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| - Like most Brazilian steakhouses, Via Brasil features an elegant dining room with excellent service. I usually skimp over the salad bar, but the appetizers were really good. The spread had the perfect mix of charcuterie, salad, and vegetables. I enjoyed the crab ceviche, beef carpaccio, and the various assorted grilled items. But, in all seriousness, I was here for the meat, not the salad bar.
Via Brasil jumps to the top of my list for one of the best Brazilian steakhouses for their meats. I loved that the skin of the chicken drumsticks were perfectly crispy. All of the beef (top sirloin, tri-tip) was perfectly medium-rare. One of my biggest gripes about Brazilian barbecue is how salty all their roasts are, but I found all the meats to be well-seasoned without being over-seasoned, especially the crusts. The flavors were amazing. Also, baked cheese? Love it! The cheese paired wonderfully with the meats.
What didn't I like? The rotation of meats didn't come frequently enough and at one point we were at a standstill. There were no ribs, lamb, or fish offered that evening. The other disappointment was the cheesecake for dessert. They actually ran out and I got one of the last slices, but it was far from what they labeled "NY cheesecake." It was heavy and generic. I should've gone for the Brazilian doughnuts with ice cream.
I'll end with a positive note. The tableside basket of cheese-baked bread balls were simply amazing. Single-most addictive item on the menu.
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