All-you-can-eat meat, cinnamon grilled pineapple and a unique dining experience are coming to Amarillo this summer.
Just over two years after opening Ponto Gaucho Brazilian Steakhouse in Lubbock, the owners confirmed they are expanding the brand.
Here’s what to know about this upcoming restaurant.
What is Ponto Gaucho Brazilian Steakhouse?
Ponto Gaucho Brazilian Steakhouse initially opened in December 2024 in Lubbock at 5107 82nd St. #109. The all-you-can-eat restaurant is owned by Dejair Zuliani, Andreia Zuliani, Marcio Welter and Carlos Mezadri.
Brazilian steakhouses have chefs/servers known as gauchos, who prepare, cook and serve the meat on large skewers. Customers are given a two-sided card, one side green and the other red, to indicate if they are ready to be served.
If the green side is up, gauchos will stop at the table to offer the food on their skewer. The food is then sliced or served hot off the skewer.
“That’s a unique experience,” Welter said. “People that have never gone to a Brazilian steakhouse, they’re going to be impressed for sure. We’re going to treat them as family, make them feel welcome, and serve the best food and service as possible.”
When is Ponto Gaucho Brazilian Steakhouse Amarillo open?
The Amarillo location is tentatively expected to open in June.
Where is Ponto Gaucho Brazilian Steakhouse Amarillo?
The Amarillo location will be 7609 Hillside Road. This spot was picked due to its location and having previously been a restaurant.
What does Ponto Gaucho Brazilian Steakhouse have on the menu?
The offerings will be exactly the same for Amarillo as they are in Lubbock. That includes a wide selection of all-you-can-eat meat, an expansive salad bar, the fan-favorite cinnamon grilled pineapple, and Brazil’s national cocktail.
Andreia Zuliani estimated that 98% of Ponto Gaucho’s offerings are gluten free, including the meats and salad bar.
The meat options, available in spicy and garlic seasonings, include:
While guests enjoy the selection of meat, the most popular item is the grilled pineapple. It is coated in sugar and cinnamon, then grilled.
“Wherever you go, everybody talks about the grilled pineapple,” Welter said.
All meals are served with side dishes, which could include cheese bread, polenta, caramelized bananas, and fried cheese.
“People talk about the meats as well, but not as much as the pineapple,” Andreia Zuliani said. “The fried cheese is becoming a favorite as well.”
Ponto Gaucho offers a salad bar, which they call a Market Table. This is stocked with more than 40 items, including imported cheese and meat. A hot station offers rice, beans, mashed potatoes and soup.
The restaurant’s drink selection includes the official cocktail of Brazil, known as Caipirinhas. Caipirinhas use an alcohol made from fermented sugarcane juice, known as cachaça, and is mixed with sugar and lime.
“We have a lot of people that come from Amarillo all the time, and asking us, begging us, to open a store right there,” Welter said. “Amarillo, we are coming, so come try us.”
The owners hinted at third location in the future, along with expanded service options coming soon.
People can follow Ponto Gaucho on Facebook and Instagram, or visit the website at pontogaucho.com. The owners also recommended signing up for their email newsletter for updates and special deals.
Alana Edgin writes about business for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal and South Plains-West Texas region. Got a news tip? Contact her via email at aedgin@lubbockonline.com.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Brazilian Steakhouse to open in Amarillo, here’s when
Reporting by Alana Edgin, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
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