Acclaimed in its hometown of São Paulo, Brazilian-influenced restaurant Tavares has now made its Stateside debut, taking over the former Mason space in Potrero Hill. Owner Ivo Abrahao has given the 50-seat restaurant a colorful overhaul to match its São Paulo sister (which occupies a converted home), adding lots of bright colors, leafy plants, and Brazilian art to the party.
The menu focuses on farm-to-table food with a few uniquely Brazilian twists: filet mignon is served picadinho-style, chopped and mixed with hard-boiled egg, manioc flour, and rice in a red-wine based sauce, while fish arrives steamed in a banana leaf with hearts-of-palm salad. But those who prefer more American-oriented fare will find that in spades, with standards like a chicken Caesar salad, crab cakes, and a steak with potatoes and mixed greens. For brunch, there's omelets, bagels with lox, benedicts, and a tapioca pancake with pineapple-coconut-Jack Daniel's syrup. Here's the full food menu.
On the drinks side, there's a global selection of wine and a handful of local craft beers, alongside Brazilian coffee and Linea Caffe espresso. Tavares' hours are currently daily from 11:30 am-2:30 pm and 5-9 pm (5-10 pm Thursday-Sunday). Beginning next Monday, April 27th, daytime hours will be 11:30 am-2:30 pm (10:30 am on weekends), while evening hours will be Tuesday-Wednesday, 5-9 pm, and Thursday-Saturday, 5-10 pm.