One of the better places in Diamantina to eat comida mineira — the hearty Minas Gerais cooking of beans, pork, greens cooked in fat, and tutu (mashed beans). The kitchen here keeps to the regional tradition: feijão tropeiro, carne seca, frango ao molho pardo, with rice and couve (kale) on everything. Portions are generous by any standard.
The restaurant occupies a colonial building in the historic centre and fills up at lunchtime, which is when Brazilians eat their main meal. Arriving between noon and 1pm on a weekday gets you the freshest food; later in the afternoon the por-kilo counters have been picked over. Evenings are quieter, with a reduced menu.