Very Good Meal at a Reasonable Price We ate dinner at Sao Paulo's on a Friday evening before attending a concert at the nearby Bates Recital Hall. The service, food and atmosphere provided a pleasant dining experience. We shared a "house salad" that was enough for two, as well as two Brazilian entrees; the Salmao Da Consuelo and the Galinhada (Brazilian paella) with grilled shrimp. Both dishes were delicious and served with courtesy by our waiter Ian. I definitely recommend dining at Sao Paulo's if you are in the UTA area.
(4)
LaDonne L.
Ok, I can only give a short review because #1-I was only here a short time. #2- because I'm trying to see if I can use the KISS method, (keep it simple stupid), instead of boring everyone... This place is a gem. When I went inside and said "It's my first time here, what do I do?" - the sweet lady ,( could have been the owner or waitstaff (?) ), smiled the most welcoming smile and said "Oh, that's wonderful! Sit where you like, we'll take care of you!" It almost felt like she knew I was coming,...comfy- mama ish :) I sat on the little patio with my friend and had a truly lovely experience :) Ian the charming waiter explained everything on the menu, HH specials, etc. He had a mishap coming to work on his bicycle and "something" hit him on his forehead!.. but although he may have been shaken, he was a total professional. I chose a sampler plate and couldn't have been more blown away! Ian explained which sauce went with what & ...WOW!! I fell in love with the Bolinho De Arroz! (rice balls) in particular but the stuffed jalapenos, chicken thingy, fried zucchini whochamawhatsits, etc..were all sooo good! The HH margarita was stout & just made me want to linger...alas, time was short. Go here, bring a friend, ...ask for Ian
(5)
Nowell M.
I love Sao Paulo's. Awesome place to take a date or just to grab drink. Unique aesthetic and great service. I would highly recommend this place.
(5)
Ling C.
First of all, this is the average review among the all ten of us. Called and made an reservation with no problem for a group of ten people. The parking was horrible and so hard to find, all of us parked at nearby street, which took us to walk at least 10 mins or so. This place is know for Brazilian and Tex-Mex dishes, and that was already weird for me, but we tried both anyways. For the ones who ordered Brazilian like the chicken and though it was cooked nicely, fresh and juicy. I ordered the Tex Mex dish, which was quiet good. The waiter was friendly and attentive. The 3 stars really come from the happy hours menu. Most of the drinks were good but overpriced, and just when we thought it would be better for the happy hours, most of the drinks were only 50 cents cheaper, such a joke. The 20% tip was added to the bill automatically, which was not informed when I called and made the reservation. That's another epic fail, hence the 3 stars for overall experience.
(3)
Stef S.
Mmmmm...Brazilian food. Meat, meat and more meat, with a side of meat. All right, there's seafood, too, but that's really just fish-meat. Delicious fish-meat. This place is somewhat of a bargain for Brazilian food, plus it gives you the chance to try some rather unique dishes that you won't find anywhere else. They've got some Tex-Mex and American dishes on the menu to placate people who'd usually poo-poo anything different than the usual, but let me reiterate what Brazilian food is all about: MEAT! I had the rocambole dish with the steak medallions stuffed with cheese and shrimp, and it was excellent. Everything on my plate was tasty. Meat, cheese, and fish-meat--there's nothing not to like about that. I even liked the mushroom port sauce (and I'm not a huge mushroom fan) and the fried coating around the meat (I'm not usually big on fried food). Both the fry coating and the batatas (thick potato chips) were light and crisp--not greasy or heavy at all. Apparently there was a happy hour with some specials on the appetizers, too--part of me wants to come back with a group and try all the things. My only complaint was that it was a little cold in there, but it's August in Texas and that's a really common complaint. The staff is helpful, explained anything I didn't understand on the menu and even let me move away from the A/C vent. Go, now. MEAT AWAITS YOU!
(4)
Kristie F.
This Brazilian restaurant is one of my neighbourhood favourites. Lovely staff, a good bar, and delicious food. Happy Hour is a chill affair. Great Caipirinhas, as you might expect, bottomless chips and salsa for a couple of bucks, and other yummy snacks offered. Think about staying for dinner, the entrees are great. I am a big fan of the creamy chicken Estrogonofe. The classic Brazilian feijoada (black bean stew) is also a must-try. Oh, and sometimes there is live music - usually jazz or something you can listen to in between bites and table-talk. A schedule is on their website.
(4)
A D.
My first time having Brazilian food (aside from Brazilian steak houses) and it was quite tasty! Food and price seem fair and the food was definitely authentic! How do i know? Well i had a Brazilian coworker confirm that the food here tastes like home! The staff was very friendly, knowledgeable and was very laid back....since it was my first time eating Brazilian food, he was willing to trade dishes (within reason) for me if i didn't like it. Only thing i say they could work on would be the atmosphere and decor. A bit outdated, but the food was great! Id definitely go back again!
(4)
Taylor M.
My first visit to São Paulo was last week and I'm really sad I didn't try this place out when I lived I Hyde Park! I would have been there all the time. The happy hour was great. I had 2 margaritas and that was plenty. I also had a bean and cheese quesadilla that was like 4 bucks and was big enough to have as a meal. The only thing I didn't dig was the chips. They tasted like fried won tons. I kept feeling like I was dipping Chinese food in queso and didn't like that greasy idea. My friends and I were split about it though. Two people in my party really liked the chips so try them for yourself and decide if you're into it or not. It's a cute, small, friendly feeling place where you will feel at home. They have live music there as well!
(4)
Allison M.
Came here with friends, who love it and have been coming here for years. I guess it's good if you like large plates of heavy food, but it's dreadful if you have to eat gluten free, as I do. Was stuck with a salad (again). Why do restaurants think that people with Celiac or allergies only want to eat salad all of the time? Was hoping that a cocktail might save the experience, but alas, their cocktails are mostly ice and no alcohol. Although SP bills itself as a Brazilian restaurant, it's certainly not a great introduction to Brazilian food.
(2)
S T.
I have mixed feelings about Sao Paulo's. The atmosphere was nice, and the food was spectacular, but the service and drinks were pretty abysmal. The waiter would drop things off at the table and then run off before we could ask him for anything else, and even though they weren't very busy our appetizer actually came out before our drinks. The Mexican martini was pretty much nothing but olive juice, and my boyfriend's margarita was mostly sweet and sour. If this were a cheap texmex restaurant I wouldn't give it a second thought, but at a nice brazilian place you expect a semi-decent drink. That being said, the food was quite good, I might go there again. I would recommend the fejoada and the chips and queso, both are excellent.
(3)
Lauren B.
Perfect for a date night. The environment is intimate and cozy. On the weekends, there is live jazz music! I almost always get the Pollo Magdalena. It is incredible. It's not spicy, but it's very flavorful. The rice is perfectly cooked and buttery. The vegetable medley is always warm but crisp and fresh tasting. The chicken roll with cream cheese, crab, spinach, with the incredible sauce... I wish I could have it right now! Our favorite server is Burt. He knows us now and can guess our orders and the way we like it. The staff is so welcoming and helpful! Expect it to be a relaxed meal. No one's in a hurry usually, which adds to the "date night" wonderfulness. I like to enjoy Mexican Martinis here or the mojitos. We love the crispy wanton chips and super flavorful salsa. We just love this place! Owned by a husband and wife team, and for the 6 years I've been coming regularly, the staff stays around for a looong time. They must be doing something right. The tiramisu or chocolate torte for dessert are worth everything in the world. The portions are generous - I always have leftovers that I can't wait to eat the next day. I enjoy this restaurant so much! side note: In the past, I've noticed they haven't split tickets for large groups. There's an atm outside. Just something to be prepared for!
(5)
Kelvin L.
Churrasquinho Platter is simply delicious. If you are hungry this is the platter you want to get. The cheese bread is also really good and definitely a must if you are new to this place!
(5)
Alea G.
Flawless food and exceptional service! I was just in for lunch during a business trip & was thoroughly impressed. I ordered the salmon dish & it was probably one of the best pieces of fish I've ever had. I normally am not a huge fan of salmon but this one came in a red tomato sauce with home grown basil, mushrooms and a slight sprinkling of cheese. It was both light and packed full of flavor. The owner is so pleasant and friendly that I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting UT Austin.
(5)
Keith Z.
We came for happy hour and there were only a fiew items of food on the menu. The chips were great. Light and fluffy. The waiter was vey nice and great eye candy. He could of just sat at the table and talked to us his name was Ian ;) I ordered the checken strogonoff and it was tasty. My friend ordered the shrimp quesadilla. And she liked it it is not on a tortilla better. Our other party ordered cod cakes and he liked them as well. With good looking staff and good food we will be back.
(4)
Alex P.
This place lived up to the yelp reviews. The atmosphere is pretty cozy with soft lighting in a red/pinkish room. The live music really turned it up a notch. My only problem was how cold it was inside. I ordered the Brazilian cheese roles to start and they were super rich. The texture was soft and doughy on the inside but had the crunch on the outside. I got the platter with all the meat, the sausage, chicken and steak with their rice and bread crumbs. I loved how they prepared everything and gave me a full plate. Their guava juice was also the bomb, nice and refreshing. All of it together was only $24. Very good priced, amazing food. I got to take my mom here!
(5)
Maritza V.
I cannot say enough about the food or service at Sao Paulo's. My husband and I first went to Sao Paolo's on a date night as part of our great-allergy-friendly-food adventure. (We had looked it up, and S.P. has many gluten free options, but now I'm also dairy free, grain free, and sugar free.) There are so many menu options that fit my high-maintenance food sensitivities, and the waitstaff are always friendly and knowledgeable, willing to listen and reccomend and substitute as necessary. We've been several times, and always bring our out-of-town friends, but it didn't take long (maybe 3 visits?) for the manager to know us and our order! He always stops by to check on us, even though he's not our "server" per se. Once when we'd come and had to wait for a table, the hostess made sure to mention, "If you call ahead, we can always make a reservation for you!" So, yeah, I've got a huge foodie-crush on this restaurant. There isn't always parking just near by, but it's worth a far longer walk than we've ever had.
(5)
John C.
I loved this place! I ordered the Pollo Magdalena, which was incredible. I also tried the fried yucca happy hour special, which was delicious too. Their espresso is great too. I can honestly say that nothing I tried here was short of amazing.
(5)
Greg J.
We had a very good experience at the place. The Brazilian dishes were a nice change of pace. While I didn't drink, my relatives there did and they were very happy. Next time I am in Austin and close by, I'll stop in again.
(4)
L E.
Excellent paella. Everyone enjoyed their dish!
(4)
Josue M.
As a meat eater two years ago, I would have rated this place with a 4 star. As a vegetarian now, I give it a 3.75. I think what I love most about this place is the atmosphere. I'm very weird about social environments. I don't care for too loud or too quiet. I hate overcrowded places but I also don't want to hear my echo. I also don't like well lit restaurants. At times, I prefer one on one conversations in dim lighting. Sao Paul has a nice balance of my preferences. I feel very comfortable when I eat here. As for the food, I can't pin point any particular item I enjoyed here since becoming a vegetarian. And it's not because I hated the food. The food had a big part in my return visits. I can tell you that I very much enjoyed eating here. My friends and I always left this place satisfied. However, as a vegetarian, I still like the place. It's not my top pick anymore, but every once in a while those damn Pao de Queijos (cheese rolls) and the vegetarian fajitas call my name. Although, I'm not sure if they serve the vegetarian fajitas anymore. I don't see it on their online menu anymore. Call and confirm if you're a veg like me. I haven't found a place yet that can beat their veg fajitas. Another testimony to their food is the fact that my dad actually liked the food. My dad is an extremely picky eater. It's like moving mountains to get him to try something new, so it's an absolute miracle when he enjoys something outside his culture. Overall, it's still a pretty solid place. They've stuck to a plan that has worked for years.
(4)
Nancy N.
You must start with the Pao De Queijo - cheese rolls. If you've never had one before, you are in for a delightful surprise. Their salsa and chips are the best! The salsa tastes so fresh and the chips taste like they were just freshly made and plump. I've ordered their Chicken A Milanesa countless of times and it doesn't ever disappoint. Generous portion as well.
(4)
Ellen C.
This would be the only reason to want to move to Austin, TX. This restaurant was amazing; from the service, to the decor, the food, and the drinks. I was in foodie heaven, or maybe I should say Yelpy heaven. With such friendly staff, who were the owners..I felt like I was family there. I ordered the Caipirinha to drink which is a Brazilian distilled liquor made from fermented sugarcane. A squeeze of lime and sugar and I was buzzed. It was so delicious and slightly sweet. I need to find this drink to buy and drink it all at home. As an appetizer, my friend DEMANDED we order the Coxinha. They are called mini drummies, a deep fried pastry dough filled with minced deliciously seasoned chicken. The dough was so chewy, that I thought there was cheese in it. I ordered the Chicken Paella (Galinhada). It was wonderfully seasoned with saffron. Amazing complex flavors from the Jasmine rice and vegetables. They also had beautiful artwork hanging on the walls. A beautiful place, with delicious food, and friendly service. I hope to visit here again.
(5)
Jaire Q.
When my friend was telling me about a restaurant that serves Brazilian and Mexican food, I must admit I was intrigued. I had heard of on in Chicago that serves Sushi and Brazilian... and that one is on my list of places to visit. This place is definitely more interested in the food than their decor, and I can appreciate that. When we walked in there was a Jazz band (I believe) playing, that was the first plus. The decor is very laid back, like it all just came together, somehow. It looks a little old, but I didn't mind. Now to the important part. The Frozen margaritas were good. Not too strong, but tasty. I thought the food was good, not excellent, but still OK. I can't remember the name of the dish I had (since it was in Portuguese), I know it was rice, beef and a few other things. Not very memorable to be honest but I am not holding it against them. We also ordered the cheese with the beef in it. I guess I thought some of the food was greasy, but I wouldn't give them a bad review for that. I really just think I should go back and try other things, maybe my dish just wasn't their strength.
(3)
De R.
This place used to be AMAZING. The Brazilian owner sold and now half the menu is Tex Mex, attached to a Taco place and the quality went down hill. Needless to say we wont be doing another date night here. The food was not the traditional that it used to be. I wish I could say it better but honestly it was not.
(2)
David D.
I think I found a new favorite. There are similarities between this place and Churrasco's, in Houston. But there are differences, too. Sao Paulo's is just a shade more casual and somewhat lacking in atmosphere, as pointed up by some reviewers. But Churrasco's has the advantage of being a large well funded chain of restaurants. This is a locally owned small businesswoman who is doing the best she can with what she's got. For my money it's pretty good. I would like to see more restaurants like this. At this price point I feel that it is a super value. I stand by the 5 stars here. Bravo, Sao Paulo's!
(5)
Alex C.
Went here Monday night and wondered why I don't go here more often. We had great service, and the food was good to great. They have a good happy hour that actually runs until 7, so if you have a job that doesn't let out til 530 or 6, you can still easily get a couple drinks in (what's with places that have happy hours that stop at 6pm?). Recommended.
(5)
Anna S.
I'm not a fan. You can taste the greasiness in the food: their secret ingredient. For the first few bites, the meal tastes delicious, but as you gorge yourself with this "delicious" meal, you are slowly able to taste the fact that the food is soaked in grease and saturated fat. Overall, it's a pretty disgusting experience. Fortunately though, the ambience and service makes up for the lack of truly delicious food.
(2)
Ralph S.
Took the girlfriend for a casual date and we had a great time without spending too much. We got the plate with steak, tenderloin and sausage for two and just barely finished it. The meat sauce was a great touch. Also, our waiter tagged happy hour prices on our margs because sometimes we all need to catch a little break.
(4)
Ashley S.
Brazilian food is...interesting. I don't think dining at a Brazilian steakhouse in the past really counts, does it? I mean, meat is meat. There's only so many ways you can prepare a carcass. This is not a steakhouse, but Brazilian food is centered on tons of meats prepared in different ways. Nevertheless, I obliged the invitation and tried to be upbeat. The wine was the best part of the meal. It was a heavy pour, chilled just the right amount, and knocked me on my ass after one glass (okay that's an exaggeration). Well, when you're eating a bowl of saffron rice decorated with veggies, there's not much there to absorb the alcohol. So I chose the boring plate, sue me. The former meat-eater ordered the eggplant lasagna which came out in a casserole pot like dish. It was surprisingly delicious, coming from someone who doesn't really consider eggplant to be very desirable. It was tasty, but I can't get over the weirdness of eggplant, still. It would be better to lie to me about what I'm eating. I didn't love the rice puffs (fried doughballs of cheese) and had to pass on the appetizer ordered. Overall, this place is quaint. It's near campus, so you'll see fratty dudes and sun-kissed ladies here. The ones whose parents pay for everything probably dine here a lot. But really, this place is very affordable and not overpriced. I can see how this place gets slammed, because our service was there when necessary but I could tell they had a lot going on. Friday and Saturday nights they have live music, how romantic....but the night I went they were playing Gotan Project and Brazilian Girls, in the background. Happy hour is from 2-7 and the drinks are well priced. Would I be back? Sure. And when someone's taking you out to eat to their favorite restaurant and brings you flowers for being you, it's hard not to have a good time. But this is more of a meat-eater's paradise. I recommend it for those, but for me it was just so-so and not catered to me. And well, who doesn't want to be completely catered to?! Just saying...
(3)
LuAnn S.
Churrasco was great! The platter for two was a deal! We loved the caipirinha, coxinha, pao de quiejo and main dish! Great prices and food!
(5)
Sophia O.
First visit to Sao Paulo last night. We picked this place bc of the location since it was near the Bass Concert Hall where we watched The Book of Mormon. We were on a time crunch and they were super accommodating. I had the Bobo de Camarao....$$13.95 Husband had the Galinhada (Brazilian paella) (v)....$11.95 with Shrimp. Bobo de Camarao is a creamy dish with bell peppers, onions, yucca and shrimp. Super tasty and can definitely see why it was a Best of Austin Chronicle winner. Husband's paella had bursts of saffron everywhere and the flavor was yummy as well. Both came with a small cheese ball that had a nice crispy outside texture and cheese on the inside... Check came out soon after we finished our meals and we were out the door on our way to the play. Delicious food + great service + great location = 5 stars from me. Only con I have is the limited parking space. We parked down the street near the houses and walked a good 7 minutes. No biggie.
(5)
Claire L.
This place is very unfriendly and they charge you senselessly. I thought their food was nice at first but now I feel their foods are all similar with similar taste. Four of us went there last week, ordered 3 entrees and an appetizer since one of us was quite full. We knew that they would charge a extra fee for the person who did not order ( though not common in other restaurant ), and I could understand that. However, they charged extra splitting dish charge for every single of us which mean we paid 11$ just for several little empty dishes. Wow... Terrible.. You know, at least they could have let us know in the first place about this weird policy. Any way, after that awful experience, since I had left my phone in the restaurant I called the place to check. The lady received the phone and I told her about the desperate situation and she says... Please wait a second and I will get the order and come back.. I waited for about 8-9min and hung off. When I got there, they didn't even clean or check the table ... I will never ever go to this place!!!
(1)
Calily B.
While I am a lover of men in gaucho pants running along with long sticks of meat (who isn't?!); I love other aspects of Brazilian cuisine as well and this place hits the mark! The menu does have some TexMex items, but everyone in our party stuck with the Brazilian side of the menu. I had the Bobo de Camarao (shrimp in coconut sauce). This dish seemed very Asian to me (which I didn't mind), but the flavors were very similar. There was a good amount of shrimp and all were cooked perfectly! It's so hard to find well-cooked shrimp! My boyfriend opted for the Galinhada (paella) which was fragrant and once again, the seafood was cooked well. The parents got the Rocambole Alexandra and Chicken a Milanesa respectively. I always like breaded chicken, so there is nothing wrong with that! My boyfriend's mom didn't love her beef roulade dish, but I thought it had a nice wine flavor (maybe that's why she didn't like it). When we left my boyfriend did mention that he would like to come back here... that's always a good thing in my book! I guess we'll be back! Tip: The booth is a tight fit for 4 adults.
(4)
Aasiyah B.
My gem north of campus. I've been coming here for the past three years almost 2-3 times a month. The food melts in your mouth and has many go-to items that you'll crave and keep coming back for more!
(5)
Natalie C.
Yup. 5 stars. Really, it should be 4.5... but I round up, people. Please note that I'm rating in accordance with the price. IE.... not comparing this restaurant with some place that is 3x as expensive. Carry on. Love the location, parking can be tricky on weekends or during lunch on days when school is in session. Plan accordingly. If you have a UT permit you can use it in the lot across the street. I know there is usually live jazz on Fridays and Saturdays. Annnnnd it's usually pretty good. Incredibly enjoyable. Goes well with the food and aesthetic inside. FOOD. Won-ton chips? Amazing. Holy cow. You might eat 2 baskets. Or 4. And ruin your meal. Worth it. I love several of the Brazilian dishes, but I almost always end up with enchiladas. Sometimes they can be a little salty, but still delish. Excellent drinks. The caprihana? Capriosca? Something. Do it. Very refreshing. Great for a date night that wont break the bank. Usually there's no wait. It's a stand by in our house. What's not to like?
(5)
Jens B.
What a friggin delight to find Sao Paulo on Saturday afternoon. I had no idea it existed. I am grateful for my good friends suggestion we hit them up for a relatively late lunch Saturday. We got there around 2pm and the place was relatively empty besides us. That didn't seem to matter one bit. We were enthusiastically greeted by the bartender, a dude whose name I cannot remember. We were seated at a nice round table so the four of us could chat and enjoy a few drinks and lunch. The girls ordered some Caipirinha cocktails and my friend and I had the frozen rita's. The Frozen's were excellent, do not know what tequila they use, but well in Sao. The girls actually didn't really care for their drinks and when the bartender returned he inquired what they thought of their drinks. They mentioned they were to sweet and he had no problem with whisking them away and getting them something they would enjoy... that's a plus one in my book. No fuss, just let's take care of this. We ordered the Jalapeno Poppers which were excellent. I ordered another plate once we devoured the first one. I went on to having the Feijoada. I have made this dish at the house a couple of times and have had great success. It arrived with the exact same collard greens that I make! The flavors were perfect as were the continuation of frozen margaritas. Everybody got something different and not a single plate went amiss. Our service was great and our food was a big success with everyone. I would definitely get the chips and salsa... they use defried yucca chips I believe and they were light and crisp. Delicious.. I cannot believe that I hadn't eaten here in the past. To hit up a restaurant so late in the afternoon and to be served and fed in such a great manner was truly impressive. I fully intend to make this a regular lunch spot in the future since it is close to work.
(4)
Satitpong C.
The food was not that good and the service was terrible. I went there for lunch with my colleagues (3 of us). They put 20% gratuity on our bill. (I thought gratuity is optional in the US. What happened here?) It is not a good experience there at all.
(1)
Colin S.
First and foremost, the chips + salsa cost $2.50 per basket (free refills), so be warned if you're expecting the usual free snack offered up by TexMex restaurants everywhere. With that said, these aren't your everyday tortilla chips. These are some kind of fried batter chips mixed with crack and taste incredible dipped in a slightly sweet salsa. Totally worth the $2.50 expense. The only two dishes I have eaten in my multiple visits to this restaurant just down the hill from the UT Campus are the Bobo de Camarao and the Enchiladas Verdes. Both were excellent although the former is a little expensive for lunch. The shrimp has consistently been very well cooked although the flavor can be a little bland and lacks any real spiciness. The dish actually really reminds me of Asian food since it has coconut milk and is served over rice. The Enchiladas Verdes were pretty typical and are served with refried beans and rice (which sometimes seems undercooked). The green chili sauce is actually really good and definitely adds a little kick to the enchiladas. This place is great for bringing people visiting the UT campus if you need something a little nicer than the fast food restaurants scattered along the Drag. It's a little expensive, so expect to spend around or over $10 per person.
(4)
Nicole N.
God, I love this place. The first time I came here was for a collective belated summer birthday celebration/girls' night out thing with my best girl friends from the days I dormed at UT. My friends had reservations for a party of 12 and we were quickly seated and accommodated. We arrived during happy hour so ayyyyy DRANK IT UPPPP. Well, not all of us were 21, but still. I really like the feel of the restaurant. Intimate lighting and feels upscale for being near campus. It is a nice place to go for birthday dinners, dates, etc. Chips and salsa. SO. NOT. STANDARD. But in an absolutely fabulous way. Okay, if you love those crispy wontons that you get with soup in Chinese restaurants, that's exactly how the chips taste here. I love it. I LOOOOOOOOVE IT. Salsa is good. My friends loved their margaritas and we sure got pretty loud and happy. Forgive me Lord for flirting with the water boy. It was the wine!!! Anyway...back to the food. I ordered the chicken galinhada (gal-in-yada). DELISH. So good. Just warmth. Absolute comforting warmth. I've never had paella before, but hey, I am now a fan. Also, if you're at a Brazilian restaurant, you should order Brazilian food, not Mexican!!! Their Mexican food probably doesn't taste bad, but c'mon...where's the fun in going to a restaurant for the first time and ordering the safest thing possible? Granted, I could have gone a bit more exotic with my dinner pick, but I was broke at the time... However, I do not regret this decision as I have eaten this every single time I've been here (that's three times already in one semester). The galinhada is accompanied with this delightful little roll with cheese inside. I swear, I could eat an entire bowl of these little rolls. Oh, how I wish I could. The galinhada is fragrant with saffron and you can taste it. The plate is big and I was unable to finish it the first two times I have eaten it here. So yay for portion size and price!!! Another time I went with friends, my friend ordered the bobo de camarao. I also recommend that. Very good. I'm not crazy about anything with coconut, but I liked this from what I had tasted. Shrimp and yucca tossed in a tomato coconut cream sauce. A note on restrooms: they are located in this room to the right of the entrance. I have no idea what that place next door is, but there is a kitchen and tables in there. The restrooms smell nice and are clean, despite the sticky kitchen feel of the room you walk into to reach the restrooms. It's safe to say that this place is one of my new favorites.
(5)
Jason D.
This place is very low-key and I'm glad more people don't know about it. The Brazilian dishes are all delicious and their salads are freaking amazing. I never thought I would say that about salads. I like their churrasquinho platter the best though. On Friday/Saturday nights they usually have a band playing some fresh jazz. Very relaxing place... especially with some caipirinhas or caipiroskas on the patio.
(5)
Lisa B.
Love this place!! A great place to seek out when you want something different or when you're wanting a new comfort food. The Pollo Magdalena is my favorite--it tastes amazing and the presentation of it is nice, too. Bonus: the little biscuit that comes with the dish, yum! We usually also order the chips and salsa and queso--you'll almost spoil your appetite! The chips are light and airy--almost like a wonton--so good!
(5)
Samantha S.
While I am what you'd call a regular at Sao Paulos, I wouldn't be if it wasn't one of the best restaurants in Austin. I've been coming here for over a year, and I typically do more drinking there than eating (priorities, people), and that's partially because their cocktail menu is amazing and I can stop by right on the way home from work...and do...a lot. Cody is usually behind the bar and makes every drink by hand--muddling, shaking, chopping and squeezing away. Their caipirinha is amazing, while their bloody marys are also great and the white wine and red wine sangrias are loaded with fruit and pretty damn divine. (Or, really, you can't beat a $3 margarita during happy hour six days a week.) But mostly, I'm a huge fan of the place because of the atmosphere and service. I absolutely love the people that work there, and everyone is friendly, helpful and fun. It's a small restaurant, which means--as a regular--you get to know everyone in the front of the restaurant. Cody is great for conversation at the bar, while the servers, Ian, Eris, Amy and Bert are all fantastic. I also gotta give mad props to the manager, Lily (Lilly? shoot.) and owner Melba. Both of them are welcoming and wonderful. (Even the hostess, Sonia, and bus boy/bus man, Nivan, are great...I told you I come here a lot.) They also have live music on the weekends, which--with the dim lighting and delicious drinks--makes it a great, very impressive date place (and a great place to enjoy by yourself as well, actually). If you come into Sao Paulos frequently, you'll see a lot of regulars, and there's definitely a reason for that. With a place this good, you gotta keep comin' back. So try it! You'll be happy you did.
(5)
Ali B.
Get the: Mexican martini. The happy hour fried yucca and queso. Peixe com abacaxi (pistachio crusted fish with pineapple sauce and cheesy fried rice ball). Again, Sao Paulo's has won me with a fabulous date night. The food is awesome and always comes out super quick.
(5)
Oscar G.
The food here was pretty good! I've had better but for the price is say it's perfect! This place is great for lunch and dinner for the family or a group of friends. I went at an odd time between lunch and dinner so I don't believe I got the best experience to tell what kind of vibe the restaurant gives off. It was pretty empty and understandably so. I had a fried chicken dish which was pretty delicious!
(4)
Melissa J.
I'm usually not very fast to review restaurants, these guys changed my mind. Great food, atmosphere and very friendly wait staff. I honestly don't get here enough. I'm going to change that !!
(5)
Sarah R.
I love this restaurant! The mojitos are good, and everything I have tried on the braxillian and vegetarian sides of the menu are SO tasty. We always start with Pao de Queijo (indescribably yummy cheese bread balls). Our faves include the Chicken and Fruit Salad, Feijoada (super yummy black bean stew), and the Milaneses (chicken and beef). Its all so good! Some of the waitstaff are better than others, but that's to be expected anywhere, There are great happy hour specials, an its usually not too crowded at lunch, so its a great spot!
(5)
Rhea B.
The guava margaritas alone warrant five stars. But, there's so much more! The people working there are friendly and attentive (I never went without a guava margarita!), the food is delicious all around (goes well with guava margaritas!), and the happy hour is good (cheaper guava margaritas!). I love this place and hope you do too.
(5)
Stephanie W.
Great evening! Can't say enough good things about this place. My wife and I are both in the industry so we appreciate good service. Bert was fantastic! Very helpful with the menu and very friendly. We will surely be back.
(5)
Luiz S.
I'm Brazilian and definitely this is a good restaurant. The moquecas are quite different of a real Brazilian moqueca, but the feijoada is decent for an American restaurant. I loved the service over there, one of the waiters, called JJ, was fantastic, but unfortunately he left recently and the fresh girls are just OK. I definitely recommend the restaurant, but don't expect to have exactly a Brazilian dish.
(4)
Tracy B.
This place is wonderful. I have been coming here for about 5 years now through college and now for occasional date night with my husband. The food is always amazing. They take extra care to make sure food is how you need (like gluten free for example.) They remember I want a little extra container of sauce because it's so yummy, and often bring it to me without me even asking. The only bad thing is they are closed on Sundays and it seems like I always want to eat there on Sundays!
(5)
Tressa S.
So my boyfriend went to the University of Texas, and the first time we came to Austin he took me here because it was one of his favorite places to go in college. And now, everytime we visit Austin, I insist that we come here! Sao Paulo's is awesome - the food is incredible and I like the relaxed atmosphere. My absolute favorite thing on the menu is the pao de queijo....you have to get it! Last time we were in Austin and came here, we came at happy hour, so they had cheap drinks and food...for me and the BF to stuff our faces it was around $20 - you can't find that anywhere in the expensive city that is Boston in which we live! The service is great and attentive, the food is kick ass and the drinks are good. If you're in Austin and are looking for some awesome food at decent prices, you have to go to Sao Paulo's!
(5)
Brettny J.
I had the Chicken a Milanesa. The chicken was amaze-balls! The stuff on the sides was crap (mashed potatoes and a salad thing). The service was really good.
(4)
Roberto C.
Decided on this place as I wanted some Brazilian fare without the quantity of a churrasco. Pleased with the food - I got the churrasquinho which included sausage, chicken, and picanha plus a number of sides. The food was good, tasty as I would expect from a Brazilian restaurant. The meat was perfectly cooked and the sausage was really juicy. The picanha was medium rare (exactly how I asked it) and the chicken tender. The person with me had the tilapia in coconut sauce - it was really good but perhaps too creamy. Drinks list is extensive and has everything from wine to Brazilian favorites. Service was attentive and friendly but not overbearing. On saturdays, live music enliven the evening - we had an entertaining performance from a local jazz group. I am happy with Sao Paulo and I recommend it to anyone willing to have something different from the usual churrasco.
(4)
Natalia B.
This place has delicious salads. I'm not usually a salad type of girl when I go out to eat, but the most recent night we went that's what I was craving. This place was a little cramped, but the food is pretty darn good. I sampled most everything that both my mom and husband ordered. We even ordered this appetizer sampler plate of fried goodness. I would definitely recommend getting that. What bumped this place up to four stars instead of three was the service. I often feel like the servers in this town are over-educated and therefore feel like they don't have to do their job which translates to a crap experience for me. This was not the case at Sao Paulo. Our server was excellent which made the dining experience oh so much better.
(4)
kat s.
The boyfriend and I came here, looking for good and cheap food, for a date. We stumbled upon Sao Paulo's and we were impressed! The food is delicious and the wait staff is nice. They were understaffed so we waited for a while. Also it was hot as all get out in that restaurant, which is a turn off when it's 110 degrees outside. All in all, we will definitely go back. The food was great!
(4)
Patricia T.
Really great! Decor is pretty simple, but the food is fabulous and great value for money. Service was fabulous, and they even gave us a free dessert when we mentioned that it was our anniversary. We both had Bobo de Camarao, which had more shrimp than I could even eat -- I look forward to returning and sampling some of the other entrees.
(4)
Melinda B.
My husband and I went here on a Saturday night. They had live music and we sat at the bar. They didn't know what a greyhound was? That seems odd? I had the Caipirinha, and it was good, but not really a place that I would go just for the caipirinha - The menu was all over the place, so we ordered Pao De Queijo - cheese puffs. I was picturing the ones you get at the Brazilian steakhouses that are fresh and light and have a bit of cheese in them. They came out 2-3 minutes later in a plastic basket. They were obviously microwaved - super hot inside. They were all cheese - like a super condensed mozzarella ball! Looking around, it felt like a Kitchen Nightmare place. (sorry!) The bathrooms were in another restaurant, which was odd, the bartender didn't know what a greyhound was (vodka and grapefruit) - they didn't have grapefruit juice - and food was microwaved. Just doesn't seem like they are trying - or they are just trying to do a quick fix with live music.
(1)
Jackie N.
I love coming to their happy hour! Their drink special are the usual price (around $3.50 - 5). You can pay around $3.50 for bottomless Chips and Salsa. I do admit the chips are like fried oily wontons which are ADDICTING!!! Their Margarita's are great you can get them frozen or on the rocks, try the mango margarita! They are also famous for a drink called Caipresa or something like that. Also try out the Fried Yucca. Everyone seems to get that. The nachos are very cheap and you can add on a meat choice and it doesnt cost more.
(4)
Alayna C.
I don't even know where to start with this review -- everything was just amazing. The atmosphere was great. Sat outside on the porch and the weather and light rain in combination with this restaurant's gorgeous decorations made me feel very relaxed, which is exactly what I want to do to kick off my weekend. The patio area is dog friendly and they quickly brought my pooch water along with myself. A restaurant that treats my dog like a guest is already getting a good star for that. We ordered an appetizer, drinks and two separate dishes. Every single thing we ordered was perfect and absolutely delicious. It isn't often that I go to a restaurant where the sides are just as good as the main dish. Simply amazing. Sao Paulo truly is an Austin gem.
(5)
Jeanette H.
A colleague recommended this restaurant for lunch. I had never heard of it so I was open to trying a new place. I love the proximity to campus (walking distance from my office). We had a very nice server and he had a sense of humor which made the experience that much better. I ended up ordering the Enchiladas de Chipotle! OH MY GOODNESS it was wonderful!! I am a picky eater but I had no complaints from this restaurant. A review would not be complete without mentioning the chips and salsa!!! The chips are not your average Mexican chips! They are wonderful and addicting! I could have just lived in the chips. I am ready to go back!!
(4)
Steve H.
I dont know why they waste their time with the Tex-Mex menu, this place is classy enough to play off its strengths. My menu selections were highly influenced by Kimberly K. and Amanda S. I went with the Appetizer Sampler combo. (A quick word of advice - Eat the Cheese biscuit thingy first ) All of the appetizers were excellent, the breading was a bit thick and heavy but had an overall delicious flavor. The white wine sangria was absolutely fabulous and filled with flavor, the mint gives it a unique characteristic that you don't often find in sangria. Now, this where the review gets complicated. The Black Bean Stew... Its hard to describe how something can come so close to perfection. I happen to be an expert on the subject of beans and rice, my grandfather made the worlds best beans and rice at least every other week when I was growing up. When I ordered the black bean stew I did not expect to get the second best beans and rice I have ever had, but that's exactly what I got. There is no place in town that can provide you beans and rice than come anywhere near the quality of this black bean stew. The beans are filled with delicious meaty morsels and I honestly think they must be adding some sort of animal fat to the broth they stew these beans in. It's seasoned perfectly but I could deal with a bit more heat on my pallet. Its served with a side of thinly sliced sauteed greens, I've always had a soft spot in my heart for Brazilian style greens and these are much like the Black Bean Stew nearly perfect. Any sort of raw flavor is cooked out of the greens yet they maintain a texture that keeps them from becoming mushy. I think they key to eating this dish is to dump it out on the plate and just mix it all together, all of the flavors perfectly compliment each other honestly this dish just makes me think of being a child and eating meaty beans and rice every other week. The portions here are more than formidable. I ate maybe half of my dish and ended up so full I could barely enjoy my cocktails the rest of the evening. I'd give them five stars because my food was damn near perfect, the only negative thing I can even think to say about them is that the parking situation is not acceptable. Walking across the street gave me a bit of a fright, some place as nice as this should have a valet. I will definitely go back as the menu is very impressive and there are lots of dishes here that I must try.
(4)
Michael S.
Amazing Brazilian Feijoada (Black Bean Beef Stew) in a comfortable friendly restaurant. The stew was thickened with dried Yucca, had a mild taste of cumin and was perfectly accompanied by white rice, collard greens and orange slices. We also had the surprising Coxinha (Pastry dough stuffed with minced savory chicken). While stuffed, we still tried the flourless dark chocolate espresso cake. It broke on my fork like cake but totally melted in my mouth. My senses screamed with delight! We can't wait to go back and try other dishes.
(4)
Solomon W.
I have eyed Sao Paulo's Restaurante for quite some time and just never thought about making a lunch trip here, but I had an opportunity to see why this is a hands-down Austin haunt. Perhaps because it is so close to campus and international students? Or maybe it is the proximity to 2 longstay bars. No idea. The fare isn't just Brazliian, though I do want to note that they are putting too much of an emphasis on people-pleasing menus, what with a hefty amount of vegetarian options and Tex-Mex fare. I think the real Brazilian joints wouldn't make room for the tree huggers and animal rights activists! If you are a hungry diner, give the beef Milanese a spin. It is the size of a face. And it is served with a mound of mashed potatoes and a smathering of sauteed veggies. The only beef (no pun intended) I have is the prices... specifically for lunch. Full meals end up around $15 a head, which is steep, considering the in-and-out mentality most individuals have in the middle of the day. The black bean stew was $11. Though it did come with an outrageous amount of food--a large bowl of sausage-laden black bean stew, a mound of rice, and collard greens--$11 is iffy for a lunch stew, regardless of the portion. I did like the huge portion of farofa, cassava flour, to sprinkle into the black abyess. The cheese bread, classic Brazilian I might add, was chewy, cheesy, and dense, just as it should be. SPR is pretty standard, with respect to its actual decor, service, location, and everything about it. But it does have some pretty quality grub, and I have no complaints about it as a whole. Just nothing terribly special. Give it a go, if you at all enjoy something different than burgers and fries, which is what you are gonna get at the other eateries in proximity.
(3)
Kealie G.
I've been here a few times with my research group for slightly-nicer-but-still-near-campus lunch. It's an interesting mix of Brazilian food and Tex-Mex. From what I hear, the Brazilian food is pretty authentic. They have cheese balls (not sure what they're called), a Brazilian-style paella, and all the normal Tex-Mex fare (queso, enchiladas, etc). The juices are delicious - guava, mango, passion fruit. The coffee is pretty standard. The service is good and the ambiance is relaxing and pleasant. They just opened up a taco counter next door. Can't wait to try it.
(4)
Super D.
Price and portion size was great. Actual food was just good. Nice seating area outside.
(3)
Urwhatuea T.
They re-did the floors. HUGE improvement. Dear Sao Paulo's mastermind, Please offer the cilantro vinaigrette in a bottle or jar! I'll help you put your kids AND pets through college on the sale of those. (ok maybe not, but i'll buy it). It is by a million miles the best cilantro-lime vinaigrette in town or possibly anywhere. I really appreciate this food here!
(5)
Wes N.
Delicious little taste of Brazil. Great atmosphere. Very attentive staff, especially if you are unfamiliar with the cuisine, the staff happily guided us around the menu. Will return!
(4)
Alex L.
had a hankering for some Hispanic food, but didn't feel like going to Maudies which is where I usually venture for some Tex-Mex, plus it's just 5 mins away from my house. so I found Sao Paulo's through a Yelp search and after reading the reviews, checkin' out the food I decided to give it a try, and I was left satisfied! and very full....so full I went with one other person, we started off with the queso covered yucca fries which were delicious. we both got shrimp dishes for our main courses, I went with the bobo de camaro which was good, although I didn't touch the stewed yucca because I got a side of black beans and banana tots, the banana tots btw were fantastic, I never pass up fried bananas at any latin-restaurant I go to. My dining companion got the shrimp paella which they enjoyed, but couldn't finish, you do get a heaping pile of rice which is nice though. Oh, they also give you these piping hot super-chewy-slightly cheesey bread balls which were amazing. after that carb-heavy meal I didn't think I could eat anything else, but we ended up getting the flan which was very decadent and tasty Overall I was pleased with the food, service was fine. It was a Friday night so they had live jazz music playing, the place was half empty, but it has a nice-cozy atmosphere, would recommend if you want some good Brazilian food!
(4)
Bill W.
It had been quite some time since my wife and I had last been to this restaurant just due to the fact that we don't go downtown much any more. For an appetizer, my wife and I ordered the Pao De Queijo, which was as good as they were the last time we dined there. For our main courses, my wife had the Bife A Milanesa and I had the Estrogonofe do Sul with beef. Although my Estrogonofe do Sul was as good as I had remembered, my wife didn't eat even half of her meal. The breading on the very thin beef was a bit overwhelming in the bite I ate. You couldn't really taste the beef. What really caused me to reduce the number of stars is that they served frozen corn and frozen beans that they tried to dress up with some fresh mushrooms. Rubber green beans was the dead giveaway. FROZEN vegetables? Really? To me, being served frozen vegetables at a restaurant is inexcusable.
(2)
Adriana H.
This Brazilian restaurant is not very authentic. I was disappointed with some items and happy with others. You don't expect a bunch of Mexican food items when you go to a Brazilian restaurant, right? Well, the feijoada and the coxinhas... Love it!
(4)
Scott M.
We were going to have a romantic dinner out. I was having trouble finding a space to park the car while my husband went in to get a table. It was right before happy hour was about to end. The tables were pretty empty. They would not seat him until I got there. No offer was made to treat him as a single customer. All he wanted was a happy hour drink Poor lack of customer service. We ended leaving to go eat next doors. They turned away a chance for a couple looking to get a nice dinner.
(1)
Sunshine G.
Happy Hour is where it's at! My friend and I shared a lot of appetizers that were on special and it was just enough to fill us up with our cheap margaritas! The margs were decent for $3. We had Coxinha which was THE BOMB. We could have had two orders of that because it was so good. We got Pao De Queijo as well since, you know, it's a classic. Those are the little bread things with crack...uh, I mean, cheese. Lastly we ordered the Fried Yucca, which *I* looooved. My friend had some texture issues with it; fried yucca resembles chewy french fries. I'd go back to try some of their entree dishes.
(5)
Jennyfer N.
Having gone to UT, we students can suss out some quality establishments pretty quickly. I first had the opportunity to eat here when a girl in my undergraduate research lab was graduating. As a goodbye to her, the entire lab decided to head out to Sao Paolo's as a going away dinner. WHAT A DELICIOUS PLACE! Everything from their queso, to their fried wonton-like chips, their Pao de Queijo, EVERYTHING is delicious! I've ordered their enormous burrito that goes for 8 bucks, yummy, and what a bargain for 2 meals! I've had their beef stroganoff dish and it's delicious but hands down, the money is on the paella. It's not a traditional paella by any means. You won't get the crisply fried rice "crust" that accompanies typical Spanish based paellas but it's a wonderfully filling rice dish nuanced with cumin, coriander, and beautifully tinted with saffron. It comes with a Pao de Queijo (their wonderful cheese and tapioca bread that's hot, fresh, and crisp on the outside and oh-so-chewy on the inside), and an artful dusting of what looks to be paprika on the side of the dish. Their drinks are good, not impressive, but I don't come here to drink *they do have a happy hour*. I've brought friends here without disappointment. I'm detracting a star because the service leaves something to be desired. I've had to wait for refills a few times and unfortunately, when they get crowded, it's a bit worse. The parking situation also leaves faithful patrons in the lurch...especially given the fact that I've gotten a ticket while eating here. Regardless of all of this, I still recommend it as a good place to eat. Just try to catch them during non-peak hours!
(4)
Allison Y.
Much larger on the inside than it looks! Decorated nicely, love the atmosphere. Great place for a casual to semi-fancy date. The estrogonofe do sul was soooo tasty. What is in the sauce that makes it so good?! A creamy sauce chock-full of cilantro, mushrooms, and tomatoes. Three of my favorite things in life. Plus beef (another favorite). My only complaint is that the beef was dry, but the yummy sauce made up for it. My boyfriend got the pulled pork taco, and it was DELICIOUS. Super tender, slightly sweet pulled pork that was hoooootttt and moist. Would definitely recommend for anyone going there. My question: why is there cheese drizzled on the top of the tortilla? That means you either have to eat it with a fork and knife or get a bunch of cheese on your hands when you pick it up. Confusing. Would go back and try some of the other Brazilian dishes!
(4)
Tim C.
Great food, and the best flan I've had in years. I'm sitting here right now fantasizing about that flan. My backstory: I grew up in Paraguay and spent plenty of time in Brazil, I know and love Brazilian food. The food at Sao Paulo's is great, it isn't overpriced, and the portions are big. Also, that flan... oh man, it's so good. It's different from Mexican or Central American flan, you've gotta try it.
(5)
Jenny F.
I have lived in Brazil for a very long time and I missed their food, so I went to check out "São Paulo's Restaurant." The location is great, it is very close to campus. They have an inside and outside area and even though I am not a smoker, I like that people have the freedom to smoke while they're sitting outside. The staff is great, very nice and communicative. The food is quite good, but it is not Brazilian at all. I do not like the concept of mixing "Tex-Mex" and "fake"-Brazilian cuisine. There is plenty of Tex-Mex-places in Austin, why would you not focus on only one? I wish their food would have been more authentic. I had their "Moqueca," which is a traditional dish from Bahia. I ate it in Bahia and now here it was so disappointing. I understand, it might be difficult to get certain ingredients in the US but it wasn't even close. The caipirinha was good, but pretty weak for that price. All in all, the food is good but not Brazilian authentic at all!
(3)
Shibi R.
I am deeply saddened that I have to give Sao Paulo ristorante 3 stars because it used to be one of my favorite restaurants. I used to bring my family from out of town here all the time and loved the little cheese breads and delicious entrees. But when I went a few days ago, much had changed. The service was still good, as was the little band they had playing at one end. But my entree (sirloin roulade) was very very salty- to the point where I stopped eating it and just picked at it. My boyfriend's dish (something in a pumpkin) was so cheesy he might as well have been eating craft mac and cheese. To top it off, the little cheese breads appetizer we got was dry, over salted, and stone cold. I don't know what happened to you Sao Paulo. I hope you feel better soon.
(3)
Aalia U.
This place is a hidden gem! Our bill was $80 with tip...let me break it down for you. SO had the caiphirinha which was fresh and delicious and makes you feel like it will be summer forever. I had the white sangria - highly recommend. So delicious that I am mad I didn't ask for the recipe to mix it at home. We started off with the appetizer sampler which (in my opinion) was a little too fried for my taste. Everything was just pretty okay - SO really liked the chicken in puff pastry. Next time I will definitely pass on this and maybe just order the stuffed jalapenos. Our dishes He had the rocambole which was delicious - I don't think there was anything left on his plate! I had the shrimp in squash dish. Unfortunately only took two bites of it because I was soo full from that monstrous appetizer. It was really good, but very cream-heavy unfortunately. Next time I will hope for something lighter. Dessert Their flan type dessert was the best I have ever tasted. Could have eaten a whole pan of it. I will be back for this alone. Great ambiance, good date spot, pretty good food - think I just chose wrong, good value for money, great drinks, excellent dessert. I will definitely be back!
(4)
Belly G.
I was in Austin to do Tough Mudder so while I was in town, I decided to meet up with a friend who recommended to have dinner at Sao Paulo's. He told me that this is his "go-to" restaurant every time he had to take someone new out on a date. If that's the case, this place had to be pretty awesome, right? As I walked into the restaurant, there was a live band playing some music (which I would assume was Brazilian since it didn't sound like any salsa or any typical Spanish music that I'm familiar with). The hostess was super friendly. She made conversation as she walked me and my friend to our table. She also stayed a little bit after we sat down for some more small talks and left when our waitress came to our table. Our waitress was super duper awesome. Super friendly, all smiles, and she was cute! Yup, I'm not even embarrassed to say it. Anyway, after quickly looking through the menu, we decided to start with those traditional puffy cheese breads and to get the Churrasquinho platter for two. We also ordered some Guarana soda. I don't usually drink soda, but this was GOOD! Try it! The restaurant wasn't too busy for a Saturday night, but i could see why my friend would pick this place to be his go-to restaurant for his dates. The live music wasn't too loud or distracting; and the ambiance of the restaurant was pretty nice. As a matter of fact, there were several couples who were here on a date. The food didn't take too long to come out. The platter came with some rice, potatoes, steak, chicken, pork, and sausage! So it was definitely a lot of food! And for the price? This platter was definitely a great value. Everything on the platter was pretty legit! Delicious. No, don't expect the steak to be some high-class steak, but for the price, it was definitely worth it. Let's just say that after I finished my meal, I didn't have any more room for desserts, which was a shame because I wanted some. Anyway, if you live the Austin area and you haven't tried this place yet, well, what are you waiting for??
(4)
Suliman S.
The service was very friendly and very nice! The food was mediocre but everything was presented really well. There is one thing that is just amazing which was the queso with the chips. I highly recommend this place for drinks and some appetizers. I think this place is the best for casual hangouts with friends and a first date restaurant. It was pretty romantic in side and definitely set the mood. The deserts were amazing pushed it to the 4 star range. I think this place is alright for some casual food and drinks. I shall return for the happy hour!
(4)
Lauren C.
It had been a while since I went here, but decided to go for my birthday lunch - food was delicious and service was just fine. A little pricey for me but I work for the state so my budget is not so friendly - that's why I hit up Taco Joint attached all the time.
The service is really good. It's a pretty quiet place. Really close to campus. The food is good. I had the sampler plate, I recommend the fried cheese balls. So good. Also the black bean soup is perfection.
(5)
Amy M.
Good happy hour menu. The chip and dips were great.
(4)
Elisa W.
Good food, large plates! This is my second time here. Not cheap but they give a lot of food.
(5)
Ro M.
Very hard to find a Brazilian restaurant that isn't an all-you-can-eat churrascaria. The ambiance of the place is very nice. Classy, but not too uptight. A nice place to have date night or a nice dinner with friends. The appetizers are very interesting. We got the sampler platter because we wanted to try all that they had. Some of the starters seemed to have the same flavor notes. The sampler was a good choice for a first timer but definitely would go with just one next time. The cheeseball that comes complementary in other Brazilian restaurant is sold as an appetizer. A bit disappointing but also the best I've had. Go for it, you won't regret it. The meat sampler was excellent. It came with traditional steak, chicken, and sausage. Well made and very tasters. Shrimp in the pumpkin bowl is a definite must try. Awesome presentation with taste to match. Full bar is available but was only able to try one cocktail. Overall an excellent find!
(5)
Cynthia C.
NOT an all-you-can eat Brazilian steakhouse. And you know what? It's OK! In fact, it's a good thing because sometimes, you want to try the more authentic dishes that a cuisine has to offer... and Sao Paulo's hits the spot! Parking: Pain in the butt. You're fighting the Crown & Anchor crowd & North Campus college kids. SO-- keep this in mind if you're planning on taking a girl out on a date here-- probably not a good first date place if she'll be wearing heels. Ambiance- mainly casual (you're right next to campus) but could pass as somewhat romantic (dim lighting) & we came on a Friday so there was live jazz. Plenty of seating- there were some large group tables (I'm assuming reservations were needed) and some small tops. TIP: if you're making a reservation, you might want to ask for a table further from the door/band. Service- very good. I want to say our server was Ian. He was professional & pleasant & attentive. Appetizer: Hubby wanted the appetizer sampler $11-- YESSS. I wasn't gonna say no to that. We got 2 of the top 5 things in their appetizer section & our favorites were: -PAO DE QUEIJO- parmesan chewy cheesy bread. NO it's not fried cheese. It's better. It's salty & cheesy & got a bouncy texture that just parties in your mouth. -Bolinhos- Fried little seasoned rice & potato balls. So delicious! Mine had an ooey-gooey middle of some sort of cheese. Entrees: - Camarao Da Vo Naica- $16 SO SO SO good. I highly recommend this dish. It's got great presentation-- it comes out in a spaghetti squash bowl! And then you can scoop out bits of freshly baked spaghetti squash along with your shrimp cheesy sauce. Loved the taste & textures! The shrimp weren't the biggest but they also weren't stingy with them so it's overall a win :) - Rocambole Alexandra- $16 Breaded sirloin rolled into a wheel-like shape and stuffed with shrimp. Cooked and cut up & served with a mushroom sauce. Comes with a side of fried plaintains & salad. Hubby liked it. I thought it was okay, but I preferred my dish 5x over this one. Dessert: - Choices: Tres Leches, Flan-like-item, or Chocolate torte cake. We got the chocolate cake. It was fudgy & pretty good. I think I would've liked it better if it came room temperature and not straight from the refrigerator-- texture was a bit stiff. Portions: Decent. Not too much, not too little :) We both left full & happy. I definitely recommend this place if you're looking to try something new and don't mind looking for parking. Austin doesn't have a huge Brazilian foodie scene other than the steakhouses & everything we tried here was pretty decent to delicious, so try this place out :)
(4)
Aline M.
My friend told me about this place and this Saturday I went there in a group with 4 Brazilians. We ordered yuca fried and coxinha. It was really good! Delicious! I ordered Bobo de Camarao and my friends ordered Strogonofe, Bife a Milanesa and Feijoada. Bobo de Camarão had nothing special taste, the only good thing was that it came with an enough amount of shrimps and they were great and big. My friend liked the Feijoada. But my other friends didn't like the taste of Strogonofe and Bife a Milanesa. Even dishes were all looking great, it doesn't work if it doesn't have a good taste. Service was bad! Employee was trying to do everything but it's hard, apparently only had her serving customers. Food came quickly but two dishes were with wrong sides, we asked to change it. Employee also forgot my beverage and I gave up asking again. Place is ok, no good and no bad, but I do not come back, honestly. We spent $ 20 each without tip. More employers serving customers could be great.
(3)
Jeremy S.
Capsule review: Sao Paulo's is a creative and reliable option in the north-central UT area that offers good value at its price point. Full review below. I must confess that I have been to neither Portugal nor Brazil, not have I eaten this style of food at very many other restaurants besides Fogo de Chao. But I like Sao Paulo's a lot, particularly given the dearth of non-bar food in the immediate area. (Competition around Duval and 30th: sports bar, sports bar, pizza place, taco place.) Most eat spots around UT rely on a transient population of students, so given the built-in clientele, the incentive for businesses to excel is minimal and thus quality campus-wide is hugely hit-and-miss. But this one's a keeper. Dining is casual table service with an outdoor area (too close to the on-street parking for my liking). Menu ranges from traditional Brazilian to Tex-Mex, eclectic enough to suit a fairly wide variety of palates. Thematically, most of the food is heavy on meat and rich sauces with some lighter and vegetarian options.(Veg, and veg/vegan adaptable items are helpfully listed on the menu.) Service has always been quickish and genial but not awe-inspiring. They will help you with the pronunciations. Some highlights: the coxinha appetizer, a lightly fried sort of pastry stuffed with pulled chicken. It's kind of amazing. The moqueca bahiana (fish or shrimp in a tomato and coconut cream sauce) is freshly seasoned and tasty. The galinhada (Brazilian paella) is a good standby, and the estrogonofe do sul is nice if you want something rich. But just get the enchiladas if you're not feeling adventurous; they're solid and the chipotle sauceis grade-A. Most entrees are $10-$15, so no need to charge it until payday. We usually get out around $50-$60 for two with drinks and an appetizer. I've paid much more for much less. In terms of booze, there's a full bar, a decent selection of crafts, and daily happy hour specials on drinks, beer, and appetizers. I keep meaning to stop in just for that. On the downside, a number of the Brazilian dishes seem a little similar after a few visits, and I do wish they'd upgrade away from a few chintzy campus-isms like plastic water glasses. If you're driving, parking in the area will require some hunting (no lot, a few dedicated spaces out front). But these are character-building experiences, easily worthwhile for one of the better places in walking distance of UT and Hyde Park
(4)
Liz J.
After working for 6 hours from early morning, I was so hungry that I decided to find a restaurant that is close enough to my office building. Then I came here at 2:30 p.m. and there were only 3 people dining there including me. The inside decoration is warm and welcoming which I love very much. It is hard to believe that their happy hour starts at 2 and ends at 7! I couldn't help ordering a frozen passion fruit margarita, as it is reasonably priced (2.99). Although it doesn't taste like passion fruit, but still it is wonderful but a little bit strong. I also had Bobo de Camarao for lunch. Amazing!!! I don't know if it is authentic Brazilian flavor, but surely I will come here again! Sao Paulo's is absolutely the best place that I've ever been to near UT campus!
(5)
Keri B.
"FAY-YODA!!" I was so smugly ordering this dish that I remember having and loving from Sao Paulo years ago, showing off for my non-Yelpie friend, when I noticed the waiter's eyebrows raise and a little giggle. "Feh-zhwada" he corrected me. Whatever, just bring me the goods I thought. Anyway, this little hidden and somewhat forgotten gem is still a great place to go before any show at the Bass Concert Hall. Conveniently located just blocks from the San Jacinto garage (pre-paid parking), it's still easy to get to the show on time and get a drink, even if you're yakking and paying the bill just 25 minutes prior. They also have a decent happy hour with my favorite Brazilian concoction, the Capiroska (Cap-eh-ROSE-ka), your traditional caiparinha but made with vodka instead of cachaca. And my friend was very pleased with her HH mexi-mart. The feijoada was a soul warming stew of pulled pork, sausage and black beans served with rice and fresh greens on the side. Exactly what I wanted and with plenty for lunch the next day. BUT lets talk about the Pao de Quejo. Those little doughy, yeasty cheesy rolls that make my toes curl. I believe I had enough of those to blow my belly up like a ball of dough but still would have eaten more (which is why the nice waiter slipped me one in my to-go order :). I am hoping that I win more tix to Broadway (AHEM, YELP) in the future so I can continue this brand new tradition with Sao Paulo.
(4)
Silvino P.
12 years in Austin we decided to try São Paulo's for the first time yesterday, which I knew since the first day here. Well, it was approved. Pretty reasonable price and excellent menu. As a Baiano (born and raised) and a pretty good expert in Bahian food I recommend it. I had the Bobó de camarão and even though the texture of the sauce was a little different from the authentic dish it was a delicious version. Going back there soon to try other dishes.
(5)
Jill C.
This place is awesome. The ambiance there is cool. The staff was very friendly and the food was fantastic! We got the queso, and the chips that come with it are to.die.for. It is a must have when you eat there! They have a full bar and my food came out very fast. I had the Bife a Milanesa and it was really really good. It was also really big. Definitely a plate that is worth splitting.
(4)
Alexandra W.
I've been here maybe 5 or 6 times, so I thought it was time to write a quick review. First, note that I'm a vegetarian, so my review reflects that. I'm pretty sure the meat and shrimp dishes are better than what I've had. So... the vegetarian dishes are not very special. They rely heavily on beans, rice and cheese, rather than well seasoned and conceptually interesting vegetable forward dishes. For instance, the vegetarian paella, while pretty good, is really lean on vegetables and heavy on rice. The eggplant dish I had most recently, the eggplant was a little undercooked. Their salsa is good and their drinks are good. I think their chips are too greasy, but my husband loves them. Finally, the service is very hit or miss. Sometimes the servers are awesome and attentive, and other times they are so bad, it is shocking (just completely forgetting to stop by the table, so we have to track them down in the restaurant to get them to refill waters or bring the check). So, I've had better.
(2)
Jacob R.
I found this place to be alright, but not exceptional. Especially considering the numerous options Austin has to offer, I don't think I would ever come back here again. I arrived here around 7 pm on a Friday night in a party of 2. Food: I ordered a Galinhada (Brazilian Paella) and a Rocambole Alexandra. The Galinhada was pretty good. There was almost too much spice and oil as towards the end of my meal, the rice was too saucy. I got it with chicken, and even though it didn't have an enormous amount of chicken, but it had enough (I guess). The Rocambole Alexandra was considerably less tasty. The dish is basically 4 chunks of meat and some extremely soggy, oily fried potato chips. The meat was subpar with some mushed shrimp in it. The fries potato chips lacked any flavor and were basically just skin and plenty of oil. Service: Initially, the hostess walked us towards the inside and was about to offer us a booth that was blocked off by a different large group, but after noticing that and our responses, she offered us a table outside, which was okay because the weather was nice. However, BEWARE OF EATING OUTSIDE. Right as the Rocambole Alexandra came out, a fly flew in and got stuck in the sauce, so I squished it with my fork. As a result, we went inside and told the waiter, who was about to tell us to eat it anyways (since the fly was just in the sauce on the edge of the food), but then the manager (I think?) swooped in and said he would take care of it for us. I'm not 100% sure what he did, whether he just got a new plate and used the same food, or if he made completely new food, but it looked better when we got our food. Overall, the waitress definitely misplayed that. Environment: The restaurant is a typical classy, date night restaurant. Make sure to sit further into the restaurant if you want to actually talk as there is some live music on the side near the door. I paid $30.20 for the whole meal. Definitely not worth it. Would not go back.
(2)
Jennifer M.
Came here for Happy Hour on a Tuesday before heading to Bass for a Broadway show. This restaurant, in my opinion, is the nicest place to eat on the north end of the university. The happy hour is from 5-7pm, every day and has some great specials. Appetizers, including jalapeño strips, quesadillas, chips and salsa/queso, etc and tons of drink specials, including margaritas, Mexican Martinique, mojitos, and lots of beer on draft. We had chips and queso (chips are so good), bean and cheese quesadillas ($3!!) and jalapeño strips. Everything was delicious! Service was satisfactory, and the interior is fairly small, with booths along the window wall. My friend ordered the salmon and said it was delicious. The roasted vegetables were also seasoned well and so crunchy and yummy. My entire bill was only $15 for 2 drinks, 'dillas, and veggies. Parking is a bit tricky, being on Duval, but drive around a bit and it's ok. I will be back for more Brazilian/ TexMex and awasome happy hour specials!
(4)
Tori M.
I came out to Sao Paulo's to hear some friends who were playing in a jazz combo there. It was relatively crowded, which is usually a good sign. The atmosphere is very nice - perfect for a date. Only problem is that the food was super overpriced and not at all impressive. First let me say, I have a problem with any restaurant that serves Tex-Mex (yes, it is somewhat of a Brazilian restaurant, but they have a whole page in their menu devoted to Tex-Mex) and expects you to pay for chips and salsa. Especially when you are going to charge $20 per entree. WTF Sao Paulo? Greedy much? There's just something about that instant gratification of chips and salsa upon entering a restaurant that satisfies my munchies and keeps me waiting much more patiently for most everything else. The menu is relatively daunting with most entrees requiring you to read the description of what it actually is before you can make an informed entree choice. I ended up choosing the grilled salmon with some kind of delicious-sounding sauce served with yucca porridge (whatever that is). My salmon arrived swimming in the sauce. I mean, the salmon was literally completely covered by the sauce, making my plate resemble more of a soup than anything else. Normally, this wouldn't be a huge issue, except the sauce was rather bland. I kept catching myself adding salt trying to see if I could find some resemblance of taste. Nope. The salmon was good, however, once I found it. The best part was really the yucca porridge, which kind of reminded me of spicy yams. I must admit - my mojito was killer! Probably the best one I've ever had. And if I do decide to return to Sao Paulo's, that will probably be all I order. The music was excellent, by the way. Nice, intimate jazz really complimented the atmosphere. I may or may not be back, depending on if a I get an invite. I probably won't return on my own accord, however. The bottom line is, at least give it a try - the music and atmosphere at least makes eating bland, overpriced food somewhat enjoyable. Oh, and get a mojito.
(3)
Jennifer C.
I want to be fair, we went there last Monday after a small family wedding. We were a group of 12 who showed up with no notice. It was, again, Monday, though, so the place was by no means even close to full. They sat us quickly, and got the drinks going- all good. I think the staff was rather irritated with us, honestly. We weren't there late or anything- from about 5:30 to about 8. We would've left sooner, but it took a long time for the food to come out. (Again, I'm trying to be really understanding about the unexpected group.) Anyway, the steak fajita salad I had was pretty greasy. I wish I'd ordered the shrimp- coconut dish- that looked really good. The decor is tired, not date-worthy, but that's sort of par for the university area course. Overall- meh. I'd go back, but it wouldn't be my first choice. Don't go with a large group without warning them!
(3)
Jessie C.
Excellent happy hour with margaritas and mojitos. I've only actually eaten here once but it was delicious.
(5)
Kimberly K.
Sao Paulo's is one of my go to places for visiting/new Austinites. If you like Sangria (or if you don't : ), check out the white wine sangria - the mix is just right here. Also, they have some really interesting appetizers, and the app plate gives you a sample of two of each unique appetizers. Definitely share it with a friend, it is huge. Don't even look at the "tex mex" menu, stick to the Brazilian entrees. The feijoada (Brazilian black bean stew) is so good. It is like a bowl of comfort and nothing really compares A black bean stew with chorizo, pot roast and some other tasty cuts of meat. It comes with a side of collard greens and other toppings, just dump it all together and enjoy. There is a really cool rockabilly looking Brazilian waiter that is awesome. I've had the luck of him waiting on me almost every time, and he recommended the sangria and black bean stew the first time I had them. The music they have some nights really completes the experience. it is always super classy, jazzy, lovely bands. I'd like to see the sangria priced a little better, and the only dessert I've had there was not that good. But order some sangria anyways, split an app plate and then get a friend to dig into the black bean stew with ya while you kick back and enjoy the music and atmosphere.
(5)
Jennifer B.
I met a couple of friends to try out Sao Paulo's a few weeks ago and had a good dining experience. Tip: They have $3 margarita's during HH. We ordered some coxinha as appetizers (Pastry dough stuffed with minced spicy chicken. Deep fried and served with a side of spicy Chipotle Ranch). We also had Pao De Queijo (Baked Parmesan Cheese Rolls.) Very tasty! The ranch had a nice little kick to it. For my entree I had Peixe com Abacaxi which is pistachio encrusted Orange Roughy served with pineapple sauce and rice angu. I thought it was really good. It was nicely plated and tasted wonderful. I may be able to attach the photo I took. It really looked nice. Sadly I was too full to try any desserts. Our waiter was great, very attentive, friendly and ready with suggestions. Probably the only negative was the parking. There's just a couple of spaces so I ended up around the corner (which was lucky since it's apartments and seems like they use the street to park as well). However, I did enjoy the experience and it was nice to have something different like Brazilian food.
(4)
Erica C.
We had our last Wassup wit it Wednesday at Sao Paulo. I have mixed feelings about this place. In terms of Happy Hour, they only have a few food items (chips and salsa, yuca strips, jalapeno poppers). They have $2.99 frozen margaritas and $3.50 flavored margaritas. They have interesting flavors like passion fruit and guava instead of your typical strawberry margarita which I appreciated. I also had the Pao De Quijos, which are little cheese balls that are so amazing (if you love cheese). We decided the few finger appetizers weren't enough to fill us up so we stayed for dinner as well. I shared the saffron chicken with a friend. The dish was awesome!!! It had curry flavoring and saffron which was amazing. Overall, I think the HH menu could be improved but the food is fantastic.
(4)
Koko D.
The chips and queso are a guilty pleasure. Adding the delicious salsa to each chip makes it even better and gives you the illusion of being healthier. I recommend the shrimp taco. It's huge and only about nine bucks! Service is great and the ambience is nice.
(5)
veek n.
thanks a lot, sao paulo. because of you i now have to add "learn portugese" to my bucket list. your food and your music compel me to do this, it's out of my control. why had it taken us so long to get here? it's because i had always heard it was tiny, that waits were inevitable, and honestly we're not down by the university all that often. sao paulo may change that last one. we arrived about 7:45 on a thursday night. the place was lively and bustling, and the music alluring. we were greeted by melba with nothing short of enthusiasm, and shown right to a table. here's what we ate: for the app we went with coxinha - tasty little fried pastries with a delicious spicy minced chicken inside - revealing not a drop of oil. i love when places can fry stuff and not make me overly aware of the fact that it's been fried. for the entree, we went loco for bobo. it was, simply, fantastic - no surprise why it's a chronicle winner. even with drinks and dessert we still came out with a very reasonable tab. bem feito, sao paulo!!!!!
(4)
Manju M.
I am mad about this restaurant. Their chicken/shrimp galinhada is mind blowing. I usually order them spicy, otherwise they taste little bland for me. They also serve a cheese ball with it. Mmmm, my mouth's already watering. Beside this I have tried El burro grande, Poblano relleno (in veggies) and both of them are amazing, too good. I have tried their award winning Bobo de camarao and Moqueca Bahiana- but they were not as good as the first three items I have mentioned. Decor is good, their is an exhibition of paintings. Lunch time during weekdays it is usually very crowded, and order usually takes 15-20 minutes to arrive. Once I went as early as 11.40 am, but was surprised to find 50% seats were already occupied. Their Galinhada is now my all time favorite. This place is little expensive than the ones located on guadulupe street. For two usually the bill is somewhere around $22-25.
(5)
Felecia I.
After years of neighbours urging us to give Sao Paulo's a try, a friend and I finally went for lunch last week. We shared an appetizer of Coxinha. Four deep fried rolls of pastry dough stuffed with spicy minced chicken arrived, served with a spicy chipotle ranch sauce dipping sauce. It was delicious and so promptly devoured. Oddly, this dish was served at room temperature instead of piping hot... perhaps this is the Brazilian way? We shared the Bobo de Camarao entree. Our server brought each of us our own enormous plate of shrimp, yucca, onions and bell peppers in a tomato cream sauce with steamed white rice topped with one pao de queijo (baked parmesan cheese roll). Yummy! I tried hard to clean my plate but the large half portion defeated me. Our server was polite and efficient. He spaced out the courses nicely, refilled water glasses without being asked and presented our bill in a timely manner. I enjoyed my introduction to Brazilian food. Looking forward to more of it!
(4)
Eve R.
Because it was Happy Hour, we couldn't resist trying an appetizer, more specifically, the fried yucca. My arteries are not sure why I do this to them, but . . . well, tastebuds won out on this one. Basically fried yucca in cheese. What's not to like? We also tried the Coxinha, another fried dish. These were darned tasty fried balls of something. But they really needed the dipping sauce that came with them. Which was pretty tasty. For entrees we had the Stroganoff, which was not bad, but I like the version they used to have at Rio much better. But in its own right, also probably terrible for you, but delicious. We also had the Peixe Com Abacaxi, an orange roughy in a very sweet sauce. The presentation on this one was fabulous, with little towers of deliciousness. This was definitely my favorite dish of the evening. Overall, not the healthiest meal we've ever eaten, but delicious and ample. We had a full meal worth of leftovers to take home. The folks there were also very nice, and especially helpful when my companion left his hat behind, and they came running to bring it back out to us.
(4)
Mr. Y.
Amazing food. Their cheese bread appetizer is awesome. Great drinks, chill atmosphere, very fresh cuisine. Highly recommended if you like Cuban or Brazilian food. Will definitely be back for more!
(5)
Alex R.
Live Bossa Nova, 2 drinks, and a tasty app for $13! I only wish they had better parking but that's less in their control. Oh the chips in the nachos are delicious and fluffy
(5)
Heather M.
Food was amazing, service was exceptional. The tables were a bit dirty and so was the silverware. Good thing I keep sanitizer and wipes in my nurse.
(4)
Wendy S.
Difficult parking as a few construction workers were working on Sao Paulo's patio, and had taken 4 front parking spaces--had me thinking, "Oh no, this isn't going to be a great lunch with a group of my gal pal's"--Was I wrong--6 of us for lunch--Doug, our waiter didn't give us the look when we asked for separate checks, set up a nice booth table in seconds flat-- Service, Doug was great, prompt, knowledgeable about the menu-- Food--OMG! The Yelp reviews were great, and I aagree--we all ordered something different--I ordered the stuff pepper with shredded chicken on the lunch special--presentation of all our plates was gorgeous, and we didn't leave hungry--we will be going back--this is a fabulous place to go if you are going to a UT game as easy to walk to the staduim--YUM!
(5)
Kelli F.
BREAD WITH MELTED CHEESE INSIDE. I could stop there, but I won't because everything else is just as amazing. Been there twice now and have had a terrific experience each time. Absolutely order the pan de.. cheese? You won't regret it. Then order the Bobo de Camarao. But just call it the Bobo because that's more fun. And also order like 25 alcoholic beverages because they're so amazing. They do have a great happy hour deal that extends until 7pm--pretty wonderful. HH includes food too, which is always a terrific discovery. The passion fruit and guava frozen margaritas were sent from heavenly Brazilian angels up above. And the caipirinha will just........... make your taste buds scream for more. Yum!
(5)
Paul G.
This is the coolest place on a hot day or a hot date. The lighting is low, the prices are low, and the staff is chill. It has a full service bar with a 5 hour happy time. Live Latin music on the weekends. I live in Hyde Park and I've taken so many friends and family here because it is what it is - really really really really good food for about 10 bucks a person. Get the 'bobo de camaro' from Bert and a mojito from Kevin. PS. I read the yelp from "GZ" and I can honestly say that yelp is insanely inaccurate.
(5)
Diana C.
The service at Sao Paulo's is magical, and the ambiance is great for dates. The food is prepared well and tastes great, except some dishes lack a "kick" in the flavor. The portions are generous, and it balances out the price a little. I always get the Galinhada with a little more salt, and it fills me up just right. In the future I would definitely try other meat dishes. The live music is a little loud at times, but always has a great saxophone player. Honestly, if you're a saxophone player that has played at Sao Paulo, please contact me and I would love take private lessons with you.
(4)
Kimmi D.
Came in around 3pm and it was dead empty! About 5 minutes later someone came out of the kitchen to greet and seat us. Food: we got the bottomless chips and salsa on the HH menu and I started out with the tortilla soup and stuffed jalepenos. Chips were really crispy and greasy yet delicious cause it came out fresh. Salsa was okay but I got REALLY full after eating half of the basket. The tortilla soup was fully loaded and a cup was $3.50, while the bowl was only $4.50 so why not order the bowl? Lol. It was probably the best tortilla soup I've ever had. They don't skimp out on the chicken, veggies, cheese, or tortilla strips. It was definitely filling. The stuffed jalepenos came with a sauce but I thought it wasn't that great. I honestly couldn't even finish 1 stuffed jalepeno cause everything was so heavy with cheese! But I brought it back home and ate some for dinner and it was actually really good. One of those awesome leftover foods. Service: Our server was really kind and sweet. I would definitely come back but probably wouldn't get an appetizer if I want to eat a meal. But I really want to try the paella! Heard it was really good.
(4)
Michelle M.
Still amazing. What can I say. Chicken milanesa was crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside! My colleagues had the paella and the heart of palm dish. We were all in heaven. The staff is friendly and it's a great casual atmosphere. An Austin classic!
(5)
Korey A.
I absolutely loved this place. Wonderful service! Everything we ate was fantastic. I'm not going to even begin to try and spell everything we got because I would butcher it, so I will just describe it. The chicken balls were great with a little spice. My husband loved the sauce so much he was dipping lettuce pieces in it. I was kind of embarrassed for him. I got the Bobo shrimp dish. It reminded me of a gumbo with onions and peppers. It was a generous portion with lots of large shrimp. My husband got the stuffed beef. You could really taste the shrimp in it. His potatoes were well flavored. For dessert they were nice enough to give us half flan and half Tres leches. The carmel flan was my favorite... creamy and smooth.
(5)
Leila M.
I have never been to Brazil, and most likely won't be able to make it for the 2014 World Cup this summer. But for what it's worth, I have two Brazilian movies (City of God and Carandiru), a Brazillion soccer jerseys and my dog is named after Zico, the awesome Brazilian footballer who danced with the ball. And hey, at least I now can say I've been to São Paulo. And while I may be a Brazil aficionado my knowledge of the cuisine is elementary at best. Why yes, I am familiar with the meat orgies of Estância Churrascaria and Fogo de Chão but São Paulo is not for meat comas. It's for those who value a palate and cuisine as diverse and beautiful as the country. Brazilian cuisine is a melting pot of African, Portuguese, German, Italian, Spanish, Lebanese and much more. São Paulo's menu is a poster child of this medley. The Bobo de Camarao will always be my go-to-dish. You seriously cannot go wrong with shrimp in a creamy coconut sauce. It's so decadent I oftentimes cannot finish it and I get a kick out of getting the rest to go, because it doesn't fit in a doggy bag. The rosemary and shell stick out of it so the waiters usually have to poke a hole in the surrender box. The Rocambole Alexandra is finger licking awesome, but seriously y'all stick to knife and fork and if you want to lick the plate make sure you get outside seating and you are not doing it in front of your date or anybody walking by. The Bife A Milanesa is my sister's favorite and whenever she'd ace her finals, this was our go to place to celebrate on campus and this was her go to dish to order. Their Galinhada was most likely the only dish that disappointed me. But I'm biased because I love paella and I make it at home often. We are somewhat paella snobs in my family, and paella is all about the authentic Spanish version + quality of items you put in + amount of love you put in. São Paulo's paella did not impress, it seemed like it was thrown together haphazardly. I made the mistake of going here with a friend on the paleo diet, and the poor waiters did what they could to accomodate her. Imagine ordering Nachos and being left with a plate of chips, jalapenos and minimal cheese after your friend finger-picked every piece of protein off of there. Yeah right, like cavemen and cavewomen could make cheese. But I retaliated by ordering the Coxinha, Bolinho De Arroz and Pao De Queijo. If Gabriel GarcÃa Márquez came here, I'm pretty sure he'd be inspired to write a novel that revolves entirely around the appetizer trifecta of Coxinha (heavenly balls stuffed with chicken), Bolinho De Arroz (delicious balls of potatoes and most likely crack cocaine) and Pao De Queijo (can't go wrong with fried cheese). Needless to say, Jes wasn't very happy and I'm pretty sure I saw her drool. She did try to reach for one of my Coxinha, but as a good friend I slapped her wrist. To ensure she stayed carb free but mostly to prevent her from taking my Coxinha. If she wants paleo, she'll need to don a bear skin skirt, carry a club and go hunt herself, and while she's gone, I'll order a second plate of their delicious garlic mashed potatoes. So, should you come here? That would be an emphatic and resounding YES! That YES would be in bold if Yelp allowed for fancy text. Seriously, this place has something for everyone. From starving student to connoisseur to food snob to paleo punk to vegetarian to Kosher with a capital K. Small and quaint, relaxed atmosphere, close proximity to campus and awesome food. But, desculpe, as a friend recently said, they should probably stay open a little later to accomodate people leaving any performances at the Bass Concert Hall or elsewhere on campus, hence one star off.
(4)
Angela M.
The food here is delicious. We tried a couple of the appetizers and the meat sampler for dinner, over drinks. Very warm design inside too
(4)
Ace M.
I would come here a lot during my college years and on dates with my gf. It's a close drive from UT and it has a nice atmosphere. I took Portuguese classes in college and just fell in love with the culture. I ventured out and tried to explore Brazilian food. I tried the foods we discussed in class and it was phenomenal. My only complaint is that the food can get a bit dry. The beef dish I ordered was kind of tough to cut with a knife and hard to chew. Overall, I love Brazilian food, it's spices and filling portions. The prices are reasonable since it's not a churrascaria, about $12 per person.
(4)
Linh N.
BF made an excellent choice for our Saturday date night! They have a variety of brazilian dishes plus tex mex. I ordered the Churrasquinho Platter which has a nice sample of chicken, sausage, pork loin, and picanha. All meats were flavorful and the picanha was cooked to my liking. The garlic rice and potatoes were out of the this world! They say you eat with your eyes first but it was love at first sniff for me. It comes with a tomato vinaigrette and brazillian breadcrumbs. The waiter informed that once you cut your meat, dip it into the vinaigrette, then roll it on to the breadcrumbs. BF ordered the Bife A Milanesa which reminded me of a brazilian chicken fried steak. Everything was delicious that night! Our waiter was very informative about the menu so if you're new to brazilian then don't be afraid to ask questions! The prices were reasonable for the portions. The only thing that was off was that the bathrooms are located in the taco place next door.
(5)
Ben B.
So I can honestly say in flew to Austin from Dallas just to eat here as my flight was delayed thus I had time for lunch and not the scheduled shopping. Yelp reviews pointed me in this direction. We were dining at an odd time.... 3pm. I guess the A Crew wasn't yet because our server was not very quick nor attentive. The food was average+. Menu was pretty diverse with both Spanish and TexMex. My wife went Spanish and liked her shrimp over rice concoction. I went TexMex and had shrimp fajitas. We started with chips, salsa, and cheese dip. A bit taken back that you have to pay for the chips and salsa but... The chips were not typical. Kinda puffy, lite, and fresh. Was a different taste but yummy. My fajitas were ok. Nothing that blew me away. Maybe it was the shrimp. They were smaller than most places. Yea... I guess they were shrimpy shrimp. My wife enjoyed her dish. I tasted the leftovers and concurred. She won the best meal of the day award. Overall, above average food. Hole in the wall atmosphere. Service could improve. May have scored a 4 but the bathroom was pretty shabby.
(3)
Elise D.
I really enjoyed my Bobo de Camarao dish. There was ample amounts of vegetables and shrimp tossed in this milky coconut cream sauce that is similar to Thai coconut curry. My friend had the chicken a milanesa. Let's just say he was unashamed to wipe it clean of the evidence that was given to him.
(4)
Chris P.
Non-steakhouse Brazilian at it's best. The chips are crack so you better buy queso and chips here. Out of the 6 or so dishes I've tried they have ranged from above average to amazing. I'm probably the biggest fan of the Churrasquinho Platter because there's so much food, so much variety, and so much quality. For $16 this is a great deal that will leave a lot of people with leftovers. The drinks are all pretty good and the waiters/owner is good at recommending various types of cocktails for various types of meals. I usually get something when I eat here and haven't been disappointed by too weak or too poorly mixed of a drink yet. The service is also great. One of the times we went our dinner took a while to come out. So the owner comes by, apologizes, and gives us a free tres leches to split for the inconvenience. I'm always impressed by a restaurant that does right without any prompting. It also helps that their tres leches is the best I've had in Austin. My one complaint is on the weekends they hire a live band that can be way too noisy if you are at the front of the restaurant. The wait for a table in the back is never really long though so it hasn't bothered me too much.
(5)
Nilesh N.
What a pleasant surprise! When my sister recommended we go to a Brazilian restaurant for my mom's b-day, my first thoughts were "protein overdose this late at night". What i failed to realize is that there are Brazilian restaurants and there are Brazilian steakhouses. This fortunately was former. The food was excellent here and it beat all my expectations. I had Brazilina Paella and it was a cornucopia of flavors that i didn't expect. If you want something more spicy i would suggest the Austin Chronicle Award winning Bobo di Camarao. To finish it off the Tres Leche hit the spot for dessert. This is my new favorite restaurant and i can't wait to go back. Now enough chit chatter about the food and time to go demolish the left overs ;)
(5)
Chiqui B.
You know when you wake up in the morning and the first thing that comes to mind is that awesome dinner you had before? Yeah, that happened today. I hate to admit that I've come here on dates with two different boyfriends, but this place is sooooo cute! Love the service, love the music, and love the food. My darling little Bolinhos de Arroz (little fried rice balls), how I've missed you.
(4)
Marilu C.
This place is terrible. The manager is horrid and so was our waitress. The waitress came to see if we needed anything twice in a span of over 2 hours. Maybe she was having an off day, understandable. We had to call over others to help us frequently and when we finally came around to complaining to the manager, she, in short told us that we were wrong and that specific waitress never gives her any trouble. At NO point should a manager make you feel like your criticism is unwelcome or unwarranted. Terrible. After, she asked for our numbers and names to contact us later to see about a way she could resolve the problem. Never heard from her. I can't stress enough how terrible the manager made us feel as costumers. Absolutely horrible.
(1)
Tim C.
My wife and I went here minutes ago for a late lunch. I had the Bobo de Camarao and she had the Pollo Magdalena with collard greens. Usually when ordering something with shrimp, I tend to see lots of filler and not much shrimp. Not so here! It was a very balanced mix of all ingredients. I LOVED the yucca in the dish! The sauce was smooth and creamy with a overall hint of shrimp with every bite. My wife was not expecting much from "stuffed chicken breast" but, again, a great surprise when it came out as a roulade with a spectacular yet not overwhelming sauce. The greens were done perfectly! Again, typically greens are cooked to death and come out like a green slop-sponge. These were quickly cooked and came out with an excellent firmness and flavor. This will definitely be on the repeat visit list! The water smells bad but you can't blame them for that. Get tea or a soft drink.
(5)
Andre E.
Great Drinks and really Good Chips and dip! The chips taste way diffrent then any i have had before
(4)
Isabelle K.
Went back Sao Paulo on Sat night. The music band and candle made our dinner so romantic. I noticed the paintings on the wall are all about women's bodies. I ordered my favorite dish, shrimps in a small pumpkin. It tastes like a heaven. We also ordered churrascaria plate. I like the beef most, it's so tender. My son likes the sausage most because it's full of flavors. Guarana drinks made Matt so happy since he missed it so much after he got that in Brazil.
(5)
Rebbaz R.
gf: Monterrey Combo me: beef sirloin salad with lime vinaigrette (maybe only on lunch menu?) both were awesome! prices were very fair for portions considering the great flavors and great meat! highly recommend. will be back soon.
(5)
Allison F.
I have been very interested in Brazilian culture and have always wanted to try the food. I had a restaurant.com coupon for here, so the guyfriend and I decided to use it the other night. Our waitress, Isabelly was super nice. I know some places will neglect you if you use a coupon because they think you are cheap or will not tip well. Well, she was just wonderful. The coupon required that we get $35 worth of food, so we ordered 2 appetizers and 2 entrees. We had coxinha and pao de queijo for our appetizers. The coxinha are nicknamed little drummies. They are filled with chicken and are served with chipotle ranch. I could have eaten them as a meal. I got the chicken a milanesa, and he got rocambole Alexandra. Mine came with garlic mashed potatoes, which were so freaking good. The ranchero sauce on my milanesa was not that great, although the guyfriend found it satisfactory. He really liked his entree, but said it was slightly too salty. Both of our entrees came with a pao de queijo, and had I known, then I would have picked a different appetizer to try something else. But do not get me wrong, the pao de queijo are so nommy. We were so stuffed, and I even had leftovers, so we skipped on dessert. There was a live band playing when you first walk in. The atmosphere was really nice. I would recommend it for dates. Overall, I was really impressed with everything. Sao Paulo's was a great first experience with Brazilian food.
(5)
Zinf A.
Stopped by for happy hour about a week ago. First off, let me just say that their happy hour is decent. The service on the other hand, was abominable at best. A friend ordered nachos and was brought quesadillas instead. It took over 10 minutes to replace them. It then took an additional 15 minutes for the waitress to bring a drink over, and the place only had 5 tables filled. On top of that, we were charged for an extra margarita and 18% gratuity (3 people at the table) which was hardly appropriate for the lackluster service. I should probably note that one of the cheese rolls contained an egg shell the size of my thumb (the single roll was replaced) and the middle-aged waitress was wearing a sleeve-less shirt and jean shorts. While I can understand that stuff like this happens, it certainly didn't make the experience any better. I don't even see the workers at McDonald's wearing mid-thigh jean shorts. It was distasteful at best. When I asked her if the 18% gratuity was mandatory, she replied that unless you were a regular customer tipping 25-30%, she would charge the gratuity. I understand it's tough being a waitress. I really do. I used to be one. But the languid pace at which she moved and her inability to even memorize the simplest orders does not warrant 18%. I encourage people to go for their happy hour and the cheese rolls. Just make sure you get seated with the blonde waitress. She's much more professional and doesn't screw up orders and then overcharges you.
(1)
Leslie H.
After too long of a line for more beer at Draught House..we decided we needed some Brazilian food or the Brazilian version of tex-mex food?? Kind of interesting billing... The place is warm with orange, vibrant colors and had a live latin jazz band playing which encouraged us to stay. Ordered the coxinha which were like Cuban papas rellenas (little fried mashed potato balls with any variety of meat in the middle). Very tasty with the chipotle ranch dipping sauce. I had the bife cebolado (skirt steak with onions). I very much enjoyed this, but was really looking forward to having my steak with traditional green chimichurri sauce like the Argentines do it. I've been to other Brazilian places and that's been served with the meat or at least as an option. I asked the waiter about it and he said " oh yeah, it comes with it." Their version of chimichurri is like a spicy, chunky tomato sauce. That was kind of disappointing, but other than that...really tasty food, quick service and wonderful atmosphere with the live music.
(4)
Hiya C.
I used to frequent Sao Paulo's back when I lived in the dorms and didn't have a car. It's located in the most random spot near JP's Java and Double Dave's close to north campus. It's definitely a hidden gem! My favorite thing to get here is the Pollo Magdalena, which legit looks like a sushi roll except substitute chicken for the seaweed and crab/cream cheese/spinach for the rice. It is FANTASTIC! I also like the paella and the chicken enchiladas. I usually dislike enchiladas so these ones really stand apart from the normal. It amazes me that this place is still open because there's rarely more than 2-3 tables occupied when I go. But I hope it continues to stay open because it has a perfect intimate ambiance. ALSO - happy hour is obviously amazing. Cheap flavored margs that are definitely strong!
(4)
Arick W.
I know I write mostly negative reviews on places but I do it so people won't waste their money and time on these horrendous restaurants. Besides everyone already knows Torchy's Tacos in Austin rules. This place, Sao Paulo's, does not. Not even close. The Brazilian BBQ is just awful, the worst I've ever had, by a huge mile. I regrettably got the mix bbq plate. All the meat was tasteless, dry, overcooked and tiny. I couldn't tell the difference between the chicken, beef or pork. If they threw a small piece of tan bark in there I wouldn't have noticed. And what's up with serving both Tex Mex and Brazilian food? Why not sell donuts and chinese food while you're at it. Make up your mind. I noticed most of the good reviews here were from people hitting up their happy hour so I guess the food is somewhat better if you drink booze. Seriously, get super wasted first if you plan on going here to eat. It'll ease the pain. Is there any way to put negative stars on this site?
(1)
Sirsha C.
im going to give this place 3 stars, more like 3.5 just for this place to exist. I mean Brazilian food other than the churrascaria is hard to get. The menu is quite representative of local Brazilian fare such as the Bahian moqueca (stew made with coconut milk), picanha (steak), bobo (another stew), coxinha (chicken croquets) and pao de queijo! The food is actually decent. The pao de queijo, the cheese bread was actually spot on. But was my Moqueca de Camarao e Peixe like the one I ate in Brazil? of course not. It was good though,quite good. except the Pirao, the porridge made with mandioca flour was not good at all - it tasted old. I loved the pirao in Brazil and ate buckets of it when I could. The paella type dish my friends ordered was overdosed with garlic it was overwhelming. The plus point is that they had a ton of veggie options, not something you're likely to find in a real Sao Paulo restaurant, but gotta love ATX for that. my big disappointment was the capirinha. I ordered it with cachaca. its supposed to be LOTS of limes muddled with LOTS of sugar and neat Cachaca. however i got a very dilute version with few limes floating in some sort of lemonadey drink. i did end up ordering a second one just so i could keep sipping on cachaca. for the less adventurous folks, the caipiroska was good too. service was quite good, attentive yet they left us alone to enjoy our meal
(3)
Christopher L.
Nothing special. Salmon was overcooked.
(3)
Holly A.
It is hard to believe such a find as this exists in a strip center. From the second you walk in, not only will you completely forget it is in a strip center, but you seem to forget life outside of Sao Paulo's altogether. This place has an ambiance that reaches out and grabs you, makes you sit down, savor your unique, sensual food and think about all the things you shouldn't be doing in a restaurant. The lighting, textures, music, layout and colors are exquisite. The staff is friendly and playful. Melba herself has got to be the nicest, sweetest and most genuine restaurant owner I know of. Be ready to experience places you never thought a strip center restaurant could take you ...
(5)
Monica J.
After numerous attempts to follow through on a date with a good friend, we FINALLY made it happen after I got done Great Urban Racing (gonna give those guys a plug here, event was great and it's always a pleasure discovering local Austin places). After my trip to Brasil I was constantly craving Brasilian food, especially coxinha's so when i got back to Austin I almost immediately did a google search. I found this place and knew I had to get myself over here. It's sad that it took me so long to finally make a visit because this place definitely met expectations. Plus, I didn't realize it was so close to campus, I have a feeling I will definitely be back here again, if only for their coxinha's. So a quick look at the menu, and what do i see?! QUILMES!!! Well, I wasn't a big fan of this light beer while in Argentina, but seeing it back in the states always makes me so excited!!! Of course, I had to get it. I didn't have much time as I had plans to go to Lockhart for the BBQ trifecta, so we just ordered some Pao de Queijo and Coxinha. You will have noticed that I did not give this place all 5 stars despite a seemingly rave review... this is because the pao de quiejo did not really deliver. It was kind of tough and flavorless. Our waitress brought it out almost immediately after we ordered it so I have a feeling it may have been sitting out for a bit. But man oh man, those coxinha's were ahhh, perfection!!! It came with a chipotle ranch dressing but I asked them for regular hot sauce and the waitress brought me some tabasco. I couldn't bring myself to use their sauce, I had to eat it the way I did back in Rio. It's fried and perfectly crispy on the outside, but as soon as you bite into it you sink your teeth into this delicious doughiness that is not at all overwhelming, and then as you go further you find this delicious shredded chicken and cheese... add the tabasco and I went straight back onto the gorgeous beaches of Rio. I could have ordered just the coxinha and sat there for a couple of hours... ahhh. Next time i will come with more time because I would love to try their feijoada and a few other items on the menu. Thank you Sao Paulo for allowing me to go back to Rio and re-live my amazing summer, even if it was just for a little while!
(4)
Mary L.
Hadn't been back here since college (over a decade ago) & just started coming back. The food's even better than I remember, and the ambience on Friday nights is great with the live jazz band playing. They have that Brazilian cheesy bread that I love, and all the dishes my friends and I have tried so far have been great.
(5)
Alana M.
Maybe it was an off night, but this place was incredibly unimpressive. We had a few appetizers, entrees and drinks and none of it was anything more than ok. Our server was sweet, but like the food, nothing impressive. I wouldn't go back. I'm actually surprised by some of the rave reviews on this place, but as I wrote in the beginning, maybe it was just not the best night for Sao Paulo?
(2)
Snow C.
We loved it! HUGE portions! Nice and Helpful staff! (it was our first time) Great live music! and REALLY good food! Get the combo appetizer so you can try a little of everything. I loved the jalapenos stuffed with crab meat and the Cheese rolls the best. Man, I loved those cheese rolls. I think I ate 4 or 5 of them and can't wait to go back and get more. Our entrees were all delicious but my favorite was the....dessert: flan...hmmm hmmm good. I split it with my husband but when he wasn't looking, I made sure I would take 2 bites to his 1 because i couldn't get enough. Parking is tough because it is close to Posse and Crown & Anchor but worth it. Can't wait to go back. Can't believe it took me this long to visit this place....
(5)
Andrea K.
Let me break this down for you: Start with a glass of guava juice. Order the parmesan cheese rolls. Then order the bobo de camarao (shrimp, yucca in coconut sauce). Top off your evening with a slice of flourless chocolate torte cake. Let your life be changed.* *optional: -Saturday evening for gorgeous live Brazilian music -lunch time for a bit cheaper price -since the servings are huge, feel free to take some home for tomorrow's lunch -nighttime for a more intimate ambience **disclaimer: my review is based solely on the Brazilian menu, I have never ordered off of their Tex-Mex menu (because why would you want to, at a Brazilian restaurant??!)
(4)
Kyle H.
We stopped in for my husband's birthday dinner, since I work on campus and we were looking for something easy and early on a Friday night with two kiddos. The place was pretty empty when we showed up around 5:10, but was filling up by the time we left. Our waiter was attentive and made good suggestions. We were happy with our entree choices, and I was even able to sneak in a birthday dessert request as a surprise for my husband. We took leftovers home, and really enjoyed the happy hour specials. A nice little gem close to campus!!
(4)
Kevin G.
Eh it was okay...its not really authentic brazilian food they have mexican dishes which arent too good...the chips are good though and very different like chinese noodles.
(2)
Priscila B.
I had the feijoada. I'm Brazilian so I can say that it was good, but not perfect. It's missing a little more seasoning. Moqueca, Bobó, Pao de Queijo, Coxinhas, Bolinhos (appetizer sampler) are delicious. I'm Brazilian and I can't make those things are good as they can. They need a better dessert selection. Overall, I liked it a lot.
(4)
Joyce F.
easy to find. were 1 of 2 groups there for a late lunch on saturday yet the service wasn't up to par. ordered the jalapenos which i liked with all the cheese. had the pallela with shrimp that was to die for. a little bit pricey for lunch but would order it again.
(4)
Lydia A.
I love Sao Paulo! The food is delicious and the drinks are outstanding! Their chips and salsa/queso are a little weird, more like wontons than traditional chips, but they are ADDICTIVE and amazing! I usually go for happy hour with my friends and have drinks and appetizers, which are always outstanding. I've never had a negative experience here!
(5)
Wendy W.
Finally a nice place with mexican-ish food with a liquor license, that isn't the 4 places I already eat at. Great happy hour prices on drinks. Amazing mango froz marg (which I don't normally get into) My food was actually temperature hot (which can be a unreliable thing at some joints) Great light live jazz music (which wan't too loud or annoying in anyway. Making this place part of our regular stops!
(4)
Ricardo B.
"Phenomenal!!!! Best food I've had lately. Try the estrogonofe do sul, galinhada and the bife à cebolado. Superb all of them."
(5)
Shinta S.
Why didn't this place exist when I went to UT?? The food here is good. My favorite is the Brazilian Paella. My partner likes their Black Bean Stew. Order their side of collard greens to go with your meal. It is yummy! I also love their appetizers, especially the Parmesan Cheese Rolls. They are warm, springy, salty and savory. My favorite munchies.
(4)
Chris R.
I'd say 4.5 stars simply because I'm never compelled to return week after week, but still a great place. I'll give credit to Sao Paulo's for having some unique class in the campus area where catering to students en masse is all you ever see. The food is quite good, savory and filling, I usually get Galinhada with shrimp, some bolihnos de aroz, and a caipirinha to sip on. It is odd that there is Tex Mex and Brazilian, but not really, both menus have many options and it is Texas after all... The atmosphere has nice low lighting, local art, and cool jazz bands on weekends. Great place for a date. As my girlfriend explains her stem cell research in dizzying nerd fashion I find myself not only absently bobbing my head to her but also to nodding in rhythm with the sick walking bass line thumping through the restaurant. I've heard complaints of the service, but I would say the few waiters I've had were great. Either the shorter guy or latina geura are superb friendly servers. Even last night our server managed a huge 20+ table while quickly checking on us and other tables, kudos to her. Bottom-Line: Great place for dates, happy hours, or just nice dining without being too fancy
(5)
Alexandra C.
My review is for Taco Joint, the place next door. This place is pretty great - the food comes fast, there's a lot of options, and the food is delicious! It's close to campus so it's easy to pop over here and grab a bite. No taco is more than 4 dollars and they're slightly larger than Torchy's. They also have a nice little selection of Mexican juices and sodas, and several delicious homemade sauces. I had a breakfast taco (chorizo egg and cheese) as well as a street taco ( grilled beef with caramelized onion, cilantro, and asiago cheese with the chipotle sauce) - Enough for breakfast and lunch for only 6 bucks! Definitely give this place a try.
(4)
Megha K.
I wish I could get MARRIED to one of those little Brazilian cheesy bread balls (pao de queijo) they have at Sao Paulo's! Over the years I've been such a loyal Sao Paulo's patron that, really, I may as well put a ring on it. Seriously every meal I've had here is pretty damn delicious. So much so that once a waiter was actually visibly taken aback by how quickly a girlfriend and I had "demolished" (his word, not ours) two gigantic dishes. Here are my reviews for some oft-demolished favorites: Pollo Magdalena - easily my favorite dinner here - the red tortilla-encrusted rolls of chicken breast stuffed with crabmeat, spinach, and cream cheese are mildly crispy on the outside and succulent, saucy, and meaty on the inside. They rest on a sufficiently generous bed of rice and veggies, and the mild ancho sauce adds some needed moisture to the mix. Bobo de Camarao - this is the Austin Chronicle award-winning dish, and deservedly so! A really nice amount of shrimp and yucca served in a GREAT tomato and coconut cream sauce + bell peppers/onions + rice. I'm usually sort of skittish about yucca since I think it can so often be rendered bland, but the nutty and creamy blend of flavors balances well with it in this case. Enchiladas de Chipotle - finger-licking good satisfaction! I mean, I know that with the monterey jack cheese and mild chipotle sauce this pretty much meets your usual enchilada standards + the typical rice and beans fare. But Sao Paulo's really does it well - hot, delicious cheesiness! Galinhada (Brazilian paella) - meat + jasmine rice suffused with a tasty amount of herbs and veggies - saffron, cilantro, tomatoes, and onions. Definitely hits the spot when you're hunting for some non-Spanish, but equally satisfying paella. Outside of the food, the atmosphere's great, too. Kooky modern art with romantic undertones adorns the walls, the lighting's dim, and the candles make it a very cute datey scene. The live Latin bands are pretty fab as well and really set the mood for the South American cuisine. But a tip - sit in the back if you're hoping for a conversation since it's quite loud up front. Parking can be a bit obnoxious on a busy night, so if you're near/on campus I might recommend walking it. Go! Soon! Tonight!!
(5)
G Z.
The food is good, but the service is not. We ordered cheese bread, chicken and beef milanesa and a caramel flan. They were all delicious. Unfortunately, the service is terrible. The waiter rarely came to see if we were ok or needed something, but yet there were 3 male servers, all seemed to be Anglo, chatting away near the entrance. The only one there who seemed to really work, besides the cook, was the "bus boy", he seemed to be Hispanic and was the one who would check up on us, remove our dishes, bring us extra bread and request extra hot tea for us. He was the one who would go to our waiter and tell him we needed something. Yet the waiter kept talking to his friends while the bus boy brought us the items we needed. There were two men who seemed like managers or co-owners. They went to certain table to ask if they were enjoying their food; by certain, I mean they went to only the Anglo customers to ask them. He passed by us several times and didn't ask us anything. The bus boy was the only working and was the only there who seemed to enjoy the customers and his job. The restroom is way in the back; it was so-so clean, but I find that it is too close to the kitchen. When i went back there to take my son, the cook was listening to very loud and very vulgar music. I did not like that, but he was one of the few people in the restaurant who was working and the food was good, especially the cheese bread with chipotle sauce.
(2)
David A.
I was amazed to find availability for a party of 8 just before the UT game a couple of weeks ago. A little tip - the street parking is restricted to one hour until 7PM. If you get there at 6pm you can have dinner and then walk to the stadium or concert hall. We started with great appetizers and then dinner. The walk to the stadium was necessary after all of the food! Sao Paulo has a mixed menu with both Tex-Mex and Brazilian entrees. I opted for the Brazilian side of the menu and the food was great. I understand the comment about service. Our wait staff was great but the hostess had a definite attitude. Didnt' take away from our overall experience, however. A good stop if you are around the UT campus.
(4)
Shelly T.
The Camarao Da Vo Naica is the BEST thing I've ever ordered at a restaurant. I literally cleaned my place it was so good. My boyfriend always orders the plate with a bunch of meat on it, I forget what it's called but he loves it too. It's def our favorite place to go in Austin. The queso is pretty standard but what kills it is the chips. It's like they re-fry them or something but it's kinda gross. Other than that, I love the place!
(5)
Precious W.
From what I understand this place is associated with Sao Paulo's next door, and because I didn't find a website, the phone number listed is the number for Sao Paulo's. My four stars are mainly due to the location and the price. The place is clean and cozy, and the staff were personable and helpful. I haven't been there at a peak time, but when I went my food was served promptly. If you hang out in this area a lot I would recommend giving them a try. I had some kind of pork taco at lunch and it was tasty. The breakfast tacos are also good, but I'm not a big fan of the tortillas. A little greasy. That's easy enough to fix, I would think. The insides are good, anyway.
(4)
Natalie C.
The Entrees are hit and miss. Some are absolutely delicious and some are really bland. I recommend ordering off the Brazilian side of the menu, not the Tex Mex. The Brazillian Paella is delicious. All the portions are huge so considering you get two meals out of it I think this place is a deal! Also, check out the gluten-free menu - you get lots of options! Also, the happy hour is a great deal and the margaritas delicious.
(4)
Pede R.
Great Brazilian food, best chipotle enchilada I've ever had, awesome variety of tropical cocktails and great ambiance on weekend nights when they have live music!!!! I always take friends there and São Paulo is always a success!
(5)
Amber K.
This is one of my favorite places for a date night. It's dimly lit with lots of Brazilian art lining the walls. On a weekend night you can usually find a live band in the waiting area as well. It's the perfect little neighborhood restaurant. Having studied abroad in South America, I'm always looking for a place that can take me back to those wonderful months. Sao Paulo's does just that. The food never disappoints and they are one of the few places that carries my favorite Argentine beer. Also, definitely don't leave without having the cheese bread and their house salad. Both are to die for.
(5)
Devika S.
Easily one of the best restaurants in Austin! Nice happy hour drinks and the chips and salsa are addictive. Seriously, I dare you to eat just one! I've tried almost all the Brazilian dishes on their menu and I think the black bean stew, Galinhada (Brazilian paella), and Bobo de Camarao are the best. I've never tried the TexMex dishes, so I can't comment on those at all. There are jazz musicians playing some evenings and they are really good. I am excited I recently moved walking distance from Sao Paulo's and will go back very soon!
(5)
Rebecca F.
Plus: banana tots!!, interesting salsa, great atmosphere, live band, cheesy bread!, signatures in spice on every plate. I love having veg options of the main dishes, on top of a veggie section. Minus: weak margarita (or maybe I'm developing a high tolerance), long wait on a Thursday night. I prefer Mexican style tortilla chips to these fried puff flour chips, but that's just me... and it didn't stop me from eating them! The vegetarian paella was bland. Obviously it's missing some key elements, being veg, but I just wasn't that into it. Next time will try something else, but I would definitely go back!
(4)
justin l.
So, while not quite tex-mex, they don't have a Brazilian option for categorizing food. Let me tell you though, this place was FANTASTIC. I went in there at about 6pm, the service was very prompt and efficient, and... Yes, they provide love in the form of a ($2.99 during happy hour 2-7 7 days a week - what a steal) passion fruit margarita. So tasty. Their happy hour also had great-looking appetizers, though I enjoyed just a heart-of-palm and cheese... dish. I'm not sure how else to describe it other than fantastic. Came served with banana-tots which are exactly what you'd picture when you think "banana-tot" and a light mustard sauce that I dipped them in and... Heaven. I'll certainly be back. Great work guys, way to take care of us up in north campus.
(5)
Mandy P.
Yes, the rumors are true. The passion fruit margaritas are amazing, with or without happy hour prices. I usually steer clear of frozen ritas because 1) they're made with a mix and not too tasty and 2) because they give me brain freeze, but these are top notch. My dining companion and I split the Bobo de Camarao, which was fantastic as well. Waitstaff was helpful and the live band was just the icing on top of a wonderful dining experience. I can't wait to go back to try something else!
(4)
Dawn M.
i really required a second visit to make sure the food i was served was "that good." it was truly as delicious the second visit. i tried the orange roughy for the first time ever and wow, that's some good fish. the pistachio breading was equally yummy. last time i tried the camarao da vo naica and couldn't get it out of my head. the appetizer combo is a great mini selection when you can't decide or you want to try them all out. the mojitos were quite refreshing. i do have to say this one slight negative. it did take us quite a while to get seated...we were the only ones waiting for a table in a half-empty restaurant. i know the atmosphere is laid-back but at least get us to a table, get us water and drinks and then take your time. a 10 minute wait for drinks is almost unbearable on a saturday night.
(4)
Lorena W.
I went to Sao Paulo's last Saturday for Happy Hour with a few friends. We arrived around 4:30pm and the place was pretty empty. Our waitress was nice, but it took her forever to get us our drinks and chips. Not only that, but she was gone for the majority of our stay and other waiters had to tend to our table. I understand that servers get busy, but there might have been 4 other tables in the ENTIRE restaurant, and she wasn't the only server there. When we asked for our check two hours later, she didn't split it or ask to split it. Fine, we just decided to split it evenly instead of having her go back and separate our orders. Ten or fifteen minutes passed, and she hadn't come back to our table. She was busy on the other side of the restaurant with two 6 tops, so we flagged down the manager. We told her that we had been waiting a long time for the check to get picked up and that our waitress didn't perform well during our entire stay. Instead of simply apologizing and taking the check, she had the nerve to tell us that her waitress was very busy and went on defending her bad performance. Okay, I get it that managers may have a certain view about their servers, but that is no way for a manager to treat a guest. We felt very unwelcome after the manager took the check. The manager must have told the server that we had a bad experience, because before the manager returned with our check, the server came back and said, "I'm sorry, I had no idea I was so horrible"and just left. That made my friends and I feel like we had gotten her into trouble and felt extremely guilty. The manager came back and told me specifically to write my number on the receipt so that she can call me to investigate our experience further. Again, we felt terrible, so we each wrote the server a letter telling her that she wasn't horrible but that her manager made us feel unwelcome. We also tipped her 40% because we felt so bad. We decided to give the check directly to the server and apologize to her and tell her that we didn't mean to cause any trouble. The manager saw us waiting for the server and offered to take the check. I told her that we wanted to hand the server the check personally and apologize to her. She insisted that her server was extremely busy and that she would take the check. She said all of this rather rudely as well. Nearly a week later, I have not received a response from anyone in the restaurant. I had legibly written my number for the manager like she asked, and nothing. I was not looking to get a free meal or drinks from Sao Paulo's, but I was simply wanted to talk to the manager calmly and have her apologize. Yes, I wanted HER to APOLOGIZE because the customer should be treated with respect. In any business, the customer is always right, even when they're wrong. We had a terrible experience and will not be returning to Sao Paulo's due to the behavior of the manager.
(1)
Courtney G.
This place has a great happy hour with decently good margarita's and great nachos. I would definitely recommend getting a table outside by the sidewalk, that way you can people watch while you eat!
(4)
Erin L.
So I FINALLY made it to Sao Paulo's after the recommendations of the Yelpers and I'm so glad I did. There's only one problem...after reading all the reviews, I wanted to eat everything which never ends well. But that's a problem of my lack of self control, so yeah. We went on Thursday around 5:30, just in time for Happy Hour. They do have some amazing deals. $2.50 for a regular margarita, and $2.99 for the Passion Fruit margaritas. They are small, but misleading. They'll get you, believe you me. The Passion Fruit margarita is so delicious, you almost don't realize it has alcohol until it's too late. As my friend said, "Were the second ones stronger than the first, or is it just me?" (It was just him.) We also got a cup of queso with the unique chips. (Crispier, greasier than regular tortilla chips.) We also had a bowl of the stew for Happy Hour. (We wanted to try basically everything on the menu, so they were nice enough to give us a smaller portion. It was absolutely delicious, and I highly recommend it.) For our entrees I had the Bobo de Camarao, shrimp and yucca in a tomato cream sauce. Deliciously seasoned and it was a very generous portion. It was light and filling at the same time. Really tasty. It was a best of Austin Chronical winner and for good reason. My friend had the Rocambole Alexandra which is beef stuffed with baby shrimp. He said it had a unique flavor and ate every bite, although I'm not sure he would order it again. (We both would order the stew in a heartbeat.) All in all, a fantastic restaurant with a great happy hour and delicious food. A warning: The jazz doesn't start until 7:30, so if you're going for the music, plan on eating a little later.
(4)
Rachel S.
I'd been here a few times and was never overwhelmed. The food was good but not great, and everything is painfully overpriced. My last experience will keep me from ever returning. We(a group of 6-8 people) came for lunch and arrived relatively early so we could be sure to get a table. We sat down immediately and from then on, it was like we were the forgotten table. It took a good 15 minutes just to get a waiter to take our drink order and another 15 to get a food order in. We proceeded to wait 50 minutes for food. Tables around us who arrived later got their food and were gone before our food was even served. Not worth it. If you want good Brazilian food, go to Rios.
(2)
Tara M.
On my first visit I had the Lasanha Paulista (layers of eggplant, cheese and vegetables baked in mushroom marinara sauce) and it was an instant addiction. I strayed once and tried the Pistachio encrusted Orange Roughy w/ Pineapple Salsa - also very yummy. I have yet to try anything else as I am mostly monogamous once I find a true love..
(5)
Mia M.
I love this place! I've been here about 5 times and each time try something different and I am never disappointed. I love the bife a cebolado and the vegetable lasagna! The pao do queijo is pretty good too. The staff is always really nice. Sometimes they may be a little slow but that doesn't make me want to give them 1 less star! I still really like this place for some reason. Maybe it's because my boyfriend is from Brazil?? I don't know, but give it a shot. Try the quilmes beer from Argentina...light and refreshing. The chicken stroganoff is very similar to what I had in Brazil as well, have it with a caipirinha and you'll feel like you're in Sao Paulo!
(5)
Madelyn R.
We visited Sao Paulo's again (my second time) to take advantage of their awesome SXSW deal of 1/2 price Feijoada. Our experience was absolutely horrible. The server had no idea about the 1/2 price deal (even though there were fliers at the front of the restaurant, which we had to go get to show him what the heck we were talking about). Once he took our order it took almost an hour to bring out the queso that we ordered as an appetizer. At that point we almost told him to forget about it. It was, however, extremely delicious. It took another 30 or so minutes to get our food. I have been to Sao Paulo's once before and I was with a friend who has been going for years. The standard portion of Feijoada is a good-sized bowl with a plate of rice and collared greens. Two of us ordered no collared greens and were brought the standard bowl size of Feijoada. Another friend ordered the Feijoada just as it comes and was served half the portion. When we asked about it they made up some crap about how they decided to give the two of us extra Feijoada since we didn't have collared greens and then they changed their story to say something about the portion size changing for the SXSW deal. It was all a bunch of BS if you ask me. After all of that they charged the two of us who asked for no collared greens an extra $1 for substitutions. The whole experience left me feeling really frustrated. The food was still really delicious, so I might give them another chance once I cool off. Hopefully they can redeem themselves. They did give us free dessert to try to compensate, but for me it was too little too late.
(2)
Matt S.
My first attempt at a Brazilian restaurant that wasn't a "churrascaria " and I wasn't disappointed. We ordered 2 dishes.. The Camarao da Vo Naica and the Feijoada. The first one was simply fantastic in terms of taste, presentation and price. It was a mix of shrimp, garlic, oil, cheese and tomato served in a really cool baked pumpkin for only $15. It looked and tasted great. The other dish, the Feijoada, was a stew of black beans, sausage, pork and beef. Not as good as the first one, but good for about $10. Tried a Brazilian soda called "Guarana" that tasted like an apple cream soda, very unique. The atmosphere was nice, peppy Brazilian music in the background. Servers were very nice and informative.. I can see why this place gets high marks.
(4)
Therese A.
When I have had a stressful week and am looking foward to happy hour, Sao Paulo's is often my first choice. They have amazingly cheap (and good!) drinks during their happy hour. Since it is busy at that time, service isn't always stellar but never bad enough to keep me away. But I also sometimes go just for the food which is equally good. The Bobo de Camarao is extremely tasty and never disappoints.
(4)
Nibbler ..
Great food with plenty of vegetarian options. Generally good friendly service. The only reason it doesn't get 5 stars is the drinks are a little pricey (but good, try the calpirinia) and the bathroom was pretty gross the last couple of times. You expect that at the Posse but not at real Restaurant.
(4)
Randall S.
Not bad, but not one of the best. They make decent sandwiches and strong margaritas. The yuca is pretty good too.
(3)
Kirsha D.
I've been a few times now and I find that they are very consistent. The portions are huge and the service is friendly. However, I could stand for smaller portions and in return a few dollars off the lunch entrees, simply so that I could fit into my weekly budget and visit more often.
(4)
piper b.
it's been years and i think a remodeling or two since i've been to sao paulo, but we went there for dinner last night with a couple of friends. the restaurant was pretty empty for 7:00, even though it was a tuesday, but i'm speculating that with school not yet back in session, the campus scene is a little sleepy right now. our server greeted us promptly and offered happy hour drink specials even though it was 6:59, which i thought was fantastic (a stark contrast to other establishments who don't mention their happy hours and even balk when you try to order something close to the cut-off time). she recommended the sampler platter for our appetizer since we were all rather indecisive, and that was a great call because everything on it was fabulous. i had the moqueca bahiana with salmon and it was superb. very flavorful but not overpowering, a huge portion, delicious. the others had paella and the churrasquino platter (for 2) and commended those dishes as well, even though i was too full to taste anyone else's. the drinks are tasty and strong-but-not-too-strong. the prices are moderate and reasonable, especially considering the portion sizes. our server let us hang out at our table for almost 3 hours, which is a rarity that i really appreciated. all in all, i look forward to many more experiences at this re-discovered treasure in our 'hood.
(4)
Larry K.
This is just on the North side of the campus area, in a retail center that was probably built in the 40's ?? Bricked and unassuming and the atmosphere in the restaurant was relaxed. First I would like to say that to me the decor and what's on the walls falls far short and ranks third to the quality of the food & service provided. With that said my date had the Bobo de Camarao (Best of chronicle winner) , which is shrimp and yucca tossed with onions and bell peppers in a tomato coconut cream sauce, served with saffron steamed rice. She thought it was excellent. I had the Moqueca Bahiana, which was a salmon filet crispy fried and then covered with sauteed tomatoes, onions, peppers & cilantro in a coconut cream sauce. Served with saffron steamed rice and yucca porridge. Mine was excellent as well and I don't how it could have been made any better. The creme brulee was a nice ending to a great meal. If you went with these choices I don't think you will be dissapointed. My first venture with Brazilian cuisine and I will definitely be back to Sao Paulo's.
(5)
Lauren G.
The happy hour here is great! Frozen margaritas are $2.50 for regular, $3.99 for flavored. Appetizers are cheap and tasty. Yucca with queso, chips and salsa, nachos, quesadillas, and jalapeno strips are on the HH menu. It's a small restaurant and the artwork on the walls is beautiful. You can buy it, for a price, but its expensive. For dinner, I would choose some of the traditional Brazilian food. The only thing I've had that leaves something to be desired is the enchiladas verde, from the Tex Mex menu. They were too dry and tasteless. Otherwise, everything is tasty.
(4)
Lauren C.
Lovely place! Has an interesting mix of Tex-mex and Brazilian dishes, plus plenty of veggie options. My advice: go for dinner on a Friday or Saturday for the live music. Order the chips and queso--obviously not authentic Brazilian food, but the chips are AMAZING. Then, indulge in a Brazilian entree. I recommend the Camarao da Vo Naica--muito delicioso! Enjoy the spicy atmosphere! This is an excellent place for a date ;)
(4)
Jessica E.
We called about 20 min in advance to reserve a table for 7. We were promptly seated when we arrived. The dinner rush was over on Saturday at 9pm. It's nice that they are open until 10:30. Service was excellent. We started with the combo plate and the chips and queso/salsa. I wasn't too impressed with the combo plate. Within the combo plate, the stuffed jalapenos was my favorite, it had a kick. The rest of the items were also fried and didn't really have a unique flavor to me. The chips were tasty, made of wontons and queso was delish. Salsa had a smokey flavor which complemented the queso. For drinks, you must order the caipirinha! Entrees came around and I was already getting satisfied from the apps. I ordered the Rocambole Alexandra: "Beef Sirloin Roulade stuffed with sauteed baby shrimp, catupiry cheese and dusted with bread crumbs and served with mushroom Porto sauce." The presentation of the dish was excellent and the taste was spot on. Someone else ordered the Pollo Magdalena which was also fantastic. My hubs ordered the Bobo de Camarao which he enjoyed. I tried it and wasn't fond of it but then again, I'm not a fan of yucca or coconut cream sauce. Oh and since we were celebrating a birthday, one dessert was free which we shared. The flan was heavier on the cream cheese side so it had a thicker texture. All in all I say this place is an excellent fusion of TexMex and Brazillian and was a nice change from the typical food offered in most other restaurants. I appreciate the creative presentation as well.
(4)
Alex H.
This place is okay, but the culinary skill doesn't live up to the price, or the cuisine they are trying to serve. They do serve a giant burrito for $8, but the flavors didn't speak to me. It was bland. I can't recall anything particular about the meal, which probably means it wasn't special. In all fairness I only went there for lunch, and I didn't order any of their specialty items. Maybe I'll be back to update the review based on this. The brevity of my review is an indication of it's lackluster meal. I did enjoy the pan de queso. They're soft, chewy and warm, with the right amount of cheese. In the future, I'll probably just place an order of these to go. It's the only thing that really sticks in my memory about Sao Paulo's.
(2)
Rebecca L.
Recent trips to Sao Paulos for HH has made me decide to update my review. Their frozen margs are $2.50 or something during HH, and this makes me happy. You can add flavors for $0.50 or something like that. Anyway, it's easy for me to get carried away with such cheap, delicious drinks, so I order their artery-clogging queso and chips to soak up the alcohol. Just keep the chips coming because I plan on drinking a lot.
(4)
Jin X.
food is good. juice only looked charming. didn't see live music
(4)
Mason J.
Austin getaway with the wife..place was ok. Food was kinda bland but it was decent
(3)
Julie S.
Sao Paolo is one of Austin's best kept secrets. This tiny little restaurant, tucked in a strip mall between a bike shop and a mini-mart seems totally unassuming at first. You probably won't even realize it's there or, if you do, you probably think it's some weird hole-in-the-wall dive. Let me assure you, this little gem is amazing and you should definitely give it a try. Candlelight at the tables, big comfy booths, live music, fantastic service - and there is never anyone there! I almost debated writing this review in the first place since I don't really want to spread the word about how great this place is. Oh well, Yelp...you win this round. I can't remember the first time I went to SP, but it was probably when I was in college. We were always looking for great places to go within walking distance of the UT Campus and had just about had it with Chipotle and Kerbey Lane. Sao Paolo was next on the list and so we gave it a shot. The prices were actually pretty college friendly ($8-15 for a plate) and the menu has something for everyone. If you aren't into adventurous Brazilian dishes (shame on you!), you can try something off of the Tex-Mex menu. The enchiladas are cheesy and spiced perfectly. I think it can easily compare to other popular Mexican places in the city. I have to recommend the Pollo Magdalena. It is to die for! Little crispy morsels of goodness packed with cream cheese, crab meat, spinach, and other awesomeness. Also, I have had the Beef Milanese, but wasn't too impressed. It was standard. The Pollo Magdalena is hard to beat. For something healthy, try the grilled salmon/avocado dish (cannot remember the name). It comes with some rice and a little cheesey biscuit (as do most of their meals). The paella is great too - huge portion. Can you tell I have been here a lot? :) The reason I keep coming back is the chips and queso. The chips are amazing. Unlike anything I have tried in another restaurant. They are almost like flaky, crispy pastries with the perfect amount of salt. The queso isn't anything special, but the chips make up for it. I could eat basket after basket. Seriously. The caipirinhas are pretty great, as well. Almost like a cross between a mojito and an on-the-rocks margarita. Very strong - they pack a punch! Go during HH for cheaper drinks and appetizers. Then, stay for dinner. Thank me later.
(4)
kelly c.
My first 5-stars on yelp! yelped "happy hour on campus" with jessica m. she immediately declared sao paulo the one, but i had to make sure the deals were deep. the phrase "dirt cheap happy hour" was enough to convince me. $6.50 mexican martinis. the server was more than happy to accomodate our request of the drink sans olive and served with two rocks glasses with salt instead of martini glasses. i still don't understand the concept of the mexican martini: if its a martini, you shouldn't be chuggin that shit right? so then the other half of ur drink is just sitting there in the shaker getting waterd down? wtf? the atmosphere was great - quiet and quaint. chips and salsa (added queso for only $.50) unique and delicious. they are worth the $2.50. they split the Pollo Madgalena n 2 plates for us. they charge $1 to split entrees but its totally worth it as each plate has a lil more rice n veggies. extra points for the short-haired girls in the corner booth. no complaints about sao paulo's; everything was right on!
(5)
Christine A.
Sao Paulo was not exactly what I expected. I was planning on a little Brazilian mini feast but was confused by the menu which featured quesadillas, hamburgers and other non-Brazilian food items causing me to flip the menu cover over to see if I was really at Sao Paulo. I was. Okay. I can roll with it. After speaking with the very nice waiter sporting some interesting bug tattoos, I decided to go a la carte and had a cheese enchilada, black beans and collard greens (his recommendation). Yes, I know, this sounds like a Mexican-Brazilian-Soul Food lunch rather than strictly Brazilian. Whatever you want to call it--it was damn good. I LOVED the collard greens cooked in vegetable broth and sesame oil with grilled onions and tomatoes. And, finally, black beans that are perfectly seasoned. The cheese enchilada was tasty too. All of this plus iced tea and gratuity for $12.00. I predict more meals for me at Sao Paulo in the near future.
(4)
Rouzhna N.
I went to this place for a friend's birthday during their happy hour. I absolutely loved the food and the only reason I am not giving five stars is because of the service and drinks. We ordered some frozen margaritas, not very good and expensive. When the server brought our checks we noticed that they were priced a lot higher than noted on the menu. So we asked her about it and she said "Oh ya, the menu has the wrong price on it." WHAT?! so....why dont you guys change the price on the menu (I think that's a pretty basic rule for restaurants: menu price=price you actually have to pay). AND the server was so rude and stuck up. For appetizers we had Pao De Queijo (cheese bread balls) and queso. The pao de queijo were a bit dry and hard to bite into, but not too bad. The queso comes with fried chips, BUT the chips taste so different. I have no idea what they are made of but they're puffy and super crunchy. BUT the entrees are absolutely amazing! I ordered the Estrogonofe do Sul, which is filled with your choice of chicken or beef sirloin and mushrooms, cilantro, and the most awesome creamy sauce. The portions are also huge! My friends had Bife A Milanesa (Brazilian version of chicken fried steak?), but the winner was the Galinhada (which is Brazilian paella). This thing was huge and delicious. She got it with shrimp and they gave her plenty of it (most restaurants give 5 shrimps...). I took the rest of my meal home and after I heated it up, it still tasted yummy! They just need to work on their drink menu and service.
(4)
Amanda S.
My friend took me here for my birthday dinner. It was AMAZING! Sao Paulo's has an incredible balance of flavor, atmosphere, drinks, and music. The white wine sangria and the appetizer sampler was the perfect way to start off our meal, and then followed by the main courses, which we shared. Our waiter, Charles, was a delight as well. I am looking forward to sharing this place with many others in the future.
(5)
Amber D.
Yum! It has crazy chips, I think they're flour instead of corn? Either way, the chips are bizarre and I like 'em (I'm a notorious chips-n-salsa fan). They have a dirt cheap happy hour, and loads of specialty cocktails and margaritas (mostly fruity margaritas - but there's a few other choices mixed in). The food is pretty nice, but if you avoid dairy like I do, you may find yourself severely limited. Certain nights they have live bands (mostly instrumental, jazzy stuff), and that really adds to the feel.
(3)
Sujata G.
This place is a bit pricey for being so close to campus... My favorite thing here is their appetizer combo platter. It's great for two and is quite filling... The other things on their menu are not as noteworthy, in my opinion, and I don't think they're really worth the money.... The ambiance is nice... service is OKAY (once it took like 10 minutes for someone to realize that we were standing in the front waiting to be seated) AND we've had a glass of water knocked over by the waitress (But the manager was kind enough to give us dessert on the house) Honestly, I like to come here for a small dinner where my boyfriend and I fill up on those delicious appetizers. Each one is incredibly delicious and flavorful.
(3)
Jacob R.
We ended up going here to try some Brazilian food that isn't served on giant swords at all you can eat portions... but ended up finding that it is more of a Brazilian tex-mex hybrid. The margaritas and Brazilian caipirinhia (similar to a mojito but lime not mint) were both good drinks and decent prices during happy hour. The coxinho appetizer and chips and salsa were also nice. they use the fried dough version of chips instead of the corn style, I loved that fried dough chip. entrees were actually a bit under expectations. Strangely everyone order tex-mex entree despite the fact that we choose this place to try some Brazilian. Everyone tended to agree while the food was fine, it was nothing special. more importantly, we all agreed our food seemed to be under spiced and lacking deep flavor or spiciness. With alittle salt, pepper, salsa, and hot sauce it was better.
(3)
Robin S.
I gotta get back on the review train. Sao Paulo had a gas leak last week, according to the waiter with the thick (if feigned) accent when we arrived on Thursday. Nevermind, as they still had managed some way to make the acclaimed Bobo De Camaro, black bean stew and salads, which were enough for me and the lucky man who was paying for my dinner (thanks hubby). To say we fought over the last bite of Bobo would be an overstatement, but lets just say that lucky man did not *ask* who wanted the damn spanking good last bite of that deliciousness... The chicken salad was just ok.The tortillas on it were kinda stale. We sat outside, so I can't say much for the atmosphere, except that it was too cold to sit in. Minus one star b/c our waitress was a little cloying. Plus one star becuase they let me keep the small dog with me on the patio equals..... four stars. p.s good mojitos though not as good as sampaio.
(4)
Bo Y.
Very cute and romantic little Brazilian restaurant. The food is intricately presented and it tastes amazing. There's live music on weekends and the entire setting is romantic in dim lighting. Not really any drink specials, but I go to primarily eat delicious food. I didn't give it 5 stars because it is a bit pricey. My bill is always over $50 every time I take a date. Dishes are $15-$20, plus 2 drinks, $50 flows out like water. But then again, I'm grateful because I'm always happy to have spent that $50. It's always a treat to go here.
(4)
Sebastian G.
Sao Paulo's? More like Wow Paulo's! Went here based on a friend's recommendation and all the excellent reviews and pictures on Yelp, and wasn't disappointed. When you enter, there's a stage to the right and the bar and dining room to the left. The decor was nice and festive and the place looks very clean. There's a bunch of seats at the bar, which has a TV (which looks very out of place). We did notice that there were some lights out and damaged fixtures which need tending to and it looked like the crumbs and mess from the previous diners were brushed off onto our seats. Not a big deal. We were excited about the food. Not having had Brazilian before, my gf and I were a little intimidated, so we relied on our waiter for help. Our waiter was extremely helpful answering our questions, translating and making recommendations. He made our experience less intimidating and more relaxing. Like a good waiter should, he knew all the dishes on the menu, and was even able to describe and recommend the different Brazilian beers. (The Xingu black beer he recommended was very nice!) Appetizers: they all sound amazing, but our server recommended any of the 3 real Brazilian appetizers: Coxinha, Bolinho De Arroz and the Pao De Queijo. We were tempted to get the Pao De Queijo, parmesan cheese rolls, but our server told us that they come with every Brazilian entree, so we wouldn't miss out if we got one of the other 2. So, we went with the Bolinho De Arroz, 6 cheese-filled rice balls from Heaven. I've had Italian rice balls, which, in comparison, are heavy and eggy. These are really light and parmesan cheese crusted instead of bread crumb crusted. Delicious! Mains: There is a really nice selection of fish, meat, chicken and vegetarian dishes on the Brazilian menu, but it is not a huge, intimidating list. I was torn between 2 fish dishes; the Moqueca Bahiana and the Peixe com Abacaxi. According to our waiter, these were customer favorites, and since I wanted spicy to go for the Moqueca Bahiana. My gf was a little less adventurous and got the Bife A Milanesa (her Trudy's favorite). With the Moqueca Bahiana you have a choice of tilapia or salmon. I'm not a fan of salmon in sauces, so I got the tilapia which I think went very nicely with the coconut cream sauce. The yucca porridge side was great. It was an amazing combination of flavors that I can't describe. The Bife A Milanesa is very different than Trudy's. The steak has a lighter breading and comes with a lighter, ranchero-style sauce, which my gf loved. It came with super-tasty garlic mashed potatoes and mixed vegetables. Both dishes came with the parmesan cheese rolls, which did not disappoint. They were nice and crispy on the outside, and had a surprising texture on the inside, kind of like steamed buns. Very nice! The portions are large, so be prepared to take some food home. They also have a Tex-Mex menu, which confused me. Why would anyone go to a Brazilian restaurant to order Tex-Mex? I suppose it for those many "native Texans" I've met since moving here that only eat "American" food; you know pizza, burgers and tacos. Anyway, we are now fans and can't wait to work our way through the rest of the menu!
(4)
Caitlin C.
I only found out about this place because I got a $15 off coupon in the mail and I am so glad that I did. Me and my boyfriend LOVED the food that we got here. The Queso- tasty, but mediocre. I enjoyed eating it and the chips were unique, but I have had better. My boyfriend got the Brazilian Steak dish (I forgot the name I apologize)- absolutely delicious!! Meat was cooked right and the sauce on top was tasty and the mashed potatoes were to die for. He also got a mojito and really enjoyed it. I got the stroganoff and I have never had a stroganoff that good. They did not give me too much rice and the meat/other ingredient to sauce ratio was perfect. They also made a really pretty decoration with some spices on the side of my pate. I will absolutely be returning to this restaurant.
(4)
Nic M.
Great food warm atmosphere good service. The bobo de camarao was excellent. The fruit juice is refreshing, but not fresh. The chips aren't tortilla chips, so expect them to be greasier than normal.
(5)
Susan T.
I travel to Austin for work a couple of times a year and because I love BBQ, we tend to overdose on it without leaving room for trying other things. I was glad that we went for something different. Sao Paulo's paella was really really yummy. I don't think most people go there for their paella. There's no shortage of other good dishes according to my colleagues. I'm a rice fan, so any chance to eat a rice dish of any ethnic origin, that would be my first choice. Brazilian paella is dryer than typical Spanish paella, but I think has more flavor and depth. Either that or I've had very mediocre paella. I've had paella in Spain and numerous other places. I like it, but I don't love it. I loved this dish at Sao Paulo. As a bonus, their sangria was so scrumptious. I could've had more than one glass, but it was a work dinner, so being drunk off my ass in front of my boss wouldn't have been cute. Portions were HUGE. I am a healthy eater, but I could only finish half of the paella. It didn't help that I downed a ton of the chips and queso prior to the main entree. That stuff was so addictive. The only item I would recommend against was the cheese ball that everyone raves about. It tasted like a badly done fried mozzarella cheese stick. Very rubbery and tasteless. Not worth the calorie intake. Save it for the queso and chips. Definitely would come back here again...when in town.
(4)
James A.
I visited on Saturday with a couple of friends to see what Sao Paulo's was all about. I was very impressed with the food - I had "bife a cebolado" and the portion was huge! The accompanying rice was good too with a nice mix of vegetables in it. I could take or leave the fried yucca (perhaps it's an acquired taste). The cheese-bread was tasty too. I don't give Sao Paulo five stars because of the very dim lighting, not helped by the overcast skies that day and limited parking options. Still, the server was very chatty and friendly without being overbearing at all.
(4)
Regan H.
Best tortilla chips I've ever had. They're actually fried wontons, to let you in on a secret, but they go perfectly with salsa and queso. Try them! Chips & queso are $3.50 during happy hour.
(4)
Tiff T.
Sao Paulo's is a 3.25 for me: I might come back, but mostly for the drinks during happy hour. The cheese rolls are terrible compared to the freshly baked ones at Estancia. Instead of being warm, soft, and chewy, the ones an Sao Paulo's are brick-like and cold. Eww. I really enjoyed the jalapeno strips: huge basket of fried jalapenos with a ranchy dip ($4 during happy hour). The chips and salsa are awesome, too. I think I could drink a bowl of their salsa if I tried. The other appetizer we got was the yucca with queso. I was expecting more of a queso dip, not fried yucca with shredded cheese on it. It did taste pretty good, but it reminded us of KFC potato wedges. We also got the two-person Churrasquinho Platter ($28.95) for a group of four, but I don't think I'd ever, ever order this again. The meat was well-flavored, but the beef was definitely overcooked. (Note to self: go back to Estancia for this kind of fare.) They give you a ton of farofa, which is powdered yucca used for seasoning the meat, but there's no way you'd ever use it all unless you snorted it or something. To end this review on a positive note, the drinks are the reason to come back to this place. I had a mango margarita ($2.99 during happy hour) and a maracuja (a.k.a., passion fruit) margarita (also $2.99 during happy hour), both of which were AWESOME. (They deserve the word "awesome" in all caps.) They are relatively strong, which is probably why they come in little servings. The verdict: I may come back to Sao Paulo for the drinks, but parking on the street can get difficult with Posse East and Crown & Anchor being neighbors. And the food hasn't utterly impressed me just yet.
(3)
mark s.
Just had dinner at this great fund.place is casual and plays great jazz but the food rocks.My wife had the black bean stew and I had the shrimp in yucca sauce and both were excellent and were winners.Plan to be a regular at this downtown haunt.
(5)
Alicia W.
Their vegetarian lasagna is seriously, seriously good. Comforting and cheesy and delicious. I've come here many times and never felt a desire to order anything else, it's just that wonderful.
(4)
S H L.
This place really surprised me (and I mean it in the best way possible) ! The place has a good variety of Brazilian and Tex-Mex foods and the atmosphere is lovely especially when the music band is playing during dinner. The salmon + peppers and yucca with cream sauce is absolutely delicious! The portion size isn't bad but it is a bit pricey ($15/person on average).
(4)
Lola L.
The happy hour is amazing and the quality of the margaritas (frozen) and appetizers is sublime. My friend got the mixed green salad with carmalized pecans, goat cheese, tomatoes, and a lime dressing. DELISH. Will definitely be coming back for more.
(4)
Jessica G.
Ever since we moved into our new apartment right down the street from this place, my roommates and I have been dying to try it. So we decided that we should go for my birthday dinner a few nights ago, and absolutely fell in love with it! The food was really unique and flavorful; the portions were so large, we took home three boxes of leftovers. We ordered the queso, stuffed jalapenos, Strogonoff, and El Burro Grande. The Strogonoff was by far the table favorite, although everything else was really delicious.... they even have their own house fried chips for the queso. We ended the meal with a free (and enormous) slice of Tres Leches cake for the occasion. Yum. A word of warning to the weak of tounge- the stuffed jalapenos were a bit too spicy for me, but my roommates both enjoyed them. Our waiter was super friendly and helpful, not even thinking twice about bringing three extra plates and forks for our family style dinner, and was very attentive and polite. The atmosphere is very warm and dark, and would probably make a good place to take a date. Overall, we had a very good experience here, it was a little pricey, but definitely worth it if you're looking for a treat!
(5)
Quani C.
After living in Austin for almost two years, I finally ventured here this past week. I've heard nothing but good things, and I can't believe I didn't visit sooner. First of all, there's a Yelp sticker on the door as you walk in, saying how much we Yelpers love them. And now I know why. I didn't get much of a chance to check out the inside of the place, it was a beautiful evening so Chewy and I decided to sit outside. She was gushing about the wonton-like chips, so we started off with an order of chips and salsa. Boy, was she ever right...delicious! For our shared meal, we opted for nachos (made with the same fabulous chips) with shrimp on them. I'm not much of a seafood person, but the shrimp was prepared just right! It smelled pretty fishy, though, but everything turned out okay. I also had a mango margarita and it turned out to be a perfect balance of flavors. Our waitress was in training, and she is going to be an asset to this place, I can already tell. The guy she was supposed to be shadowing didn't even come to our table once. I hope she got to keep the tip and not him! Everything seemed fairly priced, as well, which is always a plus...especially with as much as I don't eat at home! I'll definately be coming back again...and hopefully soon!
(4)
Alberto N.
The 2nd day after I turned 21 I learned two valuable lessons at Sao Paolo's: It's really easy to have 10 too many at happy hour, and you have to pay for those ten too many at the end. Guess I had never really paid for any alcoholic beverage before since they were all at parties or some college blah blah, but man I was floored when my bill was more than $20 . That being said, I have gone back many times to that happy hour and for dinner, and I have realized that $20 dollars is definitely a steal for what you get. The Bobo de Camarao is slamtastic, the Feijoada (black bean stew) is never a bad choice, and those damn wonton chips. I hate to quote horrible catch phrases from bad 90's advertising, but I "Bet 'cha can't eat just one." The drinks are good, the food is always consistent, the restaurant always looks good and has great art on the walls, and the staff is friendly and attentive. Go get your slice of Brazil today, you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Izzy M.
This location use to be a terrible Chinese place back in the day... I got really sick. But that terrible memory has been replaced with the memory of wonderful South American food! I love the beef dish with the carmelized onions. yum yum! Fried yucca is sooooo good! I also had one of their soups the other night. It was close to a tortilla soup and was very flavorful! Also, if you every try the salad with fruit, it is amazing! Restaurant Inspection Scores: Sao Paulo's Restaurate 2809 SAN JACINTO BLVD AUSTIN 78705 11/24/2009 78 Sao Paulo's Restaurate 2809 SAN JACINTO BLVD AUSTIN 78705 11/20/2008 81 Sao Paulo's Restaurate 2809 SAN JACINTO BLVD AUSTIN 78705 04/11/2008 79 Sao Paulo's Restaurate 2809 SAN JACINTO BLVD AUSTIN 78705 08/15/2007 89
(4)
Daphney B.
A UT alumna wanted to show me around campus, and since I love Brazilian food this was perfect. Happy hour was decently priced and I liked my drink. The server forgot out appetizer cheese rolls. I was very sad that the Rocambole Alexandra made me sick-really sick. We had to leave and didn't get a chance to try dessert. I will return, but it will take some time. I will update as soon as I do.
(1)
Jaye B.
How is it that I never knew about this place? And how is it that I've never had Brazillian food until now? Or a Caipirinha? A group of us went on a Friday night, had a bit of a wait with awesome cocktails and a duet of bass and sax. The atmosphere is comfortable and inviting. The food is outstanding (though like others, I don't love the chips). I tried the Salmon on tomatoes, mushrooms and basil and it didn't disappoint. I'm sometimes skeptical of salmon in restaurants since it can get overcooked fast. This was absolutely perfect though. I also sampled my friend's chicken that was stuffed with crabmeat and cheese. I'm getting that next. I had a bite of someone's shrimp (the one that won Best of Austin) and it was one of the best preparations of shrimp I've ever had. I also sampled someone's fish that was great and a bit on the sweet side. I can't wait to come back to Sao Paulo's! It was a perfect night with a group of perfect company, great food, music and drinks. Well done Sao Paulo!
(5)
Tee D.
After the Seinfeld show last weekend, a group of us were searching for a place to eat near campus. Enter: Sao Paolo. This was my second visit to Sao Paolo; the first was so long ago that I don't remember much about the meal at all. So, I have a really good recollection of my meal this time. Lucky for you! We started with the queso con mambo (guac and ground meat) and the sampler plate. The first batch of chips they brought out with the queso hadn't been fried long enough, so they were chewy and gummy. They brought us a new batch of chips, and these were so good! The queso was super; I'd have to say it's some of the better queso I've had around Austin. For my entree, I ordered the Moqueca Bahiana with Tilapia (in a creamy tomato coconout sauce). It was delicious; however, I wasn't a big fan of the yucca porridge that came with the dish. It tasted like... tomato-flavored mashed potatoes. Meh. I ordered a guava margarita with my meal, which was recommended by the server. It was tangy and refreshing, but it was not my first choice. They were out of the mango margaritas. I love the overall vibe of this place. It's a pretty chill, unpretentious place to have a yummy dinner, and on the night we went, they had live music as well. Yum's up!
(4)
Jarrett R.
Last night the gang got together for little S.'s birthday at Sao Paulo's. I have to be honest, I must be living under a rock because I've never even heard of this place. Of course I've driven past it probably hundreds of times, but from the outside it looks like a coffee shop / diner circa 1962. Probably another reason why I didn't know about the place was due to the typical parking debacle that one is faced with when attempting to go to any business that is located near UT. I have to say, I was very impressed with the place. The service was fantastic and for a place that specializes in Brazilian food they sure did rock my face off on the Tex-Mex tip. I challenge you to order the Tejano combo. You'll find your self going WTF Tex-Mex restaurants? Do you know that the Brazilians are kicking your ass when it comes to making cheese enchiladas! What's next? Are the Brazilians gonna kick your ass at soccer too?
(4)
W L.
I love this place so much. Everyone go! One of my favorite places to eat in Austin and it is priced really well. I ordered the lasagna that was under the vegetarian menu. All I can honestly say about it is.. OH MY GOD! SOO DELICIOUS. I could eat it every week, and I think I just might. It comes out in this big ramekin covered in cheese and it is in this delicious sauce that came from all the veggies when it was baked. All of the dishes come out with this little cheese roll and it was good for soaking up all the sauce in the dish :) we asked for more -it was to yummy and our waiter gave us a couple more (free of charge!) They take reservations, which is really good because it is packed on the weekends.
(5)
Deborah M.
I love the food here! I've been coming for years, it's in the neighborhood. I recently went for my B'day. What I don't love is the service. It's just never been great. We waited for our drinks for 10-15 minutes. I seriously almost got up and got them myself because they were sitting on the bar for a while. 3 girls and two of us got our dinners while one had to wait another 3-5 minutes for her dish. I think I would come more often if the service was better.
(3)
Tracy W.
very delish!! I had an amazing steak dish. I loved that they take reservations. Their chips and salsa were awesome. Would reccomend to all
(4)
Heidi D.
My first time trying Brazilian food! I didn't get too adventurous and just went with the galinhada (Brazilian paella) but it was yummy. The portions were generous, the food looked gorgeous, and the paella came out with plenty of vegetables and flavors to make it an interesting dish. The place wasn't too crowded when we went (Saturday evening during a home game) but the parking was very un-fun. They had a band playing and it added a nice little ambiance to the place. Overall, I'd do it all over again.
(4)
Mary Beth H.
I used to live very close to Sao Paulo's and was a frequent customer there. I love the food and the drinks. It's got both a Brazilian and a Mexican menu, and some other items thrown in that don't really fit in either category. If you want an early dinner, the happy hour is awesome. I recommend trying the basil mojito. It's seriously tasty. They also make good margaritas, but I'm just not a margarita kind of girl. I love their banana tots, their cheese rolls, the cheese rice balls, the tomato, mozzarella and basil salad, and a vegetarian dish involving hearts of palm. Despite the tasty main dishes, I tend to get a bunch of appetizers. However, my dinner companions have ordered extensively off both the Mexican and Brazilian menu and are generally happy with both. I can't recall anyone ever getting anything they didn't like and I've enjoyed every entree I've tried. Warning: they serve super extra fried chips with the queso. Not normal tortilla chips at all, more like those crunch fried things at Chinese restaurants. Their queso is good, but I feel like this adds a whole extra layer of unhealthiness to an already seriously horrible for you dish. Tasty though. Another thing to be aware of is that the stupid metal awning over their outdoor seating ensures that it is bakingly hot to sit outside even when it isn't that hot out. Just walking by the place you feel the heat radiating off of that awning and the sidewalk. In the past, the downside of Sao Paulo's was extremely inconsistent service, so much so that a couple of times a few years back, I tried to go to dinner and left before ordering because the wait staff was so interminably slow. However, in the past two years or so, they've been consistently speedy, so they seem to have worked past this problem. If you gave up hope on this place based on past experiences, I'd say give it another go. Oh, one more thing. They also have a Brazilian soda which is awesome. A childhood friend of mine was from Brazil and I hadn't seen the soda anyplace other than his house growing up, so it brought back memories.
(4)
Rob R.
Excellent food. Ordered a combo with sausage, pork, chicken, and steak. Steak was ok. Other items were delicious. Great salsa. Interesting chips. Somewhat oily and puffy and I ate far too many. Ambiance is mediocre. Very dark. Bathrooms are, well, a bit odd and could be far cleaner. Will return for the food and music for sure.
(4)
John O.
Yummy yummy yummy. Good beer. Good drinks. And great food. Highly recommend checking out Sao paulos!
(5)
Elben S.
So I've been in Austin for almost two years and I've never noticed this awesome Brazilian restaurant?! Oh, the things I have missed. I came in at 11am, and they were barely set up, but they were very accommodating. I ordered the Galinhada with chicken, which is a plate mixed with Jasmine rice, saffron, cilantro, chicken, tomatoes and other things. The plate came out hot and prompt (well, I was the first person in there so I had an advantage). It also came with one cheesy bread (I could eat these all day). The Galinhada was awesome. The flavors were just so perfect in pitch and harmony. I don't really know how they could have made the dish better. Well, maybe if it came with two cheesy breads or something. The only downside to Sao Paulo's is that it's a bit expensive for a university student to become a constant patron of Sao Paulo's, though I definitely want to be one. Come here and enjoy some good Brazilian food. You'll forget about the $10-15 price tag after your first bite.
(5)
Sondra S.
We really, really enjoyed our meal here. My other half had the Rocambole Alexandra, which is steak stuffed with baby shrimp and cheese, and I had the Churrasquinho Platter (layman's terms: mixed grill). Both were outstanding, and that's saying something considering that the other half of my dining party really doesn't even like eating at all (I know, he's weird). We ran into friends there having dinner too, and they also really enjoyed their meals (one had enchiladas, the other something... can't remember). We will definitely be going back to try some of the other dishes on the menu; it was hard to choose because they all sounded delicious! I also really appreciated the attention paid to our table and obvious pride our waiter, Bert (I'm guessing also the manager or owner?), had in the restaurant. A great experience!
(5)
Sarah M.
Sao Paulo has the whole package. Quaint, well-hidden spot on a chintzy strip of shops just southeast of Crown & Anchor Pub. Low-lit, cozy set-up...arguably one of the more romantic spots in town. Live music, but not overwhelming. Moderate prices. Delicious Brazilian menu. Try the Portabella Fajitas or the Palmito ao Forno. A friend likes the Peixe com Abacaxi (orange roughy with pineapple). Unique appetizers. Try the Pao De Queijo (baked parmesan cheese rolls) or the banana tots. The average wait staff knocks them down a point. (Be patient...) But overall, a wonderful spot for a Saturday evening date. Scrumptious.
(4)
Larry T.
First time visitor to Sao Paulo's. We were greeted right when we walked in and seated very quickly on a Friday night. I didn't know if I should be concerned because there wasn't more of a wait. We went with it anyways and started with a happy hour margarita and basil mojito. The margarita was frozen, so that is a wash on quality and taste, the basil mojito was terrible. I am really not sure what was wrong with it but it was undrinkable, this is the only reason this place didn't receive 5 stars from me. We had regular chips and queso for an app. The chips are they puffy kind and very good. For dinner we had the best of Austin chronicle winner and the entree that is about the meat lovers dish on the menu, both were excellent. We still have some left in the fridge as the entrees! we had the tres leches for dessert which was good not spectacular. Overall a nice, close restaurant with totally different cuisine. We will become regulars here.
(4)
Mark L.
The food here is pretty good and is helped by the good bar and service that help bring it up. Pricing here is quite reasonable and it's easy to get out of here spending $20.00 including one drink. It's not a place that is revolutionizing Brazilian cuisine - but it will satisfy most tastes. For better or worse, half of the menu is Mexican. I think it compromises the idea that this is a Brazilian restaurant - but it allows you to bring in that friend who has simple tastes and allow them to have a burrito.
(4)
Cody R.
I'll be honest... I don't know the first thing about Brazilian food, but after my meal at Sao Paulo's I might become quite the expert soon enough. Everything I tasted at this restaurant was amazing..... even the Queso. They have two sides to their menu, the Brazilian side, and the Tex-Mex side.... kind of a strange combination, but it somehow works. I stuck to the Brazilian side but after seeing some of the items from the Tex-Mex side I might have to switch on my next visit. Usually the words "Good food" and "campus" aren't used in the same sentence, but the stereotype has been proven wrong... Sao Paulo's is awesome. I am looking forward to reheating my dinner for lunch today
(4)
P K.
Pretty good food, reasonable prices considering their portions. I ordered the Taquitos. A plate came with three, with additional rice and beans side. Way too much food for me. Maybe I don't know Mexican food all that well, but their Taquitos turned out to be more like what I usually known as crunchy Tacos The pork itself was good, tender, well seasoned and with good sauce. Put it in between the crunchy tortilla, yum! Great lemonade, too! Well, actually, it looked more like lime to me. But even better! Freshly squeezed lime with not too much sugar. A dash of salt would've made it perfect (for me). I was only visiting Austin, so I only had time to visit this place once. But I definitely would have liked to try other things on the menu. Someone else in my party ordered some sort of chicken and fruit salad, and boy, did that look nice and refreshing.
(4)
Laurelin O.
I've been going to Sao Paulo's for years and it keeps getting better. Sitting outside is a great way to spend an early afternoon or a nice night. Their coxinha's are absolutely amazing. Their margarita's are delicious and the food is tasty. At times the service can be slow but they always have a smile and are very nice. I highly recommend this place.
(4)
Rick G.
I just read Jim's review and thought I had already reviewed Sao Paulo's. But, I hadn't so I will now. Their website isn't up, so my spellings of their meals are going to be very bad. Sao Paulo's is one of the top choices for our lab "special" lunches. When someone is leaving the lab, a new person joins us, someone has gotten a manuscript accepted or a grant funded---this is likely where we'll go to celebrate. I've also gone there with students after exams and their mojitos are really good. The chips.... they're more like little fried won-tons than normal corn tortillas, and oh, so good! As is their queso and salsa. Over the years I've tried practically everything on their menu, and the only thing that I didn't love was the steak milanese (but a guy in my lab loves it). During the brutal Austin winter, their feijoada really hits the spot. Service has always been great, even when we've shown up for lunch with 20 people. I've never been able to try a dessert there (blame the dynamite chips & queso), but they look good. If you're on the north part of campus, you can cut through the ARC parking lot (across from Speedway Garage) and end up at their front door.
(4)
Eric B.
Went out here with a bunch of friends for dinner. I really liked the space, and there was a good live jazz band playing as well. Started off with drinks. I had the Caipirinha, which was decent (must have been since I had a couple). For appetizers we tried the sampler plate. The Coxinha and Bolinho De Arroz were awesome. Stuffed jalapenos and cod fritters were also good, but not as good as the former. The only disappointment were the cheese rolls. They were a little tough and doughy for my taste, and my friends seemed to agree. Entrees: I had the Bobo de Camarao. Almost like a Brazillian gumbo with shrimp, peppers, onions and yucca in a slightly sweet tomatoey sauce and served with rice. It was decent. I dunno if I'd order it again though. One of my friends had the salmon, which he said was very good. Two other friends shared the churrasquinho platter which they reported was good, but the meats were a little dry. The last friend had the enchiladas which she seemed happy with. Desserts: We tried the tres leches cake and the chocolate torte. Tres leches was my favorite of the two. Light and tasty with a whipped cream topping that didn't push the cake into the zone of "too sweet". The torte was also good, but extremely rich. I took about one or two bites and let the rest of the table have at it. So I'm giving Sao Paulo's 3 stars for the time being for excellent apps, good service, and decent mains. I really enjoyed the place though, and I expect that I'll eventually find something on the menu I like better, which should improve this rating a bit.
(3)
Susie G.
I guess I have to be the negative review in this positive bunch. I came here for a birthday party during a happy hour. Although the passion fruit margaritas were quite good, no arguing there, the service was horrific. We were sat in the back. The waitress took forever to bring our drinks, doubly forever to bring food, and insisted on having one group check even though there were about 20 people coming in and out on a rotating basis. Every time someone had to leave she would print out a new receipt instead of just making individual tickets, which both annoyed and confused us. For good, very different food and strong drinks- stop by. But don't expect to be served quickly. Or maybe only come with a very small group.
(2)
Ryan K.
I think I took a year off of my life eating the amazing chips and queso - but well worth it. Dinner was reasonably priced and delicious. And more to the point, I was full when I left. Great place to meet with friends and enjoy a good happy hour.
(4)
Brittney R.
Bert was a nice guy and knew his stuff. The salmon and shrimp dishes were amazing, and the signature drinks were delicious! The bar took a little longer than expected, but Bert made sure that we were happy and having a good time.
(4)
Claire M.
I'm not experienced in Brazilian food for comparison purposes, but I'm a fan of Sao Paulo's. As other Yelpers have noted, the chips are unusual in a divine way. They're super light and crispy almost like little wonton chips. So delicious dunked in gooey cheesy queso or under mashed pinto beans, melted cheese and poblano sauce in the nachos. The traditional entrees are also winners. The Brazilian style stroganoff and paella are especially recommended. The only irritating experience I've had here was when I took my boyfriend here for lunch one day, and after *literally* every other table in the place that had been seated after us had been served and 45 minutes had ticked by I asked the waiter for a box along with our food because my boyfriend would have to leave before he had time to eat his meal. The waiter's reaction was to give me an annoyed and slightly amused look and asked if I was "giving up already" in a highly sarcastic tone. Aside from wanting to flip him off, it was a tasty meal.
(3)
Marshall R.
Great dating atmosphere. Highlights include piping hot pao de queijo, the passion fruit margarita and the burro. Don't bother with the feijoada or farofa if you've had it in Brazil. In fact, I preferred their take on Tex-Mex over the Brazilian food, with exception of the bobo de camarao. Overall one of the best and most unique restaurants in town. By all rights it should be full to the gills at all hours. Don't base reviews on one bad experience with servers. I've never had bad service here so I'm confident they fired any bad ones mentioned in other reviews.
(4)
Jim C.
It doesn't look like much from outside, but the Sao Paulo is not to be missed. The inside is much nicer than the outside, with lots of art (for sale) on the walls, most of which I liked. They had a jazz band playing which was very good. The mojito I ordered was really good, the best I've had - not that I get these a lot, but I had to have one after tasting my date's, it was that good. We had the Galinhada (?) with salmon and the Curr*(?) platter. Both were very good. The meats on the platter were all moist and juicy, even the chicken breast. The platter also came with a really good and fresh tomato and cilantro salsa, the little potato chips, and that funny powdered yucca. Dessert was the tres leches cake, which was delicious, not too sweet, with a light frosting. Service was unobtrusive but good. One thing I did not like was the appetizer selection, which seemed to consist primarily of very heavy items (fried, with cheese, etc.). I would have liked to have seen some healthier appetizers. I'll definitely be back, there were a lot of entrees I wanted to try after reading all the Yelp reviews. It's unfortunate they don't offer a tasting menu, I think all restaurants should have one, not just the high end ones. ------------------------------------------------ Update: Went back on Wednesday night 7/23, and was sadly disappointed in my mojito. It was a little sweet and not very minty, having just little pieces of mint leaves instead of a whole bunch of whole leaves - not bad, but definitely not outstanding. Tried the rocambole and bobo, both were good. Also had the appetizer sampler... some very good things, but why does everything have to be fried???
(4)
Eugene B.
The worst service in Austin! ...pity I can't give zero stars! Last night I took my wife and 14mth old daughter, to meet a group of friends here. The night started off very nice, altho it did take them 30mins to setup the table for our group, which was a bit off as we had made reservations. I found the food to be ok, nothing that I would jump up and down about, but it was fine. The problem with this place is the service....very very slow. I do take into account that we were a large group, and that would normal mean that you need to wait for all the dishes to be ready, before they served..... but the waiting was crazy, it took over an hour to get our starters, and 2.5hrs for our main. I think I could have handled the long wait times, but waiter continually reached over my daughter with hot plates (as I said, she's 14mths!)... the final straw in all of this was when my daughters food was served he said "be careful the plate is very hot!!!!" and put it down in front of her. I never moved so fast to grab it before her hand reached for it. They then had the audacity to put a 20% tip on the bill....I crossed that out and put zero ... I will NEVER go back!
(1)
Tricia C.
Not much beats happy hour here with a heaping pile of nachos with the crazy wonton chips, and a nice cold margarita, mojito, or capirinha. Might as well get some plantains while you're at it. This stuff is gooood. Oh and it would be a SIN not to mention the parmesan cheese rolls. Just the THOUGHT of the smell and taste and texture of these is giving me a minor foodgasm. Gah. I seem to remember lots of the entrees being good, although I can't specifically remember which ones anymore because I mostly filled up on appetizers. I do remember they made some good fish though, and I enjoyed their rice and sauces. Definitely stick to the Brazilian stuff rather than the tex-mex...this is what they excel at! And someone PLEASE Fed Ex me a few dozen of those parmesan rolls. I'll be your bestest friend.
(5)
James L.
I recently went to Sao Paulo's again because I wanted something different. After perusing the menu, I came to the conclusion that the tex-mex side of the menu is much cheaper than the Brazilian side. I have not tried the tex-mex food. Mmmm the food here is good. The Brazilian dishes are around $15 and up, but worth it. Everything that I tried was good. I had this meat sampler type plate that was a party in my mouth... and no, not everyone was invited... just the food. The only thing that I didn't quite like were their cheese balls. I normally like them, but theirs is somewhat more chewy than what I have had before. Dude, their rice is good. Oh so good. I am a huge rice fan. I like rice with everything. I like rice with chips. Their rice made me want to order a huge bowl of it, but that could be a biased opinion because I love rice so much. I love the fact that they have live music. Whenever I go use the restroom, which is kinda next to the performers, I have to stop and gawk for a few seconds before I go off with my bidness. The music is usually jazzy. Fits the mood and atmosphere of the restaurant. I think this is a very good place for a date. However, parking is a bitch since they have enough space for approximately 10 cars or something. They do have meters across the street, but this is near campus, so good luck with that.
(4)
M R.
Great food and the grilled salmon is the best! The only drawback was our server, who never reciprocated our courtesies or smiles. She could have done much better, but I trust that Sao Paulo's will take care of it.
(4)
Il P.
Decent food and service. My favorites are Bife A Milanesa and Beef Stroganoff. Tex-mex items are pretty good too; among them I like the Poblano Relleno. I don't like the burgers: too oily and the bun is too dry.
(4)
Brandi B.
so not giving it the full 5 cause I've only been once... massive portions for the price .. not to mention something that is not just Tex-Mex ..The food was well executed and I don't have anything to compare it to until I go to Brazil but it hit the spot! they take the go local card.. They also have Spaten on Tap.. . ok I'll be back for a more detailed review just for that! Also right next to where I get my hair done! Also for the service I had a witty and super nice waitress who took on the whole cafe... without flinching.. I don't know if it's because I hit it up on a Saturday morning but service wasn't a problem
(4)
Amanda M.
Ah, lovely Brazil. I do not yet know thee, but I love the hell outta your food! So, went to Sao Paulo's today for lunch and it was pretty dang tasty, if I do say so myself. After reading so many great reviews on the place, I was really looking forward to some delicious stuff and I have to stay, I wasn't disappointed. We started off the meal with a sampler of various appetizers: bolinhos de arroz, pao de queijo, stuffed jalapenos, and a couple of other yummy things. Pretty tasty stuff, although the pao de queijo was a bit weird. It was flat, sort of grainy, and definitely not the best I've ever had, but good nonetheless. Since I've been sick with bronchitis, I figured the feijoada (black bean stew) would be a good choice and boy, was it ever! Tender pieces of linguisa (sausage), sirloin, and chicken accented the savory black beans. Served alongside the stew was saffron rice, which had actual bits of saffron sprinkled on top (huge points for it not just being that boring yellow rice from a box!). The B.F. had a cheesy shrimp dish which was served inside a semi-hollowed-out pumpkin, served alongside saffron rice as well. De-freakin-licious! His mom had milanesa with garlic mashed potatoes and it was incredible as well. To end our Brazilian food-athon, the three of us split slices of the Tres Leches cake and the Mocha Torte. Both we unbelievable. They lose one star because pao de queijo is something I look forward to when I have Brazilian food and it just wasn't that stellar. Needless to say, that was breakfast, lunch, and dinner for me and it was totally worth it. And you can bet your sweet Aunt Fanny that I'll be back. Soon.
(4)
Alex B.
I have been a foolish, foolish man for waiting to try this place. Though Sao Paulo's is unassumingly nestled between the Crown and Anchor and some annoying-looking undergrad bar, a glance inside reveals a charming ambiance and a moderately chic decor. The Milanese beef steak I had here was manly and satisfying. The homemade tortilla chips were thick, tasty, and visibly dripping with delicious, heart-stopping grease. Repeatedly dipping this stuff in queso brought signs of a brain-swelling food coma. I have little idea whether Sao Paulo's makes authentic Brazilian cuisine, but I'll be a monkey's uncle if they don't serve up some plates that bring shame to the other "restaurants" in and around the UT campus culinary gulag. The verdict? Four stars and change. Eat here or be lame.
(4)
Lindsay B.
Went here for dinner while staying near UT during a work trip to Austin. To find a place to eat we looked up reviews on Yelp and I am happy to say that this place met my expectations based on the reviews. It's nothing fancy and has a slightly different take on Tex-Mex which I liked. I'd be open to trying it again.
(4)
Brock S.
Great place for a date. Nice atmosphere. The first time I ate here I was blown away. The Shrimp Bobo was killer. So I went back and ordered it again. BLAH... nothing like MANKY SEAFOOD. Consistency is one of the hardest things for a restaurant, it seems. Restaurant managers, listen up: If your food is on-the-fence fresh (not REALLY fresh), don't try to squeeze out the last buck by serving it. YOU WILL ONLY LOSE CUSTOMERS. And maybe make somebody sick.
(3)
Justin W.
Delicious food and cocktails, very reasonable prices. Entrees are mostly $8-12 and the portions are huge. If you've never eaten Brazilian, get the feiojada and try some of the fried appetizers. Great caipirinhas and other cocktails. Nice friendly service every time we've been. They seem to take pick-up orders so this could also be a great option for yummy take-out. Go try it!
(5)
Roberto S.
The owner is very rude, food not good at all.
(1)
Abc D.
I love this place and so does everyone else it seems. I have been here both for lunch and dinner. It is always busy. The food is really good, the service is good and the atmosphere is always fun. While there prices seem high, I think it is ok for the food you get. If you really look at the ingredients, it takes a large variety to make one dish. As to a few of the reviewers who where criticizing their tex mex options....THIS IS A BRAZILIAN RESTAURANT...you may as well have asked them to make you spaghetti. They do have a small bar area and a section for a band to play. They will play soccer games on the tele which is great for us. Be adventurous and make your way to this restaurant!
(4)
C B.
I really wanted to love this place, but the food just wasn't as good as it could've been. (I'd recommend Rio's if your in the mood for Brazilian in Austin)
(3)
Joe I.
I have visited Brazil numerous times and this place is one par!! Excellent food, representing a true taste of Brazil without the hustle of the chainy 'Fogo de Chao' type places. Great staff, good prices. Will definately go back to try more.
(4)
Teresa D.
WOW! The food was deliciosa! The best fried Yuca root ever, I had the Bobo de Camarao( shrimp and yuca) this was my first time at Sao Paulo's restaurant, I will go back for sure. Best Brazilian food ever! Yummy!
(5)
Samantha G.
North Campus is so lucky to have Sao Paulo's as a neighborhood restaurant. Firstly, happy hour: Actually, happy 5 HOURS. 2-7 happy hour specials (not just drinks, appetizers too) Monday - Saturday. My favorite drink here is probably the basil mojito. The margaritas are pretty good too, but the frozen ones are quite sweet, so watch out if that offends you. BUT, at $2.50 each during happy hour, I can forgive the overly sweet margs and put quite a few back. Second, the food: Hello? traditional brazilian food for less than $10 (for the most part)? Yes, please. My favorites here are the Feijoada (black bean stew with meats, a kale salad, and a little cheesy ball - I recommend eating the feijoada with the orange slices that come on the side) and the Galinhada (sort of like a Brazilian paella but with chicken instead of seafood). The portions are huge too, so I usually eat as much as I can and take the leftovers home and eat them for lunch the next day. I have not had as much experience with the Mexican/Tex-Mex menu, but one time I got a pretty good combo, and dining companions have had good things to say about that stuff. I loooove the salsa here (very garlicky), but the "chips" are more like giant versions of the friend wontons that are sometimes served at Chinese restaurants. When I want decadence, they're great, but other times, they are pretty greasy. Lastly: Awesome jazz band that performs pretty frequently. I associate Brazil with swingin' jazz for some reason, and it's nice to hear music while eating Brazilian food. It can be a little loud if the restaurant isn't crowded and you're sitting close to the door, but otherwise, no complaints. Sometimes I wonder how they do on business, because a lot of the time it seems kind of quiet, but they seem to be sticking around. I hope they stay because this is a perfect place if you're feeling some exotic food but don't want to pay a lot of $$$ or deal with the hassle of parking downtown.
(5)
Greg D.
I have to give it 5 stars for the fact My fam and I have never had a bad meal here (and we've tried about everything). well , i didn't dig their frozen rita but they have Spaten on tap so that redeems it.
(5)
chris b.
really good Brazilian food! the coxinhas there are very AUTHENTIC, and melt in your mouth! they are soooooooooooo yum-eee! just can't say enuff about them! the atmosphere could be improved upon, but for what they lack there, they TOTALLY make up for in their cuisine. if you have not had brazilian food, this is a great stepping off point. try the fried yucca! and the bobo de camarao(shrimp in yucca sauce)!
(4)
Shahar G.
Amazing food and a great atmosphere!
(4)
Jenn C.
Growing up in a predominantly Portuguese neighborhood in RI, I have a special place in my heart for this culture's food. So basically this restaurant has become one of my favorite places to go in Austin. Its true what other yelper have said about the Margarita's at Sao Paulo's. The exotic variety of fruit choices is definitely an enticement for me, namely since I'm not really a big fan of the traditional lime based ones (forgive me Texas). Definitely go for the passion fruit. In fact if you go during Happy hour you could probably try once each of the mango, guava, and passion fruit flavors for around $10. And, yes, those crispy won ton chips that they serve with queso are so, so good and a nice variation on the appetizer standard. I love Brazilian BBQ so if your a hungry carnivore definitely go for the Churrasquinho Platter that they have on the menu there. I tried the Palmito ao Forno but since I am a carnivore, I missed the presence of meat but my vegetarian friend was thrilled. My boyfriend has the Bife A Milanesa the last time we were there and he cleaned his plate. Think chicken fried steak but with flavor. I will keep going back there because I want to, no wait, I obsessively need to try all the different dishes they have on that menu.
(5)
cristina s.
Love the place, and as a Brazilian I can talk, reading the reviews are they jokes, caipirinhas are made with white sugar, and coxinhas are fried, if it says fried so they are, don't order fried food if you don't want it fried, duhhh. Amazing Brazilian food. I have been trying to get the wrong food there, feijoada-great, moqueca, bobo, camarao da vo, great. I tried to critize it, sorry, it is great. No complains besides parking, but you are around UT. Well, grandmah I still miss you, but I found the food to keep me here. Want to try Brazilian? Come here, I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(5)
Carol N.
I like their margaritas lots. I like the mango flavored and regular also and happy hour prices. Love the cheesy balls, I call them pan de queso but I know that's spanish and not portuguese. Oops. Yummy flour chips for the queso. My favorite dish is the Pollo Magdalena. Service is hit or miss. When it is busy they seem overwhelmed and I get bad service.
(4)
Philip C.
Holy cow this place is great! Firstly, the fried chips here are awesome. Order some chips and queso and get ready! The coxinhas (fried chicken croquette type things) are the best appetizer however and should not be missed. My favorite entree is the Bife A Milanesa. Also try the Orange Roughy if possible. Super friendly staff and great atmosphere! There is music on Friday nights!
(5)
Elizabeth B.
i love the food and the ambiance is great. very warm and inviting. go here!
(5)
Kristen F.
I checked out Sao Paulo for the first time this past week, meeting friends for an after-dinner drink to celebrate someone coming back into town for a couple days. This was my first time at any sort of Brazilian restaurant, but being in the company of two Portuguese-speakers, I sat back and let the culture come to me. We'd all already eaten dinner, so we came and ordered a drink. Two had a Brazilian beer called Xingu, two had caipirinhas (oh my god I have no idea how to pronounce it myself but when I heard it, it was so pretty sounding! it's mojito-like) and I had a glass of rose. All were excellent. We also got around to ordering two appetizers- fried yucca and bolinha de queijo, which are a little bit like cheese bread / garlic knots. The service was sophisticated and soft-spoken, keeping in with the subtle elegance of the place. It made me feel so fancy. Who knew such a place was right there between Posse and Crown? I never knew!
(4)
Mai S.
so happy hour is kind of my thing. and its even better when it is so close to my work ;) they have $2.50 frozen margaritas in every blend during happy hour. and be warned, they are tasty and strong. and my favorite thing to eat is the seafood paella. it's great. honestly, i can't even remember anything i've ordered previously. so order that. thank me later. the atmosphere is really cute too. its kind of dark but cute. its hard to accommodate large parties, so grab a few booths/tables. or just keep coming back. that's what i'd do.
(5)
Joel B.
I am a picky eater and have found myself pleasantly surprised by this place. The beef milanesa is great. I am not a Fan of the heavy mushroom flavor overwhelming the mixed veggies on the side. The fried yucca was a delightful potato like surprise so I sub that for the veggies now. The drinks are strong albeit a little on the pricey side. Nice dimly lit place, perfect for a date by my estimation. As an aside I like the art pieces.
(4)
Tom S.
I guess that I'm not the only one that likes Sao Paulo's during happy happy ( In fact, David M eats and drinks the same stuff as I do at Sao Paulos). Their frozen margaritas are $2.50 during happy hour which runs from 2PM-7PM Monday thru Fridays. The food at Sao Paulos is a fusion of Tex-Mex and Brasilian. I basically just go to Sao Paulos during Happy Hour and drink their cheap frozen margaritas and eat their chips and queso ( which the menu describes as melted cheese infused with tomatoes and spicy chilies, served with fried chips). We get the queso with extra ground beef & then we dump in some of the spicy salsa. Their chips are great; light, crispy and fluffy. They sometimes run out of drink glasses during happy hour so you might want to bring your own drink glasses. Sao Paulos generally has a band playing on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. There is a band called the Crying Monkey's that plays there a lot; they play choro which is a brasilian jazz (i guess). If you like really sweet lemony drinks then you should try a Brasilian drink called caiprinha. It is made with sugar cane brandy, lime slices, and a tbs of sugar. it is kinda strong so go easy on it. I've heard that you go blind if you drink 2 of them; I have problems seeing out of my left eye but I am not sure if the caiprenhas caused that or not. Unfortunately there is no deal on caiprinhas ($6) during happy hour so I generally stick to the margaritas.
(4)
Emily B.
This Brazilian restaurant near the UT campus provides delicious meals in a beautiful candle-lit setting. Before our arrival, I called twice for parking information and directions, and the staff was helpful in explaining there is on-street parking, and that the actual location is just down the road from the address listed online. Our waiter recommended a banana tots appetizer to share. For dinner, the paella with jasmine rice, and a mixed-bean dish both provided the sustenance we were looking for.
(5)
Lui B.
Very casual restaurant, definitely not a 'fancy' place by any stretch. Feel free to bring dates, kids, whatever (one group had a whole table of kids, who were surprisingly well behaved). I was very impressed with the food, as was my date. There is a good mix of Tex-Mex and Brazilian food. Of particular interest was the vegetarian lasagna (I know neither Tex-Mex or Brazilian!) which was more of a soup in my opinion but was a winner, no doubt. The one thing that was odd is they didn't have Corona but had a slew of other beers. Parking in the back is questionable (like much of Austin), and I found myself wedging my car off-road on a rocky slope.
(4)
thomas d.
This place is the greatest. It's always sorta dark and you always get a sultry little waitress....they've got Brazilian beer (I like Xingu the best), and almost all the entrees are really, really delicious. I know it's a bit bastardized, but the Brazilian paella is one of my favorites I haven't found better in Austin yet. Everything is seasoned perfectly. It's very hard to beat.
(4)
Jason P.
I came here a while back and I remember it was pretty cool. I was not expecting much but it was nice! The owner is super nice and very courteous. The food is pretty good too! I've been to Brazil and have eaten tradition meals from the North to the South and they do things pretty good! I will def. be back here; such a unique place!
(3)
Allison P.
This is proof that Yelpers know what they are talking about. I went here purely based on reviews I had read. I had never heard of this place before. What a gem! So many things to love. . mojitos! . the great jazz band . the atmosphere in general; felt kind of fancy without being too expensive . Delicious food! OMG! (and my portion was very generous, still have the leftovers in my fridge.) Here's my one critique: I didn't LOVE the chips the same way as everyone else. Don't get me wrong, they are quite tasty. But they are so greasy! I could only eat a handful before my tummy made me stop. And I don't think they go well with queso, but I prefer corn chips or corn tortillas with queso. So when I go again, which will be soon, I will definitely try a different appetizer. Maybe banana tots? BONUS: 2 drinks, 1 appetizer and 2 entrees. Total: $35. Well done, Sao Paulo.
(5)
Bree W.
Basil mojitos. mmmmm. I had a rice dish, started with the letter 'M' I was surprised how phenomenally good it was. I almost didn't order it because it sounded plain. ooooo good. parking bad. but it is campus, what do you expect.
(5)
Charles M.
Eh....Go for the chips.
(2)
Jennie A.
half off queso + guava margarita + pistachio crusted fish with pineapple sauce = very VERY happy customer. I have visited Sao Paulo's only a handful of times, but I find myself thinking about it a lot. I have only ordered off the brazilian side of the menu, but for those (weirdos) who aren't very adventurous, there's also a tex-mex menu. Everyone I've ever been there with has really liked their food. The service and the venu aren't anything to write home about, but with food that good, I really can't complain.
(4)
Kevin N.
Ironic, perhaps that it can be tough to bring lots new to the table when talking about Sao Paulo's - when they brought new things to our table *constantly.* Semi-hidden among a row of businesses in UT's gaze, this gem features an alluring, saucy atmosphere, complemented by an intriguing variety of munching options. We happened in during an evening of live music (seen throughout the weekend) and between the ambient light, the cool jazz filtering in from onstage and the welcoming, cultured demeanor of our waitress, we reveled in the Feijoada (a black bean stew - sausage, pork and beef cooked with black beans and served with a side of white rice, collard greens, farofa and orange slices) and a Xingu dark Brazilian beer as the capper. We stayed for the length of our leisurely dinner but could have easily stretched that with no other encouragement than the vibe in the room and the great eats. Can't wait to go back!
(4)
Miss W.
The food is pretty good here, and the proximity to campus is enticing. However, the service is bad enough to keep me from returning. Last time I visited, the server slapped down some water and disappeared for 20 minutes without asking if we wanted an appetizer, or to order. I walked out. I haven't been so ignored on my previous visits, but the service has consistently been slow and unfriendly. Don't settle for the convenient location, spend your cash and time at a different restaurant.
(2)
Sarah G.
My step dad is Brazilian, we took him here and he LOVED it. Very authentic, delicious and the waitress conversed with my step dad in portugese.
(5)
chiu t.
I've been there once for lunch. Too tex-mex to me and less Brazilian. Also, the portion was kinda small. Three of us ordered different dishes and they were just okay. I had pretty high expectation because of the high yelp rating, but I left with somewhat disappointment. Also, I feel this place is a little pricey for campus dining.
(3)
J S.
Yum. Don't let the size of the restaurant or location fool you. They have fresh great food! Tasty and the artwork inside is so colorful. Very casual setting with delicious food. I always get the Galinhada (Brazilian paella) with chicken. Yummy! Reasonable price and pretty large portions. Only downside is that sometimes it can be crowed...but once your are seated you forget about it.
(4)
Krishelle L.
Our waiter last Friday just about made my day. After my friend and I had sat down for lunch, we were asked by said waiter what we'd like for drinks. I said, 'diet soda and a water'. He replied, 'you know there is water in the soda, right? so you just want them in separate cups?' I knew we were in trouble then. I ask, 'what are the specials here?'. He replies, 'well, we've been around for 9 years and all the bad stuff has been removed. the food is better than the service'. I certainly hope not..... 'cause he is on fire! Over long deliberation we both ordered from the Brazilian side of the menu. I had the Bobo de Camero, which was beautiful large shrimp sauteed with potatoes and veggies and swimming in an oddly light tasting coconut cream sauce. Yum. The little round of bread served on the side was amazing. Doughy heaven. My friend was also happy with his meal, the Bife a Milanesa, which looked like chicken fried steak but much thinner and with less breading. Waiter comes back to check on how we like the food, to which he says, 'who's entree is the best? are you guys going to fight about it? maybe i should take the knives away.' Silly, yes. But it made me smile. I'll go back for the food, and the chance to possibly partake in another stand up routine. :-)
(4)
La G.
The best reason to go here: Passion Fruit Margaritas. These things are one of the tastiest treats I've ever had! They are reasonably priced, too. This place is perfect for any UT student because of the location. It is a bit of a drive for me since I am south, but well worth it. The palmito casserole is delicious! Palmito is a heart of palm, but tastes like an artichoke heart. It comes with corn and red pepper smothered in white cheese. I know it sounds weird, but if you like exotic food, try this. Just about anything here is great. The fried bananas make a great appetizer as do the crab stuffed jalapenos. I really love this place.
(5)
Elle J.
The food is so delicious. I've had the stroganoff and the milanese. Not too much of this, not to much of that, but jussst right. $2.50 margaritas during the 2-7pm happy hour are also satisfying. The environment can be a pro or con, depending on your mood. It's located in a small strip, so don't expect any fanciness. It's quiet so it's nice for when you want to relax and chat with your friends. It's expensive for the amount of food you get, so it's not a place that I'd go to often. To be more specific, I could finish a whole $11 meal by myself and be full but not stuffed. An 18% tip was automatically added even though there were only four of us and service wasn't exceptionally attentive given that the restaurant wasn't busy (wth?). Either way, I recommend giving Sau Paulo's a shot for your Brazilian cravings.
(4)
Chloe K.
I love the great live music but no matter what I order, I've been disappointed. The cheese/bread balls are bizarrely chewy and acrid. I ordered a vegetable gratin-type dish, and it was almost inedible. Frozen veggies sitting in water and topped with cheese that was barely melted. My friends, however, tell me that the steak is delicious.
(2)
Alexandra L.
There are few restaurants whose food remains in my bloodstream like a bad drug addiction. (Not that I know what a drug addiction is like, unless you count marzipan as a drug.) When someone says "Sao Paulo," I start to crave it. I've had the feijoada (black bean stew), the bife a milanesa (thin pan-fried steak), and the rocambole Alexandra (seriously! rock and roll Alexandra!). In fact, I think I ought to keep going back there until I try everything in their menu because it all sounds ridiculously good (check out their menu online). I also tried their basil mojito -- ahhh, refreshing! The prices are very fair...two entrees and two drinks: $30. The one thing we could not explain is that if you take a seat on that little red sofa while waiting for your table, there are strange vibrations coming from it. Brazilian voodoo? Sao Paulo, sao good.
(5)
David M.
This place gets 5 stars in my book and here's why: Happy Hour. This place is a very short walking distance from the classrooms of UT and the perfect place to go after tests, after class, on a lazy friday, before class, before tests... you get the drift. The main reason is their $1.99 frozen margaritas and delicious chips and salsa. The chips are more like a deep fried wonton than the chips you're used to and are guaranteed to require at least a single coronary artery bypass surgery later in life. Myself and a group of friends used to gather on this place around 5pm or so, with some of them taking a breather between the class that ended at 5 and the one that starts at 6. Just beware of the random drunk girls that think it's a good idea to take the candle on the table a little closer to grease soaked chip basket and watch it light up like gasoline. One thing to note though: The service here is on par with what you'd expect in Brazil. They take their time, usually because the place has a ton of people in it that they're trying to serve. Make sure you set your expectations appropriately, but with that in mind, I've always had a blast here.
(5)
Vincent N.
Food is OK, but the drinks are better. Maybe I should have gotten drunk first then ate. Oh well, I'll try again later.
(3)
L L.
Went back with a group for a friend's birthday dinner last night and wanted to update my earlier iffy review. First, I skipped apps entirely this time. Had a bite of a friend's chicken and cheese ball thingy, and maintain that the starters here are overly fried and thus lack flavor. A friend and I split a side order of fried yucca, which is pretty hard to mess up. I will say that the dipping sauce that came with it was just gross. Sort of like a mixture of avgolemono (Greek lemon soup) and chimichurri sauce, with lots of thick oil mixed in. My main course was surprisingly good, though. I split the moqueqa bahiana, essentially tilapia in a creamy veggie sauce with rice, which was lovely. Also, I learned something: for an extra $2, you can split an entree with someone, they throw in a little extra food, and you wind up with the absolutely perfect amount. What a great surprise! (The flip side of this, of course, is that they didn't tell us about the $2 charge until we already had our food and, frankly, I find it ludicrous to charge people to split food. I've actually never experienced this before. And, with a party whose bill ends up over $200, it seems pretty cheap to throw in an extra two bones over a shared plate.) Which brings me to the service. Lacking. Borderline rude, in fact. Our server failed to clear away empty glasses, plates, etc., resulting in a strangely crowded table. Also, a friend's baby accidentally knocked over a glass of water, and the server didn't help at all. Didn't bring napkins and, after I gathered the ice and wet napkins together, he just left them there in the middle of the table. Huh? Also, we practically had to beg him to take away our menus after ordering. As for the drinks, my caiparinha was delicious. The caiporoska was not (I had two just to double-check...). Although the caiparinhas aren't on the discounted happy hour menu, I say they're worth the extra buck. In sum, I stick with my original three stars rating. I was tempted to kick in an extra one for the yummy tilapia, but decided that the rest of the experience didn't warrant it.
(3)
Wes R.
I ate here for the first time just recently and was very impressed. The service was good; our server was very attentive and knowledgeable about the cuisine. I also enjoyed the atmosphere- there was a jazz band playing and the the dim lighting had a nice effect. I've never had Brazilian food before so I can't comment on its authenticity, but I had the Churrasquinho Platter and it was delicious, especially the sausage. My friend had the Pollo Madgalena which I tasted and thought that was also a very good menu item. I will definitely be back to try different entrees and their drink menu too.
(4)
Chris B.
3.5 stars for the food, 5 stars for the atmosphere. We had dinner here last weekend with a friend and the time slipped by as if we were in a time warp. Good conversation in a dimly lit, cozy restaurant will do that to you. The food itself was tasty, although the portions were a bit large for my tastes. Decent selection of by-the-glass wines and a few South American beers that are hard to find rounded out an overall fun experience. We'll definitely be back.
(4)
Letti L.
Oh Sao Paulo's...how do I love thee? Let me count the ways: happy hour, happy hour, happy hour. I used to live just down the way on Elmwood Place, and Sao Paulo's happy hour became a kind of after-school tradition. Their frozen margaritas are delightful--tasty AND cheap. Their half-priced appetizers are yummy, cheesy, and will get you through the darkest of days as finals approach and pockets are swiftly emptied on end of year celebrations with friends. Their regular menu is incredibly tasty, too, even if not an incredible bargain. Split the Churrasquinho Platter with a friend, and watch in wonderment as that friendship begins to flourish, as the finger-lickin' food fosters joy and appreciation. Try the bife a milanesa, and astonish yourself in how your stomach magically expands to fit every last bite of the generous portion of savory steak. Choose the feijoada, and sit in awe as something so black and evil looking elicits moans of ecstasy the moment you put it into your mouth. Sao Paulo...I love you!
(5)
Frances L.
Half-off happy hour chips and queso have completely won me over that after stuffing my face full of these deep fried, light, flaky, mysteriously tasty chips that simply transcend perfection ... my mind has just been too distracted to even think about what I want to eat next ... because hello, the chip bowl is empty. Are you going to bring me more? Sigh.
(5)
Joe K.
I live in San Francisco now. This happy hour is, along with Trudy's, the single thing that I miss most from Austin. I cry at night sometimes missing $2 margaritas and their chips :(
(5)
Alana W.
This place as the best queso ever. I don't know what they do or what those chips are, but it's heavenly. The other food is good too. Atmosphere is cozy and the margaritas are fantastic. I would definitely recommend.
(4)
Angela C.
Heaven on earth! The food at Sao Paulos is amazing. I had the feijoada along with a Mojito and Caipirinha. We also had the delicious nachos that are made with won-tons instead of tortilla chips. Muito delicioso! P.S. They have some amazing artwork on display by Ines Batllo. inespaintings.com I'll definitely be buying some of her work soon
(5)
J. B.
I have not had Brazilian food before, so I can't tell if my gripe is with the restaurant or the type of food itself. Ordered the sampler and couldn't find a single thing in there that I liked, which is odd. The parmesan rolls were raw inside, and all of the other fried balls were mediocre. The main course (Stroganoff) was also very so-so. I agree with other reviewers that the portions are small and the prices are high, but even if that changed, I probably wouldn't go back. Pro: Insanely good chips and queso. They must fry them like 3 times over.
(2)
Elissa S.
I've been here three times over the span of 2 years (all on special occasions) and I have been impressed with the service and quality of food each time. I love the Brazilian cheese bread and the beautiful presentation of their main dishes. Once I was here for a birthday party, and we bought one of each dessert and passed them around the table. The tres leches cake here is absolutely phenomenal.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
David S.
Very Good Meal at a Reasonable Price We ate dinner at Sao Paulo's on a Friday evening before attending a concert at the nearby Bates Recital Hall. The service, food and atmosphere provided a pleasant dining experience. We shared a "house salad" that was enough for two, as well as two Brazilian entrees; the Salmao Da Consuelo and the Galinhada (Brazilian paella) with grilled shrimp. Both dishes were delicious and served with courtesy by our waiter Ian. I definitely recommend dining at Sao Paulo's if you are in the UTA area.
(4)LaDonne L.
Ok, I can only give a short review because #1-I was only here a short time. #2- because I'm trying to see if I can use the KISS method, (keep it simple stupid), instead of boring everyone... This place is a gem. When I went inside and said "It's my first time here, what do I do?" - the sweet lady ,( could have been the owner or waitstaff (?) ), smiled the most welcoming smile and said "Oh, that's wonderful! Sit where you like, we'll take care of you!" It almost felt like she knew I was coming,...comfy- mama ish :) I sat on the little patio with my friend and had a truly lovely experience :) Ian the charming waiter explained everything on the menu, HH specials, etc. He had a mishap coming to work on his bicycle and "something" hit him on his forehead!.. but although he may have been shaken, he was a total professional. I chose a sampler plate and couldn't have been more blown away! Ian explained which sauce went with what & ...WOW!! I fell in love with the Bolinho De Arroz! (rice balls) in particular but the stuffed jalapenos, chicken thingy, fried zucchini whochamawhatsits, etc..were all sooo good! The HH margarita was stout & just made me want to linger...alas, time was short. Go here, bring a friend, ...ask for Ian
(5)Nowell M.
I love Sao Paulo's. Awesome place to take a date or just to grab drink. Unique aesthetic and great service. I would highly recommend this place.
(5)Ling C.
First of all, this is the average review among the all ten of us. Called and made an reservation with no problem for a group of ten people. The parking was horrible and so hard to find, all of us parked at nearby street, which took us to walk at least 10 mins or so. This place is know for Brazilian and Tex-Mex dishes, and that was already weird for me, but we tried both anyways. For the ones who ordered Brazilian like the chicken and though it was cooked nicely, fresh and juicy. I ordered the Tex Mex dish, which was quiet good. The waiter was friendly and attentive. The 3 stars really come from the happy hours menu. Most of the drinks were good but overpriced, and just when we thought it would be better for the happy hours, most of the drinks were only 50 cents cheaper, such a joke. The 20% tip was added to the bill automatically, which was not informed when I called and made the reservation. That's another epic fail, hence the 3 stars for overall experience.
(3)Stef S.
Mmmmm...Brazilian food. Meat, meat and more meat, with a side of meat. All right, there's seafood, too, but that's really just fish-meat. Delicious fish-meat. This place is somewhat of a bargain for Brazilian food, plus it gives you the chance to try some rather unique dishes that you won't find anywhere else. They've got some Tex-Mex and American dishes on the menu to placate people who'd usually poo-poo anything different than the usual, but let me reiterate what Brazilian food is all about: MEAT! I had the rocambole dish with the steak medallions stuffed with cheese and shrimp, and it was excellent. Everything on my plate was tasty. Meat, cheese, and fish-meat--there's nothing not to like about that. I even liked the mushroom port sauce (and I'm not a huge mushroom fan) and the fried coating around the meat (I'm not usually big on fried food). Both the fry coating and the batatas (thick potato chips) were light and crisp--not greasy or heavy at all. Apparently there was a happy hour with some specials on the appetizers, too--part of me wants to come back with a group and try all the things. My only complaint was that it was a little cold in there, but it's August in Texas and that's a really common complaint. The staff is helpful, explained anything I didn't understand on the menu and even let me move away from the A/C vent. Go, now. MEAT AWAITS YOU!
(4)Kristie F.
This Brazilian restaurant is one of my neighbourhood favourites. Lovely staff, a good bar, and delicious food. Happy Hour is a chill affair. Great Caipirinhas, as you might expect, bottomless chips and salsa for a couple of bucks, and other yummy snacks offered. Think about staying for dinner, the entrees are great. I am a big fan of the creamy chicken Estrogonofe. The classic Brazilian feijoada (black bean stew) is also a must-try. Oh, and sometimes there is live music - usually jazz or something you can listen to in between bites and table-talk. A schedule is on their website.
(4)A D.
My first time having Brazilian food (aside from Brazilian steak houses) and it was quite tasty! Food and price seem fair and the food was definitely authentic! How do i know? Well i had a Brazilian coworker confirm that the food here tastes like home! The staff was very friendly, knowledgeable and was very laid back....since it was my first time eating Brazilian food, he was willing to trade dishes (within reason) for me if i didn't like it. Only thing i say they could work on would be the atmosphere and decor. A bit outdated, but the food was great! Id definitely go back again!
(4)Taylor M.
My first visit to São Paulo was last week and I'm really sad I didn't try this place out when I lived I Hyde Park! I would have been there all the time. The happy hour was great. I had 2 margaritas and that was plenty. I also had a bean and cheese quesadilla that was like 4 bucks and was big enough to have as a meal. The only thing I didn't dig was the chips. They tasted like fried won tons. I kept feeling like I was dipping Chinese food in queso and didn't like that greasy idea. My friends and I were split about it though. Two people in my party really liked the chips so try them for yourself and decide if you're into it or not. It's a cute, small, friendly feeling place where you will feel at home. They have live music there as well!
(4)Allison M.
Came here with friends, who love it and have been coming here for years. I guess it's good if you like large plates of heavy food, but it's dreadful if you have to eat gluten free, as I do. Was stuck with a salad (again). Why do restaurants think that people with Celiac or allergies only want to eat salad all of the time? Was hoping that a cocktail might save the experience, but alas, their cocktails are mostly ice and no alcohol. Although SP bills itself as a Brazilian restaurant, it's certainly not a great introduction to Brazilian food.
(2)S T.
I have mixed feelings about Sao Paulo's. The atmosphere was nice, and the food was spectacular, but the service and drinks were pretty abysmal. The waiter would drop things off at the table and then run off before we could ask him for anything else, and even though they weren't very busy our appetizer actually came out before our drinks. The Mexican martini was pretty much nothing but olive juice, and my boyfriend's margarita was mostly sweet and sour. If this were a cheap texmex restaurant I wouldn't give it a second thought, but at a nice brazilian place you expect a semi-decent drink. That being said, the food was quite good, I might go there again. I would recommend the fejoada and the chips and queso, both are excellent.
(3)Lauren B.
Perfect for a date night. The environment is intimate and cozy. On the weekends, there is live jazz music! I almost always get the Pollo Magdalena. It is incredible. It's not spicy, but it's very flavorful. The rice is perfectly cooked and buttery. The vegetable medley is always warm but crisp and fresh tasting. The chicken roll with cream cheese, crab, spinach, with the incredible sauce... I wish I could have it right now! Our favorite server is Burt. He knows us now and can guess our orders and the way we like it. The staff is so welcoming and helpful! Expect it to be a relaxed meal. No one's in a hurry usually, which adds to the "date night" wonderfulness. I like to enjoy Mexican Martinis here or the mojitos. We love the crispy wanton chips and super flavorful salsa. We just love this place! Owned by a husband and wife team, and for the 6 years I've been coming regularly, the staff stays around for a looong time. They must be doing something right. The tiramisu or chocolate torte for dessert are worth everything in the world. The portions are generous - I always have leftovers that I can't wait to eat the next day. I enjoy this restaurant so much! side note: In the past, I've noticed they haven't split tickets for large groups. There's an atm outside. Just something to be prepared for!
(5)Kelvin L.
Churrasquinho Platter is simply delicious. If you are hungry this is the platter you want to get. The cheese bread is also really good and definitely a must if you are new to this place!
(5)Alea G.
Flawless food and exceptional service! I was just in for lunch during a business trip & was thoroughly impressed. I ordered the salmon dish & it was probably one of the best pieces of fish I've ever had. I normally am not a huge fan of salmon but this one came in a red tomato sauce with home grown basil, mushrooms and a slight sprinkling of cheese. It was both light and packed full of flavor. The owner is so pleasant and friendly that I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting UT Austin.
(5)Keith Z.
We came for happy hour and there were only a fiew items of food on the menu. The chips were great. Light and fluffy. The waiter was vey nice and great eye candy. He could of just sat at the table and talked to us his name was Ian ;) I ordered the checken strogonoff and it was tasty. My friend ordered the shrimp quesadilla. And she liked it it is not on a tortilla better. Our other party ordered cod cakes and he liked them as well. With good looking staff and good food we will be back.
(4)Alex P.
This place lived up to the yelp reviews. The atmosphere is pretty cozy with soft lighting in a red/pinkish room. The live music really turned it up a notch. My only problem was how cold it was inside. I ordered the Brazilian cheese roles to start and they were super rich. The texture was soft and doughy on the inside but had the crunch on the outside. I got the platter with all the meat, the sausage, chicken and steak with their rice and bread crumbs. I loved how they prepared everything and gave me a full plate. Their guava juice was also the bomb, nice and refreshing. All of it together was only $24. Very good priced, amazing food. I got to take my mom here!
(5)Maritza V.
I cannot say enough about the food or service at Sao Paulo's. My husband and I first went to Sao Paolo's on a date night as part of our great-allergy-friendly-food adventure. (We had looked it up, and S.P. has many gluten free options, but now I'm also dairy free, grain free, and sugar free.) There are so many menu options that fit my high-maintenance food sensitivities, and the waitstaff are always friendly and knowledgeable, willing to listen and reccomend and substitute as necessary. We've been several times, and always bring our out-of-town friends, but it didn't take long (maybe 3 visits?) for the manager to know us and our order! He always stops by to check on us, even though he's not our "server" per se. Once when we'd come and had to wait for a table, the hostess made sure to mention, "If you call ahead, we can always make a reservation for you!" So, yeah, I've got a huge foodie-crush on this restaurant. There isn't always parking just near by, but it's worth a far longer walk than we've ever had.
(5)John C.
I loved this place! I ordered the Pollo Magdalena, which was incredible. I also tried the fried yucca happy hour special, which was delicious too. Their espresso is great too. I can honestly say that nothing I tried here was short of amazing.
(5)Greg J.
We had a very good experience at the place. The Brazilian dishes were a nice change of pace. While I didn't drink, my relatives there did and they were very happy. Next time I am in Austin and close by, I'll stop in again.
(4)L E.
Excellent paella. Everyone enjoyed their dish!
(4)Josue M.
As a meat eater two years ago, I would have rated this place with a 4 star. As a vegetarian now, I give it a 3.75. I think what I love most about this place is the atmosphere. I'm very weird about social environments. I don't care for too loud or too quiet. I hate overcrowded places but I also don't want to hear my echo. I also don't like well lit restaurants. At times, I prefer one on one conversations in dim lighting. Sao Paul has a nice balance of my preferences. I feel very comfortable when I eat here. As for the food, I can't pin point any particular item I enjoyed here since becoming a vegetarian. And it's not because I hated the food. The food had a big part in my return visits. I can tell you that I very much enjoyed eating here. My friends and I always left this place satisfied. However, as a vegetarian, I still like the place. It's not my top pick anymore, but every once in a while those damn Pao de Queijos (cheese rolls) and the vegetarian fajitas call my name. Although, I'm not sure if they serve the vegetarian fajitas anymore. I don't see it on their online menu anymore. Call and confirm if you're a veg like me. I haven't found a place yet that can beat their veg fajitas. Another testimony to their food is the fact that my dad actually liked the food. My dad is an extremely picky eater. It's like moving mountains to get him to try something new, so it's an absolute miracle when he enjoys something outside his culture. Overall, it's still a pretty solid place. They've stuck to a plan that has worked for years.
(4)Nancy N.
You must start with the Pao De Queijo - cheese rolls. If you've never had one before, you are in for a delightful surprise. Their salsa and chips are the best! The salsa tastes so fresh and the chips taste like they were just freshly made and plump. I've ordered their Chicken A Milanesa countless of times and it doesn't ever disappoint. Generous portion as well.
(4)Ellen C.
This would be the only reason to want to move to Austin, TX. This restaurant was amazing; from the service, to the decor, the food, and the drinks. I was in foodie heaven, or maybe I should say Yelpy heaven. With such friendly staff, who were the owners..I felt like I was family there. I ordered the Caipirinha to drink which is a Brazilian distilled liquor made from fermented sugarcane. A squeeze of lime and sugar and I was buzzed. It was so delicious and slightly sweet. I need to find this drink to buy and drink it all at home. As an appetizer, my friend DEMANDED we order the Coxinha. They are called mini drummies, a deep fried pastry dough filled with minced deliciously seasoned chicken. The dough was so chewy, that I thought there was cheese in it. I ordered the Chicken Paella (Galinhada). It was wonderfully seasoned with saffron. Amazing complex flavors from the Jasmine rice and vegetables. They also had beautiful artwork hanging on the walls. A beautiful place, with delicious food, and friendly service. I hope to visit here again.
(5)Jaire Q.
When my friend was telling me about a restaurant that serves Brazilian and Mexican food, I must admit I was intrigued. I had heard of on in Chicago that serves Sushi and Brazilian... and that one is on my list of places to visit. This place is definitely more interested in the food than their decor, and I can appreciate that. When we walked in there was a Jazz band (I believe) playing, that was the first plus. The decor is very laid back, like it all just came together, somehow. It looks a little old, but I didn't mind. Now to the important part. The Frozen margaritas were good. Not too strong, but tasty. I thought the food was good, not excellent, but still OK. I can't remember the name of the dish I had (since it was in Portuguese), I know it was rice, beef and a few other things. Not very memorable to be honest but I am not holding it against them. We also ordered the cheese with the beef in it. I guess I thought some of the food was greasy, but I wouldn't give them a bad review for that. I really just think I should go back and try other things, maybe my dish just wasn't their strength.
(3)De R.
This place used to be AMAZING. The Brazilian owner sold and now half the menu is Tex Mex, attached to a Taco place and the quality went down hill. Needless to say we wont be doing another date night here. The food was not the traditional that it used to be. I wish I could say it better but honestly it was not.
(2)David D.
I think I found a new favorite. There are similarities between this place and Churrasco's, in Houston. But there are differences, too. Sao Paulo's is just a shade more casual and somewhat lacking in atmosphere, as pointed up by some reviewers. But Churrasco's has the advantage of being a large well funded chain of restaurants. This is a locally owned small businesswoman who is doing the best she can with what she's got. For my money it's pretty good. I would like to see more restaurants like this. At this price point I feel that it is a super value. I stand by the 5 stars here. Bravo, Sao Paulo's!
(5)Alex C.
Went here Monday night and wondered why I don't go here more often. We had great service, and the food was good to great. They have a good happy hour that actually runs until 7, so if you have a job that doesn't let out til 530 or 6, you can still easily get a couple drinks in (what's with places that have happy hours that stop at 6pm?). Recommended.
(5)Anna S.
I'm not a fan. You can taste the greasiness in the food: their secret ingredient. For the first few bites, the meal tastes delicious, but as you gorge yourself with this "delicious" meal, you are slowly able to taste the fact that the food is soaked in grease and saturated fat. Overall, it's a pretty disgusting experience. Fortunately though, the ambience and service makes up for the lack of truly delicious food.
(2)Ralph S.
Took the girlfriend for a casual date and we had a great time without spending too much. We got the plate with steak, tenderloin and sausage for two and just barely finished it. The meat sauce was a great touch. Also, our waiter tagged happy hour prices on our margs because sometimes we all need to catch a little break.
(4)Ashley S.
Brazilian food is...interesting. I don't think dining at a Brazilian steakhouse in the past really counts, does it? I mean, meat is meat. There's only so many ways you can prepare a carcass. This is not a steakhouse, but Brazilian food is centered on tons of meats prepared in different ways. Nevertheless, I obliged the invitation and tried to be upbeat. The wine was the best part of the meal. It was a heavy pour, chilled just the right amount, and knocked me on my ass after one glass (okay that's an exaggeration). Well, when you're eating a bowl of saffron rice decorated with veggies, there's not much there to absorb the alcohol. So I chose the boring plate, sue me. The former meat-eater ordered the eggplant lasagna which came out in a casserole pot like dish. It was surprisingly delicious, coming from someone who doesn't really consider eggplant to be very desirable. It was tasty, but I can't get over the weirdness of eggplant, still. It would be better to lie to me about what I'm eating. I didn't love the rice puffs (fried doughballs of cheese) and had to pass on the appetizer ordered. Overall, this place is quaint. It's near campus, so you'll see fratty dudes and sun-kissed ladies here. The ones whose parents pay for everything probably dine here a lot. But really, this place is very affordable and not overpriced. I can see how this place gets slammed, because our service was there when necessary but I could tell they had a lot going on. Friday and Saturday nights they have live music, how romantic....but the night I went they were playing Gotan Project and Brazilian Girls, in the background. Happy hour is from 2-7 and the drinks are well priced. Would I be back? Sure. And when someone's taking you out to eat to their favorite restaurant and brings you flowers for being you, it's hard not to have a good time. But this is more of a meat-eater's paradise. I recommend it for those, but for me it was just so-so and not catered to me. And well, who doesn't want to be completely catered to?! Just saying...
(3)LuAnn S.
Churrasco was great! The platter for two was a deal! We loved the caipirinha, coxinha, pao de quiejo and main dish! Great prices and food!
(5)Sophia O.
First visit to Sao Paulo last night. We picked this place bc of the location since it was near the Bass Concert Hall where we watched The Book of Mormon. We were on a time crunch and they were super accommodating. I had the Bobo de Camarao....$$13.95 Husband had the Galinhada (Brazilian paella) (v)....$11.95 with Shrimp. Bobo de Camarao is a creamy dish with bell peppers, onions, yucca and shrimp. Super tasty and can definitely see why it was a Best of Austin Chronicle winner. Husband's paella had bursts of saffron everywhere and the flavor was yummy as well. Both came with a small cheese ball that had a nice crispy outside texture and cheese on the inside... Check came out soon after we finished our meals and we were out the door on our way to the play. Delicious food + great service + great location = 5 stars from me. Only con I have is the limited parking space. We parked down the street near the houses and walked a good 7 minutes. No biggie.
(5)Claire L.
This place is very unfriendly and they charge you senselessly. I thought their food was nice at first but now I feel their foods are all similar with similar taste. Four of us went there last week, ordered 3 entrees and an appetizer since one of us was quite full. We knew that they would charge a extra fee for the person who did not order ( though not common in other restaurant ), and I could understand that. However, they charged extra splitting dish charge for every single of us which mean we paid 11$ just for several little empty dishes. Wow... Terrible.. You know, at least they could have let us know in the first place about this weird policy. Any way, after that awful experience, since I had left my phone in the restaurant I called the place to check. The lady received the phone and I told her about the desperate situation and she says... Please wait a second and I will get the order and come back.. I waited for about 8-9min and hung off. When I got there, they didn't even clean or check the table ... I will never ever go to this place!!!
(1)Calily B.
While I am a lover of men in gaucho pants running along with long sticks of meat (who isn't?!); I love other aspects of Brazilian cuisine as well and this place hits the mark! The menu does have some TexMex items, but everyone in our party stuck with the Brazilian side of the menu. I had the Bobo de Camarao (shrimp in coconut sauce). This dish seemed very Asian to me (which I didn't mind), but the flavors were very similar. There was a good amount of shrimp and all were cooked perfectly! It's so hard to find well-cooked shrimp! My boyfriend opted for the Galinhada (paella) which was fragrant and once again, the seafood was cooked well. The parents got the Rocambole Alexandra and Chicken a Milanesa respectively. I always like breaded chicken, so there is nothing wrong with that! My boyfriend's mom didn't love her beef roulade dish, but I thought it had a nice wine flavor (maybe that's why she didn't like it). When we left my boyfriend did mention that he would like to come back here... that's always a good thing in my book! I guess we'll be back! Tip: The booth is a tight fit for 4 adults.
(4)Aasiyah B.
My gem north of campus. I've been coming here for the past three years almost 2-3 times a month. The food melts in your mouth and has many go-to items that you'll crave and keep coming back for more!
(5)Natalie C.
Yup. 5 stars. Really, it should be 4.5... but I round up, people. Please note that I'm rating in accordance with the price. IE.... not comparing this restaurant with some place that is 3x as expensive. Carry on. Love the location, parking can be tricky on weekends or during lunch on days when school is in session. Plan accordingly. If you have a UT permit you can use it in the lot across the street. I know there is usually live jazz on Fridays and Saturdays. Annnnnd it's usually pretty good. Incredibly enjoyable. Goes well with the food and aesthetic inside. FOOD. Won-ton chips? Amazing. Holy cow. You might eat 2 baskets. Or 4. And ruin your meal. Worth it. I love several of the Brazilian dishes, but I almost always end up with enchiladas. Sometimes they can be a little salty, but still delish. Excellent drinks. The caprihana? Capriosca? Something. Do it. Very refreshing. Great for a date night that wont break the bank. Usually there's no wait. It's a stand by in our house. What's not to like?
(5)Jens B.
What a friggin delight to find Sao Paulo on Saturday afternoon. I had no idea it existed. I am grateful for my good friends suggestion we hit them up for a relatively late lunch Saturday. We got there around 2pm and the place was relatively empty besides us. That didn't seem to matter one bit. We were enthusiastically greeted by the bartender, a dude whose name I cannot remember. We were seated at a nice round table so the four of us could chat and enjoy a few drinks and lunch. The girls ordered some Caipirinha cocktails and my friend and I had the frozen rita's. The Frozen's were excellent, do not know what tequila they use, but well in Sao. The girls actually didn't really care for their drinks and when the bartender returned he inquired what they thought of their drinks. They mentioned they were to sweet and he had no problem with whisking them away and getting them something they would enjoy... that's a plus one in my book. No fuss, just let's take care of this. We ordered the Jalapeno Poppers which were excellent. I ordered another plate once we devoured the first one. I went on to having the Feijoada. I have made this dish at the house a couple of times and have had great success. It arrived with the exact same collard greens that I make! The flavors were perfect as were the continuation of frozen margaritas. Everybody got something different and not a single plate went amiss. Our service was great and our food was a big success with everyone. I would definitely get the chips and salsa... they use defried yucca chips I believe and they were light and crisp. Delicious.. I cannot believe that I hadn't eaten here in the past. To hit up a restaurant so late in the afternoon and to be served and fed in such a great manner was truly impressive. I fully intend to make this a regular lunch spot in the future since it is close to work.
(4)Satitpong C.
The food was not that good and the service was terrible. I went there for lunch with my colleagues (3 of us). They put 20% gratuity on our bill. (I thought gratuity is optional in the US. What happened here?) It is not a good experience there at all.
(1)Colin S.
First and foremost, the chips + salsa cost $2.50 per basket (free refills), so be warned if you're expecting the usual free snack offered up by TexMex restaurants everywhere. With that said, these aren't your everyday tortilla chips. These are some kind of fried batter chips mixed with crack and taste incredible dipped in a slightly sweet salsa. Totally worth the $2.50 expense. The only two dishes I have eaten in my multiple visits to this restaurant just down the hill from the UT Campus are the Bobo de Camarao and the Enchiladas Verdes. Both were excellent although the former is a little expensive for lunch. The shrimp has consistently been very well cooked although the flavor can be a little bland and lacks any real spiciness. The dish actually really reminds me of Asian food since it has coconut milk and is served over rice. The Enchiladas Verdes were pretty typical and are served with refried beans and rice (which sometimes seems undercooked). The green chili sauce is actually really good and definitely adds a little kick to the enchiladas. This place is great for bringing people visiting the UT campus if you need something a little nicer than the fast food restaurants scattered along the Drag. It's a little expensive, so expect to spend around or over $10 per person.
(4)Nicole N.
God, I love this place. The first time I came here was for a collective belated summer birthday celebration/girls' night out thing with my best girl friends from the days I dormed at UT. My friends had reservations for a party of 12 and we were quickly seated and accommodated. We arrived during happy hour so ayyyyy DRANK IT UPPPP. Well, not all of us were 21, but still. I really like the feel of the restaurant. Intimate lighting and feels upscale for being near campus. It is a nice place to go for birthday dinners, dates, etc. Chips and salsa. SO. NOT. STANDARD. But in an absolutely fabulous way. Okay, if you love those crispy wontons that you get with soup in Chinese restaurants, that's exactly how the chips taste here. I love it. I LOOOOOOOOVE IT. Salsa is good. My friends loved their margaritas and we sure got pretty loud and happy. Forgive me Lord for flirting with the water boy. It was the wine!!! Anyway...back to the food. I ordered the chicken galinhada (gal-in-yada). DELISH. So good. Just warmth. Absolute comforting warmth. I've never had paella before, but hey, I am now a fan. Also, if you're at a Brazilian restaurant, you should order Brazilian food, not Mexican!!! Their Mexican food probably doesn't taste bad, but c'mon...where's the fun in going to a restaurant for the first time and ordering the safest thing possible? Granted, I could have gone a bit more exotic with my dinner pick, but I was broke at the time... However, I do not regret this decision as I have eaten this every single time I've been here (that's three times already in one semester). The galinhada is accompanied with this delightful little roll with cheese inside. I swear, I could eat an entire bowl of these little rolls. Oh, how I wish I could. The galinhada is fragrant with saffron and you can taste it. The plate is big and I was unable to finish it the first two times I have eaten it here. So yay for portion size and price!!! Another time I went with friends, my friend ordered the bobo de camarao. I also recommend that. Very good. I'm not crazy about anything with coconut, but I liked this from what I had tasted. Shrimp and yucca tossed in a tomato coconut cream sauce. A note on restrooms: they are located in this room to the right of the entrance. I have no idea what that place next door is, but there is a kitchen and tables in there. The restrooms smell nice and are clean, despite the sticky kitchen feel of the room you walk into to reach the restrooms. It's safe to say that this place is one of my new favorites.
(5)Jason D.
This place is very low-key and I'm glad more people don't know about it. The Brazilian dishes are all delicious and their salads are freaking amazing. I never thought I would say that about salads. I like their churrasquinho platter the best though. On Friday/Saturday nights they usually have a band playing some fresh jazz. Very relaxing place... especially with some caipirinhas or caipiroskas on the patio.
(5)Lisa B.
Love this place!! A great place to seek out when you want something different or when you're wanting a new comfort food. The Pollo Magdalena is my favorite--it tastes amazing and the presentation of it is nice, too. Bonus: the little biscuit that comes with the dish, yum! We usually also order the chips and salsa and queso--you'll almost spoil your appetite! The chips are light and airy--almost like a wonton--so good!
(5)Samantha S.
While I am what you'd call a regular at Sao Paulos, I wouldn't be if it wasn't one of the best restaurants in Austin. I've been coming here for over a year, and I typically do more drinking there than eating (priorities, people), and that's partially because their cocktail menu is amazing and I can stop by right on the way home from work...and do...a lot. Cody is usually behind the bar and makes every drink by hand--muddling, shaking, chopping and squeezing away. Their caipirinha is amazing, while their bloody marys are also great and the white wine and red wine sangrias are loaded with fruit and pretty damn divine. (Or, really, you can't beat a $3 margarita during happy hour six days a week.) But mostly, I'm a huge fan of the place because of the atmosphere and service. I absolutely love the people that work there, and everyone is friendly, helpful and fun. It's a small restaurant, which means--as a regular--you get to know everyone in the front of the restaurant. Cody is great for conversation at the bar, while the servers, Ian, Eris, Amy and Bert are all fantastic. I also gotta give mad props to the manager, Lily (Lilly? shoot.) and owner Melba. Both of them are welcoming and wonderful. (Even the hostess, Sonia, and bus boy/bus man, Nivan, are great...I told you I come here a lot.) They also have live music on the weekends, which--with the dim lighting and delicious drinks--makes it a great, very impressive date place (and a great place to enjoy by yourself as well, actually). If you come into Sao Paulos frequently, you'll see a lot of regulars, and there's definitely a reason for that. With a place this good, you gotta keep comin' back. So try it! You'll be happy you did.
(5)Ali B.
Get the: Mexican martini. The happy hour fried yucca and queso. Peixe com abacaxi (pistachio crusted fish with pineapple sauce and cheesy fried rice ball). Again, Sao Paulo's has won me with a fabulous date night. The food is awesome and always comes out super quick.
(5)Oscar G.
The food here was pretty good! I've had better but for the price is say it's perfect! This place is great for lunch and dinner for the family or a group of friends. I went at an odd time between lunch and dinner so I don't believe I got the best experience to tell what kind of vibe the restaurant gives off. It was pretty empty and understandably so. I had a fried chicken dish which was pretty delicious!
(4)Melissa J.
I'm usually not very fast to review restaurants, these guys changed my mind. Great food, atmosphere and very friendly wait staff. I honestly don't get here enough. I'm going to change that !!
(5)Sarah R.
I love this restaurant! The mojitos are good, and everything I have tried on the braxillian and vegetarian sides of the menu are SO tasty. We always start with Pao de Queijo (indescribably yummy cheese bread balls). Our faves include the Chicken and Fruit Salad, Feijoada (super yummy black bean stew), and the Milaneses (chicken and beef). Its all so good! Some of the waitstaff are better than others, but that's to be expected anywhere, There are great happy hour specials, an its usually not too crowded at lunch, so its a great spot!
(5)Rhea B.
The guava margaritas alone warrant five stars. But, there's so much more! The people working there are friendly and attentive (I never went without a guava margarita!), the food is delicious all around (goes well with guava margaritas!), and the happy hour is good (cheaper guava margaritas!). I love this place and hope you do too.
(5)Stephanie W.
Great evening! Can't say enough good things about this place. My wife and I are both in the industry so we appreciate good service. Bert was fantastic! Very helpful with the menu and very friendly. We will surely be back.
(5)Luiz S.
I'm Brazilian and definitely this is a good restaurant. The moquecas are quite different of a real Brazilian moqueca, but the feijoada is decent for an American restaurant. I loved the service over there, one of the waiters, called JJ, was fantastic, but unfortunately he left recently and the fresh girls are just OK. I definitely recommend the restaurant, but don't expect to have exactly a Brazilian dish.
(4)Tracy B.
This place is wonderful. I have been coming here for about 5 years now through college and now for occasional date night with my husband. The food is always amazing. They take extra care to make sure food is how you need (like gluten free for example.) They remember I want a little extra container of sauce because it's so yummy, and often bring it to me without me even asking. The only bad thing is they are closed on Sundays and it seems like I always want to eat there on Sundays!
(5)Tressa S.
So my boyfriend went to the University of Texas, and the first time we came to Austin he took me here because it was one of his favorite places to go in college. And now, everytime we visit Austin, I insist that we come here! Sao Paulo's is awesome - the food is incredible and I like the relaxed atmosphere. My absolute favorite thing on the menu is the pao de queijo....you have to get it! Last time we were in Austin and came here, we came at happy hour, so they had cheap drinks and food...for me and the BF to stuff our faces it was around $20 - you can't find that anywhere in the expensive city that is Boston in which we live! The service is great and attentive, the food is kick ass and the drinks are good. If you're in Austin and are looking for some awesome food at decent prices, you have to go to Sao Paulo's!
(5)Brettny J.
I had the Chicken a Milanesa. The chicken was amaze-balls! The stuff on the sides was crap (mashed potatoes and a salad thing). The service was really good.
(4)Roberto C.
Decided on this place as I wanted some Brazilian fare without the quantity of a churrasco. Pleased with the food - I got the churrasquinho which included sausage, chicken, and picanha plus a number of sides. The food was good, tasty as I would expect from a Brazilian restaurant. The meat was perfectly cooked and the sausage was really juicy. The picanha was medium rare (exactly how I asked it) and the chicken tender. The person with me had the tilapia in coconut sauce - it was really good but perhaps too creamy. Drinks list is extensive and has everything from wine to Brazilian favorites. Service was attentive and friendly but not overbearing. On saturdays, live music enliven the evening - we had an entertaining performance from a local jazz group. I am happy with Sao Paulo and I recommend it to anyone willing to have something different from the usual churrasco.
(4)Natalia B.
This place has delicious salads. I'm not usually a salad type of girl when I go out to eat, but the most recent night we went that's what I was craving. This place was a little cramped, but the food is pretty darn good. I sampled most everything that both my mom and husband ordered. We even ordered this appetizer sampler plate of fried goodness. I would definitely recommend getting that. What bumped this place up to four stars instead of three was the service. I often feel like the servers in this town are over-educated and therefore feel like they don't have to do their job which translates to a crap experience for me. This was not the case at Sao Paulo. Our server was excellent which made the dining experience oh so much better.
(4)kat s.
The boyfriend and I came here, looking for good and cheap food, for a date. We stumbled upon Sao Paulo's and we were impressed! The food is delicious and the wait staff is nice. They were understaffed so we waited for a while. Also it was hot as all get out in that restaurant, which is a turn off when it's 110 degrees outside. All in all, we will definitely go back. The food was great!
(4)Patricia T.
Really great! Decor is pretty simple, but the food is fabulous and great value for money. Service was fabulous, and they even gave us a free dessert when we mentioned that it was our anniversary. We both had Bobo de Camarao, which had more shrimp than I could even eat -- I look forward to returning and sampling some of the other entrees.
(4)Melinda B.
My husband and I went here on a Saturday night. They had live music and we sat at the bar. They didn't know what a greyhound was? That seems odd? I had the Caipirinha, and it was good, but not really a place that I would go just for the caipirinha - The menu was all over the place, so we ordered Pao De Queijo - cheese puffs. I was picturing the ones you get at the Brazilian steakhouses that are fresh and light and have a bit of cheese in them. They came out 2-3 minutes later in a plastic basket. They were obviously microwaved - super hot inside. They were all cheese - like a super condensed mozzarella ball! Looking around, it felt like a Kitchen Nightmare place. (sorry!) The bathrooms were in another restaurant, which was odd, the bartender didn't know what a greyhound was (vodka and grapefruit) - they didn't have grapefruit juice - and food was microwaved. Just doesn't seem like they are trying - or they are just trying to do a quick fix with live music.
(1)Jackie N.
I love coming to their happy hour! Their drink special are the usual price (around $3.50 - 5). You can pay around $3.50 for bottomless Chips and Salsa. I do admit the chips are like fried oily wontons which are ADDICTING!!! Their Margarita's are great you can get them frozen or on the rocks, try the mango margarita! They are also famous for a drink called Caipresa or something like that. Also try out the Fried Yucca. Everyone seems to get that. The nachos are very cheap and you can add on a meat choice and it doesnt cost more.
(4)Alayna C.
I don't even know where to start with this review -- everything was just amazing. The atmosphere was great. Sat outside on the porch and the weather and light rain in combination with this restaurant's gorgeous decorations made me feel very relaxed, which is exactly what I want to do to kick off my weekend. The patio area is dog friendly and they quickly brought my pooch water along with myself. A restaurant that treats my dog like a guest is already getting a good star for that. We ordered an appetizer, drinks and two separate dishes. Every single thing we ordered was perfect and absolutely delicious. It isn't often that I go to a restaurant where the sides are just as good as the main dish. Simply amazing. Sao Paulo truly is an Austin gem.
(5)Jeanette H.
A colleague recommended this restaurant for lunch. I had never heard of it so I was open to trying a new place. I love the proximity to campus (walking distance from my office). We had a very nice server and he had a sense of humor which made the experience that much better. I ended up ordering the Enchiladas de Chipotle! OH MY GOODNESS it was wonderful!! I am a picky eater but I had no complaints from this restaurant. A review would not be complete without mentioning the chips and salsa!!! The chips are not your average Mexican chips! They are wonderful and addicting! I could have just lived in the chips. I am ready to go back!!
(4)Steve H.
I dont know why they waste their time with the Tex-Mex menu, this place is classy enough to play off its strengths. My menu selections were highly influenced by Kimberly K. and Amanda S. I went with the Appetizer Sampler combo. (A quick word of advice - Eat the Cheese biscuit thingy first ) All of the appetizers were excellent, the breading was a bit thick and heavy but had an overall delicious flavor. The white wine sangria was absolutely fabulous and filled with flavor, the mint gives it a unique characteristic that you don't often find in sangria. Now, this where the review gets complicated. The Black Bean Stew... Its hard to describe how something can come so close to perfection. I happen to be an expert on the subject of beans and rice, my grandfather made the worlds best beans and rice at least every other week when I was growing up. When I ordered the black bean stew I did not expect to get the second best beans and rice I have ever had, but that's exactly what I got. There is no place in town that can provide you beans and rice than come anywhere near the quality of this black bean stew. The beans are filled with delicious meaty morsels and I honestly think they must be adding some sort of animal fat to the broth they stew these beans in. It's seasoned perfectly but I could deal with a bit more heat on my pallet. Its served with a side of thinly sliced sauteed greens, I've always had a soft spot in my heart for Brazilian style greens and these are much like the Black Bean Stew nearly perfect. Any sort of raw flavor is cooked out of the greens yet they maintain a texture that keeps them from becoming mushy. I think they key to eating this dish is to dump it out on the plate and just mix it all together, all of the flavors perfectly compliment each other honestly this dish just makes me think of being a child and eating meaty beans and rice every other week. The portions here are more than formidable. I ate maybe half of my dish and ended up so full I could barely enjoy my cocktails the rest of the evening. I'd give them five stars because my food was damn near perfect, the only negative thing I can even think to say about them is that the parking situation is not acceptable. Walking across the street gave me a bit of a fright, some place as nice as this should have a valet. I will definitely go back as the menu is very impressive and there are lots of dishes here that I must try.
(4)Michael S.
Amazing Brazilian Feijoada (Black Bean Beef Stew) in a comfortable friendly restaurant. The stew was thickened with dried Yucca, had a mild taste of cumin and was perfectly accompanied by white rice, collard greens and orange slices. We also had the surprising Coxinha (Pastry dough stuffed with minced savory chicken). While stuffed, we still tried the flourless dark chocolate espresso cake. It broke on my fork like cake but totally melted in my mouth. My senses screamed with delight! We can't wait to go back and try other dishes.
(4)Solomon W.
I have eyed Sao Paulo's Restaurante for quite some time and just never thought about making a lunch trip here, but I had an opportunity to see why this is a hands-down Austin haunt. Perhaps because it is so close to campus and international students? Or maybe it is the proximity to 2 longstay bars. No idea. The fare isn't just Brazliian, though I do want to note that they are putting too much of an emphasis on people-pleasing menus, what with a hefty amount of vegetarian options and Tex-Mex fare. I think the real Brazilian joints wouldn't make room for the tree huggers and animal rights activists! If you are a hungry diner, give the beef Milanese a spin. It is the size of a face. And it is served with a mound of mashed potatoes and a smathering of sauteed veggies. The only beef (no pun intended) I have is the prices... specifically for lunch. Full meals end up around $15 a head, which is steep, considering the in-and-out mentality most individuals have in the middle of the day. The black bean stew was $11. Though it did come with an outrageous amount of food--a large bowl of sausage-laden black bean stew, a mound of rice, and collard greens--$11 is iffy for a lunch stew, regardless of the portion. I did like the huge portion of farofa, cassava flour, to sprinkle into the black abyess. The cheese bread, classic Brazilian I might add, was chewy, cheesy, and dense, just as it should be. SPR is pretty standard, with respect to its actual decor, service, location, and everything about it. But it does have some pretty quality grub, and I have no complaints about it as a whole. Just nothing terribly special. Give it a go, if you at all enjoy something different than burgers and fries, which is what you are gonna get at the other eateries in proximity.
(3)Kealie G.
I've been here a few times with my research group for slightly-nicer-but-still-near-campus lunch. It's an interesting mix of Brazilian food and Tex-Mex. From what I hear, the Brazilian food is pretty authentic. They have cheese balls (not sure what they're called), a Brazilian-style paella, and all the normal Tex-Mex fare (queso, enchiladas, etc). The juices are delicious - guava, mango, passion fruit. The coffee is pretty standard. The service is good and the ambiance is relaxing and pleasant. They just opened up a taco counter next door. Can't wait to try it.
(4)Super D.
Price and portion size was great. Actual food was just good. Nice seating area outside.
(3)Urwhatuea T.
They re-did the floors. HUGE improvement. Dear Sao Paulo's mastermind, Please offer the cilantro vinaigrette in a bottle or jar! I'll help you put your kids AND pets through college on the sale of those. (ok maybe not, but i'll buy it). It is by a million miles the best cilantro-lime vinaigrette in town or possibly anywhere. I really appreciate this food here!
(5)Wes N.
Delicious little taste of Brazil. Great atmosphere. Very attentive staff, especially if you are unfamiliar with the cuisine, the staff happily guided us around the menu. Will return!
(4)Alex L.
had a hankering for some Hispanic food, but didn't feel like going to Maudies which is where I usually venture for some Tex-Mex, plus it's just 5 mins away from my house. so I found Sao Paulo's through a Yelp search and after reading the reviews, checkin' out the food I decided to give it a try, and I was left satisfied! and very full....so full I went with one other person, we started off with the queso covered yucca fries which were delicious. we both got shrimp dishes for our main courses, I went with the bobo de camaro which was good, although I didn't touch the stewed yucca because I got a side of black beans and banana tots, the banana tots btw were fantastic, I never pass up fried bananas at any latin-restaurant I go to. My dining companion got the shrimp paella which they enjoyed, but couldn't finish, you do get a heaping pile of rice which is nice though. Oh, they also give you these piping hot super-chewy-slightly cheesey bread balls which were amazing. after that carb-heavy meal I didn't think I could eat anything else, but we ended up getting the flan which was very decadent and tasty Overall I was pleased with the food, service was fine. It was a Friday night so they had live jazz music playing, the place was half empty, but it has a nice-cozy atmosphere, would recommend if you want some good Brazilian food!
(4)Bill W.
It had been quite some time since my wife and I had last been to this restaurant just due to the fact that we don't go downtown much any more. For an appetizer, my wife and I ordered the Pao De Queijo, which was as good as they were the last time we dined there. For our main courses, my wife had the Bife A Milanesa and I had the Estrogonofe do Sul with beef. Although my Estrogonofe do Sul was as good as I had remembered, my wife didn't eat even half of her meal. The breading on the very thin beef was a bit overwhelming in the bite I ate. You couldn't really taste the beef. What really caused me to reduce the number of stars is that they served frozen corn and frozen beans that they tried to dress up with some fresh mushrooms. Rubber green beans was the dead giveaway. FROZEN vegetables? Really? To me, being served frozen vegetables at a restaurant is inexcusable.
(2)Adriana H.
This Brazilian restaurant is not very authentic. I was disappointed with some items and happy with others. You don't expect a bunch of Mexican food items when you go to a Brazilian restaurant, right? Well, the feijoada and the coxinhas... Love it!
(4)Scott M.
We were going to have a romantic dinner out. I was having trouble finding a space to park the car while my husband went in to get a table. It was right before happy hour was about to end. The tables were pretty empty. They would not seat him until I got there. No offer was made to treat him as a single customer. All he wanted was a happy hour drink Poor lack of customer service. We ended leaving to go eat next doors. They turned away a chance for a couple looking to get a nice dinner.
(1)Sunshine G.
Happy Hour is where it's at! My friend and I shared a lot of appetizers that were on special and it was just enough to fill us up with our cheap margaritas! The margs were decent for $3. We had Coxinha which was THE BOMB. We could have had two orders of that because it was so good. We got Pao De Queijo as well since, you know, it's a classic. Those are the little bread things with crack...uh, I mean, cheese. Lastly we ordered the Fried Yucca, which *I* looooved. My friend had some texture issues with it; fried yucca resembles chewy french fries. I'd go back to try some of their entree dishes.
(5)Jennyfer N.
Having gone to UT, we students can suss out some quality establishments pretty quickly. I first had the opportunity to eat here when a girl in my undergraduate research lab was graduating. As a goodbye to her, the entire lab decided to head out to Sao Paolo's as a going away dinner. WHAT A DELICIOUS PLACE! Everything from their queso, to their fried wonton-like chips, their Pao de Queijo, EVERYTHING is delicious! I've ordered their enormous burrito that goes for 8 bucks, yummy, and what a bargain for 2 meals! I've had their beef stroganoff dish and it's delicious but hands down, the money is on the paella. It's not a traditional paella by any means. You won't get the crisply fried rice "crust" that accompanies typical Spanish based paellas but it's a wonderfully filling rice dish nuanced with cumin, coriander, and beautifully tinted with saffron. It comes with a Pao de Queijo (their wonderful cheese and tapioca bread that's hot, fresh, and crisp on the outside and oh-so-chewy on the inside), and an artful dusting of what looks to be paprika on the side of the dish. Their drinks are good, not impressive, but I don't come here to drink *they do have a happy hour*. I've brought friends here without disappointment. I'm detracting a star because the service leaves something to be desired. I've had to wait for refills a few times and unfortunately, when they get crowded, it's a bit worse. The parking situation also leaves faithful patrons in the lurch...especially given the fact that I've gotten a ticket while eating here. Regardless of all of this, I still recommend it as a good place to eat. Just try to catch them during non-peak hours!
(4)Allison Y.
Much larger on the inside than it looks! Decorated nicely, love the atmosphere. Great place for a casual to semi-fancy date. The estrogonofe do sul was soooo tasty. What is in the sauce that makes it so good?! A creamy sauce chock-full of cilantro, mushrooms, and tomatoes. Three of my favorite things in life. Plus beef (another favorite). My only complaint is that the beef was dry, but the yummy sauce made up for it. My boyfriend got the pulled pork taco, and it was DELICIOUS. Super tender, slightly sweet pulled pork that was hoooootttt and moist. Would definitely recommend for anyone going there. My question: why is there cheese drizzled on the top of the tortilla? That means you either have to eat it with a fork and knife or get a bunch of cheese on your hands when you pick it up. Confusing. Would go back and try some of the other Brazilian dishes!
(4)Tim C.
Great food, and the best flan I've had in years. I'm sitting here right now fantasizing about that flan. My backstory: I grew up in Paraguay and spent plenty of time in Brazil, I know and love Brazilian food. The food at Sao Paulo's is great, it isn't overpriced, and the portions are big. Also, that flan... oh man, it's so good. It's different from Mexican or Central American flan, you've gotta try it.
(5)Jenny F.
I have lived in Brazil for a very long time and I missed their food, so I went to check out "São Paulo's Restaurant." The location is great, it is very close to campus. They have an inside and outside area and even though I am not a smoker, I like that people have the freedom to smoke while they're sitting outside. The staff is great, very nice and communicative. The food is quite good, but it is not Brazilian at all. I do not like the concept of mixing "Tex-Mex" and "fake"-Brazilian cuisine. There is plenty of Tex-Mex-places in Austin, why would you not focus on only one? I wish their food would have been more authentic. I had their "Moqueca," which is a traditional dish from Bahia. I ate it in Bahia and now here it was so disappointing. I understand, it might be difficult to get certain ingredients in the US but it wasn't even close. The caipirinha was good, but pretty weak for that price. All in all, the food is good but not Brazilian authentic at all!
(3)Shibi R.
I am deeply saddened that I have to give Sao Paulo ristorante 3 stars because it used to be one of my favorite restaurants. I used to bring my family from out of town here all the time and loved the little cheese breads and delicious entrees. But when I went a few days ago, much had changed. The service was still good, as was the little band they had playing at one end. But my entree (sirloin roulade) was very very salty- to the point where I stopped eating it and just picked at it. My boyfriend's dish (something in a pumpkin) was so cheesy he might as well have been eating craft mac and cheese. To top it off, the little cheese breads appetizer we got was dry, over salted, and stone cold. I don't know what happened to you Sao Paulo. I hope you feel better soon.
(3)Aalia U.
This place is a hidden gem! Our bill was $80 with tip...let me break it down for you. SO had the caiphirinha which was fresh and delicious and makes you feel like it will be summer forever. I had the white sangria - highly recommend. So delicious that I am mad I didn't ask for the recipe to mix it at home. We started off with the appetizer sampler which (in my opinion) was a little too fried for my taste. Everything was just pretty okay - SO really liked the chicken in puff pastry. Next time I will definitely pass on this and maybe just order the stuffed jalapenos. Our dishes He had the rocambole which was delicious - I don't think there was anything left on his plate! I had the shrimp in squash dish. Unfortunately only took two bites of it because I was soo full from that monstrous appetizer. It was really good, but very cream-heavy unfortunately. Next time I will hope for something lighter. Dessert Their flan type dessert was the best I have ever tasted. Could have eaten a whole pan of it. I will be back for this alone. Great ambiance, good date spot, pretty good food - think I just chose wrong, good value for money, great drinks, excellent dessert. I will definitely be back!
(4)Belly G.
I was in Austin to do Tough Mudder so while I was in town, I decided to meet up with a friend who recommended to have dinner at Sao Paulo's. He told me that this is his "go-to" restaurant every time he had to take someone new out on a date. If that's the case, this place had to be pretty awesome, right? As I walked into the restaurant, there was a live band playing some music (which I would assume was Brazilian since it didn't sound like any salsa or any typical Spanish music that I'm familiar with). The hostess was super friendly. She made conversation as she walked me and my friend to our table. She also stayed a little bit after we sat down for some more small talks and left when our waitress came to our table. Our waitress was super duper awesome. Super friendly, all smiles, and she was cute! Yup, I'm not even embarrassed to say it. Anyway, after quickly looking through the menu, we decided to start with those traditional puffy cheese breads and to get the Churrasquinho platter for two. We also ordered some Guarana soda. I don't usually drink soda, but this was GOOD! Try it! The restaurant wasn't too busy for a Saturday night, but i could see why my friend would pick this place to be his go-to restaurant for his dates. The live music wasn't too loud or distracting; and the ambiance of the restaurant was pretty nice. As a matter of fact, there were several couples who were here on a date. The food didn't take too long to come out. The platter came with some rice, potatoes, steak, chicken, pork, and sausage! So it was definitely a lot of food! And for the price? This platter was definitely a great value. Everything on the platter was pretty legit! Delicious. No, don't expect the steak to be some high-class steak, but for the price, it was definitely worth it. Let's just say that after I finished my meal, I didn't have any more room for desserts, which was a shame because I wanted some. Anyway, if you live the Austin area and you haven't tried this place yet, well, what are you waiting for??
(4)Suliman S.
The service was very friendly and very nice! The food was mediocre but everything was presented really well. There is one thing that is just amazing which was the queso with the chips. I highly recommend this place for drinks and some appetizers. I think this place is the best for casual hangouts with friends and a first date restaurant. It was pretty romantic in side and definitely set the mood. The deserts were amazing pushed it to the 4 star range. I think this place is alright for some casual food and drinks. I shall return for the happy hour!
(4)Lauren C.
It had been a while since I went here, but decided to go for my birthday lunch - food was delicious and service was just fine. A little pricey for me but I work for the state so my budget is not so friendly - that's why I hit up Taco Joint attached all the time.
(4)Amanda M.
We came here with a groupon. Surprise surprise. Thas wuh ah do. Anyway, this place turned out to be one of my favorite restaurants in Austin. Strange, because I haven't heard much about it before. My fiance and I had no idea what to expect, but it looked cool and after stalking the place on yelp we decided to try it out. The owner *I think* was working the night we went and he was super busy but tried to give us his time without rushing us. The appetizers aren't my favorite because most are fried, but they weren't bad. We tried the stuffed jalapenos and they tasted exactly like stuffed jalapenos. Good sign! What really blew me away and what I think deserves 5 stars (with the addition of very good service) is the Camarao de Vo Naica (baby shrimp mixed with cheese and tomato purée in a pumpkin bowl and rice). Holy sweet mama mia. These were flavors and textures I had never put together before. So, you've got this pumpkin, a quarter of a small-ish pumpkin. And then there's all these shrimp cooked in this delicious cheesy tomato-y sauce. And all that is sitting in this pumpkin. Eating the shrimp, sauce, and pumpkin together is mind blowing. The pumpkin is kinda sweet, crunchy, and soft, while the shrimp has nice creamy bold flavor to it. I don't know man, that meal blew my freakin mind. There was so much too, and it tasted just as great the next day! Andi got Bobo de Camarao (shrimp and yucca with veggies in a coconut cream sauce). This dish had a much stronger cheesy creamy flavor to it, probably because of the coconut cream and lack of tomato. The yucca also added awesome texture. Man this place knows it's textures! Anyway, it was also delicious and had shrimp. And to finish it all off was the tres leches cake. Now, my friend, you cannot go wrong with creamy, milky, tres leches cake. It was delightful. Sao Paulo's is fantastic. Go eat the Camarao de Vo Naica.
(5)Carolyn N.
The service is really good. It's a pretty quiet place. Really close to campus. The food is good. I had the sampler plate, I recommend the fried cheese balls. So good. Also the black bean soup is perfection.
(5)Amy M.
Good happy hour menu. The chip and dips were great.
(4)Elisa W.
Good food, large plates! This is my second time here. Not cheap but they give a lot of food.
(5)Ro M.
Very hard to find a Brazilian restaurant that isn't an all-you-can-eat churrascaria. The ambiance of the place is very nice. Classy, but not too uptight. A nice place to have date night or a nice dinner with friends. The appetizers are very interesting. We got the sampler platter because we wanted to try all that they had. Some of the starters seemed to have the same flavor notes. The sampler was a good choice for a first timer but definitely would go with just one next time. The cheeseball that comes complementary in other Brazilian restaurant is sold as an appetizer. A bit disappointing but also the best I've had. Go for it, you won't regret it. The meat sampler was excellent. It came with traditional steak, chicken, and sausage. Well made and very tasters. Shrimp in the pumpkin bowl is a definite must try. Awesome presentation with taste to match. Full bar is available but was only able to try one cocktail. Overall an excellent find!
(5)Cynthia C.
NOT an all-you-can eat Brazilian steakhouse. And you know what? It's OK! In fact, it's a good thing because sometimes, you want to try the more authentic dishes that a cuisine has to offer... and Sao Paulo's hits the spot! Parking: Pain in the butt. You're fighting the Crown & Anchor crowd & North Campus college kids. SO-- keep this in mind if you're planning on taking a girl out on a date here-- probably not a good first date place if she'll be wearing heels. Ambiance- mainly casual (you're right next to campus) but could pass as somewhat romantic (dim lighting) & we came on a Friday so there was live jazz. Plenty of seating- there were some large group tables (I'm assuming reservations were needed) and some small tops. TIP: if you're making a reservation, you might want to ask for a table further from the door/band. Service- very good. I want to say our server was Ian. He was professional & pleasant & attentive. Appetizer: Hubby wanted the appetizer sampler $11-- YESSS. I wasn't gonna say no to that. We got 2 of the top 5 things in their appetizer section & our favorites were: -PAO DE QUEIJO- parmesan chewy cheesy bread. NO it's not fried cheese. It's better. It's salty & cheesy & got a bouncy texture that just parties in your mouth. -Bolinhos- Fried little seasoned rice & potato balls. So delicious! Mine had an ooey-gooey middle of some sort of cheese. Entrees: - Camarao Da Vo Naica- $16 SO SO SO good. I highly recommend this dish. It's got great presentation-- it comes out in a spaghetti squash bowl! And then you can scoop out bits of freshly baked spaghetti squash along with your shrimp cheesy sauce. Loved the taste & textures! The shrimp weren't the biggest but they also weren't stingy with them so it's overall a win :) - Rocambole Alexandra- $16 Breaded sirloin rolled into a wheel-like shape and stuffed with shrimp. Cooked and cut up & served with a mushroom sauce. Comes with a side of fried plaintains & salad. Hubby liked it. I thought it was okay, but I preferred my dish 5x over this one. Dessert: - Choices: Tres Leches, Flan-like-item, or Chocolate torte cake. We got the chocolate cake. It was fudgy & pretty good. I think I would've liked it better if it came room temperature and not straight from the refrigerator-- texture was a bit stiff. Portions: Decent. Not too much, not too little :) We both left full & happy. I definitely recommend this place if you're looking to try something new and don't mind looking for parking. Austin doesn't have a huge Brazilian foodie scene other than the steakhouses & everything we tried here was pretty decent to delicious, so try this place out :)
(4)Aline M.
My friend told me about this place and this Saturday I went there in a group with 4 Brazilians. We ordered yuca fried and coxinha. It was really good! Delicious! I ordered Bobo de Camarao and my friends ordered Strogonofe, Bife a Milanesa and Feijoada. Bobo de Camarão had nothing special taste, the only good thing was that it came with an enough amount of shrimps and they were great and big. My friend liked the Feijoada. But my other friends didn't like the taste of Strogonofe and Bife a Milanesa. Even dishes were all looking great, it doesn't work if it doesn't have a good taste. Service was bad! Employee was trying to do everything but it's hard, apparently only had her serving customers. Food came quickly but two dishes were with wrong sides, we asked to change it. Employee also forgot my beverage and I gave up asking again. Place is ok, no good and no bad, but I do not come back, honestly. We spent $ 20 each without tip. More employers serving customers could be great.
(3)Jeremy S.
Capsule review: Sao Paulo's is a creative and reliable option in the north-central UT area that offers good value at its price point. Full review below. I must confess that I have been to neither Portugal nor Brazil, not have I eaten this style of food at very many other restaurants besides Fogo de Chao. But I like Sao Paulo's a lot, particularly given the dearth of non-bar food in the immediate area. (Competition around Duval and 30th: sports bar, sports bar, pizza place, taco place.) Most eat spots around UT rely on a transient population of students, so given the built-in clientele, the incentive for businesses to excel is minimal and thus quality campus-wide is hugely hit-and-miss. But this one's a keeper. Dining is casual table service with an outdoor area (too close to the on-street parking for my liking). Menu ranges from traditional Brazilian to Tex-Mex, eclectic enough to suit a fairly wide variety of palates. Thematically, most of the food is heavy on meat and rich sauces with some lighter and vegetarian options.(Veg, and veg/vegan adaptable items are helpfully listed on the menu.) Service has always been quickish and genial but not awe-inspiring. They will help you with the pronunciations. Some highlights: the coxinha appetizer, a lightly fried sort of pastry stuffed with pulled chicken. It's kind of amazing. The moqueca bahiana (fish or shrimp in a tomato and coconut cream sauce) is freshly seasoned and tasty. The galinhada (Brazilian paella) is a good standby, and the estrogonofe do sul is nice if you want something rich. But just get the enchiladas if you're not feeling adventurous; they're solid and the chipotle sauceis grade-A. Most entrees are $10-$15, so no need to charge it until payday. We usually get out around $50-$60 for two with drinks and an appetizer. I've paid much more for much less. In terms of booze, there's a full bar, a decent selection of crafts, and daily happy hour specials on drinks, beer, and appetizers. I keep meaning to stop in just for that. On the downside, a number of the Brazilian dishes seem a little similar after a few visits, and I do wish they'd upgrade away from a few chintzy campus-isms like plastic water glasses. If you're driving, parking in the area will require some hunting (no lot, a few dedicated spaces out front). But these are character-building experiences, easily worthwhile for one of the better places in walking distance of UT and Hyde Park
(4)Liz J.
After working for 6 hours from early morning, I was so hungry that I decided to find a restaurant that is close enough to my office building. Then I came here at 2:30 p.m. and there were only 3 people dining there including me. The inside decoration is warm and welcoming which I love very much. It is hard to believe that their happy hour starts at 2 and ends at 7! I couldn't help ordering a frozen passion fruit margarita, as it is reasonably priced (2.99). Although it doesn't taste like passion fruit, but still it is wonderful but a little bit strong. I also had Bobo de Camarao for lunch. Amazing!!! I don't know if it is authentic Brazilian flavor, but surely I will come here again! Sao Paulo's is absolutely the best place that I've ever been to near UT campus!
(5)Keri B.
"FAY-YODA!!" I was so smugly ordering this dish that I remember having and loving from Sao Paulo years ago, showing off for my non-Yelpie friend, when I noticed the waiter's eyebrows raise and a little giggle. "Feh-zhwada" he corrected me. Whatever, just bring me the goods I thought. Anyway, this little hidden and somewhat forgotten gem is still a great place to go before any show at the Bass Concert Hall. Conveniently located just blocks from the San Jacinto garage (pre-paid parking), it's still easy to get to the show on time and get a drink, even if you're yakking and paying the bill just 25 minutes prior. They also have a decent happy hour with my favorite Brazilian concoction, the Capiroska (Cap-eh-ROSE-ka), your traditional caiparinha but made with vodka instead of cachaca. And my friend was very pleased with her HH mexi-mart. The feijoada was a soul warming stew of pulled pork, sausage and black beans served with rice and fresh greens on the side. Exactly what I wanted and with plenty for lunch the next day. BUT lets talk about the Pao de Quejo. Those little doughy, yeasty cheesy rolls that make my toes curl. I believe I had enough of those to blow my belly up like a ball of dough but still would have eaten more (which is why the nice waiter slipped me one in my to-go order :). I am hoping that I win more tix to Broadway (AHEM, YELP) in the future so I can continue this brand new tradition with Sao Paulo.
(4)Silvino P.
12 years in Austin we decided to try São Paulo's for the first time yesterday, which I knew since the first day here. Well, it was approved. Pretty reasonable price and excellent menu. As a Baiano (born and raised) and a pretty good expert in Bahian food I recommend it. I had the Bobó de camarão and even though the texture of the sauce was a little different from the authentic dish it was a delicious version. Going back there soon to try other dishes.
(5)Jill C.
This place is awesome. The ambiance there is cool. The staff was very friendly and the food was fantastic! We got the queso, and the chips that come with it are to.die.for. It is a must have when you eat there! They have a full bar and my food came out very fast. I had the Bife a Milanesa and it was really really good. It was also really big. Definitely a plate that is worth splitting.
(4)Alexandra W.
I've been here maybe 5 or 6 times, so I thought it was time to write a quick review. First, note that I'm a vegetarian, so my review reflects that. I'm pretty sure the meat and shrimp dishes are better than what I've had. So... the vegetarian dishes are not very special. They rely heavily on beans, rice and cheese, rather than well seasoned and conceptually interesting vegetable forward dishes. For instance, the vegetarian paella, while pretty good, is really lean on vegetables and heavy on rice. The eggplant dish I had most recently, the eggplant was a little undercooked. Their salsa is good and their drinks are good. I think their chips are too greasy, but my husband loves them. Finally, the service is very hit or miss. Sometimes the servers are awesome and attentive, and other times they are so bad, it is shocking (just completely forgetting to stop by the table, so we have to track them down in the restaurant to get them to refill waters or bring the check). So, I've had better.
(2)Jacob R.
I found this place to be alright, but not exceptional. Especially considering the numerous options Austin has to offer, I don't think I would ever come back here again. I arrived here around 7 pm on a Friday night in a party of 2. Food: I ordered a Galinhada (Brazilian Paella) and a Rocambole Alexandra. The Galinhada was pretty good. There was almost too much spice and oil as towards the end of my meal, the rice was too saucy. I got it with chicken, and even though it didn't have an enormous amount of chicken, but it had enough (I guess). The Rocambole Alexandra was considerably less tasty. The dish is basically 4 chunks of meat and some extremely soggy, oily fried potato chips. The meat was subpar with some mushed shrimp in it. The fries potato chips lacked any flavor and were basically just skin and plenty of oil. Service: Initially, the hostess walked us towards the inside and was about to offer us a booth that was blocked off by a different large group, but after noticing that and our responses, she offered us a table outside, which was okay because the weather was nice. However, BEWARE OF EATING OUTSIDE. Right as the Rocambole Alexandra came out, a fly flew in and got stuck in the sauce, so I squished it with my fork. As a result, we went inside and told the waiter, who was about to tell us to eat it anyways (since the fly was just in the sauce on the edge of the food), but then the manager (I think?) swooped in and said he would take care of it for us. I'm not 100% sure what he did, whether he just got a new plate and used the same food, or if he made completely new food, but it looked better when we got our food. Overall, the waitress definitely misplayed that. Environment: The restaurant is a typical classy, date night restaurant. Make sure to sit further into the restaurant if you want to actually talk as there is some live music on the side near the door. I paid $30.20 for the whole meal. Definitely not worth it. Would not go back.
(2)Jennifer M.
Came here for Happy Hour on a Tuesday before heading to Bass for a Broadway show. This restaurant, in my opinion, is the nicest place to eat on the north end of the university. The happy hour is from 5-7pm, every day and has some great specials. Appetizers, including jalapeño strips, quesadillas, chips and salsa/queso, etc and tons of drink specials, including margaritas, Mexican Martinique, mojitos, and lots of beer on draft. We had chips and queso (chips are so good), bean and cheese quesadillas ($3!!) and jalapeño strips. Everything was delicious! Service was satisfactory, and the interior is fairly small, with booths along the window wall. My friend ordered the salmon and said it was delicious. The roasted vegetables were also seasoned well and so crunchy and yummy. My entire bill was only $15 for 2 drinks, 'dillas, and veggies. Parking is a bit tricky, being on Duval, but drive around a bit and it's ok. I will be back for more Brazilian/ TexMex and awasome happy hour specials!
(4)Tori M.
I came out to Sao Paulo's to hear some friends who were playing in a jazz combo there. It was relatively crowded, which is usually a good sign. The atmosphere is very nice - perfect for a date. Only problem is that the food was super overpriced and not at all impressive. First let me say, I have a problem with any restaurant that serves Tex-Mex (yes, it is somewhat of a Brazilian restaurant, but they have a whole page in their menu devoted to Tex-Mex) and expects you to pay for chips and salsa. Especially when you are going to charge $20 per entree. WTF Sao Paulo? Greedy much? There's just something about that instant gratification of chips and salsa upon entering a restaurant that satisfies my munchies and keeps me waiting much more patiently for most everything else. The menu is relatively daunting with most entrees requiring you to read the description of what it actually is before you can make an informed entree choice. I ended up choosing the grilled salmon with some kind of delicious-sounding sauce served with yucca porridge (whatever that is). My salmon arrived swimming in the sauce. I mean, the salmon was literally completely covered by the sauce, making my plate resemble more of a soup than anything else. Normally, this wouldn't be a huge issue, except the sauce was rather bland. I kept catching myself adding salt trying to see if I could find some resemblance of taste. Nope. The salmon was good, however, once I found it. The best part was really the yucca porridge, which kind of reminded me of spicy yams. I must admit - my mojito was killer! Probably the best one I've ever had. And if I do decide to return to Sao Paulo's, that will probably be all I order. The music was excellent, by the way. Nice, intimate jazz really complimented the atmosphere. I may or may not be back, depending on if a I get an invite. I probably won't return on my own accord, however. The bottom line is, at least give it a try - the music and atmosphere at least makes eating bland, overpriced food somewhat enjoyable. Oh, and get a mojito.
(3)Jennifer C.
I want to be fair, we went there last Monday after a small family wedding. We were a group of 12 who showed up with no notice. It was, again, Monday, though, so the place was by no means even close to full. They sat us quickly, and got the drinks going- all good. I think the staff was rather irritated with us, honestly. We weren't there late or anything- from about 5:30 to about 8. We would've left sooner, but it took a long time for the food to come out. (Again, I'm trying to be really understanding about the unexpected group.) Anyway, the steak fajita salad I had was pretty greasy. I wish I'd ordered the shrimp- coconut dish- that looked really good. The decor is tired, not date-worthy, but that's sort of par for the university area course. Overall- meh. I'd go back, but it wouldn't be my first choice. Don't go with a large group without warning them!
(3)Jessie C.
Excellent happy hour with margaritas and mojitos. I've only actually eaten here once but it was delicious.
(5)Kimberly K.
Sao Paulo's is one of my go to places for visiting/new Austinites. If you like Sangria (or if you don't : ), check out the white wine sangria - the mix is just right here. Also, they have some really interesting appetizers, and the app plate gives you a sample of two of each unique appetizers. Definitely share it with a friend, it is huge. Don't even look at the "tex mex" menu, stick to the Brazilian entrees. The feijoada (Brazilian black bean stew) is so good. It is like a bowl of comfort and nothing really compares A black bean stew with chorizo, pot roast and some other tasty cuts of meat. It comes with a side of collard greens and other toppings, just dump it all together and enjoy. There is a really cool rockabilly looking Brazilian waiter that is awesome. I've had the luck of him waiting on me almost every time, and he recommended the sangria and black bean stew the first time I had them. The music they have some nights really completes the experience. it is always super classy, jazzy, lovely bands. I'd like to see the sangria priced a little better, and the only dessert I've had there was not that good. But order some sangria anyways, split an app plate and then get a friend to dig into the black bean stew with ya while you kick back and enjoy the music and atmosphere.
(5)Jennifer B.
I met a couple of friends to try out Sao Paulo's a few weeks ago and had a good dining experience. Tip: They have $3 margarita's during HH. We ordered some coxinha as appetizers (Pastry dough stuffed with minced spicy chicken. Deep fried and served with a side of spicy Chipotle Ranch). We also had Pao De Queijo (Baked Parmesan Cheese Rolls.) Very tasty! The ranch had a nice little kick to it. For my entree I had Peixe com Abacaxi which is pistachio encrusted Orange Roughy served with pineapple sauce and rice angu. I thought it was really good. It was nicely plated and tasted wonderful. I may be able to attach the photo I took. It really looked nice. Sadly I was too full to try any desserts. Our waiter was great, very attentive, friendly and ready with suggestions. Probably the only negative was the parking. There's just a couple of spaces so I ended up around the corner (which was lucky since it's apartments and seems like they use the street to park as well). However, I did enjoy the experience and it was nice to have something different like Brazilian food.
(4)Erica C.
We had our last Wassup wit it Wednesday at Sao Paulo. I have mixed feelings about this place. In terms of Happy Hour, they only have a few food items (chips and salsa, yuca strips, jalapeno poppers). They have $2.99 frozen margaritas and $3.50 flavored margaritas. They have interesting flavors like passion fruit and guava instead of your typical strawberry margarita which I appreciated. I also had the Pao De Quijos, which are little cheese balls that are so amazing (if you love cheese). We decided the few finger appetizers weren't enough to fill us up so we stayed for dinner as well. I shared the saffron chicken with a friend. The dish was awesome!!! It had curry flavoring and saffron which was amazing. Overall, I think the HH menu could be improved but the food is fantastic.
(4)Koko D.
The chips and queso are a guilty pleasure. Adding the delicious salsa to each chip makes it even better and gives you the illusion of being healthier. I recommend the shrimp taco. It's huge and only about nine bucks! Service is great and the ambience is nice.
(5)veek n.
thanks a lot, sao paulo. because of you i now have to add "learn portugese" to my bucket list. your food and your music compel me to do this, it's out of my control. why had it taken us so long to get here? it's because i had always heard it was tiny, that waits were inevitable, and honestly we're not down by the university all that often. sao paulo may change that last one. we arrived about 7:45 on a thursday night. the place was lively and bustling, and the music alluring. we were greeted by melba with nothing short of enthusiasm, and shown right to a table. here's what we ate: for the app we went with coxinha - tasty little fried pastries with a delicious spicy minced chicken inside - revealing not a drop of oil. i love when places can fry stuff and not make me overly aware of the fact that it's been fried. for the entree, we went loco for bobo. it was, simply, fantastic - no surprise why it's a chronicle winner. even with drinks and dessert we still came out with a very reasonable tab. bem feito, sao paulo!!!!!
(4)Manju M.
I am mad about this restaurant. Their chicken/shrimp galinhada is mind blowing. I usually order them spicy, otherwise they taste little bland for me. They also serve a cheese ball with it. Mmmm, my mouth's already watering. Beside this I have tried El burro grande, Poblano relleno (in veggies) and both of them are amazing, too good. I have tried their award winning Bobo de camarao and Moqueca Bahiana- but they were not as good as the first three items I have mentioned. Decor is good, their is an exhibition of paintings. Lunch time during weekdays it is usually very crowded, and order usually takes 15-20 minutes to arrive. Once I went as early as 11.40 am, but was surprised to find 50% seats were already occupied. Their Galinhada is now my all time favorite. This place is little expensive than the ones located on guadulupe street. For two usually the bill is somewhere around $22-25.
(5)Felecia I.
After years of neighbours urging us to give Sao Paulo's a try, a friend and I finally went for lunch last week. We shared an appetizer of Coxinha. Four deep fried rolls of pastry dough stuffed with spicy minced chicken arrived, served with a spicy chipotle ranch sauce dipping sauce. It was delicious and so promptly devoured. Oddly, this dish was served at room temperature instead of piping hot... perhaps this is the Brazilian way? We shared the Bobo de Camarao entree. Our server brought each of us our own enormous plate of shrimp, yucca, onions and bell peppers in a tomato cream sauce with steamed white rice topped with one pao de queijo (baked parmesan cheese roll). Yummy! I tried hard to clean my plate but the large half portion defeated me. Our server was polite and efficient. He spaced out the courses nicely, refilled water glasses without being asked and presented our bill in a timely manner. I enjoyed my introduction to Brazilian food. Looking forward to more of it!
(4)Eve R.
Because it was Happy Hour, we couldn't resist trying an appetizer, more specifically, the fried yucca. My arteries are not sure why I do this to them, but . . . well, tastebuds won out on this one. Basically fried yucca in cheese. What's not to like? We also tried the Coxinha, another fried dish. These were darned tasty fried balls of something. But they really needed the dipping sauce that came with them. Which was pretty tasty. For entrees we had the Stroganoff, which was not bad, but I like the version they used to have at Rio much better. But in its own right, also probably terrible for you, but delicious. We also had the Peixe Com Abacaxi, an orange roughy in a very sweet sauce. The presentation on this one was fabulous, with little towers of deliciousness. This was definitely my favorite dish of the evening. Overall, not the healthiest meal we've ever eaten, but delicious and ample. We had a full meal worth of leftovers to take home. The folks there were also very nice, and especially helpful when my companion left his hat behind, and they came running to bring it back out to us.
(4)Mr. Y.
Amazing food. Their cheese bread appetizer is awesome. Great drinks, chill atmosphere, very fresh cuisine. Highly recommended if you like Cuban or Brazilian food. Will definitely be back for more!
(5)Alex R.
Live Bossa Nova, 2 drinks, and a tasty app for $13! I only wish they had better parking but that's less in their control. Oh the chips in the nachos are delicious and fluffy
(5)Heather M.
Food was amazing, service was exceptional. The tables were a bit dirty and so was the silverware. Good thing I keep sanitizer and wipes in my nurse.
(4)Wendy S.
Difficult parking as a few construction workers were working on Sao Paulo's patio, and had taken 4 front parking spaces--had me thinking, "Oh no, this isn't going to be a great lunch with a group of my gal pal's"--Was I wrong--6 of us for lunch--Doug, our waiter didn't give us the look when we asked for separate checks, set up a nice booth table in seconds flat-- Service, Doug was great, prompt, knowledgeable about the menu-- Food--OMG! The Yelp reviews were great, and I aagree--we all ordered something different--I ordered the stuff pepper with shredded chicken on the lunch special--presentation of all our plates was gorgeous, and we didn't leave hungry--we will be going back--this is a fabulous place to go if you are going to a UT game as easy to walk to the staduim--YUM!
(5)Kelli F.
BREAD WITH MELTED CHEESE INSIDE. I could stop there, but I won't because everything else is just as amazing. Been there twice now and have had a terrific experience each time. Absolutely order the pan de.. cheese? You won't regret it. Then order the Bobo de Camarao. But just call it the Bobo because that's more fun. And also order like 25 alcoholic beverages because they're so amazing. They do have a great happy hour deal that extends until 7pm--pretty wonderful. HH includes food too, which is always a terrific discovery. The passion fruit and guava frozen margaritas were sent from heavenly Brazilian angels up above. And the caipirinha will just........... make your taste buds scream for more. Yum!
(5)Paul G.
This is the coolest place on a hot day or a hot date. The lighting is low, the prices are low, and the staff is chill. It has a full service bar with a 5 hour happy time. Live Latin music on the weekends. I live in Hyde Park and I've taken so many friends and family here because it is what it is - really really really really good food for about 10 bucks a person. Get the 'bobo de camaro' from Bert and a mojito from Kevin. PS. I read the yelp from "GZ" and I can honestly say that yelp is insanely inaccurate.
(5)Diana C.
The service at Sao Paulo's is magical, and the ambiance is great for dates. The food is prepared well and tastes great, except some dishes lack a "kick" in the flavor. The portions are generous, and it balances out the price a little. I always get the Galinhada with a little more salt, and it fills me up just right. In the future I would definitely try other meat dishes. The live music is a little loud at times, but always has a great saxophone player. Honestly, if you're a saxophone player that has played at Sao Paulo, please contact me and I would love take private lessons with you.
(4)Kimmi D.
Came in around 3pm and it was dead empty! About 5 minutes later someone came out of the kitchen to greet and seat us. Food: we got the bottomless chips and salsa on the HH menu and I started out with the tortilla soup and stuffed jalepenos. Chips were really crispy and greasy yet delicious cause it came out fresh. Salsa was okay but I got REALLY full after eating half of the basket. The tortilla soup was fully loaded and a cup was $3.50, while the bowl was only $4.50 so why not order the bowl? Lol. It was probably the best tortilla soup I've ever had. They don't skimp out on the chicken, veggies, cheese, or tortilla strips. It was definitely filling. The stuffed jalepenos came with a sauce but I thought it wasn't that great. I honestly couldn't even finish 1 stuffed jalepeno cause everything was so heavy with cheese! But I brought it back home and ate some for dinner and it was actually really good. One of those awesome leftover foods. Service: Our server was really kind and sweet. I would definitely come back but probably wouldn't get an appetizer if I want to eat a meal. But I really want to try the paella! Heard it was really good.
(4)Michelle M.
Still amazing. What can I say. Chicken milanesa was crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside! My colleagues had the paella and the heart of palm dish. We were all in heaven. The staff is friendly and it's a great casual atmosphere. An Austin classic!
(5)Korey A.
I absolutely loved this place. Wonderful service! Everything we ate was fantastic. I'm not going to even begin to try and spell everything we got because I would butcher it, so I will just describe it. The chicken balls were great with a little spice. My husband loved the sauce so much he was dipping lettuce pieces in it. I was kind of embarrassed for him. I got the Bobo shrimp dish. It reminded me of a gumbo with onions and peppers. It was a generous portion with lots of large shrimp. My husband got the stuffed beef. You could really taste the shrimp in it. His potatoes were well flavored. For dessert they were nice enough to give us half flan and half Tres leches. The carmel flan was my favorite... creamy and smooth.
(5)Leila M.
I have never been to Brazil, and most likely won't be able to make it for the 2014 World Cup this summer. But for what it's worth, I have two Brazilian movies (City of God and Carandiru), a Brazillion soccer jerseys and my dog is named after Zico, the awesome Brazilian footballer who danced with the ball. And hey, at least I now can say I've been to São Paulo. And while I may be a Brazil aficionado my knowledge of the cuisine is elementary at best. Why yes, I am familiar with the meat orgies of Estância Churrascaria and Fogo de Chão but São Paulo is not for meat comas. It's for those who value a palate and cuisine as diverse and beautiful as the country. Brazilian cuisine is a melting pot of African, Portuguese, German, Italian, Spanish, Lebanese and much more. São Paulo's menu is a poster child of this medley. The Bobo de Camarao will always be my go-to-dish. You seriously cannot go wrong with shrimp in a creamy coconut sauce. It's so decadent I oftentimes cannot finish it and I get a kick out of getting the rest to go, because it doesn't fit in a doggy bag. The rosemary and shell stick out of it so the waiters usually have to poke a hole in the surrender box. The Rocambole Alexandra is finger licking awesome, but seriously y'all stick to knife and fork and if you want to lick the plate make sure you get outside seating and you are not doing it in front of your date or anybody walking by. The Bife A Milanesa is my sister's favorite and whenever she'd ace her finals, this was our go to place to celebrate on campus and this was her go to dish to order. Their Galinhada was most likely the only dish that disappointed me. But I'm biased because I love paella and I make it at home often. We are somewhat paella snobs in my family, and paella is all about the authentic Spanish version + quality of items you put in + amount of love you put in. São Paulo's paella did not impress, it seemed like it was thrown together haphazardly. I made the mistake of going here with a friend on the paleo diet, and the poor waiters did what they could to accomodate her. Imagine ordering Nachos and being left with a plate of chips, jalapenos and minimal cheese after your friend finger-picked every piece of protein off of there. Yeah right, like cavemen and cavewomen could make cheese. But I retaliated by ordering the Coxinha, Bolinho De Arroz and Pao De Queijo. If Gabriel GarcÃa Márquez came here, I'm pretty sure he'd be inspired to write a novel that revolves entirely around the appetizer trifecta of Coxinha (heavenly balls stuffed with chicken), Bolinho De Arroz (delicious balls of potatoes and most likely crack cocaine) and Pao De Queijo (can't go wrong with fried cheese). Needless to say, Jes wasn't very happy and I'm pretty sure I saw her drool. She did try to reach for one of my Coxinha, but as a good friend I slapped her wrist. To ensure she stayed carb free but mostly to prevent her from taking my Coxinha. If she wants paleo, she'll need to don a bear skin skirt, carry a club and go hunt herself, and while she's gone, I'll order a second plate of their delicious garlic mashed potatoes. So, should you come here? That would be an emphatic and resounding YES! That YES would be in bold if Yelp allowed for fancy text. Seriously, this place has something for everyone. From starving student to connoisseur to food snob to paleo punk to vegetarian to Kosher with a capital K. Small and quaint, relaxed atmosphere, close proximity to campus and awesome food. But, desculpe, as a friend recently said, they should probably stay open a little later to accomodate people leaving any performances at the Bass Concert Hall or elsewhere on campus, hence one star off.
(4)Angela M.
The food here is delicious. We tried a couple of the appetizers and the meat sampler for dinner, over drinks. Very warm design inside too
(4)Ace M.
I would come here a lot during my college years and on dates with my gf. It's a close drive from UT and it has a nice atmosphere. I took Portuguese classes in college and just fell in love with the culture. I ventured out and tried to explore Brazilian food. I tried the foods we discussed in class and it was phenomenal. My only complaint is that the food can get a bit dry. The beef dish I ordered was kind of tough to cut with a knife and hard to chew. Overall, I love Brazilian food, it's spices and filling portions. The prices are reasonable since it's not a churrascaria, about $12 per person.
(4)Linh N.
BF made an excellent choice for our Saturday date night! They have a variety of brazilian dishes plus tex mex. I ordered the Churrasquinho Platter which has a nice sample of chicken, sausage, pork loin, and picanha. All meats were flavorful and the picanha was cooked to my liking. The garlic rice and potatoes were out of the this world! They say you eat with your eyes first but it was love at first sniff for me. It comes with a tomato vinaigrette and brazillian breadcrumbs. The waiter informed that once you cut your meat, dip it into the vinaigrette, then roll it on to the breadcrumbs. BF ordered the Bife A Milanesa which reminded me of a brazilian chicken fried steak. Everything was delicious that night! Our waiter was very informative about the menu so if you're new to brazilian then don't be afraid to ask questions! The prices were reasonable for the portions. The only thing that was off was that the bathrooms are located in the taco place next door.
(5)Ben B.
So I can honestly say in flew to Austin from Dallas just to eat here as my flight was delayed thus I had time for lunch and not the scheduled shopping. Yelp reviews pointed me in this direction. We were dining at an odd time.... 3pm. I guess the A Crew wasn't yet because our server was not very quick nor attentive. The food was average+. Menu was pretty diverse with both Spanish and TexMex. My wife went Spanish and liked her shrimp over rice concoction. I went TexMex and had shrimp fajitas. We started with chips, salsa, and cheese dip. A bit taken back that you have to pay for the chips and salsa but... The chips were not typical. Kinda puffy, lite, and fresh. Was a different taste but yummy. My fajitas were ok. Nothing that blew me away. Maybe it was the shrimp. They were smaller than most places. Yea... I guess they were shrimpy shrimp. My wife enjoyed her dish. I tasted the leftovers and concurred. She won the best meal of the day award. Overall, above average food. Hole in the wall atmosphere. Service could improve. May have scored a 4 but the bathroom was pretty shabby.
(3)Elise D.
I really enjoyed my Bobo de Camarao dish. There was ample amounts of vegetables and shrimp tossed in this milky coconut cream sauce that is similar to Thai coconut curry. My friend had the chicken a milanesa. Let's just say he was unashamed to wipe it clean of the evidence that was given to him.
(4)Chris P.
Non-steakhouse Brazilian at it's best. The chips are crack so you better buy queso and chips here. Out of the 6 or so dishes I've tried they have ranged from above average to amazing. I'm probably the biggest fan of the Churrasquinho Platter because there's so much food, so much variety, and so much quality. For $16 this is a great deal that will leave a lot of people with leftovers. The drinks are all pretty good and the waiters/owner is good at recommending various types of cocktails for various types of meals. I usually get something when I eat here and haven't been disappointed by too weak or too poorly mixed of a drink yet. The service is also great. One of the times we went our dinner took a while to come out. So the owner comes by, apologizes, and gives us a free tres leches to split for the inconvenience. I'm always impressed by a restaurant that does right without any prompting. It also helps that their tres leches is the best I've had in Austin. My one complaint is on the weekends they hire a live band that can be way too noisy if you are at the front of the restaurant. The wait for a table in the back is never really long though so it hasn't bothered me too much.
(5)Nilesh N.
What a pleasant surprise! When my sister recommended we go to a Brazilian restaurant for my mom's b-day, my first thoughts were "protein overdose this late at night". What i failed to realize is that there are Brazilian restaurants and there are Brazilian steakhouses. This fortunately was former. The food was excellent here and it beat all my expectations. I had Brazilina Paella and it was a cornucopia of flavors that i didn't expect. If you want something more spicy i would suggest the Austin Chronicle Award winning Bobo di Camarao. To finish it off the Tres Leche hit the spot for dessert. This is my new favorite restaurant and i can't wait to go back. Now enough chit chatter about the food and time to go demolish the left overs ;)
(5)Chiqui B.
You know when you wake up in the morning and the first thing that comes to mind is that awesome dinner you had before? Yeah, that happened today. I hate to admit that I've come here on dates with two different boyfriends, but this place is sooooo cute! Love the service, love the music, and love the food. My darling little Bolinhos de Arroz (little fried rice balls), how I've missed you.
(4)Marilu C.
This place is terrible. The manager is horrid and so was our waitress. The waitress came to see if we needed anything twice in a span of over 2 hours. Maybe she was having an off day, understandable. We had to call over others to help us frequently and when we finally came around to complaining to the manager, she, in short told us that we were wrong and that specific waitress never gives her any trouble. At NO point should a manager make you feel like your criticism is unwelcome or unwarranted. Terrible. After, she asked for our numbers and names to contact us later to see about a way she could resolve the problem. Never heard from her. I can't stress enough how terrible the manager made us feel as costumers. Absolutely horrible.
(1)Tim C.
My wife and I went here minutes ago for a late lunch. I had the Bobo de Camarao and she had the Pollo Magdalena with collard greens. Usually when ordering something with shrimp, I tend to see lots of filler and not much shrimp. Not so here! It was a very balanced mix of all ingredients. I LOVED the yucca in the dish! The sauce was smooth and creamy with a overall hint of shrimp with every bite. My wife was not expecting much from "stuffed chicken breast" but, again, a great surprise when it came out as a roulade with a spectacular yet not overwhelming sauce. The greens were done perfectly! Again, typically greens are cooked to death and come out like a green slop-sponge. These were quickly cooked and came out with an excellent firmness and flavor. This will definitely be on the repeat visit list! The water smells bad but you can't blame them for that. Get tea or a soft drink.
(5)Andre E.
Great Drinks and really Good Chips and dip! The chips taste way diffrent then any i have had before
(4)Isabelle K.
Went back Sao Paulo on Sat night. The music band and candle made our dinner so romantic. I noticed the paintings on the wall are all about women's bodies. I ordered my favorite dish, shrimps in a small pumpkin. It tastes like a heaven. We also ordered churrascaria plate. I like the beef most, it's so tender. My son likes the sausage most because it's full of flavors. Guarana drinks made Matt so happy since he missed it so much after he got that in Brazil.
(5)Rebbaz R.
gf: Monterrey Combo me: beef sirloin salad with lime vinaigrette (maybe only on lunch menu?) both were awesome! prices were very fair for portions considering the great flavors and great meat! highly recommend. will be back soon.
(5)Allison F.
I have been very interested in Brazilian culture and have always wanted to try the food. I had a restaurant.com coupon for here, so the guyfriend and I decided to use it the other night. Our waitress, Isabelly was super nice. I know some places will neglect you if you use a coupon because they think you are cheap or will not tip well. Well, she was just wonderful. The coupon required that we get $35 worth of food, so we ordered 2 appetizers and 2 entrees. We had coxinha and pao de queijo for our appetizers. The coxinha are nicknamed little drummies. They are filled with chicken and are served with chipotle ranch. I could have eaten them as a meal. I got the chicken a milanesa, and he got rocambole Alexandra. Mine came with garlic mashed potatoes, which were so freaking good. The ranchero sauce on my milanesa was not that great, although the guyfriend found it satisfactory. He really liked his entree, but said it was slightly too salty. Both of our entrees came with a pao de queijo, and had I known, then I would have picked a different appetizer to try something else. But do not get me wrong, the pao de queijo are so nommy. We were so stuffed, and I even had leftovers, so we skipped on dessert. There was a live band playing when you first walk in. The atmosphere was really nice. I would recommend it for dates. Overall, I was really impressed with everything. Sao Paulo's was a great first experience with Brazilian food.
(5)Zinf A.
Stopped by for happy hour about a week ago. First off, let me just say that their happy hour is decent. The service on the other hand, was abominable at best. A friend ordered nachos and was brought quesadillas instead. It took over 10 minutes to replace them. It then took an additional 15 minutes for the waitress to bring a drink over, and the place only had 5 tables filled. On top of that, we were charged for an extra margarita and 18% gratuity (3 people at the table) which was hardly appropriate for the lackluster service. I should probably note that one of the cheese rolls contained an egg shell the size of my thumb (the single roll was replaced) and the middle-aged waitress was wearing a sleeve-less shirt and jean shorts. While I can understand that stuff like this happens, it certainly didn't make the experience any better. I don't even see the workers at McDonald's wearing mid-thigh jean shorts. It was distasteful at best. When I asked her if the 18% gratuity was mandatory, she replied that unless you were a regular customer tipping 25-30%, she would charge the gratuity. I understand it's tough being a waitress. I really do. I used to be one. But the languid pace at which she moved and her inability to even memorize the simplest orders does not warrant 18%. I encourage people to go for their happy hour and the cheese rolls. Just make sure you get seated with the blonde waitress. She's much more professional and doesn't screw up orders and then overcharges you.
(1)Leslie H.
After too long of a line for more beer at Draught House..we decided we needed some Brazilian food or the Brazilian version of tex-mex food?? Kind of interesting billing... The place is warm with orange, vibrant colors and had a live latin jazz band playing which encouraged us to stay. Ordered the coxinha which were like Cuban papas rellenas (little fried mashed potato balls with any variety of meat in the middle). Very tasty with the chipotle ranch dipping sauce. I had the bife cebolado (skirt steak with onions). I very much enjoyed this, but was really looking forward to having my steak with traditional green chimichurri sauce like the Argentines do it. I've been to other Brazilian places and that's been served with the meat or at least as an option. I asked the waiter about it and he said " oh yeah, it comes with it." Their version of chimichurri is like a spicy, chunky tomato sauce. That was kind of disappointing, but other than that...really tasty food, quick service and wonderful atmosphere with the live music.
(4)Hiya C.
I used to frequent Sao Paulo's back when I lived in the dorms and didn't have a car. It's located in the most random spot near JP's Java and Double Dave's close to north campus. It's definitely a hidden gem! My favorite thing to get here is the Pollo Magdalena, which legit looks like a sushi roll except substitute chicken for the seaweed and crab/cream cheese/spinach for the rice. It is FANTASTIC! I also like the paella and the chicken enchiladas. I usually dislike enchiladas so these ones really stand apart from the normal. It amazes me that this place is still open because there's rarely more than 2-3 tables occupied when I go. But I hope it continues to stay open because it has a perfect intimate ambiance. ALSO - happy hour is obviously amazing. Cheap flavored margs that are definitely strong!
(4)Arick W.
I know I write mostly negative reviews on places but I do it so people won't waste their money and time on these horrendous restaurants. Besides everyone already knows Torchy's Tacos in Austin rules. This place, Sao Paulo's, does not. Not even close. The Brazilian BBQ is just awful, the worst I've ever had, by a huge mile. I regrettably got the mix bbq plate. All the meat was tasteless, dry, overcooked and tiny. I couldn't tell the difference between the chicken, beef or pork. If they threw a small piece of tan bark in there I wouldn't have noticed. And what's up with serving both Tex Mex and Brazilian food? Why not sell donuts and chinese food while you're at it. Make up your mind. I noticed most of the good reviews here were from people hitting up their happy hour so I guess the food is somewhat better if you drink booze. Seriously, get super wasted first if you plan on going here to eat. It'll ease the pain. Is there any way to put negative stars on this site?
(1)Sirsha C.
im going to give this place 3 stars, more like 3.5 just for this place to exist. I mean Brazilian food other than the churrascaria is hard to get. The menu is quite representative of local Brazilian fare such as the Bahian moqueca (stew made with coconut milk), picanha (steak), bobo (another stew), coxinha (chicken croquets) and pao de queijo! The food is actually decent. The pao de queijo, the cheese bread was actually spot on. But was my Moqueca de Camarao e Peixe like the one I ate in Brazil? of course not. It was good though,quite good. except the Pirao, the porridge made with mandioca flour was not good at all - it tasted old. I loved the pirao in Brazil and ate buckets of it when I could. The paella type dish my friends ordered was overdosed with garlic it was overwhelming. The plus point is that they had a ton of veggie options, not something you're likely to find in a real Sao Paulo restaurant, but gotta love ATX for that. my big disappointment was the capirinha. I ordered it with cachaca. its supposed to be LOTS of limes muddled with LOTS of sugar and neat Cachaca. however i got a very dilute version with few limes floating in some sort of lemonadey drink. i did end up ordering a second one just so i could keep sipping on cachaca. for the less adventurous folks, the caipiroska was good too. service was quite good, attentive yet they left us alone to enjoy our meal
(3)Christopher L.
Nothing special. Salmon was overcooked.
(3)Holly A.
It is hard to believe such a find as this exists in a strip center. From the second you walk in, not only will you completely forget it is in a strip center, but you seem to forget life outside of Sao Paulo's altogether. This place has an ambiance that reaches out and grabs you, makes you sit down, savor your unique, sensual food and think about all the things you shouldn't be doing in a restaurant. The lighting, textures, music, layout and colors are exquisite. The staff is friendly and playful. Melba herself has got to be the nicest, sweetest and most genuine restaurant owner I know of. Be ready to experience places you never thought a strip center restaurant could take you ...
(5)Monica J.
After numerous attempts to follow through on a date with a good friend, we FINALLY made it happen after I got done Great Urban Racing (gonna give those guys a plug here, event was great and it's always a pleasure discovering local Austin places). After my trip to Brasil I was constantly craving Brasilian food, especially coxinha's so when i got back to Austin I almost immediately did a google search. I found this place and knew I had to get myself over here. It's sad that it took me so long to finally make a visit because this place definitely met expectations. Plus, I didn't realize it was so close to campus, I have a feeling I will definitely be back here again, if only for their coxinha's. So a quick look at the menu, and what do i see?! QUILMES!!! Well, I wasn't a big fan of this light beer while in Argentina, but seeing it back in the states always makes me so excited!!! Of course, I had to get it. I didn't have much time as I had plans to go to Lockhart for the BBQ trifecta, so we just ordered some Pao de Queijo and Coxinha. You will have noticed that I did not give this place all 5 stars despite a seemingly rave review... this is because the pao de quiejo did not really deliver. It was kind of tough and flavorless. Our waitress brought it out almost immediately after we ordered it so I have a feeling it may have been sitting out for a bit. But man oh man, those coxinha's were ahhh, perfection!!! It came with a chipotle ranch dressing but I asked them for regular hot sauce and the waitress brought me some tabasco. I couldn't bring myself to use their sauce, I had to eat it the way I did back in Rio. It's fried and perfectly crispy on the outside, but as soon as you bite into it you sink your teeth into this delicious doughiness that is not at all overwhelming, and then as you go further you find this delicious shredded chicken and cheese... add the tabasco and I went straight back onto the gorgeous beaches of Rio. I could have ordered just the coxinha and sat there for a couple of hours... ahhh. Next time i will come with more time because I would love to try their feijoada and a few other items on the menu. Thank you Sao Paulo for allowing me to go back to Rio and re-live my amazing summer, even if it was just for a little while!
(4)Mary L.
Hadn't been back here since college (over a decade ago) & just started coming back. The food's even better than I remember, and the ambience on Friday nights is great with the live jazz band playing. They have that Brazilian cheesy bread that I love, and all the dishes my friends and I have tried so far have been great.
(5)Alana M.
Maybe it was an off night, but this place was incredibly unimpressive. We had a few appetizers, entrees and drinks and none of it was anything more than ok. Our server was sweet, but like the food, nothing impressive. I wouldn't go back. I'm actually surprised by some of the rave reviews on this place, but as I wrote in the beginning, maybe it was just not the best night for Sao Paulo?
(2)Snow C.
We loved it! HUGE portions! Nice and Helpful staff! (it was our first time) Great live music! and REALLY good food! Get the combo appetizer so you can try a little of everything. I loved the jalapenos stuffed with crab meat and the Cheese rolls the best. Man, I loved those cheese rolls. I think I ate 4 or 5 of them and can't wait to go back and get more. Our entrees were all delicious but my favorite was the....dessert: flan...hmmm hmmm good. I split it with my husband but when he wasn't looking, I made sure I would take 2 bites to his 1 because i couldn't get enough. Parking is tough because it is close to Posse and Crown & Anchor but worth it. Can't wait to go back. Can't believe it took me this long to visit this place....
(5)Andrea K.
Let me break this down for you: Start with a glass of guava juice. Order the parmesan cheese rolls. Then order the bobo de camarao (shrimp, yucca in coconut sauce). Top off your evening with a slice of flourless chocolate torte cake. Let your life be changed.* *optional: -Saturday evening for gorgeous live Brazilian music -lunch time for a bit cheaper price -since the servings are huge, feel free to take some home for tomorrow's lunch -nighttime for a more intimate ambience **disclaimer: my review is based solely on the Brazilian menu, I have never ordered off of their Tex-Mex menu (because why would you want to, at a Brazilian restaurant??!)
(4)Kyle H.
We stopped in for my husband's birthday dinner, since I work on campus and we were looking for something easy and early on a Friday night with two kiddos. The place was pretty empty when we showed up around 5:10, but was filling up by the time we left. Our waiter was attentive and made good suggestions. We were happy with our entree choices, and I was even able to sneak in a birthday dessert request as a surprise for my husband. We took leftovers home, and really enjoyed the happy hour specials. A nice little gem close to campus!!
(4)Kevin G.
Eh it was okay...its not really authentic brazilian food they have mexican dishes which arent too good...the chips are good though and very different like chinese noodles.
(2)Priscila B.
I had the feijoada. I'm Brazilian so I can say that it was good, but not perfect. It's missing a little more seasoning. Moqueca, Bobó, Pao de Queijo, Coxinhas, Bolinhos (appetizer sampler) are delicious. I'm Brazilian and I can't make those things are good as they can. They need a better dessert selection. Overall, I liked it a lot.
(4)Joyce F.
easy to find. were 1 of 2 groups there for a late lunch on saturday yet the service wasn't up to par. ordered the jalapenos which i liked with all the cheese. had the pallela with shrimp that was to die for. a little bit pricey for lunch but would order it again.
(4)Lydia A.
I love Sao Paulo! The food is delicious and the drinks are outstanding! Their chips and salsa/queso are a little weird, more like wontons than traditional chips, but they are ADDICTIVE and amazing! I usually go for happy hour with my friends and have drinks and appetizers, which are always outstanding. I've never had a negative experience here!
(5)Wendy W.
Finally a nice place with mexican-ish food with a liquor license, that isn't the 4 places I already eat at. Great happy hour prices on drinks. Amazing mango froz marg (which I don't normally get into) My food was actually temperature hot (which can be a unreliable thing at some joints) Great light live jazz music (which wan't too loud or annoying in anyway. Making this place part of our regular stops!
(4)Ricardo B.
"Phenomenal!!!! Best food I've had lately. Try the estrogonofe do sul, galinhada and the bife à cebolado. Superb all of them."
(5)Shinta S.
Why didn't this place exist when I went to UT?? The food here is good. My favorite is the Brazilian Paella. My partner likes their Black Bean Stew. Order their side of collard greens to go with your meal. It is yummy! I also love their appetizers, especially the Parmesan Cheese Rolls. They are warm, springy, salty and savory. My favorite munchies.
(4)Chris R.
I'd say 4.5 stars simply because I'm never compelled to return week after week, but still a great place. I'll give credit to Sao Paulo's for having some unique class in the campus area where catering to students en masse is all you ever see. The food is quite good, savory and filling, I usually get Galinhada with shrimp, some bolihnos de aroz, and a caipirinha to sip on. It is odd that there is Tex Mex and Brazilian, but not really, both menus have many options and it is Texas after all... The atmosphere has nice low lighting, local art, and cool jazz bands on weekends. Great place for a date. As my girlfriend explains her stem cell research in dizzying nerd fashion I find myself not only absently bobbing my head to her but also to nodding in rhythm with the sick walking bass line thumping through the restaurant. I've heard complaints of the service, but I would say the few waiters I've had were great. Either the shorter guy or latina geura are superb friendly servers. Even last night our server managed a huge 20+ table while quickly checking on us and other tables, kudos to her. Bottom-Line: Great place for dates, happy hours, or just nice dining without being too fancy
(5)Alexandra C.
My review is for Taco Joint, the place next door. This place is pretty great - the food comes fast, there's a lot of options, and the food is delicious! It's close to campus so it's easy to pop over here and grab a bite. No taco is more than 4 dollars and they're slightly larger than Torchy's. They also have a nice little selection of Mexican juices and sodas, and several delicious homemade sauces. I had a breakfast taco (chorizo egg and cheese) as well as a street taco ( grilled beef with caramelized onion, cilantro, and asiago cheese with the chipotle sauce) - Enough for breakfast and lunch for only 6 bucks! Definitely give this place a try.
(4)Megha K.
I wish I could get MARRIED to one of those little Brazilian cheesy bread balls (pao de queijo) they have at Sao Paulo's! Over the years I've been such a loyal Sao Paulo's patron that, really, I may as well put a ring on it. Seriously every meal I've had here is pretty damn delicious. So much so that once a waiter was actually visibly taken aback by how quickly a girlfriend and I had "demolished" (his word, not ours) two gigantic dishes. Here are my reviews for some oft-demolished favorites: Pollo Magdalena - easily my favorite dinner here - the red tortilla-encrusted rolls of chicken breast stuffed with crabmeat, spinach, and cream cheese are mildly crispy on the outside and succulent, saucy, and meaty on the inside. They rest on a sufficiently generous bed of rice and veggies, and the mild ancho sauce adds some needed moisture to the mix. Bobo de Camarao - this is the Austin Chronicle award-winning dish, and deservedly so! A really nice amount of shrimp and yucca served in a GREAT tomato and coconut cream sauce + bell peppers/onions + rice. I'm usually sort of skittish about yucca since I think it can so often be rendered bland, but the nutty and creamy blend of flavors balances well with it in this case. Enchiladas de Chipotle - finger-licking good satisfaction! I mean, I know that with the monterey jack cheese and mild chipotle sauce this pretty much meets your usual enchilada standards + the typical rice and beans fare. But Sao Paulo's really does it well - hot, delicious cheesiness! Galinhada (Brazilian paella) - meat + jasmine rice suffused with a tasty amount of herbs and veggies - saffron, cilantro, tomatoes, and onions. Definitely hits the spot when you're hunting for some non-Spanish, but equally satisfying paella. Outside of the food, the atmosphere's great, too. Kooky modern art with romantic undertones adorns the walls, the lighting's dim, and the candles make it a very cute datey scene. The live Latin bands are pretty fab as well and really set the mood for the South American cuisine. But a tip - sit in the back if you're hoping for a conversation since it's quite loud up front. Parking can be a bit obnoxious on a busy night, so if you're near/on campus I might recommend walking it. Go! Soon! Tonight!!
(5)G Z.
The food is good, but the service is not. We ordered cheese bread, chicken and beef milanesa and a caramel flan. They were all delicious. Unfortunately, the service is terrible. The waiter rarely came to see if we were ok or needed something, but yet there were 3 male servers, all seemed to be Anglo, chatting away near the entrance. The only one there who seemed to really work, besides the cook, was the "bus boy", he seemed to be Hispanic and was the one who would check up on us, remove our dishes, bring us extra bread and request extra hot tea for us. He was the one who would go to our waiter and tell him we needed something. Yet the waiter kept talking to his friends while the bus boy brought us the items we needed. There were two men who seemed like managers or co-owners. They went to certain table to ask if they were enjoying their food; by certain, I mean they went to only the Anglo customers to ask them. He passed by us several times and didn't ask us anything. The bus boy was the only working and was the only there who seemed to enjoy the customers and his job. The restroom is way in the back; it was so-so clean, but I find that it is too close to the kitchen. When i went back there to take my son, the cook was listening to very loud and very vulgar music. I did not like that, but he was one of the few people in the restaurant who was working and the food was good, especially the cheese bread with chipotle sauce.
(2)David A.
I was amazed to find availability for a party of 8 just before the UT game a couple of weeks ago. A little tip - the street parking is restricted to one hour until 7PM. If you get there at 6pm you can have dinner and then walk to the stadium or concert hall. We started with great appetizers and then dinner. The walk to the stadium was necessary after all of the food! Sao Paulo has a mixed menu with both Tex-Mex and Brazilian entrees. I opted for the Brazilian side of the menu and the food was great. I understand the comment about service. Our wait staff was great but the hostess had a definite attitude. Didnt' take away from our overall experience, however. A good stop if you are around the UT campus.
(4)Shelly T.
The Camarao Da Vo Naica is the BEST thing I've ever ordered at a restaurant. I literally cleaned my place it was so good. My boyfriend always orders the plate with a bunch of meat on it, I forget what it's called but he loves it too. It's def our favorite place to go in Austin. The queso is pretty standard but what kills it is the chips. It's like they re-fry them or something but it's kinda gross. Other than that, I love the place!
(5)Precious W.
From what I understand this place is associated with Sao Paulo's next door, and because I didn't find a website, the phone number listed is the number for Sao Paulo's. My four stars are mainly due to the location and the price. The place is clean and cozy, and the staff were personable and helpful. I haven't been there at a peak time, but when I went my food was served promptly. If you hang out in this area a lot I would recommend giving them a try. I had some kind of pork taco at lunch and it was tasty. The breakfast tacos are also good, but I'm not a big fan of the tortillas. A little greasy. That's easy enough to fix, I would think. The insides are good, anyway.
(4)Natalie C.
The Entrees are hit and miss. Some are absolutely delicious and some are really bland. I recommend ordering off the Brazilian side of the menu, not the Tex Mex. The Brazillian Paella is delicious. All the portions are huge so considering you get two meals out of it I think this place is a deal! Also, check out the gluten-free menu - you get lots of options! Also, the happy hour is a great deal and the margaritas delicious.
(4)Pede R.
Great Brazilian food, best chipotle enchilada I've ever had, awesome variety of tropical cocktails and great ambiance on weekend nights when they have live music!!!! I always take friends there and São Paulo is always a success!
(5)Amber K.
This is one of my favorite places for a date night. It's dimly lit with lots of Brazilian art lining the walls. On a weekend night you can usually find a live band in the waiting area as well. It's the perfect little neighborhood restaurant. Having studied abroad in South America, I'm always looking for a place that can take me back to those wonderful months. Sao Paulo's does just that. The food never disappoints and they are one of the few places that carries my favorite Argentine beer. Also, definitely don't leave without having the cheese bread and their house salad. Both are to die for.
(5)Devika S.
Easily one of the best restaurants in Austin! Nice happy hour drinks and the chips and salsa are addictive. Seriously, I dare you to eat just one! I've tried almost all the Brazilian dishes on their menu and I think the black bean stew, Galinhada (Brazilian paella), and Bobo de Camarao are the best. I've never tried the TexMex dishes, so I can't comment on those at all. There are jazz musicians playing some evenings and they are really good. I am excited I recently moved walking distance from Sao Paulo's and will go back very soon!
(5)Rebecca F.
Plus: banana tots!!, interesting salsa, great atmosphere, live band, cheesy bread!, signatures in spice on every plate. I love having veg options of the main dishes, on top of a veggie section. Minus: weak margarita (or maybe I'm developing a high tolerance), long wait on a Thursday night. I prefer Mexican style tortilla chips to these fried puff flour chips, but that's just me... and it didn't stop me from eating them! The vegetarian paella was bland. Obviously it's missing some key elements, being veg, but I just wasn't that into it. Next time will try something else, but I would definitely go back!
(4)justin l.
So, while not quite tex-mex, they don't have a Brazilian option for categorizing food. Let me tell you though, this place was FANTASTIC. I went in there at about 6pm, the service was very prompt and efficient, and... Yes, they provide love in the form of a ($2.99 during happy hour 2-7 7 days a week - what a steal) passion fruit margarita. So tasty. Their happy hour also had great-looking appetizers, though I enjoyed just a heart-of-palm and cheese... dish. I'm not sure how else to describe it other than fantastic. Came served with banana-tots which are exactly what you'd picture when you think "banana-tot" and a light mustard sauce that I dipped them in and... Heaven. I'll certainly be back. Great work guys, way to take care of us up in north campus.
(5)Mandy P.
Yes, the rumors are true. The passion fruit margaritas are amazing, with or without happy hour prices. I usually steer clear of frozen ritas because 1) they're made with a mix and not too tasty and 2) because they give me brain freeze, but these are top notch. My dining companion and I split the Bobo de Camarao, which was fantastic as well. Waitstaff was helpful and the live band was just the icing on top of a wonderful dining experience. I can't wait to go back to try something else!
(4)Dawn M.
i really required a second visit to make sure the food i was served was "that good." it was truly as delicious the second visit. i tried the orange roughy for the first time ever and wow, that's some good fish. the pistachio breading was equally yummy. last time i tried the camarao da vo naica and couldn't get it out of my head. the appetizer combo is a great mini selection when you can't decide or you want to try them all out. the mojitos were quite refreshing. i do have to say this one slight negative. it did take us quite a while to get seated...we were the only ones waiting for a table in a half-empty restaurant. i know the atmosphere is laid-back but at least get us to a table, get us water and drinks and then take your time. a 10 minute wait for drinks is almost unbearable on a saturday night.
(4)Lorena W.
I went to Sao Paulo's last Saturday for Happy Hour with a few friends. We arrived around 4:30pm and the place was pretty empty. Our waitress was nice, but it took her forever to get us our drinks and chips. Not only that, but she was gone for the majority of our stay and other waiters had to tend to our table. I understand that servers get busy, but there might have been 4 other tables in the ENTIRE restaurant, and she wasn't the only server there. When we asked for our check two hours later, she didn't split it or ask to split it. Fine, we just decided to split it evenly instead of having her go back and separate our orders. Ten or fifteen minutes passed, and she hadn't come back to our table. She was busy on the other side of the restaurant with two 6 tops, so we flagged down the manager. We told her that we had been waiting a long time for the check to get picked up and that our waitress didn't perform well during our entire stay. Instead of simply apologizing and taking the check, she had the nerve to tell us that her waitress was very busy and went on defending her bad performance. Okay, I get it that managers may have a certain view about their servers, but that is no way for a manager to treat a guest. We felt very unwelcome after the manager took the check. The manager must have told the server that we had a bad experience, because before the manager returned with our check, the server came back and said, "I'm sorry, I had no idea I was so horrible"and just left. That made my friends and I feel like we had gotten her into trouble and felt extremely guilty. The manager came back and told me specifically to write my number on the receipt so that she can call me to investigate our experience further. Again, we felt terrible, so we each wrote the server a letter telling her that she wasn't horrible but that her manager made us feel unwelcome. We also tipped her 40% because we felt so bad. We decided to give the check directly to the server and apologize to her and tell her that we didn't mean to cause any trouble. The manager saw us waiting for the server and offered to take the check. I told her that we wanted to hand the server the check personally and apologize to her. She insisted that her server was extremely busy and that she would take the check. She said all of this rather rudely as well. Nearly a week later, I have not received a response from anyone in the restaurant. I had legibly written my number for the manager like she asked, and nothing. I was not looking to get a free meal or drinks from Sao Paulo's, but I was simply wanted to talk to the manager calmly and have her apologize. Yes, I wanted HER to APOLOGIZE because the customer should be treated with respect. In any business, the customer is always right, even when they're wrong. We had a terrible experience and will not be returning to Sao Paulo's due to the behavior of the manager.
(1)Courtney G.
This place has a great happy hour with decently good margarita's and great nachos. I would definitely recommend getting a table outside by the sidewalk, that way you can people watch while you eat!
(4)Erin L.
So I FINALLY made it to Sao Paulo's after the recommendations of the Yelpers and I'm so glad I did. There's only one problem...after reading all the reviews, I wanted to eat everything which never ends well. But that's a problem of my lack of self control, so yeah. We went on Thursday around 5:30, just in time for Happy Hour. They do have some amazing deals. $2.50 for a regular margarita, and $2.99 for the Passion Fruit margaritas. They are small, but misleading. They'll get you, believe you me. The Passion Fruit margarita is so delicious, you almost don't realize it has alcohol until it's too late. As my friend said, "Were the second ones stronger than the first, or is it just me?" (It was just him.) We also got a cup of queso with the unique chips. (Crispier, greasier than regular tortilla chips.) We also had a bowl of the stew for Happy Hour. (We wanted to try basically everything on the menu, so they were nice enough to give us a smaller portion. It was absolutely delicious, and I highly recommend it.) For our entrees I had the Bobo de Camarao, shrimp and yucca in a tomato cream sauce. Deliciously seasoned and it was a very generous portion. It was light and filling at the same time. Really tasty. It was a best of Austin Chronical winner and for good reason. My friend had the Rocambole Alexandra which is beef stuffed with baby shrimp. He said it had a unique flavor and ate every bite, although I'm not sure he would order it again. (We both would order the stew in a heartbeat.) All in all, a fantastic restaurant with a great happy hour and delicious food. A warning: The jazz doesn't start until 7:30, so if you're going for the music, plan on eating a little later.
(4)Rachel S.
I'd been here a few times and was never overwhelmed. The food was good but not great, and everything is painfully overpriced. My last experience will keep me from ever returning. We(a group of 6-8 people) came for lunch and arrived relatively early so we could be sure to get a table. We sat down immediately and from then on, it was like we were the forgotten table. It took a good 15 minutes just to get a waiter to take our drink order and another 15 to get a food order in. We proceeded to wait 50 minutes for food. Tables around us who arrived later got their food and were gone before our food was even served. Not worth it. If you want good Brazilian food, go to Rios.
(2)Tara M.
On my first visit I had the Lasanha Paulista (layers of eggplant, cheese and vegetables baked in mushroom marinara sauce) and it was an instant addiction. I strayed once and tried the Pistachio encrusted Orange Roughy w/ Pineapple Salsa - also very yummy. I have yet to try anything else as I am mostly monogamous once I find a true love..
(5)Mia M.
I love this place! I've been here about 5 times and each time try something different and I am never disappointed. I love the bife a cebolado and the vegetable lasagna! The pao do queijo is pretty good too. The staff is always really nice. Sometimes they may be a little slow but that doesn't make me want to give them 1 less star! I still really like this place for some reason. Maybe it's because my boyfriend is from Brazil?? I don't know, but give it a shot. Try the quilmes beer from Argentina...light and refreshing. The chicken stroganoff is very similar to what I had in Brazil as well, have it with a caipirinha and you'll feel like you're in Sao Paulo!
(5)Madelyn R.
We visited Sao Paulo's again (my second time) to take advantage of their awesome SXSW deal of 1/2 price Feijoada. Our experience was absolutely horrible. The server had no idea about the 1/2 price deal (even though there were fliers at the front of the restaurant, which we had to go get to show him what the heck we were talking about). Once he took our order it took almost an hour to bring out the queso that we ordered as an appetizer. At that point we almost told him to forget about it. It was, however, extremely delicious. It took another 30 or so minutes to get our food. I have been to Sao Paulo's once before and I was with a friend who has been going for years. The standard portion of Feijoada is a good-sized bowl with a plate of rice and collared greens. Two of us ordered no collared greens and were brought the standard bowl size of Feijoada. Another friend ordered the Feijoada just as it comes and was served half the portion. When we asked about it they made up some crap about how they decided to give the two of us extra Feijoada since we didn't have collared greens and then they changed their story to say something about the portion size changing for the SXSW deal. It was all a bunch of BS if you ask me. After all of that they charged the two of us who asked for no collared greens an extra $1 for substitutions. The whole experience left me feeling really frustrated. The food was still really delicious, so I might give them another chance once I cool off. Hopefully they can redeem themselves. They did give us free dessert to try to compensate, but for me it was too little too late.
(2)Matt S.
My first attempt at a Brazilian restaurant that wasn't a "churrascaria " and I wasn't disappointed. We ordered 2 dishes.. The Camarao da Vo Naica and the Feijoada. The first one was simply fantastic in terms of taste, presentation and price. It was a mix of shrimp, garlic, oil, cheese and tomato served in a really cool baked pumpkin for only $15. It looked and tasted great. The other dish, the Feijoada, was a stew of black beans, sausage, pork and beef. Not as good as the first one, but good for about $10. Tried a Brazilian soda called "Guarana" that tasted like an apple cream soda, very unique. The atmosphere was nice, peppy Brazilian music in the background. Servers were very nice and informative.. I can see why this place gets high marks.
(4)Therese A.
When I have had a stressful week and am looking foward to happy hour, Sao Paulo's is often my first choice. They have amazingly cheap (and good!) drinks during their happy hour. Since it is busy at that time, service isn't always stellar but never bad enough to keep me away. But I also sometimes go just for the food which is equally good. The Bobo de Camarao is extremely tasty and never disappoints.
(4)Nibbler ..
Great food with plenty of vegetarian options. Generally good friendly service. The only reason it doesn't get 5 stars is the drinks are a little pricey (but good, try the calpirinia) and the bathroom was pretty gross the last couple of times. You expect that at the Posse but not at real Restaurant.
(4)Randall S.
Not bad, but not one of the best. They make decent sandwiches and strong margaritas. The yuca is pretty good too.
(3)Kirsha D.
I've been a few times now and I find that they are very consistent. The portions are huge and the service is friendly. However, I could stand for smaller portions and in return a few dollars off the lunch entrees, simply so that I could fit into my weekly budget and visit more often.
(4)piper b.
it's been years and i think a remodeling or two since i've been to sao paulo, but we went there for dinner last night with a couple of friends. the restaurant was pretty empty for 7:00, even though it was a tuesday, but i'm speculating that with school not yet back in session, the campus scene is a little sleepy right now. our server greeted us promptly and offered happy hour drink specials even though it was 6:59, which i thought was fantastic (a stark contrast to other establishments who don't mention their happy hours and even balk when you try to order something close to the cut-off time). she recommended the sampler platter for our appetizer since we were all rather indecisive, and that was a great call because everything on it was fabulous. i had the moqueca bahiana with salmon and it was superb. very flavorful but not overpowering, a huge portion, delicious. the others had paella and the churrasquino platter (for 2) and commended those dishes as well, even though i was too full to taste anyone else's. the drinks are tasty and strong-but-not-too-strong. the prices are moderate and reasonable, especially considering the portion sizes. our server let us hang out at our table for almost 3 hours, which is a rarity that i really appreciated. all in all, i look forward to many more experiences at this re-discovered treasure in our 'hood.
(4)Larry K.
This is just on the North side of the campus area, in a retail center that was probably built in the 40's ?? Bricked and unassuming and the atmosphere in the restaurant was relaxed. First I would like to say that to me the decor and what's on the walls falls far short and ranks third to the quality of the food & service provided. With that said my date had the Bobo de Camarao (Best of chronicle winner) , which is shrimp and yucca tossed with onions and bell peppers in a tomato coconut cream sauce, served with saffron steamed rice. She thought it was excellent. I had the Moqueca Bahiana, which was a salmon filet crispy fried and then covered with sauteed tomatoes, onions, peppers & cilantro in a coconut cream sauce. Served with saffron steamed rice and yucca porridge. Mine was excellent as well and I don't how it could have been made any better. The creme brulee was a nice ending to a great meal. If you went with these choices I don't think you will be dissapointed. My first venture with Brazilian cuisine and I will definitely be back to Sao Paulo's.
(5)Lauren G.
The happy hour here is great! Frozen margaritas are $2.50 for regular, $3.99 for flavored. Appetizers are cheap and tasty. Yucca with queso, chips and salsa, nachos, quesadillas, and jalapeno strips are on the HH menu. It's a small restaurant and the artwork on the walls is beautiful. You can buy it, for a price, but its expensive. For dinner, I would choose some of the traditional Brazilian food. The only thing I've had that leaves something to be desired is the enchiladas verde, from the Tex Mex menu. They were too dry and tasteless. Otherwise, everything is tasty.
(4)Lauren C.
Lovely place! Has an interesting mix of Tex-mex and Brazilian dishes, plus plenty of veggie options. My advice: go for dinner on a Friday or Saturday for the live music. Order the chips and queso--obviously not authentic Brazilian food, but the chips are AMAZING. Then, indulge in a Brazilian entree. I recommend the Camarao da Vo Naica--muito delicioso! Enjoy the spicy atmosphere! This is an excellent place for a date ;)
(4)Jessica E.
We called about 20 min in advance to reserve a table for 7. We were promptly seated when we arrived. The dinner rush was over on Saturday at 9pm. It's nice that they are open until 10:30. Service was excellent. We started with the combo plate and the chips and queso/salsa. I wasn't too impressed with the combo plate. Within the combo plate, the stuffed jalapenos was my favorite, it had a kick. The rest of the items were also fried and didn't really have a unique flavor to me. The chips were tasty, made of wontons and queso was delish. Salsa had a smokey flavor which complemented the queso. For drinks, you must order the caipirinha! Entrees came around and I was already getting satisfied from the apps. I ordered the Rocambole Alexandra: "Beef Sirloin Roulade stuffed with sauteed baby shrimp, catupiry cheese and dusted with bread crumbs and served with mushroom Porto sauce." The presentation of the dish was excellent and the taste was spot on. Someone else ordered the Pollo Magdalena which was also fantastic. My hubs ordered the Bobo de Camarao which he enjoyed. I tried it and wasn't fond of it but then again, I'm not a fan of yucca or coconut cream sauce. Oh and since we were celebrating a birthday, one dessert was free which we shared. The flan was heavier on the cream cheese side so it had a thicker texture. All in all I say this place is an excellent fusion of TexMex and Brazillian and was a nice change from the typical food offered in most other restaurants. I appreciate the creative presentation as well.
(4)Alex H.
This place is okay, but the culinary skill doesn't live up to the price, or the cuisine they are trying to serve. They do serve a giant burrito for $8, but the flavors didn't speak to me. It was bland. I can't recall anything particular about the meal, which probably means it wasn't special. In all fairness I only went there for lunch, and I didn't order any of their specialty items. Maybe I'll be back to update the review based on this. The brevity of my review is an indication of it's lackluster meal. I did enjoy the pan de queso. They're soft, chewy and warm, with the right amount of cheese. In the future, I'll probably just place an order of these to go. It's the only thing that really sticks in my memory about Sao Paulo's.
(2)Rebecca L.
Recent trips to Sao Paulos for HH has made me decide to update my review. Their frozen margs are $2.50 or something during HH, and this makes me happy. You can add flavors for $0.50 or something like that. Anyway, it's easy for me to get carried away with such cheap, delicious drinks, so I order their artery-clogging queso and chips to soak up the alcohol. Just keep the chips coming because I plan on drinking a lot.
(4)Jin X.
food is good. juice only looked charming. didn't see live music
(4)Mason J.
Austin getaway with the wife..place was ok. Food was kinda bland but it was decent
(3)Julie S.
Sao Paolo is one of Austin's best kept secrets. This tiny little restaurant, tucked in a strip mall between a bike shop and a mini-mart seems totally unassuming at first. You probably won't even realize it's there or, if you do, you probably think it's some weird hole-in-the-wall dive. Let me assure you, this little gem is amazing and you should definitely give it a try. Candlelight at the tables, big comfy booths, live music, fantastic service - and there is never anyone there! I almost debated writing this review in the first place since I don't really want to spread the word about how great this place is. Oh well, Yelp...you win this round. I can't remember the first time I went to SP, but it was probably when I was in college. We were always looking for great places to go within walking distance of the UT Campus and had just about had it with Chipotle and Kerbey Lane. Sao Paolo was next on the list and so we gave it a shot. The prices were actually pretty college friendly ($8-15 for a plate) and the menu has something for everyone. If you aren't into adventurous Brazilian dishes (shame on you!), you can try something off of the Tex-Mex menu. The enchiladas are cheesy and spiced perfectly. I think it can easily compare to other popular Mexican places in the city. I have to recommend the Pollo Magdalena. It is to die for! Little crispy morsels of goodness packed with cream cheese, crab meat, spinach, and other awesomeness. Also, I have had the Beef Milanese, but wasn't too impressed. It was standard. The Pollo Magdalena is hard to beat. For something healthy, try the grilled salmon/avocado dish (cannot remember the name). It comes with some rice and a little cheesey biscuit (as do most of their meals). The paella is great too - huge portion. Can you tell I have been here a lot? :) The reason I keep coming back is the chips and queso. The chips are amazing. Unlike anything I have tried in another restaurant. They are almost like flaky, crispy pastries with the perfect amount of salt. The queso isn't anything special, but the chips make up for it. I could eat basket after basket. Seriously. The caipirinhas are pretty great, as well. Almost like a cross between a mojito and an on-the-rocks margarita. Very strong - they pack a punch! Go during HH for cheaper drinks and appetizers. Then, stay for dinner. Thank me later.
(4)kelly c.
My first 5-stars on yelp! yelped "happy hour on campus" with jessica m. she immediately declared sao paulo the one, but i had to make sure the deals were deep. the phrase "dirt cheap happy hour" was enough to convince me. $6.50 mexican martinis. the server was more than happy to accomodate our request of the drink sans olive and served with two rocks glasses with salt instead of martini glasses. i still don't understand the concept of the mexican martini: if its a martini, you shouldn't be chuggin that shit right? so then the other half of ur drink is just sitting there in the shaker getting waterd down? wtf? the atmosphere was great - quiet and quaint. chips and salsa (added queso for only $.50) unique and delicious. they are worth the $2.50. they split the Pollo Madgalena n 2 plates for us. they charge $1 to split entrees but its totally worth it as each plate has a lil more rice n veggies. extra points for the short-haired girls in the corner booth. no complaints about sao paulo's; everything was right on!
(5)Christine A.
Sao Paulo was not exactly what I expected. I was planning on a little Brazilian mini feast but was confused by the menu which featured quesadillas, hamburgers and other non-Brazilian food items causing me to flip the menu cover over to see if I was really at Sao Paulo. I was. Okay. I can roll with it. After speaking with the very nice waiter sporting some interesting bug tattoos, I decided to go a la carte and had a cheese enchilada, black beans and collard greens (his recommendation). Yes, I know, this sounds like a Mexican-Brazilian-Soul Food lunch rather than strictly Brazilian. Whatever you want to call it--it was damn good. I LOVED the collard greens cooked in vegetable broth and sesame oil with grilled onions and tomatoes. And, finally, black beans that are perfectly seasoned. The cheese enchilada was tasty too. All of this plus iced tea and gratuity for $12.00. I predict more meals for me at Sao Paulo in the near future.
(4)Rouzhna N.
I went to this place for a friend's birthday during their happy hour. I absolutely loved the food and the only reason I am not giving five stars is because of the service and drinks. We ordered some frozen margaritas, not very good and expensive. When the server brought our checks we noticed that they were priced a lot higher than noted on the menu. So we asked her about it and she said "Oh ya, the menu has the wrong price on it." WHAT?! so....why dont you guys change the price on the menu (I think that's a pretty basic rule for restaurants: menu price=price you actually have to pay). AND the server was so rude and stuck up. For appetizers we had Pao De Queijo (cheese bread balls) and queso. The pao de queijo were a bit dry and hard to bite into, but not too bad. The queso comes with fried chips, BUT the chips taste so different. I have no idea what they are made of but they're puffy and super crunchy. BUT the entrees are absolutely amazing! I ordered the Estrogonofe do Sul, which is filled with your choice of chicken or beef sirloin and mushrooms, cilantro, and the most awesome creamy sauce. The portions are also huge! My friends had Bife A Milanesa (Brazilian version of chicken fried steak?), but the winner was the Galinhada (which is Brazilian paella). This thing was huge and delicious. She got it with shrimp and they gave her plenty of it (most restaurants give 5 shrimps...). I took the rest of my meal home and after I heated it up, it still tasted yummy! They just need to work on their drink menu and service.
(4)Amanda S.
My friend took me here for my birthday dinner. It was AMAZING! Sao Paulo's has an incredible balance of flavor, atmosphere, drinks, and music. The white wine sangria and the appetizer sampler was the perfect way to start off our meal, and then followed by the main courses, which we shared. Our waiter, Charles, was a delight as well. I am looking forward to sharing this place with many others in the future.
(5)Amber D.
Yum! It has crazy chips, I think they're flour instead of corn? Either way, the chips are bizarre and I like 'em (I'm a notorious chips-n-salsa fan). They have a dirt cheap happy hour, and loads of specialty cocktails and margaritas (mostly fruity margaritas - but there's a few other choices mixed in). The food is pretty nice, but if you avoid dairy like I do, you may find yourself severely limited. Certain nights they have live bands (mostly instrumental, jazzy stuff), and that really adds to the feel.
(3)Sujata G.
This place is a bit pricey for being so close to campus... My favorite thing here is their appetizer combo platter. It's great for two and is quite filling... The other things on their menu are not as noteworthy, in my opinion, and I don't think they're really worth the money.... The ambiance is nice... service is OKAY (once it took like 10 minutes for someone to realize that we were standing in the front waiting to be seated) AND we've had a glass of water knocked over by the waitress (But the manager was kind enough to give us dessert on the house) Honestly, I like to come here for a small dinner where my boyfriend and I fill up on those delicious appetizers. Each one is incredibly delicious and flavorful.
(3)Jacob R.
We ended up going here to try some Brazilian food that isn't served on giant swords at all you can eat portions... but ended up finding that it is more of a Brazilian tex-mex hybrid. The margaritas and Brazilian caipirinhia (similar to a mojito but lime not mint) were both good drinks and decent prices during happy hour. The coxinho appetizer and chips and salsa were also nice. they use the fried dough version of chips instead of the corn style, I loved that fried dough chip. entrees were actually a bit under expectations. Strangely everyone order tex-mex entree despite the fact that we choose this place to try some Brazilian. Everyone tended to agree while the food was fine, it was nothing special. more importantly, we all agreed our food seemed to be under spiced and lacking deep flavor or spiciness. With alittle salt, pepper, salsa, and hot sauce it was better.
(3)Robin S.
I gotta get back on the review train. Sao Paulo had a gas leak last week, according to the waiter with the thick (if feigned) accent when we arrived on Thursday. Nevermind, as they still had managed some way to make the acclaimed Bobo De Camaro, black bean stew and salads, which were enough for me and the lucky man who was paying for my dinner (thanks hubby). To say we fought over the last bite of Bobo would be an overstatement, but lets just say that lucky man did not *ask* who wanted the damn spanking good last bite of that deliciousness... The chicken salad was just ok.The tortillas on it were kinda stale. We sat outside, so I can't say much for the atmosphere, except that it was too cold to sit in. Minus one star b/c our waitress was a little cloying. Plus one star becuase they let me keep the small dog with me on the patio equals..... four stars. p.s good mojitos though not as good as sampaio.
(4)Bo Y.
Very cute and romantic little Brazilian restaurant. The food is intricately presented and it tastes amazing. There's live music on weekends and the entire setting is romantic in dim lighting. Not really any drink specials, but I go to primarily eat delicious food. I didn't give it 5 stars because it is a bit pricey. My bill is always over $50 every time I take a date. Dishes are $15-$20, plus 2 drinks, $50 flows out like water. But then again, I'm grateful because I'm always happy to have spent that $50. It's always a treat to go here.
(4)Sebastian G.
Sao Paulo's? More like Wow Paulo's! Went here based on a friend's recommendation and all the excellent reviews and pictures on Yelp, and wasn't disappointed. When you enter, there's a stage to the right and the bar and dining room to the left. The decor was nice and festive and the place looks very clean. There's a bunch of seats at the bar, which has a TV (which looks very out of place). We did notice that there were some lights out and damaged fixtures which need tending to and it looked like the crumbs and mess from the previous diners were brushed off onto our seats. Not a big deal. We were excited about the food. Not having had Brazilian before, my gf and I were a little intimidated, so we relied on our waiter for help. Our waiter was extremely helpful answering our questions, translating and making recommendations. He made our experience less intimidating and more relaxing. Like a good waiter should, he knew all the dishes on the menu, and was even able to describe and recommend the different Brazilian beers. (The Xingu black beer he recommended was very nice!) Appetizers: they all sound amazing, but our server recommended any of the 3 real Brazilian appetizers: Coxinha, Bolinho De Arroz and the Pao De Queijo. We were tempted to get the Pao De Queijo, parmesan cheese rolls, but our server told us that they come with every Brazilian entree, so we wouldn't miss out if we got one of the other 2. So, we went with the Bolinho De Arroz, 6 cheese-filled rice balls from Heaven. I've had Italian rice balls, which, in comparison, are heavy and eggy. These are really light and parmesan cheese crusted instead of bread crumb crusted. Delicious! Mains: There is a really nice selection of fish, meat, chicken and vegetarian dishes on the Brazilian menu, but it is not a huge, intimidating list. I was torn between 2 fish dishes; the Moqueca Bahiana and the Peixe com Abacaxi. According to our waiter, these were customer favorites, and since I wanted spicy to go for the Moqueca Bahiana. My gf was a little less adventurous and got the Bife A Milanesa (her Trudy's favorite). With the Moqueca Bahiana you have a choice of tilapia or salmon. I'm not a fan of salmon in sauces, so I got the tilapia which I think went very nicely with the coconut cream sauce. The yucca porridge side was great. It was an amazing combination of flavors that I can't describe. The Bife A Milanesa is very different than Trudy's. The steak has a lighter breading and comes with a lighter, ranchero-style sauce, which my gf loved. It came with super-tasty garlic mashed potatoes and mixed vegetables. Both dishes came with the parmesan cheese rolls, which did not disappoint. They were nice and crispy on the outside, and had a surprising texture on the inside, kind of like steamed buns. Very nice! The portions are large, so be prepared to take some food home. They also have a Tex-Mex menu, which confused me. Why would anyone go to a Brazilian restaurant to order Tex-Mex? I suppose it for those many "native Texans" I've met since moving here that only eat "American" food; you know pizza, burgers and tacos. Anyway, we are now fans and can't wait to work our way through the rest of the menu!
(4)Caitlin C.
I only found out about this place because I got a $15 off coupon in the mail and I am so glad that I did. Me and my boyfriend LOVED the food that we got here. The Queso- tasty, but mediocre. I enjoyed eating it and the chips were unique, but I have had better. My boyfriend got the Brazilian Steak dish (I forgot the name I apologize)- absolutely delicious!! Meat was cooked right and the sauce on top was tasty and the mashed potatoes were to die for. He also got a mojito and really enjoyed it. I got the stroganoff and I have never had a stroganoff that good. They did not give me too much rice and the meat/other ingredient to sauce ratio was perfect. They also made a really pretty decoration with some spices on the side of my pate. I will absolutely be returning to this restaurant.
(4)Nic M.
Great food warm atmosphere good service. The bobo de camarao was excellent. The fruit juice is refreshing, but not fresh. The chips aren't tortilla chips, so expect them to be greasier than normal.
(5)Susan T.
I travel to Austin for work a couple of times a year and because I love BBQ, we tend to overdose on it without leaving room for trying other things. I was glad that we went for something different. Sao Paulo's paella was really really yummy. I don't think most people go there for their paella. There's no shortage of other good dishes according to my colleagues. I'm a rice fan, so any chance to eat a rice dish of any ethnic origin, that would be my first choice. Brazilian paella is dryer than typical Spanish paella, but I think has more flavor and depth. Either that or I've had very mediocre paella. I've had paella in Spain and numerous other places. I like it, but I don't love it. I loved this dish at Sao Paulo. As a bonus, their sangria was so scrumptious. I could've had more than one glass, but it was a work dinner, so being drunk off my ass in front of my boss wouldn't have been cute. Portions were HUGE. I am a healthy eater, but I could only finish half of the paella. It didn't help that I downed a ton of the chips and queso prior to the main entree. That stuff was so addictive. The only item I would recommend against was the cheese ball that everyone raves about. It tasted like a badly done fried mozzarella cheese stick. Very rubbery and tasteless. Not worth the calorie intake. Save it for the queso and chips. Definitely would come back here again...when in town.
(4)James A.
I visited on Saturday with a couple of friends to see what Sao Paulo's was all about. I was very impressed with the food - I had "bife a cebolado" and the portion was huge! The accompanying rice was good too with a nice mix of vegetables in it. I could take or leave the fried yucca (perhaps it's an acquired taste). The cheese-bread was tasty too. I don't give Sao Paulo five stars because of the very dim lighting, not helped by the overcast skies that day and limited parking options. Still, the server was very chatty and friendly without being overbearing at all.
(4)Regan H.
Best tortilla chips I've ever had. They're actually fried wontons, to let you in on a secret, but they go perfectly with salsa and queso. Try them! Chips & queso are $3.50 during happy hour.
(4)Tiff T.
Sao Paulo's is a 3.25 for me: I might come back, but mostly for the drinks during happy hour. The cheese rolls are terrible compared to the freshly baked ones at Estancia. Instead of being warm, soft, and chewy, the ones an Sao Paulo's are brick-like and cold. Eww. I really enjoyed the jalapeno strips: huge basket of fried jalapenos with a ranchy dip ($4 during happy hour). The chips and salsa are awesome, too. I think I could drink a bowl of their salsa if I tried. The other appetizer we got was the yucca with queso. I was expecting more of a queso dip, not fried yucca with shredded cheese on it. It did taste pretty good, but it reminded us of KFC potato wedges. We also got the two-person Churrasquinho Platter ($28.95) for a group of four, but I don't think I'd ever, ever order this again. The meat was well-flavored, but the beef was definitely overcooked. (Note to self: go back to Estancia for this kind of fare.) They give you a ton of farofa, which is powdered yucca used for seasoning the meat, but there's no way you'd ever use it all unless you snorted it or something. To end this review on a positive note, the drinks are the reason to come back to this place. I had a mango margarita ($2.99 during happy hour) and a maracuja (a.k.a., passion fruit) margarita (also $2.99 during happy hour), both of which were AWESOME. (They deserve the word "awesome" in all caps.) They are relatively strong, which is probably why they come in little servings. The verdict: I may come back to Sao Paulo for the drinks, but parking on the street can get difficult with Posse East and Crown & Anchor being neighbors. And the food hasn't utterly impressed me just yet.
(3)mark s.
Just had dinner at this great fund.place is casual and plays great jazz but the food rocks.My wife had the black bean stew and I had the shrimp in yucca sauce and both were excellent and were winners.Plan to be a regular at this downtown haunt.
(5)Alicia W.
Their vegetarian lasagna is seriously, seriously good. Comforting and cheesy and delicious. I've come here many times and never felt a desire to order anything else, it's just that wonderful.
(4)S H L.
This place really surprised me (and I mean it in the best way possible) ! The place has a good variety of Brazilian and Tex-Mex foods and the atmosphere is lovely especially when the music band is playing during dinner. The salmon + peppers and yucca with cream sauce is absolutely delicious! The portion size isn't bad but it is a bit pricey ($15/person on average).
(4)Lola L.
The happy hour is amazing and the quality of the margaritas (frozen) and appetizers is sublime. My friend got the mixed green salad with carmalized pecans, goat cheese, tomatoes, and a lime dressing. DELISH. Will definitely be coming back for more.
(4)Jessica G.
Ever since we moved into our new apartment right down the street from this place, my roommates and I have been dying to try it. So we decided that we should go for my birthday dinner a few nights ago, and absolutely fell in love with it! The food was really unique and flavorful; the portions were so large, we took home three boxes of leftovers. We ordered the queso, stuffed jalapenos, Strogonoff, and El Burro Grande. The Strogonoff was by far the table favorite, although everything else was really delicious.... they even have their own house fried chips for the queso. We ended the meal with a free (and enormous) slice of Tres Leches cake for the occasion. Yum. A word of warning to the weak of tounge- the stuffed jalapenos were a bit too spicy for me, but my roommates both enjoyed them. Our waiter was super friendly and helpful, not even thinking twice about bringing three extra plates and forks for our family style dinner, and was very attentive and polite. The atmosphere is very warm and dark, and would probably make a good place to take a date. Overall, we had a very good experience here, it was a little pricey, but definitely worth it if you're looking for a treat!
(5)Quani C.
After living in Austin for almost two years, I finally ventured here this past week. I've heard nothing but good things, and I can't believe I didn't visit sooner. First of all, there's a Yelp sticker on the door as you walk in, saying how much we Yelpers love them. And now I know why. I didn't get much of a chance to check out the inside of the place, it was a beautiful evening so Chewy and I decided to sit outside. She was gushing about the wonton-like chips, so we started off with an order of chips and salsa. Boy, was she ever right...delicious! For our shared meal, we opted for nachos (made with the same fabulous chips) with shrimp on them. I'm not much of a seafood person, but the shrimp was prepared just right! It smelled pretty fishy, though, but everything turned out okay. I also had a mango margarita and it turned out to be a perfect balance of flavors. Our waitress was in training, and she is going to be an asset to this place, I can already tell. The guy she was supposed to be shadowing didn't even come to our table once. I hope she got to keep the tip and not him! Everything seemed fairly priced, as well, which is always a plus...especially with as much as I don't eat at home! I'll definately be coming back again...and hopefully soon!
(4)Alberto N.
The 2nd day after I turned 21 I learned two valuable lessons at Sao Paolo's: It's really easy to have 10 too many at happy hour, and you have to pay for those ten too many at the end. Guess I had never really paid for any alcoholic beverage before since they were all at parties or some college blah blah, but man I was floored when my bill was more than $20 . That being said, I have gone back many times to that happy hour and for dinner, and I have realized that $20 dollars is definitely a steal for what you get. The Bobo de Camarao is slamtastic, the Feijoada (black bean stew) is never a bad choice, and those damn wonton chips. I hate to quote horrible catch phrases from bad 90's advertising, but I "Bet 'cha can't eat just one." The drinks are good, the food is always consistent, the restaurant always looks good and has great art on the walls, and the staff is friendly and attentive. Go get your slice of Brazil today, you won't be disappointed.
(5)Izzy M.
This location use to be a terrible Chinese place back in the day... I got really sick. But that terrible memory has been replaced with the memory of wonderful South American food! I love the beef dish with the carmelized onions. yum yum! Fried yucca is sooooo good! I also had one of their soups the other night. It was close to a tortilla soup and was very flavorful! Also, if you every try the salad with fruit, it is amazing! Restaurant Inspection Scores: Sao Paulo's Restaurate 2809 SAN JACINTO BLVD AUSTIN 78705 11/24/2009 78 Sao Paulo's Restaurate 2809 SAN JACINTO BLVD AUSTIN 78705 11/20/2008 81 Sao Paulo's Restaurate 2809 SAN JACINTO BLVD AUSTIN 78705 04/11/2008 79 Sao Paulo's Restaurate 2809 SAN JACINTO BLVD AUSTIN 78705 08/15/2007 89
(4)Daphney B.
A UT alumna wanted to show me around campus, and since I love Brazilian food this was perfect. Happy hour was decently priced and I liked my drink. The server forgot out appetizer cheese rolls. I was very sad that the Rocambole Alexandra made me sick-really sick. We had to leave and didn't get a chance to try dessert. I will return, but it will take some time. I will update as soon as I do.
(1)Jaye B.
How is it that I never knew about this place? And how is it that I've never had Brazillian food until now? Or a Caipirinha? A group of us went on a Friday night, had a bit of a wait with awesome cocktails and a duet of bass and sax. The atmosphere is comfortable and inviting. The food is outstanding (though like others, I don't love the chips). I tried the Salmon on tomatoes, mushrooms and basil and it didn't disappoint. I'm sometimes skeptical of salmon in restaurants since it can get overcooked fast. This was absolutely perfect though. I also sampled my friend's chicken that was stuffed with crabmeat and cheese. I'm getting that next. I had a bite of someone's shrimp (the one that won Best of Austin) and it was one of the best preparations of shrimp I've ever had. I also sampled someone's fish that was great and a bit on the sweet side. I can't wait to come back to Sao Paulo's! It was a perfect night with a group of perfect company, great food, music and drinks. Well done Sao Paulo!
(5)Tee D.
After the Seinfeld show last weekend, a group of us were searching for a place to eat near campus. Enter: Sao Paolo. This was my second visit to Sao Paolo; the first was so long ago that I don't remember much about the meal at all. So, I have a really good recollection of my meal this time. Lucky for you! We started with the queso con mambo (guac and ground meat) and the sampler plate. The first batch of chips they brought out with the queso hadn't been fried long enough, so they were chewy and gummy. They brought us a new batch of chips, and these were so good! The queso was super; I'd have to say it's some of the better queso I've had around Austin. For my entree, I ordered the Moqueca Bahiana with Tilapia (in a creamy tomato coconout sauce). It was delicious; however, I wasn't a big fan of the yucca porridge that came with the dish. It tasted like... tomato-flavored mashed potatoes. Meh. I ordered a guava margarita with my meal, which was recommended by the server. It was tangy and refreshing, but it was not my first choice. They were out of the mango margaritas. I love the overall vibe of this place. It's a pretty chill, unpretentious place to have a yummy dinner, and on the night we went, they had live music as well. Yum's up!
(4)Jarrett R.
Last night the gang got together for little S.'s birthday at Sao Paulo's. I have to be honest, I must be living under a rock because I've never even heard of this place. Of course I've driven past it probably hundreds of times, but from the outside it looks like a coffee shop / diner circa 1962. Probably another reason why I didn't know about the place was due to the typical parking debacle that one is faced with when attempting to go to any business that is located near UT. I have to say, I was very impressed with the place. The service was fantastic and for a place that specializes in Brazilian food they sure did rock my face off on the Tex-Mex tip. I challenge you to order the Tejano combo. You'll find your self going WTF Tex-Mex restaurants? Do you know that the Brazilians are kicking your ass when it comes to making cheese enchiladas! What's next? Are the Brazilians gonna kick your ass at soccer too?
(4)W L.
I love this place so much. Everyone go! One of my favorite places to eat in Austin and it is priced really well. I ordered the lasagna that was under the vegetarian menu. All I can honestly say about it is.. OH MY GOD! SOO DELICIOUS. I could eat it every week, and I think I just might. It comes out in this big ramekin covered in cheese and it is in this delicious sauce that came from all the veggies when it was baked. All of the dishes come out with this little cheese roll and it was good for soaking up all the sauce in the dish :) we asked for more -it was to yummy and our waiter gave us a couple more (free of charge!) They take reservations, which is really good because it is packed on the weekends.
(5)Deborah M.
I love the food here! I've been coming for years, it's in the neighborhood. I recently went for my B'day. What I don't love is the service. It's just never been great. We waited for our drinks for 10-15 minutes. I seriously almost got up and got them myself because they were sitting on the bar for a while. 3 girls and two of us got our dinners while one had to wait another 3-5 minutes for her dish. I think I would come more often if the service was better.
(3)Tracy W.
very delish!! I had an amazing steak dish. I loved that they take reservations. Their chips and salsa were awesome. Would reccomend to all
(4)Heidi D.
My first time trying Brazilian food! I didn't get too adventurous and just went with the galinhada (Brazilian paella) but it was yummy. The portions were generous, the food looked gorgeous, and the paella came out with plenty of vegetables and flavors to make it an interesting dish. The place wasn't too crowded when we went (Saturday evening during a home game) but the parking was very un-fun. They had a band playing and it added a nice little ambiance to the place. Overall, I'd do it all over again.
(4)Mary Beth H.
I used to live very close to Sao Paulo's and was a frequent customer there. I love the food and the drinks. It's got both a Brazilian and a Mexican menu, and some other items thrown in that don't really fit in either category. If you want an early dinner, the happy hour is awesome. I recommend trying the basil mojito. It's seriously tasty. They also make good margaritas, but I'm just not a margarita kind of girl. I love their banana tots, their cheese rolls, the cheese rice balls, the tomato, mozzarella and basil salad, and a vegetarian dish involving hearts of palm. Despite the tasty main dishes, I tend to get a bunch of appetizers. However, my dinner companions have ordered extensively off both the Mexican and Brazilian menu and are generally happy with both. I can't recall anyone ever getting anything they didn't like and I've enjoyed every entree I've tried. Warning: they serve super extra fried chips with the queso. Not normal tortilla chips at all, more like those crunch fried things at Chinese restaurants. Their queso is good, but I feel like this adds a whole extra layer of unhealthiness to an already seriously horrible for you dish. Tasty though. Another thing to be aware of is that the stupid metal awning over their outdoor seating ensures that it is bakingly hot to sit outside even when it isn't that hot out. Just walking by the place you feel the heat radiating off of that awning and the sidewalk. In the past, the downside of Sao Paulo's was extremely inconsistent service, so much so that a couple of times a few years back, I tried to go to dinner and left before ordering because the wait staff was so interminably slow. However, in the past two years or so, they've been consistently speedy, so they seem to have worked past this problem. If you gave up hope on this place based on past experiences, I'd say give it another go. Oh, one more thing. They also have a Brazilian soda which is awesome. A childhood friend of mine was from Brazil and I hadn't seen the soda anyplace other than his house growing up, so it brought back memories.
(4)Rob R.
Excellent food. Ordered a combo with sausage, pork, chicken, and steak. Steak was ok. Other items were delicious. Great salsa. Interesting chips. Somewhat oily and puffy and I ate far too many. Ambiance is mediocre. Very dark. Bathrooms are, well, a bit odd and could be far cleaner. Will return for the food and music for sure.
(4)John O.
Yummy yummy yummy. Good beer. Good drinks. And great food. Highly recommend checking out Sao paulos!
(5)Elben S.
So I've been in Austin for almost two years and I've never noticed this awesome Brazilian restaurant?! Oh, the things I have missed. I came in at 11am, and they were barely set up, but they were very accommodating. I ordered the Galinhada with chicken, which is a plate mixed with Jasmine rice, saffron, cilantro, chicken, tomatoes and other things. The plate came out hot and prompt (well, I was the first person in there so I had an advantage). It also came with one cheesy bread (I could eat these all day). The Galinhada was awesome. The flavors were just so perfect in pitch and harmony. I don't really know how they could have made the dish better. Well, maybe if it came with two cheesy breads or something. The only downside to Sao Paulo's is that it's a bit expensive for a university student to become a constant patron of Sao Paulo's, though I definitely want to be one. Come here and enjoy some good Brazilian food. You'll forget about the $10-15 price tag after your first bite.
(5)Sondra S.
We really, really enjoyed our meal here. My other half had the Rocambole Alexandra, which is steak stuffed with baby shrimp and cheese, and I had the Churrasquinho Platter (layman's terms: mixed grill). Both were outstanding, and that's saying something considering that the other half of my dining party really doesn't even like eating at all (I know, he's weird). We ran into friends there having dinner too, and they also really enjoyed their meals (one had enchiladas, the other something... can't remember). We will definitely be going back to try some of the other dishes on the menu; it was hard to choose because they all sounded delicious! I also really appreciated the attention paid to our table and obvious pride our waiter, Bert (I'm guessing also the manager or owner?), had in the restaurant. A great experience!
(5)Sarah M.
Sao Paulo has the whole package. Quaint, well-hidden spot on a chintzy strip of shops just southeast of Crown & Anchor Pub. Low-lit, cozy set-up...arguably one of the more romantic spots in town. Live music, but not overwhelming. Moderate prices. Delicious Brazilian menu. Try the Portabella Fajitas or the Palmito ao Forno. A friend likes the Peixe com Abacaxi (orange roughy with pineapple). Unique appetizers. Try the Pao De Queijo (baked parmesan cheese rolls) or the banana tots. The average wait staff knocks them down a point. (Be patient...) But overall, a wonderful spot for a Saturday evening date. Scrumptious.
(4)Larry T.
First time visitor to Sao Paulo's. We were greeted right when we walked in and seated very quickly on a Friday night. I didn't know if I should be concerned because there wasn't more of a wait. We went with it anyways and started with a happy hour margarita and basil mojito. The margarita was frozen, so that is a wash on quality and taste, the basil mojito was terrible. I am really not sure what was wrong with it but it was undrinkable, this is the only reason this place didn't receive 5 stars from me. We had regular chips and queso for an app. The chips are they puffy kind and very good. For dinner we had the best of Austin chronicle winner and the entree that is about the meat lovers dish on the menu, both were excellent. We still have some left in the fridge as the entrees! we had the tres leches for dessert which was good not spectacular. Overall a nice, close restaurant with totally different cuisine. We will become regulars here.
(4)Mark L.
The food here is pretty good and is helped by the good bar and service that help bring it up. Pricing here is quite reasonable and it's easy to get out of here spending $20.00 including one drink. It's not a place that is revolutionizing Brazilian cuisine - but it will satisfy most tastes. For better or worse, half of the menu is Mexican. I think it compromises the idea that this is a Brazilian restaurant - but it allows you to bring in that friend who has simple tastes and allow them to have a burrito.
(4)Cody R.
I'll be honest... I don't know the first thing about Brazilian food, but after my meal at Sao Paulo's I might become quite the expert soon enough. Everything I tasted at this restaurant was amazing..... even the Queso. They have two sides to their menu, the Brazilian side, and the Tex-Mex side.... kind of a strange combination, but it somehow works. I stuck to the Brazilian side but after seeing some of the items from the Tex-Mex side I might have to switch on my next visit. Usually the words "Good food" and "campus" aren't used in the same sentence, but the stereotype has been proven wrong... Sao Paulo's is awesome. I am looking forward to reheating my dinner for lunch today
(4)P K.
Pretty good food, reasonable prices considering their portions. I ordered the Taquitos. A plate came with three, with additional rice and beans side. Way too much food for me. Maybe I don't know Mexican food all that well, but their Taquitos turned out to be more like what I usually known as crunchy Tacos The pork itself was good, tender, well seasoned and with good sauce. Put it in between the crunchy tortilla, yum! Great lemonade, too! Well, actually, it looked more like lime to me. But even better! Freshly squeezed lime with not too much sugar. A dash of salt would've made it perfect (for me). I was only visiting Austin, so I only had time to visit this place once. But I definitely would have liked to try other things on the menu. Someone else in my party ordered some sort of chicken and fruit salad, and boy, did that look nice and refreshing.
(4)Laurelin O.
I've been going to Sao Paulo's for years and it keeps getting better. Sitting outside is a great way to spend an early afternoon or a nice night. Their coxinha's are absolutely amazing. Their margarita's are delicious and the food is tasty. At times the service can be slow but they always have a smile and are very nice. I highly recommend this place.
(4)Rick G.
I just read Jim's review and thought I had already reviewed Sao Paulo's. But, I hadn't so I will now. Their website isn't up, so my spellings of their meals are going to be very bad. Sao Paulo's is one of the top choices for our lab "special" lunches. When someone is leaving the lab, a new person joins us, someone has gotten a manuscript accepted or a grant funded---this is likely where we'll go to celebrate. I've also gone there with students after exams and their mojitos are really good. The chips.... they're more like little fried won-tons than normal corn tortillas, and oh, so good! As is their queso and salsa. Over the years I've tried practically everything on their menu, and the only thing that I didn't love was the steak milanese (but a guy in my lab loves it). During the brutal Austin winter, their feijoada really hits the spot. Service has always been great, even when we've shown up for lunch with 20 people. I've never been able to try a dessert there (blame the dynamite chips & queso), but they look good. If you're on the north part of campus, you can cut through the ARC parking lot (across from Speedway Garage) and end up at their front door.
(4)Eric B.
Went out here with a bunch of friends for dinner. I really liked the space, and there was a good live jazz band playing as well. Started off with drinks. I had the Caipirinha, which was decent (must have been since I had a couple). For appetizers we tried the sampler plate. The Coxinha and Bolinho De Arroz were awesome. Stuffed jalapenos and cod fritters were also good, but not as good as the former. The only disappointment were the cheese rolls. They were a little tough and doughy for my taste, and my friends seemed to agree. Entrees: I had the Bobo de Camarao. Almost like a Brazillian gumbo with shrimp, peppers, onions and yucca in a slightly sweet tomatoey sauce and served with rice. It was decent. I dunno if I'd order it again though. One of my friends had the salmon, which he said was very good. Two other friends shared the churrasquinho platter which they reported was good, but the meats were a little dry. The last friend had the enchiladas which she seemed happy with. Desserts: We tried the tres leches cake and the chocolate torte. Tres leches was my favorite of the two. Light and tasty with a whipped cream topping that didn't push the cake into the zone of "too sweet". The torte was also good, but extremely rich. I took about one or two bites and let the rest of the table have at it. So I'm giving Sao Paulo's 3 stars for the time being for excellent apps, good service, and decent mains. I really enjoyed the place though, and I expect that I'll eventually find something on the menu I like better, which should improve this rating a bit.
(3)Susie G.
I guess I have to be the negative review in this positive bunch. I came here for a birthday party during a happy hour. Although the passion fruit margaritas were quite good, no arguing there, the service was horrific. We were sat in the back. The waitress took forever to bring our drinks, doubly forever to bring food, and insisted on having one group check even though there were about 20 people coming in and out on a rotating basis. Every time someone had to leave she would print out a new receipt instead of just making individual tickets, which both annoyed and confused us. For good, very different food and strong drinks- stop by. But don't expect to be served quickly. Or maybe only come with a very small group.
(2)Ryan K.
I think I took a year off of my life eating the amazing chips and queso - but well worth it. Dinner was reasonably priced and delicious. And more to the point, I was full when I left. Great place to meet with friends and enjoy a good happy hour.
(4)Brittney R.
Bert was a nice guy and knew his stuff. The salmon and shrimp dishes were amazing, and the signature drinks were delicious! The bar took a little longer than expected, but Bert made sure that we were happy and having a good time.
(4)Claire M.
I'm not experienced in Brazilian food for comparison purposes, but I'm a fan of Sao Paulo's. As other Yelpers have noted, the chips are unusual in a divine way. They're super light and crispy almost like little wonton chips. So delicious dunked in gooey cheesy queso or under mashed pinto beans, melted cheese and poblano sauce in the nachos. The traditional entrees are also winners. The Brazilian style stroganoff and paella are especially recommended. The only irritating experience I've had here was when I took my boyfriend here for lunch one day, and after *literally* every other table in the place that had been seated after us had been served and 45 minutes had ticked by I asked the waiter for a box along with our food because my boyfriend would have to leave before he had time to eat his meal. The waiter's reaction was to give me an annoyed and slightly amused look and asked if I was "giving up already" in a highly sarcastic tone. Aside from wanting to flip him off, it was a tasty meal.
(3)Marshall R.
Great dating atmosphere. Highlights include piping hot pao de queijo, the passion fruit margarita and the burro. Don't bother with the feijoada or farofa if you've had it in Brazil. In fact, I preferred their take on Tex-Mex over the Brazilian food, with exception of the bobo de camarao. Overall one of the best and most unique restaurants in town. By all rights it should be full to the gills at all hours. Don't base reviews on one bad experience with servers. I've never had bad service here so I'm confident they fired any bad ones mentioned in other reviews.
(4)Jim C.
It doesn't look like much from outside, but the Sao Paulo is not to be missed. The inside is much nicer than the outside, with lots of art (for sale) on the walls, most of which I liked. They had a jazz band playing which was very good. The mojito I ordered was really good, the best I've had - not that I get these a lot, but I had to have one after tasting my date's, it was that good. We had the Galinhada (?) with salmon and the Curr*(?) platter. Both were very good. The meats on the platter were all moist and juicy, even the chicken breast. The platter also came with a really good and fresh tomato and cilantro salsa, the little potato chips, and that funny powdered yucca. Dessert was the tres leches cake, which was delicious, not too sweet, with a light frosting. Service was unobtrusive but good. One thing I did not like was the appetizer selection, which seemed to consist primarily of very heavy items (fried, with cheese, etc.). I would have liked to have seen some healthier appetizers. I'll definitely be back, there were a lot of entrees I wanted to try after reading all the Yelp reviews. It's unfortunate they don't offer a tasting menu, I think all restaurants should have one, not just the high end ones. ------------------------------------------------ Update: Went back on Wednesday night 7/23, and was sadly disappointed in my mojito. It was a little sweet and not very minty, having just little pieces of mint leaves instead of a whole bunch of whole leaves - not bad, but definitely not outstanding. Tried the rocambole and bobo, both were good. Also had the appetizer sampler... some very good things, but why does everything have to be fried???
(4)Eugene B.
The worst service in Austin! ...pity I can't give zero stars! Last night I took my wife and 14mth old daughter, to meet a group of friends here. The night started off very nice, altho it did take them 30mins to setup the table for our group, which was a bit off as we had made reservations. I found the food to be ok, nothing that I would jump up and down about, but it was fine. The problem with this place is the service....very very slow. I do take into account that we were a large group, and that would normal mean that you need to wait for all the dishes to be ready, before they served..... but the waiting was crazy, it took over an hour to get our starters, and 2.5hrs for our main. I think I could have handled the long wait times, but waiter continually reached over my daughter with hot plates (as I said, she's 14mths!)... the final straw in all of this was when my daughters food was served he said "be careful the plate is very hot!!!!" and put it down in front of her. I never moved so fast to grab it before her hand reached for it. They then had the audacity to put a 20% tip on the bill....I crossed that out and put zero ... I will NEVER go back!
(1)Tricia C.
Not much beats happy hour here with a heaping pile of nachos with the crazy wonton chips, and a nice cold margarita, mojito, or capirinha. Might as well get some plantains while you're at it. This stuff is gooood. Oh and it would be a SIN not to mention the parmesan cheese rolls. Just the THOUGHT of the smell and taste and texture of these is giving me a minor foodgasm. Gah. I seem to remember lots of the entrees being good, although I can't specifically remember which ones anymore because I mostly filled up on appetizers. I do remember they made some good fish though, and I enjoyed their rice and sauces. Definitely stick to the Brazilian stuff rather than the tex-mex...this is what they excel at! And someone PLEASE Fed Ex me a few dozen of those parmesan rolls. I'll be your bestest friend.
(5)James L.
I recently went to Sao Paulo's again because I wanted something different. After perusing the menu, I came to the conclusion that the tex-mex side of the menu is much cheaper than the Brazilian side. I have not tried the tex-mex food. Mmmm the food here is good. The Brazilian dishes are around $15 and up, but worth it. Everything that I tried was good. I had this meat sampler type plate that was a party in my mouth... and no, not everyone was invited... just the food. The only thing that I didn't quite like were their cheese balls. I normally like them, but theirs is somewhat more chewy than what I have had before. Dude, their rice is good. Oh so good. I am a huge rice fan. I like rice with everything. I like rice with chips. Their rice made me want to order a huge bowl of it, but that could be a biased opinion because I love rice so much. I love the fact that they have live music. Whenever I go use the restroom, which is kinda next to the performers, I have to stop and gawk for a few seconds before I go off with my bidness. The music is usually jazzy. Fits the mood and atmosphere of the restaurant. I think this is a very good place for a date. However, parking is a bitch since they have enough space for approximately 10 cars or something. They do have meters across the street, but this is near campus, so good luck with that.
(4)M R.
Great food and the grilled salmon is the best! The only drawback was our server, who never reciprocated our courtesies or smiles. She could have done much better, but I trust that Sao Paulo's will take care of it.
(4)Il P.
Decent food and service. My favorites are Bife A Milanesa and Beef Stroganoff. Tex-mex items are pretty good too; among them I like the Poblano Relleno. I don't like the burgers: too oily and the bun is too dry.
(4)Brandi B.
so not giving it the full 5 cause I've only been once... massive portions for the price .. not to mention something that is not just Tex-Mex ..The food was well executed and I don't have anything to compare it to until I go to Brazil but it hit the spot! they take the go local card.. They also have Spaten on Tap.. . ok I'll be back for a more detailed review just for that! Also right next to where I get my hair done! Also for the service I had a witty and super nice waitress who took on the whole cafe... without flinching.. I don't know if it's because I hit it up on a Saturday morning but service wasn't a problem
(4)Amanda M.
Ah, lovely Brazil. I do not yet know thee, but I love the hell outta your food! So, went to Sao Paulo's today for lunch and it was pretty dang tasty, if I do say so myself. After reading so many great reviews on the place, I was really looking forward to some delicious stuff and I have to stay, I wasn't disappointed. We started off the meal with a sampler of various appetizers: bolinhos de arroz, pao de queijo, stuffed jalapenos, and a couple of other yummy things. Pretty tasty stuff, although the pao de queijo was a bit weird. It was flat, sort of grainy, and definitely not the best I've ever had, but good nonetheless. Since I've been sick with bronchitis, I figured the feijoada (black bean stew) would be a good choice and boy, was it ever! Tender pieces of linguisa (sausage), sirloin, and chicken accented the savory black beans. Served alongside the stew was saffron rice, which had actual bits of saffron sprinkled on top (huge points for it not just being that boring yellow rice from a box!). The B.F. had a cheesy shrimp dish which was served inside a semi-hollowed-out pumpkin, served alongside saffron rice as well. De-freakin-licious! His mom had milanesa with garlic mashed potatoes and it was incredible as well. To end our Brazilian food-athon, the three of us split slices of the Tres Leches cake and the Mocha Torte. Both we unbelievable. They lose one star because pao de queijo is something I look forward to when I have Brazilian food and it just wasn't that stellar. Needless to say, that was breakfast, lunch, and dinner for me and it was totally worth it. And you can bet your sweet Aunt Fanny that I'll be back. Soon.
(4)Alex B.
I have been a foolish, foolish man for waiting to try this place. Though Sao Paulo's is unassumingly nestled between the Crown and Anchor and some annoying-looking undergrad bar, a glance inside reveals a charming ambiance and a moderately chic decor. The Milanese beef steak I had here was manly and satisfying. The homemade tortilla chips were thick, tasty, and visibly dripping with delicious, heart-stopping grease. Repeatedly dipping this stuff in queso brought signs of a brain-swelling food coma. I have little idea whether Sao Paulo's makes authentic Brazilian cuisine, but I'll be a monkey's uncle if they don't serve up some plates that bring shame to the other "restaurants" in and around the UT campus culinary gulag. The verdict? Four stars and change. Eat here or be lame.
(4)Lindsay B.
Went here for dinner while staying near UT during a work trip to Austin. To find a place to eat we looked up reviews on Yelp and I am happy to say that this place met my expectations based on the reviews. It's nothing fancy and has a slightly different take on Tex-Mex which I liked. I'd be open to trying it again.
(4)Brock S.
Great place for a date. Nice atmosphere. The first time I ate here I was blown away. The Shrimp Bobo was killer. So I went back and ordered it again. BLAH... nothing like MANKY SEAFOOD. Consistency is one of the hardest things for a restaurant, it seems. Restaurant managers, listen up: If your food is on-the-fence fresh (not REALLY fresh), don't try to squeeze out the last buck by serving it. YOU WILL ONLY LOSE CUSTOMERS. And maybe make somebody sick.
(3)Justin W.
Delicious food and cocktails, very reasonable prices. Entrees are mostly $8-12 and the portions are huge. If you've never eaten Brazilian, get the feiojada and try some of the fried appetizers. Great caipirinhas and other cocktails. Nice friendly service every time we've been. They seem to take pick-up orders so this could also be a great option for yummy take-out. Go try it!
(5)Roberto S.
The owner is very rude, food not good at all.
(1)Abc D.
I love this place and so does everyone else it seems. I have been here both for lunch and dinner. It is always busy. The food is really good, the service is good and the atmosphere is always fun. While there prices seem high, I think it is ok for the food you get. If you really look at the ingredients, it takes a large variety to make one dish. As to a few of the reviewers who where criticizing their tex mex options....THIS IS A BRAZILIAN RESTAURANT...you may as well have asked them to make you spaghetti. They do have a small bar area and a section for a band to play. They will play soccer games on the tele which is great for us. Be adventurous and make your way to this restaurant!
(4)C B.
I really wanted to love this place, but the food just wasn't as good as it could've been. (I'd recommend Rio's if your in the mood for Brazilian in Austin)
(3)Joe I.
I have visited Brazil numerous times and this place is one par!! Excellent food, representing a true taste of Brazil without the hustle of the chainy 'Fogo de Chao' type places. Great staff, good prices. Will definately go back to try more.
(4)Teresa D.
WOW! The food was deliciosa! The best fried Yuca root ever, I had the Bobo de Camarao( shrimp and yuca) this was my first time at Sao Paulo's restaurant, I will go back for sure. Best Brazilian food ever! Yummy!
(5)Samantha G.
North Campus is so lucky to have Sao Paulo's as a neighborhood restaurant. Firstly, happy hour: Actually, happy 5 HOURS. 2-7 happy hour specials (not just drinks, appetizers too) Monday - Saturday. My favorite drink here is probably the basil mojito. The margaritas are pretty good too, but the frozen ones are quite sweet, so watch out if that offends you. BUT, at $2.50 each during happy hour, I can forgive the overly sweet margs and put quite a few back. Second, the food: Hello? traditional brazilian food for less than $10 (for the most part)? Yes, please. My favorites here are the Feijoada (black bean stew with meats, a kale salad, and a little cheesy ball - I recommend eating the feijoada with the orange slices that come on the side) and the Galinhada (sort of like a Brazilian paella but with chicken instead of seafood). The portions are huge too, so I usually eat as much as I can and take the leftovers home and eat them for lunch the next day. I have not had as much experience with the Mexican/Tex-Mex menu, but one time I got a pretty good combo, and dining companions have had good things to say about that stuff. I loooove the salsa here (very garlicky), but the "chips" are more like giant versions of the friend wontons that are sometimes served at Chinese restaurants. When I want decadence, they're great, but other times, they are pretty greasy. Lastly: Awesome jazz band that performs pretty frequently. I associate Brazil with swingin' jazz for some reason, and it's nice to hear music while eating Brazilian food. It can be a little loud if the restaurant isn't crowded and you're sitting close to the door, but otherwise, no complaints. Sometimes I wonder how they do on business, because a lot of the time it seems kind of quiet, but they seem to be sticking around. I hope they stay because this is a perfect place if you're feeling some exotic food but don't want to pay a lot of $$$ or deal with the hassle of parking downtown.
(5)Greg D.
I have to give it 5 stars for the fact My fam and I have never had a bad meal here (and we've tried about everything). well , i didn't dig their frozen rita but they have Spaten on tap so that redeems it.
(5)chris b.
really good Brazilian food! the coxinhas there are very AUTHENTIC, and melt in your mouth! they are soooooooooooo yum-eee! just can't say enuff about them! the atmosphere could be improved upon, but for what they lack there, they TOTALLY make up for in their cuisine. if you have not had brazilian food, this is a great stepping off point. try the fried yucca! and the bobo de camarao(shrimp in yucca sauce)!
(4)Shahar G.
Amazing food and a great atmosphere!
(4)Jenn C.
Growing up in a predominantly Portuguese neighborhood in RI, I have a special place in my heart for this culture's food. So basically this restaurant has become one of my favorite places to go in Austin. Its true what other yelper have said about the Margarita's at Sao Paulo's. The exotic variety of fruit choices is definitely an enticement for me, namely since I'm not really a big fan of the traditional lime based ones (forgive me Texas). Definitely go for the passion fruit. In fact if you go during Happy hour you could probably try once each of the mango, guava, and passion fruit flavors for around $10. And, yes, those crispy won ton chips that they serve with queso are so, so good and a nice variation on the appetizer standard. I love Brazilian BBQ so if your a hungry carnivore definitely go for the Churrasquinho Platter that they have on the menu there. I tried the Palmito ao Forno but since I am a carnivore, I missed the presence of meat but my vegetarian friend was thrilled. My boyfriend has the Bife A Milanesa the last time we were there and he cleaned his plate. Think chicken fried steak but with flavor. I will keep going back there because I want to, no wait, I obsessively need to try all the different dishes they have on that menu.
(5)cristina s.
Love the place, and as a Brazilian I can talk, reading the reviews are they jokes, caipirinhas are made with white sugar, and coxinhas are fried, if it says fried so they are, don't order fried food if you don't want it fried, duhhh. Amazing Brazilian food. I have been trying to get the wrong food there, feijoada-great, moqueca, bobo, camarao da vo, great. I tried to critize it, sorry, it is great. No complains besides parking, but you are around UT. Well, grandmah I still miss you, but I found the food to keep me here. Want to try Brazilian? Come here, I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(5)Carol N.
I like their margaritas lots. I like the mango flavored and regular also and happy hour prices. Love the cheesy balls, I call them pan de queso but I know that's spanish and not portuguese. Oops. Yummy flour chips for the queso. My favorite dish is the Pollo Magdalena. Service is hit or miss. When it is busy they seem overwhelmed and I get bad service.
(4)Philip C.
Holy cow this place is great! Firstly, the fried chips here are awesome. Order some chips and queso and get ready! The coxinhas (fried chicken croquette type things) are the best appetizer however and should not be missed. My favorite entree is the Bife A Milanesa. Also try the Orange Roughy if possible. Super friendly staff and great atmosphere! There is music on Friday nights!
(5)Elizabeth B.
i love the food and the ambiance is great. very warm and inviting. go here!
(5)Kristen F.
I checked out Sao Paulo for the first time this past week, meeting friends for an after-dinner drink to celebrate someone coming back into town for a couple days. This was my first time at any sort of Brazilian restaurant, but being in the company of two Portuguese-speakers, I sat back and let the culture come to me. We'd all already eaten dinner, so we came and ordered a drink. Two had a Brazilian beer called Xingu, two had caipirinhas (oh my god I have no idea how to pronounce it myself but when I heard it, it was so pretty sounding! it's mojito-like) and I had a glass of rose. All were excellent. We also got around to ordering two appetizers- fried yucca and bolinha de queijo, which are a little bit like cheese bread / garlic knots. The service was sophisticated and soft-spoken, keeping in with the subtle elegance of the place. It made me feel so fancy. Who knew such a place was right there between Posse and Crown? I never knew!
(4)Mai S.
so happy hour is kind of my thing. and its even better when it is so close to my work ;) they have $2.50 frozen margaritas in every blend during happy hour. and be warned, they are tasty and strong. and my favorite thing to eat is the seafood paella. it's great. honestly, i can't even remember anything i've ordered previously. so order that. thank me later. the atmosphere is really cute too. its kind of dark but cute. its hard to accommodate large parties, so grab a few booths/tables. or just keep coming back. that's what i'd do.
(5)Joel B.
I am a picky eater and have found myself pleasantly surprised by this place. The beef milanesa is great. I am not a Fan of the heavy mushroom flavor overwhelming the mixed veggies on the side. The fried yucca was a delightful potato like surprise so I sub that for the veggies now. The drinks are strong albeit a little on the pricey side. Nice dimly lit place, perfect for a date by my estimation. As an aside I like the art pieces.
(4)Tom S.
I guess that I'm not the only one that likes Sao Paulo's during happy happy ( In fact, David M eats and drinks the same stuff as I do at Sao Paulos). Their frozen margaritas are $2.50 during happy hour which runs from 2PM-7PM Monday thru Fridays. The food at Sao Paulos is a fusion of Tex-Mex and Brasilian. I basically just go to Sao Paulos during Happy Hour and drink their cheap frozen margaritas and eat their chips and queso ( which the menu describes as melted cheese infused with tomatoes and spicy chilies, served with fried chips). We get the queso with extra ground beef & then we dump in some of the spicy salsa. Their chips are great; light, crispy and fluffy. They sometimes run out of drink glasses during happy hour so you might want to bring your own drink glasses. Sao Paulos generally has a band playing on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. There is a band called the Crying Monkey's that plays there a lot; they play choro which is a brasilian jazz (i guess). If you like really sweet lemony drinks then you should try a Brasilian drink called caiprinha. It is made with sugar cane brandy, lime slices, and a tbs of sugar. it is kinda strong so go easy on it. I've heard that you go blind if you drink 2 of them; I have problems seeing out of my left eye but I am not sure if the caiprenhas caused that or not. Unfortunately there is no deal on caiprinhas ($6) during happy hour so I generally stick to the margaritas.
(4)Emily B.
This Brazilian restaurant near the UT campus provides delicious meals in a beautiful candle-lit setting. Before our arrival, I called twice for parking information and directions, and the staff was helpful in explaining there is on-street parking, and that the actual location is just down the road from the address listed online. Our waiter recommended a banana tots appetizer to share. For dinner, the paella with jasmine rice, and a mixed-bean dish both provided the sustenance we were looking for.
(5)Lui B.
Very casual restaurant, definitely not a 'fancy' place by any stretch. Feel free to bring dates, kids, whatever (one group had a whole table of kids, who were surprisingly well behaved). I was very impressed with the food, as was my date. There is a good mix of Tex-Mex and Brazilian food. Of particular interest was the vegetarian lasagna (I know neither Tex-Mex or Brazilian!) which was more of a soup in my opinion but was a winner, no doubt. The one thing that was odd is they didn't have Corona but had a slew of other beers. Parking in the back is questionable (like much of Austin), and I found myself wedging my car off-road on a rocky slope.
(4)thomas d.
This place is the greatest. It's always sorta dark and you always get a sultry little waitress....they've got Brazilian beer (I like Xingu the best), and almost all the entrees are really, really delicious. I know it's a bit bastardized, but the Brazilian paella is one of my favorites I haven't found better in Austin yet. Everything is seasoned perfectly. It's very hard to beat.
(4)Jason P.
I came here a while back and I remember it was pretty cool. I was not expecting much but it was nice! The owner is super nice and very courteous. The food is pretty good too! I've been to Brazil and have eaten tradition meals from the North to the South and they do things pretty good! I will def. be back here; such a unique place!
(3)Allison P.
This is proof that Yelpers know what they are talking about. I went here purely based on reviews I had read. I had never heard of this place before. What a gem! So many things to love. . mojitos! . the great jazz band . the atmosphere in general; felt kind of fancy without being too expensive . Delicious food! OMG! (and my portion was very generous, still have the leftovers in my fridge.) Here's my one critique: I didn't LOVE the chips the same way as everyone else. Don't get me wrong, they are quite tasty. But they are so greasy! I could only eat a handful before my tummy made me stop. And I don't think they go well with queso, but I prefer corn chips or corn tortillas with queso. So when I go again, which will be soon, I will definitely try a different appetizer. Maybe banana tots? BONUS: 2 drinks, 1 appetizer and 2 entrees. Total: $35. Well done, Sao Paulo.
(5)Bree W.
Basil mojitos. mmmmm. I had a rice dish, started with the letter 'M' I was surprised how phenomenally good it was. I almost didn't order it because it sounded plain. ooooo good. parking bad. but it is campus, what do you expect.
(5)Charles M.
Eh....Go for the chips.
(2)Jennie A.
half off queso + guava margarita + pistachio crusted fish with pineapple sauce = very VERY happy customer. I have visited Sao Paulo's only a handful of times, but I find myself thinking about it a lot. I have only ordered off the brazilian side of the menu, but for those (weirdos) who aren't very adventurous, there's also a tex-mex menu. Everyone I've ever been there with has really liked their food. The service and the venu aren't anything to write home about, but with food that good, I really can't complain.
(4)Kevin N.
Ironic, perhaps that it can be tough to bring lots new to the table when talking about Sao Paulo's - when they brought new things to our table *constantly.* Semi-hidden among a row of businesses in UT's gaze, this gem features an alluring, saucy atmosphere, complemented by an intriguing variety of munching options. We happened in during an evening of live music (seen throughout the weekend) and between the ambient light, the cool jazz filtering in from onstage and the welcoming, cultured demeanor of our waitress, we reveled in the Feijoada (a black bean stew - sausage, pork and beef cooked with black beans and served with a side of white rice, collard greens, farofa and orange slices) and a Xingu dark Brazilian beer as the capper. We stayed for the length of our leisurely dinner but could have easily stretched that with no other encouragement than the vibe in the room and the great eats. Can't wait to go back!
(4)Miss W.
The food is pretty good here, and the proximity to campus is enticing. However, the service is bad enough to keep me from returning. Last time I visited, the server slapped down some water and disappeared for 20 minutes without asking if we wanted an appetizer, or to order. I walked out. I haven't been so ignored on my previous visits, but the service has consistently been slow and unfriendly. Don't settle for the convenient location, spend your cash and time at a different restaurant.
(2)Sarah G.
My step dad is Brazilian, we took him here and he LOVED it. Very authentic, delicious and the waitress conversed with my step dad in portugese.
(5)chiu t.
I've been there once for lunch. Too tex-mex to me and less Brazilian. Also, the portion was kinda small. Three of us ordered different dishes and they were just okay. I had pretty high expectation because of the high yelp rating, but I left with somewhat disappointment. Also, I feel this place is a little pricey for campus dining.
(3)J S.
Yum. Don't let the size of the restaurant or location fool you. They have fresh great food! Tasty and the artwork inside is so colorful. Very casual setting with delicious food. I always get the Galinhada (Brazilian paella) with chicken. Yummy! Reasonable price and pretty large portions. Only downside is that sometimes it can be crowed...but once your are seated you forget about it.
(4)Krishelle L.
Our waiter last Friday just about made my day. After my friend and I had sat down for lunch, we were asked by said waiter what we'd like for drinks. I said, 'diet soda and a water'. He replied, 'you know there is water in the soda, right? so you just want them in separate cups?' I knew we were in trouble then. I ask, 'what are the specials here?'. He replies, 'well, we've been around for 9 years and all the bad stuff has been removed. the food is better than the service'. I certainly hope not..... 'cause he is on fire! Over long deliberation we both ordered from the Brazilian side of the menu. I had the Bobo de Camero, which was beautiful large shrimp sauteed with potatoes and veggies and swimming in an oddly light tasting coconut cream sauce. Yum. The little round of bread served on the side was amazing. Doughy heaven. My friend was also happy with his meal, the Bife a Milanesa, which looked like chicken fried steak but much thinner and with less breading. Waiter comes back to check on how we like the food, to which he says, 'who's entree is the best? are you guys going to fight about it? maybe i should take the knives away.' Silly, yes. But it made me smile. I'll go back for the food, and the chance to possibly partake in another stand up routine. :-)
(4)La G.
The best reason to go here: Passion Fruit Margaritas. These things are one of the tastiest treats I've ever had! They are reasonably priced, too. This place is perfect for any UT student because of the location. It is a bit of a drive for me since I am south, but well worth it. The palmito casserole is delicious! Palmito is a heart of palm, but tastes like an artichoke heart. It comes with corn and red pepper smothered in white cheese. I know it sounds weird, but if you like exotic food, try this. Just about anything here is great. The fried bananas make a great appetizer as do the crab stuffed jalapenos. I really love this place.
(5)Elle J.
The food is so delicious. I've had the stroganoff and the milanese. Not too much of this, not to much of that, but jussst right. $2.50 margaritas during the 2-7pm happy hour are also satisfying. The environment can be a pro or con, depending on your mood. It's located in a small strip, so don't expect any fanciness. It's quiet so it's nice for when you want to relax and chat with your friends. It's expensive for the amount of food you get, so it's not a place that I'd go to often. To be more specific, I could finish a whole $11 meal by myself and be full but not stuffed. An 18% tip was automatically added even though there were only four of us and service wasn't exceptionally attentive given that the restaurant wasn't busy (wth?). Either way, I recommend giving Sau Paulo's a shot for your Brazilian cravings.
(4)Chloe K.
I love the great live music but no matter what I order, I've been disappointed. The cheese/bread balls are bizarrely chewy and acrid. I ordered a vegetable gratin-type dish, and it was almost inedible. Frozen veggies sitting in water and topped with cheese that was barely melted. My friends, however, tell me that the steak is delicious.
(2)Alexandra L.
There are few restaurants whose food remains in my bloodstream like a bad drug addiction. (Not that I know what a drug addiction is like, unless you count marzipan as a drug.) When someone says "Sao Paulo," I start to crave it. I've had the feijoada (black bean stew), the bife a milanesa (thin pan-fried steak), and the rocambole Alexandra (seriously! rock and roll Alexandra!). In fact, I think I ought to keep going back there until I try everything in their menu because it all sounds ridiculously good (check out their menu online). I also tried their basil mojito -- ahhh, refreshing! The prices are very fair...two entrees and two drinks: $30. The one thing we could not explain is that if you take a seat on that little red sofa while waiting for your table, there are strange vibrations coming from it. Brazilian voodoo? Sao Paulo, sao good.
(5)David M.
This place gets 5 stars in my book and here's why: Happy Hour. This place is a very short walking distance from the classrooms of UT and the perfect place to go after tests, after class, on a lazy friday, before class, before tests... you get the drift. The main reason is their $1.99 frozen margaritas and delicious chips and salsa. The chips are more like a deep fried wonton than the chips you're used to and are guaranteed to require at least a single coronary artery bypass surgery later in life. Myself and a group of friends used to gather on this place around 5pm or so, with some of them taking a breather between the class that ended at 5 and the one that starts at 6. Just beware of the random drunk girls that think it's a good idea to take the candle on the table a little closer to grease soaked chip basket and watch it light up like gasoline. One thing to note though: The service here is on par with what you'd expect in Brazil. They take their time, usually because the place has a ton of people in it that they're trying to serve. Make sure you set your expectations appropriately, but with that in mind, I've always had a blast here.
(5)Vincent N.
Food is OK, but the drinks are better. Maybe I should have gotten drunk first then ate. Oh well, I'll try again later.
(3)L L.
Went back with a group for a friend's birthday dinner last night and wanted to update my earlier iffy review. First, I skipped apps entirely this time. Had a bite of a friend's chicken and cheese ball thingy, and maintain that the starters here are overly fried and thus lack flavor. A friend and I split a side order of fried yucca, which is pretty hard to mess up. I will say that the dipping sauce that came with it was just gross. Sort of like a mixture of avgolemono (Greek lemon soup) and chimichurri sauce, with lots of thick oil mixed in. My main course was surprisingly good, though. I split the moqueqa bahiana, essentially tilapia in a creamy veggie sauce with rice, which was lovely. Also, I learned something: for an extra $2, you can split an entree with someone, they throw in a little extra food, and you wind up with the absolutely perfect amount. What a great surprise! (The flip side of this, of course, is that they didn't tell us about the $2 charge until we already had our food and, frankly, I find it ludicrous to charge people to split food. I've actually never experienced this before. And, with a party whose bill ends up over $200, it seems pretty cheap to throw in an extra two bones over a shared plate.) Which brings me to the service. Lacking. Borderline rude, in fact. Our server failed to clear away empty glasses, plates, etc., resulting in a strangely crowded table. Also, a friend's baby accidentally knocked over a glass of water, and the server didn't help at all. Didn't bring napkins and, after I gathered the ice and wet napkins together, he just left them there in the middle of the table. Huh? Also, we practically had to beg him to take away our menus after ordering. As for the drinks, my caiparinha was delicious. The caiporoska was not (I had two just to double-check...). Although the caiparinhas aren't on the discounted happy hour menu, I say they're worth the extra buck. In sum, I stick with my original three stars rating. I was tempted to kick in an extra one for the yummy tilapia, but decided that the rest of the experience didn't warrant it.
(3)Wes R.
I ate here for the first time just recently and was very impressed. The service was good; our server was very attentive and knowledgeable about the cuisine. I also enjoyed the atmosphere- there was a jazz band playing and the the dim lighting had a nice effect. I've never had Brazilian food before so I can't comment on its authenticity, but I had the Churrasquinho Platter and it was delicious, especially the sausage. My friend had the Pollo Madgalena which I tasted and thought that was also a very good menu item. I will definitely be back to try different entrees and their drink menu too.
(4)Chris B.
3.5 stars for the food, 5 stars for the atmosphere. We had dinner here last weekend with a friend and the time slipped by as if we were in a time warp. Good conversation in a dimly lit, cozy restaurant will do that to you. The food itself was tasty, although the portions were a bit large for my tastes. Decent selection of by-the-glass wines and a few South American beers that are hard to find rounded out an overall fun experience. We'll definitely be back.
(4)Letti L.
Oh Sao Paulo's...how do I love thee? Let me count the ways: happy hour, happy hour, happy hour. I used to live just down the way on Elmwood Place, and Sao Paulo's happy hour became a kind of after-school tradition. Their frozen margaritas are delightful--tasty AND cheap. Their half-priced appetizers are yummy, cheesy, and will get you through the darkest of days as finals approach and pockets are swiftly emptied on end of year celebrations with friends. Their regular menu is incredibly tasty, too, even if not an incredible bargain. Split the Churrasquinho Platter with a friend, and watch in wonderment as that friendship begins to flourish, as the finger-lickin' food fosters joy and appreciation. Try the bife a milanesa, and astonish yourself in how your stomach magically expands to fit every last bite of the generous portion of savory steak. Choose the feijoada, and sit in awe as something so black and evil looking elicits moans of ecstasy the moment you put it into your mouth. Sao Paulo...I love you!
(5)Frances L.
Half-off happy hour chips and queso have completely won me over that after stuffing my face full of these deep fried, light, flaky, mysteriously tasty chips that simply transcend perfection ... my mind has just been too distracted to even think about what I want to eat next ... because hello, the chip bowl is empty. Are you going to bring me more? Sigh.
(5)Joe K.
I live in San Francisco now. This happy hour is, along with Trudy's, the single thing that I miss most from Austin. I cry at night sometimes missing $2 margaritas and their chips :(
(5)Alana W.
This place as the best queso ever. I don't know what they do or what those chips are, but it's heavenly. The other food is good too. Atmosphere is cozy and the margaritas are fantastic. I would definitely recommend.
(4)Angela C.
Heaven on earth! The food at Sao Paulos is amazing. I had the feijoada along with a Mojito and Caipirinha. We also had the delicious nachos that are made with won-tons instead of tortilla chips. Muito delicioso! P.S. They have some amazing artwork on display by Ines Batllo. inespaintings.com I'll definitely be buying some of her work soon
(5)J. B.
I have not had Brazilian food before, so I can't tell if my gripe is with the restaurant or the type of food itself. Ordered the sampler and couldn't find a single thing in there that I liked, which is odd. The parmesan rolls were raw inside, and all of the other fried balls were mediocre. The main course (Stroganoff) was also very so-so. I agree with other reviewers that the portions are small and the prices are high, but even if that changed, I probably wouldn't go back. Pro: Insanely good chips and queso. They must fry them like 3 times over.
(2)Elissa S.
I've been here three times over the span of 2 years (all on special occasions) and I have been impressed with the service and quality of food each time. I love the Brazilian cheese bread and the beautiful presentation of their main dishes. Once I was here for a birthday party, and we bought one of each dessert and passed them around the table. The tres leches cake here is absolutely phenomenal.
(5)