After eating a few mediocre and overpriced meals in Rio, I decided to try the internet for recommendations. Shirley (what a strange name for a Spanish restaurant in Rio) was a very pleasant surprise. Tucked away on a side street in Leme, the north end district of Copacabana, the front of the restaurant is quite un-presupposing. Inside it is small, ...

I heard about Shirley and it was described as "dumpy", a "hole in the wall", etc. While it's a bit small, yes, it's a great little place! We had the couvert (sardines, tomato ssuce, mussels, etc. Excellent start and reasonably priced as courverts go. My wife and I shared the paella (dish for two). We absolutely ...

After weighing the pros and cons of eating a big seafood buffet vs. visiting a lessor known 'local secret', we opted to try the local secret. It was a fabulously smart decision. We started our meal with the mussel in vinegar. That, coupled with their toasted bread, made for an excellent appetizer. Next we ordered the sole with shrimp and ...