Love at first bite

I’m all for a healthy lifestyle but I think everything is fine in moderation. However, when those pesky vegetarians try to convince me to add lettuce to my plate I take delight in reminding them that I didn’t climb to the top of the food chain to eat a salad.

Nestled in the backstreets of Adliya lies a true gem of a restaurant by the name of Brazil Rodizio Grill & Lounge, a meat-lover’s dream-come-true, a breath of fresh air for carnivores.

The venue serves up an authentic Brazilian rodizio experience – for the uninitiated that means it’s a steakhouse restaurant, with a twist.

The chilled-out ambience, swanky décor and friendly staff all add to the appeal of this haunt, however, the crowning jewel is most definitely the fare.

It’s an all you can eat and drink package, which begins with piping hot potato wedges that are delivered to your table almost immediately with the free-flowing selected beverage of your choice.

It should be noted, briefly at least, that there is a small salad bar, which also features some pasta … but that’s not what pulls the crowds.

The concept is as deliciously straight-forward as the food. On your table there is a circular piece of cardboard, green on one side and red on the other. Those familiar with the idea of a traffic light will quickly realise green means ‘keep it coming’ and red means ‘I’m done’.

Servers come to the table with knives and various kinds of meat on a skewer, most commonly tender, juicy cuts of beef, shrimp, chicken, lamb and other options for non-Muslims.

You are handed a pair on tongs and as the waiter slices off a prime cut you grab hold of it and put it on your plate. This process adds to the memorable experience and really makes you feel involved with your meal.

With an all you can eat restaurant, pacing yourself is important – and the waiters know this well. They started by bringing small but delectable pieces of honey mustard chicken. A few bites later they were gone and the eagle-eyed staff were on-hand with the next offering – peri peri chicken. I don’t know if nom-tastic is a real word but it’s the only way to describe this delectable treat.

After making my way through perfect prawns, succulent sausages, lavish lamb chops, fantastic fillet mignon and smokey chicken wings, I felt like I’d eaten two of every animal, and unbelievably that was just the starters.
I was beginning to feel a food coma coming on, but I fought it because I knew what was coming next … the star of the show, the beef.

First up was the Picanha, which should not be confused with top sirloin. The Picanha comes from the cap (or culotte), which lies above the top sirloin and rump areas. Like all the other items, it’s slowly grilled over an open flame, searing in the flavour. It was thick, tasty and cooked to perfection. I like my steak medium, a little red in the middle, and this restaurant has it down to an art form.

Next came the garlic rib eye, my favourite item on the menu. You can tell when it’s arriving because the aromatic smell majestically drifts across the room, titillating your tastebuds and making your mouth water at the thought of the explosion of flavour to come.

It really is love at first bite, I honestly can’t get enough of it and will happily gorge until my jaw aches and stomach screams for respite.

Rounding off the meal there is a choice of ice cream and a delightful pineapple, coated in cinnamon. Even if you don’t think you can handle another bite, I seriously recommend you to try because you don’t want to miss out on this.

I always feel a hint of sadness at the end of the night as I reluctantly flip my card from green to red, it’s like admitting defeat. However, I prefer to think of it as losing a battle but being ready to return for the war … on vegetables!

For party lovers, if you’re not too full to move, there is a club/ lounge upstairs were you can dance the night away into the wee hours. However, if you eat as much as I did, the only place you’ll want to go is home for a nap.
Prices start from BD21++ including selected beverages.

For details call 17826686.