Mocotó/Esquina Mocotó

Arguably Brazil's most important up and coming chef, Rodrigo Oliviera, upped the ante on his father's simple restaurant, transforming it into a place that the Paulistano gourmet elite (and everyone else) was willing to travel deep into the city's gastronomy-scarce North Zone to eat. At Mocotó, hearty (read: meat heavy) Northeastern Brazilian cuisine is chased by long list of artisan cachaças; next door at higher-end Esquina Mocotó, Oliveria's less traditional creative juices flow. Either way, it's worth both the trip to Vila Medeiros and the wait – Oliveira only takes reservations at Esquina.