A recently weekend brunch visit to Carioca in Brixton was not my first. And I’m please to report the food is still tasty and portions still generous at this quaint Market Row eatery. But it was my first time to have slice of the chocolate peanut butter cheesecake. And – wow – that was a sumptuous and texturally magnificent end to a meal.
Dishes like the Ipanema (chorizo, avocado and poached egg on a maize muffin, £7.85) and the Samba (grilled veggies, black beans and poached egg with crispy sweet potato on a maize muffin, £7.85) were as full of flavour as they were filling. Ditto the chargrilled cured Portuguese chorizo (with chunky chips and black honey syrup, £7.50).
For drinks I was happy not to indulge, keeping with a ginger beer and water. Though, I can vouch from previous experience that Carioca does a mean bloody Mary at Carioca.
If I was happy to forego a tipple, I was over the moon to have caved in to a craving for cake. Cheesecake that is. Chocolate peanut butter cheesecake to be exact (priced at £5.75). And I’ve been raving about it ever since (and the meal was two weeks ago). Sure it was super rich but the peanuttiness was tempered – as was the texture. No bite was cloying. There was a lightness to it, belying what I’m certain was a carnival of carories. I must say though I didn’t roll out with no more protrusive belly in front of me than usual but satiated and glad to have dropped back in for a fun brunch in Brixton.
Carioca is located at 25-27 Market Row, SW9 8LB. Find out more at cariocabrixton.com.
