11:30pm girls - Ipanema Brazilian Grill
What: Ipanema Brazilian Grill
When: Saturday, Mar 12 at 12pm
On a recent, gorgeous Seattle Saturday afternoon we had brunch at the newest churrascaria in Seattle - Ipanema Brazilian Grill. The only thing better than the weather that day was that we got to enjoy the experience with three Brazilian friends (and a Cuban and an American who had spent time in Brazil).
The place was virtually empty. But it's barely a few months old, and the food is good, so in time it will do fine.
We ordered the churrascaria de rodizio (basically, “Brazilian barbeque”) for $24.95 a head (the dinner version is 10 bucks more). And for the next 90 minutes we were overwhelmed with meat - served to us in huge, individual slabs, each of which was twice as big as your head, and pierced down the center with sword-sized skewers. The server brings the meat to you, and slices it up on the spot (see pic).
The meal went like this: drinks (capirinhias) arrived. Then we went to the buffet (salad, fruit and cold cuts) while our servers filled the table with sides, including beans cooked in pork, fried banana, and farofa (dry yucca flour sautéed with eggs and onion.) After our bellies were coated with sides and salad, it was time for the meat, so each person flipped over his/her coaster - green side up for "servers, give me meat" and red side up for "Stop!."
And repeat.
The waitstaff brought out more meat than this, but this was all we could manage to sample: beef ribs, top sirloin, filet mignon, veal, lamb, flank steak, pork ribs, turkey wrapped in bacon and pineapple (!).
Vegetarians, stay away. Meat lovers, rejoice.
One of the Brazilians even said this place was tops for churrascarias in Seattle. Now that's a good review.
Ipanema Brazilian Grill, 1225 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98101, 206-957-8444. Happy hour 4-7pm daily.
