“Be yourself. Be a genuine person and truly love what you do. That’s the secret to keeping your customers coming back.”
For Anna Gomes, who runs Via Brasil Steakhouse with her husband, Adam Gomes, she said that the “secret to success” came in a big part from her father-in-law, Luis Gomes, who helped the couple open their restaurant in 2008. Anna Gomes said Luis has long made a name for himself as a celebrated restaurateur in New York City after moving to the U.S. from his native Brazil. And that's where her husband found his love and passion for this culinary career.
“My husband learned from when he was a kid how to run the restaurant business by being there with his dad,” said Gomes. “His father opened the original Via Brasil in 1978 in New York. Adam has done everything there, from working in the kitchen to being a bartender before becoming a manager. When we decided to open our restaurant in Las Vegas, it was the best decision we ever made."
Anna Gomes says when it comes to standing out as a dining destination in a city like Las Vegas, your food has to be excellent, and she said in the 15 years in business, they made sure that every time a customer returns, they get the same attentive service and also the best quality food they expect from a world-class dining establishment.
“It’s really all about the flavors,” Gomes said. “For Adam and his family, it’s all about the food. It has to be amazing. That’s what their father had instilled in them. Everything had to be made from scratch.”
The restaurant, located in the Red Rock area at 1255 South Fort Apache Road, is open seven days a week, with dinner service nightly and brunch on the weekend. The Rodizio dinner menu allows guests to feast on customized a la carte and all-you-can-eat prime cuts of meats, including Rib Eye Special, BBQ Pork Ribs, Short Ribs, Picanha, Grilled Shrimp, and Lamb Chops. Diners can also enjoy an expansive salad bar featuring the freshest ingredients, including Via Brasil’s famous watermelon salad, Brazilian tilapia ceviche, potato salad, and Caprese Salad. Brunch service has also been popular with locals, especially on holidays like Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, with an expansive menu offering more than 50 dishes from delicious cuts of meat to crepes, omelets, and signature eggs Benedict.
“We are proud of the variety and the quality of the food we serve. But we know to gain a loyal clientele, we need to pay attention to every detail, and that means giving our guests the best possible service every time they visit. That’s why you will always see me there at the restaurant, saying hello to all the guests and making sure they have the best experience. We really do have the most amazing community here in Las Vegas.”
And Gomes has made sure she is giving back to the community that has helped support her business over the years. She and her husband are proud partners of local nonprofits, including Miracle Flights and Angels of Las Vegas. She has hosted a number of charitable events for these organizations, donating both food and funds for causes that are near to her heart.
This year, Via Brasil also began offering guests a Rodizio dining experience right in their own homes. The restaurant can now send a chef to your house with their pre-cut and pre-made famous cuts of prime meats, which the chef will then cook on-site along with any sides, appetizers, and other dishes guests order from the restaurant. Gomes and her team also recently launched a new line of sandwiches along with the famous empanadas. And there are plans for even more expansion in the future.
“We would love to one day open more restaurants serving these sandwiches and other grab-and-go items that can be picked up fast but still offer great quality and taste,” said Gomes. “We are excited for what’s to come, and we really believe what got us here is the lesson we learned from the beginning. That is to always give our customers the best experience so they will always be here to support us."
“It’s really all about the flavors. For Adam and his family, it’s all about the food. It has to be amazing. That’s what their father had instilled in them.''
