Brasil
Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Pizza, Sandwiches [Edit]
Neighborhood: Montrose2604 Dunlavy St
Houston, TX 77006 (713) 528-1993
- Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: No
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Breakfast, Lunch, Late Night
- Alcohol: Beer & Wine Only
41 Reviews for Brasil
Sometimes, when I stay over in Houston, I go to Brasil for a late night nosh and then again in the morning for coffee and scones. I just love it so much. Last time I got the Spinach Caprese Salad which has fresh mozzarella, basil, tomatoes, and pine nuts with yummy bread on the side. All the breaky baked goods are to-die-for. I can't ever resist the scones. They are so buttery and filled with fresh add-ins, savory and sweet. I often have to get one of each!
I love to sit out in the garden which is a secluded tropical paradise, even though it's right on Westheimer. Very lush. Also, most everyone in here looks vaguely European or Latin American, so I feel very cosmopolitan and in-the-know, just by walking in. It's something about the lighting, I think. I even look a little more romantic and mysterious when I'm there.
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I don't think I've ever been disappointed when I've gone to Brasil. The service is friendly and quick and the food is always so damn yummy! Everything is freshly made and you can clearly tell with one bite. The pastries are soooo tempting you can not resist! Just get it! I also love that you can order your food and drink and eat it outside in either patio and enjoy the Montrose ambiance. Can't wait for next Monday!
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This spacious yet charming cafe has plenty of tables to occupy...it's the type of place I could sit down for hours and get lots of work done. However, with the lack of electrical outlets (I finally found 1 in the back corner of the caf) it's impossible to do just that! While setting my computer up I went over to the counter to ask if there were electrical outlets and the man behind the counter asked me if I would be ordering any coffee (which I had planned on as soon as I was set up). Ok, I get it...the lack of electrical outlets was done on purpose so people aren't taking up his space and not ordering any coffee. Unfortunate for those of us who tend to be campers and good customers...
But if you're not looking to plug in Caf Brasil is a great option, especially if you're able to snag a table on their lovely patio. My non fat iced latte with sugar free vanilla syrup (yes, a mouthful) had just the right amount of vanilla syrup in it, which I've found can be difficult for many coffee shops. And the food others were munching on (I saw lots of pizza!) looked tasty too. I also really enjoyed the laid back vibe of this place. I probably won't be back because I'm attached to my lap top (looking for a support group out there), but if they ever decide to put in additional electrical outlets let me know!
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Soooo, you want a lunch/ brunch place that has good food, affordable amd perhaps doubles as an evening wine & beer hang for you and your friends? Okay here it is. Counter service, pastries temptingly displayed on the counter and nearby in the reach in cooler. I recently tried the French Toast for brunch and the bread was cooked just right (not crisp, but soft and hot) and was close to the texture of a brioche. Sanwiches and pizzas reveal their fresh ingrediants with each bite and the portions won't leave you hungry. The wine and beer prices are quite reasonable and the latte here is, and I realize some may say it's mere hyperbole, but it's the best I've ever had. Coffee is okay and the service has its ups and downs. Right now it is in an up phase (after several months of surly service). The expansion it recently went through has opened up the dining area and the menu.
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After all the rave reviews, I thought I'd like Brasil more. Sure, it was fun to be in a "treehouse" of sorts and if we weren't in the hellish summer months, I think the outdoor patio would be a great idea. But Brasil failed to impress me enough to really give it a repeat visit. And though I may get flamed for this, I was more impressed by Empire. Here's why:
1) What little food I had at Brasil was not impressive. I went with the hummus and it was just blah. Interestingly, the topped off the little bowl with whole chickpeas which was a fun touch, but it ended up being a little messy. The consistency was a little off and the flavor was nothing special. I've had better from the Kroger aisle.
2) The service was the typical Montrose style of slightly disgruntled, mostly bored take on life that just gets under my skin.
3) There's actually a parking lot for Empire (albeit, it is tiny).
There is more room at Brasil so I think it would probably work out better for larger groups and for days when the other joints in the neighborhood are too crowded. While I'd be wiling to come by and try either the pizza or their breakfast, I doubt I'll ever be the one to suggest Brasil since it just didn't wow me.
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The shift in coffee shop atmosphere from cozy to cold bewilders me. I prefer my caffeine in the shabby, well-loved arms of a velvet wingback, flush against peeling wallpaper, tables only big enough to hold your saucer (and not much else) crowded together so tightly that you cannot help but overhear the conversations to the left, right, and front of you. If you were not so busy silently orgasming over your perfectly foamed cappuccino and crumbling biscotti, you might even butt in with your own, uninformed opinion.
Brasil follows the former trend with modern tables and stained, concrete floors. The seating lends itself to shorter visits. Any longer and you might be feeling the effects in your derrier. I did enjoy the patio which is shaded by vines and trees, lending a protected view of Westheimer's bustle. My coffee was decent. My orange biscotti was absolutely delectable and large enough to share with a companion, but given the vast space between tables it's tough to make friends. Best bring your own.
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Love love love this place. After watching a movie that finished past 10 pm, friends and I were hungry, and they suggested Brasil. I came in with no expectations and left yearning to come back. The service is the usual hurried cafe scene, but their food...ah, their food makes up for it. I had a caprese salad with chicken, and a cafe au lait (the barista was patient enough to explain the difference between an au lait and latte: the latter with espresso, the former with brewed coffee). There was also a live ensemble playing: sax and cello and trumpet I think. It was great. I hear their bathrooms are not awesome, but I'm fine with that. Just make sure you don't leave for Brasil with a full bladder, I guess. And contrary to what some people said, even if I'm Asian, I wasn't turned away. So yey.
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I found the staff to be a little bitchy. I was there with a decent size group and one of the guys that was working there was hovering a bit making sure that everyone was ordering something and not just taking up space. One guy behind the counter must have been trying to get the coffee nazi title because he was just a complete jackass.
I'm not a coffee drinker so I can't even tell you if it was good or not. There are a lot of other places to try before I'll head back to Brasil.
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Tips for making sure your dining experience at Brasil is everything it should be?
1. Coffee is better at Empire Cafe down the street. Granted, this place doesn't call itself a cafe, so this should be expected. They do have the cokes in glass bottles, which I will insist taste better than the canned or fountain ones until I die.
2. The baked Camembert (it's like a baked brie) is the best I've ever had. And I LOVE cheese.
3. The pizzas are pretty excellent. I've tried the sausage and goat cheese pizza, which was good (although it could have done with a little less goat cheese), but the wild mushroom pizza was SUPERB (wild mushrooms, cheese, and truffle oil).
4. Parking on the nearby residential streets might seem like a pain, but it honestly is not that bad. And I'm usually so full when I leave that walking that extra half block is good for me.
5. Be prepared to wait awhile for your food to come out. Because it will take a long time. And the staff really doesn't care that much about how hungry you are.
6. There are very few places in Houston where sitting outside is an enjoyable experience, and this is one of them. The patio is really relaxing and shaded by plants, keeping you just separated enough from the Westheimer traffic.
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A pleasant coffee shop that also serves beer; the recently finished second patio connects to Domy Books, and has electrical outlets. I was disappointed with the food, after ordering a pizza that tasted like they had just dipped the entire thing in lime juice. Also they have a live DJ (I think on Monday) that destroys the mood. Other than that, great place to meet up with friends and hang out.
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The first dozen times I came here it was always on a Friday or Saturday night to have a drink with buddies. Because some in our group wanted coffee and others wanted alcohol, this was the perfect place for both. The atmosphere is very laid back, bohemian and some times trendy. Great place for dates or small get togethers.
The fact that I got to study a full friggin Saturday here was enough for me. My friend Sarah and I were literally there from 10 am till 4 pm working on midterms. The staff was very nice and attentive, the only time they came to ask anything was if we had an ipod they could use for music cause the one they had belonged to an employee who was leaving cause his shift was over.
The patio is very nice and during the summer they even keep bug spray around for the mosquitoes. *gush* and it's right next door to Domy!
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Cool, laid back breakfast spot in the morning, hipster lunch spot in the afternoon, cool, intellectual coffee, beer place at night.
The breakfast fare is great and ranges from omlets, to pastries, to granola, to waffles. Coffee is great and the mood is nice.
Sandwiches and salads for lunch are spectacular and delicious.
After dinner they have a great selection of cult beers, fantastic desserts, and great coffee drinks.
You can't really talk about this place without talking about Empire Cafe just down the street. The outdoor seating says a lot about each place. Empire feels more excited and open. Brasil has a closed in patio shaded by plants that exudes its more closed, darker, and mellow feel. The outdoor seating in the back is something most people don't know about and is great on a nice day.
Brasil stays open late (where as Empire closes at 10 or 11), but can get crowded pretty quickly. Parking can also be a hassle given the location. When they have live music or a DJ spinning, its usually pretty interesting and worth your attention.
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My favorite breakfast place in Houston - because of the Eggs Etouffee. If they are out of that, the green eggs and ham will do.
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Went there with a friend last night after sushi. It was busy but we still managed to find a table and there was live music. I got a decaf espresso with cheesecake and it was great! Awesome alternative to bar hopping on a Friday night.
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So my gf goes into the place with a racially mixed group (maybe 5 or 6 people), that happens to be predominately Asian and Arabic descent, to have coffee and hang out or whatever. After ordering, and a couple of minutes passed, they were asked to leave if they were not going to eat. It was almost the end of the day, maybe an hour or so to closing time, the place wasn't crowded so they thought it was a bit weird they were asked to leave. They didn't think much of it, so they went ahead and left. Keep in mind that they were paying customers.
A couple of days later she talks about her experience to her hair stylist (I think at Toni & Guy...I don't really know) but apparently that's a common occurrence, and all of a sudden what happened to her the night before made sense. This place is known to be...to put it kindly, judgmental about their clientel. Her hair stylist had told her if you were to come in a group that is predominately Asian, it is known that you will be asked to leave.
One caveat, I've been coming here for the past 5 or 6 years, and never really experienced this personally (but then again I never came in a group). But the experience my gf had 6 months ago was enough for me to never come back.
I know this is a pretty popular joint, so to make it a race thing irks me a little bit, but it is what it is. Hopefully I'm wrong, and it's all just a big coincidence.
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A gf just recently introduced me to Brasil. Pluses for me are the fair priced wines (you can just grab a bottle and glasses from the bar and head to the patio and pour yourself), the Red Stripe, and the Brasil Cesar salade (i LOVE artichokes!).
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It's borderline criminal that I do not go here more often. This place has it all: good tea, alcoholic beverages, occasional live music, and the best eggplant sandwich in town. Oh yeah, and tasty bagel chips! Unfortunately, most of my friends don't do the coffeehouse thing, and my one good friend that does avoids this place like the plague because an ex-g/f of his is notorious for hanging out here. All the same, despite my infrequent appearances, I have always respected this hangout in the Montrose area.
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I like this type of sidewalk cafe styled place, I agree with Rebekah that in a place like San Fran (or Montreal) this place is the norm. Here in Houston it's less common to find a cafe that's not in a strip mall, so it definitely gets points for that.
I took my dad here for breakfast once, and our Huevos Rancheros were not very good at all. It seemed like somebody scrambled some eggs and dumped some canned tomatoes overtop and put some black beans on the side. That is the only food I've had. The dessert (ceeme brule), and the coffee was good though.
I'm giving it 4 stars for the atmosphere the location the "style", and the coffee, just don't order the huevos rancheros!
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Review #200: one of the places I have visited most during my time in Houston.
In the morning, Brasil is full of breakfast wonders. Light croissants, amazing quiche, buttery scones, and fresh coffeee are the quick options; the menu also includes a heavenly breakfast bruschetta that comes with mascarpone and fruit. I'm a fan of their cafe au lait, mostly because they do a good job of keeping the coffee circulating.
In the afternoon, Brasil turns into a hangout for HSPVA kids and homework-doers of all types. It's still fun, just a bit louder than in the morning.
At night, Brasil can be intimate or wild, depending on the night and the performance going on in the corner. Music ranges from local improv groups to trendy DJs, but it's usually at least palatable (insert plug here for friend's excellent venture that frequently performs here on Friday nights at 10:30). If you don't like the music, you can always escape to their vine-covered patio. Lots of awkward first dates, groups of friends, young couples...a nice, neutral crowd. The wine and beer selection is pretty good, and the food is reliable. Pizza is a good choice. There are parties and film screenings in the back patio from time to time.
I've never had a bad time at Brasil. The worst thing that ever happens here is a line for the restroom.
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I first went to Brasil when it first opened. Met Dan the owner.. He still never remembers me, oh well.. At first it was just coffee and pastries, then they started serving beer and wine and great food. Too be honest with you the only food I have had there is Hummus and this Spinach salad.. I love it... I am addicted. I think I may have had a sandwich once, years ago.. Everything is great there, beer, wine, tea, coffee, food.. Once had bad service, but I never saw that guy again. The patio is a great place to sit with friends and enjoy the afternoon. You better believe that it is great for people watching.
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Living in San Francisco a place like Brasil is not novel but the status quo. Of course I can find a place with good food, drink & coffee. Take your pick.
I guess though, living in obese Houston the pickings choices, if not the waistlines, are slimmer.
I came here the other night during the Thanksgiving weekend to meet my Husband's friend's new Beau. Our drinks were fine even though the original ordering was rocky when we were called to a cashier only to be ignored. The small framboise was also ludicrously over priced at $10.
There was a band playing some ridiculous jam-core for about an hour and a half straight making it INCREDIBLY difficult to have a conversation without yelling. It was like being at a club as opposed to a nice coffee place. I'm all for live music, but when its freezing outside, you might want to lessen the intensity of your sound. Or maybe not drop acid & see how long you could play like Jerry Garcia.
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ODE to Brazil's!
I agree with Drew R. If we could get a Brazil's here in S.F. I'd be set...
but then again what makes this place is all the awesome people that work there.
& their bookstore next door is the best. (Domy Books)
The hummus rocks here & their coffee is great, their margarita pizza is-OMG! SO GOOD! &
you should CHECK OUT THE SCATTERED PAGES when the play there.
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It's a staple in the Houston coffee shop-hipster scene. I like coming here to hang out with friend because its a lovely place with a lot of character. The pastries are awesome, but the other food on the menu is so so. I just order pizza cause you can't really mess up pizza. On certain nights they have live music acts,-which could be cool for people who like that sort of thing, but it gets too loud to talk. The outside patio is always packed and a smoker's haven.
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There are a few spots that I really missed about Houston since I moved to the Bay Area. This place would really suit well here in SF. Great ambience with stimulating art decor. Great choices of caffeine to satisfy your fix. As I recall, they used to have live music during Monday nights. I really enjoyed taking a time out from the monotony of daily school/work life and enjoying a cup of coffee outside in the corner or Westheimer and Dunlavy. I will definitely visit Brasil next time I'm down.
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I was here during the 4th of July weekend. This place is buzzing at night; there are lots of people around 11pm, couples, close friends enjoying coffees and beers. I love the fact that they play real indie music unheard on the local radio stations. There are also sweet goodies on the counter too; you should try the frosted cupcake. There is a covered patio area on the corner of Dunlavy and Westheimer; however, the mosquitoes can attack your legs!! Beware! The employees start closing up shop around 12am, you know, putting chairs and tables up; the noise was a necessary distraction, i guess. This place closes at 2am.
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Good place for quiet snack like food, something to refresh your thrist and some people watching. The chicken soup was delicious. As was my sister's pizza. We sat on the patio since it was cool outside. Very relaxing place to talk, would be great for dates.
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Nice place for a quick bite. Reasonably-priced food in a relaxed, quiet environment during the day, busier in the evenings. They serve appetizers, pizzas, soups, salads, and desserts as well as beer and wine. A lot of the employees have been here for a while.
However, there was a spell where my student friends boycotted the place. They were studying in the cafe during a not-busy afternoon when the owner asked them to buy something or leave. Now they always buy food and drink while they study anywhere and the place was NOT busy. So. Take it for what you will.
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Me and my friends come here to talk in the patio. They have nice sandwiches. I grab drinks here when it is very hot in the summertime. bacon chesse sandwichs are my favoriete.
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A great place to spend an afternoon. The coffee and desserts are pretty much fantastic and the atmosphere is great for people-watching and/or visiting with friends. A good place to stop for a break while doing the westheimer stroll.
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One of the many places I miss in Houston. Their food is Amazing. I love the atmospfere, and I have been going there since 1992!
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Great place to grab an after dinner snack and hang out with your friends. Houston needs more places like this!
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Wandered in for some drinks on several lazy afternoons. In fact I think I've only had liquids there - coffee, ice tea, beer, lemonade. I like the changing local art on the walls, the leafy patio that's always full, and the fact that I always see someone I know there.
Perfect place to stop in when walking around Westheimer.
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A nice selection of wines (for a cafe). Cosy atmosphere and artsy decoration. Great salads and cool ambience if you go when there is live music. I listened to some good bands here.
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Stopped in for dinner one night. We shared a pizza and the Brasil salad... the Brasil salad was amazing! Highly recommended. The pizza was average. Decent beer selection.
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Good coffee, good pizzas, good snack. Nice balcony, arts on walls, loft feel, and feels green. There's a bar too but this is really a coffee house at heart -- and a good bohemian one at that.
There's a patio also that faces the street. It's in the eclectic Montrose area.
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Great food and great atmosphere. I was only in town for the weekend but this place was the perfect spot for a nice relaxing lunch before hitting the road again.
I will definitely go back next time I am in town!
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Good coffee, short order food and pizza, nice atmosphere and nice location in a fun part of town with all kinds of people! Stop by some time.
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Awwww, my old favorite coffee shop. How I used to LOVE coming here and grabbing a fabulous cup of coffee. I have since moved on from my Houston home but I will always long for the moist scones I savoured throughout the afternoon at Brasil's. Their coffee is nice and strong- just how I like it. I also can people watch and get refills! yipeee!
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My husband and I tried this cafe out on our visit to Houston, after reading some of the reviews by Yelpers. This place is really cute, with art on the walls and plants all over the place. It makes it feel homey... We got there on the cusp of breakfast/lunch, but they let us order breakfast food anyway. They had an eggs benedict on focaccia bread that was super delicious! You have a choice of bacon, prosciutto or ham on there, and it's really tasty with the bacon. The sauce isn't overwhelming, and it's on the side anyway, so you can put on as much or little as you want. The potatoes were tasty, and even though it was a lot of food, I managed to just about finish my plate! If it weren't so hot outside, we would've preferred to sit in the patio seating area, because it smelled like burnt toast or something in the cafe. Service was okay. One of the staff was very the friendly, the other not so much. Still, this place reminded me of the cafes in Silverlake with Bohemian artist type people patronizing the restaurant, and that alone is enough reason to go back the next time we're in town!
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Great coffeeshop in Houston w/food & live music.
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