Regulars at Espetus Churrascaria say that this San Mateo restaurant serves up expertly grilled meat in the traditional Brazilian style. In fact, the Brazilian art of grilling dates back at least 300 years, to the nomadic gauchos who tended cattle herds in southern Pampas, and cooked their meals over mesquite-fueled fire pits.

Today, that same art is alive at Espetus Churrascaria. When you visit, you'll be able to taste 14 different cuts of meat, ranging from filet mignon, to top sirloin, to house-ground sausages, and more, all cut to your specifications from the restaurant's giant skewers. You'll round out your meal with a trip to the salad bar, but reviewers warn you not to get too carried away with the salad bar's many tasty options (including stewed pork, fried plantains, and more) or else you won't have room to try all the kitchen’s signature grilled meats.

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr JaggyBoss