On a calm Friday afternoon, my parents and I decided to eat lunch at the Rio Grill Brazilian Steakhouse in Clovis. After opening Rio Grill’s first location in Visalia, five years ago, owner David Hatch launched another at Sierra Vista Mall in Clovis, which has been open for three years.

My parents and I arrived at Rio Grill about an hour after the restaurant opened for lunch. Upon entering, no one was standing at the front desk, so we waited for someone to come and seat us. After about two minutes, a waitress led us to a table which was located in the middle of a rectangle-shaped room.

Most of the surrounding walls were painted with rich colors like plum purple, and the furniture was covered in a deep brown. Wooden tables and chairs were spread throughout the room, creating a spacious environment. Oval-shaped pendent lights hung from the ceiling, which emitted a dim light and created a peaceful atmosphere.

Once our drink orders were taken, we migrated to the open salad bar. The salad bar offered rice, fried plantains, cheesy cauliflower, olive salad, artichokes, pasta, a selection of various greens and many other choices. My mom chose to try the cheesy cauliflower, rice, mushrooms, fried plantains and pasta. The cauliflower had a creamy texture, yet kept a crunch when you bit into it; the cheese added an extra enjoyment with its salty flavor.

The salad bar is unlimited and costs $7.95 by itself; however, a huge selection of meats is offered along with the salad bar at an affordable price of $10.95. During the evening, the salad bar costs $15.95 just for the salad bar and $24.95 for the bar along with meat.

Little pieces of cylinder-shaped wood, painted with red on the top and green on the bottom, are placed at every table to signal whether you want meat or not. If you decide to try the assortment of meats, skewers are repeatedly brought to tables, and mini tongs are provided so you can grab your selection as it is sliced off the skewer.

After returning to our table, a Brazilian cowboy, or “gaucho,” came with a large skewer of parmesan pork. The presentation showcased a well-seasoned and appetizing meat that looked enjoyable.

The pork was cooked well-done but still had tenderness to it. As I bit into a mixture of pork and rice, I could taste vibrant flavors of saltiness and a touch of sweetness from the parmesan. The taste left me eager for the next bite and made me look forward to the other selections of meat.

Along with the parmesan pork, Rio Grill serves 14 different cuts of meat, all ordered from the Sysco Corporation. These varieties include top sirloin cap, lamb, tri-tip, linguica-roasted shrimp, chicken drums, top sirloin steak, pork tenderloin, medallions/garlic, pork ribs, turkey/bacon, medallions/pepper and a tropical tester of grilled pineapple.

The restaurant is open for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. every day of the week, and opens for dinner from 5-9 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday. On Fridays and Saturdays it opens at 5 p.m and closes at 10 p.m.

Rio’s bar offers cocktails ranging from $7-30 and beer from $3.50-4.50. Catering is also available and is tailored to what is requested.

With the vast options of meat and salad bar items, Rio Grill is a restaurant I will definitely be returning to. The atmosphere allows one to relax with family and enjoy a great meal of Brazilian cuisine.

Rio Grill is located at 1240 Shaw Ave. in Clovis. The restaurant can be contacted by phone at 559.322.6300.

For more food reviews, read the Dec. 16 article, Jasmine Garden boasts unique, low-price fare.

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