The Secret Brazilian Backyard Restaurant In Florida With A 4-Year Waitlist
Tucked away in a quiet Fort Lauderdale neighborhood, Regina’s Farm has become one of Florida’s most extraordinary dining destinations.
What looks like an ordinary home from the street hides a tropical backyard where Brazilian traditions come alive.
Weekends here aren’t about ordering from menus or rushing through dinner—they’re about gathering, sharing, and celebrating food the way it’s done in Minas Gerais, the region where owner Regina DeSilva grew up.
With its limited seating and overwhelming demand, Regina’s Farm now boasts a waitlist that stretches for years, rivaling some of Miami’s most glamorous restaurants.
From Backyard Gathering To Beloved Nonprofit
Regina’s story began simply: she cooked Brazilian meals for friends and neighbors under the trees in her yard. The smell of wood smoke, garlic, and sizzling meats drifted through the streets, drawing curious passersby who soon became regular guests. What started as casual backyard cookouts slowly grew into structured dinners, each one infused with the warmth of Regina’s hospitality.
She eventually turned her gatherings into a community-centered nonprofit, with proceeds supporting her local church and initiatives close to her heart. Today, attending a dinner at Regina’s Farm isn’t just about eating—it’s about being part of something bigger, a cultural exchange and community celebration wrapped around the table.
Why Locals Call It “Backyard Brazil”
Step through the garden gate and you’re instantly transported. The backyard feels like a slice of Brazil transplanted into suburban Florida. Banana and coffee plants sway between mango and avocado trees. Strings of fairy lights sparkle overhead, while rustic wooden tables are surrounded by hand-painted tiles, carved wood décor, and colorful murals.
The atmosphere evokes the feeling of a Sunday lunch in rural Brazil—where food is plentiful, laughter fills the air, and nobody’s in a hurry. Locals affectionately call it “Backyard Brazil” because it captures not just the flavors but the spirit of home.
A Dining Experience Unlike Any Other
There are no printed menus here. Regina herself explains each dish as it arrives, often sharing stories about her childhood in Minas Gerais. Guests are seated together at long communal tables, and within minutes strangers become dinner companions, passing platters and trading conversation.
The evening unfolds slowly, usually lasting several hours. Between courses, music drifts through the air—sometimes Brazilian folk songs, sometimes live guitar. The pace is unhurried, the mood joyful, and the experience unlike anything you’ll find in a traditional restaurant. Many guests leave with new friends as well as full stomachs.
The Three-Course Brazilian Feast
The meal starts with irresistible starters: warm pão de queijo (cheese bread rolls), golden coxinha (chicken croquettes), and fried yuca with spicy malagueta pepper sauce.
The main course highlights churrasco, Brazil’s iconic barbecue tradition. Skewers of juicy picanha (sirloin cap), linguiça sausage, and marinated chicken are pulled from the flames of a custom-built grill and carved right onto your plate. They’re served with black beans simmered with pork, garlicky collard greens, rice, and farofa (toasted cassava flour).
Desserts are no less indulgent: brigadeiros (rich chocolate truffles rolled in sprinkles), pudim de leite (creamy Brazilian flan), and seasonal fruits. Much of what Regina serves is made with ingredients imported directly from Brazil to preserve authenticity.
The Challenge Of Getting A Reservation
The exclusivity of Regina’s Farm only adds to its mystique. Seats are extremely limited, and the waitlist now stretches several years into the future. Reservations open only a few times a year, and spots vanish within minutes as hopeful diners flood the website and Facebook page.
Patience is required, but regulars insist it’s worth it. As Regina likes to say, “Good food cannot be rushed.” And perhaps that’s the secret ingredient—anticipation makes finally sitting at her backyard table all the more magical.