Like the sinisterly tempting candy house in the midst of a vast forest, Rio Brazilian Restaurant emits tempting wafts to anyone who bothers to traipse down to Jalan Penjara area. Located at Queenstown Club, where you can spot more trees than people, Rio Brazilian is a very new but determined kid on the dining scene – offering diners a sensational dining experience through their alternative cuisine and surroundings.

• The Vibe
  Camouflaged amidst an aging Queenstown Club and unruly greenery, Rio Brazilian, nonetheless manages to outdo its surroundings in creating a chic interior set in a lush garden landscape, complete with tikka lamps and tranquil ponds. Al fresco seats are available for those seeking a romantic affair. Otherwise, get a feel of post-modernism with its grey walls, glass windows and pop art paintings inside the restaurant itself.

• The Food
  Rio Brazilian may have a salad bar, with plenty of vegetables like sweet beetroot, crisp lettuce and juicy tomatoes, but their highlight lies in the wide spread of meat available. Priced at $15.90+++ at lunchtime and $32.00+++ at dinnertime, you can tuck into all the meat (and vegetables) you want in Rio Brazilian.

  Be dazzled by their selection of 12 meats, ranging from beef to lamb, to pork, to chicken, to even fish and prawns. You will be even more delighted to know that you can feast on all the roasts and grills without stepping out of your seat because the chefs at Rio Brazilian do it the rodizio style – barbeque is served to diners with knives and large churrasco skewers.

  The dory fish fillet ranks first in taste with its slightly charred exterior and white, flaky flesh. The fish is easily consumed with your cutlery, making it a fuss-free favourite. This is also one of the rare dishes, in restaurants everywhere, which taste as good when it is cold. The prawns, however, score less, as they are difficult to shell. If you are quite the master at wielding your fork and knife, then go ahead and savour the flavourful prawns, which retain full juices as they are grilled to perfection.

  Red meats come in a grand line-up with hearty portions of beef hump, beef rump steak, leg of lamb, et cetera. Avoid the leg of lamb at all costs if you find the neighbourhood soup kambing intolerable. The mutton odour survives the roast and grill unfortunately, so it is safer to stick with the beef, albeit it being the tougher choice of meat. Indulge in plenty of delicious chicken drumsticks and pork sausages; both items literally slide off the chefs' skewers at an alarming rate, so grab whatever you can! The chicken drumsticks are beautifully tender and another relatively fuss-free choice. Pork sausages, on the other hand, are firm and meaty to the point of bursting with tasty juices as you chew energetically.

  The star of Rio's grilled items is surprisingly neither meat nor seafood. Featuring a toasty cinnamon glaze, the grilled pineapples here offer a pleasant deviation from the usual savoury roasts with a combination of tangy fruit and sweet, aromatic cinnamon. This is ideal as a half-time palate cleanser for those who intend to embark on second, or even third, rounds of the meat feast.

• The Service
  Co-owners, Michelle and Sarah, may appear at the restaurant occasionally to infect diners with their warmth and friendliness. Even if you do not catch them around, the kitchen staff will wow you with their eminent courtesy and efficiency as they carve out generous portions of meat, prawns or fish for you off their giant skewers.

SD Food Advisor's Take on Rio Brazilian Restaurant
Rio Brazilian is not exactly the most accessible restaurant around. For the clueless, it is minutes away from the Queenstown Prison but really, what is to deter a hungry man from going after his meat? Secluded or not, Rio Brazilian is a good place to visit for its exotic cuisine, lovely ambience and reasonable prices. Be forewarned – it is the dieter's greatest enemy, ever.