Amor de Brazil Steakhouse

Definitive culinary experience awaits diners at this authentic establishment

Like so many things Americans – or more succinctly, North Americans – claim as their own, grilling is a tradition that other cultures perfected long before the United States was even a twinkle in our founding fathers’ eyes. Fortunately, to capture the essence of true grilling, you don’t have to travel to Europe or South America. The real deal is as close as Amor de Brazil Steakhouse in Matthews.

Opened in May 2012 by co-owners Almir Abraao (a native of Rio de Janeiro) and Antonio Soto, Amor de Brazil (www.amordebrazil.us) offers Charlotte foodies more than just an authentic bite of churrasco cuisine. The airy, inviting dining room, immaculate salad bar and convivial cocktail lounge hum to a lively Latin soundtrack, complemented by a well-stocked wine room, whose extensive selections blissfully pair with everything from starters to desserts. But the highlight of the evening dining experience is the cadre of strolling gauchos, who receive at least one month’s training in order to marry the art of tableside service with the craft of meat preparation and presentation to form an intricate dance that satisfied diners, whether first-time customers or loyal patrons, cannot help but applaud.

The place still has that “new restaurant” feel, but everything is being done to offer the growing clientele an authentic churrascaria experience, says Amor’s co-floor manager Leila Lima, who gave me the grand tour. “We try to be loyal to the Brazilian ambience,” she notes. “When people walk through the door, we want them to feel as if they’re in a different place, as if they’re in South America. We’re getting there, step by step.”

One thing that needs no further tweaking is the food. “We don’t use sauces. We don’t use meat tenderizers. It’s all in the way we carve the meat. The same piece of meat sliced in a certain way changes the flavor and the texture."

The “fresh or nothing” caveat carries over to the sumptuous salad bar, whose dinner offerings include black beans, rice, baked salmon, mussels, seafood salad, an ample array of cheese and cold cuts, plus Brazilian cheese bread and, occasionally, fried polenta. The daily fare and subtle preparations allow diners to savor the intricacies of each ingredient.

Dinner is $33.95 prix fixe per person for all-you-can-eat salad bar and 15 varieties of cooked-to-order meat that includes sirloin steak, pork, lamb, chicken and Brazilian sausage. Save room, if you can, for dessert. Authentic Brazilian passion fruit mousse, papaya crème and flan, as well as gringo faves such as lava or mousse cake and key lime pie are all scratch-made and delicious.

The restaurant recently began opening for lunch. Wednesday-night happy hour features live music, courtesy of Linda and Luiz Lins, whose samba and bossa-nova melodies will transport you to Rio. So, if it’s the true flavor of South America you’re after, make a reservation at Amor de Brazil Steakhouse. A sia saide!

*Amor de Brazil is located at 2225 Matthews Township Pkwy in Matthews.