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Brazilian Steakhouse Streeterville

The dining concept at Texas de Brazil is not unlike those of fellow Brazilian steakhouses in the city. An unlimited soup and salad bar awaits diners for an optional first course in the main dining room followed by rounds of tender cuts of various meats. Gaucho waiters halt in their tracks to expertly carve the numerous meat offerings upon eagle-eyeing the green side of your dining card. (The green side sends a non-verbal signal begging for more meat to come your way while the red side pleads for them to keep moving while you sink into a meat coma). If you’ve been to a Brazilian steakhouse before, you know the drill and if you haven’t, the most important thing to be prepared for is the amount of food you will consume.  

The space at the Streeterville location is a bit unorthodox with a few twists and turns down some hallways. If you are not seated in the main dining area with the salad bar, you will be making a small trek to get your first of many plates of food. Beware of the fast-walking waiters and gauchos coming around the corners and take care not to walk straight into the kitchen when heading back. Artisanal cheeses, charcuterie and various vegetables break up the expansive salad bar that includes everything from build-your-own-salad options to a delightful potato salad. It doesn’t hurt to load up on some healthy greens before diving in to succulent meats the rest of the evening. Be sure to pick up a little bowl of chimichurri sauce for dipping your protein in later too! Addictive cheesy bread rolls are constantly refreshed at your table as well and become even more delicious when dipped into the restaurant’s decadent lobster bisque. The soup’s buttery, smooth texture and soothing flavor will warm your belly and your soul as we get through these last days of a cool and dreary spring.   

As easy as it is to indulge in the seemingly endless salad bar options, it is important to pace yourself and leave plenty of room for the imminent meat sweats. It doesn’t take long to get lost in the flurry of churrascos wafting by the table and forget which cuts you have or haven’t tried yet; especially when there are 15 options between beef, pork, lamb and chicken to try. The selections can come bacon-wrapped or parmesan-crusted but the best of them are lightly seasoned and flawlessly flame-grilled. Diners can specifically choose the doneness of their red meat cuts threaded through the super-sized skewers and watch as the gauchos carve off a sliver of melt-in-your-mouth beef or lamb. Like most churrascarias, the specialty cut here is the Picanha, Brazil’s most prized cut of meat. You’ll likely find this passing by the tables in two forms: regular or garlic-seasoned. The white meats and Brazilian sausage unload from the skewers in two-bite-sized portions while a heaping plate of garlic mashed potatoes and palate-cleansing, sweet fried bananas arrive on the side of everything, in case you need more food.  

Then, if you still have room for any more, the dessert tray full of cakes, pies and other tasty treats is never far away.  

South American wine dominates the wine and spirits list sharing the red carpet with another Brazilian staple: cachaça. The sugarcane hard liquor (similar to rum), can be found in the restaurant’s signature drink (and Brazil’s national cocktail), Caipirinha but also makes an appearance in many of Texas de Brazil’s inventive cocktail offerings.  

Although the dining concept is very similar, the rodizio-style hospitality at Texas de Brazil is what makes the international chain stand out among the Brazilian steakhouse competition in the city. From the gracious waiters to the energetic gauchos, the high standards of service, knowledge and care of the guest experience is apparent and appreciated throughout.  

Dinner is more affordable than competitor’s rates around the city at just $49.99 per person (including the salad bar). Lunch on Friday afternoons is a steal at $26.99 with a slightly reduced menu. Reservations are recommended for dinner any day of the week and can be made on the website or by calling 312-595-0913. 

Texas de Brazil is located in Streeterville at 210 E Upper Illinois St in Chicago. Two other Chicagoland locations are in Schaumburg at Woodfield Mall and the newly opened location in the Orland Square Mall. The downtown Chicago hours of operation are Monday through Thursday 5-10PM; Friday 11AM–2PM and 5–10:30PM; Saturday 4–10:30PM and Sunday 4–9PM. Happy Hour is 4:30-6PM Monday through Friday featuring $3 Domestic Beers, $5 Glasses of TdB Private Label Wine, $5 Caipirinhas and Well-Cocktails and $7 Martinis. 

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