Porcao

A group of 4 of us went here for a Valentine's dinner. Seeing as we hadn't made reservations, we were fully prepared for somewhat of a wait. Upon arrival the maitre'd assured us that we would be seated once our entire party had arrived. We grabbed a drink at the bar (bartender was extremely friendly but a bit slow), and true to her word, once our fourth showed we were promptly seated. The unlimited salad bar was quite extensive including a vast array of seafood. The initial waiter was also very friendly and immediately took out drink orders. Of course the food never stopped...plenty of meat to be had. I did find many of the cuts fatty which ruined the taste a bit, but other than that I don't really have any complaints on that front. The dessert was mediocre - we all ordered something different and sampled. The chocolate cake and truffles were a bit lacking in taste. We did have a bit of a difficult time acquiring our check as we weren't sure who to ask, but we grabbed a guy in a tux and earpiece and he found it for us quickly. The music was a little too loud for a romantic dinner, but without reservations on vday - who can be picky?

Pros: Friendly wait-staff, wine, salad bar
Cons: loud music, cuts of meat

So a friend and I go to this place and we were just ripe for a good time...food and drinks. Well I realize that this is "supposed" to be a Brazilian place but the pace nearly put us to sleep. We sat for easily ten minutes before anybody came to over us. Mind you the place was basically empty....and there were plenty of "managers" and other waitstaff walking around. My friend ordered a strawberry capirinia and I got the passionfruit version. The drinks were simply superb. We sat in the lounge area behind the bar so I cannot speak for the actual "restaurant" area...we get 3 appetizers....sushi, fried mini patties and a sizzle plate with sausage, steak.....the food was ok....not overl expensive I thought. Sadly we finished our drinks halfway tru our meal.....mind you it was so good I could have stayed there all night drinking it. Eventually we finished our meal and our empty plates sat there for waht seemed an eternity. A busser removed our plates walked away.....and literally 30 minutes went....For sheer spite I refused to call anyone over. My friend actaully went up to get someone. By that time I was so frustrated I didnt even want a drink. My friend had one.....finished it and again we sat there wondering where our check was.......amazingly when we did get it the guy stood over us waiting for it....priorities, I say. I work in sales...and these fools turned what could have easliy been a $300 bill into a $70 one and we ended up going elsewhere to spend our money where people actually want us to spend it......Did I forget to mention we were the only table in the lounge area......Never Again.....Great drinks thats it.

Pros: drinks
Cons: everything else

My husband and I stake out the best churrascarias wherever we go. When we moved to New York 3 years ago, it was right around our anniversary, and what better way to celebrate than by going out for some perfect, succulent meat? We scoured the web, and concluded that Churrascaria Plataforma was our best bet. Were we ever WRONG! It is absolutely (I was so stunned by the poor quality, that I have tried both locations just to be sure) the worst rodizio I have had in the US. I wanted to ask for our money back. We decided to avoid the churrascaria scene like the plague after that, but one night, driving down Park Ave, I saw a sign advertising an opening for Porcao. I could barely contain myself, because I knew it was an authentic Brazilian chain that I had frequented when I lived in Salvador, and this characteristic I have found to be the most accurate predictor of good quality (like Fogo de Chao). We were not disappointed, and we go back whenever we have an opportunity to celebrate. We never wait for a table, which concerns me, actually. My husband and I are terrified this place doesn't get enough traffic, for whatever reason. Are people still going to Plataforma?? Yeesh.

This is my first review, and I became a member just to write it. I would be devastated if this place closed, so I decided to get my voice out there and hope people would discover this same precious gem! It's not the best churrascaria I've ever had (I'm still a Fogo devotee), but it is by far the BEST in New York City. The meat is excellent, and includes some unique preparations (be sure to try the beef injected with parmesan pellets!). Try it!

Pros: Great beef, good non-alcoholic drinks, decent desserts, good place to impress carnivorous guests, good pao de queijo!
Cons: Parking can be tough, salad bar can be a tad weak (but who comes for that distraction?)

05/23/2007 Posted by greg_b

A great bit of restaurant-meets-theater, Porco (New York) served low-quality Brazilian 'fusion' cuisine that resembled more an average-quality MId-western salad bar than a fine Midtown Manhattan restaurant. Indeed, with friendly service and an attractive young Brazilian lady wheeling around a caipirinha cart, the food did not live up to the presentation. In fact, the meat (seemingly the centerpiece of Porco's menu) was of such a low/cheap quality that I was taken aback at first -- it was the kind of taste that you get from the cheap, budget selection of meats at a local discount supermarket. The pork sausages were slightly better, but all of the other meats, frankly, sucked. With handsome young waiters, charging around with swords (that's right, I said swords) skewering chunks of lamb, pork, sausage, filet mignon, etc, and slicing off juicy servings--the meat should have tasted as mouth-watering as it all looked, but...it fell short--way short. Nice touch: live pianist playing Brazilian classics added wonderfully to the ambience--restauranteurs, keep live music alive! Spice up your place with live piano, guitar, or jazz trio/quartet. It's worth the extra expenditure.

Pros: Great ambience, live music (piano), friendly service.

Cons: Cheap meats with bad aftertaste, mediocre salad bar (looked great, but...wilted salads, strange combinations, cheap produce, not Brazilian!)

Recently took a friend here for his birthday with a group of friends. The food at Porcao was fresh & delicious. They start you with a salad bar - not the greatest variety but still plenty to choose from considering that the best is still to come. A few small appetizers are then brought to the table before the real meal begins, or as I like to call it "the meat parade". Servers continually come to the table offering you samples of a variety of meats. Sausage, steak, prime rib, pork loin & many other choices come around again & again until you say "no mas". Everything was hot & fresh, but a few choices could have been cooked better, namely the skirt steak which was a tad rubbery. I have had better rodizzio experiences, and this was quite an expensive dinner, but still a very good meal that everybody should try once.

Pros: the meat just keeps on coming
Cons: some choices could use better cooking