Birthdays in my family are somewhat of a big thing… well, sort of. Almost all birthdays are spent at our favorite rib place, Tony Roma’s. Regardless of the many other fine dining establishments that we could choose from, it’s always Tony Roma’s – a standing tradition. After my brother and I moved to the mainland, we still continued the tradition… my parents would celebrate at the Tony Roma’s in Hawaii and my brother and sister-in-law at a rib place in Arizona (since the closest Tony Roma’s is 45 minutes away from their home) and I would celebrate here in Las Vegas with some friends. So it’s almost like we’re all celebrating together – yeah, corny, I know, but that’s how we roll.

Yesterday was no different… well, sort of. My parents had other plans, so they’ll make it out to Tony Roma’s sometime this week. My brother and sister-in-law were invited to a barbeque at a friends house in Arizona, and they had ribs there.

And I celebrated my birthday as I always love to do… with my bestest-friends-in-the-whole-wide-world-universe-and-galaxy-EVER.

But we decided to switch it up a bit this year. Instead of the usual Tony Roma’s, we went to Samba at The Mirage. (This is actually the second time we celebrated my birthday here – good times!) Sorry no pictures of the food were taken. I didn’t want to detract from experience and just wanted to enjoy the food and company.

Like the first time, we all order the ALL YOU CAN EAT RODIZIO EXPERIENCE and got treated to what carnivores dream of every night – meat, meat and more meat.

For those of you that has never experienced Brazilian BBQ, here’s a crash course. Think of rodizio or churrascaria as a seated buffet. The food comes to you instead of you going to the food. There’s usually a little wood thingie on your table. One side is painted red and the other side is painted green. By the end of your dining experience, this will either be your best friend or worst enemy. GREEN MEANS GO – it lets your server know, “Bring it on, buddy. What are you waiting for? We’re hungry and we smell meat!” RED MEANS STOP – “We’re tapping out. I forgot to use my fat jeans. You come my way with that sword and I just might use it on you.” Servers will come to your table with swords of different cuts of beef and pork, some poultry and sausage. The meat is usually sliced up at your table and everyone is served individually. They give everyone these mini tongs to grab the meat that has been sliced – be polite and use the tongs and not your fingers. Also, if it seems that your server is in a good mood, ask for a bigger slice or better yet, ask for what’s left on the sword and he just might oblige. A smile and a wink usually helps also.

*SMILE* *WINK* *LICK LIPS* *PLAYFULLY BITE BOTTOM LIP* and you just might get the whole sword of sirloin next time around. LOL!!!

Dinner started off with their Samba Salad that was tossed on the way to our table by our wonderful host/salad tosser. Once we were done with our salad, our server brought out some traditional side dishes: Brazilian cheese rolls, crackers, creamed spinach, sweet fried plantains, caramelized carrots and black beans and rice. (Dont’ load up on these fluff dishes… the best is yet to come. TRUST ME!) Also on our table were little ramekins of their awesome chimichurri sauce (a garlic and olive oil based sauce with herbs and stuff) and tomato and onion relish, to put on the meat.

No more that 5 minutes after we were done with our salad, the PARADE OF MEATS began.

Bearing swords of meat, servers came to our table to slice up the goods. First to our table was the sirloin. This was then followed by the sausage and sweet peppers, the turkey breast wrapped in bacon, the huli huli chicken, the garlic chicken drumsticks, the flank steak, the roasted pork and roasted pineapple and then the baby back pork ribs.

Then it started all over again.

Then we tapped out.

All of the meats were simply seasoned (salt and pepper). Use the chimichurri sauce to kick up the flavor. You’ll never want steak sauce for your steaks again. The chimichurri’s so rustic, so simple, yet so complex, all at the same time. FANTASTICAL!!! The meats are cooked on a rotisserie, so the natural juices are kept in and constantly “bastes” the meat as it cooks, making for a juicy cut every time.

Missing was their fish course. But the sirloin and the turkey breast wrapped in bacon, more than made up for it.

The Rodizio Experience is on the pricey side, however, very comparable to what you’d pay at a premium steakhouse. Dinner runs at about $40.00 per person, but worth it.

Samba also has individual entrees on their menu if the thought of the meat parade scares you.

Don’t forget to try some of their house cocktails – a bit on the strong side, but yummy just the same. The caipirinha maracuja (traditional caipirinha with a splash of passion fruit juice) and the Brazilian punch (kinda like Jungle Juice that we used to make in college) are standouts.

*****

Samba Brazilian Steakhouse

The Mirage Hotel & Casino

3400 Las Vegas Boulevard South

LasVegas, NV 89119

Phone: (702) 791-7111

Located across from The Beatles Revolution Lounge