Tucked into the rolling hills of Lakeway, SP Brazilian Steakhouse has offered traditional Brazilian churrasco dining with 14 cuts of prime-aged meat for nearly a decade.
Respecting the craft
SP Brazilian Steakhouse specializes in authentic churrasco, where cuts of meat are carefully seasoned and slow-roasted over open flames, owner Ileana Salazar said.
Guests start with a self-serve salad bar offering more than 34 options, including hot side dishes, then use red and green cards to signal trained chefs to bring tableside servings of meat, carved straight onto plates. The 14 cuts of meat include picanha, lamb chops, filet mignon, ribeye, chicken breast with bacon, baby back pork ribs and shrimp. Many items are gluten-free.
SP Brazilian Steakhouse gauchos hand-season each cut before cooking them. (Jessica McLaren/Community Impact)The restaurant employs gauchos—chefs trained in-house to butcher, cook and serve meat tableside. Salazar’s husband Jesus trains each gaucho to handle all 14 cuts, which are rotisserie-cooked to maintain the meat’s natural qualities, Salazar said. All meats are prime cut, aged for 45 days and seasoned only with salt and pepper.
“We maintain the integrity of what the meat is without having to do so much to it,” Salazar said.
To finish the meal, the steakhouse offers 10 different desserts, including a flaming New York-style cheesecake and a creme brulee. It sources from local, family-owned vendors when possible.
Dinner runs $59.95 per person; Friday through Sunday, lunch is $39.95.
SP Brazilian Steakhouse’s salad bar, which features more than 34 options including hot side dishes, is included in the dinner ($59.95) and lunch ($39.95) prices. (Jessica McLaren/Community Impact)A family affair
Salazar said the restaurant’s success is deeply rooted in family. She handles the administrative side, including permits and licenses, while her husband oversees kitchen operations and develops recipes. He trained for nine years at Brazilian steakhouses in Austin and San Antonio before opening the restaurant.
Nephew Juan Diego Martinez manages front-of-house operations and wine service, and many staffers have been with SP since opening.
“At one point, we had nothing but nephews here helping to grow that dream,” she added.
Salazar described her husband’s passion for cooking and customer service.
“He’s like, ‘do it like it’s for your mom, your dad … do it like it’s for your family,'” she said. “His philosophy is always quality over quantity.”
SP Brazilian Steakhouse is located in Lakeway, bringing traditional churrascaria-style dining to the Lake Travis area. (Jessica McLaren/Community Impact)Staying local
Since opening in Sept. 2017, SP has built a customer base that includes many repeat visitors. Staff members often know regulars’ drink and meat preferences before regulars reach their tables, Salazar explained.
“People call us a hidden gem, and we love it,” Salazar said. “A lot of our guests are word-of-mouth guests. We have a lot of regulars who now see us as family. We see them as family.”
The restaurant operates three separate dining areas, including a private event room that holds up to 110 people with no rental fee.
Salazar said SP aims to serve the community whenever possible. The restaurant delivered free food and water to community members during the Feb. 2021 ice storm, despite having more than 300 Valentine’s Day reservations cancelled, she explained. The business also donates 10-12 fully cooked turkeys every Thanksgiving and Christmas. And during COVID-19, it introduced takeout, adapting a service model Brazilian steakhouses do not traditionally offer, Salazar said.
With the lease expiring in the next couple of years, the owners are exploring new locations within Lakeway.
Dining and Cooking