Comfort, in the Most Delicious Way
by Marnely Murray
A true Brazilian steakhouse has landed in Vineyard Haven and in its first few weeks, has become a local favorite! Golden Bull Steakhouse, located at Five Corners in Vineyard Haven, opened its doors to the public on May 13th and to much fanfare. An island with a large population of Brazilians, Martha’s Vineyard has a few other traditional Brazilian businesses, so a steakhouse seems like the next best step. Owner Thiago Machado has lived on the island for about 13 years, falling in love with the island and its people, so he was excited to bring his South American culture to this small part of New England.
As you step inside, you’re taken to a far off place, set probably in some coastal, luxurious oasis. The gorgeous, natural wood walls, the deep, rich leather booth seating, and the sleek, almost minimalist-style white buffet area gives you a sense of comfort, in the most delicious kinds of ways. We were welcome and sat almost immediately, and our server Gabriel made us feel at home. Sometimes, buffets can be a little daunting and add to that the fact that Brazilian butchers would be coming up to offer you the best cuts of meat, and it’s definitely an undertaking, which our server explained in a quick and informative way. The cold and hot buffets are open to your liking, where you can go up to as many times as you’d like. The “rodizio” as the steakhouse is called in Brazil is manned by gauchos, who marinate, cook, and serve the meat to your liking. The server provides you with a card (red on one side, green on the other), which signals the gauchos to bring more meat (green) or come back later (red). The interactivity of it all made the meal more interesting, as you had full control of your portions and what you were consuming.
Caipirinha, Brazil’s national drink made from sugar cane liquor and limes, you’re ready to tackle the buffet. The cold section is presented in a lovely way, with cheeses, meats, and a few dozen salads, grilled vegetables, and house made dressings to accompany your greens. Here’s you’ll also find traditional dishes such as Salpicão, a Brazilian Chicken salad loaded with corn, peas, carrots, apples and raisins which is delightful. Walk over to the hot buffet and your tastebuds will be tingling with excitement: fluffy rice, creamy beans, vegetables, as well as traditional Brazilian stews and meats await your plate. Remember, the best is yet to come so don’t over do it!
Settle back into your seat and watch as the gauchos flock to your table offering a variety of perfectly cooked meats:
- Beef (prime top sirloin, tenderloin, top sirloin, flank steak, rib eye, beef ribs, and bacon-wrapped steak
- Pork (parmesan crusted pork loin filets), pork ribs, cured pork chops
- Linguica sausage, seasoned and slow-roasted to perfection
- Bacon wrapped chicken breast
- Fresh leg of lamb or tender lamb chops
The chicken and pork are marinated in house with their special recipe, while everything else is simply seasoned with rock salt. Something about how the rock salt adheres to the beef that creates the most stellar flavor – the fat melts into a sort of salty sauce that coats the beef and every bite is better than the last one.
The meat is carved at your table and you can enjoy as much as you’d like for a set price:
- Lunch is served 11:30am to 4pm, Monday through Friday ($23.95 for rodizio, $18.95 for salad bar); Saturday, Sunday & Holidays ($34.95 for rodizio, $28.95 for salad bar)
- Dinner is served 4pm to closing, seven days a week (rodizio $34.95 and salad bar $28.95)
The option of just doing salad is also great for any vegans or vegetarians in your party, as it lets everyone enjoy the food to their lifestyles. For dessert, make sure to order the Brazilian Flan, a silky version of the Spanish favorite, or any of the other desserts (ranging from $5.50 to $7 each, not included in the buffet price).
MORE INFO
13 Beach Road
5 Corners
Vineyard Haven
508-338-7836
