The Meat's the Star, Wine's an Afterthought
· Newark · Brazilian Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · October 4, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Taste of Brazil Steakhouse’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Walk into The Taste of Brazil and it's immediately clear where the energy goes — the parade of skewered meats, the bustling buffet, the lively room. The wine list feels like it was assembled as an obligation rather than an invitation, the kind of list that exists so the restaurant can say it has one.
We couldn't get our hands on a sourced wine list for this Newark rodízio spot, which is itself a bit of a tell. What the restaurant's online presence suggests is a program built around accessibility and volume, not depth — expect the usual suspects you'd find at a casual Brazilian churrascaria: approachable reds and maybe a caipirinha to distract you from the wine question altogether. There's no visible evidence of a curated selection, regional focus, or anyone on staff championing the list. For a cuisine that actually has fascinating native grapes — think Tannat from Uruguay next door or Brazilian reds from Serra Gaúcha — that's a missed opportunity worth noting.
By-the-glass options are unknown from available sources, and we won't guess. What we'd expect at a place like this is a short list of workhorse pours — a Malbec, maybe a house red — that get you through the protein parade without much fuss. Don't come here expecting a rotating glass program with anything adventurous.
The Bottom Line
The Taste of Brazil is almost certainly a great time if you're here for the rodízio experience — the meats, the energy, the all-you-can-eat chaos. The wine program, though, is an unknown quantity we can't responsibly endorse, and the lack of any transparent list online suggests wine isn't a priority here. Order a caipirinha, enjoy the picanha, and save the serious bottle for another night.
· Newark · Italian
Five Corners has stocked four respectable Italian reds and essentially stopped there. Without pricing, pour options, or a list that can accommodate the full table, it's hard to call this a wine program — it's more like a wine shelf. Come for the Italian cooking; manage your expectations on the wine side.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Montclair · Newark · Tasting-menu and New American
Halcyon is a reliable dinner-out option in Montclair where the wine list does its job without showing off — broad enough to find something that works with the seafood, priced at the higher end of what the neighborhood commands. Until we can get eyes on verified bottle selections and pricing, the specific picks stay blank, but the overall program earns a cautious endorsement: go for the crab cakes, ask your server what's pouring well by the glass, and you'll land somewhere fine.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Newark · Newark · Spanish
Spanish Tavern is a Newark institution worth visiting for the atmosphere and the paella, but the wine program doesn't quite match the room's ambitions. Drink something Spanish, keep it simple, and let the food carry the night.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Newark · Newark · Wine Bar / Small Plates
Consigliere is one of Newark's most interesting wine rooms precisely because it's not trying to be a conventional wine bar — the African diaspora focus and soundtrack-first atmosphere make it a genuine Wild Card worth the trip. If you can handle some ambiguity on the list and lean into the experience, it punches well above its weight.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Newark Liberty International Airport · Newark · Wine Bar / Light Bites
Oeno is a legitimately surprising wine program stranded inside one of America's least glamorous airports — the Champagne depth is real, the grower selections are credible, and it earns its Wild Card badge just by existing here. Markups are steep and the setting undercuts the wine, but if you've got a long layover and a taste for grower Champagne, this is where you should be.
Surprising Depth
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Newark · Portuguese / Steakhouse
Fernandes Steakhouse II isn't a wine destination, but the Portuguese section of the list gives it a genuine identity that most neighborhood steakhouses completely lack. Come for the grilled meat, order something from Portugal, and leave the Dom Pérignon for someone else's table.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Bellevue · Brazilian Steakhouse
Novilhos isn't a wine destination, but it's a fair, functional list that respects your wallet and doesn't embarrass itself next to the meat. Order the Rioja, finish with Port, and let the churrasco do the heavy lifting.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Tysons Corner · Brazilian Steakhouse
Chima is a great place to eat a lot of meat. It is not a great place to drink wine — five Napa Cabs at $89 flat is a placeholder, not a program. Order the caipirinha and save the wine for somewhere that cares.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
· Boston · Brazilian Steakhouse
Fogo de Chão is here to sell you a meat experience, and the wine list is an afterthought that exists to support that mission — not elevate it. Stick to the Zuccardi Malbec or the Garzón Albariño and spend your energy on the food.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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