It
was on October 13, 1998 in Addison, TX that Salim Asrawi, after living the
cattle rancher’s life in Brazil, opened his first Texas de Brazil outside of
Dallas. In ten years, Texas de Brazil has 14 locations across the country
(one in Aruba) and the 15th location due to open in Baton Rouge,
LA. That 14th location that just opened is in Las Vegas, located
in Town Square.
A churrascaria is a
Brazilian steakhouse. Churrasco is the cooking style and when churrasco is
translated from Portuguese, the meaning is similar to ‘barbecue.’ Distinctly
a South American-style rotisserie, it owes its origins to the fireside
roasts of the gauchos (South American cowboys) of southern Brazil,
traditionally from the Pampa region. Various meats were roasted over an open
pit and along with seasoned vegetables, rice and beans, the gauchos would
present their meals to their families. This was meant as a celebration as
the gauchos would carve their meat right at the table to show skill and
pride in their herd.
In
a restaurant, this is known as rodizio service where passadors (meat
waiters) come to your table with knives and a skewer, on which are speared
various kinds of meat, including beef, pork, filet mignon, lamb, chicken,
duck, venison, sausage, or fish. Some of the meats offered at Texas de
Brazil included parmesan encrusted chicken, pork tenderloin, barbecue ribs,
spicy chicken breast, lamb chops, and plain or bacon wrapped filet mignon.
Texas
de Brazil also boasts of an incredible salad bar with over 50 items
including soup (like lobster bisque), fresh vegetables, cheeses, salads,
shrimp, roasted and grilled vegetables, sushi, and smoked salmon. It also
features sides like potatoes au gratin, beans, rice, and sautéed mushrooms.
Brazilian cheese bread, garlic mashed potatoes and sweet fried bananas are
brought to your table. Along with a fully stocked bar and wine list,
Caipirinha is offered. This is Brazil's national cocktail, made with cachaca,
Brazil's most common distilled alcoholic beverage, sugar and lime. Cachaca
itself is made from sugarcane alcohol, obtained from the fermentation of
sugarcane juice which is afterwards distilled. Cachaca is similar in taste
to rum.
Then there are the
desserts. Some of the selections offered included Brazilian cheesecake made
with a layer of fudge on the bottom, caramel on the top and a graham cracker
crust. There was also chocolate mousse cake, bananas foster pie, key lime
pie, carrot cake and pecan pie.
Another nice touch at Texas
de Brazil (common in most rodizio service restaurants) is the little card
placed next to your right hand. Green means you would like to have more meat
brought to your table (you decide what cuts you want) and red means stop for
now.
The décor is a Brazilian
theme with wrought iron chandeliers, wall sconces, and handmade mirrors, all
imported from Brazil. The walls are dark red with high ceilings and exposed
steel beams. There were very large, very intricate floral arrangements
draped over the buffet and smaller arrangements throughout the restaurant. A
glass-enclosed wine cellar runs the length of the restaurant, and there are
two private dining rooms available. Also to warn you, the restroom doors
are made with VERY heavy wood and NO handle (you have to push and I do mean
push).
It is a set price of $44.99
per person and definitely for those occasions where you want to eat a lot of
meat in a very vibrant atmosphere with a lot of conversation and laughter.
The service is excellent (with many of the staff from Brazil), the food is
outstanding and this is a very fun place!
The hours are:
Hours: Monday - Thursday, 5
p.m. - 10 p.m.
Friday, 5 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Saturday, 4 p.m. - 10:30
p.m.
Sunday, 4 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Texas de Brazil
Town Square Shopping Center
6533 South Las
Vegas Blvd
Las Vegas, NV
89139
(702) 614-0080
www.texasdebrazil.com
