Barbacoa Steakhouse

Steakhouse fit for a vegetarian.

Food

Service

Atmosphere

You'd have to have some cheek, asking a "child of the carrot" to Barbacoa for a romantic evening. At this particular meat haven, however, you could get away with it - because Barbacoa really does cater to everyone, even the vegetarians.

For the serious carnivore, the cuts of meat just keep coming,they're brought to the table and sliced as you like. An all-you-can eat churrasco pig-out, includes the extensive salad bar... or why don't step it up a notch and go for the all-you-can-eat-and-drink for 5,200 yen?The salad bar has at least  8 different and amazing salads that involve palm hearts, fried bananas, Japanese mushrooms, white asparagus and other exotic fare. Fish dishes, pasta, rice, stew are also part of the deal, access to the salad bar only is a modest 2,700 yen.

Some may feel that Barbacoa's shortcoming is the hotel lobby decor. Being a Brazilian restaurant, I expected colour, noise and music and was a bit disappointed, but after a few of Brazil's finest cocktail - the tart and tangy caipirinha - decor doesn't really matter. The wonderful view of Tokyo Bay is nothing to be sniffed at, either. The vista is especially magical at night.

Last stop is the dessert section of the salad bar. Barbacoa's salad bar comes equipped with one of those soft cream machines you just wanna stick your open mouth under (but you don't, because this isn't that sort of place) and a variety of cakes and jellies.

Barbacoa is rarely booked out but often crowded and always adequately staffed. Children are welcome and, judging by all the relics and handprints and left on the walls by Japanese actresses, sumo wrestlers and the like, you'd expected to run into a celebrity sometime.