Carlos is an exquisite treat

Carlos Amaral and his brother, Ricardo, are the chefs/owners of Carlos Brazilian International Cuisine near Tanglewood Mall in Roanoke. Ricardo’s wife, Maggie, manages the front of the house.

The brothers have created an exquisite menu made up of Brazilian, French, Spanish, and Italian dishes. It is complemented by a full bar and an extensive wine list, where you will find the perfect pairing for your meal. The ambience at Carlos is inviting, with the Olinda dining room offering a magnificent view of the mountains.

The food

My first visit to Carlos was for lunch, and I decided to start with a cup of cream of brie cheese soup with spinach and artichokes ($2.95). The steaming hot soup arrived almost immediately , and a taste revealed a smooth, creamy base with the richness of brie complemented by the savory spinach and artichokes.

For an entree, I chose the frango Copacabana ($8.95), a sauteed chicken breast with onions, peas and kielbasa sausage in a white wine sauce, all topped with french fries. The server indicated this dish was native to Brazil. My dining companion ordered the chicken jardiniere ($8.95), a sauteed chicken breast with fresh herbs in a white wine sauce served with rice and black beans.

My Copacabana was unlike any dish I’ve had . The fries were crunchy and well-seasoned, the chicken was very moist and the white wine sauce was luscious. The exquisite flavor profile of the dish pays homage to the outstanding chefs manning the kitchen. My guest really enjoyed the chicken jardiniere and said the wine sauce took the dish to another level.

I started my dinner visit with mushroom caps stuffed with crab meat in a lemon-thyme cream sauce ($10.95). The mushrooms and tender crab meat encrusted with Parmesan cheese were cooked perfectly and married well with the sauce.

For a main dish, I ordered Brazil 2001 ($21.95), which is beef, pork, kielbasa sausage and chicken in a garlic-merlot wine sauce with rice, black beans, collard greens and fried bananas. My dining partner chose one of the chef’s specials ($25.95), a chicken breast topped with spinach, crab meat, jumbo shrimp, sundried tomatoes and artichokes over a bed of angel hair pasta with white wine and fresh herb sauce.

Our salads were adorned with a side of the house dressing, avocado vinaigrette. The amazing dressing was refreshingly light and delicious with a hint of garlic.

When our entrees arrived, the portion size of my dish made me wonder if I could finish it. Each delicious meat was cooked to tender perfection and tasted even better when swirled in the rich merlot wine sauce. The collards, nestled on top of fluffy white rice, were sauteed nicely, allowing for a slight crunch with each bite. The savory black beans were full of flavor and completed this authentic dish. My friend raved about her dish, as well.

We finished dinner by treating ourselves to tiramisu ($6.95). I enjoyed it immensely, but my dining companion thought the lady fingers could have used a heavier dose of espresso. It’s worth noting that all the desserts are made in-house and that customers can place special orders for cakes and other desserts to go.

On both of my visits, the servers were gracious and attentive, explaining the menu and daily specials in great detail. Also, all of our meals were beautifully plated.

The bottom line

Carlos Brazilian International Cuisine has been in business since 1989 for good reason: It offers outstanding consistency in food preparation and loyal customer service.

This is truly one of the best dining destinations Roanoke has to offer. It is the perfect place to celebrate a special occasion with a meal and atmosphere you will not soon forget.

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