[...]Local Food Review: Espeto na Brasa | AltDaily : Creating and celebrating local culture in Norfolk and all of Hampton Roads.[...]…

My best friend was visiting from out of town with her husband and son. We talked about this restaurant and decided to go on Saturday January 15th. First, I would like to point out that I am a vegetarian. I am well aware that this restaurant is mainly for meat eaters, but I really wanted my husband to try this place out and enjoy it. Even though I am a vegetarian, I have still been to other restaurants and had a good selection of food to choose from.

When you first walk into the restaurant, it is dark. The waiter is nice, but slow. The other servers providing the different types of meat were very friendly. The kids high chair…well, my son couldn’t even get in it. I couldn’t even put the high chair cover over it to make my son comfortable. The wine list is great and it was the only thing that this restaurant has done right. My husband and I had one glass of wine and our server filled each of our glasses to the rim. For me, the food was horrible. The buffet or salad bar was boring. I was interested in nothing on the bar. I was forced to eat hard rice, black beans, salty mashed potatoes, and a dry salmon that tasted fishy. My husband liked the fact that he had all the meat he could eat, but he did not like the buffet either. As for desert, well if you love cheesecake, then they have a large selection for you to choose from and maybe one or two different types of cake. My husband had a chocolate cheesecake and I had a caramel cheesecake. My husband said that the cheesecake he gets from Sam’s club is better. Sad, but he is right.

Now, it is time for you to tell you about my bill. With gratuity included, my bill was $134.04. Yes, I will say it again. It was $134.04. For what? For the most regrettable experience ever? I hated my meal! My husband said that his food was OK. And no, I did not have anything to take home. Now, I have spent well over $300 for two people, but I walked away thinking that I had one of the best meals ever. Espeto Ne Brasa did not give me that type of experience.

I have an uncle that is an Italian Pastry chef that worked in New York City for over 20 years. New York is the mecca of fine dining. I know what it is like to eat the best food that you have ever tasted in your life. Unfortunately, Virginia doesn’t have one restaurant that could compare to even a corner restaurant in NY. Yet, there are some restaurants that do have good food, and Espeto Na Brasa is not one of them. Now, if you want to go to a buffet. Go to Captain Georges. You will spend about $30 per person. If you want to eat at a restaurant that serves good food, I would suggest for you to go to Aldo’s Ristorante in Virginia Beach, VA or Ruth’s Chris in Virginia Beach, VA. You will spend over $130, but you will walk away very pleased.

Now please read what the OWNER answered me:

You obviously have way too much time in your hands to go to the lenghts you just did to malign our restaurant. A discreet email to the owners would have sufficed. Inveja mata. Get a life, “Officer”.
Sincerely,
Alex De Paula
Owner
Espeto Na Brasa
THE OFFICER WHICH HE REFERS PEJORATIVELY TO IS A VETERAN FROM THE US NAVY. THAT’S THE RESPECT WITH WE ARE TREATED IN THAT PLACE!!

#1) order the caipirinha, several if you dare;
#2) go with an open mind; this is not Outback… relish in the unfamiliar;
#3) make friends with the hot and cold bar… great accompaniments to all that meat; and
#4) engage with the servers to fully appreciate the experience AND make certain you get what you want.

We had a group of 20 for dinner, and one of our guests wanted to try chicken hearts (not the usual fare)… bingo, they arrived in no time, especial! ola!