Fazenda to debut smaller format restaurant in Chester

Hospitality business City District Group, behind the Brazilian-styled Fazenda brand, is to launch its latest concept, Picanha, in Chester city centre next month.

Picanha will bring to Chester the South American ‘Rodizio’ style of cuisine which has made Fazenda such a big hit in Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester since it opened its first unit in Granary Wharf, Leeds in late 2010.

Picanha will feature a smaller, less expensive menu of grilled meats served at the table without limit for a fixed price, appealing to couples, groups and families.

The 6,000 sq ft unit on Newgate Street, formerly home to Zizzi’s, will offer a selection of 10 prime cuts of meats and a quality salads bar offering 10 to 15 gourmet salads, with a selection of side dishes. Picanha will have 130 covers and a bar for 30 people. The unit is among the emerging restaurant circuit centred around the former Habitat store in Pepper Street that includes Opera Grill, Chimichanga, Coast to Coast and Las Iguanas.

Brazilian-Argentinian Tomas Maunier, a founder-director of City District Group, said: “Chester is an exciting place for eating out right now and we are glad to be joining the party. Our new investment, Picanha in Chester, is inspired by the prime lean cut of meat in Brazil.

“Brazilians pay tribute to this special cut, as it represents quality and great taste, with an outer layer of fat bringing juiciness and flavour. The picanha is just one cut of 10 on offer, but it represents the real essence of who we are and where we come from, being Brazilian, unique and high quality.

“Our success with Fazenda shows us that South American flavours and atmosphere are really loved by a wide range of people in the UK, and we plan to roll out more Picanhas after Chester.”

Prices will be £15 for lunch menu to £25 for the full evening rodizio experience, with an extensive wine, beer and cocktail list.