Jim and Nancy do not disclose the fact that they will review a restaurant before they attend, ensuring their reviews are unbiased and uninfluenced by their position with the Sun Day.
You are seated in an upscale restaurant. Your hand slowly reaches over to a marker on your table. You slowly turn it from the red to the green side. This immediately unleashes a steady stream of Gauchos running over to you with selections of meat impaled on three foot long swords. The name of this carnivore’s dream is the Texas de Brazil Churrascaria in Schaumburg.
Texas de Brazil Churrascaria
5 Woodfield Mall – Suite D312
Schaumburg 60173
(847)413-1600
www.texasdebrazil.com
Directions: Take 47 south to 90 east to 53 south to Woodfield Mall.
Estimated Travel Time: 35 minutes
On a recent Saturday evening, we went out with some friends to try this restaurant in the Woodfield Mall. We have now graduated from strip malls to shopping malls. Texas de Brazil is a huge, elegantly decorated restaurant with the capacity to hold 312 people. Think of it as a “Brazilian Buffet” with a twist.
The waiter brought over our usual iced teas and a basket of what looked like little bread balls. These sinfully delicious warm morsels of chewy Parmesan bread are absolutely addicting. We dare you to eat just one!
First things first, off to the salad bar. It was the mother of all salad bars, having no less than 50 selections. Some of the “not to miss” items are: Lobster Bisque, sautéed mushrooms, shrimp, smoked salmon, artisan cheeses, and enough varieties of veggies to satisfy the fussiest herbivore (even Nancy).
Before our meat eating frenzy begins, the waiter brought a bowl of garlic mashed potatoes and a plate of sweet fried bananas, OMG! The bananas were prepared with a hint of cinnamon and sugar and served warm and gooey, so there will be no dessert for Jim tonight. Poor baby.
Let the show begin…. Every place setting is given a round cardboard marker with a red side and a green side. When Nancy turned it to the green side, young men in Gaucho pants came running over to her. She had a hot flash and was speechless! I was speechless because each Gaucho carried a sword with one of the 16 varieties of meats which they carve and serve to you. This routine is repeated throughout the meal. If you want more meat, just turn the marker to green. Here again are some of the items that shouldn’t be overlooked: filet mignon, Brazilian sausage, chicken breast wrapped in bacon and seasoned flank steak.
The meats are cooked “Churrasco” style, which means on a rotisserie over charcoal and seasoned to perfection. Each sword has rare, medium, and well-done temperatures to satisfy every taste. If not, they will cook it to order and come running back to your table. WARNING: Don’t be too fussy, they are carrying swords!
This is a place where you have to pace yourself by carrying on a conversation between the meat barrages. We were amazed at the high quality and flavor of all the offerings.
The precos (pricing) is as follows: Dinner is $45.99, salad alone is $24.99
Lunch is $24.99, salad alone is $19.99
Our total bill was $108.20. Yes it’s a bit pricey, but well worth it!
FYI: This restaurant is handicap accessible.
Jim’s take: I ate enough to satisfy an entire third world nation. The sausage and filet were my favorites. Don’t try the red and green marker at home, it doesn’t work!
Nancy’s take: Jim is more a carnivore than I am, but tonight I went for the meat just to get those men in Gaucho pants to come and see me. I adored the bananas, lobster bisque, and bread balls.
Men, for your own safety, DO NOT TRY THE “MARKER” SYSTEM AT HOME!
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