Cafe Bossa Nova
2701 Kavanaugh Blvd,Ste 105, Little Rock, AR, 72205
Cafe Bossa Nova Menu
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Address :
2701 Kavanaugh Blvd,Ste 105
Little Rock, AR, 72205 - Phone (501) 614-6682
- Website https://www.cafebossanova.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street, Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Cynthia W.
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.
(5)Noah H.
Yum! Brunch! Came in here this past weekend because I wanted to take my wife out for a nice late breakfast. We found out from a friend that they have Sunday Brunch from 10:30am to 2pm, which is a nice, wide, sleep-in-friendly window. We'd also been told that the french toast (Brazilian-style french toast, that is) was to die for - thick slices of bread, battered in butter and brown sugar, soaked in egg overnight to get that perfect melt-in-your-mouth texture! ...Needless to say, we had to try it. And it was exactly as advertised. Not only is it everything we were told, but it's the first time I've ever had French Toast on a baguette-style bread, so the bread itself was very tender and did indeed melt in my mouth, but at the same time the thin crust was almost bowl-like and allowed me to even pick up the toast as I messily devoured it. Speaking of the toast, don't use syrup on it. The flavor of the toast is wonderful and unique - the syrup was syrup, nothing snazzy. The same goes for the eggs that come with it. I had mine scrambled, and they were good, but they were just eggs. Or were they? Be sure to ask for some salsa/hot sauce. We got some of the typical stuff in a bottle, but then they have some hot chile-infused olive oil that comes in a little white genie-lantern looking thing. And that stuff is awesome! Just be careful, a little bit (really little bit) goes a long way! But that sauce spiced up my eggs to well beyond ordinary, and set off the rest of the meal nicely. My wife got the vegetable frittata (omelette, on this menu), and it was *delicious.* Had I not been looking forward to the french toast so much, I would have been very jealous. The spice infused oil was also spectacular on that. It may have been because I was enjoying myself so much, but I actually thought their regular house coffee was possibly the best I've had in town! We will be back, and probably soon, because we skipped the mimosas. Honestly, who goes to brunch and doesn't get a mimosa?
(4)Rachel A.
We went here for our Valentines dinner. We had looked at the menu online, read yelp reviews, and had an idea of what we wanted to order... we were super excited to try it! BUT... what they didn't mention when we made a reservation was that they had a *special* Valentines day menu, which was $55 per person. FIFTY FIVE DOLLARS PER PERSON!!! Ouch. Guess who didn't get wine with her dinner?!? It was overpriced... but the food was good. The cheese bread=good. The fried yucca root=amazing. Husband had the chicken and heart of palm soup, he loved it. I had the black beans and corn soup... LOVED it! My husband got the fillet mignon, which was so bad he didn't eat it. If you get a fillet mignon, shouldn't it be small, round, and thick? This is flat and thin. It was a fatty piece of meat too. Yuck. He liked the sides that came with it. The main course I chose was the vegetarian option, baked tabulah. I enjoyed it; I've never tasted anything like it! It had raisins, onions, and some kind of cheese on it. The rice and beans on the side were awesome!!! he most important part... the amazing desserts. Holy moly. This dessert is straight from heaven. HEAVEN I tell you! I had the tres leches cake with coconut... wowza. Heaven. Will be back for this and this alone! The husband has the 4 layer pie, which he claimed fell from heaven. Mmmmm, desserts. Overall: Hated that they had a pricey v-day menu. Everything but the steak was good. Get dessert. I don't care how full you might be... get dessert.
(4)Rosane W.
I've worked in Little Rock a few times over the last 4 years and I always look forward to going back to Cafe Bossa Nova. The black beans and rice are really tasty and the cheese bread is also great. Being from Brazil, I can say that the food is pretty authentic. I do think the prices are slightly higher than I'd expect but since their food is very unique for this area, I don't mind paying. The service has been really good every time I've been there and I have nothing to complain about.
(5)Bobby T.
We found this wonderful place while we were in Little Rock for a doctors appt. we just wanted something different. We got there around 1:15 and they still had their lunch special which was Shepherds Pie. It was very good.i It was served with a kale salad with a flavor packed lemon vinegarette The fresh warm gooey cheesy rolls they serve are worth the trip. I only gave 4 stars because the prices were a little high. $50 including tip for the two of us at lunch.
(4)Julie N.
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!
(4)Russell W.
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.
(5)Art E.
Recently had lunch at this restaurant for the first time in several years. Nice atmosphere and location in the upper higher crust Hillcrest neighborhood of Little Rock. Service was polite but slow as it appeared that were just a couple of waiters for a close to full house. What surprised me about Cafe Bosa Nova were the New York prices in Little Rock. For a very small veg panini the price was just a shade under $15. You also got a small salad but could substitutes for two more dollars a cup of soup which I did. With a thee dollar ice tea my bill was $20 not including tip. My point is simply that the food value was simply not there for the money spent. $25 for a six inch panini, a cup of soup and an ice tea struck me as excessive.
(3)Mary Kate M.
My cousin had her bridesmaids brunch here which I am so happily part of... Food is really good. I ordered their Panquecas de Frango ($17.25) Brazilian-style chicken crepes, baked in Catupiry cheese sauce served over rice and a mista salad. The mista salad has mixed greens, Mandarin oranges, caramelized slivered almonds, drizzled with their house salad dressing. My meal was beyond filling. It was wonderful tasting, and well put together on the plate! I loved what I saw. We had a great time. Service was top notch. Robin was such a sweetheart, and didn't miss a beat. I think the best part of the experience was that it was not crowded. They were extra attentive to our needs. Who would thought there was such good Brazilian food in Little Rock? Definitely worth visiting, especially for a date night.
(4)Jerry C.
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.
(5)Peter P.
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!
(4)Deanna S.
A friend brought me to Bossa Nova while I was visiting Little Rock this past weekend. Well there is only one word that I took with me after I left and that's Salpicoa!!! Wow this plate was amazing! Fresh, tasty and so filling. It's chicken salad on a bed of rice served with a salad that has the sweetest and freshest dressing. It's divine! Definitely a great place for lunch! Will have to go back for dinner next time I am in LR!
(5)Mandy J.
It's hard to find true Brazilian, so this is a diamond in the rough. I had high hopes, as we had multiple recommendations and had heard awesome reviews. I think that is why I couldn't give it a higher review, I hd such high expectations. The two meals we tried were decent. We had the beef wrapped in bacon, which I liked - the sauce had a great wine-flavor. Also tried the salmon cakes, which were average. I much prefer a good ol' crab cake. The stand outs: the cheesy-bread, the bread pudding desert and the service. Our waiter was amazing, especially with our little girl whom he gave ample attention. We'll likely go back... I want to figure out what the hype is about and I'm confident another visit will get me there.
(4)Sarah N.
Omg I just love cafe Bossa nova it's literally the best place in Little rock. Awesome employees and Food!
(5)Foodie S.
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!!!
(5)Kate V.
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!
(4)Kyle W.
I've always wanted to be a scientist. There's something intellectually romantic about wearing a lab coat and toiling away at seemingly insurmountable problem only to triumphantly shout "Eureka!!" (at least if you're Archimedes) when you solve it. Unfortunately for me, my hopes of being a scientific philomath were dashed in college when I was told by a professor that a "monkey at a typewriter would have scored better" on my Physics final. I still wonder how different my life would have been had I been a scientist. Would I be the first astronaut to bump The Takeover on the moon? Could I have reanimated Chris Farley? Can I make bacon both delicious AND healthy? Probably not, but all is not lost. Occasionally, a movie like Interstellar comes along and helps me live out my scientific fantasies. My girlfriend and I decided to go see it in IMAX so we could really experience our (my) nerd fantasies, but the only IMAX is in Little Rock. Along the way, we Yelped places to eat and stumbled along this gem. Cafe Bossa Nova has a huge menu. At most places that's a liability, but here, it's a blessing. Salads, appetizers, quiches, soups, deserts, and specials are all available in addition to the regular lunch and dinner menu. There's even a brunch menu and a bakery next door! The menu is expansive, but it seems as if everything on it is prepared fresh and in house. Neither my girlfriend nor I had ever had Brazilian food, so it was quite the experience perusing the menu and letting out the occasional squeal of delight when something caught our fancy. We settled on an appetizer (which I can't pronounce) of meat with Brazilian spices wrapped in puff pastry and served with an extremely spicy dipping sauce. Matt, our waiter, assured us that it was a house favorite. He was absolutely right; it was delicious. I'm not too ashamed to admit that we ordered another round of the appetizer immediately after finishing the first...and seriously contemplated ordering a third. The appetizers almost paled in comparison to the entrees, though. I ordered the Moqueca De Peixe which seafood cooked in coconut milk and spices served in a steaming bowl made of stone. My girl ordered the Camarao Na Abobora or shrimp cooked in butternut squash and coconut squash. Both of the entrees were incredible. We quickly cleaned out plates and hungrily stared around the dining room greedily eyeballing other patron's food. At one point, we hatched an elaborate plan to steal other people's food, but we we're too cowardly to go through with it. The restaurant is quaint and is located in a mixed use neighborhood, where it appears that a number of the homes have been converted into businesses. The ambiance inside is casual, yet still upscale enough for a date. The service is impeccable, and the waiters are extremely knowledgeable about the menu and are capable of holding back smug "are you f**king kidding me" faces when people ask if the official language of Brazil is Spanish or butcher the names of menu items. While the restaurant isn't cheap, I believe it's fairly priced for the quality and the novelty of the food (not that many Brazilian places in the area, which is a shame). There were a number of couples speaking languages other than English, which is definitely a rarity in the area. It's great to have another flavorful, healthy option in a region dominated by high blood pressure and deep fried everything.
(5)Naomi K.
Kudos to Yelpers for helping me find this place on my long road trip across the country! Little Rock was hardly a stopping point but as we left Oklahoma City and traveled to Memphis, this was a perfect spot to stop for dinner. Tucked in the quaint Hillcrest neighborhood, I was impressed immediately as we approached the restaurant, two ladies speaking Portuguese walked by. That's a clear indicator of food authenticity! The setting was nice but not stuffy, the service was very friendly. The food was delicious. The bartender made an excellent strawberry caipirinha (hmmm Leblon!) with freshly muddled fruit and mint! I had the bolos de salmao (salmon patties) and tried some of the special beef dish (Picadinho I think) that had a wonderful creamy sauce with the sweet taste of raisins. Dessert was delicious as well, so save some room for that! Muito bem!
(5)Meg B.
I thoroughly enjoyed my experience here. I am currently dabbling into gluten free food, and when I came here, I was surprised at how delicious all of my choices were! To start off, the cheese rolls- can I just say, the are to die for?!? My chicken dish was delicious, I believe it was the stroganoff?? Perfectly balanced dish that I couldn't stop eating! And then my favorite, the chocolate pie, one of THE best pies I have ever had. To top off the amazing food, the service was impeccable. Our water knew answers to each picky question we had, and if he didn't, he asked. He had wonderful suggestions, as well as plain conversation with us. Very friendly! I can't wait to go back!
(5)Skeeter S.
Awesome! I wanted to try Bossa Nova for a while and finally got the chance after dropping by Spokes to get some bike supplies. Small, artisan, and authentic, what's not to love. The menu is full on fresh and delicious options that are sure to please any palette.
(4)Una B.
Don't depend on the looks of this place as a judgement on the food. It's maybe a little shabby but the food we tried was flavorful and delightful. My only experience with Brazilian food is with Brazilian steakhouses like Texas de Brazil. the only similarity I was able to connect was the cheese bread. Bossa Nova won that round hands down. Their bread was immensely better with cheese that I found softer and with better texture. Delicious. We also sampled the yucca root which as the appearance of home fries but the inside texture definitely mealy. I'm not the biggest fan, but maybe worth a shot. I had the beef medallions for my meal and it came in an unexpected manner. The bacon wrapping was a thicker sort and and beef paper thin. Still delicious, but not the medallions I would have expected to see. The beans it came with were super yummy. The flavor was addicting and robust. The little green salad was bright and a good contrast to the beans and meat. The same beans, greens salad and either scrambled or sunny side up egg dish looked good as well. I also heard from my table mates that the salmon cakes were good, but 'pre baked salmon' (from the menu) made me think it was canned salmon. Service was laid back and at a relaxed pace. I wished the server would have noticed my empty wine glass and asked for a refill as I didn't want to bring it up at a business dinner myself. Definitely a flavor bomb surprise that I didn't expect to find in Little Rock.
(4)Darrelyn T.
quaint little restaurant, I had the Tilapia Assada- baked pan-seared tilapia topped with basil pesto served with rice and mista salad. I had no idea talapia could taste so good! Also tried some sort of mixed drink with a blend of brazillian rums. Which was amazing! The waiter was very knowledgeable on the entire menu, including the drinks. He asked me questions to find out what I liked/didn't like and make several reccomendations based on that and he was dead on! Will def. be going back.
(5)Dale R.
Food and service always exceptional
(5)Rebecca C.
Cafe Bossa Nova, you are by far on my top three list of places I've been to this year. You may even be number one. I had to have a tasty meal on my trip to Little Rock and thanks to Yelp, I saw this place as a huge recommendation. After a rainy awful day, and almost calling it a night and ordering room service, my friend and I decided to go here. The nearby area (Hillcrest I think) is very cute and we walked around afterwards and it reminded me of home a bit. As for our meal here, we were in awe, everything was better than it sounded on the menu, and better than we could have imagined. We started with the cheesy yuca bread. Yes, warm fluffy little puffs of cheesy goodness. Those were gone within seconds. My friend had the Hearts of Artichoke chicken soup and claimed it was amazing and her favorite part of the meal here. As for our entrees, she ordered the quiche and I got the salmon patties which came with the "mista" salad. I was so pleased with my meal, I was trying to make mental notes of how I could attempt to replicate it later on. I make salmon patties all the time, but these, they were bursting with flavor in each bite. How do they do that? And the SALAD? Holy cow this was ridiculously the best part of my visit to Cafe Bossa Nova. With mandarin orange bits, candied walnuts, and the best citrus vinaigrette I have ever tasted, this salad has to have been the best I've ever had EVER. Next time, I wouldn't be surprised if I ordered a huge Mista salad alone. So yes, our meal was scrumptious and everything was absolutely perfect. I wouldn't complain if the bill had been a bit lower but it wasn't unreasonable for such excellent food (specials were about $15 a plate). The waitress was so friendly and eager to make recommendations. The ambiance is cute, not too fancy, but defiitely a popular place. It says Brazilian but was much more like Fusion, in my humble Miamian opinion. Whatever it is, please make this a definite stop on your to-do list.
(5)Ambre' P.
I had lunch here for the first time yesterday and wow, was it good. We were seated right away and the servers were knowledgeable of the menu...I had lots of questions as I am not familiar w Brazilian food. The menu items are a little pricey for lunch so I went with a cup of the Roasted Garlic Soup with Asparagus and Crab meat. I get that it sounds gross but it was incredible. I also had the beef brisket salad. Wow!!! It was excellent. The food came out very quick. I had a glass of house wine, cup of soup and salad for $21.
(5)Andrea W.
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!
(5)John B.
The only Brazilian restaurant that I know of in Little Rock, and luckily, it's a great place for dinner with unique tasty dishes, good service, and fairly convenient from just about anywhere in the area, Bossa Nova is on my list of "Go, See, Eat" places here. If you go, be sure to have a caperinha - a traditional Brazilian cocktail reminiscent of a Margarita on the rocks.
(4)Amber L.
Cafe Bossa Nova is delicious! I'd been wanting to try this restaurant for years, but heard that is was "expensive" and had just "okay" food. Well let me tell you...that advice was far from wrong! My husband and I ended up purchasing the Enjoy the City book and were delighted to see that Cafe Bossa Nova was in the book. We went on a Tuesday night, which was steady but not overly packed. The restaurant was very clean and staffed appropriately. Our server was friendly and attentive. My husband and I split the Crepes de Frango (chicken crepes baked in a creamy cheese sauce and marinara sauce, served over rice with veggies) and the Salpicao (shredded chicken, mayo, apples, carrots, sweet peas, and herbs served over rice with a mista salad.) The Salpicao is basically a Brazilian chicken salad. It was seasoned perfectly and quite delicious! Same goes for the crepes- they were baked perfectly, and were wonderful! Even the salad had fresh baby spring mix, mandarin oranges, the best slivered almonds, topped with a fantastic house dressing. We loved it all! Looking forward to our next visit.
(5)Luke B.
Had a late lunch. Very friendly service, and great food. The chicken was very good, and the salads were fresh and original. Would highly recommend Basa Nova.
(5)Henry M.
I love going to Cafe Bossa Nova, drinking their strong Brazilian cocktails and eating the black beans and rice. Every other dish I've had has been good, too -- salmon cakes, chicken-apple salad, and the chicken crepes covered with a creamy sauce. I am usually unimpressed with their soups, even the black bean soup, which seems redundant anyway. Their desserts are outstanding. No wonder they opened up a bakery next door. The best bread pudding I have ever had, wonderful tres leches cake, and a pumpkin mousse that is better than creme brulee. On the down side, the prices are high. Beans and rice, with a small scoop of pico de gallo and a small scoop of collards, is like $11. Main dishes usually $14 and up. Lunch only slightly less expensive. I know you're also paying for the ambience, a combination of friendliness and sophistication, but sometimes I wonder where restaurants like this get the idea that Little Rock folks have so much spare money. I guess, judging by their success, some of us do. It's not enough to make me stop going. People are right: it is unique in the city, if not the state.
(4)Nancy W.
Love this place. The palm salad and the veggie rice and Blk beans with raw collard greens is so good. Had the friday chicken special today really good too. I hv the come back for dinner and cod fish cakes!
(5)Josh L.
Good brazillian food; good date atmosphere; tasty vegan options.
(5)Beez H.
Went there for lunch. Service was alright. Palm salad was quite good. Lunch menus leaves a bit to be desired, but the dinner menu looked spectacular.
(4)Patrick O.
After attempting to have lunch here yesterday only to discover that they aren't open on Mondays, we returned today in a more successful vein. The facilities. A kind of combination of spartan and tasteful/upscale. Modestly sized, with windows along the street side and the parking lot side, providing a somewhat cosmopolitan feel for this mixed use (partly residential, partly grocery/bar/restaurant), pedestrian-friendly area. The Service. The staff were pleasant and efficient while taking care of the whole restaurant during lunch rush with only 2 people. The Food. I know very little about Brazillian cuisine, so I have nothing to compare it to except those churrascaria/RodÃzio (thanks wikipedia!) type restaurants...so this will be a favorable comparison. For starters, we had the fried rice cakes, consisting of rice, cheeses, seasonings, and a light batter...then deep fried and served with a sauce that had the look and texture of aioli, but the flavor of sour cream. these were quite good...if you live in Arkansas and don't like deep-fried + rice, it might be time for you to move North of Mason-Dixon. For main, I had the Mineirinho, which is apparently a traditional breakfast dish. It consisted of 2 fried eggs served over white rice, black beans, Brazillian-style pico de gallo, and a salad of shredded collard greens with an oil + acid dressing. The eggs were good, cooked sunny side up, exactly as requested. The beans were a fantastic improvement over the standard black beans served all over central Arkansas...which shouldn't be surprising as Brazil is famous for making amazing black beans (in particular a soup). The rice was adequate, but either slightly undercooked or allowed to sit and dry out a bit too long...probably most people wouldn't have noticed though. The Pico de Gallo was fresh, but unremarkable. The shredded collard greens was a surprise though...tasty, fresh, nutritious. We definitely enjoyed our first visit and will add this to our list of options in the future. As with many restaurant experiences, the least pleasant part of the meal comes at the end...to wit, the bill. While the portions were generous and we did enjoy the meal, it was a fairly pricey lunch...so keep an eye on that, esp when not ordering from the lunch menu.
(3)Jami C.
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 ;-)
(5)A V.
I love the frango sandwich (~$11) and chicken crepes (~$15) from here! Sandwiches are served with either salad or fruit. Choose the salad. I've never been here for dinner since they don't serve the frango sandwich (chicken with mango and papaya chutney and some other ingredients) for dinner. :( Don't order the bolos de salmao (salmon cakes). It was meh. The sandwiches are slightly expensive, but I don't go here often so it works out.
(4)Maija H.
This place was anticlimactic -slow service -overpriced -uneventful food I ordered the soup and salad combo ($9), although if I ordered the cup of soup ($4.25) and salad ($4.75) separately, it would have been cheaper...both were tiny portions, and I could have used the extra 25 cents for a handful of peanut m&m's. The tastiest part of the meal was the dressing on the salad. My husband ordered the fresh white tuna and rosemary wrap. We thought it was going to be a filet of grilled fish, but instead we got some good ol' canned tuna and mayo...for $11...nice. To top it all off, we had ordered the cheese-bread as an appetizer. It ended up being dessert because it came after the meal?
(2)s. m. j.
This is at the top of my list for delicious lunch food in a lovely environment and great neighborhood. If you have the time or inclination, they have a great wine list. The dining areas are in two pretty, comfy rooms, very open and bright. I was here yesterday, and I had my usual lunch, starting with those beautiful little cheese breads with yucca, the pao de queijo, to share. I was also intrigued by one of the soups of the day, mango gazpacho (a regular gazpacho with mango in the mix), so I ordered that and my companion had a black bean soup. Even though I always look over the menu, I almost always choose the Ipanema quiche with the salada mista (the delicious green salad that is a specialty of the house). Everything was just as tasty, fresh and full of flavor as always. I have in the past tried smoked salmon wrap, and while it was delicious, it was HUGE. I took home more than half of it. I've also tried the vegetariano sandwich, with tomato, basil, mozzarella cheese and avocado, which is yummy (my friend had this yesterday). I've had dinner here once, several years ago, and it was delightful, as well. I would like to try the brunch, too. There is a small lot in front of the restaurant as well as behind the little complex it's in, but at peak times, these are almost always full. I usually plan to park down the street (sometimes WAY down), and then I'm pleasantly surprised if I get something closer. This restaurant is consistently delicious and the service is always professional and attentive. I've always been pleased with all aspects of my experiences here.
(4)Jenny H.
THIS PLACE IS AMAZING!!!!!! PAO DE QUEIJO (Brazilian cheese bread) is so good!! You must order at least two baskets! The best mojitos I have ever had. Entree: CAMARAO NA ABOBORA (shrimp stuffed in butternut squash with coconut sauce) is a must try!
(5)Mandy M.
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.
(4)Russell M.
Having been in Little Rock more than I ever imagined I would lately, I started searching Yelp for vegetarian or vegetarian friendly restaurants. I never imagined finding a veg friendly brazilian eatery as the only brazilian eatery back home is stomach turning to a vegetarian. Cafe Bossa Nova was a very pleasant surprise. They have an entire vegetarian/vegan section in the menu. It was my mom and I dining and we ordered the deep fried yucca root as an appetizer. Mom thought that the ketchup that it came with was too spicy, but I loved it. The yucca root made me think a potato had mated with a banana- and I mean this in a good way. For our entrees, we ordered and shared the Kibe De Abobora Assado (Baked tabuli with butternut squash, fresh mint, raisins and spices, layered with ricota cheese, topped with french baked onions, served with black beans and rice) and the Vegetais Recheados (Stuffed zucchini and squash with hearts of palm, olives, red pepper and fresh herbs, served with black beans and rice). Both of these items were delectable and extremely flavorful. As a side note, I ordered an iced Yerba Mate. This was without a doubt the best Mate I've ever had- and it came with free refills! The staff were very friendly and attentive. I have no idea when I will make it to Little Rock again, but when I do, I will definitely be eating at Cafe Bossa Nova.
(5)Mana T.
Loved how vegetarian friendly it was! The service was great and the food and drinks were very good.
(4)Hillary G.
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.
(5)Ruby H.
I love this place! The salads are to die for and the bread! OMG, so delish. It's a bit pricey but you will enjoy your food. The servers are very polite. Parking sometimes is hard to find.
(5)Alex W.
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.
(4)Wendy B.
I live in Hillcrest and I've eaten here a couple of times. I think it's overpriced though and I usually steer clear now. The cheese bread is fabulous and when it first opened, it used to be free, now, you have to pay for it, which I don't mind doing because it's wonderful. I'm also a vegan and eating here is pretty easy if you're a vegan or vegetarian.
(3)Karin S.
Pricey but I think worth it for the freshness and healthy options. I love the salpicao as well as the black bean with an egg on top. The chicken crepes are fabulous. The make an authentic Brazilian rum drink that is addictive.
(4)Tina B.
After being away for 3years, I came back to visit Little Rock and Bosa Nova in January 2013 - it was as pleasant and as delicious of experience as ever! My favorite salmon wrap never disappoints and stays consistently good! Salads, service, cozy small-cafe atmosphere are still as lovely as I remember them.
(5)Harold S.
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.
(5)CecilHillcrest W.
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....
(3)MJ S.
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.
(3)Brian S.
I ate at Cafe Bossa Nova the other night and loved it. My shrimp over rice with steamed vegetables was excellent and the portion was perfect---not too big, not too small. I'd started with a cucumber/avocado salad that was also fantastic. And finished it all off with their Tres Leches cake. The wait staff was very helpful and friendly and it's in a beautiful neighborhood in Little Rock.
(4)M L.
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.
(2)Stan S.
decent but not really brazilian food. great bread. over priced. this is a ladies lunching kinda joint.
(3)Lori M.
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!
(5)taylor j.
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.
(5)Jenna R.
Just ate here for dinner... Very tasty. Will definitely go back if I'm in the area. I had the chicken and hearts of palm soup and the beans and rice. Excellent! Friendly service as well.
(5)tom j.
Great French Toast, and my Friends had the Apple Crepes. Food was really good and great Service. Nice Sunday Brunch and Open at 10:30 when most places don't open until 11AM. want to check the dinners out.
(4)jessy t.
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.
(5)Nick C.
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.
(4)Kelly K.
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.
(5)Celeste C.
One of my favorite places for lunch. The black beans and rice dish is fabulous, but the quiche is sometimes a little dry and salty. The chicken crepe is really good. Their soups are tasty and unique. Don't go expecting to get veggies. The owners are very nice and many of the waiters have been there a long time. Great desserts.
(5)