Rio Brazilian Steakhouse — Restaurant in Newcastle upon Tyne

Trigger warning: fat phobia, ED

After having many positive dining experiences at the jesmond branch we thought to give the quayside location a go after hearing some good things. Unfortunately, that was a poor decision.

The evening started off well with our waitress being lovely and welcoming. We listened to her instructions and then got our salad plates. Then, the meat started coming out and everything was going well. We had tried a selection of the meats at this point, and our flags were still on green as we were happy to continue eating. On this occasion the chef came out and we accepted the food, only this time he lingered at the table and told us that we should turn our flags to red and slow down. We were a bit confused as our plates were not full and we had only been eating barely 10 minutes. I initially thought he was joking and responded with ‘don’t worry we can handle it’ with a laugh, but he just looked me dead in the eyes and walked off. We laughed off the awkwardness so a not to sour the mood, but we found that the following times he came to our table, the serving sizes he offered were substantially smaller. At this point, we realised that his comment may have ran a bit deeper, and perhaps had a note of malice behind them. We started feeling quite uncomfortable, and I had to stop eating as I was becoming triggered by his actions. Due to past trauma, I have a difficult relationship with food, however this has improved vastly and I now enjoy going out to eat often. This experience has set me back and now I am so hesitant to go out and dine again for fear of being food shamed and judged for purely enjoying the food I am being served. The environment that was created was not welcoming, and the staff felt it acceptable to offer unsolicited advice to the amount we were eating, inadvertently calling us fat to our face. I do not understand why he felt comfortable enough to make comments like these to two young women who were strangers to him. Especially considering that he did not comment on another table of men who were eating way more than us.

We politely brought this up to the manager, wanting to provide feedback to ensure that this does not happen to anyone else in the future. We did not want to single the staff member out, as requested by the manager, we purely wanted to provide this feedback for all staff members and go on enjoying our meal. At first the manager was understanding and appeared to be listening, saying it was ‘unacceptable’. But it became increasingly clear that after he ‘went to the back to speak with him,’ he just wanted to brush off this issue without further action. Instead of continuing the discussion or offering a resolution, he tried to move the conversation on by asking us to purchase more drinks. It is understandable if he could not sympathise with our situation, but it would have made for a better dining experience if he had attempted to empathise and engage with us a bit more.

We asked for a means of contact for the company to provide feedback on what happened, but he refused this and acted coldly towards us the rest of the evening, even going as far as throwing our receipts at us rather than handing them to us. I felt so intimidated by his actions that I did not feel comfortable enough to even try and meet any of the staffs’ eyes.

It is also worth noting that I was overcharged on my payment, and the amount I asked to be put on my card was not the amount he put through. It appears as though he decided to add his own tip to my final amount (which already incorporated the service charge fee they add on)? I have contacted the business about this issue and am waiting to hear back, hopefully there is an innocent reason behind this and was not done in retaliation or with malicious intent.

If you do have a history of eating disorders, or are triggered by this, I would advise to avoid this location...

One word: Phenomenal! This dining experience was an unexpected delight, springing upon me just an hour before our visit. A quick scan of their website had me a bit apprehensive—I’m a well-done steak aficionado, not a fan of meat that’s still mooing. However, my worries were soon laid to rest.

The staff? Absolutely top-notch—attentive, professional, and bursting with positivity. When asked about my steak preference, I decided to take a leap and opted for medium rare. And what a leap it was! Our glasses were perpetually filled, naturally with a fine bottle of red to complement the steak.

The adventure begins at the salad bar, a veritable cornucopia of delights: salmon, pickled ginger, pork scratchings (yes, really), potatoes, pasta, sushi—you name it, they had it. I made the rookie mistake of overloading my plate, but who could resist?

Back at the table, the fun truly begins. A simple flip of a beer mat from red to green signals your readiness for meat, and then it’s a carnivore’s dream. The steak parade commences: filet mignon, rump, rib eye, Brazilian steak—the hits just keep on coming. I was constantly flipping my mat, red to green, green to red, in a blissful meat-induced trance.

At one point, a staff member kindly inquired if we were driving. Our 'no' was met with a cheeky, “Well, let’s get that glass topped up a little more.” Boom. Exceptional service, stunning views across the Tyne, and a meat feast that still has me drooling at the memory.

If you haven’t been yet, mark your calendar—you will not be disappointed. I, for one, will definitely be returning, and I wholeheartedly recommend this place to all meat lovers. Vegetarians, this one’s not for you. Kudos to the incredible staff and the fabulous food. Keep up the great work, and thank you for an...

As a Brazilian, my visit to Rio Brazilian Steakhouse in Newcastle left me with a generally positive impression. The restaurant successfully captures the essence of Brazilian churrascarias, offering a delightful experience reminiscent of the traditional Brazilian steakhouse ambiance.

The highlight of Rio Brazilian Steakhouse is, undoubtedly, the rodizio-style service. The variety and quality of meats served tableside were exceptional. The cuts were well-cooked, flavorful, and authentically Brazilian. The skilled passadores (meat servers) contributed to the authenticity of the experience, providing attentive and friendly service.

The salad and side dishes at the buffet were plentiful, adding a nice touch to the meal. However, I must note that, as a personal preference, I found the food at the buffet to be slightly saltier than I would typically enjoy. This, however, did not significantly detract from the overall positive experience.

The ambiance of the restaurant is inviting, with a lively atmosphere and tasteful decor that complements the Brazilian theme. The staff, including the servers and management, demonstrated a commitment to customer satisfaction.

In summary, Rio Brazilian Steakhouse - Quayside successfully delivers an authentic Brazilian churrascaria experience in Newcastle. While the buffet's seasoning may lean towards the saltier side, the outstanding rodizio service and overall ambiance make this restaurant a notable choice for those seeking a taste of Brazil in the heart of Newcastle. I would happily recommend it, and my overall...