Vila Brazil - Irving — Restaurant in Irving

Horrible experience. Went there today to enjoy the last dinner of the year with a friend. We decided to go there to “make it special”. It was certainly special, but not in a good way. They seem to only care if you are a big party.

The place was busy which is normal. We were sat in a small wobbly table in a corner that they moved there, we asked for a different table that wasn’t wobbly and we didn’t get it, but that’s understandable because they were busy. The food was decent, not bad, but nothing out of this world either. Drink selection is very limited. A ton of different beers, tons of different wines and just 2 flavors of mixed drinks and mimosa.

The main reason for my dissatisfaction is the service. Surrounding us were 2 tables with big parties, and in a separate room they had a lot of people that seemed to be a corporate party. At first everything was normal, we were getting meat whenever they passed. However, after a few minutes, all their attention centered around the 2 big parties around us and the corporate party. We spent almost 30 minutes with empty plates just eating food from the buffet, and seeing how they brought meat and pineapple out and just gave it all to the other 2 tables and the other room. Our waitress also disappeared for long periods of time which I partially understand because of the place being busy. After around 30 minutes sitting there, the waitress finally came to ask if everything was fine, to which I told her no and explained why. She said she was going to talk to the manager and disappeared again for a long time. We are still waiting and seeing how everyone else is getting food meanwhile we are paying full price and getting less than half of what others are getting.

After several minutes we ask directly to the waitress to bring the manager to which she was…guess where? On the same table with the big party. She comes to us, we tried to explain what was going on and couldn’t even finish talking she just said she was gonna ask the guys to bring us meat. Not even an apology. By this time my mood is already sour because do I really have to ask so many times for them to bring us food that they are charging us for? So I did not want any more anyways because who likes to feel like you are begging? After a bit they finally started bringing us meat, but I personally did not want it anymore because I had no appetite at that point. My friend finished eating what they brought and then we left.

I left no tip for the first time ever, because I assume they will have plenty of tips from the people that they attended to without them having to ask. I personally go constantly to brazilian steakhouses and have never had a similar experience. I have gone to fazenda gaucha, chamas and others and service has always been excellent. Was looking forward to add this place to my list of places I go constantly to, but after this experience will never go...

We were excited to come here because we've been to the one in Richardson which was really good. This location though, not so much. We get there and get a waitress. No clue why, but she literally ignored us the whole time as we watched her continuously visit other tables numerous times even one literally right next to us. (Can't help but notice we were the only Hispanic group in the restaurant and we were the only table not getting checked up on) She only checked on us once the whole time we were there and asked if we wanted a refill on our drinks but then never came back with our refills. She, for some reason, dumped us to the manager or whoever he was (wasn't dressed as a waiter. He never introduced himself so I have no clue) and he offered to give us refills (finally). But then he would stand right next to our table just eyeing us. Really made us uncomfortable. We were sitting there wondering why our waitress is helping everyone else and this grumpy looking guy is just standing by our table table his arms crossed. The only ones who made us feel normal were the ones walking around serving the meat and I wish we could've JUST tipped them because that waitress definitely dumped us and we kept having to flag down anyone else. Food was great which is the only reason why it has 2 stars but we will never be coming here again. Richardson location is the one to go to. For God's sake we asked for a jelly topping that we are always able to get in Richardson but the manager at Irving one refused because it's only for lamb (so what. You charge for it anyway, just charge me. Its really good on all meats and I'm the paying customer) and instead gave us something we didn't want and then CHARGED US FOR IT. Waitress only came back again when it was time to give us the check (i.e. ask for a tip). We did as a courtesy but she definitely missed out on 4x as much because we hardly ever leave the house and when we do, we like to go big. But this experience ruined one of the few outings we've had since...

This review is going to take a min so just bare with me! We will start with the food, the buffet section was very disappointing!!! The hot section was not hot and the food was not completely cooked. They only had at most five kinds of meats to pick from so you had to eat what was offered. I must say that two of the meats were very good but the other three were not up to the name of the restaurant. Are you still with me because here comes the best part. When the bill finally arrives we left a tip as you should for the service but then the waitress ask if we were going to give her more!!! We looked at her and said excuse me you're asking us to leave a much larger tip than what you're receiving right now! Then the waitress said, we have to split the tips among everybody at the end of the night and we said ok and then she said " So your not going to give more?" We told that the tip we are leaving is for you and if that's how your boss divides the money that's not our problem. Ok now I'm going to do some quick math for you readers. They have 20 tables in the restaurant and if everyone left a $25 tip then they will gross $500 per hour in tips total. The restaurant is open for 10 hours and that's $5000 per day in tips split 20 ways for the workers. Stay with me now, if each person gets $250 per day and they work six days a week they will gross $1500 per week. That adds up to $6000 a month in tips working six days a week, which adds up to a grand total of $72,000 a year in tips. I'm sure some people will never see that kind of money without a degree or taking off your clothes and dancing around a pole. The moral of this post is if you want quality food and service then go to Fogo de Chow in Addison on Beltline. When you go their the wait person will not ask for more money because everything is to perfection....