Grimpa Brazilian Steakhouse
A Top Dining Choice in Mary Brickell Village
The dining scene downtown has been growing steadily over the past few years with new restaurants opening on US1 and in the Brickell Avenue area. One restaurant that is making headways with a growing lunch and dinner crowd, not to mention an evolving happy hour, is Grimpa Brazilian Steakhouse in Mary Brickell Village.
The downtown Miami restaurant has been attracting a lot of attention from the power brokers that live and work in the area, while its expansive upstairs is readily being booked for private affairs.
Grimpa’s executive chef Euzebio has been perfecting a style of cooking that blends traditional Brazilian cuisine with American flavors since moving to the U.S. 10 years ago.
“I was comfortable with Brazilian cuisine so I wanted to learn French-American style, along with my Spanish influence, to create something different and original,” he said.
Grimpa incorporates American flavors such as thyme, basil and oregano to the traditional gastronomy of southern Brazil.
What makes Grimpa so unique is the preparation of meats or churrasco, Brazilian barbeque. Unlike Argentinean parrillada/churrasco that is prepared over a charcoal pit, the people of southern Brazil known as “Gauchos” prepare meats on skewers over charcoal. Grimpa’s barbecue chef, Carlos Araujo, prepares on charcoal as with the original style.
Euzebio explains that meat cooked on a grill tends to be drier whereas meat on a rotisserie shrinks and compresses, making it juicy and tender.
The Gauchos are the inspiration for the style and service of Grimpa. Traditional Brazilian service known as “Rodizio” is a fixed price menu where servers continually bring 17 types of beef, chicken and fish to the table on skewers from which guests can pick and choose. The meats are sliced from the skewer and plated individually at the table.
A large buffet and salad bar offers a wide selection of hot and cold dishes ranging from pastas, steamed vegetables and fish to traditional cheese breads and breaded bananas.
At happy hour, Monday through Friday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Grimpa offers a wide selection from its fully stocked bar and expansive wine cellar. The Caipirinha is a house specialty and the national cocktail of Brazil. Mixed with sugar and lime, the rum called “Cachaca” is made from sugarcane alcohol after it has been refined and distilled.
The aesthetic of Grimpa is as impressive as the expansive and diverse cuisine. The first floor dining room is bright and open with fusions of orange décor that creates a romantic ambiance. The second floor has an area named “The Rotonda” that can be reserved for private parties or events. Also on the second floor is the “Varanda” area. Combined, the second floor accommodates up to 120 guests and features its own kitchen and service bar. Guests can also enjoy the downstairs patio with tables and couches that are covered by large, burgundy umbrellas.
Grimpa Brazilian Steakhouse is perfect for those with a healthy appetite. For reservations, or to inquire about their private dining room, call 305-455-4757. You can also check them out online at Grimpa.com.
