Brasilia Grill
“May I suggest a Caipirinha or if you are a beer lover, bring a pair of mittens for the coldest beer in Newark served in an ice cold glass.”
“Their sangria is also pretty good, and a pitcher is reasonably priced for sharing.”
“Of course, everything is plentiful and keeps coming until you need to stop.”
Brasilia Grill
Takes Reservations: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Has TV: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Caters: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
8 reviews
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The Story: I took my boyfriend to a Devils game for Valentines Day. Our original plan was to go to Dino BBQ but it was packed! Quickly I pulled up yelp and checked out the restaurants near by. My co-worker had recommended Don Pepe in Newark but this place caught my eye. I haven't had rodizio in over a year!
Food: They have a salad bar, dessert area and meats coming around…
Meats: besides the picanha (top sirloin) everything else was DRY and TOUGH and over cooked.
Salad Bar: The only thing edible was the rice and beans. Everything else looked like it will cause me food poisoning.
Dessert: I only had the flan. It was okay.
Decor: Huge Dining room. the seats are WAY too close together =/
Price: $33.99 per person for Valentines Day…
Service: There was one waiter that tried but other than that no one really cared. The servers with the meat would go to the table behind us and table next to us and then turn around and go the other direction. I even tried to flag them down… I had to complain to my waiter about this. Then the meat started to come after I complained and when I was pretty much full from the salad bar. AND they had the nerve to add mandatory gratuity… Who the hell does that? For a party of 2??
Parking & Finding the Place: They have a tip only valet parking.
Additional Thoughts/Tips: I was definitely sick from the food… I am not coming back here. I've been to Brazil and in terms service and quality it was lacking big time. I rather pay double at Fugo De Chao.
Came here for part of a group of 5 and at a glance this place is really lively and seems to be tailored to big groups. I can definitely say the service is great here. There are waiters and waitresses are all over clearing of the table or bringing food and drinks, taking. Requests and just on hand if needed. I got the parmesean steak with mashed potatoes.
Now you know how when you eat a pizza and its so hot you bite into it and all the cheese just comes off? That's now this was, I was expecting the cheese to be melted on there but no the cheese was like layered on top and just wasn't well put together. And fell off after every bite. So while it sounded good on paper, was not very good eating it. The mashed potatoes were lukewarm and the drinks were eh, but the sangria was ok. The problem isn't just the mediocre food, but it being so high (understood for steak) and not being good is a blow. Big portions but it just was not impressive. This area is popularly known for its resturants. I haven't been to many as of yet but aside from the accomdating atmosphere others could give it a run for its money.
Rodizio Rodizio Rodizio is all I have to say best bang for your buck in all of newark their quality of meat is on point most places use not such great quality and mask it with loads of salt but not here you taste flavor and quality in every bite as for the sangria I just tell the server keep it coming now as for dessert they need to up the selection a little more had the chocolate flan and a slice of the chocolate ganache cake best two on the menu in my opinion
Stopped in with a former high school buddy and wow, what a gem! The food was good. The service was amazing, they have a bar with high tops on one side and a buffet area as well in another room.
For birthdays, the staff will approach your table and sing to the birthday boy or girl in Portuguese while playing instruments.
Parking: This was convenient because it was next tot he building. It was free (they will give you ticket with a number on it though) but, do the right thing, a tip the guy keeping an eye on your ride.
Restroom: I didn't have to use it.
Cost: Decent for the amount of food that you get.
I did not like the place at all. The only good two things that I liked about the restaurant was the beer and the salad bar. We have to wait for 20 minutes until the waitress can put the green ticket on the table so we can get the rodizio. Dont waste your time!
I came here for rodizio one night with friends.
The place was pretty busy.
The rodizio comes with the salad bar, which was pretty decent.
The rodizio was alright. Not the best I've had. My date said they seemed off that night as he's definitely had better here.
The staff was super friendly though.
The major downfall for me was that we didn't each get our own green/red circle. So, the WHOLE TABLE has to agree to put the high sign down or up depending. I know the sign is for them to know you're doing the rodizio but … each person should have their own so they don't bother those who are full and keep feeding those who want to keep eating … aka me.
I actually walked out feeling full … but not stuffed because everyone else at the table was done before I was.
I am still in a morning-after meat coma as I write this. What a great introduction to the tantalizing prospect known as rodizio. This night was 15 meats, keep eating until the idea of meat is horrifying. I estimate I ate nearly 2 lb of the stuff before I just couldn't get that last bite inside. Some cuts are well done, but some are toward the rare side.
Short version: 5 star service. 4.5 star meats. 3 star buffet. 4 star dessert. Not perfect, but an excellent value.
Long version:
Service – Very friendly. They explained each cut of meat, tried to make sure I got all of the varieties they had available, and then asked which ones I liked and they would just bring those by. I listed a few, and they brought them ALL by. I couldn't eat that much! (And that's saying a lot.) Very attentive service by multiple waiters, and chatty when they were not busy.
Buffet – Why eat at the buffet? I felt guilty for even wanting to try anything that wasn't meat. I can say that of the few things I had, only the mixed chopped vegetables (onions, peppers, tomatoes? etc.) were very good. Ignore the rolls at your table. Ignore the meats inside breads. Eat a bit of veggies to feel good about yourself before going to town on rodizio.
Favorites – Top sirloin (everybody's favorite), ribs, skirt steak, chicken hearts, sausage. The sirloin was medium rare and very juicy. The ribs were more well-done but very tender, and I wish I had a chance to eat more than one. The dilemma of the full stomach! Skirt steak was salty, and dare I say umami in nature. As a thinner cut, it was definitely well done. The chicken hearts came two different ways, the two times they brought them around. The first time they were chewier and flattened on the skewer. The second time they were crispier and more heart-shaped. Both were superb and I highly recommend them. Finally, the sausage was a bit salty, but with a texture unlike anything else. It's clear they use chunks of pork instead of grinding all the meat into a mush.
Chicken leg was also very good. One doesn't normally get chicken at a rodizio but it tasted as good as anything I've had at Portuguese BBQ in the city. Garlic steak wasn't very garlicky, but a good solid chunk of meat with no flaws.
Bacon-wrapped steak and turkey are honestly probably things I would pass on in the future. As awesome as bacon is, I think the meat inside wasn't done as well because the bacon was intended to make up for it. It ended up being overly salty and the bacon wasn't crispy. The sliced pork tenderloin was relatively average as well, probably the least flavor of everything.
I'm sure I'm missing a cut of meat or two. It went quickly and happily until my friend and I were both stuffed. I then went for the dessert cart. WARNING – THE DESSERT IS NOT PART OF THE MEAL. This was not made clear at any point, either in the menu or by the waitstaff. They were happy to bring the cart by and even give me two desserts, and said I could have more if I wanted. Little did I know. I would still have had one dessert, but maybe also some more meat. Fortunately they were very nice and took both desserts off – I didn't ask for anything but was hoping for at least one – so I left the balance in tip. Get the flan. I'm not a flan person but this made me a believer. The chocolate cake was eh. I've heard people rave about the chocolate flan as well, so basically just get any flan you like. Just be warned, it's not free.
Rodizio, rodizio, rodizio … My gawd, rodizio.
Let's not get this review twisted, it would be a five star rating but the service was certainly sloppy and a little slow. Let's just say, we got pitchers of sangria but no glasses, com'on now …
Regardless through – the food, the food, the food. Literally you can feel your mouth salivating while watching the meat escorted around you. If only eyes could taste.
As far as presentation – nothing crazy, does the job. I need a chair and a table, just bring on the meat.
Side note – they have a dope little bar area right next door – it's attached. They play live music – pretty cool.