Aplauded for its meticulous Brazilian fare and masterful service, Oteque has been awarded the particular Gin Mare Art associated with Hospitality Prize at Latin America’s fifty Best Dining places 2022 . Chef Alberto Landgraf takes 50 Best through every single inch of his restaurant’s success, through the outstanding seafood towards the specialised soundtrack

“When you dine inside a restaurant, the first things a person notice are the meals, wine and the service, ” begins Alberto Landgraf, “but they say the devil is within the details, therefore that’s the things i focus on. ”

Landgraf’s scrupulous attention has certainly brought Oteque towards the forefront of Rio de janeiro de Janeiro’s dining scene. In the four years since it opened – the blink of an eye in restaurant conditions – Oteque has debuted on The World’s fifty Best Restaurants list, leaped up the Latin America’s 50 Ideal Restaurants list to an impressive No . twelve in 2022, and many recently, has brought home the desired Gin Mare Art of Hospitality Award .

Right here are six ways inside which Oteque’s hospitality is a cut above the rest.

Alberto Landgraf received the award onstage from Osteria Francescana’s Massimo Bottura plus Lara Gilmore

1. The particular soundscape makes the difference

“You truly feel like a person know almost everything when you open your best eating place, but of course, Used to do make mistakes, ” states Landgraf with a laugh as he reminisces about his initial project, Epice in Estão sendo Paulo, which usually closed inside 2016. “When I transferred to Rio to open my 2nd venue, Oteque, I tried to seriously consider my guests and see indirect opinions. Often, I’ve heard people in restaurants say that it was much too loud, so We introduced a soundproof ceiling. ”

To further enhance the experience, all the tables are usually circular, so that guests could make direct eye-to-eye contact during the particular meal. Diners sign up for an evening of eclectic songs from Landgraf’s carefully chosen playlist and great conversation.

“Nobody leaves thinking: ‘how great is that soundproof ceiling? ’ It is a small detail, ” he says. “But that’s our job: in order to prepare the particular restaurant so that guests possess the best achievable experience. ”

2. Symmetry unlocks serenity

Six dining tables, an open cooking area and an aquarium sit down in Oteque’s dining room – all of which are flawlessly proportioned. “If you cut our restaurant exactly in half, each side is the mirror associated with the additional. While I was planning the design, I idea: hopefully I’m going to look at this particular room every day, each day for the particular next twenty years. When anything has been out of place, it was going in order to drive me crazy! ”

The proportion continues among the staff, who place seamlessly across the diners in perfect unison. “We just have six tables, so we all have a great deal of relationship with our guests, but nobody humps into every other due to the fact we implement floor blood circulation in the dining room, ” says Landgraf.

The interior associated with Oteque,   positioned in Rj de Janeiro’s  Botafogo neighborhood

3. The balanced team makes a memorable food

“I had the particular idea that will chefs and front-of-house people should outfit exactly the same, so people wouldn’t know who all is either a cook or perhaps a waiter. There is no pecking order, it’s really horizontal, ” says Landgraf of his team idea.

Furthering their quest meant for equality in the cafe, the cooker heads a totally gender well balanced team. “But I think that should be an obligation, not a speaking point, for the purpose of restaurants operating at our own level, ” he observes. “We must have women inside leadership placements, especially in a country like Brazilian, where we have interpersonal issues. ”

Balance, equality and a supportive working environment are cornerstones for Oteque’s success. “A good cafe has to move beyond best ingredients and creative dishes – the people need to be as content as the guests, ” says Landgraf.

Landgraf (bottom row, fourth from left) with culinary chefs from B razil restaurants upon the red-colored carpet from Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2022

4. The flavours associated with Brazil are usually woven to the fabric

“When you open the doorway of Oteque, you’re fundamentally on the beach, and Rio can be probably one of the most famous beach towns on earth. In this kind of a very hot climate, there’s no way I really could serve stews and heavy meats, ” Landgraf explains.

Instead, fish and seafood rule the menu, which is created to end up being lighter plus leaner. Unique dishes consist of slipper lobster glazed on embers, offered with seafood head mayo, pickled apple company and lobster coral; and pickled sardine and organic foie gras on brioche bread.

“The concept associated with the menu is about exactly where I am: time and place. It’s my homage on the city. And it’s only lucky that will I choose eating fish, anyway! ”

One of Oteque’s signature dishes: steamed oyster plus pork pores and skin in pork spine broth

5. Nutritional requirements are welcome

“As a chef, a person always need to adapt to the periods you’re residing in, ” reflects Landgraf. “Nowadays, plenty of guests request vegan or even gluten free of charge menus. I want those people to experience special whenever they consume at Oteque. ”

Getting always had a severe egg cell allergy, Landgraf was conscious of creating extra work meant for chefs in restaurants. “When I obtain an alternative dish like a salad, which requires minimal effort, it is disappointing and I didn’t need my visitors to have the same method. ”

Oteque’s tasting menu is completely gluten free, plus only small changes are expected to appeal to guests who seem to prefer the plant-based dinner – an ideal alternative for both the diners and the cooks.

6. Happiness comes first

The simple yet powerful school of thought underpins every aspect of Landgraf’s work at Oteque: “The initial idea behind the particular restaurant wasn’t about presenting ingredients, refining techniques or repeating ideas that cooks have finessed before. I wanted an easy place with regard to people to get a meal plus go residential happy. We think that’s what food is, ” he concludes.

The listing of  Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2022 , sponsored by S. Pellegrino & Acqua Panna,   has been announced on Tuesday fifteenth November. Stick to us on  Instagram , like us on  Fb , find us on  Tweets , label #LatAm50Best and sign up for our  YouTube   station   for the most recent news.