New MetroWest restaurant blends Brazilian, American influences

A slice of Brazil is calling MetroWest home. 

À Brasileira Bar & Grill, located at 2417 S. Hiawassee Road, hosted its grand opening Jan. 17. The restaurant combines the American dining concept of a sports bar with Brazilian cuisine. Owner Maciel Boghi said he chose to open À Brasileira in MetroWest because of the large Brazilian population in the area. He hopes the sports-bar theme will attract sports fans and customers of all cultures who may be new to Brazilian food. 

“Our plans are to serve our community here in MetroWest,” Boghi said. “We are planning to show all soccer games, NBA games and NFL (games). … We want to show the locals a little part of Brazil.”

Boghi said in addition to soccer, basketball and football games, À Brasileira also will show UFC fighting events. 

The Brazilian sports bar has been operating under a soft opening since late December and is serving a limited menu of sandwiches, salads small plates and various drinks. In February, the restaurant also will include an all-you-can eat buffet, and later, Boghi plans to add different weekly and weekend specials for lunch and dinner, he said.

“We have many types of Brazilian appetizers,” he said. “In February, if things are ready, we intend to open like an all-you-can-eat buffet for lunch — something like from a Brazilian steakhouse.”

From picanha and polenta fries to bacalhau and yucca cakes, À Brasileira serves a wide variety of classic Brazilian small plates alongside a full liquor bar. The restaurant also serves familiar fare such as ribs, wings and French fries — but with a Brazilian twist, Boghi said.

“(We have) some Brazilian sandwiches,” Boghi said. “(Later) we’ll have more plates for lunch like rice, beans (and) meat. … We also have wings á passarinho.”

Boghi added he wanted to bring a piece of Brazil to Orlando with his restaurant. He said one of his goals is to give local Brazilians a taste of home and give locals of other cultures a taste of Brazil.

“We need to show the locals a little part of Brazil,” Boghi said of his restaurant. “It’s a little piece of Brazil in Orlando.”