Rubaiyat Faria Lima

Rubaiyat Faria Lima is the São Paulo flagship of the Rubaiyat Group, a Brazilian restaurant company that built its reputation on vertically integrated churrasco: the picanha, filet and ribs served here come from cattle raised on the group's own farms in Mato Grosso do Sul, a lineage the menu makes a point of naming table by table. The kitchen works a traditional rodizio and à la carte format side by side, so diners can graze from the grill or order cuts individually; the bone marrow served with toast and the grilled provolone are near-obligatory starters before the picanha itself. The dining room occupies a striking greenhouse-style glass structure on Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima in Itaim Bibi, filled with live plants and skylight, giving it a bright, almost botanical feel that is unusual for a steakhouse and works equally well for a business lunch or a celebratory dinner. Service is formal but unstuffy, and the noise level rises considerably in the evening as the room fills with a corporate and well-heeled local crowd. The wine list leans heavily on Argentine and Chilean Malbec and Cabernet blends chosen to stand up to red meat, with a smaller but serious selection of Brazilian labels from Vale dos Vinhedos. Reservations are strongly recommended for dinner and weekend lunch, particularly Friday and Saturday nights, when booking a few days ahead is advisable; walk-ins can usually be accommodated on weekday afternoons.