Looking for unique new flavors, relaxing ambience and a truly pleasant dining experience?  Made in Brazil restaurant is sure to surprise you with its high-quality cuisine, friendly and well-informed staff and comfortable surroundings. Located in Phoenix Plaza at the former location of Scaldoni’s restaurant, Made in Brazil opened its doors just a few months ago.  The well-orchestrated team of managers, chefs and wait persons know how to keep guests well fed and happy, as a seemingly non-stop array of helpful workers strive to help make your dining experience an exceptional one. Upbeat Brazilian rhythms play throughout the restaurant.

Since I am new to Brazilian cuisine, I had only heard various stories on what to expect. I must say, nothing I heard came even close to what I experienced.  For one thing, I had heard through the “grapevine” that waiters go around to each table with big slabs of beef and there was very little offered other than that. Nothing could be further from the truth. As my guest and I walked in, we were shown a beautiful hot and cold buffet bar that had an array of hot vegetable dishes and a grand variety of cold salads, from salmon pasta salad and a crisp crab salad, to exotic eggplant salad, tropical fruit salad, a tasty salad of broccoli with dried cranberries, and many others, including spring greens and a nice selection of fresh salad-makings to put together one’s own combination.  On the hot side of the buffet, there was an attractive row of covered casseroles containing items such as rosemary potatoes, cheese and chicken stroganoff (one of my favorites), braised yams, au gratin potatoes, rice pilaf , hot deep-fried bananas (very good), and two kinds of flavorful bean dishes.  The buffet is all you can eat, so patrons may revisit the buffet as many times as they wish. 

We found a table for two and ordered fresh strawberry limeades (served in huge glasses with a straw).  Made in Brazil also offers a full bar, beer and wine.  The waitress gave us a quick instruction on “playing the game” with the little chunk of wood sitting on our table.  Turn the green side up and the “gaucho” waiter will come along to your table and offer to slice you a piece of a freshly grilled meat such as marinated ham, pork sausage, beef or chicken and put it on your plate or not, as you wish.  On another visit to our table, the waiter brought a combination of just-grilled zucchini, yellow squash and onion pieces dusted with Parmesan cheese on the skewer.  Also, the sweet and tangy grilled fresh pineapple slices were a pleasant surprise.  

Turning the wood block over with the red side up tells the waiter “No thanks; I’ve had enough.”   If we turned the block to lie flat, it means “We’re ready for our check now.” It’s a fun and efficient way of communicating.  We had the green side turned up for a while, and the waiter kept coming back with more grilled items. Each time he arrived, he had a different type of meat or vegetable. I finally remembered to turn red side up, because between visits to the buffet and the barbequed offerings, we were more than satisfied. 

Just when we thought we’d had enough great food, the waitress wheeled over an attractive tray of dessert items.  Brazilians really know how to tempt with sweets.  There were several kinds of rich chocolate cakes, tiramisu, flan and other gorgeous confections.  Though mine eyes had seen the glory of the wonderful desserts, I did not have one millimeter of space left inside, so next time I’ll have “just desserts” and coffee. 

On the way out, we stopped by the grill section where the chef had us peek down into the glowing mesquite wood coals which were gently roasting the meat and veggies on the spit. No gas grill here...strictly mellow mesquite which accounts for the unique flavoring. 

MADE IN BRAZIL, 929 West Sunset Blvd. (in the Phoenix Plaza), St. George

Reservations and information: (435) 688-2026

Hours: Monday through Saturday ~Luncheon 11:00 am-2:30 pm ~Dinner 5:00 pm-10:00 pm