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Categories: Sandwiches, Breakfast & Brunch, Pizza [Edit]
Neighborhood: Montrose"I could eat there every day.... I love Frank's. Fortunately, it's a long walk, or I'd eat there every day and weigh 800 pounds. Ideally I'd…" read more »
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I'm going to keep this short because there are already tons of reviews that explain how good Brasil is! I have been for both dinner and breakfast now, and both were exceptional. The potatoes at breakfast are great, and have just a bit of a kick to them. The staff is friendly and helpful, and it was not so busy either time that I felt crowded or had to wait too long.
I'll definitely be back. =)
This past weekend I flew into Houston for a short visit to retrieve my belongings from storage and to hug Ashlee M. In our effort to avoid the storage unit as long as possible, because who likes packing anyway, my wonderful friend suggested we do a little (okay a lot) of shopping, eating and boozing, and what better area than Montrose, mine and her old hood... *tear*...
After Edin & Duo, I was feeling famished, and parched.. and I needed a grilled cheese and beer, immediately. So we cross the street and hit up Brasil.
Aside from the bitchy woman at the counter and the slowest service in the history of my life, I really liked this place and am pissed I didn't make it a regular spot when I lived 3 minutes away. We both ordered the grilled cheese, but me being somewhat impulsive, okay who am I kidding, impulsive is my middle name.. I failed to read the entirety of the ingredients of the sandwich because I guess I was just expecting cheese, on bread, and maybe a tomato.. I failed to see that it included Pesto, which I kind of hate. It gives you dragon breath for days and can ruin anything if there is too much, and let me tell you.. there was WAY too much.. I was eating like an anorexic, picking and pulling the shit apart. It would have been delicious has they nixed that topping though. Anyway, I washed that down with the tomato and fennel soup, which was superb, and of course, Framboise lambic, my favorite pretentious beverage.
We sat outside on the patio, which was fantastic. Outdoor seating is my 4th favorite thing in the world, especially when there are trees blocking the sun, good weather and hipsters to make fun of. All 3 of those things can be found here.
Sadly, that's all I got to try, but if and when I am back in my favorite shopping area of H-town, I will certainly pop in to try more of the deliciousness everyone else has written about.
Came here with TraceyT. I was starving for junk food after a late night at work, and just got a pepperoni pizza...simple. It was good...nothing special...no magic goat cheese or anything...just good...and a very good price. Like $8 for a pretty good sized personal pizza, that only a pig like me could down in one sitting...and still finish off a big bottle of Chimay Reserve on the side. Food and beer and price...all good. The dough/crust was very tender...the rest was just what I wanted...a pepperoni pizza.
The reason I won't come back is the venue/service. I love the cafe atmosphere they're going for, but the place is more like a bar that gets washed out with a fire hose once a day. Nice building...boring washed out "supply room" cinder block interior.
Yeah, there's a nice patio, but my apartment has one of those.
Counter service was nice people...but absolutely no service at your table. Scratch "cafe" off your description...this is like Starbucks...except not as clean.
If you order food, you are given a number-on-a-stick...to put on your table...like back in the 70's when you stopped in a one-horse town t0 get a chicken fried steak or cheeseburger. That's the only time you'll see your server...when they wandering around looking for your number...don't expect anything more.
I'd pretty much finished off the entire bottle of Chimay by the time our food actually got to the table. For a "cafe", I could see the reason for the number-on-a-stick service method...it's the only way the food-bringers could find you...since you'd ordered years earlier in a different location.
The bathroom was gross. Dried up bogies on the wall and broken sink fixtures. Really, this place is just like a lower Westheimer bar....nothing wrong with that...just not my place for food. If I lived next door, I'd probably try the coffee.
Came here for the first time yesterday, after perusing Yelp reviews (Thanks Linh N. and Gretchen P.!!)
This establishment offers counter service, i.e. there aren't waiters and waitress that take your order, refill your beverage, etc. You wait in line at the counter and place your order, receive your drink and are given a number, then find an available table.
While this is fine (it isn't really my cup of tea) but hey, I am eating here for the food!!
I ordered the walnut, goat cheese and beet sandwich (see pics)
Now, while the sandwich was VERY tasty, and I had no complaints with it--and this was my first time eating goat cheese!!
I wasn't so blown away that I would make an effort to come back and try other menu items. NOTE: If you do not like pickled beets (like the kind from the can in the grocery store, you are NOT going to like this sandwich, as that is what they use! It was fine by me, I love pickled beets :-D
All that said, I had a nice time and can see why patrons come to drink coffee, have a beer, food, etc. especially if they fall into the "See and Be Seen" group.
Definately glad I tried it, no regrets!!!
service: order at counter, always friendly
food: DELICIOUS
Amazing dishes i've tried: sausage and goat cheese pizza w/o
the tomato sauce, hummus with flatbread, chicken pepper pizza
Also serve wine and beer
atmosphere: cool kids inside, very chill, outside area is nice too
WILL DEFINITELY GO BACK
I've been going to Brasil a lot lately... which is a change since the first time I went there was only a month ago. I first had their pizza which was D-licious. I ate the whole thing and then wanted another one... Don't know if that's normal.
The next time I went I got the black bean burger and switched the swiss cheese with goat cheese, since I had a craving. Not only were they willing to do it but it was so good. Hit the spot, exactly.
I really like the ambiance and the crowd. It's a good place to go if you need to get some low key work/planning done or to meet a friend for a quick bite or drink.
The prices are pretty reasonable, under $10 unless you get a drink. My only gripe is the wine prices. I have this problem everywhere because I hate paying $9 a glass when I can buy a bottle for $10. I know I'm cheap but you have to be these days! I wish they would have wine specials nights. I would definitely be coming in more often...
Only downside- Parking. I usually go at night after it's dark and sometimes worry about walking from the neighborhood streets over there. Now granted I am scared of my own shadow... so I don't think this would apply to everywhere.
Overall, I would recommend this place as a great neighborhood restaurant/ nook to meet up and enjoy wonderful food and atmosphere.
Lost 1 star just because the place lost it's original feel since they expanded/remodeled. I liked the "hidden, hermit crab feel" it had before. I enjoyed sipping on some coffee and reading in the corner..
Nonetheless, I always get the Vanilla latte and on occasion creme brulee.
GET YOU SOME!!!
Okay. I have a confession to make, fellow Yelpers and readers. Please, I only never ate at Brasil's because it was my coffee place for many years. My coffee and white chocolate cheesecake place. I'm no cheesecake fan whatsoever, so when I mention I ate theirs often in high school, do NOT take that statement lightly. Amazing.
Sigh. (Imagine I'm in some sort of AA meeting for coffee shop snobs.) Hello, I'm Gretchen P, and I eat food at Brasil. So far, I've tried their beet and goat cheese sandwich, the mozerella with tomato, spinach, basil, and pesto sandwich (get the proscuitto), and the Spinach and Feta pizza.
The portions are huge. i've always gotten the second half of my sandwich and whatever type of chips they throw on my plate in a to go box. The pizza I shared with a friend. If you consider the second meal, the $7-$12 price tags don't seem terrible.
I will be back. I have to try the non vegetarian fare...and the eggplant sandwich...and...and...and... Okay, fine. I've found my new favorite sandwich shop in Houston.
Okay, call me a hold out, but I don't think I will ever be able to order "food" food at Brasil. It… Read more »
3 for the food
5 for the atmosphere
I love writing reviews while I am actually sitting at the place. Instant review!
So I have been to Brasil before but never got around to reviewing on the experience. Both times I was here I got the pig and fig pizza (that's prosciutto) The first time I was absolutely in love ... this time I am leaving most of the plate behind me. What's the deal? Is it the pizza or me ... I have no idea. But what I got today was less pizza and more a cheese fig mess. I almost feel bad leaving the much food behind. the crust is flimsy and can't hold up the exorbitant amount of cheese on the pizza. I asked if it was a thin crust, he said yes, totally not. The only part worth eating is the cheesy chewing crust ... which is totally not worth the carbs.
The first time I came I had bad rude service, this time I had great service. But I am flying solo ... could make a difference I suppose.
What pisses me off the most? Why don't they have a website? With a menu? Why do restaurants do this? Its silly ....
all and all a great place to enjoy a drink outside with your lappy.
I've been to Brasil twice before and I honestly forgot what I ordered. Probably coffee.
The most recent visit was with my friend and her boyfriend. We came here to have coffee and dessert. My friend wanted the chocolate mousse and then while ordering found out that they were out. She settled for a peanut butter cookie. I thought the tiramisu would be good and it turned out that they were out of that too! I got the German chocolate cake.
They were really busy so I can see why these items sold out, but I kinda wish they would have taken them off of the chalk board. That is the only reason that I gave them 3 stars on this particular visit.
The atmosphere was good and I was able to have a conversation (at least when drivers weren't blowing their horns).
So, overall it was ok. I'm sure the food is really good from reading other reviews. I will probably eat here next visit.
Every time I'm in Houston, I always ask my BF that we make a stop at Brasil (he's a local who goes there often, no way he's going to be the only one enjoying this place!) We mostly go to Brasil to have tea, wine or dessert, but last time we shared the sausage and goat cheese pizza which was so good, I almost fell off my chair. They were very generous with the goat cheese and it was without a doubt the dominant flavor. This delicious pizza, that was big enough to feed 2, cost only $9 so I was a happy camper! All the desserts I have tried (carrot cake, almond tart, tiramisu and creme brulée) were always tasty and rather big.
Besides the good food, I like the atmosphere at Brasil; it's still quiet despite having many customers. The patio in the back is really a beautiful area and they show movies there many times a week. They truly offer a lot to make anyone have a great evening.
I've never had major attitude problems from the employees there. I admit that it's not the friendliest service I experienced in Houston, but I find people more rude at the thrift stores nearby. Service has been consistently fast, though. The pizza I mentioned above was brought to our table in less than 10 minutes, which I found impressive. All in all, I love Brasil and will definitely keep visiting their establishment.
I love Brasil, they have gotten me through many tough times, it is one of my favorite places to go. I have heard some people have problems with the wait staff, but I have never had any problems-they always have great food and the best lattes besides bringing in fun art and shows. Now that Domy Books has taken over the late night movie showings it's still a great place to be and you can still order off of their menu from the back patio. Best night spot in town even if you don't plan to drink.
Interesting place in a cool location. If you work hard for your money and your idea of going out is a good time, then avoid this place. The food is pretty good, but the SERVICE IS TERRIBLE!. We ordered and paid at the counter and received our appetizers after complaining a couple of times, still no pizza. We waited exactly one hour (according to the time on my ticket stub) from the time of ordering a pizza and asked for our money back. The people serving you think they and the place is so cool that they don't have to apologize, offer a drink or anything. Just a blank stare and OK here's your money back only for your pizza. Since you have to stand in line and pay up front they still make you pay for your drinks and anything else you may have had. I want to have some fun when I go out and not get exasperated. What a joke.
Ok so like let me tell you... I eat at this joint like everyday of the week. I love the four cheese when I am on my period and when I am half brain dead from lack of carb in take I LoOOOve their salad selections. On the weekends usually before noon while my bestie is nursing her hang-over I like to indulge in their awesome beer selection. Although I love wine...it's too expensive and the glasses are wAAAY too small. So now that the staff is pretty much all new... everyone is nice. I have made tons of friends here and I love the current staff!
Where do I start? I have been an attendee of this coffee shop/restaurant weekly for at least 2 years now. It's perfect. The new addition of space inside really helped disperse the crowd around so that people now don't have to sit on one another. The fact that both patios aren't smoker-friendly makes me bummed especially since my favorite patio is the one that faces Westheimer.
The waiters/waitresses are always neutral toward you so you get your food quickly and efficiently. They have to best iced chai latte in Houston I do believe! It's perfect and not too spicy.
Pizzapizzapizza!! Their 8 inch pizzas are perfect. They are soft, doughy,and made with EVOO. The options for toppings are delightfully healthy! I love the spinach and feta, four cheese, prosciutto and cheese. Their sammiches are also great! They are served with fries or chips. My favorite is the mozzarella and pesto. One staple from their menu that I miss is the fried calamari salad. It was delicious! They got rid of it...Boo.
Brasil movie nights also make Houston worth it. Domy/Brasil show independent and foreign films for free every Thursday and Monday night. Live jazz and live local music is also a staple in this cozy, trendy cafe.
Open til 2AM!
Vegetarian friendly fare for frivolous forward feeder. Family and friends gather for frugal feasts. Much Fanfare and festivities are to be had here. Films, flicks, and footage shown secretly behind as we slowly munch complacent and fulfilled.
Also the goat cheese and beet sandwich is crazy.
This used to be one of my all time favorite hang out place right until I moved outside the loop and they had a face lift, sigh!
I have brought so many friends here including dates, all were very pleased with the location, ambiance and the food. I love to hang out here during the weekend nights but only out on the patio where they used to be covered with greens and have my moccachino and some cakes especially the almond cake. I remembered the first time i came into this cafe, it made me feel like going into another European cafe with bricks, log beams and dim lighting. I instantly fell in love with it and spent a lot of good times and 1 sad moment there!
But now, its all different. Its definitely more spacious and the patio at the back is quite nice especially during a movie night... however, front patio lost it charm. And the open space/warehouse concept in the inside just didnt give me that coziness anymore... I have been told about the pizza here but only tried once long time ago. I probably will come back here some time in the future for brunch and update my review again...
My first visit here was on a date in 1996. They've changed a lot over the past years and unfortunately they keep subtracting my favorite things. They used to have chimay white on tap. Why oh why they did away with the draft beers I have no effing clue. They no longer serve my favorite artichoke pizza, depressed me to hell I need a Zoloft. Gone is the crawfish etouffee with grits, my all time favorite breakfast food. Those were the reasons why I was a loyal customer - consistently good food. And the most blasphemous act of all - a collection of knick knacks have replaced the beer bottles that lined the wall behind the register. I feel like I'm looking at my mother's kitchen instead of hanging out at my favorite joint! Bloody hell.
To justify the four stars, they still have the best croissants and spinach quiche for breakfast and I love their tres leches. My attendance has dropped drastically but I still come here when my partner and I feel like a beer and pizza. The pizza dough is very good, so good I even eat the crust which I usually treat as the dirty part that touched my fingers. The wild mushroom pizza is promising, but not like the artichoke pizza. Dammit, I'm taking the loss of that pizza harder than a breakup.
The atmosphere reminds me of Europe, I don't quite know exactly why, but only the area in front of the register. Since they've remodeled, it's roomier but less personal, less rustic and lacking that cozy/comforting vibe from years past. I just love that rustic feel of places like Brasil, Mucky Duck's, Feast, Rudi Lechner, etc (note to self, must check out Red Lion Pub).
Please bring back the bottle of beers on the wall!!
Really dig this place. I've only been here a few times for lunch so can't really comment on the night vibe or alcoholic beverages, but I can say it's a very chill place to hang on a sunny afternoon. The margherita pizza is very, very solid. The crust had a nice slightly charred, chewy texture and the extra virgin olive oil was very tasty, as was the healthy crumbling of fresh-tasting mozzarella. On a subsequent visit, I tried their spinach caprese salad which is an interesting, somewhat-successful take on a traditional caprese salad. It's chopped fresh mozzarella and roma tomatoes tossed with spinach, simple italian dressing, and pine nuts. Nothing too remarkable about the salad, but the slice of sconey parmesan toast on the side was pretty scrumptious.
The main draw of this place for me is the big back patio where I can relax in the shade with an iced tea, mooch wi-fi, and smoke my camel lights without feeling like a horrible monster. Just keep an eye out on the crazy birds that look like evil speed freaks in the tree branches that shade the patio. They like to drop unexpected presents all over the place.
The staff here is allergic to smiling, I swear. Either that, or they're all going through intense-ass internal hipster struggles that inhibit them from appearing in the slightest like they're happy to take your order. It's kind of amusing. On my most recent visit, I tried to coax a smile out of the young lady behind the bar by very pleasantly placing my order, all friendly and shit. She wasn't having any of it. I immediately felt dumb. I can somewhat empathize cause I used to work in food service, and it can definitely be a bitch. But it's not like you're out in the hot sun digging ditches. Lighten up. You can be hip AND friendly; they're not mutually exclusive qualities. A simple smile makes a world of difference. The more you know.
First time customer and already a fan! I have passed Brasil hundreds of times in the past. I've always known it was there (even with its lack of a sign) but never felt like I was 'hip' enough to go there. I was under a false impression that it was just a tiny coffee shop. I was wrong!
I stopped in here with friends for brunch on a Saturday late morning. It was a great choice! I was a little worried after reading a few of the reviews on here, that our service would be below par, but this wasn't my experience. The people behind the counter were friendly and professional. We ordered and our food came quickly. The french toast was excellent (and I am definitely picky about breakfast food). The blueberry coffee cake was delicious! There was yummy fresh squeezed OJ, yummy bacon, a delicious yogurt parfait, a waffle covered in fruit, and a great eggs Benedict. Everyone at the table really enjoyed their food, there wasn't a bad item in the bunch!
We loved the atmosphere in the place. The outdoor patio looked great but hot on a day that reached 100 degrees! What surprised me most was the mix of different people there. There was everything from young hip looking Montrose people to older couples. I saw at least one kid while I was there. Some people were having breakfast, some lunch, and others just coffee. Some people were there to use their computer at a table, and others just popped in for food.
I will definitely be a frequent customer after the wonderful meal today!
I do like the atmosphere of this cute coffee place. It is conveniently located. I am mostly satisfied with my coffee.
But the short Hispanic man whom I assume is a manager was extremely rude to me. Asked us to leave because we had been "nursing" our coffees for an hour. Are you serious? The place was nearly empty.
I try to avoid the place because of such an embarrassing experience, but some of my friends insist on coming back. I hear this is not the first time that this has happened to clients who come to study during non-peak hours.
I love, Love, LOVE the spinach and feta pizza here. I also like the plain cheese pizza too. The crust is just right--the perfect combination of crunchy and chewy, while the cheese and spinach/garlic are perfectly salty, stringy, gooey, but not so dense, that it falls into a big goop as you pull a piece from the pie. It's difficult for me to divert from ordering the spinach and feta pizza and a glass of red wine when I'm there, but when I do, I've gotten the tuna sandwich, which is pretty yummy and crave worthy too. The sandwiches are accompanied with cornichons, olives, and pita chips.
Also noteworthy are the smoked mozzarella salad, the pear/walnut salad (daily special), quiche, scones, coffee cake, desserts, good wine and beer selection, breakfast!, and their coffee drinks are well made.
I like the staff here. Treat others as you would like to be treated, I always say.
I am in debt to Brasil. Brasil was where I had my first sip of Chimay, and I must thank them for that. From that moment on, Chimay has become my favorite beer (and I'm not a beer person!)
This is why I really like this place. It was a hot, rainy, summer day. I was here with a friend while we waited out the pouring storm. We had a great meal consisting of pizza and a sandwich when a jazz band came in and began to setup. Soon, we were enjoying our drinks (mine a coffee, his a beer), listening to the sounds of jazz while the patter of falling rain played in the background. We didn't even end up going to the place we said we would go after. I guess this review is more about the place than the food because I don't remember anything spectacular about the food (haha, I can't even remember what pizza we ordered), but I loved the ambiance and had a great time here.
One of my most favorite places to go in Houston. A great glass of wine, a fantastic dessert, great cup of coffee/tea...the pizzas are super yummy...not to mention the ambience in general. LOVE this place!
I decided I had to write a review for Brasil after I brought yet another friend visiting Houston here for lunch. It's the first place I think of when on the spot, maybe because it's the first restaurant I was brought to when I moved back to Houston.
This place is a great brunch/lunch spot with great vegetarian options (and a few delicious vegan ones too!). My two favorite dishes so far have been this savory Eggplant Sandwich on focaccia bread (with sun-dried tomatoes, tapenade, and artichokes..i think..) and the Spinach Couscous Salad. The pizzas are my brother's favorite, the Spinach Caprese Salad was solid, and the Butternut Squash and white bean soup was unexpectedly flavorful and delicious.
I just realized there's also a back patio area which I'll be sure to check out next time I come. Great lunch date spot. Every time I leave, I can't help but notice a sign claiming to have "Qualtiy Jazz" on Sundays from 8-11 and have been wanting to come back to check it out. I'll be sure to update my review when I make it.
The staff here has been alright, there isn't too much interaction with them except while ordering, but they've been a great help considering I'm always between 2 options when I come here.
Parking is a little rough considering it's right on Westheimer.
Brasil, I'm happy to admit, is my favorite restaurant in Houston, and there are probably very few people who visit the place more often than myself, so that's got to count for something. I'm there every Saturday morning just in time for the end of breakfast (11:00am), which, for a vegetarian in Houston, is topnotch. The sun-dried tomato omelet is no cop-out vegetarian option; it's designed for our tastes when, in most Houston diners, a vegetarian omelet can't be found on the menu. The pancakes with molasses and berry-topped french toast are also excellent; the scones, different every day, are all delicious; and even the morning eggs option, just a few bucks, is served with an ample side of potatoes.
Lunch is just as good, especially for vegetarians. The pizzas are all acceptable, consistent, certainly above average; the sandwiches, better, if a little pricey for their lack of sides. Recommended: the Beet and Goat Cheese sandwich, or their Black Bean burger (with fries, which are made right, a little salty, crispy).
It's true that service can suffer at Brasil. I've probably suffered through a dozen incidents, none of them too egregious, but enough to annoy and justify a reputation. It's an order-at-the-counter kind of place, which leads to all the predictable mix-ups, but the costs saved from a waiter-free setup are passed on to the customer.
Where they suffer a little in service they make up in atmosphere. It used to be a car garage, so I'm told, and you can tell. The brick interior, which was just renovated, makes for a dim-lit, smokey atmosphere in the evening but a well-lit, cool refuge from the heat during the day. The decision to replace the wall separating the main room from the patio with full-length glass doors was wise. The dining room, once enormous but too-enclosed, is now sunlit and inviting.
There's also a second patio, in the back, which adjoins the Domy book shop on one side, and a clothing boutique on the other. This arrangement makes for an interesting mix of crowds, with people wandering from restaurant to book shop, through the rear entrance. That being said, it would be hard not to like the place when it's able to accommodate so many different spaces and moods.
Well the Brasil Diary continues...
If you recall my previous trip the food was awesome and the service was mechanical yet efficient. Well this time I went in on a Thursday after barnstorming the Museum district for 8 hours - and the service was no longer an issue. The two guys up front were friendly and helpful, made suggestions on how to tweak my order to perfection - the Curried Tuna Salad btw - and actually engaged me in conversation when he noticed the MFA sticker on my shirt. That is the type of quality interaction that sets the tone for a quality experience!
I would love to get Brasil into a 5 star, but alas the food was not knock me over and put me back in my chair delicious like the pizza was. :( It was good, the French Fries were really , really good but the bread for the sandwich was a little - not so good - hard to describe but it just seemed too dry and airy, not moist and hearty like I would expect. I thought about added more mayo but that would squelch the curry flavor. I hope I caught the bread on a bad day... Pizza next thursday???...should be a grand slam combo
Okay so maybe this doesn't count as a re-review technically, but hey I was made to break rules!… Read more »
Yum! Great place for coffee, food, and wine. The outdoor area is adorable and a wonderful place to study on a nice day. The staff could definitely be friendlier but I guess you can't have it all...
while i still love coming here, i must say the people that work here are sometimes a little standoffish....but im so excited to say i just had THE best burger in houston. the kobe beef burger at brasil is so tender and juicy, the cheese is melty in the perfect way and the bun is buttery yet firm. go. eat. now!
This is THE best place to hang out. The workers are nice, the food is good (PIZZAAAAAAA), and its… Read more »
I think the only reason I am giving Brasill 3 stars is because I didn't see any Samba dancers in Samba outfits! (just kidding!! really!). I actually went to hang out after happy hour on a Wednesday night. I was "floating" (as in: I had a mango martini) and my senses weren't working properly. It took me a little while to figure out the entrance is on Dunlavy rather than Westheimer.
It was five of us and we sat outside in the patio, entertained by the Westheimer trafffic. We ordered Salads, Soup and Sandwiches. I heard the pizza is good there, but since I had had sushi thirty minutes before I just couldn't eat anything heavy. I had some kind of chicken soup with blue cheese. I didn't love it, I actually didn't even like it. I think I hated it... I will not order it again! My Salad was good, I got the house salad. I believe everybody else thought their food was good, but I don't really remember. The service was friendly, it took us about two minutes to order.
Brasil is a hybrid of something. It's not quite a coffee house, not quite a restaurant, not quite a cafeteria or a bar, it's not even a lounge.. what are you Brasil!? I saw people on dates, hanging out, reading, studying and others were just chatting and drinking. It May take a few visits to figure out what this place really is. We were there from about 8:45-10 PM and saw some people setting up musical instruments. We didn't wait for the music to start as my condition required rest. I believe the band was going to play Jazz.
Brasil is cool, I will return soon and check out the pizza and the live band.
Don't appear to be many reviews of breakfast here so I just wanted to toss in my two cents. Came here on Mother's Day and while there were a bunch of folks here, the line moved quickly. My mom was craving their scones and now I know why.
The best scones you will ever have.
To me, a scone is a hard triangle that's trying to be a tasty biscuit and sat out too long. but these were made with real butter (you can just tell) and are moist and crumbly and delish. They had savory ones (three cheese cilantro and spinach tomato) and then sweet (a mixed berry treat). I got one of each, and some cinnamon strawberry coffee cake, and my family chowed down. Note - a single scone or piece fo coffee cake is too big for one person.
I will go back for brekafast because the fruit/granola/yogurt parfait this lady was having looked amazing, and i noticed on the menu some local chorizo. I assume this means they make it fresh rather than just purchse some packaged stuff. Sounds yum.
My mom said they have recently redone the patio and such and it doesn't feel as "seedy" as it might of in the past. So if you haven't been here in awhile, I say it's a worth a trip back.
So this is where we start out when we go out to the Washington avenue clubs. And thats usually the first Friday of the month. And by we I mean me and my buddies. The venue is great. as other reviewers have said there are four different areas to sit in. The patio on the street is really cool if you like to watch the cars go by. My favorite spot is the patio at the back. There is always a cool crowd there and its much quieter than the front patio. There is also a screen with a movie playing there that usually borders on porn or gruesome violence. Your typical "B" or "C" rated movies. This is watched by everyone with laughter. I mean thats what its worth. I don't know of anyone who watches the movie in its entirety unless they are totally out of their mind.
Contrary to some reviewers I found the clientele very diverse and the service was reasonable. We're usually having such a good time that we hardly notice the service. The food there is excellent and good sized portions. This is not a spot like a bar or something where it is expected that you socialize but you'll find some very attractive specimens here.
If you're looking for a cool place to chill. This is it.
Great for vegetarians looking for something a little different. (I bet meat eaters would like it too though!)
If you're a veg, you might be tired of that same old veggie burger you can get almost anywhere these days, the same old boring salad, the cheese pizza-- but! here's a place that puts a spin on those items and turns them into something new and delicious. As the other reviews have said, their sandwiches and pizza are quality-- my FAVE (and I'm surprised because salads can be boring) is their Grilled Tofu Salad. Just delicious-- plenty of tofu (I hate when places skimp on the protein), with caramelized onions & crisp steamed green beans on a mound of fresh baby greens. Tossed in a very yummy Thai-ish peanut dressing, sprinkled with peanuts. I had gotten salad-ed out over the years, but I could eat this every day. I'd recommend getting the dressing on the side so you can control the quantity to your taste.
Bon Appetit!
I love Brasil. I used to study here during college almost everyday. I hate sitting inside but I love the outside patio. My 2 favorite things to get here is the spinach & feta pizza and drinking a mocha for dessert. Parking sucks (lack there of) but I don't mind the walk.
What do I do on my free weekends? (Weekends when my daughter is with her dad). Hmmm.... Brasil. Haven't been in forever. I met an old friend here. It was nice.
Good food, good coffee, good company and conversation = 4 stars.
I knew this was gonna happen. "As soon as I post a favorable review of Brasil," I thought, "I'm going to have a bad experience that will prove otherwise." For that reason, it took me forever to first review the Lower Westheimer Cafe, but alas I did, and then this happened...
I've been here hundreds of times, each have polarized service from the staff. And no, it's not just the young teen with a chip on his/her shoulder, it can come from a young adult, too, especially if he's trying to hangout with his lady friend at a table and they keep dinging the bell for him to run food. Get over it, kiddo. In this economy, you should be thankful that you have a job, and do everything in your power like the rest of the world to keep it ... and this goes for a lot of servers, bartenders, bizz managers and owners that I've come across lately. What the bleep, people? What ever happened to great service? I'll even take mediocre.
So, here's the scene. I missed my good friend's baby shower, so my sisters and I -- who also missed it -- wanted to treat her to pizza, dessert and a fun gift-opening session. Our first option, Dolce Vita, is closed on Mondays, so I insisted on Cafe Brasil for their breezy patio (expecting mothers get hot), and locally famous pizza.
Ordering up at the bar, I finished it off with a water and three sodas. Oops, I forget, mom-to-be Lidia shouldn't have Coke, so I immediately changed it. Too late, insisted the server, as he already popped open the drinks. So, I kindly gave them to the fella ordering behind me. (Hope he pays it forward. But who knows...)
The hummus, pesto hummus and tabouli with pita chips and bread made for a great appetizer, but when the server came around and plopped down our grub, he told us with his mumbling, "holier than thou" hipster attitude that we need to leave our table number facing upward "to make it easier to find the table." As I write this, it doesn't sound so bad, but the way he said it and the manner in which he propped up the number was jaw-dropping.
Next up came our Margherita and spinach and feta wheat pizzas -- burnt -- and fried catfish tacos (yum). And ol' preggers couldn't skip out on Tiramisu; we also finished the night off with coffee.
If I could rate the food, I'd give it three stars this time, and the service? Don't get me started. Oh, wait. I already did.
It just sucks when you orchestrate a small dinner for a good friend and poor customer service (which strains from careless management, poor training and policy -- or lack there of) ruins the moment. For my three guests, it was their first and I'm almost certain it'll be their last visit to Brasil.
Brasil is another local haunt I frequent when looking to get some work or reading done. Lately, the… Read more »
A great late night cup and a super place to have your second dessert when you restaurant for dinner leaves you wanting more, which was what happened to us last night.
Cappuccino was hearty and hot. The brownie was overly dry and flavorless, but the tiramisu was a better bet. The creamy combination of the custard met the cocoa well. Too bad my spoon was too slow among the four of us who shared it to get a second taste. I ended up with more of the inferior brownie.
Next time I want to try something from the regular menu. The guys next to us were eating was looked like a pretty satisfying pizza.
The space is a bit odd as the front room has fewer tables than the space allows. It's probably a cool environment for live music as the space allows for it.
I really want to give Brasil 3 stars, maybe even 4, but they just need to try a little harder. Maybe with some more effort this place would come off the bench.
Brasil was suggested to me by a well established...um...Houstonite? Houstoner? Houstoniod?...Houston resident (I've only been here for a month) for breakfast, so I thought it would be a sure bet. A friend from San Diego came to visit and we didn't make it there until 1PM, breakfast is done man. We decide to eat there anyways.
I ordered the burger (cooked medium) with a coffee. I was really hungry and this was pretty much the only thing on the menu that had meat in it. My friend ordered pizza with pepperoni and bell peppers with a coke. The coffee was good, I needed a refill. I didn't know if they had refills or not, so I waited for the food to come for me ask. The food was...where's the food dude? It took 30 minutes for the food to get to our table, not terrible, but the place was relatively empty. No mention of the delay however.
When we were served I asked the... waiter? barista? WTF are you?...if there were refills. He replies "You have to take your cup up to the front bar for a refill" and then walks up to the front bar. Are you serious? I pre-tipped 25% for this? Hook me up one time. Here in Brasil, the customer must first pay for the order and is handed a number so the "no go get me a refill guy" can identify where the order is to be served. It didn't really matter anyways, my friend's pizza was undercooked, so she took my coffee along with her pizza up to the front bar. It was in there for 30 minutes and it was still undercooked. On the other hand, my burger was well done.
The burger was very good though, the burger gets 4 stars. It only came with chips though. Please Brasil, try harder, fries would be better. $8 burger...no fries, come on. My friend's pizza finally came out with no apology that it was undercooked. "No go get me a refill guy" just dropped it off without a word and with a disgusted look on his face, like we were wasting his time. I tried it... meh, really bland, it was cooked this time though.
In a word, Brasil is underachieving. It has so much potential. They are charging $8 for a burger with just chips. The workers there could care less about you after you place your order. They need to work on the promptness of the food. They also need a real waitstaff that actually gives a damn or at least pretend to.
I had not been to Brasil in a couple years, and I'm glad I had the perfect chance to re-visit recently. It was a boring and cold Monday night, and I had a couple friends over on an unexpected visit. We were all craving something warm to eat and drink, and that's when the little light bulb turned on in my head and sent us to Brasil.
Nothing has changed; it only got better from what I remember. I love that they offer a little bit of everything. Beer,wines,pizzas,salads,sandwiches,and so on.They expanded the once tiny place and re-modeled it. It was packed for a Monday night; we managed to find a cozy table inside, although they had plenty of outside patio seating available as well. We ordered their chicken verde pizza. It was delicious! I love their hot chocolate which I paired with an almond pastry for dessert.
There is always some kind of live music entertainment going on here, and they support local artists as you will find many of their art pieces throughout. I ventured out to the larger patio to discover quite a few people watching some kind of weird movie clips on the projector screen, I wonder if they have a regular movie night...that would be cool.
Needless to say, this was the perfect spot to visit on our idle Monday night. Relaxed and casual ambiance, great food, and best of all decent prices.
Brasil has everything you need...cold beer, hot waitresses, tasty food, and indie music. There are usually college people here working on papers and such but I've never had any problems with them. My cousin Pablo Kasper also said you can play chess here but we couldn't find a board. Bring your own board!
Damn. And I eat my words.
Alright so I have been a lover of Brasil and even defended it yesterday when some other yelpers were hatin on the food and service. However, I went to Brasil last night to catch the Wednesday night jazz and now I have to eat my words.
I ordered a glass of merlot and the chicken salad appetizer and took a seat near the window. The music was good, the crowd was chill, all was well...UNTIL, a cockroach runs across my table! A GIANT one. Like, if there were a king of the Club for Plump Roaches, this was his fat uncle. I tried not to freak, but before I could finish picking up my stuff to move, the roach reappeared on the windowsill! Was this the same roach? Another one? I couldn't deal. In fact, I am experiencing anxiety right now just recounting it.
I moved my party of one to the other side of the restaurant but for the rest of the night, every time a breeze moved my skirt, I froze in fear that the roach was back. Once home, I took off all my clothes, shook them out, then inspected myself in the mirror to make sure that Somali roach hadn't hijacked a ride home.
This was freaking upsetting. End of story.
Neighborhood: Montrose
Category: Restaurants
Neighborhood: Montrose
Category: Bakeries
Neighborhood: Montrose
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: River Oaks
Category: Pizza
Neighborhood: Rice Military
Category: Bakeries
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