‘He brings a Brazilian buzz’: Brazilian steakhouse ready to welcome Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimarães

Is it us, or has it suddenly got a lot more tropical on Quayside?

Whilst Newcastle United's January transfer business was shrewd with wise Premier League players in Chris Wood, Dan Burn and Matt Targett arriving to bolster the squad, Eddie Howe did also make a bit of a spicier signing.

Brazilian Bruno Guimarães also put pen to paper for The Magpies in January and a Brazilian fervour has swept over United fans.

The exciting midfielder joined from French outfit Lyon, but was born in Rio de Janeiro.

Rio may be nearly 6,000 miles away from Newcastle, but Bruno won't have to look too far to find a home away from home on Tyneside.

RIO steakhouse in Jesmond and on the Quayside provides an authentic Brazilian dining experience that has seen it heralded by TripAdvisor as one of the country's best restaurants.

Guests at RIO see meat carved right in front of their eyes with an all you can eat style system that sees visitors travel from around the country to visit.

Speaking to NewcastleWorld Co-Founder and Managing Director Rodrigo Duarte welcomed Bruno in the city.

Rodrigo himself was born in Brazil and started Rio's as a passion project to bring his homeland to the UK.

He said: " I am super excited to see Newcastle welcome fellow Brazilian Bruno Guimarães to the club - it brings a Brazilian Buzz to The Toon in more ways than one!

"With RIO headed up by Brazilian gaucho chefs and the meats being served up in our churassco way, real Feijoada and Pao de Queijo cheese breads there’s really no other taste like home in Newcastle that can compare!

"We are looking forward to seeing what he can do for the team and if there’s any time he wants to come for a meal on us we would be delighted to give him a real warm RIO welcome.”

When NewcastleWorld visited RIO last year, Rodrigo explained his mission behind the restaurants.

He said: "All my life I lived a history of steakhouses and how to do barbecues, growing up on a farm in Brazil.

"You’ll have heard of loads of other Brazilian steakhouses but we take it to the maximum of detail.

"When we opened it wasn’t for profits, it was to be proud and bring my traditional ways."

RIO initially just had one site in Jesmond, but recently opened a second location on the Quayside.

NewcastleWorld went to the new location's launch and was bowled over by the experience.