Braza Churrascaria

Located in Darling Harbour in the new quarter area, this Brazillian BBQ restaurant is all about the MEAT! As you can see below;

$47 per person for all you can eat. With so much variety how can you say no?

The place was packed out, however I did spy a few free tables for two. We arrived at the counter area and told them we wanted a table for two. The owner (I assumed) nodded and told us to sit by the bar and get a drink while we waited for 10 minutes for our table. Why? Is this meant to be some kind of trick to make us buy a drink at the bar before eating? This aside, we didn't buy drinks and we just waited before a Waitress came over and took us to our table. She was very polite and I was impressed immediately by the level of service she provided. Many of the sides available we were unfamiliar with however she happily pointed us in the direction of the more different sides to choose from. We got the Cassava (As my friend Daniel put it aptly, "It's potato scallop in a chip form"), Tomato Salad (A combination of chopped tomato, onion, olive, cheese) and Yellow Rice (Quite fragrant, borderline sweet in taste). These are not designed as entrees! They are to compliment the meats, so pair them up with the meats and you'll find it a very enjoyable experience.

We ordered a jug of Sangria to go with our meal that was to come and I found it to be better than average. No sooner did I start sipping on my beverage we quickly gathered how the process for getting food on our plates worked;

The waiters walk around with large bayonets that have the meat skewered through them. They come to your table and ask if you would like whatever the meat is they are offering on them. If you agree, they then carve it off slightly, and using tongs provided to you, you take it off as they continue to carve. If no, they simply continue on. This process is not as frequent or as intrusive as you may think and instead found it rather relaxed. I should note also you'll see these things on your table also;

At first glance they look like salt and pepper shakers, then once you notice there is no hole to pour out anything you may think they are decoration. They're not! They are there to let the waiters know when you want food to keep coming, or when you want a break from eating. We didn't realise this until we were finished as nobody explained this to us prior! Oh well, you know now anyway.

I would recommend you try as many of the different types of meat available as possible; they were all very tender and they all seemed to have their own unique marinade to them which really made it memorable. The only ones I did not enjoy were the lamb ribs and the pork ribs. I found those lacklustre however everthing else was very enjoyable and you could really tell it was done using a proper BBQ method of Charcoal and Wood. I enjoyed most the Flank Steak, Pork neck, Scotch Fillet, Pineapple (BBQ'd!) and Prawns.

I would give dessert a miss here and go elsewhere.

So, some of the things on the menu are a bit hit and miss, other than that it is very good for what it is and I think this place is really geared towards larger groups for a rowdy dinner night out before going out to a bar or club.

In total it came to around $168 for two of us, including drinks. Not bad.

I'd give it a 7/10. Worth a try.

Restaurant Review: Venuu, Surry Hills.

The bargain of the year for top quality Italian, is right here.

Venuu is a hidden gem on Bourke St. in Surry Hills, a surprise to all those who find it. Tucked away in a courtyard that you would otherwise easily walk past by on the street, this Restaurant exceeded my expectations.

The first thing you will notice immediately is the friendly, welcoming smile from the staff, what a difference this makes to the first impression of an establishment. They even set up an extra table and seat when we informed them that another person would be coming along also.
Once we were settled down I went through their wine list (which is very good and with a number of great wines to choose from) and spotted this great Prosecco I decided to get:

2010 Bortolotti Prosecco ($44).

A great fizz with clean, precise pink lady apple and nashi pear characteristics complete with a dry, lingering finish. What else do you need to know? Get this wine when you go! Definitely get it as your aperitif or to go with this for your entree:

Salt and Pepper Calamari ($10).

A generous serve of golden brown, crunchy calamari in a brown paper cone served with lightly dressed leafy greens on the side. Simple and satisfying. The acidity from the prosecco cut through the salt and oil of the calamari perfectly.

One of my friends got this which I tried also:

Chorizo ($10 approx).

This Chorizo dish I found quite enjoyable. The Chorizo itself had a mild, smokey flavour to it while the salsa beneath it complimented the Chorizo well.

Prawn Risotto ($24 approx).

Didn't try this one, however my other friend said it was quite good. Looks good I think...

Duck Ragu Gnocchi ($19 approx).

Another of my friends got this one, which I tried also and I was impressed by how well done this meal was. I had ordered by this point a glass of the Yering Pinot and it was a perfect match with the small amount I tried. The Gnocchi and Ragu were cooked to perfection. This was a highlight for me.

'The Gypsy' ($24 approx).

I opted for a pizza. The combination of mushroom, capsicum and ham created a powerful mouth watering sensation for me and this was gone rather quickly. Great base, didn't leave me feeling bloated. I got chilli oil added to this which gave it a nice kick.

'Signature' Hot and Cold Brownie ($14 approx).

The menu said this is what they were famous for, so I was curious to try it...the rest of the night had gone well so it was just as well that this turned out to be a great way to round off everything prior. The combination of the hot, gooey chocolate brownie and the cool cream on top is a sensation to experience! A must try! I had this with a glass of their sweet Riseling and Sauvignon Blanc which again complimented it beautifully.

Overall, a very satisfying experience. As I said, for these prices and for this level of quality, quantity and service throughout the night, I will certainly be coming here again if I want great Italian. For seven of us, it came to only $317 including drinks. Bargain. I eat at places where I pay double and even triple just for myself and one other for the same quality as here.

I would rate it a 9/10. Seriously, it's that good. Go before they catch on they are worth far more than what they are actually charging.