Julius Brasserie is an elegant intimate bistro with a clean modern decor and a dozen small tables. It is easy to see why its Dutch owner/restaurateur chose Urca to set up his restaurant. Unlike many of Rio’s neighborhoods, the narrow peninsula at the foot of Sugarloaf mountain still has quiet streets with a pleasant small town feel. And then there are those spectacular views across the bay. The kitchen serves up a wonderful selection of mostly French and Italian inspired dishes. One of the best deals in town is the Tuesday to Friday lunch special. For R$29.90 you can order an appetizer (a salad, soup, or bruschetta) and a choice of entrée, for example the pesto fettuccine with chicken breast, fresh vegetables and cashews, a beef tenderloin with Peruvian parsnip and green salad, or the sole in butter-mango sauce served with quinoa, dried fruit, and herbs. Although pricier, the evening menu includes numerous other outstanding options. Try the black linguini with seafood or the Tournedos steak in a balsamic reduction with creamy funghi risotto. When available, there is also a delicious asparagus menu with classic fresh cooked white asparagus with egg mimosa, spicy potatoes,     and ham, or an asparagus risotto with shiitake mushrooms, fresh herbs, and Grana Padano cheese. The small wine lists features well-chosen bottles from Argentina, Chile, Spain, Portugal, France, and even farther afield. For dessert, try the authentic Dutch apple pie before taking a stroll along the seawall to admire the reflection of the twinkling lights on the water.