Ipanema Grille
1911 N Main Ave, Scranton, PA, 18508
Ipanema Grille Menu
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Address :
1911 N Main Ave
Scranton, PA, 18508 - Phone (570) 558-0742
- Website https://www.ipanemagrille.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual, Classy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Byron R.
I have been wanting to try this place for awhile and finally got the chance last night. Good was very good. I would have given it 5 stars but I don't like buffets and your sides and salad are at a buffet so I have to stick with 4stars. The decor is average and the place was a lot smaller than I thought it was going to be. Definitely a must try in Scranton!
(4)Rob S.
Only place around that can take your breath away with style, service, sangria, and RODIZIO!!! If you have only one night in area or only one chance to impress look no further. Must order the sangria and don't even try ask for recipe because the no you receive will disappoint. Also just do yourself a favor and order the RODIZIO and leave the tumbler on green until you can't take any more because it is all that good!!! This is a must try .... And I must try A lot!!!
(5)Andrea H.
I guess I'm spoiled from big fancy chain Brazilian steakhouses, but that doesn't mean Ipanema isn't great. We went on a Saturday night and sat at the bar because it was that packed, I've never seen so many cars in that small parking lot before and I was born and raised in Scranton. A very small, but intimate, interior, it's definitely not the hole in the wall it looks like from outside. The meat selections were all top notch (except the chicken hearts... I've never seen that one before), but I have to admit I was disappointed when the lamb I waited for all night had so much rosemary I couldn't even begin to taste anything else. The salad bar is much smaller than most other Brazilian steakhouses with less options, but instead it includes the mashed potatoes and Pao de Queijo that most steakhouses only give a little bit of. So props to you, Ipanema, those little cheesy balls are heaven.
(4)Jason S.
I should've done my research before coming here. The food isn't worth the price. I sat at the bar with mediocre hospitality and surrounded by a bunch of obese buffet go-ers. The restaurant is clean, though. Eat here for over priced food and Portuguese talk all around you. (there is no accounting for taste however the food is over cooked in my taste) ***staffers, I realize Portuguese is your native language but it's fairly rude to be having your own conversations you obviously don't want English speakers to hear. At least it's rude in America. Thank you for your time.
(2)Bruce M.
Delicious. Parmesan flank steak superb, top sirloin great. Very impressive food for Scranton! Staff extremely nice. Buffet could be bigger, but good enough. The meats make this place, come hungry.
(4)Cody Y.
Went here twice. Both times were EXCEPTIONAL. I got the Rodizio on both occasions which included a nice salad and appetizer bar. I believe it was around 33-36 dollars but it allowed me to try a large number of different meats/steaks (all you can eat). I highly recommend trying this if you go here. The service was as good as it gets. It is quite difficult to leave this place without a smile on your face and a full stomach! It isn't exactly inviting from the outside but it takes nothing away from the wonderful ambience inside. Will be back soon.
(5)Nino C.
Was here 7 years ago. Came back in 2015 and just as good. Get the rodizio if your going to go here. It's hard to pick one meat as the best, they're all excellent. Great service and hospitality. The chicken hearts sound bizarre but you have to try it. Make sure to make a reservation unless you don't mind sitting at the bar.
(5)Josh K.
I wish I could give this place 4.5 stars. Went here with three of my closest friends during our "guys' vacation" this week. We all loved it. A real mom and pop establishment, which is a rare treat for this type of restaurant. We've all been to many such places in NYC, Boston, Philadelphia and elsewhere, and we all agreed the food was as good as at any of those places. The wait-staff were really friendly and genuine, despite what has to be a really tough job. I would highly recommend the Rodizio and the authentic Portuguese drinks. I would definitely go back.
(4)Julia B.
A group of my friends went to this restaurant & it was different from a buffet I've normally been at. I do not mean different in a bad way just a new experience. If you like meat this is the place for you. I'd say if you especially like meat that's cooked medium to medium well it really is your place! Some of my group really preferred well done meat and the cooks made them their own but, some still were not satisfied because it was still pink. The small salad bar buffet with some hot food was a plus though especially for those not satisfied with the meat. It's worth a try you might love it. My favorite part was the end they brought a warmed pineapple with cinnamon sugar.
(3)Manzana Z.
we went for dinner there.everyone goes RODIZIO. I have very little stomach, not until 1 round, I am full. Must go with empty stomach. Love their steak/lamp and chicken hearts. After all meat, at last a beautiful waitress will bring cinnamon pinappple on the skewer as a desert.
(4)Enrique L.
I am brazilian and this is the best rodizio I have eaten in the usa. The quality of the meat is outstanding and the seasoning is perfect. The customer service is out of this world. I will come back every time I am in town.
(5)Amy C.
This is the second time I have been to Ipanema for their signature meal. The Brazilian steakhouse experience is very different from a traditional American steakhouse, but so worth it. The multitude of deliciously roasted meat is a carnivores dream. The meats are tender, succulent and well seasoned. The buffet offerings had some unusual sides such as fried bananas and tiny rolls and more traditional hot and cold dishes. Some one in the kitchen has a liberal hand with the garlic that was somewhat shocking but still delicious to me, though I could imagine others may find it off putting. My main complaints have to do with the size if the restaurant and the awkward arraignment of the buffet, it is stuck in a corner with no obvious flow pattern as the plates are in the corner. Also, you feel as if you are intruding on other patrons when you access the buffet, the rooms are very tight.
(4)Rebecca D.
A-MAZ-ING. Great staff, fast service, fun and sooooo good. The bacon wrapped turkey and sirloin are my favorite. The sides bar is fully stocked and has a good assortment of salads and sides. The grilled marinated artichoke hearts are phenomenal. Their Sangria is yummy. the only negative about this place is the small size. on a crowded night its a bit uncomfortable as you are elbow to elbow and everyone can hear everyone conversations.
(5)Mikhail V.
Awesome Rodizio with excellent Sangria to top it off. Meat cooked to perfection for all likes. On Saturday reservations are a must because from what we saw the place is packed.
(5)Heath L.
We went here as an in between travel point for our party of 3 in mid January. I had never been to a Brazilian Steakhouse before and was assured by my fellow diners that it was authentic. All of the meats were very nice and the salads were too. I really liked the fact that the place was not totally remodeled, it still had some nuances of whatever it was years ago. I like places with character and history, and this place reflects that. It's a smaller place but comfortable and inviting. I would highly recommend it!
(4)Bob H.
I have been here several times and I always get the rodizio. It may be on the expensive side but you definitely get what you pay for. It includes a variety of well seasoned meats which are carved onto your plate. One of my favorites is chicken hearts which are hard to find. You also get to visit the buffet which has all kinds of delicious and interesting Brazilian salads and appetizers. I also suggest trying a capharina (sp?), which is a drink made with sugar cane. It is very refreshing. The staff makes you feel so welcome and they truly seem to enjoy taking care of their guests.
(5)Rachel B.
The food was AMAZING!!! Incredible service! If you leave here hungry it's your own fault. What a gem in the Scranton area. Will definitely be returning. Give this place a try you won't be sorry!
(5)Kris R.
Excellent experience Saturday night 1/17/15!!! Food is amazing, definitely a place to take the "Meatasaurus" of the family. The drinks were great, Sangria, Caipirinha (Rum), Caiparoska (Vodka), and the bartender was very nice. The wait staff and servers were top notch & very polite, a refreshing change once in awhile. The different cuts of meat were each fantastic, with their signature taste, prepared to your choosing of doneness. The salad/sides bar was also kept very fresh, the staff kept tending to it every 3-5 minutes. Go, Go, Go!!! Make reservations, arrive 30 Min early to have drinks at the bar and prepare for the amazing meat consumption!!! We will be back!
(5)Shawn B.
This is the first Rodizio in the US I have truly enjoyed and even our friend in from Brazil commented on how authentic the food was. Friendly staff (though a bit slow toward the end with the check etc) and very very good food. You absolutely will not leave hungry but I cannot express how important it will be to have a reservation.
(5)Ashley L.
A family owned restaurant great service.Great food the steak is amazing. you must order the rodizo sample all the meats on the menu. Tuesday specials on sangria pitcher.
(5)Megan M.
Be prepared to wait for a LONG time to be seated for dinner at peak times. Even though we had a 7:00 reservation on a Saturday night, we weren't seated until 7:45. That aside, the owner of the restaurant is incredibly friendly and was very hands-on with front-of-the-house duties, which made us feel very welcomed. The appetizer buffet had a decent spread of fried rice, salad, pasta, potatoes, among other things, and a few desserts. But, the star of the show is the restaurants rodizio dinner. The restaurant offers 13 different cuts of meat and the majority of them are well-cooked, tender, and scrumptious. The most memorable cuts were the sirloin with garlic, the peppered roast beef, and the bacon wrapped turkey. Cinnamon covered pineapple was included as the dessert with the rodizio dinner and that finishing touch was delicious as well. Overall, I think the Ipanema Grille is a great alternative to the slew of Italian and chain restaurants that are typical of the Scranton area. I definitely plan on eating here again the next time I'm in town.
(4)Vinny L.
Came here with my girlfriend and absolutely loved it. For $35 per person we got to sample all the different meats they offered us, including a chicken heart! The pitcher of sangria was delicious as well. Definitely an out of the box type of experience which makes for a fun and eventful evening. Definitely recommended!
(5)Ryan T.
Very good! I spent quite a bit of time in Brasil last year and this place comes very close to delivering a similar experience. Food was of high quality, service great and the surroundings were nice and unpretentious. I will go back next time I am in town. Peace out.
(5)Mike P.
First time there and it was amazing. Staff was great and food was awesome!!! Get the Rodizio for sure they just keep bringing the food. It's like unlimited meats!!
(5)Gilberto R.
The food is delicious. The sangria is ohh sooo refreshingly good!!! And the service was excellent and very friendly, they made us feel welcome. I am definitely coming back.
(5)Joe R.
I have used the Ipanema twice on my drives between the East coast and the Mid-West, taking different co-pilots here on those 1000 mile drives. We have all agreed. This is some great food at a good restaurant. Make a reservation; we did the first time, walked in to a half filled restaurant, and wondered what the big deal was. By the time our salad/appetizers had left the table, the restaurant was packed, the energy was high, and we were GLAD we had called ahead. We have always just gotten dishes off the menu, and been very happy. Short jaunt off the highway. And worth the stop.
(4)Alexandra P.
The environment is really nice as far as decor and lighting and all the employees were very nice and sociable. I had the stuffed flounder which was good but I've had better. It lacked seasoning and there was way too much filling compared to the size of the flounder. My boyfriend had the rodizio and he wasn't completely happy with it. Most of his complaints were about the meat being dry, not tender, and lacking seasoning. This seems more like the type of place to go if you're planning to get tipsy with friends to make up for the mediocre food.
(3)Gabe A.
It's a really great restaurant, the food there is phenomenal!
(5)Cassie M.
Compared to the other brazilian steak house I reviewed this one had the better salad bar out of the two; many more options including antipasto and there were quite a few dishes to choose from, more like a mini buffet. The meats were good, my favorite is always the lamb anywhere I go! I think the meat was slightly over salted but nonetheless very good. Very friendly staff! Every Brazilian steak house I have gone to has great staff ! And I respect them so much more because there they are lugging and slicing meat for people all night yet still maintain a smile. They understand the meaning of hospitality. Douglas the owner is a very nice guy as well. He is there greeting his guests making them feel welcome. You can learn a lot from.this place
(4)Christina M.
Most get the rodizio. So worth the price and you will leave extremely full and happy. The staff is so nice and want you to keep eating!
(5)Ben D.
My wife and I were passing through Scranton on our way north and I have been meaning to try this place, so it worked out great. Make reservations for the weekend for sure, maybe even on a weekday because their dining room is rather small. We sat at a table for two in the middle of the dining room and people had to kinda squeeze by on either side as they passed. It was pretty noticeable at first but once you get going into your meal it wasn't that bad. We normally wouldn't order two appetizers but I doubt we'll get back to this place anytime soon so we figured what the heck. We got the yucca fries with some kind of sausage and it was fabulous. The fries were tasty and fresh and not very oily or salty so you could really get the flavor of the yucca. The sausage was pretty dang good as well We also had to order the chicken hearts. If I'm being honest, that was the main reason we were there. Not many places have chicken hearts on the menu so how could you not indulge. What I wasn't expecting was for them to bring out like 30 or 40! hearts on a plate with a little lettuce on the side. They tasted good I guess, I don't really have anything to compare it to though. It was interesting, and I suggest you give em a try if you've never had them. Maybe ask if they do half portions of the apps. We didn't get the rodizio, and I think we may have been the only ones in the place that didn't. All the meats they were walking around with looked wonderful but I got the new york strip and my wife got the shrimp and scallop kabob. They were both pretty good. Nothing outstanding but the steak was well cooked. I thought my wifes seafood was a bit overcooked but she didn't think so and really enjoyed it. Overall, we had a great time. They had some lively Brazilian music playing which added to the atmosphere. The servers were all fabulous and helped each other out as one would expect from a place with 4 1/2 yelp stars. I loved it and would go back again if I'm back in the area.
(4)Elizabeth M.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in the city. The Rodizio is amazing, but you had better be hungry! The sangria is so good you'll want to dive into the pitcher. The staff is very friendly & incredibly helpful when you want to know about anything on the menu. The desserts are great too. I must admit that I had to eat a small meal & then I could eat dessert when I went, otherwise you are WAY too full. The lunches are just as awesome!
(5)Eric P.
The Rodizio expererience isn't new to me... you get a card and flip it to green and they bring you endless grilled meats until you flip it to red. I grew up in New York City and have had it all over this country. Platiforma in NYC and the Fogo de Chao are perhaps the two most memorable. With that I wasn't expecting much when one opened up in a little place in Scranton. I was quite shocked to find that they had three particular cuts that are offered up in their Rodizio... the rib eye, the garlic covered sirloin and the skirt steak that are by far, better than any other place i've been to. (If the chicken hearts are cooked right, those are a little bizarre but excellent as well). The buffet is nothing like the big rodizio places but to be honest, their steaks are so good (and they will cook them however you like. I prefer mine Rare... not medium rare and they bring me perfectly Rare!) that i would rather not fill up on the buffet. The price is also half of what the big name rodizio's offer up so don't worry about the side buffet. come for the meat. This place isn't just really good for scranton. This would be a really good restaurant compared to any of my favorite old haunts in NYC
(5)Rodney D.
This is the ultimate man restaurant. If you love red meat this is your place. When I came here to eat I started fasting the day before. My wife & I had a dinner reservation for 8:30pm. We arrived 30 minutes early & the restaurant was jam packed. My only complaint is this restaurant is way too small so if your a former Army Vet like myself this makes you feel closed in. I'm glad my waitress seated us close to the door so we had space to maneuver. Get the Rodizio you won't be disappointed. Place your flipper on green & let them bring the meat out. The buffet has a very nice selection but just take very small portions to leave room for all 13 types of meat. The Sangria & Caipirinha are awesome. I highly recommend them both. Enjoy! I will be here in August for my birthday so I will see you guys there :D
(4)Mark J.
Dining date January 11, 2014 for dinner. Excellent food and service. Meat very well seasoned. Buffett bar had excellent selection. Beer selection a bit lacking. Decor a bit dated, but overall a nice experience.
(4)Rich M.
Absolutely, the best steak you are going to eat, and plenty of it. Service is great, food is always on point, delicious!!!
(5)Carol I.
My fiance is an original customer of this restaurant and ate there countless times. He is very friendly with the two owners. Due to personal reasons he hadn't eaten there in over a year and finally went a couple of days ago with one of his adult sons. Although greeted very warmly and welcomed back he was slightly disappointed in the menu changes that have occurred. The short ribs and the pork ribs are no longer served with the Ridizio. The turkey-wrapped bacon is now done with chicken and is not as good. Also, the meat lacked a lot of the seasoning it used to have and he now found it rather bland. Furthermore, the price for the Ridizio has now almost doubled. All in all a rather disappointing dining experience there compared to what he was used to in the past.
(3)Richie B.
We went there last night for our one year anniversary and it was wonderful. The food was delicious, the service was fantastic and the overall ambience was great. The only gripe that I would eve have on this place is that they are a little smaller than other steakhouses I've been to and that they don't have one closer to us! But they certainly make up for what they lack in size with the quality of their food and service... Awesome job guys and you are definitely worth the hour drive for us to come back to real soon!!
(5)Angela G.
A small, but nicely decorated spot - I came here with a large group of friends and the service was excellent, especially considering there were twelve of us and we we pretty much paying separately. The caprianias were very good and I enjoyed the selection at the "sides" bar - my favorites were the fried polenta, seasoned rice, and cheese rolls. They even had habanero peppers in oil! All of the meat was seasoned wonderfully and incredibly tender. The lamb in particular was some of the best I've had in years. And yes, I did eat a bite of a chicken heart... it tasted like chicken. Haha. Anyway, I would recommend this place for a group or for a date night. The prices were high (but fair, considering what you get), so I don't think I would come here on a weekly basis, but rather as a special treat.
(4)Natalie B.
My friends and I were up by Scranton celebrating a friend's birthday with a weekend of skiing, so we stopped by Ipanema Grille for dinner one night. We had a huge group - 2 tables of 10. Almost all of us paid $30 for the Rodizio, which is all you can eat of 12 meats cooked different ways. Our servers were very nice and pretty quick, and we even got a free pitcher of sangria. It all sounds great in theory, however, I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. First of all, they bring the meats out in a particular order. We started with pork and chicken. They didn't start bringing out the beef (the more expensive meat) until a little later, when you've had time to fill up on everything else. The pork and chicken were pretty average. Some notable ones were the the chicken heart, which tastes just like liver (that could be good or bad, depending on your feelings about liver), and the pork loin was super dry. All of the beef was tasty. My favorites were the garlic steak and sirloin. We finished the meal with slices of grilled pineapple covered in cinnamon sugar. The sangria is certainly delicious, but my one complaint is that there's tons of ice in the pitcher, which means there's less room for actual liquid. The ice then falls into your glass and onto your face as you try to drink it (at least that was my experience). I liked that there were also little chunks of sangria-soaked fruit in it. Maybe I'm just spoiled by the other Brazilian steakhouses I've been to, where everything was phenomenal, but I just wasn't that impressed with Ipanema Grille. It has solid food and friendly service, but it could be better.
(3)J W.
What standards do you have to give this place 5 stars, or even 3 or 4? If this is a steakhouse, how does it compare to other steakhouses? How is their service? Does everyone order the SAME thing when here? Is it more of a Buffet or a sit down Steakhouse with an amazing wine list? Unfortunately, from the reviews posted here, my expectations were extremely high. Sadly, Scranton doesn't have much to offer, but I don't' think that should factor into a star rating. Let's get real. 1. The location is great. Good parking on the side and easily accessed from major roads. 2. The interior is small - very small. The lighting is dark, but that is expected - and welcomed - as the interior leaves much to be desired when it comes to decor. 1980's? Needs to be refreshed and updated. 3. The bar offerings are sparse and there are not many choices of ales or wine to go with steak. 4. Wine list? What wine list? 5. Once we ordered we were told we could go up to the salad bar. Is this a buffet? A buffet for $40? 6. Our group ordered the Rodizio; as it appears did everyone else in the restaurant. I have had rodizio before, so I assumed this should be much like what we had in the past. Unfortunately, this was more like a haphazard attempt to keep walking around with meat and cutting shavings off to your plate. The meats were okay, nothing that you can't get in any grocery store. Some of the spices were good, but some of the cuts also were gamey. The sausage I had was gritty and seemed like there was some dirt or sand in it. The best part of the night was the company we were with. I am sorry to note that we were disappointed in the food, and hope that this review helps those out there know their expectations when coming here.
(2)Dan R.
I was very excited to find a Brazillian steakhouse in the area. A worker at the Everhart Museum had suggested it as a unique dining experience. I arrived to place my to-go order and waited till it was ready. That evening Brazil was playing Ivory Coast in the World Cup and there was a large party there with everyone wearing their teams jerseys. The Mixed Grille (Churrasco Mixto) was delicious, it consisted of pork, beef, sausage & chicken along with a small salad. It was around 18.00 and piping hot. We also ordered the feijoada which is a black bean stew with meat & veggies mixed together (15.00) Overall a great experience, Im a huge fan of Brazillian food, a la the Churasqueria's in Northern Jersey. They have a all you can eat buffet (rodizio) in the evening. they accept VISA, mastercard and have a private parking lot on the side.
(4)Meaghan S.
The rodizio is amazing! Make sure you bring an appetite because the food seems never ending! Everything is wonderful and it's a cute little place. If you love meat, this is the place for you!
(5)Kim M.
This is the second time I've gone to a Brazillian steakhouse with the Rodizio option (all you can eat meat brought to you in skewers), and while this experience wasn't bad due to good service, the food wasn't as good as I would have hoped. After a day of snowboarding, our group of 20+ showed up early for a 5pm dinner. Almost all of us ordered the Rodizio and pitchers of sangria. The sangria was great! The Rodizio comes with unlimited buffet options which include vegetables, rice, salad, beans, potato salad, hot wings (weird to have this, in my opinion), some type of fish that looked like dried out tilapia, and pasta salad. I tried a good deal of the offerings from the buffet bar and wasn't too impressed with anything I had there. The Rodizio started so I swapped my focus to the meat. We were brought out a series of meat that ranged from meh to good. I didn't taste anything I would label delicious and wasn't clamboring over myself to try to track down the waitress with that particular skewer. I tried all but one of the meats and all were average. I was pretty disappointed they were bringing us out the non-beef meats first (chicken, sausage, and variants thereof) to fill us up on those before bringing out the sirloins or roasts. For some reason, after 5-6 meats were served our waitresses went MIA for a long time and we were all sitting meatless and oh so sad. I won't rephrase what everyone else has already said, but to summarize: the food was average, the service was generally friendly and good, but the quality of the meat was lower than Fogo de Chao (a Bazillian steakhouse that does it 100% right in Philadelphia). The price is right at $36 for the Rodizio, but I'd still rather pay $35 during restaurant week to go to Fogo in Center City.
(3)Kevin B.
This is probably my favorite restaurant in the Scranton area. The service is superb, the drinks are great, and the food is some of the best I have ever had in my life. Definitely get the rodizio, you won't go wrong!!
(5)Bok K.
By far, my favorite restaurant in the Scranton area and the place I shall miss the most now that I'm not visiting the area. One dinner I'll remember isn't so much about the food but the service-- I was dining with my family and the place was packed during an early dinner. The owner, Douglas, wasn't there but his two main lady servers were running the place and it was amazing to watch them work with what seemed like telepathic coordination. These guys really have it together! Having said that, here's a tip-- when you're pulling into the restaurant parking lot and it's REALLY full, which I've noticed happen on some Tuesdays, then the restaurant could be *very* busy that (regardless whether you have a reservation or not) the pace slows and you could be waiting minutes between meats. The workaround-- instead of ordering the rodizio when you see the place is full, have the skirt steak entree (see picture). What you'll get is at least 16 oz of a most flavorful and succulent skirt steak that you won't miss the rodizio, honest! Or at least in my case, this gives me another excuse to return during the week for the rodizio :) From the rodizio, my favorites are rib eye, skirt steak, top round, both types of sirloin and lamb. Less a fan of the bacon wrapped filet, turkey, chicken leg and heart, pork loin but then I really come here for the beef. Compared to other churrascaria's I've been to, Ipanema Grille doesn't rush you and the owners really try to make this place special. Given the food and drinks, service and vibe... oh yeah, that all important "vibe," Ipanema Grille has really hit it out of the ballpark.
(5)Heather D.
Birthday dinner. The night was cold, and the parking lot was 99% full. I dressed up, but there were patrons in jeans and sweaters. There were 2 children, but the rest of the patrons were adults, and most of them were large groups (6+) seated at tables. We did not have reservations on Saturday night, so we sat at the bar, which turned out to be a great situation. I'm fluent in Portuguese, and I had a fantastic time chatting with the servers as they stopped at the bar. I came out of the dining experience with new friends and a strong desire to come back as soon as possible for the outstanding food and the incredibly friendly service. When they mysteriously found out it was my birthday (cough cough husband after a few caipirinhas) they turned the lights off and brought me out a passion fruit mousse (mousse de maracuja!) with a candle in it and "Happy Birthday" drawn on the plate in strawberry jam. The people, from the ever-smiling bartender Thailane to the endless meat carvers were so remarkably friendly, I couldn't stop smiling. I cannot stress enough how sweet the staff is, and dining here will not only fill you up but *cheer* you up as well! I ate as many meats as I could, which were fabulous and worth the price, but I also really enjoyed the salads bar. The pao de queijo (cheese bread rolls) were delicious, and the variety of upscale veggies was enjoyable, particularly the palm hearts (a Brazilian classic!) and the asparagus. I also recommend the manchego and other hard cheeses that were out for the taking, as they complement the meats so well. For dessert, my favorite is the passion fruit mousse (10 stars!), but I think the chocolate cake was also the best I've ever had. Sure, I'm nostalgic for Brazilians and Brazilian food, but my husband who is not very adventurous but loves his meat and potatoes said this was the best dining experience he's ever had. Try the guarana soda with your dinner too; it tastes like blueberries, and it's a nice bit of pep if you're feeling sluggish after a huge meal! I can't say that this experience was anything less than perfect.
(5)Patti B.
While visiting our son on the east coast, our son mentioned that he had never been to a Brazilian Barbeque and there wasn't one near where he lived. We were meeting friends for an evening of fun in Scranton and found that there was such a place in Scranton. Learning this, our son decided he'd join us and we'd go to Ipanema Grille for dinner. This is a family owned business that has been open since 2008. When we travel we really like to eat local, so this was a win-win choice all the way around. When we arrived just before 8 pm on a Sunday evening, the place was packed. Luckily we had called ahead and made a reservation, so we were shown right to our table. We all ordered Rodizio and shared a pitcher of Sangria. The food and drink were absolutely delicious. The staff was fun and friendly and it was very apparent that they enjoyed doing what they do. They kept us well supplied by bringing new meat selections every 5 minutes or so. I have to add that my husband and I had eaten at Chima in Ft. Lauderdale, and this place was a far cry better than that and 1/3 the price. The owner, Douglas, is a very kind man who is hands on with business operations. He works as hard as his staff and it is apparent that he appreciates them and treats them very well.
(5)Daren S.
Oh dear god the meat, the meat, bring me more meat. It was all incredible. Try the Caipirinhas, it will blow your mind. Sweet-Sour liquor heaven.
(5)Dan S.
Really fantastic food. Even better service. Went here for Valentine's Day and I got the rodizio. Great choice of meat and everything I had was fresh, tender, juicy and flavorful. The rodizio comes with a salad bar and a "sides" buffet, of which, they had fried plantains. I can sit there all night and eat only that. So good. Would def recommend to anyone who loves meat and trying new things!
(5)Larry L.
Possibly the best restaurant in Scranton. The Rodizio is amazing as are the sangria and other drinks. The staff is very friendly and make sure that you don't leave hungry. They also make sure you glass doesn't go empty. I would suggest calling ahead as every time I have been there this place has been packed. If you're looking for a fun place to eat and have a great time look no further.
(5)Brian L.
Pretty awesome! MEAT CITY,USA and YOU get to be the Mayor! But I also have some veggie pals that go here a lot too Friendly staff, I can't believe it exists in North Scranton!
(4)Che P.
This is a great brazilian steak house. The Churrascaria service was @ $29 when we were there; 12 different types of meat were carved table side; all amazing! The yellow rice was spicy & delicious. David, our server, was excellent!! The desserts were amazing too!
(5)Michael A.
Rodizio + Buffet = Amazing The staff is very friendly. The Caipirinha gave me a nice buzz. One of my new favorite restaurants in Scranton.
(5)Eric S.
A carnivore's delight! Get the Rodizio & it's a non-stop barrage of meat. As long as you keep the green light on, the food keeps coming. There is everything from lamb to turkey with all kinds of cuts from other unfortunate beasts in-between. If that's not your speed, they offer delicious paella & other Brazillian specialties. If that were not enough, they have great mixed drinks. The caipirinha comes highly recommended. All in all a true Scranton gem! One of our dining companions who spent some of his formative years in Brazil even attested to its authenticity. So there you go, check it out!
(5)Jason S.
What a great experience. This was my first time at a Brazilian steak house and you can color me impressed. The restaurant was surprisingly full at 8:30PM on a Saturday and we had to wait about 10 min for a table. The atmosphere was lively and the staff was very friendly. We had the Rodizio (all you can eat Brazilian meat). I actually tried a chicken heart, which was excellent. And finished up with a wonderful banana crepe for desert. Great experience. We can't wait to go back.
(4)Megan M.
Having been to many Brazilian restaurants in other states, I was pleasantly surprises to find one in scranton. Like almost everyone else that reviewed this place I got the buffet and all you can eat meat. The meat you start with depends on what they are rotating with when you get there. There are a lot of meat, so if you want you can be choosy on the first time around, they will be back. I highly recommend the flank steak, lamb and sirloin were my favorite. However everything was good. We also had the sangria, which was the best I had in town. Although I did not have room for desert, I saw someone else get the banana crepe which appeared to be their version of bananas foster, it looked good and smelled great...maybe next time I'll save room...maybe
(5)Chantel B.
Show up hungry, don't bother to order anything to eat other than the cavalcade of meat (aka Rodizio), and sip on some sangria.
(5)Stefanie T.
I went here with a group after work one day, because we had a large group we made a reservation, but the place wasn't very busy when we got there. For drink we had the Sangria and it was great!! For dinner, since we were all first timers (which I recommend to anyone going there for the first time, but it's a one time only thing in my opinion) we did the "Rodizio" Basically this is what a Brazilian Grille is known for. What you get with this is a buffet that has salad, rice, beans, rolls...but I wouldn't touch that if you order this because after you have some time to consider eating THAT food they start coming around with giant skewers of meat. You get to try 12 different types of meat (one is a chicken heart, so you can choose to include that or not). They come around table side and cut the pieces of meat right at your table for you. There are so many GREAT meats it was amazing. If you find something you really like, no worries they come back around again with the meat, if you somehow manage to save any room for more food. After this meal I was full for the rest of the night and next day, so I felt I got my moneys worth. If you don't feel like filling up on tons of meat they have other items on their menu, but this is what makes this place truly unique. Yes it was a little expensive but that's why it's something I say you only need to try once. This is not a place I would recommend for vegetarians.
(5)Lyd K.
Service was great and the meat was very tasty. Lamb was amazing! I would eat here again.
(4)C. D.
Very good, seemingly authentic Brazilian restaurant. A large grilled meats selection, a nice buffet, and strong caipirinhas. Very friendly service as well.
(4)C K.
Very good, friendly service and great Brazilian food. The Brazilian Caipirinha drink was amazing. Definatly will return when I'm in the area!
(4)John L.
I've always been a big fan of family-owned ethnic restaurants and Ipanema grille is another great Scranton find in this category. I went to a lunch buffet with the family and was very pleased with the restaurant, service and food. In the evenings they have a Rodizio (sp?) which is basically an all you can eat meat buffet where they bring the meat table side. I used to eat at the Brazilian places in NYC on 46th or 47th st. and Ipanema grille was almost to that caliber. The beans and the beef were both good and the prices for the buffet (especially w/kids) were very reasonable.
(4)matt c.
Amazing flavor on the ridiculous amount/variety of meat. Hopefully they can stay open since I don't see many people there. This place rocks
(5)Rob S.
Only place around that can take your breath away with style, service, sangria, and RODIZIO!!! If you have only one night in area or only one chance to impress look no further. Must order the sangria and don't even try ask for recipe because the no you receive will disappoint. Also just do yourself a favor and order the RODIZIO and leave the tumbler on green until you can't take any more because it is all that good!!! This is a must try .... And I must try A lot!!!
(5)Nino C.
Was here 7 years ago. Came back in 2015 and just as good. Get the rodizio if your going to go here. It's hard to pick one meat as the best, they're all excellent. Great service and hospitality. The chicken hearts sound bizarre but you have to try it. Make sure to make a reservation unless you don't mind sitting at the bar.
(5)Josh K.
I wish I could give this place 4.5 stars. Went here with three of my closest friends during our "guys' vacation" this week. We all loved it. A real mom and pop establishment, which is a rare treat for this type of restaurant. We've all been to many such places in NYC, Boston, Philadelphia and elsewhere, and we all agreed the food was as good as at any of those places. The wait-staff were really friendly and genuine, despite what has to be a really tough job. I would highly recommend the Rodizio and the authentic Portuguese drinks. I would definitely go back.
(4)J W.
What standards do you have to give this place 5 stars, or even 3 or 4? If this is a steakhouse, how does it compare to other steakhouses? How is their service? Does everyone order the SAME thing when here? Is it more of a Buffet or a sit down Steakhouse with an amazing wine list? Unfortunately, from the reviews posted here, my expectations were extremely high. Sadly, Scranton doesn't have much to offer, but I don't' think that should factor into a star rating. Let's get real. 1. The location is great. Good parking on the side and easily accessed from major roads. 2. The interior is small - very small. The lighting is dark, but that is expected - and welcomed - as the interior leaves much to be desired when it comes to decor. 1980's? Needs to be refreshed and updated. 3. The bar offerings are sparse and there are not many choices of ales or wine to go with steak. 4. Wine list? What wine list? 5. Once we ordered we were told we could go up to the salad bar. Is this a buffet? A buffet for $40? 6. Our group ordered the Rodizio; as it appears did everyone else in the restaurant. I have had rodizio before, so I assumed this should be much like what we had in the past. Unfortunately, this was more like a haphazard attempt to keep walking around with meat and cutting shavings off to your plate. The meats were okay, nothing that you can't get in any grocery store. Some of the spices were good, but some of the cuts also were gamey. The sausage I had was gritty and seemed like there was some dirt or sand in it. The best part of the night was the company we were with. I am sorry to note that we were disappointed in the food, and hope that this review helps those out there know their expectations when coming here.
(2)Cassie M.
Compared to the other brazilian steak house I reviewed this one had the better salad bar out of the two; many more options including antipasto and there were quite a few dishes to choose from, more like a mini buffet. The meats were good, my favorite is always the lamb anywhere I go! I think the meat was slightly over salted but nonetheless very good. Very friendly staff! Every Brazilian steak house I have gone to has great staff ! And I respect them so much more because there they are lugging and slicing meat for people all night yet still maintain a smile. They understand the meaning of hospitality. Douglas the owner is a very nice guy as well. He is there greeting his guests making them feel welcome. You can learn a lot from.this place
(4)Stefanie T.
I went here with a group after work one day, because we had a large group we made a reservation, but the place wasn't very busy when we got there. For drink we had the Sangria and it was great!! For dinner, since we were all first timers (which I recommend to anyone going there for the first time, but it's a one time only thing in my opinion) we did the "Rodizio" Basically this is what a Brazilian Grille is known for. What you get with this is a buffet that has salad, rice, beans, rolls...but I wouldn't touch that if you order this because after you have some time to consider eating THAT food they start coming around with giant skewers of meat. You get to try 12 different types of meat (one is a chicken heart, so you can choose to include that or not). They come around table side and cut the pieces of meat right at your table for you. There are so many GREAT meats it was amazing. If you find something you really like, no worries they come back around again with the meat, if you somehow manage to save any room for more food. After this meal I was full for the rest of the night and next day, so I felt I got my moneys worth. If you don't feel like filling up on tons of meat they have other items on their menu, but this is what makes this place truly unique. Yes it was a little expensive but that's why it's something I say you only need to try once. This is not a place I would recommend for vegetarians.
(5)Lyd K.
Service was great and the meat was very tasty. Lamb was amazing! I would eat here again.
(4)Shawn B.
This is the first Rodizio in the US I have truly enjoyed and even our friend in from Brazil commented on how authentic the food was. Friendly staff (though a bit slow toward the end with the check etc) and very very good food. You absolutely will not leave hungry but I cannot express how important it will be to have a reservation.
(5)Dan S.
Really fantastic food. Even better service. Went here for Valentine's Day and I got the rodizio. Great choice of meat and everything I had was fresh, tender, juicy and flavorful. The rodizio comes with a salad bar and a "sides" buffet, of which, they had fried plantains. I can sit there all night and eat only that. So good. Would def recommend to anyone who loves meat and trying new things!
(5)Alexandra P.
The environment is really nice as far as decor and lighting and all the employees were very nice and sociable. I had the stuffed flounder which was good but I've had better. It lacked seasoning and there was way too much filling compared to the size of the flounder. My boyfriend had the rodizio and he wasn't completely happy with it. Most of his complaints were about the meat being dry, not tender, and lacking seasoning. This seems more like the type of place to go if you're planning to get tipsy with friends to make up for the mediocre food.
(3)Gilberto R.
The food is delicious. The sangria is ohh sooo refreshingly good!!! And the service was excellent and very friendly, they made us feel welcome. I am definitely coming back.
(5)Eric P.
The Rodizio expererience isn't new to me... you get a card and flip it to green and they bring you endless grilled meats until you flip it to red. I grew up in New York City and have had it all over this country. Platiforma in NYC and the Fogo de Chao are perhaps the two most memorable. With that I wasn't expecting much when one opened up in a little place in Scranton. I was quite shocked to find that they had three particular cuts that are offered up in their Rodizio... the rib eye, the garlic covered sirloin and the skirt steak that are by far, better than any other place i've been to. (If the chicken hearts are cooked right, those are a little bizarre but excellent as well). The buffet is nothing like the big rodizio places but to be honest, their steaks are so good (and they will cook them however you like. I prefer mine Rare... not medium rare and they bring me perfectly Rare!) that i would rather not fill up on the buffet. The price is also half of what the big name rodizio's offer up so don't worry about the side buffet. come for the meat. This place isn't just really good for scranton. This would be a really good restaurant compared to any of my favorite old haunts in NYC
(5)Christina M.
Most get the rodizio. So worth the price and you will leave extremely full and happy. The staff is so nice and want you to keep eating!
(5)Michael A.
Rodizio + Buffet = Amazing The staff is very friendly. The Caipirinha gave me a nice buzz. One of my new favorite restaurants in Scranton.
(5)Eric S.
A carnivore's delight! Get the Rodizio & it's a non-stop barrage of meat. As long as you keep the green light on, the food keeps coming. There is everything from lamb to turkey with all kinds of cuts from other unfortunate beasts in-between. If that's not your speed, they offer delicious paella & other Brazillian specialties. If that were not enough, they have great mixed drinks. The caipirinha comes highly recommended. All in all a true Scranton gem! One of our dining companions who spent some of his formative years in Brazil even attested to its authenticity. So there you go, check it out!
(5)Rob S.
Only place around that can take your breath away with style, service, sangria, and RODIZIO!!! If you have only one night in area or only one chance to impress look no further. Must order the sangria and don't even try ask for recipe because the no you receive will disappoint. Also just do yourself a favor and order the RODIZIO and leave the tumbler on green until you can't take any more because it is all that good!!! This is a must try .... And I must try A lot!!!
(5)Andrea H.
I guess I'm spoiled from big fancy chain Brazilian steakhouses, but that doesn't mean Ipanema isn't great. We went on a Saturday night and sat at the bar because it was that packed, I've never seen so many cars in that small parking lot before and I was born and raised in Scranton. A very small, but intimate, interior, it's definitely not the hole in the wall it looks like from outside. The meat selections were all top notch (except the chicken hearts... I've never seen that one before), but I have to admit I was disappointed when the lamb I waited for all night had so much rosemary I couldn't even begin to taste anything else. The salad bar is much smaller than most other Brazilian steakhouses with less options, but instead it includes the mashed potatoes and Pao de Queijo that most steakhouses only give a little bit of. So props to you, Ipanema, those little cheesy balls are heaven.
(4)Jason S.
I should've done my research before coming here. The food isn't worth the price. I sat at the bar with mediocre hospitality and surrounded by a bunch of obese buffet go-ers. The restaurant is clean, though. Eat here for over priced food and Portuguese talk all around you. (there is no accounting for taste however the food is over cooked in my taste) ***staffers, I realize Portuguese is your native language but it's fairly rude to be having your own conversations you obviously don't want English speakers to hear. At least it's rude in America. Thank you for your time.
(2)Eli J.
Delicioso. As soon as you pull into the parking lot, you can smell the divine meats cooking and your mouth instantly starts watering. Came here with some friends for the meat extravaganza and we were all put into a blissful meat coma when we left. The sides are good, pretty authentic I think, I recommend the palm hearts and fried banana. The caipirinha is really good, the wait staff is friendly and beautiful, and the place is small compared to the chain Brazilian steakhouses, which is nice. Over all, we had a great time and a great meal here, can't wait to go back.
(5)Diane B.
Amazing food and staff. The all you can eat buffet was outstanding. It's about $37 but for the amount of food you get as well as the quality of every meat you are served, I believe that is an extreme fair price. The delicious pineapple that follows your meal is delicious. We will definitely be returning
(5)Bruce M.
Delicious. Parmesan flank steak superb, top sirloin great. Very impressive food for Scranton! Staff extremely nice. Buffet could be bigger, but good enough. The meats make this place, come hungry.
(4)Cody Y.
Went here twice. Both times were EXCEPTIONAL. I got the Rodizio on both occasions which included a nice salad and appetizer bar. I believe it was around 33-36 dollars but it allowed me to try a large number of different meats/steaks (all you can eat). I highly recommend trying this if you go here. The service was as good as it gets. It is quite difficult to leave this place without a smile on your face and a full stomach! It isn't exactly inviting from the outside but it takes nothing away from the wonderful ambience inside. Will be back soon.
(5)Nino C.
Was here 7 years ago. Came back in 2015 and just as good. Get the rodizio if your going to go here. It's hard to pick one meat as the best, they're all excellent. Great service and hospitality. The chicken hearts sound bizarre but you have to try it. Make sure to make a reservation unless you don't mind sitting at the bar.
(5)Josh K.
I wish I could give this place 4.5 stars. Went here with three of my closest friends during our "guys' vacation" this week. We all loved it. A real mom and pop establishment, which is a rare treat for this type of restaurant. We've all been to many such places in NYC, Boston, Philadelphia and elsewhere, and we all agreed the food was as good as at any of those places. The wait-staff were really friendly and genuine, despite what has to be a really tough job. I would highly recommend the Rodizio and the authentic Portuguese drinks. I would definitely go back.
(4)Julia B.
A group of my friends went to this restaurant & it was different from a buffet I've normally been at. I do not mean different in a bad way just a new experience. If you like meat this is the place for you. I'd say if you especially like meat that's cooked medium to medium well it really is your place! Some of my group really preferred well done meat and the cooks made them their own but, some still were not satisfied because it was still pink. The small salad bar buffet with some hot food was a plus though especially for those not satisfied with the meat. It's worth a try you might love it. My favorite part was the end they brought a warmed pineapple with cinnamon sugar.
(3)Manzana Z.
we went for dinner there.everyone goes RODIZIO. I have very little stomach, not until 1 round, I am full. Must go with empty stomach. Love their steak/lamp and chicken hearts. After all meat, at last a beautiful waitress will bring cinnamon pinappple on the skewer as a desert.
(4)Enrique L.
I am brazilian and this is the best rodizio I have eaten in the usa. The quality of the meat is outstanding and the seasoning is perfect. The customer service is out of this world. I will come back every time I am in town.
(5)Amy C.
This is the second time I have been to Ipanema for their signature meal. The Brazilian steakhouse experience is very different from a traditional American steakhouse, but so worth it. The multitude of deliciously roasted meat is a carnivores dream. The meats are tender, succulent and well seasoned. The buffet offerings had some unusual sides such as fried bananas and tiny rolls and more traditional hot and cold dishes. Some one in the kitchen has a liberal hand with the garlic that was somewhat shocking but still delicious to me, though I could imagine others may find it off putting. My main complaints have to do with the size if the restaurant and the awkward arraignment of the buffet, it is stuck in a corner with no obvious flow pattern as the plates are in the corner. Also, you feel as if you are intruding on other patrons when you access the buffet, the rooms are very tight.
(4)Rebecca D.
A-MAZ-ING. Great staff, fast service, fun and sooooo good. The bacon wrapped turkey and sirloin are my favorite. The sides bar is fully stocked and has a good assortment of salads and sides. The grilled marinated artichoke hearts are phenomenal. Their Sangria is yummy. the only negative about this place is the small size. on a crowded night its a bit uncomfortable as you are elbow to elbow and everyone can hear everyone conversations.
(5)Mikhail V.
Awesome Rodizio with excellent Sangria to top it off. Meat cooked to perfection for all likes. On Saturday reservations are a must because from what we saw the place is packed.
(5)Heath L.
We went here as an in between travel point for our party of 3 in mid January. I had never been to a Brazilian Steakhouse before and was assured by my fellow diners that it was authentic. All of the meats were very nice and the salads were too. I really liked the fact that the place was not totally remodeled, it still had some nuances of whatever it was years ago. I like places with character and history, and this place reflects that. It's a smaller place but comfortable and inviting. I would highly recommend it!
(4)Bob H.
I have been here several times and I always get the rodizio. It may be on the expensive side but you definitely get what you pay for. It includes a variety of well seasoned meats which are carved onto your plate. One of my favorites is chicken hearts which are hard to find. You also get to visit the buffet which has all kinds of delicious and interesting Brazilian salads and appetizers. I also suggest trying a capharina (sp?), which is a drink made with sugar cane. It is very refreshing. The staff makes you feel so welcome and they truly seem to enjoy taking care of their guests.
(5)Byron R.
I have been wanting to try this place for awhile and finally got the chance last night. Good was very good. I would have given it 5 stars but I don't like buffets and your sides and salad are at a buffet so I have to stick with 4stars. The decor is average and the place was a lot smaller than I thought it was going to be. Definitely a must try in Scranton!
(4)Rachel B.
The food was AMAZING!!! Incredible service! If you leave here hungry it's your own fault. What a gem in the Scranton area. Will definitely be returning. Give this place a try you won't be sorry!
(5)Kris R.
Excellent experience Saturday night 1/17/15!!! Food is amazing, definitely a place to take the "Meatasaurus" of the family. The drinks were great, Sangria, Caipirinha (Rum), Caiparoska (Vodka), and the bartender was very nice. The wait staff and servers were top notch & very polite, a refreshing change once in awhile. The different cuts of meat were each fantastic, with their signature taste, prepared to your choosing of doneness. The salad/sides bar was also kept very fresh, the staff kept tending to it every 3-5 minutes. Go, Go, Go!!! Make reservations, arrive 30 Min early to have drinks at the bar and prepare for the amazing meat consumption!!! We will be back!
(5)Vinny L.
Came here with my girlfriend and absolutely loved it. For $35 per person we got to sample all the different meats they offered us, including a chicken heart! The pitcher of sangria was delicious as well. Definitely an out of the box type of experience which makes for a fun and eventful evening. Definitely recommended!
(5)Ryan T.
Very good! I spent quite a bit of time in Brasil last year and this place comes very close to delivering a similar experience. Food was of high quality, service great and the surroundings were nice and unpretentious. I will go back next time I am in town. Peace out.
(5)Mike P.
First time there and it was amazing. Staff was great and food was awesome!!! Get the Rodizio for sure they just keep bringing the food. It's like unlimited meats!!
(5)Bok K.
By far, my favorite restaurant in the Scranton area and the place I shall miss the most now that I'm not visiting the area. One dinner I'll remember isn't so much about the food but the service-- I was dining with my family and the place was packed during an early dinner. The owner, Douglas, wasn't there but his two main lady servers were running the place and it was amazing to watch them work with what seemed like telepathic coordination. These guys really have it together! Having said that, here's a tip-- when you're pulling into the restaurant parking lot and it's REALLY full, which I've noticed happen on some Tuesdays, then the restaurant could be *very* busy that (regardless whether you have a reservation or not) the pace slows and you could be waiting minutes between meats. The workaround-- instead of ordering the rodizio when you see the place is full, have the skirt steak entree (see picture). What you'll get is at least 16 oz of a most flavorful and succulent skirt steak that you won't miss the rodizio, honest! Or at least in my case, this gives me another excuse to return during the week for the rodizio :) From the rodizio, my favorites are rib eye, skirt steak, top round, both types of sirloin and lamb. Less a fan of the bacon wrapped filet, turkey, chicken leg and heart, pork loin but then I really come here for the beef. Compared to other churrascaria's I've been to, Ipanema Grille doesn't rush you and the owners really try to make this place special. Given the food and drinks, service and vibe... oh yeah, that all important "vibe," Ipanema Grille has really hit it out of the ballpark.
(5)Shawn B.
This is the first Rodizio in the US I have truly enjoyed and even our friend in from Brazil commented on how authentic the food was. Friendly staff (though a bit slow toward the end with the check etc) and very very good food. You absolutely will not leave hungry but I cannot express how important it will be to have a reservation.
(5)Ashley L.
A family owned restaurant great service.Great food the steak is amazing. you must order the rodizo sample all the meats on the menu. Tuesday specials on sangria pitcher.
(5)Megan M.
Be prepared to wait for a LONG time to be seated for dinner at peak times. Even though we had a 7:00 reservation on a Saturday night, we weren't seated until 7:45. That aside, the owner of the restaurant is incredibly friendly and was very hands-on with front-of-the-house duties, which made us feel very welcomed. The appetizer buffet had a decent spread of fried rice, salad, pasta, potatoes, among other things, and a few desserts. But, the star of the show is the restaurants rodizio dinner. The restaurant offers 13 different cuts of meat and the majority of them are well-cooked, tender, and scrumptious. The most memorable cuts were the sirloin with garlic, the peppered roast beef, and the bacon wrapped turkey. Cinnamon covered pineapple was included as the dessert with the rodizio dinner and that finishing touch was delicious as well. Overall, I think the Ipanema Grille is a great alternative to the slew of Italian and chain restaurants that are typical of the Scranton area. I definitely plan on eating here again the next time I'm in town.
(4)Gilberto R.
The food is delicious. The sangria is ohh sooo refreshingly good!!! And the service was excellent and very friendly, they made us feel welcome. I am definitely coming back.
(5)Heather D.
Birthday dinner. The night was cold, and the parking lot was 99% full. I dressed up, but there were patrons in jeans and sweaters. There were 2 children, but the rest of the patrons were adults, and most of them were large groups (6+) seated at tables. We did not have reservations on Saturday night, so we sat at the bar, which turned out to be a great situation. I'm fluent in Portuguese, and I had a fantastic time chatting with the servers as they stopped at the bar. I came out of the dining experience with new friends and a strong desire to come back as soon as possible for the outstanding food and the incredibly friendly service. When they mysteriously found out it was my birthday (cough cough husband after a few caipirinhas) they turned the lights off and brought me out a passion fruit mousse (mousse de maracuja!) with a candle in it and "Happy Birthday" drawn on the plate in strawberry jam. The people, from the ever-smiling bartender Thailane to the endless meat carvers were so remarkably friendly, I couldn't stop smiling. I cannot stress enough how sweet the staff is, and dining here will not only fill you up but *cheer* you up as well! I ate as many meats as I could, which were fabulous and worth the price, but I also really enjoyed the salads bar. The pao de queijo (cheese bread rolls) were delicious, and the variety of upscale veggies was enjoyable, particularly the palm hearts (a Brazilian classic!) and the asparagus. I also recommend the manchego and other hard cheeses that were out for the taking, as they complement the meats so well. For dessert, my favorite is the passion fruit mousse (10 stars!), but I think the chocolate cake was also the best I've ever had. Sure, I'm nostalgic for Brazilians and Brazilian food, but my husband who is not very adventurous but loves his meat and potatoes said this was the best dining experience he's ever had. Try the guarana soda with your dinner too; it tastes like blueberries, and it's a nice bit of pep if you're feeling sluggish after a huge meal! I can't say that this experience was anything less than perfect.
(5)Eric P.
The Rodizio expererience isn't new to me... you get a card and flip it to green and they bring you endless grilled meats until you flip it to red. I grew up in New York City and have had it all over this country. Platiforma in NYC and the Fogo de Chao are perhaps the two most memorable. With that I wasn't expecting much when one opened up in a little place in Scranton. I was quite shocked to find that they had three particular cuts that are offered up in their Rodizio... the rib eye, the garlic covered sirloin and the skirt steak that are by far, better than any other place i've been to. (If the chicken hearts are cooked right, those are a little bizarre but excellent as well). The buffet is nothing like the big rodizio places but to be honest, their steaks are so good (and they will cook them however you like. I prefer mine Rare... not medium rare and they bring me perfectly Rare!) that i would rather not fill up on the buffet. The price is also half of what the big name rodizio's offer up so don't worry about the side buffet. come for the meat. This place isn't just really good for scranton. This would be a really good restaurant compared to any of my favorite old haunts in NYC
(5)Rodney D.
This is the ultimate man restaurant. If you love red meat this is your place. When I came here to eat I started fasting the day before. My wife & I had a dinner reservation for 8:30pm. We arrived 30 minutes early & the restaurant was jam packed. My only complaint is this restaurant is way too small so if your a former Army Vet like myself this makes you feel closed in. I'm glad my waitress seated us close to the door so we had space to maneuver. Get the Rodizio you won't be disappointed. Place your flipper on green & let them bring the meat out. The buffet has a very nice selection but just take very small portions to leave room for all 13 types of meat. The Sangria & Caipirinha are awesome. I highly recommend them both. Enjoy! I will be here in August for my birthday so I will see you guys there :D
(4)Mark J.
Dining date January 11, 2014 for dinner. Excellent food and service. Meat very well seasoned. Buffett bar had excellent selection. Beer selection a bit lacking. Decor a bit dated, but overall a nice experience.
(4)Rich M.
Absolutely, the best steak you are going to eat, and plenty of it. Service is great, food is always on point, delicious!!!
(5)Carol I.
My fiance is an original customer of this restaurant and ate there countless times. He is very friendly with the two owners. Due to personal reasons he hadn't eaten there in over a year and finally went a couple of days ago with one of his adult sons. Although greeted very warmly and welcomed back he was slightly disappointed in the menu changes that have occurred. The short ribs and the pork ribs are no longer served with the Ridizio. The turkey-wrapped bacon is now done with chicken and is not as good. Also, the meat lacked a lot of the seasoning it used to have and he now found it rather bland. Furthermore, the price for the Ridizio has now almost doubled. All in all a rather disappointing dining experience there compared to what he was used to in the past.
(3)Richie B.
We went there last night for our one year anniversary and it was wonderful. The food was delicious, the service was fantastic and the overall ambience was great. The only gripe that I would eve have on this place is that they are a little smaller than other steakhouses I've been to and that they don't have one closer to us! But they certainly make up for what they lack in size with the quality of their food and service... Awesome job guys and you are definitely worth the hour drive for us to come back to real soon!!
(5)Angela G.
A small, but nicely decorated spot - I came here with a large group of friends and the service was excellent, especially considering there were twelve of us and we we pretty much paying separately. The caprianias were very good and I enjoyed the selection at the "sides" bar - my favorites were the fried polenta, seasoned rice, and cheese rolls. They even had habanero peppers in oil! All of the meat was seasoned wonderfully and incredibly tender. The lamb in particular was some of the best I've had in years. And yes, I did eat a bite of a chicken heart... it tasted like chicken. Haha. Anyway, I would recommend this place for a group or for a date night. The prices were high (but fair, considering what you get), so I don't think I would come here on a weekly basis, but rather as a special treat.
(4)Joe R.
I have used the Ipanema twice on my drives between the East coast and the Mid-West, taking different co-pilots here on those 1000 mile drives. We have all agreed. This is some great food at a good restaurant. Make a reservation; we did the first time, walked in to a half filled restaurant, and wondered what the big deal was. By the time our salad/appetizers had left the table, the restaurant was packed, the energy was high, and we were GLAD we had called ahead. We have always just gotten dishes off the menu, and been very happy. Short jaunt off the highway. And worth the stop.
(4)Natalie B.
My friends and I were up by Scranton celebrating a friend's birthday with a weekend of skiing, so we stopped by Ipanema Grille for dinner one night. We had a huge group - 2 tables of 10. Almost all of us paid $30 for the Rodizio, which is all you can eat of 12 meats cooked different ways. Our servers were very nice and pretty quick, and we even got a free pitcher of sangria. It all sounds great in theory, however, I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. First of all, they bring the meats out in a particular order. We started with pork and chicken. They didn't start bringing out the beef (the more expensive meat) until a little later, when you've had time to fill up on everything else. The pork and chicken were pretty average. Some notable ones were the the chicken heart, which tastes just like liver (that could be good or bad, depending on your feelings about liver), and the pork loin was super dry. All of the beef was tasty. My favorites were the garlic steak and sirloin. We finished the meal with slices of grilled pineapple covered in cinnamon sugar. The sangria is certainly delicious, but my one complaint is that there's tons of ice in the pitcher, which means there's less room for actual liquid. The ice then falls into your glass and onto your face as you try to drink it (at least that was my experience). I liked that there were also little chunks of sangria-soaked fruit in it. Maybe I'm just spoiled by the other Brazilian steakhouses I've been to, where everything was phenomenal, but I just wasn't that impressed with Ipanema Grille. It has solid food and friendly service, but it could be better.
(3)John L.
I've always been a big fan of family-owned ethnic restaurants and Ipanema grille is another great Scranton find in this category. I went to a lunch buffet with the family and was very pleased with the restaurant, service and food. In the evenings they have a Rodizio (sp?) which is basically an all you can eat meat buffet where they bring the meat table side. I used to eat at the Brazilian places in NYC on 46th or 47th st. and Ipanema grille was almost to that caliber. The beans and the beef were both good and the prices for the buffet (especially w/kids) were very reasonable.
(4)matt c.
Amazing flavor on the ridiculous amount/variety of meat. Hopefully they can stay open since I don't see many people there. This place rocks
(5)Andrea H.
I guess I'm spoiled from big fancy chain Brazilian steakhouses, but that doesn't mean Ipanema isn't great. We went on a Saturday night and sat at the bar because it was that packed, I've never seen so many cars in that small parking lot before and I was born and raised in Scranton. A very small, but intimate, interior, it's definitely not the hole in the wall it looks like from outside. The meat selections were all top notch (except the chicken hearts... I've never seen that one before), but I have to admit I was disappointed when the lamb I waited for all night had so much rosemary I couldn't even begin to taste anything else. The salad bar is much smaller than most other Brazilian steakhouses with less options, but instead it includes the mashed potatoes and Pao de Queijo that most steakhouses only give a little bit of. So props to you, Ipanema, those little cheesy balls are heaven.
(4)Jason S.
I should've done my research before coming here. The food isn't worth the price. I sat at the bar with mediocre hospitality and surrounded by a bunch of obese buffet go-ers. The restaurant is clean, though. Eat here for over priced food and Portuguese talk all around you. (there is no accounting for taste however the food is over cooked in my taste) ***staffers, I realize Portuguese is your native language but it's fairly rude to be having your own conversations you obviously don't want English speakers to hear. At least it's rude in America. Thank you for your time.
(2)Eli J.
Delicioso. As soon as you pull into the parking lot, you can smell the divine meats cooking and your mouth instantly starts watering. Came here with some friends for the meat extravaganza and we were all put into a blissful meat coma when we left. The sides are good, pretty authentic I think, I recommend the palm hearts and fried banana. The caipirinha is really good, the wait staff is friendly and beautiful, and the place is small compared to the chain Brazilian steakhouses, which is nice. Over all, we had a great time and a great meal here, can't wait to go back.
(5)Diane B.
Amazing food and staff. The all you can eat buffet was outstanding. It's about $37 but for the amount of food you get as well as the quality of every meat you are served, I believe that is an extreme fair price. The delicious pineapple that follows your meal is delicious. We will definitely be returning
(5)Bruce M.
Delicious. Parmesan flank steak superb, top sirloin great. Very impressive food for Scranton! Staff extremely nice. Buffet could be bigger, but good enough. The meats make this place, come hungry.
(4)Cody Y.
Went here twice. Both times were EXCEPTIONAL. I got the Rodizio on both occasions which included a nice salad and appetizer bar. I believe it was around 33-36 dollars but it allowed me to try a large number of different meats/steaks (all you can eat). I highly recommend trying this if you go here. The service was as good as it gets. It is quite difficult to leave this place without a smile on your face and a full stomach! It isn't exactly inviting from the outside but it takes nothing away from the wonderful ambience inside. Will be back soon.
(5)Julia B.
A group of my friends went to this restaurant & it was different from a buffet I've normally been at. I do not mean different in a bad way just a new experience. If you like meat this is the place for you. I'd say if you especially like meat that's cooked medium to medium well it really is your place! Some of my group really preferred well done meat and the cooks made them their own but, some still were not satisfied because it was still pink. The small salad bar buffet with some hot food was a plus though especially for those not satisfied with the meat. It's worth a try you might love it. My favorite part was the end they brought a warmed pineapple with cinnamon sugar.
(3)Manzana Z.
we went for dinner there.everyone goes RODIZIO. I have very little stomach, not until 1 round, I am full. Must go with empty stomach. Love their steak/lamp and chicken hearts. After all meat, at last a beautiful waitress will bring cinnamon pinappple on the skewer as a desert.
(4)Enrique L.
I am brazilian and this is the best rodizio I have eaten in the usa. The quality of the meat is outstanding and the seasoning is perfect. The customer service is out of this world. I will come back every time I am in town.
(5)Amy C.
This is the second time I have been to Ipanema for their signature meal. The Brazilian steakhouse experience is very different from a traditional American steakhouse, but so worth it. The multitude of deliciously roasted meat is a carnivores dream. The meats are tender, succulent and well seasoned. The buffet offerings had some unusual sides such as fried bananas and tiny rolls and more traditional hot and cold dishes. Some one in the kitchen has a liberal hand with the garlic that was somewhat shocking but still delicious to me, though I could imagine others may find it off putting. My main complaints have to do with the size if the restaurant and the awkward arraignment of the buffet, it is stuck in a corner with no obvious flow pattern as the plates are in the corner. Also, you feel as if you are intruding on other patrons when you access the buffet, the rooms are very tight.
(4)Rebecca D.
A-MAZ-ING. Great staff, fast service, fun and sooooo good. The bacon wrapped turkey and sirloin are my favorite. The sides bar is fully stocked and has a good assortment of salads and sides. The grilled marinated artichoke hearts are phenomenal. Their Sangria is yummy. the only negative about this place is the small size. on a crowded night its a bit uncomfortable as you are elbow to elbow and everyone can hear everyone conversations.
(5)Mikhail V.
Awesome Rodizio with excellent Sangria to top it off. Meat cooked to perfection for all likes. On Saturday reservations are a must because from what we saw the place is packed.
(5)Heath L.
We went here as an in between travel point for our party of 3 in mid January. I had never been to a Brazilian Steakhouse before and was assured by my fellow diners that it was authentic. All of the meats were very nice and the salads were too. I really liked the fact that the place was not totally remodeled, it still had some nuances of whatever it was years ago. I like places with character and history, and this place reflects that. It's a smaller place but comfortable and inviting. I would highly recommend it!
(4)Bob H.
I have been here several times and I always get the rodizio. It may be on the expensive side but you definitely get what you pay for. It includes a variety of well seasoned meats which are carved onto your plate. One of my favorites is chicken hearts which are hard to find. You also get to visit the buffet which has all kinds of delicious and interesting Brazilian salads and appetizers. I also suggest trying a capharina (sp?), which is a drink made with sugar cane. It is very refreshing. The staff makes you feel so welcome and they truly seem to enjoy taking care of their guests.
(5)Byron R.
I have been wanting to try this place for awhile and finally got the chance last night. Good was very good. I would have given it 5 stars but I don't like buffets and your sides and salad are at a buffet so I have to stick with 4stars. The decor is average and the place was a lot smaller than I thought it was going to be. Definitely a must try in Scranton!
(4)Rachel B.
The food was AMAZING!!! Incredible service! If you leave here hungry it's your own fault. What a gem in the Scranton area. Will definitely be returning. Give this place a try you won't be sorry!
(5)Kris R.
Excellent experience Saturday night 1/17/15!!! Food is amazing, definitely a place to take the "Meatasaurus" of the family. The drinks were great, Sangria, Caipirinha (Rum), Caiparoska (Vodka), and the bartender was very nice. The wait staff and servers were top notch & very polite, a refreshing change once in awhile. The different cuts of meat were each fantastic, with their signature taste, prepared to your choosing of doneness. The salad/sides bar was also kept very fresh, the staff kept tending to it every 3-5 minutes. Go, Go, Go!!! Make reservations, arrive 30 Min early to have drinks at the bar and prepare for the amazing meat consumption!!! We will be back!
(5)Kim M.
This is the second time I've gone to a Brazillian steakhouse with the Rodizio option (all you can eat meat brought to you in skewers), and while this experience wasn't bad due to good service, the food wasn't as good as I would have hoped. After a day of snowboarding, our group of 20+ showed up early for a 5pm dinner. Almost all of us ordered the Rodizio and pitchers of sangria. The sangria was great! The Rodizio comes with unlimited buffet options which include vegetables, rice, salad, beans, potato salad, hot wings (weird to have this, in my opinion), some type of fish that looked like dried out tilapia, and pasta salad. I tried a good deal of the offerings from the buffet bar and wasn't too impressed with anything I had there. The Rodizio started so I swapped my focus to the meat. We were brought out a series of meat that ranged from meh to good. I didn't taste anything I would label delicious and wasn't clamboring over myself to try to track down the waitress with that particular skewer. I tried all but one of the meats and all were average. I was pretty disappointed they were bringing us out the non-beef meats first (chicken, sausage, and variants thereof) to fill us up on those before bringing out the sirloins or roasts. For some reason, after 5-6 meats were served our waitresses went MIA for a long time and we were all sitting meatless and oh so sad. I won't rephrase what everyone else has already said, but to summarize: the food was average, the service was generally friendly and good, but the quality of the meat was lower than Fogo de Chao (a Bazillian steakhouse that does it 100% right in Philadelphia). The price is right at $36 for the Rodizio, but I'd still rather pay $35 during restaurant week to go to Fogo in Center City.
(3)Kevin B.
This is probably my favorite restaurant in the Scranton area. The service is superb, the drinks are great, and the food is some of the best I have ever had in my life. Definitely get the rodizio, you won't go wrong!!
(5)Elizabeth M.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in the city. The Rodizio is amazing, but you had better be hungry! The sangria is so good you'll want to dive into the pitcher. The staff is very friendly & incredibly helpful when you want to know about anything on the menu. The desserts are great too. I must admit that I had to eat a small meal & then I could eat dessert when I went, otherwise you are WAY too full. The lunches are just as awesome!
(5)Ben D.
My wife and I were passing through Scranton on our way north and I have been meaning to try this place, so it worked out great. Make reservations for the weekend for sure, maybe even on a weekday because their dining room is rather small. We sat at a table for two in the middle of the dining room and people had to kinda squeeze by on either side as they passed. It was pretty noticeable at first but once you get going into your meal it wasn't that bad. We normally wouldn't order two appetizers but I doubt we'll get back to this place anytime soon so we figured what the heck. We got the yucca fries with some kind of sausage and it was fabulous. The fries were tasty and fresh and not very oily or salty so you could really get the flavor of the yucca. The sausage was pretty dang good as well We also had to order the chicken hearts. If I'm being honest, that was the main reason we were there. Not many places have chicken hearts on the menu so how could you not indulge. What I wasn't expecting was for them to bring out like 30 or 40! hearts on a plate with a little lettuce on the side. They tasted good I guess, I don't really have anything to compare it to though. It was interesting, and I suggest you give em a try if you've never had them. Maybe ask if they do half portions of the apps. We didn't get the rodizio, and I think we may have been the only ones in the place that didn't. All the meats they were walking around with looked wonderful but I got the new york strip and my wife got the shrimp and scallop kabob. They were both pretty good. Nothing outstanding but the steak was well cooked. I thought my wifes seafood was a bit overcooked but she didn't think so and really enjoyed it. Overall, we had a great time. They had some lively Brazilian music playing which added to the atmosphere. The servers were all fabulous and helped each other out as one would expect from a place with 4 1/2 yelp stars. I loved it and would go back again if I'm back in the area.
(4)Dan R.
I was very excited to find a Brazillian steakhouse in the area. A worker at the Everhart Museum had suggested it as a unique dining experience. I arrived to place my to-go order and waited till it was ready. That evening Brazil was playing Ivory Coast in the World Cup and there was a large party there with everyone wearing their teams jerseys. The Mixed Grille (Churrasco Mixto) was delicious, it consisted of pork, beef, sausage & chicken along with a small salad. It was around 18.00 and piping hot. We also ordered the feijoada which is a black bean stew with meat & veggies mixed together (15.00) Overall a great experience, Im a huge fan of Brazillian food, a la the Churasqueria's in Northern Jersey. They have a all you can eat buffet (rodizio) in the evening. they accept VISA, mastercard and have a private parking lot on the side.
(4)Meaghan S.
The rodizio is amazing! Make sure you bring an appetite because the food seems never ending! Everything is wonderful and it's a cute little place. If you love meat, this is the place for you!
(5)Bok K.
By far, my favorite restaurant in the Scranton area and the place I shall miss the most now that I'm not visiting the area. One dinner I'll remember isn't so much about the food but the service-- I was dining with my family and the place was packed during an early dinner. The owner, Douglas, wasn't there but his two main lady servers were running the place and it was amazing to watch them work with what seemed like telepathic coordination. These guys really have it together! Having said that, here's a tip-- when you're pulling into the restaurant parking lot and it's REALLY full, which I've noticed happen on some Tuesdays, then the restaurant could be *very* busy that (regardless whether you have a reservation or not) the pace slows and you could be waiting minutes between meats. The workaround-- instead of ordering the rodizio when you see the place is full, have the skirt steak entree (see picture). What you'll get is at least 16 oz of a most flavorful and succulent skirt steak that you won't miss the rodizio, honest! Or at least in my case, this gives me another excuse to return during the week for the rodizio :) From the rodizio, my favorites are rib eye, skirt steak, top round, both types of sirloin and lamb. Less a fan of the bacon wrapped filet, turkey, chicken leg and heart, pork loin but then I really come here for the beef. Compared to other churrascaria's I've been to, Ipanema Grille doesn't rush you and the owners really try to make this place special. Given the food and drinks, service and vibe... oh yeah, that all important "vibe," Ipanema Grille has really hit it out of the ballpark.
(5)Jason S.
What a great experience. This was my first time at a Brazilian steak house and you can color me impressed. The restaurant was surprisingly full at 8:30PM on a Saturday and we had to wait about 10 min for a table. The atmosphere was lively and the staff was very friendly. We had the Rodizio (all you can eat Brazilian meat). I actually tried a chicken heart, which was excellent. And finished up with a wonderful banana crepe for desert. Great experience. We can't wait to go back.
(4)Patti B.
While visiting our son on the east coast, our son mentioned that he had never been to a Brazilian Barbeque and there wasn't one near where he lived. We were meeting friends for an evening of fun in Scranton and found that there was such a place in Scranton. Learning this, our son decided he'd join us and we'd go to Ipanema Grille for dinner. This is a family owned business that has been open since 2008. When we travel we really like to eat local, so this was a win-win choice all the way around. When we arrived just before 8 pm on a Sunday evening, the place was packed. Luckily we had called ahead and made a reservation, so we were shown right to our table. We all ordered Rodizio and shared a pitcher of Sangria. The food and drink were absolutely delicious. The staff was fun and friendly and it was very apparent that they enjoyed doing what they do. They kept us well supplied by bringing new meat selections every 5 minutes or so. I have to add that my husband and I had eaten at Chima in Ft. Lauderdale, and this place was a far cry better than that and 1/3 the price. The owner, Douglas, is a very kind man who is hands on with business operations. He works as hard as his staff and it is apparent that he appreciates them and treats them very well.
(5)Daren S.
Oh dear god the meat, the meat, bring me more meat. It was all incredible. Try the Caipirinhas, it will blow your mind. Sweet-Sour liquor heaven.
(5)Brian L.
Pretty awesome! MEAT CITY,USA and YOU get to be the Mayor! But I also have some veggie pals that go here a lot too Friendly staff, I can't believe it exists in North Scranton!
(4)Che P.
This is a great brazilian steak house. The Churrascaria service was @ $29 when we were there; 12 different types of meat were carved table side; all amazing! The yellow rice was spicy & delicious. David, our server, was excellent!! The desserts were amazing too!
(5)Megan M.
Having been to many Brazilian restaurants in other states, I was pleasantly surprises to find one in scranton. Like almost everyone else that reviewed this place I got the buffet and all you can eat meat. The meat you start with depends on what they are rotating with when you get there. There are a lot of meat, so if you want you can be choosy on the first time around, they will be back. I highly recommend the flank steak, lamb and sirloin were my favorite. However everything was good. We also had the sangria, which was the best I had in town. Although I did not have room for desert, I saw someone else get the banana crepe which appeared to be their version of bananas foster, it looked good and smelled great...maybe next time I'll save room...maybe
(5)Chantel B.
Show up hungry, don't bother to order anything to eat other than the cavalcade of meat (aka Rodizio), and sip on some sangria.
(5)Gabe A.
It's a really great restaurant, the food there is phenomenal!
(5)Ashley L.
A family owned restaurant great service.Great food the steak is amazing. you must order the rodizo sample all the meats on the menu. Tuesday specials on sangria pitcher.
(5)Megan M.
Be prepared to wait for a LONG time to be seated for dinner at peak times. Even though we had a 7:00 reservation on a Saturday night, we weren't seated until 7:45. That aside, the owner of the restaurant is incredibly friendly and was very hands-on with front-of-the-house duties, which made us feel very welcomed. The appetizer buffet had a decent spread of fried rice, salad, pasta, potatoes, among other things, and a few desserts. But, the star of the show is the restaurants rodizio dinner. The restaurant offers 13 different cuts of meat and the majority of them are well-cooked, tender, and scrumptious. The most memorable cuts were the sirloin with garlic, the peppered roast beef, and the bacon wrapped turkey. Cinnamon covered pineapple was included as the dessert with the rodizio dinner and that finishing touch was delicious as well. Overall, I think the Ipanema Grille is a great alternative to the slew of Italian and chain restaurants that are typical of the Scranton area. I definitely plan on eating here again the next time I'm in town.
(4)Vinny L.
Came here with my girlfriend and absolutely loved it. For $35 per person we got to sample all the different meats they offered us, including a chicken heart! The pitcher of sangria was delicious as well. Definitely an out of the box type of experience which makes for a fun and eventful evening. Definitely recommended!
(5)Ryan T.
Very good! I spent quite a bit of time in Brasil last year and this place comes very close to delivering a similar experience. Food was of high quality, service great and the surroundings were nice and unpretentious. I will go back next time I am in town. Peace out.
(5)Larry L.
Possibly the best restaurant in Scranton. The Rodizio is amazing as are the sangria and other drinks. The staff is very friendly and make sure that you don't leave hungry. They also make sure you glass doesn't go empty. I would suggest calling ahead as every time I have been there this place has been packed. If you're looking for a fun place to eat and have a great time look no further.
(5)Mike P.
First time there and it was amazing. Staff was great and food was awesome!!! Get the Rodizio for sure they just keep bringing the food. It's like unlimited meats!!
(5)Joe R.
I have used the Ipanema twice on my drives between the East coast and the Mid-West, taking different co-pilots here on those 1000 mile drives. We have all agreed. This is some great food at a good restaurant. Make a reservation; we did the first time, walked in to a half filled restaurant, and wondered what the big deal was. By the time our salad/appetizers had left the table, the restaurant was packed, the energy was high, and we were GLAD we had called ahead. We have always just gotten dishes off the menu, and been very happy. Short jaunt off the highway. And worth the stop.
(4)Heather D.
Birthday dinner. The night was cold, and the parking lot was 99% full. I dressed up, but there were patrons in jeans and sweaters. There were 2 children, but the rest of the patrons were adults, and most of them were large groups (6+) seated at tables. We did not have reservations on Saturday night, so we sat at the bar, which turned out to be a great situation. I'm fluent in Portuguese, and I had a fantastic time chatting with the servers as they stopped at the bar. I came out of the dining experience with new friends and a strong desire to come back as soon as possible for the outstanding food and the incredibly friendly service. When they mysteriously found out it was my birthday (cough cough husband after a few caipirinhas) they turned the lights off and brought me out a passion fruit mousse (mousse de maracuja!) with a candle in it and "Happy Birthday" drawn on the plate in strawberry jam. The people, from the ever-smiling bartender Thailane to the endless meat carvers were so remarkably friendly, I couldn't stop smiling. I cannot stress enough how sweet the staff is, and dining here will not only fill you up but *cheer* you up as well! I ate as many meats as I could, which were fabulous and worth the price, but I also really enjoyed the salads bar. The pao de queijo (cheese bread rolls) were delicious, and the variety of upscale veggies was enjoyable, particularly the palm hearts (a Brazilian classic!) and the asparagus. I also recommend the manchego and other hard cheeses that were out for the taking, as they complement the meats so well. For dessert, my favorite is the passion fruit mousse (10 stars!), but I think the chocolate cake was also the best I've ever had. Sure, I'm nostalgic for Brazilians and Brazilian food, but my husband who is not very adventurous but loves his meat and potatoes said this was the best dining experience he's ever had. Try the guarana soda with your dinner too; it tastes like blueberries, and it's a nice bit of pep if you're feeling sluggish after a huge meal! I can't say that this experience was anything less than perfect.
(5)Rodney D.
This is the ultimate man restaurant. If you love red meat this is your place. When I came here to eat I started fasting the day before. My wife & I had a dinner reservation for 8:30pm. We arrived 30 minutes early & the restaurant was jam packed. My only complaint is this restaurant is way too small so if your a former Army Vet like myself this makes you feel closed in. I'm glad my waitress seated us close to the door so we had space to maneuver. Get the Rodizio you won't be disappointed. Place your flipper on green & let them bring the meat out. The buffet has a very nice selection but just take very small portions to leave room for all 13 types of meat. The Sangria & Caipirinha are awesome. I highly recommend them both. Enjoy! I will be here in August for my birthday so I will see you guys there :D
(4)Mark J.
Dining date January 11, 2014 for dinner. Excellent food and service. Meat very well seasoned. Buffett bar had excellent selection. Beer selection a bit lacking. Decor a bit dated, but overall a nice experience.
(4)Rich M.
Absolutely, the best steak you are going to eat, and plenty of it. Service is great, food is always on point, delicious!!!
(5)Carol I.
My fiance is an original customer of this restaurant and ate there countless times. He is very friendly with the two owners. Due to personal reasons he hadn't eaten there in over a year and finally went a couple of days ago with one of his adult sons. Although greeted very warmly and welcomed back he was slightly disappointed in the menu changes that have occurred. The short ribs and the pork ribs are no longer served with the Ridizio. The turkey-wrapped bacon is now done with chicken and is not as good. Also, the meat lacked a lot of the seasoning it used to have and he now found it rather bland. Furthermore, the price for the Ridizio has now almost doubled. All in all a rather disappointing dining experience there compared to what he was used to in the past.
(3)J W.
What standards do you have to give this place 5 stars, or even 3 or 4? If this is a steakhouse, how does it compare to other steakhouses? How is their service? Does everyone order the SAME thing when here? Is it more of a Buffet or a sit down Steakhouse with an amazing wine list? Unfortunately, from the reviews posted here, my expectations were extremely high. Sadly, Scranton doesn't have much to offer, but I don't' think that should factor into a star rating. Let's get real. 1. The location is great. Good parking on the side and easily accessed from major roads. 2. The interior is small - very small. The lighting is dark, but that is expected - and welcomed - as the interior leaves much to be desired when it comes to decor. 1980's? Needs to be refreshed and updated. 3. The bar offerings are sparse and there are not many choices of ales or wine to go with steak. 4. Wine list? What wine list? 5. Once we ordered we were told we could go up to the salad bar. Is this a buffet? A buffet for $40? 6. Our group ordered the Rodizio; as it appears did everyone else in the restaurant. I have had rodizio before, so I assumed this should be much like what we had in the past. Unfortunately, this was more like a haphazard attempt to keep walking around with meat and cutting shavings off to your plate. The meats were okay, nothing that you can't get in any grocery store. Some of the spices were good, but some of the cuts also were gamey. The sausage I had was gritty and seemed like there was some dirt or sand in it. The best part of the night was the company we were with. I am sorry to note that we were disappointed in the food, and hope that this review helps those out there know their expectations when coming here.
(2)Christina M.
Most get the rodizio. So worth the price and you will leave extremely full and happy. The staff is so nice and want you to keep eating!
(5)Cassie M.
Compared to the other brazilian steak house I reviewed this one had the better salad bar out of the two; many more options including antipasto and there were quite a few dishes to choose from, more like a mini buffet. The meats were good, my favorite is always the lamb anywhere I go! I think the meat was slightly over salted but nonetheless very good. Very friendly staff! Every Brazilian steak house I have gone to has great staff ! And I respect them so much more because there they are lugging and slicing meat for people all night yet still maintain a smile. They understand the meaning of hospitality. Douglas the owner is a very nice guy as well. He is there greeting his guests making them feel welcome. You can learn a lot from.this place
(4)Ben D.
My wife and I were passing through Scranton on our way north and I have been meaning to try this place, so it worked out great. Make reservations for the weekend for sure, maybe even on a weekday because their dining room is rather small. We sat at a table for two in the middle of the dining room and people had to kinda squeeze by on either side as they passed. It was pretty noticeable at first but once you get going into your meal it wasn't that bad. We normally wouldn't order two appetizers but I doubt we'll get back to this place anytime soon so we figured what the heck. We got the yucca fries with some kind of sausage and it was fabulous. The fries were tasty and fresh and not very oily or salty so you could really get the flavor of the yucca. The sausage was pretty dang good as well We also had to order the chicken hearts. If I'm being honest, that was the main reason we were there. Not many places have chicken hearts on the menu so how could you not indulge. What I wasn't expecting was for them to bring out like 30 or 40! hearts on a plate with a little lettuce on the side. They tasted good I guess, I don't really have anything to compare it to though. It was interesting, and I suggest you give em a try if you've never had them. Maybe ask if they do half portions of the apps. We didn't get the rodizio, and I think we may have been the only ones in the place that didn't. All the meats they were walking around with looked wonderful but I got the new york strip and my wife got the shrimp and scallop kabob. They were both pretty good. Nothing outstanding but the steak was well cooked. I thought my wifes seafood was a bit overcooked but she didn't think so and really enjoyed it. Overall, we had a great time. They had some lively Brazilian music playing which added to the atmosphere. The servers were all fabulous and helped each other out as one would expect from a place with 4 1/2 yelp stars. I loved it and would go back again if I'm back in the area.
(4)Elizabeth M.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in the city. The Rodizio is amazing, but you had better be hungry! The sangria is so good you'll want to dive into the pitcher. The staff is very friendly & incredibly helpful when you want to know about anything on the menu. The desserts are great too. I must admit that I had to eat a small meal & then I could eat dessert when I went, otherwise you are WAY too full. The lunches are just as awesome!
(5)Dan R.
I was very excited to find a Brazillian steakhouse in the area. A worker at the Everhart Museum had suggested it as a unique dining experience. I arrived to place my to-go order and waited till it was ready. That evening Brazil was playing Ivory Coast in the World Cup and there was a large party there with everyone wearing their teams jerseys. The Mixed Grille (Churrasco Mixto) was delicious, it consisted of pork, beef, sausage & chicken along with a small salad. It was around 18.00 and piping hot. We also ordered the feijoada which is a black bean stew with meat & veggies mixed together (15.00) Overall a great experience, Im a huge fan of Brazillian food, a la the Churasqueria's in Northern Jersey. They have a all you can eat buffet (rodizio) in the evening. they accept VISA, mastercard and have a private parking lot on the side.
(4)Meaghan S.
The rodizio is amazing! Make sure you bring an appetite because the food seems never ending! Everything is wonderful and it's a cute little place. If you love meat, this is the place for you!
(5)Kim M.
This is the second time I've gone to a Brazillian steakhouse with the Rodizio option (all you can eat meat brought to you in skewers), and while this experience wasn't bad due to good service, the food wasn't as good as I would have hoped. After a day of snowboarding, our group of 20+ showed up early for a 5pm dinner. Almost all of us ordered the Rodizio and pitchers of sangria. The sangria was great! The Rodizio comes with unlimited buffet options which include vegetables, rice, salad, beans, potato salad, hot wings (weird to have this, in my opinion), some type of fish that looked like dried out tilapia, and pasta salad. I tried a good deal of the offerings from the buffet bar and wasn't too impressed with anything I had there. The Rodizio started so I swapped my focus to the meat. We were brought out a series of meat that ranged from meh to good. I didn't taste anything I would label delicious and wasn't clamboring over myself to try to track down the waitress with that particular skewer. I tried all but one of the meats and all were average. I was pretty disappointed they were bringing us out the non-beef meats first (chicken, sausage, and variants thereof) to fill us up on those before bringing out the sirloins or roasts. For some reason, after 5-6 meats were served our waitresses went MIA for a long time and we were all sitting meatless and oh so sad. I won't rephrase what everyone else has already said, but to summarize: the food was average, the service was generally friendly and good, but the quality of the meat was lower than Fogo de Chao (a Bazillian steakhouse that does it 100% right in Philadelphia). The price is right at $36 for the Rodizio, but I'd still rather pay $35 during restaurant week to go to Fogo in Center City.
(3)Kevin B.
This is probably my favorite restaurant in the Scranton area. The service is superb, the drinks are great, and the food is some of the best I have ever had in my life. Definitely get the rodizio, you won't go wrong!!
(5)Patti B.
While visiting our son on the east coast, our son mentioned that he had never been to a Brazilian Barbeque and there wasn't one near where he lived. We were meeting friends for an evening of fun in Scranton and found that there was such a place in Scranton. Learning this, our son decided he'd join us and we'd go to Ipanema Grille for dinner. This is a family owned business that has been open since 2008. When we travel we really like to eat local, so this was a win-win choice all the way around. When we arrived just before 8 pm on a Sunday evening, the place was packed. Luckily we had called ahead and made a reservation, so we were shown right to our table. We all ordered Rodizio and shared a pitcher of Sangria. The food and drink were absolutely delicious. The staff was fun and friendly and it was very apparent that they enjoyed doing what they do. They kept us well supplied by bringing new meat selections every 5 minutes or so. I have to add that my husband and I had eaten at Chima in Ft. Lauderdale, and this place was a far cry better than that and 1/3 the price. The owner, Douglas, is a very kind man who is hands on with business operations. He works as hard as his staff and it is apparent that he appreciates them and treats them very well.
(5)Daren S.
Oh dear god the meat, the meat, bring me more meat. It was all incredible. Try the Caipirinhas, it will blow your mind. Sweet-Sour liquor heaven.
(5)Dan S.
Really fantastic food. Even better service. Went here for Valentine's Day and I got the rodizio. Great choice of meat and everything I had was fresh, tender, juicy and flavorful. The rodizio comes with a salad bar and a "sides" buffet, of which, they had fried plantains. I can sit there all night and eat only that. So good. Would def recommend to anyone who loves meat and trying new things!
(5)Alexandra P.
The environment is really nice as far as decor and lighting and all the employees were very nice and sociable. I had the stuffed flounder which was good but I've had better. It lacked seasoning and there was way too much filling compared to the size of the flounder. My boyfriend had the rodizio and he wasn't completely happy with it. Most of his complaints were about the meat being dry, not tender, and lacking seasoning. This seems more like the type of place to go if you're planning to get tipsy with friends to make up for the mediocre food.
(3)Larry L.
Possibly the best restaurant in Scranton. The Rodizio is amazing as are the sangria and other drinks. The staff is very friendly and make sure that you don't leave hungry. They also make sure you glass doesn't go empty. I would suggest calling ahead as every time I have been there this place has been packed. If you're looking for a fun place to eat and have a great time look no further.
(5)Brian L.
Pretty awesome! MEAT CITY,USA and YOU get to be the Mayor! But I also have some veggie pals that go here a lot too Friendly staff, I can't believe it exists in North Scranton!
(4)Che P.
This is a great brazilian steak house. The Churrascaria service was @ $29 when we were there; 12 different types of meat were carved table side; all amazing! The yellow rice was spicy & delicious. David, our server, was excellent!! The desserts were amazing too!
(5)Michael A.
Rodizio + Buffet = Amazing The staff is very friendly. The Caipirinha gave me a nice buzz. One of my new favorite restaurants in Scranton.
(5)Eric S.
A carnivore's delight! Get the Rodizio & it's a non-stop barrage of meat. As long as you keep the green light on, the food keeps coming. There is everything from lamb to turkey with all kinds of cuts from other unfortunate beasts in-between. If that's not your speed, they offer delicious paella & other Brazillian specialties. If that were not enough, they have great mixed drinks. The caipirinha comes highly recommended. All in all a true Scranton gem! One of our dining companions who spent some of his formative years in Brazil even attested to its authenticity. So there you go, check it out!
(5)Jason S.
What a great experience. This was my first time at a Brazilian steak house and you can color me impressed. The restaurant was surprisingly full at 8:30PM on a Saturday and we had to wait about 10 min for a table. The atmosphere was lively and the staff was very friendly. We had the Rodizio (all you can eat Brazilian meat). I actually tried a chicken heart, which was excellent. And finished up with a wonderful banana crepe for desert. Great experience. We can't wait to go back.
(4)Megan M.
Having been to many Brazilian restaurants in other states, I was pleasantly surprises to find one in scranton. Like almost everyone else that reviewed this place I got the buffet and all you can eat meat. The meat you start with depends on what they are rotating with when you get there. There are a lot of meat, so if you want you can be choosy on the first time around, they will be back. I highly recommend the flank steak, lamb and sirloin were my favorite. However everything was good. We also had the sangria, which was the best I had in town. Although I did not have room for desert, I saw someone else get the banana crepe which appeared to be their version of bananas foster, it looked good and smelled great...maybe next time I'll save room...maybe
(5)Chantel B.
Show up hungry, don't bother to order anything to eat other than the cavalcade of meat (aka Rodizio), and sip on some sangria.
(5)Gabe A.
It's a really great restaurant, the food there is phenomenal!
(5)Stefanie T.
I went here with a group after work one day, because we had a large group we made a reservation, but the place wasn't very busy when we got there. For drink we had the Sangria and it was great!! For dinner, since we were all first timers (which I recommend to anyone going there for the first time, but it's a one time only thing in my opinion) we did the "Rodizio" Basically this is what a Brazilian Grille is known for. What you get with this is a buffet that has salad, rice, beans, rolls...but I wouldn't touch that if you order this because after you have some time to consider eating THAT food they start coming around with giant skewers of meat. You get to try 12 different types of meat (one is a chicken heart, so you can choose to include that or not). They come around table side and cut the pieces of meat right at your table for you. There are so many GREAT meats it was amazing. If you find something you really like, no worries they come back around again with the meat, if you somehow manage to save any room for more food. After this meal I was full for the rest of the night and next day, so I felt I got my moneys worth. If you don't feel like filling up on tons of meat they have other items on their menu, but this is what makes this place truly unique. Yes it was a little expensive but that's why it's something I say you only need to try once. This is not a place I would recommend for vegetarians.
(5)Lyd K.
Service was great and the meat was very tasty. Lamb was amazing! I would eat here again.
(4)C. D.
Very good, seemingly authentic Brazilian restaurant. A large grilled meats selection, a nice buffet, and strong caipirinhas. Very friendly service as well.
(4)C K.
Very good, friendly service and great Brazilian food. The Brazilian Caipirinha drink was amazing. Definatly will return when I'm in the area!
(4)John L.
I've always been a big fan of family-owned ethnic restaurants and Ipanema grille is another great Scranton find in this category. I went to a lunch buffet with the family and was very pleased with the restaurant, service and food. In the evenings they have a Rodizio (sp?) which is basically an all you can eat meat buffet where they bring the meat table side. I used to eat at the Brazilian places in NYC on 46th or 47th st. and Ipanema grille was almost to that caliber. The beans and the beef were both good and the prices for the buffet (especially w/kids) were very reasonable.
(4)matt c.
Amazing flavor on the ridiculous amount/variety of meat. Hopefully they can stay open since I don't see many people there. This place rocks
(5)Richie B.
We went there last night for our one year anniversary and it was wonderful. The food was delicious, the service was fantastic and the overall ambience was great. The only gripe that I would eve have on this place is that they are a little smaller than other steakhouses I've been to and that they don't have one closer to us! But they certainly make up for what they lack in size with the quality of their food and service... Awesome job guys and you are definitely worth the hour drive for us to come back to real soon!!
(5)Angela G.
A small, but nicely decorated spot - I came here with a large group of friends and the service was excellent, especially considering there were twelve of us and we we pretty much paying separately. The caprianias were very good and I enjoyed the selection at the "sides" bar - my favorites were the fried polenta, seasoned rice, and cheese rolls. They even had habanero peppers in oil! All of the meat was seasoned wonderfully and incredibly tender. The lamb in particular was some of the best I've had in years. And yes, I did eat a bite of a chicken heart... it tasted like chicken. Haha. Anyway, I would recommend this place for a group or for a date night. The prices were high (but fair, considering what you get), so I don't think I would come here on a weekly basis, but rather as a special treat.
(4)Natalie B.
My friends and I were up by Scranton celebrating a friend's birthday with a weekend of skiing, so we stopped by Ipanema Grille for dinner one night. We had a huge group - 2 tables of 10. Almost all of us paid $30 for the Rodizio, which is all you can eat of 12 meats cooked different ways. Our servers were very nice and pretty quick, and we even got a free pitcher of sangria. It all sounds great in theory, however, I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. First of all, they bring the meats out in a particular order. We started with pork and chicken. They didn't start bringing out the beef (the more expensive meat) until a little later, when you've had time to fill up on everything else. The pork and chicken were pretty average. Some notable ones were the the chicken heart, which tastes just like liver (that could be good or bad, depending on your feelings about liver), and the pork loin was super dry. All of the beef was tasty. My favorites were the garlic steak and sirloin. We finished the meal with slices of grilled pineapple covered in cinnamon sugar. The sangria is certainly delicious, but my one complaint is that there's tons of ice in the pitcher, which means there's less room for actual liquid. The ice then falls into your glass and onto your face as you try to drink it (at least that was my experience). I liked that there were also little chunks of sangria-soaked fruit in it. Maybe I'm just spoiled by the other Brazilian steakhouses I've been to, where everything was phenomenal, but I just wasn't that impressed with Ipanema Grille. It has solid food and friendly service, but it could be better.
(3)C. D.
Very good, seemingly authentic Brazilian restaurant. A large grilled meats selection, a nice buffet, and strong caipirinhas. Very friendly service as well.
(4)C K.
Very good, friendly service and great Brazilian food. The Brazilian Caipirinha drink was amazing. Definatly will return when I'm in the area!
(4)Eli J.
Delicioso. As soon as you pull into the parking lot, you can smell the divine meats cooking and your mouth instantly starts watering. Came here with some friends for the meat extravaganza and we were all put into a blissful meat coma when we left. The sides are good, pretty authentic I think, I recommend the palm hearts and fried banana. The caipirinha is really good, the wait staff is friendly and beautiful, and the place is small compared to the chain Brazilian steakhouses, which is nice. Over all, we had a great time and a great meal here, can't wait to go back.
(5)Diane B.
Amazing food and staff. The all you can eat buffet was outstanding. It's about $37 but for the amount of food you get as well as the quality of every meat you are served, I believe that is an extreme fair price. The delicious pineapple that follows your meal is delicious. We will definitely be returning
(5)