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Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Churrasco, Coogee


Stop and Go coasters

It's the coasters that excite me most.

For a while now, I've been meaning to get to Churrasco--not just for the promise of all-you-can-eat meat; not because the meat is served to you on swords that are brought to your table; but primarily because you can control the arrival of food to your table by flipping your personal coaster to Red (stop, I'm full) or Green (keep it coming!). Yes, I admit it. I am easily amused.

As we head to the restuarant on the main strip of Coogee, we can smell the charcoal from a block away. The place is packed on a Saturday night, filled with mostly young males and, we notice wryly, a good sprinkling of Asian clientele - we always love a good meal deal! It's rather noisy and clangy inside - conversation is restricted to the person next to you, and whilst it's not too much of a problem whilst you're eating, it can be difficult to hear what the servers are saying when they announce each dish.


Potato salad and rice

Each table is set with a trio of potato salad, rice and black beans, although for the most part, people are here for the meat. Dinner is a flat $35 for all-you-can-eat meat, with salads costing an additional $10.50 each. We order a jug of sangria for the table from the extensive drinks menu, although caipirinhas and mojitos (both $15 each) seem the more popular option.


Black beans


Chorizo and pork sausages

And then the meat fest begins. There's an element of ceremony as each server comes around to your table, brandishing a sword-like skewer of meat which is offered to you for your approval. We nod obediently at every arrival for the first twenty minutes, our plates on the receiving end of one or two pieces of meat.


Rump and scotch fillet

There's a wide range of meats available, from eye fillet to sirloin to rump cap and scotch fillet. The scotch fillet is my favourite of the evening, tender and juicy. We also find lamb, chicken wings, chorizo, pork sausages and ribs. The meats are seasoned with salt only, and we're grateful for the sauces on our table, a light vinaigrette and a chimichurri sauce that is sweet and spicy.


Chicken hearts and chorizo

Chicken hearts are a surprise arrival, and to our delight we find that because they're less popular we score a second serve of them on their way back to the kitchen. The chicken hearts have a slightly bouncy texture, but they're a delicacy we savour.


Chorizo and chicken hearts


Cheese bread

Cheese bread, or Pao de Queijo, is a welcome surprise. This is a traditional bread made with tapioca flour, eggs and cheese. The result is a choux-pastry like texture with the subtle taste of cheese.


BBQ baby mozzarella balls

Barbecued bocconcini or baby mozzarella is another dish that helps break up the monotony of meat. I'm also impressed when trays of marinated bbq zucchini and mushroom arrive. Vegetables! The vitamin-rich pleasure!


The mainly male clientele dig in


Sangria

We gorge ourselves on meat for about an hour. Occasionally we find ourselves waiting with plates empty, and hearing the waitstaff can be a bit of a struggle, but for the most part, the food flows freely.

Dessert is bbq pineapple, fresh sweet pineapple chunks sprinkled liberally with cinnamon and then heated over charcoal until smoky.


Charcoal bbq

As we exit the restaurant, I finally notice the rotisserie of skewers, slowly rotating over a bed of charcoal. It's a mesmerising sight, and one I'd happily sit down to watch.

Our coasters are flipped to stop but it's time for us to go.


FREEBIE FRIDAY UPDATE:
The entry cut-off day to win one of five double passes to see Bright Star has been extended to Friday 18/12/09 5.30pm.




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Churrasco on Urbanspoon


Churrasco
240 Coogee Bay Rd, Coogee, Sydney
Tel: +61 (02) 9665 6535
Opening hours:
Lunch on Sundays from 12pm
Dinner Monday to Sunday from 6pm

$35 per person includes:
sausages
eye fillet
sirloin
lamb
ribs
rump cap
scotch fillet
chicken
pork
potatoes
bbq cheese
bbq pineapple
cheese bread
farofa
rice
beans
vinaigrette
chimichurri

Related Grab Your Fork posts:
All You Can Eat - Flavour of Brazil
All You Can Eat - Kaizen BBQ
All You Can Eat - Nagoya Japanese BBQ
All You Can Eat - Nick's Bondi
All You Can Eat - Suminoya

Brazilian - Flavour of Brazil
Peruvian - La Parrillada
15 comments - Add some comment love

posted by Helen (Grab Your Fork) on 12/16/2009 02:40:00 am


15 Comments:

  • At 12/16/2009 5:10 am, Blogger joey@forkingaroundsydney said…

    I love this place, but so much meat! Everything is cooked so nicely. Yum.

     
  • At 12/16/2009 8:40 am, Blogger Stephcookie said…

    Ahh so awesome! I love the coasters, it's a very cute & convenient idea. So much food (so much meeeeaaat) for so little money!

     
  • At 12/16/2009 9:44 am, Blogger Peter G | Souvlaki For The Soul said…

    I've been to a number of the Brazilian BBQ places in Sydney. This one was good but a tad too noisy! Great write up Helen!

     
  • At 12/16/2009 12:03 pm, Blogger Rita (mademoiselle délicieuse) said…

    Haha, not rotisserie TV this time? =p

     
  • At 12/16/2009 12:40 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    You should definitely try Brazza on Norton St, Leichardt!
    A.V

     
  • At 12/16/2009 12:46 pm, Blogger Eyes Bigger Than Belly said…

    Oh wow - I'm in Sydney next week... will definately be calling in here!! :)

     
  • At 12/16/2009 2:09 pm, Blogger YW said…

    pretty good stuff for all you can eat at $35!! :)

     
  • At 12/16/2009 3:14 pm, Anonymous Lobo said…

    Oh wow so jealous you got to try the chicken hearts! Been looking for those since I tried them in Peru 3 years ago, but they weren't serving them when I went to Churrasco on a Sunday for lunch. Will have to call ahead next time..

     
  • At 12/16/2009 9:22 pm, Anonymous Trissa said…

    You know my husband has been forcing me to make some pao de quiejo ever since I started blogging... I haven't been inspired until I read your post! Oh and yes, I love the coaster idea too!

     
  • At 12/17/2009 12:52 am, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    OMFGGG I have to come here hee hee for the coasters and the food! And sif you need salad :P hee hee and oohhh I want the baby mozza!

     
  • At 12/17/2009 2:20 am, Blogger Helen (Grab Your Fork) said…

    Hi Joey - Yes meat is good, although sometimes moderation is good :) We were surprised by how tender most of the meat was.

    Hi Stephcookie - It's a good value feed although one that needs to be properly prepared for. lol. The coasters were much fun although to be honest, most of the waitstaff ask you anyway even if you have the coaster on red :)

    Hi Peter G - Ahh yes I do loev a good Brazilian BBQ. It's great to see that there are more and more bbq places popping up and thanks, you are too kind :)

    Hi mademoiselle delicieuse - lol. Would love rotisserie tv! Except I think it would make me constantly hungry!

    Hi AV - Yet to get to Braza but thanks for the tip :)

    Hi Joy - Would strongly recommend you make a booking to avoid disappointment. Have fun!

    Hi YW - I expect most people splash out on drinks but otherwise yes, $35 is great value for money, especially with the variety on offer.

    Hi Lobo - We were constantly on the lookout for the chicken hearts. Hope they're on the menu on your next visit :)

    Hi Trissa - lol. I didn't realise that pao de quiejo were wheat free - I'm quite intrigued to make them now. And yes, I think the coaster has so much appeal - like a traffic cop for your stomach. lol.

    ps. Hope your husband enjoys his pao de quiejo :)

    Hi FFichiban - Salad helps the meat go down. lol. I can just imagine the value you'd get out of this meal!

     
  • At 12/17/2009 9:02 am, Blogger AY said…

    Oh I went to the Williams St one the other night. I love the selections of meat but I'd have to say I would have loved to be able to special order some things - especially when you appreciate some meats over others or you just wanted pineapple! I was soooo full afterwards haha - have you tried the Brazilian meat buffet one in Leichardt? I heard it's better!

     
  • At 12/17/2009 10:49 am, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    This is a meat feast! Glorious meat :)

     
  • At 12/17/2009 11:57 am, Anonymous Gourmantic said…

    I've eaten there a few times with friends and after an hour of meat feast it's time to call it quits. Flipping the coasters to red didn't stop them for offering us more food!

    Great place to eat and run (if you can!) because you can't have a conversation in that place. Love their cocktails!

     
  • At 12/17/2009 3:52 pm, Anonymous Arwen from Hoglet K said…

    It sounds like an entertaining place to eat, and I like the look of the cheese bread. It's nice and unusual.

     

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