The imported Brazilian rotisserie grills are getting fired up, the bar is stocked and the huge, three-sided salad bar is getting the final touches as Tucanos Brazilian Grill, a churrasco-style eatery, gets ready to open its first South Carolina location.
Tucanos is located at Magnolia Park on Woodruff Road in Greenville, in front of the Regal Cinemas, and is currently training staff for its official opening day on April 28. This is the restaurant chain’s 10th location.
Steve Oldham, founder and president of Tucanos, was on site Monday to give UBJ a sneak peek at the new restaurant.
Oldham, who lived in Brazil on two different occasions and had worked for Yum Brands, loved the food and culture in Brazil so much that he wanted to bring it to the U.S. He also wanted a fun, lively environment instead of a formal one that is seen in other U.S. Brazilian restaurants.
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VIEW // Photos from inside Tucanos’ space >>
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“Tucanos is southern Brazil with the fun and festiveness of Rio,” said Oldham. “The experience itself is unique.”
Artwork on the walls is from a street artist he met in Rio de Janeiro, and the pattern on the grill bar mimics sidewalks in Copa Cabana.
Churrasco is a Brazilian barbecue where servers bring a parade of flame-grilled, seasoned meats, vegetables and fresh pineapple to the table, slicing sizzling portions off of skewers directly onto the guest’s plate.
Popular dishes include lobster bisque, grilled pineapple, Picanha (a top sirloin), mashed potatoes and a cheesy bread that is gluten-free. Desserts are made in-house, as is the Brazilian lemonade.
Full churrasco for adults is $22.95 for dinner (that’s all you can eat) and $15.95 for lunch. Tucanos has two large outdoor patios, a full bar and a private event space with seating for 49 people.
For more information, visit tucanos.com/greenville or facebook.com/TucanosGreenville.
