I've been a couple of times to a restaurant in Botafogo named "Butiquim Carioca" (Boo-teek-eem Cah-ree-oh-cah). It's about a 6 minute cab ride from copa, perhaps 7 Reals and is located behind the VIVO cellular company building just off the main road to Centro. The address is Rua da Passagem 19 The phone number is 2543-0606

Used brick walls with rough marble accents. Very good food. I've had both the filet with mushroom sauce (Sweet Mesquite's favorite at Terracao Atlantico)and also Salmon with Maracuja sauce (a local fruit, tart to the taste)

Entrees are about 20-25 Reals. Live music upstairs for a 10Reals cover charge if you want. Eat downstairs, listen to the music, and don't pay the cover if you like. Open for lunch and dinner except Sunday. Dinner served "until the last customer leaves"

Middle class Brazilian crowd. Crowded. No gringoes to be seen.

Enjoy.

Thanks SF...always looking for reasonably priced restaurants where the locals eat. I enjoy suggesting them to my brazil friends and meeting them.

No gringoes? Except for me. I go there a lot also when I'm in town. I second it as a recommendation.