A birthday dinner for Chi at Texas de Brazil was my first experience at a Brazilian steakhouse-churrascaria-rodizio pit, despite the fact that Yolie's on Paradise Road has been doing it in Vegas for years and similar restaurants have popped up recently on the Strip and in the 'burbs. Somehow it didn't sound all that appealing: loads of grilled meat piled on your plate as you fight to keep up. More specifically, I was worried that in Vegas, this concept would assdrop into a glorified buffet, with quality falling behind on the priority list. But, Chi said this shit was good, so off we went to Town Square just south of the Strip.
Texas de Brazil has locations in eight states, but the decor and service of this restaurant doesn't scream franchise. It was much more finely appointed than I assumed; I guess I just thought it'd be a warehouse with giant tables and guys running around with great slabs of beef to distribute. Not really like that. It's warm, appropriately communal, a little loud/rowdy, but it fits. And the service was very good, particularly from our guy who offered sound advice on ordering a mid-range Malbec to wash down these meats.
The salad bar offered a colorful array of vegetables in various preparations, cheeses, grains, lobster bisque, smoked salmon squares and other little tasties. In fact, everything was good enough to take up more plate space than salad should. But I had barely started and not had a sip of wine before those meats started coming, carried on huge skewers fresh from the pit and carved by dudes in funny pants. Filet mignon. Garlic sirloin. Parmesan-crusted pork loin and chicken legs. Chicken wrapped in bacon. Brazilian sausages, whatever those are. Lamb chops. Leg of lamb (which will now forever be known as Dinosaur Leg). More beef. Lots of beef.
The best bits were the sirloin and the Dinosaur Leg. A huge chunk of slow roasted meat on a fuckin' sword allows for you to get a perfectly tender, rare chunk alongside a crispy-grilled piece from the outside of the beast all in one serving. It's a good way to be.
It's hard to believe there might be a churrascaria in Vegas better than this, but after allowing a few months to go by for proper digestion, we'll see for ourselves.
Texas de Brazil has locations in eight states, but the decor and service of this restaurant doesn't scream franchise. It was much more finely appointed than I assumed; I guess I just thought it'd be a warehouse with giant tables and guys running around with great slabs of beef to distribute. Not really like that. It's warm, appropriately communal, a little loud/rowdy, but it fits. And the service was very good, particularly from our guy who offered sound advice on ordering a mid-range Malbec to wash down these meats.
The salad bar offered a colorful array of vegetables in various preparations, cheeses, grains, lobster bisque, smoked salmon squares and other little tasties. In fact, everything was good enough to take up more plate space than salad should. But I had barely started and not had a sip of wine before those meats started coming, carried on huge skewers fresh from the pit and carved by dudes in funny pants. Filet mignon. Garlic sirloin. Parmesan-crusted pork loin and chicken legs. Chicken wrapped in bacon. Brazilian sausages, whatever those are. Lamb chops. Leg of lamb (which will now forever be known as Dinosaur Leg). More beef. Lots of beef.
The best bits were the sirloin and the Dinosaur Leg. A huge chunk of slow roasted meat on a fuckin' sword allows for you to get a perfectly tender, rare chunk alongside a crispy-grilled piece from the outside of the beast all in one serving. It's a good way to be.
It's hard to believe there might be a churrascaria in Vegas better than this, but after allowing a few months to go by for proper digestion, we'll see for ourselves.
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