Solar do Minho, Rodizio (Brazilian BBQ)
Belleville, NJ
Restaurant Review
Ok so i went arguably on a fairly busy Saturday night. We were able to get same day reservations, but it was still packed.
Meat took a while to arrive even though we sat down and requested the rodizio. After that, it was a fairly steady parade of Gouchos with meat on swords. I think the winners for me was the bacon wrapped filet and the sausage. The top sirloin was only ok, and the roast beef was fairly tough. I was happy to see leg of lamb as a selection. We saw ribs pass a few times but couldn't snag any. I was surprised not to see more pork on the skewers. There was only one ham - mediocre - and nothing else.
Our main server was very responsive and personable. I would have liked more attention from the gouchos but i admit it was a busy night.
The sides were as expected, including a nice vinegarette. I couldn't get a true chimmichuri despite asking twice. *Shrug*
The sangria was excellent - one of the best I've ever had. Cinnamon pineapple was delicious as always, and the desserts were heavy and sweet. The two flans we ordered were sightly different in their doneness, with one being a much deeper caramel then the other.
A few logistics notes: don't drive down the side street unless you're gonna use the valet. If you intend to park yourself, just park on the main street and walk
We were lucky to get a table inside the actual building rather than the wedding-reception size tent that has been installed to triple the seating. It was warmer and added to the general atmosphere of a traditional churrascaria.
Also note that there are exactly two toilets in the restaurant (as far as we could discover), so there were often several women waiting outside the ladies room. This may matter to you.
If you want to compare to other similar restaurants, I would say the meat was cooked better then at Fernandez 3 but there was a smaller selection. Also, the overall rustic and crowded atmosphere doesn't compare to the upscale experience of Fogo, so if that's what you're looking for, better just to into NYC or Philly.
Overall, however, i enjoyed my dinner at Solar and hope to add it to my regular rotation. Rodizio isn't for every night, but it's worth the trip for a special occasion!.
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Happy Eating!
