FAZENDA by Nicky Rigby-Smith & Si Hall
As the nights get chillier , we decided to step into the warmth at Fazenda in Exchange Flags , Liverpool ... oh and aren ’ t we glad we did ! Fazenda , a South American Rodizio restaurant with a nicely articulated opulent yet rustic concept .
We were greeted by Joel , our waiter , who seated us near the window which had its own open fire ( just what we needed to warm us up ). He then explained the ‘ Fazenda Unique Dining Experience ’ to us . You begin with a visit to the gourmet side bar and once you are ready for the meats , you control the service with a small double-sided card placed on your table . The green side signals the chefs to bring our skewers of sizzling meats one by one , while the red side indicates a resting point . For lunch there are 8 cuts of meat ( 15 cuts for dinner ) and the beauty is you can have them all .
Before we got stuck into the main event , we visited the salad bar which has a vast selection of gourmet sides . On offer were delicious salads , fresh cut vegetables , breads , cured meats , continental cheeses and hot dishes including the traditional Brazilian Feijoada ( bean stew with meat ) - which by the way is truly amazing .
We opted for the mango & chilli coleslaw , Ceviche ( seafood mix with coconut & onion ), Panzanilla , Roast vegetables with goat ’ s cheese and Pao de Quijo with Chimmichurri mayonnaise . These dishes were simply delicious . The mango & chilli coleslaw was refreshing and light with a subtle sweetness and the Panzilla ( pesto , mozzarella and tomato ) was awesome - juicy and flavoursome . We would definitely recommend the Ceviche , the coconut and citric flavours complemented the seafood brilliantly . We paired our starters with a Lorosco Sauvignon - which has aromas of grapefruit and lemon peel plus some herbal notes from a drop of Semillon in the blend - vibrant and wellrounded . After a rest , we turned our card to green - meaning we were ready to be served !
The chef arrived at our table with Picanha ( cap of rump ). We all opted to try this cut of meat . Well , what can we say ... It was delicate , juicy , packed full of flavour and tender ! For a relatively unknown cut it was just as lean as fillet . Next up was Alcatra ( rump steak ); a tender cut with a distinctive meaty taste ... again , it was perfecto !
As we were onto our meat dishes , Joel recommended a Terrazas de Los Andes Malbec . A ripe but beautifully balanced Malbec which paired well with the Alcatra .
At this point , some of our party re-visited the salad bar to replenish their sides , ready for the next meat dishes coming our way , which included Cordeiro ( minted lamb ), Presunto Com Abacaxi ( gammon with pineapple ), Tri Tip ( bottom sirloin ), Barriga de Porco ( pork belly ) and Frango com Tocino ( Chicken with Bacon ). Fazenda really is a meat lover ’ s paradise - every cut was succulent , tasty and divine . Having tried out all of the 10 cuts and after a number of visits to the salad bar , we admitted defeat and turned our cards to red .
From the dessert menu , we ordered the Marquise de Chocolate and Caipirinha Cheesecake . Delicious . Two hours later and we were feeling warmed up and somewhat full - Fazenda is without doubt a unique dining experience - outstanding food , wines , social experience and traditional Brazilian environment . Top marks .
Booking recommended . To book call : 0151 659 1183 .
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