Samba Grill Brazillian BBQ at Horton Plaza, San Diego Downtown

I tried the Samba Grill for the first time while on a ski tip in Salt Lake City, UT. I always love meat so an all-you-can-eat meat place is my kind of place. I've longed for a revisit to Samba Grill so I was pleasantly surprised to find that they've opened a location close to home.

Unfortunately, I was there during Mother's day and was there a bit late . If there's any word of caution to my fellow hungrry monkies, it would be to NEVER arrive LATE to a Brazillian BBQ place. NEVER! Not only do you not get the freshest supply of food, your meat might be overcooked due to the extended period of time the skewers remain on the grill. As I was late, I only saw 2 other tables (and I thought, goodness, how can they sustain business with no customers? but then I was reassured it was only because the early crowd celebrating Mother's Day had left already) and the salad bar had been wiped out by this earlier swarm of locus. So I really can't judge it very well, worse, I had to pay $10 more because of the special occasion.

However, because of the fewer people there, I was able to get several slices of grilled pineapple - the highlight of the night - and something that isn't usually served at other Brazillian BBQ places. Usually grilled pineapples are fought over and by the time it gets to your table, you don't get the grilled side, you get the inside... so you only get to savor the caramalized perimeter, and not the whole cross section!

Bottomline:
Get there early and enjoy the "endless parade of meat" and salad bar. Make sure to try the grilled pineapple that's fresh from the grill.

Price range: $35/per person (not incl. drinks)

Coupon available:
http://sandiego.fox6.com/coupons/classifieds/ViewCoupon?oid=oid%3A634859&name=restaurants

http://www.sambagrill.com/