Sampaio’s

It is with sadness that I write this low review for a place that I used to like quite a bit. However Sampaios has been on a downward spiral for a while, and my last trip there will literally be my last trip there. A rundown problems:
Inexplicably, they had no rum for batidas at 6:30 pm on a Friday night. Completely inexcusably (for a Brasilian restaurant) they had no cachaça for caipirinhas at 6:30 pm on a Friday night!!! Of course, even when the have cachaça they only seem to stock Pitú, which is just about the worst rot-​gut cachaça you can get in the States. They seem to have changed their menu again recently in both form and content. They have removed all trace of Portuguese from the menu, which I guess makes sense since half the options aren’t Brasilian anyway. You can start with some brie, follow it with chicken strogranoff, and finish with crème brûlée.
I remember a time with when this was a nice Brasilian restaurant, and I was willing to pay a little extra for that. Now, alas, it is neither, and definitely not worth the cost.

2.5 stars, rounded up to 3, because even though I don’t much care for this place, you might.
Back when Sampaio’s was at the location on San Jacinto that is now Sao Paulo’s, it was a favorite of mine. It served Brazilian comfort food and tasty drinks in a bright and interesting décor. Now since the divorce (perhaps it was the result of an actual divorce?), neither place is quite as likable as the original. Sao Paulo kept the location and the humble Brazilian-​meets-​Tex-​Mex menu, while Sampaio’s has tried to go upscale (on Burnet Rd???), but IMHO hasn’t been entirely successful with it.
I’ve mainly been here for several large group (12 – 16 people) happy hours, though I don’t recommend this place for groups. The appetizers, especially the cheese bread and chicken croquettes, are pretty tasty, but the portions are quite small. Not great for sharing.
The caipirinhas taste good, but aren’t very strong, so they drink too quickly, like a really expensive glass of water. They only have one or two beers on tap, and they aren’t a great deal either. Last time I went, they had Fireman’s #4 (which is good), but I had to order at the bar because our waiter would disappear for long periods of time. There was some problem with the tap or keg, so it took several minutes for the bartender to pour one beer. Then the beer was like $ 5.50 or something, so then I had to decide whether to tip 50 cents and seem like a jerk after all that work, or tip $ 1.50 and pay $ 7 for a beer that I had to leave the table and wait 5 minutes at an empty bar to get. A crappy situation either way.
I think Sampaio’s could be a good place to take a date if a) you plan ahead to spend $ 100+, b) you stick to cocktails and wine, c) you sit outside on the nice patio, and d) you read the other reviews and stick to their stronger dishes. As for me, the reminders of the former 4-​star Sampaio’s are too bittersweet.

I’ve been here twice before for happy hour and split a couple of appetizers and the steak salad with a friend. Always good, never a problem.
But my girlfriend and I went last night and I’m not really inclined to return, ever.
Let me start with the food, which was actually the least of the problems. We had:
The escargot: Now, I am aware of how pricing, especially for escargot works, but I think it was almost 8 dollars for 6 snails that barely had any flavor. They were presented nicely, but the shells were gone and they had a small square of puff pastry over each snail. The pastry was overpowering and the snails, while tender, had barely any flavor other than «God, that’s a lot of butter.»
The chicken croquettes: They describe these as crab cakes but made with chicken. And I like these quite a bit. But the portions were much smaller than I remember, and that was disappointing.
Coffee-​encrusted pork loin with spicy cherry glaze; mashed yuca; grilled zucchini: This was actually very good. The pork was cooked perfectly and the cherry was a perfect accompaniment. I’ve had coffee-​encrusted steak before, and I think it works better on pork. The milder flavor of the meat allowed the coffee to come through and interact with the cherry really nicely.
Paella: This is what my girlfriend ordered and it was the blandest, least flavorful paella either of us have ever tasted. She added tons of salt just to make it remotely palatable. The mussels were tough, and the claimed that the sausage tasted like those bright red hot dogs you find at small-​town ballparks. It was just so bad.
The OTHER thing, besides the food that is going to keep me from returning is our waiter. I have never interacted with such a pompous guy. He kept slipping in and out of a fake-​sounding accent; he brought out our entrees while we were still eating our appetizers and gave us a huffy look when we didn’t rush to move our plates. And THEN, at one point he stops by to ask how the food is. «Fine,» we say. He, honest to god, raises an eyebrow and says «Oh. Just FINE?» And then leaves. No asking what’s wrong, is there anything that can be improved, just this pronouncement like WE’RE the unsophisticated assholes who think this apparently life-​changing food is just «fine.»
And to top it off, when he brought our check he turned around and started ambling away as he was finishing talking. So it started out «Okay, well (then in a mumbled voice because his back is now turned) goodbyeandhaveanicenight). Whatever, man. That was just rude. AND he never once refilled my water or offered us more drinks.
So for subpar food and the snotty service: 2 stars. And you’re getting the 2 (as opposed to 1) because I liked the pork. Never again.

We were going to dine at Sao Paulo’s (the Brazilian cousin restaurant) tonight but failed at getting parking since it was football game day. So, we decided to try the more upscale Sampaio’s. What a wonderful surprise. We had heard that it was good but pricey.
Well, I’m happy to report that it was reasonably priced especially for the exceptionally crafted dishes. We started with a wonderful pork empanada that was very crisply fried on the outside and filled with a savory pork that was elegantly spiced. I had the steak, Picanha Grelhada, based on our server’s recommendation and it was excellent. I don’t usually order steak out since I go to great pains to marinate and carefully grill my own. But, their’s was marinated in a wonderful vinaigrette and grilled perfectly. The accompanying vegetables were cooked perfectly especially the yucca that was in crispy spears not mush. And, I usually do not like yucca.
My wife had the Peixada Nordestina and it was also cooked perfectly. The fish and shellfish were tender and the sauce was a great light touch with a hint of coconut. An all around winner.
The service was excellent – polite, helpful, welcoming but not intrusive and the atmosphere was quiet, polished and upscale with plenty of wood and innovative lighting. One detracting item was the lack of a selection of South American wines. There were only one or two by the glass in reds and whites. The wine list was ok overall but I would have liked an interesting selection to choose from.
They also had an interesting Tapas menu that is beckoning me back for a lighter dinner or happy hour. I would not hesitate to recommend this restaurant as a wonderful restaurant with innovative twists in their food.

I’ve been here thrice since the great schism of Sampaio’s/Sao Paulo’s.
I couldn’t tell you which I like better, really, but this place is… closer to my house.
Anyhow, I met a lovely lady there for lunch yesterday, and sat out on their patio. It’s so nice to have this great patio weather in the fall-​like weather we’re having, and their patio really does deliver!
I had me a caipirinha to start off, and it went down smoothly. Perhaps too smoothly? My dining companion decided there was a bitter taste in it that she wasn’t sure about. Well, more for me. Granted, I’ve had them here where I tasted the bitterness of the limes they use, but this one was quite lovely.
I couldn’t find anything thrilling on the lunch menu, so I went for tapas. I think I’ll have to re-​visit this place for happy hour and more tapas again!
Pao de Queijo: Cheese bread! Made with yucca flour! Don’t expect your usual bread consistency, because if you do, you’ll think you got undercooked bread. The flour makes for an interesting chewy-​ness. And their’s are perfect.
Calamari: Not your typical calamari. The crusting was great, and they were just drizzled with a nice (if loose) aioli. It was served with a small salad with a citrus vinaigrette that made a nice chance from the usual pomodoro sauce most people serve calamari with.
Fried Brie: Woah nelly! This stuff is worth the trip by itself! AND they must know fights will break out over this tapa, because it’s served with a miniature cleaver with which to. er…cut the cheese. And you’ll be glad you did!
I wish I wish I wish they’d have their Albariño by the glass. That would be great. I might even pay the $ 10+ dollars that it’s likely to cost, given their price per bottle.
All in all, a rich but not overly full lunch that sported sunshine and great conversation. Thanks Sampaio!

I almost hesitate to write a glowing review of this restaurant, because then it may be too crowded the next time I visit. But, I feel compelled to share my love because it really is that good.
I have been here 6 or 7 times since they have opened. I LOVE Sampaio’s!!! The owner is doing an excellent job in terms of expanding her business. Brunch, happy hour and dinner have all been good experiences. And I really appreciate the innovative special events that have been added recently… most notably the wine tastings and the fashion show brunch.
Standouts on the menu are the escargot, mussels and eggs benedict. The eggs benedict has a runny egg!!! YAY!!! The paella is good and I have always been pleasantly surprised by the grilled fish and steak offerings. The drinks are strong. I believe that when you order an alcoholic beverage, there needs to be actual alcohol in them! The bartenders here do not skimp and I love it! On Sundays, mimosas are $ 1 with brunch and they are the opposite of the pre-​made, frozen disasters at Taverna.
Service has improved a bit over the years. The current staff is fairly well versed on the menu and can answer questions fairly well.
When the weather is nice, as it was this past Sunday, the outdoor patio is fabulous!

Once again, I just want to express my love for this place. During regular dinner/​lunch hours, it’s superb. Esp if the weather is nice and you can enjoy the patio but the inside is gorgeous as well (designed by owner to represent the Brazilian flag).
I met a gf for HH last night (Friday). It’s 4 – 7 M-​S? or F? Not sure but it’s freaking amazing. The frozen capirainas/​margaritas are strong and only $ 3!!! Wowza. I had to stop at 1.5 of them because I was getting too drunk. They taste great too, not too sweet. The apps are half off making them the best deal around. It’s location is awesome too… midtown.
I will be living here because I was once again reminded of how great Sampaio’s is. Yes, that’s all… oh and music on Wednesday’s too!!! :)

Just a word or two about the crème brûlée…
I am doing an intense workout system right now and for dinner here last nite, I very proudly and smugly ordered the sesame crusted salmon on a bed of greens with white rice. Yes, all very tasty, but not at all mind blowing. Hubby’s paella was fantastic and smoky tasting.
I thought we were done until hubby ordered the crème brûlée. I could’ve throttled him for that! Did he not just hear me grunting, panting, laughing in hysteria, and cursing the TV that was putting me thru a grueling, 90 minute ridiculously insane yoga routine???
But this stuff… you coulda parked an elephant on top of it. Not only was it a huge serving but the carmelized top was so strong, it woulda held up a pachy no problem. Once you broke through to the other side, it was a delightful combo of creamy sweetness and slight bitterness from the topping. Perfection. And when paired with a chilled snifter of caramelly Tuaca, worth every calorie I had sweated off earlier.
Yet another reason this is one of my fave restaurants in town. I don’t have the willpower to resist!

This place is amazing. It’s very conveniently located between my boyfriend and me and we love to go there for special occasions. We’ve always sat outside and the service is always very friendly and attentive. We worry because it’s never busy and will be very sad if it goes out of business.
But on to more positive things. The food is awesome. We’ve both had a couple of different dishes and are never disappointed. My favorite is a chicken dish with a tomato cream sauce… soo good. We like the fresh cheese balls for an appetizer and they have a fantastic tiramisu dessert. They have great salads and different soups that are always good. We can confidently order something new and know that it will be good.

Atmosphere means a lot to me, so if a place has great food and bad atmosphere I probably won’t go back. Sampaio had ⁴⁄₅ food and 2−3÷5 atmosphere. Granted I went on a weekday during lunch, but i just found the «modern» décor kind of cold and bland. Like, why do restaurants defer to this modernish/​coldish/​fancyish decorating if they want to be thought of as a respectable place with good food? I think it’s B.S. No personality.
I really liked my steak salad. My boyfriend thought his paella was just okay («it just seems like a lot of food with all the same taste») and I agreed, it was a good, large portion but the intricate tastes were lacking. I can’t speak to how authentic the food was for being Brazilian place.
I want to support places in my new hood– Brentwood/​Burnet/​Lamar because I want it to become as great and self sufficient as my old hood, East Austin– and because of that I’ll probably try Sampaio’s again on a weekend night.

The entrees are priced relatively high, so we restrained ourselves from ordering any appetizers. We sat pretty hungry for a while since they don’t have any free starters like chips & salsa or anything. And I’m not sure if chips & salsa is a Brazilian thing or not, but I know Sao Paolo’s has it and theirs are a-​m-​a-​z-​i-​n-​g.
Anyhow, I ordered the Sesame Crusted Salmon because I was feeling kind of poor, but I still wanted an entrée and it wasn’t the cheapest on the menu. I thought the spicy red sauce that it was sitting in was super tasty. It reminded me a lot of thai curry for some reason! Maybe because of the coconut.
Otherwise, I don’t think I’ll go back anytime soon unless for a special occasion.

Summary: We went for happy hour and ordered their half-​priced appetizers… tiny portions, bland, and still over-​priced. Very nice ambiance though and perhaps their entrée’s are better
(5÷10) Coxinha de Frango
Seasoned, diced chicken breast with cheese, rolled up into a pastry. Served with spicy malaqueta vinaigrette on the side. This basically tasted like fried cheese balls. And there were only 3 of them… now granted it was happy hour — but still very small portions. We love cheese but expected more for the price and since its supposed to be Brazilian food. Also, the malaqueta vinaigrette is pretty oily and lacked in flavor.
(5÷10) Mandioca Griddles
Yucca cakes seasoned with Portuguese herbs and cheese, lightly pan fried. Served with a spicy tomato vinaigrette. We were excited to have authentic Brazilian food but we honestly felt we were eating a piece of deep fried potato with tomato sauce and cheese on top. Yucca can be savory but Sampaio’s let us down again. Will we have better luck with the next dish? Read to find out…
(5÷10) Marisco ao Molho Verde
Mussels sauteed in a verde-​anise garlic butter sauce and served with crostini. Oh no another disappointment! Although this dish had a lot of mussels, the garlic butter flavor just didn’t come through. The only fun part was dipping the crostini (thinly sliced, toasted white bread) into the soupy sauce and enjoying the crunch.
(8÷10) Pastel de Frango Com Passas
Delicate pastry stuffed with chicken, raisins, corn cilantro and cheese. Served with mango relish on the side. Finally, a dish that is better than average! The outside of the pastry is warm and soft and the corn cilantro is a nice addition. The mango relish complemented the pastry well, and there was not a crumb left on our plates.
Service (⁷⁄₁₀)
We went during happy hour, where Sampaio’s advertises half-​priced appetizers. We were promptly seated and the hostess, bartender and waiter were all nice. The waiter offered suggestions when prompted, and he checked up on us often enough. Our dishes were brought out on a timely manner, but to be fair we should note that the restaurant was almost empty.
Ambiance (⁷⁄₁₀)
Sampaio’s has booths and tables, bar seating and an outside patio. There are only a couple parking spaces outside so you may have to park on a side-​street. The interior has a dark wood, upscale feel to it. But you can dress casual or dress up a bit — either would be fine. They left the doors open so there was a gentle breeze and it felt nice. The atmosphere may have been more energized if there were more patrons dining. The quality and quantity of the appetizers weren’t special, but perhaps the entrees are better. Either way, there are too many other places to try in Austin!

I went for Happy Hour with their Half Price appetizers and discounted drinks. I enjoyed the caipirinhies, especially the flavored varieties like mango. What I love most about this place is that I can get drunk and walk home. We had the salmon croquettes ($ 10), which I would get again at half price but not full price. They were good, but the flavor just got lost in the mush. I don’t think salmon is improved by being fried or maybe it took away from the essence of salmon since I like my salmon cooked medium. We also got the fried brie ($ 10.50), which is great if you like brie and you’re in the mood for it.
For dinner I ordered the Coffee crusted pork tenderloin ($ 20) which I really liked the flavors, but wish the pork had been left medium. My boyfriend had one of the shrimp pastas (around $ 19) and wasn’t impressed for the price, but it wasn’t by any means bad.
What I remember most about this place and I still crave is the bread pudding made with guava (I think it was $ 7 or $ 8). Second best bread pudding I’ve had in Austin. but only by a hair. This is definitely 1 star on it’s own.
The service was great. Never needed anything, checked on us often for those Caipirinha refills, and was knowledgeable and friendly. The atmosphere is nice. It’s a smaller place but it still feels ample because of the ceilings.
So yeah, the place is pricier, but if you find the right plates that suit your palate they may be worth the price. But, the happy hour is worth checking out alone.

I finally visited this place last week with a friend, and we loved it! Happy Hour every day, yummy unique drinks, delicious food, great space. What else can I say?
Our server (Diane, I think) was awesome. We weren’t familiar with Brazilian food and ended up relying on her recommendations, which were delicious. I worked in the restaurant industry for a long time and can appreciate good service. It was fabulous. We’ll be back for sure.

So the ladies and I met up for happy hour at Sampaio’s on Friday. I’d been there before, and I like the place – it has a great atmosphere that instantly makes me feel classy. I arrived last, which was perfect timing as it meant our half-​price appetizers were ready and waiting for me to devour them, which I happily did (love those cheese rolls). I ordered my caipirinha and was on my way.
Our server was a wee bit on the slow side. One of us would order a drink and then promptly wait 15 minutes for it to arrive. Because we’re smart – not cheap! Smart! – we decided to order one more round before it hit 6:30 and prices went up. After trying to get our server’s attention to no avail, we finally were able to stare her down and request another round before happy hour ended. She in turn informed us that she wasn’t sure we made it in time. Um, OK. Maybe if you’d checked on us in the last 20 minutes, this wouldn’t even be an issue. She went to check and came back to tell us that we did, in fact, get in just under the wire! Yay!
A short while later, a different server came over and tried to give us a bunch of appetizers. We told her those weren’t ours and went back to our heated debate (should you dump a Facebook friend whose status update says he’s moving out of the country now that we’ve elected a socialist?), not thinking a thing of it. Shortly thereafter, our original server came over and asked, «Didn’t you guys order another round of apps?»
Um. Really? When a group of people asks for «another round,» you think they mean appetizers? Not drinks? Since when? If we had just finished our entrees (my pasta dish, which I inhaled, was delicious, by the way) and we requested another round, would you have brought us out a second round of entrees?
Odd.
The four of us ended up spending about $ 250, but don’t let that scare you – that was for four appetizers, four entrees, and, um, 16 drinks. We went a little overboard. And despite the confusing, slow server, it was totally worth it.

Hey… um, is that shit on your shoulder?
My friend looks over his shoulder. What the fuck is this shit?
Me and my other friend peer over and examine his shirt. Dude, it looks like some kind of brown doodie. There’s more spattering on the front of your shirt too.
Oh my god. How did this get on my shirt?
We all peer up at the ceiling fans and wonder: is it some sort of undercover shit dispenser?
Whatever it is dude, it’s sick.
Hey, will you taste it?
What? HELL NO!
I mean, what if it’s like gravy?
I’m NOT going to find out if it’s GRAVY. There’s a good chance it’s doodie. Why don’t YOU taste it, since it’s on YOUR shirt?
Well…
NO! DON’T DO IT FOOL!
He looks over at my other friend’s plate. Hey, you have gravy on your steak.
Oh, umm. it’s BLACK BEAN SAUCE.
How the hell did you spatter BLACK BEAN SAUCE on his shirt? What are you doing? Windmilling your plate? Bahahaha.
SHUT UP!
Bahahahaha!
SHUT UP!
Bahahahaha!
Whatever, you have a fly in your wine.
You shut up. Stop trying to be all Alanis on my ass.
No, seriously.
Dude, there IS a fucking fly in my wine. I call the server over. She examines the wine glass, looks at me skeptically, and takes the tainted wine away.
She brings back another glass of wine. No wait, it is the SAME glass of wine; they just took the fly out. Sickness. I know, because my lipstick stain is still on the glass.
Luckily, my coffee crusted pork tenderloin with cherry sauce was very good. But man, is that place unsanitary.

After reading mixed reviews about Sampaio, I thought it was time that I put in my two cents.
When Sampaio first opened (pre-​Fogo de Chao) I was thrilled that a new Brazilian restaurant had opened in Austin. I tried it within the first month of being open and it was great! You can’t resist the caipirinhas, a Brazilian cocktail made with cachaça, lime, and sugar, and the Marisco ao Molho Verde (sauteed mussels) are a delicious appetizer to get you started.
For a sure bet, try the Camaro ao Molho de Cachaça (yummy shrimp dish) and you can’t pass up the coffee crusted pork tenderloin with cherry sauce and goat cheese mashed potatoes. Mmmmmmm, I dream about this dish, and I’m not a big pork person (I say this, yet always describe another yummy pork delight). I’ve always gone to Sampaio for dinner, but would love to try their happy hour (½ price appetizers and discounted drinks, yay!).
I’ve eaten at Sampaio 4 – 5 times over the past couple years and they have always delivered with consistent quality and service. Every time I’ve eaten there, it’s been on a date, so I can’t really speak to the prices =) The benefits of being a woman (*smiles and clinks caipirinha glass*)!

Asked the waiter to recommend authentic food. I hated every appetizer we got. They are all very bready and pastry. Suggest you not to order any their appetizer. Boring and bland.
Entrees are all good. I had salmon. It’s very juicy and tasty especially with side vegetables, tomato and red bell pepper. $ 19 is very reasonable. Only $ 29 Churrasco is pricey.
We all sit outside. Not much view, but staring at streets and cars driving by. they should bring a band.
— — — — — — –
I think they changed menu recently and added more interesting appetizer and removed only bread type.

_​— — — — –UPDATE 7÷27÷07
I have to update my review because I went there last night and was really disappointed. They are under new management and apparently the new manager decided to take mojitos and caprhianas (sp) off the happy hour menu. Considering they say these are their speciality, doesn’t it only make sense that they are on the HAPPY HOUR SPECIALS menu? Unfair!
Also, I think they may have a new chef with the manager because some of the happy hour dishes that I found so great before were only passable; the salmon croquettes were soggy and actually kinda gross. I’ll try again soon and update. For now, they are downgraded to a 3.
If you aren’t drooling yet, on to my original review:
— — — — — — — — –
Sampaio earns my praise, first and foremost, for having a nice outdoor patio setting;something I think is sorely lacking in the Allandale, Hyde Park and Rosedale neighborhoods. Facing Burnet road and yet still retaining even a hint of ambiance is challenging. Sampaio does it quite well.
Sampaio’s food is good. I should stress that I don’t really know Brazilian cuisine; this is my only experience with it, I only have my tastebuds to rely on, and they like it. I like the Bobo de Camarao, and the chicken in cream sauce (name is escaping me) for entrees. I like that they have a wide range of flexiblity in prices but don’t seem to shortchange you on the less expensive ones.
I think Sampaio’s mojito is the best I’ve tasted. I like Mojitos a whole lot. Speaking of, they have excellent happy hour specials on both food and drinks– before 6:30 on weekdays.
My one big complaint about Sampaio, and it has really put a damper on my evening on at least one occasion, is the fact that they seem to keep their outdoor fans and misters running ²⁴⁄₇. Among other things, this cools off food really fast, and once that happens, you realize just how much butter you’re dealing with. Never fun.
All in all, a pretty good place.

Oh baby! I may have a new happy hour lover.
Went here to try to purchase Carnaval tickets. Radio station was giving them away every ten minutes and I got suckered into staying with the prospect of winning big (now I know why lotteries are so addictive.) Beautiful, warm, friendly ambiance. Close set tables and booths. Nice silverware and wine glasses at every table. Friendly/​funky bartenders.
So whats a gal to do while waiting desperately for free tickets that may never appear? Well eat, of course, silly goose!
Looked at the happy hour menu. With 5 minutes left I dove into the sea of folks at the bar and ordered an appetizer. Perk: 4 – 6:30 good drink specials and ever better appetizer specials. Half off and they don’t skimp on the size either. I got some breaded yucca with spicy tomatoes and cheese and damn was it good. I don’t even know what yucca is, but I’m assuming some pototo-​esque veggie. Large portion, beautifully arranged. I paid my 4 bucks and left happy.
Well, I didn’t have free tickets, so I wasn’t super happy, and I did have to listen to elderly men talking about their Carnaval costumes for an hour (Note: According to them, the beautiful women said it didnt matter whatthey wore as long as they were sporting a costume with ‘easy access’ (insert moderate gagging here) but I sure was happy about the happy hour. I will be back… and so should you!