Is Rio Brazilian Steakhouse worth the price? Our review

Impressively, it has topped TripAdvisor's list of registered restaurants in Warrington for most of that time.

Boasting traditional Brazilian barbecued food, the steakhouse always piques interest because of its unique offering.

Despite all that, there is one sticking point that will always rear its head: the price.

The meat is all barbecued in-house and can be cooked however you like, whether that's rare or well done (Image: Rio Brazilian Steakhouse)

Putting it simply, dining at Rio is not a cheap experience, and that - reasonably so - can be off-putting.

Why fork out hard-earned cash for something that you might not enjoy? That's a reasonable question to ask.

Well, ask no more - in recognition of the restaurant being in the Old Marketplace for six months, I headed down there to see what all the fuss is about.

It should be said that I did eat at Rio on its opening night, but I felt they should have the chance to address any teething problems that may have cropped up.

This is our review.

The salad bar is a solid starting point at Rio (Image: Rio Brazilian Steakhouse)

From the off, it's clear that Rio is not your usual restaurant - the glossy floors and walls, combined with modern decor, give the vibe of an eatery that wouldn't go amiss if it was among the trendy bars and restaurants on Deansgate.

The staff at Rio cannot be praised highly enough - when waiting staff tell you that nothing is too much trouble, they really do mean it.

All the servers are on hand to explain the way that the dining 'experience' at Rio works; when you're seated you have a two-sided card - green side up means 'Yes, I'd like some meat, please' whereas red side up means 'I'm just having a break and don't want more meat at the moment.'

Simple: if you want more meat, leave the green side up.

There are greens on offer, too, if a plate full of meat doesn't tickle your fancy - Rio boasts the only salad bar that has ever turned my head, which is no mean feat.

Salad staples aside, the salad bar has roasted rosemary potatoes, focaccia bread, cured meats, cheeses, rice, stuffed peppers, and so much more to tickle the tastebuds.

My piece of advice? If you want to be cost-effective, don't let the impressive salad bar overwhelm you.

If you want your money's worth, only have as much rice or potatoes as you need - don't over face yourself with the salad options.

I'll come clean at this point: if I eat at a restaurant, I will never order a steak. 

I think steak is overrated and overpriced, and is an excuse for restaurants to rip most of us off.

How wrong I was with this attitude at Rio.

Some of the cuts of meat that are included at the restaurant are: fillet steak, sirloin, rump, and skirt - as well as 'special' cuts that vary; when I visited, it was chilli beef.

Not only beef is available, however - chicken wings, boneless barbecued chicken, pork belly, sausages, pigs in blankets, gammon and pineapple, and minted lamb are all on offer, too.

I have never seriously used the phrase 'melt in the mouth' before, but I'll make an exception for this review.

The meat is carved for you at your table (Image: Rio Brazilian Steakhouse)

Every piece of meat was cooked to perfection, and I can honestly say I had some of the best steak I have ever had - it was also the first time I tried fillet steak, and it was an eye-opener.

Speaking as someone who prefers chicken to beef, Rio is a strong contender for 'Best Chicken' in my opinion.

There's something about barbecued chicken with crispy skin that is just so right.

Look at this video the restaurant posted online and then tell me it doesn't look good.

Staff are always on hand to provide assistance, and the servers often check in with how the food is - as well as asking if there are any particular cuts of meat that you'd like to try.

Which, in theory, means you could visit Rio and ask for fillet steak over and over and over to your heart's content - but that's only if you want to maximise the cost-effective nature of your visit.

Lots of eyebrows were raised when Rio first opened in Warrington; how quickly would the novelty of meat carved at the table wear off? Would the price put people off? Why not just go to a normal steakhouse?

There are very few times in life that I will accept that something is worth the money, but I'd say that a trip to Rio Brazilian Steakhouse is one of those times.

I make no bones about the fact it is an expensive visit. It is, and there's no hiding from that.

But if you think about the sheer volume of quality food that you are served - and yes, it is 'all you can eat' - then any trip would work out cheaper than ordering a similar quantity at a 'normal' steakhouse.

The minted lamb is one of the restaurant's specialities (Image: Rio Brazilian Steakhouse)

Nobody would suggest that you visit somewhere like Rio every other day, it is not that kind of experience.

But as a treat, or for a special occasion, or even just to celebrate this month's pay day, I can safely say that a trip to Rio Brazilian Steakhouse is worth the money, and you will not be disappointed.

There's also a dessert menu, but I didn't make it that far.