Porcão
360 Park Avenue South (at 26th Street)

Brazilian churrascarias are always challenging on the belly and nerve, but on a good day (especially a cold one), it is exactly what the doctor ordered. On a cold Saturday evening, me and a good friend stumbled out of a Midtown bar looking for a good meal -- and I suggested Brazilian. We had once (again after some drinks) eaten in Midtown West's best churrascaria -- Plataforma -- and hoped Porcão would live up to that fine eatery. And goodness did it...

As dynamic and flashy as its West Side competitor, Porcão may actually be better. Away from the hoardes of tourists on the West Side, this East Side spectacle charges less and offers better food. The experience is more intense here, with stronger flavours. Perhaps the knife-wielding waiters are not as good at spanning the restaurant as in Plataforma, but the food still comes quick and good. The aroma is mesmerising...

I particularly enjoyed the sausages, the chicken hearts, and the various cuts of beef. The quality is not compromised by the portions at all. They were flavoured much more daringly than its West Side competitor, and you can really taste the meat. I feel there is a much more simple way of doing thing here than at Plataforma or at its competitive chain from Brazil, Fogo de Chão -- which is a good thing sometimes. The pace of the eating and quality of the meats make this a fine place for a big night out -- especially a nice cold night with an empty belly! I definitely felt like a "porker" here!

To add a proviso, with two carnivores on the table with an excellent bottle of wine, we chose to skip the salad bar...it supposed to be quite impressive, but we were on a quest for meat. So I can't comment on it! And having dined at many churrascarias alone, I know that it could look really odd, but it's fast and furious -- the best thing for a lone diner! What a great place!

Food: A-
Atmosphere: B+
For Lone Diners: A- (*)