I am not often in the Glendale area, however, on this particular day, I’m here with a friend and we stop in to Gauchos Village for a quick lunch. It’s been years since I last visit a Brazilian churrascaria, so it is definitely time to indulge in some barbecue!
Most churrascarias I’ve been to tend to lean towards the more upscale, meaning you may feel uncomfortable bringing young children to. At Gauchos Village the atmosphere is casual where toddlers can enjoy a meal with their parents and family.
Like all churrascarias, a buffet is laid out for you to partake in some salads and hot offerings while you wait for your meat to come to the table. I especially like the grilled vegetables to eat with my barbecue, as well as the various condiments such as the jalapeno salsa, and habanero pico de gallo.
I manage to sneak a photo of the grill situated behind the buffet set up.
Very soon, the skewers of meat comes around. During lunch time there is around 10 to choose from including sirloin steak, tri tip, garlic steak, two styles of chicken, two styles of sausages, and my personal favorite — picanha, a cut you use to only find at Brazilian barbecue, but has been adopted by a few chefs around town, you may know it as culotte.
The grilled pineapple is great as a sweet ending for people like me who are not into desserts. During dinner, there is also lamb and other offerings such as chicken hearts.
Use the little wooden blocks on the table to indicate whether you want more food (green) or you want a break (red). Help your server by using the tongs provided to take the meat while he slices.
Of course, don’t miss out on the pao de quejio, a Brazilian cheesy bread made from tapioca flour. They’re crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Make sure you eat these when they’re hot, otherwise, they’re not as good. If the ones on the buffet are room temperature, ask for the piping hot ones straight from the oven, you’ll definitely taste the difference.
During lunch, the BBQ churrasco is priced at $23.95/ $27.95 brunch/ $39.95 dinner. On Fridays and Saturdays, there is live samba dancing, so make sure if you are visiting on those nights, to make a reservation! There is parking in the structure (first 90 minutes free).
Gauchos Village
135 N Maryland Ave
Glendale, CA 91206
Tel: 818-550-1430
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