Restaurant Switcheroo
Beloved campus-area restaurant shutters to make room for more tacos
An international favorite is the latest casualty in Austin's ongoing restaurant closures: Sao Paulo's Brazilian Restaurante in North Campus is shuttering. The last day of service for the 15-year-old dining institution will be Saturday, August 27.
However, the news isn't all bad. The plan is to expand sister restaurant, neighboring Taco Joint, and reopen on Tuesday, August 30.
General Manager Lilia Valdez, who oversees both concepts with chef/owner and longtime friend Melba Garcia, tells CultureMap that the decision to close Sao Paulo and focus on Taco Joint is bittersweet. Austin is losing a "taste of home" for Brazilian transplants, but Taco Joint will gain the much-needed space to serve its hungry regulars — and there are a lot of them.
The expansion means more elbow room for taco lovers, as well as a new salsa bar and additional counter seating. A small area in the back of the larger Taco Joint will be reserved for sit-down lunch service; diners will be treated to a new menu featuring Mexican plates such as enchiladas and fajitas. In the rest of the restaurant, it's all tacos, all the time.
Taco Joint will keep Sao Paulo's popular happy hour — with a larger Mexican beer selection — which runs Monday through Saturday from 2-7 pm.