The over-priced and under-imaginative dining options along much of Avenida Atlântica finally have a bit of stiff competition in the form of Rio's long-term, high-street Tex-Mex favourite Rota 66. Following branches in Humaitá, Ipanema, Leblon and Tijuca, the chain has finally taken up position at the posto 5 end of this famous stretch, where its affordable and accessible dishes are already packing in the crowds until well after midnight, accompanied by some imaginative, and downright enormous, cocktails.

Two-litre pitchers of frozen vodka cocktails (R$65) and draught beer (R$32) attract the early-evening party people, as do lighter snacks like the sausage flambeéd in tequila (R$27) and served with a spicy pico de galo salsa and french bread. Alternatively, whilst the house ribs won't win any awards for invention, the crispy meat falls right off the bone and comes with a simple and eminently dunkable barbecue sauce.

Mains cover every possible take on the national standards that fans could desire and even include a handful of pizzas and pasta dishes and a decent picanha burger (R$25), but this is no Italian so head instead for the combos of chips and dips and Quesadillas stuffed with turkey, steak, sun-dried beef, chicken or shrimp. As for the all-important cocktail, they might not appear on the menu any longer, but a friendly request for the spicy margarita with extra hot (and bright red) rim-salt is definitely worth a try. 

Further locations: 

- Rua Conde Bernadotte 26, Leblon (21 5215 5961) 
- Rua Voluntarios da Pátria 448, shop 8A, Humaita (21 2286 8487)
- Rua Farme de Amoedo 47, Ipanema (21 2247 5931)
- Rua Almirante Joao Candido Brasil 35, Tijuca (21 2254 4219)
- Recreio Shopping, Avenida das Américas 19019, Barra (21 2025 1825)