Rio Brazilian Steakhouse - Durham in County Durham

I recently dined at this great Brazilian steakhouse and it exceeded my expectations! The meat selection was top-notch, with standout dishes like the Fillet Mignon and Ribeye. The service was impeccable, making me feel right at home, and the atmosphere was perfect for a special occasion. I really appreciated the vibrant salad bar too. I can't recommend this place enough and will definitely be back soon!

I just had an amazing evening out at this steakhouse! The meat selection was top-notch; every dish was cooked perfectly and packed with flavour. The service was outstanding too—friendly faces and solid recommendations made us feel right at home. The atmosphere was lively yet comfortable, perfect for enjoying a good meal with friends. If you're after a great steak experience, this place has got to be on your list!

Brilliant place, took my family, food was great, service was top notch, just make sure you go on a empty stomach 😋

Been twice now. The food is perfection. And the staff are really really nice and do great service. I'll be back again soon.

Very pleasant service! The food is great! If you don't have time to turn over the token, then the meat is served practically continuously! I recommend!

Amazing food every time! Brilliant staff always happy to see you. Service has been brilliant even when it's really busy!

2nd time here and hasn't changed in 2 years- great food and friendly service. Wouldn't change a thing! Thanks for a lovely meal

Visited here today the server Graham was brilliant went above and beyond for his job role credit to the team at Durham rio thanks again

I went to eat today and was disappointed because people told me I could eat as much as I wanted. When I started eating shrimp the waiter told me if I wanted to eat more I had to pay separately. I didn't understand. I went to talk to the manager and he laughed in my face. I was very sad about it. The service is horrible and the manager didn't do anything. I asked for the bill, paid and left. I will never go back to this restaurant again. I thought the buffet was all you can eat.

Great service and a great experience We had an impromptu dinner and could not fault the staff or quality of the food. We even received a small platter of ice cream free to celebrate my wife being cancer free.

We had such a fun time at Rio. The staff were all lovely, and the quality of the meat was much better than we’d expected. Really tasty and a good selection, and PLENTY of it, we pretty much rolled out the door. Everything on the salad bar was fresh and well cooked, the feijoada was particularly good. We also had a delicious bottle of Brazilian wine. Give it a go, it’s something different and they’re doing it really well.

First time visiting last night and certainly won’t be the last! Absolutely amazing food, cooked to perfection. The salad bar exceeded all my expectations too. Nice relaxed atmosphere. Staff were very friendly, polite and professional. I came back from the restroom to a lovely, unexpected birthday surprise. Can’t wait for my next visit!

Having been to many Rio restaurants I find this one the worst. Couldn’t even accommodate a birthday table even though we asked over the phones he tried to tell me I should have asked even though I’d did! Rude staff and bad atmosphere - won’t be back to a Rio restaurant again because of the Durham branch. Appalling!! Every bit of steak was overcooked, over salted and fatty! Manager only charged for wine which was fair enough but did start asking my age and also told me he served 300+ covers and that he didn’t have a single complaint. Won’t be back, but glad that issue was resolved by removing food bill. Out of York, Middlesbrough, Quayside and this one I have never felt so embarrassed by the staff and the food has never been so bad! Try estabulo instead - nicer views of Durham riverbanks and the staff are much more accommodating.

I can't say enough good things about my recent visit! The service was exceptional, with the staff being super friendly and welcoming. The food? Simply outstanding—everything from the meats to the salad bar was delicious. The quality and taste of each dish blew me away, especially the Picanha and the Pudim de Leite, which I had to order for takeaway. If you're looking for a great meal and a warm atmosphere, this place is the one!

very nice and quick service, staff are lovely

Excellent food and unbeatable service.

Outstanding no rush service, stunning, clean great environment. Meats cooked to perfection! Will definitely return

Great experience , amazing staff , 100% will visit again

I always have a lovely experience whenever I visit this restaurant! The food is absolutely. The atmosphere really adds to it, making every meal feel special. Plus, the service is top-notch; they really know how to make you feel welcomed, it was my anniversary and the staff brought over a glass of bubbly each which was lovely. It's seriously a must-visit if you're a steak lover!

Amazing, never had a bad experience yet

Absolutely Fabulous. Quality of food was unbelievable. Best salad bar I've experienced and more meat than you can eat. Excellent meat experience. I can't recommend enough. Will definitely be dining there again. Staff were excellent.

Great food and even better service. Try the zombie cocktail!

We visited Rio Steakhouse yesterday evening. It was my boyfriend’s birthday meal, he thought it would just be us two but I’d actually invited his two friends and their girlfriends along as a little surprise. When the two other couples joining us for the surprise arrived at the restaurant they let the waitress seating them know that them being there was a surprise for the last couple arriving and kindly asked that she didn’t say anything like “the others are already here” when seating us. Our friends had a balloon and banner for my boyfriend at the table and there was about six other tables in the restaurant, with it being a Sunday night. Myself and my boyfriend arrived and I gave her my name (the name the table was booked under), she checked the screen for a while and then asked again, I gave her my name again and she replied “oh yes, table for 6” before saying “oh no have I ruined the surprise there” The food was absolutely gorgeous and I’m sure she was mortified that she’d given away the surprise after already being briefed that my boyfriend didn’t know others were turning up but it really was such a shame, falling at the last hurdle, when we’d got him there relatively stress free! The food was absolutely beautiful and we did have a lovely night but I just wondered whether, in future, staff could put a note on the system for tables such as ours, like “surprise for last couple arriving” just so when I gave her my name and she checked it in the system and clicked on the note she’d remember it was a surprise and act accordingly. Like I say, it’s really not the end of the world but just a suggestion. Thanks again for a lovely night.

I celebrated my birthday with family and friends at Rio. We had a lovely lunch. The service was great. We absolutely loved the food! Picanha and maminha were excellent. We'll be coming back for more!

The good: Food was nice. Arrived for an early meal so salad bar was fresh. Really a great selection. Staff were really good although towards the end when it was busy they did appear a bit rushed. Meats were really nice and the varied selection kept it interesting. The okay: As I prefer my meats more well cooked, getting a decent cut was not always great, the lamb on one occasion was probably not 100% ready. Also the size of cut, was a bit low when you really wanted to have a decent taste. The not so good: Probably just the price. Yes it’s all you can eat, and yes they did put in the effort, and the selection was good, but at the price and service charge (why do people do this????) I think it was steep. Maybe in London but not in Durham. Overall: Worth a visit just to try, as long as work is paying 👍👍👍

I walked in for a meal and was instantly drawn in by the lovely ambience. The drinks were spot on, and the salad bar was top-notch. The staff made me feel really welcome, checking in to ensure everything was fine. I didn't try the meat this time, but I’m definitely planning to come back for that! Overall, it was a delightful experience, and I can't wait for my next visit.

First time at Reo, didn't really know what to expect to be honest. The staff welcomed us and explained the process, salad bar and the selection of meats to be served that evening which was basically everything. We were asked if we had any allergies and as my partner is allergic to pineapple a card was placed on our table to inform all of the meat servers , not sure what the correct term is... The staff also informed us that the salad bar was free from pineapple, which was very assuring. The speed of service and the amount of meat that was served to us was substantial. As for the rosé wine I ordered Whispering Angel, very tasty. I thought the number on the wine list was an identification number 48 not £48.00 lol. Well worth it though. Only downside was we were prompted to leave because they needed the table back. Overall a tasty night

When did this happen that all these BBQ places put a service charge automatically on the bill? We aren’t the USA. We have a minimum wage in this country. Yes the restaurant will say they are happy to take it off the bill, but how many people seriously feel comfortable asking for the bill to be recalculated to remove the bill? Absolutely off putting behaviour. Hope these places learn by customers voting with their feet

Great service from the walk Inn would definitely advise the cocktails food is delicious the pictures

Absolutely amazing from start to finish, could put a single fault on it

Very fair reviewer here: Sadly my partner got sick after a meal here he was ill for 3 days he had ate nothing else that could’ve caused this one waiter was also quite standoffish and strange (white, blonde) weird looks from the start as soon as we went in like looking down on us type thing??? I’m not sure what happened here but glad I didn’t have the same cut of meat that made my partner sick as was too full and skipping some meats. Host was amazing though and not his fault. Sad to write this for his sake as he went above and beyond. He was a top guy and this was very clearly out of his control. Very difficult thing to prove hence why we didn’t complain or go any further but we just know personally by our eating habits from what was ingested that day and even the day prior, that it could not have been from anything else. It wasn’t giving Nova virus either, it was an instant and immediate attack on the bodily functions the same night. So glad I was the lucky one as he hasn’t ate red meat since he is traumatised.

I've never eaten so much food in my life, service was incredible with them coming round asking if there was any particular meat we wanted. If you want a filling meal and you like steak this is the place to come

Wonderful meal, wonderful salad bar, what I believe to be the manager loves banging on about wagyu steak and trying to sell it for £85, I’ve said no, leave me alone, also the waitress telling us about the best way to not feel as full at Roi, “pineapple and then poo will help! The pineapple helps break down the enzymes” This dosnt take away from the overall 5 star review, was an interesting topic, next time I will try. Big up Rio steakhouse, big up toilet talk, manager just leave it out I don’t want your wagyu.

I just had an incredible meal and I can't wait to go back! The service was on point from the warm welcome to the friendly farewell. The salad bar was superb, and the variety of meats was mouth-watering—especially the Garlic Cap of Rump, which is now my favourite! Everything was cooked to perfection and the quality was outstanding. My only wish? More cheese breads—they're too good to have just one!

I just had the most fantastic meal at this Brazilian steakhouse! The service was spot on from the moment I walked in, and the staff were lovely and friendly. I enjoyed every bit of the meat experience, especially the ALCATRA and PICANHA – they were top-notch! The atmosphere was great too, making it the perfect place to relax and savour delicious food. I'm definitely coming back soon for another round!

This was mine and my partners first visit to a Rio Steakhouse and it was impeccable. I don’t think I’ve ever been anywhere else where the staff have been so friendly. Every member of staff we spoke to made a real effort to have an actual conversation with us; they had a laugh and a joke, were so kind and hospitable, it made the whole atmosphere so pleasant. This was a special trip to Durham to celebrate my partners 30th birthday and the Rio Steakhouse staff made the meal such a special occasion; singing happy birthday to my partner and putting a candle in his sorbet! Onto the food - couldn’t fault any aspect of it! The chips and cheese bread were addictive, the salad bar was so well stocked with so much variety, and the meat was all to die for! High quality, cooked to perfection and never ending - what more could you want! The flank steak and belly pork were our particular favourites, and I think I ate my body weight in the creamy garlic mushrooms! The chocolate fudge cake was hands down the best I’ve ever had, and I’ve had a few. Thank you so much to all the staff for making the an unforgettable dining experience 🥰

This Brazilian restaurant gets 4 out of 5 stars. We visited on Valentine's Day, which offered a wider selection of meats at a slightly higher price. The food and service were excellent, and the atmosphere was fantastic. The salad bar was a highlight, with lots of delicious choices. The meat selection was impressive, especially the pork, chicken, and lamb (though I missed the chicken wings and beef ribs). I'm not a fan of automatically added service charges, and they were also out of the apple cider listed on the menu.

Excellent service We went two Saturdays ago, we have been given a table without booking, everything was very nice

My husband brought me here for my birthday, from the moment we arrived the staff were absolutely lovely & very informative. Cris & Graham were so friendly & the food was absolutely perfect. Can’t wait to come back again!

Wow. Best steak I've had outside of America 🇺🇸 Best lamb I've ever had anywhere, it was beautiful. Salad bar alone is worth the price. Service was excellent, and a good pint of Stella too. Can't praise it highly enough.

I had an absolutely fantastic meal at this Brazilian steakhouse! The service was top-notch, with Miguel being super friendly and attentive throughout our visit. Every meat we tried was cooked perfectly, especially the Alcatra and Picanha, which were simply delicious. The atmosphere was vibrant, and the warm welcome really set the tone for a great evening. I can't wait to come back for more!

Just had an unbelievable meal! The food was top-notch, from the beautifully tender lamb to the well-seasoned French fries—everything was perfect. The cocktails were a great touch, and I can't forget the warm welcome we received from the team, who really knew their menu. I left completely satisfied and can't wait to return!

Second time we have came and food and staff were exceptional

I just enjoyed an incredible meal that totally blew me away! The service was top-notch, and I loved the warm welcome right from the start. Every dish was cooked to perfection; the pork belly and spicy chicken wings were my favourites—so packed with flavour! The atmosphere was buzzing and made for an awesome night out with friends. Just a small note, I wish the belly pork had come around more often, but overall, it was a fantastic experience!

It was amazing lovely atmosphere and the food was something special service was so quick I highly recommend eating here it is just perfect.

Top draw. Pro tip stay off the carbs, Meat! Meat! Meat! It's better then one at Newcastle. Staff and food are better.

We had a fantastic time at the steakhouse! The meat was absolutely delicious, especially the fillet mignon and the picanha ao alho, with perfect taste and temperature. The service was equally impressive; the staff were friendly and attentive throughout the night, making sure our meal was enjoyable. The atmosphere was vibrant and welcoming, just what I was looking for. When asked why we were visiting from Newcastle I mentioned it was my partner's birthday and when we had finished our meal they surprised him by singing happy birthday (he was mortified, I found it hilarious 😅) they also gave him some complementary icecream which was a lovely end to a fantastic experience. My only tiny quibble was the salad bar, where some items were missing/running low and because we had a late booking weren't replenished. We won't hesitate to return the next time we're in Durham.

Great food, atmosphere and staff.

Wanted to try here with the Mrs for lunch based on the good reviews. Went around 12 and we were told to come back in 2 hours. Place wasn’t even half full downstairs! It also has a sign outside that says walk ins welcome. Says something about the service if it’s this poor before you even set foot in the place. Went elsewhere.

I had an amazing lunch! The staff were incredible, especially a lovely girl with reddish hair who really made us feel welcome. The meat was nothing short of perfection, especially the picanha and the cheese breads – just divine! The atmosphere was vibrant, and we enjoyed every bit of it. My wife and I keep coming back for a reason, and this visit just confirmed why we love it here so much!

Excellent food. Very good choices. Service was excellent. Waitress was lovely and helpful and chatty. Highly recommend.

The food and staff here are first class, very friendly and welcoming but also very helpful. The salad bar could be a meal in itself, I also love that beef pork and black bean is a salad option! The selection of meat is vast but also cooked to perfection. On top of that there are proper vegan option which was also delicious.

A really nice treat, loved the whole experience, worth the money but it will be a treat rather than a regular place. Will return in future.

Exceptional service, so friendly and attentive. Restaurant was quiet as still early but the range of meats and salads was spot on.

I only marked atmosphere down as we were the only ones left in to water end of the meal but that was great as we were well looked after

Expensive but Well worth the money if you can afford it. I went there for my birthday and everything exceeded my expectations. Next time I might have some salad but everyone seems to entice you with all the fabulous selection of meats they carry I couldn't resist but keep my card on green. Definitely would go again and might even pay extra for the evening selection however the lunch time menu was more than enough. Special shout out to Zal for making it extra special.

Great food and service. Not like a typical restaurant so would definitely recommend you head here for the whole experience.

The staff made us feel very welcome and treated us as if we were the only ones in the restaurant. They dealt with my dietary requirements very well and I was able to enjoy a meal with my family.

Our favourite Durham restaurant.

Went with brother for his birthday treat. Amazing salad bar, and the meat selection and quality was second to non. Will be back with the family next. Staff were very friendly and looked happy in their work 😊

Love it! Great variety of meats and the salad bar is fantastic and so clean. Good management in that place!!!!

We celebrated our wedding anniversary at this fantastic place and couldn’t have asked for a better experience! The staff went above and beyond, welcoming us with a sweet congratulations sign and a glass of Prosecco, which made us feel really special. The food was simply amazing; I particularly loved the caramelised pork and the ribeye steak—definitely some of the best I've had! We'll absolutely be coming back for more. Highly recommend this spot for any special occasion!

Good food, just disappointed by their deceptive practice of pre-loading 'optional' service charges. Given we could only eat very limited portions due to medical restrictions (meaning higher profit margins for them overall!!!), adding this stealth surcharge felt particularly ill fitting. They clearly know most people would rather quietly pay than deal with the awkward conversation to remove it - which feels extra manipulative given our circumstances.

I just had an amazing meal at this Brazilian steakhouse! The entire experience was excellent from the warm welcome to the top-notch service. Every meat selection I tried was delicious, especially the fillet mignon and lamb. The atmosphere was buzzing, and the salad bar was on point. I’ll definitely be back for more!

I had a really great meal at this Brazilian steakhouse! The meat selection was top-notch, especially the lamb and the caramelised pork—both were absolute winners in quality and taste. I also loved the Caesar salad and the devilled eggs; you can tell they pay attention to detail with their dishes. The atmosphere was vibrant, and I felt really welcomed right from the start. The staff were friendly, making sure I was enjoying my meal, and they handled everything promptly. Definitely a nice touch! The only small hiccup was that some of the meats had a bit too much salt for my taste, but that didn't ruin the experience. Overall, I’d definitely recommend this spot if you're in the mood for some delicious Brazilian cuisine!

Amazing staff and the food was the best I've had 10/10

Good evening of food, wine and great service. Thank you especially to Leticia and Brooke.

Great meal - great staff always friendly and the food is superb

I got food poisoning from here,seemed to be the cold meats and prawns as i was the only one in my party to eat these things. Ive had to miss work and five days later no improvment. Been a nightmare. messaged them and they told me to send an email which they have ignored.

Had the most wonderful evening at Rio. Chris made us feel so welcomed & looked after. We were celebrating our anniversary & she made the evening so special. Food was great, meat well cooked & tasty. Salad bar was full of a variety of great dishes. Would highly recommend & look forward to going again in the soon future.

Amazing food and amazing service.

Together with my husband, we have thoroughly enjoyed two recent meals at this amazing restaurant.All the staff are dedicated to making the experience special. Today was our wedding anniversary and they treated us like royalty. A special thank you to Zal and Cris, our servers.

I’ve had two meals here recently. Both have been exceptional. The salad bar area is just full of fantastic things to accompany your meal. All the meats were lovely, loads of flavour and juicy. Plus the staff eager to please. One of the meats didn’t come and my son was eager to get some gammon and pineapple, within a few moments someone was there with that option. Really great service.

It was very nice you didn't have to wait for steak 5 stars (Dexter aged 9)

Son treated us to evening meal .best food we have ever eaten .and the staff second to none

We came out for lunch (during the £20 deal over Bank Holiday weekend) and it was amazing. The food was good, but the service was even better. Our waitress/server, Sohini, did such a great job, she was incredibly attentive (but not overbearing) and had such a lovely energy, she made the experience that much better! Would absolutely recommend, can't wait to come back in the future.

I seriously can't fault this experience. The staff wee incredibly friendly and attentative, we were never left waiting with empty plates or glasses and most important of all the food was delicious. We will absolutely be coming back!

My partner took me for a special meal and we had a lovely time due to the first class service, great ambience and outstanding food. Great for meat lovers.

Food was excellent and staff were excellent 👍🏽🫡

Outstanding service, staff outstanding, allergy advice amazing and catered and cared for, 👍 restaurant clean tidy, food words cannot even speak for the flavours, taste and quality, staff was fun serving and made a great atmosphere, amazing service durham thank you keep up the hard work and great quality and cleanliness all round thumbs up from all 3 of us thank you for an amazing 👏 experience.

If you want an extra special night out. Go here.

Food is amazing, desert was huge. Cris the duty manager excellent with her level of customer service. She’s a credit to the business.

Excellent meat, but portions and variety lacking (had to ask a lot of times for more and to bring out some of the dishes that had been missing for several rounds). Otherwise staff very forthcoming

I love this this place the food is absolutely amazing and cooked to perfection. Lots of different choices of meat. Lovely drinks too. Yes it is pricey but for what you get it’s worth it for your money and the best place in Durham by far! Lovely staff always leave a tip as they do a great job.

excellent expert service from Team Rio Grace keep up the good work great to chat with for local knowledge

Amazing time here today, the staff are so friendly and helpful, will do anything for you. So much food selection and all of it is amazing, didn't come across anything I didn't like. Beautifully cooked steak. So many complimentary additions to the meal too I was completely blown away by how much is offered. First time experiencing this and not disappointed at all would highly recommend!

food and service was absolutely amazing! we had kim as our server and she was an absolute star, constantly checking on us and making sure we had everything we needed. will 100% be coming back, thank you kim!! x

Lovely restaurant. The food was delicious and would recommend it to anyone who has not yet been there.

Lovely food, brilliant staff....all so friendly and helpful. It was my husband's birthday and they bought out icecream with a lit candle and sang happy birthday to him....definitely made it special xx 🥰

This was my first visit of a Rodizio serving restaurant. This is definitely an experience i will not forget. The quality of meat is amazing and the service team is frequently offering different kind of meat. The desert was also super tasteful!

Went for an amazing you need to love meat. The salad bar had fabulous choice to compliment the range of meats. Good job you have a red and green card so you can pause the meat to rest before the next round.

Staff are amazing, the manager and his team are all brilliant! Excellent service every time we visit.

Very delicious. Impressed. Highly recommended. Editor 2: This must be the fourth time I’ve come here to eat. Isn’t it my lady that you’re urging me to pay the bill every fifteen minutes? ? I was in a good mood today and was enjoying my steak while watching videos and reviews. The clerk at your store kept asking me if I had finished my meal. I haven’t finished eating yet. Miss, your store is empty tonight and there’s no one in the booth but you still have the nerve to pressure the customers. Guess why I want to laugh? The business model of your store in this location is purely based on customer traffic. If you want to make money from drinks at a bunch of serious bars downstairs, you can't do it. If the store is not full and the store is idling and losing money, you should optimize the workday lunch and solve the problem that half of the waiters in your store are just shopping. The problem is that putting pressure on customers without the market will only lead to less customer flow. This time I came to check out and found out that the price has been increased by 20%. I think your store has probably lost money so much that my mother doesn’t even recognize it. You still think it’s the customer’s problem. Unfortunately, I can only think that your store will close down sooner or later.

1st visit to Rio steakhouse won't be my last thanks Sal. X

Been to the one in Jesmond and this is better. Non stop even when card is on red! Staff very friendly too 👍

I have been to a few of these Brazilian BBQ places but Rio in Durham was great all the meat was succulent and mealted in your mouth and it just keeps coming.

A great place with friendly, helpful staff giving great service. The food is absolutely delicious. A fantastic selection of meat brought regularly to our table. An absolute feast. The salad bar is also superb. A treat for all of us.

wasnt very happy with medium rare meats i like my steak well done salad bar was depleted most dishes were empty great choice thou didnt like the 8 pound for 2 people surcharge it was nice but wont go again

Waiting staff were slow and only waited on one half of our table, we were a large table of 8 but unfortunately unless you shouted down you didn't get anything. We asked for several different meats numerous times and had even finished our meal when they eventually brought one of them over. We were also asked to scrape our plates and put all our plates in a pile. Not what you expect for almost £70 a head.

Food is always exceptional, the service is second to none. There is always a great atmosphere. Thank you Lewis for the cocktail recommendation and for your great service 👍