Rodizio Grill brings familiar Brazilian flair back to Riverwoods
Bryan Larson serves friends and family of Brigham Young University's football team during the grand opening of Rodizio Grill on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, at The Shops At Riverwoods in Provo. ISAAC HALE, Daily Herald
Kalani Sitake, Brigham Young University's head football coach, cheers along with David Knighton, owner of Rodizio Grill, left, and other attendees after Sitake cut the ribbon during the grand opening of Rodizio Grill on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, at The Shops At Riverwoods in Provo. ISAAC HALE, Daily Herald
The interior of Rodizio Grill is pictured during the grand opening of the restaurant Friday, Aug. 18, 2017 at The Shops At Riverwoods in Provo. ISAAC HALE, Daily Herald
Abby Skousen, 11, and the rest of her family, all of Highland, pick out side dishes to fill their plates with during the grand opening of Rodizio Grill on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017 at The Shops At Riverwoods in Provo. ISAAC HALE, Daily Herald
Debbie Skousen, of Highland, cuts a piece of meat off a skewer held by Grant Cagle during the grand opening of Rodizio Grill on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, at The Shops At Riverwoods in Provo. ISAAC HALE, Daily Herald
The notable toucan of Tucanos has since flown from its roost in The Shops at Riverwoods in Provo to its new nest at University Place in Orem.
But the absence of the big-billed bird has left the Riverwoods with a gaping hole. People once clamored for the turkey wrapped in bacon and grilled pineapple and, for some time, the Riverwoods could not deliver.
This is why it made perfect sense for David Knighton and others at Rodizio Grill to open their newest location in the former site of the Tucanos at the Riverwoods.
“I have always thought that the Riverwoods was a beautiful place,” said Knighton, owner of the new Rodizio Grill location. “When the former tenant left and vacated this space, Riverwoods reached out to me, we began talking, and I was all over it. Riverwoods is just golden.”
Rodizio Grill’s 26th location opens this weekend to bring a Brazilian “festa” back to the Riverwoods.
“We want Riverwoods to be sort of a restaurant row of the area,” Knighton said.
Rodizio Grill first started in Denver in 1995. It since moved its flagship restaurant to Salt Lake City’s Trolley Square. The new location is the second Rodizio Grill in Utah County, with the other being in American Fork.
By opening in the Riverwoods, Knighton said Rodizio Grill is at a tremendous advantage in attracting new customers and even those that once went to the Riverwoods for Tucanos.
“I’m actually very grateful to Tucanos because they gifted me this place,” Knighton said. “We figure there’s a lot of people that like coming to dinner here. … We think they’re crazy for leaving here. Are we trying to capture some of their clientele? Of course.”
Rodizio Grill filling the hole that Tucanos left is an incredible win for the Riverwoods as well. JJ Haering, managing director of the Riverwoods, said Rodizio Grill is expected to breathe renewed life into the Riverwoods that left with Tucanos.
“With Rodizio coming in, it’s opened the doors for a lot of dominos to fall over the next little while of new restaurants and new opportunities coming to Riverwoods,” Haering said.
More restaurants are planned for the Riverwoods, though Haering declined to give the specifics, noting simply that Rodizio Grill “changes the game” of the shopping center.
With classic Brazilian grill fare like cheese buns, roasted bananas, grilled pineapple and parmesan-crusted steak, Rodizio Grill’s new location is bold, ambitious move in the Provo restaurant arena.
“We believe we have an incredible menu,” Knighton said. “It’s not just Tucanos’ clientele, for us, we realize our competition is any other restaurant.”