Rodizio Rico - Islington

Rodizio Rico, London's authentic Brazilian 'churrascaria de rodizio', has opened on Upper Street in Islington. Churrascaria (pronounced shoe-hoss-korea) translates as barbecue in Portuguese while rodizio means rotating, referring to the restaurant's unique style of service where carvers pass from table to table, slicing sizzling roasted meats from skewers onto your plate.

Rodizio Rico (as with their sister restaurant in Westbourne Grove) is completely true to the 'churrascaria de rodizio' concept found today in restaurants all over Brazil. Churrascaria is a cooking tradition, which originated in the southern grazing lands of Brazil where gauchos (cowboys) cooked meats on skewers over a giant barbecue of flaming coals, set into the ground.

As in Brazil, the concept is simple. There's no formal menu as such, instead the price is fixed allowing diners to eat as much as they'd like. The menu centres on the wide range of grilled meats continuously rotated and flavoured with sea salt, skewered and then anchored over the charcoal fire.

Grilled seafood including sardines, king prawns and squid as well as grilled vegetables is also available, but Rodizio Rico really is a carnivore's delight. Add to this, diners can also help themselves to the vast array of traditional Brazilian hot dishes and exotic salads available on the buffet, all freshly made on the premises to time-honoured recipes.

Lovers of Brazil's signature dishes will enjoy buffet choices such as Feijoada - pork and black bean stew; farofa - crunchy ground cassava meal; pao de queijo - a cheese bread made from tapioca flour with a wonderfully gooey texture; potato, pasta and rice in a variety of forms including potato salad (called mayonese in Brazil); fresh green salad leaves; roasted vegetables and a mind boggling selection of chillies to name but a few.

The process is straightforward, diners can start with a Brazilian beer or potent caipirinha and once you've filled your plate with delights from the buffet, waiters will come to your table with a freshly grilled skewer, carving of slices of meat on demand. The selection of meat is extensive and includes pork, chicken thighs, chicken wings, leg of lamb and beef in a variety of cuts from silverside to picanha, the heart of the rump, as well as authentic specialities such as chicken hearts. No appetite is too large for Rodizio Rico as waiters will continue to serve you until you've tried and tasted as much as you can eat.

Everything is expertly grilled to keep it succulent and full of flavour. If you have a preference for how your meat is cooked, just let one of their passadors know and they will offer you cuts from either the outside of the skewer so it's well done, or from the centre if you prefer your meat rare.

Desserts may look a little old fashioned, but they are made to traditional recipes and are very much what you might find if you wandered into a churrascaria in Southern Brazil. Choices vary and include a variety of mousses and ice creams.

Excellent value for money and impossible to go away hungry, Rodizio Rico's tasty fare is available at only £18 per person for as much as you like of whatever you like, £23.90 for seafood with barbecued meats and £11.90 per person for vegetarians.

The drinks list at Rodizio Rico is substantial and well thought out, offering over 40 wines and champagnes to suit a variety of different tastes as well as traditional Brazilian cocktails and soft drinks, including the very sweet guarana. The house red and white wine is £11.90 with the majority of the other choices in the reasonably priced £18 - £23 price range.

So, for a truly unique Brazilian atmosphere that's fun and affordable, head straight to North London for a truly sizzling evening - all you need to take with you is a hearty appetite!