In town for the day, had an appt at MedVet. Wanted a quick late lunch before heading back home. 1st choice was a foccacia sandwich place but they are closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
So we pivoted and discovered Brazilian Grill and Bakery which was a quick 6 mile drive away from the vet's office. 1/2 grocery store, 1/2 restaurant/bakery. The entrance is the door to the grocery store side and the restaurant is on the other side. You can either order from the menu, get the all you can eat buffet, or get food from the buffet and pay per pound.
The staff were ALL very nice and helpful. It is a little confusing, do we seat ourselves? Do we pay first? Before we start getting food from the buffet, do we tell someone? Basically, just ask, which is what I did. Everyone is super friendly.
We got the buffet (plates and silverware are on the left side). There is a salad bar, awesome potato salad and the hot section had fried chicken breast, white rice, black and red beans, a beef stew w/ potatoes (really good, meat was fall off the bone tender; I would have gone back for more if i had stomach room), maduros (sweet plaintains--so good), a cheesy potato dish, pastels (looks like an empanada), fries, and a few other hot dishes. The skewered meats, they bring from the grill and slice off the skewers onto a plate: Picanha,?top sirloin, sausage, chicken hearts. We tried a little bit of everything and he put it all on one plate for my partner and I to share. There were 2 sauces you can spoon onto your plate: a white ?garlicky one and a spicy red one. The foods were labeled, but not in English (or at least I didn't see any signs in English?).
The meats were all flavorful and fantastic!!! The sausage taste was not what I expected; it was very good but definitely different than an American brat or Italian sausage.
We went on a Monday around 330 pm. There were a few people eating, but not crowded at all (which was great!); everyone that came in/out spoke Portuguese, so definitely a popular place for locals to frequent! A lot of people walked away with bags of bread!!
In the refrigerated bakery area, there were all kinds of cakes, mini flans, Tres leches, different flavored mousse (passionfruit, strawberry) and a chocolate coconut cake (we took this to go, along with a flan and tres leches to try at home).
There is also a hot bread section, with the popular little cheese bites, coxinhas (looks like a tear drop shaped arancini/round croquette) and other savory fried foods (I Google imaged Brazilian street food and found a great chart with pictures and names). OR just ask! Everyone was super helpful and patient (with the token Asian girl who wanted to know what everything was). And there is a rack of different breads/cake? wrapped in styrofoam and saran wrap -- i wish I knew what they were, but some looked like big squares of corn bread. Everything looked delicious.
There are a lot of employees so I imagine it can get very busy. The young man who checked us out mentioned there is live music on Thursday (or Friday?) nights.
Oh, I forgot, when they 'ring you up' at the end of the buffet line, they give you a card with a number on it. If you buy anything from the bakery, they will add it to your 'card', which you present to the register on the grocery store side, to pay.
I've only been to the large Brazilian restaurant chains (Fogo de Chao, Texas de Brazil, etc). This place is a great local and authentic restaurant; I loved seeing so many Portuguese-speaking patrons.
I will definitely come back to try everything I didn't have room for AND to try the bread everyone kept...
Read moreI was passing through and heard about this place. I lived in Brazil for 3.5 years, so this was a really special find. I walked in and got such a nostalgic feeling. I will admit that Saraga has some of the same items for a bit cheaper, but it was still worth it to come here because of the bakery/restaurant. They had my FAVORITE street food, pastel! Close your eyes and imagine: a Hot Pocket, but fried with a thin, flaky crust....that is the wonder that is pastel, and it did not disappoint. Crispy and hot on the outside and the cheese was all melty and wonderful inside. I saw that there are a couple negative reviews, but as I read them, I think they are simply misunderstandings of the food itself or how things work in Brazil. As someone who has lived there and is fluent in Portuguese, it was exactly how I expected. For the pastel, yes, you want there to be sufficient filling, but it's supposed to be airy too, not jam-packed or busting out the seams like an actual Hot Pocket. Because they are fried, you don't want to overfill it or it could burst and fill up with oil, which would be yucky. I thought it was super authentic...brought back a lot of memories.🫶🏻🇧🇷 And for those complaining about the price when you weigh the food, that's how most buffets in Brazil work.. Same as a lot of froyo places here. You'd be surprised how much food actually weighs, especially if you get a lot of rice and beans. Sometimes in Brazil, I'd get sticker shock myself at the buffet checkout. But just because it's not what we're used to doesn't make it wrong. It's just a different way of doing things, and you learn after that first time to only get what you really really want. Still, I can see how paying by weight could be off-putting here in the States. If it were me, I'd probably just go to one of the Brazilian steakhouses so I could get whatever I want, but still know upfront what I...
Read moreI recently had the pleasure of dining at Brazilian Grill, and it was an exceptional experience from start to finish. The restaurant offers an authentic Brazilian churrascaria experience that’s both unique and unforgettable.
From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was warm and inviting. The décor is elegant yet comfortable, capturing the vibrant spirit of Brazilian culture. The staff greeted us with friendly smiles and were incredibly attentive throughout our meal.
The food was absolutely phenomenal. The selection of meats was extensive, all cooked to perfection and served straight from the skewer. Each cut was juicy, flavorful, and seasoned just right. The salad bar was also impressive, featuring a variety of fresh vegetables, cheeses, and traditional Brazilian dishes.
One of the highlights was the continuous tableside service. The gauchos came around frequently with different cuts of meat, and they were happy to accommodate any specific requests we had. It was a delight to try so many different flavors in one sitting.
The drinks were excellent as well. We enjoyed some traditional Brazilian cocktails, like caipirinhas, which were expertly mixed and complemented the meal perfectly. 🍹
Overall, Brazilian Grill is the perfect place for a special occasion or just a great night out with friends and family. The combination of delicious food, outstanding service, and a lively atmosphere made for an unforgettable dining experience. I loved every moment of it and can’t wait to...
Read more