Copacabana Brazilian Steakhouse – Churrascaria Palace

Have you ever eaten in a Brazilian steakhouse (referred to as a Churrascaria in Brazil)? I’ve been to several and there are a few typical features. I thought I understood what they were all about until I went to one in Brazil. But why should that have been a surprise?

The Brazilian Steakhouse Experience

The Churrascaria Palace in the Copacabana Beach area of Rio de Janeiro had some things that I expected. If you’ve been to a Brazilian steakhouse you are familiar with the skewers of meat with assorted cuts of meat.

The waiter will slice off a small piece for you to savor and then soon after, the next guy comes along. In other places, there is some sort of signal on the table.

Some have restaurants put a a little block of wood painted red on one side (for “Dear Lord stop, I can’t eat anymore”) or green – for “Yes, oh yes, keep it coming”. There was no signal at this restaurant – it was all “Yes, oh yes.”

This place can turn you into your own worst enemy. The waiters come along like a continuous wave of temptation. I told myself that I would start becoming more selective but each time another skewer was extended I offered by plate and gave a submissive nod in reply.

Churrascaria Palace Buffet

Restraint has never been one of my strong suits. And then there is the expansive buffet with everything from seafood and salads to Italian prosciutto to a selection of gourmet cheeses.

This was no typical salad bar.

It’s easy to get stuffed quickly – but our host swore that if you take a break from eating and enjoy some pistachio nuts and some Parmesan cheese, your appetite comes back. And you will need it – there are more temptations to come.

In this steakhouse, wonderful samples continue to parade onto your plate

This seafood platter was the first to arrive, followed closely by mini-chorizo (sausage) links.

A Food Experience Not to be Missed in Rio de Janeiro

Lke a meat lover’s fantastical dream, the meat skewers kept arriving, in all sorts of varieties. Slices of succulent skirt steak, slow-cooked, fall-off-the-bone beef ribs and juicy pork sausage were presented.

The top sirloin with a crispy, salty bark just melted in our mouths. We dug into the rare prime rib and seasoned leg of lamb.

The staff here are part of the reason that this place is so special. They are very attentive and take your enjoyment of the experience personally. Some of them have worked in the restaurant for over sixteen years. The Palace’s place as one of the top restaurants in Brazil is a point of honor.

And in addition to the regular buffet, during the time we were there, the restaurant was featuring a “festival” of classic Brazilian recipes, such as Moqueca, seafood stew

There were even some non-traditional items:

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This is the kind of dinner to savor slowly and enjoy with some local spirits. We were treated to a tasting of Tiquira as the evening began to wind down.

This is a liquor made from the distillation of manioc, also called cassava or yucca root. If distilled improperly, the results are literally toxic. It might seem ill-advised to drink it – but tonight was not a night for caution. And my inability to restrict myself was well rewarded.

We finished off (or should I say we were finished off) with a sample dessert plate. It was introduced to us by the Churrascaria owner,  Antonio, who joined us toward the end of the evening.

My previous experiences in other Brazilian steakhouses worldwide (i.e., unlimited portions but poor quality and service – if you’ve been to one, you know what I mean) were very different here.

Upon leaving the restaurant we firmly decided that we were never going to eat again. Against our own better judgment, we had succumbed to temptation, over and over. But, of course, it wasn’t long after that night that we started thinking about going back for another visit.

Do you think Antonio, the owner, is regretful of filling his guests with excessive amounts of food and spirits? Of providing an atmosphere where having an over-the-top experience is not only encouraged but expected? I think not.

When you eat here, you see people smiling and having a good time, thoroughly enjoying the indulgence. And, as I shuffled my way out the door, I thought to myself, without a doubt, so did I.

Related stories about Rio that you might enjoy:

The Best Sights of Rio By Bike

Where to Find the Best Feijoada in Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro Pico da Tijuca Hike

Rio Favela Tour – Complexo do Alemão