Porcao Churrascaria
Categories: Brazilian, Steakhouses [Edit]
360 Park Ave S(between 25th St & 26th St)
New York, NY 10010 (212) 252-7080
- Nearest Transit:
28th St-Park Ave S (6)
23rd St-Broadway (R, W)
- Price Range: $$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: No
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Dinner
- Alcohol: Full Bar
24 Reviews for Porcao Churrascaria
I was quite pumped to hit up the legendary Porcao in NYC! I had previously been to 1 in Rio, 1 in Sao Paulo, and 1 in Miami. I am sad to announce that this location was the last out of the 5 I had been to. Porque Porcao? It seemed that since they are located in the city, they don't need to have nice cuts of meat or a fresh salad bar. Even the tempranillo was tarde. Overall, it was an ok experience but far from what I expected. I am now going to have to visit Plataforma, which my brazilian friends told me was better and I didn't believe them :) Disculpe meus amigos, foi mal!
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You know, this place was good, but not great.
Everything was that way. It seemed a little crowded.
The salad bar was huge and huge and huge and huge and uninspiring.
The meat was everywhere and pretty good.
It's hard to write a review of a place that was good, that you'd probably go back to, but, in the end, have almost nothing to say about.
3 for me!
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I came here for lunch with a few co-workers and upon walking into the dining room I was struck with the feeling of emptiness. Not deep in my soul or some metaphysical thing - but the dining room was empty. It was 1PM on a Tuesday and there were maybe 3 tables full. I was kindof surprised that it was so empty - are times that tough where there are no more expense accounts running amok on the restaurants of NYC?
Other than being empty, the dining room was nice. High ceilings and exposed ducts gave it an edgier feel, but not like it was trying too hard.
The food was pretty typical for a Churrascaria although there were some notable exceptions that I have not had at other Churrascarias. One was the prime rib with cheese. They must have had one of those flavor injectors that you see in the Ron Popiel commercials because there was strips of cheese buried in the prime rib. The lamb was excellent too.
Also, we were a table of 5 and the sides they brought out might as well been for a table of 2. A small bowl of mash potatoes, some fried yuca, a fried banana and a small plate of french fries. I know you don't come here for the sides, but come on - would it kill you to give some more mashed potatoes?
The salad bar was a good but a bit light on the fresh vegetables or fresh mozzarella that you might expect.
I didn't pay for lunch so I'm not complaining ($36.00 for lunch) but I don't know if I'd come back on my own dime. Not because it wasn't good, it just wasn't great.
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Carnivores this place is your haven. Pay $50 and you get unlimited meat, but not just one meat but about 15 varieties that just keep coming as long as you want them to.
I have been here a dozen or so times, I have never had to wait (its very spacious). The staff is very very friendly and the food is excellent, if only a bit salty for my taste.
I would give it 5 stars except I this place forces me to over eat and I am always annoyed at myself.
Brazilian barbecue is something my stomach can handle only once every year or two. Partly because my cholesteral would be in quadruple digits otherwise, and partly because while I love meat, I don't love it plain and in such great quantities. I'm more of a meat-as-part-of-larger-entree kind of gal (though granted, there is a salad bar and side dishes brought out).
Still, it's novel to eat an entire parade of meat. I was there at around Christmas and ended up taking at least a bite or two out of pretty much everything that was on offer (even chicken hearts... yeah, I'll pass on those next time). Generally, I liked the stuff that was wrapped in bacon, because we all know everything tastes better with bacon.
The tab came out to $80/person (with drinks). I would have rather spent that much on some really good sushi or a tasting menu somewhere less... meaterrific. That's just me, though. Meatofiles will find this place heavenly.
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Come here on a very EMPTY stomache. The server came by literally every 5 mins with a diff piece of meat. Chicken, beef, lamb, ribs, steak, etc etc etc. I had a little bit of everything. The salad bar was absolutely delicious. I liked just about almost everything served. The best part: The Cabernet. I don't know what the server brought over to our table but it is one of the best bottles i've ever tried.
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I prefer Plataforma's and their 'salad bar' over this place.
Don't forget to turn your spigot upside down or else the food will never stop coming =) Nothing to write home about - place is decent. Vegans look elsewhere.
Must get: garlic sirloin
Brazilians love parties and Porcao throws a great meat party. If you're in for the parade, you can't go wrong here.
That said, what if you're not quite in the full-on parade mode? In this case, Porcao's bar is great. You can eat meat and fish dishes and drink some of their lovely caipirinhas. I suggest the mixto meat dish, cheese bread and caipirinhas for a nice mini-parade. This shouldn't break the stomach or the wallet.
My warning about going to the bar is go early or go late on weeknights because it's a popular after-work place. You won't get a comfortable space during primetime happy-hour.
The rating would actually be a yelping 3 1/2 stars. I recommend this place to noob steak lovers. It's a great place to try multiple cuts with out having to order 20 oz. of each. The works: boneless rib cut, sirloin, pork sirloin, turkey wrapped in bacon, flank, lamb, sausage, etc. My number 1 favorite was the garlic infused sirloin, right above the #2 lamb slices. Some meats will be hotter and right-off-the-grill than others, so take that into consideration.
The buffet-style sides and entres are decent but nothing to rave about. The most impressive of them was the risotto with bacon. However, their house Rioja wine was excellent and worth trying.
You have the option to order yuca frita (fried casava), plantains, and other sides. We went with the yuca which was served cold so we kindly asked for another batch and it was fine.
Dessert options are plentiful. Many from the regional Brazil or classics like chocolate and cheese cake. I recommend any of the Brazilian pastries, as they're made very well.
Over all, as always if you have great company in conjunction with these well-seasoned and grilled meats, and a wonderful/peaceful ambiance, you can't go wrong. A place worth exploring but I have no doubt in my mind that one could find better Brazilian gems in this city with a little less of the commercial-franchise touch.
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I must say that when it comes to authentic Brazilian Churrascaria, Porcao is the best that I have been to in the US. Comparing to Fogo de Chao in Beverly Hills I have to say that Porcao is better. Be ready to pay at least $60 per person.
I love the concept of the all-you-can-eat churrascaria, otherwise known as Brazilian barbeque with what is called a rodizio style of serving. And this place does it absolute justice. The food is mouth-wateringly sensational.
This is one of the only recent times that I've eaten beyond the point of being totally full. I just couldn't seem to flip that card from the green side to the red to indicate to the roaming number of waiters, with their knives and trays of deliciously skewered meat, that I was done. I tried just about everything that made its way to my table (minus anything pork or wrapped in bacon, since I don't eat pork for dietary reasons).
Some meat standouts include the top sirloin (or picantia), which is seasoned nicely with salt and garlic paste, the salmon with passion fruit, as well as the filet mignon, beef ribs (or costela), and lamb chops (and the grilled pineapple was the best). All the meats are slowly roasted and are superbly tender and juicy. Porcao also offers a buffet with an assortment of scrumptiously exotic meats and seafood, cheeses, vegetables, salads, and other culinary delights.
The ambiance of its interior is quite spacious, attractive and stylish. And you won't feel crowded even when it's super busy because all the dining tables are comfortably set apart from one another. In addition, the service is flawless and the servers are really friendly.
As difficult as it will be, try to save at least a little room in your tummy, because as soon as the dessert cart makes its way to your table, you'll be hard pressed to pass on the resplendent variety of sweets. Along with an espresso, I ate some kind of chocolate cake with alternating layers of chocolate cream, covered with dark chocolate flakes...and it was phenomenal.
This was a dazzling dining experience, and I can't wait to bring the love of my life the next time.
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I love Porcao for one thing only, and that's the PARADE OF MEAT! Servers will come around the table with steaks, fish, chicken, turkey and pork and let you indulge yourself as you please. My personal favorites are the garlicky sirloin, filet mignon wrapped in bacon, sausage, beef rib, and those tiny chicken drumsticks. I usually skip the salad bar (although its offerings are decent) as well as the dessert cart since I've had much better elsewhere.
One thing I noticed is that the servers will swarm you within the first half an hour while you're seated but will start to become sporadic (even with the card flipped to green), so it's best to keep an eye out for that mouth-watering lamb and signal them over.
I've been to Plataforma (another Brazilian rodizio place) and prefer Porcao over it. I find Porcao's meats are more flavorful and tender and its atmosphere more relaxed and less "touristy."
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Decor is too white, expansive, huge, open etc - which makes the place feel a little empty. But - what it lacks in atmospherical sexiness, it makes up for in the meat (which I think is better than plataforma). There's an extensive and impressive salad bar, which, again you don't want to fill yourself up on, don't be fooled!
I'm only going to say one thing about this place because I ate here about 6 months ago and still think about it and talk about it....
drumroll please.....
There was one cut of meat that had cheese dripping off of it. I call it cheesemeat. It was one of the best things I've ever put into my mouth. The end.
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I love me a brazillian bbq place, and this is one of the finer establishments I've been to. The concept is pretty simple - you come in, you hit the salad bar for some veggies, soup, sushi, and other good stuff that they tempt you with so that you don't eat too much meat (yeah right) and then you flip your coaster from the red side to green and dudes bombard you with stakes of meat that are succulent and tasty. You eat until you're blue in the face, guzzle down a bunch of wine, and then throw in the towel and deal with your stomach being pissed off at you for a good few hours. At this point, it's wise to go for a walk (perhaps to a bar?) to help digest some of your food.
I love a churrascaria that has sushi at the salad bar, and they did (although it wasn't great). Definitely a beautiful setting, they had wonderful looking desserts, and plenty of ambiance. Go with a large group (i don't get why people go on dates to all you can eat meat joints...i could barely walk after dining here, forget about getting it on with a chick), and enjoy the food, wine, and company. IT's well worth the price.
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Good. God. Don't even *try* to go out after eating here for dinner. Don't. Do. It. Why? Because trying to get drunk post-Porcao will just be an exercise in futility. Jager shot? Ha. Tequila shot? Your stomach will mock you. If you had about five pounds of meat, you'd know what I mean. P.S. don't even mess with the salad bar--that's just filler, negative space. But *do* try the mashed potatoes and cheesy bread to get your carb fix.
Quickly I heard the words: "Miss? Strip steak?" "Miss? Blue cheese and prime rib?" "Miss? Bacon-wrapped chicken?" It was hard to say no to all the dripping swords of meat. Sizzling. Sweaty. Succulent. The meat I mean, the meat! Cheeky monkey...
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YUM! Love meat and love Porcao
See full review here:
http://guestofaguest.c...
ruff!
What could be better than various servers bringing different chunks of meat to your table - I say nothing!!! The style of Porcao (and other churrascarias) is that you pay one price for all the meat and salad you want.
Here are the steps to properly enjoying this restaurant - 1) go to the salad bar, but DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT, overindulge here - you are not here for the salad (although this is one of the best salad bars around, with a wide choice of green, fruit and other salads and sides). 2) sit down and enjoy your appropriately-sized salad. 3) you notice a card with a piggy on it - green means "bring on the meat" and red means "I'm taking a break from this culinary assault."
So go for green, and various men with skewers of cuts of beef, pork, chicken and sausage arrive at your table. You have a pair of tongs to assist them as they cut the meat from their skewers. The meat is fantastic - well cooked, very flavorful, and as long as you have the green side up, as much as you want! My favorites - any of the beef cuts, the sausage, the chicken, and pork - wait, this is everything!!! I have found it all to be good!!!
Once you have enjoyed the meat, I now allow you to go back to the salad and repeat the steps above.
For an added price, you can order other side items, such as fried bananas - this is a favorite of mine.
Desserts are great too (I think this is separately priced too, but definitely great).
This restaurant in Manhattan is fairly new, and definitely meets up with the standards of the original restaurants in Brazil. I was very fortunate to have been to the Porcao's in Rio, so I know!
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Having seen an impressive photo on another web review & knowing it was a churrascaria, went there with a bunch of the guys for dinner. Though the space was HUGE (even a large private room), the photo did it more justice versus the sparse ceilings.
The trap of filling up on the salad could easily be avoided with the lackluster options at the salad bar & compressed looking sushi. Additional sides of french fries, onion rings, mashed potatoes, yucca fries (yum) & a banana (? - NOT a plantain - A BANANA) were provided per table.
The usual with skewers of meat options - standouts were the top sirloin & ribeye! There was also a cart wheeling around a rack of beef ribs (almost the size that tip over Fred Fintstone's car). The salmon was just ok.
Dinner is a flat $50.90 for meat eaters (vegetarians... why bother). Drinks & dessert are additional - hard sell on the desserts (who knew ALL Brazilian dessert's main ingredient is sweetened condensed milk?)
Service was completely attentive!
Personally - I'll stick with Churrascaria Plataforma.
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I could sit here and write a long 3 page review and tell you about every dish, drink, and highlight of my experience... but I wont. The experience at these Brazilian Steakhouses is always unique. First... you have to go in a group... family, friends whatever. You can go on a date... but unless you can extend the date to 4 hours... you will end up tooo full. Remember, you end up eating A LOT. So go and have a blast at this place. I cannot tell you prices... because the vendor we are working with paid... but its on the high side... but totally worth it. ... you still sitting there?? Go... make some calls... get your friends together at the W Hotel on 17th... and then walk over...
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a lunch date was held here.
don't pig on the salad bar coz you'll never get to finish the real thing...the steak.
needless to say, i pigged on salad bar and just could not handle even half of the steak. what a shame it was b/c it was good.
be ready to be filled.
high ceiling, open spaced, simple and orchid decorated.
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Agree with Angela... Porcao is my favorite restaurant in the city . Huge selection of high quality meats. Great sides and salad bar as well.
It's almost as good as its sister Rio de Janeiro locations. I'll tell you, brazilians got it right with the churrascaria style restaurants. Why go to an ordinary steakhouse for one huge cut of meat, when you can enjoy a variety of different meats at this restaurant (from top sirloin to skirt steak, ribeye, flank steak, etc... all delicious). I come here at least once a week and my only issue is knowing when to stop (zero self control).
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A great place if you LOVE meat! I loved the fact that they had a drink cart with a specialty drink they were offering when I went it was like a mojito. The buffet was not all that impressive which was a disappointment so I stuck to the ceasar salad and greenbeans. The mashed potatoes they brought to the table were good and the fried banana was interesting nonetheless... It was a great experience and fun to have a card with the red side (No Thanks) and the green side (Yes Please) with all the waiters coming around with all the different meats and cutting them right there for you! It was also enjoying to see people around you who didn't know what the tongs on the table were for and tried to grab the meat with their fingers or to stab it with a fork! Service was extremely attentive... everytime you looked like you were finished they came over and asked if you would like a clean plate and with that a clean knife and fork. At the end they also have a dessert cart! Let me just tell you I left there EXTREMELY full... I would definitely go back... Its a fun place to go with a group of friends
alittle pricey but the food and the service is really good. as soon as you enter you see the beautiful marble floor . al thought the dress code is not needed but people who came here to eat was dress up ( i call them club clothes lol). the food server was attentive but slow it like going to a really fancy restaurant . i like the little card that they give that says yes or no for the food . their meat was really good you get tried all sort of steak . The best part was their dessert come around in a cart so you can pick. i had cappuccino and some sort of choc late with mix with milk and ?? but my point is it taste like chocolate ,cream ,mike and vanilla all mix together of course at the end of the meal they would ask you so how was the meal ? you would answer it great ! but only to find out your share of meal was $90 expensive right ? yes for a Monday night meal ! was it worth it ? better than some steak house . oh by the way i forgot to tell you i didn't dress up .
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4.5 stars.
oh...my...god...
for a carnivore like me, this place was HEAVEN
waiter after waiter comes running up to you with skewers of meat: prime rib, skirt steak, filet mignon, rib-eye, (and you can choose from rare to well-done!) along with shish kebab, pork ribs, beef ribs, pork chop, lamb, salmon, chicken, etc etc
dinner also comes with sides of french fries, fried onion rings, fried bananas, fries yuca, fried this, fried that, and mashed potatoes
don't bother with the salad bar, but under the hot food entrees the duck was very tasty and tender
the chicken was a little dry, and the salmon nothing special
but for all-you-can-eat meat, this is the place to go!! (for about $50/person, that is)
now i want to try churrascaria plataforma....
very nice, large, spacious, restaurant...i treated a friend here for her bday dinner...but in the end i was really just treating myself
=)
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