This is a great restaurant to go to for fine dining. You can treat yourself to authentic Brazilian food and they have a buffet for people like me who have a hard time making up their minds what they want to eat. They’re tech savvy as well. You can make a reservation online and even view a video of their restaurant and get a snake peek at the food cooking in the kitchen.

Porto Alegre Churrascaria is a Brazilian steakhouse, but they also have a fantastic salad bar. Beef, steak, chicken, pork, quail, turkey, lamb, and duck are just some of the meats on offer. Prices are a bit steep, but the quality more than makes up for it. If you’re on a budget, go online and look at their exclusive offers. Never hurts to save money. They have a great ambience going that will make you reluctant to leave. You’ll fall in love with the décor the moment you step in the door.

The salad bar deserves a rave of its own. Gotta try the salmon. It’ll melt in your mouth. There are heaps of choices and with four rows full of salad goodies, you’ll definitely find something you like. The asparagus is sweet, there are clams, calamari and other seafood, as well as the unexpected, such as fried bananas. It’s $35 a person, but money well spent.

Porto Alegre Churrascaria
www.portoalegre-churrascaria.com
(626) 744-055
260 E Colorado Blvd
Pasadena, CA 91101
Mon-Fri 11.30am to 2.30pm
Mon-Thu 5 to 10pm
Fri-Sat 5 to 11pm

The World Cup got you craving some honest-to-goodness Brazilian food? Want to eat like Ronaldinho does? Then come to A Taste of Brazil. The food is delicious and you can get exotic fruit juices, such as guarana or passion fruit, to go with your meal as well. Don’t forget the dessert- the flan and maracuya mousse are pretty popular and rightly so. Well-known for beef and steak, if you want a thick, juicy steak, then be sure to try the milanesa steak. You’ll get some potatoes on the side as well. Plantains are another popular side and are a nice change for the regular soup and salad that you get at many restaurants.

While the portions are so large that you will probably end up going home with a doggie bag or two. If that’s not enough, you can take some of this wonderful food home with you because they also have a Brazilian market with some goods available, such as their chourico sausages.

Latin America is known for its laid-back, “tranquilo” view on life, so don’t expect fast service, though the servers are friendly enough. Sit back, relax, and enjoy your dining experience. Take in the sights, sounds, and smells that A Taste of Brazil has to offer. They occasionally have a guitarist that plays and sings Brazilian as well as American music, so chances are you’ll be lingering over your meal.

A Taste of Brazil
www.atasteofbrazil.com
4840 S Huntington Dr
Los Angeles, CA 90032
(323) 342-9422

Cafe Brasil is a small, quaint, cozy, delicious, and well run little gem on Venice blvd. in West LA. The staff is friendly, the food is rich in flavor, ingredients, and variety. This friday night my sister and I went to taste their fares with the assistance of a Restaurant.com coupon for $25. Unfortunately, we ended up in the wrong restaurant – but it ended up being a taste bud blessing from God.

Stuffing my face

We originally meant to go to the restaurant Bamboo restaurant which is right next door. We had the fortunate pleasure of going to Cafe Brasil by accident. After reviewing the menu I was immediately impressed. There are dishes I’ve never seen before.

Tlapia fish with rice and black beans

We ordered what seemed like a lot of food, but what ended up being the perfect amount. We ordered:

Tlapia - it didnt appear on the menu but must have been on the specials (which I didnt see). It came with rice and black beans. ($15.95)
Soup of the day – vegetable soup that was thick, tasty, and fresh. ($4.45)
Risoli - shaped crust prepared with buttermilk, flour stuffed with beef and lightly deep friend. ($2.00)
Drink – St Tropez – Grenadine & Fresh Lemonade (beverage of the gods)
Salad – fresh garden salad with a 1/4 lemon and sweet mustardy dressing

Below is Cafe Brasil’s fabulous menu:

what an incredible menu

So check out:

Cafe Brasil
The Real Homemade Meal

10831 Venice Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90034
Tel: (310)-837-8957

Open Every Day
11 AM to 10 PM

Catering and take out available

***** / ***** (5 out of 5 stars)

More pictures (taken may 14, 2010):