VIRGINIA'S FIRST TEXAS DE BRAZIL BRAZILIAN STEAKHOUSE TO DEBUT THIS SUMMER AT REGENCY SQUARE
Released: 12/07/05
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
VIRGINIAS FIRST TEXAS DE BRAZIL BRAZILIAN STEAKHOUSE
TO DEBUT THIS SUMMER AT REGENCY SQUARE
RICHMOND, Va., Dec. 7, 2005 Texas de Brazil, a Dallas-based Brazilian steakhouse chain, has chosen Regency Square for its first mid-Atlantic location.
"We really like being in a market like Richmond," says Salim Asrawi, chief operating officer for Texas de Brazil, which already has seven upscale restaurants in the western and southern U.S. as well as one in Aruba. "We studied the demographics, and we thought Regency Square was an ideal location for such a fine dining experience."
An authentic Brazilian churrascaria (steakhouse), Texas de Brazil will debut this summer at Regency Square and then open a second Virginia location in Fairfax.
Regency Square's 10,000-square foot, fixed-price, sit-down restaurant will combine the cuisine of Southern Brazil with the generous spirit of Texas, according to Asrawi. Gaucho-clad servers will parade around with sword-like skewers speared with sumptuous meats prepared over an open-flame grill, a technique perfected in Brazil by gauchos (cowboys) cooking over a campfire.
At any point in the meal diners can turn their green cards to signal servers to slice new entrees -- such as Angus beef, pork, lamb, chicken and sausage -- at their tables. Guests can eat their selections in any order at their own pace. Meats, including the house-specialty Brazilian picanha (the top portion of the sirloin and filet mignon) and leg of lamb, come with garlic mashed potatoes and sweet fried bananas to cleanse the palate between each sampling.
"Each visit is a continuous cultural lesson," Asrawi explains. "Our servers bring the foods just as they do in a Brazilian churrascaria."
The 300-plus seat restaurant also boasts an award-winning 50-item salad bar with homemade salad dressings, artisan breads, imported cheeses, imported salamis, tuna, Brazilian hearts of palm, jasmine rice, soup and more. And just as they do in Brazil, many of the high-end ingredients come straight from local farms and gardens.
The Regency Square location will also house Texas de Brazil's second "butcher block," an area featuring rotisserie chicken, grilled vegetables and other delights.
Dinners cost $39.99 for adults, $19.99 for children ages 7-12. Meals for children 6 and younger are free. Salad bar only for adults costs $29.99, $14.99 for the younger set. Although the restaurant will serve only dinners at first, it will begin serving lunch for about $25 per person within a month of the opening. Desserts, drinks and alcohol cost extra.
"When you consider how outstanding the service is and how unique and fresh all of the food is, you're getting a lot for your money," Asrawi notes. "It's a true fine-dining experience." The restaurant will open with 75 employees.
Diners will experience the Texas influence in everything from limitless food portions to decor -- which incorporates tree-sized floral arrangements, extra-tall red walls, grand chandeliers and rich wood tables -- and a wine cellar filled with more than 700 varietals.
Private rooms make it an ideal location for corporate meetings or romantic dinners.
"What a wonderful addition to Regency Square and the Richmond area!" observes Noelynn Koo, Regency Square marketing & sponsorship director. "Not only is this a great place to get a fantastic meal, but diners will be entertained and will learn about Brazilian food to boot."
Regency Square, located at Parham and Quioccasin roads off I-64 (South Exit 181A) in Richmond's West End, features 110 shops and restaurants along with Hecht's, JCPenney and Sears. Shopping hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. See what's in store, in style, on sale at www.shopregencysqmall.com.
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