Rios Brazilian Steak House
127 S. Broad St.
Nazareth PA
610-614-1018
(No known website)
Rios is the Lehigh Valley's first iteration of the "Brazilian Steak House" concept, wherein skewers of meat, meat and more meat are seasoned, fire-grilled on a rotisserie, then served tableside by bandana-clad "gauchos" who use a foot-long knife to slice off as little or as much meat as you want. Essentially, it's a meat smorgasbord that comes to you. The most successful manifestation of the churrasco concept nationwide is Fogo de Chao, which has locations in many big cities, including Philadelphia.
Rios stays true to the concept. It offers 10-12 (I lost count) different types of meat, including from picanha (tender sirloin), tenderloin, beef ribs, pork ribs, chicken drumsticks, leg of lamb, chicken hearts (a surprising treat) and sausages. As noted, most are nicely seasoned to bring out the full flavor of the meat. Most everything was fairly tender, though I had a couple of chewy bites that made for some extra jaw work. Simply put: if you're a carnivore, this is your meatopia.
However, I found other aspects of the restaurant lacking. The salad bar, wedged in between two dining areas, was average at best. (It's a sight to behold at Fogo de Chao.) It had a limited selection of specialty salads along with mixed greens and toppings comparable to an ordinary salad bar. Also, the atmosphere and decor is unremarkable. We ate in the large, open area in the back of the restaurant. It looked like a converted sports bar without the memorabilia and televisions. Finally, I found the wine selection somewhat limited. And the wine I did order was served in a small, narrow glass more befitting of a diner than a nice restaurant.
Still, you're coming here for the meat. And at $21.95 a person, it's a lot cheaper than driving to Philly or New York. If you enjoy Rios, make sure to hit one of the big-city Brazilian restaurants. You'll see how it's done to perfection -- and realize that Rios isn't too far away.
Saturday, August 09, 2008
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3 comments:
I went to one of these Brazilian steakhouses in NY a couple years ago. It was quite an experience. I'm not a big meat eater but goods were so tender I couldn't help but enjoy it.
It's good to see you're back at the blog.
First, off you don't go to a brazilian restaurant because of the salad bar.
Second, wine is not that big in brazil.
Third, the atmosphere is suppose to be family oriented and chaotic, thats how the restaurants are in Brazil.
Research a little before you blog about a brazilian restaurant.
Anon 4:41,
I've been to several Brazilian style restaurants in the states, so I've done a bit of research as to how this style is portrayed here. I can't profess to having been to a Brazilian restaurant in Brazil.
1. You're right, you generally go for meat. But the three I've been to all had exquisite salad bars. And I enjoy salads as much as meat. If you're going to offer a salad bar, it should not be mediocre and poorly planned for traffic flow. Especially if that's the first place the wait staff sends you.
2. Even if wine's not that "big in Brazil," at least serve it in a glass that's appropriate for a red wine. My glass more closely resembled a champagne flute than a wine glass.
3. You can have family and chaotic and still have decent lighting and interior design. Rios had neither. The lighting makes it feel more like a cafeteria than a nice restaurant. It looks like they purchased the tables, chairs and bar from a restaurant consignment store without a whole lot of thought to aesthetics. I expect something more when the entree price is over $20. If lack of character and aesthetic vibe are hallmarks of an authentic Brazilian restaurant, I guess they hit it.
That said, I had a good meal. If I return I'll manage my expectations regarding the above items rather than comparing them to the other experiences I've had stateside.
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