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VIA BRASIL—An Authentic Brazilian Steakhouse
V
ia Brasil is a tried and true Brazilian steakhouse that has been open for a year and a half in the easy to reach area of South Summerlin on Fort Apache Road and West Charleston. It is an authentic ‘Churrascaria’ that delights your palette with scrumptious and succulent meats served on wooden skewers—the way the gauchos of South America prepared their meats over slow roasting fires for hundreds of years. It is absolutely terrific!!! We have been to many restaurants in South America, and this one made us feel as if we were dining at one of its finest!
The wait staff is 85% Brazilian, and many have come from its other and original location in New York City. This is not just another Brazilian restaurant—it is a uniquely created place for relaxing over a long and never rushed dinner! The interior is very South American modern, and lifts your spirits from the moment you enter its doors, you feel the ambiance and hear the sounds of live musicians who play gentle jazz with Brazilian overtones—classical acoustic guitar, saxophone and electric guitars are background music that transports you into the wondrous world of the true South America. A background waterfall glass wall adds to the calming mood and you feel like slow dancing to the beats of the bossa nova. It is very elegant—but you can dress in any manner that suits your mood—from casual to elegant.
Via Brasil offers a ‘Rodizio’—with a prix-fixed that features over 16 meats and delicacies that arrive at your table by gallant waiters. Please, sample a Caipirinha, which is the national cocktail of Brazil. It has overtones of a mojito—but is in a class of its own! Delicious!!!! It is a blending of Brazilian rum (Cachaca) mixed with fresh limes, sugar, and served to unbeatable perfection.
As you are seated in the special world, Via Brasil’s captains who explain the traditions of the food, formally greet you, and explain how it will be served to the table. You are even given small discs—green on one side—green for go—and the meats will start coming by for your selection. On the other side is red—for stop—so you may get up and choose from an unbeatable and gourmet salad bar or just to rest yourself for a bit.
The most wonderful part of the experience is that your dining is uninterrupted by continuous “can I get you anything?” meaningless gestures—here, the pride of the restaurant experience is to make you a highly regarded guest. The salad bar holds such delicacies as grilled Portobello mushrooms, seafood salad, mussels, beef carpaccio, fine cheeses, hot dishes and many more daily chosen delights, even mushroom ravioli. Remember, South America has a large Italian population, especially in Brazil, Argentina, and Venezuela. The Italian influence on these countries on the eastern portion of South America is decidedly obvious and the entire meal is totally continental. Large families are easily accommodated in the spacious restaurant; so do consider this place for a great family occasion—or just a get-together with friends and relations or dating experiences.
  
Beef, pork, fish are all cooked to your desire. Taking your time to slowly sample and digest this traditional feast might leave you room for a special dessert.
Via Brasil offers special event catering in their private dining room and has facilities for presentations with event capabilities. A wedding, a business presentation, a baby shower, a birthday celebration, a day for just the two of you—all can be handled by their veteran and accommodating Brazilian staff.
Leandro Tavares is the head Captain. He is a man who will make you feel like a very special guest as you enter the doors of Via Brasil. Marcolo Burgos, who has spent ten years as a chef, comes from Sao Paulo, and hand selects the meats and produce for each day’s meals. Lucio Viana, is from Belo Horizonto, and has served as a chef for the past five years. Luiz Gomes and Adam Gomes are the owners of this sensational restaurant that premiered several years back (1999) in New York City. The South American style of pride in being in the restaurant business is evident in the care of each detail (whether it be the food, design, or treatment of its clientele) that makes Via Brasil stand out from all the rest of the newly popular Brazilian restaurants in Las Vegas.
  
During the next two months, the patio will re-open with a mini-rodizio for a happy hour and a chance to breathe the fresh air of this location. The patio sits high above the streets below, and makes one feel that they are in an outdoor plaza in Brazil.
Locals, visitors (it is but several minutes from the Strip hotels), will enjoy the easy access to this superb and relaxing restaurant par excellence.
After a three-hour repast, and some of the finest espresso coffee and deserts we have consumed, we slowly danced our way out through doors as the bossa nova beat enveloped our very essence of the moment.
Dinner is served daily. Rodizio; Vegetarian’s Delight; Children’s Menu; and Lunch is served from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Happy Hour rodizio is served upon the patio or in the bar area with fresh meats and beverages.
Viva—Viva—Viva—Via Brasil!!!!
Via Brasil is located at: 1225 South Fort Apache Road (Ft. Apache/West Charleston), telephone is (702) 804-1400, and can be seen on its Web site www.viabrasilsteakhouse.com.
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©2010 Lucille Thaler and Tony Zanoff
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