mixed reviews on Veg Social Clube, I wanted to try this place while in Ipanema. It's not too far from the beach, and it's nice to do a walk through the Leblon neighborhood, which is very safe and well designed.
Read moreWe shared the tofu burger and pesto gnocchi. They have an English menu and a couple English-speaking servers. Just make sure what you order is also vegan, as they aren't 100% vegan at all. I had been CRAVING a veggie burger, and while this wasn't quite the same as what I get back home in the states, it was pretty good. The gnocchi was even better.
I would give this place two big thumbs up if it weren't for the cost. $15 for a tiny veggie burger with zero sides (no fries, no soup or salad, nothing) is steep. The portions were small.
That being said, we enjoyed our lunch here, and I loved looking at the bookstore right next to this place.
FYI - this is on the first floor of a small shopping center, so just go inside and find it towards the back. You won't see a sign out front. :)
Pros: Good cooked food, A tofu burger!, English menu and service
Cons: Price, Portion size
Guest
DanielAmaral
Points +697
best raw food ever - Edit
I had my first raw food experience in Universo Organico and it couldn't be better.
Read moreThe raw zucchini lasagna is one of the best things I've had the chance to taste in my life and Universo Organico is a mandatory place for vegans in Rio. Yes, it is expensive, but it's totally worth it.
Pros: Perfect
Guest
eatinggreen
Points +608
Great find in Rio - Edit
We still haven't covered all the vege restaurants in Rio so this may be a bit premature, but we wouldn't be surprised if this is the best gig in town.
Read moreThe menu is a bit schizophrenic... at first it looks to be all raw vegan and then you notice some cheese popping up here and there, then you spot some cooked food in a cabinet (pastries filled with cheese) and then you spot the word 'chicken' on the menu and things get confusing. Nevertheless, it is mostly raw vegan and organic - and they do it very well. Just make sure you know what you're ordering and you'll be fine.
The drink list is quite interesting and varied - they taste good but are mostly fruit based, so if you're after more vegetables in your juice, the Veg Social Club a few doors down is much better.
The food menu is pretty standard raw veg fare, but they do it well, with very nicely balanced flavour profiles. The mushroom hamburger in particular is great (not huge though). Other options include raw pastas, lasagnas and salads. The desserts are nice too but you do need to have a sweet tooth... the combination of these with the fruit juices was too much sweetness for us in one sitting. We also noted they sold agave in their store inside and we are not big believers in the healthfulness of that product - others will like it no doubt though.
We were quite lucky in that one of the waiters spoke good English so was able to answer our questions and explain things a bit. The others weren't English speakers but were friendly and generally helpful nonetheless.
The ambience is average since it's set in a shopping mall type location right next to a theatre. Not a whole lot to look at, but not unpleasant either. They also do deliveries. People have mentioned the high prices - compared to American prices though they are not too bad, you just have to change the mindset a bit... good food does not come cheap, particularly when it is hard to find.
Pros: organic!, raw!, nice flavours
Cons: a lot of sweetness, not enough greens, mall type setting
Guest
ieve
Points +155
delicious but very expensive - Edit
The food is totally delicious, wish I could try everything they sell. But it is excessively expensive and cares just about the health benefits of vegan diet. The place is kinda new agey. The juices are called things like Yellow Chakra or Light of Uranus which is something that I personally dislike. Anyway, it is a great gourmet vegan place. I highly recommend it if you can afford it.
Read moreTwo specific things I highly recommend:
The white chakra juice
The brownie with banana cream
Pros: vegan, fantastic food, organic
Cons: expensive, new agey, hippie chic
Guest
foodie
Points +29
Fantastic Food! - Edit
I and two friends spent a few days in Rio and discovered this wonderful place thanks to Happy Cow on our second day. Situated in close proximity to another vegetarian place, this outdoes it in every respect. Extensive menu, fabulous food presented beautifully. Staff are friendly and helpful even though they spoke limited english when we visited in November 2008. a little pricey compared to other places, bit worth it for the taste! Situated at the back of an arts centre, there's a lively buzz in the evenings. The lasagne was amazing, full of flavour. We loved a dish with cashew cream, shame I can't remember it's name! Make sure you try the delicious refreshing juices - we loved the award winning Sunlight juice. Desserts are delightful in their flavours. The choice of drinks and dishes is impressive. We enjoyed several meals here, all of which are unforgettable. In our opinion, it's the best place for vegetarians/vegans in Rio.
Read moreI'd like to see it open for a little longer in the evening, to 10.30pm.
Pros: delicious attractive food, good portion sizes, friendly staff
Guest
miss tansy
Points +25
delicious - Edit
We stumbled on this hidden gem by accident. It's a very humble looking little place but don't be put off. We were so excited to eat raw food in Rio. The food is great and the owner is super friendly and speaks english.
Read morePros: vegan, raw food, tasty
Cons: low key
Guest
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