Downtown Brazilian BBQ Closes Up Shop

City officials have confirmed that Peabody Square is now down two of its more unique restaurants.

First, served up its from the 1929 Worcester Lunch Car, to the dismay of its small band of regular customers – owners Jim and Judy Miles said the business proved to be too much for one person to handle – and also earlier this month the likewise shut its doors.

The Brazilian barbecue opened several years ago and appeared to thrive in its location on the corner of Central and Walnut streets with its unique buffet style menu featuring skewers upon skewers of meats. Building Commissioner Kevin Goggin said he was told by owners Albert and Gladys Riso that, at least in recent months, business had been slow – apparently too slow.

Goggin said he and his inspectors checked out the interior of the restaurant about three weeks ago, after speaking with the Risos, to make sure there were no safety issues.

While inside, the phone rang at least a handful of times with hungry customers on the other end, ready to put in an order, said Goggin, chuckling. And some of the callers weren’t speaking English, further complicating his attempts at explaining the situation, he added.

The Risos, Peabody residents, did not return phone messages left at the personal number on file with Goggin’s office.

Peabody Patch did receive inquiries about the status of the restaurant from readers, dismayed to hear the establishment might have closed.

The Risos had also recently secured a from the city, presumably to boost sales at the eatery by serving a full bar instead of just beer and wine. They had even received approval from the state in August, but the Risos never came in to pick up or pay for the new license, said Licensing Board Clerk Julie Rydzewski.

The Risos have not yet turned over their beer and wine license to the city.