On a cold and miserable Winter’s Day the temptation of good hot food served in a warm atmosphere seemed more appealing than ever. Estabulo arrived in Darlington a few years ago and is already established as one of the best places to eat in town. The chain must be doing something right as they continue to open new restaurants across the North of England.
Situated at Feethams leisure development in the heart of Darlington town centre, Estabulo Rodizio Bar & Grill restaurant celebrates a centuries-old way of cooking. Large skewers of prime cuts of meat are cooked on open flames to your liking and brought right to your table.
Freshness and plenty at Estabulo
There is also a copious salad buffet with a few hot options including soup, rice, and potatoes. What impressed me was: the buffet was kept continuously stocked. I have been in many other restaurants where the buffet looked a bit sad after a while. The quality and freshness of everything was impressive too.
The way the system works is quite simple. Once seated at your table, you are given a marker that is coloured green for ‘go’ on one side, an instruction for your waiter to ‘Bring It On.’ When you have had your fill, so to speak, then just flip the marker over to red which reads “No thank you – I’m ready to pop!” Believe me, your waistline will definitely expand after a visit to Estabulo.
Meat cooked to perfection
The waiters come to your table frequently with hot meats on a skewer, they carve, and all you have to do is use the tongs provided to take your choice from the skewer to your plate; then enjoy.
The selection of meats available depends on whether you dine for lunch or dinner. There are always different types of beef, chicken, lamb, and pork along with hot garlic bread and Abacaxi, the pineapple served with cinnamon.
The Filet Mignon was some of the tastiest fillet steak I have ever eaten. Then I dared myself to try the Coracao de Frango; a chicken heart Brazilian delicacy, which was delicious, tender, and a taste unlike anything I have experienced before.
A wealth of other choices
There were festive extras such as ‘Pigs in Blankets’, and ‘Yorkshire Pudding and Cranberry Sauce’, and among the wealth of options a ‘Fisherman’s Basket’, or vegetarian ‘Risotto with vegetarian hard cheese’, or pasta cooked with garlic and cheese.
The staff were all very friendly and willing to help. This restaurant is somewhere I would definitely visit again, and judging by the other diners I spoke to, it appeared they were all on return visits.
I did not see a dessert menu, though if you have filled up with the main course you probably would have not enough room for anything else!
Opening hours and menus
The price for all this extravagance?
Monday to Friday, 12 noon – 4pm: Lunch menu is £27.95; vegetarian Lunch menu is from £17.95; and fish Lunch menu £22.95.
Saturday and Sunday, served between 12 noon and 4pm: Lunch menu is £29.95; with fish and vegetarian options also available.
Dinner, served daily from 4pm to 10pm: £39.95. Further information here.
