As much as I am a big foodie I really haven’t tried a lot of Brazilian establishments. The other day a good friend of mine and I had a concert to attend, but we couldn’t figure out where to eat prior to the show. Then, she came across a groupon deal for a Brazilian Steakhouse on W 46th street called Brazil Brazil – right in the heart of the city.
As part of a groupon deal we had a Pre-Fix Menu, which included a bottle of wine (in this case a Pinewoods Pinot Noir).
My main Corse was a popular dish, “Picanha na Chapa,” which consisted of traditional meat, grilled and served on a sizzling hot plate with a side of rice and beans. I asked for the meat to be cooked medium rare and I was happy to find it cooked to perfection, very moist and full of flavor. They gave me 4 slices of tender meat, cooked along with garlic and onions for a full flavor. While the meat was very appetizing it did have a little bit of fat. While I know the fat adds to the flavor, it should have been fully removed from the steak itself to save that hassle of trying to cut around to gain as much beef as possible.
As for the side of Rice and Beans – I have to say I was disappointed. It was not enough to fill one person, and it’s a good thing it came with the meat, which did most of the filling. The rice was too firm and could have used a little more water during food preparation to help soften it. The beans were cooked well, but they were bland and needed some salt. Overall my entrée was good, but not as filling as I would have liked.
It had been a tough work week so my friend and I wanted to treat ourselves to a dessert. This establishment had a great variety to choose from, with eleven options. We choose to go with a popular dessert with a twist; the Coconut Flan. It was a real treat! It had a nice consistency – not messy at all. I’m not a fan of coconut flakes but it did make for a good presentation. They were at the bottom so whenever you took a bite of the flan you got a few coconut flakes as well like a tiny surprise. The cinnamon glaze was not overpowering and it really complemented the flan and gave it a real flavor boost.
Overall Brazil, Brazil did give us great food with even greater service. Pricing does vary and since it is in the heart of NYC it’s priced extravagantly, easily averaging $45 per person. But if you can find a Groupon deal I would highly recommend it, especially if you are new to Brazilian food.
After all, everyone should try something new now and again.
By Jessica Torrico
You can follow Jessica on Twitter @IncanHoney
