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Restaurants

Brazilian Steakhouses End Their Run

By Liz Biro, posted Oct 23, 2013
(Photo by Liz Biro)

Wilmington’s Brazilian steakhouse run may be a flash in the pan.

Two such steakhouses opened within a week of each other in spring 2012. The last remaining of the pair, Gauchao Brazilian Steakhouse, 6317 Market St., recently closed.

The doors were locked not long after competing Espetus steakhouse changed its name to RaGaB in May and then closed in August.

Both locations focused on skewered beef cuts cooked on a rotisserie grill and presented tableside. Other meats were available, too, and all were accompanied by an all-you-can-eat buffet.

The two steakhouses were not affiliated. Gauchao owners were Leo Andrades, a personal fitness trainer, and his mother, a cleaning service owner, Andrades said when the restaurant opened. They partnered with Myrtle Beach’s Gauchao Brazilian Steakhouse to bring that restaurant here, he said.

Espetus/RaGaB operators were Fernando Almeida, who owns a Wilmington construction company but also has a restaurant work background, and his wife, Pollyana.

Gauchao owners could not be reached for comment, but a notice from the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office hanging on the front door stated that “by virtue of a Writ of Possession for Real Property” Gauchao Brazilian Steakhouse LLC was “ejected” from the property on Oct. 17. The plaintiff is Horizons Development LLC of Wilmington.

At the former Espetus/RaGaB space, 7110 Wrightsville Ave., restaurateur Tom Trinh has developed Shukai Thai & Sushi bar.

Meantime, a bargain Brazilian steakhouse named Brazilian Grill is moving into University Landing Mall. The buffet will cost about $10 per person; the buffet with grilled meat will cost about $13 per person, as opposed to the usual $25-$30 per person price for Brazilian steakhouse fare including both meat and buffet offerings, owner Washington Ferreira said.

Just a couple doors down from Gauchao, Frank’s Classic American Grill also recently ended service. Owner Frank DiNapoli in December moved operations there from 5621 Carolina Beach Road at Monkey Junction.

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