I've been here twice already and will definitely come back again. I like the staff, they are very patient with their customers. The salads are great and the meat is unbelievable.
(5)
Terry C.
Just had dinner here, and it was great. The service and food was on point. However, when I got the rack of lamb..it was a bit dry. Flank steak was a bit burnt, which was kinda unyummie. Overall, I had a great dinner.
(4)
Sincere M.
Nothing short from disappointment .. Was there for a tasting of a specialty Brazilian rum, that was accompanied by 3 appetizers. - steak skewers were way over cooked (both times) - chicken and pineapple bits was horribly prepared (dark meat) -cherry tomatoes w/ mozzarella (eh) Not impressed what so ever; bartenders neglected us (2 people) as well as everyone else around the bar that was complaining (a staff of 4 bartenders). Not attentive, never checked on us, never asked if we needed anything else, to top off being charged right when we got seated (very tasteless). Now I remember why I haven't come back in a while.
(2)
Christine M.
Great meal here- as others have mentioned big fan of the cheese bread. I would also say to try the potatoes because they do not look appetizing but are delicious. We did the restaurant week menu and our favorite by far was the garlic butter sirloin. Our server was not very friendly or helpful which is the reason for the 4 stars.
(4)
Marcus F.
The fried plantain and ice cream are the best items on the menu. Everything else was a disappointment. We heard Chima was better than Texas De Brazil and we heard WRONG. The salad bar was a let down (nothing special), the mashed potatoes tasted like cream soup, the vegetable soup looked like cheese whiz, most of the meats tasted bad and were either dry or not seasoned right. Texas de Brazil is MUCH better. Don't waste your money at Chima.
(1)
Dani P.
Meat meat meat. A fellow Yelper invited us for Restaurant Week. They had a slightly limited menu for $20 less. The limitation was pretty negligible (especially when it's endless food) though, so it's a great deal. My vegetarian friend decided to accompany us. She told me the salad bar was good. I'm thinking.... how can a salad bar be good enough to convince a VEGETARIAN to come to a steakhouse?! This salad bar isn't ordinary. It includes so many different options outside of salad, including soups, fish, cheeses, cheese balls that I couldn't 100% identify... you have to force yourself not to load your plate up there lest you not be able to eat your weight in meat. The meat was good as expected. Slightly disappointed in the bacon-wrapped filet, which my husband was VERY excited to try. I'm really impressed with the deserts; I had a heavy flan. My husband had the key lime pie and this was probably the lightest, fluffiest key lime pie I've ever experienced. Amazing. I would definitely return, though not frequently since it is expensive and I'd like to not gain 500 pounds or have a heart attack.
(4)
Victoria S.
Came here for DC restaurant week. For just north of $35, one can get table appetizers (cheese bread, beef fritters, polenta and mashed potatoes), unlimited gourmet salad bar (along with rice and beans), 10 different kinds of grilled meats on the rodizio (included different sirloin cuts, pork loin, swordfish, salmon, flank steak, sausage, and chicken), and dessert. (cheesecake or ice cream) The selections from the salad bar were plentiful (included different wheels of cheese, beef carapaccio, smoked salmon, heart of palm, quinoa, and many veggies). The meats were well-seasoned and flavorful (gauchos came by the tables often with the rodizios). The restaurant week deal was great, but wouldn't mind coming back on a regular night to try the other types of meats (lamb, filet, ect). I couldn't eat my dessert and had to take it to go. Food aside, the service was friendly, the ambience was nice, and the free valet parking was also a plus. The only downside is that I was so full I had to roll myself out of the eatery.
(4)
Julie H.
I've eaten here so many times and even though I'm not big on buffet restaurants, it's one of my favorite. I've been to a few other Brazilian steak houses and by far Chima has been the best. And especially if you are a meat lover...this place is meat heaven. They also have fish. All of their meats are seasoned and cooked/grilled perfect! Sometimes some meats are a bit salty. I love their fresh cheese/salad/fruit bar!! And I love the little side dishes they bring out to you. They bring you about 3-4 small side dishes and one of my favorite is their cheese balls. So delicious! However, when the restaurant is busy, their service does get slow and sometimes the food doesn't come to you for 15-20 minutes or more. Can't forget to mention about their bar. They have great selections of alcohol/wine and/or yummy cocktails. It's great to go here for big group dinner or a date or just for you.
(4)
Keiko M.
A DC Restaurant Week Dinner. I got to make a reservation at 5:45pm. It's too popular to make a reservation around normal dinner time. When I went there, it was already packed. When I left there, so many people were waiting around the entrance. Price:$35( You can not get some nice meat like lamb, rib eye, top sirloin, etc... it comes with 1 dessert.) Taste: Good. Meat was ok. Pork rib was pretty good. They have tasty sauces, which I used a lot. Swordfish and salmon were just good. You must ask waiters about them every time you wanna eat. Salads, cheese, and soup are ok. I prefer Fogo's ones. Quinoa salad and kale salad were my favorites. Their cheesecake was nothing special. Too much flour. Not rich at all. Ice-cream was better. I ate it with fried bananas on the table. Cheese bread and some crispy fries were really tasty. Interior: Contemporary and Cool. I don't need TVs though. Customer Service: It took a long time to get a bill. Parking lot: 2 hours for $3 or valet parking. There are free ones, if you walk longer than 5-10 minutes.
(3)
Sarah S.
While I had been here a couple of times for networking events I was curious about the meat meal experience. It is worth noting the bar is nice and when the weather is pleasant the patio area a is good place to sit and chat over a good drink. Hubby and I decided to visit for Restaurant Week. I had read reviews and was not sure what to expect, especially as someone coming for RW. The 'menu' lists the RW option and the full option (about $55). As a couple of folks noted the difference included the filet mignon and lamb. I did not feel like the waiter was pushy on going for the full set. While I really like good lamb when I eat it I like it to be the focus -- we decided to stick with RW. And so our green circles were up and the meat began to flow. We could not keep up. I think my favorites were the salmon with the cilantro topping and the beef BBQ ribs. While I really like good ribs as the only fan in the family I do not get to enjoy as often as I might like. The ribs came by several time as did the fish. Hubby enjoyed the flank and sirloin and was happy he could get it medium well. I enjoyed accenting the meat with some very good cheese and just to make myself feel a little better wrapped some meat in lettuce, I know it's a lie but a little green made me feel better. We eventually admitted our defeat and turned over our circles from green to red, although several meat men stopped by a few more times. The dessert was lacking but you don't go here for the dessert and frankly we were so full it was nice to just have a little bit of sweet ice cream to wrap of the experience. We did not get wine partly because of our plans for after (of course we were both in such a food coma we automatically headed home and I did not remember we were suppose to head to a friend's performance until this morning, sorry about that, next time...). This visit was an experience. I don't know how often I will revisit for the full dinner but if asked for a meat experience recommendation I would mention this spot and as I write this I think when I brother gets home back from his overseas contract we might have to share the experience. If you have a chance to go to networking event here or are looking for nice bar and patio in the Tyson's area this place is worth putting on your radar.
(4)
Kiaira B.
Let me start off by saying 3 things 1 I am not the biggest fan of steak 2 We went during restaurant week 3 If you love meat this is the place for you / If you love sides this place is for you Now on to other things. Valet parking is free. The location has tons of water fountains which is beautiful and upon entering the restaurant it is breathe taking. Awesome interior design. It was my Moms Birthday and she's been wanting to try this place. I LOVED the Salad/Side Bar and the Mashed Potatoes. Matter of fact, I was in heaven with all the sides honestly. We chose the $35 option which did not include lamb, etc. I can't remember the name of most of the cuts but something call the 'Baby Steak' was my fav. The fat on it was similar to butter, in which it melted in my mouth. Other cuts of meat were salty in my opinion. Overall great place for meat eaters, very nice interior, very attentive staff. Next time I think we would go with the option that included lamb. The fish was very lack luster but this is a steakhouse so I can't really be upset about that.
(3)
Cendy C.
My significant other and I came here to celebrate his graduation. It was a Thursday evening and I had made reservations for 6. Unexpectedly, my partner and I ended up meeting up earlier and decided to see if we could get an earlier seating. The hostess that took our call was very accommodating and changed our reservations from 6 to 5:30. The staff were friendly and were prompt with service throughout dinner. Our server, realizing that it was our first time here throughly explained the process. The salad bar was very organized with several choices and once you flipped your card, the servers with the meat were constantly checking by - we even had to flip our card back to the "No, Thank You" in order to start eating! Food there was delicious and they had serval choices including steak, chicken, pork, swordfish and salmon. We came pretty early in the evening and I liked that different parties were spaced far away instead of crowded in one spot. It was also nice that their dining room was not completely dimmed down and there were natural sunlight streaming in throughout the restaurant. Overall a nice experience for a special occasion.
(5)
Irene C.
Meats were very underseasoned. I found myself adding a lot of cracked pepper on all the meats. Service was great, our waiter made an effort to joke around with our group. The salad bar was delicious. While 50-55 dollars for all you can eat meat might be a great deal for a someone who can eat a lot, I could not eat my money's worth and was completely overwhelmed by all the meats on my plate before even starting to eat! I barely even had a plate (weak.. i know). I won't be back unless it is for a special occasion. P.S.- They will take birthday photos and put in frame for you to take home!
(3)
Jess S.
As usual my boyfriend was craving steak and I wanted salad with better drinks. Fogo is our normal Brazilian steakhouse but we've been liking to retreat from the city on the weekends. Chima of Tyson's Corner comparatively offers similar service. At Chima there is complimentary valet which is unheard of in DC. If you have a decent car you're pretty much guaranteed they'll leave it parked right out front. We normally collect our key give them $5 and walk ourselves the 15 ft to our car. Comparing this place to Fogo De Chao and Texas De Brazil (both in DC) Chima would win because of ambiance, free valet, quality patrons, and quality of service. I'm not saying the steak is the best in the world because let's face it you're paying $50 for unlimited meat. (You get what you pay for) But the beef rib is always a personal favorite. For salad lovers like myself this salad bar is AMAZING. The choice of meat (top choice) or salad bar only comes with baked salmon (separate from the smoked salmon on the bar) topped with optional cilantro sauce and grilled Swordfish topped with optional passion fruit sauce. I highly recommend you try the fish with the sauce. OMG they're amazing. The option of unlimited swordfish & salmon really make this salad bar stand out from Fogo & Texas DB because they only offer "smoked salmon" on the bar. The drink menu is extensive. The dessert drinks are some of my favorite concoctions. The service here has always been superb. We are accustomed to bacon being included with the salad bar. However here it's not even an option :/. Every time I forget so I ask the waiters to "bring the bacon out". But to my surprise they oblige every time!!! They cook up some bacon and serve it to us on a plate. How awesome is that? (They have bacon on hand for bacon wrapped chicken) There's outdoor seating, although the waiters don't come out there so it's more of an overflow for the bar, the bar is large and fully stocked. There is plenty of booth and table seating in the restaurant, including tables for larger groups. There is a projection of Cirque De Soleil going at all times which is neat. Highly recommend you check it out.
(5)
Naeem M.
I ate so much meat that even the Caesar salad started tasting like rib-eye. The meat and fish selections were very good for the most part (my picks: top sirloin, salmon, and leg of lamb)...the one exception was the swordfish, which came out somewhat bland. No matter...the massive heapings of rib-eye and filet mignon took care of that quickly. Salad bar is impressive: several different cuts of cheese, potato/chicken salad, fruits, salads (quinoa and cucumber are the best ones, IMO) and a seperate hot bar with rice and beans (made with pork; vegetarians, Muslims, and observant Jews take note), and dinner rolls (???). The servers bring out the rest: polenta, mashed potatoes, and those little fluffy cheese breadballs that you can fill up on VERY quickly. Several hours of meat-induced sweats can run you up for $55 plus tax/tip. Make sure to leave room for dessert (hahahaha)... Protip: There's a paid parking garage available nearby (no validation) but valet parking is complimentary and there might be a few spots on the street side. Since I generally worry about valets taking my ten-year old Honda Accord for a joyride through the mean streets of NoVa, I elected to park in the garage and paid the $4 for three hours.
(4)
Jason C.
I'm not a fan of Chima. I really am not. I've read extensively through the yelp reviews from my trusted reviewers to try to minimize all the negative factors that could make my meal less than satisfying. In particular, I was warned about how you were up for a battle when it comes to getting the attention of the server and getting enough to eat. To take care of this problem, my work colleagues and I arranged the dinner very early on a weekday (5:30PM). While we had no issues getting what we wanted, the preparation was so far off I will have a tough time justifying going here even if it's on someone else's dime. How bad is it? When I ask the meat cutter to give me a medium, he would turn the meat to the side that's "supposed" to be a medium, cut it, and serve it to me. If it was prepared properly, I would get what I requested but I would get anything that was in range from a rare to a well done (total flip of a coin as to what I'd get). When I started getting skeptical after my 2-3 request, I asked the meat cutter to cut so that I could take a peek. I get a meat preparation that is dripping with blood and that is totally blood red on the inside as you get meat from a grocery store and he argues that this is medium. At first, I thought it was a communication problem, but after my 4th or 5th attempt, I began to realize that the meat cutters are only trained to cut slices from a specific location based on a request. They have no ability to visualize and judge whether a steak is a "rare" or "well done". During the entire night I got 10% of what I actually requested. For a restaurant establishment that charges upwards of $50 a head, this is unacceptable. I could get better consistency at TGIF than this! I have my biases against churrascaria-style restaurants like Fogo, Texas de Brazil, or Chima because the quality of the meats are never as good as the top steakhouses. As much as I liked the Carpaccio and the Prosciutto at the salad bar, in no way shape or form are those two things enough to save Chima's ratings. Chima takes everything to a whole new level (and not in a good way). As someone exploring options for a churrascaria-style restaurant...I would recommend Fogo de Chao any day over this.
(2)
Brianna B.
Update: I got sick after eating here, and I didn't even overeat! I NEVER get sick off of food, even if I do overeat...must have been something on the salad bar. Bummer!
(3)
Zahra K.
A group of us went here for restaurant week, $35 per person. I don't think I will come back here if I have to pay their regular price. The different cuts of steak were okay, but nothing impressive. I am personally not a fan of having to dip my steak in sauces, and I found I had to do that. The garlic marinated steak was good, and the salmon with cilantro sauce was amazing. Probably my two favorite items. The drinks were decent, but on the pricier side, and the salad bar that comes included in their AYCE dinner had some great options.
(3)
Rafah H.
Chima is one of my favorite places of all time. I've been going there for over 5 years, aleast twice a year and their meats have always been better than other Brazilian steakhouses I've tried in the area. For the past year or two, I happen to go during restaurant week and it's been a good deal. This year however, we went for restaurant week only to learn that most of their meats are not offered on the restaurant menu including lamb chops and fillet minion. The only things left were flank steak, chicken, pork and fish. Why would I go to a steakhouse and have chicken and fish?? We ended up doing the regular menu and paid full price. The quality of the meats wasn't that good. The fillet minion was in chewable. We were all very disappointed. Restaurants should offer their best items to encourage people to come back. In this case, I know o would never go back to chima for restaurant week.
(3)
Anne C.
helllooo meats! I came here for the first time - we were throwing my friend a surprise bday dinner. Mind you, I am not a huge fan of all you can eat steakhouses, mostly because I would not eat very much. I actually was thinking of not eating at all or eating just from the salad bar since i went in not hungry at all...but alas, of course, i am still a steaklover and once I saw all the meats coming by, i gave in. Service was fine - fairly timely, although slightly strange. When I would turn down say, the chicken or the sauage (since I have small stomach space, I'm saving it for the ribyeye), they would make comments like "oh are you not eating tonight?" and then when I asked for my steak medium rare to rare - someone said "Oh so you like it bloody"...um..not sure why they make these comments...but onto the meat! The steaks were all tender and the cuts were medium rare when I asked for it. However, I usually do not like my meats overly seasoned - they were actually all fairly underseasoned - very very bland. Also, none of the cuts of meat stood out to me at all. SADLY, what stood out to me was the smoked salmon and the beef carpaccio from the salad bar AND the creamy mashed potatoes they gave us. In fact, by the end of the meal, all I wanted was some salad and soem more mashed potatoes. I completely regretted not just sticking to the salad bar. I most likely will not be back and if so, it will be for an event or because friends want to come - and i will stick to the salad bar or just stick to a glass of wine.
(3)
renetta c.
Great eats! Come hungry or don't come at all. Service, atmosphere and food were all fantastic. I will be going back. Register on their website and get $20 off coupon for your table. Oh and there is free valet parking. :)
(5)
Louie L.
The food isn't for me...the decor is nice. The service is great too...I love their salad bar though. Their cheese puffs is so good. But I think I'm just going to stick with Fogo de Chao in DC
(4)
Lyn L.
WHY did I leave this nearly $125 a person meal ...HANGRY? When you factor in a couple of drinks and the meal and tip, I have spent about a $125. Why was I starving while sitting there, and hungry and mad when I left? We had an 8:15pm reservation and many of the Mother's Day celebrants were packing it up and heading home. Did the gauchos also pack up and head home? Our party of 4 enjoyed a few drinks at the bar, and then more drinks at the table. Our server was very friendly along with the various management and server team members. BUT, what about the food...we came for the meat. Did the earlier diners eat all the meat? Shouldn't the restaurant plan ahead an cook enough meat? Once seated and 'little round' feed me circles say 'YES, I WANT MEAT", were turned over, it literally took almost 20 minutes because a meat man even came by...and they only came by because one of the server team members asked us if he could bring any of the meat people by??? UM, YES...because I felt sorry for my meat loving hubby who was grazing on rolls... We had a few 'sirloin' meat men come by, and seriously had to request SEVERAL times for the filet and rib-eye gauchos...Sadly, they only came by once, despite NUMBEROUS requests for filet and rib-eye. Was Chima only serving 'sirloin' last night? When you are charging that much and the other place across town charges $15 less, then YES, please serve us filet and rib-eye. Towards the end of our dining experience, we requested AGAIN the filet, flank, and rib-eye....we finally got tired of waiting, and were sick of the servers trying to clean off our table. We just relented and let them take away our plates. We were not one of the huge parties of 15-20 celebrating Mother's Day, but we are regular customers who come every few months. We used to speak highly of this chain because of their amazing customer service and over abundance of meat sticks thrown in our faces...alas, something happened and we were unfortunately let down. Even management staff lacked in accommodating our hangry faces.
(1)
Cory X.
Came here with the gf for restaurant week to see why she liked it. The salad bar is OK, unless you are a huge cheese lover. The meat was just OK and I would never pay the full price to come here to dine. The swordfish is gross but the salmon was good. The cheesecake was good.
(3)
Burcu B.
We have been there couple times. It is a nice place. Last night we celebrated our anniversary there. Staff was friendly, service was nice. Ambiance is good, price is high as same as other quality Brazilian steak houses. If you are a meat lover, you will find the taste you are looking for.
(5)
Alvin C.
A short review here. We were brought to dinner by a vendor during a business trip. As it was a business dinner, I'm afraid I wasn't as attentive as I might normally be, and I don't have all the server names written anywhere. But our server was polite and fairly knowledgeable. All the servers were polite. The salad bar area was clean and well stocked. Everything tasted good. This is not my first Brazilian steakhouse, and compared to others which I've been to, this one rates well.
(3)
Ruth C.
Two and a half stars. Garage and street parking in the area if you don't care to valet, clean bathrooms to the right upon entering. Tablets are used by friendly table servers to allow you to browse drink and dessert menus. Coconut batida was refreshing, reminiscent of a faintly boozy pina colada icee. Chima has a better salad bar than FdC, but the meats are all over the place. Loved the cheesy bread and appreciated the croquettes, but the polenta fries and plantains didn't arrive until our meal was almost done. Meat traffic overseers have more influence than the orange-up signs on whether your table is visited by skewer-bearers. As observed by others, the meat temperatures are all over the place despite your stated preference, so might as well aim for maximum flavor on the end pieces. Top sirloin served to me was all fat. Chicken, pork rib, and bacon-wrapped filet were skippable. The last straw for me was the meat crossover-- a knife used to serve swordfish or medium-well salmon was used to cut lamb off the skewer, giving it a fishy enough taste to turn my stomach. Flan was okay and sized to share, dotted with a pruney puree that would make me stick to the papaya cream or key lime pie since there was no chocolate toffee cake.
(2)
Dennis T.
If you are looking for a nice dinner spot, this is the place. I went here for my birthday with my girlfriend and the environment was amazing. A nice, fancy restaurant setting with amazing food. First of all, I went during Restaurant Week in DC, and the place was busy. I had put a reservation down for 9PM through OpenTable and I did not get seated until 9:20pm. Who's fault is that? I can't really say... should I excuse them because it was Restaurant Week? I don't know but all I know is if I had a reservation at 9pm, I shouldn't have to wait 20 mins to be seated. What's the point of the app if they're not going to seat me at 9pm? The food was amazing. I highly ADVISE to not get a full plate at the salad bar because that will kill your appetite. Maybe get like a couple leaves of lettuce and a little here and there. I made the mistake of getting everything and got too full to meat. Save your stomach for the meats. The top sirloin was the best, followed by the flank steak. The chicken was a little dry, so I kept going for the beef. If you never been there, when they come out with the beef, they ask how you want the meat (rare, medium rare, etc) and they'll cut the meat for you. After you are done eating, they have dessert for you. I went the cheesecake while the girlfriend got the ice cream (you can choose between vanilla, strawberry, chocolate or scoops of all 3). The dessert is amazing: the cheesecake is soft and the ice cream is milky and sweet. Overall, it was a great time. I would def recommend.
(4)
Rhema L.
Wonderful place, on the pricey side yes, but worth every bites... you do not have to actually eat there to enjoy everything offered at the bar, We sat on the patio and enjoyed the appetizers menu, enjoyed their cocktails, desserts and complimentary sides (cheese souffle breads, plantains, little beef balls, smoke fish spread and some other marvelous things ...)... the entire experience was impressively incredible! The service is impeccable, the decor is hip, modern and earthy. The waiters polite, funny and attentive and the coup de grace: the complimentary valet. Going back for second next week with the family to enjoy the main course.
(5)
Lissa B.
Chima is a very elegant Brazilian steakhouse. For those coming for the steak, it's great. There is something else going on here though. The salad bar at Chima is very similar to the brunch buffets in the Arabian gulf countries. The salad bar includes many wonderful and delicious exquisite options and so much more than just salad. For example, there is prosciutto (careful if you don't eat pork), beef carpaccio, and smoked salmon. The cheese section is fabulous with fresh mozzarella and abundant chunks of parmigiano reggiano. Then of course there are carefully put together fresh, healthy salad options. A plate will fill up quickly with a little sample of everything. The little appetizers they bring to the table are also delicately delicious. They include fried polenta, cheesy bread balls, beef croquettes, and fried plantains. My favorite is the cheesy bread balls. Not so surprisingly I see dozens of Arabs every time we go here. We even had an Arab waiter last time and my friends were ordering in Arabic. We don't usually even get the steak or fish options. It's all about the salad bar buffet.
(4)
Neen B.
Be prepared to leave stuffed, but not necessarily from the meat. They have a decent salad bar area that consists of salad type items of course, but also soups, fruit, potato salad, charcuterie type meats and more. Also they bring a few small table appetizers which are filling but don't look like it. So for myself I never seem to eat $50+ worth of meat, because I get full off of the salad bar, etc. The servers this time were annoying, in your face too much rushing you. They also had a sommelier walking around who was pretty pretentious. He made sure to let you know he was over all Chima locations and made sure to show you HIS selections only. He was a bit overbearing. Had planned on ordering a bottle for the table, but he was so irritating we settled for a couple of delicious caipirinha's instead. Overall, a decent spot for dinner.
(3)
Elina Y.
This place beats Texas de Brazil by a landslide. No competition. Their meat prep is NOT salty and their 'medium rare' is OH~SO~PERFECTLY medium rare. My favorite meats: Filet Mignon, Flank Steak, and Top Sirloin. I cannot express how juicy, how tender, and how mouthwatering the flavors are. The decor was romantic, along with a cozy ambiance and blahblahblah. Who cares about all that? STEAKSTEAKSTEAKSTEAKSTEAK! Now all that's left for me to try is Fogo de Chao to see which steakhouse is the best in the area.
(4)
Mia N.
The meat tasted better and had more flavor than Fogo de Chao. However, I liked the cheesy bread and fried polenta better at Fogo de Chao. The dining room in Fogo also looks nicer and classier. At Chima, it just seemed like a circus. Not likely to come here again. I did not like the cold salad bar, and I got full after 2 plates of meat. It's not worth the $50 per head. It would have been better if salad bar offerings were better, and if it weren't so dark in there.
(3)
Es E.
Went for a little business dinner celebration - about a week ago, Thursday. Wow! We didn't have reservations but after being asked if we had and we told them no, they still seated us right away in the very large dining area. The salad bar was jammed with people but well worth the time it took to walk around it. Of course the meats were excellent and plenty of servers coming by to bring the various cuts. Good time. Must go back.
(5)
Chris C.
Solid place to go for meats. Excellent variety at the salad bar, everything is clean and well maintained. Some have complained about the service, I arrived shortly after the place opened for dinner so I thought the service was excellent. Prices were very reasonable. I think it's a much better option than Ruth's Chris if you are in the mood for steak. It seems kid very friendly, I saw lots of people with newborns to pre-teens, so big plus for us. I was concerned there was no kids menu but there is enough variety for everyone.
(4)
Roger B.
Excellent steak house. My first taste of Brazilian steak house and the food was excellent. They had a wide variety of very tasty sides to accompany the meats. The star of the dinner was of course the meats. Loved the Sirloin, ribeye, and chicken ... Especially the Sirloin. Perfect seasoning and cooked to perfection. The service was top notch both friendly and prompt on all our request. Even though we were the last table, they never rushed us out the door. The desert was a light fland which was good but that prune sauce was eww (my only complaint). I would definitely return, it was great experience.
(5)
Chrystalle B.
We've had our holiday lunch here two years in a row. If you've never been to a Brazilian steakhouse, it's an interesting experience. I'm told that every place does their "feed me"/ "I'm full" signal differently. Here, you receive a plastic token that has red on one side and green on the other. If the gauchos see green, they'll offer you whatever they're carrying, if they see red, they wont. Though we found that even if your token was showing red, if they saw you eyeing their selection they would ask you anyway. Once everyone was seated, the staff brought over a few small dishes and placed them throughout the table. Most memorably small cheddar biscuits. We were also given free reign of their salad bar. It was packed w/ meats and cheeses, a number of different kinds of salads and sides, and a few soup options. Be very careful how much you take from there, you may get too full too early. Then came the meats. We had photo menus on our table as well so you could see what everything was. I found that the Top Sirloin & Filets were a little under done for my taste, while the chicken was a bit overdone. The sausages and swordfish were my faves. The sausages were sweet and tangy and the fish was delightfully moist, though they did have a lot of dark meat. Hot tip: there are a ton of dipping sauces, if you're so inclined, on the salad bar. Look for them before you sit down for your meat course. The staff here is extremely attentive. We always have a large group and no one goes more than 10 minutes w/out a refill of anything. We had some very fussy people in our group and they served them w/ a smile the entire lunch. The actual restaurant is lovely. The tables are all covered in white linens, pressed and crisp. There is a ton of light, even on a dreary winter day. I would say this is probably one of the ritzier options for Brazilian steakhouses in the area.
(4)
Ronald L.
Came here as a walk-in for Valentine's Day dinner. Arrived at 4:45pm and had no issues getting a table, though I cannot say the place was barren, because it wasn't. My wife and I were greeted by our server, Camilla. She introduced herself and said that her and the runner would be tending to us throughout the evening. She explained the Valentine's Day special, but didn't do a great job of it and had to get clarification from another server. It was $89 dollars or something close to for their night's special per person, which included unlimited soda, juice, coffee, tea, and maybe champagne (the server wasn't clear on this, but I noticed the surrounding tables getting refills/topped off), dessert, and a photo in a Chima paper frame/card. There was a cheaper option of only fish instead of the red-meats for the Valentine's Day special, but we opted for the land dwelling cuts. Camilla asked if we wanted our champ now or later, and we told her now. She also asked if we'd like any other beverage so we asked for ginger ales, which was brought to us right away. We then proceeded to head over to the "salad" bar, which of course is much more than just salad. The bar offered a very nice selection of salads of quinoa and pastas. I was very impressed that they also had beef carpaccio, which was drizzled with some kind of sauce or vinaigrette and cheese, which is something I have never seen Fogo De Chao offer. The meats however, were of the same quality, which was excellent. The wife and I return to our table from the bar and Camilla asked if everything was ok. This would be the last time we see her until the very end of the night when she apologized.... sorry, but quite late in the game for any apologies. My gripe here is not because of the poor service, because I believe poor service is something that's more common than excellent service. and it's what separates establishments from its competitors. My gripe is because my wife and I feel like we got ripped off about the special. Unlimited drinks, especially if champagne is included, was a complete waste if no one comes around to refill it. Ginger ale? Empty. Servers? No were to be found. How are we supposed to take advantage of a deal if it's not accessible??? I wouldn't be so upset if it were the regular price for dinner with how everything went in terms of waiting service. But this was a special night. The entire staff should be bringing their 'A' game. Well, every night should be an 'A' game, but more staff should be on-hand. We had to wait a good 35 minutes for someone to ask if we were done so our table could be cleaned. We watched a two-top table next to us get go through two seatings before we had anyone come check up on us. We were just sitting there wasting time. Sorry, but the wife and I have better things to do than to stare at a replay of Cirque du Soleil on the projector. We flagged another server or runner to inquire about our server because we never saw her again and it seemed like really no one was giving two-sh!ts about our table. The person said they would go check. We also noticed there was a lady holding a camera and going to tables taking pictures for their cards to be given to the patrons for the night. We also noticed that our table was always skipped. Our neighboring tables got pictures, why not us? The hell? We had to flag Rodrego, which was a table runner I believe, to ask him, "Is there something going on with pictures? We see people are getting their pictures taken and given a card. Is that something extra?" He replies, "Oh no, I'm sorry. No one has taken your picture yet??? Let me go get the camera and take the picture for you!". If we didn't flag someone down, we would of never have walked out with it. Our dessert came out. Some custard thing in a chocolate mold. Rodrego came back to take our picture then had it printed in the card. Got the check and guess who finally comes back. Camilla. She apologizes and explains to us that tips are shared between the staff so she thought someone was covering our table for her. Well, thought wrong. Best part of the evening was spending it with my wife and the valet, which I didn't even mention because they did their job. I gave them my keys. They gave me a ticket. At 6:45pm, I give them my ticket and they give me my car. Flawless. Too bad the dining room wasn't as efficient.
(1)
Victor M.
I went to this Steakhouse for a friend's birthday this past weekend and their service was extremely slow. We had to keep on calling them to bring the meat around, then we had to wait about forty minutes to get our check, then 20 minutes more to get our cards swiped. All in all we were there for about 4.5 hours and the majority of the time was spent waiting. After one of my friends talked to the manager he just said that we had a big group of ten people and that they couldn't do anything. The meat wasn't that great either. So, If you have the option go to Fogo de Chao... which is definitely much better.
(2)
Nate C.
Just make sure you have clothes with room to expand! I've been to Chima about 10 times and have had great service on 9 occasions. The food is delicious, the quantities are practically unlimited, and the service very attentive (except that one time). It's not cheap, but I will definitely go back.
(4)
Spencer H.
I don't believe I'm about to say this but here it goes. There is such a possibility of "TOO MUCH of a good thing"! Whewww.. now that was hard!!! Fogo De Chao has been my preferred restaurant when wanting to throw caution to the wind and "PIG THE HELL OUT". I love good food, and even though gluttony is the last of the seven deadly sins, I knew I was about to sprout devil horns when I walked into Chima. What a classy restaurant. It is perfectly designed and decorated to be formal and funky at the same time. Very large bar/lounge area that is as slick as they come. Put on your Euro cut suit and your Italian slip-ons and you will fit right in. That suit bet not be tooo tight though, because if you're going to partake in the Brazilian buffet, then your jacket buttons will pop! I figured I'd go out of my comfort zone and give Chima a try since it was restaurant week. I could not have made a better decision. It's something about unlimited top of the line meat that makes a brotha do the cabbage patch (well in my mind anyway because I'm WAYYYY too cool for that..LOL). Everything was superb but my favorites was the lamb, filet mignon and the prime rib. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it..smh. The ceviche was the star of this very impressive salad bar with the smoked salmon coming in a close second! Of course I appropriately quenched my thirst with the Brazilian creation "Caipirinha". Man I love that drink.. so refreshing! Now to the sinning part. The reason I can't frequent places like this is the lack of will power. The food keeps coming and coming and coming until you finally say NO MAS!! By that time you're disgustingly full and can barely walk.. what an awesome Catch 22! lol So, if you love Fogo, switch it up and give Chima a try. You will SIN just as hard, trust me!!! lol
(4)
Wing C.
My first restaurant week in DC! Well technically, Chima is not in DC. After finding out Fogo de Chao was fully booked, I decided why not travel a bit outside of the city and give Chima a try. It's right by Tyson's Corner? Might as well do some shopping and work up an appetite beforehand! My family and I were seated immediately upon checking in for our reservation. We were given two options 10 cut vs 16 cut of meat? We opted for the $35.14 option (10 cut - missing out on lamb chop, lamb shank, rib eyed, bacon wrap steak, beef ribs) - which I had no regret for because the table next to us opted for the 16 cut options and complained to their server that they never even saw the promised additional cuts circulating. In reality, I would say there were a total of 7 cuts of meats available - I had to ask my server 5 times about the fish. Our server, Camilla?, was extremely apologetic. Unfortunately, by the time we were served, there was only 1 tiny leftover piece of swordfish. The 4 of us had to split this one tiny piece - which we found inedible (dry to the bone). With promise that more would be brought over, we sat around and waited... and waited... and waited.. (we were offered flank steaks about 6 more times though). Ultimately, the fish never made it back to our table. We were simply forgotten. I can't imagine paying full price especially since half of the menu was not available as advertised. Even though the side dishes and salad bar were amazing, I took my family here for the meat. Lesson learned - will gun for reservation earlier for Fogo next time.
(3)
Lisa H.
Oh, Chima. There has always been a place in my stomach for you. Your rodÃzio meats are delicious, and the sides (e.g. cheese bread) are amazing. However, if the service was on-par with my initial visit, my review easily would have been 4-5 stars. However, this hasn't been the case so sadly, 3-stars. REGARDING THE FOOD: ===================================== Picanha (Top Sirloin) was absolutely delicious. Thin slices, but just the perfect amount of crisp on the edges makes this the favorite o f everyone I've dined with here. Top Sirloin with garlic: Good, however, they only came around once. I would have liked to try more than one small piece! Flank steak: Medium is definitely super red and bloody, but what's the point of eating steak that isn't like this? Could be more flavorful. BBQ ribs: Saucy, tender. Parmesan pork loin: Good alternative if you want something different from beef Swordfish: Delicious! The white sauce on top adds a little sweetness, and that was definitely welcomed after eating only beef and salty meats. Salmon: Also very delicious. Cooked perfectly, and the dill-type sauce on top was absolutely great. Always get a bit of salmon here! Chicken wrapped in bacon/boneless chicken: **didn't try** Sausage: OK, sausage is sausage. REGARDING THE SERVICE: ==================================== Restaurant week can get hectic, so please note this. However, the past 2 years I've gone for this special event I've received terrible service. The place is packed; so you don't get one server per table. There is a bunch of people serving you. This year at Restaurant Week, we didn't get checked on until 40-45 minutes into our meal. I was hoping that a waiter would come by so I could order a coke. By the time he did come, I was half-way done with eating, so it was a little too late. Also, I noticed that the manager comes around to check on tables, but it seems like my boyfriend and I were skipped out on all night. The servers very rarely checked on us, some rodÃzio servers didn't stop by at our table (our green cards were up the whole night), and we didn't get asked how our meal was by anyone. I'll be the first to say I come to Chima and Brazilian steakhouses to EAT, and enjoy the delicious food. But at a restaurant known for a great dining experience, the past few visits at Chima have been terribly disappointing regarding service, or lack-thereof. OVERALL ==================================== Food will always be great. I always looked forward to coming to Chima for a special occasion. My expectations for service, however, have been lowered after waiting for a server to come to us, for meats to arrive at our table, and for almost 40 minutes for the cheesecakes I ordered to-go (this happened 2 years in a row). I am sadly rethinking Chima as my go-to Brazilian steakhouse.
(3)
Mark J.
I've been to other Brazilian steakhouses this one was better then some. A problem I had with the place was they have around 16 types of meat and yet I was only offered 3-4 different types yes you could request the kind you wanted but why not just have a rotation so you can get a good variety. Also the salad bar was lacking after one trip I decided not to go up for another. The desert was really good though. Can't really say the price was bad you should expect a steakhouse like this to be on the upper side of the scale. Overall not a bad meal just expected more.
(3)
Kat Q.
I was here for dinner with my parents on a Wednesday. We made reservations, but the place did not seem at all crowded, so probably could've went without one. No issues upon arrival, and were seated right away. Absolutely amazing customer service, from the the guys at the valet, our servers/waiters, to the folks distributing the meat. Midway through our dinner, the manager I believe, checked up on us. Our waiters (we had two, I wish I remember the names) were outstanding and professional and explained everything clearly. Now for the food-- They have an extensive salad bar full of fresh and hot food. I typically stay away from salad bars due to hygiene reasons, but this one in particular was clean and someone was always there cleaning and attending to it. The meat and steaks were well-marinated. My father, who hates lamb, tried the lamb chop and was hooked! My favorite was their cheese bread puff thing-- I think the only bad thing about our dinner was that the guy said he would bring us back more but never did. But thats ok! Thank you Chima and Staff for our wonderful dinner-- and thank you mom and dad for paying! This place is EXPENSIVE. Bring lots of $$$$
(5)
Heba S.
Horrible, horrible experience! Had 9:30 reservations and was not seated until 25 minutes later. The salad bar was okay but the steak was dry and salty, and the fish tasted bad. I had told them when I made the reservations that it was my husband's birthday which they did not acknowledge at all. Very upset.
(1)
Amanda B.
I can officially mark this restaurant off my bookmarks, it was good, but sadly I don't think I would return based on price and a few other quirks. Let me say, it's delicious and I think it beats Texas de Brazil by miles, it still hasn't captured my intrigue, especially for the price, that they don't list anywhere, $54 a person. I get it's a buffet and all you can eat but..... Meh... I'd rather order one succulent piece of meat for that price that I can then bring home than eat mediocre yet tasty meat until I burst. This place has plenty of reviews, so I don't need to go into explicit detail, but this is just another run of the mill Brazilian style steak house where one can eat as much meat as a Tyrannosaurus Rex all for the low price of $54 dollars per person which includes a hefty salad bar and just a water. There IS a menu but it's only pictures of the types of meat you can expect to come around at the restaurants leisure though you can ask for it to be brought promptly if you know what you want. No price... One price for everyone.... Even if say you just wanted the salad bar? Dunno. I just don't like it. Okay okay.... Overall opinion, go here instead of Texas de Brazil if you want the experience, but once you have it under your belt I'm sure you'll be satisfied for years now that you got the mystery out of the way. The food is tasty but not super top quality but still, yummy and if you actually had room to enjoy the salad bar buffet they have available there is a large variety of things to eat, the Gorgonzola mousse and seafood salads are a must! But that's it, it's A OKAY... But I'm not a fan.... And I won't go again just cause there's nothing that makes it really special in all honesty.
(3)
Gwen B.
We came here because we had a gift card for a complimentary meal (for one diner). I had been here before for a company holiday party so I was pretty familiar. My first recommendation (which is OBVIOUS) is to come hungry! I do not get as much "bang for my buck" being a small asian girl with a rather normal sized appetite. The salad bar options were good and fresh. There is a decent selection, however the line can be long and people are slow since it is all you can eat. The meats tend to be well cooked although not the HIGHEST quality meat (the tender/filet mignon comes around far less frequently than other selections). We had to request to even get some filet as we had not gotten any 3/4 of the way through our meal. For me, Chima does not live up to a regular steakhouse in quality or service. I don't enjoy buffet lines when I am paying $50 per person. Of course, this is simply my personal preference since I don't tend to overeat, but I would rather have one steak that tastes AMAZING rather than ten different kinds of unlimited meat that are just average. Even with one of us eating free, the bill was still $100 since the wine is fairly high priced and the tap was included (which was a fail on their part because I always tip 20%). Our waitre was friendly though and we enjoyed our meal fine enough, it simply isn't somewhere I would want to return to. In my hunble opinion, you can get higher quality meals for the same price elsewhere in the DC area. However if you are looking to really house some steak and get some meat sweats going, Chima is the perfect destination for you!
(3)
Sheila M.
It's a beautiful restaurant. However, the experience was not so great. My friend and I visited Chima a couple weeks ago and the service sucked. We were greeted with a smile and seated immediately. I got an order of Diet Coke and my friend ordered Ginger ale. The waiter ended up giving my diet soda to the gentleman sitting next to me and I got his Ice Tea. The other guest and I looked at each other and said, "I believe you have my drink" we ended up doing the swap ourselves. Then when he went to refill my friends drink he ended up bringing back seltzer water instead of the Ginger ale. Now for the good... The meat is delicious :) I loved their sirloin and ribs. However, the Salmon that was brought around was extremely dry. To top off the not so GREAT service we had to wait for a good 20 minutes before the waiter decided to finally visit our table again and bring us the check. Keep in mind, they were not that busy. Anyways... We ended up going back one more time for a second chance two weeks later. This time around it was even worse. We were greeted with a smile and seated immediately. We decided to take a look at their bar (since we didn't go up there the first time around) and their selection is very minimal. So ended up just getting the meat again as we did during our first visit. We seemed rushed and didn't get every selection served to us. I asked for a refill on the cheese balls and it took them 30 min to bring them out. I know there are other restaurants in the area with the same concept. I would highly recommend Texas de Brazil in FairOaks over this place. I doubt we will be visiting this place anymore. It's not worth the $55. The service does not match the price.
(3)
Mondo P.
Didn't even get a chance to try the food here so the 1 star is solely for the way we were treated upon arrival ( we left before we were even seated ) Unfortunately this establishment has a dress code ( not posted or stated on the website ) that didn't fit the baseball cap and flip flops we were dressed in. However, they were willing to "overlook" our inappropriate attire ( after being told twice ) but the damage had already been done. Apparently flip flops are ok for women but not for men. They seriously told us that!! Shocking in 2015 this establishment doesn't understand gender discrimination. I could see a high end restaurant requiring a dress code but a Brazilian Steakhouse with a dress code that is selective based on gender??? Sorry. I'll spend my money at Texas De Brazil!!
(1)
Debbie G.
First time coming here. What a great experience. We left our car with the complimentary valet. We had reservations and were seated right away. We waited for about 1 minute for the waiter to bring us water. That was fast. After that he pretty much explained to us how everything at the restaurant works. He even told us his favorite meats and drinks. We took his advice and wow the calpirniha was amazing. The meat was also very flavorful and plentiful. My glass was never let to get empty, the waiters were very prompt. Pricey but totally worth it!
(5)
Daniel S.
The entire meal was great, but I gave it 3 stars because of the manager. There was a group of 5 of us from NC that were in town for a conference. We decided to eat here because it was something that most of us had never been too. Brazilian Steakhouses are not cheap, but the manager had mentioned that there was a coupon online for $20 off if we filled out a thing on the website, so we all did and received a coupon in our email. At the end, we showed the staff the coupon and we were told that we could only use 2 coupons because it was for "2" people. So I simply asked if he would kindly discount my meal by $10 since I was the odd number in the group. With an attitude said that there was nothing he could do and that it wasn't his problem that we had an odd number. Now, normally, I wouldn't be looking for a discount on a normal meal, but with my meal, dessert and drinks it was over $120 just for me. I understand that that coupon couldn't be used, but since our group paid over $400 for dinner, I would have expected at least a little courtesy from the manager. The rest of the evening was great! The food and the staff were wonderful and everything was great except for the manager. Sadly, I will not be returning because bad leadership is like a virus and will infect the rest of the staff slowly but surely!
(3)
Bobby R.
It's my first time coming here. Pretty awesome experience. My waitress was nice she explained how every thing worked. So you can pick your meal and guys come around with their meat sticks cutting it in front of you for you to grab. Its a lot of meat so make sure you come with an appetite. My favorite was the rib eye and flank steaks! Chicken was kind of tough for my liking. Also, the small plates that come around are pretty good as well... I like the cheese bread. All in all though, I had an awesome time, the meat guys were hilarious, the guys in suits were nice, and the waitress was very attentive. Try it out!
(4)
Joannah Y.
The service is excellent, the servers were very attentive. The Salad Bar is great. The meats were perfectly seasoned and we have no complaint save for one. They took out the Creme Brulee from their menu. I love Creme brulee and it cost them a star. Sorry but it is a must go.
(4)
John B.
Good food but a little pricey. I've eaten at Chima three times. The last time I ate there was during a power outage. Although we hadnt been there long, and werent finished eating, they had the audacity to come out with a full bill for the all you can eat and said they weren't serving anymore due to the power outage. Obviously if the kitchen was inoperable due to lack of power, it's not their fault, but they should have discounted the bill considering the circumstances. That was the last time I ate there. Not sure if I'll go back.
(3)
Valerie J.
You can't go wrong with all you can eat steak and salad bar!! They are very generous!! It is on the same scale as Fogo!! It's still really good if you want to pay for all you can eat steak!
(5)
Kimberly S.
Hello meat sweats! I went with a group of seasoned rodizo eaters so I was bit of a no0b when attending for Restaurant Week which offers a $35 deal for all the protein you can stuff down your gullet plus dessert and $30 wine bottle specials. I'm pretty sure offering great deals is how dealers get people addicted to drugs, so why not use the same method in Brazilian BBQ? This is a completely solid choice for those wanting to participate in pure gluttony. Even when we graciously turned our Chima Pog to the red side, a guacho would creepily appear behind us with a big giant sword of meat. I did not care much for the flank, chicken, sausage, or swordfish but I would have been happy if they kept cutting thinly sliced outside portions of their house sirloin all day. Add some buttered rice, chimichurri sauce, and a few of their addictive cheese balls and you're pretty much down one artery. But it's totally worth it, trust me. The salad bar was extensive and fresh. The beef carpaccio was money and their smoked saloon on point. The complimentary mashed potatoes that they served at every table had the smoothest, goopiest, unappetizing consistency ever. Add some lumps to that joint son! Loved the service! They had a great attitude and was constantly checking in at our table.
(4)
Tosha B.
Apparently at Chima, Restaurant Week doesn't really mean Restaurant Week. I'm not sure where to start, but this dinner experience was dead on arrival. My husband and I came here with another couple expecting to get the restaurant special of all you can eat meat for $35.15, but when we sat down, our server made it clear that the restaurant week special only includes some of the meats. He also mentioned that "all the good meats that you would want" are NOT on the restaurant week menu and would cost the normal price of $51.50 per person. He basically told us that there is no reason to get the restaurant week special since it doesn't include any of their premium meats. Well we were pretty annoyed, disappointed, and frustrated since our meals were basically going to cost $20/person more than we anticipated. We went with getting all the meats because we had our hearts set on filet mignon and lamb which were NOT included in the restaurant week menu. Another thing that initially turned us off was that our server asked if we had been to Brazilian steakhouse before and we said that we had been to Texas de Brazil. He then began to tell us how Texas de Brazil is like McDonalds compared to Chima and how their restaurant is so much better. He was very cocky about their restaurant and seemed to bash a competitor for no good reason. On to the food.........the meat was good and not as salty (and flavorable) as other Brazilian steakhouses, but it wasn't anything to write home about. I think my favorite part of the meal was the cheese filled rolls that they brought to the table....divine! After we at our hearts out, we were waiting for our dessert and the manager came over and asked how things were. We told him it was good and he also asked if we had been to a Brazilian steakhouse and we gave him the same response we gave our server. He then began telling us how their quality is so much better than Texas de Brazil and that they don't even consider them to be a competitor because they are so much better. He went on and on about how bad Texas de Brazil was and how much better Chima was. I'm not sure why he felt the need to do that because it made it seem like Chima was desperate and needed to bad talk another restaurant to make themselves feel better. It was even more annoying because none of us thought that Chima was better than Texas de Brazil and we all agreed that we wouldn't drive past Texas de Brazil to eat at Chima. Our desserts came and I ordered the flan. I took one bite and thought it tasted awful. Our server came back over about 5 minutes later and asked how everything was. I told him that I didn't like my dessert at all. He just stood there and didn't say anything. So then I asked him if i could get something else. He literally huffed and puffed and said that they normally don't let people change their desserts. I told him that I took one bite and hated it and that I would go find the manager myself to get something else if that needed to be done. He mumbled something under his breath and said I could get something else. I ordered the key lime pie which came out about 5 minutes later. He never even took the flan back, which I didn't want, or come back to see how the key lime pie was. I just thought the customer service was completely lacking and the desserts weren't good and I'm convinced they buy them in bulk from Costco, so I'm not sure what the big deal was to bring me something else. Chima is overrated and the customer service leaves a lot to be desired. All they do is talk badly about their competitors and don't even have the food and service to back up their claims. I'm still annoyed that we spent over $100 on a meal that wasn't that great and service that was subpar. The only good thing about that visit was hanging out with friends and finding out firsthand that Chima isn't a place that I would ever go back to or recommend to anyone.
(1)
Donald F.
There are two things that I must start off saying: 1.) Wow 2.) Beef rib FTW! When we arrived in the vicinity we couldn't find any outside parking so we ended up parking in the parking garage (fyi, it is a $3 charge for anything over 2 or 3 hours, I can not remember which). We proceeded to the restaurant which had a gentleman by the door who greeted and held the door open for us to enter. Once we entered, the receptionist selected our table for two and had a hostess escort us to our table. As my wife and I were being escorted we were looking around and for a while felt uncomfortable because the people we seen were all dressed up and we weren't. It wasn't until we started seeing people with casual clothing that we began to feel more comfortable. After being seated our waitress came to take our drink orders and began explaining how things worked since it was our first time. After her explanation I was like a race horse that just had his gate lifted because I was off and I was fast....lol. They have a bar area that is help yourself, and it has a variety of different things like (rice, cheeses, salad, soups and many other items). Be mindful not to go crazy at the help yourself bar because you to focus on trying the variety of meats (I believe they have anywhere between 12 - 15 unique types) that they serve. Here are some cliff notes that I'll leave: 1.) Have an extra $3 for parking in the parking garage (assuming you can not find parking outside). 2.) Most definitely come here on an empty stomach. 3.) Just get the essentials from the bar area (rice, salad, soup) save the extra items for after you start getting full. 4.) Most definitely get the beef rib (but of course you should try all the meats you can) 5.) You should probably have a minimum of $120 (however you may need more if you are going to get drinks and desserts. And this is based on a two person dining experience) 6.) This place gives off an upscale vibe so if you're conscious about fitting in, then you might want to dress up (however you are not obligated). My wife and I absolutely enjoyed ourselves. My wife couldn't get enough of the beef rib which was not only delicious but very tender. Do not worry Chima we will be back. :-D
(5)
Kimberly K.
Let the Meat Festival begin! Free Valet parking is available. There is also street parking. Watch out for the signs, some spots only allow for max 2 hour parking. Upon entering, our eyes were immediately drawn to the fireplace waiting area. It has a warm and cozy feel to it and this really cool long tree looking chair. You get seated only once everyone at your party is present. The restaurant ambiance reminds me of being in Vegas or on a cruise ship. A great place for date night as well as a larger group dinner. Our server Michael was the coolest (shoutout- "hook us up with that TAEM man"). He was personable, friendly, attentive, funny, and professional. He made our first dinning experience here memorable. No paper menus here, just iPads. Pretty cool. They have a nice selection of drinks and desserts on it. Salad bar comes with each meal. It's big and you can easily fill up here. Pace yourself. In addition to a variety of veg and cheeses, they also have soup, rice, beans, and bread at their salad bar. I love their attention to detail. Like their herbed butter formed into cute shapes. Your table will also get unlimited Cheese Bread, Plantains, Mashed Potatoes (SO Creamy), Fried Polenta, Beef Croquettes w/ Smoked Turkey Spread. If they don't bring something out, simply ask for it. I heart their meats. The guys serving the meats are humorous and friendly. They don't skimp on the portions. Your plate will be piled high if you don't flip that card to "No, Thank You." I greatly appreciate that the meats are seasoned well. Not overly salty, juicy, and incredibly flavorful. For dessert, we tried the Tiramisu and Chocolate Coconut Lava Cake. Not overly sweet, moist, flavorful. Money. At about $52.50/person for dinner, it's pricey but SO worth it. Good times.
(4)
Nicole L.
I invited my gfs to the meat extravaganza!! I realized it's such a great place to meet guys haha all the nicely dressed corporate dudes. This was all new to us, we were here because of my social living deal. We hung out at the bar whille waiting for the rest of the party to arrive, ordered some wine it was on the high side almost $30 for two glasses. Of course, we had the rodizio meal - the meats and the salad bar. I thought the their salad bar was decent. The usual fare - cheese, eggplaints, hearts of palms etc etc. There was a hot sauce that looked more like a bean sauce. It was not that spicy. At the table, they served us these starters - tuna balls (really tasty), pao de queijo (BTW I make kick-ass ones), polenta sticks and a fish spread. The meats well, the bacon wrapped fillet mignon was good, the top sirloin reallly good, the flank steak, the lamb, the sausage (too salty) and the fillet mignon itself. The food was great, really high quality and best of all, every time they sliced a piece they asked if you wanted more. I've not been to Fogo de chao (gez chaum) but Chima was pretty elegant and what they served were decent. It's a great place for a celebration or a big group of people for sure!
(4)
Don B.
I went to have dinner at Chima at Tyson's on a Wednesday. I had a reservation for 7:30 but arrived early and was seated. The server came over and explained to us how it works. My Mom went to the salad bar and my Dad and I started with the meat. This place is for some serious meat lovers. The cuts are fantastic. Some were better than others but each cut was mouth watering. It got to the point where I had to slow down. The gauchos came by frequently so there was very little down time. A couple of times were we asked if we had any request. Great customer service. Our server was very attentive and you really could not ask for a better meal. When the gaucho comes by they ask how you want your meat. I like mine rare. I noticed that meats were prepared with salt and pepper only. You can add other condiments but the simple salt and pepper is fantastic. The salmon was surprisingly very good but since I came for the meat I stuck with that. The restaurant is big and there were a lot of groups the night I was there. It looks like the place to go-and-be-seen type of crowd. And there were a lot more men than women, go figure. In short, go hungry, go to eat, savor the different cuts of meat. I had the cheese cake for dessert which was good, especially after all that meat. If you go for a birthday, they will take a picture of your group and give you a print of the picture in a nice little frame. Nice touch. They have vale parking, use it. Really. We had an issue with a server as we were leaving that had not even served us. We were waiting for our car when he came up to us and accused us of not leaving a tip, which we did, in cash and gave it to our server. I emailed the general manager to let him know about this and within 10 minutes, he was calling me apologizing for this servers actions. The GM went well beyond what he needed to to fix the issue. I am not sure I could eat there every week but I highly recommend Chima. The food, the service, the ambiance are second to none.
(5)
Liz Q.
For my boyfriends Birthday I decided to look into steak places. I came upon Chima and let me tell you, it was perfect in many ways! I made reservations for 8:00 and we got there a little late but they took care of us right away and we only waited a few mins to be seated. You should definitely make reservations! We noticed a lot of people waiting. Drinks: Red Sangria- AMAZING. Food: Chicken wrapped around Bacon, not my favorite. But all the steaks were delicious. I didn't try the salmon but my boyfriend liked it with the cilantro sauce. The steaks were so fresh, tasty, tender and I could go on. The sides they have to offer are perfect. Asparagus, greek salad, all types of salads, rice, soup, slices of cheese etc. Service: 5/5!!! Prices: It's pricey, but good quality meat for sure. Drinks start at $11 and it's about $60-70 per person. Not a place I would bring kids. It's more for adults, I feel. One thing I wanted to add, tables are close to each other and we could hear other people's conversations. This guy next to us mentioned how our area seemed like all the poor people were seated there. If I was poor I would not be eating there lol .Maybe he was just upset how his date was bored and how she kept flipping through the same pictures on her phone to entertain herself. That's how close tables are. Besides that... It was delicious!
(4)
Jessica K.
I had an event here and I was excited about trying their food. The location isn't hard to find, they have valet parking and a parking structure. The food was excellent and the service was amazing. Interior is very modern and I love how its all wide open. I enjoyed the dessert, tiramisu the best :)
(5)
Malivanh T.
i went to china for very first time last week during restaurant week. the place is very elegant inside an out. the wait staff is wonderful. the concept of china is great. pay one price for basically all you can eat meat. during restaurant week there was a set menu of different types of meats you can choose from. i LOVED all the meats except the parmesan pork, sword fish, and the chicken. those meats were a little too dry for my tastebuds. the salad bar was pretty good, their cesar salad is always the first one to go, so if you favor cease salad then i way get that first before its all gone. for the variety of sauces to pair with your meats, the house BBQ sauce is two thumbs up!!!! and the horseradish sauce is pretty good as well.foe dessert we only had a choice between ice crean or cheesecake. they were good, but if you do the regular price menu then you have a variety of desserts to choose from. I also reccomend their house limade!!! its so refreshing. but its kinds pricy 8$ so dink all the free refills you can!! It was a great experience. if you haven't tried this experience then you should.
(4)
Mabast M.
Wow, what a great little place. Love the food and Brazilian tea. We went on a slow day with a Brazilian friend who knew all the national favorites. Cant beat it but then again for the price it better be good :)
(5)
Kat T.
Chima has a pretty decent salmon and sauce too but the meat just served was not consistently seasoned. For that reason, my ranking is Texas de Brazil then Fogo then Chima.
(2)
J B.
The food and atmosphere were fantastic, the staff was very accommodating.The salad bar was great
(5)
Cyndy K.
Cyndy's Bottom Line: Obviously it is all about the protein. ****Star service by Alex and Somaya. Good selection of wines by the bottle. Hubby ordered a Manhattan and it looked like a syrupy reddish cocktail and tasted like mixed water. Delicious amounts of meats offered. Good food quality. Yummy additive little cheese buns.
(3)
Christina L.
I love the salad bar here, but the meat options could be more varied. I personally prefer Fogo de Chao for the quality/ taste of the meat (as well as ambience). But Chima has excellent service and the staff are so friendly. It also has a very friendly environment and you will see many families dining here. However I want to ask... Why did they get rid of the warm fudge/ice cream dessert? I don't remember the exact name but last week when we went... It wasn't available anymore and replaced by some coconut dish :-(
(4)
Kenny Y.
Visited this place many times and loved every time. However never visit this place during restaurant week, period! Ended up spending regular price because the restaurant week discount only allow limited menu ($40 for salad and chicken). I think most of their customer end up paying the regular price, is it some kind scam? Fine, I can live with the regular price but I don't expect to wait 45 mins for a reservation that I booked 2 weeks ahead. I also don't expect to wait 20 mins for desert and 20 mins just to get the bill. Will not visit for a while.
(1)
Eunice K.
Valet parking is complimentary Very cute outdoor seating I think..? My review is based on restaurant week ($35.14 and limited meats). I went with a party of 8 and we had reservations at 4:45. We were seated fairly quickly. The meat was all okay. nothing spectacular (at the salad bar area there are toppings and sauces for the meat). The waiters also bring out sides like fried banana, mashed potato, sticky chewy cheese?/salt? bread). For dessert you can get cheesecake or 3 scoops of ice cream (vanilla, choco and/or strawberry) I liked the salad bar. There were lots of different salads and veggies and a few pasta dishes. Service was great but slow. It was super packed the day we went so that might be the reason why.
(3)
Blair F.
First, I have to qualify this as having to say that there is no way I can eat my money's worth at this place. The decor/ambiance is very nice with one MAJOR exception. The last thing my wife and I want to watch while eating is half-to-3/4-naked guys from Carnival cavorting on the displays around the place. And if that wasn't bad enough, it was video played back from a VHS - seriously? WTF? Next stop - we had a server and 4 or 5 "meat men" - I forget the word in Portugeuse. Regardless, my Portuguese was better than their English. No one spoke English well. I had no clue WTF they were saying. OK - let's move beyond- the house special, the sirloin, was awesome. The filet cuts were completely overdone and for the first time in my life, I left it on the plate. The sides are great, as imagined, carpaccio, buffalo mozzarella, and other dishes. The hearts of palm looked like tree trunks. Did I mention I couldn't understand a word the servers said? And if you are going to park an Aventador outside the front door, at least have the decency and the respect to Ferruccio and wash the fucking thing. What a disgrace. Order nothing but the sirloin. Oh and the bonus.....running into my ex-wife at the place.
(2)
Angela L.
My VP and I took out some consultants to Chima. Ambiance: A Swank, cosmopolitan decor. Bar lounge area reminds me of a more spacious version of "Bar Dupont" in DC. Dining area is huge. Interesting detail: A transparent (I'd imagine, roll-up) TV screen. Amenities (if you will): Ipad menus. Table chips that if you turn over, will theoretically alert a server to come to you (Think Internet of Things). In actual practice, at least, the chips at our table were defunct. Service: B While staff was quite cordial, we had to wait quite a bit for personal menu or drink requests. Food: I think most people already know about this but this is a meat lover's paradise. Servers parade around with large kabob-like presentations of rib-eyes to lamb to classic Mignon to Mignon wrapped in bacon and on and on. Unfortunately, I didn't try out the salad bar (more, a food bar) or the desserts that night. Additional details: Free valet. YES, for the ambulatory- challenged such as myself. Good place for HH, client trips, date night, binge night. Open up your pocket books. This is not Ruby Tuesday. Think Glutton experience, Lux-Style. I'm a-comin' back.
(4)
Shelita S.
I went to Chima during restaurant week on a Friday night for dinner with a group of friends. There were 4 of us total. We did valet (free) parking as we heard from other reviews the parking garage was $3. We visited on a rainy night, so valet worked well. We had a reservation and were seated quickly. Upon being seated there was one menu on the table, our waiter greeted us and immediately highlighted the fact that if we did not upgrade to the full menu $54.90 instead of the restaurant week special $35.15, "you miss out on our top 6 meats; filet mignon, filet wrapped in bacon, lamb chops, leg of lamb, beef ribs, and ribeye." 3 of the people at my table upgraded and I stuck with the restaurant week menu. Decor: The decor was nice, had a modern feel, there were table cloths, and linen napkins. The salad bar area although clean and nicely arranged, the salad bar area at Texas de Brazil was more impressive, they had an extravagant floral arrangement at Texas de Brazil. Food: Regarding the food/appetizers that were provided on the table, the cheese bread was delicious and the consistency of the mashed potatoes was odd. They were a bit too soupy/thin for my liking. Because I was the only at my table who did not upgrade and stuck with the restaurant week menu, it was a bit of a confusing experience for me. Whenever one of the gauchos would arrive at the table, I was not sure if I was able to partake in the meat they had. Although, I had a different color chip that made it clear to the gauchos that I had not upgraded, I still was a bit confused. Service: Given it was a Friday night during restaurant the quality of the service was excellent and our waiter was very attentive. Our waiter swung by more than once to ask us if there were any additional meats we wanted brought back to our table and to see if we needed a refill on any of the non-self service food (cheese bread, beef croquettes). We greatly appreciated this. The manager swung by and spoke with us which was nice considering they were extremely busy. Occasionally, I had a hard time understanding the gauchos when they informed us what meat they were serving. Overall, we were stuffed and enjoyed the food. I have heard that the quality of the food is supposed to be better than Texas de Brazil, although I can't say Chima blew Texas de Brazil out of the water.
Drinks and appetizers are amazing! I come here with co-workers for happy hour and we are always happy coming here. The happy hour prices will def keep you happy for the beers they offer. But their cocktails are perfect and balanced. Not overly sweet and not overly alcoholic. Perfectly balanced, so if you want a cocktail and martini you won't be disappointed!
(4)
A W.
If you're seeking ways to die sinfully, Chima will offer you the quickest and most gluttonous way! When making a reservation at Chima, you might as well make one at the local emergency room too. You're not looking at the best cut of meat when you go to Chima. It's 'slightly-above' grade quality meat but just a lot of it. The meats are very flavourful (ie. salty, cuz it's Brazilian style.) Again, Brazilian style steak house is about ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT. Please don't challenge yourself to "how many fillet wrapped bacon I can stuff into my belly in one sitting". My go-to-meat is the rack of lamb and only the lamb. My reasons are that 1) it'll limit how much I eat, minimize the amount of animal fat I'm taking it; 2) they do a very good job with lamb; 3) it's the one meat I rarely order cause many restaurants don't do it right. Now, the salad bar is great! It's more than just greens and dressings. It's a full buffet bar of goodies... too much to name. I'd be surprise if someone complaints that they couldn't find one single item to like. Wine list is long and the price is 'impressive'. I usually order a glass or 2 of a red, and it has never been disappointing. Again, the one down side to this place is the volume of food. Need to either check your self-control at home or come with obliviousness to fully enjoy the way of Chima.
(3)
Marcelo B.
My overall experience was ok. I got to say, i was a little disappointed with the meats, I can tell this establishment uses top quality meats but the meats were kinda bland! The picanha, filet mignon and lamb chops were tender and moist but bland. I enjoyed the flank steak the most. Everything else was average! I still enjoyed the visit given the fact that i'm carnivorous, got to work on the flavor tho!!
(3)
Scott L.
Oh NoVa! There's something so appealing about an upscale restaurant in the suburbs - the ample space, seclusion, and immaculacy. It's a culinary and cultural oasis situated amongst sprawling single family homes and shopping centers. I was invited to a dinner gathering via my friend's roommate one Saturday night. Despite arriving on time for our 7pm reservation, we still had to wait half an hour for our table. From that alone, I can tell that Chima is the talk of the town for Northern Virginians. There are small tables and an eclectic range of lounge chairs in the waiting area, so grab yourself a drink or two while waiting for the rest of your party to come. The interior is spacious and clean. There is a range of table sizes, perfectly suited for couples and families. Yet, the restaurant can accommodate large parties of 10 or more (like mine). Dark lighting with subtle orange and red hues sets the refined atmosphere. A few screen projectors are scattered about showing silent black and white video clips. It's an all-you-can eat buffet style restaurant, so come hungry and starving! You can pay extra to opt for wine and more desserts. The base price allows unlimited access to the salad bar and grilled meats. The former is self-serve while the latter is cut and carved by waiters. My recommendation is to NOT fill up on the salad bar because you'll be too full to eat any of the grilled meats. Remember that you can always go back to the salad bar for seconds, thirds, fourths, etc. I assure you that they will not run out of pasta salad. Once you return to the table, you'll be given a paper disc that indicates if you want meat or not. Place the green side of the disc up to have waiters bombard you with succulent and savory meats of all kinds - ribs, sausages, shank. Have a preference for well done, medium rare, or rare? They got you covered! After you finish the salad bar and meat course, the waiter will bring out the dessert. You select a number of desserts given what you paid for. I ordered two sangrias (a red and a white) that was part of their special for $6 a glass. One of the best sangrias I've had in a while! The essence and flavor of the sliced fruits come out distinctly and mask the alcohol. It's not weak by any means. I was tipsy after two glasses. Overall I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who is in the area! If you have time to make the trek out from DC, consider doing so!
(4)
Sutton P.
YESS. This place is great! The meats are out of this world good! Soft, juicy, and cooked to perfection. Plus, their salad bar is to die for. Loud atmosphere, so don't be afraid to have a fun girl's night out. The waiters are extremely friendly and are quick to service the customers. You have to have this circle paper thing on one side to let them know you are or are not open for meat. Fun place to dine and enjoy the valet parking, and a wonderful excuse to dress up once in a while!
(5)
Antonio V.
I had the all you can eat fish, that so post to swim to my table but I guess they where slippery hard to catch in the kitchen. Waited 25 minutes first round of fish to come then I had to beg for the next 30 mins for more fish. Moral of this story chima not built for fish. I gave 3 stars because my friends picked the meat options they came out excellent. The service was outstanding, they give great excuses why the fish took a while.
(3)
Michael B.
It's no Fogo de Chao. I am currently at Chima Brazilian Steakhouse which is sad because I have the time to complete a review about the restaurant and my dinner is not finished yet. I am here for a party with work people and I've been to Fogo in DC multiple times. There's a big comparison between this two. The meat is actually good and great. The salad bar needs a more personality in setting it up. They need to do something about their blank ceiling... put more chandeliers or some better lights. Their dessert is dismal even if it comes with the whole package. I'd still pay more and enjoy more in Fogo if I have still room to eat dessert after consuming half a cow. The service is ok. German and William, our waiters were ok. I just wish they'd pay attention to us more when we ask for specific meats or serve our coffee with more haste.
(2)
Sarah P.
Mmmmmm.... this place is great. Chima has become our go-to celebration restaurant. I've been to the other Brazilian Steakhouses and Chima is just better. It is not cheap, but I have never felt cheated or felt that it wasn't worth what I paid for the meal. The only time I've been less than thrilled was the one time we made the mistake of going during Restaurant Week. Based on most of the negative reviews on here, they all try to go then to get a deal and then don't like the fact that it's a limited menu and the place is crazy busy. Well, what did you expect exactly? Personally I prefer to come early and have a leisurely meal before it gets too crowded and loud. The meats are all very good quality and well seasoned and cooked. My favorites are the house special sirloin, garlic sirloin, flank and lamb. Since I'm not much of an AYCE person I don't try to get my money's worth, if you eat too much and are miserable then your goal of having a nice dinner just backfired. I probably only put down about 8 oz of meat during a visit, but I savor and enjoy the heck out if it. Prices are steep, but not stupidly so. Full Rodizio is $54 which includes all but the drinks and dessert. You can also get just the salad bar option which includes the salmon and swordfish, just not the other meats for $34 (my mom always goes this route and loves it). There is no "kids menu" but you can probably find something between the salad bar, sides and meats that a kid will eat. Mine had black beans, veggie rice, broccoli, a small cup of the veggie bisque and almost her body weight in the cheese puff biscuits. Kids under a certain age are free and a discount is applied depending on age after that (my 4 year old was free). One note on kids here: for Pete's sake keep them under control! There was a large party near us last night with a bunch of kids (for some reason they were celebrating a 2 year old's birthday here (???), take them to Chuck-e-Cheese for the love of God!) and not one of the 15-18 adults at this table bothered to check the kids. They were running literally all over the restaurant the whole time. The "birthday girl" even ran over to another table, grabbed 2 of the large, stemmed, water glasses off of it and proceeded to BANG THEM TOGETHER until they broke in her hands. All while the adults at her table either ignored, or passively watched her and did NOTHING! You people are the reason nice restaurants BAN KIDS!!
(5)
Frank W.
Excellent! Great upscale atmosphere, service, beverages and food. Obviously you should meat lover when you come here but their salad bar is very good as well. Parking is easy using their complementary valet service.
(5)
Lillian C.
Top sirloin and leg of lamb is where it's at! The lamb is absolutely divine- piping hot, well seasoned, well-cooked, there was nothing to complain about it. Probably the best piece of lamb I've had, period. Salad bar is much better than Fogo's but don't get too hung up on it. Avoid chicken, pork, and fish altogether. It's decent at best but not worth the valuable belly real estate. I'm not too hot on the beef wrapped tenderloin either (cooked to well-done) and the ribeye was surprisingly lean. One of the highlights on the salad bar is the beef carpaccio - it was like beef sashimi and the dressing (a green pesto like dressing) and capers really amped it up. I could have eaten the whole plate. The smoked salmon was pretty fantastic as well. Avoid the corn mousse. Cocktails were fantastic. They do charge for water but it's relatively affordable (7 total for sparkling, 7 total for still, had 2 bottles of each. ) Apps were ok. Potatoes were the consistency of wallpaper paste, which were entirely too gooey. The cheesy bread was the highlight of the spread but Fogo's is much better. Overall the food was fantastic and consistently good. This would be my second favorite steak dining experience after Cabaña Las Lilas in Buenos Aires (god bless that place). I docked a star because of the terrible table my party was seated. I should have probably asserted myself and asked for another table, but I wanted to have a good time and not be "that person." The restaurant was only half full at 7:30 PM on a Friday night and we were seated in an isolated nook away from everyone even though there were plenty of open tables that could have accommodated us closer to the front. There was literally no one seated next to us until about an hour until closing. I arranged this dinner for my SOs birthday and invited some family - I don't know if the poor seating it's just a coincidence, if they thought my brothers weren't dressed well (they're teenagers and were dressed much better than many of the adults), or that they were annoyed that my sister arrived no more than three minutes after the reservation time, but it was probably the worst table in the restaurant and we collectively dropped over 400 dollars on a meal for 5. For any other restaurant I really couldn't care where I sit, but at places like Brazilian BBQ and Dim Sum, you need a good table or it'll really hamper your dining experience. Thankfully the server will ask if there's anything you want in particular to be sent to your table so you can get that amazing leg of lamb that was no where to be seen for two hours.
(4)
Jennifer S.
Came here for restaurant week with the rents and it failed to impress. Granted we didn't get to try the premium meats, the steaks we tried were very salty and nothing to remember. A few cuts were better than others but I don't remember which ones because overall, they were just about average-- unmemorable. Service was also not great.. the server seemed annoyed that we were having restaurant week (i understand but so was everyone else!) I prefer fogo.
(3)
Kirt K.
Great decor, good service but food was blah even for the reduced restaurant week price. It was $35 for 9 choices of meat selection vs $55 for the full 16 types. Everyone in my party went with the reduced price and only saw 5 of the 9 meat selections. (chicken wrapped bacon, top sirloin, Brazilian sausage, bbq ribs and flank steak) and didn't see sword fish the whole 1.5 hours we were there and I forgot what else was even there. Unless I go on some kind of Adkin's diet I probably won't be back.
(3)
Hannah H.
My husband and I wanted to do an AYCE meat fest, so we decided to go to Chima's for dinner. If you sign up for their emailing list, you get a $20 off coupon off of your total bill, minus the tax and the automatic 18% tip. I had a feeling that it was going to be a rough night as our table was by the shelves that was near the buffet, very much out of sight, and far apart from the main hub bub of the going in and out of the kitchen by the guacho guys. Our server was more on the inattentive side, and there were other servers who came to check up on us once in a while; I'm thinking it's because they saw us waiting and waiting with empty plates! I saw an array of meats going by: the Picanha (top sirloin), the Baby Top Sirloin, the Filet Mignon, the Filet Wrapped in Bacon, the Flank Steak, the Leg of Lamb, the Lamb Chops, the BBQ Ribs, the Beef Ribs, the Boneless Chicken, the Sausages, and the Salmon; however, we only received some filet mignon, some top sirloin, and some of the flank over a span of an hour or so :( I did enjoy my top sirloin as it was nicely charred, but the cut of the meat was too thin and the rest were too rare for me; the filet mignon was mostly on the rare side, so it was a complete bloody mess - I wasn't aware how rare it was until it hit my plate and blood started oozing out due to the low dim lights - yikes! We did manage to get some of the flank, but the eastern and the western part of the restaurants seem to be the top priority. We definitely had a better experience here, and we do think that this place serves better and more flavorful meats compared to other Brazilian steakhouses, but only when you have the opportunity to get some! From the salad bar, I enjoyed the endives with the bleu cheese as well as some slices of gouda. I filled my stomach more on the cheese bread rather than meat tonight, and I was sad that the service was on the poor side. I am thinking that if you are seated strategically by the view of the kitchen door as well as if you're in a larger group, you will get your meat. :( +request to sit by the kitchen!!!
(2)
Jim W.
We tried Chima a few years ago and, for me, it was just so so. However, hubby and our guests loved it. i am not a huge beef or lamb eater. Thus, not my type of restaurant.
(2)
Dave U.
This is one of our favorite Brazilian steakhouses. After the lacking service and low quality at TdB, we have found a new place with Chima! Service is always top-notched. The gauchos are spot on with their visits of 'meat, chicken, pork and more meat'. This last visit was excellent due to the fact that our server was not familiar with their wines. The wife ordered a specific Pinot and received another type. Unfortunately, they both tasted similar. It wasn't until we got the bill that we realized it wasn't what we ordered. Otherwise, this place is one of our favorite spots!
(4)
Nikolay I.
I always love a place that serves endless meat. It's dream come true for me. This place in particular was awesome. Free valet. Service was pretty great. We almost always had someone to help us. The food was delicious. I just wish that they included deserts as part of the all you can eat. Not that I wanted a lot, but it would be great to finish off with a free desert after throwing down $60/person.
(5)
Tasha P.
I went with a large group on last Sunday evening and to be honest, after reading the reviews, I wasn't expecting to be wowed. Boy, was I wrong. The food was awesome. I've been to Fogo de Chao, Texas de Brazil, and Gaucho's, and it's a pretty close tie between Fogo and Chima but Chima has the edge. Why, you ask? First, Chima's meats were seasoned but not over-seasoned. And the meats didn't all taste the same like they do at the other places. Second, the meats were cooked perfectly, meaning that medium-rare is actually medium-rare. Third, I was impressed that they were accommodating to gluten-free guests in our party and brought out butter-free skewers of meat. Fourth, they offer salmon and swordfish, which is a great break from the red meat rotation. Nevertheless, I'm deducting one star for two reasons. I wasn't impressed with the salad bar and I thought the seasoning on the lamb chops was not good...at all. Otherwise it was exceptional and I'll certainly be back.
(4)
Georgio S.
Chima is a great place to take the family. We were a party of 12 and were seated with space to spare. This place is open and clean. The service is great, everyone of the servers went out of their way to get us anything we wanted. The Mojitos were the best I've found in DC. At 10 bucks a piece I put down 4 of them myself ...they were that good! Fogo d Chow does have better food I would have to admit but if your looking to stay out of the district you won't be disappointed.. From the fresh salad bar to the great choices of meats their is something for everyone. Even my 3 year old loved the cheese puffs and fried polenta.
(4)
Daniel W.
Went to Chima for my birthday, ended up being a surprise since my wife didn't tell me a bunch of friends and family were there. My wife did have to convince them to allow them to be seated first so it could actually be a surprise, but besides that, its all good. Food was great, service was excellent, but the place cleared out early and they kept moving tables around us to prepare for next day, making us feel slightly unwelcomed, so hence the 4 star.
(4)
Gerry M.
Great atmosphere, great service, and excellent food! Try the guarana Antarctica and the Brazilian limeade drinks. Both are very mouthwatering drinks. Approximately 4 dollars each. Just be weary if you get the lower priced meal you don't get any of the premium cut meats.
(5)
Harolyn P.
Came here for restaurant week so maybe that was a factor...the salad bar was awesome, but the meats were meh to me. I rolled out of there full as can be though. Personally, I felt 100x more satisfied paying the same amount for a single perfectly-cooked steak at Ruth's Chris than eating here... not worth the premium to me, but I would say it is something everyone should try once just to experience a Brazilian steakhouse... I may have to try Fogo to see if it is any better...
(3)
Yaoxing L.
I go to this house with my friends last night. It was really good for meat lovers. Only one thing made me unhappy, I cannot see any fish until the end of my dinner. I guess fish is very welcome so that it can be gotten out very soon.
(4)
Esther C.
Oh, how can you go wrong with endless Brazilian BBQ? Ok, you can, but not at Chima! The food is always amazing, the staff is always friendly and attentive, and I just love coming here! Have been here numerous times over the years, and they never disappoint! Came here tonight with multiple small children, and they were so accommodating and patient. I was a little distracted and didn't realize that I wrote for a tip when tip was already included which they pointed out to me. Perfect food, perfect service. Cannot go wrong with this place!!!
(5)
Nille P.
My husband and I were supposed to come here for our anniversary in October, but couldn't make it. We made a reservation through open table and gave it another shot. When we pulled up, the valet staff was very nice and utilized the service. We had a reservation for 4:00p and we were seated at 4:03 since the restaurant doesn't open until 4:00p. We had Jorge, Justin, Michael, William and a young woman for our servers. They were all very nice and attentive. They accommodated all of our needs. The cheese bread was different, but very tasty. I definitely indulged. I didn't sample any of the other items they placed on the table because I had already started eating other things. The salad bar/side dishes was an interesting touch. I wasn't expecting that, but it wasn't bad. Everything was neat and well maintained. Since I have issues with salad bars, this was a plus for me. I sampled the seafood salad (not really my taste), the caesar salad w/ dressing and added arugula, and the rice with vegetables. The Now for the main attraction, the rodizio meats. I sampled all of them, except the sausage. The bacon chicken was absolutely delicious. The parmesan pork loin was everything. The only thing I wasn't a fan of was the rotisserie chicken (I believe that's what it was), the swordfish, and the lamb. It was my first time trying it, so I might give it another try. Overall, we had a great time and would definitely return.
(5)
Lydia R.
I'm sure I would love this place just as much if I came here when I had not just been moving all day in the rain without eating for several hours, but that experience made it seriously amazing. Chima is so amazing that I could probably keep writing about it, so instead I will make a list: - Chima offers complimentary valet parking and agreed to valet park our 17-foot U-Haul Moving Truck! - The salad buffet is a meal in itself, and has options galore of all kinds of interesting flavors and tastes that I have never tried before - Everyone who works here is awesome. Especially the owner/manager since he insisted on bringing me the chimichurri sauce that he recommended after I asked for a sauce recommendation! I barely see the owner/manager come out during a meal. Impressive! - We were given complimentary coffee and a chocolate mint :) - We went there for restaurant week, which meant fewer meat options to choose from, but we still enjoyed the very high quality meats we tasted
(5)
Ammar A.
I went there after a recommendation from a friend. My visit was during restaurant week in DC. The good: - Food was great - Nice selection of salad - The atmosphere and decor was alright - The desert was awesome The bad - My waiter was rude and un attentive - All the meats mostly beef that I hade tasted the same. I couldn't tell the difference between different cuts of meat. bottom line: I will probably go there once a year. However, I would rather go to a nice steakhouse and have my meal made to order.
(3)
Ali B.
I just love this place. Best Brazilian steakhouse in the DC area. Great ambience. Make sure you have an outrageous appetite (and some tums handy). Go for the: - top sirloin - lamb chops - soup (I try to avoid the salad bar, but they make a pretty damn good soup!) - desserts! (chocolate lava cake is a must)
(5)
Priscilla Y.
Ooh baby, all you can eat meat! Chima is like heaven for foodies and meat lovers! Each person has a circular disk by their plate. When they want meat, they flip to the orange side and a server will come up to you with whatever they have. When you've had enough, flip the disk back over. Food: You start off with a couple of appetizers. Their cheesy bread is so good. You have to eat it right when you get it, when it's warm and soft. There was also fried yuca and fried bananas. I skipped those. I did try the deep fried meat balls, which just tasted weird. The salad bar wasn't very impressive, but you still need to eat your veggies! I tried everything, but the pork and chicken. Really good quality meat and done just right. The filet mignon and top sirloin were so soft and juicy. My favorite was the lamb chops. It was seasoned just right and not overly salty. It was better than the leg of lamb. They had two types of fish- the swordfish and salmon. I wasn't impressed with either one. It was a little overdone and dry. Dessert: The $52 you're paying DOES NOT include drinks or dessert, which totally sucks. If you have room after dinner, they have a lot of choices, each for $9.50. Our server, Jon, highly recommended the Walnut Cream dessert, saying that everybody who ordered it, loved it. That was purely exaggerated. It was good, not spectacular. I wanted to agree, but there was way too much whipped cream on it. I removed most of it, but that plus the strawberries overpowered the taste of any walnut. I should have gone with the papaya pudding or flan. If you are celebrating a birthday, they will bring you a free birthday dessert, which is very sweet of them. No silly birthday song, though. Service: I think we had about 3 servers assigned to our table. They are all very attentive and quick. Even though the orange disk is small, they'll notice it and will all rush over with their skewers of meat. The manager even came over to check up on us during dinner. Parking: Garage parking. You don't get validated so it's about $4. They also have free valet parking. This is my first time at a Brazilian steakhouse. It was a great experience. Food was delicious and wonderful service. I will return at some point, but $52 is pretty pricey, especially if dessert is not included.
(4)
Eleanor G.
This place was amazing. Food was great! Very nice place to go for a romantic dinner as well as for big groups. A little pricey but this is the place to go for special occasions.
(5)
Deepak B.
I am a Fogo de chao fan, but this place was better. When I have craving for good steak, this is the place. Salad bar is excellent!
(5)
Xiaoxi W.
To me, Chima's is about the fun and atmosphere more than the food. The salad bar is pretty great but the meats are just "ok". Can this type of place even transcend beyond that? Probably not. It's all about quantity and variety. Definitely good for a large group. I've been here twice and the service has been somewhat disappointing. While the steak runners are scarily attentive, the general waitstaff is not. I don't usually want to flag the waiter, because that's rude, but last night I had no choice. We had to flag them for everything. Even at the end of the night when most patrons have left, it took almost 20 minutes to tediously wait for the check and then wait for them to actually take our cards. There is a novelty to this place (and I imagine the same for Fogo), but I'll take Flemings/BLT/Capital/etc over this any day.
(3)
Terry K.
Chima as a place itself is a conundrum. The problem with this place isn't the food, nor the atmosphere or the service or anything like that. The problem is that because the meat they offer you is SO rich and tender that you quickly grow tired of it. (if that makes sense) Let's get to the meat of it: * Each meat offered is great - if you're a meat lover you will most likely like this place. I wish they added more seasoning to some of the meats though. The chicken/bacon was really great. The first round of ribs was kinda overcooked - The Filet mignon was really good. Everything else - including the swordfish were just a delight to eat. The appetizers that they give you in the beginning is AWESOME. Honestly.... I enjoyed eating those more than the meat... haha. The cheese bread .. Can I have the recipe please? The meat croquettes were spectacular. They boast a huge salad bar/cheese bar which has a variety of dishes. But you don't want to fill yourself up with that - you're here for the meat! I'm assuming it's mainly for vegetarians and whatnot. Overall I'd recommend this place once - especially considering the price. For me, the most important thing to eating out is not so much the ambience or presentation but it all comes down to the food. So once you get past the environment (which was really loud that night I went) the meat itself is "OK" Honestly, my wife and I preferred to go to Oegajib afterwards... I dunno maybe it's a Korean thing. The service is top notch however - the servers are SO nice. 4/5 Stars... mainly because I feel it wasn't worth the money. Good stuff but not GREAT. Btw - is this how rich people eat all the time? So many business people just casually eating and drinking like they come here everyday or something. Must be nice. :)
(4)
Ramtiniy B.
Been a regular costumer since 2012, and this place keep getting better and better, love the food, (Top sirloin) and love the classy bar, specially the recent friendly bartenders, Thank you Chima, keep up the good work.....
(4)
Dimple N.
Best local Brazilian Steakhouse in the area - do not miss! Pricey but worth it! Excellent service and friendly staff. Always crowded - make reservations!
(4)
Sharad S.
Worth the price , absolutely amazing...went for a company party I could barely walk out the place From steak to swordfish that s place is the awesome
(5)
Kristina N.
I came here for my birthday dinner with 2 friends. The decor/ambiance is upscale. The servers are attentive. I had a LivingSocial deal for $25 towards $50. Overall, it's a nice Brazilian steakhouse but you may want to wait for Restaurant Week at Fogo de Chao.
(4)
Neek S.
I love this place. They have a great salad bar. I personally prefer Chima over Fogo de Chao. Lots of variety to choose from. There are even certain times of the year where they serve colossal shrimp.
(5)
Shannon H.
I LOVE brazilian bbq (or brazilian steakhouses?) They're called brazilian bbq in Los Angeles which is where I was first exposed to such decadent deliciousness. Anyway, Chima is pretty comparable to places I've been to in California. Fantastic meat selection, fast service, and a pretty great atomosphere/set up. I think prices run about $52.50 per person which is a steal because Fogo de Chao in Beverly Hills is $70 apiece, I think. Our party of four (with drinks) came out to about $300 after taxes and tip. If you've never been to brazilian bbq, each person has a small, two-sided token which you flip over (to orange at Chima) when you want meat. Nice men with meat swords--don't be dirty--come and offer you whatever cut you want. Don't be too greedy because the meat is much better when it's hot and if you leave your token flipped to the orange side, soon you'll be overwhelmed with options (it's hard to say no when they come around, trust me). Chima also has a seafood-only option if that's your cup of tea. I think it's $37.50, but don't quote me on that. My aunty went this route and you get a green token instead of orange and your only options are salmon and swordfish. She said the salmon was really good but had to send back her first serving of swordfish because it was too dry. She said that her second one was better though. Note: the salmon and swordfish are also available for those that go for the meats but they don't come around as much so you have to ask the servers for them specifically. Tip: if you want your money's worth, stay away from the salad bar. The offerings are good but you're doing yourself a disservice if you don't try all the meats they have available (16 options available when I went). My favorite was their picanha which is their top sirloin house special and the pork sausages. Can't go wrong with any of the options here though. To my knowledge, parking is valet but I'm not too familiar with the area so there might've been other options that I didn't know about.
(4)
Marivic L.
I've been to Chima at least five times now. The space is open and modern, and I like the atmosphere. That said, I have tried just about every meat they serve and, of course, the sides. In short, it's no Fogo. It's a step below on all the food. Let me put it this way - They had a deal for restaurant week which would have cost me about $15 less a person when I took my friend out. Rather than have them experience a less than stellar place, I took them to Fogo instead, and it was worth it. I will still end up at Chima because my friends live near it, but it's definitely not my first choice.
(3)
Connie C.
service was fantastic, honestly should be 10 stars for service. servers and just everyone were amazing. would definitely go back just for the service. servers also were very knowledgable about their wine selections the items from the salad bar were great, especially the cheese bread puffs. meat was well-seasoned and perfect
(5)
Navee K.
The best Brazilian steakhouse I've been to by far and this is in comparison to fogo DE Chao and Texas DE brazil. Meat of all kinds are so tender and juicy I was truly impressed!
(5)
Jennifer N.
I had been looking forward to dining at Chima for quite some time. I finally went yesterday for dinner and unfortunately, I left extremely disappointed. The restaurant itself was extremely nice and the service was excellent. The salad bar was good and had a ton to choose from and I liked everything I tried off of it. Now..let's get to the meat. I'm a huge steak lover, so I was really excited for this meal. I've been to Texas de Brazil, but I was always told that Chima was better. Well, I will say that I liked the variety that Chima had to offer. A wide selection of steak, fish, chicken, pork, etc. I mainly stuck to the beef products and honestly...it all seemed a bit under seasoned. The salad bar does offer a bunch of sauces, but I would hope that the meat could stand on it's own. The filet mignon wrapped in bacon was probably my favorite. It had the most flavor. Followed by that was the garlic sirloin. The thing that bothered me most was the cooking temperatures of the meat. I always get my steak medium rare and so does my friend that accompanied me for dinner. So, when they came around and asked if we'd like medium or medium rare...we of course said medium rare. Well...these were definitely not medium rare...straight up rare meat. I could hardly eat it. So, when they came around again I requested medium...which looked just like the medium rare..aka was also rare. I won't cross Chima off my list just yet..I always like giving places another shot especially when the service is great. However, I will not be rushing back to dine here anytime soon.
(3)
Marina D.
"Meat is meat" This is my FIRST EVER review!! I went here for Valentines day. I actually made a really last minute reservation (that morning) and I was surprised to hear that they had a 10 PM reservation available. I thought that was way too late to be eating but it was my last option other than going to a "regular" restaurant so I took it. Upon arrival, they were "behind" on reservations and we ended up having to wait an additional 30 minutes before being seated. (Part 1 of bad experience). My date and I knew it was late, but they did offer the reservation so they should've known what they were up for. When we were seated, the hostess and the waiter exchanged looks that made me feel unwanted. (Part 2 of bad experience). Our waiter, Luis I believe was his name, seemed nice at first but after his first visit and delivery of our drinks, he didn't visit us until we were finished. He only came to take empty plates and didn't offer additional service. (Part 3 of bad experience). My date ordered a mojito and it took maybe 15 min to get it and it turned out pretty bad. (Part 4 of bad experience). So at the end, we got the check without being offered dessert or anything more. Also, I saw everyone receive a white box at the end of their meal and realized we didn't get one. The waiter was rude about it but we ended up getting one. (Part 5 + 6 of bad experience) It was a chocolate covered strawberry. Of course I want one! Anyway, I wanted to share this to let you know that they are capable of bad service. I know the circumstances are special but if they allow themselves to be open that late, they need to maintain good service throughout. The meat (and meat cutters) is GREAT, as well as the ceasar salad and rice. Everything else in the salad bar was mediocre. After this experience, I'm inspired to visit Fogo de Chao's!
(3)
Victoria L.
MEAT GALORE!!!! This is a nice place to go when you want a big girl and big boy meal. This is also a place before you go, you don't eat anything for 2 days and you want to pig out. Ok I'm lying about not eating but it's smart to eat a very light lunch so you can make your trip worth it! Second time eating here last night (1/14/14), both times were for restaurant week. Somehow we manage to get the $52.50 menu because of the bacon wrapped filet. I know I'm bacon obsessed but damn it's good! The only difference between the $35.14 meal and $52.50 is some of the meats like filet and lamb. Other than that, you get unlimited apps and salad bar. The appetizers are delicious. I love the plantains, it's lighty crusted and so soft, it melts as you bite into it. Those mini cheesebread is $$$. I can eat them all day long, its light and just a little bit crispy on the outside but soft on the inside. The smoked turkey spread is amazing, creamy, addicting!!!! It goes perfectly with the cheesebread. Salad bar is delicious, I can probably just eat it by itself. They have different types of cheeses, salads, rice, meats and tons of sauces. My favorite sauce is the housemade bbq. Now to the best part- the meats!! I think all of them are tasty and well-flavored. My favorite is the house special, parmesean pork loin and bacon wrapped filet. They are made perfectly, juicy, tender and melt in your mouth type of meat. The quality of the meats were excellent and served hot. The desserts were divine. I enjoy the brazilian flan and creme brulee the best. Everything here is technologized. (Real word??) They give you an iPad that has wine, special cocktails, and desserts and you can scroll through and choose what you want. They have some type of ipod device that they can send orders through. When we wanted more cheesebread, all they did was type it on the device and it came right out. When we wanted more filet mignon, he typed it WITH how we liked our meat and the meat server literally came over in 30 seconds. It was crazy! Besides that, the servers were awesome, they make sure you are happy. Asking if there is any more meat we'd like to come to our table and giving us those fancy napkin cloths everytime we'd go to the salad bar. The meat servers were also very friendly and came by every 2 minutes. I haven't been to Texas DeBrazil or Fogo so I can't judge how much better/worse Chima is but for now Chima is deliciously good in my book. Service is excellent and food is exquisite. Plus there is complementary parking!
(5)
Mirela T.
Meat lover heaven! We came here for Restaurant Week and we of course were not disappointed. Not my first time here, but it never gets old how awesome this concept is. Our waitress Camilla was super friendly and very accommodating. She offered us wine and was very prompt in serving it. On top of that she was very kind to clear our table from one serving to the next. Service was 5 stars most definitely. The food, oh so tasty. Everything we had from chicken to top sirloin was super tasty. Only meat that i did not enjoy was the lamb. It was very chewing and just was overpowering. That one piece of lamb did not take away from all the other wonderful food we had. Now lets chime in on the salad bar. WOW you've got everything from lettuce, to beats, to cheese, to pasta salads. I was highly impressed with the offerings. There was something for everyone. The salad bar certainly measures up to the meat. Great addition to help balance all the protein you are having during your dinner.
(5)
Amanda A.
Dined here last night during restaurant week with a party of 6. I've spent a few weeks in Brazil before and definitely came into the meal knowing what to expect. I'll start off with the good: The good- 1. The meat options were delicious and plentiful, and I especially liked the top sirloin and flank steak! 2. The options at the salad bar are endless. Everything they put out is fresh and wonderful. From salads, to meats and cheeses, to beans and rice, it was a fantastic spread. 3. The meat servers were great. The kept the meat flowing all night long! Now onto the bad..... 1. We had a reservation for 7:30pm. Part of our party arrived at 7:15pm and said they'd rather wait to be seated until everyone arrived. The last two members of the part arrived at 7:35pm. A trip back to the front desk when everyone was there was met with "we're now seating everyone in the order they arrived, so you'll have to wait." This is ridiculous- how can they not honor a reservation when the whole party is there merely 5 minutes after our reservation time? We weren't seated until 7:50pm, after MUCH confusion on which table was actually ours. 2. Our server was horrendous. Only two members of our party had every been to a churrascaria before, and when asked if anyone had been to Chima before, most of us said "no." There was no explanation on how the whole experience works, i.e., you start with the salad bar, then the meat will start coming around, etc. Ordering drinks was slow and painful. A bottle of ordered wine was set onto our table and just left there for a while unopened with no wine glasses. 3. The check. When we finally received our check, we split the bill using 3 credit cards and the remainder in cash. We explicitly wrote the amounts to be charged to each credit card on the back of the check. Easy peasy. The waiter took the check and disappeared for what seemed like an eternity. They must have forgotten about us/had an issue with splitting, which was never brought to our attention. It was tough to flag someone down to ask how our check was doing. It took 30 minutes and my finally flagging someone down to get our check back. How does a restaurant that uses an iPad menu not have the ability to expeditiously split a check? In summary, I'm not sure if it was restaurant week, or an off night, or these servers were new, but I'll never be coming back here again. I can get the same or better quality food elsewhere, and far better service practically at any other establishment.
(2)
Alice W.
I was a bridesmaid at a friend's wedding and her reception was held here. They closed the restaurant to anyone not on the wedding invite list, so I got to experience the food and atmosphere here in a completely private setting which was pretty neat. I'm not a huge steak eater, but I do like my steak every now and then and Chima is a good place to try various types of rodizio (or meats). They offer sirloin, filet mignon, filet wrapped in bacon, ribeye, flank steak, leg of lamb, lamb chops, BBQ ribs, beef ribs, boneless chicken, chicken wrapped in bacon, sausage, and even salmon. When you want a chef to bring you the available meats, just flip your card to let them know you're ready. They'll ask if you like it from rare to well done and then cut off the meat accordingly. Pair it with some salad from the salad bar and you're good to go. The salad helps if you want to eat more ;-) Flip your card until you're ready for the chefs to bring you more offerings of meat. Service was great here (of course, we were the only ones there so that makes a huge difference) and I had probably the best mojito I've ever had yet at Chima. If you like meats, you'll like Chima.
(4)
Christal W.
So we researched this place a couple months ago and my guy decided we should go this weekend. We've always loved going to Fog's, so we decided we'd go (I was reluctant that it'd be any different/better than Fogo De Chao's, but hey, the foodie in me showed up anyway). Unbeknownst to us, they were actually celebrating DC Restaurant Week since this location is considered "the DC location" (tho technicality it's in VA). So for a table of two, on a Saturday during Restaurant Week, we had to settle for a late reservation. We get there and we valet; no charge; there is a charge at Fogo's. We get there about 20 minutes ahead of our reservation, and we're told there's an additional 15 minute wait as they were behind schedule. Next thing you know, our tracker is going off; and we were seated 15 minutes BEFORE our actual reservation..yup, you calculated correctly, we waited all of five minutes to be seated. I am very impressed so far. So we are seated and explained the restaurant week prices and offerings. We opted to pay the normal price because the cuts we actually wanted weren't part of the special pricing. So we were explained that menu and was told dessert was included (dessert is not included at Fogo's). So we go to the salad bar and it was amazing. It too, to me, was better than Fogo's. Grilled artichokes, butter rice, beans, a Greek pasta salad that was delicious!!! And the meats-OMG They also offer fish selections for all you can eat..a definite plus and something else that Fogo's doesn't offer (you have to pay a seperate price for their fish and shrimp). The cuts were tender and delicious and a bit salty like another Yelper mentioned, but I too LOVE it this way. We were asked what cuts in particular we'd like to have and it was brought to our table. The top sirloin and beef ribs were my absolute favorites!!! The meal was perfect. Even for a busy night our waiters made us feel like we were the only ones in the room. We did leave room for dessert and it was also delicious in it's simplicity (my guy had strawberry ice cream; I had the key lime pie). Our goal was to actually do a comparison of this and Fogo's and we definitely gave the edge to Chima's. I was going to reserve judgement until I went a second time, but there was no need. They just far exceeded my expectations and all of my experiences at Fogo's..and I've been there plenty of times and at two different locations in the area. And for anyone wondering, you can still get restaurant week pricing as they've extended it through Thursday. We just may be back :-)
(5)
Kristi J.
I love Chima, we always go during restaurant week to take advantage of the discounted price, mostly because I can barely eat $35 worth of food. But the food is FANTASTIC. I highly recommend the Papaya Cream with Blackberry Liquor for dessert. SO GOOD! Also, I would recommend fasting most of the day before you go binge on all their delicious meat.
(5)
Cat K.
Amazing appetizers, food and great service. Also free valet :) When my group went it was a weeknight. Some people were dressed to the 9s and a few in tees and jeans. We got the AYCE. I tried a little bit of everything. You can request the meat how you like it. I like all my meats well done so they will went and cook the meat as I wanted it. The other two people at my table wanted medium and the other medium rare. And they both got their meat cooked (not cooked lol) to their taste. Also if you don't want to be bothered by the meat servers, there is a token you can flip as a " do not disturb". I thought this was unique and interesting concept. will be bringing more people next time :)
(5)
Kimberly C.
Having eaten at Texas de Brazil and Fogo de Chao, I had a firm set of experiences to frame this against. By far this was the most enjoyable experience in a Brazilian steakhouse. Was brought here for a nice night, and we had a great time. The atmosphere is loud but social, and it is not nearly as crowded as Fogo (the tables there are practically on top of each other). The salad bar and meat selection is comparable, and all is well prepared and delicious. The servers were helping people celebrate birthdays with songs and candle-lit pieces of cake. The service was prompt and the ambiance was equal parts intimate, trendy, and upscale. That is really what set this apart from the bustle of Texas de Brazil, and the cramped, somewhat snobbish style of Fogo de Chao. The food at all three is superb, but Chima was the nicest dining experience.
(5)
LanChi N.
My family decided to try this place for my brother's birthday.It was very easy to make a reservation and they confirmed it the next day. Because we made a reservation so we were seated almost immediately.The staff is very welcoming and friendly. Food: salad bar had a decent variety salad items. nothing that really wowed me but hey its about the meat...so on that note...my favorite cuts were the garlic sirloin which was very garlicky and nicely seasoned. The House special sirloin which was amazing and seasoned nicely also. The flank was surprisingly juicy and tender. Least favorite the bacon wrapped sirloin tasteless with soggy bacon, the beef rib under seasoned and the texture was similar to that of pot roast. The salmon and swordfish texture wise was cooked perfectly however the sauces were lackluster nothing that really took the fish to the next level and they also skimped on the portions of the fish. The bbq pork ribs were decent nothing too special partially because the bbq sauce that it was basted had too much of a tomato ketchup base and less of a bold or smokiness that I usually expect from a barbecue sauce. The complimentary meat croquettes were pretty good a nice crunch to were pretty flavorful. I decided to avoid the cheese biscuits but my mother said they were really good warm. The mash potatoes were surprisingly flavorful even though the consistency was almost glue like. Dessert: Since it was my brother's birthday he got a complimentary tiramisu and with a candle and the staff sang to him. That was pretty special cause he really wasn't expecting anything. We also ordered the apple strudel with cinnamon ice cream which was pretty good almost like a flaky apple pie according to my brother. Overall: I think that Chima has really good quality food just a bit overpriced but hey your paying to eat endless meat so if your craving protein...this is your joint.
(4)
Richard R.
If it comes to nice steak cuts, this is where to go, very pricey though, that's why I don't often visit Chima. Service 10/10 Food 10/10 Cleanliness 10/10 ***Picanha is the house forte ****
(5)
Chris H.
I was a bit disappointed with restaurant week. I have been here a few times but it generally is averaging around 3.5 stars with me. On restaurant week specifically, our party had to wait an additional 20-25 minutes PAST our reservation time of 8:15. This already pissed me off. Then, we got sat in the corner of the restaurant and had a few selection of meats. The parmesan pork came by our table twice before any other meats because we were so initially neglected. Finally, things began picking up and everything began operating at the normal 3-3.5 star expectancy. Food: 3. You can probably make better meats yourself. The pork/chicken are always dry, the beef is better but you'll always require a dipping sauce. Atmosphere: 3.5. A bit crowded and stuffed but fairly decent. Service: 3.5. People can be pretty attentive and I never had to refill my wine myself; but, the server did keep forgetting to get us the chips, the wine, check took forever, and some other minor things. Parking: 2. Still gotta pay for the good ol' unvalidated garage parking but at least they have a fairly open garage close by. I'm really not sure why I keep coming back.
(3)
Daniel T.
Went here on a Tuesday night for restaurant week - party of 9 - it was my 2nd time. Service was good for the most part, our main server had a little attitude towards the end but not a big deal - everyone else was superb. The food was very good. Being that it was restaurant week there were a few less options. The salad bar has numerous fresh items, they have the creamiest mashed potatoes ever. The various cuts of steak we had were all good along with the pork BBQ ribs and salmon. I was not a big fan of the swordfish. We also had bacon wrapped chicken and Brazilian sausage which were both pretty good. The drink menu is an iPad which is a cool high tech touch. My advice, come here when you are very, very hungry.
(4)
Juls B.
Salad bar is fair. Our friends loved the short ribs the best. I only ate the salad bar and I'm stuffed! The fried bananas are great order those in advance. Took awhile to come out. But our server Phillippe was wonderful and would request him if we come back.
(4)
Brad A.
I went with my wife, her son and wife to Chima last New Years eve. Because it was a Brazilian restaurant and we have been there before we expected some entertainment for the occasion. The food was great (as usual) but there was no music, no dancing and nothing special at all done for the occasion. We were charged $20 per person for Champagne, but we had to ask for it, and it was only one glass! Definitely would not recommend this for New Years...Very surprised and disappointed...The service could have been better as well, especially the price we paid.
(3)
Bertwin L.
Chima is where you go if meat quality is the most important factor to you for rating a Brazilian style steak house. The salad bar has top quality ingredients but the selection is small. I highly recommend the house special top sirloin.
(4)
Tony G.
Poor quality meat. Never again unless the quality changes. Nice looking on the inside.
(2)
Jess C.
Signed up for their email listserv and got a $20 off upon purchase of two rodizios. Sweet. :) We celebrated my friend's birthday here, and every dinner guest went home happy. The service was crazily speedy. You flip your coin up for more meat, and the next thing you know you have 5 ppl lined up offering you their meat. It was so fast, I was impressed! The salad bar was amazing too, I loved all the cheeses, and the smoked salmon pieces were so incredibly fresh. I could have made a meal out of that. The beets were gigantic at the salad bar as well. Biggest slices of beets I've ever seen in my entire life, and tasted so yummy! The birthday boy had the whole wait staff sing to him in Portuguese and was delivered a free tiramisu at the end of the meal. It was an epic meal, and I would highly suggest this place for business dinners/lunches and the tables were spaciously laid out so you don't overhear anybody else's conversations. The staff is very courteous, and the ambiance is nice and serene, and quite a contemporary bold decor.
(5)
Julito C. S.
Have yet to eat here .............but for GOD SAKE. take some pictures of the meats...i see more desserts & salad bar pics then anything. after all it is a steak house... lol
(4)
Greg O.
A dinner here will put you into a meat coma, but its worth it. First, the location is a little tricky to find- its kind of tucked in an office complex behind the mall. But its nicely decorated inside, and the service is great. Our waiter in particular was very friendly and attentive the whole time- and this has been the case the rest of the times I have been here as well. As for the food- the salad bar is good, but don't spend too much time there- you came for the meat remember! The cheese rolls they give you as a starter as very addicting, but as one member of our party said, also a trap food. As for the meats, I wasn't a huge fan of the beef rib. But the sausage was surprisingly good, as was the chicken. The bacon wrapped filet is terrific. But the two best ones were the Cajun ribeye and the sirlion. Both are cooked to perfection, sliced thin for you, and simply delicious. A great meal all around.
(5)
Jennifer W.
Came in on Valentine's Day because we haven't been here in quite some time. The price was $89 per person, which I thought was a bit much. Yeah it comes with the meal, glass of champaigne, and a tiny, I'm not sure what it was, dessert. The meal was ok, I loved the salad bar and the table sides very much. The meat was pretty good, but not as tasty as I had remembered it to be. All in all, fort the price of a regular meal, $50 some dollars, I will go to a nice restaurant and for a delicious filet, desert and glass of wine.
(3)
Debra B.
We were a group of 12 and this restaurant is not cheap. Typically, a restaurant manager is kind and making sure everyone is happy. The manager on duty last Thursday night was the crankiest, rudest individual I have ever experienced. I have been chima a number of times and have always enjoyed. After this last visit - I will never return.
(1)
Brendan H.
I came for restaurant week last night and I can't complain about endless meat. The meal was going well until the power went out. They meat stopped coming around and we sat in the dark for 30 minutes before getting our check processed by hand. They did not handle losing power well. This cut our meal short without much apology. I think that this was a rare occurrence and I would still go back to Chima.
(3)
Casey J.
A true experience for the meat lover. Skip the salad bar, you are there for the protein!
(5)
Sharif N.
SOOOOOO good!! The only down side is the price, $45/person, not including tip and drinks. The meats are so tender and tasty it was unreal!! The Flank steak was so good, the Filet was so good, the Chicken was so good....you get the point. The buffet bar has sooo many different choices with pastas, salads, and even some seafood. I have been here a few times, but man this is hands down one of the best restaurants in the northern virginia area!! Parking is valet, and its very spacious inside (tysons corner site).....enjoy!
(5)
Elizabeth H.
Forget Fogo de Chao!! This is the place you want to be. Service was great. Very attentive waiters, and courteous Valets! The food was awesome and FRESH! Steaks were succulent and tender, and there was a great salad bar equipped with A-1 steak sauce. Also there is a soup bar there too! I will make the drive from Maryland to eat at this place! Chima has become one of my favorite restaurants!
(5)
Fly N.
Upside: very friendly staff, salad bar is healthy and fresh, including some that we are unlikely to make at home. Downside: expensive, noisy, not a good place for conversation: visits to salad bar and (perhaps because we treated our meal as "tapas," instead of a single serving), what seemed like a LOT of waiting for meats we wanted to sample...some of which never came past our table. Meat was good. All this and the staff nailed our table turn at 1hr 10 min, their goal (I asked.) Summary: not a good restaurant to visit with my wife and expensive for a 1+10 visit
(3)
J C.
I LOVE CHIMA! This is a true feast and it's buffet for the lazy. The servers run around bringing you up to 15 types of meat (chicken, pork, lamb, beef, and even fish) cooked in different styles. If you've never been to a churrascuria, you get a little chip on your table and when you flip it to black that means don't serve me, when you switch it to orange, it means BRING IT ON! The first time I came here the salad bar was a little lacking, and it made me feel that Fogo de Chao was better. However, the second, third, fourth times I came back it was totally comparable to Fogo, so I would choose this place over the Fogo on Penn Ave any day! Free valet parking, and they have specials like buy one get one free or restaurant week so you can usually get a good deal. The only caveat is that the drinks are very expensive! But if you're looking for a nice meal where you can pig out like crazy for about $40-$45 per person (no drinks), then you have found your place. There's also soups, bread, and at every table they give you unlimited cheese bread, fried plantains, yucca (I think), and these mini meatballs. The cheese bread is AMAZING!!! so soft and chewy and cheesy! I usually eat half a dozen of these in the restaurant then ask for more to go. Service is so so but the runners are fast so you don't really have to ask for much more than that!
(5)
Jia N.
Meat, meat, and more meat. Filet is delicious. But ooooh, they have the BEST turkey dip/spread. My girlfriends and I go to the one in Tysons pretty often for happy hour and they always bring these little cheesepuffs, nuts, meatballs and turkey dip. I am in loooove with their turkey dip. If you don't like mayo, then stay away from this stuff because I think there's a ton of it in there. But I like mayo^.^ Five or six sangrias in and a belly full of pork and chicken cubes, cheesepuffs, meatballs and turkey dip equals a darn good night. Btw, if anyone figures out exactly how to make the dip, pa-lease make me a bucketful.
(4)
Kim N.
Dined here again recently and thoroughly enjoyed it -- the meats were better seasoned this time around and service was still awesome! It's a large dining area and can get loud at times (ie if you're looking for an intimate setting, this might not be it). Otherwise, it's a good alternative to Fogo (that is, if you don't want to spend the extra $10 - $15).
(4)
Rachel P.
ohhhhhh, lord, this is meat heaven. i'll make this easy: service was excellent. servers paid very good attention to whether or not your button was a 'yes' or 'no'. meat was super tasty, moist, and obviously filling. their salad bar is cuhhrraazzy good. there is SO much more food than i thought there would be. a friend told me you can come to chima and just order the salad bar, which, is perfectly fine with me. i would've eaten more if i wasn't planning on stuffing my stomach with some animals. great atmosphere, romantic, nice decor, and a large place.
(4)
Janet P.
Well, I loved Chima's food but my husband and I were disappointed with their service. They did come around as they were supposed to. However, they would come and ask me if I wanted anything while starring at my breasts like some dogs fighting over a bone, then walking away without asking my husband if he wanted anything. My husband had to speak loudly at the guy to get him to come back and then told the guy in Spanish to quit disrespecting me by starring at my breasts and forgetting about what he was supposed to be doing. The dress I was wearing barely showed cleavage but apparently it was enough that the waiters were conversing about my "girls" to each other and then they would come over and stare. The food was great but not sure that we'll be going back with bad taste in service providers. Not unless I'm wearing a turtleneck, Hair Cuttery haircut and pop bottle glasses.
(4)
Jason S.
The hostesses are really rude here. We went there using a Living Social coupon and they were very busy as it was expiring soon. We arrived at 6:30pm and they said they were booked until 10pm. The restaurant waiting area was not empty but never had more than 5 or 6 parties...and many of those people were not eating in the dining room either. The place is enormous and we figured certainly something would open up sooner. We repeatedly saw tables remain open for long periods of time and at 8:45pm, yes we were STILL there, saw two tables in the back that were open. They remained open until they sat us at 9:15pm. In fact when when we were seated we counted eight tables that were open and remained open until we left the restaurant. The only reason I don't give them a zero is that the meat was good. The salad bar was fair compared to Brazilian standards, but I bet most people would be impressed with it. For more than $150 for two of us you would hope to be treated better. I wont be going back.
(2)
Suresh D.
I went here last night. The service was very good as the gauchos came frequently to offer their selection of different meats. The meats were well seasoned and we were offered our meat to our desire. Their extensive salad bar has the biggest selection I have ever seen. The greens were very fresh and their wide array of dressings were delicious. The waiter was also good at refilling my friend's coffee cup throughout his meal. They have a good wine selection as well. I'd like to mention something about the bill. We were there last night because we signed up for a special limited to the first 50 that signed up. When we got the bill it did not reflect that special but it was quickly corrected. They did put an automatic gratuity on there which I don't recall them doing before but I am not sure if it was because we were there for the deal.
(5)
Jenni W.
We decided to go to Chima at the last minute, reservations were really easy through open table. We have gone to the Chima in Philadelphia, don't get me wrong that one is wonderful, but the service at this Chima is absolutely amazing..we turned our card over and had 4 servers at our table in no less than 15 seconds. Don't waste the food space on the salad bar, just pick and choose your most favorites, but save most of the room for the delicious meats. The mashed potatoes are amazing, so very creamy. My favorite here was the leg of lamb and the salmon. Remember to grab mints on the way out...they'd are yummy.
(5)
Olivia D.
before actually dining here, i was fully prepared for gluttony-- but also mediocrity. i figured any all-you-can-eat place, no matter how upscale, would still probably be mediocre. but since i had never had the experience of a brazilian all you can eat meat place, i still wanted to go. there was that, and the 2 for 1 coupon. yes! that's two gluttons for the price of one-- a savings of $49.50! all you have to do is sign up for their email list on the website. it's only valid sun-thurs and has an expiration date about a month out from when you sign on, but still... that's a pretty hefty savings. the food itself was above average. i like my meats done medium, and for the most part, i got it that way. the lamb chops-- oh the lamb chops-- were probably my favorite but there was no way i could even sample all of the offerings. they had something like 235908209385 types of sirloin. the bacon-wrapped chicken was as greasy as it sounds. the swordfish was pretty good but also paired with this weird sweet dessert-like sauce. the strip steak was perfection with slight charred accents. the salad bar was good in terms of the caesar salad, arugula, pickled-tasting calamari and mangoed pickled tasting shrimp. but they also had some oddities (blue cheese mousse anyone?) and the beef carpaccio tasted like it was squirted with french's yellow mustard. i almost didn't even see the soups and rice off to the side, but then again, i wasn't about to fill myself of unnecessary starches. they also brought out some blinding white mashed potatoes, cheese puffs, these little fried balls that tasted like cornmeal crusted pate and fried sweet plantains. i didn't bother eating the potatoes because they would be too filling but also because they were probably 90% cream. i did enjoy the cheddaryness of the cheesepuffs and the plantains were crispy and mushy at the same time and sweet as a ripe banana. actually, maybe it was a banana. the service was perfect. non-intrusive, yet always refilling glasses and clearing plates. it was a ninja-like fashion where i didn't even notice or see a thing but would realize my glass was full. the gauchos peddling the meats were super fast and the lamb chop guy even came by when our button was "off." but that's ok because i think he could see the desire in my eyes. the two-seater booths were a bit close together. but i dunno, eavesdropping can be kinda fun. we were too engrossed in our own conversation anyway. all in all, a great deal and a lot of fun!
(4)
Amanda M.
I love the atmosphere of this place. Romantic and classy. I think I go there more for the ambiance than the meat because it's a little dry and lacks depth and flavor. I love the salad bar, the selection is huge. The service is fantastic too. I've never had bad service there yet. They also have a huge wine selection by both the glass and bottle. I'd love to just go back to the bar and chill.
(4)
Paul E D.
Chima is an outstanding experience. Even if you have been to similar places, Chima is unique in the quality of both its service and cuisine. I recommend the filet and house special sirloin. Also, it is hard not to over the sides bar with all of the great salads, cheeses, soups, etc... but save yourself for the main event - the meat!
(5)
Valencia W.
It's OK. The location is a lot closer than Fogo in DC but I feel as if I'm sacrificing taste for it being so close to home. I went for restaurant week and I was glad I did because I'd be really pissed off had I gone another time and found this out. The salad bar was fine, but I'm not going to any Charruscaria for the salad I want to see the grill meats cooked to perfection. Well, they had the regular assortments of meat but there was NO flavor at all. I hear all these people say that they're the same but that's like saying a steak in Argentina is the same a steaks here. You're outta your mind! Charruscaria's pride themselves for being cooked over a pit with coals. I just continued to eat there because I didn't want to waste my money. The picanha was -- well, I have had much better. I had one slice and put that mess to the side. I tried the ribs and I was chewing through more fat than ever. I hate having part of my plate reserved for the "fatty" pieces. Now, you can say that Chima just isn't as salty as FDG, yeah that's one part and the other part is that there is no barbeque taste either. I feel that this place is definitely a scale down. I will not be going back to this place. I'll try to go to Texas de Brazil but I'll go there first since I could walk there first....
(2)
Gene Y.
I went to Brazil as an exchange student in '93. My host family had churrascaria (Portuguese word for barbecue and pronounced SHOO-HAS-CA-REE-A) every Sunday. I was a vegetarian back then, but got the gist of the real deal through observation. This restaurant is really 5 stars for the food, service, and ambiance. Nevertheless, I believe that one should be able to frequent a good restaurant often to enjoy the place. At least for me, the price range of $50+ puts it out of reach for me to frequent too much and that's why I am giving it 4 stars instead of 5. So here's how you get around that. Go for drinks. They make a mean caiprinha (a Brazilian drink made out of sugar cane liquor, pronounced KAI-PA-RIN-GNA) and get what my work buddies call "bowls of meat". You can order sliced and diced barbecued steak, chicken, etc. from the bar menu. The diced meat is bite-size and served with toothpicks to eat with. If you want to be authentic ask for farofa (the waitress probably will have no idea what you're talking about so explain that it's cassava flour that accompanies the meat). Brazilians say that the farofa cuts down the grease and fat;...sounds good to me. This reduces the bill somewhat and a few dishes of the "bowls of meat" are enough to fill you up. If you go for dinner the salad bar is incredible. The decor and dishes take you back to a modern 70's feel (I partied in that era as a baby :). They have incredibly fresh vegetables and great salads. But don't be fooled, save yourself for the meat! It's all you can eat and uniformed waiters will continue to serve you meat on skewers the size of swords until you flip the coin on your table from green to red. My favorite meats are the picanha and the Parmesan chicken wrapped in bacon. The valet parking makes it easy to get in and out of Chima. By the way, they're no longer open for lunch. I hope you enjoy it!
(4)
Jean P.
This place is awesome! I've introduced so many of friends to this place and its become one of our go to spots. You have to starve yourself for most of the day before you go here. Trust me it worth it! Meat Meat Meat!!! Yum Yum Yum!!! Meat Meat Meat!!! Yum Yum Yum!!!
(5)
Mike R.
Horrible fake/rude service!! I was excited as all get out to go to this place for dinner. All you can eat meat, what could possibly go wrong right? Let me start by saying the food was "okay", but certainly not as good as i was expecting since they are supposed to be the best. The several cuts of beef meat i tried were chewy. The sausage was extremely salty. The lamb chops were good, the chicken and bacon was decent. I mean, its wrapped in bacon! Unfortunately though, the bacon was 100% fat, and not crispy, so i ended up not even eating the bacon -- big dissappointment for me, since i love crispy. This bacon was just pure white fat. :( The salad bar had some nice options, the salmon was good, and some of the various other items were good. I was disappointed they had a big bowl of brown liquid labeled "hot sauce" so i put it on a bunch of my food, only to find out it was some gross mud sauce, and not spicy AT ALL??? i dont know what was up with that, maybe someone in the food label department was playing a joke on me. Now, for the service. We went with a large group, so we had a big table. They brought out these little plates with fried bananas and fried yucca on them. Well, im no genius, but if there 10 people at your table, and you bring out only 4 pieces of fried banana, someone is getting left out. Not to be a greedy pig, i let the other people at my table take them, figuring, hey, they will go ahead and bring some more out. No such luck, I asked 3 different waiters THREE times to please bring out some more, being very polite about it... (I was a waiter for 5 years, so I always try to be very polite - i know how it is in the industry). They always said, "Right away, ill bring some more out" and they never did. When I asked the last waiter, i actually saw one of the other waiters INSTRUCT the guy i asked NOT to bring us anymore bananas -- presumably because at this point we were nearing the end of our meal. WTF!! This was the same guy who previously said he would bring some out, no problem. he was now telling the other waiter NOT to bring anymore. WTF. seriously?? Along with this prominent display of jackassery from the lead waiter, we also had empty waters most of the time we were there, which complimented the SALTY sausages nicely. Also, half of our table didnt get any of the pork ribs, which in my opinion were the shining star or all the choices of meat. We asked our waiters several times to bring out more pork ribs. They of course, always said, "sure, no problem, we will bring more right out". Well, history repeats itself -- no sign of more ribs. Leaving a giant void in my soul where the ribs should have been. At least i did get "2 bones" worth of pork ribs, so I guess I was the lucky one at the table. But with the other meat choices not being very appealing by this point, I would have definitely rather had more of the ribs than the various cuts of chew toy meat. With several other choices for this sort of steak house in the area, rest assured I will NOT be going back to Chima. Unfortunate, because I had high hopes, but I felt like I dropped a lot of coin to leave ultimately feeling disrespected.
(1)
Amanda B.
Chima is by far the best Brazilian steakhouse I have been to. The service is impeccable and while the price may be a little on the high side, the food makes up for it. While the main attraction at Chima is the endless parade of meat coming to your table, the salad bar is really fantastic as well. Many options and a cold bar as well as a hot bar. Excellent drinks, neat location, valet service, great food.
(4)
Tracey C.
This feels like some sort of test to see just how gluttonous I can be. I lost out to a few of my table mates but damn if this wasn't a personal best or worst depending on your view of the Seven Deadly Sins. I'll get the obvious comparison out of the way and say that it was better than Fogo de Chao. I liked the salad bar selections better and the variety of meat. I'm sure the frequency with which we were served various meats was due to the lack of a crowd (got here at 7 on a Friday) but there wasn't much sitting and wondering when the next piece would be headed our way. The gauchos were pretty friendly but a few cute friends showing a little cleavage and some leg may have been the source of such pleasant attention. When asked what we wanted to head back our way 3 out of six of us requested the pork ribs. I also liked the lamb chops, as they were well seasoned and not over cooked. They were better than the leg of lamb on the flavor scale. My least favorite would have to be the Parmesan pork. It was dry and pretty blah. Even the delicious chimichurri or house-made sauce *cough* Heinz 57 *cough* wasn't enough to save it. I think the key to missing out on the noise is to come earlier in the day. We were seated by 7 and were probably the loudest ones in the place until around 9 or so. I would definitely make the trip back out here for a special occasion but I think I'll cough up the extra $20 for a bottle instead of a $13 glass of wine.
(4)
Laffy T.
Nothing spectacular about the food. Its alright. For the price its good. The service is great.
(3)
Tong G.
Came here for Restaurant Week. If you plan to go here for dinner, skip lunch. Save the room for more meats! Most Brazilian style bbq restaurants serve their meats on the salty side. Not here. Which is why I like it. The decor of the place was excellent. I did not feel like I was at an all you can eat place. The servers came often with what ever meat they happen to be serving. I do have to say, some of the meats were done medium to medium well. The sirlion was good. i would say to skip the pork, chicken and fish items. Just too dry and overcooked for me. Overall, nice place. good meal.
(4)
Scott J.
Good Brazilian steakhouse! A friend took me here today for Fourth of July special ($35 instead of $50) which allowed us both to partake in plenty of tasty meat! The waiters were friendly and excellent service. Sides were tasty I especially liked the fried plantains which were nice break from the salted meats. Only reason why I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars are the drinks and deserts are expensive and not included. I ordered a caparinha which was overpriced at $9. Fortunately the deal saved the day. Now I need to try Fogo to see how it compares.
(4)
Chelsea H.
I went for thanksgiving today. The interior is very classic and classy. I had a reservation so i was sat immediately, near the salad bar. Since it was thanksgiving, they had a table of some turkey and other items but honestly thats not why i was there so i kept it moving.I had a creamy lime drink that was delicious i actually had two. The salad bar has many options for everyone. My favorites were the caesar salad, smoked salmon, the italian meats and the mozzarella cheese. The salad with the couscous was okay. It was my first time trying the raw beef item. I thought the flavors were really strong. I would have maybe tried and made a salad but i didn't like that i would have had to cut the romaine. Also, its not the type of salad bar that you can create your own salad. Most of the salads are already done.I also didn't like all the random dressings they had. I heard the corn mousse was pretty bad They bring out different appetizers. The polenta fries were pretty good, it was my first time with polenta, I would maybe try it again. I did not try the small brown balls, banana or the spread. I think there were some mashed potatoes but it was very glue like and sweet. The cheese bread was really good. The men serving the meat are kinda lazy. There would be 10-20 min increments when there was no meat served. I know it was thanksgiving but it really was not that busy. But when they did come over they were all very nice and knew a lot about their meat. Most of it was pretty good. Some of it was a little fatty or dry for my taste. The filet was my favorite. I didn't try everything. Honestly i can make chicken and pork at home. The garlic steak was the worst. It had a lot of fresh garlic. If i went again i'd try to get some fish and more bread. This place is good, but i didn't try everything. I would have to make special requests so i can try everything. I wouldn't tell people not to go, but i wouldn't make it my first suggestion.
(3)
Jason C.
The meat isn't as good as Fogo and they don't have lobster bisque like Texas de Brazil. Also, they no longer have the $30 Sat brunch which comprised of the same meats as dinner. Still good and a quick 2 min drive from my office (unless there's an asian girl in front of me).
(4)
Mary L.
This place has excellent service - we were constantly being served and the waiters would watch us like hawks everytime we got up just so that when we got back they could pull out our chairs for us and place our napkins in our laps. Another plus? The valet is free! Although, I do recommend you tip them (obviously). The food is great. I enjoyed their cuts of meat - on the day I went, everything was cooked to perfection (medium-well). I'm not a huge meat eater so this concept was kind of lost on me however... The salad bar is freaking incredible... hands down, the best salad bar I've seen to date. Yep, I said it. It tends to get crowded around dinner time so make reservations if you plan on eating between 7-9pm. The place itself is incredibly trendy. The bar itself is consistently busy and there's a great outdoor seating area that is perfect for a nice day. Though these particular areas are trendy, the dining area itself is good for families and dates in my honest opinion.
(4)
Jean H.
We went here for a birthday and it was a nice evening. I want to say don't fill up on bread, the french fries, fried bananas, and buffet, but honestly those are my favorite parts. If those are usually your favorite parts of the meal, just get the buffet-you can still get salmon and swordfish with it. The salmon is delicious. There is also a lot of real "food" food at the buffet. My husband got the full meat option and enjoyed a lot of it. I'd recommend picking what you want to try first and asking for it if it doesn't circulate to you quickly. The wait staff was responsive when we asked for the top sirloin and for rib eye. It's a nice treat every once in a while, but the real worth lies in the novelty factor of all-you-can-eat-meat. If you really want to make your dollar go further, it's probably not the place. But it's nice for special occasions when you want to stuff yourself to the point where it is painful.
(4)
Sajji J.
I love this place! Sure there are plenty of Brazilian-type all-you-can-take-meat restaurants around. But this one has the best atmosphere and amazing service. They have a great happy hour and wonderful outdoor patio where it's always breezy - there's a kind of wind tunnel effect there. Probably not so great now (winter time)! As for the restaurant: A great salad bar - I'm always yelling at my guests to not fill up on the salad bar!!! You come here for beef - vegetarians should probably stay away a block or two. The gaucho - beef - skewer guys are awesome. If you've got your coin turned to the GO position, theses guys are fast. Plus, they remember what you like and what you don't like. So if your coin says GO and you turn away the salmon once, they won't bother you again. My wife doesn't like pork, so they came by once and got the message. If you like a particular cut, you can request it and they'll track down the guy with that cut. I love the fillet, so I keep asking for more - they've never turned me down. They bring you (a la Olive Garden) free cheezy bread balls and meat balls. These 2 items are amazing. If they gave me two huge plates with just these 2 things, I'd be in heaven. They do, however, only bring a small quantity to your table - just enough for everyone to taste a bit. Don't be shy, you can ask for more - I've never had them say "no" to a request for more cheezy bread balls and meat balls. The beverages are great. Excellent wine selection. You can OD on the beef - I'm usually pretty vegetarian for a few days following a trip to Chima!
(5)
Lisa J.
My first brazillian BBQ and I would go again! Awesome salad bar and little extras like the cheese puffs at the table. The meats were so delicious and tender! My favorites were the lamb chops even though I usually feel guilty eating such a cute animal this was totally worth it! Waiters were exceptionally attentive and the dessert - apple strudel - was out of this world!
(5)
Chris G.
Make sure you're ready to eat as much as you can, and then some. There's nothing really more to say, other than it was deliciou$.
(5)
Rod T.
Fantastic food and amazing service. Very classy. Worth every penny of the many $$$...
(5)
edward m.
I took my wife and son here for a special occasion. We appreciated the free valet parking and found the decor and layout of the restaurant to be outstanding. The waiters were dressed like Brazilian gauchos. I've been to Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil, home of the original gauchos, and I found their costumes to be accurate. Two waiters took care of us, and both were wonderful. They catered to our every need. The salad bar was good. I would rate it as substantially better than Malibu Grill (in a different league, actually). It was on par with the salad bar at Texas de Brazil and Fogo de Chao with some exceptions. For instance, my wife and I agreed that the endive with blue cheese and walnuts was really bad. The real focus in any churrascaria is the "churrasco" or the meat. The star of the show in most churrascarias is a special cut called picanha. I've never had picanha I didn't like. Here the picanha was good but not great - it was not on par with Texas de Brazil and certainly not Fogo de Chao. The side dishes the waiters delivered to the table were terrific - the mashed potatoes, fried yuca, pao de queijo (cheese bread), and balls of ground beef (not sure what these are called). The national drink of Brazil is the caipirinha, which is made with lime, sugar, ice, and a liquor called cachaca (made from sugar cane). I found their caipirinha to be genuine and on par with those I had in Brazil. Although I liked Chima very much, I had two gripes. First, when making my reservation, I asked for a table off to the side because I am on crutches and I didn't want anybody to trip over my leg and hurt me. They would have had difficulty picking out a table less suitable for a person on crutches - they put us right at the major choke point of the traffic flow and I had trouble relaxing (the caipirinhas helped!) because I was worried somebody was going to bump into me and hurt my leg. Second, in some ways, this place Americanizes what is a quintessential Brazilian experience. All of the food at the salad bar has only English-language descriptions. I would like to have seen the Portuguese names (alongside the English) for some of the dishes, like feijoada, the national dish of Brazil. The costumes are Brazilian, but much of the rest of the experience at Chima has been overly sanitized of its Brazilian roots. In spite of some minor disappointments, my family and I really enjoyed our experience at Chima. Given the cost, however, we would really only go there for a special occasion.
(4)
George S.
Had one of our wedding weekend dinners here--great selection of food (especially if you're a carnivore), including an excellent salad bar. Don't bother bringing kids or your light-eating grandparents as it will be a waste of your $$$. Try to get a table near the back by the window.
(4)
Adam R.
The location is a little tucked away, but well worth the effort to find it. We went here during Restaurant Week and expected the cheap/lowered service and food that some restaurants roll out for discount days. Not so here. The servers were excellent, and the food from the salad bar onwards was also excellent. Our server(s) made sure we got to try everything at least once, and even took great care of me when a rare leg of lamb squired blood all over my dress shirt! The prices are a bit steep on normal days, but you get what you pay for. One of the best Brazilian steakhouses I've been too.
(4)
Marina R.
Brazilian grills are our absolute favorite type of restaurants! We just love the concept: a great salad bar with a lot of variety, and unlimited meats of numerous kinds brought to your table in an endless stream by very polite, courteous (and handsome!) chefs/servers. Our favorite churrascaria is Fogo de Chao in DC, but we love Chima as well. The quality of meat is superb; the beef and the lamb are very juicy and cooked to perfection, the aromas are amazing. I stay away from chicken, sausage, and pork at Brazilian restaurants: they are not bad, but not marvelous either. The beef and the lamb, however, are to die for! Our specific favorites are the rib eye, the top sirloin, the beef ribs, leg of lamb, and lamb chops. All of them are mouth-watering. The decor of the place is modern and hip, and the service is very good and attentive. If you compare Chima to Fogo de Chao, both are great, but there are some small advantages and disadvantages to both. Chima is much easier to drive to (it is in Virginia), there is a huge parking lot over the corner from it (which we prefer to valet since it's much cheaper), the design is more unique and trendy, there are a bit more choices on the salad bar, and the place is a bit cheaper than Fogo de Chao. Fogo de Chao, however, has slightly better service, a bit friendlier and nicer, but Chima is very good as well. I recommend both these restaurants, especially if you are a meat lover, and if you have never been to a Brazilian steakhouse. It is a very special, unique experience, it is a lot of fun, and nothing beats the quality of their succulent beef!
(5)
Kali P.
Service was GREAT!!! FOOD was off the chain. My man took me here for a "something different" for me. I love trying new foods and this was the thing to do. Kinda pricey, but since I wasn't paying I was living it up. We went on the 4th of July Special, and got the $39 per person special. Yes it was worth every penny. All the meats were very seasoned and endless amount. Don't go to this place even somewhat full. Go with your belly on empty. He also ordered some Brazilian drink and it was a doozie. We both were sleep right after the fireworks. Belly Happy and fully with a nice buzz. We will go again, but sporadically. Too much good food and we want to keep our nice bodies. :)
(5)
Will A.
I'm half Brazillian and go to Brazil at least once a year so I know a good churrascaria when I see it. This is a great American churrascaria! Unlike other churrascarias in the area (Texas de Brazil...) this restaurant actually has employees from Brazil! They call all Brazilian food items by their Portugese names and are very knowledgeable of the food. They even have Guarana Antartica! The actual kind they have in Brazil! What a miracle! The salad bar is great. One of the best I've ever seen. The meats are also all fabulous, juicy and cooked to perfection. The pao de quejo and bana frita they put on the table were also excellent. The service was outstanding as well. There is nothing I can say that is bad about this churrascaria (other than that they aren't open for lunch which is very un-Brazilian, but that's okay,) which is why I am giving it a whopping 5 stars.
(5)
Jessica M.
So I have to preface this by saying my visit to Chima was some time ago and not long after they opened. Recognizing that restaurants have growing pains (and thus, conceding the 30 minute wait for a table we called ahead to reserve) - my experience still could have been better. The hostess called my date and I over and walked us all the way to the back of the restaurant - the floorplan is rather open - and spacious. So far, so good. (We really dislike sitting on top of people as we eat.) Not only did she try to sit us at a two-top directly next to a ten-top round table - but in the chair she tried to seat me in - I could've literally reached out and touched the woman who happened to be breast feeding her infant about 2 feet away. I politely asked for another table (and offered to wait as long as was needed - and was met with a less than pleasant face.) We were eventually seated at another table to have our meal (while still surrounded by children climbing all over seats and tables around us.) I'm rather young and sympathetic to families out to dinner (as I have three nephews myself) - but when eating dinner at 9:30pm - it seems like unruly children should be able to be avoided. The meal itself was OK (hence the second star.) The meat items were fine (nothing spectacular) , but the salad bar was not nearly as nice at the one at Fogo de Chao. Overall, I wouldn't spend that kind of money to go back - I'd choose Fogo instead. Perhaps they were having an off-night, but the staff/service did not make me want to return.
(2)
Jenna C.
My ex-boss is good friends with the manager/owner, so we'd have our quarterly staff dinners here. When the company dinner dates were announced, my colleagues and I would starve for a couple of days so that we could binge properly. I'm sure we're a dietician's worst nightmare. The food is good for the most part. The appetizers were okay, and the salad bar was pretty good, but let's be honest, I was there for the meats. We had a nice Chilean wine to accompany our meats and I thought it was excellent. Our servers were really nice, but perhaps it's because the manager told them to be extra attentive. When our checks came, we ordered coffees and americanos. The server left a critique card on the table with our checks, so if anyone had issues with the staff, you can write them down. Even though we were always pleased with our service, they would always comp the coffee/espresso drinks. Again, I don't know if that's usual since the boss and the manager are friends, but I'd like to hope so!
(4)
Rob B.
Man eat Meat! Meat float around room for man to eat. Do not think about the floating around the room part. Just get your man servants to get you fresh kill. If you do not like to be waited on or meat, then skip this joint. It does have a SoBe vibe just needs a dance floor and it would but a full on roman orgy of food and gluttony of fun. Sign up to get a discounted price, unless you just roll like that. When my "date" grunted when she got up it was OVA! Yea I liked it. Now I want a wait staff at home...
(5)
Ace P.
Chima Brazilian Steakhouse - Washington not only offers everything one would expect from a Brazilian steakhouse but also provides a few surprises. For example, unlike Texas de Brazil, Chima offers some of the best grilled salmon and swordfish you will find in all of Greater Washington, and trust me; we have some GREAT seafood here! The salmon at Chima will absolutely melt in your mouth. The bar scene at Chima is always lively. In fact, if you find yourself in Tysons Corner after a 2pm meeting that did not conclude until 4pm, you will hardly find a better spot than Chima to take in happy hour while you wait for Tyco traffic to subside. The restaurant's ambiance is something to behold, replete with contemporary lounge chairs and a cascading crystalline video screen in the center of the dining room. Aside from the grilled fish, Chima also offers something that neither Fogo nor Texas de Brazil do, outdoor dining. Unfortunately, the service can be a bit slow and disorganized at times, but that is the only downside to the experience. In fact, I am of the opinion Chima serves better meats than Texas de Brazil, whose beef ribs are almost always too salty and too fatty. Texas de Brazil does, however, offer the best lobster bisque I have ever tasted.
(4)
Manda S.
From the moment you walk into this place it's a "Wow" effect. The ambiance is incredible - dark wooden furniture, ceiling to floor and wall to wall wine rack, dimly lit. It's all wonderfully put together. The tables are large and if you have a larger group - not a problem. They can easily accommodate you! I love the setup - each person gets a "coin" (best way I can describe it). One side is black, the other orange. When you are ready to try the selections of meat, you flip it so that the orange side is showing,and when you do not want anymore at the moment, flip it to the black side. There are about 14 different kinds of meat being served, though I didn't try any - but the rest of my party did. All seven of them agreed the steaks (primarily the filet mignon) was the best they've ever had, better than Ruth Chris' or Morton's. I had the salmon which was tender and delicious. Being a big veggie person I loved their large, and unique, salad bar. Your usual salad fixings and then some: fresh avocado, hearts of palm, a bunch of different fresh cheeses, homemade bean salads, so on and so forth. It will unfortunately be only a once-in-a-while type thing for me being that it is very expensive (lunch runs around $30, dinner much more), but I look forward to my return.
(4)
Joye P.
Pretty space, with high ceilings and a large bar area. Happy hour specials. Good for noshing and a drink after a work meeting.
(3)
Mr H.
Carnivore central. Gauchos carrying large skewers of various cuts of all you care to eat grilled meats. The salad bar is pretty amazing in it's own right and can be purchased as a separate option if you are not in the mood for 1/2 a cow. It is definitely an interesting experience if you have never been, but a nit pricey for what you get.
(4)
Denise H.
Well, I am not as much of a fan as others. I'm a foodie. And, when I go to a "buffet" (I know it's not, but kind of), I plan ahead so I can eat. I know it's gluttonous, but that's me. I love that I can eat and eat, especially when it is delicious. I have been talking about Chima for months since I heard about it and could not wait to eat, and eat, and eat. I am not an omnivore typically - I'm a meat-a-tarian. This was made for me. Long story short: I stopped eating meat about 15 minutes after I started eating meat. {sigh} That can suffice for the quick read types. For the longer reads: I was not planning on drinking alcohol at my visit, so it was coke and water. I'm not a "filler" girl so can skip on the soupy texture mashed potatoes, the bread, polenta fries, and fried bananas (my bro and dad liked those). I did, however, visit the salad bar which I do not usually do. But my dad raves on the Brazilian Steakhouse salad bars, I went to two prior to this (Grand Cayman and Fair Lakes) and was VERY underwhelmed so have been leaving it out of my reviews. I am not sure why mayonnaise is considered a salad ingredient, but whatever. But I did visit this time and had some items. I thought the mozzarella was good, the two tomatoes - one good, one mush, I liked the olives, the salami (my dad didn't) and the smoked salmon. I almost ate bread and butter but the butter had herbs in and I'm a plain butter girl. PLAIN - please for the love of pete...butter is delicious stop ruining it. I digress. So, now I am ready for meat. I'm a medium rare to rare to girl. If I am going to eat the fat on a steak I do like it a little crispy, but even that doesn't have to be if flavored correctly. I do not eat ribs, chicken, fish, etc. at all you can steak houses - I want steak. (My bro and dad said the lamb, fish, sausage and ribs were hit and miss - some delicious some not, and the not was not just at the end when they were getting full). My filet mignon sans bacon - beautiful color - totally dry. (Remember - I don't mind blood, looked like it had it, but it didn't). My dad's was the same - DRY. And almost no flavor. My filet mignon con bacon - one of the nastiest things I have eaten in a while. (Note: I have traveled a lot - 40 countries, and lived abroad for 4 years) This tasted like pig skin raw or something, not bacon. And the filet was gross inside. I could barely swallow it and was using all my might to not gag. My sirloin with garlic - never tasted the meat, only garlic. Like I was chewing on a clove. My top sirloin without garlic - this was my favorite. Most of the time it was good, but only if it has the crispy fat. If it didn't it wasn't that great. I wanted flavor. I saw reviews that things were salty and I have to say I think the chefs were out of salt this night. They only had garlic and used it all on the one meat. My rib eye was so sad. It wasn't good. I love rib eye. A lot wasn't good. I think I had strip steak or something else but I was so unmotivated. The gauchos were trying to bring me the one sirloin the way I like it, they were great. (I never told them the others were nasty, but you could tell, I would eat one and not the other). Dessert: my dad had some walnut mousse something - he loved it. My brother had some mango mousse something with sauce, he was indifferent. I didn't eat it. (Meat-a-tarian remember?) Oh, ps... dad & I both got sick afterwards. I can honestly say I did not gorge, all the stuff listed, I had bites of them I didn't eat an lbs and lbs of meat (like I did at Prime and Fogo). Now, my brother, did eat until his button literally popped off his jeans. He's 17 though and was probably wearing jeans that were too small. I'm 40. His taste buds haven't tasted as much yet, he is learning though. As for service - the meat servers were EXCELLENT, very attentive. Our waiter - I don't know. He kept hitting me with his tray - I kept pushing it back at him, (we had an entire open section of our table, unless he was making the move on my dad or something). But kept hitting me. Then, later, he kept kicking me. I finally said "Ow, you keep kicking me and I keep asking you to stop" and then he said "oh." I mean really - why do you assume I'm not the one paying and tipping? Too bad for you, I tipped the others personally. The hostesses were fine though, in person. On the phone I must have had the problem one the others refer to. I have been to several - I rank Prime in Grand Cayman as a tie for # 1 for meat with Fogo in DC, and Fogo as # 1 for salad with Chima coming in # 2, and the place in Fair Lakes - not worth mentioning at about a -11 for all but drink refill service which is #1. Too bad too, I was going to come with a group of friends, guess we'll be hitting Fogo instead.
(3)
Jalon Z.
Chima is a trendy upscale Brazilian steakhouse in Tysons Corner. The interior tends to the "clean and modern" style and patrons are well-dressed. At around $40/person, you are paying as much for the ambiance as the food. The bar was unbearably loud and packed, loud enough we didn't even try to go in. Apparently, the bar in Chima's is quite the night spot. We had reservations but still needed to wait about 15 minutes to be seated. The dining room is not quiet, and definitely not a place for intimate conversation. This is all about eating beef, waving forks around and ordering more drinks. There were a couple of large tables which had babies that cried occasionally. Given the upscale interior, high prices and general atmosphere, I'm not sure why anyone would want to bring small children here. Having just returned from working in Brazil for a few weeks and eating some of the best food of my life, I was eager to see how this restaurant stacked up against the real thing. I was also dining with a couple of confirmed beef snobs who eat in enough steakhouses to know what's what. The buffet of salads and side dishes was not outstanding except for the large pot of Feijoada. Feijoada is refried black beans and pork slow cooked for hours on end, and is a national specialty served with hot sauce on top. This was as good as back in Brazil. The bar also serves real Caipirinha: 1 crushed lime, cane sugar and Cachaca (a kind of rum) on the rocks. If you go here, you must try the Caipirinha to at least say you have had it. The real difference at a Brazilian steakhouse in the US is the most serious of all. American beef is completely different from Brazilian beef. Brazil has white Brahman cows with the hump over their forward shoulders. The cuts of beef and the taste is different, with the best cut coming from the hump. That said, the beef at Chima's is excellent. This is plain beef, Brazil style. It is not over-flavored, blackened in whiskey or over-marinated. The taste is more simple than you would find at a place like Sweetwater Tavern. Through a fun game of "bait the gaucho" by flipping the coins depending on who was looking at our table, we tried every cut of meat available except the chicken and sausage and liked them all. There are several "walls of wine" in the restaurant, so selection is not an issue. Desserts were mediocre and didn't really fit into the meal. Don't even try to park, the restaurant has free valet parking in the front.
(4)
C Q.
Food: The appetizers they brought to the table was more than what we can eat. We all liked the cheese bread. Some liked the fried banana. We didn't care for anything else. The quality and selections of the meat and the salad bar were really good. I thought the seasoning for the meat was a little salty. My favorite was the swordfish (with the sauce) and the baby top sirloin. The swordfish was moist and tender and the sauce just made it better. The baby top sirloin was tender and juicy with a hint of garlic. The items at the salad bar was lightly seasoned (which I liked). It helped to eat some vegetables to balanced out the salty meat. Service: The service was good for the most part. Our server was friendly and efficient. But I could feel that he was rushing us a little bit. We went on a Friday night and the place was busy. He didn't do it rudely, but he did clear our plates rather quickly when we are not ordering more meat. I am sure an extra set of guests wouldn't hurt his income, so I can understand. I thought it was fun to take our kids to Chima. It's more definitely more upscale than the restaurants we usually take them. I probably won't go again because I just can't eat that much meat in one meal.
(4)
Kat T.
The food was wonderful! The waiters were attentive. But the only thing that soured my first visit there, was seeing a bartender squirt whipped cream into another's mouth, and then shortly I saw 2 coffees with whipped cream come from the bar to get served, and I recoiled, haha. I was here for my wedding anniversary and we spent a hundred bucks, and was very disappointed to see two staffers in a high class restaurant doing that. Not sure I want to go back, but my god the food really was good.
(4)
Nabeel A.
I returned to Chima and the experience was pretty consistent. Enjoyed my time and enjoyed the food!
(4)
Herman B.
Excellent food and service. The gauchos kept bringing me filet mignon.
(5)
Claudio R.
Big salad bar, all you can eat meat (beef, lamb, chicken, fish)
(4)
Gelinda J.
I went for restaurant week and was really impressed. The food is amazing and the service was even better. If you love red meat this is the place for you. Hands down the BEST brazilian steakhouse in this area... The beef ribs, the meat falls off the bone melts in your mouth. The lamb is my favorite and the pork ribs are glazed with honey bbq sauce that should be sold in store...
(5)
Elaine N.
I'll take Fogo de Chao or Texas de Brazil over Chima anyday... The selection of meat was not great and taste was okay.... This was my second visit and my first visit was much better... What really put a sour bitter taste in my memory forever was my meal price discrepancy.... there was a Twitter post earlier in the day for real estate industry special @ $29.50 so I brought a few of my friends.... We had two rounds of drinks before dinner.... Then when I approached the hostess stand... they said they had a $39.50 special but no $29.50 but they would inquire with their manager.... Then Corina reiterated the same to me but we were hungry so we decided to sit and eat anyways.... Well, when the bill came, we were charged $49.50 I" told the waiter to check with his manager and he came back stating that that price was for certain days of the week and of course that night did not apply..... Boy was I pissed! Needless to say, I won't be back and neither will my group of friends.... Bad business practice.... VERY BAD!!!!
(2)
Marquel F.
I love going to happy hours there. The lounge area is very open and the outside area is really nice when the weather is good. Service can use a boost but everything else is great!
(4)
Kelly K.
Good food nice dining area...however, if you don't like well done meat you have to request that you want something rarer...the meats tend to be really well done.
(3)
PIstachio B.
We came here for Mother's Day brunch and I was pleased as could be. The service was great and food phenomenal. For the meats, I tried the filet mignon, lamb, pork rib, beef rib, and some others and it was flavorful and perfect. You can also request how well-cooked you want the meat. The salad bar also had great offerings--some of my favorites were the carpaccio, fresh mozzarella. Also, they bring small plates to your table, like mashed potatoes, a meat-ball like dish and fried polenta strips which were the best, and I don't even like polenta. Worth a try! Side notes: free valet, seemed dressy for even lunch, but you can definitely get away w/ jeans for lunch here
(4)
Kirk K.
Took a family of 5 here on a Friday night. Food was great, loved the variety, and the kids all had a good time. It is half price for kids under 12 I believe. You can either get the whole shabang for $50 or just go with the salad bar and fish for $30. (then half for those for the kids). We ended up getting dessert and a few drinks, coffee that added to the price. Had a real nice time. The great thing is that if you get something and you don't like it...don't eat it! Just wait until the next skewer comes by and grab something else. The salad bar was great also with a variety of lettuce sticking in my mind (I think 4 kinds), fruits, veggies, smoked salmon, side salads. The service was truly outstanding with drinks being replaced quickly and the meats and fish folks coming by often (had to flip my button over which means I'm on "break" a couple times). Only reason it doesn't get 5 stars is that I think it is just a bit overpriced, but I'd go again.
(4)
Steph L.
Holy meat coma...Ate so much last night that I couldn't sleep! I don't think I'll be having any meat for awhile... I had never been to Fogo or Chima before last night so I can't compare. Chose Chima over Fogo because the boyfriend and I were already out in Virginia and had a coupon for Chima. And we didn't know this until we were paying, but apparently Chima as reduced their dinner price from $49.50 to $39.50. That's a steal!! If I thought I didn't have much of a problem getting my money's worth before, it's not even worth mentioning now. Steph 1, Chima 0. We arrived at 6 on a Sunday evening with no reservations. No problem. We were seated right away at a table by the window with the beautiful early evening spring sun still shining through. Our waiter explained how everything worked to us upon learning that we had never been there, brought us water, took our wine order, informed us that we could go up to the salad bar whenever we were ready and that he would bring some snacks to the table. The salad bar had a good selection of greens, non-leafy veggies, cheese, cured meat, other items, but it wasn't as impressive as I had imagined after reading all the rave reviews about the salad bar. That was not a problem though as I was there for the meat. I made one round at the salad bar, picking up some very fresh arugula with mozzarella, broccoli, calamari, Carpaccio flavored with olive oil, parmesan cheese and capers, salami, prosciutto, smoked salmon, smoked gouda, corn mousse, and grilled eggplant. Everything was fresh and delicious. I especially liked the corn mousse with the creamy sauce, it was like nothing I've had before and that was the one thing I thought about going back to the salad bar for, just because it was different. But enough with the salad bar. After a morning CrossFit workout, a Thai massage, and only 2 small meals, I was seeing stars and ready to chow down some meat! And the meat did not disappoint. The boyfriend and I tried everything at least once, except for the salmon. I was disappointed that they didn't have swordfish that night and the salmon just didn't look that appetizing next to all the other meats. My favorites were the lamb chops, filet mignon wrapped in bacon, and the beef ribs. Oh let's talk about the beef ribs first. When I first saw the beef ribs, I didn't want it. I was thinking, I could get beef ribs relatively cheap on my own and do a pretty good job cooking it, why bother. But then the boyfriend had some, raved about it and gave me a piece to try. OH MY GOD, it didn't even taste like beef!!! It tasted like pork shoulders, melt in your mouth buttery goodness!! It was some of the best meat I've had in my life! That with some of the garlic butter, I could've been happy just eating that alone for the night. Who cares if I'm getting my money's worth!? The lamb chops were very tender and well seasoned, as was the filet mignon wrapped in bacon. I think I had 2 rounds of each. The disappointments of the night though were the pork ribs and the chicken wrapped in bacon. The pork ribs were not as meaty or tender as I'd liked but it was still good. Just didn't meat expectations. The guy was getting mulled every time he came out of the kitchen so when he finally made it to us I could hardly wait to get my hands on those babies. And the chicken...after so many people raved about that being their favorite, I cannot understand why, maybe because those people didn't eat red meat? The chicken was very dry and no sauce could've saved it. I ate a third of it and the rest was the only meat I had left on my plate at the end of the night. I did go back to the salad bar at the end of the meal to get some cantaloupe. They were very sweet and juicy, perfect for palate cleansing after 11 and 16 (the boyfriend) rounds of meat. I would've liked the try some of desserts but just couldn't physically. Overall very satisfying experience. Our waiter was super attentive throughout our meal, never leaving our water glasses less than half full. He was also quite funny. Next on the list, try Fogo so I can compare the two. And scratch the no meat for awhile comment, I'm having some meat for lunch!
(4)
Nuno J.
Below average - worst rodizio ive ever had. service on the other hand was excellent
(2)
Siniaya K.
Oh god, I'm too fat to write the review....LOL Whew, OK, now I found and put on my old pregnancy pants lets right a review. First timers it's a little confusing but once you figure it out it's AWESOME!! I am a huge meat eater and this place is like the Mecca of Meat. The Salad bar is just simply awesome I was thoroughly impressed with the extent of the variety they offered. Cheese, salads, veggies, pre-made salads, lunch meats, you name it. Now the Real reason you come here....the meat! With a flip of your coin (be sure your ready to start though!) A menagerie of servers bombard your table one right after the other with large skewers of EVERY kinda of meat (Chicken wrapped in Bacon, Fillet Mignon, Beef Flank, Pork ribs, leg of lamb,) you can want with almost every type of flavoring you could desire (Parmesan flavored pork, BBQ Pork ribs, Garlic flank stank,) If they don't have the cut or it's not prepared to your likeness they go get it for you! With the two of us our bill came to $150 however, only $90 of this was for us to actually eat the remainder was beverages, Wine, and desert. I would say this is a definitely NOT A RESTAURANT but a dinning experience. definitely, going back for seconds but to the Philadelphia location to change the ambiance!!
(4)
Amanda S.
Love, Love Chima! The salad bar is incredible with so many choices of so many things. I could make a full meal of just the salad bar. It's fresh, clean, and great if you happen to have a vegetarian with you. The meat is great too! Sometimes, a piece could be chewy but hey, meat can't always be perfect. Most of the time it is. The chicken wrapped in bacon is tasty and I also liked the sirloin. Overall great place to eat, especially if you come in starving!!
(4)
Jason S.
Holy balls. I'm stuffed I had 13 cuts of meat I can't move I can't breathe........I can't think!!!!! Outstanding service... Every cut served medium medium rare...melted in the mouth.........
(5)
Nuoc M.
Prior to coming here, my only experience at a Brazilian steakhouse was almost ten years ago in Rockville. Where although there was a lot of food and unique meats, I thought that they all tasted the same. I didn't think that Chima had the same wide selection of meats as the place in Rockville did, but everything they had was cooked to perfection and each had its unique flavor and seasoning. That is until you have too much food and they all start to taste the same too. The customer service is somewhat upscale, where the first several times we left the table to go to the salad bar, the server would always refold our napkins. The salad bar had a variety of cheeses, meats, rice and beans. I thought it could have had more fruits and vegetables to balance out the meat. I'm not sure if its the acoustics or what, but I found it really hard to hear the other side of our four person table because of the loud noise in the restaraunt. There were brief lulls in when the meat would come out and happened right after we placed our order, which made me worry. However these lulls do not last long, and lots of servers come rushing out with their selection of meats. The parking situation is kind of poor. Where if you're lucky you can find some street parking around the buildings in the area. I'm not familiar with the area to be able to find the street parking twice. There is a parking garage nearby, where when we went it charges you up to $3. Chima offers "free valet" parking but you figure you'll have to tip the valet a couple of dollars. So its the same parking in the garage as well. Chima looks like it tries to maintain a more upscale atmosphere, with a sign saying proper attire required and no kids after a certain time. However when we went, our dress wasn't an issue and we saw kids in there as well. Although we did go during restaraunt week. The worst thing about Chima is the price. Where I think there are very few meals worth $70/person not including drinks, dessert, etc. I think if comparing to similar restaraunts or places that are priced similar, like maybe Ruth Chris, the edge would go to Chima because of the variety of meats and food you can eat for the price. For restaraunt week type of deals, for example $35/person I would consider it a great value for the price, but still consider it only a once in a while fine dining type of place. However would still give the edge to Chima against similarly priced places for its variety.
(3)
Elana G.
Went here for restaurant week, and all around it was good. My rating is based on the restaurant week price. I would go back but I wouldn't pay full price. If I had paid $45 for the meal I would have knocked off a star. I've never eaten at Fogo de Chao or any of the fancy Brazilian steakhouses, so I don't really have a point of comparison. Let's start with the star of the show - the meats. They were all cooked fine. They asked how you liked your beef and lamb done and they cut you a piece to that doneness - nice! My one problem though is I don't have that high of a tolerance for very salty foods. Sometimes bacon or smoked fish even gets to me. I prefer a little bit of salt and a lot of other seasoning (like garlic :-) ). When I cook myself sometimes I leave the salt off altogether. Every meat (and I mean every meat) was a little too salted for me - especially the bacon wrapped chicken. Once I got away from the edges of the meat though, it was fine. Some of the cuts of beef were a little bland, and some were well seasoned. Their garlic seasoned sirloin was really really good. The only thing that would have made it better was less salt and more garlic. I wasn't a fan of their sausage. I took one bite and gave it to someone else. The flank steak was very nice, maybe a little on the less seasoned side. The only real disappointment I had was with the swordfish. I was really looking forward to the swordfish, because I don't eat it that often, but it was a bit overcooked and dry. Not horrible but not good enough for me to want seconds. One thing I did not expect were all the yummy sides they brought to the table - these cheesy bread puff things, fried bananas, smoked turkey salad, and the creamiest mashed potatoes I've ever eaten. They were so creamy and good that I swore they were meant for dipping the meats. At least for me, doing that cut down on the salt factor, which allowed me to enjoy the beef and lamb more. My plan of attack was meats first, then salad bar. Why fill up on fluff before getting to the good stuff? When I went to the salad bar I was pleasantly surprised. You will rarely ever catch me eating salad (don't like lettuce, can't stand raw tomato), but this salad bar had a mixed greens salad and an arugula/sun dried tomato/fresh mozzarella mixed salad, so I took some of each and some vinaigrette dressing, and at least I could fool myself into thinking I was eating some fiber. They also had an assortment of other salads, some with beans, some with chickpeas, some lettuce and tomato. There was GIANT asparagus (which I also don't like, but I was impressed by the size), an assortment of cheeses (fresh mozzarella on its own, gouda, swiss, parmesan), some cold cuts (proscuitto, sopressata, one other I think), carpaccio, some weird mousse thing, and other items I'm clearly forgetting. They also had soup and rice and a few other hot items. Plenty to fill up on with the salad bar, without even touching the meats. Besides the salad I had once slice of carpaccio, a tiny bit of the corn mousse, and one of the fresh mozzerella balls. Apparently you can actually get just the salad bar if you don't want the meats. I don't know how much that costs normally though. Desserts and drinks cost extra. Most of the desserts appeared to start at $7 and go up. I'm already paying a lot for the meal, you'd think they could include a dessert or two on the salad bar. All in all, this is a nice place to go for the meat lover to fill up and it has some really good options on the salad bar. In my mind $35 was an alright price to go maybe once or twice a year, but anything more than that ($45 is the normal price I think) and it would be enough to deter me unless it was a special occasion and someone I know really wanted to go. I'm definitely glad I went though.
(4)
Yong O.
Great atmosphere along with tasty meat cooked to your liking. Service is exemplary - great for special occasions.
(5)
Mike M.
Great food, great service and the fish was also fresh and perfectly cooked like everything else.
(5)
Charles B.
It may be a bit steep, but if you're the kind of person can stuff 10 pounds of meat down in one sitting, it's totally worth it. You get a variety of choices - everything from lamb to chicken to swordfish, but the standouts are definitely the steak options. Bacon-wrapped filet mignon? Garlic-rubbed sirloin? They don't even have this stuff at Morton's or Ruth's Chris, and here it's unlimited!! It's a little different than other Brazilian steakhouses where the salad bar is optional - here it isn't. So they basically add that into the cost up-front. But it does allow you to mix up your meal and actually trick you into eating something healthy with your meal. I saw through their trickery, however, and saved up all I had for the meat. It's what I came for anyway. I give high ratings to all the selections - everything I tried was top-notch. The sides are also one of the best parts of the meal, also unlimited. They have this smoked turkey/cheese dip, and some pretty bangin' cheese rolls that tasted heavenly. They perfectly complemented the cholesterol-filled main courses. The service here was excellent. Our "main" server was extremely busy but still came around when we needed her. The "meat wielders" were dizzyingly fast - in a good way. If they came by and didn't have what you wanted, they'd somehow communicate amongst themselves that Table X needs Meat X. It was fascinating. Their quick service is almost a bad thing, because of the number of times they interrupt your meal. It seemed like I had a new server offering a new meat between every bite. I must admit that I'm not a seasoned (no pun intended) Brazilian Steakhouse connoisseur, but for a first-timer or beginner this place will not disappoint. We went during restaurant week and only spent around $35 per person (no wine or dessert), which is less than a night at an upscale steakhouse. Save your money (and your appetite) and come here instead of an upscale steakhouse, and have more variety and fun too.
(5)
Sara R.
I was there for a business dinner. It's good place to take clients because there is something for everyone. I really liked the salad bar, very extensive. I wish they'd bring these back. Lots of choices. The meats are never ending, lots of chewing! None to jump up and down about but they were OK. The fish (swordfish) on the other hand was not so good. I should have passed on it but was tired of the beef. Lots of pork too but I didn't try that. Good wine list. We had delicious reds. Everyone like their desserts as well. Energetic atmosphere although after a while, you get kind of tired of the guys running around so much with the skewers. something for everyone.
(3)
Dan R.
Chima is the BEST Brazilian Steakhouse in the DC Metro Area! The food is delicious, the service is ON POINT, and the they make a mean Caipirinha. The experience was better than actually eating at a high end steak house in Rio, which I had done.
(5)
Ayesha U.
If I was rating Chima solely on the food, I may have given it a 4.5. The meats were tender and flavorful and the salad bar offered an array of tasty side dishes that were a perfect compliment. There were a few times I requested a medium slice and received something either mooing on my plate or gray and lifeless. But they got it right 8 times out of 10. We were celebrating a birthday and they were nice enough to bring out a complimentary tiramisu for the bday girl that was quite tasty. The service was another story altogether. First of all, I'm not from the area and even with GPS, I had a tough time finding the place. When I called to get directions, the person who answered the phone was an absolute idiot. She had no clue where any of the surrounding streets were in relation to the restaurant and kept naming landmarks that I would only be familiar with if I was from the area. Alas, I found it on my own (eventually) and checked in without incident. I intended to have a drink, but by the time the bartender made it my way my friends had arrived. I have to note that the bar wasn't crowded so I'm unsure as to why it took her so long to come away. I digress.... Once seated, we started discussing what we would be drinking. Our server approached, introduced himself, and adequately explained the different dining options. Once completed, he asked what we would like to drink. Half of us agreed that we would have wine, so it only made sense to order a bottle. I asked to see the list since I had the most wine knowledge amongst our party. It's important to note that the demographics of our party were 5 late 20-something females, 4 Black and 1 White. After handing me the wine list, the server, sincere as can be, said to me "Just so you know, we have moscato." My party and I were absolutely floored by such blatant stereotyping! In an effort not to have dinner ruined, we laughed heartily at the waiter's ignorance causing him to stammer and blush at his obvious faux pas. The rest of dinner seemed to pass without incident and the bottle of reisling that we ended up ordering was delicious. In summary, our experience was pleasant enough. However, management should definitely speak with staff regarding generalizations and stereotyping. Had that been a different group of people, that situation may not have ended so amicably.
(3)
Anthony H.
It's ok... not as good as Fogo but still a nice place for a meal and I must say the prices beat Fogo when you have a coupon for sure.
(3)
Tiffany L.
Chima & Fogo de Chao are very comporable in food, price, and ambiance. I like the open space of Chima and its easier location in Virgina. We had a big party here and it was very easy to get a large table for a hefty size group. Its always difficult to have large groups at fancy restaurants. The prices were a bit high if you're not extremely hungry. But the quality was good, very fancy, and a good spot to try at least once. They had fish which fogo de chao did not have. And I loved the cream of vegetable soup.
(3)
Katie T.
The first person to review this place is vegetarian? What? Chima has a first location in Florida, and now a second in Virginia. Located in a corporate area right next to Tyson's Corner, they have free valet parking, but if you don't want to tip a valet, there's also a Tyson's Corner parking garage in close proximity (and parking in front of various storefronts around the corner). The sign for Chima is on a side of the building with no entrances, so walk around the corner and head for the orange awning. The initial impression is sleek and stylish--cowskin-covered footrests and bowl-shaped chairs in the waiting area next to a wall covered in wine bottles--but small children runnning around don't help the ambiance. The dining area is large, and fairly empty when 8 of us were having lunch on a Sunday. There is no menu. Either you eat meat, or you don't. And if you don't, why are you here? ...Well, probably because your friends all wanted to go. Don't worry, you can get a meal out of the salad bar. Make sure to tell the waiter before the meal, though, or else you might get charged for the meat. For meat eaters, it's simple: flip the coin by your place at the table to the "yes" side to be presented with various cuts of freshly grilled meat by all the waiters dressed as gauchos. Flip it to "no" when you're tired of gorging, or need a break. I saw strip steak, flank steak, chicken and/or pork wrapped in bacon, salmon, and probably a few other kinds of meat. I didn't taste, but the flank steak seemed to get the best reception, with the bacon-wrapped pork coming in second. If you get tired of pure meat, hit the salad bar. Be sure to get the seasoned olives and the balls of fresh mozzarella--you're paying for it, after all. White beans were boring; the large stalks of asparagus were interesting but not very tasty. Cantaloupe and honeydew, standard dinner rolls, lunch meats and smoked salmon, and greens with various dressings. On the side, beans, rice, uninteresting dinner rolls, herbed butter. The best foods I found were two dishes brought to the table in between cuts of meat--garlicky mashed potatoes and little cheesy bread balls. The house wine was not bad, but for $10 a glass, not perhaps entirely worth it. Free birthday tiramisu--which is quite good, and coated in real cream. The waiters do not sing (they seem too serious for that). Other desserts are quite expensive. Lunch is $16.90 for salad bar or $25 for meat and salad bar. Dinner is more. It was a reasonably good experience, but honestly--it's not worth the price. You can't eat that much meat. Or, maybe you can--but do you really want to deal with how your stomach feels afterwards?
(3)
Alexis D.
dont even know what to say except to say it is amazing - beautiful meats - ample salad bar they serve FRIED POLENTA which most of the area churrascarias are glaringly lacking!!! i can typically throw down 6 lambchops on a regular visit (each one gnawed to the bone) took my lil bro who said he felt like a prince with the service my boo is from cow country in brazil, and for him, this is handsdown the best churrascaria in america the cirque du soleil playing on the screens is also a great ambience upper sign up for their fan club or whatever and they send good coupons (boo also receives a frequent eater coupon every once in a while) no offense to commenter who said you need good potatoes to enjoy a steak - dude - this is brazilian, potatoes are not centerpieces here the beans and rice are delish, make the switch friend
(5)
Soumeya B.
After experiencing the many Brazillian steakhouse in manhattan (midtown), it was a nice surprise to try one that had a modern feel and a floor to ceiling windows that gave it an air, full of light feel. My husband loves this place, and he usually goes straight for the meat. I like their appetizers and salad buffet. The selection is vast and a vegitarian might not be dissapointed there (if you don't have a choice that is). The creme brulee was a dissapointing. It lacked flavor and was pretty much a flavorless cream with a think cover of melted sugar.
(4)
Gracia G.
Beef ribs, lamb chops, filet mignon are heaven!!! Swordfish and chicken are sensational. These will be the only items I flip my coin next time I go back. Sausages are good too but I would like to focus on the premium meats to get my money worth. I think I tried all of them. The rest are still very good just the meats/ fish themselves don't cater to my pallets. The service is highly impressive. As a matter of fact, when the end of meal survey came up, I jokingly put down the only thing they can improve on is the cute accent some of the servers have. Even that made the whole experience exotic. The ambience is excellent. Warm, contemporary, and chic deco. It's a perfect place for groups and romantic dining which is hard to find. There were big groups all around us but my bf and I enjoyed so much privacy. With high ceilings and lots of space between tables you will sure enjoy romance and intimacy. The salad bar was excellent too. I also like they constantly fill our table with little side dishes. I liked it more than fogo de chao.
(4)
BJ G.
Pricey, but nice atmosphere and all you can eat meat! Can't go wrong here.
(4)
Howard F.
Been a fan of Chima since it opened - its a stylish, warm space that feels great, and what's not to like about rodizio. Went back for the first time in well over a year, and I was super impressed by the improvements they've made. Same space and concept, but it just seems like everything has been given a flavor boost. They've added a selection of sauces to go with the meats, and the salads which seemed bland at times in the past were universally excellent. Beautiful, fresh ingredients, warm, attentive service, and an amazing selection of meats (plus salmon and swordfish). The only problem of course is just one taste of anything is enough to put you on the verge of needing your stomach pumped.
(4)
Judith L.
You know, I'm not a huge fan of red meat- but when I do have a craving, there's no place else I'd rather go. The waiter takes your order and usually asks if you've been there before- say yes, they let you do your thing. Say no, and they explain how things run at Chima- flip the button one side means bring on the meat, just flip it over when you don't want any, and flip it back over whenever you want. Their salad bar is great- there are a lot of choices, and try their cream vegetable soup! The meat is cut at the table- you tell them how you like your meat, they give the appropriate cut. Lots of different kinds of beef, chicken wrapped in bacon, fish, lamb, pork, sausage- it was all delicious. They serve small servings of mashed potatoes, cheesy bread balls, and fried? beef balls before/during/whenever you ask for more. This place is nice- their bar is popular, too. Just make a reservation before you head over.
(4)
Tina L.
I highly recommend this place for weekday happy hours. I was there with two other girl friends, together we ordered three glasses of red wine, and five different appetizers, and the total bill only came out to be about $30! Did I mention that they also give you free unlimited DELICIOUS cheese bread and beef balls? I have a feeling that this will be our go-to place for happy hour going forward! I haven't tried eating a formal meal there yet, and would love to try it out during restaurant week. One small thing is that for the last and only two times I've been there for happy hour, the place was super crowded and loud because of some company event. Overall, the atmosphere was nice, but if you prefer a more quiet setting where you can actually hear your friends talk....you might want to call and double check if there's any large group event going on before you go. Lastly, there's free/complimentary valet parking!
(5)
Christine N.
My friends, husband , and I had dinner on sat nite during restaurant week. My friends made reservation for 4. My husband and I got there early and we checked in at the desk; the hostess gave us a beeper and said whenever the rest of your party is here, bring the beeper back....?? I wasn't sure the purpose of the beeper, but took it anyway. When my friends came, I gave the beeper back, and we got seated right away. (So, I'm not sure of the purpose of the beeper). Anyway, I love the decor and atmosphere of Chima, very stylish, hip, and comtemporary. The salad bar is pretty good, but nothing spectacular. I think the salad bar at Fogo is more sophisticated, and the one at Texas has more selections and tastes a little better, esp. the sauce and condiments. The filet is cooked and tasted perfect med rare. The lamb chops were med ; and I asked for med rare; the short rib was so so, not very tender. We ordered wine by the glass; the selection was so so (eg : la crema, estancia , .), and they are overpriced. Overall, the service was mediocre and not very organized. It takes a while for the meat to come, and the servers were not very attentive. They looked bored; sometimes they just walked past our table , and not asking if we want something. At the end , we ordered one dessert (the apple strudel), and were going to share. When the dessert came, we asked one of the busboys to bring us two extra spoons. He didn't seem to understand English; he asked us "two more" and we said two more spoons, please. We were like, we hope he didn't bring out two more apple strudel... Sure enough, he brought two more strudels; and ten minutes later, our waiter brought out two more strudels..??? Overall, I think Chima is so so; the food is ok, not spectacular, but overpriced. The service is below average; I think the staffs are not very organized. Fogo's staffs always know exactly what their responsibilities are and seem to know when to do what. This is my rating of the 3 brazilian steakhouses: 1)fogo 2) texas de brazil 3)chima. The only thing about chima that I like a lot is the decor and atmosphere.
(3)
I C.
If you are a meat lover, you're going to love this place. It's an upsale, trendy buffet with great decor. You'll probably want to dress up a lil if you do not want to feel out of place. Free valet parking. Excellent service. A bit overpriced, but it's not a place I'd go often.
(4)
Vivian N.
i absolutely LOVE chima. The only thing is i would only go there every once in a while. it's not somewhere i would go on the daily basis. I love their steak. It's definitely tender and it definitely hits the spot when you're in the craving for some good-not-tgif-type of steak if you know what i mean. I rather eat Chima's steak than some other restaurants dried up blob of meat they call steak. the salad bard is good and the service is wonderful. They were all very kind and ensured the guests were satisfied. I'd eat there again. Just not all the time. Oh yeah they also have complementary vallet parking [:
(5)
Jeff C.
Wow. Best beef I have had in a very long time. Not cheap, but worth it.
(4)
Douglas R.
This place is amazing. I loved it, take your meat and potatos girl on a date and you can thank me later!
(5)
lAy O.
I went for restaurant week. We had to park a good distance and walk or take the valet. Long walk around a busy dining area to get to the salad bar. Service was a little slow. Ended up with food poisoning. Still very expensive dinner with discounts.
(3)
John-Michael S.
Ok, so here's the thing - I believe that restaurants should be compared equally against other similar type restaurants that provide much the same experience. So here goes: Ambience: This is a good business caliber environment - you can take your colleagues here without regret. Location: The location is great, the valet is free and they know how to drive stick without wrecking your car. Service: Quick and consistent. Layout: Excellent including for those who are handicapped - Plenty of space. Food: Comparable to any Brazilian Steakhouse but not a stand-out. Value: This is where I have to ding them pretty hard. I can go to Malibu Grill and though you lose some of the frills - the quality of the food is comparable, the salad bar is possibly better (and aren't all Brazillian Steakhouses known for this) and the cost is much much lower. Like by half. You are paying Tyson's prices for Chima meaning a substantial mark-up. The filet mignon for instance didn't knock me out - and given that the price was double what I can get from Malibu Grill - it should have. Brass tax for me is that the look and feel makes an impression, but I come to a churrascaria for the food - and I expect an epic salad bar along with epic tasting meat. For example - best experience I have had: porcaous.com/miami I can't give Chima 4 stars. This place was filled with kids when I was there tonight but I wouldn't bring kids here - it's too open and the kids are likely to get distracted, run over or cause a scene as happened tonight.
(3)
Larissa M.
Chima is definitely the best brazilian steakhouse thus far. I've tried Fogo de chao and i think Chima's salad bar, sides, atmosphere, variety of cuts AND flavor is better!
(5)
Amanda J.
Ok so first let me explain the whole thing. We sat down at our table and our waiter explained everything (in a heavy accent so it took us a while to figure out.) The "salad bar" is self-serve. It was a beautiful salad bar-- Caesar salad, fresh greens, mozzarella, prosciutto, melon, etc. There was also a "hot" food section with some rice and soups, but I didn't get anything from that side. The waiter actually never offered us the wine list or anything but we did bring our drinks over from the bar. It was like they tried very hard to be a 5 star wait staff and hit maybe a 3.5. Maybe because it was a Tuesday night when we went? There is a token at your table and when it is flipped to "Yes" the guys walking around in the funny pants will come to your table and cut you a piece of meat. They will tell you what kind...(some you use the tongs at your place to get the slice off. ) There's chicken, fish, shrimp, something like 16 kinds of beef.... it was all very good. When you want a break or don't want anymore meat you flip the card to no. I went with my boyfriend and it was a good time but I think it might have been more fun in a bigger group to talk and enjoy your stay. It is a fireplace type of atmosphere so it feels romantic, but maybe it's because we were at a table for 4 in the middle of the room. If you want something more romantic, maybe request a booth off to the side.
(3)
Doug W.
This place is so good it blew my mind!
(5)
S6 5.
ok, i came to chima way after experiencing fogo both have their pros and cons but i have to give it to chima due to its location. make sure you try their top sirloin and cheesebread; both VERY addictive. and for dessert; the petite gateau; WOW, amazing...... i dream of chima weekly.......i'm hooked...........
(5)
Paulina H.
Tried Chima out during Restaurant Week. Considering how much I paid, it was a pretty good deal! Wasn't a fan of some of the meat selection, but the good definitely outweighed the bad. Word of advice: lay off the salad bar and fill up on what you're actually paying for!
(5)
Kevin C.
The Food was good the meats I didn't care too much for the breaded pork loin it tasted sour! I didn't like the front waiter he was not attentive! But the Back waiters were awsome they were much better and nicer then he was!
(3)
Phila E.
great food, great service, great place, not so great on the pocket. Why do they automatically assess gratuity for a party of 5.
(3)
Olivia O.
we went here for our anniversary. very good service, they cleaned our tables right away. the salad bar was ok, texas de brazil has a better salad bar. meat quality was good too!
(4)
Mike L.
Been here 3 times for lunch, each time the meat was quite good, the swordfish outstanding and the salad bar was so so. My only real complaint is why would you serve asparagus that is the size and texture of a tree branch? I think the price is reasonable for lunch and the desserts are very good.
(4)
Brenda A.
Nice place - and interesting if you haven't been to this type of place. The salad bar was OK with a few really good items. The meat was very good. The place is a bit pricey but I think worth it for what you get.
(4)
Jennie L.
Excellent service, the food is good, but not great. The cocktails are great. I will say, the meat was a little over-cooked for me; I like my meat medium-rare, all the beef tended to be medium-well. Great for large groups!
(4)
winne C.
Enjoyed it very much. The service was great and the food was very fine too. We could just have the salad bar without the meat. We are not sure how the guy at Man Vs food did those food contest. there are only so much one can eat.
(5)
Heather S.
Went here last night.. meh. Fogo is much better in my book. As another reviewer said, the screen in the middle playing cirque du soleil was weird and out of place for this type of restaurant. The salad bar was nice - nothing out of this world. The cheese ball bread that they bring to the table wasn't very fresh or warm and they never brought a refill. The top sirloin and ribeye were my favorites, both were very, very good. The bacon wrapped chicken is usually one of my fave's at Fogo, but at Chima it wasn't as good - the bacon was very fatty and not crisp. I did not like the garlic beef, it had a terrible taste. The pork ribs were good. The servers came around frequently and offered food - however toward the end we were wanting them to come back with the top sirloin - our waiter had to request a gaucho twice before someone came with it. The creme brulee was meh too -- just ok - nothing fabulous. The waiters have little blackberry type devices - at first we thought he was incredibly rude, texting someone while we were asking questions and ordering drinks. He didn't explain that the device is how they put orders in. It may be great for the kitchen, but there is something to be said for personal interaction and your waiter looking at you and not a blackberry while you order. It's a nice place - but it is very loud. We came here to catch up with friends we haven't seen in a while. We found it difficult to have a good conversation as you strain to hear the person across the table.
(3)
Lois F.
Because I did not have to pay and the Black BEANS and the PRIME RIB was AWSOME! this is a MEAT CANITOR DREAM. EXPENSIVE I"VE heard if you want to impress someone take them here.
(5)
Lulu L.
Loved everything on the menu. The meats were seasoned and cooked to perfection. Salad bar had a wide selection of cold and hot foods.
(5)
M V N.
Service was very good and place looks nice. Food was good but not great for the high price. My favorite cut was the filet (medium rare).
(3)
Jay K.
This place has some of the nicest decorations I have seen in a restaurant ever. It is very trendy and the food is excellent. The salad bar is ok, but it would be better to save your stomach for the meat. There are many different kinds of meat to choose from and you just have to flip a button to show the servers whether you want more meat or not. The service here is excellent and the waiters always ask if you need anything else. The dinner also comes with side dishes and the bread and mashed potato are one of the most delicious that I have tried. This place is pretty pricey for dinner, but it is worth it.
(5)
kels r.
this place is a meat lover's heaven. girls, if you want to give your guy a special night out and score good girlfriend/wife points, this is the place to go. every guy I've been here with has had the same reaction: as soon as we are seated and they see the giant sticks of meat being carried around, their eyes glaze over and they go into a dream-like trance. it's quite amusing and they will rave for weeks to come. the restaurant itself is nice and spacious with a modern decor. drinks at the bar are overpriced, and i didn't bother to look at the wine list. the dining room is large and spacious, but some of the tables are close together and you can sometimes hear the conversations of people at the next table over. it's not exactly a romantic atmosphere - it's more of a good time, good meal type of place. when you sit down, your waiter will ask if you have been there before. if you haven't, they explain how it works: go to the salad bar and make a plate of whatever you want, then return to the table. each person has a coin that they can flip to say "yes" or "no." if you want the people carrying the meat to stop by your table, flip it to "yes." they have 15 or so types of meat available, including several cuts of steak, several types of chicken, pork, lamb, salmon, shrimp wrapped in bacon, and more. the meats are all cooked rotisserie-style, which means the juices drip down and add tons of flavor to the meat. my boyfriend and I both agreed that the different kinds of steak were our favorites - especially the sirloin, but they were all amazing. he also loved the bacon wrapped shrimp. chima also has a large salad bar, with everything you can imagine. they get extra points in my book for having hearts of palm on their salad bar. they also have several kinds of cheese, different pastas, rice, and soup. a word of advice: resist the urge to fill your plate at the salad bar! it's very tempting with all of the selections, but when you return to your table, you will be greeted with a bowl of mini rolls, mashed potatoes, fried plantains, and more. try to hold back on munching on these too much - between that and the salad bar, you'll be full by the time the first meat server comes to your table! the meats are the high point of the meal. if you look around the restaurant, you will see that every guy in the place breaks into a huge grin as soon as the meat servers come to their table with a huge stick of meat. someone else had commented that the servers were slow and they did not get a good variety of meats, but i have never had that problem. on our last visit, even with a packed restaurant (it was during restaurant week), we had meat servers coming by our table about every 5 minutes and had a great selection of meat brought to us: several cuts of steak, chicken, shrimp, and pork. as we were finishing, a server carrying salmon came out, but that was fine because we were there for meat, not fish. our actual waitress was hard to understand (she spoke softly and the restaurant was packed, and therefore, very loud) and was a little slow about bringing drink refills, but it wasn't horrible service, just kind of on the slow side. the biggest problem with chima is that there is just too much to pick from - but that's the whole point, so it's a double-edged sword. my recommendation is to skip lunch before you go and make a very small plate at the salad bar; you can always go back for more, but save room to sample all the delicious meats. i'm not sure how anyone has room for dessert, but i've had their tiramisu and it's good, but it's a huge piece (enough to share for 2 or even 3 people). chima is great and would get 5 stars, but the negative side is definitely the price. at $49.50/person for dinner, it's not exactly affordable. we only go if i have a 2 for 1 coupon or during restaurant week (when it is $35/person). when you register on their website, they will email you a 2 for 1 coupon that you can print off and use. even though the price is steep, it's definitely worth it...it's just way too expensive to go to frequently. chima is located in an office park on the back side of tysons corner mall. it can be a bit tricky to find, but if you just circle tysons, you'll see the sign for it. they offer complimentary valet parking, which is another plus. this place is heaven for carnivores and you'll definitely score cool points if you bring your guy here! after our recent visit, my boyfriend declared it "the best restaurant ever" and told all of his family and friends about it. we'll definitely be going back...next time restaurant week rolls around.
(4)
Richard P.
Of course all the meat was great, but what struck me as particularly excellent where the drinks! One of the best margaritas I have ever had, we will definitely return.
(5)
Bryan L.
I've been to Texas de Brazil and Fogo De Chao, and this place is probably my favorite. The servers came with every kind of meat, frequently, as compared to Texas de Brazil, where i wouldn't see certain cuts of meat for my entire meal there. My favorite is the Top Sirloin and Beef rib. The top Sirloin was nice and crispy, but still a nice medium rare. The beef rip was realllllly tender, but a little under-seasoned in my opinion. The service was great, my water was almost always filled to the top. The bathroom is also nice and clean. :D
(5)
Wen F.
After numerous visits to Fogo de Chao, the Wifey and I decided to come to visit Chima for restaurant week. Off to a great start was the complimentary valet parking that allowed us to go right in. We were promptly seated and given our Cheesy bread, meatballs, and something that reminded me of a mashed potato salad. We enjoyed the salad bar and I had to give props to the Beef Carpaccio which was really well done. The only knock is that their Parmigiano-Reggiano isn't the "real" one that's imported from Italy, it does taste similar but it doesn't have the strong aroma, texture, and rich taste of the real deal. As we flipped our cards to green is where it went downhill, in 40 minutes we were offered only about 4-5 cuts of meat (some repeats). This is pretty awful considering we had to specifically request one of the visits. I been to Fogo in three different cities and a green side usually meant 4-5 visits in 4 minutes. While it was a busy night, I just don't find it acceptable that at a Brazilian BBQ you have to wait and ask for cuts meat. I never had an empty plate EVER when the green side was up at other places. It wasn't until I notified the manager that the meats started flowing, it did taste pretty good but the experience was ruined already. I guess the restaurant week price not only excluded filet and lamb but also the constant service you would expect from a Churrascaria. While I didn't leave hungry, I was not impressed. Stick with the best and take your business to Fogo.
(3)
Jose F.
i have lived in the miami area and have been exposed to a lot of these braizilian style places (rodizio) whereby they continue to bring you meat to your table until you flip the shaker to red. this is exactly what chima does in the DC area only better. Chima offers a superior salad bar, soups, side dishes, and of course steaks, meats, chicken. The place is impeccable, clean, with friendly staff. This is a place where you want to go absolutely hungry famished so you can eat to your heart's content to fulfill even the most insatiable appetite. Big fan of Chima and will continue going there whether the one in tyson's area or fort lauderdale.
(5)
Saara Z.
If you love steaks, this is the place for you! Chima serves all you can eat meat for a fixed price with a few sides and full access to their salad bar. Drinks and dessert not included. My favorites are the garlic too sirloin and the lamb steak - medium rare of course. Unlike other types of AYCE style restaurants, Chima is a beautiful restaurant with plenty of tables (good for large groups) and great service. They even offer complimentary valet.
(5)
J P.
Food was excellent and the servers will bring extra cuts of lamb when requested. The manager even took his time out to introduce him self. It does get busy on the weekends. Their lambs and beef tenderloin cuts are saporific. Nice place to take your date. Complimentary valet.
(5)
Rebecca C.
Flank steak is delicious. Really good salad bar. Great environment and service. Definitely will be going back when I feel like spending $50 for a ton of food.
(4)
Benjamin U.
I was very disappointed by my experience here. Coming in, it felt like they were going for more of a club experience than a restaurant - very loud music and open spaces that make it impossible to hear anything. The experience didn't improve when we were seated - the service was quite inattentive, which is surprising for a Brazilian steakhouse. The cuts of meat we wanted came by very sporadically, and we had to make several requests over twenty minutes before we received one particular choice. It wasn't that good, either - both Texas de Brazil and Fogo de Chao have much tastier meat. Their salad bar was quite tasty, but that's not why we came here. By the end of it, we just wanted to go home - which was good, because they never ended up bringing us the dessert menu.
(2)
Wendy W.
Death by meat characterizes this meat lover's heaven. Located in an office park in Tysons Corner, Chima has the feel of an upscale establishment with valet service, white tablecloths, and professional waitstaff. But make no mistake, it is an all-you-can-eat red meat feast. Having experienced many other rodizio's, what makes Chima stand out is the lightly seasoned meat. Upon the first few bites, you hope for a bit more salt but after a few bites, you appreciate that your mouth is not overly salinated. Our experience at Chima was top notch. The service was incredible and efficient. The meat came out almost instantly when we flipped our disk over to green and the meat selection rotated consistently. While the price tag is what you would normally pay for a premium cut of meat, I think it is justified given the selection available. When you want dry aged porterhouse, you go to XYZ, when you want to eat like a king you set your GPS to Chima and make no stops until you arrive.
(5)
James J.
Fantastic Steakhouse. All different types meat, cuts of meat, flavored, wrapped, and stuffed. top tier service, grade A apps, and a salad bar to end them all. HIGHLY reccomend.
(5)
Alejandra M.
I love the decor. I would have to say this place is better than Fogo. We ate the restaurant week menu so you didn't get filet mignon. My favorite ones that I tried were the sirloin, bbq ribs, and salmon with cilantro sauce. The sauce was amazing. Overall the food was good but the cheesecake was ok. I experienced great service and had a good time.
(4)
Candace W.
Loved this place when I was back in ft. Lauderdale. It was a surprise to see that they have another store in dc area. Best Brazilian grill, awesome salad bar, traditional Brazilian bread, tasty drinks, and the best part is you can eat as much as you want! Great service as well of course. Recommend.
(5)
Z G.
My family and I are Texas de Brazil regulars but decided to give Chima a try on Easter Day. Salad bar had a wide variety but most of the items were not appetizing. Meat was very bland ,hardly salted. Beef ribs were fairly cooked but has no flavor. While the rest of the meat were over cooked. I asked for the well done but couldn't cut through the meat because it was hard as a rock. Very disappointed and Definitely won't be back to chima. Bad food, bad service!
(1)
Linh O.
Complimentary valet! This is a pretty great place if you're a huge meat lover (pretty rare, a little too rare for me even though I always like medium rare). For me, I'm glad I tried them out but both my boyfriend and I agreed it's really not worth returning for, at least for dinner ($52.50 per person). It was still definitely worth the experience and the interior is quite nice and lovely. It is loud, obviously, so if you prefer a more intimate dining experience keep that in mind. The salad bar is also very nice and you'll be spoiled for choice, more so than at most places any way. We actually kept asking for more of the fried bananas, I am pretty sure they're not plantains - or maybe they are? Taste like banana to me. We came here for our birthdays and they gave us each a complimentary cake (cheesecake and maybe some kind of tiramisu?) and took our picture and printed it out. It was a very nice gesture to say the least. Although I'm giving this place 4 stars I can't say I'm a fan. But, I think the 4 stars are well earned. So, try it at least once if you can, and preferably not during dinner and when they have a special.
(4)
Missy E.
Go there on an empty stomach, Everything was delicious from the meats, buffet offerings, to the coffee afterwards! The service was amazing couldn't have asked for a better group of people to handle our table of 10!
(5)
Mike G.
Absolutely amazing food. The servers come by so frequently you definitely need to remember when to keep your coin flipped to the "do not serve" side. For $50/person, the all-you-can-eat deal is quite the value. Adding in wine and desserts will bring price per person up substantially, so I would not recommend this place if you are looking for something casual and low-key.
(5)
Hoon C.
Not usually a salad eater but this place has one of the best salad bars. Huge beefsteak tomatoes, ginormous aspargus, and a very good selection of other veggies and salads. The meats keep coming as long as you have your button showing and the quality seems pretty good. Not sure what grade the meats are but they have a good selection of meats and the quality seems very good. The dining room is very open, clean and modern. It is kind of pricey but you do get as much meat as you'd like.
(4)
Tiffany L.
Had two visits here. First visit I noted chima as my favorite Brazilian BBQ place. Second visit was during restaurant week and it was still pretty good. So for restaurant week we paid 35$ and got a handful of meat selections. It was kinda disappointing that we couldn't get certain meats but you get what you pay for.. Service was okay.. He was tentative at some points but slow/missing when we needed him. We were sat in the farrr back corner so it kinda stank to walk through all these tables to get to the salad bar. Salad bar options were plentiful. I has to restrain myself from over indulging from the salad bar. My favorite meat selection was the garlic ribeye.... I think. It was these little pieces of delicious salty garlicy yumminess. I personally believe it was worth the restaurant week menu.. Even though we didn't get to have all the cuts we still got to enjoy the salad bar and a handful of decent/good meats. And it was 35$!
(4)
Kimmy L.
This is my favorite Brazilian Steakhouse out of the 3 that we have in our area. Chima has the BEST cheesey rolls and their meats are all high quality and delicious. Some of my favorites: Spicy Ribeye - it has a little kick to it and is very tender Tender Beef Ribs - Best I have ever had!!! House special - so good! Leg of lamb - Seasoned very well Lamb chop - perfect crisp but can sometimes be a little bit salty for me They also have fish, pork chop and fish options but I usually stick to the red meats :) The buffet here is quite good as well. They always have a creamy soup, fresh mozzarella, basic salad bar, and several different specialty salads. I like to finish my meal off with the cantaloupe at the bar too. It is never too crowded here and the service is always amazing. They are great at refilling our sides, drinks, and I like ordering drinks and desserts on their iPads - very cool. Great wine selection too! Also if you register for them online, they will send you a coupon for $20 off! BRIEF REVIEWS OF THE OTHER 2. Texas de Brazil has the best interior decor and they have the most options in their buffet, but the meats were all too salty :/ My favorites here were the lobster bisque, charcuterie, salad bar, and sauce station. They were kind enough to bring out meat with less salt for our table but we felt bad asking them to do that for every single meat option. Also my favorite item at Brazilian Steakhouses are the cheesey-rolls....they are not very good here. The buffet is worth coming back for though! Fogo de Chao gets a bit too crowded and noisy for me. I also think some of their meats are a little too salty. The buffet was a bit lack luster as well.
(5)
JamBRoNk M.
Love this place. The salad bar was excellent, the ambient was very nice To have dinner with your family, girlfriends etc. Love their house special. Definitely will come back !!!
(4)
Allison F.
Been to Texas de Brazil and Fogo de chao, and Chima is definitely the best of Brazilian steak houses. The salad bar has so much more to offer than other Brazilian steak houses and the service is excellent. There's not many restaurants these days where the manager actually goes around the restaurant to every table just to check and make sure service and food is great. Really appreciated that, I'll definitely be back.
(5)
Faith C.
I, and a friend stopped by for happy hour and enjoyed the options and the prices of the different cocktails. I, and a group of friends stopped by for an event and enjoyed the lively bar. I also attended several single events and networking events in the bar and the service, prices, and amazing food has always been a delight.
(5)
Kim W.
Good, but not as good as other Brazilian steakhouses! We were a party of 9, 8 adults and a baby and our bill was a little over $730. It's $52.50 per person but keep in mind this does not include dessert or drinks. We were celebrating my brother in law's birthday, any time with family is a good time! The meats were good and I would also agree with other Yelpers that the top sirloin was the best. The meat were a little on the less seasoned side - so if you're used to Texas de Brazil's meats, you might not like these too much. The salad bar was nothing to get excited about. The salad bars @ Fogo de Chao and Texas de Brazil are a million times better and the reason for not giving 5 stars. It was small and its items limited. Service was good and no complaints there. Also, I want to note that they give the birthday person a free tiramisu cake for dessert. All in all, good experience but for this price, will stick with Fogo or TdB for pure variety and better seasoned meats.
(4)
Shonda H.
This was my first trip to a Brazilian Steakhouse, and what a trip it was! The restaurant is beautiful, the service was excellent, and the food was great.
(5)
Sabrina B.
I'm a Brazilian living in the USA and believe it or not it's hard to find a good steakhouse at Brazilian communities. I've always loved Fogo de Chao and thought they were the best...not! Chima has all the quality meats, the salads bar with plenty of healthy choices, black quinoa with edamame, grilled artichokes, heart palms and top quality charcuterie & cheeses. Service? 5 stars. I'm impressed and will definitely keep coming back~picanha I love you! But mignon wrapped with bacon has my heart.
(5)
Carly C.
Due to the upscale and trendy decor, I was expecting excellence. The service is hurried and often times misunderstood. We were offered 3 types of water, so chose 'still' thinking it was regular, FREE table water. $6 down the drain. Alcoholic beverages are $12+ and the entree is $52-something. I love the starters - cheese bread, beef croquettes, and a turkey spread (sounds odd, but tasted good). The salad bar has more Brazilian salads, cold vegetables, seafood salads, cheeses, tabbouleh, etc. The hot sides were white rice, veggie rice with raisins, black beans, and creamy vegetable soup (pureed). The meats were good, but needed more seasoning. I was disappointed in a few cuts because they were very hard to cut through. Give me a sharp steak knife, if that's the case. No fish items were offered, nor my favorite cut, the top sirloin (picanha?). Our service was also sporadic. The waiter was very nice, but we did not see him very often for water refills or our check. In the end, I prefer Texas de Brazil over Chima. I do like the decor of Chima and their table offerings (cheese popovers, croquettes, polenta fries, garlic mashed potatoes, and fried bananas), but the salad bar, hot sides, lobster bisque, and meats are far superior, in my opinion, at TdB.
(3)
Josh W.
So, so, so good. We went for my birthday. Expensive but worth it. Compares very favorably to Fogo De Chao in Baltimore. Practically everything I ate here was delicious, and I ate a lot. I highly recommend the fried yuca. The meat was superb, but different cuts would appeal to different people. I liked the lamb.
The meat selection was very good , the caipirinhas were also great The service was excellent , great experience overall
(4)
Paul C.
Heaven. Went here on a weekend and this place is amazing. Please do yourself a favor and come here when you are hungry. This place serves all you can eat Brazilian style meats and there is also a salad bar/sauce/etc thing at the center of the restaurant. The servers are really nice and its also cool that they are integrating technology to maximize correctness of orders and efficiency. At the center salad bar/sauce/etc thing, grab the smoked salmon. I've never tasted something so amazing in my life. Grab all of the sauces (for me this horseradish was my go to, was a bit disappointed with the chimichura) The meats... I can't even remember all of the names. They were all so go. There was this house special meat that had a crispy exterior that made me wonder how such a delicious piece of meat can be crafted by man. If you are trying to impress or need to take the family out, go here. There is valet parking included too to make you look like and feel like a high roller. The restraunt is very classy so wear something nice if you want to fully experience this place. Of course I'm sure they won't mind if you wear jeans or shorts though. Will I return? Yes.
(5)
Rob N.
I love this restaurant. this is one of the best restaurant in Northern Virginia and Maryland area. meet is second to none and the experience it's so great that everytime you go there you always enjoy yourself . the staff are very professional very attentive and very nice and friendly the food is being almost always consistent the service as I mentioned is a top notch service in the industry if I didn't have to think twice about heart attack and high cholesterol I would go to this place once a week A+
(5)
Starr C.
We visited Chima on the last day of DC Restaurant Week. I was in a bit of an out-of-it mood where I didn't have the appetite that I had in the days leading up to Sunday, but in general, so factoring that in, I'll give them a rounded-up 4 stars. In short, Chima is a lovely place with really solid food and solid service. But short reviews don't help me put off doing my homework, now do they? We had a reservation for 8:00 PM and our party stayed until about 10:30. At no point were we rushed out and I don't believe we were ever served cold or not-so-fresh meat. This is a "Proper Attire Required" kind of joint, as indicated by the sign on the front, but there was a very large handful of people (maybe even two handfuls) who disregarded that and had a jolly good time. (This isn't a club, they're not going to turn you away if you're wearing jeans and a T-shirt; otherwise, the restaurant would've been significantly less full.) The Restaurant Week menu was the full rodizio menu MINUS the filet mignon, the beef ancho (ribeye), the lamb chops, and the beef ribs. However, there was still filet mignon wrappedi n bacon and BBQ pork ribs. The missed item was the lamb chops, which one of my friends said was one of their best meats. On the plus side, the menu did include dessert! I know the reviews said don't even look in the direction of the salad bar, but I need me some veggies to balance out my meat! Variety in the food I eat helps me eat more, anyway, and I don't consider variety in meat to be true variety. This is my personal strategy to maximize my stomach capacity. The salad bar is very nice, although I felt a bit let down by it, somehow. The things they had looked very nice, but nothing really excited me. There was a lot of beautiful looking fresh cheeses - gorgonzola mousse, fresh mozzarella, etc. - but since I don't like cheese, it didn't get my own fire going. It's still worth a look at the salad bar. NOTE: I liked a previous Yelper's recommendation of hitting up the Yuca powder for the meats, because it was REALLY quite good and added just a little sumfin-sumfin. Also, on the table they give you a buncha things like delicious fried bananas and SUPER creamy mashed potatoes. (I thought it was a sauce when I first saw it, it's that creamy.) And these little airy rolls that are so buttery and yes they take up space but my MOUTH WAS HAPPY AND YOU SHOULD BE HAPPY FOR IT. Ahem. Onto the meats. I am a bit fearful that I wasn't blown away because I've never been HUGE on meat, especially not steak, so the prospect of people just bringing more out to me doesn't ENTHUSE me as much as it does other people. The servers didn't seem to be paying a whole lot of attention to whether we had our cards turned to the green side or not. I got ignored a few times when I wanted some particular items, not gonna lie. :( Occasionally, the servers would ask one member of our party if he/she wanted something, and if he/she said no, the server would just leave altogether, leaving the rest of us drooling and disappointed. With regards to the meats themselves, I didn't love most of them. I ordered my first piece medium and got a nice medium to medium-rare piece. This always baffles me a little - when I get it how I ask! But then I delved into medium-rare-land, and my meat was coming out a little more rare than I really needed it to be. Not a huge complaint, but just a note if you're like me and you typically order the temperature with the expectation that you will get an overcooked piece. Despite the fact that my pieces weren't overcooked, I found much of my steaks to be too chewy. I actually wasn't that thrilled with the flank steak or the bacon filets or the top sirloin, enjoying myself much more with the swordfish (and its DELICIOUS passionfruit sauce) and the barbecue pork ribs. The sausage was quite good, also, and I don't usually go for sausage but you know, I have a hard time saying no to someone just offering food to me. I wish my steaks weren't so chewy, though, because it made it very difficult for me to finish the steak on my plate. The included desserts were tiramisu or ice cream - 3 scoops of chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, or a scoop of each. The tiramisu was insane creamy and delicious. The ice cream was also super rich in flavor and wonderfully creamy. Simple but done oh-so-right! I liked a few of our servers a lot. When the others weren't ignoring us, they were fun and friendly, super accommodating to requests (like mine for some hot tea when I started feeling cold), and overall very pleasant. Since valet parking is comped, my boyfriend had his first valeting experience here. Valets were super nice to us and everything went really smoothly. It was a good experience. Maybe I had my expectations set a bit too high, which, combined with a bit of an off mood, meant I felt slightly underwhelmed. But Chima is definitely a lovely place and, if I can afford it, I would go back.
(4)
Robert M.
Ok, this was my first trip to a Brazilian Steakhouse. Any. If you are an afficianado of these types of restaurants, you'll laugh at this review. If you are a first timer, like me - hopefully it helps. I started in the bar because I was alone on a business trip. The bartenders were all blindingly hip and made me realize how middle-aged and middle-class I really am. No worries. I was on a business trip, so it was T&E time! I wanted to just eat alone at the bar. But, when they gave me a bar menu, I realized it was time to get a lonely seat in the restaurant. The drink I had at the bar (from my PERSONAL card to all my co-workers) was fantastic. Couldn't ask for a better one. Once I sat down at my lonely table, I looked around and realized that this was the go-to place for the office holiday party. There were HUGE assemblages of tables. Made my single experience even worse. Then I started to feel for those who wanted a romantic meal. A bit to raucous for everyone not with their co-workers. If you go after the new year, probably no sweat. I sat down and the awesome waiter gave me two menu choices: salad bar or salad bar with meat. I went with salad bar with meat. If you like an all you can eat restaurant, this is for you. BTW - no one EVER gets their money's worth at an all you can eat. That should tell you something about the quality of the food. They are targeting mass of food vs. quality of food so that they win. Kind of like Vegas - foodie style. The salad bar was correspondingly hip. It had an ecclectic collection of sides, greens, soups, cheeses, etc. Each with a micro tong to make sure that you throttled the amount of food that you put on your plate. Didn't want you to get carried away with the food. Each of the items I ate: seafood salad, ceasar salad, mashed potatoes, black bean soup, cooked red peppers, some sort of couscous thing, and some more tasted good - but nothing I would ever rave about. It was the cullinary equivalent of filler. I realized after I sat down that the filler was to ensure that I didn't get too much of the high dollar meat. As I sat down, they gave me two types of breads. They tasted VERY good, but probably not the best around. They also came with some large steak fries and mashed potatoes. More filler with middle of the road taste. I then flipped over my card to say I'd like some grilled meat. I was amazed at how quickly an army arrived. I was truly impressed. One person must have seen me and then the entire crowd latched onto me and I had an endless selection of meats that they would carve off onto my plate. I really tried to have small portions so that I could sample. I still ended up in a meat coma. At one point I finally figured out what the server was trying to say to me: there's a little tong (almost the brother of the salad bar tongs) that is used to grab the meat as they cut it off. I had chicken in a variety of styles, steak in different styles, pork, lamb, and many wrapped in bacon. It was more of an explosion of meaty flavors. You know at fireworks shows where everything is thrown out there and you like some more than others? Where the combined show is more important than the individual explosions. The meat display was kind of like that. They were all tasty. I could have packed it in if I'd liked, but I tried not to pass out. I had a mojito. It tasted great, but it was actually a mojito snow cone. There was so much ice packed into it that I think I actually had 3 oz. of drink. It was my only true disappointment in the event. The rest was just me being out of place. Do I wish I went somewhere else? Kind of. Glad I went? I'm glad I finally tried a Brazilian Steakhouse. Will I go again? Only if I go with some office party with free drinks and dozens of friends & I'm not paying.
(3)
Greg L.
So I hate seeing bad restaurant week yelp reviews (it seems tacky to judge a place when you get such a great deal l) but this particular experience really ticked me off. The food was good (not normal price good by any stretch) but good. I went here with a colleague from work and we have no problem paying for a great dinner but their restaurant week practice is predatory. They have 2 menus a $35 one and a $55, this was briefly explained to us by our very rushed server (who we barley saw) and we ordered the limited $35 menu. I didn't really pay attention to what was on each menu and my colleague and I enjoyed our glutinous amounts of meat, the chefs were very polite and then we asked for our bill. They charged us the $55 for both of us, I told the server we ordered the $35 meal. She the said we had accepted meat off the $55 menu (one would think they wouldn't bring it by if we didn't order it and I wasn't paying attention to what meats they were offering me I just took some of it looked good). She agreed to change it to what we asked to pay and then left for about 10 minutes then the manager came over and pressured us to pay full price "since we had meats off the $55, even if we only ordered the $35 menu". It was a solid 4 minute argument between the manager (My worst encounter with restaurant management ever) and I, but he finally adjusted the prices to what we had ordered. I would have just chalked this up to terrible customer service when they were rushed during restaurant week and never come back. However when we were leaving we overheard 2 other tables having the same complaint as they got their checks. This is predatory, don't overcharge and badger your customers.
(1)
Courtney F.
I suggest that you valet your car when you arrive or just let someone else drive completely. Do you all know what the meat sleeps are? Okay, lets begin. My wife had her birthday here a couple years ago and it was a very good experience (and a huge bill. totally worth it though). We've been back a few times since and each time the dining experience has been above average. There really isn't much to explain. You get a tag, you NEVER flip it over to red, guys bring quality meat out, you eat until you die or fall asleep. Ya'know? the American/Hawaiian way. My only suggestion is while you're at the salad bar if you're a professional eater grab an extra plate that will be strictly for meat
(4)
John D.
Great selection of food. I must have eaten 3-4lbs of meat. Pro tip: You're paying $50 for all you can eat service with great meat. Don't get salads and other cheap carbs that will fill you up. In fact, we didn't even tough anything else on our table or elsewhere. The lamb and ribeye was especially good, but the bacon-wrapped filet tasted a bit off. The linguica was largely forgettable. We timed it perfectly to turn the indicator over so that we'd have someone come by right as we were emptying our plate. Their beer menu only had one ale that I remembered, and not really any good lagers (there really isn't such a thing from my experience).
(4)
Beth A.
DEFINITELY worth the money and the "meat sweats!" The salad bar is HUGE and plentiful with many different options - vegetables, fruits, cheeses, rice and beans, etc. Of course, I don't spend too much time there as the plethora of meats are really the stars of the show at Chima. Anything bacon wrapped - delicious. The beef ribs that look like something out the Flintstones - delicious. Their signature meat - the Picanha - is fabulous. You can ask for most of the meats at your desired temperature (medium/medium well seems to be the best). And ladies, the staff... Well, let's just say Chima is a feast for the stomache and the eyes. As well, I have never been disappointed when it comes to service here - if one of the gentleman working sees you looking around the room forlornly, they will come to your table and ask what you're looking for and send it right over. So, the verdict: eat breakfast, skip lunch, and get yourself a reservation! OH! and don't forget to eat ALL OF THE MINI CHEESE BREAD. IT IS A CLOUD OF AWESOME CHEESY GOODNESS! I would WALK to Chima for that cheese bread. YUM!
(5)
Stacia G.
I came during restaurant week and was disappointed they had two options for menus, one for the $35 didn't include lamb. To get the lamb, we had to choose the $50 menu. I also thought this place was a good choice because they had fish on the menu. Well... The salmon and swordfish was dry and the sauces they offer do not add any flavor. They really need to learn temperature for fish and to teach the servers steak temperatures. I asked for medium well twice and the steaks were well done. Lastly, their mash potatoes have a runny consistency. Go to Texas de Brazil not Chima. Also, I made reservations and still had a 15 minute wait.
(3)
CC C.
Restaurant has friendly service. The meat is deliciously marinated and the atmosphere is nice. Pricey. I have been there twice and paid over a $100 per person each time. Once you add wine, you are over $100. Without that you can be paying about $60-70 or so per person. Overall, everything is good. I have tried bunch of other Brazilian steakhouses with this concept and liked Fugo de Chao the most which is located on Penn ave in DC.
(4)
Ben R.
Ate here tonight. We valeted and were quickly seated. Cheesebread was the best part of the meal, followed by the fried banana. Meats were good but did not blow me away. Maybe it was the light salt as others mentioned. Service was amazing and salad bar was great. They have a few sub par hot items like rice and beans. Nobody seemed to be falling for that. Never had to wait for meat. It was wave after wave like they are trying to kill you. I am surprised people are not dropping like flies from meat overload. Favorites were the beef rib and bacon filet. My biggest disappointment was with the buffet sauces like bbq, horseradish, and chimichurri. I imagine in brazil, these would be top quality but they were bland and uninteresting here. When you serve bland dry meat, they need a dash of sauce. Also, wine prices are pretty crazy. You are probably not getting a bottle for under 50. I enjoyed it but probably would not return. I have never eaten at fogo de chao.
Not only the food was amazing here, but the service was also great. My grandma doesn't speak english so she couldn't understand the waiter when he was explaining the process of ordering the food. However he was kind enough to explain it to het in spanish and always making sure that she had everything she needed. I'm coming back here for sure.
(5)
Yiqian J.
Too noisy and the meat is just ok. I had too much expectation before I went there. I dont know why so many ppl love it. Maybe it was during restaurant week. The price was not worth it.
(3)
Cristy M.
This place is a freaking rip off... Food was good but they charged over charged each person 34 bucks.. And there was twelve of us soo 34x12=408 dollars they stole from us and then ignored us when we called them a few times... Long story stort don't pay with a credit card if u go there..
(1)
Boris K.
Decor is very nice, waiting staff is approachable, salad bar is good. That's about it. The quality of meat is VERY low.
(2)
Ashley M.
I truly enjoyed the food here, the salad bar was great and the meats were all pretty good. That being said, I agree with what some other people on here have said about the service. I almost never have an issue with the service where I go. I'm pretty patient so if they're a bit slow or get my order wrong it really doesn't upset me that much. The server that we had, however, seemed as though she was blatantly trying to be terrible. She would stand there and flirt with other servers about five feet from our table but never actually come over to us. She was rude and seemed generally inconvenienced at having to do her job. That being said, the guys that bring the meat by were excellent. I wish there had been a way to make sure that every cent of our tip went to them, not her.
(3)
David H.
3.5 stars The salad bar is great, but if you want to get what you pay for, don't fill up here. The parmesan bites are addicting, so are the other little things they bring to the table (croquettes, fried polenta, mashed potatoes). The meats are pretty good. Mostly found that they were over-salted though. Favorite was easily the baby sirloin. The lamb, top sirloin, ribs and salmon are next. The rest (anything wrapped in bacon, chicken, sausage, pork, swordfish, whatever else) are just ok - I will skip them next time, too salty. Service is decent, seemed like we were at the end of the restaurant where only the stuff no one wanted made it to our table, but you can request the things you like (just do it fast before you get full). Desserts are whatever, it's not like you're really looking for dessert after that meal too. As far as parking goes, we just parked at the edge of the mall. Was a 5 minute walk, but we didn't have to pay or deal with valet.
(4)
S C.
I came here with some friends. I asked for a cheap glass of whiskey. The waiter said they were out of this whiskey and recommended another glass. The glass ended up being McAllan 25 years aged, and I was never informed of this. Ended up having to pay $500. Poor wait staff who try to rack up your tab to increase their tip.
(1)
Joann B.
Some of the meat is a little bit on the salty side, but everything here is pretty good. I've also tried Texas De Brazil in Fairfax and Chima is on par. There are slight differences, i.e. the bananas at Texas De Brazil are delicious. The only thing that would cause me to choose one over the other depends on my location. These are the only two churrascarias I've been to, so I can't say whether it's authentic. I've been to this location 3 times now and the service has been spot on. My favorite meat dish is the beef short ribs. They remind me of my mother's oxtail soup. The meat is tender and goes with any of the accompanying sauces or side dishes. My husband thinks the ribs are bland, but they're juicy and have a good smoky char to it. I've tried their salads and soups and have not been disappointed in any of it yet. The only dessert I've had at Chimas is their lava cake. I'm a lover of this cake, but I only give it 3 stars. IMHO, the best lava cake is from The Mortons Steakhouse. The price is a bit high, but it's all you can eat. If you don't have a big appetite/stomach, this place is not for you. The music is a little loud and sometimes it feels like a club in there, but the food is too good to pass.
(4)
Variell Z.
I have been to several restaurants with this format, and was only impressed by one in the Cancun area... Chima was excellent. We visited the restaurant for my cousin's rehearsal dinner. This was a party of 40+ guests. The salad bar was not the typical salad bar. Some of the items that I found interesting were the purple quinoa, an assortment of cheeses, and the seafood salad. The cuts of meat were cooked appropriately and very tasty. My favorite was the flank steak. I was surprised by the wide dessert selection. I had the papaya cream and it was delicious! My husband had the lava chocolate cake and enjoyed it very much. The passion fruit mousse had great reviews around the table as well. I highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)
Todd D.
A strange review to write since it's of a type where separating the event and people from the restaurant is hard. This was our first visit to Chima and we had two doing meat and two doing fish. I know, it's a steakhouse and we did fish - it was a special event for the meateaters, and I have no problem blending in with other options. As a note: the fish option costs the same as the meat option, take that for what it's worth. We ended up with three full price folks and the fourth only billed as a salad bar (another payment option available), even though she did have one fish portion. The standard, non-protein seating - which is just access to the salad bar - is $65 per person and includes all the protein you can eat, plus the salad bar. So, we had three full protein chairs, one salad bar, three drinks, two coffees, two desserts for a total of $280, not including the tip. The idea of Chima (I haven't been to other Brazilian steakhouses) is interesting, but for the price it's just not quality enough. Taking all the options onboard, nothing stands out, really. The salad bar is large, but the product isn't stunning. The fish was okay, but nothing special. The meat is a mixed bag depending on how long it's been circling the floor. The desserts and coffee are the same - okay. It's a bunch of okay stuff. The wait staff was good, not great. The atmosphere certainly falls into the party and celebratory spirit, decor is good (they can do away with the big TVs playing what appeared to Cirque du Soleil on loop), and it all seems a bit contrived to meet a need for a nice place to go with a group for an event or celebration. But, what they charge and what you get doesn't align with anything more than you are paying for the place, not the quality of the product. At the price point of $330 (including tip) for four, the product needs to be much, much better. I don't know if I'd recommend Chima to someone. Seems like I shouldn't based on a one-star review, but it may well work for some people. If you want to celebrate and have a large party (and checkbook), it probably works. If you want really good food for a price point of $80-$90 per person, look elsewhere.
(1)
Jenny H.
I love this steakhouse. It's very similar to Fogo in terms of the style of service and the salad bar, so they serve you cheese bread in the beginning, they have an array of cheeses, vegetables, and I love their selection of soups, rice and beans too! Their ribeye meat and their House meat was the best!! I also ordered a dessert their, their passionfruit mousse which was pretty good!
(4)
Eric J.
Really great ambiance. The chicken wrapped in bacon was more dry than I liked. The red meats were fairly good.
(4)
Greg X.
Great Brazilian steak house. I've never been to fogo de chow so I can't really compare, but Chima surely beats Texas de Brazil. They have a great meat selection, the staff is attentive and the salad bar has lots of selection. I gave them an extra star for letting me take the bones home to my dogs.
(5)
Shoshanna G.
This place needs a lot of improvement. Pros: Excellent decor, and attentive service by the waitstaff. Cocktails are OK. Cons: The food. The salad bar and the bread, etc. are so-so, but for a place where the BBQ meat is the center of focus, the meat is just not good at all. I am not talking about things like seasoning or flavoring, which is subjective, and a matter of taste. I'm talking about the quality of the meat, and the way they cook it. First, the meat quality is unimpressive. Much of it was tough and sinewy. Second, I am not sure if the kitchen staff understands the concepts of rare/medium rare/medium/medium well and well done. When we asked for a medium rare cut of a particular type of beef, we got either a purple, uncooked piece of cold, clammy zombie flesh or an overcooked piece of leathery cow carcass. To be fair, I felt bad for the waiters who had the impossible task of trying to tell us up is down and black is white when trying to convince us that the over/undercooked meat is as we asked for it. Look at the picture of a "medium rare" that we were served. Also, the manager did a great job of handling the situation; we told him about the problems we observed, and he did give us a reduction of our bill and some vouchers for future meals. He was very reasonable and did his best to ameliorate the situation. I think there is some promise in this place, and if they manage to re-train their kitchen staff, this could be a great destination for Brazilian BBQ in NoVa.
(2)
Dayna E.
The salad bar is amazing. The service is outstanding. It is a little on the expensive side but well worth it if you plan ahead, lol.
(4)
Trevor W.
I help host networking happy hours on a regular basis, and I can say that Christina Mohr and her team are probably the best around. She is always super responsive and helpful in putting together events. We generally have around 75 people at our events, and they are able to coordinate perfectly (even when we don't give them very much notice). I cannot recommend Chima highly enough if you are looking for a place to host your next event!
(5)
Adriana L.
I love Chima. It's really the closest to real Brazilian churrascaria as we have in the Washington DC area. Regardless of the meat - which is wonderful and comes often; you are really surrounded by servers all the time! - they deserve five starts for their salad bar. It is not boring like the other churrascarias in the area. Instead, is much closer to the salad bar we have back home in Brazil. Salads are fresh, interesting, different, and super tasty. Last time we were there I wasn't awfully hungry so I ate only salads, which, to my surprise, will also grant you "access" to the fish they serve on your table (salmon and swordfish; both delicious). I highly recommend Chima, and I wish they would open for lunch on weekends because a few times we ended up going to other "semi-Brazilian" places that are just as expensive (maybe even more) and not nearly as good. Oh, if you are there, I highly recommend you finish with their espresso. SO good! Chima, I'm a fan. Please keep it up!
(5)
Elizabeth H.
I was surprised other people ranked this place so high. I can understand if you haven't been to other Brazilian Steakhouses. On the positive side, the salad bar is good. They have more variety than a place like Texas De Brazil. I also like the fact they bring fish to the table. I will also give them high marks for the salmon. On the negative side, the swordfish was mediocre. I have had better service. I had to ask our server to bring me a special table tag for fish (after he mentioned it as an option for me) several minutes after he had left the table. The size of the dessert was also the size of something you might get at a tapas restaurant. I also did not get the vibe of this restaurant. Our table was next to a large screen TV showing a silent concert of someone I had never heard of. The noise level (for a Saturday night) was unusually loud (e.g. screaming children next to our table). Since, I was part of a large group; the noise level was a problem when it came to talking to people across the table. In a nutshell, if you want a Brazilian Steakhouse and your in the area it is acceptable but I wouldn't go out of your way for it.
(2)
Wendy M.
WARNING: NEVER PURCHASE A GIFT CARD FROM CHIMA!!! BUYER BEWARE!!! My husband and I were given a gift card to Chima and as we don't live anywhere close, we are several hours away, we waited to use it until we would be in the area. We had invited another couple as our guests. Imagine the shock and embarrassment when our server informed us that the manager would not accept the gift card because the fine print on the back had an expiration of one year from date of purchase (who reads the tiny fine print?). So Chima was actually PAID TWICE for the meal!! This is wrong on so many levels! The manager wasn't even professional enough to relate this to us, he had the server do it! What a classless act!!
(2)
Josh H.
Awesome food and service! I highly recommend the flank steak and leg of lamb.
(5)
Nancy T.
This place is so ridiculously decadent. My favorite meats were the lamb chops, the extremely flavorful ribeye, and the beef ribs, which fell apart like slow-cooked brisket. The meat is so well-seasoned here. The sides they brought out (and replaced quickly when the dish was empty) were great: creamy mashed potatoes and fried plantains which are sweet like banana. The salad bar could have been a meal in itself. The smoked salmon was fantastic, as were the various cheeses, beef carpaccio, and the Paul Bunyon-sized asparagus stalks. You'd think they'd be tough as wood at that size, but they were tender. Also loved the giant hearts of palm, which you don't see very often. They had so much variety I can't even remember everything they had. If you like to drink I cannot recommend the caipirinha highly enough. I had two and was flying high. They are so refreshing and tangy. The service was excellent here. They are very good at what they do. I can't wait to go back. I've had Brazilian rodizio a few times before and this places comes in at the top. Loved it!
(5)
Fabio L.
This is the closest to a genuine Brazilian churrascaria in the DC metro area. Better by far than Fogo de Chão (in DC) and Texas de Brazil (in Fairfax, VA). It is also a much better alternative than the other Brazilian churrascarias in the area since the vegetarians in your party won't feel out of place for going to this churrascaria because the salad bar has a huge variety of delicious options. The salad bar is included with the meat and you can choose to eat only from the salad bar (skipping the meat) for a lower price. I loved the fact that they not only brought the traditional Brazilian cuts of meat (which were all high quality and delicious) but also brought grilled salmon and sword fish as options. The beef rib cut was so perfect and tender that it literally melted in your mouth. However, the filet mignon and picanha (rump cap) were my favorite cuts that kept coming as I requested more. The cheesy breads, fried bananas, and typical Brazilian 'salgadinhos' (hors d'oeuvres) are all included and very tasty. They just keep coming as we devoured them. The service was excellent. Too good at times with servers surrounding you with new meat cuts faster than you could eat your food. The atmosphere and experience were excellent. I truly enjoyed this place. Again, Chima is close to an authentic Churrascaria. The only part of it that keeps me from saying it is authentic is in the 'lesser' amount of salt that is used on the meat. The Brazilian palate requires more salt but Chima uses less salt to ensure that it stays within the American customer's taste/standards. In any way, this place is a five star restaurant in my opinion. Regarding any "dress code" fears, I went to Chima wearing a soccer jersey, shorts, and crocs and I was not turned away. The setting is fancy and all but they won't turn you away if you happen to be wearing casual clothes.
(5)
Mansi B.
Horrible experience all around. The only good thing was our server. The food was cold. The salad bar sucked. I can get better options at Texas de Brazil. Do they even know they are in Tyson's ?? They really need to step up their game. The marination of the diff meat needed serious help along with the temperature. Also if you use their complementary valet parking and not the garage. You may have to wait for the valet attendant. As they usually play hide and seek with you. The restaurant does not validate for garage parking, which by the way is not too bad at $4 and faster.
(1)
Jennifer M.
Is it sad that I come to a brazilian steakhouse and my favorite things were the cheese bread and smoked salmon? Don't get me wrong here, the meat is good but nothing stood out as particularly great to me! But love, love the cheese bread and smoked salmon! Got the passion fruit dessert and it was a great end to all that meat! Service was great! And thank goodness they have complimentary valet...
(3)
Megan M.
My Family and I went to Chima's last night for dinner. The meats are cooked to perfection. I was very satisfied with the quality. Be prepared to shell out big bucks, this place is not cheap.
(4)
Sherri D.
Went here for my office Christmas Party last December and I've been wanting to go back ever since! The meats were juicy and tasty and they even went around with fish - so you can get your fill on meats AND fish. The salad bar had so many options too and everything was soooo tasty. The service was great and their drinks/cocktails were good. One thing that I remember was that I had a drink that I ordered and I didn't like it... the server was nice enough to tell me that she could bring me a new one and she let me keep the other one at the table in case I decided to give it another chance. In summary, great food, great service, great location. I've been to Fogo De Chao and I wasn't that impressed. I would rather eat at Chima!!
(4)
B A.
Good taste and service, beef is grass-fed, salmon is wild caught, no complains there however, ALL salad according to the manager and the chef is conventional not organic, meaning that when you eat broccoli , spinach, lettuce and others identified as high in pesticides (Environmental Working Group - Dirty Dozen), you are eating some of the most carcinogen causing produce in this country. That is just unacceptable for this type of cost/restaurant. Others like Fogo du Chao only serve organic vegetables and produce.
(1)
Ashley A.
I wish I could leave separate reviews for the dining room and the bar area, because the experiences at both are very different. The restaurant is fantastic. Delicious all-you-can-eat meat, a ridiculously amazing salad bar, and great service. Check, check, and check. The happy hour at the bar, on the other hand, could really use some serious improvement. I work in the building next door, and my colleagues and I occasionally try to come here for a drink or two after work. However, the atmosphere isn't at all conducive to a casual after work happy hour. They blare extremely loud techno-style club music in the bar area, at a volume that makes it impossible to have a conversation without shouting. If you ask them to turn the music down the volume might go down for a few minutes, but it isn't long before some other employee turns the volume back up. I really don't know what types of clientele they're trying to appeal to with their music/volume choices, but all you have to do is glance at the bar full of professionals in business and business casual attire to see that those aren't the people actually in the restaurant. I really hope they fix the music in the bar area, because otherwise it's a great space, and their cheese puffs are absolutely amazing. Until we can actually have a conversation, though, my coworkers and I will stick with the Tower Club and restaurants in the mall for our happy hours. PS: As someone who works right next door, I strongly recommend that you not valet park your car here. There is a parking garage all of 100 feet away, and the valets will either a) park your car in the alley with the hazards on, or b) speed WAY too fast through the garage to park your car and get back to the restaurant as quickly as possible. Either way, it's a lot easier and safer to park yourself.
(3)
Hyunwoo C.
It was my second trip to Chima and it's still one of my favorite Brazilian Steakhouses. I tried their salad bar for the first time and they were fresh and tasty! Meats were great as usual...of course. I think the price was around $50 per person and for the quality and services that you get from the restaurant, it seemed reasonable to me.
(4)
Tippi S.
Pros: Valet parking in busy Tysons. Lots and lots of waiters with meat on skewers. Cons: Inattentive wait staff. No explanation given despite answering it was our first time at such a steakhouse. Refer to their iPhones instead of knowing the menu. Brought out wrong drinks and went pointed out, was never fixed. Seemed half of what was coming around was pork, so if you don't eat pig you have limited choices.
(2)
David M.
I recently went to chima with no notion of what I was in store for. The food was to die for ! I went with a few friends and noticed right away the scenery of the place is priceless ; very classy with a taste of style. The service was amazing from start to end, the staff was well organized and brought food instantly, for those who don't know it's all you can eat freshly cooked food that is brought to you, the choices are numerous with a little bit of everything to satisfy your appetite and those taste buds. I'm most defiantly coming back and for sure telling my friends about this place ; already have.
(5)
Sapna B.
Stick to Fogo de Chao. My husband and I gave Chima a try this past weekend and were disappointed. I ordered a glass of wine and my husband ordered a mojito which was too sweet. The salad bar left much to be desired and while it was nice that they had extra items that Fogo doesn't have (e.g. soup, rice, etc.), none of them looked very appetizing. When my husband and I flipped our coaster, we got the beef ribs and one other item. The beef ribs were cooked fairly well but completely bland -- not even any salt. Then we waited about 10 minutes before anyone else came by. Perhaps because our table was tucked in a corner no one noticed us -- but that's unacceptable -- we pay just as much as the people sitting in the center of the room. When the rest of the meats arrived there was nothing that stood out to us. We felt that most of the meats were under-seasoned and a decent number were overcooked. Maybe the garlic sirloin was the best thing we had, but still not fantastic, we were just happy that it had some flavor. We were excited to try the seafood since that's something that Fogo doesn't have but there was nothing exciting about it. Dessert was disappointing as well -- the lava cake was very hard on the outside and my husband wasn't a fan of his papaya cream. We won't be back here.
(2)
Ming I.
much better than fogo de chao. meat is really tender and delicious and the salad bar is diverse enough that you don't feel like a caveman afterward. only issue was that management told my friend that the meat was halal and then she found out later it wasn't. not a big deal for me, but not cool for her! they can't make those kind of representations when ppl have religious dietary restrictions.
Went here for a friend's birthday dinner. It is very similar to Fogo de chao but a little cheaper in price. The food was wonderful and no lower quality than fogo. During restaurant week it does get about 10-15 dollars cheaper per person. Love love love! They have a large selection in their salad bar.
(5)
Julius L.
Meat Meat and more Meat, chicken, sausage, lamb, ribs, pork, beef .
(4)
Fred G.
Went last night, does not get any better than this... Waiters super attentive, gauchos are literally lined up waiting to carve the meat once you turn the coin over. The salad bar is to die for. It sounds like nothing in a steak house, but seriously, check it out... I'm from NYC, and I packed light to spend some time here with a friend. I didn't pack any real dressy clothes. Some reviews said that people were being turned away for wearing tank tops and flip flops. While I didn't wear that, I saw a couple of people who did, and they were eating... Valet parking was great, and free. Had a Brazilian drink, can't remember the name, but it was like a mojito without mint. Not sure where the negative reviewers went, because it wasn't Chima.
(5)
Chris C.
I really wanted to love Chima and for the most part I did. But what really disappointed me was for the SERVICE. When you're paying this much for a dinner. you should expect top notch service, and it was non existent on this night. I had made a reservation to celebrate an occasion for 8pm. When we finally got sat, the hostess said that she would have a waiter come by and explain how Chima worked etc. We had never been there before. After 10 minutes, NOBODY came over to our table. I HAD TO PHYSICALLY WALK TO THE HOSTESS AND TELL HER NOBODY WAS SERVING US. This was the first mistake. She should have assigned a server to us immediately. The meat that was got was absolutely delicious, tender and divine. I really enjoyed it. We enjoyed filet mignon, lamb, swordfish, and numerous cuts of meat. Everything is carved table side by "Gauchos" which is awesome. However towards the middle of the meal, the gauchos stopped coming around. We had our cards faced up showing that we were waiting for more meat. Literally, we didn't have another person come around for 20 minutes and I had to tell the hostess AGAIN what the issue was. I would think that with there only being 8-10 tables served that evening, there shouldn't have been a problem. Also, there was no apology when we received our check or deduction. Overall, I really enjoyed the food, but the SERVICE was extremely disappointing. Maybe I will try to come here again, but it remains very pricey.
(2)
Jihad B.
What can I say about a place that serves nothing but delicious meat? I was told there was a salad bar somewhere but I didn't bother looking up from my plate of succulent, delicious, once-walking-and-breathing animals to really notice. I could get fat here. Like really fat. Not 40 year old ex-high school football player with a beer belly fat, but 1000 lb virgin with a TLC special fat. That being said... The customer service here is Radio-retarded. The power went out towards the end of our meal and all service just stopped. The big bucks we shelled out for all you can eat didn't seem to matter as the servers stopped making their rounds with the delicacies. No complimentaries were offered to make up for the blatant disregard for service. What the fudge? If it wasn't for that I mighta thrown this place 5 stars.
(3)
Ron R.
The food was really great!!! Restaurant is very clean, service was excellent. I loved the ambiance. I can't get enough of this place. I would recommend this place to all of my friends.
(5)
A. S.
Love Brazilian steakhouses, but Chima is not quite on par with other establishments. Definitely will be full after dinner, but their price point is too high for the quality of the meat they serve. It's not bad food, but for $59 there is no wow factor where I want to savor each bite. I know I will savor every bite at Ruth Chris' or Morton's. On the plus side, you get all that variety that you won't get at a traditional steakhouse.
(2)
Douglas W.
Excellent food and ambiance. Well prepared, not greasy or overly salty, and the staff are extremely accommodating and attentive.
(4)
Thomas T.
This review is about their business ethics. Which after you read this you will realize are very poor. On October 4th my wife and I had our wedding reception at Tysons Corner VA location. We booked the largest room available (70 persons room) to allow ample space for our 50 guests. We discussed this with the event coordinator whom helped us set up the event. When October 4th came we had only 48 people total (48 is including my wife and myself)attend our reception. 10 of whom where children. We left that evening to the airport for our honeymoon. At this time my wife was reviewing our receipt from their establishment. It took us a moment to make heads or tails out of the receipt as the charges where broken down into strange category's. Once we deduced the system in which we where charged we noticed a rather large discrepancy of being over charged. Totaling $448 to be exact. After we returned from our honeymoon my wife contacted the event coordinator who stated she would look into the matter. After a couple days she responded to my wife stating that she spoke to the mangers who where working that evening and they informed her that the receipt is correct. Whats even more worrisome for me is the fact that we where in the restaurant for 3 hours and not once we where approached by any management to see how things where going. When we where having a problem with the drink service the only person I could find was a waiter. So with that in mind I obviously didn't lend much credit to their portrayal of the evenings events. She then said she would have them review the video of the restaurant (I guess to count people?). After this she responded to my wife stating that she contacted the corporate office in Ft. Lauder dale and they would give us a refund of $100.00 and certificate for a 4 person free dinner. At this time my wife became very upset and informed me of the ordeal. We obviously had no interest in being "given" this deal. We simply wanted to be charged the correct amount for the service received the night of the event. The offer was delivered to us in a fashion that seemed as though she was doing us a favor, by giving us anything at all. We spent over $6,000 that evening in this restaurant. And being given the run around as much as we have thus far, is very disheartening. I contacted them directly via their website for customer relations over a week ago and have heard nothing back. I advise any who are planning to host any events here to be aware of their questionable business practices.
(1)
Joanna M.
I much prefer Chima to Fogo de Chao here in the DC area. Cuts of meat and temperatures of meat served are better. I felt like there was more of a variety of meats all cooked differently (rare, medium, well done) which I am thankful for while dining with others seeming I am one of the only fans of RARE meat myself! Service was great, servers are constantly coming to you with meat and all so nice and comical. Salad bar has huge "gourmet" selection, triumphing that of Fogo.
(4)
Julia A.
If there is ever a time to come here, go during Restaurant Week. It will basically be $35 (plus tax and gratuity) for unlimited meat. And quality meat at that. A few words that come to mind when I think of this place: magnificent, prompt, and coma. Magnificent in that this place is huge. Seriously they have an entire wall dedicated to wine and you need a ladder to reach a good chunk of it. Also when you walk through the restaurant it is almost as if it never ends. They do not sacrifice quality for the quantity of space though, for the decor is splendid. Prompt in that the service was kind and explained the whole process of ordering rodizios since it was my first time there. There never seemed to be a shortage of waiters around with their big slabs of pork, beef, lamb, or what have you to cut and give to you. No less than 10 seconds after flipping my card to green (to indicate you are ready to have your meat), I was surrounded by 3 servers all carrying delicious meats. It was quite the sight. Coma in that there is no way you can truly experience this place without leaving with a food coma. The salad bar is complete as it is, and then the fact that you get essentially all the meat you can ever ask for is a fantastic deal. Bottom line: GO HERE! You won't regret it!
(5)
Pat G.
I am currently in a carnivorous coma! Wenner & Jonathan, our Servers, are Outstanding & on Point! Happy Easter!!!
(5)
James P.
Great place~ meat was great, salad bar had a huge variety-- and the service was excellent! Friendly and made me feel very cared for. PRO TIP-- even if you order still water, if it's VOSS it's going on your bill. FYI my party of five went for dinner-- we had wine, coffee, dessert, and of course the dinner prix fix-- and spent over $80 each. That's why I'm also giving it 4 dollar signs.
(4)
Hien P.
LOVE THIS PLACE! Way better than fogo de chao. Decor and ambiance is so much more elegant. Save a lot of room for the house special and cream brule!
(5)
Bethany S.
After being to Brazilian steakhouses across the country (NY, DC, FL, TX) I can honestly say that this was terrible. The food was bland and lacked taste. The salad bad was skimpy and the drinks are ridiculous ($12 for a rum and coke). You are MUCH better off at Fogo or Texas if you are looking for a nice Brazilian steakhouse. I have been to other Chima's before, but we both left thinking ... wow, that was like going to Outback. Save your money, trust me, go somewhere else. For $50 (even for $30) it is not that good.
(2)
Joey T.
FOOD WAS AMAZING. This Brazilian style atmosphere is perfect with the endless meat. The salad bar has a plethora of items to choose from. A little pricey but worth every penny. I went during restaurant week, where specials were going on. Next time I visit I will take advantage of the bar area. Topped off with a lovely view of the Tyson's Corner area, you can't go wrong with Chima!!
(5)
Sally S.
Sirloin and filet mignon are the best there. The cheese and salad bar is also amazing.
(4)
Mark H.
Make a reservation regardless of what the person on the phone tells you. We have been here twice. Both times called to make reservation but was told it was not needed if we showed up a particular time. We arrived 5 minutes late due to traffic (remember the traffic is terrible in this area), since we didn't show at exactly when told, our wait both times was 45-60 minutes. Just 5 minutes late and they filled up to an hour wait or would a wait have been required regardless. Just make a reservation. Now for the food. It is good! No doubts here. Salad bar is very good. All meats were close to perfection. Service is on par with the $50 per person charged. Although Texas de Brazil has better reservation info and our wait there has never been longer than 20 minutes.
(4)
Stephen R.
Food and drinks were great, surprised how many children were there though... Service was attentive . Will definitely go back again.
(5)
Tara L.
If a man takes you on a first date to Chima, is he trying to tell you something? All you can eat meat... Maybe that's my Freudian mind at work, or perhaps the juicy, skewered sausage coupled with a bottle of Russian Chardonnay was meant to subconsciously entice a lady. I knew a little something about Chima from reading a few of the Yelp reviews, but I had no idea how much meat we were dealing with here! First off, the restaurant is cozy. Maybe it was just the holiday lighting, or the cool modern furniture in the lobby, but there was a pleasant vibe to the place. And even though this was a nice restaurant, there was no pretentious flair to it. Still very laid back and somewhat casual for a slightly upscale restaurant. We are seated and I'm lead to the side bar, full of salads and sides. I picked up a little corn mousse (not a fan), some rice with veggies, fresh calamari with olives, and smoked salmon with a dill sauce. All were fabulous, but I was warned to make room for the meat. As soon as we sat back down, we flipped our Chima coin to orange to indicate we were ready. Bring on that meat baby! In no time, the servers were flying by us at turbo speeds with skewers of Prime Rib, Top Sirloin, Lamb, Boneless Chicken, Filet Mignon, Rib Eye, Pork Ribs, Pork Loin with Parmesan, Grilled Salmon and many others that my food coma caused me to forget. In total,15 different meats to choose from. My strategy was slow and steady so I lasted a strong 40 minutes before tapping out. Everything was delicious and service was wonderful. Definitely a great place to bring a group and pork out.
(4)
Nanchok N.
The food was really great!!! Restaurant is very clean, service is good too! If you are celebrating birthday, you will get an amazing tiramisu with a candle, and they take your picture and print it out for you!
(5)
Paola G.
Chima is much like Fogo De Chao, but in my opinion much better. I have been to Chima about 5 times this year, YES I am a "meat eater", on a constant quest for good meat. Like most things we love the first time we try it, we are constantly on the same chase for the taste of the first bite we took in a food that we absolutely devoured. Being this review my fifth time at the restaurant, I have to be fair in my review despite the fact that my last visit I had very bad service. Blame me for going during RW, but we were seated in the "VIP" section of the restaurant, all the way in the back where no gauchos (the servers) came whatsoever. There is a 20 minute span in which you must eat everything before your stomach begins to tell you that its full. This is where Chima gets tricky. You have to be a complete rookie to go to Chima and fill yourself with all the salad bar. The entire purpose of the restaurant is for you to have a meat experience, and hopefully you are smart enough to skip the boneless and wrapped in bacon chicken , the pork in Parmesan cheese, the small sausages, the ribs, the fish etc) and go straight to the real deal. The Picanha both Top sirloin and baby top sirloin are Amazing. The Top sirloin is marinated in garlic and its very juicy. The baby Picanha is soft in texture, thin and fatty. The Filet mignon and the filet wrapped in bacon was not my favorite, rather the flank steak is very well marinated that I opted for more of it. The lamb chops are to die for as well as the (big) sausages and if you like lamb, the leg of lamb. Most of the time you have to request a specific meat or else the gauchos will come to you with all the cheaper meat to fill you up. Also, how can you resist a salad bar that amazing in variety? Last but not least the CHEESE BREAD with the butter, their CREAMY mashed potatoes which I devour as I close my eyes and enjoy the texture and flavor. They also have the fried bananas, fried polenta sticks and the little brown balls. All In all, you come here to eat well and say goodbye to meat for at least a week if I must say so.
(4)
Steven W.
This place serves so much meat, that I asked for a Lipitor to go with my after dinner drink! (cue the rim shot) I'm kidding, I'm kidding, but WOW Chima is a Solid 4 Star Dining experience for meat enthusiasts! I was impressed that with their system of roving meat disseminators, they are still able to offer you the food cooked the way you want it. I tried almost every thing they were offering. The Flank steak was by far my favorite (5 Star), everything was mainly 4 Star except the chicken wrapped in bacon, which was dry. The salad bar is vast in selection and quality is 3+ Star. The service was on point and friendly. I couldn't be a regular in a place like Chima, but for the right occasion, or with the right group, I'd definitely go back.
(4)
Jeffrey C.
This business is often compared to Fogo de Chao, but I think it stands well on its own. The service here is the very best I have experienced so far. The wait staff guided me through the process of eating here, and suggested to my girlfriend and I on two mixed drinks that were both awesome. The meats came rapidly, almost to the point where it became difficult to eat if you had your card flipped on the whole time. I told myself I would eat fast enough to keep up, but I was wrong. The only thing I regret was that to get my full money's worth, I had to eat the meat! The fact that the salad bar was so good did not help with this problem. :) I advise a prompt trip to Tysons Corner Mall to walk off the meat sweats after. It helped a lot!
(4)
Ernst L.
I like the feel of the dining room and the food has been very tasty. The salad bar has great offerings and the meats are well cooked and flavorful. The wine offerings are good, and the mixed drinks are well prepared. I'd rate higher, but the last two times I was there with groups (15 or so), it seemed that they couldn't be bothered to serve us. Why should I pay for a large group here if the staff isn't offering my clients all that they want? We all had our tokens on "go" the entire night (2.5 hours-ish) and I was only offered six meats -- okay, that is still a lot, but the point of this joint is for all the varieties to keep coming by so you can get what tickles your fancy. If my clients aren't getting that part of the experience, I'm better off taking them to a restaurant where they simply order exactly the preference from the menu. It seemed like they begged off the whole table when a couple people declined items. Well, they were Muslims so the bacon wrapped item wasn't their thing, doesn't mean the person next to them wouldn't want it or they wouldn't be excited about the filet, lamb, or chicken. This kind of thing doesn't seem like it should be rocket science for a restaurant in this model, and that's why I was surprised. I'll be back again because the food is good and the concept entertains a lot of people. However, if the experience with the groups stays the way it was the last couple times, I'll take them elsewhere because I only spend the money when I can be confident of a good experience that boosts my bottom line.
(3)
Raquel N.
Not too impressed with this location. Went for Thanksgiving & had a mediocre experience. The setup of the restaurant is poor with 2 seater tables being way too small, close to other tables so having a conversation is open to everyone hearing, plates designed to never be able to rest your silverware on them (had meat juices flying everywhere and silverware fell off table twice), and we were seated on the opposite side of the bar wall. The bar was completely empty, but the techno music was blaring so it was very uncomfortable. Service wise I know it was a holiday and all, but every server looked and acted miserable. As for the food....FEH! Sorry Washington Chima we will not be returning here.
(2)
Susan F.
Visited here last night for my husband's company party. It was their second year there. It was good...but I don't love it. The salad ar is nice. The men coming around with skewers of meat was ok...but the best part is the dessert. Make sure you save room for the papaya cream! SO good. Probably not a place I would return to on my own, but for a company party sure!
(3)
Andrew L.
I went here for a birthday celebration for a friend. The food was excellent, but the service was really top notch--through out the entire meal, the servers were constantly there to load my plate up with more meat. When I mentioned one i particularly liked, the server made an extra effort to come by regularly with that one. The salad and cheese bar they had there was also quite excellent, but that's not why you come for all you can eat meat, now is it?
(4)
Lindsay K.
Delicious food, great atmosphere, prompt service every time. Worth every penny. My boyfriend took us here for our first date, and we've come back for birthdays and anniversaries. This is definitely not the place for vegetarians, however. They do have an AWESOME salad bar, but for the price it wouldn't really be worth it. The service was amazing. They are prompt, polite and knowledgeable about the wine menu. The food was outstanding. There is more than just steak--the restaurant also offers duck, chicken and pork options that are equally delectable. There were also some seafood items going around. The atmosphere is wonderful. It is not loud, the ambiance is pleasing and the people who go there are non-disruptive. You will be able to dine there with a large group of people and still be able to enjoy everyone's company. Overall--a wonderful place to eat.
(5)
Jackey B.
Chima is a great Brazilian Steakhouse! The prices are in the $50 per person range typically, so we went during restaurant week ($33 per person) to check it out. I highly recommend doing that if they have a deal, and make sure to make a reservation since it's busy. The meats are fantastic, so are the sides and deserts. Come hungry and enjoy yourself, it's a great experience. I would only pay the usual cost on a very special occasion, so I'm rating this based on the value we got during restaurant week. Skip the drinks if you want your bill to be reasonable; but again, during restaurant week they have some deals on wine. Definitely somewhere to try if you're a big meat eater, it's fantastic!
(5)
Rebecca M.
Beautiful architecture, white tablecloth with attentive servers make this churrescaria one of my favorites!!! Beautiful-but-limited salad bar, excellent rodizio, and decent dessert offerings served on spits by attractive guys wearing gauchos and catering to one's every needs. There are definintely worse places to eat. I don't mind a little salad to start with, but my Viking genes yearn for the tender and medium-rare grilled cuts of lamb shoulder, loin chop, filet mignon, house special sirloin shaped like a heart, NY strip, top sirloin, bacon wrapped filet, sausage, chicken, and other offerings proffered again, by guys in gauchos.Your meal will be offset by plantains, mashed potatoes with garlic, butter, and s/p. I love to grab a bordeaux blend or a Rhone Chateauneuf du pape and some chimmichurri sauce from the salad bar and tuck in! flavor explosions of sea salt dance across my palate as gamey lamb shoulder or mouth-watering sirloin provides the fat marble to perfectly offset the formidable tannin structure of my red wine. Special requests are welcome, as I once spent the night only consuming rare filet, strip, and top sirloin. The staff is hospitable and with 20 plus servers, your every whim is indulged in 2.5 seconds. I could eat and drink for hours and can never go alone, as someone must pull me away from the trough in the end. I've celebrated several birthdays and other special occasions here and never been disappointed. Finish light with a slice of key lime pie, tiramisu, or cheesecake and some caffeine to get you out of the chair into the car for the perfect evening and a beautiful, sated sleep brought on by delicious food coma. I can't say enough good things about this place!
(5)
George L.
I took the girlfriend here when I visited VA for the first time back in September 2012. While located in a very nice area, the parking situation is awful. We were lucky to find street parking that was conveniently close, but for others you may want to try the parking structure which is located nearby. I don't know if it costs anything though. Chima Steakhouse differs from Fogo de Chao in Beverly Hills, CA in that the spacing between tables is far more generous and the atmosphere feels significantly more intimate. However, like Fogo, the service and food here was top-notch (as well as the price, which I will get into later) I noticed that if you keep eating after a while; any brazilian bbq worth it's salt eventually WILL ask you if you have any specific requests, and Chima is no different in this regard. In fact, Chima was the only place that actually asked me how I wanted the meat cooked - to which I always answer "medium rare". The salmon, filet mignon, beef ribs, skirt steak, ribeye, and picanha were all hits in my book and kept me wanting more. I can't comment on the sides but I did like the cheesy bread. I really just come to these types of places for the meat. If you end up using the restrooms here, I do have to say that they are kept clean and reminded me of the restrooms of the nicer Hotels/Casinos in Vegas. Chima does thankfully take credit cards but the price is steep (though not as steep as Fogo). It came out to $49.50 per person for dinner on a Thursday night. Chima is an excellent brazilian bbq place and it will definitely be one place to go to when I return to VA.
(5)
Joseph D.
Yum Yum Yum Yum Yummmmmmmm!!!! Excellent service as always at Chima and the meats and fish are all excellently prepared. Great wine list that spans the world but is not too overwhelming. The salad bar is a nice touch, but don't fill up on that before the meat. I recommend keeping a dish of rice and black beans (from the salad bar) on the side of your plate to eat with the meats, it is delicious. Also add in the flour/yucca mixture for a fun texture change. I always leave here and am resentful at the restaurant about how full I feel...but I suppose that's really my fault for eating so much because it all tastes so good!
(5)
Britney S.
I rated Fogo do Chao five stars couple months ago and i thought it couldn't beat any other brazilian steakhouses around the area but Chima.......Best Churrascaria around hands down. The salad bar is fantastic. all the heart of palm (palmito) you can eat... I'm in love. if you are a carnivore like i am, this is your place. Prepare to be stuffed!!!
(5)
Ricardo M.
This is my best restaurant on the city, best meat, fresh, good wine selection, nice decoration, great location as well. You must try this place for sure!!!
(5)
Thuthuy H.
I thought the food was ok. For the price they charged, I was expecting better food. Maybe it's me. I went there a couple weeks ago and was not that impressed with the food.
(3)
Jennifer V.
So my husband and I had our first Chima experience yesterday. It was our anniversary and we decided to try something new. I had heard the buzz about it and thought it would be a great spot to try. Let me start off by saying that everyone there was so nice and super attentive. The customer service was great and I was very pleased and impressed. The food, however, was another story. The salad bar was good and the yuca, cheese bread, and fried banana they bring out is also amazing. The meat, unfortunately, was pretty bland and needed salt... Or something. My husband also got a piece of meat that tasted like it was old. I mean... the meat is supposed to be the main attraction right? I was truly disappointed and was hoping there was a good excuse (maybe Monday nights aren't a good night?) but there really isn't. I also ordered a drink (white sangria) which I was also disappointed with. It was pretty strong and all I could taste was alcohol. I had to wait for the ice to melt to drink it. No I didn't complain to the staff and maybe I should have. I really wanted to like you Chima but for what I'm paying I really had high expectations. On a good note, I did casually mention it was our anniversary as we were being seated. I was pleasantly surprised when they brought out a celebratory Tiramisu for us when we were done eating. It was very nice! Unfortunately, (again!) the tiramisu was way too dry and also tasted like it was old. Maybe it's because it was free.... but that's exactly why I didn't complain to them.
(3)
Fenny L.
Gretchen quickly headed to the networking event being held at Chima so she could hang out with Shi-Shi, the SSA procurement guru that just won an award to spec out something or the other that Gretchen couldn't remember because she had waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too many of those delicioius Brazilian styled mojitos that were called something that Gretchen couldn't remember because, let's face it, Gretchen was tanked. However, despite being tanked, the folks at Chima had a great sense of humor about Gretchen and Shi-Shi's shenanigans and kept the drinks flowing. When Shi-Shi and her gentleman friend decided that they needed tacos, Chima quickly produced. Yay for Gretchen and Shi-Shi...may they come to a networking event near you...!
(4)
Shahrad M.
You can't improve on perfection. Food is AMAZING. Service is superb. The location and ambiance of the restaurant is really nice. They did a very nice job designing the place. Wine list is good. Drinks are made perfect-not too sweet/perfect balance. One of my favorites. Stick to TOP SIRLOIN and the Beef with Garlic. Chicken is awesome too. ENJOY!!!
(5)
Alphonso D.
Love this place, the food is great. The staff was very good. It's a little pricey, but the food is well worth it. The numerous types of meat are great. I've been to the one in Philadelphia (actually went to that one first) and this one was just as wonderful. It's just a great place for a carnivore. Steak, Chicken, Lamb, all delicious.
(5)
Adam W.
Food was very good! Service on the other hand was not what you would expect. Waiter never refilled our drinks and when we did ask for a refill he either forgot or it took 10 minutes. Overall just an okay experience $507.00 for 7 of us with no alcohol. Seems a little steep for bad service.
(3)
M. L.
My fiance and I went here for our anniversary. On special occasions we like to go to fancier places, thus we expect a bigger check. I've been to a Brazilian Steakhouse before (Texas de Brazil) so I knew the drill. The service was good; however, one of our servers was very quiet and I could not understand a word he was saying. The staff seems to be on the younger side, but that's okay because they were all very professional. I was really looking forward to the salad bar because so many people raved about it. It didn't disappoint. It is most definitely not your everyday salad bar. When we were looking on the menu for pricing there was absolutely nothing listed so we went into this completely blind. I tried most of the meat, all which was meh. The only thing I fell in love with was the filet wrapped in bacon. Everything else was sub-par. We ended up paying about $140 for the 2 of us (both had the salad bar, both had the meat, and 1 soda). For what we paid I'm really disappointed in the food. It wasn't anything special. I'm not dissatisfied with Chima, but I probably won't go back. This is a "one-time, special occasion) type of place.
(3)
Antonio M.
**BAR REVIEW ONLY** The boss lady and I stopped into Chima after a hectic and event filed day. We were both exhausted and the idea of heading into the city for some well deserved dranks was waaaaaaaaaaaay outta the question. I had read some of the Yelp reviews on this joint and saw that a few people commented on the cool modern bar area that sounded like the perfect place to chill. Because were were aching to get outta the house (while the MIL watched over our sleeping 'lil ones), we headed straight to Chima to try out the place and imbibe in some tasty over 21 beverages. Thankfully we found an outside parking spot that was a stone's throw to Chima which allowed us to bypass the line of cars waiting to enter the garage. Based on that line and the group of people waiting to have their cars valet parked, I was wondering if Chima's bar was gonna be uber-crowded and too much too handle for two weary parents.... Thankfully it was not. As soon as I walked inside I really really took a liking to the bar area. It was large, very airy but cozy in a warm inviting sort of way (that's what she said!!). The dim mood lighting was just right and the hostesses happily greeted us then invited us to take any seat. The wife and I found a nice plushy nook by the window and sat next to each other like couples that were still dating. The bench seats and tables were set up perfectly to allow just such a PDA-riffic display of love as my lady snuggled close to me. The waitress was friendly and happily welcomed us to Chima and soon brought out a round tumbler full of assorted nuts. As we chomped down on the nuts, we scanned both the drink and appetizer menu. Right after placing our order, the waitress returned with four puffy bread things, four meatballs and a dipping sauce that all just said, "Hey fatboy, I dare you NOT to eat me". My mouth watered and my strength faltered as I eagerly reached for one of the puffy breads, ripped it open and stuffed a meatball into the center. I dipped my makeshift sandwich into the dip and destroyed this morsel in two bites. This was good. And we had not even received our drinks or placed our appetizer order yet. Can you say "awesome" for free food? The remaining puffy breads and meatballs suffered the same fate at the hands of the wife and I as we devoured them like people who hadn't eaten in months. It was truly pathetic to behold but it tasted so good we didn't care. :-) Soon, the ubiquitously colorless fruit free umbrella-less manly drink I had ordered arrived along with the wife's foo foo colorful yellow "colada" that had that fruity smell reminiscent of some beach holiday resort. We happily sipped on our drinks and shared our approval at the tastiness of the bread and meatballs as we stuffed our faces with assorted cashews, peanuts, almonds and Brazilian nuts. We decided to get the seafood platter appetizer (see picture) which cam with four large crab claws, four jumbo shrimp and large pieces of lump crab meat. The seafood goodness was accompanied by two generous wedges of lemon, a homemade cocktail sauce and some mayonnaise concoction that was a bit too heavy for my liking. Soon the seafood platter was gone and became a distant memory as we ordered another round of tasty beverages. The wife got some neon green martini whist I imbibed in the same manly drink. The drink of kings. ;-) By the time we polished off our beverages, hours had passed but there we still sat snuggling next to one another on those soft benches. Not one time did any of the wait staff make us feel rushed or imply that we had to leave. They were super attentive, always smiling and made sure to check up on us without making us feel like we were loitering. So here's the price run down. Mixed drinks as well as my manly drink will run you about $9 to $10 a pop. The seafood platter appetizer was the priciest appetizer on the menu ($25) and probably not worth the hefty price tag. As I mentioned above, I did dig the free fluffy bread biscuit thingys and the tasty meatballs. On my next bar visit, I may get one of the meat centric appetizers instead of the seafood platter. Kudos to Chima's bar area and their staff. If their food and dining room wait staff is anything like their bar area, I will definitely return. I'll most definitely return for some more beverages as I'm now a huge fan of that cool chill bar area and can't wait to return with others. It's a great option for those tired and weary parents that wanna go out without really going out into the city. :-)
(4)
Jesse C.
Incredible selection, service, and ambiance. It is expensive, but this is the norm for this type of dining so I am not going to knock Chima for their prices. Good: Some Brazilian BBQ joints I have been to have two big problems. 1. Meat is so salty 2. They spread out the meat cutters so much you get full quickly due to having to wait for the next meat cutter to stop by. Chima didn't have this problem. The meat wasn't overly salty, and I had to meat stacked up quickly because the guys were literally lined up waiting to ask if we wanted some meat. It was AWESOME. Server guy was very attentive and kept drinks refilled and table cleaned. The GM did a great job with his employees. Best meat was the garlic pork and filet mignon, worst was the ribs (bad sauce). Negative: My only negative, which is big enough to knock an entire star, is that I love rare meat and their "rare" just didn't cut it. I totally understand that most people's don't like real rare meat and that they cater to the majority, but when you spend good money I would hope they would have some rare meat set aside for a patron who enjoys his meat red. Probably wouldn't be an issue to most, but it was for me so take it at that. After my second pound of meat we decided to take off before I burst. Of course the server asked about desert, I let him know that I was getting meat sweats and that he was loco. Tips: Valet is free and parking in the lot isn't....even with the tip you break even the valet gets some cash (Good deal for all). When getting your salad grab an additional separate plate for the meat. You don't want to cross contaminate your meat with remaining salad dressing if you use the same plate.
(4)
Silvia A.
Whats not to love about meat? Anyway you want it!!! I am not a fan of their chicken or salmon, but the rest of their parade of meats is to die for, been here 3 times and i cant wait for the next one, i try not to eat all day to come here, other wise i feel like is not worth paying all that mullah if you dont come here to almost have a heart attack!
(4)
Prateek B.
After being loyal patrons of Fogo de Chao, the wife and I decided to give Chima a try. We arrived on time, were promptly seated and then it was downhill from there. Got a mojito which was too sweet and am sure had very little alcohol. Then came the cheese bread. While it was decent, Fogo's is much better. We got up, went to the salad bar which was OK. Now for the meats. We waited 15 minutes with our coin flipped and did not get served. I had to pull a waiter and express my frustration, only then they started serving us. In general all the meats were under-seasoned and over-cooked, especially the bacon wrapped filet. Got the chocolate lava cake and papaya cream for dessert. Again, Fogo is much better here too. Horrible experience, will never be back and stick to Fogo.
(1)
D C.
Good food, however why is tip already added to the check for two people party? Too expensive for the service level.
(3)
Mark S.
If you want to spend $60 for mediocre meat and in a bland setting, head on into Chima. Other than the novelty of having meat brought to you, you are far better off at Palm, Ruth's or any number of other nearby steakhouses.
(1)
Debbie T.
I was here for a wedding reception, so I am not sure how much like a regular dining experience at Chimas this was. The place was very chic and trendy....uber modern. And the servers were very attentive and responsive. The salad bar was probably the best I had ever come across. Very appealing in presentation and consisting of eclectic and appetizing menu items. This was decidedly a "higher end" type salad bar. The servers came around with the meat and service was considerably quick considering that this was a fair sized wedding reception. While the food and meat were great, I had probably more red meat in that sitting than I do in an entire year. So I don't see myself going back anytime soon. But for an avid meat lover, this place will certainly please.
(4)
Tiffany Y.
My husband and I went to Chima for Restaurant Week. At the end of the meal we were mistakenly billed the regular price rather than the discounted price. The manager ended up giving me the discounted price, but then he negated my OpenTable points. As for the taste of the food, I enjoyed the salad bar, but I didn't care for the meat. I actually returned to the salad bar to fill up because I disliked the meat so much! My husband enjoyed the meat much more, but our favorite Brazilian steakhouse is still Texas de Brazil.
(2)
Megs T.
No prime rib, filet mignon or even pork tenderloin for Restaurant Week?? Me no like. Highlights of the salad bar: prosciutto, smoked salmon, meat carpaccio. (See what I'm sayin,' a true carnivore is also only gonna grab MEATS off the SALAD bar!) But Texas de Brazil and Fogo have all of those. And the former has that kick ass lobster bisque. Snazzy as it is, Chima is out of the way, and i would not drive past either of the above to eat here.
(3)
Joe V.
Chima in Tysons Corner had the worst customer service. I was visiting from California and this place was very discriminatory and biased. I cannot believe they wouldn't make exceptions on the "dress code" just because I was wearing a tank top. While making the reservation, I didn't see a dress code disclosure and from the reviews, it seemed like a great place to eat right after my flight from California. Well, unfortunately, the GM was very condescending and said that "they wouldn't service a man wearing a tanktop, and that if I wanted to eat there I could change into a spaghetti dress because that is allowed." This place needs to learn the rules about sexual dress code discrimination. I will not make a recommendation for Chima, unless you want your man to be in a spaghetti dress or be completely covered.
(1)
Jojo W.
Fast and furious carnivores paradise! Good service!
(4)
Luciana D.
I love Chima Brazilian Steakhouse. I most admit that when i visit there I eat as much i want. they are nice people and very professional. I really love the pao de queijo. and i asked to them as much as i ask and they keep bring it to me with a smiley face. Priceless.
(5)
Brandon W.
Very good steak. Amazing service.. Always a pleasure to eat here! (eaten here about 4-5 times ever since i started college during winter break as a treat for myself). Steak is a little salty but thats how i love it, salad bar is big (love the rice and rolls). Not a fan of the swordfish but hey, everyone has their likes and dislikes. One word that describes it everytime i step into Chima: Perfect.
(5)
Chau S.
This place is like Fogo de Chao minus the heart. And I don't mean chicken hearts. It's got that in spades. The waitstaff seem very cold and distant. It's hard to describe as all they're doing is slicing meat from skewers until you mentally decide "no mas". For me, sadly, my favorite part of the night was the salad bar. And that's not a knock on them. They have a fantastic salad bar with a plethora of choices to make any vegetarian/vegan happy. Well maybe not vegans, they're never happy. For what you get, it certainly feels as pricy as Fogo. If you haven't been to a chuhascaria before, try Fogo first, then come to Chima.
(3)
Meggie C.
me and my boyfriend went here for dinner during dc restaurant week 2013. he has never been to a brazilian steakhouse, but since i've been to fogo de chao before we decided to try this place out. the meat selection pretty good for it being restaurant week and the selections were very good. my favorite was the top sirloin! the restaurant is also very nicely decoated and spacious. their salad and appetizer bar is good too, especially their chicken potato salad and seafood salad. alot of my friends love their mashed potatos because it is different from other places. they have complimentary valet parking which is great too! if you're like me who cant eat much, then i would recommend going during restauarant week since its all you can eat for $35.14 instead of the usual $50+ thats the only downfall lol
(5)
Jessica H.
My husband and I tried the restaurant during restaurant week, which made the price way more reasonable for us! We loved the decor and atmosphere inside. It has a very upscale feel. The restaurant is tucked away and hidden. We never knew it existed! I haven't truly over ate at a restaurant in a long time but be prepared because you will do it here! The appetizers are very tasty! My favorite were the cheese bread and the mashed potatoes. The salad bar was definitely the star for me. If the regular price of the restaurant was a little cheaper I'd come here for this alone! So much variety(soup, cheeses, meats, rice, vegetables, & more!) and everything tasted excellent! The meat was good too! It's a fun experience to have someone come around and you have the opportunity to try a little of everything. We also had cheesecake for dessert, but it could have used maybe 15 minutes more of thawing time. Two things I didn't love; I couldn't understand some of the waiters & I don't like having to pay for my parking. Overall an excellent place for a special occasion!
(4)
Mrs. S.
Came here with some type of discount. The filets were really good. Decor seemed like it was trying too hard to be modern and minimalistic, which gave the ambiance a cheap feel, even though dinner is priced at ~$55 per person. The salad bars were good, and we liked the cheesy bread. I wanted to try all the meats, but ended up not liking a few. Even though I had my little signe flipped over to the side that says I still want food, the gauchos would avoid me since they though I was still eating. Let me be the judge of what food I want, not you, thank you very much.
(3)
Wayne L.
I will come out and admit to Yelp that I did not indulge in the all-you-can-eat. I did, however, come for a happy hour here. This is a much more upscale restaurant, especially for happy hour. I felt under dressed wearing gray slacks and a polo, but that is because most of the clientele probably just came off work and were wearing dress shirts/suits. I'm sure wearing casual here is of no problem. Just felt out of place a bit. On Mondays, Wednesday, and Thursday, they have from 5-7pm half off select drinks such as house wines, beer, well drinks (Smirnoff, JD, etc), and caipirinhas (Brazilian cocktail). On Tuesday, they have $5 Brazilian cocktails and certain appetizers. We had ordered several appetizers when we came - chicken, beef, and pork dishes. The chicken was the best, and had a lot of flavor. Service could use some improvement, especially if you are sitting in the lounge area and not at the bar. It took a long time just to catch someone's attention, At the bar, however, the bartender was friendly and attentive enough. I like this place, but will have to try the all-you-can-eat obviously. Perhaps then, it could help my rating of Chima improve. Still a very nice place to come hang out after work.
(3)
Nini T.
Came here couple times and had wonderful experience overall. Excellent customer service and I love the salad bar selections. The only time I was a little disappointed was on Monday for restaurant week. Originally I made a reservation for a party of 4, I add in additional guest an hour before the reservation and they were able to fit us, thank you for the accommodating. But when we arrived, the some part of the table was still wet (where the glass of water were), missing 3 forks and 2 cups which we had to ask. No comment or apologize from the waitress or anything after we pointed out. It seem like they didn't clean the table before we were sat either that or they did a poor job. I was irritated and all the waitress was talking about was trying to get us to try wines when we didn't want to. I talk highly about this place (because I considered Chima is one of the best Brazilian steakhouse in the area) and was excited to introduce it to my friends and was disappointed. Also, we weren't finish with dinner and they came to take the plate and utensils away without asking (well the person took my plate and stuff didn't ask me). I assumed they were going to replace but then the waitress came and ask what we want for desert. We were just looking at each other confused. I know they replace dirty dish but not utensil unless request so I thought it was strange, but thought they change a bit since I haven't been there for a while? Beside that one bad experience, overall Chima is wonderful. Parking: there is a parking garage (pay) or valet (which tips come out to be almost same as paying for the parking garage. Just know that some of the valet people will speed your car in the parking garage as I have witness couple times (this was during night time that I saw). Other comments: If you still have room in your stomach, try the tiramisu. It's not so sweet. It have a hint of sweet and a slight hint of bitter. Very delicious. Would I come back here again? Yes, but not anytime soon. I want to calm down first before coming back. Would I recommend this place to my family and friends? I have in the past, and I probably will again but not anytime soon. I was a bit embarrass of what happened.
(4)
Fawn G.
It was my fiance's birthday and a good friend of mine recommended Chima. This place is perfect for special occasions! The ambiance is luxurious, and the staff are professional and kind, from the doorman to the server. I think even the manager came by a couple times to ask if we were enjoying ourselves. I highly recommend making reservations if you're dining on the weekend. And unless it's super packed, skip valet and park in the garage: it's super close, not crowded and cost us $4 for nearly 2 hours. Everything is beautiful and luxurious! NOTE: dress up. The layout is spacious, it didn't feel like I had to shimmy between tables and chairs. The wait staff were attentive and not annoying. We could have had a full meal with the salad bar, as it featured so many delicious dishes, but I almost exclusively ate from the rodizio (meat) menu. Word of advice: savor it. Take your time and enjoy the meat selections, little by little. You'll be there for a couple hours. And try the caipirinha drink, you'll feel like you're in Brazil.
(5)
Hugh J.
Brazilian steakhouses are just amazing and Chima fits right in to that category - you could say it's the best thing since sliced steak (get it? instead of the best thing since sliced bread?!) But why then do I give Chima a 4 stars? It's simple. Fogo de Chao gets 5 stars. Fogo is in a class all its own. Chima is Pepsi, Fogo is Coke. Chima may try, but they'll never beat Fogo. I went to Chima on a Saturday night, when the turnover of their steak should be at it's highest, ensuring a never ending supply of fresh, delicious, awe inspiring and exsquisite, cuts of bovine. Unfortunately, the meat wasn't where I felt like it should have been. I've been to Fogo on Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays for lunch, Thursdays for dinner, etc. and the overall quality has never seen a drop off. If Saturday evening is their time to shine, I would certainly not go back on a weeknight or lunch (assuming the serve lunch). Anyways, here's the takeaway from the meal. I will do my best to make comparisons to Fogo. The Starters/Appetizers -Cheese puff balls were sub-par compared to Fogo. Chima gave us 4 for our table, Fogo would have given us a never ending basket of fresh ones. -The cat food balls. What in the hell were these things?? Fogo luckily does not serve these things. They were little balls of deep fried meat that were just out of place. -The soupy cheesy mashed potatoes. I'll admit, I have never been to Brazil. After the cat food balls and liquefied mashed potatoes, I just know not to eat these if I ever go, besides, you don't go to Chima (or Fogo) for the sides, you go for the STEAK!! (unless of course you are a vegetarian, of which case I suppose you go for the salad bar. But if you are a vegetarian and you come to Chima or Fogo, well, please read my Smith & Wollensky review to see how I feel about vegetarians in steak places.) The Main Attraction -The rib eye - best cut overall. Very consistently delicious, perfectly cooked. -The filet - sadly, the worst cut. How do you mess up a filet? It was almost exclusively dry and tough. Very disappointing. -The fish and seafood - Fogo doesn't have the salmon, swordfish, or prawns and this is were Chima does get the nod. -Fogo seasons their meat a little more than Chima. I personally prefer the seasoning level of Fogo over Chima. -Overall very very good. Not as good as Fogo, but again very good. The Servers -As you can expect, broken English is just a fact of life in most restaurants like Chima. Our server at the very beginning asked us if we wanted sparkling water or (muffled English) water. We took option 2. Don't take option 2 unless you want to spend $7 a bottle for their tap water refilled into the fancy glass bottles. -Chima servers were quick, Fogo servers are quick. The one time I asked for something, it was out to the table in less than a minute - same experience at Fogo. Fogo de Chao gets the gold medal, Chima gets the gold plated medal.
(4)
Mark M.
It was ok. The one thing I didn't like was that they cooked the meat over gas flames. There's no charcoal flavor or wood. Not what I expected. The salad bar was great. I wouldn't go back too pricey flavorless meat. I can cook a better steak at home. If you want a good steak just go to any Wegmans. They have very good steaks.
(3)
pat t.
Dear Chima, You tried. You really tried. It must be hard to live in the shadows of Fogo de Chao. It must be like being Heidi Klum's sister, close but not quite. I last dined at your restaurant five years ago and you were really good. I anticipated my meal to be quite good again but you disappointed me. You scolded me for coming back during restaurant week by limiting me to only nine of the 15 or so different meats or the $35. Really?! This was a time for you to remind me of what I have been missing and why I should dine with you regularly and to forget about Fogo. While all nine meats were good none of them were fantastic. None rocked my world. Is it because you wanted me to pay the regular price to get the other choice meats? Shame on you for teasing me. In your defense, the salad bar was excellent. The available sauces were decent. Service was good, except our server Camila sounded like the disclaimer at the end of a medication commercial. She spoke so quickly and in a perfectly monotoned voice describing how the steakhouse "works." To your credit, you didn't slow down the meats form coming around. You kept them coming at a steady pace and I appreciated that. I didn't appreciate the hostess giving everyone the same line, "Your table is currently playing their bill and should be available soon" to every party in front of us. Also, if I have a 7:30 reservation, arrive five minutes early with my entire party why do I still have to wait 15 minutes for my table? Oh wait, that's right, my table is currently paying their bill. I tend to avoid many eateries during restaurant week for this very reason. Nothing like going to a good restaurant and being offered a limited choice. This was your time to shine. To make another first impression. Instead it only reminded me to go back to Fogo de Chao to get the full Brazilian steakhouse experience. Oh, and frozen key lime pie? Probably a Sara Lee right out of the box. Sorry Chima. Unless a friend requests that we eat at your restaurant you will not be on my list of Brazilian steakhouses to throw down.
(2)
Curtis H.
Literally, the juiciest beef ribs I've ever had in my entire life. I could have cut the beef with a plastic spoon. No evidence of the non-tolerance for people wearing shorts, etc. In fact, there were more than a dozen patrons wearing shorts and short sleeves during my visit yesterday. Granted, nobody was wearing a tank top, but it didn't seem they were quote the evil incarnates that the previous two posters described.
(5)
Jacinda N.
Chima's the a great place to go for family dinners and celebrations. I always make a point to make a reservation before i go, so i don't have a long wait. They're pretty flexible about your reservation times too if your running late. After getting seated, a waiter will usually come up and walk you through the process, take your drink order. and give you the side dishes. They're really delicious! What i don't understand is why they have two different waiters to a table. After one waiter leaves the next one will come and repeat what the first waiter has already said. Its very annoying. After your waiter is done with drinks and sides, you'll also never see them again until the end of the meal. I salad bar is good, and the meats are awesome, but the wait staff needs some work.
(3)
Xiao L.
I like Chima way more than Fogo De Chao. The salad bar is amazing and many choices of meat. Must try the Brazilian drink caipirinha.
(4)
James W.
This is a very difficult review to write. The reason is that Chima isn't awful just very disappointing. On almost every facet this churrascaria failed to live up the competition and to it's own aspirations. First there was the decor which was very modern in a snotty Ikea/Pier 1 sort of way. This didn't go with the giant projector screen that looked as if it had been reclaimed from an 1950's elementary school auditorium that was directly behind us. I'm not sure why this screen was even there because the projector they were using was so run out as to be useless even in the relatively dim light of the room. Next, and perhaps most disappointing was the food. I've been to many churrascarias and found that most fall into the category of very good to excellent. Most have a very similar favor profile, i.e. delicious. That was not the case with Chima. The meats were flavorless and bland. Most of them had the feeling of having been orbiting the dinning room for more than half an hour. I had maybe one ok slice of sirlion and the beef ribs were decent but that's all there was to be had. And there there was the service. To call it uneven would be kind. Once the waiter discovered we wouldn't be ordering one of thier over priced bottles of wine (To be fair they were not that much more over priced than anywhere else) he was less than interested in being of service. The service varied from acceptable to poor through out the evening. The service wasn't bad compared to say, an Applebee's, but it was not on par with what I would expect at this type of restaurant. In conclusion I would say that if you're looking at Chima do yourself and your guests a favor and go down the road to Texas de Brazil or Fogo de Chao. I would give the former and 5 out of 5 and the latter and 4 out of 5. Sadly Chima failed to live up to those admittedly lofty expectations and gets a 2 out of 5.
Worst service ever! I went to Chima with 3 friends. We were fasting, so I made a reservation for 8pm. We got in a little before 8 and asked for our table, they told us we'd have to wait for 10-15 minutes. We waited for a good 35 minutes, nothing... not even water (mind you, we told them! they said we were not the only ones). When I went back to ask, I was told that they were still seating people who came in at 7:30 and that I shouldn't fret since other people also had to wait for 45 minutes or more. We were going to be the second ones to be seated after some other people apparently. So yeah! I'm saving my bucks for something else, like Texas de Brazil! At least they have stellar service!
(1)
Diana S.
Made a reservation online, and not only did they call to confirm, but they were able to change to a more desirable time. Great service! Not to mention there is complimentary valet parking! The ambiance is very nice, and the food is very delicious. As soon as we flipped our coins, it was raining meats. I haven't been to other Brazilian steakhouses in this state, but I would consider this one to be pretty nice. It is more of a fine-dining buffet, rather than others that I have been to (in other states) that seem a little more casual. The meats were plentiful and delicious, however, they didn't have as many options as I have previously experienced (no alligator or chicken heart, etc). The salad bar was decent, but I didn't feel there were too many dishes that would be uniquely Brazilian (other than the rice). I really enjoyed the small plates they brought to our table though (fried banana, french fries, and a fried glutinous cake?). Not too impressed with the swordfish, however, the accompanying passion fruit sauce was delightful! Seemed as if some people (including local celebrity athletes) come just for the bar. Overall, I liked this place, and would probably consider it for a once-a-year special occasion.
(4)
Felix H.
This place is overrated. I have gone a dozen times and I truly prefer Texas de Brazil at Fair Oak Mall...but living in Tysons, this place was only 1/2 a mile away. The meet is greasy and the service is OK. They try to seem like fine dining, but I really won't consider them that. The wait staff is slow at removing your plate when you go get more from the buffet bar of sides. The buffet bar itself was not the most appetizing presentation. Ok..now the good: it's AYCE meat! Good cuts, just make sure you wipe off the excess fat/grease. ENJOY!
(3)
Christine K.
Yummy yummy yummy! Looking forward to coming again and WORTH the price tag!
(5)
Johnny A.
Excellent meat selection and quality with a service to match. The salad bar is quite good too, but don't fill up on ruffage! Stay focused!
(4)
Paul W.
This place has better decor than it does food. These types of places are at the mercy of clientele throughput. The more customers, the more fresh meat becomes available. Everytime I go here, it's never crowded and I end up getting overcooked meat not as fast as I'd like it continuously served on my plate. Service at these places are also supposed to be impeccable... not the case here. Nothing can compete with Fogo in DC.
(3)
Robin G.
Wow! the food and the service was excellent. I had the lamb chops and they were delis. The most awesome salad bar ever. Every thing was fresh and delish and I cannot wait to go back!
(4)
Angel W.
chima must be a carnivore's wet dream. came here during restaurant week, and it was a fun experience. the quality of the meats are high, but some cuts were just SO much better than others; my favorites were the pork and beef ribs, nom nom nom. each meat is flavored with extreme richness and saltiness, and that stifled my ability to keep putting away the meat. the salad bar was meh-- not my favorite, and I wished there was more/better stuff available. I was curious about the mousses, so I tried the corn mousse... not a fan! the sides you're served at the table are phenomenal though. the small fried balls of dough ooze with cheese, and the mashed potatoes have a different texture but are full of flavor nonetheless. the service was almost impeccable, our waiter continued to check in with us and if we were ever trying to get a certain cut of meat, she made sure to flag some down for us. this is more of a once a year thing, and be sure to take advantage of the coupons on chima's website and discounts (like restaurant week).
(4)
Sarah S.
3-stars during restaurant week where it costs $35. It was a fun experience, and some of the food was good. Even if we could ALWAYS go for $35, I don't think we would go back any time soon. 2-stars if you pay the full $50 price. The food isn't THAT good. Some of the meat was good, most of it was not particularly good. The proscuitto, smoked salmon, carpaccio, gorgonzola mousse at the salad bar were enjoyable but not great. The appetizers, like the fried bananas, were good, as were the mashed potatoes. The tiramisu was fresh and light, some of the best tiramisu my friend has had. Still, there was nothing particularly great. Even if you find something really tasty (and there were one or two), you might never get the right server again.
(3)
Mark L.
Churrasco should be the new thanksgiving day tradition. Had an awesome t-day rodizio meal here with a buddy when family plans fell thru. The place was full actually so clearly many agreed with us. The place has casually classy decor with very attentive staff. Only a few misses among the meats, with the piccanha and filet being clear highlights. The salad bar and sides (go Brazilian cheese bread!) are often neglected at this place but quite tasty nonetheless. Chima and Fogo de Chao are like twins. But if I had to split hairs, I'd say that Fogo just edges this place out overall... but not by much! Loved Chima's use of blackberries to communicate with kitchen staff, so clearly the geek-sheekier twin..
(4)
Christine H.
First of all, free valet parking...woot! After a long and stressful holiday, I sprung on the BF last minute that I wanted a very low key NYE...for dinner he suggested Chima, as it was supposedly good and close by. We went in and were prepared to have dinner and drinks at the bar, but alas they only serve apps no dinner. The Front desk, managed to squeeze us in last second, even though it was crowded! That was really awesome. We were seated and the space was beautiful, nicer looking than Texas de Brazil. Our server explained the process, and also explained how service was a two person team and introduced the fellow waiter...nice touch as there would be so many folks at our table with other offerings...and it was nice to have a card of the 15 or so meats available to us...Buffet was good and quite typical, but my favorite part of the meal was the beef ribs, lamb chop and cheese bread...oh so good. No room at all for dessert, but they gave us complimentary sparkling wine to toast the new year...nice gesture!
(4)
Mariam R.
I'm almost ashamed to write this review. We totally slacked off on this dinner. We came here Friday night for our Valentine's dinner and we did enjoy ourselves. We went wrong by having a late lunch 3 hours prior. We thought it would be okay, splitting a salad and chicken strips, but it wasn't. We took one trip to the salad bar. It was okay, but I think the one at Fogo de Chao is much nicer. The meal was wonderful - we were too stuffed to try all of the small plates they bring to the table, so I can't comment on the fried yucca or fried banana. I tried a spoonful of the whipped potato, one meat croquette and one cheese muffin with some turkey spread. Everything was good. I do enjoy the polenta at Fogo, though. After we had decided to throw in the towel, we realized we never saw the filet mignon cowboy. I mentioned it the one of our waiters and he had it sent right over - man, was that worth it! The filet melted in my mouth. We did order desert, nothing bad to report there. I had the tiramisu and the boy had the vanilla ice cream with warm banana sauce. We had split a bottle of wine and two bottles of Pellegrino and the boy had three mixed drinks. Our total came to just under $200 and while we didn't think that was a bad price, we did wish we had come better prepared to take advantage of the experience. The service was top-notch, the space was comfortable and there was plenty of spacing between tables that you can have private conversations. I'm sure we'll be back.
(4)
Pete H.
I've been to Fogo de Chao in DC close to 10 times at this point as its become a favorite spot to do dinners for work. So I'm very familiar with the general experience of a Brazilian steakhouse. Right off the bat, I have to say there was nothing about my experience at Chima that wasn't better than my experiences at Fogo. My colleague and I (who has also been to Fogo numerous times) both commented on how good the service was. They were constantly coming by to refill water glasses, refresh the side dishes, see if there was any particular meat we wanted to try, etc. One of the servers said the meat he had wasn't exactly what my friend had asked for, so he took it back to cook it for a smidge longer and then brought it back. The salad bar is more extensive than the one at Fogo, lots of other options. I know enough to go light on the salad. Their balsamic vinagrette is really, really good. Their sides are terrific. Some of the best mashed potatoes I've ever had in my life. I described them as "potatoes that have been thoroughly beaten into submission." Very, very creamy. The polenta was good and although I'm not a huge fan of fried plantains, I tried one and it was really excellent. Of course, it's all about meat and the meats were great. We sampled a lot of everything. It was nice to see they offer fish, which Fogo doesn't. I tried some kind of pork that had been crusted with cheese, which was excellent...ribs, chicken, various cuts of steak. It was all really excellent and a definite struggle to stop eating more. We didn't save any room for dessert so I can't comment on those. The complimentary valet parking is nice, especially since there's nowhere really close to park and the nearest garage is $5 (according to the hostest). Went there on a Thursday around 6:30 and the bar was packed. Not sure if it's like that most weeknights, but I was pretty impressed how slammed it was. Didn't have any trouble making a same day reservation through Open Table for two. Really nice seating area, big tables, even just for two people. Dress is fairly casual. I had on jeans and a nice shirt as did a number of other diners. There were a few tables near us with kids...one with an infant and one with two kids who most have been around 6 and 3. My colleague mentioned bringing his two kids there sometime, so it should be fine. Overall had a really nice time and for a Brazilian steakhouse, it's at the top of my list and offered exactly the sort of experience I was looking for. Can't wait to go back.
(5)
Sogol G.
I went there to celebrate a friend's birthday with my husband. I really liked the ambiance, very well decorated with great service. This is an all you can eat place, so they have their own system of serving food that I had not experience before and really liked it. Their salad bar is not die for. They have EVERYTHING in their salad bar that you can think of. The only thing that was missing was caviar! Steaks were great but some of them were not fresh. They tried to mask the old taste with ton of salt, so the salty meats were bad and leg of lamb smelled funny. Besides that everything else was super delicious and great. (i would have given them 5 starts if this was not true) We went there for the restaurant week so it was $10 cheaper for each person, my husband and I ended up paying $160 for two. We had their second package of all you can eat, 2 drinks and 2 deserts.
(4)
Phyu-Sin T.
I would come here just to eat their cheese puff breads. Let alone, they serve Top Sirloin, Baby Top Sirloin, Filet Mignon, Flank Steak, Beef Ribs, Sausage, Lamb Chops, Leg of Lamb, Ribeye, Pork Ribs, and Chicken all BBQ, ALL YOU CAN EAT! This is like steak heaven. The salad bar is also impressive with a the basic Cesear Salad to an array of cheeses. I'm actually quite at lost for words to describe this place. All I can say is, don't stuff yourself too much with one thing. On the side note, the atmosphere is chic and the service was stupendous. It was a great experience over all - at least for the first time at a Brazilian Steakhouse. And P.S. They have complimentary valet.
(5)
Paul M.
Tyson's Corner is a place I rarely go to. Maybe once a year to get the kids' picture taken w/ Santa Claus. An out-of-town buddy suggested we meet here and I was happy to try it. I had forgotten how much I like the whole Brazilian BBQ thing - and this place seems to be more up market and designer and Tyson-y than many others. They also make a spanking Caiparinha. Which, if I may, I first ordered about 10 years ago on a business trip to Sao Paolo and the local guys laughed at me telling me it was an old man's drink. Not any more. A big thank you to Olivia D for mentioning the coupon - $25 off if you register on line with them - and the valet parking is fantastic. The bar is swish like a 60s airport lounge, its spacious and the service is good. The food was also good - for me the star of the show was the gorgonzola mousse on the salad bar - tremendous. They put a weird looking sauce on the table and I asked my buddy what he thought it was " dude" he said " that's the potatoes" The potatoes were awful, and you really need good potatoes to enjoy good meat. It's like the first rule of the carny club. ( Or maybe the first rule is "don't talk about carny club). I didn't check to see if they have kids' prices - if they do I might make the schlep here with the kids again.
(3)
Melissa L.
I used to work near here, so I can tell you that happy hour here is fabulous. The cheese balls were my dinner many a night. I've had dinner, and if you're into the Brazilian Steakhouse thing, the meat is really delicious and the service is almost too good. It's not somewhere I'd go often just because I can't eat that much, but it's definitely worth a visit.
(5)
Christine H.
Took my husband here for restaurant week on Sunday and really was looking forward to it because I have been to Texas de Brasil in Fair Oaks Malls, Fairfax, VA and wanted to compare the two, I was hinting that Chima would be better than Texas de Brasil, boy I was so wrong. We got there and was seated early, our reservation was a 5:15pm and the restaurant was already pretty lively. There was a projector in the center of the reservation displaying a Brazilian concert, which was pretty cool. As we were seated we were greeted by our waiter and we decided on doing the regular dinner instead of the restaurant week special because for 15-20$ more, you could get the top cuts, so we thought it was a better deal instead of eating sausage and chicken all night. We got our plates at the salad bar and was not really impressed. They had the usual rice and beans and bread and some deli cuts, but not much of salad bar choices besides Cesar salad and potato salad. Had hearts of palm, asparagus, a seafood salad, and a couple cheeses. My husband looked at it walked the whole salad bar and went to go sit back down with only taking a little bowl of the chutney for the meats. I looked at each selection and looked longer and came back about 5 minutes later and finding my husband a bit irritated because he sat waiting for some Gauchos to come by and no one looked at him but went directly passed our table to the table next to us and still not one Gaucho bothered to scan the dining room and to look if any eyes were watching them. My co-workers fiance actually is one of the Gauchos and caught him chatting and interacting with guests and tables and not trying to leave so quickly unto to the next table. He is the only Gaucho I actually liked besides the fact that I know him, he just just did the job well. Unfortunately, he only had Top Sirloin and so we had to wait for other selections to come by. After about having to deal with this for 10 min, I finally found my server in which asked why no one is coming around to let us have a piece. So he obviously called all the Gauchos and 6 of them came directly to the table, which at this point I felt like they were trying to be a smart ass about it. But when I noticed after we got to pick our meats off the Gauchos finally they still are oblivious to other diners who were waiting for cuts as well. I'm thinking the meats are the sole purpose people come to dine at Chima. The meats were very tasty, but the experience wasn't worth the money especially when you pay top dollar.
(3)
Alene Y.
The salmon doesn't come out NEARLY as often as I would like. I'm not sure what it is about that special sauce, but it's amazing. I recommend you make reservations and if there's some meat you would like to try, ask for it and the waiters will bring it to you promptly. I'd like if there were more options for those who don't eat a lot of red meat. The fish is amazing and wish there was a little bit more in that area. Oh well, still wonderful.
(5)
Eduardo L.
My wife is Brazilian and we go to Brazilian restaurants all the time, I have also traveled to Brazil many times, I took my Mom, Wife and her daughter there, I did not plan on going, but I had 3 hungry ladies in my car and I was driving by, so I made a split decision, most Brazilian restaurants I go to they weigh the food and normally it's between $6 and $8 per plate and they have a great selection. 99% of the people who go there are Brazilian. I did not see any Brazilians at this place, just tourists. Anyway the bill was about $280 for 4 people and my Mom had 2 cocktails. RIIIIIIIIIIPPPPPPPPP OFFFFFFFFFFFFF Do not go. Try Rice and Beans on Sample rd. just east of 95 you will not be dissapointed. I know it's a little further drive from Los Olas Blvd. but you will save a ton of money and you will enjoy the food better. This place is an Americanized Brazilian restaurant. Don't be fooled. I gave it 1 star only because I couldn't go to zero, However it does have a nice Bar and it looks nice.
This is my second favorite Brazilian Steakhouse, behind Fogo de Chao and in front of Texas de Brazil. The main thing about this place is the mashed, well, creamed potatoes. They are soooooo smooth, they are to die for. The salad bar seems to have more offerings than Fogo, but again, you are not here to fill up on greens (well, unless you are a vegetarian). The meats are good and sometimes they offer 2-1s or you can get a gift certificate from Restaurants.com . They also usually are a part of DC Restaurant week.
(4)
Jocelyn H.
Hmmm where do i start its ok... I went to Fogo De Chao in DC before visiting here. I will say they Chimas' had more to choose from as far as just a salad bar & meat i appreciated the sides provided! My CONS about this place my waiter was non existent alot of the time & when i asked to sample the wine before buy and entire bottle they kept telling me that didnt do that...i'm a wine pro...dont BS me, almost every decent restaurant lets you try the wine before buying it! Then they forget to mention that they are super generous with a 18% tip of the bill..im sorry but i dont think my waiter earned a $20 tip, cause he didnt do anything special & he was gone most of the time... -FYI the only reason i ordered anything extra is becuase i wanted to feel validated in giving my waiter a good tip since me & my daughters meal was free on Veterans day! -Also when i ordered a drink it was rather gross & it sat there the entire meal & everytime my waiter decided to grace us with his presence i'd forget to tell him to take the drink back...and he proceeded to still charge me for it on the bill & tried to give me some BS saying he didnt know if he could take it off cause he already rung it up (try again buddy)...when i asked him to take it off because i didnt like it (FYI the glass was still full - i took 2 sips) WOW really i mean i know my dinner was free buy you dont have to treat me like a homeless person getting a free meal...this is not a soup kitchen (clearly from my 80 tab) -Needless to say I wont be breaking down there door to come back..id rather just go to Fogo De Chaos again where i had excellent service!!! -PROs really nice ambiance very romantic...seated ASAP via my reservation time...the complimentary valet makes for a timesaving experience which is a nice bonus that i hope they dont get rid of.. ALL in ALL id go there on a date when someone else is treating but not on my dime...NEVER again... Oh & the meat boys here are hella slow coming to your table...i cant think of how many times i had to flag someone down...isnt that why they have those stupid tokens so they know when to come by...come on guys how about u go to Fogo & see how its done!!
(2)
Naomi W.
I want to state that i have never been to Southern Brazil for a fireside gaúcho BBQ in my life (yet ;) . So my taste is not able to decide what is most authentic.. My dinning experience at Texas DE Brazil and Fogo DE Chao fall short of my experiences at Chima. For a first time guest I would not go on a special event night because the place gets packed and makes the atmosphere a little less relaxing.. my review for Texas DE Brazil in MIA explains why I love Chima! The fish! Chima offers fish where the others do not. The Lamb at Chima is also WAY better than the other places I have dined! I also found the salad bar at Chima is better than fogo. BUT Texas DE Brazil offers Lobster Bisque, this is something Chima is missing in my vision of the Perfect Churrascaria.. If Chima had this item I would never want to try another in my life..
(5)
Mike M.
Great food and excellent service. They stay consistent or keep getting better and they keep providing wonderful service. Go hungry because its a lot of food.
(5)
Kristine U.
Came here for Restaurant Week - while the price wasn't that much of a difference, it was helpful for people who haven't experienced the joys of having men with meat swords (hah) come to your table and cut you delicious pieces of meat. I'm actually surprised to hear everyone talk about it, but I will too: the sirloin was bangin'. BANGIN'. I don't consider myself to be a meat connoisseur, but that thing was intense and flavorful - I'm kind of sad that I wasn't able to see him again. To this day. As first-timers, me and my food buddy did stock up a little too much on the salad bar - we asked for extra plates from our waiter. Salads were delicious and the prosciutto was so great (with melon). Wouldn't go back for the gorgonzola mousse, though. The pace of the food was overwhelming at first, especially during conversation, but we learned to pace our timing. The small plates were delicious - we loved the 'breads' (they tasted like meat, which was strange but cool) and I was a fan of the fried polenta and bananas...they helped out with cutting a lot of the salt out from the meat. The glue-like substance of their mashed potatoes was a little disheartening, but somehow they tasted alright. Service was a bit off, as the waiter forgot a lot of times for refills/wasn't around. For dessert we ordered the walnut cream/creme? Basically a walnut-type pudding with strawberries on the bottom, which was a nice end to our meatstravaganza. At the end of the night, we both agreed that it was definitely an experience, but probably wouldn't return. Still, had a great time at Chima!
(3)
Laura N.
Don't go unless you have a reservation!!!! Even if you call and they tell you that it is fine to come over and that the wait will be about 30-45 mins at max. Then once you drive 30 mins to get there the hostess claims that they're no longer seating anyone without a reservation and whoever you spoke to on the phone shouldn't have told you that. What a waste of a trip and terrible host service training!
(1)
Alicia G.
This place is fantastic!!!!! If you love meat this is the place to be. I can honestly say that I've been to very few (maybe two with Chimas) places where everything was excellent from the service provided from the waiters to the delicious food and desserts. My husband and I visit Chima's on special occasions (birthdays or anniversaries). The entry is a bit pricey but so very worth it (plus if you log on and subcribe to there site they send you e-mails letting you know when the entry is 35.11 per person). Trust me when I say that you will not be dissapointed. Its awesome!!!
(5)
Stefannie T.
I thought this place was amazing. It was really good on service and excellent meat as a meat lover goes. The salad and soup bar was very clean, fresh, and organized. I enjoyed the atmosphere. The servers came around quickly and made sure we were always satisfied. I recommend this place very much even though it's about $50 a person. This place is worth every dollar.
(5)
Sheila D.
Chimas is like the 45th Brazilian steakhouse I've been to and if you've seen one, you've seen 'em all. Pretty much the same motif as any other somewhat upscale churrasco joints. I went here on a date with the hubby. I had just flown back (regretably) from Las Vegas, and he took me here after picking me up at the airport. It was dimly lit, they played typical samba music. The buffet options were also typical, but my favorite part of going to these churrascos are the endless servings of PICANHAS; YUMMY!!! Overall nice and new. The downsides of this place are the parking and the location. We actually got lost looking for this restaurant b/c its secluded in the back of tall buildings.
(3)
A H.
I went with friends during Restaurant Week and the food was awesome. They serve one of the best mojitos I've ever had, the salad bar was amazing and the meet out of this world. Pricy, but worth the splurge. If you like it quieter, ask to sit in the back; it's pretty noisy up front.
(5)
Karla L.
Went there for Restaurant week, a great way to give it a try. Great place for meat lovers, for everyone else go once a year or a quarter because it will take you that long to recover from the wonderful rich endless meat. The meat is delivered on-demand to you table in a blink of an eye by the amazing staff. Make sure that you eat light for the first part of the day to get ready for the event. The lamb is to die for. Make a reservation...
(4)
Cathleen N.
I went to this restaurant for a work Christmas party. Just for starters, they don't give you a menu! You get to go to the salad bar which is not great -- overall, it was pretty bland. Then you return to your seat and you wait for the meats to come. They give you a few tiny cheese breads which were excellent but too few and a very small plate of mashed potatoes. I came out full of meat and too little of everything else. The filet mignon was good but the chicken wrapped in bacon -- not good. I'm also a fan of salmon but it was also not good. I won't be coming back for the dinners but I really did like the desserts but I don't think that alone is enough to come back for.
(2)
M D.
Even though I enjoy red meat, I don't want to eat pounds of it in one sitting. Chima will appeal to your carnivorous appetite without giving you colon cancer on the way home. They not only offer beef and pork, but fish and seafood as well. All well-seasoned, all delicious. And when you bring your vegetarian friends, they will not feel left out. Chima has such an impressive salad bar, that herbivores will feel like they died and went to Veggie Heaven. Fat, juicy spears of asparagus, beefsteak tomatoes, buffalo mozarella... Overall, a great variety of food to satisfy everyone. The restaurant is very beautiful, classy, and has a nice bar, too.
(5)
Steve M.
My wife was born and raised on the Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and I've too have experienced some the steakhouses in Brazil (they call them churrascarias or rodizios) and in DC (Fogo do chao and the unfortunately closed Greenfields). We stumbled into the Chima "steakhouse" (it is much more than a steakhouse as you can read here) about two weeks ago; we were lost because of road confusion and construction in the area (watchout for this). It was spectacular. We returned for dinner a week later with a party of six family members for three birthdays within one week, so I write from two dinners. Seems that they do not serve a lunch Go there with directions (their web page, map, phone ahead, GPS); the road construction can change and can be a mess. Free valet, but it is nice to give a tip. Huge interior, and usually fast seating. You can make a reservation. No live music, no couples- dancing, no sexy carnival-type sambaistas (mulattas, and not exactly PC, sorry) Lively bar on Friday night (I think that many attached gals cool off there, while their guys go to the other side for the steaks). Start with a caipirhinha, the classic Brazilian drink at your table. It has lime and an alcohol (classic is cachassa from sugar cane but vodka is populara in the US). They pour it large, strong, and inexpensive ($10) for the outcome. Two of them might send you flying. Everything is good, so you just have to decide. The side dishes are plentiful, Brazilian, excellent, put automatically and free of charge, onto the table and refreshed periodically (cheese bread, cooked banana, cooked plantain, croquets, mandioca, potato puree, kale, etc) There is much temptation for wonderful other things, to encourage your eating less steak. Two ways to go though, but few diners realize this. They make money on small (women?) with llimited appetite; the steak menu is $50 (one great bargain if you have any appetite). But one can order just the "salad bar" for $30 (also a great bargain); they do not mention or encourage this. It is huge with great selection that includes hot selections like black beans with pork sausage (feijao), hot cooked salmon and swordfish that they offer at the table. And mainly excellent cold items: shrimp, marinated squid, smoked salmon, ceviche, prosciutto, salamis, big hearts of palm, big asparagus, etc. The salad bar includes mostly a huge and impressive selection of cold dishes. In my experience, the salad bar was bigger and better than that at Fogo do Chao that is more expensive and in downtown DC. Of course, the grilled or barbecued (I'm not not sure of their method) steak is the main attraction. There is more salt on the meat than we are used to, but that is the genuine Braziliane style; they think it keeps in the flavor. I think that it does. Mostly beef but also leg of lamb, lamb chop, pork spare rib, chicken wrapped in bacon etc. The waiters look Brazilian, but, at our table with much Brazilian experience and language, we thought that few of the staff were Brazilian. No problem; the cowboy waiters (gauchos) did great. They came aggressively, one after another, offering their slections on large skewers. They tend to offer the less expensive items first and more often, so you should wait or ask for the more special items; the "picahnha" (rib-eye) is probably the best, and higher on the scale than the "filet mignon". If you ask for a specific cut, they will tell their friend, who will hustle to your table. There is a nice card on the table with pictures and names of all they will serve, so I will not even try to enumerate. Everything is good, and the gauchos know how to cut the meat to exactly your request from rare to well-done, as you peel off the slices with your tongs. There is a round card that you turn to a spicifically-colored side, when you want them to keep coming or stop coming, Every table seems to have a "birthday" person. Because that person gets a birthday song by a group of gauchos and a free piece of dessert cake. We had three genuine birthdays and were overwhelmed by our honestly-earned dessets, which they remembered from our brief comment on arrival. The gooey cake is not the best in the house, but one piece is big enough to be shared by three people. At that point we were way too stuffed to order any of the traditional a la carte desserts. We'll be back in a week or sooner, after we have digested all of that amazing meal. It cannot get much better.
(5)
Rag A.
The meats are absolutely amazing and the atomasphear was wonderful. .I held my husband's surprise dinner there and I couldn't have picked a better place
(5)
Emily N.
When this place opened, they had a deal going on that really drew in my family. We immediately knew that this was something once we walked in through the glass doors. With us already knowing the concept from Fogo De Chao, we knew how things worked. Once arriving, they have valet. Then walking through the doors your welcomed by the hostesses. Right next to that podium is the bar and lounge area. Followed to your right, there was the large dinning room filled with their luxurious seats and table. Definitely very fancy. So keep that in mind when getting ready. When seated you have the options to just sit there and wait for your waiter or you can go dive into their salad bar! The salad bar has a really fancy and delicious selection to it. From already made caesar salad to smoked salmon to capriccio. Right next to it are the hot food selections. From the delicious soup to the rice everything really good. The concept to this place is that you have this little plastic tab you can flip over and what not notifying the men walking around, when you want meat or nott. The meat selections endless. Better yet their protein selections endless because they even offer fish. Needless to say everything's really good. The meats well seasoned and definitely cooked with the proper Brazilian technique. With men going around to each table with a stick of meat, your free to ask for as much as you can possible want. Highly recommended; flank and lamb chops. The waiter with the electronic pads usually comes around with some sides to accompany the meat. Mashed potatoes (that are somewhat to liquidy for my likings), fried bananas (to cleanse your pallet between each different type of meat you sample), meat croquettes, and the famous cheese balls. These cheese balls are so good. They always come with the turkey spread which is always to die for. For the prices and overall appeal it's really something. Yeah it's pricey but you have think about all the meat your about to consume. The only reason i'm giving it a 4 rather then a 5 is because i only go here three to four times a year cause you can only eat so much meat. And i'm going to have to stick to Fogo De Chao more.
(4)
Ashley G.
I absolutely love this steakhouse. I have been to several steakhouses and this is one of my top favorites. The salad bar has the most variety of side dishes and salads. Chima provides the BEST cheese puffs. The atmosphere is quite subtle; perfect for social gatherings. My intension is to have go for my birthday later this month and would recommend this place to anyone.
(5)
Ghali C.
Best place to enjoy meat. Even if you don't want meat, the salad bar is excellent by all means.
(5)
Fei Y.
meat, good, salad, good, chicken, good. the price is not so good.....
(4)
Anne R.
After driving by many times on the way home from Tysons Corner Mall (and thinking - Hey! this may be good but where the heck do you park?) we finally tried this restaurant during Restaurant Week. First, our reservation time was respected and we were immediately taken to a table. Of course, our reservation was for 5:30 PM, the latest we could get for that day since it was Restaurant Week. Second, service was superior and attentive - we had no end of servers offering us drinks, meats, whatever. As for the food, we were offered two fixed price meals, which as I categorized it were, a) with regular meat choices, and b) with premium meat choices. Since we couldn't see paying a pretty high up-charge for different meats when you could consume as much as you wanted of the "regular" meats, everyone at our table opted for the lower fixed-price selection. The best offering here is definitely the salad bar, but it was not offered alone and the $35 fixed price was far too much to pay for a salad bar alone. The meat was cut off skewers table-side and was utterly forgettable. The best of the meats was the sauced-up spare ribs, which were tender and tasty but overly sauced. The two fish options were panned by everyone at our table. Also brought to each table were tiny cheese rolls and beef ball rolls, along with fried bananas and "mashed potatoes" which seemed more like potato puree. I must admit that none of the "free" provisions were sufficiently appetizing to try, though others at my table consumed the fried bananas. The fixed price Restaurant Week meals included dessert, for which a choice of ice cream or cheesecake was offered. If you like ice cream, that's probably the best option. If you like cheesecake, The Cheesecake Factory is superior, so go there. The mark-up on alcohol was sufficient to make you think twice about ordering it, which is either a good thing or a problem depending on your perspective. To cut to the chase: I am unlikely to return here unless somebody else is paying for my meal - I strongly prefer to have a single entree perfectly prepared than many meat choices, none of which are great. My final test was whether the meal sticks to the ribs or passes through the system rather quickly, and since the latter event occurred to at least one of our party of six, this restaurant's chances for a repeat performance are further diminished. As for the parking problem, be sure to take advantage of the free valet parking, since anything else may give you limited time to eat or result in a problem getting back to your car due to locked office building doors.
(3)
Stephanie M.
Liked it better than Fogo de Chao, felt like they had more selection. They served different kinds of meats - fish, lamb, chicken, which was great - one can only eat so much steak. Salad bar was great as well! Overall, place was packed, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves and I had a great time.
(4)
Renita W.
Went to Chima on a Saturday night. The valet parking is really convenient and we made a reservation so were seated promptly. The salad/sides bar was ok and the complimentary cheese bread is yum. Now to what should be the meal highlight--- the meats. I have to admit that I got all my cuts well-done (I was pregnant--- didn't want to risk anything). As with all the Brazilian steakhouses, you have to wait for a well done slice... that is annoying always having the meat servers say they have to come back. The best meat was the house cut Picanha. The service was great... but Texas de Brazil is better.
(3)
H. P.
Chima is as good or better than any churrascaria I've been to in Brazil. If you are going to scrutinize the price, then don't go. But if you love a variety of meats cooked to perfection, you will love this place. I usually get filet when I go to a steakhouse, but found the house special sirloin was the best. The staff was excellent from the servers to the managers and we enjoyed our visit to Chima. The dining room is huge and accomodated several large parties at the same time. Although the salad bar was one of the best I've seen, I wish I saved more room for the main courses. I was concerned about the dress code since I didn't have a jacket, but was soon relieved after seeing the couple at the table next to me dressed in jeans and a flannel shirt. The bill for 2 people with 2 drinks each and 1 dessert was comparable to Ruth's Chris or Capital Grille. Loved the food and this could be my new favorite restaurant.
(5)
Jessica S.
Holy cow! Who would have thought "top sirloin" would be my new favorite meat?? Seriously...to die for!! I WILL be back!!
(5)
Liza A.
This place is awesome same as Fogo de Chao but more relaxed and spacious it is better to drive here than DC. The meat cuts I ate rib eye was good, filet mignon with bacon blah!, filet mignon delicious, sirloin awesome, beef rib the best thing ever, didn't try chicken really I go without chicken, chorizo not happy with it, the salad bar was the best one ever just amazing, got a bloody Mary disgusting, but the FREAKING MOJITOS WOW APPLAUSE FOR THE BAR TENDER IT IS AAAWWWEEESSSOOOMMMEEE, Dessert I had passion fruit pudding is great but u have to love tart like me, coffee delicious. Man I ate a lot believe me it was just a little of everything but is good to try at least just a little. For 49.95 a person that is a price u can beat at a regular steak house u pay one plate can't try any other cuts. Hands down this place best Brazilian steak house I've tried overall.
(5)
Bryant Z.
I have a few significant nagging points from previous visits, but up until the 4th of July, the last time I had been to Chima was in 2011, so I didn't think it would be fair to factor any of those visits into this review. It's worth noting that since I made this reservation via another site, I'm crossposting the review I posted to the (unnamed) reservation site. Ultimately, Chima is intended to be an experience. If you're going to do this, you've got to know the meats which are most worth your dime. The obvious ones (of course) are the Filet Mignon, Ribeye, and Prime Rib. The top sirloin is best when it's well done, since that's when the fat lining the edge melts into the meat. The salad bar is decent; you can do a cheese sampler with the meats if it doesn't go against the terms of your religion, or you can spice or garnish cuts of meat to feel like you're attending the Capital Grille with every plate. No matter what you choose to do, don't forget the swordfish, and remember to try it with all the sauces offered. Service was perfect, too. Everyone was attentive and quick. I don't have anything else. If it's a special occasion you're celebrating, go. Also, definitely go if it's restaurant week. Otherwise, it might be a bit on the pricey side for a routine visit. Keep your belly empty before you go so you can make use of the many options without gaining too much weight.
Awful restaurant with very poor service.....every one just standing around while one waitress tries to serve several customers. Many times the head waiter/bartender would look at me as if I wasn't even sitting their waiting for service. And it wasn't even crowded......
(1)
J R.
Seriously! You need to make a reservation to have a late lunch at 4:30? Great business model!!!!! Let's see how long it will last.
(1)
Grace C.
I was looking forward to Brazilian BBQ for the longest time, when I finally got a chance to go with my SO. It was a fun event that allowed me to dress up and pig out. The salad bar is not as enticing as others have made it out to be, but that may be because my heart was set on consuming as much meat as possible. I loved the "stop and go" system they used to say if you wanted a pause or not. They seemed to ignore the "stop" part and continued to approach our table, but it wasn't extremely disruptive or anything. The only other "con" (but not really a bad thing) was that I wasn't always told what my cut of meat was. I was only asked how I would like it (medium/well/rare). I accepted all of them, even without knowing the specifics, but they all looked very similar. The Pao de Queijo (cheesy bread) was sooo good, with an unexpected texture. It's difficult to go wrong at a Meat buffet. Free valet parking (leave tip), very easy. The hostess and waiters were all friendly and respectful.
(4)
PG. R.
Food is excellent, salad bar is amazing. The service is the best part for me, not suffocating or annoying like the other Brazilian place in DC. Staff are wonderful here. I will be back again and again!! ps..... amaaazing tiramisu
(5)
Heather T.
Never been so full in my life! The food was absolutely delicious and there was soo much to choose from. Would come back for the chocolate lava cake and strawberry caipirinha alone! It is a little pricey but well worth it.
(5)
Stephen C.
I have been to 3 different Brazilian Steakhouses so far. This was the first one here in Virgina. The other 2 were in Texas ( Fogo de Chao & Chama Gaucha ). I have been to the 2 in Texas many times. Fogo de Chao: 9.0 Chama Gaucha: 8.8 Chima: 7.5 Fogo de Chao & Chama Gaucha were extremely comparable. Very close with Fogo getting the edge just due to it being slightly more upscale. I know people who have been to multiple Fogo's including DC's who say that they are all about the same. With that being said and comparing Chima to those 2, I would say that Chima falls short in a few areas while having a few highlights. - Food: While the food was good, It did not quite stand up next to the other 2. Their meats were slightly bland and seemed to have more gristle / fat on them. Usually my favorite cut of meat is the house special (Picanha [Top Sirloin]), however this fell very short compared to the other 2. Their BBQ ribs were VERY tough, almost inedible with a knife / fork ( you would need to pick up and they were very messy). The buttered filet was very tender and very buttery tasting (not my favorite). However, the beef ribs were FANTASTIC and very tender. - Service: The service was better than average, but what you would expect from paying 50+ per plate. However, still comparing to the other 2, they fell short. Drinks were not refilled / sides were not replenished without asking. However, they were very professional had the little things down (folding your napkin for you when you get up, ect.) + Valet Parking: FREE. Very convenient. Drive up to the entrance, receive your ticket and off to eat. + Location: Located near a water fountain in a nice area without having to drive to downtown DC. Price: Chima is around $50 per plate, not including drinks / dessert. This is comparable with all Brazilian Steakhouses. You can receive a $20 coupon by registering on their website (must purchase 2 meals). They often seem to have specials running where you can save $10/15 (check their facebook). My Mixed drink here was $8. Brazilian soda was $3.50. Conclusion: If this was my first Brazilian Steakhouse, I would have probably loved it. However, being that it's not, I see where they can improve. I would probably not go back just because for the same price I can drive downtown to DC and get a better meal from Fogo. This was the first Brazilian Steakhouse I have seen to offer discounts. There might be a reason to this? For the quality / service that Chima offers, I would say it should be priced around $35 per plate. Side Note: Attire seems to be business casual. I would not walk in there with jeans and a t-shirt.
(3)
Diana K.
Had a great experience coordinating my boyfriend's 27th surprise birthday dinner. (FYI: We had a group of 15.) The Assistant Sales Manager, Christina, was very responsive and pleasant to work with. In fact, the entire staff was very accommodating and of course, the food just kept on coming (no complaints here!)... Needless to say, we all left very stuffed and happy. HIGHLY recommend if you're planning a group dinner. :)
(5)
Todd Y.
so much better than Fogo. No pressure staff to quickly eat and leave. Friendly. Food just as good and Fogo and a more relaxed atmosphere.
(5)
Good E.
i came here for the restaurant week thing with a friend the meats: in a word-SALTY, TOO SALTY, i didnt care for anything except the top sirloin which was good, but the lamb was too chewy and not tasty, i didnt really like the pork chops or the sausage. the salad: fillers, but good, i like the heart of palm and asparagus the most, they have many cured meats and fruit as well.rice was ok the table extras there was this beef puff ball thing that was awful, the potato concoction they made was ok what really irked us was the waiter. he asked us what we wanted to drink and both of us said water. he then said 'tap water?' and we said yes, he then brought us glasses filled with water and later brought a bottle of 'voss'. before i realized what was going on , we went through TWO bottles of VOSS water. my friend just assumed they were refilling the bottle. when i pointed it out to him, he asked the waiter if it was bottled or tap and the waiter said the water was bottled so we asked to switch to tap. it tasted THE SAME. but sure enough when it came to the bill we were charged an extra 13 bucks for the water!! omfg the ambience is very nice, something u might feel compelled to dress up for were it not an all u can eat meat fest. where sweat pants are more appropriate. the nonfood issue i had was mostly was with parking. valet is free but to park in the garage u have to pay. and the valets park your car in the same garage where u ahve to pay. the lines for the valet were bad and we were waiting about 20 minutes to get the car, which was a bit trying in cold weather. it would be my suggestion to the management that they validate parking for customers and charge for valet. i personally hate valet, i dont like anyone else driving my car . i liked fogo de chao better, much better. but the one i went to was in denver. not sure how the one in dc is .... i think chima is a miss rather than a hit, id save the dough
(2)
Ali F.
I will not eat here again. The valets lost my car keys and I was stuck there for several hours before any resolution. Completely unprofessional and irresponsible on the part of both Chima and the parking company. Pair that with a mediocre dining experience where we were sat in a drafty back dining room causing food to go cold quickly, achingly slow service (I know it was busy but don't take reservations for more than you can handle) and where kids can play loud video games and clearly disturb other tables without discipline. I used to love Chima and went several times a year but after a night where it was horrible from start to finish, I'm done. Fogo de Chao is Metro-accessible and as a result, they can't lose my car keys.
(1)
William W.
On August 27, 2013, I attended a business event at Chima and was charged for another person's drinks at the bar who had the same last name as me. I called the manager, Mark, who said he would correct the mistake but I never received a credit on my credit card. I finally had to call my bank to issue me a credit. AWFUL SERVICE!
(1)
P L.
I was hoping that something might have changed since my last visit to Chima, but it's still the same... which is good! The meat selections were the same, nothing different. This time I'll just add some points about the other amenities: 1) Parking - it's done by complimentary valet. I would suggest that someone get a head start to get the car. It'll take a solid several minutes to get the car since it's parked in a garage, just a little ways away. Don't forget to tip the valet. Oh, if you drive a Ferrari or Lambo, they'll keep your car close. 2) The bar - drink are pretty good before dinner... just don't fill up on empty carbs. They have happy hour specials available too. 3) Appetizers (not the salad bar) - Don't be tricked into it! The cheesy bread isn't too bad. The potatoes are a little runny. The beef croquets are actually okay. The fried polenta and fried banana are key. They can definitely break up the flavor and texture of the meat. 4) Dessert - so we got dessert this time because it came with the Restaurant Week menu. I got the tiramisu, which was only about a 3 of 5 stars. The other choice was ice cream. It looked ok... but really? Shouldn't we have been served dessert from a stick? Hope these help this time around!
(4)
Sara D.
Wow, talk about a good meal! The ONLY reason I gave it four instead of five stars is the price. The salad bar was incredibly tasty and the meats, especially the filet mignon with clarified butter, were, for the most part, superb. The salmon and pork were a little dry, but hey, it's all you can eat, so no worries! An excellent choice for a celebration/birthday/special occasion dinner - but will have to save quite a few pennies before I can return.
(4)
NoV a.
This used to be a go to dinner spot for us, but lately, this place is full of crying babies and kids running around. For the price point, I would expect better behavior and ambiance, but it is clear that the families that choose to frequent Chima do not want you to have a good time on a date. The restaurant management does nothing to contain the McDonald's Playland atmosphere, so we will stop coming here. It looks like they get enough business and do not care about ambiance. For the price point, I expect a bit of peace and quiet, but this has just turned into an extension of the Tysons I mall. When we were eating dinner, a small child ran up to me and proceeded to stare at me, and TOUCH me. Wow, we need to throw some chlorine into the gene pool. Maybe it's better during the week, but steer clear on the weekends. The food was merely ok and the salad bar was picked over.
(2)
Sasha A.
Absolutely wonderful! Between the 4 of us, we tried everything and it was all amazing! The salad bar was okay, but really, you don't go to a "steakhouse" to try the veggies. We did really like their corn mousse stuff though. I love salmon whether it is raw or cooked, and theirs was really good with the sauce on it (it was good without the sauce too). My fiance loved their beef cuts and lamb. I have read some reviews that say that the meat isn't seasoned enough, but I thought the meat was great and that those other people just don't like the natural meat flavor! Also, the selection of desserts was fun and there was a large variety.
(5)
Nick H.
I consider myself a person who loves to eat, and has a relatively sophisticated taste when it comes to food. So every year in the DC metropolitan area, I always attend one or two restaurants during their semi-annual Restaurant Weeks in which these high class restaurants offer special menus at discounted prices. Chima is a Brazilian Steakhouse, which if you've never eaten at before, is a unique type of buffet. You essentially sit down at your table, grab a few items from a hot bar that includes salads, cheeses, rice, beans, etc. But the star of the meal is the meats which are delivered to your table via waiters walking around giant swords skewering the different tender meats. At your seat, you have a token which is green on one side and red on the other (at Chima, they use orange and black). Placing the token appropriate side up lets the waiters know you are looking for more food, whereas the other side means "No thank you". Throughout your meal, you flip the token back and forth as necessary. The 10 or so waiters circling the dining room offer such things as filet mignon, sirloin, bacon-wrapped chicken, pork chops, lamb chops, salmon, etc. The restaurant is such a tasteful and pleasing experience, that it has become tradition that each restaurant week, my friends and I go to eat there at least once because they offer their regular buffet style meal (which would typically cost about $50) a the discounted price of $35. Even at the regular price though, the restaurant is definitely worth the price of admission and I relish every chance I get to eat here.
(5)
Jon K.
A solid 5 stars..... Hands down, top Brazilian steak house in the DC area. I have been to the rest of them as well such as Fogo de Chao, Texas de Brazilia, and many more. First off, the decor of this place is stunning. It looks like an interior designer spent some time in here. The glass encased plasma TV was nice as well. The bar area looked quite attractive as well. We went here last night invited by friends and my first reaction was not another Brazilian steakhouse because I have been getting sick of them. I work out regularly for a reason, and these 3000+ calorie meals can equalize that. The thing that I found most impressive was the salad bar as they had a wide variety of cheeses, salads, and dressings. I had never tried a "palm" before but I have got to say it was pretty damn good and smelled like "palm" when I was munching away on it. They brought out a wide variety of snacks to start us out. I liked the meatballs and mashed potatoes but I'm a sucker for Brazilian cheese bread. Being the culinary guy that I am in my spare time this is one of my favorite recipes that is very simple to make. You just have to get the right ingredients (hint: tapioca flour from whole foods). We started out with a round of drinks that were very good. My first mojito was a little weak, but later on during the meal I ordered another one which was strong and tasty. On to the meat, they had seven different varieties of meat. I liked the filet mignon the best, and probably the sirloin second best. The ribs were buttery and good as well. The sausages left a bit to be desired. The best thing about the meat is they ask you what type of piece you would like (i.e. medium, well done, medium rare, etc.) and they will make sure that you get what you desire. In a lot of these type of steakhouses I have found the meat to be a bit overcooked and over seasoned but not here. I think I put on a few pounds here last night. Oh well, off to the gym again! Highly recommended!!!
(5)
Lisa N.
Chima is an all-you-can-eat Brazilian steakhouse. Servers come around with huge chunks of meat and fish (swordfish, salmon) where you can tell them whether or not to cut you a slice. There is also a self-serve salad bar. At both of my visits, I was not disappointed. My greatest piece of advice is to NOT wear white... I made this mistake and a server got some marinade on my dress =( Get the TOP SIRLOIN and you will not regret it! This was by far my favorite meat. Service is very accommodating here (we had a party of 20 and they promptly greeted and seated us) and the prices aren't too bad ($50/perso) for the value of the food in my opinion. I just wish I could eat more!
(4)
Lann W.
If you are a meat lover this is the place for you. Didn't have too much of the salad bar since I didn't want to fill up but my meal was a great. The filet was my favorite and they make a great mojito!!
(5)
Chontelle M.
First off, before you start eating the meat (hehehe), try the caiparhaina. It is a delicious traditional Brazilian drink. It gets things started with a kick. The salad bar is great. There are so many different things that you have to try. Although I have been to other Brazilian Steak Houses, this one has a very authentic selection of food. The palm hearts, cheese bread, mashed potatoes and fried banana are always offered at Brazilian meals. The meat is delicious. I suggest starting slow. Out of the 15 meats they offered, my favorites were the parmesan pork, leg of lamb, and the sausages. I ate so much meat (hehehe) that I think I'm going to be a vegetarian for the rest of the week. Dating? This is a "drop them drawers" restaurant, if played correctly. The dim lights, sexy drinks and delicious food is bound to put anyone in a romantic trance. You gotta make sure you are at the "cusp" stage... not the first date and not the 30th date. They valet for free, and that makes the date super romantic. I'd definitely give this place another try! However, I did have to take a star away because it is in VA. I had to battle the horrible drivers and the weird people to get there.
(4)
Emily S.
Best Brazilian Steakhouse in the area! It's pretty pricey but if you go during restaurant week its only $35 per person! Also, if you sign up with them online and provide your email address they will send you coupons here and there and also birthday specials. Don't go obviously if you're not a meat lover... The assortment of meat and the variety of cheeses at the salad bar is amazing.
(5)
Dani S.
I came here with a few carnivores from my gym. As far as all you can eat steakhouses go, it was good, but just really not my thing. The salad bar was delicious, some of the steak was really good, some was just ok. These type of places can be really overwhelming and even when I had the little chip flipped they would try to feed you more food which I didn't like. If you like steak and can eat a lot and want to pig out on steak, then I would recommend it. Otherwise, it might not be worth the price.
(3)
Cameron B.
Endless salty grilled amazing cuts of meet in a swanky oasis in Tyson's Corner....ummm...YEAH!!! Went here with a large group of friends after an event. The manager made sure we were sat properly and knew how the restaurant works! Guy comes buy with meet and you flag him down...he gives you meat, second guy, different type of meat...repeat...explode! Don't even GO to the salad bar, just pop some fiber pills and a multi vitamin before you go, hit the bar up for some Caparihnas, and don't wear any tight clothes. The atmosphere is great. New York 5 star restaurant with out the pretension. They even have a pretty good happy hour for the corporate types! I don't find myself in Vienna very often, but next time I do...I'll be hitting up Chima, it's deff worth the price!
(4)
Tucker H.
If there is anything better to eat than cooked meat on a stick, I'm not sure what it is. I had been meaning to get to one of the Brazilian steakhouses for a long time, and we finally made it to Chima. This place is pretty upscale in decor and service, which was nice. The inside is dimly lit, and the tables are far enough apart that we didn't feel crowded. The service was excellent. Everyone gets a small disc next to their plate (black on one side, orange on the other), and when you flip it to orange guys come out of the woodwork to offer you meat on a stick. The food itself is good, if you're a meat eater. Pretty much everything wrapped in bacon turned out to be a good choice, as was the leg of lamb (crusted in lime or maybe mint I think). The sausage was fine, but pretty much tasted like kielbasa, so I wouldn't take up too much stomach space with it. I tried to avoid wasting time on the salad bar, but when I needed something alternate with the meat, the lettuce and veggies that were there were nice and fresh. Overall this place was exactly what I wanted, all you can eat red meat on a buffet the servers bring right to your table. The only thing keeping it from that fifth star is the price. It's understandable why it is over $40 a head, but it's not the sort of place I'm going to be visiting all the time...
(4)
David H.
Came here for DC Restaurant week. My first experience at a Brazilian BBQ. The best cut is the top sirloin; save plenty of room for it. The salad bar is great and has a good variety. Avoid anything bacon wrapped and the sausage, meat is fully cooked and the sausage tastes like anything you can get from the local supermarket. The mashed potatoes are creamy smooth but a little too buttery. Service was a bit slow at times even though we had two servers tending to our table.
(3)
M G.
Went to Chima again for Restaurant Week. Was a bit disappointed by two things: a few of the better cuts of meat were not included in the basic Restaurant Week price and several of the cuts that were available seemed tougher than they have been in the past. Still Chima is a good, fun place to go to get a great salad bar and to really fill up on meat. So I knock off one star from my prior review but I will be back for a future Restaurant Week and hope that the toughness issue was an aberration.
(3)
Jeanette G.
I was nervous about Chima's having gone to Fogo de Chao and being sorely disappointed. I am happy to report Chima's exceeded my expectations. The atmosphere at Chima's is classier and swankier than Fogo. Great bar area and decor. Loved the fact that the tables were well spaced in the dining area. At Fogo on a Saturday night I felt as though we were dining on top of our neighbors and the noise level was dreadful. I started with the salad bar- it was great. The food was fresh. However the only reason I'm not giving Five Stars is because I felt that Fogo had a more extensive and interesting salad bar selection. Chima's was a bit uninspired- though I loved their selection of sauces. As for the meats, Chima beats Fogo hands down. All I remember about the meat at Fogo was it being SALTY. Now I LOVE my salt, so when I say something is too salty it's pretty bad. What I appreciated at Chima is that the meat was seasoned enough to give it flavor and to compliment the sauces. And because it wasn't as salty I was able to enjoy more of it. Now, the last reason for the 4 star instead of 5 was that it was obvious to me that Chima has a schedule for when the meats come to the table. They attack you all at once with several options for several rounds and then as the evening progresses they slow down the selection to a drip. I can understand why this is- they need to do this to get people out in time to meet the next round of reservations. I'm not mad at that just wish it wasn't so obvious. And speaking of which, I had a party of six and we were seated right away at a great table. Altogether a great experience!
(4)
David L.
Took my wife here on Valentine's Day. We normally go to Fogo in DC and didn't know about this place until recently. We are "Carnivore" by birth. We loveeeee meats. So we wanted to give this place a try since we went to Texas De Brazil early last year and were very disappointed with the food there. There was no wait since we made a reservation. The place is clean and spacious. The free Valet is a plus. The hostess greeted us immediately when we walked in. After the we sat down, we were greeted right away by out server. It looked like there are 2 servers per area because the other server refilled our drinks and replaced new plates for us. The salad bar is very lacking compare to Fogo. We both had a hard time picking enough food to fill our plates. But I don't think people come in here for a salad bar, right? Ah, the meats. As soon as we flipped the little round sign to Go, they (the guys with the meats) bombarded our table. My wife loves the rack of lambs so she had plenty of those. I find the most flavorful meat is the Filet Mignon. Their house special Top Sirloin is close second. For those who like to watch your weight, make sure to try the "Low Cal" Filet Mignon wrapped in Bacon. We basically tried everything. All are pretty good. Their Mango Mojito is pretty good. It's weird but I have this craving for Mojito when we go out to these restaurants. The Coastal Flat is still my favorite. Overall, a pretty good place to try out in VA. I am not sure what the price is compare to Fogo since they had the Special Valentine package for $75 each. Wouldn't mind come back here again since it's easy to drive to DC and find parking for Fogo.
(4)
Sam S.
The food is good. The service was incredible. Every type of meat that I wanted was offered upon request. It was all perfectly seasoned. The lamb chops were my favorite but it really was all very good. Be careful to not fill up on the sides.
(4)
Irene L.
I was there during restaurant week. The food was worth the money though you couldn't try everything because you were paying restaurant week price. What had upset me was the the hostess had gotten our information wrong and she made us wait a lot. Also her opinion was more important than the customers. I had called a day after that to comment on the "attitude" of the hostess and they said that they would send me a coupon. I told them that I would accept it but I was calling so that things would get improved. Well.................the coupon never came. I called back one more time to be sure that someone had received my comments but no one called back and still no coupon. They just didn't care. I will not go back again and I will not recommend them.
(3)
Meghan O.
Carnivores and Vegetarians rejoice. Ye both will be happy here. Luckily we went during Restaurant Week, so it didn't break the bank. Bf was starry eyed over the endless meat parading at our table, and I took more trips to the salad bar than necessarily. Don't bother with drinks, save room for the good stuff!! I know it's hard to resist the popovers and potatoes, etc, but just take a couple of bites and go for the good stuff (repeated for emphasis). I think their salad bar is better than Fogo...
(4)
Y C.
We came here to celebrate a friend getting a new job (with the friend in absentia). This place is more expensive than our neighborhood Brazilian BBQ place back in Pasadena, California, the ambiance is better, the choice is comparable, service is good, but the quality of food is worse. Considering this is $50/person vs. $35 back in CA, I somewhat regret that we came here to celebrate. We tried different cuts of meat, and my feeling is that the beef was somewhat dry and not as tender/juicy as I had hoped. Most of the steaks (including the Picanha, which I thought should be very tender and juicy) reminded me of the $3.99/lb supermarket steak I used to cook for myself using a cast iron skillet at the middle of the night: it definitely smelled like steak, it was definitely not leather, and it was somewhat edible, and therefore Ok when there's nothing else. However, this is not the quality to be expected from such a fancy restaurant. The swordfish with passion fruit juice was very good, but I was really hoping for good Brazilian BBQ meet.
(2)
Diane B.
We came here to celebrate my husband finishing his masters program and were quite excited to come. I can't really put my finger on why I didn't like this place more; the meat itself was quite tasty and I happily glutted myself. The fish options were pretty dreadful, so if you're a seafood fan, you should skip them. The side dishes were also somewhat forgettable and lacking compared to the options at Fogo de Chao. The ambiance was jovial and it was perfect for bringing my son along. Probably the biggest problem was that I had really high hopes for this place and it did not live up.
(3)
Rob B.
Out-freakin-standing. By far, this is my favorite churrascaria style eatery to visit. The service was top notch, our waiter Oz was very helpful and answered all of our questions. Plenty of South American wines to choose from, for all price ranges. And as for the food...well they have about double the menu items of similar joints like Fogo de Chao. Nowhere else have I seen swordfish and salmon at a Brazilian steakhouse. The salad bar of course isn't the main attraction but was a nice little sideshow with everything you would expect, however the dessert and after dinner drink list have several great and unique options - get the papaya ice cream! We were lucky enough not to have a wait, but if we did, I wouldn't have minded hanging around the lounge for a bit either. A must go, and bring your appetite!
(5)
Lance H.
The salad bar is awesome, the meats are amazing, and the leg of lamb with the mint seasoning was really special. I also had their Brazilian Mojito and flan - can't wait to go back for more! Oh, and the service is great too :-)
(5)
Mary W.
I give the dining experience here an A++++, but what I just discovered is their outdoor happy hour seating area. It is perfect! White lounge sofas and chairs next to the relaxing water fountains. You're automatically served complimentary bread, seafood spread, and kibbeh. You can order if you like or jig sit back and kick it with friends. Definitely need good weather to chill out there but it's so worth checking out!
(5)
Alex S.
I've been here numerous times. Generally reasonably tasty food, though very expensive. Most recently, I discovered an apparently new trick of theirs. A few evenings ago, my party and I were 3/4 through the meal, & still wished to be served more meat. We signaled this appropriately to the staff, who started to bring meat that was VASTLY over-seasoned with BLACK PEPPER - completely inedible. We dismissed the instance of this, thinking that it was random. However, THREE FURTHER similarly inedible servings of different meats later, it seemed this was no coincidence: we were being less-than subtly told that they wanted to close shop for the night, and get us out of their hair. I'd venture to say this is a rather crude attitude to client service. There are better ways to communicate.
(1)
Ateet A.
I have been to many different Brazilian Steakhouses including Fogo de Chao, Texas De Brazil, Chima, the Grill Club in Naples, and others. My favorites have always been Fogo and Chima. Chima is located in the Mclean/Vienna area therefore making it easier to get to if you want some good meat rather than drivign all the way to DC for Fogo. Chima is a nice restaurant, great staff, very hospitable, great services and fantastic food. I have tried all cuts of meat and fish and they have been amazing! In fact I was just there this past weekend again and my family was in town visiting from out of town so we brought them there and we had a blast. Good Food, Good time, Chima! Will of course be back!
(4)
Danielle A.
If it hadn't been restaurant week, I most definitely would NOT have been able to afford this venue. Knowing that, I made sure to wear my most pretentious blazer. I assumed I would be in haughty company (not including the lovely ladies I accompanied) but I wasn't 100% correct. The best part about that place was the giant salad\food bar monstrosity commanding the center of the restaurant. Little men came around with meat on swords. They had boasted over 200+ (or less, but equally ridiculous number) types of meats. Everything looked the same to me and it all was equally as dry. I filled up mostly on the food bar options, but I was ok with that. I wasn't very impressed and I'm sure the only reason I'd ever go back was if it was restaurant week again.
(2)
Sebastian W.
We had an early reservation for dinner at Chima in Tyson's Corner on Sat. Night. Dinner for 2 at such a popular place on Cinco de Mayo? I expected that it would be busy. It was filling up as we left. My husband ordered the Rodizio (meats). I decided to go for the salad bar, knowing that it included soup, smoked, artichokes, hearts of palm, asparagus, deliciously crisp broccoli, cheeses, calamari salad and so much more. Even the "I really don't like salad or veggies" eater can't help but fill a plate. Or so it appeared. I added a french bread roll for my salmon and then headed back to the table that was appointed with those interesting appetizers from Brazil: the cheesy-popover roll, yucca fries, and a few unidentified yummies. We slowly savored the salad bar treats. Our waiters were solicitous, available and easy-going. When we departed, about 8 p.m, it was still light out. We could enjoy the view of the fountains outside and there were children playing in them. While I do not suggest that you have your children accompany you for that purpose, it did add a little normalcy to the Tyson feel. With construction in an already built up area, I don't think Tyson's is the mecca that others may. But the hidden away spot of CHIMA erased that a little. Fortunately we had not taken advantage of the valet parking so we could stroll to the parking garage. Did I say stroll or roll?
(5)
Jamie C.
YES PLEEEEZ!!!! :D That was really the only thing I could say when I was there...why would anyone say no to an endless variety of meats (okay...vegans)...COMING TO YOU!! Not only do you not have to go anywhere, but they'll politely ask "How do you like it?" (cutting a section into the meats so you'll be able to see if the temperature suits you...usually they have a variety floating around and they'd be more than happy to go fetch something if you wanted it more well done or alive.. Maternity clothing a must!! Signing up for their promotions will usually tell you when to go and it'll be about $35 for the carnivore's delight.. (full meal, not just salad)
(5)
Aaron B.
I just had the worst Caesar salad of my life, but at least it took only 40 minutes to arrive. The chicken was unseasoned and cooked until it was bone dry (no wonder it took so long) and the whole thing was served in a bowl that made it impossible to eat. To those who say "why would you go to a steakhouse and get the salad?". Because that's what I wanted. If they're going to half-ass it, they shouldn't put it in the menu.
(1)
Valerie W.
The salad bar is absolutely huge! It is fun finding things to pair with the various meat selections. The servers bringing the meats around to the tables are super fast and really nice. This place is a good go to for special occasions.
(5)
Shalu K.
Everything is here decent. Some of the meats, like the Lamb are really good. I have been here on a regular night and it was good. I most recently went on a night where they had restaurant week going on so a few of the meats are not included, which is fine and I expected and then it includes dessert. This is where my problem starts. I know we are not going to get a huge portion like we normally do but what they gave us was laughable. It was literally ONE bite of the key lime pie. If you are going to include dessert, include it. Don't say you are going to include it and then just put one bite on a plate. I would have rather paid the $35 just for the meal without the impression that I was getting dessert with it. This is a nice place and should live up to its reputation.
(3)
Izzy H.
Two stars because the food was great. But the service sucked. All I will say is, if your going to spend a whole lot of money on a tastey meal, you shouldn't have to catch your check as your server literally throws it at you while saying "well here if you want it." Rude, unprofessional, disorganized.... If you want a good Brazilian steakhouse, you will get much better service for nearly the same price at Fogo de Chao or Texas de Brazil.
(2)
Ibis W.
Every time that I've been here the service have sucked. A lot. I come in a large group and they take your 18% assumed tips and there won't be a shadow of a waiter again until they come to drop off the bill. I come for a date night and even after they asked if we were in for a special occasion the service was still very minimal - even accounting the fact that we arrived pre-dinner rush. On several occasions my cocktail orders never materializes, despite repeated request. Really? No cocktail? That's how you know the service staff really don't give a flying fuck. Once I held on to the dessert menu for a solid 30 minutes before someone came to take the order... then it was followed by a whole hour of wait to pay for the check. Should have just walked out. Chima for me no mas.
(2)
precious s.
My Family and I are In Love Okay so my better half and son took me here for Mother's Day last month and I must say for our first Brazilian Steakhouse experience it rocked! My 10 yr old son was amazed at all the meat and the waiters were so attentive with him, even convinced him to try lamb! And he loved it! He wants to go back for his 5th grade graduation dinner! We will be back 18 Jun. Oh the meat, so tender, not too salty just right. Also I like how you get appetizers to snack on until you are settled in and ready to tackle the meat! This is our new favorite spot.
(5)
Michelle I.
Who doesn't love all you can eat meat? Came here the other day to finally use the gift card my husband and I gave my parents two xmases ago. Having been to Fogo de Chao and liking the whole Brazilian, gaucho-wearing, eat until you start sweating meat thing, I was really excited to try Chima. I made reservations through OpenTable and we were seated right away. The service was pretty good. We had a couple people attending to us. They gave us some appetizers to munch on before we got started on the salad bar and meat. My favorite was the cheese balls. Like Fogo, they have a salad bar to fill you up on so you don't eat too much of their meat. They have an okay selection of salads, cured meats, and cheeses. But who really cares about the salad bar, the real star is the meat! Now for the meat. They had chicken, pork, lamb, and beef. I didn't try the chicken or pork, because I eat that all the time at home. Overall, the lamb and beef were tasty - about the same as Fogo. My favorite cuts were the leg of lamb, sirloin, and the beef ribs. They offer a variety of sauces and side dishes to accompany the meal such as BBQ sauce, chimichurri, horseradish, rice, beans, etc. These can be found next to the salad bar. They bring a couple side dishes right to your table. We got fried polenta, mashed potatoes, and plantains. I wasn't a fan of the mashed potatoes. The consistency of it was like glue =/ Overall, my family and I enjoyed our dinner at Chima and would definitely come back.
(4)
Alyssa K.
Worth the splurge. The food is yummy and the servers are very very attentive.
(4)
Cynthia L.
This place isn't great for big parties, but my boyfriend & I love the ambiance and food here. I like that this place has complimentary valet & takes reservations...makes my life easier. It's dinner only and $49.50 (excluding drinks & tip) per person, but very worth it for those who have never gone. The top sirloin is our favorite along with the complimentary tapas they serve. Don't load up too much on the (fresh) salad bar or you won't have room for the meat! The drinks are made very strong and the wine selection is huge...def a place worth visiting!
(5)
Arthur K.
I confess that it sorta stopped being cost-effective for me to go to buffets. I went to Chima and threw in the towel in about 20 minutes. Sad. However, the food was excellent. Good quality meat. I usually don't like lamb, but it was pretty decent here. Of course, the steak was awesome. The garlic parmesan pork was a nice change of pace too. One of the reasons I got full so fast was the pace of the servers bringing food. That's definitely a plus. The salad bar was overhyped by a certain friend of mine. But it was still pretty good. Service was good. Just enough for 4 stars.
(4)
Liz A.
ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhÂh. It was ok. It was definitely a lot of meat but not very flavorful and not a lot of variety. For example - the chicken - there was just cubes of chicken or cubes of chicken with bacon around it :S. I'm glad I went but I don't think I'll go there again.
(3)
Miss M.
A meat-lover's paradise! The salad bar is amazing, but don't fill up on it too much. The cheese bread is also incredible - it was hard not to eat too much of that either. But you'll want to save room for the delicious meats! The picanha (sirloin) is their signature meat and was my favorite. The meats were also not overly salty. The bacon-wrapped chicken was very good and moist (most other Brazilian steakhouses serve chicken that is too dry but Chima did a great job!). We went during restaurant week, which I felt was a great deal. But it'd be worth the $49 on a special or seldom occasion. I docked my review one star for the parking. There is nowhere to park, though they offer free valet. However on Saturday nights it gets busy and you might be waiting awhile for your car! Overall it was a great experience though - better than Texas De Brazil. I'd come again for sure!
(4)
PauLine R.
meat sweats. that's all i gotta say about that. it's the kinda place that makes you wanna wear your pants with the full-on elastic band. it's that serious. i starved myself the entire day - in preparation for this glorious meal. i told myself that i would eat every single piece of meat that came my way. i would own this brazilian steakhouse. yeaaa, didn't go quite that way. i think i got through 4-5 different kinds of meat. after that, things got kinda blurry - as i was experiencing some kind of food coma. very pleased with the food, service, and overall atmosphere. two meaty thumbs up!
(5)
Kevin Y.
Four words: Go to fogo instead. Food: The salad bar wasn't very impressive. The calamari they use was frozen and the selections were too little. The meat was good, and having fish is a plus. Service: Inattentive waiters. I sat for 30 minutes for my drink order to be taken. I am not sure if they did a system upgrade but it seems like they are taking orders on a touchscreen phone now? Bad upgrade...my waiter spend more time typing than cleaning up my table. I feel bad for the gouchos because they are literally power walking the entire time. Management: Too focused on tasking rather than managing. Saw two managers busy busing tables and sweeping rather than asking customers how their service was. I raised my hand to get his attention and he pretty much just ignored me. If you are a restaurant floor manager and all you do is bus tables, maybe you should just hire an undocumented worker; not only the labor is cheaper, he/she will probably do a better job. Overall, if you are reading this beacuse you can't decide between fogo, texas de brazil, and chima, i highly recommend going to fogo instead.
(2)
Nadia A.
I have been here a couple of times and liked it, I would def come back again. The food is good, but not great. I like the salad bar they have, I like how the servers come around with the meat and the dessert are pretty good.
(5)
Eva O.
Absolute. Carnivore. Fantasy...but dammit I can't give them a 5. They had almost everything on point. The atmosphere was a cool, light sophistication. The spacious dining area with open glass windows really struck a refreshing balance with the heavy amounts of food. The salad bar alone was enticing- calamari salad, fresh mozzarella, hard salamis, prosciutto, smoked salmon, different types of greens, etc. So I flipped my little black coin to red and instantly the circulating men were presenting skewers upon skewers of meat before me. I only went for reds since I'm a beef kind of girl and I generally hear that chicken gets dry (although my family loved it). Cannot even describe how incredibly tender the Filet mignon was. A few forkfuls of filet for tenderness, in between bites of ribeye for flavor...lethal combo. I also commend them on serving perfect size portions. Just enough to sample and enjoy without feeling like you ate half a cow. The meats you enjoy, you can always get more of (and you shamelessly will, trust me) But what really dampened the vibes for me was the service. Our server pretty much solely catered to my dad at the table as if the rest of the party wasn't even sitting there. Then upon ordering our wine, he proceeded to automatically remove my wine glass while I was away. My family explained that I was over 21 and ten minutes later he confronted me for an id. This is entirely understandable. But then his persistent questioning and telling me I looked too young just crossed the line from protocol to plain insulting. Save from the less than pleasant service, the rest of the experience was beautiful, and they will likely still see me and my young-looking self here again.
(4)
Jeremy M.
While the food was excellent, the service sucked towards the end of dinner. We sat down a little after 730, finished eating about an hour later. The servers disappeared and we never got our checks until almost an hour later. Then they over charged us $20(we split our checks) and had to wait for them to void and reprint them. Maybe they didn't care anymore since they were getting the 18% gratuity.
(2)
Anna W.
I come here once a month with my boyfriend. We love Chima. I love the salad bar, soup, rice and the cheese breads. If you only eat seafood you can also get the flippy thing just for fish. And they also only charge $35 for the fish. If you are gonna get the whole rodizio than it is $45 per person. MY BOYFRIEND AND I LOVE IT! Their top sirloin is to die for. The first time I ever had it was amazing. It felt like something was melting in my mouth. The staff is on their game and very friendly. I REALLY RECOMMEND THIS PLACE TO ANYONE!!!!!
(5)
Wai H.
Oh Chima! What can I say..I love it. I'm a huge meat guy, and quality of meat and the cut is very important for me, and Chima def has the best of both. You really have to go there hungry, and take your time when you're there. I recommend to try a lil bit of everything, I'd suggest pair it was a glass of red during dinner, which makes the meat go down a lil easier. It's definitely quality Brazilian meat, although I've never been to anything else around the area. And if I remember correctly, their salad bar was pretty good as well.
(4)
Samuel G.
Yet 'another one bites the dust' on our seemingly never ending " LivingSocial.com Coupon Tour" of local eateries. But this one gets a special 'notch' on my belt. Having eaten at both Fogo de Chao in NW DC and at Fires of Brazil, Atlanta, I thought I had seen the best food, service and atmosphere that any Brazilian steakhouse had to offer. Was I munching up the wrong skewer! Not only is CHIMA the best, but I was even more shocked to find a place of this caliber right here in our own frickin' backyard! Paul Simon or Elton John should write odes to their salad bar. The selections are fresh, plentiful and ridiculously varied (I stuck mostly with the raw broccoli, sliced tomatoes and their killer Caesar salad). Whatever you do, DON'T overdo the salad fixin's, though, because it would be a cryin' damn shame if you left yourself no room for the meat. If you are a vegetarian - why would you come here in the first place? No, seriously - if you are the kind of vegetarian who gets sick at the sight, smell or the very THOUGHT of cooked animal flesh, find an excuse to beg off and stay home, if your friends or family want to bring you here. If you're one of the kind who don't mind if everyone else around you indulges in carnivorous activity, then you'll do okay. The salad bar offers more than enough options to keep you sated and happy. If you, like me, ARE of the class "homo sapiens gorgealotus carnivorous"...Welcome to pure HEAVEN. You want beef? They have top sirloin, for starters? Chicken? Gotcha covered. Pork? Ditto. Seafood lovers? Try the incredible swordfish and/or salmon filets. And do NOT pass on the opportunity to sample the linguisa...tender, tasty, spicy sausages so crispy-brown on the outside, bursting with juicy goodness when you slice into them, and with every delectable bite. My mouth is watering just thinking about it now! JEEZ! Plus the ever-attentive wait staff is more than happy to bring you clean plates, fill your empty glass with refills (or drink replacements on-demand), and to replenish your sides...Good lord, the SIDES! Crunchy mini-beef croquettes, mashed potatoes the likes of which I haven't tasted since Mom used to make 'em from scratch, warm baskets of fresh bread, and fried plantains dusted with just enough cinnamon and sugar - you may not need to see a dessert menu! And best of all about this "Carnivores' Carnivale" is the unhurried atmosphere. Oh, yeah, it might seem a little hectic with the gauchos scurrying about with those skewers of sumptuous meats, and the waiters ducking and dodging around them like bicyclists on Route 7 at rush hour, but at NO time are you ever made to feel rushed or hurried through your meal. This is a dynamite place to bring large groups of family and friends, and because it's not the cheapest eats in the world, you WILL be able to get your money's worth if you're so inclined. BELIEVE it. And the place itself as far as decor and design goes...Well, I'll put it this way. Once we stepped through the front doors, I felt as if I had left Vienna, VA, for a fine dining experience in Vegas, L.A. or New York. It just feels like a vacation from the familiar. And I am sure looking forward to the next time we can repeat the experience!
(5)
Amanda W.
The only downfall was that I had read a review and maybe hadn't checked the date that said Chima was half the price of Fogo...not true. $46.50 for the full menu. Otherwise the food is great. Felt there was a lot more room and it felt less hectic than Fogo. Waitstaff was good if not a little flaky, but we were never really left waiting for something too long. Definitely a once a year type place.
(4)
Dmitry G.
Surprised to see negative reviews. This was the best restaurant I've been in. Great food, great drinks, great deserts. Salad bar is huge but you should go easy on it. And here is why. After salad bar they start bringing different types of meats on long swords and cut off pieces of meat right in front of you. It seems like there are 20 types of meat, you lose count. It's just awesome. Every type of meat is perfectly cooked, fresh, extremely soft and delicious. We were a big group and service was superb. I don't know if they cater same way to a small table, I was just too busy enjoying my food.
(5)
Ting W.
pricey, but you pay for what you get. the moment you sit down, grab a plate, and flip the "yes please" sign up...you're in the game to eat until you can no longer breathe. the meat is awesome...but i wish i didnt fill myself up with the chicken so i could make more room for the ribs and sirloin. def a great place to go to for a birthday party dinner, or a nice date restaurant!
(4)
Eric H.
Great atmosphere - restaurant has a nice wide open feel to it - big windows w/lots of natural light pouring in. Decor is "interesting" - looks like they switched interior designers half way through construction...a little weird but not the real reason i went there: meat. Bottom line is they're cheaper than Fogo De Chao but not as good...the picanha was "meh"...much better in DC @ FDC. The linguica sausage was decent...the caipirinhas were delicious and made traditionally. Ask for the top shelf cachaca when you get one...liquor is one thing where "you get what you pay for" becomes a reality. The salad bar was super fresh & aesthetically appealing. I would go back w/some friends and a buzz :-)
(3)
Beth S.
I used to really like this restaraunt, but now I can't even think about coming here again. I will preface this by saying I have had several good experiences at this restaraunt, but I went this past weekend for a celebratory dinner and got the worst food poisoning I've ever had. Two hospital visits within 24 hours after that dinner. I understand it's probably an isolated experience, but it's definitely not worth it to me to go there again.
(2)
Melinda C.
We had been recommended this place by a Brazilian friend who said it was better (food and price) than Fogo. We saw the July 4 deal ($34 instead of the normal $50 I think?) and took it. I moved from Boston, having lived in Inman Square for a few years, which was next to a very Brazilian part of town. I had never ever paid more than $26 a person for great Brazilian BBQ. So my only beef with this place is the price. Other than that, the meat is cooked to perfection. The greeting when we walked in and the service was great, the salad bar was fresh (mmm mozzarella balls served with proscuitto and roasted red peppers and carpaccio), the little fried cheese bread are delightful, the servers pay attention to the orange token that says 'bring me more meat, NOW' like their life depends on it, and my boyfriend kept chanting 'I'm never leaving here, I'm never leaving here'. The meat literally was cooked perfectly - I love that they have a little bit of meat cooked to all tastes on each skewer. And each bite is big enough that you can fit in other bites. The filet mignon chunks wrapped with bacon? Orgasmic. The only other thing I did not love about Chima was the sauces. Being a sauce connoisseur, I felt that the bbq sauce was like putting ketchup on on a steak. Other options were a mint jelly that looked like green jello, horseradish sauce that was good, and a hot sauce that tasted like Tabasco. That sauce serving could really be redesigned. Maybe next time I will smuggle in A1 in my purse. Don't get me wrong, the meat is the star of the show, but it could definitely use a stronger sidekick. BTW, forget the parking garage (unless it's insanely hot like last night, and you want the shade) - they have complimentary valet parking.
(4)
M M.
H. E. A. V. E. N. I absolutely LOVED this place. Being that I was in the mood to be a little carnivorous, this hit the spot tremendously. Happy that it was a Friday night, and there was no wait!! Kudos!! Walked to our table and start scoping what I want to endulge in as the men walked around the restaurant carrying steak after steak, pork after pork and chicken after chicken! The salad bar was great! And the ambience was relaxing!!
(5)
Jake K.
A buddy of mine took me here shortly after my wife finally arrived in the states after our small waitfest with immigration. After having been thoroughly enamored to the idea of all-you-can-eat meats at Malibu Grill, I looked forward to getting in and chowing down while knocking my cholesterol count over 500. When we got in, I noticed that the ambiance was much better than Malibu Grill and other similar joints I visited in the past (I haven't been to Fogo so I'll leave that one out). Nice decor and soft lighting is always a plus in my book - throw in the cute waitress with the Russian accent and they had me sold. I think they had my buddy sold too - cute Russkies always does it. The food wasn't bad - the meat was hit or miss depending on the cut. Also, I couldn't help but think that perhaps some of the beef selections were a tad salty and as Jennie said, I like my meats medium rare. I was hard pressed to find a cut that could accommodate that. Top that off with some grump "gauchos" and it was enough to have me knock off a star. The sides were plentiful and that's always a plus. you need to be able to put something else in your stomach besides grilled critters so I frequented the bar for various salads and other items. Overall, the place was a winner and certainly hits the list of places I would take the rents on their visits to the US.
(4)
Chow N.
I would say this place is a notch below Texas de Brazil at Fair Lakes. The salad bar is good, but it didn't wow me. They offer vegetable soup, while TdB has lobster bisque. They start you off with some cheese bread, which was good, along with some garlic spread and some small fried falafel(?) balls. After you order, they give you some creamed potatoes, fried cheese polenta fries, and some overfried bananas. There is a lot of variety in the dinner meats, but they were not adequately seasoned, and a bit overcooked. It seemed to me that they may have regrilled what meat was left over from lunch. I think what was lacking was the high temperature sear. Although generally tasty, most of the cuts were nearly cooked all the way through. I prefer my meat cooked medium rare to rare. Also, the fish (salmon and swordfish) was overcooked. It was like eating dried baby food. Service was somewhat attentive, but not overbearing. The dudes with the meats came by whenever you have your card flipped the right way. Unfortunately, they couldn't distinguish between less cooked vs. more cooked. I asked for medium rare/rare filet, and they sliced from the outside layer. The server was aggressive with pushing you onto the wine list or drinks from the bar. I like the more intimate setting that TdB offers, as Chima is almost like a large dark cafeteria. For the price I paid, even with the standard $20 discount, I was probably better off going to real steakhouse. Three mixed drinks were ordered which amounted to about $30. It wasn't crowded at all for a Thursday night.
(3)
Elida M.
I like Chima more than Fogo de Chao. I'm brazilian and I know what brazilian food is supposed to taste like. You could get tastier food in Brazil than you would get at either restaurant, but the reason I like Chima is because they have more options of salads, hot bar, and meat cuts than Fogo. Chima also offers fish, besides the great meat selection. Salad bar is pretty extensive.
(4)
Steven S.
Ridiculous!!! Come here to eat your last meal and boy will the coroner have a mess to clean up! It's buffet. The buffet itself is alright - nothing spectacular in my opinion, but definitely good complements to the main event - the MEAT. Servers come around to your table and slice off meat onto your plate. I mean, just wow. If you love to eat meat, come on over! What a great place to dine right after a strength endurance workout - eat up that protein! Seriously though - I've only eaten here at a wedding reception, so we had a private room. Not sure how they conduct business on the main dining floor, so perhaps you won't be seeing matadors slicing off huge slabs of meat off skewers.
(4)
Kendra M.
My boyfriend took me to Chima for dinner tonight. It was my first time and I really loved the food. I love the Waldorf Salad, Bottom sirloin and the Parmesan pork. I've never had so much food in my entire life (OK, a bit of an exaggeration there). But seriously the food was great. The only downside is I felt like such a glutton when we left. If I ever do come back I'll make sure I haven't eaten in days ;)
(5)
Natalie M.
First and last time here, meat tasted like it was from silver diner. Waited 30 min for our check and then waited 23 min to get our card back. My husband is Argentinian and the asado will blow ur socks off. If you want goods meat try a different place.
(1)
Zack S.
I've been to about 20 Brazilian steakhouses, and Chima is at a level far above any of the competition. Then only thing better than just going to Chima? That would be going to Chima's Tyson's/DC location. Chima has 5 locations: Tyson's, Charlotte, Philadelphia, Fort Lauderdale, and Brazil. Tyson's is by far the best. For an example, Chima is like the Ruth's Chris of Brazilian steakhouses, while Texas de Brazil is like going to mcdonalds. While $52.50 may seem high to some, that is about the price of just one steak from most steakhouses, while at Chima you get UNLIMITED meat (filet, ribeye, sirloin, top sirloin, flank steak, chicken, Parmesan pork, beef rib, barbecue rib, salmon, swordfish, and more), unlimited sides, and an amazing salad bar full of fresh greens, cheeses, fruit, and so much more. The meat is of very high quality and is cooked and seasoned exquisitely, all the food is fresh, and a trip to Chima is an experience you simply must have.
(5)
Kyra W.
This place is amazing. My office hosted our Christmas luncheon here and it was a great experience. Although we was limited with out meat selection it was an awesome trip. The atmosphere was awesome and the food was amazing. My favorite was the top sirloin! The desserts was normal but still enjoyed my meal.
(4)
Don I.
This is the third Brazilian steakhouse that I've been to- Rodizio's, Tucano's and while it is good, I must say it's the third best of the three. The meat cuts were good- top sirloin was outstanding as well as the ribs, but everything was was okay and the flank steak was average. The service was good, the server was friendly though we were a tough group as we didn't drink, so all the effort to sell us on the drinks was wasted. Every meal comes with a salad bar and there is plenty of variety for a salad lover- which I'm really not, but unless you have a bottomless pit of a stomach, don't overdo it here as you want to leave enough room for the meat and fish. We did break down and had dessert- the passion fruit mousse and it was delicious. Very light and when dipped in the chocolate sauce-heaven. If you can't find a free space then the valet parking is a decent option, though the garage down the street is reasonable, costing only $3 for 2 hours- less than most tips for the valet. If you like Brazilian steakhouse's then give this place a try.
(4)
Chad C.
We Love Chima's! If you want a true Meat Lovers experience, this is the place. We went for Veterans Day, they provide a free meal for those that have served our country, and I Love them for it!
(5)
SergIo C.
This place is stake heaven, it's a all you can eat stake and salad. There are seven different types of meat. There's chicken wrapped with bakon filet Mignon ribs pork or beef And salmon the price is a little high but like I said its a all you can eat it's well worth it I promise....
(5)
R K.
Went to Chima for a business dinner and the commuting and parking situations were significantly better than Fogo de Chao in DC. You can easily skip the valet service if it is the weekend or after business hours during the work week and find free parking nearby. Walking half a block is never a bad thing, especially after hitting up a rodizio. The salad bar has a decent selection and the mashed potatoes they bring you are as soft as thick apple sauce. Be sure to tell the servers which cuts of meat you prefer like I did and you'll be able to get your money's worth while not wasting valuable stomach room on chicken or pork. They have a few options for lamb so if you don't see it right away be sure to ask. Also if you are the DD, you can get non-alcoholic caipirinhas for half the listed price. They are all made fresh and I had one of each. When made right, the lime is the best. The only reason Chima's didn't get five stars was that the cuts of meat were not quiet as good as Fogo de Chao. Also we went on a slow day when only 20% of the restaurant was full and the server seemed confused that we wanted to sit at a bigger table even though the majority of them were empty and did not have reservations. The manager came over right away to apologize and cleared things up so we were reseated. However, like any chain restaurant, be sure to join their email list before going and you'll be able to get a free coupon to use.
(4)
K H.
By far my favorite Brazilian steakhouse. I have been to each of the three popular ones in the area and Chima remains my favorite. The meat is always cooked perfectly and if you have want something more rare or more well done they will always offer to cook it more or get you another cut. Fountain drinks are bottomless unlike other steakhouses, like Texas De Brazil and Fogo De Chao who will charge you $3 per coke. Their salad bar is enormous as well, you won't be disappointed. Most recently I went for my birthday party and they took a picture of our group and even printed it out for us. Excellent upscale atmosphere and great service You can always expect an excellent experience from the crew at Chima
(5)
Marco G.
Rene was excellent super professional very helpful food was amazing I wished we would of had more variety .good experience overall and the drinks were good
(5)
Justin C.
Great ambience , I prefer here than Texas de Brazil ! Meats are definitely less salty , our server Andrew was very attentive and accommodating .
(4)
Ash N.
The meat was very good. I was here for Restaurant Week. The only criticism is that it was hard to get a hold of a waiter.
(4)
Toby N.
Churasscharia - upscale nice ambiance. You don't go for the veggies but the vegetables were nice and the beets and hearts of palm were huge. I put the chimchurri sauce on the hearts. I would not mind eating appetizers in the bar for dinner.
(3)
Steve L.
Copying and pasting from my review of Texas de Brazil: I've been to Chima in Tyson's at least 4 times and would definitely go back. It's hard to say the same for Texas de Brazil considering that. Let's compare: Decor Chima: Elegant, classy Texas de Brazil: Over the top, flashy, like going to a circus Salad bar Chima: Much nicer in my opinion TdB: A surprise around every corner! (No, really, the salad bar is a square that you can't see through/around. Seems like a waste of space, and it's really annoying if other people are going to be getting food at the same time) Meats!!!!! Chima: More/better choices I think... TdB: good enough Service: Chima: Friendly, attentitive, accomodating TdB: casual almost to the point of unprofessional Another note about service. At Chima, the staff is older, and classier, tending to the businessmen of McLean. You can see this in their dress and mannerisms. It's also looks pretty cool that your orders at Chima are placed wirelessly through Palm Pilots. It's a nice place to take a date. At TdB, it looked like all goofy high school kids waiting on you. The hostesses were young and just chatting amongst themselves. Maybe it's not fair that I've come to expect more because of Chima? I now live 4 blocks down from Fogo de Chao and I'm excited to see how that is!
(4)
John K.
My company was hosting a dinner at Chima, a Brazilian steakhouse a few weeks back and I was invited to come and meet some colleagues that I hadn't met yet. Upon walking in, I found the entire establishment buzzing with activity. I noticed an outdoor deck where folks were getting their happy hour on. I walked past the bar and seated myself with some other co-workers and we were immediately invited by the wait staff to begin serving ourselves at the salad bar. The salad bar was quite good while offering a great variety of greens and other vegetables. There was a variety of sauces and dips, in addition to cold cuts and cheeses. I usually don't eat salad, but I couldn't help myself since it all looked so good. It didn't seem more than a few minutes after I launched into the salad that the servers started offering us the delicious cuts of meat. I can't quite remember, but we ate cuts of beef, lamb and chicken and it was all very tasty and juicy! The dining experience was good and I was impressed by not only with the selection of meats, but equally impressed with how much we ate! Overall, the ambiance lends itself to a good place for large gatherings and I would come again if the opportunity arose.
(4)
J L.
Wow, this place is awesome, It's expensive for person, like 50$, I don't know because I ate there for free, but just wow, the meat is cooked very well, as I love having that butter rice and salad entries to complement the meal. Great place to eat once in a while, the parking though can be annoying if you don't valet or don't find a side street spot really quickly, otherwise it's that monster parking deck for you.
(4)
Shaggy L.
If there is a Meat heaven on earth then this is it. Where do I start, I still thinking of the wonderful food paradise experience I had at this restaurant while writing this review. Everything was fantastic right from the food, the decor, ambiance, service etc.. Waiters were polite enough to ask for how we want it cooked. Bottom line: More than the food it's the experience. Do favor to yourself and make a reservation.
(5)
Caroline W.
Fun experience, but I'm not sure I would make this place a regular stop. The meat was great, and the guys with the swords come around pretty frequently. My only complaint in the meat department would be that it took about 45 minutes before we got to the filet mignon, which is what many people were looking forward to, and another 30 minutes for any kind of ribs to come by. It does seem that the chicken and more regular cuts of steak come by several times, though. As far as the salad bar.. I'm not sure what everyone is raving about. It doesn't even have the ingredients to make an excited salad. For the hot portion of the salad bar its mostly just beans and rice. None of the cheeses offered were exciting, and they only had one kind of fruit there (cantaloupe). No thanks. I know some steak places like this offer sushi and desserts in the salad bar area, but this place had no sushi and charged a TON for the few desserts they offered. $9 for the smallest slice of key lime pie I've ever seen. All in all, if you've never been to this kind of steak place, it is a lot of fun and I recommend it. It seems like a lot of people were there for birthdays, so there were a lot of big groups which gave it a fun atmosphere. But I don't expect to be a repeat customer.
(3)
Justin Y.
My mouth waters every time I think about the oh-so delicious meats with which I have engorged myself several times. My first churrascaria experience was here, and I returned 3 more times while I lived in the area. The location is a bit strange - on the first level of business building tucked away in Tyson's Corner, but the decor and ambiance are great! The drinks from the bar are always stoutly made. My friends and I love the salad/soup/rice bar. The black beans they have there taste as if they have a Brazilian cook flown in every day just to prepare them. But the real treat is the MEAT!!! My favorites include the Leg of Lamb, Ribeye, and Filet Mignon. The Pork Loin with Parmesan is a nice runner up. (My advice would be to stay away from the fish. The salmon and swordfish tend to be dry and salty.) I miss being served freshly cooked and dishes that are sliced in front of your eyes, onto your plate, then into your mouth. Hint: Go online and sign-up for the newsletter. You can get a $5 coupon. Also, don't eat anything during the day before coming here. You'll want to get as much as you can. Prepare yourself for a MEAT HANGOVER in all its glory!
(5)
James S.
This place is amazing. Everything I tried was amazing. The service is above and beyond. This is the holy Grail of Brazilian steakhouses!! I will definitely be back for more and I highly recommend this place!
(5)
Frank L.
Good meat, slow service. All in all this was a pretty good experience. The food is similar to other Brazilian steakhouses, but the ambiance here felt more restaurant like (which i liked). The people that brought the meat were nice, and would get the type of meat that you requested. My favorite beef was the Ribeye. I would suggest that they change the STOP/GO Chips and add variety, i.e. type of meat (chicken, beef, or fish) My only real complaint is that they did not split the checks, and for a group of 10, it took a while to get this correct.
(4)
Larry C.
I have to agree with the other postings. This is an excellent steakhouse.The only minor issue I have, and it could be because we went on Mother's Day, were the large number of small children and I'm not talking about well behaved little diners. I'm talking about under 12 who were loud and in many cases running around. With all the servers walking around with meat and sharp knives I would think it would be a safety issue and would have been stopped. As I said, it was Mother's Day holiday, so I will try it again to see if this is a recurring problem. I hope it isn't; I would really like to eat here often, but while I like children (raised 3 myself) I'm not prepared to tolerate the parents who think the world revolves around them and their child, especially at the price.
(4)
J. D.
One of my favorite Steakhouses, Its funny to see it listed in the buffet category but that's just because it is a top notch 'buffet'. Their salad bar/side bar is great and wide variety. All of the meats here are great and top notch as well as their swordfish. Great Value in my opinion good for groups/family events/date/drinks. Service is good sometimes overwhelming if you don't flip the coin. Either way I have been to this location as well as the one in Philadelphia great at both.
(4)
Brian C.
I love meat. Let me just get that out there right now. And this place is a meat lovers paradise! Lamb, chicken, beef, pork.... mmmmm every major meat is cooked to delicious perfection here. And the variety is where this place shines. Oh sure they have an incredible extensive salad bar buffet thing as well, and all of it really tasty and delicious. But it all just serves as compliment to the magical meats that will be arriving one by one relentlessly at your table. The only issue with Chima is that it is a little pricey, but not when you consider the quality and variety of food you are eating. I always walk out with a happy tummy and mouth, but not satisfied. Oh no, satisfaction only comes when you no longer want anymore and the desire to keep eating these hunks of wonderful protein will always be present.
(4)
Dave B.
So I am going to make this a quick review because there are some other good reviews on here for Chima. This was my first time at Chima and to be honest, it was pretty good. I went with 7 guys for a birthday and that was the best part. All of us loved the selection of meat and wine. If you love great meat and appreciate Med-Rare and Rare meat this place is for you... heck any Brazilian Steakhouse is. If you go with someone make sure that both of you can eat a lot and appreciate med-rare meat. If you cant then do not go to this place, it is a waste of money for you. To be honest if you have been to one "upscale" Brazilian Steakhouse you have been to them all. When comparing this to Fogo De Chao it is about the same but Fogo has a better spread on the salad bar, better sides and nicer people that work there. Fogo above Chima for sure. At Chima the hostesses and bartender were a little rude, to the point where 1 hour after we settled our bar tab the bartender came to our table and asked each one of us we paid our tab. We all said yes... he went away then came back saying the list of drinks and who's tab that was. One of my friends said his but he already paid, the bartender wanted to see his receipt and to sign it again. Very rude I thought and insulting. It was a weird situation. Also before we left I used the bathroom to wash my hands and use the facilities and the bathroom was really cramped, at least when compared to Fogo. If you are going to spend $50 a person for dinner at a Brazilian Steak house then go to Fogo De Chao. If you dont want to travel to DC or B-More for Fogo, then Chima will be good for you. The meats were great, sides were OK, Salad bar was OK, wine selection was great, service at the table was OK, hostess and bartender were not so good. My rank in best Brazilian and "Brazilian" Steakhouse goes like this.. 1. Fogo De Chao 2. Chima 3. Texas de Brazil 4. Malibu Grill (but I would not go back or go here, just go to Texas de Brazil if you are trying to save money)
(3)
David W.
A carnivore's frenzy awkwardly restrained by a temperate ambiance. The concept is gorging on an endless stream of raw meat, why do they bother with class ? It can only cut into beer sales. Be sure to register on their website and get the 2 for 1 coupon.
(4)
Katie M.
Table of 6- great for a large party, but the place is crowded and loud, so don't expect a conversation. Guys all had the full deal with the gaucho meat and salad bar, gals all just had the salad bar (which in itself has tons of hot and cold items, and is MORE than enough for any meal- protein offerings there as well). The chicken soup and the Chima rice were two of my favorites. Overall, not really impressed. Although the place touts that it has 16 selections of steakhouse items, the gauchos seemed slow, and there was more than enough of chicken and sausage, and less of the salmon, swordfish, and fillet. The Parmesan crusted pork, while it sounded great, was perhaps the worse of the bunch. Best, the bacon wrapped chicken. All meat was extra salty, wine was expensive by the glass (get a bottle- house is 10/glass but around 32 a bottle), and liquor drinks were super-expensive. Gaucho's were attentive with clean plates and additional side items (mashed potatoes, cheese bread, etc), but for what you pay (49.50/person/dinner), a night at any other traditional steakhouse would have been much more enjoyable for our entire group (they did give the birthday guest a huge serving of tiramisu, though). The quality of the meat just didn't match up to the quantity. It's a fancy, modern decorated, expensive Ponderosa.
(2)
Heidi M.
I'm a huge fan of brazilian churrasco! Sad to say I was very dissapointed when I came here. For restaurant week no filet mignon, prime rib or lamb! But to begin with, within matter of minutes after being seated, one of the waiters dropped a bottle of wine as well as glass, everywhere. A group of waiters proceeded to pat down the customer who got wet. That should have been our que to leave. They sat us at a table near the kitchen which was against the wall- the entire time we were there waiters literally squeezed their way through the chair where my bf was sitting and the wall to get to the kitchen- there were other ways to get there! Not suprising, one of the waiters spilled HOT coffee all over his back! And when I say back, I mean the whole back down to the pants. He didnt even apologize and kept going about his way, came back LATER to see if he was ok. Really!? I was expecting some type of refund since he had to sit like that for the rest of the night, so joking I said, he'd like to see the mngr. Well, he came and apologized, tried to accomodate us and said to make things better he'd give us(6 ppl) a dessert. However, dessert was already included in our "restaurant week" deal. I felt really ripped off, he knew he could have offered another alternative like taking his tab off since he had to endure hot coffee and walk around with a wet/stained shirt for the rest of the night. For the price you're paying you'd think you'd get better service and food. The waiter dissapeared for a good amount of time, and at the end of the night "forgot" we could choose whatever dessert we wanted for the coffee incident(restaurant week was limited to 2 choices) Meat was too dry and didn't have that taste that churrasco has(underseasoned). The salad bar was pretty good had a big selection to choose from. I've gone to Fogo de Chao and would say DEFINITELY a better option if you're looking for a good brazilian steakhouse. Chima never again.
(1)
dae l.
First I'll that the reason why I'm only giving it three stars is because I'm taking price into consideration. First time to one of these. Bar area is nice and spacious with an outdoor area as well. Since the place wasn't too busy, there was enough seats for everyone but if there's a couple of large parties, seating in that area would be an issue. Drinks are reasonably priced except for the Ultimate Margarita. I suppose they use some fancy tequila but didn't bother looking. While waiting to be seated you can enjoy their bread and mixed nuts. The bread kind of reminded me of Sweet Water Tavern's round bread except it wasn't so crispy. It took a while for our party of 9 to be seated but once we were, the ambiance in the dining area was pretty nice. FYI we arrived arrived at ~7:15 on a Tuesday night and waited about an hour to be seated. Seats were comfortable and it wasn't too loud - at least when we were there. Salad bar had a good selection and someone who doesn't want to gorge themselves on just meat can definitely make a decent meal from here. Although frankly that'd be quite a waste of money but hey if you're going as a group and have no say in the matter at least there's something to eat. I did wish they had some more vegetables to mix into the salad like cucumbers or cherry tomatoes but at least the greens were fresh with no obvious signs of wilt. I didn't bother trying any of the soups as they were too heavy for me. Besides greens, they offered smoked salmon and carpaccio which was a nice starter to the meal to ensue. The service of the meat was immediate once we came back to the table from the salad bar. I personally would have preferred they gave us a few minutes to eat our salad in peace. I know they have that little card you flip to say No Thank You but by default it was flipped on the side that was requesting meat and the servers came almost before I sat down. The quality of the cooking [of the meat] varied more than I would have expected even of the same cuts. Some were nice and others were chewy. The flavoring of the steaks were ok - nothing spectacular. I guess that's what the sauces at the salad bar was for upon hindsight? I did not have any of the bacon wrapped meats but I'm sure those were flavorful by themselves being wrapped in bacon. The pork ribs were also just ok; I've had better at regular BBQ joints. Most of the cuts of beef came around regularly along with chicken and sausages but the lamb chops only came once (we were there 1.5 hours). The lamb chop that I had tasted like lamb unlike for some other reviewers but it was overcooked so I definitely did not enjoy it. The leg of lamb, of course, was undercooked - luckily I don't mind eating rare (I asked for medium). Disappointments: no fish was ever offered. :( except for the smoked salmon at the salad bar. 1/2 of the guys at our table never had our dishes replaced even when they were dirty or piled with bones. I specifically had to ask mine to be replaced when I noticed they were ignoring our half the table. No salad fork and knife unless they were somewhere at the salad bar which I missed. No server that comes and ask you if something more was needed e.g. wine. Water was never refilled. No wine or water towards the end. One pair of tiny salt and pepper available for the entire table of 9. The wine list wasn't huge but had decent selection available with the usual restaurant markup. Dessert menu was the same, not a huge selection but they did have all the important ones along with port and coffee. The check of course was a pretty sizable and I wasn't so sure we wouldn't have been better off going somewhere else for that price. I know I would have preferred somewhere else where I could enjoyed a more flavored steak, with a better salad and a bigger wine selection for less but that's just me. At least one guy at our table thoroughly enjoyed his meal here. :) Parking does not seem to be an issue here for dinner. They have valet as well as a parking garage available. Not sure how much the parking garage is, if any, as when I left a little after 10 there was no fee. Personally would I come back here again with my friends? No, while the variety of meats was nice it reminded me more of a fancy buffet where the quality of cooking wasn't as good as you would expect to get from a regular high end steak house. I'd personally rather get less but better cooked meals than more mediocre food. But hey if you're hungry and you just want to eat a lot of meat that tastes ok (not great but not bad) then this would definitely be an excellent place to visit.
(3)
Afshin D.
1/2013. Let me just stop you here!!! Don't go there and expect a good service. The service is suck big time. Its a shame, the service in that place is going down. If the service was the main part of this business, most-likely they would have gone under by now. The truth is people go there for all you can eat meat and this is the only way they are surviving. 4/12- I've been to this place a plenty of times in past but they are slowly going down. I went there with several of my friends and the waiter was just out of it. I've never experienced such a service with them before. The poor guy forgot to refile our drinks, refresh our plates, bring the stuff that comes with the table, over all he was a mess. The kicker was, after I asked him for the check it took 20-25 min to bring the damn thing. I gave them the 3 stars just due to the fact that I've actually enjoyed place in past. Maybe better luck next time
(2)
Brenda B.
Excellent service! The meats are very good. And they come around, table to table, with their selections very frequently if you have your indicator on 'go.' You're able to stock up in 5 minutes!! =) Their salad bar is amazing compared to a lot of other brazilian steakhouses I've seen. Lots of different selections. I'd say the only 2 things I can complain about were the lamp chops and Parmesan chicken. The lamb tasted like sausage (bleh, dont like sausage!). I love lamb and I was disappointed. The chicken was hard and chewy. The steaks were delicious! Soft and tender! After dinner the waiters brought every other person at the table (we had a large group) a different dessert from their menu. We all tried a little of each and they were delicious! The cheesecake was soo yummy and there was a chocolate truffle cake that was absolutely out of this world! 2 small scoops of raspberry ice cream was served with it, complimented it very well! OH and the wine wall is AMAZING!! I want one!! =)
(4)
myung k.
Prettty dang freakin good. I've come here on two occasions and it was paid for by someone else, so I can't say much on that. However, pricing aside, I've gotta say I really enjoyed my eating time here. ONE THING i do have to say is, I stopped using those button things and my two other dining buddies started just calling the servers over at one point. My favorite by FAR were the pork ribs.. Ridiculously good. The prime rib was also buttery tender. The salad bar itself consisted of many different things that were to my delight. The only problem here is, I leave so ridiculously full I don't know what to do with myself afterwards. DARNIT should not have logged unto yelp at this time of the hour because I am seriously craving this place now. eeeerrr someone give me some savory meat!
(4)
Jay W.
I've eaten at the Ft Lauderdale, FL Chima several times and always loved everything about the dining experience there. I was curious to try the DC location to see how they matched up. This was also a "first date" location, so it was even more important for the DC spot to be on par with the Lauderdale location. I was truly impressed with the consistency in experience here. The vibe is super classy, warm, and lively. Service was superb (minus snooty girls at the front) and the food was excellent. This is some of the best beef and lamb you could ask for. Date and I had a few Ketel One and redbull drinks .... They were lighter in the redbull, which is preferable. Date really liked the experience, (she'd never been there before either, and is a fellow "foodie"). Chima DC will be seeing me again for sure ....
(5)
Edgar l.
This place is the ish! Ive been to Chima about 4 times now and love it! I've introduced so many of friends to this place and its become one of our go to spots. You have to starve yourself for most of the day before you go here. Trust me it worth it! The key is to order water as your drink and go lite on the salad bar because you wanna get your moneys worth on the meats! its a must go to! you wont regret it!
(5)
C S.
Chima is the first Brazilian Steakhouse that the Missus and I visited after a terrible evening with one of their competitors. We loved the idea of the Brazilian Steakhouse and were quite happy when we found this as a replacement. Like other BS's, Chima has a big salad bar and the goucho's walking around with the various cuts of meat. To the Missus and I, the salad bar alone is worth the trip. It is quite plentiful with cold, and hot foods. You can easily fill a plate, or two, and not even need to sample the fine meats wandering around the restaurant. Aside from the typical salads and toppings, there is smoked meats, and a variety of cheeses to choose from. On the hot side, there are soups & steamed rice to warm you up. There is also the meats. The selection is pretty comparable to other BS's, but I think Chima is the only BS I've visited that also has a fish platter along side the beef, poultry and pork selections. The Missus and the guy fish platter guy will have in depth conversations about which of the accompanying sauce choices go best with which fillet of fish. Chima's atmosphere is a kind of different to say the least. It's a very large open area with a pull down, transparent screen in the middle of the restaurant. On this screen they project concerts by, whay I can only guess as being, south american or european adult contemporary performers. It's kind of different. Some of the tables are a little close to the screen and I've had the light from the projector in the corner of my eye while seated for dinner. We've been there a few times and only had one real bad experience with poor service. On one visit the waiter we had seemed a bit off-put when we didn't allow him to give us the "welcome to chima" speech, and then didn't order any alcoholic drinks. We spent the rest of the meal dying of thirst as we couldn't get any refills out of this guy, and waited forever to get him to get the check to us. We haven't seen this gentleman since, and have had nothing but great service since.
(4)
Eugenia H.
We went to Tysons Chima for my birthday. During the time we were there, two Managers came by to say hello and they purchased dessert for us. We have been to Fogo in DC once and have written them off since. Fogo rushed our whole experience. We were rushed to sit, eat, and pay. It was a horrible date experience. We had a great time at Chima and were in the restaurant as long as we wanted. We have kids and enjoy spending quality time during our dates. Thanks for the great atmosphere and experience Chima!
(5)
Brad H.
Salad bar is 4-star. The meats are 2-star. I have never tasted 'gamey' beef, but that is what their fillet tasted like. The sausage was dry and non-exciting. The bacon-wrapped fillet was all about the bacon, instead of the fillet....you could barely taste the fillet. The ribs were pathetic....rough, dry, stuck to the bone. The salmon was dry (but the smoked salmon on the salad bar was fabulous). The service was very good. Overall, this was extremely disappointing. This restaurant is all about the meat and the meat was terrible. If the meal was under $20 a person, I would have given it more stars.
(2)
Carey A.
This place is very similar to Fogo in D.C, and we actually prefer Chima. We went with my sister and her husband on a sat. night and it was pretty crowded. Make sure not to eat for at least 8 hours before coming to this place or you definitely will not get your moneys worth. The restaurant itself is semi trendy and you will find everyone from families to businessmen dining here. They have a very extensive salad bar so that you can feel a little healthy while stuffing your face with sausages and mooing cows. The waiters run around with so many different cuts and kinds of meats, going from table to table....and they usually look to see if you token is green or red. The way it works is...you have this token which you can turn to green, which is short for "bring on the meat" or red, which means "skip for me for now". I really enjoyed the food and ambiance, but I left pleasantly plump and wasn't really able to enjoy the experience we had because I was so full....I guess I could have eaten less, lol! I think Chima would make for a great dining experience, especially with a group of people.
(4)
Jennifer I.
Awesome! My bf surprised me and took me here the other night and wow, I wasn't expecting an all-you-can-eat meat buffet. The salad bar was amazing, the hot food bar was lacking a little bit of variety but the selection of meat was amazing. I also didn't realize you had to turn over the mini-coaster-like card they put on your table to signal when you're interested in more meat or not...and I kept wondering why we were getting bombarded even though we had full plates! The waiter finally told us...and then we felt dumb. But, it was a great time, very nice place (mostly filled with an after-work crowd on the weekday) and they had a nice selection of wine. Next time I come here I'll make sure I don't eat anything beforehand so I'll have room to try a little more than I did this past visit (yes, I'm that fat when it comes to a delicious dinner!). Overall, great experience and I will definitely be back. PS I enjoyed the aladdin-like pants the waiters wore...extra entertaining after a bottle of wine, too.
(4)
Denis M.
I love this place. Try everything they bring by, you'll be in for a treat. Of all the Brazillian steakhouses that I've been to, this is a cut above the rest. The decor is excellent, and the atmosphere is jovial. The salad bar has an excellent selection as well -- but don't fill up too much there!
(4)
Daniel K.
Went for my brofam (brother from another mother)'s bachelor dinner (he's not the partying sort, and neither am i). His DC friends made the reservation. The restaurant is located in this kinda isolated office towers complex on the ground floor. Apparently it's close to a really big shopping center. Anyways when you enter, it's pretty spaces all dimly lit and lots of darker colors (like mahogany). I've been to a few churrascarias and this one didn't seem much different than the others (fogo, churrascaria plataforma). They have a pretty good salad bar and their meats were pretty well cooked and tasty. To be honest i wasn't paying too much attn to the food since the lakers' game was on (against nuggets for the conference finals), but i remember enjoying it nonetheless. Oh and the service was very very good. If i'm EVER in dc again and just happen to go to a churrascaria, i'd go here again.
(4)
Jerry L.
Truly a meat lover's paradise. Some notes: + I've said it once, and I'll say it again: coupons, people, coupons. Between Restaurant.com , LivingSocial, Groupon, and Chima's own direct mail postcards (if you live in the surrounding Tyson's area), you shouldn't ever be paying full price to eat here. Food always tastes better when its cheaper! To me anyway. + Interior design was very nice: "trendy without the try-hard", as my buddies would say. I thought the mood lighting at dinner time was particularly nice - not too dark, but almost romantic, in a get-ready-to-make-love-to-the-grilled-meat kind of way. + I appreciated that the tables were spread pretty far apart: its always nice to feel spacious and free at all-you-can-eat establishments (helps me eat more?) and not have to unwittingly eavesdrop on other diners' conversations. + Our server, Ricardo, was genuinely polite, funny and on point. Small plate appetizers and waters were promptly refilled and he routinely checked up on us without being intrusive. + I know the focus is the meat-on-the-swords, but a salad bar with fresh arugula and nice cuts of AYCE prosciutto, bresaola, and soppressata? Win. + I think the Picanha (top sirloin), medium rare, narrowly edged out some other contenders for my favorite cut of meat. + The sauce they had for the salmon was a winner: give it a try. + Free valet so you don't have to roll yourself to your car in a distant parking lot after your 5,000 calorie dinner. - It is a bit pricey sans coupons/discounts. I wouldn't say its not worth it and I understand that the pricing is consistent with other more upscale churrascaria's (Fogo), but you should be prepared to spend over $100 for dinner for two. - The one ding on the ambiance: they were showing Cirque Du Soleil (?) on a giant flatscreen in the middle of the dining area, directly where my chair was facing. Pretty weird and a bit distracting. Just let your patrons focus on the tasty food and good service. - To the poor grilled chicken "gaucho": It sucks that you got stuck having to serve the cut of meat the majority of people skip in favor of beef or something more tasty, but stop coming to our table and repeatedly offering it to us with puppy-dog eyes and then walking dejectedly away when I politely decline! Final tip: I am not a young man anymore. I can't eat pure meat for an hour and think that everything's just going to be fine and dandy with my digestive system. More than that, I enjoy cutting all that salty beef with some greens. Do yourself a favor and fix yourself a nice salad. It won't take up that much space. You'll still get your money's worth. If you're Asian like me or just crave some carbs at your meals, follow these two easy steps: get a small bowl of rice, mix in a quarter of a garlic butter ball, and voila! a very tasty accompaniment for your picanha.
(4)
Yelper O.
I enjoyed the tranquility in this restaurant. The readily available staff. The salad bar is so good that I stuffed myself more with veggies and such than meat. Meats were good, don't try the fish cuz it's not worth the space in your stomach. It was dry and flavorless.
(4)
Steven S.
My girlfriend and I tried this place awhile back because they offered employees of her company a significantly reduced all-you-can-eat meal. Paying full price was a bit much for my budget, but at the reduced rate of $25-ish a person, we thought it would be worth a visit. Finding this place can be a bit tricky and you're basically forced to use the valet. It's easy enough, just not my style. Once inside we were immediately seated and our friendly waiter explained the whole guachos-with-meat process to us. Our server also knew nothing about the special deal we were supposed to get, but a quick trip to his manager cleared everything right up. As others have commented, the salad bar was great. Lots of options, some familiar, some not so familiar. I liked just about everything on there, but I found a few dishes to be a little over the top and unnecessary, such as the corn paste thing which was basically mayonnaise with chunks of corn in it. However, the reason you come here is for the meat. Throughout the evening we both ended up trying just about everything that was offered to us. I found that certain meats, like the flank steak, came circling around much more often than say, the bacon-wrapped chicken or filet mignon. Understandable, but I found myself saying "no thanks" to certain gauchos a little too often in the hopes that some other chunk of skewed beast passed my table next. My girlfriend got a glass of wine, which was delicious and paired nicely with the various types of beef, but I found the whole wine list to be a little on the pricey side, even for DC standards. $11 a glass isn't horrible, but I guess they value quality of wine over it's price. Another hat tip for the service: The dude on what looked like a blind date at another table near us had some sort of cell phone from hell that had a screen brightness of 100 iPhone flashlights that never went off. He kept this terror clipped to his belt, facing outward for all in the dimly-lit restaurant to be blinded by. We asked our server to see if he could have the guy turn it off or something, and he happily obliged. We felt a little bit like "that couple" but all went well. Would I go back to Chima? Probably not, mostly because it's way out in Tysons. Did I have a good time and some tasty meat while I was there? Certainly.
(4)
Shawn S.
Chima provides a "trendy/hip" lounge bar to a traditional Brazilian Steakhouse. Bring a date, bring a business partner, bring your friends. As you valet your car, and walk into the restaurant you'll normally (5-7pm) see the hip after work crowd hanging out. especially in the summer when the outside is open. Definitely get a drink at the bar, (don't get a appetizer (dinner will stuff you...) The main dining area is large, and spacious. At the table they will bring you copious amounts of MEAT. TONS OF MEAT. All kinds of Meat. did i mention meat? The salad bar also provides you your greens, and your rice/beans. They also bring you plantains, spinach... remember to use your "button" to red to STOP the meat!!!! All in all, great wines, great foods!
(4)
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
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Address :8010 Towers Crescent Dr.,Suite 100
Tyson's Corner-Vienna, VA, 22182
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Raul C.
I've been here twice already and will definitely come back again. I like the staff, they are very patient with their customers. The salads are great and the meat is unbelievable.
(5)Terry C.
Just had dinner here, and it was great. The service and food was on point. However, when I got the rack of lamb..it was a bit dry. Flank steak was a bit burnt, which was kinda unyummie. Overall, I had a great dinner.
(4)Sincere M.
Nothing short from disappointment .. Was there for a tasting of a specialty Brazilian rum, that was accompanied by 3 appetizers. - steak skewers were way over cooked (both times) - chicken and pineapple bits was horribly prepared (dark meat) -cherry tomatoes w/ mozzarella (eh) Not impressed what so ever; bartenders neglected us (2 people) as well as everyone else around the bar that was complaining (a staff of 4 bartenders). Not attentive, never checked on us, never asked if we needed anything else, to top off being charged right when we got seated (very tasteless). Now I remember why I haven't come back in a while.
(2)Christine M.
Great meal here- as others have mentioned big fan of the cheese bread. I would also say to try the potatoes because they do not look appetizing but are delicious. We did the restaurant week menu and our favorite by far was the garlic butter sirloin. Our server was not very friendly or helpful which is the reason for the 4 stars.
(4)Marcus F.
The fried plantain and ice cream are the best items on the menu. Everything else was a disappointment. We heard Chima was better than Texas De Brazil and we heard WRONG. The salad bar was a let down (nothing special), the mashed potatoes tasted like cream soup, the vegetable soup looked like cheese whiz, most of the meats tasted bad and were either dry or not seasoned right. Texas de Brazil is MUCH better. Don't waste your money at Chima.
(1)Dani P.
Meat meat meat. A fellow Yelper invited us for Restaurant Week. They had a slightly limited menu for $20 less. The limitation was pretty negligible (especially when it's endless food) though, so it's a great deal. My vegetarian friend decided to accompany us. She told me the salad bar was good. I'm thinking.... how can a salad bar be good enough to convince a VEGETARIAN to come to a steakhouse?! This salad bar isn't ordinary. It includes so many different options outside of salad, including soups, fish, cheeses, cheese balls that I couldn't 100% identify... you have to force yourself not to load your plate up there lest you not be able to eat your weight in meat. The meat was good as expected. Slightly disappointed in the bacon-wrapped filet, which my husband was VERY excited to try. I'm really impressed with the deserts; I had a heavy flan. My husband had the key lime pie and this was probably the lightest, fluffiest key lime pie I've ever experienced. Amazing. I would definitely return, though not frequently since it is expensive and I'd like to not gain 500 pounds or have a heart attack.
(4)Victoria S.
Came here for DC restaurant week. For just north of $35, one can get table appetizers (cheese bread, beef fritters, polenta and mashed potatoes), unlimited gourmet salad bar (along with rice and beans), 10 different kinds of grilled meats on the rodizio (included different sirloin cuts, pork loin, swordfish, salmon, flank steak, sausage, and chicken), and dessert. (cheesecake or ice cream) The selections from the salad bar were plentiful (included different wheels of cheese, beef carapaccio, smoked salmon, heart of palm, quinoa, and many veggies). The meats were well-seasoned and flavorful (gauchos came by the tables often with the rodizios). The restaurant week deal was great, but wouldn't mind coming back on a regular night to try the other types of meats (lamb, filet, ect). I couldn't eat my dessert and had to take it to go. Food aside, the service was friendly, the ambience was nice, and the free valet parking was also a plus. The only downside is that I was so full I had to roll myself out of the eatery.
(4)Julie H.
I've eaten here so many times and even though I'm not big on buffet restaurants, it's one of my favorite. I've been to a few other Brazilian steak houses and by far Chima has been the best. And especially if you are a meat lover...this place is meat heaven. They also have fish. All of their meats are seasoned and cooked/grilled perfect! Sometimes some meats are a bit salty. I love their fresh cheese/salad/fruit bar!! And I love the little side dishes they bring out to you. They bring you about 3-4 small side dishes and one of my favorite is their cheese balls. So delicious! However, when the restaurant is busy, their service does get slow and sometimes the food doesn't come to you for 15-20 minutes or more. Can't forget to mention about their bar. They have great selections of alcohol/wine and/or yummy cocktails. It's great to go here for big group dinner or a date or just for you.
(4)Keiko M.
A DC Restaurant Week Dinner. I got to make a reservation at 5:45pm. It's too popular to make a reservation around normal dinner time. When I went there, it was already packed. When I left there, so many people were waiting around the entrance. Price:$35( You can not get some nice meat like lamb, rib eye, top sirloin, etc... it comes with 1 dessert.) Taste: Good. Meat was ok. Pork rib was pretty good. They have tasty sauces, which I used a lot. Swordfish and salmon were just good. You must ask waiters about them every time you wanna eat. Salads, cheese, and soup are ok. I prefer Fogo's ones. Quinoa salad and kale salad were my favorites. Their cheesecake was nothing special. Too much flour. Not rich at all. Ice-cream was better. I ate it with fried bananas on the table. Cheese bread and some crispy fries were really tasty. Interior: Contemporary and Cool. I don't need TVs though. Customer Service: It took a long time to get a bill. Parking lot: 2 hours for $3 or valet parking. There are free ones, if you walk longer than 5-10 minutes.
(3)Sarah S.
While I had been here a couple of times for networking events I was curious about the meat meal experience. It is worth noting the bar is nice and when the weather is pleasant the patio area a is good place to sit and chat over a good drink. Hubby and I decided to visit for Restaurant Week. I had read reviews and was not sure what to expect, especially as someone coming for RW. The 'menu' lists the RW option and the full option (about $55). As a couple of folks noted the difference included the filet mignon and lamb. I did not feel like the waiter was pushy on going for the full set. While I really like good lamb when I eat it I like it to be the focus -- we decided to stick with RW. And so our green circles were up and the meat began to flow. We could not keep up. I think my favorites were the salmon with the cilantro topping and the beef BBQ ribs. While I really like good ribs as the only fan in the family I do not get to enjoy as often as I might like. The ribs came by several time as did the fish. Hubby enjoyed the flank and sirloin and was happy he could get it medium well. I enjoyed accenting the meat with some very good cheese and just to make myself feel a little better wrapped some meat in lettuce, I know it's a lie but a little green made me feel better. We eventually admitted our defeat and turned over our circles from green to red, although several meat men stopped by a few more times. The dessert was lacking but you don't go here for the dessert and frankly we were so full it was nice to just have a little bit of sweet ice cream to wrap of the experience. We did not get wine partly because of our plans for after (of course we were both in such a food coma we automatically headed home and I did not remember we were suppose to head to a friend's performance until this morning, sorry about that, next time...). This visit was an experience. I don't know how often I will revisit for the full dinner but if asked for a meat experience recommendation I would mention this spot and as I write this I think when I brother gets home back from his overseas contract we might have to share the experience. If you have a chance to go to networking event here or are looking for nice bar and patio in the Tyson's area this place is worth putting on your radar.
(4)Kiaira B.
Let me start off by saying 3 things 1 I am not the biggest fan of steak 2 We went during restaurant week 3 If you love meat this is the place for you / If you love sides this place is for you Now on to other things. Valet parking is free. The location has tons of water fountains which is beautiful and upon entering the restaurant it is breathe taking. Awesome interior design. It was my Moms Birthday and she's been wanting to try this place. I LOVED the Salad/Side Bar and the Mashed Potatoes. Matter of fact, I was in heaven with all the sides honestly. We chose the $35 option which did not include lamb, etc. I can't remember the name of most of the cuts but something call the 'Baby Steak' was my fav. The fat on it was similar to butter, in which it melted in my mouth. Other cuts of meat were salty in my opinion. Overall great place for meat eaters, very nice interior, very attentive staff. Next time I think we would go with the option that included lamb. The fish was very lack luster but this is a steakhouse so I can't really be upset about that.
(3)Cendy C.
My significant other and I came here to celebrate his graduation. It was a Thursday evening and I had made reservations for 6. Unexpectedly, my partner and I ended up meeting up earlier and decided to see if we could get an earlier seating. The hostess that took our call was very accommodating and changed our reservations from 6 to 5:30. The staff were friendly and were prompt with service throughout dinner. Our server, realizing that it was our first time here throughly explained the process. The salad bar was very organized with several choices and once you flipped your card, the servers with the meat were constantly checking by - we even had to flip our card back to the "No, Thank You" in order to start eating! Food there was delicious and they had serval choices including steak, chicken, pork, swordfish and salmon. We came pretty early in the evening and I liked that different parties were spaced far away instead of crowded in one spot. It was also nice that their dining room was not completely dimmed down and there were natural sunlight streaming in throughout the restaurant. Overall a nice experience for a special occasion.
(5)Irene C.
Meats were very underseasoned. I found myself adding a lot of cracked pepper on all the meats. Service was great, our waiter made an effort to joke around with our group. The salad bar was delicious. While 50-55 dollars for all you can eat meat might be a great deal for a someone who can eat a lot, I could not eat my money's worth and was completely overwhelmed by all the meats on my plate before even starting to eat! I barely even had a plate (weak.. i know). I won't be back unless it is for a special occasion. P.S.- They will take birthday photos and put in frame for you to take home!
(3)Jess S.
As usual my boyfriend was craving steak and I wanted salad with better drinks. Fogo is our normal Brazilian steakhouse but we've been liking to retreat from the city on the weekends. Chima of Tyson's Corner comparatively offers similar service. At Chima there is complimentary valet which is unheard of in DC. If you have a decent car you're pretty much guaranteed they'll leave it parked right out front. We normally collect our key give them $5 and walk ourselves the 15 ft to our car. Comparing this place to Fogo De Chao and Texas De Brazil (both in DC) Chima would win because of ambiance, free valet, quality patrons, and quality of service. I'm not saying the steak is the best in the world because let's face it you're paying $50 for unlimited meat. (You get what you pay for) But the beef rib is always a personal favorite. For salad lovers like myself this salad bar is AMAZING. The choice of meat (top choice) or salad bar only comes with baked salmon (separate from the smoked salmon on the bar) topped with optional cilantro sauce and grilled Swordfish topped with optional passion fruit sauce. I highly recommend you try the fish with the sauce. OMG they're amazing. The option of unlimited swordfish & salmon really make this salad bar stand out from Fogo & Texas DB because they only offer "smoked salmon" on the bar. The drink menu is extensive. The dessert drinks are some of my favorite concoctions. The service here has always been superb. We are accustomed to bacon being included with the salad bar. However here it's not even an option :/. Every time I forget so I ask the waiters to "bring the bacon out". But to my surprise they oblige every time!!! They cook up some bacon and serve it to us on a plate. How awesome is that? (They have bacon on hand for bacon wrapped chicken) There's outdoor seating, although the waiters don't come out there so it's more of an overflow for the bar, the bar is large and fully stocked. There is plenty of booth and table seating in the restaurant, including tables for larger groups. There is a projection of Cirque De Soleil going at all times which is neat. Highly recommend you check it out.
(5)Naeem M.
I ate so much meat that even the Caesar salad started tasting like rib-eye. The meat and fish selections were very good for the most part (my picks: top sirloin, salmon, and leg of lamb)...the one exception was the swordfish, which came out somewhat bland. No matter...the massive heapings of rib-eye and filet mignon took care of that quickly. Salad bar is impressive: several different cuts of cheese, potato/chicken salad, fruits, salads (quinoa and cucumber are the best ones, IMO) and a seperate hot bar with rice and beans (made with pork; vegetarians, Muslims, and observant Jews take note), and dinner rolls (???). The servers bring out the rest: polenta, mashed potatoes, and those little fluffy cheese breadballs that you can fill up on VERY quickly. Several hours of meat-induced sweats can run you up for $55 plus tax/tip. Make sure to leave room for dessert (hahahaha)... Protip: There's a paid parking garage available nearby (no validation) but valet parking is complimentary and there might be a few spots on the street side. Since I generally worry about valets taking my ten-year old Honda Accord for a joyride through the mean streets of NoVa, I elected to park in the garage and paid the $4 for three hours.
(4)Jason C.
I'm not a fan of Chima. I really am not. I've read extensively through the yelp reviews from my trusted reviewers to try to minimize all the negative factors that could make my meal less than satisfying. In particular, I was warned about how you were up for a battle when it comes to getting the attention of the server and getting enough to eat. To take care of this problem, my work colleagues and I arranged the dinner very early on a weekday (5:30PM). While we had no issues getting what we wanted, the preparation was so far off I will have a tough time justifying going here even if it's on someone else's dime. How bad is it? When I ask the meat cutter to give me a medium, he would turn the meat to the side that's "supposed" to be a medium, cut it, and serve it to me. If it was prepared properly, I would get what I requested but I would get anything that was in range from a rare to a well done (total flip of a coin as to what I'd get). When I started getting skeptical after my 2-3 request, I asked the meat cutter to cut so that I could take a peek. I get a meat preparation that is dripping with blood and that is totally blood red on the inside as you get meat from a grocery store and he argues that this is medium. At first, I thought it was a communication problem, but after my 4th or 5th attempt, I began to realize that the meat cutters are only trained to cut slices from a specific location based on a request. They have no ability to visualize and judge whether a steak is a "rare" or "well done". During the entire night I got 10% of what I actually requested. For a restaurant establishment that charges upwards of $50 a head, this is unacceptable. I could get better consistency at TGIF than this! I have my biases against churrascaria-style restaurants like Fogo, Texas de Brazil, or Chima because the quality of the meats are never as good as the top steakhouses. As much as I liked the Carpaccio and the Prosciutto at the salad bar, in no way shape or form are those two things enough to save Chima's ratings. Chima takes everything to a whole new level (and not in a good way). As someone exploring options for a churrascaria-style restaurant...I would recommend Fogo de Chao any day over this.
(2)Brianna B.
Update: I got sick after eating here, and I didn't even overeat! I NEVER get sick off of food, even if I do overeat...must have been something on the salad bar. Bummer!
(3)Zahra K.
A group of us went here for restaurant week, $35 per person. I don't think I will come back here if I have to pay their regular price. The different cuts of steak were okay, but nothing impressive. I am personally not a fan of having to dip my steak in sauces, and I found I had to do that. The garlic marinated steak was good, and the salmon with cilantro sauce was amazing. Probably my two favorite items. The drinks were decent, but on the pricier side, and the salad bar that comes included in their AYCE dinner had some great options.
(3)Rafah H.
Chima is one of my favorite places of all time. I've been going there for over 5 years, aleast twice a year and their meats have always been better than other Brazilian steakhouses I've tried in the area. For the past year or two, I happen to go during restaurant week and it's been a good deal. This year however, we went for restaurant week only to learn that most of their meats are not offered on the restaurant menu including lamb chops and fillet minion. The only things left were flank steak, chicken, pork and fish. Why would I go to a steakhouse and have chicken and fish?? We ended up doing the regular menu and paid full price. The quality of the meats wasn't that good. The fillet minion was in chewable. We were all very disappointed. Restaurants should offer their best items to encourage people to come back. In this case, I know o would never go back to chima for restaurant week.
(3)Anne C.
helllooo meats! I came here for the first time - we were throwing my friend a surprise bday dinner. Mind you, I am not a huge fan of all you can eat steakhouses, mostly because I would not eat very much. I actually was thinking of not eating at all or eating just from the salad bar since i went in not hungry at all...but alas, of course, i am still a steaklover and once I saw all the meats coming by, i gave in. Service was fine - fairly timely, although slightly strange. When I would turn down say, the chicken or the sauage (since I have small stomach space, I'm saving it for the ribyeye), they would make comments like "oh are you not eating tonight?" and then when I asked for my steak medium rare to rare - someone said "Oh so you like it bloody"...um..not sure why they make these comments...but onto the meat! The steaks were all tender and the cuts were medium rare when I asked for it. However, I usually do not like my meats overly seasoned - they were actually all fairly underseasoned - very very bland. Also, none of the cuts of meat stood out to me at all. SADLY, what stood out to me was the smoked salmon and the beef carpaccio from the salad bar AND the creamy mashed potatoes they gave us. In fact, by the end of the meal, all I wanted was some salad and soem more mashed potatoes. I completely regretted not just sticking to the salad bar. I most likely will not be back and if so, it will be for an event or because friends want to come - and i will stick to the salad bar or just stick to a glass of wine.
(3)renetta c.
Great eats! Come hungry or don't come at all. Service, atmosphere and food were all fantastic. I will be going back. Register on their website and get $20 off coupon for your table. Oh and there is free valet parking. :)
(5)Louie L.
The food isn't for me...the decor is nice. The service is great too...I love their salad bar though. Their cheese puffs is so good. But I think I'm just going to stick with Fogo de Chao in DC
(4)Lyn L.
WHY did I leave this nearly $125 a person meal ...HANGRY? When you factor in a couple of drinks and the meal and tip, I have spent about a $125. Why was I starving while sitting there, and hungry and mad when I left? We had an 8:15pm reservation and many of the Mother's Day celebrants were packing it up and heading home. Did the gauchos also pack up and head home? Our party of 4 enjoyed a few drinks at the bar, and then more drinks at the table. Our server was very friendly along with the various management and server team members. BUT, what about the food...we came for the meat. Did the earlier diners eat all the meat? Shouldn't the restaurant plan ahead an cook enough meat? Once seated and 'little round' feed me circles say 'YES, I WANT MEAT", were turned over, it literally took almost 20 minutes because a meat man even came by...and they only came by because one of the server team members asked us if he could bring any of the meat people by??? UM, YES...because I felt sorry for my meat loving hubby who was grazing on rolls... We had a few 'sirloin' meat men come by, and seriously had to request SEVERAL times for the filet and rib-eye gauchos...Sadly, they only came by once, despite NUMBEROUS requests for filet and rib-eye. Was Chima only serving 'sirloin' last night? When you are charging that much and the other place across town charges $15 less, then YES, please serve us filet and rib-eye. Towards the end of our dining experience, we requested AGAIN the filet, flank, and rib-eye....we finally got tired of waiting, and were sick of the servers trying to clean off our table. We just relented and let them take away our plates. We were not one of the huge parties of 15-20 celebrating Mother's Day, but we are regular customers who come every few months. We used to speak highly of this chain because of their amazing customer service and over abundance of meat sticks thrown in our faces...alas, something happened and we were unfortunately let down. Even management staff lacked in accommodating our hangry faces.
(1)Cory X.
Came here with the gf for restaurant week to see why she liked it. The salad bar is OK, unless you are a huge cheese lover. The meat was just OK and I would never pay the full price to come here to dine. The swordfish is gross but the salmon was good. The cheesecake was good.
(3)Burcu B.
We have been there couple times. It is a nice place. Last night we celebrated our anniversary there. Staff was friendly, service was nice. Ambiance is good, price is high as same as other quality Brazilian steak houses. If you are a meat lover, you will find the taste you are looking for.
(5)Alvin C.
A short review here. We were brought to dinner by a vendor during a business trip. As it was a business dinner, I'm afraid I wasn't as attentive as I might normally be, and I don't have all the server names written anywhere. But our server was polite and fairly knowledgeable. All the servers were polite. The salad bar area was clean and well stocked. Everything tasted good. This is not my first Brazilian steakhouse, and compared to others which I've been to, this one rates well.
(3)Ruth C.
Two and a half stars. Garage and street parking in the area if you don't care to valet, clean bathrooms to the right upon entering. Tablets are used by friendly table servers to allow you to browse drink and dessert menus. Coconut batida was refreshing, reminiscent of a faintly boozy pina colada icee. Chima has a better salad bar than FdC, but the meats are all over the place. Loved the cheesy bread and appreciated the croquettes, but the polenta fries and plantains didn't arrive until our meal was almost done. Meat traffic overseers have more influence than the orange-up signs on whether your table is visited by skewer-bearers. As observed by others, the meat temperatures are all over the place despite your stated preference, so might as well aim for maximum flavor on the end pieces. Top sirloin served to me was all fat. Chicken, pork rib, and bacon-wrapped filet were skippable. The last straw for me was the meat crossover-- a knife used to serve swordfish or medium-well salmon was used to cut lamb off the skewer, giving it a fishy enough taste to turn my stomach. Flan was okay and sized to share, dotted with a pruney puree that would make me stick to the papaya cream or key lime pie since there was no chocolate toffee cake.
(2)Dennis T.
If you are looking for a nice dinner spot, this is the place. I went here for my birthday with my girlfriend and the environment was amazing. A nice, fancy restaurant setting with amazing food. First of all, I went during Restaurant Week in DC, and the place was busy. I had put a reservation down for 9PM through OpenTable and I did not get seated until 9:20pm. Who's fault is that? I can't really say... should I excuse them because it was Restaurant Week? I don't know but all I know is if I had a reservation at 9pm, I shouldn't have to wait 20 mins to be seated. What's the point of the app if they're not going to seat me at 9pm? The food was amazing. I highly ADVISE to not get a full plate at the salad bar because that will kill your appetite. Maybe get like a couple leaves of lettuce and a little here and there. I made the mistake of getting everything and got too full to meat. Save your stomach for the meats. The top sirloin was the best, followed by the flank steak. The chicken was a little dry, so I kept going for the beef. If you never been there, when they come out with the beef, they ask how you want the meat (rare, medium rare, etc) and they'll cut the meat for you. After you are done eating, they have dessert for you. I went the cheesecake while the girlfriend got the ice cream (you can choose between vanilla, strawberry, chocolate or scoops of all 3). The dessert is amazing: the cheesecake is soft and the ice cream is milky and sweet. Overall, it was a great time. I would def recommend.
(4)Rhema L.
Wonderful place, on the pricey side yes, but worth every bites... you do not have to actually eat there to enjoy everything offered at the bar, We sat on the patio and enjoyed the appetizers menu, enjoyed their cocktails, desserts and complimentary sides (cheese souffle breads, plantains, little beef balls, smoke fish spread and some other marvelous things ...)... the entire experience was impressively incredible! The service is impeccable, the decor is hip, modern and earthy. The waiters polite, funny and attentive and the coup de grace: the complimentary valet. Going back for second next week with the family to enjoy the main course.
(5)Lissa B.
Chima is a very elegant Brazilian steakhouse. For those coming for the steak, it's great. There is something else going on here though. The salad bar at Chima is very similar to the brunch buffets in the Arabian gulf countries. The salad bar includes many wonderful and delicious exquisite options and so much more than just salad. For example, there is prosciutto (careful if you don't eat pork), beef carpaccio, and smoked salmon. The cheese section is fabulous with fresh mozzarella and abundant chunks of parmigiano reggiano. Then of course there are carefully put together fresh, healthy salad options. A plate will fill up quickly with a little sample of everything. The little appetizers they bring to the table are also delicately delicious. They include fried polenta, cheesy bread balls, beef croquettes, and fried plantains. My favorite is the cheesy bread balls. Not so surprisingly I see dozens of Arabs every time we go here. We even had an Arab waiter last time and my friends were ordering in Arabic. We don't usually even get the steak or fish options. It's all about the salad bar buffet.
(4)Neen B.
Be prepared to leave stuffed, but not necessarily from the meat. They have a decent salad bar area that consists of salad type items of course, but also soups, fruit, potato salad, charcuterie type meats and more. Also they bring a few small table appetizers which are filling but don't look like it. So for myself I never seem to eat $50+ worth of meat, because I get full off of the salad bar, etc. The servers this time were annoying, in your face too much rushing you. They also had a sommelier walking around who was pretty pretentious. He made sure to let you know he was over all Chima locations and made sure to show you HIS selections only. He was a bit overbearing. Had planned on ordering a bottle for the table, but he was so irritating we settled for a couple of delicious caipirinha's instead. Overall, a decent spot for dinner.
(3)Elina Y.
This place beats Texas de Brazil by a landslide. No competition. Their meat prep is NOT salty and their 'medium rare' is OH~SO~PERFECTLY medium rare. My favorite meats: Filet Mignon, Flank Steak, and Top Sirloin. I cannot express how juicy, how tender, and how mouthwatering the flavors are. The decor was romantic, along with a cozy ambiance and blahblahblah. Who cares about all that? STEAKSTEAKSTEAKSTEAKSTEAK! Now all that's left for me to try is Fogo de Chao to see which steakhouse is the best in the area.
(4)Mia N.
The meat tasted better and had more flavor than Fogo de Chao. However, I liked the cheesy bread and fried polenta better at Fogo de Chao. The dining room in Fogo also looks nicer and classier. At Chima, it just seemed like a circus. Not likely to come here again. I did not like the cold salad bar, and I got full after 2 plates of meat. It's not worth the $50 per head. It would have been better if salad bar offerings were better, and if it weren't so dark in there.
(3)Es E.
Went for a little business dinner celebration - about a week ago, Thursday. Wow! We didn't have reservations but after being asked if we had and we told them no, they still seated us right away in the very large dining area. The salad bar was jammed with people but well worth the time it took to walk around it. Of course the meats were excellent and plenty of servers coming by to bring the various cuts. Good time. Must go back.
(5)Chris C.
Solid place to go for meats. Excellent variety at the salad bar, everything is clean and well maintained. Some have complained about the service, I arrived shortly after the place opened for dinner so I thought the service was excellent. Prices were very reasonable. I think it's a much better option than Ruth's Chris if you are in the mood for steak. It seems kid very friendly, I saw lots of people with newborns to pre-teens, so big plus for us. I was concerned there was no kids menu but there is enough variety for everyone.
(4)Roger B.
Excellent steak house. My first taste of Brazilian steak house and the food was excellent. They had a wide variety of very tasty sides to accompany the meats. The star of the dinner was of course the meats. Loved the Sirloin, ribeye, and chicken ... Especially the Sirloin. Perfect seasoning and cooked to perfection. The service was top notch both friendly and prompt on all our request. Even though we were the last table, they never rushed us out the door. The desert was a light fland which was good but that prune sauce was eww (my only complaint). I would definitely return, it was great experience.
(5)Chrystalle B.
We've had our holiday lunch here two years in a row. If you've never been to a Brazilian steakhouse, it's an interesting experience. I'm told that every place does their "feed me"/ "I'm full" signal differently. Here, you receive a plastic token that has red on one side and green on the other. If the gauchos see green, they'll offer you whatever they're carrying, if they see red, they wont. Though we found that even if your token was showing red, if they saw you eyeing their selection they would ask you anyway. Once everyone was seated, the staff brought over a few small dishes and placed them throughout the table. Most memorably small cheddar biscuits. We were also given free reign of their salad bar. It was packed w/ meats and cheeses, a number of different kinds of salads and sides, and a few soup options. Be very careful how much you take from there, you may get too full too early. Then came the meats. We had photo menus on our table as well so you could see what everything was. I found that the Top Sirloin & Filets were a little under done for my taste, while the chicken was a bit overdone. The sausages and swordfish were my faves. The sausages were sweet and tangy and the fish was delightfully moist, though they did have a lot of dark meat. Hot tip: there are a ton of dipping sauces, if you're so inclined, on the salad bar. Look for them before you sit down for your meat course. The staff here is extremely attentive. We always have a large group and no one goes more than 10 minutes w/out a refill of anything. We had some very fussy people in our group and they served them w/ a smile the entire lunch. The actual restaurant is lovely. The tables are all covered in white linens, pressed and crisp. There is a ton of light, even on a dreary winter day. I would say this is probably one of the ritzier options for Brazilian steakhouses in the area.
(4)Ronald L.
Came here as a walk-in for Valentine's Day dinner. Arrived at 4:45pm and had no issues getting a table, though I cannot say the place was barren, because it wasn't. My wife and I were greeted by our server, Camilla. She introduced herself and said that her and the runner would be tending to us throughout the evening. She explained the Valentine's Day special, but didn't do a great job of it and had to get clarification from another server. It was $89 dollars or something close to for their night's special per person, which included unlimited soda, juice, coffee, tea, and maybe champagne (the server wasn't clear on this, but I noticed the surrounding tables getting refills/topped off), dessert, and a photo in a Chima paper frame/card. There was a cheaper option of only fish instead of the red-meats for the Valentine's Day special, but we opted for the land dwelling cuts. Camilla asked if we wanted our champ now or later, and we told her now. She also asked if we'd like any other beverage so we asked for ginger ales, which was brought to us right away. We then proceeded to head over to the "salad" bar, which of course is much more than just salad. The bar offered a very nice selection of salads of quinoa and pastas. I was very impressed that they also had beef carpaccio, which was drizzled with some kind of sauce or vinaigrette and cheese, which is something I have never seen Fogo De Chao offer. The meats however, were of the same quality, which was excellent. The wife and I return to our table from the bar and Camilla asked if everything was ok. This would be the last time we see her until the very end of the night when she apologized.... sorry, but quite late in the game for any apologies. My gripe here is not because of the poor service, because I believe poor service is something that's more common than excellent service. and it's what separates establishments from its competitors. My gripe is because my wife and I feel like we got ripped off about the special. Unlimited drinks, especially if champagne is included, was a complete waste if no one comes around to refill it. Ginger ale? Empty. Servers? No were to be found. How are we supposed to take advantage of a deal if it's not accessible??? I wouldn't be so upset if it were the regular price for dinner with how everything went in terms of waiting service. But this was a special night. The entire staff should be bringing their 'A' game. Well, every night should be an 'A' game, but more staff should be on-hand. We had to wait a good 35 minutes for someone to ask if we were done so our table could be cleaned. We watched a two-top table next to us get go through two seatings before we had anyone come check up on us. We were just sitting there wasting time. Sorry, but the wife and I have better things to do than to stare at a replay of Cirque du Soleil on the projector. We flagged another server or runner to inquire about our server because we never saw her again and it seemed like really no one was giving two-sh!ts about our table. The person said they would go check. We also noticed there was a lady holding a camera and going to tables taking pictures for their cards to be given to the patrons for the night. We also noticed that our table was always skipped. Our neighboring tables got pictures, why not us? The hell? We had to flag Rodrego, which was a table runner I believe, to ask him, "Is there something going on with pictures? We see people are getting their pictures taken and given a card. Is that something extra?" He replies, "Oh no, I'm sorry. No one has taken your picture yet??? Let me go get the camera and take the picture for you!". If we didn't flag someone down, we would of never have walked out with it. Our dessert came out. Some custard thing in a chocolate mold. Rodrego came back to take our picture then had it printed in the card. Got the check and guess who finally comes back. Camilla. She apologizes and explains to us that tips are shared between the staff so she thought someone was covering our table for her. Well, thought wrong. Best part of the evening was spending it with my wife and the valet, which I didn't even mention because they did their job. I gave them my keys. They gave me a ticket. At 6:45pm, I give them my ticket and they give me my car. Flawless. Too bad the dining room wasn't as efficient.
(1)Victor M.
I went to this Steakhouse for a friend's birthday this past weekend and their service was extremely slow. We had to keep on calling them to bring the meat around, then we had to wait about forty minutes to get our check, then 20 minutes more to get our cards swiped. All in all we were there for about 4.5 hours and the majority of the time was spent waiting. After one of my friends talked to the manager he just said that we had a big group of ten people and that they couldn't do anything. The meat wasn't that great either. So, If you have the option go to Fogo de Chao... which is definitely much better.
(2)Nate C.
Just make sure you have clothes with room to expand! I've been to Chima about 10 times and have had great service on 9 occasions. The food is delicious, the quantities are practically unlimited, and the service very attentive (except that one time). It's not cheap, but I will definitely go back.
(4)Spencer H.
I don't believe I'm about to say this but here it goes. There is such a possibility of "TOO MUCH of a good thing"! Whewww.. now that was hard!!! Fogo De Chao has been my preferred restaurant when wanting to throw caution to the wind and "PIG THE HELL OUT". I love good food, and even though gluttony is the last of the seven deadly sins, I knew I was about to sprout devil horns when I walked into Chima. What a classy restaurant. It is perfectly designed and decorated to be formal and funky at the same time. Very large bar/lounge area that is as slick as they come. Put on your Euro cut suit and your Italian slip-ons and you will fit right in. That suit bet not be tooo tight though, because if you're going to partake in the Brazilian buffet, then your jacket buttons will pop! I figured I'd go out of my comfort zone and give Chima a try since it was restaurant week. I could not have made a better decision. It's something about unlimited top of the line meat that makes a brotha do the cabbage patch (well in my mind anyway because I'm WAYYYY too cool for that..LOL). Everything was superb but my favorites was the lamb, filet mignon and the prime rib. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it..smh. The ceviche was the star of this very impressive salad bar with the smoked salmon coming in a close second! Of course I appropriately quenched my thirst with the Brazilian creation "Caipirinha". Man I love that drink.. so refreshing! Now to the sinning part. The reason I can't frequent places like this is the lack of will power. The food keeps coming and coming and coming until you finally say NO MAS!! By that time you're disgustingly full and can barely walk.. what an awesome Catch 22! lol So, if you love Fogo, switch it up and give Chima a try. You will SIN just as hard, trust me!!! lol
(4)Wing C.
My first restaurant week in DC! Well technically, Chima is not in DC. After finding out Fogo de Chao was fully booked, I decided why not travel a bit outside of the city and give Chima a try. It's right by Tyson's Corner? Might as well do some shopping and work up an appetite beforehand! My family and I were seated immediately upon checking in for our reservation. We were given two options 10 cut vs 16 cut of meat? We opted for the $35.14 option (10 cut - missing out on lamb chop, lamb shank, rib eyed, bacon wrap steak, beef ribs) - which I had no regret for because the table next to us opted for the 16 cut options and complained to their server that they never even saw the promised additional cuts circulating. In reality, I would say there were a total of 7 cuts of meats available - I had to ask my server 5 times about the fish. Our server, Camilla?, was extremely apologetic. Unfortunately, by the time we were served, there was only 1 tiny leftover piece of swordfish. The 4 of us had to split this one tiny piece - which we found inedible (dry to the bone). With promise that more would be brought over, we sat around and waited... and waited... and waited.. (we were offered flank steaks about 6 more times though). Ultimately, the fish never made it back to our table. We were simply forgotten. I can't imagine paying full price especially since half of the menu was not available as advertised. Even though the side dishes and salad bar were amazing, I took my family here for the meat. Lesson learned - will gun for reservation earlier for Fogo next time.
(3)Lisa H.
Oh, Chima. There has always been a place in my stomach for you. Your rodÃzio meats are delicious, and the sides (e.g. cheese bread) are amazing. However, if the service was on-par with my initial visit, my review easily would have been 4-5 stars. However, this hasn't been the case so sadly, 3-stars. REGARDING THE FOOD: ===================================== Picanha (Top Sirloin) was absolutely delicious. Thin slices, but just the perfect amount of crisp on the edges makes this the favorite o f everyone I've dined with here. Top Sirloin with garlic: Good, however, they only came around once. I would have liked to try more than one small piece! Flank steak: Medium is definitely super red and bloody, but what's the point of eating steak that isn't like this? Could be more flavorful. BBQ ribs: Saucy, tender. Parmesan pork loin: Good alternative if you want something different from beef Swordfish: Delicious! The white sauce on top adds a little sweetness, and that was definitely welcomed after eating only beef and salty meats. Salmon: Also very delicious. Cooked perfectly, and the dill-type sauce on top was absolutely great. Always get a bit of salmon here! Chicken wrapped in bacon/boneless chicken: **didn't try** Sausage: OK, sausage is sausage. REGARDING THE SERVICE: ==================================== Restaurant week can get hectic, so please note this. However, the past 2 years I've gone for this special event I've received terrible service. The place is packed; so you don't get one server per table. There is a bunch of people serving you. This year at Restaurant Week, we didn't get checked on until 40-45 minutes into our meal. I was hoping that a waiter would come by so I could order a coke. By the time he did come, I was half-way done with eating, so it was a little too late. Also, I noticed that the manager comes around to check on tables, but it seems like my boyfriend and I were skipped out on all night. The servers very rarely checked on us, some rodÃzio servers didn't stop by at our table (our green cards were up the whole night), and we didn't get asked how our meal was by anyone. I'll be the first to say I come to Chima and Brazilian steakhouses to EAT, and enjoy the delicious food. But at a restaurant known for a great dining experience, the past few visits at Chima have been terribly disappointing regarding service, or lack-thereof. OVERALL ==================================== Food will always be great. I always looked forward to coming to Chima for a special occasion. My expectations for service, however, have been lowered after waiting for a server to come to us, for meats to arrive at our table, and for almost 40 minutes for the cheesecakes I ordered to-go (this happened 2 years in a row). I am sadly rethinking Chima as my go-to Brazilian steakhouse.
(3)Mark J.
I've been to other Brazilian steakhouses this one was better then some. A problem I had with the place was they have around 16 types of meat and yet I was only offered 3-4 different types yes you could request the kind you wanted but why not just have a rotation so you can get a good variety. Also the salad bar was lacking after one trip I decided not to go up for another. The desert was really good though. Can't really say the price was bad you should expect a steakhouse like this to be on the upper side of the scale. Overall not a bad meal just expected more.
(3)Kat Q.
I was here for dinner with my parents on a Wednesday. We made reservations, but the place did not seem at all crowded, so probably could've went without one. No issues upon arrival, and were seated right away. Absolutely amazing customer service, from the the guys at the valet, our servers/waiters, to the folks distributing the meat. Midway through our dinner, the manager I believe, checked up on us. Our waiters (we had two, I wish I remember the names) were outstanding and professional and explained everything clearly. Now for the food-- They have an extensive salad bar full of fresh and hot food. I typically stay away from salad bars due to hygiene reasons, but this one in particular was clean and someone was always there cleaning and attending to it. The meat and steaks were well-marinated. My father, who hates lamb, tried the lamb chop and was hooked! My favorite was their cheese bread puff thing-- I think the only bad thing about our dinner was that the guy said he would bring us back more but never did. But thats ok! Thank you Chima and Staff for our wonderful dinner-- and thank you mom and dad for paying! This place is EXPENSIVE. Bring lots of $$$$
(5)Heba S.
Horrible, horrible experience! Had 9:30 reservations and was not seated until 25 minutes later. The salad bar was okay but the steak was dry and salty, and the fish tasted bad. I had told them when I made the reservations that it was my husband's birthday which they did not acknowledge at all. Very upset.
(1)Amanda B.
I can officially mark this restaurant off my bookmarks, it was good, but sadly I don't think I would return based on price and a few other quirks. Let me say, it's delicious and I think it beats Texas de Brazil by miles, it still hasn't captured my intrigue, especially for the price, that they don't list anywhere, $54 a person. I get it's a buffet and all you can eat but..... Meh... I'd rather order one succulent piece of meat for that price that I can then bring home than eat mediocre yet tasty meat until I burst. This place has plenty of reviews, so I don't need to go into explicit detail, but this is just another run of the mill Brazilian style steak house where one can eat as much meat as a Tyrannosaurus Rex all for the low price of $54 dollars per person which includes a hefty salad bar and just a water. There IS a menu but it's only pictures of the types of meat you can expect to come around at the restaurants leisure though you can ask for it to be brought promptly if you know what you want. No price... One price for everyone.... Even if say you just wanted the salad bar? Dunno. I just don't like it. Okay okay.... Overall opinion, go here instead of Texas de Brazil if you want the experience, but once you have it under your belt I'm sure you'll be satisfied for years now that you got the mystery out of the way. The food is tasty but not super top quality but still, yummy and if you actually had room to enjoy the salad bar buffet they have available there is a large variety of things to eat, the Gorgonzola mousse and seafood salads are a must! But that's it, it's A OKAY... But I'm not a fan.... And I won't go again just cause there's nothing that makes it really special in all honesty.
(3)Gwen B.
We came here because we had a gift card for a complimentary meal (for one diner). I had been here before for a company holiday party so I was pretty familiar. My first recommendation (which is OBVIOUS) is to come hungry! I do not get as much "bang for my buck" being a small asian girl with a rather normal sized appetite. The salad bar options were good and fresh. There is a decent selection, however the line can be long and people are slow since it is all you can eat. The meats tend to be well cooked although not the HIGHEST quality meat (the tender/filet mignon comes around far less frequently than other selections). We had to request to even get some filet as we had not gotten any 3/4 of the way through our meal. For me, Chima does not live up to a regular steakhouse in quality or service. I don't enjoy buffet lines when I am paying $50 per person. Of course, this is simply my personal preference since I don't tend to overeat, but I would rather have one steak that tastes AMAZING rather than ten different kinds of unlimited meat that are just average. Even with one of us eating free, the bill was still $100 since the wine is fairly high priced and the tap was included (which was a fail on their part because I always tip 20%). Our waitre was friendly though and we enjoyed our meal fine enough, it simply isn't somewhere I would want to return to. In my hunble opinion, you can get higher quality meals for the same price elsewhere in the DC area. However if you are looking to really house some steak and get some meat sweats going, Chima is the perfect destination for you!
(3)Sheila M.
It's a beautiful restaurant. However, the experience was not so great. My friend and I visited Chima a couple weeks ago and the service sucked. We were greeted with a smile and seated immediately. I got an order of Diet Coke and my friend ordered Ginger ale. The waiter ended up giving my diet soda to the gentleman sitting next to me and I got his Ice Tea. The other guest and I looked at each other and said, "I believe you have my drink" we ended up doing the swap ourselves. Then when he went to refill my friends drink he ended up bringing back seltzer water instead of the Ginger ale. Now for the good... The meat is delicious :) I loved their sirloin and ribs. However, the Salmon that was brought around was extremely dry. To top off the not so GREAT service we had to wait for a good 20 minutes before the waiter decided to finally visit our table again and bring us the check. Keep in mind, they were not that busy. Anyways... We ended up going back one more time for a second chance two weeks later. This time around it was even worse. We were greeted with a smile and seated immediately. We decided to take a look at their bar (since we didn't go up there the first time around) and their selection is very minimal. So ended up just getting the meat again as we did during our first visit. We seemed rushed and didn't get every selection served to us. I asked for a refill on the cheese balls and it took them 30 min to bring them out. I know there are other restaurants in the area with the same concept. I would highly recommend Texas de Brazil in FairOaks over this place. I doubt we will be visiting this place anymore. It's not worth the $55. The service does not match the price.
(3)Mondo P.
Didn't even get a chance to try the food here so the 1 star is solely for the way we were treated upon arrival ( we left before we were even seated ) Unfortunately this establishment has a dress code ( not posted or stated on the website ) that didn't fit the baseball cap and flip flops we were dressed in. However, they were willing to "overlook" our inappropriate attire ( after being told twice ) but the damage had already been done. Apparently flip flops are ok for women but not for men. They seriously told us that!! Shocking in 2015 this establishment doesn't understand gender discrimination. I could see a high end restaurant requiring a dress code but a Brazilian Steakhouse with a dress code that is selective based on gender??? Sorry. I'll spend my money at Texas De Brazil!!
(1)Debbie G.
First time coming here. What a great experience. We left our car with the complimentary valet. We had reservations and were seated right away. We waited for about 1 minute for the waiter to bring us water. That was fast. After that he pretty much explained to us how everything at the restaurant works. He even told us his favorite meats and drinks. We took his advice and wow the calpirniha was amazing. The meat was also very flavorful and plentiful. My glass was never let to get empty, the waiters were very prompt. Pricey but totally worth it!
(5)Daniel S.
The entire meal was great, but I gave it 3 stars because of the manager. There was a group of 5 of us from NC that were in town for a conference. We decided to eat here because it was something that most of us had never been too. Brazilian Steakhouses are not cheap, but the manager had mentioned that there was a coupon online for $20 off if we filled out a thing on the website, so we all did and received a coupon in our email. At the end, we showed the staff the coupon and we were told that we could only use 2 coupons because it was for "2" people. So I simply asked if he would kindly discount my meal by $10 since I was the odd number in the group. With an attitude said that there was nothing he could do and that it wasn't his problem that we had an odd number. Now, normally, I wouldn't be looking for a discount on a normal meal, but with my meal, dessert and drinks it was over $120 just for me. I understand that that coupon couldn't be used, but since our group paid over $400 for dinner, I would have expected at least a little courtesy from the manager. The rest of the evening was great! The food and the staff were wonderful and everything was great except for the manager. Sadly, I will not be returning because bad leadership is like a virus and will infect the rest of the staff slowly but surely!
(3)Bobby R.
It's my first time coming here. Pretty awesome experience. My waitress was nice she explained how every thing worked. So you can pick your meal and guys come around with their meat sticks cutting it in front of you for you to grab. Its a lot of meat so make sure you come with an appetite. My favorite was the rib eye and flank steaks! Chicken was kind of tough for my liking. Also, the small plates that come around are pretty good as well... I like the cheese bread. All in all though, I had an awesome time, the meat guys were hilarious, the guys in suits were nice, and the waitress was very attentive. Try it out!
(4)Joannah Y.
The service is excellent, the servers were very attentive. The Salad Bar is great. The meats were perfectly seasoned and we have no complaint save for one. They took out the Creme Brulee from their menu. I love Creme brulee and it cost them a star. Sorry but it is a must go.
(4)John B.
Good food but a little pricey. I've eaten at Chima three times. The last time I ate there was during a power outage. Although we hadnt been there long, and werent finished eating, they had the audacity to come out with a full bill for the all you can eat and said they weren't serving anymore due to the power outage. Obviously if the kitchen was inoperable due to lack of power, it's not their fault, but they should have discounted the bill considering the circumstances. That was the last time I ate there. Not sure if I'll go back.
(3)Valerie J.
You can't go wrong with all you can eat steak and salad bar!! They are very generous!! It is on the same scale as Fogo!! It's still really good if you want to pay for all you can eat steak!
(5)Kimberly S.
Hello meat sweats! I went with a group of seasoned rodizo eaters so I was bit of a no0b when attending for Restaurant Week which offers a $35 deal for all the protein you can stuff down your gullet plus dessert and $30 wine bottle specials. I'm pretty sure offering great deals is how dealers get people addicted to drugs, so why not use the same method in Brazilian BBQ? This is a completely solid choice for those wanting to participate in pure gluttony. Even when we graciously turned our Chima Pog to the red side, a guacho would creepily appear behind us with a big giant sword of meat. I did not care much for the flank, chicken, sausage, or swordfish but I would have been happy if they kept cutting thinly sliced outside portions of their house sirloin all day. Add some buttered rice, chimichurri sauce, and a few of their addictive cheese balls and you're pretty much down one artery. But it's totally worth it, trust me. The salad bar was extensive and fresh. The beef carpaccio was money and their smoked saloon on point. The complimentary mashed potatoes that they served at every table had the smoothest, goopiest, unappetizing consistency ever. Add some lumps to that joint son! Loved the service! They had a great attitude and was constantly checking in at our table.
(4)Tosha B.
Apparently at Chima, Restaurant Week doesn't really mean Restaurant Week. I'm not sure where to start, but this dinner experience was dead on arrival. My husband and I came here with another couple expecting to get the restaurant special of all you can eat meat for $35.15, but when we sat down, our server made it clear that the restaurant week special only includes some of the meats. He also mentioned that "all the good meats that you would want" are NOT on the restaurant week menu and would cost the normal price of $51.50 per person. He basically told us that there is no reason to get the restaurant week special since it doesn't include any of their premium meats. Well we were pretty annoyed, disappointed, and frustrated since our meals were basically going to cost $20/person more than we anticipated. We went with getting all the meats because we had our hearts set on filet mignon and lamb which were NOT included in the restaurant week menu. Another thing that initially turned us off was that our server asked if we had been to Brazilian steakhouse before and we said that we had been to Texas de Brazil. He then began to tell us how Texas de Brazil is like McDonalds compared to Chima and how their restaurant is so much better. He was very cocky about their restaurant and seemed to bash a competitor for no good reason. On to the food.........the meat was good and not as salty (and flavorable) as other Brazilian steakhouses, but it wasn't anything to write home about. I think my favorite part of the meal was the cheese filled rolls that they brought to the table....divine! After we at our hearts out, we were waiting for our dessert and the manager came over and asked how things were. We told him it was good and he also asked if we had been to a Brazilian steakhouse and we gave him the same response we gave our server. He then began telling us how their quality is so much better than Texas de Brazil and that they don't even consider them to be a competitor because they are so much better. He went on and on about how bad Texas de Brazil was and how much better Chima was. I'm not sure why he felt the need to do that because it made it seem like Chima was desperate and needed to bad talk another restaurant to make themselves feel better. It was even more annoying because none of us thought that Chima was better than Texas de Brazil and we all agreed that we wouldn't drive past Texas de Brazil to eat at Chima. Our desserts came and I ordered the flan. I took one bite and thought it tasted awful. Our server came back over about 5 minutes later and asked how everything was. I told him that I didn't like my dessert at all. He just stood there and didn't say anything. So then I asked him if i could get something else. He literally huffed and puffed and said that they normally don't let people change their desserts. I told him that I took one bite and hated it and that I would go find the manager myself to get something else if that needed to be done. He mumbled something under his breath and said I could get something else. I ordered the key lime pie which came out about 5 minutes later. He never even took the flan back, which I didn't want, or come back to see how the key lime pie was. I just thought the customer service was completely lacking and the desserts weren't good and I'm convinced they buy them in bulk from Costco, so I'm not sure what the big deal was to bring me something else. Chima is overrated and the customer service leaves a lot to be desired. All they do is talk badly about their competitors and don't even have the food and service to back up their claims. I'm still annoyed that we spent over $100 on a meal that wasn't that great and service that was subpar. The only good thing about that visit was hanging out with friends and finding out firsthand that Chima isn't a place that I would ever go back to or recommend to anyone.
(1)Donald F.
There are two things that I must start off saying: 1.) Wow 2.) Beef rib FTW! When we arrived in the vicinity we couldn't find any outside parking so we ended up parking in the parking garage (fyi, it is a $3 charge for anything over 2 or 3 hours, I can not remember which). We proceeded to the restaurant which had a gentleman by the door who greeted and held the door open for us to enter. Once we entered, the receptionist selected our table for two and had a hostess escort us to our table. As my wife and I were being escorted we were looking around and for a while felt uncomfortable because the people we seen were all dressed up and we weren't. It wasn't until we started seeing people with casual clothing that we began to feel more comfortable. After being seated our waitress came to take our drink orders and began explaining how things worked since it was our first time. After her explanation I was like a race horse that just had his gate lifted because I was off and I was fast....lol. They have a bar area that is help yourself, and it has a variety of different things like (rice, cheeses, salad, soups and many other items). Be mindful not to go crazy at the help yourself bar because you to focus on trying the variety of meats (I believe they have anywhere between 12 - 15 unique types) that they serve. Here are some cliff notes that I'll leave: 1.) Have an extra $3 for parking in the parking garage (assuming you can not find parking outside). 2.) Most definitely come here on an empty stomach. 3.) Just get the essentials from the bar area (rice, salad, soup) save the extra items for after you start getting full. 4.) Most definitely get the beef rib (but of course you should try all the meats you can) 5.) You should probably have a minimum of $120 (however you may need more if you are going to get drinks and desserts. And this is based on a two person dining experience) 6.) This place gives off an upscale vibe so if you're conscious about fitting in, then you might want to dress up (however you are not obligated). My wife and I absolutely enjoyed ourselves. My wife couldn't get enough of the beef rib which was not only delicious but very tender. Do not worry Chima we will be back. :-D
(5)Kimberly K.
Let the Meat Festival begin! Free Valet parking is available. There is also street parking. Watch out for the signs, some spots only allow for max 2 hour parking. Upon entering, our eyes were immediately drawn to the fireplace waiting area. It has a warm and cozy feel to it and this really cool long tree looking chair. You get seated only once everyone at your party is present. The restaurant ambiance reminds me of being in Vegas or on a cruise ship. A great place for date night as well as a larger group dinner. Our server Michael was the coolest (shoutout- "hook us up with that TAEM man"). He was personable, friendly, attentive, funny, and professional. He made our first dinning experience here memorable. No paper menus here, just iPads. Pretty cool. They have a nice selection of drinks and desserts on it. Salad bar comes with each meal. It's big and you can easily fill up here. Pace yourself. In addition to a variety of veg and cheeses, they also have soup, rice, beans, and bread at their salad bar. I love their attention to detail. Like their herbed butter formed into cute shapes. Your table will also get unlimited Cheese Bread, Plantains, Mashed Potatoes (SO Creamy), Fried Polenta, Beef Croquettes w/ Smoked Turkey Spread. If they don't bring something out, simply ask for it. I heart their meats. The guys serving the meats are humorous and friendly. They don't skimp on the portions. Your plate will be piled high if you don't flip that card to "No, Thank You." I greatly appreciate that the meats are seasoned well. Not overly salty, juicy, and incredibly flavorful. For dessert, we tried the Tiramisu and Chocolate Coconut Lava Cake. Not overly sweet, moist, flavorful. Money. At about $52.50/person for dinner, it's pricey but SO worth it. Good times.
(4)Nicole L.
I invited my gfs to the meat extravaganza!! I realized it's such a great place to meet guys haha all the nicely dressed corporate dudes. This was all new to us, we were here because of my social living deal. We hung out at the bar whille waiting for the rest of the party to arrive, ordered some wine it was on the high side almost $30 for two glasses. Of course, we had the rodizio meal - the meats and the salad bar. I thought the their salad bar was decent. The usual fare - cheese, eggplaints, hearts of palms etc etc. There was a hot sauce that looked more like a bean sauce. It was not that spicy. At the table, they served us these starters - tuna balls (really tasty), pao de queijo (BTW I make kick-ass ones), polenta sticks and a fish spread. The meats well, the bacon wrapped fillet mignon was good, the top sirloin reallly good, the flank steak, the lamb, the sausage (too salty) and the fillet mignon itself. The food was great, really high quality and best of all, every time they sliced a piece they asked if you wanted more. I've not been to Fogo de chao (gez chaum) but Chima was pretty elegant and what they served were decent. It's a great place for a celebration or a big group of people for sure!
(4)Don B.
I went to have dinner at Chima at Tyson's on a Wednesday. I had a reservation for 7:30 but arrived early and was seated. The server came over and explained to us how it works. My Mom went to the salad bar and my Dad and I started with the meat. This place is for some serious meat lovers. The cuts are fantastic. Some were better than others but each cut was mouth watering. It got to the point where I had to slow down. The gauchos came by frequently so there was very little down time. A couple of times were we asked if we had any request. Great customer service. Our server was very attentive and you really could not ask for a better meal. When the gaucho comes by they ask how you want your meat. I like mine rare. I noticed that meats were prepared with salt and pepper only. You can add other condiments but the simple salt and pepper is fantastic. The salmon was surprisingly very good but since I came for the meat I stuck with that. The restaurant is big and there were a lot of groups the night I was there. It looks like the place to go-and-be-seen type of crowd. And there were a lot more men than women, go figure. In short, go hungry, go to eat, savor the different cuts of meat. I had the cheese cake for dessert which was good, especially after all that meat. If you go for a birthday, they will take a picture of your group and give you a print of the picture in a nice little frame. Nice touch. They have vale parking, use it. Really. We had an issue with a server as we were leaving that had not even served us. We were waiting for our car when he came up to us and accused us of not leaving a tip, which we did, in cash and gave it to our server. I emailed the general manager to let him know about this and within 10 minutes, he was calling me apologizing for this servers actions. The GM went well beyond what he needed to to fix the issue. I am not sure I could eat there every week but I highly recommend Chima. The food, the service, the ambiance are second to none.
(5)Liz Q.
For my boyfriends Birthday I decided to look into steak places. I came upon Chima and let me tell you, it was perfect in many ways! I made reservations for 8:00 and we got there a little late but they took care of us right away and we only waited a few mins to be seated. You should definitely make reservations! We noticed a lot of people waiting. Drinks: Red Sangria- AMAZING. Food: Chicken wrapped around Bacon, not my favorite. But all the steaks were delicious. I didn't try the salmon but my boyfriend liked it with the cilantro sauce. The steaks were so fresh, tasty, tender and I could go on. The sides they have to offer are perfect. Asparagus, greek salad, all types of salads, rice, soup, slices of cheese etc. Service: 5/5!!! Prices: It's pricey, but good quality meat for sure. Drinks start at $11 and it's about $60-70 per person. Not a place I would bring kids. It's more for adults, I feel. One thing I wanted to add, tables are close to each other and we could hear other people's conversations. This guy next to us mentioned how our area seemed like all the poor people were seated there. If I was poor I would not be eating there lol .Maybe he was just upset how his date was bored and how she kept flipping through the same pictures on her phone to entertain herself. That's how close tables are. Besides that... It was delicious!
(4)Jessica K.
I had an event here and I was excited about trying their food. The location isn't hard to find, they have valet parking and a parking structure. The food was excellent and the service was amazing. Interior is very modern and I love how its all wide open. I enjoyed the dessert, tiramisu the best :)
(5)Malivanh T.
i went to china for very first time last week during restaurant week. the place is very elegant inside an out. the wait staff is wonderful. the concept of china is great. pay one price for basically all you can eat meat. during restaurant week there was a set menu of different types of meats you can choose from. i LOVED all the meats except the parmesan pork, sword fish, and the chicken. those meats were a little too dry for my tastebuds. the salad bar was pretty good, their cesar salad is always the first one to go, so if you favor cease salad then i way get that first before its all gone. for the variety of sauces to pair with your meats, the house BBQ sauce is two thumbs up!!!! and the horseradish sauce is pretty good as well.foe dessert we only had a choice between ice crean or cheesecake. they were good, but if you do the regular price menu then you have a variety of desserts to choose from. I also reccomend their house limade!!! its so refreshing. but its kinds pricy 8$ so dink all the free refills you can!! It was a great experience. if you haven't tried this experience then you should.
(4)Mabast M.
Wow, what a great little place. Love the food and Brazilian tea. We went on a slow day with a Brazilian friend who knew all the national favorites. Cant beat it but then again for the price it better be good :)
(5)Kat T.
Chima has a pretty decent salmon and sauce too but the meat just served was not consistently seasoned. For that reason, my ranking is Texas de Brazil then Fogo then Chima.
(2)J B.
The food and atmosphere were fantastic, the staff was very accommodating.The salad bar was great
(5)Cyndy K.
Cyndy's Bottom Line: Obviously it is all about the protein. ****Star service by Alex and Somaya. Good selection of wines by the bottle. Hubby ordered a Manhattan and it looked like a syrupy reddish cocktail and tasted like mixed water. Delicious amounts of meats offered. Good food quality. Yummy additive little cheese buns.
(3)Christina L.
I love the salad bar here, but the meat options could be more varied. I personally prefer Fogo de Chao for the quality/ taste of the meat (as well as ambience). But Chima has excellent service and the staff are so friendly. It also has a very friendly environment and you will see many families dining here. However I want to ask... Why did they get rid of the warm fudge/ice cream dessert? I don't remember the exact name but last week when we went... It wasn't available anymore and replaced by some coconut dish :-(
(4)Kenny Y.
Visited this place many times and loved every time. However never visit this place during restaurant week, period! Ended up spending regular price because the restaurant week discount only allow limited menu ($40 for salad and chicken). I think most of their customer end up paying the regular price, is it some kind scam? Fine, I can live with the regular price but I don't expect to wait 45 mins for a reservation that I booked 2 weeks ahead. I also don't expect to wait 20 mins for desert and 20 mins just to get the bill. Will not visit for a while.
(1)Eunice K.
Valet parking is complimentary Very cute outdoor seating I think..? My review is based on restaurant week ($35.14 and limited meats). I went with a party of 8 and we had reservations at 4:45. We were seated fairly quickly. The meat was all okay. nothing spectacular (at the salad bar area there are toppings and sauces for the meat). The waiters also bring out sides like fried banana, mashed potato, sticky chewy cheese?/salt? bread). For dessert you can get cheesecake or 3 scoops of ice cream (vanilla, choco and/or strawberry) I liked the salad bar. There were lots of different salads and veggies and a few pasta dishes. Service was great but slow. It was super packed the day we went so that might be the reason why.
(3)Blair F.
First, I have to qualify this as having to say that there is no way I can eat my money's worth at this place. The decor/ambiance is very nice with one MAJOR exception. The last thing my wife and I want to watch while eating is half-to-3/4-naked guys from Carnival cavorting on the displays around the place. And if that wasn't bad enough, it was video played back from a VHS - seriously? WTF? Next stop - we had a server and 4 or 5 "meat men" - I forget the word in Portugeuse. Regardless, my Portuguese was better than their English. No one spoke English well. I had no clue WTF they were saying. OK - let's move beyond- the house special, the sirloin, was awesome. The filet cuts were completely overdone and for the first time in my life, I left it on the plate. The sides are great, as imagined, carpaccio, buffalo mozzarella, and other dishes. The hearts of palm looked like tree trunks. Did I mention I couldn't understand a word the servers said? And if you are going to park an Aventador outside the front door, at least have the decency and the respect to Ferruccio and wash the fucking thing. What a disgrace. Order nothing but the sirloin. Oh and the bonus.....running into my ex-wife at the place.
(2)Angela L.
My VP and I took out some consultants to Chima. Ambiance: A Swank, cosmopolitan decor. Bar lounge area reminds me of a more spacious version of "Bar Dupont" in DC. Dining area is huge. Interesting detail: A transparent (I'd imagine, roll-up) TV screen. Amenities (if you will): Ipad menus. Table chips that if you turn over, will theoretically alert a server to come to you (Think Internet of Things). In actual practice, at least, the chips at our table were defunct. Service: B While staff was quite cordial, we had to wait quite a bit for personal menu or drink requests. Food: I think most people already know about this but this is a meat lover's paradise. Servers parade around with large kabob-like presentations of rib-eyes to lamb to classic Mignon to Mignon wrapped in bacon and on and on. Unfortunately, I didn't try out the salad bar (more, a food bar) or the desserts that night. Additional details: Free valet. YES, for the ambulatory- challenged such as myself. Good place for HH, client trips, date night, binge night. Open up your pocket books. This is not Ruby Tuesday. Think Glutton experience, Lux-Style. I'm a-comin' back.
(4)Shelita S.
I went to Chima during restaurant week on a Friday night for dinner with a group of friends. There were 4 of us total. We did valet (free) parking as we heard from other reviews the parking garage was $3. We visited on a rainy night, so valet worked well. We had a reservation and were seated quickly. Upon being seated there was one menu on the table, our waiter greeted us and immediately highlighted the fact that if we did not upgrade to the full menu $54.90 instead of the restaurant week special $35.15, "you miss out on our top 6 meats; filet mignon, filet wrapped in bacon, lamb chops, leg of lamb, beef ribs, and ribeye." 3 of the people at my table upgraded and I stuck with the restaurant week menu. Decor: The decor was nice, had a modern feel, there were table cloths, and linen napkins. The salad bar area although clean and nicely arranged, the salad bar area at Texas de Brazil was more impressive, they had an extravagant floral arrangement at Texas de Brazil. Food: Regarding the food/appetizers that were provided on the table, the cheese bread was delicious and the consistency of the mashed potatoes was odd. They were a bit too soupy/thin for my liking. Because I was the only at my table who did not upgrade and stuck with the restaurant week menu, it was a bit of a confusing experience for me. Whenever one of the gauchos would arrive at the table, I was not sure if I was able to partake in the meat they had. Although, I had a different color chip that made it clear to the gauchos that I had not upgraded, I still was a bit confused. Service: Given it was a Friday night during restaurant the quality of the service was excellent and our waiter was very attentive. Our waiter swung by more than once to ask us if there were any additional meats we wanted brought back to our table and to see if we needed a refill on any of the non-self service food (cheese bread, beef croquettes). We greatly appreciated this. The manager swung by and spoke with us which was nice considering they were extremely busy. Occasionally, I had a hard time understanding the gauchos when they informed us what meat they were serving. Overall, we were stuffed and enjoyed the food. I have heard that the quality of the food is supposed to be better than Texas de Brazil, although I can't say Chima blew Texas de Brazil out of the water.
(3)Brittany A.
Oh Chima... Ohhhhh Chima... I love you Chima. Sean from we buy any car recommended this place as we sold my beat up childhood Avalanche, Bertha, to him. (I miss you Bertha!) Anyway, so its $52 a person and you get all the meat ever imagined. All you want. Mmm. Meat. But not just any meat. No, no. Ribs, beef and pork. Chicken wrapped in bacon, Parmesan crusted pork loin. Filet mignon, by itself or wrapped in bacon. Lamb chops and legs of lamb. Sausage, flank steak, sirloin, rib eyes! And salmon and swordfish. I love you chima. Our waiter was Rodger, though all the other waiters checked in on us and served us as well. I never had to ask for a refill. Hell, they didn't even ask to refill it! It was done! I was usually engrossed in a conversation with Bear and there was a brand new glass of coconut milk and lime juice (so delicious!) sat right in front of me! Bear had a strawberry drink and a pina colada. He was very happy. I'm warning you now, if you have PTSD, anxiety, or just are scared of people popping up out of nowhere...don't come here. The meat people do that. The moment we flipped the 'yes I want meat' coin, about five guys showed up with meat out of nowhere! They really fill up your plate immediately. We tried everything. My favorites were the rib eye, salmon, filet mignon wrapped in bacon, beef and pork ribs, and the top sirloin (my husband's all around fave). He also very much enjoyed the huge salad bar. But back to the meat. Any special request? They got it. Allergic to pepper? They got it. Want it mooing? Still got it. Want it burnt? What's wrong with you? They still got it. Just ask. We ate meat for two hours. I was in a heavy breathing haze for the last half. We had crème brulé and cheesecake for dessert. So good. The crust of the crème brulé was so thick, I had to tap it good to get it to crack. But everyone knows that's the best part of crème brulé. And the crust of the cheesecake...well, there wasn't one! I LOVE graham cracker crustless cheesecake! Silky and delicious. Not as light and magical as the capital grille but still excellent. Also, don't bring your kids. Please. The 10 year old in the tutu, the little boy running all in between the tables...not good. Handle your kids! We're bringing people next time. Have a heavy breathing party!
(5)Divine A.
Drinks and appetizers are amazing! I come here with co-workers for happy hour and we are always happy coming here. The happy hour prices will def keep you happy for the beers they offer. But their cocktails are perfect and balanced. Not overly sweet and not overly alcoholic. Perfectly balanced, so if you want a cocktail and martini you won't be disappointed!
(4)A W.
If you're seeking ways to die sinfully, Chima will offer you the quickest and most gluttonous way! When making a reservation at Chima, you might as well make one at the local emergency room too. You're not looking at the best cut of meat when you go to Chima. It's 'slightly-above' grade quality meat but just a lot of it. The meats are very flavourful (ie. salty, cuz it's Brazilian style.) Again, Brazilian style steak house is about ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT. Please don't challenge yourself to "how many fillet wrapped bacon I can stuff into my belly in one sitting". My go-to-meat is the rack of lamb and only the lamb. My reasons are that 1) it'll limit how much I eat, minimize the amount of animal fat I'm taking it; 2) they do a very good job with lamb; 3) it's the one meat I rarely order cause many restaurants don't do it right. Now, the salad bar is great! It's more than just greens and dressings. It's a full buffet bar of goodies... too much to name. I'd be surprise if someone complaints that they couldn't find one single item to like. Wine list is long and the price is 'impressive'. I usually order a glass or 2 of a red, and it has never been disappointing. Again, the one down side to this place is the volume of food. Need to either check your self-control at home or come with obliviousness to fully enjoy the way of Chima.
(3)Marcelo B.
My overall experience was ok. I got to say, i was a little disappointed with the meats, I can tell this establishment uses top quality meats but the meats were kinda bland! The picanha, filet mignon and lamb chops were tender and moist but bland. I enjoyed the flank steak the most. Everything else was average! I still enjoyed the visit given the fact that i'm carnivorous, got to work on the flavor tho!!
(3)Scott L.
Oh NoVa! There's something so appealing about an upscale restaurant in the suburbs - the ample space, seclusion, and immaculacy. It's a culinary and cultural oasis situated amongst sprawling single family homes and shopping centers. I was invited to a dinner gathering via my friend's roommate one Saturday night. Despite arriving on time for our 7pm reservation, we still had to wait half an hour for our table. From that alone, I can tell that Chima is the talk of the town for Northern Virginians. There are small tables and an eclectic range of lounge chairs in the waiting area, so grab yourself a drink or two while waiting for the rest of your party to come. The interior is spacious and clean. There is a range of table sizes, perfectly suited for couples and families. Yet, the restaurant can accommodate large parties of 10 or more (like mine). Dark lighting with subtle orange and red hues sets the refined atmosphere. A few screen projectors are scattered about showing silent black and white video clips. It's an all-you-can eat buffet style restaurant, so come hungry and starving! You can pay extra to opt for wine and more desserts. The base price allows unlimited access to the salad bar and grilled meats. The former is self-serve while the latter is cut and carved by waiters. My recommendation is to NOT fill up on the salad bar because you'll be too full to eat any of the grilled meats. Remember that you can always go back to the salad bar for seconds, thirds, fourths, etc. I assure you that they will not run out of pasta salad. Once you return to the table, you'll be given a paper disc that indicates if you want meat or not. Place the green side of the disc up to have waiters bombard you with succulent and savory meats of all kinds - ribs, sausages, shank. Have a preference for well done, medium rare, or rare? They got you covered! After you finish the salad bar and meat course, the waiter will bring out the dessert. You select a number of desserts given what you paid for. I ordered two sangrias (a red and a white) that was part of their special for $6 a glass. One of the best sangrias I've had in a while! The essence and flavor of the sliced fruits come out distinctly and mask the alcohol. It's not weak by any means. I was tipsy after two glasses. Overall I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who is in the area! If you have time to make the trek out from DC, consider doing so!
(4)Sutton P.
YESS. This place is great! The meats are out of this world good! Soft, juicy, and cooked to perfection. Plus, their salad bar is to die for. Loud atmosphere, so don't be afraid to have a fun girl's night out. The waiters are extremely friendly and are quick to service the customers. You have to have this circle paper thing on one side to let them know you are or are not open for meat. Fun place to dine and enjoy the valet parking, and a wonderful excuse to dress up once in a while!
(5)Antonio V.
I had the all you can eat fish, that so post to swim to my table but I guess they where slippery hard to catch in the kitchen. Waited 25 minutes first round of fish to come then I had to beg for the next 30 mins for more fish. Moral of this story chima not built for fish. I gave 3 stars because my friends picked the meat options they came out excellent. The service was outstanding, they give great excuses why the fish took a while.
(3)Michael B.
It's no Fogo de Chao. I am currently at Chima Brazilian Steakhouse which is sad because I have the time to complete a review about the restaurant and my dinner is not finished yet. I am here for a party with work people and I've been to Fogo in DC multiple times. There's a big comparison between this two. The meat is actually good and great. The salad bar needs a more personality in setting it up. They need to do something about their blank ceiling... put more chandeliers or some better lights. Their dessert is dismal even if it comes with the whole package. I'd still pay more and enjoy more in Fogo if I have still room to eat dessert after consuming half a cow. The service is ok. German and William, our waiters were ok. I just wish they'd pay attention to us more when we ask for specific meats or serve our coffee with more haste.
(2)Sarah P.
Mmmmmm.... this place is great. Chima has become our go-to celebration restaurant. I've been to the other Brazilian Steakhouses and Chima is just better. It is not cheap, but I have never felt cheated or felt that it wasn't worth what I paid for the meal. The only time I've been less than thrilled was the one time we made the mistake of going during Restaurant Week. Based on most of the negative reviews on here, they all try to go then to get a deal and then don't like the fact that it's a limited menu and the place is crazy busy. Well, what did you expect exactly? Personally I prefer to come early and have a leisurely meal before it gets too crowded and loud. The meats are all very good quality and well seasoned and cooked. My favorites are the house special sirloin, garlic sirloin, flank and lamb. Since I'm not much of an AYCE person I don't try to get my money's worth, if you eat too much and are miserable then your goal of having a nice dinner just backfired. I probably only put down about 8 oz of meat during a visit, but I savor and enjoy the heck out if it. Prices are steep, but not stupidly so. Full Rodizio is $54 which includes all but the drinks and dessert. You can also get just the salad bar option which includes the salmon and swordfish, just not the other meats for $34 (my mom always goes this route and loves it). There is no "kids menu" but you can probably find something between the salad bar, sides and meats that a kid will eat. Mine had black beans, veggie rice, broccoli, a small cup of the veggie bisque and almost her body weight in the cheese puff biscuits. Kids under a certain age are free and a discount is applied depending on age after that (my 4 year old was free). One note on kids here: for Pete's sake keep them under control! There was a large party near us last night with a bunch of kids (for some reason they were celebrating a 2 year old's birthday here (???), take them to Chuck-e-Cheese for the love of God!) and not one of the 15-18 adults at this table bothered to check the kids. They were running literally all over the restaurant the whole time. The "birthday girl" even ran over to another table, grabbed 2 of the large, stemmed, water glasses off of it and proceeded to BANG THEM TOGETHER until they broke in her hands. All while the adults at her table either ignored, or passively watched her and did NOTHING! You people are the reason nice restaurants BAN KIDS!!
(5)Frank W.
Excellent! Great upscale atmosphere, service, beverages and food. Obviously you should meat lover when you come here but their salad bar is very good as well. Parking is easy using their complementary valet service.
(5)Lillian C.
Top sirloin and leg of lamb is where it's at! The lamb is absolutely divine- piping hot, well seasoned, well-cooked, there was nothing to complain about it. Probably the best piece of lamb I've had, period. Salad bar is much better than Fogo's but don't get too hung up on it. Avoid chicken, pork, and fish altogether. It's decent at best but not worth the valuable belly real estate. I'm not too hot on the beef wrapped tenderloin either (cooked to well-done) and the ribeye was surprisingly lean. One of the highlights on the salad bar is the beef carpaccio - it was like beef sashimi and the dressing (a green pesto like dressing) and capers really amped it up. I could have eaten the whole plate. The smoked salmon was pretty fantastic as well. Avoid the corn mousse. Cocktails were fantastic. They do charge for water but it's relatively affordable (7 total for sparkling, 7 total for still, had 2 bottles of each. ) Apps were ok. Potatoes were the consistency of wallpaper paste, which were entirely too gooey. The cheesy bread was the highlight of the spread but Fogo's is much better. Overall the food was fantastic and consistently good. This would be my second favorite steak dining experience after Cabaña Las Lilas in Buenos Aires (god bless that place). I docked a star because of the terrible table my party was seated. I should have probably asserted myself and asked for another table, but I wanted to have a good time and not be "that person." The restaurant was only half full at 7:30 PM on a Friday night and we were seated in an isolated nook away from everyone even though there were plenty of open tables that could have accommodated us closer to the front. There was literally no one seated next to us until about an hour until closing. I arranged this dinner for my SOs birthday and invited some family - I don't know if the poor seating it's just a coincidence, if they thought my brothers weren't dressed well (they're teenagers and were dressed much better than many of the adults), or that they were annoyed that my sister arrived no more than three minutes after the reservation time, but it was probably the worst table in the restaurant and we collectively dropped over 400 dollars on a meal for 5. For any other restaurant I really couldn't care where I sit, but at places like Brazilian BBQ and Dim Sum, you need a good table or it'll really hamper your dining experience. Thankfully the server will ask if there's anything you want in particular to be sent to your table so you can get that amazing leg of lamb that was no where to be seen for two hours.
(4)Jennifer S.
Came here for restaurant week with the rents and it failed to impress. Granted we didn't get to try the premium meats, the steaks we tried were very salty and nothing to remember. A few cuts were better than others but I don't remember which ones because overall, they were just about average-- unmemorable. Service was also not great.. the server seemed annoyed that we were having restaurant week (i understand but so was everyone else!) I prefer fogo.
(3)Kirt K.
Great decor, good service but food was blah even for the reduced restaurant week price. It was $35 for 9 choices of meat selection vs $55 for the full 16 types. Everyone in my party went with the reduced price and only saw 5 of the 9 meat selections. (chicken wrapped bacon, top sirloin, Brazilian sausage, bbq ribs and flank steak) and didn't see sword fish the whole 1.5 hours we were there and I forgot what else was even there. Unless I go on some kind of Adkin's diet I probably won't be back.
(3)Hannah H.
My husband and I wanted to do an AYCE meat fest, so we decided to go to Chima's for dinner. If you sign up for their emailing list, you get a $20 off coupon off of your total bill, minus the tax and the automatic 18% tip. I had a feeling that it was going to be a rough night as our table was by the shelves that was near the buffet, very much out of sight, and far apart from the main hub bub of the going in and out of the kitchen by the guacho guys. Our server was more on the inattentive side, and there were other servers who came to check up on us once in a while; I'm thinking it's because they saw us waiting and waiting with empty plates! I saw an array of meats going by: the Picanha (top sirloin), the Baby Top Sirloin, the Filet Mignon, the Filet Wrapped in Bacon, the Flank Steak, the Leg of Lamb, the Lamb Chops, the BBQ Ribs, the Beef Ribs, the Boneless Chicken, the Sausages, and the Salmon; however, we only received some filet mignon, some top sirloin, and some of the flank over a span of an hour or so :( I did enjoy my top sirloin as it was nicely charred, but the cut of the meat was too thin and the rest were too rare for me; the filet mignon was mostly on the rare side, so it was a complete bloody mess - I wasn't aware how rare it was until it hit my plate and blood started oozing out due to the low dim lights - yikes! We did manage to get some of the flank, but the eastern and the western part of the restaurants seem to be the top priority. We definitely had a better experience here, and we do think that this place serves better and more flavorful meats compared to other Brazilian steakhouses, but only when you have the opportunity to get some! From the salad bar, I enjoyed the endives with the bleu cheese as well as some slices of gouda. I filled my stomach more on the cheese bread rather than meat tonight, and I was sad that the service was on the poor side. I am thinking that if you are seated strategically by the view of the kitchen door as well as if you're in a larger group, you will get your meat. :( +request to sit by the kitchen!!!
(2)Jim W.
We tried Chima a few years ago and, for me, it was just so so. However, hubby and our guests loved it. i am not a huge beef or lamb eater. Thus, not my type of restaurant.
(2)Dave U.
This is one of our favorite Brazilian steakhouses. After the lacking service and low quality at TdB, we have found a new place with Chima! Service is always top-notched. The gauchos are spot on with their visits of 'meat, chicken, pork and more meat'. This last visit was excellent due to the fact that our server was not familiar with their wines. The wife ordered a specific Pinot and received another type. Unfortunately, they both tasted similar. It wasn't until we got the bill that we realized it wasn't what we ordered. Otherwise, this place is one of our favorite spots!
(4)Nikolay I.
I always love a place that serves endless meat. It's dream come true for me. This place in particular was awesome. Free valet. Service was pretty great. We almost always had someone to help us. The food was delicious. I just wish that they included deserts as part of the all you can eat. Not that I wanted a lot, but it would be great to finish off with a free desert after throwing down $60/person.
(5)Tasha P.
I went with a large group on last Sunday evening and to be honest, after reading the reviews, I wasn't expecting to be wowed. Boy, was I wrong. The food was awesome. I've been to Fogo de Chao, Texas de Brazil, and Gaucho's, and it's a pretty close tie between Fogo and Chima but Chima has the edge. Why, you ask? First, Chima's meats were seasoned but not over-seasoned. And the meats didn't all taste the same like they do at the other places. Second, the meats were cooked perfectly, meaning that medium-rare is actually medium-rare. Third, I was impressed that they were accommodating to gluten-free guests in our party and brought out butter-free skewers of meat. Fourth, they offer salmon and swordfish, which is a great break from the red meat rotation. Nevertheless, I'm deducting one star for two reasons. I wasn't impressed with the salad bar and I thought the seasoning on the lamb chops was not good...at all. Otherwise it was exceptional and I'll certainly be back.
(4)Georgio S.
Chima is a great place to take the family. We were a party of 12 and were seated with space to spare. This place is open and clean. The service is great, everyone of the servers went out of their way to get us anything we wanted. The Mojitos were the best I've found in DC. At 10 bucks a piece I put down 4 of them myself ...they were that good! Fogo d Chow does have better food I would have to admit but if your looking to stay out of the district you won't be disappointed.. From the fresh salad bar to the great choices of meats their is something for everyone. Even my 3 year old loved the cheese puffs and fried polenta.
(4)Daniel W.
Went to Chima for my birthday, ended up being a surprise since my wife didn't tell me a bunch of friends and family were there. My wife did have to convince them to allow them to be seated first so it could actually be a surprise, but besides that, its all good. Food was great, service was excellent, but the place cleared out early and they kept moving tables around us to prepare for next day, making us feel slightly unwelcomed, so hence the 4 star.
(4)Gerry M.
Great atmosphere, great service, and excellent food! Try the guarana Antarctica and the Brazilian limeade drinks. Both are very mouthwatering drinks. Approximately 4 dollars each. Just be weary if you get the lower priced meal you don't get any of the premium cut meats.
(5)Harolyn P.
Came here for restaurant week so maybe that was a factor...the salad bar was awesome, but the meats were meh to me. I rolled out of there full as can be though. Personally, I felt 100x more satisfied paying the same amount for a single perfectly-cooked steak at Ruth's Chris than eating here... not worth the premium to me, but I would say it is something everyone should try once just to experience a Brazilian steakhouse... I may have to try Fogo to see if it is any better...
(3)Yaoxing L.
I go to this house with my friends last night. It was really good for meat lovers. Only one thing made me unhappy, I cannot see any fish until the end of my dinner. I guess fish is very welcome so that it can be gotten out very soon.
(4)Esther C.
Oh, how can you go wrong with endless Brazilian BBQ? Ok, you can, but not at Chima! The food is always amazing, the staff is always friendly and attentive, and I just love coming here! Have been here numerous times over the years, and they never disappoint! Came here tonight with multiple small children, and they were so accommodating and patient. I was a little distracted and didn't realize that I wrote for a tip when tip was already included which they pointed out to me. Perfect food, perfect service. Cannot go wrong with this place!!!
(5)Nille P.
My husband and I were supposed to come here for our anniversary in October, but couldn't make it. We made a reservation through open table and gave it another shot. When we pulled up, the valet staff was very nice and utilized the service. We had a reservation for 4:00p and we were seated at 4:03 since the restaurant doesn't open until 4:00p. We had Jorge, Justin, Michael, William and a young woman for our servers. They were all very nice and attentive. They accommodated all of our needs. The cheese bread was different, but very tasty. I definitely indulged. I didn't sample any of the other items they placed on the table because I had already started eating other things. The salad bar/side dishes was an interesting touch. I wasn't expecting that, but it wasn't bad. Everything was neat and well maintained. Since I have issues with salad bars, this was a plus for me. I sampled the seafood salad (not really my taste), the caesar salad w/ dressing and added arugula, and the rice with vegetables. The Now for the main attraction, the rodizio meats. I sampled all of them, except the sausage. The bacon chicken was absolutely delicious. The parmesan pork loin was everything. The only thing I wasn't a fan of was the rotisserie chicken (I believe that's what it was), the swordfish, and the lamb. It was my first time trying it, so I might give it another try. Overall, we had a great time and would definitely return.
(5)Lydia R.
I'm sure I would love this place just as much if I came here when I had not just been moving all day in the rain without eating for several hours, but that experience made it seriously amazing. Chima is so amazing that I could probably keep writing about it, so instead I will make a list: - Chima offers complimentary valet parking and agreed to valet park our 17-foot U-Haul Moving Truck! - The salad buffet is a meal in itself, and has options galore of all kinds of interesting flavors and tastes that I have never tried before - Everyone who works here is awesome. Especially the owner/manager since he insisted on bringing me the chimichurri sauce that he recommended after I asked for a sauce recommendation! I barely see the owner/manager come out during a meal. Impressive! - We were given complimentary coffee and a chocolate mint :) - We went there for restaurant week, which meant fewer meat options to choose from, but we still enjoyed the very high quality meats we tasted
(5)Ammar A.
I went there after a recommendation from a friend. My visit was during restaurant week in DC. The good: - Food was great - Nice selection of salad - The atmosphere and decor was alright - The desert was awesome The bad - My waiter was rude and un attentive - All the meats mostly beef that I hade tasted the same. I couldn't tell the difference between different cuts of meat. bottom line: I will probably go there once a year. However, I would rather go to a nice steakhouse and have my meal made to order.
(3)Ali B.
I just love this place. Best Brazilian steakhouse in the DC area. Great ambience. Make sure you have an outrageous appetite (and some tums handy). Go for the: - top sirloin - lamb chops - soup (I try to avoid the salad bar, but they make a pretty damn good soup!) - desserts! (chocolate lava cake is a must)
(5)Priscilla Y.
Ooh baby, all you can eat meat! Chima is like heaven for foodies and meat lovers! Each person has a circular disk by their plate. When they want meat, they flip to the orange side and a server will come up to you with whatever they have. When you've had enough, flip the disk back over. Food: You start off with a couple of appetizers. Their cheesy bread is so good. You have to eat it right when you get it, when it's warm and soft. There was also fried yuca and fried bananas. I skipped those. I did try the deep fried meat balls, which just tasted weird. The salad bar wasn't very impressive, but you still need to eat your veggies! I tried everything, but the pork and chicken. Really good quality meat and done just right. The filet mignon and top sirloin were so soft and juicy. My favorite was the lamb chops. It was seasoned just right and not overly salty. It was better than the leg of lamb. They had two types of fish- the swordfish and salmon. I wasn't impressed with either one. It was a little overdone and dry. Dessert: The $52 you're paying DOES NOT include drinks or dessert, which totally sucks. If you have room after dinner, they have a lot of choices, each for $9.50. Our server, Jon, highly recommended the Walnut Cream dessert, saying that everybody who ordered it, loved it. That was purely exaggerated. It was good, not spectacular. I wanted to agree, but there was way too much whipped cream on it. I removed most of it, but that plus the strawberries overpowered the taste of any walnut. I should have gone with the papaya pudding or flan. If you are celebrating a birthday, they will bring you a free birthday dessert, which is very sweet of them. No silly birthday song, though. Service: I think we had about 3 servers assigned to our table. They are all very attentive and quick. Even though the orange disk is small, they'll notice it and will all rush over with their skewers of meat. The manager even came over to check up on us during dinner. Parking: Garage parking. You don't get validated so it's about $4. They also have free valet parking. This is my first time at a Brazilian steakhouse. It was a great experience. Food was delicious and wonderful service. I will return at some point, but $52 is pretty pricey, especially if dessert is not included.
(4)Eleanor G.
This place was amazing. Food was great! Very nice place to go for a romantic dinner as well as for big groups. A little pricey but this is the place to go for special occasions.
(5)Deepak B.
I am a Fogo de chao fan, but this place was better. When I have craving for good steak, this is the place. Salad bar is excellent!
(5)Xiaoxi W.
To me, Chima's is about the fun and atmosphere more than the food. The salad bar is pretty great but the meats are just "ok". Can this type of place even transcend beyond that? Probably not. It's all about quantity and variety. Definitely good for a large group. I've been here twice and the service has been somewhat disappointing. While the steak runners are scarily attentive, the general waitstaff is not. I don't usually want to flag the waiter, because that's rude, but last night I had no choice. We had to flag them for everything. Even at the end of the night when most patrons have left, it took almost 20 minutes to tediously wait for the check and then wait for them to actually take our cards. There is a novelty to this place (and I imagine the same for Fogo), but I'll take Flemings/BLT/Capital/etc over this any day.
(3)Terry K.
Chima as a place itself is a conundrum. The problem with this place isn't the food, nor the atmosphere or the service or anything like that. The problem is that because the meat they offer you is SO rich and tender that you quickly grow tired of it. (if that makes sense) Let's get to the meat of it: * Each meat offered is great - if you're a meat lover you will most likely like this place. I wish they added more seasoning to some of the meats though. The chicken/bacon was really great. The first round of ribs was kinda overcooked - The Filet mignon was really good. Everything else - including the swordfish were just a delight to eat. The appetizers that they give you in the beginning is AWESOME. Honestly.... I enjoyed eating those more than the meat... haha. The cheese bread .. Can I have the recipe please? The meat croquettes were spectacular. They boast a huge salad bar/cheese bar which has a variety of dishes. But you don't want to fill yourself up with that - you're here for the meat! I'm assuming it's mainly for vegetarians and whatnot. Overall I'd recommend this place once - especially considering the price. For me, the most important thing to eating out is not so much the ambience or presentation but it all comes down to the food. So once you get past the environment (which was really loud that night I went) the meat itself is "OK" Honestly, my wife and I preferred to go to Oegajib afterwards... I dunno maybe it's a Korean thing. The service is top notch however - the servers are SO nice. 4/5 Stars... mainly because I feel it wasn't worth the money. Good stuff but not GREAT. Btw - is this how rich people eat all the time? So many business people just casually eating and drinking like they come here everyday or something. Must be nice. :)
(4)Ramtiniy B.
Been a regular costumer since 2012, and this place keep getting better and better, love the food, (Top sirloin) and love the classy bar, specially the recent friendly bartenders, Thank you Chima, keep up the good work.....
(4)Dimple N.
Best local Brazilian Steakhouse in the area - do not miss! Pricey but worth it! Excellent service and friendly staff. Always crowded - make reservations!
(4)Sharad S.
Worth the price , absolutely amazing...went for a company party I could barely walk out the place From steak to swordfish that s place is the awesome
(5)Kristina N.
I came here for my birthday dinner with 2 friends. The decor/ambiance is upscale. The servers are attentive. I had a LivingSocial deal for $25 towards $50. Overall, it's a nice Brazilian steakhouse but you may want to wait for Restaurant Week at Fogo de Chao.
(4)Neek S.
I love this place. They have a great salad bar. I personally prefer Chima over Fogo de Chao. Lots of variety to choose from. There are even certain times of the year where they serve colossal shrimp.
(5)Shannon H.
I LOVE brazilian bbq (or brazilian steakhouses?) They're called brazilian bbq in Los Angeles which is where I was first exposed to such decadent deliciousness. Anyway, Chima is pretty comparable to places I've been to in California. Fantastic meat selection, fast service, and a pretty great atomosphere/set up. I think prices run about $52.50 per person which is a steal because Fogo de Chao in Beverly Hills is $70 apiece, I think. Our party of four (with drinks) came out to about $300 after taxes and tip. If you've never been to brazilian bbq, each person has a small, two-sided token which you flip over (to orange at Chima) when you want meat. Nice men with meat swords--don't be dirty--come and offer you whatever cut you want. Don't be too greedy because the meat is much better when it's hot and if you leave your token flipped to the orange side, soon you'll be overwhelmed with options (it's hard to say no when they come around, trust me). Chima also has a seafood-only option if that's your cup of tea. I think it's $37.50, but don't quote me on that. My aunty went this route and you get a green token instead of orange and your only options are salmon and swordfish. She said the salmon was really good but had to send back her first serving of swordfish because it was too dry. She said that her second one was better though. Note: the salmon and swordfish are also available for those that go for the meats but they don't come around as much so you have to ask the servers for them specifically. Tip: if you want your money's worth, stay away from the salad bar. The offerings are good but you're doing yourself a disservice if you don't try all the meats they have available (16 options available when I went). My favorite was their picanha which is their top sirloin house special and the pork sausages. Can't go wrong with any of the options here though. To my knowledge, parking is valet but I'm not too familiar with the area so there might've been other options that I didn't know about.
(4)Marivic L.
I've been to Chima at least five times now. The space is open and modern, and I like the atmosphere. That said, I have tried just about every meat they serve and, of course, the sides. In short, it's no Fogo. It's a step below on all the food. Let me put it this way - They had a deal for restaurant week which would have cost me about $15 less a person when I took my friend out. Rather than have them experience a less than stellar place, I took them to Fogo instead, and it was worth it. I will still end up at Chima because my friends live near it, but it's definitely not my first choice.
(3)Connie C.
service was fantastic, honestly should be 10 stars for service. servers and just everyone were amazing. would definitely go back just for the service. servers also were very knowledgable about their wine selections the items from the salad bar were great, especially the cheese bread puffs. meat was well-seasoned and perfect
(5)Navee K.
The best Brazilian steakhouse I've been to by far and this is in comparison to fogo DE Chao and Texas DE brazil. Meat of all kinds are so tender and juicy I was truly impressed!
(5)Jennifer N.
I had been looking forward to dining at Chima for quite some time. I finally went yesterday for dinner and unfortunately, I left extremely disappointed. The restaurant itself was extremely nice and the service was excellent. The salad bar was good and had a ton to choose from and I liked everything I tried off of it. Now..let's get to the meat. I'm a huge steak lover, so I was really excited for this meal. I've been to Texas de Brazil, but I was always told that Chima was better. Well, I will say that I liked the variety that Chima had to offer. A wide selection of steak, fish, chicken, pork, etc. I mainly stuck to the beef products and honestly...it all seemed a bit under seasoned. The salad bar does offer a bunch of sauces, but I would hope that the meat could stand on it's own. The filet mignon wrapped in bacon was probably my favorite. It had the most flavor. Followed by that was the garlic sirloin. The thing that bothered me most was the cooking temperatures of the meat. I always get my steak medium rare and so does my friend that accompanied me for dinner. So, when they came around and asked if we'd like medium or medium rare...we of course said medium rare. Well...these were definitely not medium rare...straight up rare meat. I could hardly eat it. So, when they came around again I requested medium...which looked just like the medium rare..aka was also rare. I won't cross Chima off my list just yet..I always like giving places another shot especially when the service is great. However, I will not be rushing back to dine here anytime soon.
(3)Marina D.
"Meat is meat" This is my FIRST EVER review!! I went here for Valentines day. I actually made a really last minute reservation (that morning) and I was surprised to hear that they had a 10 PM reservation available. I thought that was way too late to be eating but it was my last option other than going to a "regular" restaurant so I took it. Upon arrival, they were "behind" on reservations and we ended up having to wait an additional 30 minutes before being seated. (Part 1 of bad experience). My date and I knew it was late, but they did offer the reservation so they should've known what they were up for. When we were seated, the hostess and the waiter exchanged looks that made me feel unwanted. (Part 2 of bad experience). Our waiter, Luis I believe was his name, seemed nice at first but after his first visit and delivery of our drinks, he didn't visit us until we were finished. He only came to take empty plates and didn't offer additional service. (Part 3 of bad experience). My date ordered a mojito and it took maybe 15 min to get it and it turned out pretty bad. (Part 4 of bad experience). So at the end, we got the check without being offered dessert or anything more. Also, I saw everyone receive a white box at the end of their meal and realized we didn't get one. The waiter was rude about it but we ended up getting one. (Part 5 + 6 of bad experience) It was a chocolate covered strawberry. Of course I want one! Anyway, I wanted to share this to let you know that they are capable of bad service. I know the circumstances are special but if they allow themselves to be open that late, they need to maintain good service throughout. The meat (and meat cutters) is GREAT, as well as the ceasar salad and rice. Everything else in the salad bar was mediocre. After this experience, I'm inspired to visit Fogo de Chao's!
(3)Victoria L.
MEAT GALORE!!!! This is a nice place to go when you want a big girl and big boy meal. This is also a place before you go, you don't eat anything for 2 days and you want to pig out. Ok I'm lying about not eating but it's smart to eat a very light lunch so you can make your trip worth it! Second time eating here last night (1/14/14), both times were for restaurant week. Somehow we manage to get the $52.50 menu because of the bacon wrapped filet. I know I'm bacon obsessed but damn it's good! The only difference between the $35.14 meal and $52.50 is some of the meats like filet and lamb. Other than that, you get unlimited apps and salad bar. The appetizers are delicious. I love the plantains, it's lighty crusted and so soft, it melts as you bite into it. Those mini cheesebread is $$$. I can eat them all day long, its light and just a little bit crispy on the outside but soft on the inside. The smoked turkey spread is amazing, creamy, addicting!!!! It goes perfectly with the cheesebread. Salad bar is delicious, I can probably just eat it by itself. They have different types of cheeses, salads, rice, meats and tons of sauces. My favorite sauce is the housemade bbq. Now to the best part- the meats!! I think all of them are tasty and well-flavored. My favorite is the house special, parmesean pork loin and bacon wrapped filet. They are made perfectly, juicy, tender and melt in your mouth type of meat. The quality of the meats were excellent and served hot. The desserts were divine. I enjoy the brazilian flan and creme brulee the best. Everything here is technologized. (Real word??) They give you an iPad that has wine, special cocktails, and desserts and you can scroll through and choose what you want. They have some type of ipod device that they can send orders through. When we wanted more cheesebread, all they did was type it on the device and it came right out. When we wanted more filet mignon, he typed it WITH how we liked our meat and the meat server literally came over in 30 seconds. It was crazy! Besides that, the servers were awesome, they make sure you are happy. Asking if there is any more meat we'd like to come to our table and giving us those fancy napkin cloths everytime we'd go to the salad bar. The meat servers were also very friendly and came by every 2 minutes. I haven't been to Texas DeBrazil or Fogo so I can't judge how much better/worse Chima is but for now Chima is deliciously good in my book. Service is excellent and food is exquisite. Plus there is complementary parking!
(5)Mirela T.
Meat lover heaven! We came here for Restaurant Week and we of course were not disappointed. Not my first time here, but it never gets old how awesome this concept is. Our waitress Camilla was super friendly and very accommodating. She offered us wine and was very prompt in serving it. On top of that she was very kind to clear our table from one serving to the next. Service was 5 stars most definitely. The food, oh so tasty. Everything we had from chicken to top sirloin was super tasty. Only meat that i did not enjoy was the lamb. It was very chewing and just was overpowering. That one piece of lamb did not take away from all the other wonderful food we had. Now lets chime in on the salad bar. WOW you've got everything from lettuce, to beats, to cheese, to pasta salads. I was highly impressed with the offerings. There was something for everyone. The salad bar certainly measures up to the meat. Great addition to help balance all the protein you are having during your dinner.
(5)Amanda A.
Dined here last night during restaurant week with a party of 6. I've spent a few weeks in Brazil before and definitely came into the meal knowing what to expect. I'll start off with the good: The good- 1. The meat options were delicious and plentiful, and I especially liked the top sirloin and flank steak! 2. The options at the salad bar are endless. Everything they put out is fresh and wonderful. From salads, to meats and cheeses, to beans and rice, it was a fantastic spread. 3. The meat servers were great. The kept the meat flowing all night long! Now onto the bad..... 1. We had a reservation for 7:30pm. Part of our party arrived at 7:15pm and said they'd rather wait to be seated until everyone arrived. The last two members of the part arrived at 7:35pm. A trip back to the front desk when everyone was there was met with "we're now seating everyone in the order they arrived, so you'll have to wait." This is ridiculous- how can they not honor a reservation when the whole party is there merely 5 minutes after our reservation time? We weren't seated until 7:50pm, after MUCH confusion on which table was actually ours. 2. Our server was horrendous. Only two members of our party had every been to a churrascaria before, and when asked if anyone had been to Chima before, most of us said "no." There was no explanation on how the whole experience works, i.e., you start with the salad bar, then the meat will start coming around, etc. Ordering drinks was slow and painful. A bottle of ordered wine was set onto our table and just left there for a while unopened with no wine glasses. 3. The check. When we finally received our check, we split the bill using 3 credit cards and the remainder in cash. We explicitly wrote the amounts to be charged to each credit card on the back of the check. Easy peasy. The waiter took the check and disappeared for what seemed like an eternity. They must have forgotten about us/had an issue with splitting, which was never brought to our attention. It was tough to flag someone down to ask how our check was doing. It took 30 minutes and my finally flagging someone down to get our check back. How does a restaurant that uses an iPad menu not have the ability to expeditiously split a check? In summary, I'm not sure if it was restaurant week, or an off night, or these servers were new, but I'll never be coming back here again. I can get the same or better quality food elsewhere, and far better service practically at any other establishment.
(2)Alice W.
I was a bridesmaid at a friend's wedding and her reception was held here. They closed the restaurant to anyone not on the wedding invite list, so I got to experience the food and atmosphere here in a completely private setting which was pretty neat. I'm not a huge steak eater, but I do like my steak every now and then and Chima is a good place to try various types of rodizio (or meats). They offer sirloin, filet mignon, filet wrapped in bacon, ribeye, flank steak, leg of lamb, lamb chops, BBQ ribs, beef ribs, boneless chicken, chicken wrapped in bacon, sausage, and even salmon. When you want a chef to bring you the available meats, just flip your card to let them know you're ready. They'll ask if you like it from rare to well done and then cut off the meat accordingly. Pair it with some salad from the salad bar and you're good to go. The salad helps if you want to eat more ;-) Flip your card until you're ready for the chefs to bring you more offerings of meat. Service was great here (of course, we were the only ones there so that makes a huge difference) and I had probably the best mojito I've ever had yet at Chima. If you like meats, you'll like Chima.
(4)Christal W.
So we researched this place a couple months ago and my guy decided we should go this weekend. We've always loved going to Fog's, so we decided we'd go (I was reluctant that it'd be any different/better than Fogo De Chao's, but hey, the foodie in me showed up anyway). Unbeknownst to us, they were actually celebrating DC Restaurant Week since this location is considered "the DC location" (tho technicality it's in VA). So for a table of two, on a Saturday during Restaurant Week, we had to settle for a late reservation. We get there and we valet; no charge; there is a charge at Fogo's. We get there about 20 minutes ahead of our reservation, and we're told there's an additional 15 minute wait as they were behind schedule. Next thing you know, our tracker is going off; and we were seated 15 minutes BEFORE our actual reservation..yup, you calculated correctly, we waited all of five minutes to be seated. I am very impressed so far. So we are seated and explained the restaurant week prices and offerings. We opted to pay the normal price because the cuts we actually wanted weren't part of the special pricing. So we were explained that menu and was told dessert was included (dessert is not included at Fogo's). So we go to the salad bar and it was amazing. It too, to me, was better than Fogo's. Grilled artichokes, butter rice, beans, a Greek pasta salad that was delicious!!! And the meats-OMG They also offer fish selections for all you can eat..a definite plus and something else that Fogo's doesn't offer (you have to pay a seperate price for their fish and shrimp). The cuts were tender and delicious and a bit salty like another Yelper mentioned, but I too LOVE it this way. We were asked what cuts in particular we'd like to have and it was brought to our table. The top sirloin and beef ribs were my absolute favorites!!! The meal was perfect. Even for a busy night our waiters made us feel like we were the only ones in the room. We did leave room for dessert and it was also delicious in it's simplicity (my guy had strawberry ice cream; I had the key lime pie). Our goal was to actually do a comparison of this and Fogo's and we definitely gave the edge to Chima's. I was going to reserve judgement until I went a second time, but there was no need. They just far exceeded my expectations and all of my experiences at Fogo's..and I've been there plenty of times and at two different locations in the area. And for anyone wondering, you can still get restaurant week pricing as they've extended it through Thursday. We just may be back :-)
(5)Kristi J.
I love Chima, we always go during restaurant week to take advantage of the discounted price, mostly because I can barely eat $35 worth of food. But the food is FANTASTIC. I highly recommend the Papaya Cream with Blackberry Liquor for dessert. SO GOOD! Also, I would recommend fasting most of the day before you go binge on all their delicious meat.
(5)Cat K.
Amazing appetizers, food and great service. Also free valet :) When my group went it was a weeknight. Some people were dressed to the 9s and a few in tees and jeans. We got the AYCE. I tried a little bit of everything. You can request the meat how you like it. I like all my meats well done so they will went and cook the meat as I wanted it. The other two people at my table wanted medium and the other medium rare. And they both got their meat cooked (not cooked lol) to their taste. Also if you don't want to be bothered by the meat servers, there is a token you can flip as a " do not disturb". I thought this was unique and interesting concept. will be bringing more people next time :)
(5)Kimberly C.
Having eaten at Texas de Brazil and Fogo de Chao, I had a firm set of experiences to frame this against. By far this was the most enjoyable experience in a Brazilian steakhouse. Was brought here for a nice night, and we had a great time. The atmosphere is loud but social, and it is not nearly as crowded as Fogo (the tables there are practically on top of each other). The salad bar and meat selection is comparable, and all is well prepared and delicious. The servers were helping people celebrate birthdays with songs and candle-lit pieces of cake. The service was prompt and the ambiance was equal parts intimate, trendy, and upscale. That is really what set this apart from the bustle of Texas de Brazil, and the cramped, somewhat snobbish style of Fogo de Chao. The food at all three is superb, but Chima was the nicest dining experience.
(5)LanChi N.
My family decided to try this place for my brother's birthday.It was very easy to make a reservation and they confirmed it the next day. Because we made a reservation so we were seated almost immediately.The staff is very welcoming and friendly. Food: salad bar had a decent variety salad items. nothing that really wowed me but hey its about the meat...so on that note...my favorite cuts were the garlic sirloin which was very garlicky and nicely seasoned. The House special sirloin which was amazing and seasoned nicely also. The flank was surprisingly juicy and tender. Least favorite the bacon wrapped sirloin tasteless with soggy bacon, the beef rib under seasoned and the texture was similar to that of pot roast. The salmon and swordfish texture wise was cooked perfectly however the sauces were lackluster nothing that really took the fish to the next level and they also skimped on the portions of the fish. The bbq pork ribs were decent nothing too special partially because the bbq sauce that it was basted had too much of a tomato ketchup base and less of a bold or smokiness that I usually expect from a barbecue sauce. The complimentary meat croquettes were pretty good a nice crunch to were pretty flavorful. I decided to avoid the cheese biscuits but my mother said they were really good warm. The mash potatoes were surprisingly flavorful even though the consistency was almost glue like. Dessert: Since it was my brother's birthday he got a complimentary tiramisu and with a candle and the staff sang to him. That was pretty special cause he really wasn't expecting anything. We also ordered the apple strudel with cinnamon ice cream which was pretty good almost like a flaky apple pie according to my brother. Overall: I think that Chima has really good quality food just a bit overpriced but hey your paying to eat endless meat so if your craving protein...this is your joint.
(4)Richard R.
If it comes to nice steak cuts, this is where to go, very pricey though, that's why I don't often visit Chima. Service 10/10 Food 10/10 Cleanliness 10/10 ***Picanha is the house forte ****
(5)Chris H.
I was a bit disappointed with restaurant week. I have been here a few times but it generally is averaging around 3.5 stars with me. On restaurant week specifically, our party had to wait an additional 20-25 minutes PAST our reservation time of 8:15. This already pissed me off. Then, we got sat in the corner of the restaurant and had a few selection of meats. The parmesan pork came by our table twice before any other meats because we were so initially neglected. Finally, things began picking up and everything began operating at the normal 3-3.5 star expectancy. Food: 3. You can probably make better meats yourself. The pork/chicken are always dry, the beef is better but you'll always require a dipping sauce. Atmosphere: 3.5. A bit crowded and stuffed but fairly decent. Service: 3.5. People can be pretty attentive and I never had to refill my wine myself; but, the server did keep forgetting to get us the chips, the wine, check took forever, and some other minor things. Parking: 2. Still gotta pay for the good ol' unvalidated garage parking but at least they have a fairly open garage close by. I'm really not sure why I keep coming back.
(3)Daniel T.
Went here on a Tuesday night for restaurant week - party of 9 - it was my 2nd time. Service was good for the most part, our main server had a little attitude towards the end but not a big deal - everyone else was superb. The food was very good. Being that it was restaurant week there were a few less options. The salad bar has numerous fresh items, they have the creamiest mashed potatoes ever. The various cuts of steak we had were all good along with the pork BBQ ribs and salmon. I was not a big fan of the swordfish. We also had bacon wrapped chicken and Brazilian sausage which were both pretty good. The drink menu is an iPad which is a cool high tech touch. My advice, come here when you are very, very hungry.
(4)Juls B.
Salad bar is fair. Our friends loved the short ribs the best. I only ate the salad bar and I'm stuffed! The fried bananas are great order those in advance. Took awhile to come out. But our server Phillippe was wonderful and would request him if we come back.
(4)Brad A.
I went with my wife, her son and wife to Chima last New Years eve. Because it was a Brazilian restaurant and we have been there before we expected some entertainment for the occasion. The food was great (as usual) but there was no music, no dancing and nothing special at all done for the occasion. We were charged $20 per person for Champagne, but we had to ask for it, and it was only one glass! Definitely would not recommend this for New Years...Very surprised and disappointed...The service could have been better as well, especially the price we paid.
(3)Bertwin L.
Chima is where you go if meat quality is the most important factor to you for rating a Brazilian style steak house. The salad bar has top quality ingredients but the selection is small. I highly recommend the house special top sirloin.
(4)Tony G.
Poor quality meat. Never again unless the quality changes. Nice looking on the inside.
(2)Jess C.
Signed up for their email listserv and got a $20 off upon purchase of two rodizios. Sweet. :) We celebrated my friend's birthday here, and every dinner guest went home happy. The service was crazily speedy. You flip your coin up for more meat, and the next thing you know you have 5 ppl lined up offering you their meat. It was so fast, I was impressed! The salad bar was amazing too, I loved all the cheeses, and the smoked salmon pieces were so incredibly fresh. I could have made a meal out of that. The beets were gigantic at the salad bar as well. Biggest slices of beets I've ever seen in my entire life, and tasted so yummy! The birthday boy had the whole wait staff sing to him in Portuguese and was delivered a free tiramisu at the end of the meal. It was an epic meal, and I would highly suggest this place for business dinners/lunches and the tables were spaciously laid out so you don't overhear anybody else's conversations. The staff is very courteous, and the ambiance is nice and serene, and quite a contemporary bold decor.
(5)Julito C. S.
Have yet to eat here .............but for GOD SAKE. take some pictures of the meats...i see more desserts & salad bar pics then anything. after all it is a steak house... lol
(4)Greg O.
A dinner here will put you into a meat coma, but its worth it. First, the location is a little tricky to find- its kind of tucked in an office complex behind the mall. But its nicely decorated inside, and the service is great. Our waiter in particular was very friendly and attentive the whole time- and this has been the case the rest of the times I have been here as well. As for the food- the salad bar is good, but don't spend too much time there- you came for the meat remember! The cheese rolls they give you as a starter as very addicting, but as one member of our party said, also a trap food. As for the meats, I wasn't a huge fan of the beef rib. But the sausage was surprisingly good, as was the chicken. The bacon wrapped filet is terrific. But the two best ones were the Cajun ribeye and the sirlion. Both are cooked to perfection, sliced thin for you, and simply delicious. A great meal all around.
(5)Jennifer W.
Came in on Valentine's Day because we haven't been here in quite some time. The price was $89 per person, which I thought was a bit much. Yeah it comes with the meal, glass of champaigne, and a tiny, I'm not sure what it was, dessert. The meal was ok, I loved the salad bar and the table sides very much. The meat was pretty good, but not as tasty as I had remembered it to be. All in all, fort the price of a regular meal, $50 some dollars, I will go to a nice restaurant and for a delicious filet, desert and glass of wine.
(3)Debra B.
We were a group of 12 and this restaurant is not cheap. Typically, a restaurant manager is kind and making sure everyone is happy. The manager on duty last Thursday night was the crankiest, rudest individual I have ever experienced. I have been chima a number of times and have always enjoyed. After this last visit - I will never return.
(1)Brendan H.
I came for restaurant week last night and I can't complain about endless meat. The meal was going well until the power went out. They meat stopped coming around and we sat in the dark for 30 minutes before getting our check processed by hand. They did not handle losing power well. This cut our meal short without much apology. I think that this was a rare occurrence and I would still go back to Chima.
(3)Casey J.
A true experience for the meat lover. Skip the salad bar, you are there for the protein!
(5)Sharif N.
SOOOOOO good!! The only down side is the price, $45/person, not including tip and drinks. The meats are so tender and tasty it was unreal!! The Flank steak was so good, the Filet was so good, the Chicken was so good....you get the point. The buffet bar has sooo many different choices with pastas, salads, and even some seafood. I have been here a few times, but man this is hands down one of the best restaurants in the northern virginia area!! Parking is valet, and its very spacious inside (tysons corner site).....enjoy!
(5)Elizabeth H.
Forget Fogo de Chao!! This is the place you want to be. Service was great. Very attentive waiters, and courteous Valets! The food was awesome and FRESH! Steaks were succulent and tender, and there was a great salad bar equipped with A-1 steak sauce. Also there is a soup bar there too! I will make the drive from Maryland to eat at this place! Chima has become one of my favorite restaurants!
(5)Fly N.
Upside: very friendly staff, salad bar is healthy and fresh, including some that we are unlikely to make at home. Downside: expensive, noisy, not a good place for conversation: visits to salad bar and (perhaps because we treated our meal as "tapas," instead of a single serving), what seemed like a LOT of waiting for meats we wanted to sample...some of which never came past our table. Meat was good. All this and the staff nailed our table turn at 1hr 10 min, their goal (I asked.) Summary: not a good restaurant to visit with my wife and expensive for a 1+10 visit
(3)J C.
I LOVE CHIMA! This is a true feast and it's buffet for the lazy. The servers run around bringing you up to 15 types of meat (chicken, pork, lamb, beef, and even fish) cooked in different styles. If you've never been to a churrascuria, you get a little chip on your table and when you flip it to black that means don't serve me, when you switch it to orange, it means BRING IT ON! The first time I came here the salad bar was a little lacking, and it made me feel that Fogo de Chao was better. However, the second, third, fourth times I came back it was totally comparable to Fogo, so I would choose this place over the Fogo on Penn Ave any day! Free valet parking, and they have specials like buy one get one free or restaurant week so you can usually get a good deal. The only caveat is that the drinks are very expensive! But if you're looking for a nice meal where you can pig out like crazy for about $40-$45 per person (no drinks), then you have found your place. There's also soups, bread, and at every table they give you unlimited cheese bread, fried plantains, yucca (I think), and these mini meatballs. The cheese bread is AMAZING!!! so soft and chewy and cheesy! I usually eat half a dozen of these in the restaurant then ask for more to go. Service is so so but the runners are fast so you don't really have to ask for much more than that!
(5)Jia N.
Meat, meat, and more meat. Filet is delicious. But ooooh, they have the BEST turkey dip/spread. My girlfriends and I go to the one in Tysons pretty often for happy hour and they always bring these little cheesepuffs, nuts, meatballs and turkey dip. I am in loooove with their turkey dip. If you don't like mayo, then stay away from this stuff because I think there's a ton of it in there. But I like mayo^.^ Five or six sangrias in and a belly full of pork and chicken cubes, cheesepuffs, meatballs and turkey dip equals a darn good night. Btw, if anyone figures out exactly how to make the dip, pa-lease make me a bucketful.
(4)Kim N.
Dined here again recently and thoroughly enjoyed it -- the meats were better seasoned this time around and service was still awesome! It's a large dining area and can get loud at times (ie if you're looking for an intimate setting, this might not be it). Otherwise, it's a good alternative to Fogo (that is, if you don't want to spend the extra $10 - $15).
(4)Rachel P.
ohhhhhh, lord, this is meat heaven. i'll make this easy: service was excellent. servers paid very good attention to whether or not your button was a 'yes' or 'no'. meat was super tasty, moist, and obviously filling. their salad bar is cuhhrraazzy good. there is SO much more food than i thought there would be. a friend told me you can come to chima and just order the salad bar, which, is perfectly fine with me. i would've eaten more if i wasn't planning on stuffing my stomach with some animals. great atmosphere, romantic, nice decor, and a large place.
(4)Janet P.
Well, I loved Chima's food but my husband and I were disappointed with their service. They did come around as they were supposed to. However, they would come and ask me if I wanted anything while starring at my breasts like some dogs fighting over a bone, then walking away without asking my husband if he wanted anything. My husband had to speak loudly at the guy to get him to come back and then told the guy in Spanish to quit disrespecting me by starring at my breasts and forgetting about what he was supposed to be doing. The dress I was wearing barely showed cleavage but apparently it was enough that the waiters were conversing about my "girls" to each other and then they would come over and stare. The food was great but not sure that we'll be going back with bad taste in service providers. Not unless I'm wearing a turtleneck, Hair Cuttery haircut and pop bottle glasses.
(4)Jason S.
The hostesses are really rude here. We went there using a Living Social coupon and they were very busy as it was expiring soon. We arrived at 6:30pm and they said they were booked until 10pm. The restaurant waiting area was not empty but never had more than 5 or 6 parties...and many of those people were not eating in the dining room either. The place is enormous and we figured certainly something would open up sooner. We repeatedly saw tables remain open for long periods of time and at 8:45pm, yes we were STILL there, saw two tables in the back that were open. They remained open until they sat us at 9:15pm. In fact when when we were seated we counted eight tables that were open and remained open until we left the restaurant. The only reason I don't give them a zero is that the meat was good. The salad bar was fair compared to Brazilian standards, but I bet most people would be impressed with it. For more than $150 for two of us you would hope to be treated better. I wont be going back.
(2)Suresh D.
I went here last night. The service was very good as the gauchos came frequently to offer their selection of different meats. The meats were well seasoned and we were offered our meat to our desire. Their extensive salad bar has the biggest selection I have ever seen. The greens were very fresh and their wide array of dressings were delicious. The waiter was also good at refilling my friend's coffee cup throughout his meal. They have a good wine selection as well. I'd like to mention something about the bill. We were there last night because we signed up for a special limited to the first 50 that signed up. When we got the bill it did not reflect that special but it was quickly corrected. They did put an automatic gratuity on there which I don't recall them doing before but I am not sure if it was because we were there for the deal.
(5)Jenni W.
We decided to go to Chima at the last minute, reservations were really easy through open table. We have gone to the Chima in Philadelphia, don't get me wrong that one is wonderful, but the service at this Chima is absolutely amazing..we turned our card over and had 4 servers at our table in no less than 15 seconds. Don't waste the food space on the salad bar, just pick and choose your most favorites, but save most of the room for the delicious meats. The mashed potatoes are amazing, so very creamy. My favorite here was the leg of lamb and the salmon. Remember to grab mints on the way out...they'd are yummy.
(5)Olivia D.
before actually dining here, i was fully prepared for gluttony-- but also mediocrity. i figured any all-you-can-eat place, no matter how upscale, would still probably be mediocre. but since i had never had the experience of a brazilian all you can eat meat place, i still wanted to go. there was that, and the 2 for 1 coupon. yes! that's two gluttons for the price of one-- a savings of $49.50! all you have to do is sign up for their email list on the website. it's only valid sun-thurs and has an expiration date about a month out from when you sign on, but still... that's a pretty hefty savings. the food itself was above average. i like my meats done medium, and for the most part, i got it that way. the lamb chops-- oh the lamb chops-- were probably my favorite but there was no way i could even sample all of the offerings. they had something like 235908209385 types of sirloin. the bacon-wrapped chicken was as greasy as it sounds. the swordfish was pretty good but also paired with this weird sweet dessert-like sauce. the strip steak was perfection with slight charred accents. the salad bar was good in terms of the caesar salad, arugula, pickled-tasting calamari and mangoed pickled tasting shrimp. but they also had some oddities (blue cheese mousse anyone?) and the beef carpaccio tasted like it was squirted with french's yellow mustard. i almost didn't even see the soups and rice off to the side, but then again, i wasn't about to fill myself of unnecessary starches. they also brought out some blinding white mashed potatoes, cheese puffs, these little fried balls that tasted like cornmeal crusted pate and fried sweet plantains. i didn't bother eating the potatoes because they would be too filling but also because they were probably 90% cream. i did enjoy the cheddaryness of the cheesepuffs and the plantains were crispy and mushy at the same time and sweet as a ripe banana. actually, maybe it was a banana. the service was perfect. non-intrusive, yet always refilling glasses and clearing plates. it was a ninja-like fashion where i didn't even notice or see a thing but would realize my glass was full. the gauchos peddling the meats were super fast and the lamb chop guy even came by when our button was "off." but that's ok because i think he could see the desire in my eyes. the two-seater booths were a bit close together. but i dunno, eavesdropping can be kinda fun. we were too engrossed in our own conversation anyway. all in all, a great deal and a lot of fun!
(4)Amanda M.
I love the atmosphere of this place. Romantic and classy. I think I go there more for the ambiance than the meat because it's a little dry and lacks depth and flavor. I love the salad bar, the selection is huge. The service is fantastic too. I've never had bad service there yet. They also have a huge wine selection by both the glass and bottle. I'd love to just go back to the bar and chill.
(4)Paul E D.
Chima is an outstanding experience. Even if you have been to similar places, Chima is unique in the quality of both its service and cuisine. I recommend the filet and house special sirloin. Also, it is hard not to over the sides bar with all of the great salads, cheeses, soups, etc... but save yourself for the main event - the meat!
(5)Valencia W.
It's OK. The location is a lot closer than Fogo in DC but I feel as if I'm sacrificing taste for it being so close to home. I went for restaurant week and I was glad I did because I'd be really pissed off had I gone another time and found this out. The salad bar was fine, but I'm not going to any Charruscaria for the salad I want to see the grill meats cooked to perfection. Well, they had the regular assortments of meat but there was NO flavor at all. I hear all these people say that they're the same but that's like saying a steak in Argentina is the same a steaks here. You're outta your mind! Charruscaria's pride themselves for being cooked over a pit with coals. I just continued to eat there because I didn't want to waste my money. The picanha was -- well, I have had much better. I had one slice and put that mess to the side. I tried the ribs and I was chewing through more fat than ever. I hate having part of my plate reserved for the "fatty" pieces. Now, you can say that Chima just isn't as salty as FDG, yeah that's one part and the other part is that there is no barbeque taste either. I feel that this place is definitely a scale down. I will not be going back to this place. I'll try to go to Texas de Brazil but I'll go there first since I could walk there first....
(2)Gene Y.
I went to Brazil as an exchange student in '93. My host family had churrascaria (Portuguese word for barbecue and pronounced SHOO-HAS-CA-REE-A) every Sunday. I was a vegetarian back then, but got the gist of the real deal through observation. This restaurant is really 5 stars for the food, service, and ambiance. Nevertheless, I believe that one should be able to frequent a good restaurant often to enjoy the place. At least for me, the price range of $50+ puts it out of reach for me to frequent too much and that's why I am giving it 4 stars instead of 5. So here's how you get around that. Go for drinks. They make a mean caiprinha (a Brazilian drink made out of sugar cane liquor, pronounced KAI-PA-RIN-GNA) and get what my work buddies call "bowls of meat". You can order sliced and diced barbecued steak, chicken, etc. from the bar menu. The diced meat is bite-size and served with toothpicks to eat with. If you want to be authentic ask for farofa (the waitress probably will have no idea what you're talking about so explain that it's cassava flour that accompanies the meat). Brazilians say that the farofa cuts down the grease and fat;...sounds good to me. This reduces the bill somewhat and a few dishes of the "bowls of meat" are enough to fill you up. If you go for dinner the salad bar is incredible. The decor and dishes take you back to a modern 70's feel (I partied in that era as a baby :). They have incredibly fresh vegetables and great salads. But don't be fooled, save yourself for the meat! It's all you can eat and uniformed waiters will continue to serve you meat on skewers the size of swords until you flip the coin on your table from green to red. My favorite meats are the picanha and the Parmesan chicken wrapped in bacon. The valet parking makes it easy to get in and out of Chima. By the way, they're no longer open for lunch. I hope you enjoy it!
(4)Jean P.
This place is awesome! I've introduced so many of friends to this place and its become one of our go to spots. You have to starve yourself for most of the day before you go here. Trust me it worth it! Meat Meat Meat!!! Yum Yum Yum!!! Meat Meat Meat!!! Yum Yum Yum!!!
(5)Mike R.
Horrible fake/rude service!! I was excited as all get out to go to this place for dinner. All you can eat meat, what could possibly go wrong right? Let me start by saying the food was "okay", but certainly not as good as i was expecting since they are supposed to be the best. The several cuts of beef meat i tried were chewy. The sausage was extremely salty. The lamb chops were good, the chicken and bacon was decent. I mean, its wrapped in bacon! Unfortunately though, the bacon was 100% fat, and not crispy, so i ended up not even eating the bacon -- big dissappointment for me, since i love crispy. This bacon was just pure white fat. :( The salad bar had some nice options, the salmon was good, and some of the various other items were good. I was disappointed they had a big bowl of brown liquid labeled "hot sauce" so i put it on a bunch of my food, only to find out it was some gross mud sauce, and not spicy AT ALL??? i dont know what was up with that, maybe someone in the food label department was playing a joke on me. Now, for the service. We went with a large group, so we had a big table. They brought out these little plates with fried bananas and fried yucca on them. Well, im no genius, but if there 10 people at your table, and you bring out only 4 pieces of fried banana, someone is getting left out. Not to be a greedy pig, i let the other people at my table take them, figuring, hey, they will go ahead and bring some more out. No such luck, I asked 3 different waiters THREE times to please bring out some more, being very polite about it... (I was a waiter for 5 years, so I always try to be very polite - i know how it is in the industry). They always said, "Right away, ill bring some more out" and they never did. When I asked the last waiter, i actually saw one of the other waiters INSTRUCT the guy i asked NOT to bring us anymore bananas -- presumably because at this point we were nearing the end of our meal. WTF!! This was the same guy who previously said he would bring some out, no problem. he was now telling the other waiter NOT to bring anymore. WTF. seriously?? Along with this prominent display of jackassery from the lead waiter, we also had empty waters most of the time we were there, which complimented the SALTY sausages nicely. Also, half of our table didnt get any of the pork ribs, which in my opinion were the shining star or all the choices of meat. We asked our waiters several times to bring out more pork ribs. They of course, always said, "sure, no problem, we will bring more right out". Well, history repeats itself -- no sign of more ribs. Leaving a giant void in my soul where the ribs should have been. At least i did get "2 bones" worth of pork ribs, so I guess I was the lucky one at the table. But with the other meat choices not being very appealing by this point, I would have definitely rather had more of the ribs than the various cuts of chew toy meat. With several other choices for this sort of steak house in the area, rest assured I will NOT be going back to Chima. Unfortunate, because I had high hopes, but I felt like I dropped a lot of coin to leave ultimately feeling disrespected.
(1)Amanda B.
Chima is by far the best Brazilian steakhouse I have been to. The service is impeccable and while the price may be a little on the high side, the food makes up for it. While the main attraction at Chima is the endless parade of meat coming to your table, the salad bar is really fantastic as well. Many options and a cold bar as well as a hot bar. Excellent drinks, neat location, valet service, great food.
(4)Tracey C.
This feels like some sort of test to see just how gluttonous I can be. I lost out to a few of my table mates but damn if this wasn't a personal best or worst depending on your view of the Seven Deadly Sins. I'll get the obvious comparison out of the way and say that it was better than Fogo de Chao. I liked the salad bar selections better and the variety of meat. I'm sure the frequency with which we were served various meats was due to the lack of a crowd (got here at 7 on a Friday) but there wasn't much sitting and wondering when the next piece would be headed our way. The gauchos were pretty friendly but a few cute friends showing a little cleavage and some leg may have been the source of such pleasant attention. When asked what we wanted to head back our way 3 out of six of us requested the pork ribs. I also liked the lamb chops, as they were well seasoned and not over cooked. They were better than the leg of lamb on the flavor scale. My least favorite would have to be the Parmesan pork. It was dry and pretty blah. Even the delicious chimichurri or house-made sauce *cough* Heinz 57 *cough* wasn't enough to save it. I think the key to missing out on the noise is to come earlier in the day. We were seated by 7 and were probably the loudest ones in the place until around 9 or so. I would definitely make the trip back out here for a special occasion but I think I'll cough up the extra $20 for a bottle instead of a $13 glass of wine.
(4)Laffy T.
Nothing spectacular about the food. Its alright. For the price its good. The service is great.
(3)Tong G.
Came here for Restaurant Week. If you plan to go here for dinner, skip lunch. Save the room for more meats! Most Brazilian style bbq restaurants serve their meats on the salty side. Not here. Which is why I like it. The decor of the place was excellent. I did not feel like I was at an all you can eat place. The servers came often with what ever meat they happen to be serving. I do have to say, some of the meats were done medium to medium well. The sirlion was good. i would say to skip the pork, chicken and fish items. Just too dry and overcooked for me. Overall, nice place. good meal.
(4)Scott J.
Good Brazilian steakhouse! A friend took me here today for Fourth of July special ($35 instead of $50) which allowed us both to partake in plenty of tasty meat! The waiters were friendly and excellent service. Sides were tasty I especially liked the fried plantains which were nice break from the salted meats. Only reason why I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars are the drinks and deserts are expensive and not included. I ordered a caparinha which was overpriced at $9. Fortunately the deal saved the day. Now I need to try Fogo to see how it compares.
(4)Chelsea H.
I went for thanksgiving today. The interior is very classic and classy. I had a reservation so i was sat immediately, near the salad bar. Since it was thanksgiving, they had a table of some turkey and other items but honestly thats not why i was there so i kept it moving.I had a creamy lime drink that was delicious i actually had two. The salad bar has many options for everyone. My favorites were the caesar salad, smoked salmon, the italian meats and the mozzarella cheese. The salad with the couscous was okay. It was my first time trying the raw beef item. I thought the flavors were really strong. I would have maybe tried and made a salad but i didn't like that i would have had to cut the romaine. Also, its not the type of salad bar that you can create your own salad. Most of the salads are already done.I also didn't like all the random dressings they had. I heard the corn mousse was pretty bad They bring out different appetizers. The polenta fries were pretty good, it was my first time with polenta, I would maybe try it again. I did not try the small brown balls, banana or the spread. I think there were some mashed potatoes but it was very glue like and sweet. The cheese bread was really good. The men serving the meat are kinda lazy. There would be 10-20 min increments when there was no meat served. I know it was thanksgiving but it really was not that busy. But when they did come over they were all very nice and knew a lot about their meat. Most of it was pretty good. Some of it was a little fatty or dry for my taste. The filet was my favorite. I didn't try everything. Honestly i can make chicken and pork at home. The garlic steak was the worst. It had a lot of fresh garlic. If i went again i'd try to get some fish and more bread. This place is good, but i didn't try everything. I would have to make special requests so i can try everything. I wouldn't tell people not to go, but i wouldn't make it my first suggestion.
(3)Jason C.
The meat isn't as good as Fogo and they don't have lobster bisque like Texas de Brazil. Also, they no longer have the $30 Sat brunch which comprised of the same meats as dinner. Still good and a quick 2 min drive from my office (unless there's an asian girl in front of me).
(4)Mary L.
This place has excellent service - we were constantly being served and the waiters would watch us like hawks everytime we got up just so that when we got back they could pull out our chairs for us and place our napkins in our laps. Another plus? The valet is free! Although, I do recommend you tip them (obviously). The food is great. I enjoyed their cuts of meat - on the day I went, everything was cooked to perfection (medium-well). I'm not a huge meat eater so this concept was kind of lost on me however... The salad bar is freaking incredible... hands down, the best salad bar I've seen to date. Yep, I said it. It tends to get crowded around dinner time so make reservations if you plan on eating between 7-9pm. The place itself is incredibly trendy. The bar itself is consistently busy and there's a great outdoor seating area that is perfect for a nice day. Though these particular areas are trendy, the dining area itself is good for families and dates in my honest opinion.
(4)Jean H.
We went here for a birthday and it was a nice evening. I want to say don't fill up on bread, the french fries, fried bananas, and buffet, but honestly those are my favorite parts. If those are usually your favorite parts of the meal, just get the buffet-you can still get salmon and swordfish with it. The salmon is delicious. There is also a lot of real "food" food at the buffet. My husband got the full meat option and enjoyed a lot of it. I'd recommend picking what you want to try first and asking for it if it doesn't circulate to you quickly. The wait staff was responsive when we asked for the top sirloin and for rib eye. It's a nice treat every once in a while, but the real worth lies in the novelty factor of all-you-can-eat-meat. If you really want to make your dollar go further, it's probably not the place. But it's nice for special occasions when you want to stuff yourself to the point where it is painful.
(4)Sajji J.
I love this place! Sure there are plenty of Brazilian-type all-you-can-take-meat restaurants around. But this one has the best atmosphere and amazing service. They have a great happy hour and wonderful outdoor patio where it's always breezy - there's a kind of wind tunnel effect there. Probably not so great now (winter time)! As for the restaurant: A great salad bar - I'm always yelling at my guests to not fill up on the salad bar!!! You come here for beef - vegetarians should probably stay away a block or two. The gaucho - beef - skewer guys are awesome. If you've got your coin turned to the GO position, theses guys are fast. Plus, they remember what you like and what you don't like. So if your coin says GO and you turn away the salmon once, they won't bother you again. My wife doesn't like pork, so they came by once and got the message. If you like a particular cut, you can request it and they'll track down the guy with that cut. I love the fillet, so I keep asking for more - they've never turned me down. They bring you (a la Olive Garden) free cheezy bread balls and meat balls. These 2 items are amazing. If they gave me two huge plates with just these 2 things, I'd be in heaven. They do, however, only bring a small quantity to your table - just enough for everyone to taste a bit. Don't be shy, you can ask for more - I've never had them say "no" to a request for more cheezy bread balls and meat balls. The beverages are great. Excellent wine selection. You can OD on the beef - I'm usually pretty vegetarian for a few days following a trip to Chima!
(5)Lisa J.
My first brazillian BBQ and I would go again! Awesome salad bar and little extras like the cheese puffs at the table. The meats were so delicious and tender! My favorites were the lamb chops even though I usually feel guilty eating such a cute animal this was totally worth it! Waiters were exceptionally attentive and the dessert - apple strudel - was out of this world!
(5)Chris G.
Make sure you're ready to eat as much as you can, and then some. There's nothing really more to say, other than it was deliciou$.
(5)Rod T.
Fantastic food and amazing service. Very classy. Worth every penny of the many $$$...
(5)edward m.
I took my wife and son here for a special occasion. We appreciated the free valet parking and found the decor and layout of the restaurant to be outstanding. The waiters were dressed like Brazilian gauchos. I've been to Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil, home of the original gauchos, and I found their costumes to be accurate. Two waiters took care of us, and both were wonderful. They catered to our every need. The salad bar was good. I would rate it as substantially better than Malibu Grill (in a different league, actually). It was on par with the salad bar at Texas de Brazil and Fogo de Chao with some exceptions. For instance, my wife and I agreed that the endive with blue cheese and walnuts was really bad. The real focus in any churrascaria is the "churrasco" or the meat. The star of the show in most churrascarias is a special cut called picanha. I've never had picanha I didn't like. Here the picanha was good but not great - it was not on par with Texas de Brazil and certainly not Fogo de Chao. The side dishes the waiters delivered to the table were terrific - the mashed potatoes, fried yuca, pao de queijo (cheese bread), and balls of ground beef (not sure what these are called). The national drink of Brazil is the caipirinha, which is made with lime, sugar, ice, and a liquor called cachaca (made from sugar cane). I found their caipirinha to be genuine and on par with those I had in Brazil. Although I liked Chima very much, I had two gripes. First, when making my reservation, I asked for a table off to the side because I am on crutches and I didn't want anybody to trip over my leg and hurt me. They would have had difficulty picking out a table less suitable for a person on crutches - they put us right at the major choke point of the traffic flow and I had trouble relaxing (the caipirinhas helped!) because I was worried somebody was going to bump into me and hurt my leg. Second, in some ways, this place Americanizes what is a quintessential Brazilian experience. All of the food at the salad bar has only English-language descriptions. I would like to have seen the Portuguese names (alongside the English) for some of the dishes, like feijoada, the national dish of Brazil. The costumes are Brazilian, but much of the rest of the experience at Chima has been overly sanitized of its Brazilian roots. In spite of some minor disappointments, my family and I really enjoyed our experience at Chima. Given the cost, however, we would really only go there for a special occasion.
(4)George S.
Had one of our wedding weekend dinners here--great selection of food (especially if you're a carnivore), including an excellent salad bar. Don't bother bringing kids or your light-eating grandparents as it will be a waste of your $$$. Try to get a table near the back by the window.
(4)Adam R.
The location is a little tucked away, but well worth the effort to find it. We went here during Restaurant Week and expected the cheap/lowered service and food that some restaurants roll out for discount days. Not so here. The servers were excellent, and the food from the salad bar onwards was also excellent. Our server(s) made sure we got to try everything at least once, and even took great care of me when a rare leg of lamb squired blood all over my dress shirt! The prices are a bit steep on normal days, but you get what you pay for. One of the best Brazilian steakhouses I've been too.
(4)Marina R.
Brazilian grills are our absolute favorite type of restaurants! We just love the concept: a great salad bar with a lot of variety, and unlimited meats of numerous kinds brought to your table in an endless stream by very polite, courteous (and handsome!) chefs/servers. Our favorite churrascaria is Fogo de Chao in DC, but we love Chima as well. The quality of meat is superb; the beef and the lamb are very juicy and cooked to perfection, the aromas are amazing. I stay away from chicken, sausage, and pork at Brazilian restaurants: they are not bad, but not marvelous either. The beef and the lamb, however, are to die for! Our specific favorites are the rib eye, the top sirloin, the beef ribs, leg of lamb, and lamb chops. All of them are mouth-watering. The decor of the place is modern and hip, and the service is very good and attentive. If you compare Chima to Fogo de Chao, both are great, but there are some small advantages and disadvantages to both. Chima is much easier to drive to (it is in Virginia), there is a huge parking lot over the corner from it (which we prefer to valet since it's much cheaper), the design is more unique and trendy, there are a bit more choices on the salad bar, and the place is a bit cheaper than Fogo de Chao. Fogo de Chao, however, has slightly better service, a bit friendlier and nicer, but Chima is very good as well. I recommend both these restaurants, especially if you are a meat lover, and if you have never been to a Brazilian steakhouse. It is a very special, unique experience, it is a lot of fun, and nothing beats the quality of their succulent beef!
(5)Kali P.
Service was GREAT!!! FOOD was off the chain. My man took me here for a "something different" for me. I love trying new foods and this was the thing to do. Kinda pricey, but since I wasn't paying I was living it up. We went on the 4th of July Special, and got the $39 per person special. Yes it was worth every penny. All the meats were very seasoned and endless amount. Don't go to this place even somewhat full. Go with your belly on empty. He also ordered some Brazilian drink and it was a doozie. We both were sleep right after the fireworks. Belly Happy and fully with a nice buzz. We will go again, but sporadically. Too much good food and we want to keep our nice bodies. :)
(5)Will A.
I'm half Brazillian and go to Brazil at least once a year so I know a good churrascaria when I see it. This is a great American churrascaria! Unlike other churrascarias in the area (Texas de Brazil...) this restaurant actually has employees from Brazil! They call all Brazilian food items by their Portugese names and are very knowledgeable of the food. They even have Guarana Antartica! The actual kind they have in Brazil! What a miracle! The salad bar is great. One of the best I've ever seen. The meats are also all fabulous, juicy and cooked to perfection. The pao de quejo and bana frita they put on the table were also excellent. The service was outstanding as well. There is nothing I can say that is bad about this churrascaria (other than that they aren't open for lunch which is very un-Brazilian, but that's okay,) which is why I am giving it a whopping 5 stars.
(5)Jessica M.
So I have to preface this by saying my visit to Chima was some time ago and not long after they opened. Recognizing that restaurants have growing pains (and thus, conceding the 30 minute wait for a table we called ahead to reserve) - my experience still could have been better. The hostess called my date and I over and walked us all the way to the back of the restaurant - the floorplan is rather open - and spacious. So far, so good. (We really dislike sitting on top of people as we eat.) Not only did she try to sit us at a two-top directly next to a ten-top round table - but in the chair she tried to seat me in - I could've literally reached out and touched the woman who happened to be breast feeding her infant about 2 feet away. I politely asked for another table (and offered to wait as long as was needed - and was met with a less than pleasant face.) We were eventually seated at another table to have our meal (while still surrounded by children climbing all over seats and tables around us.) I'm rather young and sympathetic to families out to dinner (as I have three nephews myself) - but when eating dinner at 9:30pm - it seems like unruly children should be able to be avoided. The meal itself was OK (hence the second star.) The meat items were fine (nothing spectacular) , but the salad bar was not nearly as nice at the one at Fogo de Chao. Overall, I wouldn't spend that kind of money to go back - I'd choose Fogo instead. Perhaps they were having an off-night, but the staff/service did not make me want to return.
(2)Jenna C.
My ex-boss is good friends with the manager/owner, so we'd have our quarterly staff dinners here. When the company dinner dates were announced, my colleagues and I would starve for a couple of days so that we could binge properly. I'm sure we're a dietician's worst nightmare. The food is good for the most part. The appetizers were okay, and the salad bar was pretty good, but let's be honest, I was there for the meats. We had a nice Chilean wine to accompany our meats and I thought it was excellent. Our servers were really nice, but perhaps it's because the manager told them to be extra attentive. When our checks came, we ordered coffees and americanos. The server left a critique card on the table with our checks, so if anyone had issues with the staff, you can write them down. Even though we were always pleased with our service, they would always comp the coffee/espresso drinks. Again, I don't know if that's usual since the boss and the manager are friends, but I'd like to hope so!
(4)Rob B.
Man eat Meat! Meat float around room for man to eat. Do not think about the floating around the room part. Just get your man servants to get you fresh kill. If you do not like to be waited on or meat, then skip this joint. It does have a SoBe vibe just needs a dance floor and it would but a full on roman orgy of food and gluttony of fun. Sign up to get a discounted price, unless you just roll like that. When my "date" grunted when she got up it was OVA! Yea I liked it. Now I want a wait staff at home...
(5)Ace P.
Chima Brazilian Steakhouse - Washington not only offers everything one would expect from a Brazilian steakhouse but also provides a few surprises. For example, unlike Texas de Brazil, Chima offers some of the best grilled salmon and swordfish you will find in all of Greater Washington, and trust me; we have some GREAT seafood here! The salmon at Chima will absolutely melt in your mouth. The bar scene at Chima is always lively. In fact, if you find yourself in Tysons Corner after a 2pm meeting that did not conclude until 4pm, you will hardly find a better spot than Chima to take in happy hour while you wait for Tyco traffic to subside. The restaurant's ambiance is something to behold, replete with contemporary lounge chairs and a cascading crystalline video screen in the center of the dining room. Aside from the grilled fish, Chima also offers something that neither Fogo nor Texas de Brazil do, outdoor dining. Unfortunately, the service can be a bit slow and disorganized at times, but that is the only downside to the experience. In fact, I am of the opinion Chima serves better meats than Texas de Brazil, whose beef ribs are almost always too salty and too fatty. Texas de Brazil does, however, offer the best lobster bisque I have ever tasted.
(4)Manda S.
From the moment you walk into this place it's a "Wow" effect. The ambiance is incredible - dark wooden furniture, ceiling to floor and wall to wall wine rack, dimly lit. It's all wonderfully put together. The tables are large and if you have a larger group - not a problem. They can easily accommodate you! I love the setup - each person gets a "coin" (best way I can describe it). One side is black, the other orange. When you are ready to try the selections of meat, you flip it so that the orange side is showing,and when you do not want anymore at the moment, flip it to the black side. There are about 14 different kinds of meat being served, though I didn't try any - but the rest of my party did. All seven of them agreed the steaks (primarily the filet mignon) was the best they've ever had, better than Ruth Chris' or Morton's. I had the salmon which was tender and delicious. Being a big veggie person I loved their large, and unique, salad bar. Your usual salad fixings and then some: fresh avocado, hearts of palm, a bunch of different fresh cheeses, homemade bean salads, so on and so forth. It will unfortunately be only a once-in-a-while type thing for me being that it is very expensive (lunch runs around $30, dinner much more), but I look forward to my return.
(4)Joye P.
Pretty space, with high ceilings and a large bar area. Happy hour specials. Good for noshing and a drink after a work meeting.
(3)Mr H.
Carnivore central. Gauchos carrying large skewers of various cuts of all you care to eat grilled meats. The salad bar is pretty amazing in it's own right and can be purchased as a separate option if you are not in the mood for 1/2 a cow. It is definitely an interesting experience if you have never been, but a nit pricey for what you get.
(4)Denise H.
Well, I am not as much of a fan as others. I'm a foodie. And, when I go to a "buffet" (I know it's not, but kind of), I plan ahead so I can eat. I know it's gluttonous, but that's me. I love that I can eat and eat, especially when it is delicious. I have been talking about Chima for months since I heard about it and could not wait to eat, and eat, and eat. I am not an omnivore typically - I'm a meat-a-tarian. This was made for me. Long story short: I stopped eating meat about 15 minutes after I started eating meat. {sigh} That can suffice for the quick read types. For the longer reads: I was not planning on drinking alcohol at my visit, so it was coke and water. I'm not a "filler" girl so can skip on the soupy texture mashed potatoes, the bread, polenta fries, and fried bananas (my bro and dad liked those). I did, however, visit the salad bar which I do not usually do. But my dad raves on the Brazilian Steakhouse salad bars, I went to two prior to this (Grand Cayman and Fair Lakes) and was VERY underwhelmed so have been leaving it out of my reviews. I am not sure why mayonnaise is considered a salad ingredient, but whatever. But I did visit this time and had some items. I thought the mozzarella was good, the two tomatoes - one good, one mush, I liked the olives, the salami (my dad didn't) and the smoked salmon. I almost ate bread and butter but the butter had herbs in and I'm a plain butter girl. PLAIN - please for the love of pete...butter is delicious stop ruining it. I digress. So, now I am ready for meat. I'm a medium rare to rare to girl. If I am going to eat the fat on a steak I do like it a little crispy, but even that doesn't have to be if flavored correctly. I do not eat ribs, chicken, fish, etc. at all you can steak houses - I want steak. (My bro and dad said the lamb, fish, sausage and ribs were hit and miss - some delicious some not, and the not was not just at the end when they were getting full). My filet mignon sans bacon - beautiful color - totally dry. (Remember - I don't mind blood, looked like it had it, but it didn't). My dad's was the same - DRY. And almost no flavor. My filet mignon con bacon - one of the nastiest things I have eaten in a while. (Note: I have traveled a lot - 40 countries, and lived abroad for 4 years) This tasted like pig skin raw or something, not bacon. And the filet was gross inside. I could barely swallow it and was using all my might to not gag. My sirloin with garlic - never tasted the meat, only garlic. Like I was chewing on a clove. My top sirloin without garlic - this was my favorite. Most of the time it was good, but only if it has the crispy fat. If it didn't it wasn't that great. I wanted flavor. I saw reviews that things were salty and I have to say I think the chefs were out of salt this night. They only had garlic and used it all on the one meat. My rib eye was so sad. It wasn't good. I love rib eye. A lot wasn't good. I think I had strip steak or something else but I was so unmotivated. The gauchos were trying to bring me the one sirloin the way I like it, they were great. (I never told them the others were nasty, but you could tell, I would eat one and not the other). Dessert: my dad had some walnut mousse something - he loved it. My brother had some mango mousse something with sauce, he was indifferent. I didn't eat it. (Meat-a-tarian remember?) Oh, ps... dad & I both got sick afterwards. I can honestly say I did not gorge, all the stuff listed, I had bites of them I didn't eat an lbs and lbs of meat (like I did at Prime and Fogo). Now, my brother, did eat until his button literally popped off his jeans. He's 17 though and was probably wearing jeans that were too small. I'm 40. His taste buds haven't tasted as much yet, he is learning though. As for service - the meat servers were EXCELLENT, very attentive. Our waiter - I don't know. He kept hitting me with his tray - I kept pushing it back at him, (we had an entire open section of our table, unless he was making the move on my dad or something). But kept hitting me. Then, later, he kept kicking me. I finally said "Ow, you keep kicking me and I keep asking you to stop" and then he said "oh." I mean really - why do you assume I'm not the one paying and tipping? Too bad for you, I tipped the others personally. The hostesses were fine though, in person. On the phone I must have had the problem one the others refer to. I have been to several - I rank Prime in Grand Cayman as a tie for # 1 for meat with Fogo in DC, and Fogo as # 1 for salad with Chima coming in # 2, and the place in Fair Lakes - not worth mentioning at about a -11 for all but drink refill service which is #1. Too bad too, I was going to come with a group of friends, guess we'll be hitting Fogo instead.
(3)Jalon Z.
Chima is a trendy upscale Brazilian steakhouse in Tysons Corner. The interior tends to the "clean and modern" style and patrons are well-dressed. At around $40/person, you are paying as much for the ambiance as the food. The bar was unbearably loud and packed, loud enough we didn't even try to go in. Apparently, the bar in Chima's is quite the night spot. We had reservations but still needed to wait about 15 minutes to be seated. The dining room is not quiet, and definitely not a place for intimate conversation. This is all about eating beef, waving forks around and ordering more drinks. There were a couple of large tables which had babies that cried occasionally. Given the upscale interior, high prices and general atmosphere, I'm not sure why anyone would want to bring small children here. Having just returned from working in Brazil for a few weeks and eating some of the best food of my life, I was eager to see how this restaurant stacked up against the real thing. I was also dining with a couple of confirmed beef snobs who eat in enough steakhouses to know what's what. The buffet of salads and side dishes was not outstanding except for the large pot of Feijoada. Feijoada is refried black beans and pork slow cooked for hours on end, and is a national specialty served with hot sauce on top. This was as good as back in Brazil. The bar also serves real Caipirinha: 1 crushed lime, cane sugar and Cachaca (a kind of rum) on the rocks. If you go here, you must try the Caipirinha to at least say you have had it. The real difference at a Brazilian steakhouse in the US is the most serious of all. American beef is completely different from Brazilian beef. Brazil has white Brahman cows with the hump over their forward shoulders. The cuts of beef and the taste is different, with the best cut coming from the hump. That said, the beef at Chima's is excellent. This is plain beef, Brazil style. It is not over-flavored, blackened in whiskey or over-marinated. The taste is more simple than you would find at a place like Sweetwater Tavern. Through a fun game of "bait the gaucho" by flipping the coins depending on who was looking at our table, we tried every cut of meat available except the chicken and sausage and liked them all. There are several "walls of wine" in the restaurant, so selection is not an issue. Desserts were mediocre and didn't really fit into the meal. Don't even try to park, the restaurant has free valet parking in the front.
(4)C Q.
Food: The appetizers they brought to the table was more than what we can eat. We all liked the cheese bread. Some liked the fried banana. We didn't care for anything else. The quality and selections of the meat and the salad bar were really good. I thought the seasoning for the meat was a little salty. My favorite was the swordfish (with the sauce) and the baby top sirloin. The swordfish was moist and tender and the sauce just made it better. The baby top sirloin was tender and juicy with a hint of garlic. The items at the salad bar was lightly seasoned (which I liked). It helped to eat some vegetables to balanced out the salty meat. Service: The service was good for the most part. Our server was friendly and efficient. But I could feel that he was rushing us a little bit. We went on a Friday night and the place was busy. He didn't do it rudely, but he did clear our plates rather quickly when we are not ordering more meat. I am sure an extra set of guests wouldn't hurt his income, so I can understand. I thought it was fun to take our kids to Chima. It's more definitely more upscale than the restaurants we usually take them. I probably won't go again because I just can't eat that much meat in one meal.
(4)Kat T.
The food was wonderful! The waiters were attentive. But the only thing that soured my first visit there, was seeing a bartender squirt whipped cream into another's mouth, and then shortly I saw 2 coffees with whipped cream come from the bar to get served, and I recoiled, haha. I was here for my wedding anniversary and we spent a hundred bucks, and was very disappointed to see two staffers in a high class restaurant doing that. Not sure I want to go back, but my god the food really was good.
(4)Nabeel A.
I returned to Chima and the experience was pretty consistent. Enjoyed my time and enjoyed the food!
(4)Herman B.
Excellent food and service. The gauchos kept bringing me filet mignon.
(5)Claudio R.
Big salad bar, all you can eat meat (beef, lamb, chicken, fish)
(4)Gelinda J.
I went for restaurant week and was really impressed. The food is amazing and the service was even better. If you love red meat this is the place for you. Hands down the BEST brazilian steakhouse in this area... The beef ribs, the meat falls off the bone melts in your mouth. The lamb is my favorite and the pork ribs are glazed with honey bbq sauce that should be sold in store...
(5)Elaine N.
I'll take Fogo de Chao or Texas de Brazil over Chima anyday... The selection of meat was not great and taste was okay.... This was my second visit and my first visit was much better... What really put a sour bitter taste in my memory forever was my meal price discrepancy.... there was a Twitter post earlier in the day for real estate industry special @ $29.50 so I brought a few of my friends.... We had two rounds of drinks before dinner.... Then when I approached the hostess stand... they said they had a $39.50 special but no $29.50 but they would inquire with their manager.... Then Corina reiterated the same to me but we were hungry so we decided to sit and eat anyways.... Well, when the bill came, we were charged $49.50 I" told the waiter to check with his manager and he came back stating that that price was for certain days of the week and of course that night did not apply..... Boy was I pissed! Needless to say, I won't be back and neither will my group of friends.... Bad business practice.... VERY BAD!!!!
(2)Marquel F.
I love going to happy hours there. The lounge area is very open and the outside area is really nice when the weather is good. Service can use a boost but everything else is great!
(4)Kelly K.
Good food nice dining area...however, if you don't like well done meat you have to request that you want something rarer...the meats tend to be really well done.
(3)PIstachio B.
We came here for Mother's Day brunch and I was pleased as could be. The service was great and food phenomenal. For the meats, I tried the filet mignon, lamb, pork rib, beef rib, and some others and it was flavorful and perfect. You can also request how well-cooked you want the meat. The salad bar also had great offerings--some of my favorites were the carpaccio, fresh mozzarella. Also, they bring small plates to your table, like mashed potatoes, a meat-ball like dish and fried polenta strips which were the best, and I don't even like polenta. Worth a try! Side notes: free valet, seemed dressy for even lunch, but you can definitely get away w/ jeans for lunch here
(4)Kirk K.
Took a family of 5 here on a Friday night. Food was great, loved the variety, and the kids all had a good time. It is half price for kids under 12 I believe. You can either get the whole shabang for $50 or just go with the salad bar and fish for $30. (then half for those for the kids). We ended up getting dessert and a few drinks, coffee that added to the price. Had a real nice time. The great thing is that if you get something and you don't like it...don't eat it! Just wait until the next skewer comes by and grab something else. The salad bar was great also with a variety of lettuce sticking in my mind (I think 4 kinds), fruits, veggies, smoked salmon, side salads. The service was truly outstanding with drinks being replaced quickly and the meats and fish folks coming by often (had to flip my button over which means I'm on "break" a couple times). Only reason it doesn't get 5 stars is that I think it is just a bit overpriced, but I'd go again.
(4)Steph L.
Holy meat coma...Ate so much last night that I couldn't sleep! I don't think I'll be having any meat for awhile... I had never been to Fogo or Chima before last night so I can't compare. Chose Chima over Fogo because the boyfriend and I were already out in Virginia and had a coupon for Chima. And we didn't know this until we were paying, but apparently Chima as reduced their dinner price from $49.50 to $39.50. That's a steal!! If I thought I didn't have much of a problem getting my money's worth before, it's not even worth mentioning now. Steph 1, Chima 0. We arrived at 6 on a Sunday evening with no reservations. No problem. We were seated right away at a table by the window with the beautiful early evening spring sun still shining through. Our waiter explained how everything worked to us upon learning that we had never been there, brought us water, took our wine order, informed us that we could go up to the salad bar whenever we were ready and that he would bring some snacks to the table. The salad bar had a good selection of greens, non-leafy veggies, cheese, cured meat, other items, but it wasn't as impressive as I had imagined after reading all the rave reviews about the salad bar. That was not a problem though as I was there for the meat. I made one round at the salad bar, picking up some very fresh arugula with mozzarella, broccoli, calamari, Carpaccio flavored with olive oil, parmesan cheese and capers, salami, prosciutto, smoked salmon, smoked gouda, corn mousse, and grilled eggplant. Everything was fresh and delicious. I especially liked the corn mousse with the creamy sauce, it was like nothing I've had before and that was the one thing I thought about going back to the salad bar for, just because it was different. But enough with the salad bar. After a morning CrossFit workout, a Thai massage, and only 2 small meals, I was seeing stars and ready to chow down some meat! And the meat did not disappoint. The boyfriend and I tried everything at least once, except for the salmon. I was disappointed that they didn't have swordfish that night and the salmon just didn't look that appetizing next to all the other meats. My favorites were the lamb chops, filet mignon wrapped in bacon, and the beef ribs. Oh let's talk about the beef ribs first. When I first saw the beef ribs, I didn't want it. I was thinking, I could get beef ribs relatively cheap on my own and do a pretty good job cooking it, why bother. But then the boyfriend had some, raved about it and gave me a piece to try. OH MY GOD, it didn't even taste like beef!!! It tasted like pork shoulders, melt in your mouth buttery goodness!! It was some of the best meat I've had in my life! That with some of the garlic butter, I could've been happy just eating that alone for the night. Who cares if I'm getting my money's worth!? The lamb chops were very tender and well seasoned, as was the filet mignon wrapped in bacon. I think I had 2 rounds of each. The disappointments of the night though were the pork ribs and the chicken wrapped in bacon. The pork ribs were not as meaty or tender as I'd liked but it was still good. Just didn't meat expectations. The guy was getting mulled every time he came out of the kitchen so when he finally made it to us I could hardly wait to get my hands on those babies. And the chicken...after so many people raved about that being their favorite, I cannot understand why, maybe because those people didn't eat red meat? The chicken was very dry and no sauce could've saved it. I ate a third of it and the rest was the only meat I had left on my plate at the end of the night. I did go back to the salad bar at the end of the meal to get some cantaloupe. They were very sweet and juicy, perfect for palate cleansing after 11 and 16 (the boyfriend) rounds of meat. I would've liked the try some of desserts but just couldn't physically. Overall very satisfying experience. Our waiter was super attentive throughout our meal, never leaving our water glasses less than half full. He was also quite funny. Next on the list, try Fogo so I can compare the two. And scratch the no meat for awhile comment, I'm having some meat for lunch!
(4)Nuno J.
Below average - worst rodizio ive ever had. service on the other hand was excellent
(2)Siniaya K.
Oh god, I'm too fat to write the review....LOL Whew, OK, now I found and put on my old pregnancy pants lets right a review. First timers it's a little confusing but once you figure it out it's AWESOME!! I am a huge meat eater and this place is like the Mecca of Meat. The Salad bar is just simply awesome I was thoroughly impressed with the extent of the variety they offered. Cheese, salads, veggies, pre-made salads, lunch meats, you name it. Now the Real reason you come here....the meat! With a flip of your coin (be sure your ready to start though!) A menagerie of servers bombard your table one right after the other with large skewers of EVERY kinda of meat (Chicken wrapped in Bacon, Fillet Mignon, Beef Flank, Pork ribs, leg of lamb,) you can want with almost every type of flavoring you could desire (Parmesan flavored pork, BBQ Pork ribs, Garlic flank stank,) If they don't have the cut or it's not prepared to your likeness they go get it for you! With the two of us our bill came to $150 however, only $90 of this was for us to actually eat the remainder was beverages, Wine, and desert. I would say this is a definitely NOT A RESTAURANT but a dinning experience. definitely, going back for seconds but to the Philadelphia location to change the ambiance!!
(4)Amanda S.
Love, Love Chima! The salad bar is incredible with so many choices of so many things. I could make a full meal of just the salad bar. It's fresh, clean, and great if you happen to have a vegetarian with you. The meat is great too! Sometimes, a piece could be chewy but hey, meat can't always be perfect. Most of the time it is. The chicken wrapped in bacon is tasty and I also liked the sirloin. Overall great place to eat, especially if you come in starving!!
(4)Jason S.
Holy balls. I'm stuffed I had 13 cuts of meat I can't move I can't breathe........I can't think!!!!! Outstanding service... Every cut served medium medium rare...melted in the mouth.........
(5)Nuoc M.
Prior to coming here, my only experience at a Brazilian steakhouse was almost ten years ago in Rockville. Where although there was a lot of food and unique meats, I thought that they all tasted the same. I didn't think that Chima had the same wide selection of meats as the place in Rockville did, but everything they had was cooked to perfection and each had its unique flavor and seasoning. That is until you have too much food and they all start to taste the same too. The customer service is somewhat upscale, where the first several times we left the table to go to the salad bar, the server would always refold our napkins. The salad bar had a variety of cheeses, meats, rice and beans. I thought it could have had more fruits and vegetables to balance out the meat. I'm not sure if its the acoustics or what, but I found it really hard to hear the other side of our four person table because of the loud noise in the restaraunt. There were brief lulls in when the meat would come out and happened right after we placed our order, which made me worry. However these lulls do not last long, and lots of servers come rushing out with their selection of meats. The parking situation is kind of poor. Where if you're lucky you can find some street parking around the buildings in the area. I'm not familiar with the area to be able to find the street parking twice. There is a parking garage nearby, where when we went it charges you up to $3. Chima offers "free valet" parking but you figure you'll have to tip the valet a couple of dollars. So its the same parking in the garage as well. Chima looks like it tries to maintain a more upscale atmosphere, with a sign saying proper attire required and no kids after a certain time. However when we went, our dress wasn't an issue and we saw kids in there as well. Although we did go during restaraunt week. The worst thing about Chima is the price. Where I think there are very few meals worth $70/person not including drinks, dessert, etc. I think if comparing to similar restaraunts or places that are priced similar, like maybe Ruth Chris, the edge would go to Chima because of the variety of meats and food you can eat for the price. For restaraunt week type of deals, for example $35/person I would consider it a great value for the price, but still consider it only a once in a while fine dining type of place. However would still give the edge to Chima against similarly priced places for its variety.
(3)Elana G.
Went here for restaurant week, and all around it was good. My rating is based on the restaurant week price. I would go back but I wouldn't pay full price. If I had paid $45 for the meal I would have knocked off a star. I've never eaten at Fogo de Chao or any of the fancy Brazilian steakhouses, so I don't really have a point of comparison. Let's start with the star of the show - the meats. They were all cooked fine. They asked how you liked your beef and lamb done and they cut you a piece to that doneness - nice! My one problem though is I don't have that high of a tolerance for very salty foods. Sometimes bacon or smoked fish even gets to me. I prefer a little bit of salt and a lot of other seasoning (like garlic :-) ). When I cook myself sometimes I leave the salt off altogether. Every meat (and I mean every meat) was a little too salted for me - especially the bacon wrapped chicken. Once I got away from the edges of the meat though, it was fine. Some of the cuts of beef were a little bland, and some were well seasoned. Their garlic seasoned sirloin was really really good. The only thing that would have made it better was less salt and more garlic. I wasn't a fan of their sausage. I took one bite and gave it to someone else. The flank steak was very nice, maybe a little on the less seasoned side. The only real disappointment I had was with the swordfish. I was really looking forward to the swordfish, because I don't eat it that often, but it was a bit overcooked and dry. Not horrible but not good enough for me to want seconds. One thing I did not expect were all the yummy sides they brought to the table - these cheesy bread puff things, fried bananas, smoked turkey salad, and the creamiest mashed potatoes I've ever eaten. They were so creamy and good that I swore they were meant for dipping the meats. At least for me, doing that cut down on the salt factor, which allowed me to enjoy the beef and lamb more. My plan of attack was meats first, then salad bar. Why fill up on fluff before getting to the good stuff? When I went to the salad bar I was pleasantly surprised. You will rarely ever catch me eating salad (don't like lettuce, can't stand raw tomato), but this salad bar had a mixed greens salad and an arugula/sun dried tomato/fresh mozzarella mixed salad, so I took some of each and some vinaigrette dressing, and at least I could fool myself into thinking I was eating some fiber. They also had an assortment of other salads, some with beans, some with chickpeas, some lettuce and tomato. There was GIANT asparagus (which I also don't like, but I was impressed by the size), an assortment of cheeses (fresh mozzarella on its own, gouda, swiss, parmesan), some cold cuts (proscuitto, sopressata, one other I think), carpaccio, some weird mousse thing, and other items I'm clearly forgetting. They also had soup and rice and a few other hot items. Plenty to fill up on with the salad bar, without even touching the meats. Besides the salad I had once slice of carpaccio, a tiny bit of the corn mousse, and one of the fresh mozzerella balls. Apparently you can actually get just the salad bar if you don't want the meats. I don't know how much that costs normally though. Desserts and drinks cost extra. Most of the desserts appeared to start at $7 and go up. I'm already paying a lot for the meal, you'd think they could include a dessert or two on the salad bar. All in all, this is a nice place to go for the meat lover to fill up and it has some really good options on the salad bar. In my mind $35 was an alright price to go maybe once or twice a year, but anything more than that ($45 is the normal price I think) and it would be enough to deter me unless it was a special occasion and someone I know really wanted to go. I'm definitely glad I went though.
(4)Yong O.
Great atmosphere along with tasty meat cooked to your liking. Service is exemplary - great for special occasions.
(5)Mike M.
Great food, great service and the fish was also fresh and perfectly cooked like everything else.
(5)Charles B.
It may be a bit steep, but if you're the kind of person can stuff 10 pounds of meat down in one sitting, it's totally worth it. You get a variety of choices - everything from lamb to chicken to swordfish, but the standouts are definitely the steak options. Bacon-wrapped filet mignon? Garlic-rubbed sirloin? They don't even have this stuff at Morton's or Ruth's Chris, and here it's unlimited!! It's a little different than other Brazilian steakhouses where the salad bar is optional - here it isn't. So they basically add that into the cost up-front. But it does allow you to mix up your meal and actually trick you into eating something healthy with your meal. I saw through their trickery, however, and saved up all I had for the meat. It's what I came for anyway. I give high ratings to all the selections - everything I tried was top-notch. The sides are also one of the best parts of the meal, also unlimited. They have this smoked turkey/cheese dip, and some pretty bangin' cheese rolls that tasted heavenly. They perfectly complemented the cholesterol-filled main courses. The service here was excellent. Our "main" server was extremely busy but still came around when we needed her. The "meat wielders" were dizzyingly fast - in a good way. If they came by and didn't have what you wanted, they'd somehow communicate amongst themselves that Table X needs Meat X. It was fascinating. Their quick service is almost a bad thing, because of the number of times they interrupt your meal. It seemed like I had a new server offering a new meat between every bite. I must admit that I'm not a seasoned (no pun intended) Brazilian Steakhouse connoisseur, but for a first-timer or beginner this place will not disappoint. We went during restaurant week and only spent around $35 per person (no wine or dessert), which is less than a night at an upscale steakhouse. Save your money (and your appetite) and come here instead of an upscale steakhouse, and have more variety and fun too.
(5)Sara R.
I was there for a business dinner. It's good place to take clients because there is something for everyone. I really liked the salad bar, very extensive. I wish they'd bring these back. Lots of choices. The meats are never ending, lots of chewing! None to jump up and down about but they were OK. The fish (swordfish) on the other hand was not so good. I should have passed on it but was tired of the beef. Lots of pork too but I didn't try that. Good wine list. We had delicious reds. Everyone like their desserts as well. Energetic atmosphere although after a while, you get kind of tired of the guys running around so much with the skewers. something for everyone.
(3)Dan R.
Chima is the BEST Brazilian Steakhouse in the DC Metro Area! The food is delicious, the service is ON POINT, and the they make a mean Caipirinha. The experience was better than actually eating at a high end steak house in Rio, which I had done.
(5)Ayesha U.
If I was rating Chima solely on the food, I may have given it a 4.5. The meats were tender and flavorful and the salad bar offered an array of tasty side dishes that were a perfect compliment. There were a few times I requested a medium slice and received something either mooing on my plate or gray and lifeless. But they got it right 8 times out of 10. We were celebrating a birthday and they were nice enough to bring out a complimentary tiramisu for the bday girl that was quite tasty. The service was another story altogether. First of all, I'm not from the area and even with GPS, I had a tough time finding the place. When I called to get directions, the person who answered the phone was an absolute idiot. She had no clue where any of the surrounding streets were in relation to the restaurant and kept naming landmarks that I would only be familiar with if I was from the area. Alas, I found it on my own (eventually) and checked in without incident. I intended to have a drink, but by the time the bartender made it my way my friends had arrived. I have to note that the bar wasn't crowded so I'm unsure as to why it took her so long to come away. I digress.... Once seated, we started discussing what we would be drinking. Our server approached, introduced himself, and adequately explained the different dining options. Once completed, he asked what we would like to drink. Half of us agreed that we would have wine, so it only made sense to order a bottle. I asked to see the list since I had the most wine knowledge amongst our party. It's important to note that the demographics of our party were 5 late 20-something females, 4 Black and 1 White. After handing me the wine list, the server, sincere as can be, said to me "Just so you know, we have moscato." My party and I were absolutely floored by such blatant stereotyping! In an effort not to have dinner ruined, we laughed heartily at the waiter's ignorance causing him to stammer and blush at his obvious faux pas. The rest of dinner seemed to pass without incident and the bottle of reisling that we ended up ordering was delicious. In summary, our experience was pleasant enough. However, management should definitely speak with staff regarding generalizations and stereotyping. Had that been a different group of people, that situation may not have ended so amicably.
(3)Anthony H.
It's ok... not as good as Fogo but still a nice place for a meal and I must say the prices beat Fogo when you have a coupon for sure.
(3)Tiffany L.
Chima & Fogo de Chao are very comporable in food, price, and ambiance. I like the open space of Chima and its easier location in Virgina. We had a big party here and it was very easy to get a large table for a hefty size group. Its always difficult to have large groups at fancy restaurants. The prices were a bit high if you're not extremely hungry. But the quality was good, very fancy, and a good spot to try at least once. They had fish which fogo de chao did not have. And I loved the cream of vegetable soup.
(3)Katie T.
The first person to review this place is vegetarian? What? Chima has a first location in Florida, and now a second in Virginia. Located in a corporate area right next to Tyson's Corner, they have free valet parking, but if you don't want to tip a valet, there's also a Tyson's Corner parking garage in close proximity (and parking in front of various storefronts around the corner). The sign for Chima is on a side of the building with no entrances, so walk around the corner and head for the orange awning. The initial impression is sleek and stylish--cowskin-covered footrests and bowl-shaped chairs in the waiting area next to a wall covered in wine bottles--but small children runnning around don't help the ambiance. The dining area is large, and fairly empty when 8 of us were having lunch on a Sunday. There is no menu. Either you eat meat, or you don't. And if you don't, why are you here? ...Well, probably because your friends all wanted to go. Don't worry, you can get a meal out of the salad bar. Make sure to tell the waiter before the meal, though, or else you might get charged for the meat. For meat eaters, it's simple: flip the coin by your place at the table to the "yes" side to be presented with various cuts of freshly grilled meat by all the waiters dressed as gauchos. Flip it to "no" when you're tired of gorging, or need a break. I saw strip steak, flank steak, chicken and/or pork wrapped in bacon, salmon, and probably a few other kinds of meat. I didn't taste, but the flank steak seemed to get the best reception, with the bacon-wrapped pork coming in second. If you get tired of pure meat, hit the salad bar. Be sure to get the seasoned olives and the balls of fresh mozzarella--you're paying for it, after all. White beans were boring; the large stalks of asparagus were interesting but not very tasty. Cantaloupe and honeydew, standard dinner rolls, lunch meats and smoked salmon, and greens with various dressings. On the side, beans, rice, uninteresting dinner rolls, herbed butter. The best foods I found were two dishes brought to the table in between cuts of meat--garlicky mashed potatoes and little cheesy bread balls. The house wine was not bad, but for $10 a glass, not perhaps entirely worth it. Free birthday tiramisu--which is quite good, and coated in real cream. The waiters do not sing (they seem too serious for that). Other desserts are quite expensive. Lunch is $16.90 for salad bar or $25 for meat and salad bar. Dinner is more. It was a reasonably good experience, but honestly--it's not worth the price. You can't eat that much meat. Or, maybe you can--but do you really want to deal with how your stomach feels afterwards?
(3)Alexis D.
dont even know what to say except to say it is amazing - beautiful meats - ample salad bar they serve FRIED POLENTA which most of the area churrascarias are glaringly lacking!!! i can typically throw down 6 lambchops on a regular visit (each one gnawed to the bone) took my lil bro who said he felt like a prince with the service my boo is from cow country in brazil, and for him, this is handsdown the best churrascaria in america the cirque du soleil playing on the screens is also a great ambience upper sign up for their fan club or whatever and they send good coupons (boo also receives a frequent eater coupon every once in a while) no offense to commenter who said you need good potatoes to enjoy a steak - dude - this is brazilian, potatoes are not centerpieces here the beans and rice are delish, make the switch friend
(5)Soumeya B.
After experiencing the many Brazillian steakhouse in manhattan (midtown), it was a nice surprise to try one that had a modern feel and a floor to ceiling windows that gave it an air, full of light feel. My husband loves this place, and he usually goes straight for the meat. I like their appetizers and salad buffet. The selection is vast and a vegitarian might not be dissapointed there (if you don't have a choice that is). The creme brulee was a dissapointing. It lacked flavor and was pretty much a flavorless cream with a think cover of melted sugar.
(4)Gracia G.
Beef ribs, lamb chops, filet mignon are heaven!!! Swordfish and chicken are sensational. These will be the only items I flip my coin next time I go back. Sausages are good too but I would like to focus on the premium meats to get my money worth. I think I tried all of them. The rest are still very good just the meats/ fish themselves don't cater to my pallets. The service is highly impressive. As a matter of fact, when the end of meal survey came up, I jokingly put down the only thing they can improve on is the cute accent some of the servers have. Even that made the whole experience exotic. The ambience is excellent. Warm, contemporary, and chic deco. It's a perfect place for groups and romantic dining which is hard to find. There were big groups all around us but my bf and I enjoyed so much privacy. With high ceilings and lots of space between tables you will sure enjoy romance and intimacy. The salad bar was excellent too. I also like they constantly fill our table with little side dishes. I liked it more than fogo de chao.
(4)BJ G.
Pricey, but nice atmosphere and all you can eat meat! Can't go wrong here.
(4)Howard F.
Been a fan of Chima since it opened - its a stylish, warm space that feels great, and what's not to like about rodizio. Went back for the first time in well over a year, and I was super impressed by the improvements they've made. Same space and concept, but it just seems like everything has been given a flavor boost. They've added a selection of sauces to go with the meats, and the salads which seemed bland at times in the past were universally excellent. Beautiful, fresh ingredients, warm, attentive service, and an amazing selection of meats (plus salmon and swordfish). The only problem of course is just one taste of anything is enough to put you on the verge of needing your stomach pumped.
(4)Judith L.
You know, I'm not a huge fan of red meat- but when I do have a craving, there's no place else I'd rather go. The waiter takes your order and usually asks if you've been there before- say yes, they let you do your thing. Say no, and they explain how things run at Chima- flip the button one side means bring on the meat, just flip it over when you don't want any, and flip it back over whenever you want. Their salad bar is great- there are a lot of choices, and try their cream vegetable soup! The meat is cut at the table- you tell them how you like your meat, they give the appropriate cut. Lots of different kinds of beef, chicken wrapped in bacon, fish, lamb, pork, sausage- it was all delicious. They serve small servings of mashed potatoes, cheesy bread balls, and fried? beef balls before/during/whenever you ask for more. This place is nice- their bar is popular, too. Just make a reservation before you head over.
(4)Tina L.
I highly recommend this place for weekday happy hours. I was there with two other girl friends, together we ordered three glasses of red wine, and five different appetizers, and the total bill only came out to be about $30! Did I mention that they also give you free unlimited DELICIOUS cheese bread and beef balls? I have a feeling that this will be our go-to place for happy hour going forward! I haven't tried eating a formal meal there yet, and would love to try it out during restaurant week. One small thing is that for the last and only two times I've been there for happy hour, the place was super crowded and loud because of some company event. Overall, the atmosphere was nice, but if you prefer a more quiet setting where you can actually hear your friends talk....you might want to call and double check if there's any large group event going on before you go. Lastly, there's free/complimentary valet parking!
(5)Christine N.
My friends, husband , and I had dinner on sat nite during restaurant week. My friends made reservation for 4. My husband and I got there early and we checked in at the desk; the hostess gave us a beeper and said whenever the rest of your party is here, bring the beeper back....?? I wasn't sure the purpose of the beeper, but took it anyway. When my friends came, I gave the beeper back, and we got seated right away. (So, I'm not sure of the purpose of the beeper). Anyway, I love the decor and atmosphere of Chima, very stylish, hip, and comtemporary. The salad bar is pretty good, but nothing spectacular. I think the salad bar at Fogo is more sophisticated, and the one at Texas has more selections and tastes a little better, esp. the sauce and condiments. The filet is cooked and tasted perfect med rare. The lamb chops were med ; and I asked for med rare; the short rib was so so, not very tender. We ordered wine by the glass; the selection was so so (eg : la crema, estancia , .), and they are overpriced. Overall, the service was mediocre and not very organized. It takes a while for the meat to come, and the servers were not very attentive. They looked bored; sometimes they just walked past our table , and not asking if we want something. At the end , we ordered one dessert (the apple strudel), and were going to share. When the dessert came, we asked one of the busboys to bring us two extra spoons. He didn't seem to understand English; he asked us "two more" and we said two more spoons, please. We were like, we hope he didn't bring out two more apple strudel... Sure enough, he brought two more strudels; and ten minutes later, our waiter brought out two more strudels..??? Overall, I think Chima is so so; the food is ok, not spectacular, but overpriced. The service is below average; I think the staffs are not very organized. Fogo's staffs always know exactly what their responsibilities are and seem to know when to do what. This is my rating of the 3 brazilian steakhouses: 1)fogo 2) texas de brazil 3)chima. The only thing about chima that I like a lot is the decor and atmosphere.
(3)I C.
If you are a meat lover, you're going to love this place. It's an upsale, trendy buffet with great decor. You'll probably want to dress up a lil if you do not want to feel out of place. Free valet parking. Excellent service. A bit overpriced, but it's not a place I'd go often.
(4)Vivian N.
i absolutely LOVE chima. The only thing is i would only go there every once in a while. it's not somewhere i would go on the daily basis. I love their steak. It's definitely tender and it definitely hits the spot when you're in the craving for some good-not-tgif-type of steak if you know what i mean. I rather eat Chima's steak than some other restaurants dried up blob of meat they call steak. the salad bard is good and the service is wonderful. They were all very kind and ensured the guests were satisfied. I'd eat there again. Just not all the time. Oh yeah they also have complementary vallet parking [:
(5)Jeff C.
Wow. Best beef I have had in a very long time. Not cheap, but worth it.
(4)Douglas R.
This place is amazing. I loved it, take your meat and potatos girl on a date and you can thank me later!
(5)lAy O.
I went for restaurant week. We had to park a good distance and walk or take the valet. Long walk around a busy dining area to get to the salad bar. Service was a little slow. Ended up with food poisoning. Still very expensive dinner with discounts.
(3)John-Michael S.
Ok, so here's the thing - I believe that restaurants should be compared equally against other similar type restaurants that provide much the same experience. So here goes: Ambience: This is a good business caliber environment - you can take your colleagues here without regret. Location: The location is great, the valet is free and they know how to drive stick without wrecking your car. Service: Quick and consistent. Layout: Excellent including for those who are handicapped - Plenty of space. Food: Comparable to any Brazilian Steakhouse but not a stand-out. Value: This is where I have to ding them pretty hard. I can go to Malibu Grill and though you lose some of the frills - the quality of the food is comparable, the salad bar is possibly better (and aren't all Brazillian Steakhouses known for this) and the cost is much much lower. Like by half. You are paying Tyson's prices for Chima meaning a substantial mark-up. The filet mignon for instance didn't knock me out - and given that the price was double what I can get from Malibu Grill - it should have. Brass tax for me is that the look and feel makes an impression, but I come to a churrascaria for the food - and I expect an epic salad bar along with epic tasting meat. For example - best experience I have had: porcaous.com/miami I can't give Chima 4 stars. This place was filled with kids when I was there tonight but I wouldn't bring kids here - it's too open and the kids are likely to get distracted, run over or cause a scene as happened tonight.
(3)Larissa M.
Chima is definitely the best brazilian steakhouse thus far. I've tried Fogo de chao and i think Chima's salad bar, sides, atmosphere, variety of cuts AND flavor is better!
(5)Amanda J.
Ok so first let me explain the whole thing. We sat down at our table and our waiter explained everything (in a heavy accent so it took us a while to figure out.) The "salad bar" is self-serve. It was a beautiful salad bar-- Caesar salad, fresh greens, mozzarella, prosciutto, melon, etc. There was also a "hot" food section with some rice and soups, but I didn't get anything from that side. The waiter actually never offered us the wine list or anything but we did bring our drinks over from the bar. It was like they tried very hard to be a 5 star wait staff and hit maybe a 3.5. Maybe because it was a Tuesday night when we went? There is a token at your table and when it is flipped to "Yes" the guys walking around in the funny pants will come to your table and cut you a piece of meat. They will tell you what kind...(some you use the tongs at your place to get the slice off. ) There's chicken, fish, shrimp, something like 16 kinds of beef.... it was all very good. When you want a break or don't want anymore meat you flip the card to no. I went with my boyfriend and it was a good time but I think it might have been more fun in a bigger group to talk and enjoy your stay. It is a fireplace type of atmosphere so it feels romantic, but maybe it's because we were at a table for 4 in the middle of the room. If you want something more romantic, maybe request a booth off to the side.
(3)Doug W.
This place is so good it blew my mind!
(5)S6 5.
ok, i came to chima way after experiencing fogo both have their pros and cons but i have to give it to chima due to its location. make sure you try their top sirloin and cheesebread; both VERY addictive. and for dessert; the petite gateau; WOW, amazing...... i dream of chima weekly.......i'm hooked...........
(5)Paulina H.
Tried Chima out during Restaurant Week. Considering how much I paid, it was a pretty good deal! Wasn't a fan of some of the meat selection, but the good definitely outweighed the bad. Word of advice: lay off the salad bar and fill up on what you're actually paying for!
(5)Kevin C.
The Food was good the meats I didn't care too much for the breaded pork loin it tasted sour! I didn't like the front waiter he was not attentive! But the Back waiters were awsome they were much better and nicer then he was!
(3)Phila E.
great food, great service, great place, not so great on the pocket. Why do they automatically assess gratuity for a party of 5.
(3)Olivia O.
we went here for our anniversary. very good service, they cleaned our tables right away. the salad bar was ok, texas de brazil has a better salad bar. meat quality was good too!
(4)Mike L.
Been here 3 times for lunch, each time the meat was quite good, the swordfish outstanding and the salad bar was so so. My only real complaint is why would you serve asparagus that is the size and texture of a tree branch? I think the price is reasonable for lunch and the desserts are very good.
(4)Brenda A.
Nice place - and interesting if you haven't been to this type of place. The salad bar was OK with a few really good items. The meat was very good. The place is a bit pricey but I think worth it for what you get.
(4)Jennie L.
Excellent service, the food is good, but not great. The cocktails are great. I will say, the meat was a little over-cooked for me; I like my meat medium-rare, all the beef tended to be medium-well. Great for large groups!
(4)winne C.
Enjoyed it very much. The service was great and the food was very fine too. We could just have the salad bar without the meat. We are not sure how the guy at Man Vs food did those food contest. there are only so much one can eat.
(5)Heather S.
Went here last night.. meh. Fogo is much better in my book. As another reviewer said, the screen in the middle playing cirque du soleil was weird and out of place for this type of restaurant. The salad bar was nice - nothing out of this world. The cheese ball bread that they bring to the table wasn't very fresh or warm and they never brought a refill. The top sirloin and ribeye were my favorites, both were very, very good. The bacon wrapped chicken is usually one of my fave's at Fogo, but at Chima it wasn't as good - the bacon was very fatty and not crisp. I did not like the garlic beef, it had a terrible taste. The pork ribs were good. The servers came around frequently and offered food - however toward the end we were wanting them to come back with the top sirloin - our waiter had to request a gaucho twice before someone came with it. The creme brulee was meh too -- just ok - nothing fabulous. The waiters have little blackberry type devices - at first we thought he was incredibly rude, texting someone while we were asking questions and ordering drinks. He didn't explain that the device is how they put orders in. It may be great for the kitchen, but there is something to be said for personal interaction and your waiter looking at you and not a blackberry while you order. It's a nice place - but it is very loud. We came here to catch up with friends we haven't seen in a while. We found it difficult to have a good conversation as you strain to hear the person across the table.
(3)Lois F.
Because I did not have to pay and the Black BEANS and the PRIME RIB was AWSOME! this is a MEAT CANITOR DREAM. EXPENSIVE I"VE heard if you want to impress someone take them here.
(5)Lulu L.
Loved everything on the menu. The meats were seasoned and cooked to perfection. Salad bar had a wide selection of cold and hot foods.
(5)M V N.
Service was very good and place looks nice. Food was good but not great for the high price. My favorite cut was the filet (medium rare).
(3)Jay K.
This place has some of the nicest decorations I have seen in a restaurant ever. It is very trendy and the food is excellent. The salad bar is ok, but it would be better to save your stomach for the meat. There are many different kinds of meat to choose from and you just have to flip a button to show the servers whether you want more meat or not. The service here is excellent and the waiters always ask if you need anything else. The dinner also comes with side dishes and the bread and mashed potato are one of the most delicious that I have tried. This place is pretty pricey for dinner, but it is worth it.
(5)kels r.
this place is a meat lover's heaven. girls, if you want to give your guy a special night out and score good girlfriend/wife points, this is the place to go. every guy I've been here with has had the same reaction: as soon as we are seated and they see the giant sticks of meat being carried around, their eyes glaze over and they go into a dream-like trance. it's quite amusing and they will rave for weeks to come. the restaurant itself is nice and spacious with a modern decor. drinks at the bar are overpriced, and i didn't bother to look at the wine list. the dining room is large and spacious, but some of the tables are close together and you can sometimes hear the conversations of people at the next table over. it's not exactly a romantic atmosphere - it's more of a good time, good meal type of place. when you sit down, your waiter will ask if you have been there before. if you haven't, they explain how it works: go to the salad bar and make a plate of whatever you want, then return to the table. each person has a coin that they can flip to say "yes" or "no." if you want the people carrying the meat to stop by your table, flip it to "yes." they have 15 or so types of meat available, including several cuts of steak, several types of chicken, pork, lamb, salmon, shrimp wrapped in bacon, and more. the meats are all cooked rotisserie-style, which means the juices drip down and add tons of flavor to the meat. my boyfriend and I both agreed that the different kinds of steak were our favorites - especially the sirloin, but they were all amazing. he also loved the bacon wrapped shrimp. chima also has a large salad bar, with everything you can imagine. they get extra points in my book for having hearts of palm on their salad bar. they also have several kinds of cheese, different pastas, rice, and soup. a word of advice: resist the urge to fill your plate at the salad bar! it's very tempting with all of the selections, but when you return to your table, you will be greeted with a bowl of mini rolls, mashed potatoes, fried plantains, and more. try to hold back on munching on these too much - between that and the salad bar, you'll be full by the time the first meat server comes to your table! the meats are the high point of the meal. if you look around the restaurant, you will see that every guy in the place breaks into a huge grin as soon as the meat servers come to their table with a huge stick of meat. someone else had commented that the servers were slow and they did not get a good variety of meats, but i have never had that problem. on our last visit, even with a packed restaurant (it was during restaurant week), we had meat servers coming by our table about every 5 minutes and had a great selection of meat brought to us: several cuts of steak, chicken, shrimp, and pork. as we were finishing, a server carrying salmon came out, but that was fine because we were there for meat, not fish. our actual waitress was hard to understand (she spoke softly and the restaurant was packed, and therefore, very loud) and was a little slow about bringing drink refills, but it wasn't horrible service, just kind of on the slow side. the biggest problem with chima is that there is just too much to pick from - but that's the whole point, so it's a double-edged sword. my recommendation is to skip lunch before you go and make a very small plate at the salad bar; you can always go back for more, but save room to sample all the delicious meats. i'm not sure how anyone has room for dessert, but i've had their tiramisu and it's good, but it's a huge piece (enough to share for 2 or even 3 people). chima is great and would get 5 stars, but the negative side is definitely the price. at $49.50/person for dinner, it's not exactly affordable. we only go if i have a 2 for 1 coupon or during restaurant week (when it is $35/person). when you register on their website, they will email you a 2 for 1 coupon that you can print off and use. even though the price is steep, it's definitely worth it...it's just way too expensive to go to frequently. chima is located in an office park on the back side of tysons corner mall. it can be a bit tricky to find, but if you just circle tysons, you'll see the sign for it. they offer complimentary valet parking, which is another plus. this place is heaven for carnivores and you'll definitely score cool points if you bring your guy here! after our recent visit, my boyfriend declared it "the best restaurant ever" and told all of his family and friends about it. we'll definitely be going back...next time restaurant week rolls around.
(4)Richard P.
Of course all the meat was great, but what struck me as particularly excellent where the drinks! One of the best margaritas I have ever had, we will definitely return.
(5)Bryan L.
I've been to Texas de Brazil and Fogo De Chao, and this place is probably my favorite. The servers came with every kind of meat, frequently, as compared to Texas de Brazil, where i wouldn't see certain cuts of meat for my entire meal there. My favorite is the Top Sirloin and Beef rib. The top Sirloin was nice and crispy, but still a nice medium rare. The beef rip was realllllly tender, but a little under-seasoned in my opinion. The service was great, my water was almost always filled to the top. The bathroom is also nice and clean. :D
(5)Wen F.
After numerous visits to Fogo de Chao, the Wifey and I decided to come to visit Chima for restaurant week. Off to a great start was the complimentary valet parking that allowed us to go right in. We were promptly seated and given our Cheesy bread, meatballs, and something that reminded me of a mashed potato salad. We enjoyed the salad bar and I had to give props to the Beef Carpaccio which was really well done. The only knock is that their Parmigiano-Reggiano isn't the "real" one that's imported from Italy, it does taste similar but it doesn't have the strong aroma, texture, and rich taste of the real deal. As we flipped our cards to green is where it went downhill, in 40 minutes we were offered only about 4-5 cuts of meat (some repeats). This is pretty awful considering we had to specifically request one of the visits. I been to Fogo in three different cities and a green side usually meant 4-5 visits in 4 minutes. While it was a busy night, I just don't find it acceptable that at a Brazilian BBQ you have to wait and ask for cuts meat. I never had an empty plate EVER when the green side was up at other places. It wasn't until I notified the manager that the meats started flowing, it did taste pretty good but the experience was ruined already. I guess the restaurant week price not only excluded filet and lamb but also the constant service you would expect from a Churrascaria. While I didn't leave hungry, I was not impressed. Stick with the best and take your business to Fogo.
(3)Jose F.
i have lived in the miami area and have been exposed to a lot of these braizilian style places (rodizio) whereby they continue to bring you meat to your table until you flip the shaker to red. this is exactly what chima does in the DC area only better. Chima offers a superior salad bar, soups, side dishes, and of course steaks, meats, chicken. The place is impeccable, clean, with friendly staff. This is a place where you want to go absolutely hungry famished so you can eat to your heart's content to fulfill even the most insatiable appetite. Big fan of Chima and will continue going there whether the one in tyson's area or fort lauderdale.
(5)Saara Z.
If you love steaks, this is the place for you! Chima serves all you can eat meat for a fixed price with a few sides and full access to their salad bar. Drinks and dessert not included. My favorites are the garlic too sirloin and the lamb steak - medium rare of course. Unlike other types of AYCE style restaurants, Chima is a beautiful restaurant with plenty of tables (good for large groups) and great service. They even offer complimentary valet.
(5)J P.
Food was excellent and the servers will bring extra cuts of lamb when requested. The manager even took his time out to introduce him self. It does get busy on the weekends. Their lambs and beef tenderloin cuts are saporific. Nice place to take your date. Complimentary valet.
(5)Rebecca C.
Flank steak is delicious. Really good salad bar. Great environment and service. Definitely will be going back when I feel like spending $50 for a ton of food.
(4)Benjamin U.
I was very disappointed by my experience here. Coming in, it felt like they were going for more of a club experience than a restaurant - very loud music and open spaces that make it impossible to hear anything. The experience didn't improve when we were seated - the service was quite inattentive, which is surprising for a Brazilian steakhouse. The cuts of meat we wanted came by very sporadically, and we had to make several requests over twenty minutes before we received one particular choice. It wasn't that good, either - both Texas de Brazil and Fogo de Chao have much tastier meat. Their salad bar was quite tasty, but that's not why we came here. By the end of it, we just wanted to go home - which was good, because they never ended up bringing us the dessert menu.
(2)Wendy W.
Death by meat characterizes this meat lover's heaven. Located in an office park in Tysons Corner, Chima has the feel of an upscale establishment with valet service, white tablecloths, and professional waitstaff. But make no mistake, it is an all-you-can-eat red meat feast. Having experienced many other rodizio's, what makes Chima stand out is the lightly seasoned meat. Upon the first few bites, you hope for a bit more salt but after a few bites, you appreciate that your mouth is not overly salinated. Our experience at Chima was top notch. The service was incredible and efficient. The meat came out almost instantly when we flipped our disk over to green and the meat selection rotated consistently. While the price tag is what you would normally pay for a premium cut of meat, I think it is justified given the selection available. When you want dry aged porterhouse, you go to XYZ, when you want to eat like a king you set your GPS to Chima and make no stops until you arrive.
(5)James J.
Fantastic Steakhouse. All different types meat, cuts of meat, flavored, wrapped, and stuffed. top tier service, grade A apps, and a salad bar to end them all. HIGHLY reccomend.
(5)Alejandra M.
I love the decor. I would have to say this place is better than Fogo. We ate the restaurant week menu so you didn't get filet mignon. My favorite ones that I tried were the sirloin, bbq ribs, and salmon with cilantro sauce. The sauce was amazing. Overall the food was good but the cheesecake was ok. I experienced great service and had a good time.
(4)Candace W.
Loved this place when I was back in ft. Lauderdale. It was a surprise to see that they have another store in dc area. Best Brazilian grill, awesome salad bar, traditional Brazilian bread, tasty drinks, and the best part is you can eat as much as you want! Great service as well of course. Recommend.
(5)Z G.
My family and I are Texas de Brazil regulars but decided to give Chima a try on Easter Day. Salad bar had a wide variety but most of the items were not appetizing. Meat was very bland ,hardly salted. Beef ribs were fairly cooked but has no flavor. While the rest of the meat were over cooked. I asked for the well done but couldn't cut through the meat because it was hard as a rock. Very disappointed and Definitely won't be back to chima. Bad food, bad service!
(1)Linh O.
Complimentary valet! This is a pretty great place if you're a huge meat lover (pretty rare, a little too rare for me even though I always like medium rare). For me, I'm glad I tried them out but both my boyfriend and I agreed it's really not worth returning for, at least for dinner ($52.50 per person). It was still definitely worth the experience and the interior is quite nice and lovely. It is loud, obviously, so if you prefer a more intimate dining experience keep that in mind. The salad bar is also very nice and you'll be spoiled for choice, more so than at most places any way. We actually kept asking for more of the fried bananas, I am pretty sure they're not plantains - or maybe they are? Taste like banana to me. We came here for our birthdays and they gave us each a complimentary cake (cheesecake and maybe some kind of tiramisu?) and took our picture and printed it out. It was a very nice gesture to say the least. Although I'm giving this place 4 stars I can't say I'm a fan. But, I think the 4 stars are well earned. So, try it at least once if you can, and preferably not during dinner and when they have a special.
(4)Missy E.
Go there on an empty stomach, Everything was delicious from the meats, buffet offerings, to the coffee afterwards! The service was amazing couldn't have asked for a better group of people to handle our table of 10!
(5)Mike G.
Absolutely amazing food. The servers come by so frequently you definitely need to remember when to keep your coin flipped to the "do not serve" side. For $50/person, the all-you-can-eat deal is quite the value. Adding in wine and desserts will bring price per person up substantially, so I would not recommend this place if you are looking for something casual and low-key.
(5)Hoon C.
Not usually a salad eater but this place has one of the best salad bars. Huge beefsteak tomatoes, ginormous aspargus, and a very good selection of other veggies and salads. The meats keep coming as long as you have your button showing and the quality seems pretty good. Not sure what grade the meats are but they have a good selection of meats and the quality seems very good. The dining room is very open, clean and modern. It is kind of pricey but you do get as much meat as you'd like.
(4)Tiffany L.
Had two visits here. First visit I noted chima as my favorite Brazilian BBQ place. Second visit was during restaurant week and it was still pretty good. So for restaurant week we paid 35$ and got a handful of meat selections. It was kinda disappointing that we couldn't get certain meats but you get what you pay for.. Service was okay.. He was tentative at some points but slow/missing when we needed him. We were sat in the farrr back corner so it kinda stank to walk through all these tables to get to the salad bar. Salad bar options were plentiful. I has to restrain myself from over indulging from the salad bar. My favorite meat selection was the garlic ribeye.... I think. It was these little pieces of delicious salty garlicy yumminess. I personally believe it was worth the restaurant week menu.. Even though we didn't get to have all the cuts we still got to enjoy the salad bar and a handful of decent/good meats. And it was 35$!
(4)Kimmy L.
This is my favorite Brazilian Steakhouse out of the 3 that we have in our area. Chima has the BEST cheesey rolls and their meats are all high quality and delicious. Some of my favorites: Spicy Ribeye - it has a little kick to it and is very tender Tender Beef Ribs - Best I have ever had!!! House special - so good! Leg of lamb - Seasoned very well Lamb chop - perfect crisp but can sometimes be a little bit salty for me They also have fish, pork chop and fish options but I usually stick to the red meats :) The buffet here is quite good as well. They always have a creamy soup, fresh mozzarella, basic salad bar, and several different specialty salads. I like to finish my meal off with the cantaloupe at the bar too. It is never too crowded here and the service is always amazing. They are great at refilling our sides, drinks, and I like ordering drinks and desserts on their iPads - very cool. Great wine selection too! Also if you register for them online, they will send you a coupon for $20 off! BRIEF REVIEWS OF THE OTHER 2. Texas de Brazil has the best interior decor and they have the most options in their buffet, but the meats were all too salty :/ My favorites here were the lobster bisque, charcuterie, salad bar, and sauce station. They were kind enough to bring out meat with less salt for our table but we felt bad asking them to do that for every single meat option. Also my favorite item at Brazilian Steakhouses are the cheesey-rolls....they are not very good here. The buffet is worth coming back for though! Fogo de Chao gets a bit too crowded and noisy for me. I also think some of their meats are a little too salty. The buffet was a bit lack luster as well.
(5)JamBRoNk M.
Love this place. The salad bar was excellent, the ambient was very nice To have dinner with your family, girlfriends etc. Love their house special. Definitely will come back !!!
(4)Allison F.
Been to Texas de Brazil and Fogo de chao, and Chima is definitely the best of Brazilian steak houses. The salad bar has so much more to offer than other Brazilian steak houses and the service is excellent. There's not many restaurants these days where the manager actually goes around the restaurant to every table just to check and make sure service and food is great. Really appreciated that, I'll definitely be back.
(5)Faith C.
I, and a friend stopped by for happy hour and enjoyed the options and the prices of the different cocktails. I, and a group of friends stopped by for an event and enjoyed the lively bar. I also attended several single events and networking events in the bar and the service, prices, and amazing food has always been a delight.
(5)Kim W.
Good, but not as good as other Brazilian steakhouses! We were a party of 9, 8 adults and a baby and our bill was a little over $730. It's $52.50 per person but keep in mind this does not include dessert or drinks. We were celebrating my brother in law's birthday, any time with family is a good time! The meats were good and I would also agree with other Yelpers that the top sirloin was the best. The meat were a little on the less seasoned side - so if you're used to Texas de Brazil's meats, you might not like these too much. The salad bar was nothing to get excited about. The salad bars @ Fogo de Chao and Texas de Brazil are a million times better and the reason for not giving 5 stars. It was small and its items limited. Service was good and no complaints there. Also, I want to note that they give the birthday person a free tiramisu cake for dessert. All in all, good experience but for this price, will stick with Fogo or TdB for pure variety and better seasoned meats.
(4)Shonda H.
This was my first trip to a Brazilian Steakhouse, and what a trip it was! The restaurant is beautiful, the service was excellent, and the food was great.
(5)Sabrina B.
I'm a Brazilian living in the USA and believe it or not it's hard to find a good steakhouse at Brazilian communities. I've always loved Fogo de Chao and thought they were the best...not! Chima has all the quality meats, the salads bar with plenty of healthy choices, black quinoa with edamame, grilled artichokes, heart palms and top quality charcuterie & cheeses. Service? 5 stars. I'm impressed and will definitely keep coming back~picanha I love you! But mignon wrapped with bacon has my heart.
(5)Carly C.
Due to the upscale and trendy decor, I was expecting excellence. The service is hurried and often times misunderstood. We were offered 3 types of water, so chose 'still' thinking it was regular, FREE table water. $6 down the drain. Alcoholic beverages are $12+ and the entree is $52-something. I love the starters - cheese bread, beef croquettes, and a turkey spread (sounds odd, but tasted good). The salad bar has more Brazilian salads, cold vegetables, seafood salads, cheeses, tabbouleh, etc. The hot sides were white rice, veggie rice with raisins, black beans, and creamy vegetable soup (pureed). The meats were good, but needed more seasoning. I was disappointed in a few cuts because they were very hard to cut through. Give me a sharp steak knife, if that's the case. No fish items were offered, nor my favorite cut, the top sirloin (picanha?). Our service was also sporadic. The waiter was very nice, but we did not see him very often for water refills or our check. In the end, I prefer Texas de Brazil over Chima. I do like the decor of Chima and their table offerings (cheese popovers, croquettes, polenta fries, garlic mashed potatoes, and fried bananas), but the salad bar, hot sides, lobster bisque, and meats are far superior, in my opinion, at TdB.
(3)Josh W.
So, so, so good. We went for my birthday. Expensive but worth it. Compares very favorably to Fogo De Chao in Baltimore. Practically everything I ate here was delicious, and I ate a lot. I highly recommend the fried yuca. The meat was superb, but different cuts would appeal to different people. I liked the lamb.
(5)Mary C.
I love this place because I am a low-carber. For a place like this to attract me and the family, it has to keep the meat coming and not start hinting that we're eating too much lamb or steak. The side dishes have to be varied. This place meets our requirements. If you don't see your favorite meat, wait a bit and a waiter will be bring it around offering a slice. They offer them all and fixed in a variety of ways. The side dish buffet is huge and could be a meal in itself. The cheeses, lettuces, and veggies are top shelf, attractive, and tasty. This place is good for a celebration. Everyone can eat to their own liking. You can take a break by going to the buffet table; you will not be hurried. The décor is wonderful -- huge glass walls allow the daylight to give a glow to the dining area.
(4)Marco G.
The meat selection was very good , the caipirinhas were also great The service was excellent , great experience overall
(4)Paul C.
Heaven. Went here on a weekend and this place is amazing. Please do yourself a favor and come here when you are hungry. This place serves all you can eat Brazilian style meats and there is also a salad bar/sauce/etc thing at the center of the restaurant. The servers are really nice and its also cool that they are integrating technology to maximize correctness of orders and efficiency. At the center salad bar/sauce/etc thing, grab the smoked salmon. I've never tasted something so amazing in my life. Grab all of the sauces (for me this horseradish was my go to, was a bit disappointed with the chimichura) The meats... I can't even remember all of the names. They were all so go. There was this house special meat that had a crispy exterior that made me wonder how such a delicious piece of meat can be crafted by man. If you are trying to impress or need to take the family out, go here. There is valet parking included too to make you look like and feel like a high roller. The restraunt is very classy so wear something nice if you want to fully experience this place. Of course I'm sure they won't mind if you wear jeans or shorts though. Will I return? Yes.
(5)Rob N.
I love this restaurant. this is one of the best restaurant in Northern Virginia and Maryland area. meet is second to none and the experience it's so great that everytime you go there you always enjoy yourself . the staff are very professional very attentive and very nice and friendly the food is being almost always consistent the service as I mentioned is a top notch service in the industry if I didn't have to think twice about heart attack and high cholesterol I would go to this place once a week A+
(5)Starr C.
We visited Chima on the last day of DC Restaurant Week. I was in a bit of an out-of-it mood where I didn't have the appetite that I had in the days leading up to Sunday, but in general, so factoring that in, I'll give them a rounded-up 4 stars. In short, Chima is a lovely place with really solid food and solid service. But short reviews don't help me put off doing my homework, now do they? We had a reservation for 8:00 PM and our party stayed until about 10:30. At no point were we rushed out and I don't believe we were ever served cold or not-so-fresh meat. This is a "Proper Attire Required" kind of joint, as indicated by the sign on the front, but there was a very large handful of people (maybe even two handfuls) who disregarded that and had a jolly good time. (This isn't a club, they're not going to turn you away if you're wearing jeans and a T-shirt; otherwise, the restaurant would've been significantly less full.) The Restaurant Week menu was the full rodizio menu MINUS the filet mignon, the beef ancho (ribeye), the lamb chops, and the beef ribs. However, there was still filet mignon wrappedi n bacon and BBQ pork ribs. The missed item was the lamb chops, which one of my friends said was one of their best meats. On the plus side, the menu did include dessert! I know the reviews said don't even look in the direction of the salad bar, but I need me some veggies to balance out my meat! Variety in the food I eat helps me eat more, anyway, and I don't consider variety in meat to be true variety. This is my personal strategy to maximize my stomach capacity. The salad bar is very nice, although I felt a bit let down by it, somehow. The things they had looked very nice, but nothing really excited me. There was a lot of beautiful looking fresh cheeses - gorgonzola mousse, fresh mozzarella, etc. - but since I don't like cheese, it didn't get my own fire going. It's still worth a look at the salad bar. NOTE: I liked a previous Yelper's recommendation of hitting up the Yuca powder for the meats, because it was REALLY quite good and added just a little sumfin-sumfin. Also, on the table they give you a buncha things like delicious fried bananas and SUPER creamy mashed potatoes. (I thought it was a sauce when I first saw it, it's that creamy.) And these little airy rolls that are so buttery and yes they take up space but my MOUTH WAS HAPPY AND YOU SHOULD BE HAPPY FOR IT. Ahem. Onto the meats. I am a bit fearful that I wasn't blown away because I've never been HUGE on meat, especially not steak, so the prospect of people just bringing more out to me doesn't ENTHUSE me as much as it does other people. The servers didn't seem to be paying a whole lot of attention to whether we had our cards turned to the green side or not. I got ignored a few times when I wanted some particular items, not gonna lie. :( Occasionally, the servers would ask one member of our party if he/she wanted something, and if he/she said no, the server would just leave altogether, leaving the rest of us drooling and disappointed. With regards to the meats themselves, I didn't love most of them. I ordered my first piece medium and got a nice medium to medium-rare piece. This always baffles me a little - when I get it how I ask! But then I delved into medium-rare-land, and my meat was coming out a little more rare than I really needed it to be. Not a huge complaint, but just a note if you're like me and you typically order the temperature with the expectation that you will get an overcooked piece. Despite the fact that my pieces weren't overcooked, I found much of my steaks to be too chewy. I actually wasn't that thrilled with the flank steak or the bacon filets or the top sirloin, enjoying myself much more with the swordfish (and its DELICIOUS passionfruit sauce) and the barbecue pork ribs. The sausage was quite good, also, and I don't usually go for sausage but you know, I have a hard time saying no to someone just offering food to me. I wish my steaks weren't so chewy, though, because it made it very difficult for me to finish the steak on my plate. The included desserts were tiramisu or ice cream - 3 scoops of chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, or a scoop of each. The tiramisu was insane creamy and delicious. The ice cream was also super rich in flavor and wonderfully creamy. Simple but done oh-so-right! I liked a few of our servers a lot. When the others weren't ignoring us, they were fun and friendly, super accommodating to requests (like mine for some hot tea when I started feeling cold), and overall very pleasant. Since valet parking is comped, my boyfriend had his first valeting experience here. Valets were super nice to us and everything went really smoothly. It was a good experience. Maybe I had my expectations set a bit too high, which, combined with a bit of an off mood, meant I felt slightly underwhelmed. But Chima is definitely a lovely place and, if I can afford it, I would go back.
(4)Robert M.
Ok, this was my first trip to a Brazilian Steakhouse. Any. If you are an afficianado of these types of restaurants, you'll laugh at this review. If you are a first timer, like me - hopefully it helps. I started in the bar because I was alone on a business trip. The bartenders were all blindingly hip and made me realize how middle-aged and middle-class I really am. No worries. I was on a business trip, so it was T&E time! I wanted to just eat alone at the bar. But, when they gave me a bar menu, I realized it was time to get a lonely seat in the restaurant. The drink I had at the bar (from my PERSONAL card to all my co-workers) was fantastic. Couldn't ask for a better one. Once I sat down at my lonely table, I looked around and realized that this was the go-to place for the office holiday party. There were HUGE assemblages of tables. Made my single experience even worse. Then I started to feel for those who wanted a romantic meal. A bit to raucous for everyone not with their co-workers. If you go after the new year, probably no sweat. I sat down and the awesome waiter gave me two menu choices: salad bar or salad bar with meat. I went with salad bar with meat. If you like an all you can eat restaurant, this is for you. BTW - no one EVER gets their money's worth at an all you can eat. That should tell you something about the quality of the food. They are targeting mass of food vs. quality of food so that they win. Kind of like Vegas - foodie style. The salad bar was correspondingly hip. It had an ecclectic collection of sides, greens, soups, cheeses, etc. Each with a micro tong to make sure that you throttled the amount of food that you put on your plate. Didn't want you to get carried away with the food. Each of the items I ate: seafood salad, ceasar salad, mashed potatoes, black bean soup, cooked red peppers, some sort of couscous thing, and some more tasted good - but nothing I would ever rave about. It was the cullinary equivalent of filler. I realized after I sat down that the filler was to ensure that I didn't get too much of the high dollar meat. As I sat down, they gave me two types of breads. They tasted VERY good, but probably not the best around. They also came with some large steak fries and mashed potatoes. More filler with middle of the road taste. I then flipped over my card to say I'd like some grilled meat. I was amazed at how quickly an army arrived. I was truly impressed. One person must have seen me and then the entire crowd latched onto me and I had an endless selection of meats that they would carve off onto my plate. I really tried to have small portions so that I could sample. I still ended up in a meat coma. At one point I finally figured out what the server was trying to say to me: there's a little tong (almost the brother of the salad bar tongs) that is used to grab the meat as they cut it off. I had chicken in a variety of styles, steak in different styles, pork, lamb, and many wrapped in bacon. It was more of an explosion of meaty flavors. You know at fireworks shows where everything is thrown out there and you like some more than others? Where the combined show is more important than the individual explosions. The meat display was kind of like that. They were all tasty. I could have packed it in if I'd liked, but I tried not to pass out. I had a mojito. It tasted great, but it was actually a mojito snow cone. There was so much ice packed into it that I think I actually had 3 oz. of drink. It was my only true disappointment in the event. The rest was just me being out of place. Do I wish I went somewhere else? Kind of. Glad I went? I'm glad I finally tried a Brazilian Steakhouse. Will I go again? Only if I go with some office party with free drinks and dozens of friends & I'm not paying.
(3)Greg L.
So I hate seeing bad restaurant week yelp reviews (it seems tacky to judge a place when you get such a great deal l) but this particular experience really ticked me off. The food was good (not normal price good by any stretch) but good. I went here with a colleague from work and we have no problem paying for a great dinner but their restaurant week practice is predatory. They have 2 menus a $35 one and a $55, this was briefly explained to us by our very rushed server (who we barley saw) and we ordered the limited $35 menu. I didn't really pay attention to what was on each menu and my colleague and I enjoyed our glutinous amounts of meat, the chefs were very polite and then we asked for our bill. They charged us the $55 for both of us, I told the server we ordered the $35 meal. She the said we had accepted meat off the $55 menu (one would think they wouldn't bring it by if we didn't order it and I wasn't paying attention to what meats they were offering me I just took some of it looked good). She agreed to change it to what we asked to pay and then left for about 10 minutes then the manager came over and pressured us to pay full price "since we had meats off the $55, even if we only ordered the $35 menu". It was a solid 4 minute argument between the manager (My worst encounter with restaurant management ever) and I, but he finally adjusted the prices to what we had ordered. I would have just chalked this up to terrible customer service when they were rushed during restaurant week and never come back. However when we were leaving we overheard 2 other tables having the same complaint as they got their checks. This is predatory, don't overcharge and badger your customers.
(1)Courtney F.
I suggest that you valet your car when you arrive or just let someone else drive completely. Do you all know what the meat sleeps are? Okay, lets begin. My wife had her birthday here a couple years ago and it was a very good experience (and a huge bill. totally worth it though). We've been back a few times since and each time the dining experience has been above average. There really isn't much to explain. You get a tag, you NEVER flip it over to red, guys bring quality meat out, you eat until you die or fall asleep. Ya'know? the American/Hawaiian way. My only suggestion is while you're at the salad bar if you're a professional eater grab an extra plate that will be strictly for meat
(4)John D.
Great selection of food. I must have eaten 3-4lbs of meat. Pro tip: You're paying $50 for all you can eat service with great meat. Don't get salads and other cheap carbs that will fill you up. In fact, we didn't even tough anything else on our table or elsewhere. The lamb and ribeye was especially good, but the bacon-wrapped filet tasted a bit off. The linguica was largely forgettable. We timed it perfectly to turn the indicator over so that we'd have someone come by right as we were emptying our plate. Their beer menu only had one ale that I remembered, and not really any good lagers (there really isn't such a thing from my experience).
(4)Beth A.
DEFINITELY worth the money and the "meat sweats!" The salad bar is HUGE and plentiful with many different options - vegetables, fruits, cheeses, rice and beans, etc. Of course, I don't spend too much time there as the plethora of meats are really the stars of the show at Chima. Anything bacon wrapped - delicious. The beef ribs that look like something out the Flintstones - delicious. Their signature meat - the Picanha - is fabulous. You can ask for most of the meats at your desired temperature (medium/medium well seems to be the best). And ladies, the staff... Well, let's just say Chima is a feast for the stomache and the eyes. As well, I have never been disappointed when it comes to service here - if one of the gentleman working sees you looking around the room forlornly, they will come to your table and ask what you're looking for and send it right over. So, the verdict: eat breakfast, skip lunch, and get yourself a reservation! OH! and don't forget to eat ALL OF THE MINI CHEESE BREAD. IT IS A CLOUD OF AWESOME CHEESY GOODNESS! I would WALK to Chima for that cheese bread. YUM!
(5)Stacia G.
I came during restaurant week and was disappointed they had two options for menus, one for the $35 didn't include lamb. To get the lamb, we had to choose the $50 menu. I also thought this place was a good choice because they had fish on the menu. Well... The salmon and swordfish was dry and the sauces they offer do not add any flavor. They really need to learn temperature for fish and to teach the servers steak temperatures. I asked for medium well twice and the steaks were well done. Lastly, their mash potatoes have a runny consistency. Go to Texas de Brazil not Chima. Also, I made reservations and still had a 15 minute wait.
(3)CC C.
Restaurant has friendly service. The meat is deliciously marinated and the atmosphere is nice. Pricey. I have been there twice and paid over a $100 per person each time. Once you add wine, you are over $100. Without that you can be paying about $60-70 or so per person. Overall, everything is good. I have tried bunch of other Brazilian steakhouses with this concept and liked Fugo de Chao the most which is located on Penn ave in DC.
(4)Ben R.
Ate here tonight. We valeted and were quickly seated. Cheesebread was the best part of the meal, followed by the fried banana. Meats were good but did not blow me away. Maybe it was the light salt as others mentioned. Service was amazing and salad bar was great. They have a few sub par hot items like rice and beans. Nobody seemed to be falling for that. Never had to wait for meat. It was wave after wave like they are trying to kill you. I am surprised people are not dropping like flies from meat overload. Favorites were the beef rib and bacon filet. My biggest disappointment was with the buffet sauces like bbq, horseradish, and chimichurri. I imagine in brazil, these would be top quality but they were bland and uninteresting here. When you serve bland dry meat, they need a dash of sauce. Also, wine prices are pretty crazy. You are probably not getting a bottle for under 50. I enjoyed it but probably would not return. I have never eaten at fogo de chao.
(4)Jenny S.
Meh... not impressed. Maybe because I'm not a heavy carnivore to begin with or that I've been to Fogo de Chao already, but whatever reason Chimas did not leave a lasting impression. The inside décor is niely done, much nicer than Texas de Brazil which is inside a mall btw... The parking is not ideal. Chima does offer complimentary valet parking for those who have never dined here before, but the street parking is so limited. The first thing I came here, I was so confused where to park. The cuts of meat were not too overly salted (A common complain of many steakhouses), but once all the wait staff starts to bombard you with their sword of meat, you get confused as to what is on your plate now as now your plate looks more like a disgusting buffet mess than one at a fine dining restaurant. The salad bar was large with many choices, and I did appreciate it. The sauce selection was decent and the complementary table sides were good. Overall, not for me, will not be back. I couldn't even imagine coming here on a first date, having to see your date devour pounds and pounds of red meat in front of you is not my idea of romantic or impressive...
(2)Mayra Q.
Not only the food was amazing here, but the service was also great. My grandma doesn't speak english so she couldn't understand the waiter when he was explaining the process of ordering the food. However he was kind enough to explain it to het in spanish and always making sure that she had everything she needed. I'm coming back here for sure.
(5)Yiqian J.
Too noisy and the meat is just ok. I had too much expectation before I went there. I dont know why so many ppl love it. Maybe it was during restaurant week. The price was not worth it.
(3)Cristy M.
This place is a freaking rip off... Food was good but they charged over charged each person 34 bucks.. And there was twelve of us soo 34x12=408 dollars they stole from us and then ignored us when we called them a few times... Long story stort don't pay with a credit card if u go there..
(1)Boris K.
Decor is very nice, waiting staff is approachable, salad bar is good. That's about it. The quality of meat is VERY low.
(2)Ashley M.
I truly enjoyed the food here, the salad bar was great and the meats were all pretty good. That being said, I agree with what some other people on here have said about the service. I almost never have an issue with the service where I go. I'm pretty patient so if they're a bit slow or get my order wrong it really doesn't upset me that much. The server that we had, however, seemed as though she was blatantly trying to be terrible. She would stand there and flirt with other servers about five feet from our table but never actually come over to us. She was rude and seemed generally inconvenienced at having to do her job. That being said, the guys that bring the meat by were excellent. I wish there had been a way to make sure that every cent of our tip went to them, not her.
(3)David H.
3.5 stars The salad bar is great, but if you want to get what you pay for, don't fill up here. The parmesan bites are addicting, so are the other little things they bring to the table (croquettes, fried polenta, mashed potatoes). The meats are pretty good. Mostly found that they were over-salted though. Favorite was easily the baby sirloin. The lamb, top sirloin, ribs and salmon are next. The rest (anything wrapped in bacon, chicken, sausage, pork, swordfish, whatever else) are just ok - I will skip them next time, too salty. Service is decent, seemed like we were at the end of the restaurant where only the stuff no one wanted made it to our table, but you can request the things you like (just do it fast before you get full). Desserts are whatever, it's not like you're really looking for dessert after that meal too. As far as parking goes, we just parked at the edge of the mall. Was a 5 minute walk, but we didn't have to pay or deal with valet.
(4)S C.
I came here with some friends. I asked for a cheap glass of whiskey. The waiter said they were out of this whiskey and recommended another glass. The glass ended up being McAllan 25 years aged, and I was never informed of this. Ended up having to pay $500. Poor wait staff who try to rack up your tab to increase their tip.
(1)Joann B.
Some of the meat is a little bit on the salty side, but everything here is pretty good. I've also tried Texas De Brazil in Fairfax and Chima is on par. There are slight differences, i.e. the bananas at Texas De Brazil are delicious. The only thing that would cause me to choose one over the other depends on my location. These are the only two churrascarias I've been to, so I can't say whether it's authentic. I've been to this location 3 times now and the service has been spot on. My favorite meat dish is the beef short ribs. They remind me of my mother's oxtail soup. The meat is tender and goes with any of the accompanying sauces or side dishes. My husband thinks the ribs are bland, but they're juicy and have a good smoky char to it. I've tried their salads and soups and have not been disappointed in any of it yet. The only dessert I've had at Chimas is their lava cake. I'm a lover of this cake, but I only give it 3 stars. IMHO, the best lava cake is from The Mortons Steakhouse. The price is a bit high, but it's all you can eat. If you don't have a big appetite/stomach, this place is not for you. The music is a little loud and sometimes it feels like a club in there, but the food is too good to pass.
(4)Variell Z.
I have been to several restaurants with this format, and was only impressed by one in the Cancun area... Chima was excellent. We visited the restaurant for my cousin's rehearsal dinner. This was a party of 40+ guests. The salad bar was not the typical salad bar. Some of the items that I found interesting were the purple quinoa, an assortment of cheeses, and the seafood salad. The cuts of meat were cooked appropriately and very tasty. My favorite was the flank steak. I was surprised by the wide dessert selection. I had the papaya cream and it was delicious! My husband had the lava chocolate cake and enjoyed it very much. The passion fruit mousse had great reviews around the table as well. I highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)Todd D.
A strange review to write since it's of a type where separating the event and people from the restaurant is hard. This was our first visit to Chima and we had two doing meat and two doing fish. I know, it's a steakhouse and we did fish - it was a special event for the meateaters, and I have no problem blending in with other options. As a note: the fish option costs the same as the meat option, take that for what it's worth. We ended up with three full price folks and the fourth only billed as a salad bar (another payment option available), even though she did have one fish portion. The standard, non-protein seating - which is just access to the salad bar - is $65 per person and includes all the protein you can eat, plus the salad bar. So, we had three full protein chairs, one salad bar, three drinks, two coffees, two desserts for a total of $280, not including the tip. The idea of Chima (I haven't been to other Brazilian steakhouses) is interesting, but for the price it's just not quality enough. Taking all the options onboard, nothing stands out, really. The salad bar is large, but the product isn't stunning. The fish was okay, but nothing special. The meat is a mixed bag depending on how long it's been circling the floor. The desserts and coffee are the same - okay. It's a bunch of okay stuff. The wait staff was good, not great. The atmosphere certainly falls into the party and celebratory spirit, decor is good (they can do away with the big TVs playing what appeared to Cirque du Soleil on loop), and it all seems a bit contrived to meet a need for a nice place to go with a group for an event or celebration. But, what they charge and what you get doesn't align with anything more than you are paying for the place, not the quality of the product. At the price point of $330 (including tip) for four, the product needs to be much, much better. I don't know if I'd recommend Chima to someone. Seems like I shouldn't based on a one-star review, but it may well work for some people. If you want to celebrate and have a large party (and checkbook), it probably works. If you want really good food for a price point of $80-$90 per person, look elsewhere.
(1)Jenny H.
I love this steakhouse. It's very similar to Fogo in terms of the style of service and the salad bar, so they serve you cheese bread in the beginning, they have an array of cheeses, vegetables, and I love their selection of soups, rice and beans too! Their ribeye meat and their House meat was the best!! I also ordered a dessert their, their passionfruit mousse which was pretty good!
(4)Eric J.
Really great ambiance. The chicken wrapped in bacon was more dry than I liked. The red meats were fairly good.
(4)Greg X.
Great Brazilian steak house. I've never been to fogo de chow so I can't really compare, but Chima surely beats Texas de Brazil. They have a great meat selection, the staff is attentive and the salad bar has lots of selection. I gave them an extra star for letting me take the bones home to my dogs.
(5)Shoshanna G.
This place needs a lot of improvement. Pros: Excellent decor, and attentive service by the waitstaff. Cocktails are OK. Cons: The food. The salad bar and the bread, etc. are so-so, but for a place where the BBQ meat is the center of focus, the meat is just not good at all. I am not talking about things like seasoning or flavoring, which is subjective, and a matter of taste. I'm talking about the quality of the meat, and the way they cook it. First, the meat quality is unimpressive. Much of it was tough and sinewy. Second, I am not sure if the kitchen staff understands the concepts of rare/medium rare/medium/medium well and well done. When we asked for a medium rare cut of a particular type of beef, we got either a purple, uncooked piece of cold, clammy zombie flesh or an overcooked piece of leathery cow carcass. To be fair, I felt bad for the waiters who had the impossible task of trying to tell us up is down and black is white when trying to convince us that the over/undercooked meat is as we asked for it. Look at the picture of a "medium rare" that we were served. Also, the manager did a great job of handling the situation; we told him about the problems we observed, and he did give us a reduction of our bill and some vouchers for future meals. He was very reasonable and did his best to ameliorate the situation. I think there is some promise in this place, and if they manage to re-train their kitchen staff, this could be a great destination for Brazilian BBQ in NoVa.
(2)Dayna E.
The salad bar is amazing. The service is outstanding. It is a little on the expensive side but well worth it if you plan ahead, lol.
(4)Trevor W.
I help host networking happy hours on a regular basis, and I can say that Christina Mohr and her team are probably the best around. She is always super responsive and helpful in putting together events. We generally have around 75 people at our events, and they are able to coordinate perfectly (even when we don't give them very much notice). I cannot recommend Chima highly enough if you are looking for a place to host your next event!
(5)Adriana L.
I love Chima. It's really the closest to real Brazilian churrascaria as we have in the Washington DC area. Regardless of the meat - which is wonderful and comes often; you are really surrounded by servers all the time! - they deserve five starts for their salad bar. It is not boring like the other churrascarias in the area. Instead, is much closer to the salad bar we have back home in Brazil. Salads are fresh, interesting, different, and super tasty. Last time we were there I wasn't awfully hungry so I ate only salads, which, to my surprise, will also grant you "access" to the fish they serve on your table (salmon and swordfish; both delicious). I highly recommend Chima, and I wish they would open for lunch on weekends because a few times we ended up going to other "semi-Brazilian" places that are just as expensive (maybe even more) and not nearly as good. Oh, if you are there, I highly recommend you finish with their espresso. SO good! Chima, I'm a fan. Please keep it up!
(5)Elizabeth H.
I was surprised other people ranked this place so high. I can understand if you haven't been to other Brazilian Steakhouses. On the positive side, the salad bar is good. They have more variety than a place like Texas De Brazil. I also like the fact they bring fish to the table. I will also give them high marks for the salmon. On the negative side, the swordfish was mediocre. I have had better service. I had to ask our server to bring me a special table tag for fish (after he mentioned it as an option for me) several minutes after he had left the table. The size of the dessert was also the size of something you might get at a tapas restaurant. I also did not get the vibe of this restaurant. Our table was next to a large screen TV showing a silent concert of someone I had never heard of. The noise level (for a Saturday night) was unusually loud (e.g. screaming children next to our table). Since, I was part of a large group; the noise level was a problem when it came to talking to people across the table. In a nutshell, if you want a Brazilian Steakhouse and your in the area it is acceptable but I wouldn't go out of your way for it.
(2)Wendy M.
WARNING: NEVER PURCHASE A GIFT CARD FROM CHIMA!!! BUYER BEWARE!!! My husband and I were given a gift card to Chima and as we don't live anywhere close, we are several hours away, we waited to use it until we would be in the area. We had invited another couple as our guests. Imagine the shock and embarrassment when our server informed us that the manager would not accept the gift card because the fine print on the back had an expiration of one year from date of purchase (who reads the tiny fine print?). So Chima was actually PAID TWICE for the meal!! This is wrong on so many levels! The manager wasn't even professional enough to relate this to us, he had the server do it! What a classless act!!
(2)Josh H.
Awesome food and service! I highly recommend the flank steak and leg of lamb.
(5)Nancy T.
This place is so ridiculously decadent. My favorite meats were the lamb chops, the extremely flavorful ribeye, and the beef ribs, which fell apart like slow-cooked brisket. The meat is so well-seasoned here. The sides they brought out (and replaced quickly when the dish was empty) were great: creamy mashed potatoes and fried plantains which are sweet like banana. The salad bar could have been a meal in itself. The smoked salmon was fantastic, as were the various cheeses, beef carpaccio, and the Paul Bunyon-sized asparagus stalks. You'd think they'd be tough as wood at that size, but they were tender. Also loved the giant hearts of palm, which you don't see very often. They had so much variety I can't even remember everything they had. If you like to drink I cannot recommend the caipirinha highly enough. I had two and was flying high. They are so refreshing and tangy. The service was excellent here. They are very good at what they do. I can't wait to go back. I've had Brazilian rodizio a few times before and this places comes in at the top. Loved it!
(5)Fabio L.
This is the closest to a genuine Brazilian churrascaria in the DC metro area. Better by far than Fogo de Chão (in DC) and Texas de Brazil (in Fairfax, VA). It is also a much better alternative than the other Brazilian churrascarias in the area since the vegetarians in your party won't feel out of place for going to this churrascaria because the salad bar has a huge variety of delicious options. The salad bar is included with the meat and you can choose to eat only from the salad bar (skipping the meat) for a lower price. I loved the fact that they not only brought the traditional Brazilian cuts of meat (which were all high quality and delicious) but also brought grilled salmon and sword fish as options. The beef rib cut was so perfect and tender that it literally melted in your mouth. However, the filet mignon and picanha (rump cap) were my favorite cuts that kept coming as I requested more. The cheesy breads, fried bananas, and typical Brazilian 'salgadinhos' (hors d'oeuvres) are all included and very tasty. They just keep coming as we devoured them. The service was excellent. Too good at times with servers surrounding you with new meat cuts faster than you could eat your food. The atmosphere and experience were excellent. I truly enjoyed this place. Again, Chima is close to an authentic Churrascaria. The only part of it that keeps me from saying it is authentic is in the 'lesser' amount of salt that is used on the meat. The Brazilian palate requires more salt but Chima uses less salt to ensure that it stays within the American customer's taste/standards. In any way, this place is a five star restaurant in my opinion. Regarding any "dress code" fears, I went to Chima wearing a soccer jersey, shorts, and crocs and I was not turned away. The setting is fancy and all but they won't turn you away if you happen to be wearing casual clothes.
(5)Mansi B.
Horrible experience all around. The only good thing was our server. The food was cold. The salad bar sucked. I can get better options at Texas de Brazil. Do they even know they are in Tyson's ?? They really need to step up their game. The marination of the diff meat needed serious help along with the temperature. Also if you use their complementary valet parking and not the garage. You may have to wait for the valet attendant. As they usually play hide and seek with you. The restaurant does not validate for garage parking, which by the way is not too bad at $4 and faster.
(1)Jennifer M.
Is it sad that I come to a brazilian steakhouse and my favorite things were the cheese bread and smoked salmon? Don't get me wrong here, the meat is good but nothing stood out as particularly great to me! But love, love the cheese bread and smoked salmon! Got the passion fruit dessert and it was a great end to all that meat! Service was great! And thank goodness they have complimentary valet...
(3)Megan M.
My Family and I went to Chima's last night for dinner. The meats are cooked to perfection. I was very satisfied with the quality. Be prepared to shell out big bucks, this place is not cheap.
(4)Sherri D.
Went here for my office Christmas Party last December and I've been wanting to go back ever since! The meats were juicy and tasty and they even went around with fish - so you can get your fill on meats AND fish. The salad bar had so many options too and everything was soooo tasty. The service was great and their drinks/cocktails were good. One thing that I remember was that I had a drink that I ordered and I didn't like it... the server was nice enough to tell me that she could bring me a new one and she let me keep the other one at the table in case I decided to give it another chance. In summary, great food, great service, great location. I've been to Fogo De Chao and I wasn't that impressed. I would rather eat at Chima!!
(4)B A.
Good taste and service, beef is grass-fed, salmon is wild caught, no complains there however, ALL salad according to the manager and the chef is conventional not organic, meaning that when you eat broccoli , spinach, lettuce and others identified as high in pesticides (Environmental Working Group - Dirty Dozen), you are eating some of the most carcinogen causing produce in this country. That is just unacceptable for this type of cost/restaurant. Others like Fogo du Chao only serve organic vegetables and produce.
(1)Ashley A.
I wish I could leave separate reviews for the dining room and the bar area, because the experiences at both are very different. The restaurant is fantastic. Delicious all-you-can-eat meat, a ridiculously amazing salad bar, and great service. Check, check, and check. The happy hour at the bar, on the other hand, could really use some serious improvement. I work in the building next door, and my colleagues and I occasionally try to come here for a drink or two after work. However, the atmosphere isn't at all conducive to a casual after work happy hour. They blare extremely loud techno-style club music in the bar area, at a volume that makes it impossible to have a conversation without shouting. If you ask them to turn the music down the volume might go down for a few minutes, but it isn't long before some other employee turns the volume back up. I really don't know what types of clientele they're trying to appeal to with their music/volume choices, but all you have to do is glance at the bar full of professionals in business and business casual attire to see that those aren't the people actually in the restaurant. I really hope they fix the music in the bar area, because otherwise it's a great space, and their cheese puffs are absolutely amazing. Until we can actually have a conversation, though, my coworkers and I will stick with the Tower Club and restaurants in the mall for our happy hours. PS: As someone who works right next door, I strongly recommend that you not valet park your car here. There is a parking garage all of 100 feet away, and the valets will either a) park your car in the alley with the hazards on, or b) speed WAY too fast through the garage to park your car and get back to the restaurant as quickly as possible. Either way, it's a lot easier and safer to park yourself.
(3)Hyunwoo C.
It was my second trip to Chima and it's still one of my favorite Brazilian Steakhouses. I tried their salad bar for the first time and they were fresh and tasty! Meats were great as usual...of course. I think the price was around $50 per person and for the quality and services that you get from the restaurant, it seemed reasonable to me.
(4)Tippi S.
Pros: Valet parking in busy Tysons. Lots and lots of waiters with meat on skewers. Cons: Inattentive wait staff. No explanation given despite answering it was our first time at such a steakhouse. Refer to their iPhones instead of knowing the menu. Brought out wrong drinks and went pointed out, was never fixed. Seemed half of what was coming around was pork, so if you don't eat pig you have limited choices.
(2)David M.
I recently went to chima with no notion of what I was in store for. The food was to die for ! I went with a few friends and noticed right away the scenery of the place is priceless ; very classy with a taste of style. The service was amazing from start to end, the staff was well organized and brought food instantly, for those who don't know it's all you can eat freshly cooked food that is brought to you, the choices are numerous with a little bit of everything to satisfy your appetite and those taste buds. I'm most defiantly coming back and for sure telling my friends about this place ; already have.
(5)Sapna B.
Stick to Fogo de Chao. My husband and I gave Chima a try this past weekend and were disappointed. I ordered a glass of wine and my husband ordered a mojito which was too sweet. The salad bar left much to be desired and while it was nice that they had extra items that Fogo doesn't have (e.g. soup, rice, etc.), none of them looked very appetizing. When my husband and I flipped our coaster, we got the beef ribs and one other item. The beef ribs were cooked fairly well but completely bland -- not even any salt. Then we waited about 10 minutes before anyone else came by. Perhaps because our table was tucked in a corner no one noticed us -- but that's unacceptable -- we pay just as much as the people sitting in the center of the room. When the rest of the meats arrived there was nothing that stood out to us. We felt that most of the meats were under-seasoned and a decent number were overcooked. Maybe the garlic sirloin was the best thing we had, but still not fantastic, we were just happy that it had some flavor. We were excited to try the seafood since that's something that Fogo doesn't have but there was nothing exciting about it. Dessert was disappointing as well -- the lava cake was very hard on the outside and my husband wasn't a fan of his papaya cream. We won't be back here.
(2)Ming I.
much better than fogo de chao. meat is really tender and delicious and the salad bar is diverse enough that you don't feel like a caveman afterward. only issue was that management told my friend that the meat was halal and then she found out later it wasn't. not a big deal for me, but not cool for her! they can't make those kind of representations when ppl have religious dietary restrictions.
(4)Glenn C.
The best way to decide if you're in the mood for Chima is to ask yourself this question: am I ready to give up beef for a month afterwards? Chima is a Brazilian steakhouse, which, if you don't know, means that your food will be brought to your table on a spit and carved right in front of you and land right on your plate. It makes for a fun, unique dining experience, especially if you've never been to one before. The way Chima (and any other Brazilian steakhouse) works is as follows: you are brought to your table, the waiter takes your drink orders, then you're set free to raid the massive salad bar, after which you're ready to start binging on the numerous cuts of (delicious) beef, chicken, pork, lamb, salmon, and sausage. If you can manage to fit anything else into your stomach by meal's end, you're then free to have desert as well- but there's no shame in admitting that you can't handle it. I do almost every time. First, the salad bar. Despite the reason for coming here being the meats which come after, the first part of your meal is amazing as well. You'll find just about anything you can think of being part of a salad bar here, and some items you wouldn't, too. But there are also several soups to choose from, which are great as well. The last time I went there, they had a crab bisque that was as good as the steak. And of course, there's bread and butter (but you'd be foolish to fill up on that). Then comes the beef. Oh, the beef. You will never fill your stomach with delicious meat more than you will here. At the beginning of the meal, you're given a small, almost drink coaster-like disk which is orange on one side and black on the other. When you want the waiters to stop by and offer you whatever they're carrying, you simply flip the disk to it's orange side. If you wan't a break, flip it to the black side. It's a simple system that makes it very easy to get what you want, as well as tell waiters to give you some space if you don't want to be interrupted for awhile. As for the quality of the meat, it will satisfy anyone. While it's not the absolute best steak you'll ever taste, the fact that it's rotisserie-cooked and unlimited makes it more than suitable. Selection-wise, you'll find top sirloin, filet, ribeye, flank steak, lamb, ribs, pork loin, chicken breast, sausage, salmon, and swordfish. And to take it a step farther, they even offer bacon-wrapped filet and chicken, too! Mmmm, bacon. Sufficed to say, you will not leave disappointed. As for desert, you'll find all the usual suspects like cheesecake, key lime pie, lava cake, strudel, crème brûlée, tiramisu, mousse, fresh fruit, etc. There are a couple of more unique, brazilian offerings too, such as pudim (a cream-based, firmer custard). So if you can fit any in, you'll be pleased here, too. Lastly, Chima has an awesome bar. It has a really cool, modern, open design to it, with natural light streaming in during the daylight hours, and subtle accent lighting taking over at night. It has a very hip vibe to it. Chima is often compared to Fogo de Chão, as they are the two high-end Brazilian steakhouses in the DC metropolitan area. While very similar, I've found Chima to be my pick of the two. Chão tends to get busier and far, far noisier, and combined with it's inferior decor, I've enjoyed myself more at Chima every time. Additionally, Fogo de Chão is also a bit more expensive. Over all, unless you live in DC, there is no reason to consider choosing Fogo over Chima in my opinion. So, returning to the question at the beginning of my review: am I ready to give up beef for a month afterwards? You will enjoy every minute of your experience here, but do not be surprised if you find yourself turned off at the thought of eating beef for the next few weeks- you probably will be. It's totally worthwhile, though. Everyone should overdose on beef now and then, right? Obviously, this isn't the kind of place that you come to often (at least not if you enjoy having a figure), but that's not the point of restaurants like Chima. You come here to celebrate with friends and family. And in that respect, Chima is a wonderfully enjoyable experience.
(4)Mona R.
Went here for a friend's birthday dinner. It is very similar to Fogo de chao but a little cheaper in price. The food was wonderful and no lower quality than fogo. During restaurant week it does get about 10-15 dollars cheaper per person. Love love love! They have a large selection in their salad bar.
(5)Julius L.
Meat Meat and more Meat, chicken, sausage, lamb, ribs, pork, beef .
(4)Fred G.
Went last night, does not get any better than this... Waiters super attentive, gauchos are literally lined up waiting to carve the meat once you turn the coin over. The salad bar is to die for. It sounds like nothing in a steak house, but seriously, check it out... I'm from NYC, and I packed light to spend some time here with a friend. I didn't pack any real dressy clothes. Some reviews said that people were being turned away for wearing tank tops and flip flops. While I didn't wear that, I saw a couple of people who did, and they were eating... Valet parking was great, and free. Had a Brazilian drink, can't remember the name, but it was like a mojito without mint. Not sure where the negative reviewers went, because it wasn't Chima.
(5)Chris C.
I really wanted to love Chima and for the most part I did. But what really disappointed me was for the SERVICE. When you're paying this much for a dinner. you should expect top notch service, and it was non existent on this night. I had made a reservation to celebrate an occasion for 8pm. When we finally got sat, the hostess said that she would have a waiter come by and explain how Chima worked etc. We had never been there before. After 10 minutes, NOBODY came over to our table. I HAD TO PHYSICALLY WALK TO THE HOSTESS AND TELL HER NOBODY WAS SERVING US. This was the first mistake. She should have assigned a server to us immediately. The meat that was got was absolutely delicious, tender and divine. I really enjoyed it. We enjoyed filet mignon, lamb, swordfish, and numerous cuts of meat. Everything is carved table side by "Gauchos" which is awesome. However towards the middle of the meal, the gauchos stopped coming around. We had our cards faced up showing that we were waiting for more meat. Literally, we didn't have another person come around for 20 minutes and I had to tell the hostess AGAIN what the issue was. I would think that with there only being 8-10 tables served that evening, there shouldn't have been a problem. Also, there was no apology when we received our check or deduction. Overall, I really enjoyed the food, but the SERVICE was extremely disappointing. Maybe I will try to come here again, but it remains very pricey.
(2)Jihad B.
What can I say about a place that serves nothing but delicious meat? I was told there was a salad bar somewhere but I didn't bother looking up from my plate of succulent, delicious, once-walking-and-breathing animals to really notice. I could get fat here. Like really fat. Not 40 year old ex-high school football player with a beer belly fat, but 1000 lb virgin with a TLC special fat. That being said... The customer service here is Radio-retarded. The power went out towards the end of our meal and all service just stopped. The big bucks we shelled out for all you can eat didn't seem to matter as the servers stopped making their rounds with the delicacies. No complimentaries were offered to make up for the blatant disregard for service. What the fudge? If it wasn't for that I mighta thrown this place 5 stars.
(3)Ron R.
The food was really great!!! Restaurant is very clean, service was excellent. I loved the ambiance. I can't get enough of this place. I would recommend this place to all of my friends.
(5)A. S.
Love Brazilian steakhouses, but Chima is not quite on par with other establishments. Definitely will be full after dinner, but their price point is too high for the quality of the meat they serve. It's not bad food, but for $59 there is no wow factor where I want to savor each bite. I know I will savor every bite at Ruth Chris' or Morton's. On the plus side, you get all that variety that you won't get at a traditional steakhouse.
(2)Douglas W.
Excellent food and ambiance. Well prepared, not greasy or overly salty, and the staff are extremely accommodating and attentive.
(4)Thomas T.
This review is about their business ethics. Which after you read this you will realize are very poor. On October 4th my wife and I had our wedding reception at Tysons Corner VA location. We booked the largest room available (70 persons room) to allow ample space for our 50 guests. We discussed this with the event coordinator whom helped us set up the event. When October 4th came we had only 48 people total (48 is including my wife and myself)attend our reception. 10 of whom where children. We left that evening to the airport for our honeymoon. At this time my wife was reviewing our receipt from their establishment. It took us a moment to make heads or tails out of the receipt as the charges where broken down into strange category's. Once we deduced the system in which we where charged we noticed a rather large discrepancy of being over charged. Totaling $448 to be exact. After we returned from our honeymoon my wife contacted the event coordinator who stated she would look into the matter. After a couple days she responded to my wife stating that she spoke to the mangers who where working that evening and they informed her that the receipt is correct. Whats even more worrisome for me is the fact that we where in the restaurant for 3 hours and not once we where approached by any management to see how things where going. When we where having a problem with the drink service the only person I could find was a waiter. So with that in mind I obviously didn't lend much credit to their portrayal of the evenings events. She then said she would have them review the video of the restaurant (I guess to count people?). After this she responded to my wife stating that she contacted the corporate office in Ft. Lauder dale and they would give us a refund of $100.00 and certificate for a 4 person free dinner. At this time my wife became very upset and informed me of the ordeal. We obviously had no interest in being "given" this deal. We simply wanted to be charged the correct amount for the service received the night of the event. The offer was delivered to us in a fashion that seemed as though she was doing us a favor, by giving us anything at all. We spent over $6,000 that evening in this restaurant. And being given the run around as much as we have thus far, is very disheartening. I contacted them directly via their website for customer relations over a week ago and have heard nothing back. I advise any who are planning to host any events here to be aware of their questionable business practices.
(1)Joanna M.
I much prefer Chima to Fogo de Chao here in the DC area. Cuts of meat and temperatures of meat served are better. I felt like there was more of a variety of meats all cooked differently (rare, medium, well done) which I am thankful for while dining with others seeming I am one of the only fans of RARE meat myself! Service was great, servers are constantly coming to you with meat and all so nice and comical. Salad bar has huge "gourmet" selection, triumphing that of Fogo.
(4)Julia A.
If there is ever a time to come here, go during Restaurant Week. It will basically be $35 (plus tax and gratuity) for unlimited meat. And quality meat at that. A few words that come to mind when I think of this place: magnificent, prompt, and coma. Magnificent in that this place is huge. Seriously they have an entire wall dedicated to wine and you need a ladder to reach a good chunk of it. Also when you walk through the restaurant it is almost as if it never ends. They do not sacrifice quality for the quantity of space though, for the decor is splendid. Prompt in that the service was kind and explained the whole process of ordering rodizios since it was my first time there. There never seemed to be a shortage of waiters around with their big slabs of pork, beef, lamb, or what have you to cut and give to you. No less than 10 seconds after flipping my card to green (to indicate you are ready to have your meat), I was surrounded by 3 servers all carrying delicious meats. It was quite the sight. Coma in that there is no way you can truly experience this place without leaving with a food coma. The salad bar is complete as it is, and then the fact that you get essentially all the meat you can ever ask for is a fantastic deal. Bottom line: GO HERE! You won't regret it!
(5)Pat G.
I am currently in a carnivorous coma! Wenner & Jonathan, our Servers, are Outstanding & on Point! Happy Easter!!!
(5)James P.
Great place~ meat was great, salad bar had a huge variety-- and the service was excellent! Friendly and made me feel very cared for. PRO TIP-- even if you order still water, if it's VOSS it's going on your bill. FYI my party of five went for dinner-- we had wine, coffee, dessert, and of course the dinner prix fix-- and spent over $80 each. That's why I'm also giving it 4 dollar signs.
(4)Hien P.
LOVE THIS PLACE! Way better than fogo de chao. Decor and ambiance is so much more elegant. Save a lot of room for the house special and cream brule!
(5)Bethany S.
After being to Brazilian steakhouses across the country (NY, DC, FL, TX) I can honestly say that this was terrible. The food was bland and lacked taste. The salad bad was skimpy and the drinks are ridiculous ($12 for a rum and coke). You are MUCH better off at Fogo or Texas if you are looking for a nice Brazilian steakhouse. I have been to other Chima's before, but we both left thinking ... wow, that was like going to Outback. Save your money, trust me, go somewhere else. For $50 (even for $30) it is not that good.
(2)Joey T.
FOOD WAS AMAZING. This Brazilian style atmosphere is perfect with the endless meat. The salad bar has a plethora of items to choose from. A little pricey but worth every penny. I went during restaurant week, where specials were going on. Next time I visit I will take advantage of the bar area. Topped off with a lovely view of the Tyson's Corner area, you can't go wrong with Chima!!
(5)Sally S.
Sirloin and filet mignon are the best there. The cheese and salad bar is also amazing.
(4)Mark H.
Make a reservation regardless of what the person on the phone tells you. We have been here twice. Both times called to make reservation but was told it was not needed if we showed up a particular time. We arrived 5 minutes late due to traffic (remember the traffic is terrible in this area), since we didn't show at exactly when told, our wait both times was 45-60 minutes. Just 5 minutes late and they filled up to an hour wait or would a wait have been required regardless. Just make a reservation. Now for the food. It is good! No doubts here. Salad bar is very good. All meats were close to perfection. Service is on par with the $50 per person charged. Although Texas de Brazil has better reservation info and our wait there has never been longer than 20 minutes.
(4)Stephen R.
Food and drinks were great, surprised how many children were there though... Service was attentive . Will definitely go back again.
(5)Tara L.
If a man takes you on a first date to Chima, is he trying to tell you something? All you can eat meat... Maybe that's my Freudian mind at work, or perhaps the juicy, skewered sausage coupled with a bottle of Russian Chardonnay was meant to subconsciously entice a lady. I knew a little something about Chima from reading a few of the Yelp reviews, but I had no idea how much meat we were dealing with here! First off, the restaurant is cozy. Maybe it was just the holiday lighting, or the cool modern furniture in the lobby, but there was a pleasant vibe to the place. And even though this was a nice restaurant, there was no pretentious flair to it. Still very laid back and somewhat casual for a slightly upscale restaurant. We are seated and I'm lead to the side bar, full of salads and sides. I picked up a little corn mousse (not a fan), some rice with veggies, fresh calamari with olives, and smoked salmon with a dill sauce. All were fabulous, but I was warned to make room for the meat. As soon as we sat back down, we flipped our Chima coin to orange to indicate we were ready. Bring on that meat baby! In no time, the servers were flying by us at turbo speeds with skewers of Prime Rib, Top Sirloin, Lamb, Boneless Chicken, Filet Mignon, Rib Eye, Pork Ribs, Pork Loin with Parmesan, Grilled Salmon and many others that my food coma caused me to forget. In total,15 different meats to choose from. My strategy was slow and steady so I lasted a strong 40 minutes before tapping out. Everything was delicious and service was wonderful. Definitely a great place to bring a group and pork out.
(4)Nanchok N.
The food was really great!!! Restaurant is very clean, service is good too! If you are celebrating birthday, you will get an amazing tiramisu with a candle, and they take your picture and print it out for you!
(5)Paola G.
Chima is much like Fogo De Chao, but in my opinion much better. I have been to Chima about 5 times this year, YES I am a "meat eater", on a constant quest for good meat. Like most things we love the first time we try it, we are constantly on the same chase for the taste of the first bite we took in a food that we absolutely devoured. Being this review my fifth time at the restaurant, I have to be fair in my review despite the fact that my last visit I had very bad service. Blame me for going during RW, but we were seated in the "VIP" section of the restaurant, all the way in the back where no gauchos (the servers) came whatsoever. There is a 20 minute span in which you must eat everything before your stomach begins to tell you that its full. This is where Chima gets tricky. You have to be a complete rookie to go to Chima and fill yourself with all the salad bar. The entire purpose of the restaurant is for you to have a meat experience, and hopefully you are smart enough to skip the boneless and wrapped in bacon chicken , the pork in Parmesan cheese, the small sausages, the ribs, the fish etc) and go straight to the real deal. The Picanha both Top sirloin and baby top sirloin are Amazing. The Top sirloin is marinated in garlic and its very juicy. The baby Picanha is soft in texture, thin and fatty. The Filet mignon and the filet wrapped in bacon was not my favorite, rather the flank steak is very well marinated that I opted for more of it. The lamb chops are to die for as well as the (big) sausages and if you like lamb, the leg of lamb. Most of the time you have to request a specific meat or else the gauchos will come to you with all the cheaper meat to fill you up. Also, how can you resist a salad bar that amazing in variety? Last but not least the CHEESE BREAD with the butter, their CREAMY mashed potatoes which I devour as I close my eyes and enjoy the texture and flavor. They also have the fried bananas, fried polenta sticks and the little brown balls. All In all, you come here to eat well and say goodbye to meat for at least a week if I must say so.
(4)Steven W.
This place serves so much meat, that I asked for a Lipitor to go with my after dinner drink! (cue the rim shot) I'm kidding, I'm kidding, but WOW Chima is a Solid 4 Star Dining experience for meat enthusiasts! I was impressed that with their system of roving meat disseminators, they are still able to offer you the food cooked the way you want it. I tried almost every thing they were offering. The Flank steak was by far my favorite (5 Star), everything was mainly 4 Star except the chicken wrapped in bacon, which was dry. The salad bar is vast in selection and quality is 3+ Star. The service was on point and friendly. I couldn't be a regular in a place like Chima, but for the right occasion, or with the right group, I'd definitely go back.
(4)Jeffrey C.
This business is often compared to Fogo de Chao, but I think it stands well on its own. The service here is the very best I have experienced so far. The wait staff guided me through the process of eating here, and suggested to my girlfriend and I on two mixed drinks that were both awesome. The meats came rapidly, almost to the point where it became difficult to eat if you had your card flipped on the whole time. I told myself I would eat fast enough to keep up, but I was wrong. The only thing I regret was that to get my full money's worth, I had to eat the meat! The fact that the salad bar was so good did not help with this problem. :) I advise a prompt trip to Tysons Corner Mall to walk off the meat sweats after. It helped a lot!
(4)Ernst L.
I like the feel of the dining room and the food has been very tasty. The salad bar has great offerings and the meats are well cooked and flavorful. The wine offerings are good, and the mixed drinks are well prepared. I'd rate higher, but the last two times I was there with groups (15 or so), it seemed that they couldn't be bothered to serve us. Why should I pay for a large group here if the staff isn't offering my clients all that they want? We all had our tokens on "go" the entire night (2.5 hours-ish) and I was only offered six meats -- okay, that is still a lot, but the point of this joint is for all the varieties to keep coming by so you can get what tickles your fancy. If my clients aren't getting that part of the experience, I'm better off taking them to a restaurant where they simply order exactly the preference from the menu. It seemed like they begged off the whole table when a couple people declined items. Well, they were Muslims so the bacon wrapped item wasn't their thing, doesn't mean the person next to them wouldn't want it or they wouldn't be excited about the filet, lamb, or chicken. This kind of thing doesn't seem like it should be rocket science for a restaurant in this model, and that's why I was surprised. I'll be back again because the food is good and the concept entertains a lot of people. However, if the experience with the groups stays the way it was the last couple times, I'll take them elsewhere because I only spend the money when I can be confident of a good experience that boosts my bottom line.
(3)Raquel N.
Not too impressed with this location. Went for Thanksgiving & had a mediocre experience. The setup of the restaurant is poor with 2 seater tables being way too small, close to other tables so having a conversation is open to everyone hearing, plates designed to never be able to rest your silverware on them (had meat juices flying everywhere and silverware fell off table twice), and we were seated on the opposite side of the bar wall. The bar was completely empty, but the techno music was blaring so it was very uncomfortable. Service wise I know it was a holiday and all, but every server looked and acted miserable. As for the food....FEH! Sorry Washington Chima we will not be returning here.
(2)Susan F.
Visited here last night for my husband's company party. It was their second year there. It was good...but I don't love it. The salad ar is nice. The men coming around with skewers of meat was ok...but the best part is the dessert. Make sure you save room for the papaya cream! SO good. Probably not a place I would return to on my own, but for a company party sure!
(3)Andrew L.
I went here for a birthday celebration for a friend. The food was excellent, but the service was really top notch--through out the entire meal, the servers were constantly there to load my plate up with more meat. When I mentioned one i particularly liked, the server made an extra effort to come by regularly with that one. The salad and cheese bar they had there was also quite excellent, but that's not why you come for all you can eat meat, now is it?
(4)Lindsay K.
Delicious food, great atmosphere, prompt service every time. Worth every penny. My boyfriend took us here for our first date, and we've come back for birthdays and anniversaries. This is definitely not the place for vegetarians, however. They do have an AWESOME salad bar, but for the price it wouldn't really be worth it. The service was amazing. They are prompt, polite and knowledgeable about the wine menu. The food was outstanding. There is more than just steak--the restaurant also offers duck, chicken and pork options that are equally delectable. There were also some seafood items going around. The atmosphere is wonderful. It is not loud, the ambiance is pleasing and the people who go there are non-disruptive. You will be able to dine there with a large group of people and still be able to enjoy everyone's company. Overall--a wonderful place to eat.
(5)Jackey B.
Chima is a great Brazilian Steakhouse! The prices are in the $50 per person range typically, so we went during restaurant week ($33 per person) to check it out. I highly recommend doing that if they have a deal, and make sure to make a reservation since it's busy. The meats are fantastic, so are the sides and deserts. Come hungry and enjoy yourself, it's a great experience. I would only pay the usual cost on a very special occasion, so I'm rating this based on the value we got during restaurant week. Skip the drinks if you want your bill to be reasonable; but again, during restaurant week they have some deals on wine. Definitely somewhere to try if you're a big meat eater, it's fantastic!
(5)Rebecca M.
Beautiful architecture, white tablecloth with attentive servers make this churrescaria one of my favorites!!! Beautiful-but-limited salad bar, excellent rodizio, and decent dessert offerings served on spits by attractive guys wearing gauchos and catering to one's every needs. There are definintely worse places to eat. I don't mind a little salad to start with, but my Viking genes yearn for the tender and medium-rare grilled cuts of lamb shoulder, loin chop, filet mignon, house special sirloin shaped like a heart, NY strip, top sirloin, bacon wrapped filet, sausage, chicken, and other offerings proffered again, by guys in gauchos.Your meal will be offset by plantains, mashed potatoes with garlic, butter, and s/p. I love to grab a bordeaux blend or a Rhone Chateauneuf du pape and some chimmichurri sauce from the salad bar and tuck in! flavor explosions of sea salt dance across my palate as gamey lamb shoulder or mouth-watering sirloin provides the fat marble to perfectly offset the formidable tannin structure of my red wine. Special requests are welcome, as I once spent the night only consuming rare filet, strip, and top sirloin. The staff is hospitable and with 20 plus servers, your every whim is indulged in 2.5 seconds. I could eat and drink for hours and can never go alone, as someone must pull me away from the trough in the end. I've celebrated several birthdays and other special occasions here and never been disappointed. Finish light with a slice of key lime pie, tiramisu, or cheesecake and some caffeine to get you out of the chair into the car for the perfect evening and a beautiful, sated sleep brought on by delicious food coma. I can't say enough good things about this place!
(5)George L.
I took the girlfriend here when I visited VA for the first time back in September 2012. While located in a very nice area, the parking situation is awful. We were lucky to find street parking that was conveniently close, but for others you may want to try the parking structure which is located nearby. I don't know if it costs anything though. Chima Steakhouse differs from Fogo de Chao in Beverly Hills, CA in that the spacing between tables is far more generous and the atmosphere feels significantly more intimate. However, like Fogo, the service and food here was top-notch (as well as the price, which I will get into later) I noticed that if you keep eating after a while; any brazilian bbq worth it's salt eventually WILL ask you if you have any specific requests, and Chima is no different in this regard. In fact, Chima was the only place that actually asked me how I wanted the meat cooked - to which I always answer "medium rare". The salmon, filet mignon, beef ribs, skirt steak, ribeye, and picanha were all hits in my book and kept me wanting more. I can't comment on the sides but I did like the cheesy bread. I really just come to these types of places for the meat. If you end up using the restrooms here, I do have to say that they are kept clean and reminded me of the restrooms of the nicer Hotels/Casinos in Vegas. Chima does thankfully take credit cards but the price is steep (though not as steep as Fogo). It came out to $49.50 per person for dinner on a Thursday night. Chima is an excellent brazilian bbq place and it will definitely be one place to go to when I return to VA.
(5)Joseph D.
Yum Yum Yum Yum Yummmmmmmm!!!! Excellent service as always at Chima and the meats and fish are all excellently prepared. Great wine list that spans the world but is not too overwhelming. The salad bar is a nice touch, but don't fill up on that before the meat. I recommend keeping a dish of rice and black beans (from the salad bar) on the side of your plate to eat with the meats, it is delicious. Also add in the flour/yucca mixture for a fun texture change. I always leave here and am resentful at the restaurant about how full I feel...but I suppose that's really my fault for eating so much because it all tastes so good!
(5)Britney S.
I rated Fogo do Chao five stars couple months ago and i thought it couldn't beat any other brazilian steakhouses around the area but Chima.......Best Churrascaria around hands down. The salad bar is fantastic. all the heart of palm (palmito) you can eat... I'm in love. if you are a carnivore like i am, this is your place. Prepare to be stuffed!!!
(5)Ricardo M.
This is my best restaurant on the city, best meat, fresh, good wine selection, nice decoration, great location as well. You must try this place for sure!!!
(5)Thuthuy H.
I thought the food was ok. For the price they charged, I was expecting better food. Maybe it's me. I went there a couple weeks ago and was not that impressed with the food.
(3)Jennifer V.
So my husband and I had our first Chima experience yesterday. It was our anniversary and we decided to try something new. I had heard the buzz about it and thought it would be a great spot to try. Let me start off by saying that everyone there was so nice and super attentive. The customer service was great and I was very pleased and impressed. The food, however, was another story. The salad bar was good and the yuca, cheese bread, and fried banana they bring out is also amazing. The meat, unfortunately, was pretty bland and needed salt... Or something. My husband also got a piece of meat that tasted like it was old. I mean... the meat is supposed to be the main attraction right? I was truly disappointed and was hoping there was a good excuse (maybe Monday nights aren't a good night?) but there really isn't. I also ordered a drink (white sangria) which I was also disappointed with. It was pretty strong and all I could taste was alcohol. I had to wait for the ice to melt to drink it. No I didn't complain to the staff and maybe I should have. I really wanted to like you Chima but for what I'm paying I really had high expectations. On a good note, I did casually mention it was our anniversary as we were being seated. I was pleasantly surprised when they brought out a celebratory Tiramisu for us when we were done eating. It was very nice! Unfortunately, (again!) the tiramisu was way too dry and also tasted like it was old. Maybe it's because it was free.... but that's exactly why I didn't complain to them.
(3)Fenny L.
Gretchen quickly headed to the networking event being held at Chima so she could hang out with Shi-Shi, the SSA procurement guru that just won an award to spec out something or the other that Gretchen couldn't remember because she had waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too many of those delicioius Brazilian styled mojitos that were called something that Gretchen couldn't remember because, let's face it, Gretchen was tanked. However, despite being tanked, the folks at Chima had a great sense of humor about Gretchen and Shi-Shi's shenanigans and kept the drinks flowing. When Shi-Shi and her gentleman friend decided that they needed tacos, Chima quickly produced. Yay for Gretchen and Shi-Shi...may they come to a networking event near you...!
(4)Shahrad M.
You can't improve on perfection. Food is AMAZING. Service is superb. The location and ambiance of the restaurant is really nice. They did a very nice job designing the place. Wine list is good. Drinks are made perfect-not too sweet/perfect balance. One of my favorites. Stick to TOP SIRLOIN and the Beef with Garlic. Chicken is awesome too. ENJOY!!!
(5)Alphonso D.
Love this place, the food is great. The staff was very good. It's a little pricey, but the food is well worth it. The numerous types of meat are great. I've been to the one in Philadelphia (actually went to that one first) and this one was just as wonderful. It's just a great place for a carnivore. Steak, Chicken, Lamb, all delicious.
(5)Adam W.
Food was very good! Service on the other hand was not what you would expect. Waiter never refilled our drinks and when we did ask for a refill he either forgot or it took 10 minutes. Overall just an okay experience $507.00 for 7 of us with no alcohol. Seems a little steep for bad service.
(3)M. L.
My fiance and I went here for our anniversary. On special occasions we like to go to fancier places, thus we expect a bigger check. I've been to a Brazilian Steakhouse before (Texas de Brazil) so I knew the drill. The service was good; however, one of our servers was very quiet and I could not understand a word he was saying. The staff seems to be on the younger side, but that's okay because they were all very professional. I was really looking forward to the salad bar because so many people raved about it. It didn't disappoint. It is most definitely not your everyday salad bar. When we were looking on the menu for pricing there was absolutely nothing listed so we went into this completely blind. I tried most of the meat, all which was meh. The only thing I fell in love with was the filet wrapped in bacon. Everything else was sub-par. We ended up paying about $140 for the 2 of us (both had the salad bar, both had the meat, and 1 soda). For what we paid I'm really disappointed in the food. It wasn't anything special. I'm not dissatisfied with Chima, but I probably won't go back. This is a "one-time, special occasion) type of place.
(3)Antonio M.
**BAR REVIEW ONLY** The boss lady and I stopped into Chima after a hectic and event filed day. We were both exhausted and the idea of heading into the city for some well deserved dranks was waaaaaaaaaaaay outta the question. I had read some of the Yelp reviews on this joint and saw that a few people commented on the cool modern bar area that sounded like the perfect place to chill. Because were were aching to get outta the house (while the MIL watched over our sleeping 'lil ones), we headed straight to Chima to try out the place and imbibe in some tasty over 21 beverages. Thankfully we found an outside parking spot that was a stone's throw to Chima which allowed us to bypass the line of cars waiting to enter the garage. Based on that line and the group of people waiting to have their cars valet parked, I was wondering if Chima's bar was gonna be uber-crowded and too much too handle for two weary parents.... Thankfully it was not. As soon as I walked inside I really really took a liking to the bar area. It was large, very airy but cozy in a warm inviting sort of way (that's what she said!!). The dim mood lighting was just right and the hostesses happily greeted us then invited us to take any seat. The wife and I found a nice plushy nook by the window and sat next to each other like couples that were still dating. The bench seats and tables were set up perfectly to allow just such a PDA-riffic display of love as my lady snuggled close to me. The waitress was friendly and happily welcomed us to Chima and soon brought out a round tumbler full of assorted nuts. As we chomped down on the nuts, we scanned both the drink and appetizer menu. Right after placing our order, the waitress returned with four puffy bread things, four meatballs and a dipping sauce that all just said, "Hey fatboy, I dare you NOT to eat me". My mouth watered and my strength faltered as I eagerly reached for one of the puffy breads, ripped it open and stuffed a meatball into the center. I dipped my makeshift sandwich into the dip and destroyed this morsel in two bites. This was good. And we had not even received our drinks or placed our appetizer order yet. Can you say "awesome" for free food? The remaining puffy breads and meatballs suffered the same fate at the hands of the wife and I as we devoured them like people who hadn't eaten in months. It was truly pathetic to behold but it tasted so good we didn't care. :-) Soon, the ubiquitously colorless fruit free umbrella-less manly drink I had ordered arrived along with the wife's foo foo colorful yellow "colada" that had that fruity smell reminiscent of some beach holiday resort. We happily sipped on our drinks and shared our approval at the tastiness of the bread and meatballs as we stuffed our faces with assorted cashews, peanuts, almonds and Brazilian nuts. We decided to get the seafood platter appetizer (see picture) which cam with four large crab claws, four jumbo shrimp and large pieces of lump crab meat. The seafood goodness was accompanied by two generous wedges of lemon, a homemade cocktail sauce and some mayonnaise concoction that was a bit too heavy for my liking. Soon the seafood platter was gone and became a distant memory as we ordered another round of tasty beverages. The wife got some neon green martini whist I imbibed in the same manly drink. The drink of kings. ;-) By the time we polished off our beverages, hours had passed but there we still sat snuggling next to one another on those soft benches. Not one time did any of the wait staff make us feel rushed or imply that we had to leave. They were super attentive, always smiling and made sure to check up on us without making us feel like we were loitering. So here's the price run down. Mixed drinks as well as my manly drink will run you about $9 to $10 a pop. The seafood platter appetizer was the priciest appetizer on the menu ($25) and probably not worth the hefty price tag. As I mentioned above, I did dig the free fluffy bread biscuit thingys and the tasty meatballs. On my next bar visit, I may get one of the meat centric appetizers instead of the seafood platter. Kudos to Chima's bar area and their staff. If their food and dining room wait staff is anything like their bar area, I will definitely return. I'll most definitely return for some more beverages as I'm now a huge fan of that cool chill bar area and can't wait to return with others. It's a great option for those tired and weary parents that wanna go out without really going out into the city. :-)
(4)Jesse C.
Incredible selection, service, and ambiance. It is expensive, but this is the norm for this type of dining so I am not going to knock Chima for their prices. Good: Some Brazilian BBQ joints I have been to have two big problems. 1. Meat is so salty 2. They spread out the meat cutters so much you get full quickly due to having to wait for the next meat cutter to stop by. Chima didn't have this problem. The meat wasn't overly salty, and I had to meat stacked up quickly because the guys were literally lined up waiting to ask if we wanted some meat. It was AWESOME. Server guy was very attentive and kept drinks refilled and table cleaned. The GM did a great job with his employees. Best meat was the garlic pork and filet mignon, worst was the ribs (bad sauce). Negative: My only negative, which is big enough to knock an entire star, is that I love rare meat and their "rare" just didn't cut it. I totally understand that most people's don't like real rare meat and that they cater to the majority, but when you spend good money I would hope they would have some rare meat set aside for a patron who enjoys his meat red. Probably wouldn't be an issue to most, but it was for me so take it at that. After my second pound of meat we decided to take off before I burst. Of course the server asked about desert, I let him know that I was getting meat sweats and that he was loco. Tips: Valet is free and parking in the lot isn't....even with the tip you break even the valet gets some cash (Good deal for all). When getting your salad grab an additional separate plate for the meat. You don't want to cross contaminate your meat with remaining salad dressing if you use the same plate.
(4)Silvia A.
Whats not to love about meat? Anyway you want it!!! I am not a fan of their chicken or salmon, but the rest of their parade of meats is to die for, been here 3 times and i cant wait for the next one, i try not to eat all day to come here, other wise i feel like is not worth paying all that mullah if you dont come here to almost have a heart attack!
(4)Prateek B.
After being loyal patrons of Fogo de Chao, the wife and I decided to give Chima a try. We arrived on time, were promptly seated and then it was downhill from there. Got a mojito which was too sweet and am sure had very little alcohol. Then came the cheese bread. While it was decent, Fogo's is much better. We got up, went to the salad bar which was OK. Now for the meats. We waited 15 minutes with our coin flipped and did not get served. I had to pull a waiter and express my frustration, only then they started serving us. In general all the meats were under-seasoned and over-cooked, especially the bacon wrapped filet. Got the chocolate lava cake and papaya cream for dessert. Again, Fogo is much better here too. Horrible experience, will never be back and stick to Fogo.
(1)D C.
Good food, however why is tip already added to the check for two people party? Too expensive for the service level.
(3)Mark S.
If you want to spend $60 for mediocre meat and in a bland setting, head on into Chima. Other than the novelty of having meat brought to you, you are far better off at Palm, Ruth's or any number of other nearby steakhouses.
(1)Debbie T.
I was here for a wedding reception, so I am not sure how much like a regular dining experience at Chimas this was. The place was very chic and trendy....uber modern. And the servers were very attentive and responsive. The salad bar was probably the best I had ever come across. Very appealing in presentation and consisting of eclectic and appetizing menu items. This was decidedly a "higher end" type salad bar. The servers came around with the meat and service was considerably quick considering that this was a fair sized wedding reception. While the food and meat were great, I had probably more red meat in that sitting than I do in an entire year. So I don't see myself going back anytime soon. But for an avid meat lover, this place will certainly please.
(4)Tiffany Y.
My husband and I went to Chima for Restaurant Week. At the end of the meal we were mistakenly billed the regular price rather than the discounted price. The manager ended up giving me the discounted price, but then he negated my OpenTable points. As for the taste of the food, I enjoyed the salad bar, but I didn't care for the meat. I actually returned to the salad bar to fill up because I disliked the meat so much! My husband enjoyed the meat much more, but our favorite Brazilian steakhouse is still Texas de Brazil.
(2)Megs T.
No prime rib, filet mignon or even pork tenderloin for Restaurant Week?? Me no like. Highlights of the salad bar: prosciutto, smoked salmon, meat carpaccio. (See what I'm sayin,' a true carnivore is also only gonna grab MEATS off the SALAD bar!) But Texas de Brazil and Fogo have all of those. And the former has that kick ass lobster bisque. Snazzy as it is, Chima is out of the way, and i would not drive past either of the above to eat here.
(3)Joe V.
Chima in Tysons Corner had the worst customer service. I was visiting from California and this place was very discriminatory and biased. I cannot believe they wouldn't make exceptions on the "dress code" just because I was wearing a tank top. While making the reservation, I didn't see a dress code disclosure and from the reviews, it seemed like a great place to eat right after my flight from California. Well, unfortunately, the GM was very condescending and said that "they wouldn't service a man wearing a tanktop, and that if I wanted to eat there I could change into a spaghetti dress because that is allowed." This place needs to learn the rules about sexual dress code discrimination. I will not make a recommendation for Chima, unless you want your man to be in a spaghetti dress or be completely covered.
(1)Jojo W.
Fast and furious carnivores paradise! Good service!
(4)Luciana D.
I love Chima Brazilian Steakhouse. I most admit that when i visit there I eat as much i want. they are nice people and very professional. I really love the pao de queijo. and i asked to them as much as i ask and they keep bring it to me with a smiley face. Priceless.
(5)Brandon W.
Very good steak. Amazing service.. Always a pleasure to eat here! (eaten here about 4-5 times ever since i started college during winter break as a treat for myself). Steak is a little salty but thats how i love it, salad bar is big (love the rice and rolls). Not a fan of the swordfish but hey, everyone has their likes and dislikes. One word that describes it everytime i step into Chima: Perfect.
(5)Chau S.
This place is like Fogo de Chao minus the heart. And I don't mean chicken hearts. It's got that in spades. The waitstaff seem very cold and distant. It's hard to describe as all they're doing is slicing meat from skewers until you mentally decide "no mas". For me, sadly, my favorite part of the night was the salad bar. And that's not a knock on them. They have a fantastic salad bar with a plethora of choices to make any vegetarian/vegan happy. Well maybe not vegans, they're never happy. For what you get, it certainly feels as pricy as Fogo. If you haven't been to a chuhascaria before, try Fogo first, then come to Chima.
(3)Meggie C.
me and my boyfriend went here for dinner during dc restaurant week 2013. he has never been to a brazilian steakhouse, but since i've been to fogo de chao before we decided to try this place out. the meat selection pretty good for it being restaurant week and the selections were very good. my favorite was the top sirloin! the restaurant is also very nicely decoated and spacious. their salad and appetizer bar is good too, especially their chicken potato salad and seafood salad. alot of my friends love their mashed potatos because it is different from other places. they have complimentary valet parking which is great too! if you're like me who cant eat much, then i would recommend going during restauarant week since its all you can eat for $35.14 instead of the usual $50+ thats the only downfall lol
(5)Jessica H.
My husband and I tried the restaurant during restaurant week, which made the price way more reasonable for us! We loved the decor and atmosphere inside. It has a very upscale feel. The restaurant is tucked away and hidden. We never knew it existed! I haven't truly over ate at a restaurant in a long time but be prepared because you will do it here! The appetizers are very tasty! My favorite were the cheese bread and the mashed potatoes. The salad bar was definitely the star for me. If the regular price of the restaurant was a little cheaper I'd come here for this alone! So much variety(soup, cheeses, meats, rice, vegetables, & more!) and everything tasted excellent! The meat was good too! It's a fun experience to have someone come around and you have the opportunity to try a little of everything. We also had cheesecake for dessert, but it could have used maybe 15 minutes more of thawing time. Two things I didn't love; I couldn't understand some of the waiters & I don't like having to pay for my parking. Overall an excellent place for a special occasion!
(4)Mrs. S.
Came here with some type of discount. The filets were really good. Decor seemed like it was trying too hard to be modern and minimalistic, which gave the ambiance a cheap feel, even though dinner is priced at ~$55 per person. The salad bars were good, and we liked the cheesy bread. I wanted to try all the meats, but ended up not liking a few. Even though I had my little signe flipped over to the side that says I still want food, the gauchos would avoid me since they though I was still eating. Let me be the judge of what food I want, not you, thank you very much.
(3)Wayne L.
I will come out and admit to Yelp that I did not indulge in the all-you-can-eat. I did, however, come for a happy hour here. This is a much more upscale restaurant, especially for happy hour. I felt under dressed wearing gray slacks and a polo, but that is because most of the clientele probably just came off work and were wearing dress shirts/suits. I'm sure wearing casual here is of no problem. Just felt out of place a bit. On Mondays, Wednesday, and Thursday, they have from 5-7pm half off select drinks such as house wines, beer, well drinks (Smirnoff, JD, etc), and caipirinhas (Brazilian cocktail). On Tuesday, they have $5 Brazilian cocktails and certain appetizers. We had ordered several appetizers when we came - chicken, beef, and pork dishes. The chicken was the best, and had a lot of flavor. Service could use some improvement, especially if you are sitting in the lounge area and not at the bar. It took a long time just to catch someone's attention, At the bar, however, the bartender was friendly and attentive enough. I like this place, but will have to try the all-you-can-eat obviously. Perhaps then, it could help my rating of Chima improve. Still a very nice place to come hang out after work.
(3)Nini T.
Came here couple times and had wonderful experience overall. Excellent customer service and I love the salad bar selections. The only time I was a little disappointed was on Monday for restaurant week. Originally I made a reservation for a party of 4, I add in additional guest an hour before the reservation and they were able to fit us, thank you for the accommodating. But when we arrived, the some part of the table was still wet (where the glass of water were), missing 3 forks and 2 cups which we had to ask. No comment or apologize from the waitress or anything after we pointed out. It seem like they didn't clean the table before we were sat either that or they did a poor job. I was irritated and all the waitress was talking about was trying to get us to try wines when we didn't want to. I talk highly about this place (because I considered Chima is one of the best Brazilian steakhouse in the area) and was excited to introduce it to my friends and was disappointed. Also, we weren't finish with dinner and they came to take the plate and utensils away without asking (well the person took my plate and stuff didn't ask me). I assumed they were going to replace but then the waitress came and ask what we want for desert. We were just looking at each other confused. I know they replace dirty dish but not utensil unless request so I thought it was strange, but thought they change a bit since I haven't been there for a while? Beside that one bad experience, overall Chima is wonderful. Parking: there is a parking garage (pay) or valet (which tips come out to be almost same as paying for the parking garage. Just know that some of the valet people will speed your car in the parking garage as I have witness couple times (this was during night time that I saw). Other comments: If you still have room in your stomach, try the tiramisu. It's not so sweet. It have a hint of sweet and a slight hint of bitter. Very delicious. Would I come back here again? Yes, but not anytime soon. I want to calm down first before coming back. Would I recommend this place to my family and friends? I have in the past, and I probably will again but not anytime soon. I was a bit embarrass of what happened.
(4)Fawn G.
It was my fiance's birthday and a good friend of mine recommended Chima. This place is perfect for special occasions! The ambiance is luxurious, and the staff are professional and kind, from the doorman to the server. I think even the manager came by a couple times to ask if we were enjoying ourselves. I highly recommend making reservations if you're dining on the weekend. And unless it's super packed, skip valet and park in the garage: it's super close, not crowded and cost us $4 for nearly 2 hours. Everything is beautiful and luxurious! NOTE: dress up. The layout is spacious, it didn't feel like I had to shimmy between tables and chairs. The wait staff were attentive and not annoying. We could have had a full meal with the salad bar, as it featured so many delicious dishes, but I almost exclusively ate from the rodizio (meat) menu. Word of advice: savor it. Take your time and enjoy the meat selections, little by little. You'll be there for a couple hours. And try the caipirinha drink, you'll feel like you're in Brazil.
(5)Hugh J.
Brazilian steakhouses are just amazing and Chima fits right in to that category - you could say it's the best thing since sliced steak (get it? instead of the best thing since sliced bread?!) But why then do I give Chima a 4 stars? It's simple. Fogo de Chao gets 5 stars. Fogo is in a class all its own. Chima is Pepsi, Fogo is Coke. Chima may try, but they'll never beat Fogo. I went to Chima on a Saturday night, when the turnover of their steak should be at it's highest, ensuring a never ending supply of fresh, delicious, awe inspiring and exsquisite, cuts of bovine. Unfortunately, the meat wasn't where I felt like it should have been. I've been to Fogo on Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays for lunch, Thursdays for dinner, etc. and the overall quality has never seen a drop off. If Saturday evening is their time to shine, I would certainly not go back on a weeknight or lunch (assuming the serve lunch). Anyways, here's the takeaway from the meal. I will do my best to make comparisons to Fogo. The Starters/Appetizers -Cheese puff balls were sub-par compared to Fogo. Chima gave us 4 for our table, Fogo would have given us a never ending basket of fresh ones. -The cat food balls. What in the hell were these things?? Fogo luckily does not serve these things. They were little balls of deep fried meat that were just out of place. -The soupy cheesy mashed potatoes. I'll admit, I have never been to Brazil. After the cat food balls and liquefied mashed potatoes, I just know not to eat these if I ever go, besides, you don't go to Chima (or Fogo) for the sides, you go for the STEAK!! (unless of course you are a vegetarian, of which case I suppose you go for the salad bar. But if you are a vegetarian and you come to Chima or Fogo, well, please read my Smith & Wollensky review to see how I feel about vegetarians in steak places.) The Main Attraction -The rib eye - best cut overall. Very consistently delicious, perfectly cooked. -The filet - sadly, the worst cut. How do you mess up a filet? It was almost exclusively dry and tough. Very disappointing. -The fish and seafood - Fogo doesn't have the salmon, swordfish, or prawns and this is were Chima does get the nod. -Fogo seasons their meat a little more than Chima. I personally prefer the seasoning level of Fogo over Chima. -Overall very very good. Not as good as Fogo, but again very good. The Servers -As you can expect, broken English is just a fact of life in most restaurants like Chima. Our server at the very beginning asked us if we wanted sparkling water or (muffled English) water. We took option 2. Don't take option 2 unless you want to spend $7 a bottle for their tap water refilled into the fancy glass bottles. -Chima servers were quick, Fogo servers are quick. The one time I asked for something, it was out to the table in less than a minute - same experience at Fogo. Fogo de Chao gets the gold medal, Chima gets the gold plated medal.
(4)Mark M.
It was ok. The one thing I didn't like was that they cooked the meat over gas flames. There's no charcoal flavor or wood. Not what I expected. The salad bar was great. I wouldn't go back too pricey flavorless meat. I can cook a better steak at home. If you want a good steak just go to any Wegmans. They have very good steaks.
(3)pat t.
Dear Chima, You tried. You really tried. It must be hard to live in the shadows of Fogo de Chao. It must be like being Heidi Klum's sister, close but not quite. I last dined at your restaurant five years ago and you were really good. I anticipated my meal to be quite good again but you disappointed me. You scolded me for coming back during restaurant week by limiting me to only nine of the 15 or so different meats or the $35. Really?! This was a time for you to remind me of what I have been missing and why I should dine with you regularly and to forget about Fogo. While all nine meats were good none of them were fantastic. None rocked my world. Is it because you wanted me to pay the regular price to get the other choice meats? Shame on you for teasing me. In your defense, the salad bar was excellent. The available sauces were decent. Service was good, except our server Camila sounded like the disclaimer at the end of a medication commercial. She spoke so quickly and in a perfectly monotoned voice describing how the steakhouse "works." To your credit, you didn't slow down the meats form coming around. You kept them coming at a steady pace and I appreciated that. I didn't appreciate the hostess giving everyone the same line, "Your table is currently playing their bill and should be available soon" to every party in front of us. Also, if I have a 7:30 reservation, arrive five minutes early with my entire party why do I still have to wait 15 minutes for my table? Oh wait, that's right, my table is currently paying their bill. I tend to avoid many eateries during restaurant week for this very reason. Nothing like going to a good restaurant and being offered a limited choice. This was your time to shine. To make another first impression. Instead it only reminded me to go back to Fogo de Chao to get the full Brazilian steakhouse experience. Oh, and frozen key lime pie? Probably a Sara Lee right out of the box. Sorry Chima. Unless a friend requests that we eat at your restaurant you will not be on my list of Brazilian steakhouses to throw down.
(2)Curtis H.
Literally, the juiciest beef ribs I've ever had in my entire life. I could have cut the beef with a plastic spoon. No evidence of the non-tolerance for people wearing shorts, etc. In fact, there were more than a dozen patrons wearing shorts and short sleeves during my visit yesterday. Granted, nobody was wearing a tank top, but it didn't seem they were quote the evil incarnates that the previous two posters described.
(5)Jacinda N.
Chima's the a great place to go for family dinners and celebrations. I always make a point to make a reservation before i go, so i don't have a long wait. They're pretty flexible about your reservation times too if your running late. After getting seated, a waiter will usually come up and walk you through the process, take your drink order. and give you the side dishes. They're really delicious! What i don't understand is why they have two different waiters to a table. After one waiter leaves the next one will come and repeat what the first waiter has already said. Its very annoying. After your waiter is done with drinks and sides, you'll also never see them again until the end of the meal. I salad bar is good, and the meats are awesome, but the wait staff needs some work.
(3)Xiao L.
I like Chima way more than Fogo De Chao. The salad bar is amazing and many choices of meat. Must try the Brazilian drink caipirinha.
(4)James W.
This is a very difficult review to write. The reason is that Chima isn't awful just very disappointing. On almost every facet this churrascaria failed to live up the competition and to it's own aspirations. First there was the decor which was very modern in a snotty Ikea/Pier 1 sort of way. This didn't go with the giant projector screen that looked as if it had been reclaimed from an 1950's elementary school auditorium that was directly behind us. I'm not sure why this screen was even there because the projector they were using was so run out as to be useless even in the relatively dim light of the room. Next, and perhaps most disappointing was the food. I've been to many churrascarias and found that most fall into the category of very good to excellent. Most have a very similar favor profile, i.e. delicious. That was not the case with Chima. The meats were flavorless and bland. Most of them had the feeling of having been orbiting the dinning room for more than half an hour. I had maybe one ok slice of sirlion and the beef ribs were decent but that's all there was to be had. And there there was the service. To call it uneven would be kind. Once the waiter discovered we wouldn't be ordering one of thier over priced bottles of wine (To be fair they were not that much more over priced than anywhere else) he was less than interested in being of service. The service varied from acceptable to poor through out the evening. The service wasn't bad compared to say, an Applebee's, but it was not on par with what I would expect at this type of restaurant. In conclusion I would say that if you're looking at Chima do yourself and your guests a favor and go down the road to Texas de Brazil or Fogo de Chao. I would give the former and 5 out of 5 and the latter and 4 out of 5. Sadly Chima failed to live up to those admittedly lofty expectations and gets a 2 out of 5.
(2)KP M.
Meat, meat, and more meat!! I hope you fast before you come here, b/c there was so much delicious food to eat that I was actually worried that exploding was a legitimate fear. The salad bar is stocked with fresh salads, sliced cold meats, & assorted sauces to go with your dinner. Please, do yourself a favor and hit that first for a bowl of their wonderful horseradish sauce before unbuckling your belt for serving on top of serving of fresh meats from the broiler. The Meatadors** are swarming around the restaurant constantly with assorted cuts of meat. As soon as you flip your token over, you will have your choice of several different cuts in under a minute!! The beef rib is sooo juicy, the top Sirloin... to die for! A nice thin slice with just a little piece of fat on the edge that has been broiled to a nice crisp. I could have easily eaten on that Sirloin all night long and been deliriously happy. But wait, there's more... leg of lamb followed by lamb chops? Hell yes! What's the hell?? A random waiter is dropping off plate after plate of sides? I've already eaten enough to feed a family of four for a week... but I trudge on. These mashed potatoes are so creamy, they could almost be a sauce unto themselves. In fact, I ended up using them as a sauce on my bacon wrapped boneless chicken. That's right, they have chicken as well as assorted pork. The Parmesan pork has a lovely flavor to it, but try to get it early in the evening as it does tend to dry out. At this point, I'm using my menu in the style of fat a$$ bingo marking off the picture of every meat that I have tried. I'm looking around for the baby sirloin with garlic for the win... but some how the "are you kidding me you fat fcuk" look I'm getting from the fiancé tells me it might just be time to stop. Our server kindly brings us the menu and my heart patters, but alas "are you kidding me you fat fcuk" prevails on me once again and we tab out. At no point in the evening did I ever feel rushed, not once. I was encouraged to try as much or as little as I'd like of anything. Everyone was very friendly and very helpful. The Meatadors** happily run to get you the cut and temperature of meat that you like. We got a comment card at the very end of the meal that asked us "is there anything we could have done better?" And I honestly couldn't' put anything. Despite the complimentary valet parking, an evening here isn't cheap. But the experience is well worth it and I recommend that you all try it. **Meatadors is what I decided to call the guys serving the meat that are dressed like Matadors, it just kind of made sense to me. You know, I think I'll go as a Meatador for Halloween. I'll have to carry a leg of lamb all night, but when I get hungry it'll be on!!
(5)Zaina- B.
Worst service ever! I went to Chima with 3 friends. We were fasting, so I made a reservation for 8pm. We got in a little before 8 and asked for our table, they told us we'd have to wait for 10-15 minutes. We waited for a good 35 minutes, nothing... not even water (mind you, we told them! they said we were not the only ones). When I went back to ask, I was told that they were still seating people who came in at 7:30 and that I shouldn't fret since other people also had to wait for 45 minutes or more. We were going to be the second ones to be seated after some other people apparently. So yeah! I'm saving my bucks for something else, like Texas de Brazil! At least they have stellar service!
(1)Diana S.
Made a reservation online, and not only did they call to confirm, but they were able to change to a more desirable time. Great service! Not to mention there is complimentary valet parking! The ambiance is very nice, and the food is very delicious. As soon as we flipped our coins, it was raining meats. I haven't been to other Brazilian steakhouses in this state, but I would consider this one to be pretty nice. It is more of a fine-dining buffet, rather than others that I have been to (in other states) that seem a little more casual. The meats were plentiful and delicious, however, they didn't have as many options as I have previously experienced (no alligator or chicken heart, etc). The salad bar was decent, but I didn't feel there were too many dishes that would be uniquely Brazilian (other than the rice). I really enjoyed the small plates they brought to our table though (fried banana, french fries, and a fried glutinous cake?). Not too impressed with the swordfish, however, the accompanying passion fruit sauce was delightful! Seemed as if some people (including local celebrity athletes) come just for the bar. Overall, I liked this place, and would probably consider it for a once-a-year special occasion.
(4)Felix H.
This place is overrated. I have gone a dozen times and I truly prefer Texas de Brazil at Fair Oak Mall...but living in Tysons, this place was only 1/2 a mile away. The meet is greasy and the service is OK. They try to seem like fine dining, but I really won't consider them that. The wait staff is slow at removing your plate when you go get more from the buffet bar of sides. The buffet bar itself was not the most appetizing presentation. Ok..now the good: it's AYCE meat! Good cuts, just make sure you wipe off the excess fat/grease. ENJOY!
(3)Christine K.
Yummy yummy yummy! Looking forward to coming again and WORTH the price tag!
(5)Johnny A.
Excellent meat selection and quality with a service to match. The salad bar is quite good too, but don't fill up on ruffage! Stay focused!
(4)Paul W.
This place has better decor than it does food. These types of places are at the mercy of clientele throughput. The more customers, the more fresh meat becomes available. Everytime I go here, it's never crowded and I end up getting overcooked meat not as fast as I'd like it continuously served on my plate. Service at these places are also supposed to be impeccable... not the case here. Nothing can compete with Fogo in DC.
(3)Robin G.
Wow! the food and the service was excellent. I had the lamb chops and they were delis. The most awesome salad bar ever. Every thing was fresh and delish and I cannot wait to go back!
(4)Angel W.
chima must be a carnivore's wet dream. came here during restaurant week, and it was a fun experience. the quality of the meats are high, but some cuts were just SO much better than others; my favorites were the pork and beef ribs, nom nom nom. each meat is flavored with extreme richness and saltiness, and that stifled my ability to keep putting away the meat. the salad bar was meh-- not my favorite, and I wished there was more/better stuff available. I was curious about the mousses, so I tried the corn mousse... not a fan! the sides you're served at the table are phenomenal though. the small fried balls of dough ooze with cheese, and the mashed potatoes have a different texture but are full of flavor nonetheless. the service was almost impeccable, our waiter continued to check in with us and if we were ever trying to get a certain cut of meat, she made sure to flag some down for us. this is more of a once a year thing, and be sure to take advantage of the coupons on chima's website and discounts (like restaurant week).
(4)Sarah S.
3-stars during restaurant week where it costs $35. It was a fun experience, and some of the food was good. Even if we could ALWAYS go for $35, I don't think we would go back any time soon. 2-stars if you pay the full $50 price. The food isn't THAT good. Some of the meat was good, most of it was not particularly good. The proscuitto, smoked salmon, carpaccio, gorgonzola mousse at the salad bar were enjoyable but not great. The appetizers, like the fried bananas, were good, as were the mashed potatoes. The tiramisu was fresh and light, some of the best tiramisu my friend has had. Still, there was nothing particularly great. Even if you find something really tasty (and there were one or two), you might never get the right server again.
(3)Mark L.
Churrasco should be the new thanksgiving day tradition. Had an awesome t-day rodizio meal here with a buddy when family plans fell thru. The place was full actually so clearly many agreed with us. The place has casually classy decor with very attentive staff. Only a few misses among the meats, with the piccanha and filet being clear highlights. The salad bar and sides (go Brazilian cheese bread!) are often neglected at this place but quite tasty nonetheless. Chima and Fogo de Chao are like twins. But if I had to split hairs, I'd say that Fogo just edges this place out overall... but not by much! Loved Chima's use of blackberries to communicate with kitchen staff, so clearly the geek-sheekier twin..
(4)Christine H.
First of all, free valet parking...woot! After a long and stressful holiday, I sprung on the BF last minute that I wanted a very low key NYE...for dinner he suggested Chima, as it was supposedly good and close by. We went in and were prepared to have dinner and drinks at the bar, but alas they only serve apps no dinner. The Front desk, managed to squeeze us in last second, even though it was crowded! That was really awesome. We were seated and the space was beautiful, nicer looking than Texas de Brazil. Our server explained the process, and also explained how service was a two person team and introduced the fellow waiter...nice touch as there would be so many folks at our table with other offerings...and it was nice to have a card of the 15 or so meats available to us...Buffet was good and quite typical, but my favorite part of the meal was the beef ribs, lamb chop and cheese bread...oh so good. No room at all for dessert, but they gave us complimentary sparkling wine to toast the new year...nice gesture!
(4)Mariam R.
I'm almost ashamed to write this review. We totally slacked off on this dinner. We came here Friday night for our Valentine's dinner and we did enjoy ourselves. We went wrong by having a late lunch 3 hours prior. We thought it would be okay, splitting a salad and chicken strips, but it wasn't. We took one trip to the salad bar. It was okay, but I think the one at Fogo de Chao is much nicer. The meal was wonderful - we were too stuffed to try all of the small plates they bring to the table, so I can't comment on the fried yucca or fried banana. I tried a spoonful of the whipped potato, one meat croquette and one cheese muffin with some turkey spread. Everything was good. I do enjoy the polenta at Fogo, though. After we had decided to throw in the towel, we realized we never saw the filet mignon cowboy. I mentioned it the one of our waiters and he had it sent right over - man, was that worth it! The filet melted in my mouth. We did order desert, nothing bad to report there. I had the tiramisu and the boy had the vanilla ice cream with warm banana sauce. We had split a bottle of wine and two bottles of Pellegrino and the boy had three mixed drinks. Our total came to just under $200 and while we didn't think that was a bad price, we did wish we had come better prepared to take advantage of the experience. The service was top-notch, the space was comfortable and there was plenty of spacing between tables that you can have private conversations. I'm sure we'll be back.
(4)Pete H.
I've been to Fogo de Chao in DC close to 10 times at this point as its become a favorite spot to do dinners for work. So I'm very familiar with the general experience of a Brazilian steakhouse. Right off the bat, I have to say there was nothing about my experience at Chima that wasn't better than my experiences at Fogo. My colleague and I (who has also been to Fogo numerous times) both commented on how good the service was. They were constantly coming by to refill water glasses, refresh the side dishes, see if there was any particular meat we wanted to try, etc. One of the servers said the meat he had wasn't exactly what my friend had asked for, so he took it back to cook it for a smidge longer and then brought it back. The salad bar is more extensive than the one at Fogo, lots of other options. I know enough to go light on the salad. Their balsamic vinagrette is really, really good. Their sides are terrific. Some of the best mashed potatoes I've ever had in my life. I described them as "potatoes that have been thoroughly beaten into submission." Very, very creamy. The polenta was good and although I'm not a huge fan of fried plantains, I tried one and it was really excellent. Of course, it's all about meat and the meats were great. We sampled a lot of everything. It was nice to see they offer fish, which Fogo doesn't. I tried some kind of pork that had been crusted with cheese, which was excellent...ribs, chicken, various cuts of steak. It was all really excellent and a definite struggle to stop eating more. We didn't save any room for dessert so I can't comment on those. The complimentary valet parking is nice, especially since there's nowhere really close to park and the nearest garage is $5 (according to the hostest). Went there on a Thursday around 6:30 and the bar was packed. Not sure if it's like that most weeknights, but I was pretty impressed how slammed it was. Didn't have any trouble making a same day reservation through Open Table for two. Really nice seating area, big tables, even just for two people. Dress is fairly casual. I had on jeans and a nice shirt as did a number of other diners. There were a few tables near us with kids...one with an infant and one with two kids who most have been around 6 and 3. My colleague mentioned bringing his two kids there sometime, so it should be fine. Overall had a really nice time and for a Brazilian steakhouse, it's at the top of my list and offered exactly the sort of experience I was looking for. Can't wait to go back.
(5)Sogol G.
I went there to celebrate a friend's birthday with my husband. I really liked the ambiance, very well decorated with great service. This is an all you can eat place, so they have their own system of serving food that I had not experience before and really liked it. Their salad bar is not die for. They have EVERYTHING in their salad bar that you can think of. The only thing that was missing was caviar! Steaks were great but some of them were not fresh. They tried to mask the old taste with ton of salt, so the salty meats were bad and leg of lamb smelled funny. Besides that everything else was super delicious and great. (i would have given them 5 starts if this was not true) We went there for the restaurant week so it was $10 cheaper for each person, my husband and I ended up paying $160 for two. We had their second package of all you can eat, 2 drinks and 2 deserts.
(4)Phyu-Sin T.
I would come here just to eat their cheese puff breads. Let alone, they serve Top Sirloin, Baby Top Sirloin, Filet Mignon, Flank Steak, Beef Ribs, Sausage, Lamb Chops, Leg of Lamb, Ribeye, Pork Ribs, and Chicken all BBQ, ALL YOU CAN EAT! This is like steak heaven. The salad bar is also impressive with a the basic Cesear Salad to an array of cheeses. I'm actually quite at lost for words to describe this place. All I can say is, don't stuff yourself too much with one thing. On the side note, the atmosphere is chic and the service was stupendous. It was a great experience over all - at least for the first time at a Brazilian Steakhouse. And P.S. They have complimentary valet.
(5)Paul M.
Tyson's Corner is a place I rarely go to. Maybe once a year to get the kids' picture taken w/ Santa Claus. An out-of-town buddy suggested we meet here and I was happy to try it. I had forgotten how much I like the whole Brazilian BBQ thing - and this place seems to be more up market and designer and Tyson-y than many others. They also make a spanking Caiparinha. Which, if I may, I first ordered about 10 years ago on a business trip to Sao Paolo and the local guys laughed at me telling me it was an old man's drink. Not any more. A big thank you to Olivia D for mentioning the coupon - $25 off if you register on line with them - and the valet parking is fantastic. The bar is swish like a 60s airport lounge, its spacious and the service is good. The food was also good - for me the star of the show was the gorgonzola mousse on the salad bar - tremendous. They put a weird looking sauce on the table and I asked my buddy what he thought it was " dude" he said " that's the potatoes" The potatoes were awful, and you really need good potatoes to enjoy good meat. It's like the first rule of the carny club. ( Or maybe the first rule is "don't talk about carny club). I didn't check to see if they have kids' prices - if they do I might make the schlep here with the kids again.
(3)Melissa L.
I used to work near here, so I can tell you that happy hour here is fabulous. The cheese balls were my dinner many a night. I've had dinner, and if you're into the Brazilian Steakhouse thing, the meat is really delicious and the service is almost too good. It's not somewhere I'd go often just because I can't eat that much, but it's definitely worth a visit.
(5)Christine H.
Took my husband here for restaurant week on Sunday and really was looking forward to it because I have been to Texas de Brasil in Fair Oaks Malls, Fairfax, VA and wanted to compare the two, I was hinting that Chima would be better than Texas de Brasil, boy I was so wrong. We got there and was seated early, our reservation was a 5:15pm and the restaurant was already pretty lively. There was a projector in the center of the reservation displaying a Brazilian concert, which was pretty cool. As we were seated we were greeted by our waiter and we decided on doing the regular dinner instead of the restaurant week special because for 15-20$ more, you could get the top cuts, so we thought it was a better deal instead of eating sausage and chicken all night. We got our plates at the salad bar and was not really impressed. They had the usual rice and beans and bread and some deli cuts, but not much of salad bar choices besides Cesar salad and potato salad. Had hearts of palm, asparagus, a seafood salad, and a couple cheeses. My husband looked at it walked the whole salad bar and went to go sit back down with only taking a little bowl of the chutney for the meats. I looked at each selection and looked longer and came back about 5 minutes later and finding my husband a bit irritated because he sat waiting for some Gauchos to come by and no one looked at him but went directly passed our table to the table next to us and still not one Gaucho bothered to scan the dining room and to look if any eyes were watching them. My co-workers fiance actually is one of the Gauchos and caught him chatting and interacting with guests and tables and not trying to leave so quickly unto to the next table. He is the only Gaucho I actually liked besides the fact that I know him, he just just did the job well. Unfortunately, he only had Top Sirloin and so we had to wait for other selections to come by. After about having to deal with this for 10 min, I finally found my server in which asked why no one is coming around to let us have a piece. So he obviously called all the Gauchos and 6 of them came directly to the table, which at this point I felt like they were trying to be a smart ass about it. But when I noticed after we got to pick our meats off the Gauchos finally they still are oblivious to other diners who were waiting for cuts as well. I'm thinking the meats are the sole purpose people come to dine at Chima. The meats were very tasty, but the experience wasn't worth the money especially when you pay top dollar.
(3)Alene Y.
The salmon doesn't come out NEARLY as often as I would like. I'm not sure what it is about that special sauce, but it's amazing. I recommend you make reservations and if there's some meat you would like to try, ask for it and the waiters will bring it to you promptly. I'd like if there were more options for those who don't eat a lot of red meat. The fish is amazing and wish there was a little bit more in that area. Oh well, still wonderful.
(5)Eduardo L.
My wife is Brazilian and we go to Brazilian restaurants all the time, I have also traveled to Brazil many times, I took my Mom, Wife and her daughter there, I did not plan on going, but I had 3 hungry ladies in my car and I was driving by, so I made a split decision, most Brazilian restaurants I go to they weigh the food and normally it's between $6 and $8 per plate and they have a great selection. 99% of the people who go there are Brazilian. I did not see any Brazilians at this place, just tourists. Anyway the bill was about $280 for 4 people and my Mom had 2 cocktails. RIIIIIIIIIIPPPPPPPPP OFFFFFFFFFFFFF Do not go. Try Rice and Beans on Sample rd. just east of 95 you will not be dissapointed. I know it's a little further drive from Los Olas Blvd. but you will save a ton of money and you will enjoy the food better. This place is an Americanized Brazilian restaurant. Don't be fooled. I gave it 1 star only because I couldn't go to zero, However it does have a nice Bar and it looks nice.
(1)Sandra K.
Medium rare top sirloin. Wow!! We really enjoyed the vegetable purée soup --very silky and unctuous. The salad bar had very fresh tomatoes and other various greens with fresh dressings. All of the meat is top quality. They have free fries for your tots as well as cirque du soleil running in the background. We had a bottle of Oregon Pinot noir erath for $46 a bottle. Dinner total $166with wine for two and a tot!
(3)Harvey E.
This is my second favorite Brazilian Steakhouse, behind Fogo de Chao and in front of Texas de Brazil. The main thing about this place is the mashed, well, creamed potatoes. They are soooooo smooth, they are to die for. The salad bar seems to have more offerings than Fogo, but again, you are not here to fill up on greens (well, unless you are a vegetarian). The meats are good and sometimes they offer 2-1s or you can get a gift certificate from Restaurants.com . They also usually are a part of DC Restaurant week.
(4)Jocelyn H.
Hmmm where do i start its ok... I went to Fogo De Chao in DC before visiting here. I will say they Chimas' had more to choose from as far as just a salad bar & meat i appreciated the sides provided! My CONS about this place my waiter was non existent alot of the time & when i asked to sample the wine before buy and entire bottle they kept telling me that didnt do that...i'm a wine pro...dont BS me, almost every decent restaurant lets you try the wine before buying it! Then they forget to mention that they are super generous with a 18% tip of the bill..im sorry but i dont think my waiter earned a $20 tip, cause he didnt do anything special & he was gone most of the time... -FYI the only reason i ordered anything extra is becuase i wanted to feel validated in giving my waiter a good tip since me & my daughters meal was free on Veterans day! -Also when i ordered a drink it was rather gross & it sat there the entire meal & everytime my waiter decided to grace us with his presence i'd forget to tell him to take the drink back...and he proceeded to still charge me for it on the bill & tried to give me some BS saying he didnt know if he could take it off cause he already rung it up (try again buddy)...when i asked him to take it off because i didnt like it (FYI the glass was still full - i took 2 sips) WOW really i mean i know my dinner was free buy you dont have to treat me like a homeless person getting a free meal...this is not a soup kitchen (clearly from my 80 tab) -Needless to say I wont be breaking down there door to come back..id rather just go to Fogo De Chaos again where i had excellent service!!! -PROs really nice ambiance very romantic...seated ASAP via my reservation time...the complimentary valet makes for a timesaving experience which is a nice bonus that i hope they dont get rid of.. ALL in ALL id go there on a date when someone else is treating but not on my dime...NEVER again... Oh & the meat boys here are hella slow coming to your table...i cant think of how many times i had to flag someone down...isnt that why they have those stupid tokens so they know when to come by...come on guys how about u go to Fogo & see how its done!!
(2)Naomi W.
I want to state that i have never been to Southern Brazil for a fireside gaúcho BBQ in my life (yet ;) . So my taste is not able to decide what is most authentic.. My dinning experience at Texas DE Brazil and Fogo DE Chao fall short of my experiences at Chima. For a first time guest I would not go on a special event night because the place gets packed and makes the atmosphere a little less relaxing.. my review for Texas DE Brazil in MIA explains why I love Chima! The fish! Chima offers fish where the others do not. The Lamb at Chima is also WAY better than the other places I have dined! I also found the salad bar at Chima is better than fogo. BUT Texas DE Brazil offers Lobster Bisque, this is something Chima is missing in my vision of the Perfect Churrascaria.. If Chima had this item I would never want to try another in my life..
(5)Mike M.
Great food and excellent service. They stay consistent or keep getting better and they keep providing wonderful service. Go hungry because its a lot of food.
(5)Kristine U.
Came here for Restaurant Week - while the price wasn't that much of a difference, it was helpful for people who haven't experienced the joys of having men with meat swords (hah) come to your table and cut you delicious pieces of meat. I'm actually surprised to hear everyone talk about it, but I will too: the sirloin was bangin'. BANGIN'. I don't consider myself to be a meat connoisseur, but that thing was intense and flavorful - I'm kind of sad that I wasn't able to see him again. To this day. As first-timers, me and my food buddy did stock up a little too much on the salad bar - we asked for extra plates from our waiter. Salads were delicious and the prosciutto was so great (with melon). Wouldn't go back for the gorgonzola mousse, though. The pace of the food was overwhelming at first, especially during conversation, but we learned to pace our timing. The small plates were delicious - we loved the 'breads' (they tasted like meat, which was strange but cool) and I was a fan of the fried polenta and bananas...they helped out with cutting a lot of the salt out from the meat. The glue-like substance of their mashed potatoes was a little disheartening, but somehow they tasted alright. Service was a bit off, as the waiter forgot a lot of times for refills/wasn't around. For dessert we ordered the walnut cream/creme? Basically a walnut-type pudding with strawberries on the bottom, which was a nice end to our meatstravaganza. At the end of the night, we both agreed that it was definitely an experience, but probably wouldn't return. Still, had a great time at Chima!
(3)Laura N.
Don't go unless you have a reservation!!!! Even if you call and they tell you that it is fine to come over and that the wait will be about 30-45 mins at max. Then once you drive 30 mins to get there the hostess claims that they're no longer seating anyone without a reservation and whoever you spoke to on the phone shouldn't have told you that. What a waste of a trip and terrible host service training!
(1)Alicia G.
This place is fantastic!!!!! If you love meat this is the place to be. I can honestly say that I've been to very few (maybe two with Chimas) places where everything was excellent from the service provided from the waiters to the delicious food and desserts. My husband and I visit Chima's on special occasions (birthdays or anniversaries). The entry is a bit pricey but so very worth it (plus if you log on and subcribe to there site they send you e-mails letting you know when the entry is 35.11 per person). Trust me when I say that you will not be dissapointed. Its awesome!!!
(5)Stefannie T.
I thought this place was amazing. It was really good on service and excellent meat as a meat lover goes. The salad and soup bar was very clean, fresh, and organized. I enjoyed the atmosphere. The servers came around quickly and made sure we were always satisfied. I recommend this place very much even though it's about $50 a person. This place is worth every dollar.
(5)Sheila D.
Chimas is like the 45th Brazilian steakhouse I've been to and if you've seen one, you've seen 'em all. Pretty much the same motif as any other somewhat upscale churrasco joints. I went here on a date with the hubby. I had just flown back (regretably) from Las Vegas, and he took me here after picking me up at the airport. It was dimly lit, they played typical samba music. The buffet options were also typical, but my favorite part of going to these churrascos are the endless servings of PICANHAS; YUMMY!!! Overall nice and new. The downsides of this place are the parking and the location. We actually got lost looking for this restaurant b/c its secluded in the back of tall buildings.
(3)A H.
I went with friends during Restaurant Week and the food was awesome. They serve one of the best mojitos I've ever had, the salad bar was amazing and the meet out of this world. Pricy, but worth the splurge. If you like it quieter, ask to sit in the back; it's pretty noisy up front.
(5)Karla L.
Went there for Restaurant week, a great way to give it a try. Great place for meat lovers, for everyone else go once a year or a quarter because it will take you that long to recover from the wonderful rich endless meat. The meat is delivered on-demand to you table in a blink of an eye by the amazing staff. Make sure that you eat light for the first part of the day to get ready for the event. The lamb is to die for. Make a reservation...
(4)Cathleen N.
I went to this restaurant for a work Christmas party. Just for starters, they don't give you a menu! You get to go to the salad bar which is not great -- overall, it was pretty bland. Then you return to your seat and you wait for the meats to come. They give you a few tiny cheese breads which were excellent but too few and a very small plate of mashed potatoes. I came out full of meat and too little of everything else. The filet mignon was good but the chicken wrapped in bacon -- not good. I'm also a fan of salmon but it was also not good. I won't be coming back for the dinners but I really did like the desserts but I don't think that alone is enough to come back for.
(2)M D.
Even though I enjoy red meat, I don't want to eat pounds of it in one sitting. Chima will appeal to your carnivorous appetite without giving you colon cancer on the way home. They not only offer beef and pork, but fish and seafood as well. All well-seasoned, all delicious. And when you bring your vegetarian friends, they will not feel left out. Chima has such an impressive salad bar, that herbivores will feel like they died and went to Veggie Heaven. Fat, juicy spears of asparagus, beefsteak tomatoes, buffalo mozarella... Overall, a great variety of food to satisfy everyone. The restaurant is very beautiful, classy, and has a nice bar, too.
(5)Steve M.
My wife was born and raised on the Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and I've too have experienced some the steakhouses in Brazil (they call them churrascarias or rodizios) and in DC (Fogo do chao and the unfortunately closed Greenfields). We stumbled into the Chima "steakhouse" (it is much more than a steakhouse as you can read here) about two weeks ago; we were lost because of road confusion and construction in the area (watchout for this). It was spectacular. We returned for dinner a week later with a party of six family members for three birthdays within one week, so I write from two dinners. Seems that they do not serve a lunch Go there with directions (their web page, map, phone ahead, GPS); the road construction can change and can be a mess. Free valet, but it is nice to give a tip. Huge interior, and usually fast seating. You can make a reservation. No live music, no couples- dancing, no sexy carnival-type sambaistas (mulattas, and not exactly PC, sorry) Lively bar on Friday night (I think that many attached gals cool off there, while their guys go to the other side for the steaks). Start with a caipirhinha, the classic Brazilian drink at your table. It has lime and an alcohol (classic is cachassa from sugar cane but vodka is populara in the US). They pour it large, strong, and inexpensive ($10) for the outcome. Two of them might send you flying. Everything is good, so you just have to decide. The side dishes are plentiful, Brazilian, excellent, put automatically and free of charge, onto the table and refreshed periodically (cheese bread, cooked banana, cooked plantain, croquets, mandioca, potato puree, kale, etc) There is much temptation for wonderful other things, to encourage your eating less steak. Two ways to go though, but few diners realize this. They make money on small (women?) with llimited appetite; the steak menu is $50 (one great bargain if you have any appetite). But one can order just the "salad bar" for $30 (also a great bargain); they do not mention or encourage this. It is huge with great selection that includes hot selections like black beans with pork sausage (feijao), hot cooked salmon and swordfish that they offer at the table. And mainly excellent cold items: shrimp, marinated squid, smoked salmon, ceviche, prosciutto, salamis, big hearts of palm, big asparagus, etc. The salad bar includes mostly a huge and impressive selection of cold dishes. In my experience, the salad bar was bigger and better than that at Fogo do Chao that is more expensive and in downtown DC. Of course, the grilled or barbecued (I'm not not sure of their method) steak is the main attraction. There is more salt on the meat than we are used to, but that is the genuine Braziliane style; they think it keeps in the flavor. I think that it does. Mostly beef but also leg of lamb, lamb chop, pork spare rib, chicken wrapped in bacon etc. The waiters look Brazilian, but, at our table with much Brazilian experience and language, we thought that few of the staff were Brazilian. No problem; the cowboy waiters (gauchos) did great. They came aggressively, one after another, offering their slections on large skewers. They tend to offer the less expensive items first and more often, so you should wait or ask for the more special items; the "picahnha" (rib-eye) is probably the best, and higher on the scale than the "filet mignon". If you ask for a specific cut, they will tell their friend, who will hustle to your table. There is a nice card on the table with pictures and names of all they will serve, so I will not even try to enumerate. Everything is good, and the gauchos know how to cut the meat to exactly your request from rare to well-done, as you peel off the slices with your tongs. There is a round card that you turn to a spicifically-colored side, when you want them to keep coming or stop coming, Every table seems to have a "birthday" person. Because that person gets a birthday song by a group of gauchos and a free piece of dessert cake. We had three genuine birthdays and were overwhelmed by our honestly-earned dessets, which they remembered from our brief comment on arrival. The gooey cake is not the best in the house, but one piece is big enough to be shared by three people. At that point we were way too stuffed to order any of the traditional a la carte desserts. We'll be back in a week or sooner, after we have digested all of that amazing meal. It cannot get much better.
(5)Rag A.
The meats are absolutely amazing and the atomasphear was wonderful. .I held my husband's surprise dinner there and I couldn't have picked a better place
(5)Emily N.
When this place opened, they had a deal going on that really drew in my family. We immediately knew that this was something once we walked in through the glass doors. With us already knowing the concept from Fogo De Chao, we knew how things worked. Once arriving, they have valet. Then walking through the doors your welcomed by the hostesses. Right next to that podium is the bar and lounge area. Followed to your right, there was the large dinning room filled with their luxurious seats and table. Definitely very fancy. So keep that in mind when getting ready. When seated you have the options to just sit there and wait for your waiter or you can go dive into their salad bar! The salad bar has a really fancy and delicious selection to it. From already made caesar salad to smoked salmon to capriccio. Right next to it are the hot food selections. From the delicious soup to the rice everything really good. The concept to this place is that you have this little plastic tab you can flip over and what not notifying the men walking around, when you want meat or nott. The meat selections endless. Better yet their protein selections endless because they even offer fish. Needless to say everything's really good. The meats well seasoned and definitely cooked with the proper Brazilian technique. With men going around to each table with a stick of meat, your free to ask for as much as you can possible want. Highly recommended; flank and lamb chops. The waiter with the electronic pads usually comes around with some sides to accompany the meat. Mashed potatoes (that are somewhat to liquidy for my likings), fried bananas (to cleanse your pallet between each different type of meat you sample), meat croquettes, and the famous cheese balls. These cheese balls are so good. They always come with the turkey spread which is always to die for. For the prices and overall appeal it's really something. Yeah it's pricey but you have think about all the meat your about to consume. The only reason i'm giving it a 4 rather then a 5 is because i only go here three to four times a year cause you can only eat so much meat. And i'm going to have to stick to Fogo De Chao more.
(4)Ashley G.
I absolutely love this steakhouse. I have been to several steakhouses and this is one of my top favorites. The salad bar has the most variety of side dishes and salads. Chima provides the BEST cheese puffs. The atmosphere is quite subtle; perfect for social gatherings. My intension is to have go for my birthday later this month and would recommend this place to anyone.
(5)Ghali C.
Best place to enjoy meat. Even if you don't want meat, the salad bar is excellent by all means.
(5)Fei Y.
meat, good, salad, good, chicken, good. the price is not so good.....
(4)Anne R.
After driving by many times on the way home from Tysons Corner Mall (and thinking - Hey! this may be good but where the heck do you park?) we finally tried this restaurant during Restaurant Week. First, our reservation time was respected and we were immediately taken to a table. Of course, our reservation was for 5:30 PM, the latest we could get for that day since it was Restaurant Week. Second, service was superior and attentive - we had no end of servers offering us drinks, meats, whatever. As for the food, we were offered two fixed price meals, which as I categorized it were, a) with regular meat choices, and b) with premium meat choices. Since we couldn't see paying a pretty high up-charge for different meats when you could consume as much as you wanted of the "regular" meats, everyone at our table opted for the lower fixed-price selection. The best offering here is definitely the salad bar, but it was not offered alone and the $35 fixed price was far too much to pay for a salad bar alone. The meat was cut off skewers table-side and was utterly forgettable. The best of the meats was the sauced-up spare ribs, which were tender and tasty but overly sauced. The two fish options were panned by everyone at our table. Also brought to each table were tiny cheese rolls and beef ball rolls, along with fried bananas and "mashed potatoes" which seemed more like potato puree. I must admit that none of the "free" provisions were sufficiently appetizing to try, though others at my table consumed the fried bananas. The fixed price Restaurant Week meals included dessert, for which a choice of ice cream or cheesecake was offered. If you like ice cream, that's probably the best option. If you like cheesecake, The Cheesecake Factory is superior, so go there. The mark-up on alcohol was sufficient to make you think twice about ordering it, which is either a good thing or a problem depending on your perspective. To cut to the chase: I am unlikely to return here unless somebody else is paying for my meal - I strongly prefer to have a single entree perfectly prepared than many meat choices, none of which are great. My final test was whether the meal sticks to the ribs or passes through the system rather quickly, and since the latter event occurred to at least one of our party of six, this restaurant's chances for a repeat performance are further diminished. As for the parking problem, be sure to take advantage of the free valet parking, since anything else may give you limited time to eat or result in a problem getting back to your car due to locked office building doors.
(3)Stephanie M.
Liked it better than Fogo de Chao, felt like they had more selection. They served different kinds of meats - fish, lamb, chicken, which was great - one can only eat so much steak. Salad bar was great as well! Overall, place was packed, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves and I had a great time.
(4)Renita W.
Went to Chima on a Saturday night. The valet parking is really convenient and we made a reservation so were seated promptly. The salad/sides bar was ok and the complimentary cheese bread is yum. Now to what should be the meal highlight--- the meats. I have to admit that I got all my cuts well-done (I was pregnant--- didn't want to risk anything). As with all the Brazilian steakhouses, you have to wait for a well done slice... that is annoying always having the meat servers say they have to come back. The best meat was the house cut Picanha. The service was great... but Texas de Brazil is better.
(3)H. P.
Chima is as good or better than any churrascaria I've been to in Brazil. If you are going to scrutinize the price, then don't go. But if you love a variety of meats cooked to perfection, you will love this place. I usually get filet when I go to a steakhouse, but found the house special sirloin was the best. The staff was excellent from the servers to the managers and we enjoyed our visit to Chima. The dining room is huge and accomodated several large parties at the same time. Although the salad bar was one of the best I've seen, I wish I saved more room for the main courses. I was concerned about the dress code since I didn't have a jacket, but was soon relieved after seeing the couple at the table next to me dressed in jeans and a flannel shirt. The bill for 2 people with 2 drinks each and 1 dessert was comparable to Ruth's Chris or Capital Grille. Loved the food and this could be my new favorite restaurant.
(5)Jessica S.
Holy cow! Who would have thought "top sirloin" would be my new favorite meat?? Seriously...to die for!! I WILL be back!!
(5)Liza A.
This place is awesome same as Fogo de Chao but more relaxed and spacious it is better to drive here than DC. The meat cuts I ate rib eye was good, filet mignon with bacon blah!, filet mignon delicious, sirloin awesome, beef rib the best thing ever, didn't try chicken really I go without chicken, chorizo not happy with it, the salad bar was the best one ever just amazing, got a bloody Mary disgusting, but the FREAKING MOJITOS WOW APPLAUSE FOR THE BAR TENDER IT IS AAAWWWEEESSSOOOMMMEEE, Dessert I had passion fruit pudding is great but u have to love tart like me, coffee delicious. Man I ate a lot believe me it was just a little of everything but is good to try at least just a little. For 49.95 a person that is a price u can beat at a regular steak house u pay one plate can't try any other cuts. Hands down this place best Brazilian steak house I've tried overall.
(5)Bryant Z.
I have a few significant nagging points from previous visits, but up until the 4th of July, the last time I had been to Chima was in 2011, so I didn't think it would be fair to factor any of those visits into this review. It's worth noting that since I made this reservation via another site, I'm crossposting the review I posted to the (unnamed) reservation site. Ultimately, Chima is intended to be an experience. If you're going to do this, you've got to know the meats which are most worth your dime. The obvious ones (of course) are the Filet Mignon, Ribeye, and Prime Rib. The top sirloin is best when it's well done, since that's when the fat lining the edge melts into the meat. The salad bar is decent; you can do a cheese sampler with the meats if it doesn't go against the terms of your religion, or you can spice or garnish cuts of meat to feel like you're attending the Capital Grille with every plate. No matter what you choose to do, don't forget the swordfish, and remember to try it with all the sauces offered. Service was perfect, too. Everyone was attentive and quick. I don't have anything else. If it's a special occasion you're celebrating, go. Also, definitely go if it's restaurant week. Otherwise, it might be a bit on the pricey side for a routine visit. Keep your belly empty before you go so you can make use of the many options without gaining too much weight.
(5)John H.
Last night we had dinner at the Chima Brazilian Steakhouse in Tyson Corner. Nice atmosphere although the noise level was a little high. Great food and the service was top notch. The salad bar is not as good as Fogo de Chao but it wasn't bad (it's hard to beat the chicken salad at Fogo). Nice décor and the television screens add a lot to making the environment relaxing. We ate so much I felt like we needed a pair of recliners chair afterward. Great place and the prices are comparable to Fogo's. We were seated 5 minutes before our reservation so that was good. I give this place 4 stars and I'll be visiting again real soon. If you like Brazilian steakhouses enjoy your trip to Chima!
(4)J R.
Awful restaurant with very poor service.....every one just standing around while one waitress tries to serve several customers. Many times the head waiter/bartender would look at me as if I wasn't even sitting their waiting for service. And it wasn't even crowded......
(1)J R.
Seriously! You need to make a reservation to have a late lunch at 4:30? Great business model!!!!! Let's see how long it will last.
(1)Grace C.
I was looking forward to Brazilian BBQ for the longest time, when I finally got a chance to go with my SO. It was a fun event that allowed me to dress up and pig out. The salad bar is not as enticing as others have made it out to be, but that may be because my heart was set on consuming as much meat as possible. I loved the "stop and go" system they used to say if you wanted a pause or not. They seemed to ignore the "stop" part and continued to approach our table, but it wasn't extremely disruptive or anything. The only other "con" (but not really a bad thing) was that I wasn't always told what my cut of meat was. I was only asked how I would like it (medium/well/rare). I accepted all of them, even without knowing the specifics, but they all looked very similar. The Pao de Queijo (cheesy bread) was sooo good, with an unexpected texture. It's difficult to go wrong at a Meat buffet. Free valet parking (leave tip), very easy. The hostess and waiters were all friendly and respectful.
(4)PG. R.
Food is excellent, salad bar is amazing. The service is the best part for me, not suffocating or annoying like the other Brazilian place in DC. Staff are wonderful here. I will be back again and again!! ps..... amaaazing tiramisu
(5)Heather T.
Never been so full in my life! The food was absolutely delicious and there was soo much to choose from. Would come back for the chocolate lava cake and strawberry caipirinha alone! It is a little pricey but well worth it.
(5)Stephen C.
I have been to 3 different Brazilian Steakhouses so far. This was the first one here in Virgina. The other 2 were in Texas ( Fogo de Chao & Chama Gaucha ). I have been to the 2 in Texas many times. Fogo de Chao: 9.0 Chama Gaucha: 8.8 Chima: 7.5 Fogo de Chao & Chama Gaucha were extremely comparable. Very close with Fogo getting the edge just due to it being slightly more upscale. I know people who have been to multiple Fogo's including DC's who say that they are all about the same. With that being said and comparing Chima to those 2, I would say that Chima falls short in a few areas while having a few highlights. - Food: While the food was good, It did not quite stand up next to the other 2. Their meats were slightly bland and seemed to have more gristle / fat on them. Usually my favorite cut of meat is the house special (Picanha [Top Sirloin]), however this fell very short compared to the other 2. Their BBQ ribs were VERY tough, almost inedible with a knife / fork ( you would need to pick up and they were very messy). The buttered filet was very tender and very buttery tasting (not my favorite). However, the beef ribs were FANTASTIC and very tender. - Service: The service was better than average, but what you would expect from paying 50+ per plate. However, still comparing to the other 2, they fell short. Drinks were not refilled / sides were not replenished without asking. However, they were very professional had the little things down (folding your napkin for you when you get up, ect.) + Valet Parking: FREE. Very convenient. Drive up to the entrance, receive your ticket and off to eat. + Location: Located near a water fountain in a nice area without having to drive to downtown DC. Price: Chima is around $50 per plate, not including drinks / dessert. This is comparable with all Brazilian Steakhouses. You can receive a $20 coupon by registering on their website (must purchase 2 meals). They often seem to have specials running where you can save $10/15 (check their facebook). My Mixed drink here was $8. Brazilian soda was $3.50. Conclusion: If this was my first Brazilian Steakhouse, I would have probably loved it. However, being that it's not, I see where they can improve. I would probably not go back just because for the same price I can drive downtown to DC and get a better meal from Fogo. This was the first Brazilian Steakhouse I have seen to offer discounts. There might be a reason to this? For the quality / service that Chima offers, I would say it should be priced around $35 per plate. Side Note: Attire seems to be business casual. I would not walk in there with jeans and a t-shirt.
(3)Diana K.
Had a great experience coordinating my boyfriend's 27th surprise birthday dinner. (FYI: We had a group of 15.) The Assistant Sales Manager, Christina, was very responsive and pleasant to work with. In fact, the entire staff was very accommodating and of course, the food just kept on coming (no complaints here!)... Needless to say, we all left very stuffed and happy. HIGHLY recommend if you're planning a group dinner. :)
(5)Todd Y.
so much better than Fogo. No pressure staff to quickly eat and leave. Friendly. Food just as good and Fogo and a more relaxed atmosphere.
(5)Good E.
i came here for the restaurant week thing with a friend the meats: in a word-SALTY, TOO SALTY, i didnt care for anything except the top sirloin which was good, but the lamb was too chewy and not tasty, i didnt really like the pork chops or the sausage. the salad: fillers, but good, i like the heart of palm and asparagus the most, they have many cured meats and fruit as well.rice was ok the table extras there was this beef puff ball thing that was awful, the potato concoction they made was ok what really irked us was the waiter. he asked us what we wanted to drink and both of us said water. he then said 'tap water?' and we said yes, he then brought us glasses filled with water and later brought a bottle of 'voss'. before i realized what was going on , we went through TWO bottles of VOSS water. my friend just assumed they were refilling the bottle. when i pointed it out to him, he asked the waiter if it was bottled or tap and the waiter said the water was bottled so we asked to switch to tap. it tasted THE SAME. but sure enough when it came to the bill we were charged an extra 13 bucks for the water!! omfg the ambience is very nice, something u might feel compelled to dress up for were it not an all u can eat meat fest. where sweat pants are more appropriate. the nonfood issue i had was mostly was with parking. valet is free but to park in the garage u have to pay. and the valets park your car in the same garage where u ahve to pay. the lines for the valet were bad and we were waiting about 20 minutes to get the car, which was a bit trying in cold weather. it would be my suggestion to the management that they validate parking for customers and charge for valet. i personally hate valet, i dont like anyone else driving my car . i liked fogo de chao better, much better. but the one i went to was in denver. not sure how the one in dc is .... i think chima is a miss rather than a hit, id save the dough
(2)Ali F.
I will not eat here again. The valets lost my car keys and I was stuck there for several hours before any resolution. Completely unprofessional and irresponsible on the part of both Chima and the parking company. Pair that with a mediocre dining experience where we were sat in a drafty back dining room causing food to go cold quickly, achingly slow service (I know it was busy but don't take reservations for more than you can handle) and where kids can play loud video games and clearly disturb other tables without discipline. I used to love Chima and went several times a year but after a night where it was horrible from start to finish, I'm done. Fogo de Chao is Metro-accessible and as a result, they can't lose my car keys.
(1)William W.
On August 27, 2013, I attended a business event at Chima and was charged for another person's drinks at the bar who had the same last name as me. I called the manager, Mark, who said he would correct the mistake but I never received a credit on my credit card. I finally had to call my bank to issue me a credit. AWFUL SERVICE!
(1)P L.
I was hoping that something might have changed since my last visit to Chima, but it's still the same... which is good! The meat selections were the same, nothing different. This time I'll just add some points about the other amenities: 1) Parking - it's done by complimentary valet. I would suggest that someone get a head start to get the car. It'll take a solid several minutes to get the car since it's parked in a garage, just a little ways away. Don't forget to tip the valet. Oh, if you drive a Ferrari or Lambo, they'll keep your car close. 2) The bar - drink are pretty good before dinner... just don't fill up on empty carbs. They have happy hour specials available too. 3) Appetizers (not the salad bar) - Don't be tricked into it! The cheesy bread isn't too bad. The potatoes are a little runny. The beef croquets are actually okay. The fried polenta and fried banana are key. They can definitely break up the flavor and texture of the meat. 4) Dessert - so we got dessert this time because it came with the Restaurant Week menu. I got the tiramisu, which was only about a 3 of 5 stars. The other choice was ice cream. It looked ok... but really? Shouldn't we have been served dessert from a stick? Hope these help this time around!
(4)Sara D.
Wow, talk about a good meal! The ONLY reason I gave it four instead of five stars is the price. The salad bar was incredibly tasty and the meats, especially the filet mignon with clarified butter, were, for the most part, superb. The salmon and pork were a little dry, but hey, it's all you can eat, so no worries! An excellent choice for a celebration/birthday/special occasion dinner - but will have to save quite a few pennies before I can return.
(4)NoV a.
This used to be a go to dinner spot for us, but lately, this place is full of crying babies and kids running around. For the price point, I would expect better behavior and ambiance, but it is clear that the families that choose to frequent Chima do not want you to have a good time on a date. The restaurant management does nothing to contain the McDonald's Playland atmosphere, so we will stop coming here. It looks like they get enough business and do not care about ambiance. For the price point, I expect a bit of peace and quiet, but this has just turned into an extension of the Tysons I mall. When we were eating dinner, a small child ran up to me and proceeded to stare at me, and TOUCH me. Wow, we need to throw some chlorine into the gene pool. Maybe it's better during the week, but steer clear on the weekends. The food was merely ok and the salad bar was picked over.
(2)Sasha A.
Absolutely wonderful! Between the 4 of us, we tried everything and it was all amazing! The salad bar was okay, but really, you don't go to a "steakhouse" to try the veggies. We did really like their corn mousse stuff though. I love salmon whether it is raw or cooked, and theirs was really good with the sauce on it (it was good without the sauce too). My fiance loved their beef cuts and lamb. I have read some reviews that say that the meat isn't seasoned enough, but I thought the meat was great and that those other people just don't like the natural meat flavor! Also, the selection of desserts was fun and there was a large variety.
(5)Nick H.
I consider myself a person who loves to eat, and has a relatively sophisticated taste when it comes to food. So every year in the DC metropolitan area, I always attend one or two restaurants during their semi-annual Restaurant Weeks in which these high class restaurants offer special menus at discounted prices. Chima is a Brazilian Steakhouse, which if you've never eaten at before, is a unique type of buffet. You essentially sit down at your table, grab a few items from a hot bar that includes salads, cheeses, rice, beans, etc. But the star of the meal is the meats which are delivered to your table via waiters walking around giant swords skewering the different tender meats. At your seat, you have a token which is green on one side and red on the other (at Chima, they use orange and black). Placing the token appropriate side up lets the waiters know you are looking for more food, whereas the other side means "No thank you". Throughout your meal, you flip the token back and forth as necessary. The 10 or so waiters circling the dining room offer such things as filet mignon, sirloin, bacon-wrapped chicken, pork chops, lamb chops, salmon, etc. The restaurant is such a tasteful and pleasing experience, that it has become tradition that each restaurant week, my friends and I go to eat there at least once because they offer their regular buffet style meal (which would typically cost about $50) a the discounted price of $35. Even at the regular price though, the restaurant is definitely worth the price of admission and I relish every chance I get to eat here.
(5)Jon K.
A solid 5 stars..... Hands down, top Brazilian steak house in the DC area. I have been to the rest of them as well such as Fogo de Chao, Texas de Brazilia, and many more. First off, the decor of this place is stunning. It looks like an interior designer spent some time in here. The glass encased plasma TV was nice as well. The bar area looked quite attractive as well. We went here last night invited by friends and my first reaction was not another Brazilian steakhouse because I have been getting sick of them. I work out regularly for a reason, and these 3000+ calorie meals can equalize that. The thing that I found most impressive was the salad bar as they had a wide variety of cheeses, salads, and dressings. I had never tried a "palm" before but I have got to say it was pretty damn good and smelled like "palm" when I was munching away on it. They brought out a wide variety of snacks to start us out. I liked the meatballs and mashed potatoes but I'm a sucker for Brazilian cheese bread. Being the culinary guy that I am in my spare time this is one of my favorite recipes that is very simple to make. You just have to get the right ingredients (hint: tapioca flour from whole foods). We started out with a round of drinks that were very good. My first mojito was a little weak, but later on during the meal I ordered another one which was strong and tasty. On to the meat, they had seven different varieties of meat. I liked the filet mignon the best, and probably the sirloin second best. The ribs were buttery and good as well. The sausages left a bit to be desired. The best thing about the meat is they ask you what type of piece you would like (i.e. medium, well done, medium rare, etc.) and they will make sure that you get what you desire. In a lot of these type of steakhouses I have found the meat to be a bit overcooked and over seasoned but not here. I think I put on a few pounds here last night. Oh well, off to the gym again! Highly recommended!!!
(5)Lisa N.
Chima is an all-you-can-eat Brazilian steakhouse. Servers come around with huge chunks of meat and fish (swordfish, salmon) where you can tell them whether or not to cut you a slice. There is also a self-serve salad bar. At both of my visits, I was not disappointed. My greatest piece of advice is to NOT wear white... I made this mistake and a server got some marinade on my dress =( Get the TOP SIRLOIN and you will not regret it! This was by far my favorite meat. Service is very accommodating here (we had a party of 20 and they promptly greeted and seated us) and the prices aren't too bad ($50/perso) for the value of the food in my opinion. I just wish I could eat more!
(4)Lann W.
If you are a meat lover this is the place for you. Didn't have too much of the salad bar since I didn't want to fill up but my meal was a great. The filet was my favorite and they make a great mojito!!
(5)Chontelle M.
First off, before you start eating the meat (hehehe), try the caiparhaina. It is a delicious traditional Brazilian drink. It gets things started with a kick. The salad bar is great. There are so many different things that you have to try. Although I have been to other Brazilian Steak Houses, this one has a very authentic selection of food. The palm hearts, cheese bread, mashed potatoes and fried banana are always offered at Brazilian meals. The meat is delicious. I suggest starting slow. Out of the 15 meats they offered, my favorites were the parmesan pork, leg of lamb, and the sausages. I ate so much meat (hehehe) that I think I'm going to be a vegetarian for the rest of the week. Dating? This is a "drop them drawers" restaurant, if played correctly. The dim lights, sexy drinks and delicious food is bound to put anyone in a romantic trance. You gotta make sure you are at the "cusp" stage... not the first date and not the 30th date. They valet for free, and that makes the date super romantic. I'd definitely give this place another try! However, I did have to take a star away because it is in VA. I had to battle the horrible drivers and the weird people to get there.
(4)Emily S.
Best Brazilian Steakhouse in the area! It's pretty pricey but if you go during restaurant week its only $35 per person! Also, if you sign up with them online and provide your email address they will send you coupons here and there and also birthday specials. Don't go obviously if you're not a meat lover... The assortment of meat and the variety of cheeses at the salad bar is amazing.
(5)Dani S.
I came here with a few carnivores from my gym. As far as all you can eat steakhouses go, it was good, but just really not my thing. The salad bar was delicious, some of the steak was really good, some was just ok. These type of places can be really overwhelming and even when I had the little chip flipped they would try to feed you more food which I didn't like. If you like steak and can eat a lot and want to pig out on steak, then I would recommend it. Otherwise, it might not be worth the price.
(3)Cameron B.
Endless salty grilled amazing cuts of meet in a swanky oasis in Tyson's Corner....ummm...YEAH!!! Went here with a large group of friends after an event. The manager made sure we were sat properly and knew how the restaurant works! Guy comes buy with meet and you flag him down...he gives you meat, second guy, different type of meat...repeat...explode! Don't even GO to the salad bar, just pop some fiber pills and a multi vitamin before you go, hit the bar up for some Caparihnas, and don't wear any tight clothes. The atmosphere is great. New York 5 star restaurant with out the pretension. They even have a pretty good happy hour for the corporate types! I don't find myself in Vienna very often, but next time I do...I'll be hitting up Chima, it's deff worth the price!
(4)Tucker H.
If there is anything better to eat than cooked meat on a stick, I'm not sure what it is. I had been meaning to get to one of the Brazilian steakhouses for a long time, and we finally made it to Chima. This place is pretty upscale in decor and service, which was nice. The inside is dimly lit, and the tables are far enough apart that we didn't feel crowded. The service was excellent. Everyone gets a small disc next to their plate (black on one side, orange on the other), and when you flip it to orange guys come out of the woodwork to offer you meat on a stick. The food itself is good, if you're a meat eater. Pretty much everything wrapped in bacon turned out to be a good choice, as was the leg of lamb (crusted in lime or maybe mint I think). The sausage was fine, but pretty much tasted like kielbasa, so I wouldn't take up too much stomach space with it. I tried to avoid wasting time on the salad bar, but when I needed something alternate with the meat, the lettuce and veggies that were there were nice and fresh. Overall this place was exactly what I wanted, all you can eat red meat on a buffet the servers bring right to your table. The only thing keeping it from that fifth star is the price. It's understandable why it is over $40 a head, but it's not the sort of place I'm going to be visiting all the time...
(4)David H.
Came here for DC Restaurant week. My first experience at a Brazilian BBQ. The best cut is the top sirloin; save plenty of room for it. The salad bar is great and has a good variety. Avoid anything bacon wrapped and the sausage, meat is fully cooked and the sausage tastes like anything you can get from the local supermarket. The mashed potatoes are creamy smooth but a little too buttery. Service was a bit slow at times even though we had two servers tending to our table.
(3)M G.
Went to Chima again for Restaurant Week. Was a bit disappointed by two things: a few of the better cuts of meat were not included in the basic Restaurant Week price and several of the cuts that were available seemed tougher than they have been in the past. Still Chima is a good, fun place to go to get a great salad bar and to really fill up on meat. So I knock off one star from my prior review but I will be back for a future Restaurant Week and hope that the toughness issue was an aberration.
(3)Jeanette G.
I was nervous about Chima's having gone to Fogo de Chao and being sorely disappointed. I am happy to report Chima's exceeded my expectations. The atmosphere at Chima's is classier and swankier than Fogo. Great bar area and decor. Loved the fact that the tables were well spaced in the dining area. At Fogo on a Saturday night I felt as though we were dining on top of our neighbors and the noise level was dreadful. I started with the salad bar- it was great. The food was fresh. However the only reason I'm not giving Five Stars is because I felt that Fogo had a more extensive and interesting salad bar selection. Chima's was a bit uninspired- though I loved their selection of sauces. As for the meats, Chima beats Fogo hands down. All I remember about the meat at Fogo was it being SALTY. Now I LOVE my salt, so when I say something is too salty it's pretty bad. What I appreciated at Chima is that the meat was seasoned enough to give it flavor and to compliment the sauces. And because it wasn't as salty I was able to enjoy more of it. Now, the last reason for the 4 star instead of 5 was that it was obvious to me that Chima has a schedule for when the meats come to the table. They attack you all at once with several options for several rounds and then as the evening progresses they slow down the selection to a drip. I can understand why this is- they need to do this to get people out in time to meet the next round of reservations. I'm not mad at that just wish it wasn't so obvious. And speaking of which, I had a party of six and we were seated right away at a great table. Altogether a great experience!
(4)David L.
Took my wife here on Valentine's Day. We normally go to Fogo in DC and didn't know about this place until recently. We are "Carnivore" by birth. We loveeeee meats. So we wanted to give this place a try since we went to Texas De Brazil early last year and were very disappointed with the food there. There was no wait since we made a reservation. The place is clean and spacious. The free Valet is a plus. The hostess greeted us immediately when we walked in. After the we sat down, we were greeted right away by out server. It looked like there are 2 servers per area because the other server refilled our drinks and replaced new plates for us. The salad bar is very lacking compare to Fogo. We both had a hard time picking enough food to fill our plates. But I don't think people come in here for a salad bar, right? Ah, the meats. As soon as we flipped the little round sign to Go, they (the guys with the meats) bombarded our table. My wife loves the rack of lambs so she had plenty of those. I find the most flavorful meat is the Filet Mignon. Their house special Top Sirloin is close second. For those who like to watch your weight, make sure to try the "Low Cal" Filet Mignon wrapped in Bacon. We basically tried everything. All are pretty good. Their Mango Mojito is pretty good. It's weird but I have this craving for Mojito when we go out to these restaurants. The Coastal Flat is still my favorite. Overall, a pretty good place to try out in VA. I am not sure what the price is compare to Fogo since they had the Special Valentine package for $75 each. Wouldn't mind come back here again since it's easy to drive to DC and find parking for Fogo.
(4)Sam S.
The food is good. The service was incredible. Every type of meat that I wanted was offered upon request. It was all perfectly seasoned. The lamb chops were my favorite but it really was all very good. Be careful to not fill up on the sides.
(4)Irene L.
I was there during restaurant week. The food was worth the money though you couldn't try everything because you were paying restaurant week price. What had upset me was the the hostess had gotten our information wrong and she made us wait a lot. Also her opinion was more important than the customers. I had called a day after that to comment on the "attitude" of the hostess and they said that they would send me a coupon. I told them that I would accept it but I was calling so that things would get improved. Well.................the coupon never came. I called back one more time to be sure that someone had received my comments but no one called back and still no coupon. They just didn't care. I will not go back again and I will not recommend them.
(3)Meghan O.
Carnivores and Vegetarians rejoice. Ye both will be happy here. Luckily we went during Restaurant Week, so it didn't break the bank. Bf was starry eyed over the endless meat parading at our table, and I took more trips to the salad bar than necessarily. Don't bother with drinks, save room for the good stuff!! I know it's hard to resist the popovers and potatoes, etc, but just take a couple of bites and go for the good stuff (repeated for emphasis). I think their salad bar is better than Fogo...
(4)Y C.
We came here to celebrate a friend getting a new job (with the friend in absentia). This place is more expensive than our neighborhood Brazilian BBQ place back in Pasadena, California, the ambiance is better, the choice is comparable, service is good, but the quality of food is worse. Considering this is $50/person vs. $35 back in CA, I somewhat regret that we came here to celebrate. We tried different cuts of meat, and my feeling is that the beef was somewhat dry and not as tender/juicy as I had hoped. Most of the steaks (including the Picanha, which I thought should be very tender and juicy) reminded me of the $3.99/lb supermarket steak I used to cook for myself using a cast iron skillet at the middle of the night: it definitely smelled like steak, it was definitely not leather, and it was somewhat edible, and therefore Ok when there's nothing else. However, this is not the quality to be expected from such a fancy restaurant. The swordfish with passion fruit juice was very good, but I was really hoping for good Brazilian BBQ meet.
(2)Diane B.
We came here to celebrate my husband finishing his masters program and were quite excited to come. I can't really put my finger on why I didn't like this place more; the meat itself was quite tasty and I happily glutted myself. The fish options were pretty dreadful, so if you're a seafood fan, you should skip them. The side dishes were also somewhat forgettable and lacking compared to the options at Fogo de Chao. The ambiance was jovial and it was perfect for bringing my son along. Probably the biggest problem was that I had really high hopes for this place and it did not live up.
(3)Rob B.
Out-freakin-standing. By far, this is my favorite churrascaria style eatery to visit. The service was top notch, our waiter Oz was very helpful and answered all of our questions. Plenty of South American wines to choose from, for all price ranges. And as for the food...well they have about double the menu items of similar joints like Fogo de Chao. Nowhere else have I seen swordfish and salmon at a Brazilian steakhouse. The salad bar of course isn't the main attraction but was a nice little sideshow with everything you would expect, however the dessert and after dinner drink list have several great and unique options - get the papaya ice cream! We were lucky enough not to have a wait, but if we did, I wouldn't have minded hanging around the lounge for a bit either. A must go, and bring your appetite!
(5)Lance H.
The salad bar is awesome, the meats are amazing, and the leg of lamb with the mint seasoning was really special. I also had their Brazilian Mojito and flan - can't wait to go back for more! Oh, and the service is great too :-)
(5)Mary W.
I give the dining experience here an A++++, but what I just discovered is their outdoor happy hour seating area. It is perfect! White lounge sofas and chairs next to the relaxing water fountains. You're automatically served complimentary bread, seafood spread, and kibbeh. You can order if you like or jig sit back and kick it with friends. Definitely need good weather to chill out there but it's so worth checking out!
(5)Alex S.
I've been here numerous times. Generally reasonably tasty food, though very expensive. Most recently, I discovered an apparently new trick of theirs. A few evenings ago, my party and I were 3/4 through the meal, & still wished to be served more meat. We signaled this appropriately to the staff, who started to bring meat that was VASTLY over-seasoned with BLACK PEPPER - completely inedible. We dismissed the instance of this, thinking that it was random. However, THREE FURTHER similarly inedible servings of different meats later, it seemed this was no coincidence: we were being less-than subtly told that they wanted to close shop for the night, and get us out of their hair. I'd venture to say this is a rather crude attitude to client service. There are better ways to communicate.
(1)Ateet A.
I have been to many different Brazilian Steakhouses including Fogo de Chao, Texas De Brazil, Chima, the Grill Club in Naples, and others. My favorites have always been Fogo and Chima. Chima is located in the Mclean/Vienna area therefore making it easier to get to if you want some good meat rather than drivign all the way to DC for Fogo. Chima is a nice restaurant, great staff, very hospitable, great services and fantastic food. I have tried all cuts of meat and fish and they have been amazing! In fact I was just there this past weekend again and my family was in town visiting from out of town so we brought them there and we had a blast. Good Food, Good time, Chima! Will of course be back!
(4)Danielle A.
If it hadn't been restaurant week, I most definitely would NOT have been able to afford this venue. Knowing that, I made sure to wear my most pretentious blazer. I assumed I would be in haughty company (not including the lovely ladies I accompanied) but I wasn't 100% correct. The best part about that place was the giant salad\food bar monstrosity commanding the center of the restaurant. Little men came around with meat on swords. They had boasted over 200+ (or less, but equally ridiculous number) types of meats. Everything looked the same to me and it all was equally as dry. I filled up mostly on the food bar options, but I was ok with that. I wasn't very impressed and I'm sure the only reason I'd ever go back was if it was restaurant week again.
(2)Sebastian W.
We had an early reservation for dinner at Chima in Tyson's Corner on Sat. Night. Dinner for 2 at such a popular place on Cinco de Mayo? I expected that it would be busy. It was filling up as we left. My husband ordered the Rodizio (meats). I decided to go for the salad bar, knowing that it included soup, smoked, artichokes, hearts of palm, asparagus, deliciously crisp broccoli, cheeses, calamari salad and so much more. Even the "I really don't like salad or veggies" eater can't help but fill a plate. Or so it appeared. I added a french bread roll for my salmon and then headed back to the table that was appointed with those interesting appetizers from Brazil: the cheesy-popover roll, yucca fries, and a few unidentified yummies. We slowly savored the salad bar treats. Our waiters were solicitous, available and easy-going. When we departed, about 8 p.m, it was still light out. We could enjoy the view of the fountains outside and there were children playing in them. While I do not suggest that you have your children accompany you for that purpose, it did add a little normalcy to the Tyson feel. With construction in an already built up area, I don't think Tyson's is the mecca that others may. But the hidden away spot of CHIMA erased that a little. Fortunately we had not taken advantage of the valet parking so we could stroll to the parking garage. Did I say stroll or roll?
(5)Jamie C.
YES PLEEEEZ!!!! :D That was really the only thing I could say when I was there...why would anyone say no to an endless variety of meats (okay...vegans)...COMING TO YOU!! Not only do you not have to go anywhere, but they'll politely ask "How do you like it?" (cutting a section into the meats so you'll be able to see if the temperature suits you...usually they have a variety floating around and they'd be more than happy to go fetch something if you wanted it more well done or alive.. Maternity clothing a must!! Signing up for their promotions will usually tell you when to go and it'll be about $35 for the carnivore's delight.. (full meal, not just salad)
(5)Aaron B.
I just had the worst Caesar salad of my life, but at least it took only 40 minutes to arrive. The chicken was unseasoned and cooked until it was bone dry (no wonder it took so long) and the whole thing was served in a bowl that made it impossible to eat. To those who say "why would you go to a steakhouse and get the salad?". Because that's what I wanted. If they're going to half-ass it, they shouldn't put it in the menu.
(1)Valerie W.
The salad bar is absolutely huge! It is fun finding things to pair with the various meat selections. The servers bringing the meats around to the tables are super fast and really nice. This place is a good go to for special occasions.
(5)Shalu K.
Everything is here decent. Some of the meats, like the Lamb are really good. I have been here on a regular night and it was good. I most recently went on a night where they had restaurant week going on so a few of the meats are not included, which is fine and I expected and then it includes dessert. This is where my problem starts. I know we are not going to get a huge portion like we normally do but what they gave us was laughable. It was literally ONE bite of the key lime pie. If you are going to include dessert, include it. Don't say you are going to include it and then just put one bite on a plate. I would have rather paid the $35 just for the meal without the impression that I was getting dessert with it. This is a nice place and should live up to its reputation.
(3)Izzy H.
Two stars because the food was great. But the service sucked. All I will say is, if your going to spend a whole lot of money on a tastey meal, you shouldn't have to catch your check as your server literally throws it at you while saying "well here if you want it." Rude, unprofessional, disorganized.... If you want a good Brazilian steakhouse, you will get much better service for nearly the same price at Fogo de Chao or Texas de Brazil.
(2)Ibis W.
Every time that I've been here the service have sucked. A lot. I come in a large group and they take your 18% assumed tips and there won't be a shadow of a waiter again until they come to drop off the bill. I come for a date night and even after they asked if we were in for a special occasion the service was still very minimal - even accounting the fact that we arrived pre-dinner rush. On several occasions my cocktail orders never materializes, despite repeated request. Really? No cocktail? That's how you know the service staff really don't give a flying fuck. Once I held on to the dessert menu for a solid 30 minutes before someone came to take the order... then it was followed by a whole hour of wait to pay for the check. Should have just walked out. Chima for me no mas.
(2)precious s.
My Family and I are In Love Okay so my better half and son took me here for Mother's Day last month and I must say for our first Brazilian Steakhouse experience it rocked! My 10 yr old son was amazed at all the meat and the waiters were so attentive with him, even convinced him to try lamb! And he loved it! He wants to go back for his 5th grade graduation dinner! We will be back 18 Jun. Oh the meat, so tender, not too salty just right. Also I like how you get appetizers to snack on until you are settled in and ready to tackle the meat! This is our new favorite spot.
(5)Michelle I.
Who doesn't love all you can eat meat? Came here the other day to finally use the gift card my husband and I gave my parents two xmases ago. Having been to Fogo de Chao and liking the whole Brazilian, gaucho-wearing, eat until you start sweating meat thing, I was really excited to try Chima. I made reservations through OpenTable and we were seated right away. The service was pretty good. We had a couple people attending to us. They gave us some appetizers to munch on before we got started on the salad bar and meat. My favorite was the cheese balls. Like Fogo, they have a salad bar to fill you up on so you don't eat too much of their meat. They have an okay selection of salads, cured meats, and cheeses. But who really cares about the salad bar, the real star is the meat! Now for the meat. They had chicken, pork, lamb, and beef. I didn't try the chicken or pork, because I eat that all the time at home. Overall, the lamb and beef were tasty - about the same as Fogo. My favorite cuts were the leg of lamb, sirloin, and the beef ribs. They offer a variety of sauces and side dishes to accompany the meal such as BBQ sauce, chimichurri, horseradish, rice, beans, etc. These can be found next to the salad bar. They bring a couple side dishes right to your table. We got fried polenta, mashed potatoes, and plantains. I wasn't a fan of the mashed potatoes. The consistency of it was like glue =/ Overall, my family and I enjoyed our dinner at Chima and would definitely come back.
(4)Alyssa K.
Worth the splurge. The food is yummy and the servers are very very attentive.
(4)Cynthia L.
This place isn't great for big parties, but my boyfriend & I love the ambiance and food here. I like that this place has complimentary valet & takes reservations...makes my life easier. It's dinner only and $49.50 (excluding drinks & tip) per person, but very worth it for those who have never gone. The top sirloin is our favorite along with the complimentary tapas they serve. Don't load up too much on the (fresh) salad bar or you won't have room for the meat! The drinks are made very strong and the wine selection is huge...def a place worth visiting!
(5)Arthur K.
I confess that it sorta stopped being cost-effective for me to go to buffets. I went to Chima and threw in the towel in about 20 minutes. Sad. However, the food was excellent. Good quality meat. I usually don't like lamb, but it was pretty decent here. Of course, the steak was awesome. The garlic parmesan pork was a nice change of pace too. One of the reasons I got full so fast was the pace of the servers bringing food. That's definitely a plus. The salad bar was overhyped by a certain friend of mine. But it was still pretty good. Service was good. Just enough for 4 stars.
(4)Liz A.
ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhÂh. It was ok. It was definitely a lot of meat but not very flavorful and not a lot of variety. For example - the chicken - there was just cubes of chicken or cubes of chicken with bacon around it :S. I'm glad I went but I don't think I'll go there again.
(3)Miss M.
A meat-lover's paradise! The salad bar is amazing, but don't fill up on it too much. The cheese bread is also incredible - it was hard not to eat too much of that either. But you'll want to save room for the delicious meats! The picanha (sirloin) is their signature meat and was my favorite. The meats were also not overly salty. The bacon-wrapped chicken was very good and moist (most other Brazilian steakhouses serve chicken that is too dry but Chima did a great job!). We went during restaurant week, which I felt was a great deal. But it'd be worth the $49 on a special or seldom occasion. I docked my review one star for the parking. There is nowhere to park, though they offer free valet. However on Saturday nights it gets busy and you might be waiting awhile for your car! Overall it was a great experience though - better than Texas De Brazil. I'd come again for sure!
(4)PauLine R.
meat sweats. that's all i gotta say about that. it's the kinda place that makes you wanna wear your pants with the full-on elastic band. it's that serious. i starved myself the entire day - in preparation for this glorious meal. i told myself that i would eat every single piece of meat that came my way. i would own this brazilian steakhouse. yeaaa, didn't go quite that way. i think i got through 4-5 different kinds of meat. after that, things got kinda blurry - as i was experiencing some kind of food coma. very pleased with the food, service, and overall atmosphere. two meaty thumbs up!
(5)Kevin Y.
Four words: Go to fogo instead. Food: The salad bar wasn't very impressive. The calamari they use was frozen and the selections were too little. The meat was good, and having fish is a plus. Service: Inattentive waiters. I sat for 30 minutes for my drink order to be taken. I am not sure if they did a system upgrade but it seems like they are taking orders on a touchscreen phone now? Bad upgrade...my waiter spend more time typing than cleaning up my table. I feel bad for the gouchos because they are literally power walking the entire time. Management: Too focused on tasking rather than managing. Saw two managers busy busing tables and sweeping rather than asking customers how their service was. I raised my hand to get his attention and he pretty much just ignored me. If you are a restaurant floor manager and all you do is bus tables, maybe you should just hire an undocumented worker; not only the labor is cheaper, he/she will probably do a better job. Overall, if you are reading this beacuse you can't decide between fogo, texas de brazil, and chima, i highly recommend going to fogo instead.
(2)Nadia A.
I have been here a couple of times and liked it, I would def come back again. The food is good, but not great. I like the salad bar they have, I like how the servers come around with the meat and the dessert are pretty good.
(5)Eva O.
Absolute. Carnivore. Fantasy...but dammit I can't give them a 5. They had almost everything on point. The atmosphere was a cool, light sophistication. The spacious dining area with open glass windows really struck a refreshing balance with the heavy amounts of food. The salad bar alone was enticing- calamari salad, fresh mozzarella, hard salamis, prosciutto, smoked salmon, different types of greens, etc. So I flipped my little black coin to red and instantly the circulating men were presenting skewers upon skewers of meat before me. I only went for reds since I'm a beef kind of girl and I generally hear that chicken gets dry (although my family loved it). Cannot even describe how incredibly tender the Filet mignon was. A few forkfuls of filet for tenderness, in between bites of ribeye for flavor...lethal combo. I also commend them on serving perfect size portions. Just enough to sample and enjoy without feeling like you ate half a cow. The meats you enjoy, you can always get more of (and you shamelessly will, trust me) But what really dampened the vibes for me was the service. Our server pretty much solely catered to my dad at the table as if the rest of the party wasn't even sitting there. Then upon ordering our wine, he proceeded to automatically remove my wine glass while I was away. My family explained that I was over 21 and ten minutes later he confronted me for an id. This is entirely understandable. But then his persistent questioning and telling me I looked too young just crossed the line from protocol to plain insulting. Save from the less than pleasant service, the rest of the experience was beautiful, and they will likely still see me and my young-looking self here again.
(4)Jeremy M.
While the food was excellent, the service sucked towards the end of dinner. We sat down a little after 730, finished eating about an hour later. The servers disappeared and we never got our checks until almost an hour later. Then they over charged us $20(we split our checks) and had to wait for them to void and reprint them. Maybe they didn't care anymore since they were getting the 18% gratuity.
(2)Anna W.
I come here once a month with my boyfriend. We love Chima. I love the salad bar, soup, rice and the cheese breads. If you only eat seafood you can also get the flippy thing just for fish. And they also only charge $35 for the fish. If you are gonna get the whole rodizio than it is $45 per person. MY BOYFRIEND AND I LOVE IT! Their top sirloin is to die for. The first time I ever had it was amazing. It felt like something was melting in my mouth. The staff is on their game and very friendly. I REALLY RECOMMEND THIS PLACE TO ANYONE!!!!!
(5)Wai H.
Oh Chima! What can I say..I love it. I'm a huge meat guy, and quality of meat and the cut is very important for me, and Chima def has the best of both. You really have to go there hungry, and take your time when you're there. I recommend to try a lil bit of everything, I'd suggest pair it was a glass of red during dinner, which makes the meat go down a lil easier. It's definitely quality Brazilian meat, although I've never been to anything else around the area. And if I remember correctly, their salad bar was pretty good as well.
(4)Samuel G.
Yet 'another one bites the dust' on our seemingly never ending " LivingSocial.com Coupon Tour" of local eateries. But this one gets a special 'notch' on my belt. Having eaten at both Fogo de Chao in NW DC and at Fires of Brazil, Atlanta, I thought I had seen the best food, service and atmosphere that any Brazilian steakhouse had to offer. Was I munching up the wrong skewer! Not only is CHIMA the best, but I was even more shocked to find a place of this caliber right here in our own frickin' backyard! Paul Simon or Elton John should write odes to their salad bar. The selections are fresh, plentiful and ridiculously varied (I stuck mostly with the raw broccoli, sliced tomatoes and their killer Caesar salad). Whatever you do, DON'T overdo the salad fixin's, though, because it would be a cryin' damn shame if you left yourself no room for the meat. If you are a vegetarian - why would you come here in the first place? No, seriously - if you are the kind of vegetarian who gets sick at the sight, smell or the very THOUGHT of cooked animal flesh, find an excuse to beg off and stay home, if your friends or family want to bring you here. If you're one of the kind who don't mind if everyone else around you indulges in carnivorous activity, then you'll do okay. The salad bar offers more than enough options to keep you sated and happy. If you, like me, ARE of the class "homo sapiens gorgealotus carnivorous"...Welcome to pure HEAVEN. You want beef? They have top sirloin, for starters? Chicken? Gotcha covered. Pork? Ditto. Seafood lovers? Try the incredible swordfish and/or salmon filets. And do NOT pass on the opportunity to sample the linguisa...tender, tasty, spicy sausages so crispy-brown on the outside, bursting with juicy goodness when you slice into them, and with every delectable bite. My mouth is watering just thinking about it now! JEEZ! Plus the ever-attentive wait staff is more than happy to bring you clean plates, fill your empty glass with refills (or drink replacements on-demand), and to replenish your sides...Good lord, the SIDES! Crunchy mini-beef croquettes, mashed potatoes the likes of which I haven't tasted since Mom used to make 'em from scratch, warm baskets of fresh bread, and fried plantains dusted with just enough cinnamon and sugar - you may not need to see a dessert menu! And best of all about this "Carnivores' Carnivale" is the unhurried atmosphere. Oh, yeah, it might seem a little hectic with the gauchos scurrying about with those skewers of sumptuous meats, and the waiters ducking and dodging around them like bicyclists on Route 7 at rush hour, but at NO time are you ever made to feel rushed or hurried through your meal. This is a dynamite place to bring large groups of family and friends, and because it's not the cheapest eats in the world, you WILL be able to get your money's worth if you're so inclined. BELIEVE it. And the place itself as far as decor and design goes...Well, I'll put it this way. Once we stepped through the front doors, I felt as if I had left Vienna, VA, for a fine dining experience in Vegas, L.A. or New York. It just feels like a vacation from the familiar. And I am sure looking forward to the next time we can repeat the experience!
(5)Amanda W.
The only downfall was that I had read a review and maybe hadn't checked the date that said Chima was half the price of Fogo...not true. $46.50 for the full menu. Otherwise the food is great. Felt there was a lot more room and it felt less hectic than Fogo. Waitstaff was good if not a little flaky, but we were never really left waiting for something too long. Definitely a once a year type place.
(4)Dmitry G.
Surprised to see negative reviews. This was the best restaurant I've been in. Great food, great drinks, great deserts. Salad bar is huge but you should go easy on it. And here is why. After salad bar they start bringing different types of meats on long swords and cut off pieces of meat right in front of you. It seems like there are 20 types of meat, you lose count. It's just awesome. Every type of meat is perfectly cooked, fresh, extremely soft and delicious. We were a big group and service was superb. I don't know if they cater same way to a small table, I was just too busy enjoying my food.
(5)Ting W.
pricey, but you pay for what you get. the moment you sit down, grab a plate, and flip the "yes please" sign up...you're in the game to eat until you can no longer breathe. the meat is awesome...but i wish i didnt fill myself up with the chicken so i could make more room for the ribs and sirloin. def a great place to go to for a birthday party dinner, or a nice date restaurant!
(4)Eric H.
Great atmosphere - restaurant has a nice wide open feel to it - big windows w/lots of natural light pouring in. Decor is "interesting" - looks like they switched interior designers half way through construction...a little weird but not the real reason i went there: meat. Bottom line is they're cheaper than Fogo De Chao but not as good...the picanha was "meh"...much better in DC @ FDC. The linguica sausage was decent...the caipirinhas were delicious and made traditionally. Ask for the top shelf cachaca when you get one...liquor is one thing where "you get what you pay for" becomes a reality. The salad bar was super fresh & aesthetically appealing. I would go back w/some friends and a buzz :-)
(3)Beth S.
I used to really like this restaraunt, but now I can't even think about coming here again. I will preface this by saying I have had several good experiences at this restaraunt, but I went this past weekend for a celebratory dinner and got the worst food poisoning I've ever had. Two hospital visits within 24 hours after that dinner. I understand it's probably an isolated experience, but it's definitely not worth it to me to go there again.
(2)Melinda C.
We had been recommended this place by a Brazilian friend who said it was better (food and price) than Fogo. We saw the July 4 deal ($34 instead of the normal $50 I think?) and took it. I moved from Boston, having lived in Inman Square for a few years, which was next to a very Brazilian part of town. I had never ever paid more than $26 a person for great Brazilian BBQ. So my only beef with this place is the price. Other than that, the meat is cooked to perfection. The greeting when we walked in and the service was great, the salad bar was fresh (mmm mozzarella balls served with proscuitto and roasted red peppers and carpaccio), the little fried cheese bread are delightful, the servers pay attention to the orange token that says 'bring me more meat, NOW' like their life depends on it, and my boyfriend kept chanting 'I'm never leaving here, I'm never leaving here'. The meat literally was cooked perfectly - I love that they have a little bit of meat cooked to all tastes on each skewer. And each bite is big enough that you can fit in other bites. The filet mignon chunks wrapped with bacon? Orgasmic. The only other thing I did not love about Chima was the sauces. Being a sauce connoisseur, I felt that the bbq sauce was like putting ketchup on on a steak. Other options were a mint jelly that looked like green jello, horseradish sauce that was good, and a hot sauce that tasted like Tabasco. That sauce serving could really be redesigned. Maybe next time I will smuggle in A1 in my purse. Don't get me wrong, the meat is the star of the show, but it could definitely use a stronger sidekick. BTW, forget the parking garage (unless it's insanely hot like last night, and you want the shade) - they have complimentary valet parking.
(4)M M.
H. E. A. V. E. N. I absolutely LOVED this place. Being that I was in the mood to be a little carnivorous, this hit the spot tremendously. Happy that it was a Friday night, and there was no wait!! Kudos!! Walked to our table and start scoping what I want to endulge in as the men walked around the restaurant carrying steak after steak, pork after pork and chicken after chicken! The salad bar was great! And the ambience was relaxing!!
(5)Jake K.
A buddy of mine took me here shortly after my wife finally arrived in the states after our small waitfest with immigration. After having been thoroughly enamored to the idea of all-you-can-eat meats at Malibu Grill, I looked forward to getting in and chowing down while knocking my cholesterol count over 500. When we got in, I noticed that the ambiance was much better than Malibu Grill and other similar joints I visited in the past (I haven't been to Fogo so I'll leave that one out). Nice decor and soft lighting is always a plus in my book - throw in the cute waitress with the Russian accent and they had me sold. I think they had my buddy sold too - cute Russkies always does it. The food wasn't bad - the meat was hit or miss depending on the cut. Also, I couldn't help but think that perhaps some of the beef selections were a tad salty and as Jennie said, I like my meats medium rare. I was hard pressed to find a cut that could accommodate that. Top that off with some grump "gauchos" and it was enough to have me knock off a star. The sides were plentiful and that's always a plus. you need to be able to put something else in your stomach besides grilled critters so I frequented the bar for various salads and other items. Overall, the place was a winner and certainly hits the list of places I would take the rents on their visits to the US.
(4)Chow N.
I would say this place is a notch below Texas de Brazil at Fair Lakes. The salad bar is good, but it didn't wow me. They offer vegetable soup, while TdB has lobster bisque. They start you off with some cheese bread, which was good, along with some garlic spread and some small fried falafel(?) balls. After you order, they give you some creamed potatoes, fried cheese polenta fries, and some overfried bananas. There is a lot of variety in the dinner meats, but they were not adequately seasoned, and a bit overcooked. It seemed to me that they may have regrilled what meat was left over from lunch. I think what was lacking was the high temperature sear. Although generally tasty, most of the cuts were nearly cooked all the way through. I prefer my meat cooked medium rare to rare. Also, the fish (salmon and swordfish) was overcooked. It was like eating dried baby food. Service was somewhat attentive, but not overbearing. The dudes with the meats came by whenever you have your card flipped the right way. Unfortunately, they couldn't distinguish between less cooked vs. more cooked. I asked for medium rare/rare filet, and they sliced from the outside layer. The server was aggressive with pushing you onto the wine list or drinks from the bar. I like the more intimate setting that TdB offers, as Chima is almost like a large dark cafeteria. For the price I paid, even with the standard $20 discount, I was probably better off going to real steakhouse. Three mixed drinks were ordered which amounted to about $30. It wasn't crowded at all for a Thursday night.
(3)Elida M.
I like Chima more than Fogo de Chao. I'm brazilian and I know what brazilian food is supposed to taste like. You could get tastier food in Brazil than you would get at either restaurant, but the reason I like Chima is because they have more options of salads, hot bar, and meat cuts than Fogo. Chima also offers fish, besides the great meat selection. Salad bar is pretty extensive.
(4)Steven S.
Ridiculous!!! Come here to eat your last meal and boy will the coroner have a mess to clean up! It's buffet. The buffet itself is alright - nothing spectacular in my opinion, but definitely good complements to the main event - the MEAT. Servers come around to your table and slice off meat onto your plate. I mean, just wow. If you love to eat meat, come on over! What a great place to dine right after a strength endurance workout - eat up that protein! Seriously though - I've only eaten here at a wedding reception, so we had a private room. Not sure how they conduct business on the main dining floor, so perhaps you won't be seeing matadors slicing off huge slabs of meat off skewers.
(4)Kendra M.
My boyfriend took me to Chima for dinner tonight. It was my first time and I really loved the food. I love the Waldorf Salad, Bottom sirloin and the Parmesan pork. I've never had so much food in my entire life (OK, a bit of an exaggeration there). But seriously the food was great. The only downside is I felt like such a glutton when we left. If I ever do come back I'll make sure I haven't eaten in days ;)
(5)Natalie M.
First and last time here, meat tasted like it was from silver diner. Waited 30 min for our check and then waited 23 min to get our card back. My husband is Argentinian and the asado will blow ur socks off. If you want goods meat try a different place.
(1)Zack S.
I've been to about 20 Brazilian steakhouses, and Chima is at a level far above any of the competition. Then only thing better than just going to Chima? That would be going to Chima's Tyson's/DC location. Chima has 5 locations: Tyson's, Charlotte, Philadelphia, Fort Lauderdale, and Brazil. Tyson's is by far the best. For an example, Chima is like the Ruth's Chris of Brazilian steakhouses, while Texas de Brazil is like going to mcdonalds. While $52.50 may seem high to some, that is about the price of just one steak from most steakhouses, while at Chima you get UNLIMITED meat (filet, ribeye, sirloin, top sirloin, flank steak, chicken, Parmesan pork, beef rib, barbecue rib, salmon, swordfish, and more), unlimited sides, and an amazing salad bar full of fresh greens, cheeses, fruit, and so much more. The meat is of very high quality and is cooked and seasoned exquisitely, all the food is fresh, and a trip to Chima is an experience you simply must have.
(5)Kyra W.
This place is amazing. My office hosted our Christmas luncheon here and it was a great experience. Although we was limited with out meat selection it was an awesome trip. The atmosphere was awesome and the food was amazing. My favorite was the top sirloin! The desserts was normal but still enjoyed my meal.
(4)Don I.
This is the third Brazilian steakhouse that I've been to- Rodizio's, Tucano's and while it is good, I must say it's the third best of the three. The meat cuts were good- top sirloin was outstanding as well as the ribs, but everything was was okay and the flank steak was average. The service was good, the server was friendly though we were a tough group as we didn't drink, so all the effort to sell us on the drinks was wasted. Every meal comes with a salad bar and there is plenty of variety for a salad lover- which I'm really not, but unless you have a bottomless pit of a stomach, don't overdo it here as you want to leave enough room for the meat and fish. We did break down and had dessert- the passion fruit mousse and it was delicious. Very light and when dipped in the chocolate sauce-heaven. If you can't find a free space then the valet parking is a decent option, though the garage down the street is reasonable, costing only $3 for 2 hours- less than most tips for the valet. If you like Brazilian steakhouse's then give this place a try.
(4)Chad C.
We Love Chima's! If you want a true Meat Lovers experience, this is the place. We went for Veterans Day, they provide a free meal for those that have served our country, and I Love them for it!
(5)SergIo C.
This place is stake heaven, it's a all you can eat stake and salad. There are seven different types of meat. There's chicken wrapped with bakon filet Mignon ribs pork or beef And salmon the price is a little high but like I said its a all you can eat it's well worth it I promise....
(5)R K.
Went to Chima for a business dinner and the commuting and parking situations were significantly better than Fogo de Chao in DC. You can easily skip the valet service if it is the weekend or after business hours during the work week and find free parking nearby. Walking half a block is never a bad thing, especially after hitting up a rodizio. The salad bar has a decent selection and the mashed potatoes they bring you are as soft as thick apple sauce. Be sure to tell the servers which cuts of meat you prefer like I did and you'll be able to get your money's worth while not wasting valuable stomach room on chicken or pork. They have a few options for lamb so if you don't see it right away be sure to ask. Also if you are the DD, you can get non-alcoholic caipirinhas for half the listed price. They are all made fresh and I had one of each. When made right, the lime is the best. The only reason Chima's didn't get five stars was that the cuts of meat were not quiet as good as Fogo de Chao. Also we went on a slow day when only 20% of the restaurant was full and the server seemed confused that we wanted to sit at a bigger table even though the majority of them were empty and did not have reservations. The manager came over right away to apologize and cleared things up so we were reseated. However, like any chain restaurant, be sure to join their email list before going and you'll be able to get a free coupon to use.
(4)K H.
By far my favorite Brazilian steakhouse. I have been to each of the three popular ones in the area and Chima remains my favorite. The meat is always cooked perfectly and if you have want something more rare or more well done they will always offer to cook it more or get you another cut. Fountain drinks are bottomless unlike other steakhouses, like Texas De Brazil and Fogo De Chao who will charge you $3 per coke. Their salad bar is enormous as well, you won't be disappointed. Most recently I went for my birthday party and they took a picture of our group and even printed it out for us. Excellent upscale atmosphere and great service You can always expect an excellent experience from the crew at Chima
(5)Marco G.
Rene was excellent super professional very helpful food was amazing I wished we would of had more variety .good experience overall and the drinks were good
(5)Justin C.
Great ambience , I prefer here than Texas de Brazil ! Meats are definitely less salty , our server Andrew was very attentive and accommodating .
(4)Ash N.
The meat was very good. I was here for Restaurant Week. The only criticism is that it was hard to get a hold of a waiter.
(4)Toby N.
Churasscharia - upscale nice ambiance. You don't go for the veggies but the vegetables were nice and the beets and hearts of palm were huge. I put the chimchurri sauce on the hearts. I would not mind eating appetizers in the bar for dinner.
(3)Steve L.
Copying and pasting from my review of Texas de Brazil: I've been to Chima in Tyson's at least 4 times and would definitely go back. It's hard to say the same for Texas de Brazil considering that. Let's compare: Decor Chima: Elegant, classy Texas de Brazil: Over the top, flashy, like going to a circus Salad bar Chima: Much nicer in my opinion TdB: A surprise around every corner! (No, really, the salad bar is a square that you can't see through/around. Seems like a waste of space, and it's really annoying if other people are going to be getting food at the same time) Meats!!!!! Chima: More/better choices I think... TdB: good enough Service: Chima: Friendly, attentitive, accomodating TdB: casual almost to the point of unprofessional Another note about service. At Chima, the staff is older, and classier, tending to the businessmen of McLean. You can see this in their dress and mannerisms. It's also looks pretty cool that your orders at Chima are placed wirelessly through Palm Pilots. It's a nice place to take a date. At TdB, it looked like all goofy high school kids waiting on you. The hostesses were young and just chatting amongst themselves. Maybe it's not fair that I've come to expect more because of Chima? I now live 4 blocks down from Fogo de Chao and I'm excited to see how that is!
(4)John K.
My company was hosting a dinner at Chima, a Brazilian steakhouse a few weeks back and I was invited to come and meet some colleagues that I hadn't met yet. Upon walking in, I found the entire establishment buzzing with activity. I noticed an outdoor deck where folks were getting their happy hour on. I walked past the bar and seated myself with some other co-workers and we were immediately invited by the wait staff to begin serving ourselves at the salad bar. The salad bar was quite good while offering a great variety of greens and other vegetables. There was a variety of sauces and dips, in addition to cold cuts and cheeses. I usually don't eat salad, but I couldn't help myself since it all looked so good. It didn't seem more than a few minutes after I launched into the salad that the servers started offering us the delicious cuts of meat. I can't quite remember, but we ate cuts of beef, lamb and chicken and it was all very tasty and juicy! The dining experience was good and I was impressed by not only with the selection of meats, but equally impressed with how much we ate! Overall, the ambiance lends itself to a good place for large gatherings and I would come again if the opportunity arose.
(4)J L.
Wow, this place is awesome, It's expensive for person, like 50$, I don't know because I ate there for free, but just wow, the meat is cooked very well, as I love having that butter rice and salad entries to complement the meal. Great place to eat once in a while, the parking though can be annoying if you don't valet or don't find a side street spot really quickly, otherwise it's that monster parking deck for you.
(4)Shaggy L.
If there is a Meat heaven on earth then this is it. Where do I start, I still thinking of the wonderful food paradise experience I had at this restaurant while writing this review. Everything was fantastic right from the food, the decor, ambiance, service etc.. Waiters were polite enough to ask for how we want it cooked. Bottom line: More than the food it's the experience. Do favor to yourself and make a reservation.
(5)Caroline W.
Fun experience, but I'm not sure I would make this place a regular stop. The meat was great, and the guys with the swords come around pretty frequently. My only complaint in the meat department would be that it took about 45 minutes before we got to the filet mignon, which is what many people were looking forward to, and another 30 minutes for any kind of ribs to come by. It does seem that the chicken and more regular cuts of steak come by several times, though. As far as the salad bar.. I'm not sure what everyone is raving about. It doesn't even have the ingredients to make an excited salad. For the hot portion of the salad bar its mostly just beans and rice. None of the cheeses offered were exciting, and they only had one kind of fruit there (cantaloupe). No thanks. I know some steak places like this offer sushi and desserts in the salad bar area, but this place had no sushi and charged a TON for the few desserts they offered. $9 for the smallest slice of key lime pie I've ever seen. All in all, if you've never been to this kind of steak place, it is a lot of fun and I recommend it. It seems like a lot of people were there for birthdays, so there were a lot of big groups which gave it a fun atmosphere. But I don't expect to be a repeat customer.
(3)Justin Y.
My mouth waters every time I think about the oh-so delicious meats with which I have engorged myself several times. My first churrascaria experience was here, and I returned 3 more times while I lived in the area. The location is a bit strange - on the first level of business building tucked away in Tyson's Corner, but the decor and ambiance are great! The drinks from the bar are always stoutly made. My friends and I love the salad/soup/rice bar. The black beans they have there taste as if they have a Brazilian cook flown in every day just to prepare them. But the real treat is the MEAT!!! My favorites include the Leg of Lamb, Ribeye, and Filet Mignon. The Pork Loin with Parmesan is a nice runner up. (My advice would be to stay away from the fish. The salmon and swordfish tend to be dry and salty.) I miss being served freshly cooked and dishes that are sliced in front of your eyes, onto your plate, then into your mouth. Hint: Go online and sign-up for the newsletter. You can get a $5 coupon. Also, don't eat anything during the day before coming here. You'll want to get as much as you can. Prepare yourself for a MEAT HANGOVER in all its glory!
(5)James S.
This place is amazing. Everything I tried was amazing. The service is above and beyond. This is the holy Grail of Brazilian steakhouses!! I will definitely be back for more and I highly recommend this place!
(5)Frank L.
Good meat, slow service. All in all this was a pretty good experience. The food is similar to other Brazilian steakhouses, but the ambiance here felt more restaurant like (which i liked). The people that brought the meat were nice, and would get the type of meat that you requested. My favorite beef was the Ribeye. I would suggest that they change the STOP/GO Chips and add variety, i.e. type of meat (chicken, beef, or fish) My only real complaint is that they did not split the checks, and for a group of 10, it took a while to get this correct.
(4)Larry C.
I have to agree with the other postings. This is an excellent steakhouse.The only minor issue I have, and it could be because we went on Mother's Day, were the large number of small children and I'm not talking about well behaved little diners. I'm talking about under 12 who were loud and in many cases running around. With all the servers walking around with meat and sharp knives I would think it would be a safety issue and would have been stopped. As I said, it was Mother's Day holiday, so I will try it again to see if this is a recurring problem. I hope it isn't; I would really like to eat here often, but while I like children (raised 3 myself) I'm not prepared to tolerate the parents who think the world revolves around them and their child, especially at the price.
(4)J. D.
One of my favorite Steakhouses, Its funny to see it listed in the buffet category but that's just because it is a top notch 'buffet'. Their salad bar/side bar is great and wide variety. All of the meats here are great and top notch as well as their swordfish. Great Value in my opinion good for groups/family events/date/drinks. Service is good sometimes overwhelming if you don't flip the coin. Either way I have been to this location as well as the one in Philadelphia great at both.
(4)Brian C.
I love meat. Let me just get that out there right now. And this place is a meat lovers paradise! Lamb, chicken, beef, pork.... mmmmm every major meat is cooked to delicious perfection here. And the variety is where this place shines. Oh sure they have an incredible extensive salad bar buffet thing as well, and all of it really tasty and delicious. But it all just serves as compliment to the magical meats that will be arriving one by one relentlessly at your table. The only issue with Chima is that it is a little pricey, but not when you consider the quality and variety of food you are eating. I always walk out with a happy tummy and mouth, but not satisfied. Oh no, satisfaction only comes when you no longer want anymore and the desire to keep eating these hunks of wonderful protein will always be present.
(4)Dave B.
So I am going to make this a quick review because there are some other good reviews on here for Chima. This was my first time at Chima and to be honest, it was pretty good. I went with 7 guys for a birthday and that was the best part. All of us loved the selection of meat and wine. If you love great meat and appreciate Med-Rare and Rare meat this place is for you... heck any Brazilian Steakhouse is. If you go with someone make sure that both of you can eat a lot and appreciate med-rare meat. If you cant then do not go to this place, it is a waste of money for you. To be honest if you have been to one "upscale" Brazilian Steakhouse you have been to them all. When comparing this to Fogo De Chao it is about the same but Fogo has a better spread on the salad bar, better sides and nicer people that work there. Fogo above Chima for sure. At Chima the hostesses and bartender were a little rude, to the point where 1 hour after we settled our bar tab the bartender came to our table and asked each one of us we paid our tab. We all said yes... he went away then came back saying the list of drinks and who's tab that was. One of my friends said his but he already paid, the bartender wanted to see his receipt and to sign it again. Very rude I thought and insulting. It was a weird situation. Also before we left I used the bathroom to wash my hands and use the facilities and the bathroom was really cramped, at least when compared to Fogo. If you are going to spend $50 a person for dinner at a Brazilian Steak house then go to Fogo De Chao. If you dont want to travel to DC or B-More for Fogo, then Chima will be good for you. The meats were great, sides were OK, Salad bar was OK, wine selection was great, service at the table was OK, hostess and bartender were not so good. My rank in best Brazilian and "Brazilian" Steakhouse goes like this.. 1. Fogo De Chao 2. Chima 3. Texas de Brazil 4. Malibu Grill (but I would not go back or go here, just go to Texas de Brazil if you are trying to save money)
(3)David W.
A carnivore's frenzy awkwardly restrained by a temperate ambiance. The concept is gorging on an endless stream of raw meat, why do they bother with class ? It can only cut into beer sales. Be sure to register on their website and get the 2 for 1 coupon.
(4)Katie M.
Table of 6- great for a large party, but the place is crowded and loud, so don't expect a conversation. Guys all had the full deal with the gaucho meat and salad bar, gals all just had the salad bar (which in itself has tons of hot and cold items, and is MORE than enough for any meal- protein offerings there as well). The chicken soup and the Chima rice were two of my favorites. Overall, not really impressed. Although the place touts that it has 16 selections of steakhouse items, the gauchos seemed slow, and there was more than enough of chicken and sausage, and less of the salmon, swordfish, and fillet. The Parmesan crusted pork, while it sounded great, was perhaps the worse of the bunch. Best, the bacon wrapped chicken. All meat was extra salty, wine was expensive by the glass (get a bottle- house is 10/glass but around 32 a bottle), and liquor drinks were super-expensive. Gaucho's were attentive with clean plates and additional side items (mashed potatoes, cheese bread, etc), but for what you pay (49.50/person/dinner), a night at any other traditional steakhouse would have been much more enjoyable for our entire group (they did give the birthday guest a huge serving of tiramisu, though). The quality of the meat just didn't match up to the quantity. It's a fancy, modern decorated, expensive Ponderosa.
(2)Heidi M.
I'm a huge fan of brazilian churrasco! Sad to say I was very dissapointed when I came here. For restaurant week no filet mignon, prime rib or lamb! But to begin with, within matter of minutes after being seated, one of the waiters dropped a bottle of wine as well as glass, everywhere. A group of waiters proceeded to pat down the customer who got wet. That should have been our que to leave. They sat us at a table near the kitchen which was against the wall- the entire time we were there waiters literally squeezed their way through the chair where my bf was sitting and the wall to get to the kitchen- there were other ways to get there! Not suprising, one of the waiters spilled HOT coffee all over his back! And when I say back, I mean the whole back down to the pants. He didnt even apologize and kept going about his way, came back LATER to see if he was ok. Really!? I was expecting some type of refund since he had to sit like that for the rest of the night, so joking I said, he'd like to see the mngr. Well, he came and apologized, tried to accomodate us and said to make things better he'd give us(6 ppl) a dessert. However, dessert was already included in our "restaurant week" deal. I felt really ripped off, he knew he could have offered another alternative like taking his tab off since he had to endure hot coffee and walk around with a wet/stained shirt for the rest of the night. For the price you're paying you'd think you'd get better service and food. The waiter dissapeared for a good amount of time, and at the end of the night "forgot" we could choose whatever dessert we wanted for the coffee incident(restaurant week was limited to 2 choices) Meat was too dry and didn't have that taste that churrasco has(underseasoned). The salad bar was pretty good had a big selection to choose from. I've gone to Fogo de Chao and would say DEFINITELY a better option if you're looking for a good brazilian steakhouse. Chima never again.
(1)dae l.
First I'll that the reason why I'm only giving it three stars is because I'm taking price into consideration. First time to one of these. Bar area is nice and spacious with an outdoor area as well. Since the place wasn't too busy, there was enough seats for everyone but if there's a couple of large parties, seating in that area would be an issue. Drinks are reasonably priced except for the Ultimate Margarita. I suppose they use some fancy tequila but didn't bother looking. While waiting to be seated you can enjoy their bread and mixed nuts. The bread kind of reminded me of Sweet Water Tavern's round bread except it wasn't so crispy. It took a while for our party of 9 to be seated but once we were, the ambiance in the dining area was pretty nice. FYI we arrived arrived at ~7:15 on a Tuesday night and waited about an hour to be seated. Seats were comfortable and it wasn't too loud - at least when we were there. Salad bar had a good selection and someone who doesn't want to gorge themselves on just meat can definitely make a decent meal from here. Although frankly that'd be quite a waste of money but hey if you're going as a group and have no say in the matter at least there's something to eat. I did wish they had some more vegetables to mix into the salad like cucumbers or cherry tomatoes but at least the greens were fresh with no obvious signs of wilt. I didn't bother trying any of the soups as they were too heavy for me. Besides greens, they offered smoked salmon and carpaccio which was a nice starter to the meal to ensue. The service of the meat was immediate once we came back to the table from the salad bar. I personally would have preferred they gave us a few minutes to eat our salad in peace. I know they have that little card you flip to say No Thank You but by default it was flipped on the side that was requesting meat and the servers came almost before I sat down. The quality of the cooking [of the meat] varied more than I would have expected even of the same cuts. Some were nice and others were chewy. The flavoring of the steaks were ok - nothing spectacular. I guess that's what the sauces at the salad bar was for upon hindsight? I did not have any of the bacon wrapped meats but I'm sure those were flavorful by themselves being wrapped in bacon. The pork ribs were also just ok; I've had better at regular BBQ joints. Most of the cuts of beef came around regularly along with chicken and sausages but the lamb chops only came once (we were there 1.5 hours). The lamb chop that I had tasted like lamb unlike for some other reviewers but it was overcooked so I definitely did not enjoy it. The leg of lamb, of course, was undercooked - luckily I don't mind eating rare (I asked for medium). Disappointments: no fish was ever offered. :( except for the smoked salmon at the salad bar. 1/2 of the guys at our table never had our dishes replaced even when they were dirty or piled with bones. I specifically had to ask mine to be replaced when I noticed they were ignoring our half the table. No salad fork and knife unless they were somewhere at the salad bar which I missed. No server that comes and ask you if something more was needed e.g. wine. Water was never refilled. No wine or water towards the end. One pair of tiny salt and pepper available for the entire table of 9. The wine list wasn't huge but had decent selection available with the usual restaurant markup. Dessert menu was the same, not a huge selection but they did have all the important ones along with port and coffee. The check of course was a pretty sizable and I wasn't so sure we wouldn't have been better off going somewhere else for that price. I know I would have preferred somewhere else where I could enjoyed a more flavored steak, with a better salad and a bigger wine selection for less but that's just me. At least one guy at our table thoroughly enjoyed his meal here. :) Parking does not seem to be an issue here for dinner. They have valet as well as a parking garage available. Not sure how much the parking garage is, if any, as when I left a little after 10 there was no fee. Personally would I come back here again with my friends? No, while the variety of meats was nice it reminded me more of a fancy buffet where the quality of cooking wasn't as good as you would expect to get from a regular high end steak house. I'd personally rather get less but better cooked meals than more mediocre food. But hey if you're hungry and you just want to eat a lot of meat that tastes ok (not great but not bad) then this would definitely be an excellent place to visit.
(3)Afshin D.
1/2013. Let me just stop you here!!! Don't go there and expect a good service. The service is suck big time. Its a shame, the service in that place is going down. If the service was the main part of this business, most-likely they would have gone under by now. The truth is people go there for all you can eat meat and this is the only way they are surviving. 4/12- I've been to this place a plenty of times in past but they are slowly going down. I went there with several of my friends and the waiter was just out of it. I've never experienced such a service with them before. The poor guy forgot to refile our drinks, refresh our plates, bring the stuff that comes with the table, over all he was a mess. The kicker was, after I asked him for the check it took 20-25 min to bring the damn thing. I gave them the 3 stars just due to the fact that I've actually enjoyed place in past. Maybe better luck next time
(2)Brenda B.
Excellent service! The meats are very good. And they come around, table to table, with their selections very frequently if you have your indicator on 'go.' You're able to stock up in 5 minutes!! =) Their salad bar is amazing compared to a lot of other brazilian steakhouses I've seen. Lots of different selections. I'd say the only 2 things I can complain about were the lamp chops and Parmesan chicken. The lamb tasted like sausage (bleh, dont like sausage!). I love lamb and I was disappointed. The chicken was hard and chewy. The steaks were delicious! Soft and tender! After dinner the waiters brought every other person at the table (we had a large group) a different dessert from their menu. We all tried a little of each and they were delicious! The cheesecake was soo yummy and there was a chocolate truffle cake that was absolutely out of this world! 2 small scoops of raspberry ice cream was served with it, complimented it very well! OH and the wine wall is AMAZING!! I want one!! =)
(4)myung k.
Prettty dang freakin good. I've come here on two occasions and it was paid for by someone else, so I can't say much on that. However, pricing aside, I've gotta say I really enjoyed my eating time here. ONE THING i do have to say is, I stopped using those button things and my two other dining buddies started just calling the servers over at one point. My favorite by FAR were the pork ribs.. Ridiculously good. The prime rib was also buttery tender. The salad bar itself consisted of many different things that were to my delight. The only problem here is, I leave so ridiculously full I don't know what to do with myself afterwards. DARNIT should not have logged unto yelp at this time of the hour because I am seriously craving this place now. eeeerrr someone give me some savory meat!
(4)Jay W.
I've eaten at the Ft Lauderdale, FL Chima several times and always loved everything about the dining experience there. I was curious to try the DC location to see how they matched up. This was also a "first date" location, so it was even more important for the DC spot to be on par with the Lauderdale location. I was truly impressed with the consistency in experience here. The vibe is super classy, warm, and lively. Service was superb (minus snooty girls at the front) and the food was excellent. This is some of the best beef and lamb you could ask for. Date and I had a few Ketel One and redbull drinks .... They were lighter in the redbull, which is preferable. Date really liked the experience, (she'd never been there before either, and is a fellow "foodie"). Chima DC will be seeing me again for sure ....
(5)Edgar l.
This place is the ish! Ive been to Chima about 4 times now and love it! I've introduced so many of friends to this place and its become one of our go to spots. You have to starve yourself for most of the day before you go here. Trust me it worth it! The key is to order water as your drink and go lite on the salad bar because you wanna get your moneys worth on the meats! its a must go to! you wont regret it!
(5)C S.
Chima is the first Brazilian Steakhouse that the Missus and I visited after a terrible evening with one of their competitors. We loved the idea of the Brazilian Steakhouse and were quite happy when we found this as a replacement. Like other BS's, Chima has a big salad bar and the goucho's walking around with the various cuts of meat. To the Missus and I, the salad bar alone is worth the trip. It is quite plentiful with cold, and hot foods. You can easily fill a plate, or two, and not even need to sample the fine meats wandering around the restaurant. Aside from the typical salads and toppings, there is smoked meats, and a variety of cheeses to choose from. On the hot side, there are soups & steamed rice to warm you up. There is also the meats. The selection is pretty comparable to other BS's, but I think Chima is the only BS I've visited that also has a fish platter along side the beef, poultry and pork selections. The Missus and the guy fish platter guy will have in depth conversations about which of the accompanying sauce choices go best with which fillet of fish. Chima's atmosphere is a kind of different to say the least. It's a very large open area with a pull down, transparent screen in the middle of the restaurant. On this screen they project concerts by, whay I can only guess as being, south american or european adult contemporary performers. It's kind of different. Some of the tables are a little close to the screen and I've had the light from the projector in the corner of my eye while seated for dinner. We've been there a few times and only had one real bad experience with poor service. On one visit the waiter we had seemed a bit off-put when we didn't allow him to give us the "welcome to chima" speech, and then didn't order any alcoholic drinks. We spent the rest of the meal dying of thirst as we couldn't get any refills out of this guy, and waited forever to get him to get the check to us. We haven't seen this gentleman since, and have had nothing but great service since.
(4)Eugenia H.
We went to Tysons Chima for my birthday. During the time we were there, two Managers came by to say hello and they purchased dessert for us. We have been to Fogo in DC once and have written them off since. Fogo rushed our whole experience. We were rushed to sit, eat, and pay. It was a horrible date experience. We had a great time at Chima and were in the restaurant as long as we wanted. We have kids and enjoy spending quality time during our dates. Thanks for the great atmosphere and experience Chima!
(5)Brad H.
Salad bar is 4-star. The meats are 2-star. I have never tasted 'gamey' beef, but that is what their fillet tasted like. The sausage was dry and non-exciting. The bacon-wrapped fillet was all about the bacon, instead of the fillet....you could barely taste the fillet. The ribs were pathetic....rough, dry, stuck to the bone. The salmon was dry (but the smoked salmon on the salad bar was fabulous). The service was very good. Overall, this was extremely disappointing. This restaurant is all about the meat and the meat was terrible. If the meal was under $20 a person, I would have given it more stars.
(2)Carey A.
This place is very similar to Fogo in D.C, and we actually prefer Chima. We went with my sister and her husband on a sat. night and it was pretty crowded. Make sure not to eat for at least 8 hours before coming to this place or you definitely will not get your moneys worth. The restaurant itself is semi trendy and you will find everyone from families to businessmen dining here. They have a very extensive salad bar so that you can feel a little healthy while stuffing your face with sausages and mooing cows. The waiters run around with so many different cuts and kinds of meats, going from table to table....and they usually look to see if you token is green or red. The way it works is...you have this token which you can turn to green, which is short for "bring on the meat" or red, which means "skip for me for now". I really enjoyed the food and ambiance, but I left pleasantly plump and wasn't really able to enjoy the experience we had because I was so full....I guess I could have eaten less, lol! I think Chima would make for a great dining experience, especially with a group of people.
(4)Jennifer I.
Awesome! My bf surprised me and took me here the other night and wow, I wasn't expecting an all-you-can-eat meat buffet. The salad bar was amazing, the hot food bar was lacking a little bit of variety but the selection of meat was amazing. I also didn't realize you had to turn over the mini-coaster-like card they put on your table to signal when you're interested in more meat or not...and I kept wondering why we were getting bombarded even though we had full plates! The waiter finally told us...and then we felt dumb. But, it was a great time, very nice place (mostly filled with an after-work crowd on the weekday) and they had a nice selection of wine. Next time I come here I'll make sure I don't eat anything beforehand so I'll have room to try a little more than I did this past visit (yes, I'm that fat when it comes to a delicious dinner!). Overall, great experience and I will definitely be back. PS I enjoyed the aladdin-like pants the waiters wore...extra entertaining after a bottle of wine, too.
(4)Denis M.
I love this place. Try everything they bring by, you'll be in for a treat. Of all the Brazillian steakhouses that I've been to, this is a cut above the rest. The decor is excellent, and the atmosphere is jovial. The salad bar has an excellent selection as well -- but don't fill up too much there!
(4)Daniel K.
Went for my brofam (brother from another mother)'s bachelor dinner (he's not the partying sort, and neither am i). His DC friends made the reservation. The restaurant is located in this kinda isolated office towers complex on the ground floor. Apparently it's close to a really big shopping center. Anyways when you enter, it's pretty spaces all dimly lit and lots of darker colors (like mahogany). I've been to a few churrascarias and this one didn't seem much different than the others (fogo, churrascaria plataforma). They have a pretty good salad bar and their meats were pretty well cooked and tasty. To be honest i wasn't paying too much attn to the food since the lakers' game was on (against nuggets for the conference finals), but i remember enjoying it nonetheless. Oh and the service was very very good. If i'm EVER in dc again and just happen to go to a churrascaria, i'd go here again.
(4)Jerry L.
Truly a meat lover's paradise. Some notes: + I've said it once, and I'll say it again: coupons, people, coupons. Between Restaurant.com , LivingSocial, Groupon, and Chima's own direct mail postcards (if you live in the surrounding Tyson's area), you shouldn't ever be paying full price to eat here. Food always tastes better when its cheaper! To me anyway. + Interior design was very nice: "trendy without the try-hard", as my buddies would say. I thought the mood lighting at dinner time was particularly nice - not too dark, but almost romantic, in a get-ready-to-make-love-to-the-grilled-meat kind of way. + I appreciated that the tables were spread pretty far apart: its always nice to feel spacious and free at all-you-can-eat establishments (helps me eat more?) and not have to unwittingly eavesdrop on other diners' conversations. + Our server, Ricardo, was genuinely polite, funny and on point. Small plate appetizers and waters were promptly refilled and he routinely checked up on us without being intrusive. + I know the focus is the meat-on-the-swords, but a salad bar with fresh arugula and nice cuts of AYCE prosciutto, bresaola, and soppressata? Win. + I think the Picanha (top sirloin), medium rare, narrowly edged out some other contenders for my favorite cut of meat. + The sauce they had for the salmon was a winner: give it a try. + Free valet so you don't have to roll yourself to your car in a distant parking lot after your 5,000 calorie dinner. - It is a bit pricey sans coupons/discounts. I wouldn't say its not worth it and I understand that the pricing is consistent with other more upscale churrascaria's (Fogo), but you should be prepared to spend over $100 for dinner for two. - The one ding on the ambiance: they were showing Cirque Du Soleil (?) on a giant flatscreen in the middle of the dining area, directly where my chair was facing. Pretty weird and a bit distracting. Just let your patrons focus on the tasty food and good service. - To the poor grilled chicken "gaucho": It sucks that you got stuck having to serve the cut of meat the majority of people skip in favor of beef or something more tasty, but stop coming to our table and repeatedly offering it to us with puppy-dog eyes and then walking dejectedly away when I politely decline! Final tip: I am not a young man anymore. I can't eat pure meat for an hour and think that everything's just going to be fine and dandy with my digestive system. More than that, I enjoy cutting all that salty beef with some greens. Do yourself a favor and fix yourself a nice salad. It won't take up that much space. You'll still get your money's worth. If you're Asian like me or just crave some carbs at your meals, follow these two easy steps: get a small bowl of rice, mix in a quarter of a garlic butter ball, and voila! a very tasty accompaniment for your picanha.
(4)Yelper O.
I enjoyed the tranquility in this restaurant. The readily available staff. The salad bar is so good that I stuffed myself more with veggies and such than meat. Meats were good, don't try the fish cuz it's not worth the space in your stomach. It was dry and flavorless.
(4)Steven S.
My girlfriend and I tried this place awhile back because they offered employees of her company a significantly reduced all-you-can-eat meal. Paying full price was a bit much for my budget, but at the reduced rate of $25-ish a person, we thought it would be worth a visit. Finding this place can be a bit tricky and you're basically forced to use the valet. It's easy enough, just not my style. Once inside we were immediately seated and our friendly waiter explained the whole guachos-with-meat process to us. Our server also knew nothing about the special deal we were supposed to get, but a quick trip to his manager cleared everything right up. As others have commented, the salad bar was great. Lots of options, some familiar, some not so familiar. I liked just about everything on there, but I found a few dishes to be a little over the top and unnecessary, such as the corn paste thing which was basically mayonnaise with chunks of corn in it. However, the reason you come here is for the meat. Throughout the evening we both ended up trying just about everything that was offered to us. I found that certain meats, like the flank steak, came circling around much more often than say, the bacon-wrapped chicken or filet mignon. Understandable, but I found myself saying "no thanks" to certain gauchos a little too often in the hopes that some other chunk of skewed beast passed my table next. My girlfriend got a glass of wine, which was delicious and paired nicely with the various types of beef, but I found the whole wine list to be a little on the pricey side, even for DC standards. $11 a glass isn't horrible, but I guess they value quality of wine over it's price. Another hat tip for the service: The dude on what looked like a blind date at another table near us had some sort of cell phone from hell that had a screen brightness of 100 iPhone flashlights that never went off. He kept this terror clipped to his belt, facing outward for all in the dimly-lit restaurant to be blinded by. We asked our server to see if he could have the guy turn it off or something, and he happily obliged. We felt a little bit like "that couple" but all went well. Would I go back to Chima? Probably not, mostly because it's way out in Tysons. Did I have a good time and some tasty meat while I was there? Certainly.
(4)Shawn S.
Chima provides a "trendy/hip" lounge bar to a traditional Brazilian Steakhouse. Bring a date, bring a business partner, bring your friends. As you valet your car, and walk into the restaurant you'll normally (5-7pm) see the hip after work crowd hanging out. especially in the summer when the outside is open. Definitely get a drink at the bar, (don't get a appetizer (dinner will stuff you...) The main dining area is large, and spacious. At the table they will bring you copious amounts of MEAT. TONS OF MEAT. All kinds of Meat. did i mention meat? The salad bar also provides you your greens, and your rice/beans. They also bring you plantains, spinach... remember to use your "button" to red to STOP the meat!!!! All in all, great wines, great foods!
(4)