Brazilian food, family and culture find a home in Chattanooga's burgeoning downtown
The moment you walk through the doors of Rodizio Grill, you feel as if you’ve stepped into another country. Brazil, to be exact. Which is exactly what the owners had in mind when they decided to open the first authentic Brazilian steakhouse in downtown Chattanooga.
For those that haven’t had the good fortune to experience Brazilian dining before, it’s far more than just great food (of which they have plenty). In Brazilian culture, meals are as much about sociability as they are about eating. You’ll feel like you’ve been invited to eat with a big happy family.
And the centerpiece of the Rodizio Grill experience is the steak. Served Brazilian style on skewers brought directly to your table, the choice cuts are grilled over an authentic imported Brazilian grill. And if steak isn’t your thing, don’t worry: they have a wide variety of tasty entrees to entice your taste buds, including delicious ham, pork loin, fish, and chicken.
They even have lots of vegetarian choices, including one of the best salad bars in the city, which features both build-your-own fresh vegetables and toppings as well as a wide variety of prepared salads. There’s also a hot bar with local and South American dishes.
Of course, a great meal also needs something great to drink. And Rodizio Grill’s selection of South American and Argentinean wines is second to none. Or if you’re just in the mood for a nice drink or handmade cocktail, they have one of the best bars in the city, with imported spirits from South America that are hard to find anywhere else.
General Manager Jon Riede explains that the goal of Rodizio Grill is to celebrate the joy of Brazilian food and hospitality and to make you feel like you were part of the family. “We are all about family,” he says. And it really doesn’t matter how large or small your family is; they can accommodate almost any size group in their open-area dining room (with a great view of the open kitchen).
In fact, one of the best aspects of how Rodizio Grill is laid out is that it is perfect for both intimate anniversary dinners or a memorable first date all the way up to big birthday parties or office holiday celebrations.
But what about the price? “Rodizio Grill offers high-end dining without high-end prices,” Riede explains. “We are all about family, and being able to bring your entire family to dinner should be affordable. In fact, we have special prices for kids to make family dining very affordable. We like to think of ourselves as an upscale family restaurant.”
If you’ve ever wanted to travel of South America, don’t worry about getting a passport. Just head downtown to the corner of Broad and 5th Streets and visit Brazil without leaving Tennessee.
And remember, at Rodizio Grill, it’s more than a meal: it’s a celebration.