A taste of South America – not quite Brazil-iant, but definitely brilliant

Let it be known, I like a challenge.

My latest endeavour came in the shape of a mountain of meat, courtesy of Teatro’s mammoth set menu.

Being slight of frame and a fan of vegetables, I don’t 
ordinarily go for carvery-style dinners but, having quaffed three pints one sunny 
Sunday afternoon, partner Ben 
persuaded me sharing the hefty Rodizio set menu was the only way to assuage his hunger and mop up the effects of the real ale.

We have wandered past this Brazilian grill on many a night out and I was pleased to find the decor inside was as fresh and contemporary as the smartly-presented exterior, with black faux-leather booths and crimson low-lights.

With Brazil squaring up to take on England on the pitch later that evening, we wondered if the bar downstairs would be a sea of yellow sports shirts and samba dancers, but we had to be content with our friendly waiter as the only 
noticeable South American football fan that afternoon. There was, however, a decent selection of wines from their continental neighbours, Chile and Argentina, on a wide-ranging wine list, along with Brazilian bottled and draft beer.

And so to that set menu. The Rodizio bills itself as “a feast of the most delightfully cooked and presented food, expertly served.”

And a feast it was. You know you are getting a lot of food when the waiter has to talk you through it, bit by bit.

Our starter – a generous shared plate of coils of 
Parma ham, slivers of warm flatbread, pitted mixed olives and potato salads – eased us in gently, with a careful explanation of the plated delights by our attentive host.

The Meditteranean-style flavours were a well-teamed combination and we left a 
little potato salad on the side to enjoy with our main course.

“There’s a lot of food still to come,” warned our waiter.

And, like a maxi version of tapas, the plates just kept coming.

A well presented platter of rice, braised pork, two stews and couscous was soon joined by another plate of chicken wings and spicy sausages.

Then the rotisserie meats arrived to steal the show – spiked on what looked like a giant sword. Our waiter slid the marinated slabs of beef rump and leg of lamb off the huge skewers and carved them at our table with impressive showmanship.

The spicy sausage hit the right note of fieriness, but the stews – a buttery bean-filled one and a tender beef version – were the favourites, packed with long-lingering, savoury flavours.

I would have preferred a few more greens and the beef rump was a little over-cooked for our liking but its serving style did outdo its table companions for pure theatre.

“I think I’m beginning to get the meat sweats”, mumbled Ben as the food mountain finally conquered the beer lake which had gone before it.

Our Brazilian experience came to a sweet yet spicy denouement with juicy, palate-cleansing chunks of pineapple dusted in cinnamon. A fun experience. Total price: £51 with two Brazilian beers and two cranberry juices.

Teatro, Popular Brazillian Rodizio Restaurant, Church Street, Lancaster. No parking available