First off, if you're not familiar with Brazilian steakhouses or Rodizios, you just need to know they're the best kind of steakhouses in the planet. Nothing beats waiters one after the other showing up at your table with SWORDS (they're really huge skewers but Rodizios get me medieval) where impaled steaks of several pounds of the best cuts in the world are to be carved in front of you at your command. It's an endless parade of steak worship not for the faint of heart. I live in southern Maryland and being a Rodizio aficionado myself, the total lack of this restaurant type in my area is very depressing. I was driving to a Friend's weeding in Burlington, NC and having lived in North Carolina for several years in the past I knew I was entering Rodizio territory once more, so I decided to plan my trip to Burlington, making a little detour in Raleigh just to try this Rodizio Steakhouse. Now onto the place itself. Even thou this guys close at 11 pm on Fridays, I walked though the door at 10:45 and was treated just like if it was 7 pm. (Most restaurants give you ""a look"" and bad service if you do this). The service was INCREDIBLE, the place looked amazing. If you want to impress a lady, this would be a home run. Now, the food. Simply......perfect. The meats were simply out of this world. My favorite Brazilian cut of meat, ""pica?a"" was cooked just the way I requested, with a medium rare center. My wife is more of a ""well done"" steak kind of girl and they had a completely different skewer sizzling at the mercy of the flames in the kitchen just for her. (Most Rodizios scuff at customers requests of well done meat since this is considered faux pass, and they will simply take a couple of cuts ant throw them on the grill for the customer which ruins the whole experience. I have visited probably 10 Brazilian steakhouses in the U.S. Only at the top 2, Brasa Raleigh being one of them, will they put a separate skewer on the flames for customers who request well done cuts), Like I said in the title, second best Rodizio steak house in the U.S. only topped by the Juggernaut of Rodizios, New York's Time Square area located cathedral of Rodizio, (let alone Number 1 Brazilian steakhouse in the world and personally best restaurant I've ever been to in my life), The Mecca of meat.......... ""PLATAFORMA"". How close does Brasa come to the holiest of the holiest, Plataforma? Surprisingly close. Steak wise.......and this could be blasphemy....... almost identical. The salad bar at Plataforma is also FAR superior, probably one of the best salad bars EVER, But whereas a meal for two at Plataforma with beers will run you $250 with tips, at Brasa I paid only $100 with tips which is a HUGE difference. Let's put it this way: Plataforma is still reigning champion but if instead of Brasa being located In Raleigh, NC and Plataforma in New York, they were located both across the street from my home in Maryland, 9 our of 10 times I would eat at Brasa, almost the same steak for half the price. I would still treat myself to Plataforma on my birthdays. Now for those of you Maryland residents who are wondering, if you have to drive all, the way to NC or New York for a decent Rodizio experience, don't fret. I also have you covered. You'll find in my opinion which is the 3rd best Rodizio in the U.S. just 45 minutes away in Washington D.C. The name is ""Fogo de Chao"" a meal for 2 will run you about $140. All in all, in the best value for your category, Brasa Raleigh takes the crown. Now, If you're a Millionaire and own your own jet, fly to New York's Plataforma. But rest assured, Brasa will also give you a run for your money.
Pros: Perfect Rodizio
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