Copacabana Brazilian Steakhouse

Photo credit: Sik Photography.

Imagine this: an army of servers parading around you with glistening skewers of meat in hand. Ready to serve you at a moment’s notice, they come bearing over 20 cuts of meat that have been perfectly cooked over a charcoal grill. Then add: beautiful samba dancers, well-balanced cocktails and a killer galleria of fresh salads and side dishes. Did I mention it’s all-you-can-eat? Yup, this paradise does exist. With two successful rodizios under their belts (one in Niagara Falls and the other near Yonge and Eg), the Rudan brothers have brought Copacabana to the heart of downtown Toronto. My photog and I had a chance to check it out and have been daydreaming of Brazil ever since. The new, ultramodern restaurant has elevated this steakhouse chain to a whole new level…

Photo credit: Sik Photography.

From the moment I stepped foot inside the restaurant, I fell in love with the decor. It’s evident that the design elements were carefully selected to create a modern, yet approachable ambiance. I really like the use of Brazilian images throughout the space – from the photographs that line the washroom corridors to the graffiti that wraps around the second-floor bar.

Photo credit: Sik Photography.

Photo credit: Sik Photography.

Photo credit: Sik Photography.

I’ll admit, I’m usually the first to cringe when I hear that a restaurant is all-you-can-eat. That’s because I really do value quality over quantity. But the Rudan brothers have somehow managed to master both worlds. The food we devoured during our review was top notch. I was ambitious and decided to taste everything. The standouts for me were the bacon-wrapped filet mignon, picanha, salmon and the Moroccan seasoned chicken. The sizzling meats were juicy, tender and, for the most part, well-seasoned (I found the rib-eye a bit too salty for my palate).

Photo credit: Sik Photography.

I was a little worried that my vegetarian photographer would be left out of the gluttonous feast. This was absolutely not the case: Copacabana has an awesome galleria of fresh salads (beet, quinoa, mango etc.), side dishes (sweet potato mash, rice and beans, roasted veggies etc.) and fresh breads for her to devour. The selection is tastefully laid out in small, homestyle dishes that were replenished often (no sad-looking buffet food here).

Photo credit: Sik Photography.

Photo credit: Sik Photography.

Photo credit: Sik Photography.

And, as if that wasn’t enough variety, we were also able to order from the ShiBui menu (the Japanese robata restaurant on the lowest floor). Chef Masaki Nakayam made us some delicious sushi, spicy edamame and a few robata dishes. I’m a huge fan of anything cooked over charcoal so I’ll definitely be heading to ShiBui for robata in the coming months.

Photo credit: Sik Photography.

Photo credit: Sik Photography.

Photo credit: Sik Photography.

At this point in our meal, my photog and I both entered the food coma state. And just as we were about to wave our white flags to surrender, I spotted a skewer of grilled pineapple circulating around the room. I have a mild obsession with the fruit so there was no way I was leaving without having some! Good thing I did, because it was unbelievable: warm, juicy, and beautifully caramelized. I would go back just for the pineapple alone.

Photo credit: Sik Photography.

The great thing about Copacabana is that they also have live entertainment on the weekends! Don’t expect a lengthy show, the performances are just long enough to give you a taste of Brazil. The samba dancers were absolutely stunning!

Photo credit: Sik Photography.

Photo credit: Sik Photography.

The food quality, beautiful decor, friendly service and lively entertainment make Copacabana a great new addition to the downtown restaurant scene. The experience stirred our wanderlust and made us want to hop on a plane to Rio!

A few tips and recos before you go…

• The restaurant is perfect for group functions (from family dinners to bachelorette parties).
• Given the quality of the meats and the entertainment, you’re getting great value: it’s $37.99/person Sun-Thurs and $42.99/person on Fridays and Saturdays.
• It’s not all-you-can-eat forever: the seatings are approximately two hours long.
• The servers visit a few tables at a time to ensure the meat is served at the right temperature (so don’t worry if they pass you: they will be back).
• Check out the washrooms on the top floor and at ShiBui – they’re lined with gorgeous photographs (some more risqué than others).
• The cocktails at Copacabana are incredible. In fact, they alone could justify a visit to the resto. We loved the Blue Abacaxi (tequila, lime, cinnamon salt and of course: pineapple) and the Caipirinha (cachaça, lime and sugar).

Special thanks to Copacabana for hosting us. As always, all reviews and opinions are entirely my own.