Dance into Aurora for Brazilian cuisine

Enjoy a taste of Brazil in Aurora at U Samba Cafe, located on New York Street just north of Hollywood Casino. Since March, this unique dining spot has been delivering authentic Brazilian fare in downtown Aurora.

Here’s what’s cooking at U Samba Cafe.

What’s on the menu? U Samba offers a variety of appetizers, sandwiches, entrees and desserts that are made from scratch using traditional Brazilian recipes. Whether you are interested in a pasta dish, meat specialty or want to sample the coxhinas, a crispy potato dough croquette filled with shredded seasoned chicken, the menu is easy to navigate even for those who are unfamiliar with Brazilian cuisine.

About the owners: This is the first restaurant venture for Brazil natives Rafael Baglioli, his wife, Elaine Castilho, and Baglioli’s parents, Vera Mathias and Antonio Vellozo. Baglioli said he and his wife moved to Aurora in 2013 for another business venture, and his parents followed in 2014.

Once the family began sharing native dishes with friends and neighbors, they realized people were enchanted by the Brazilian specialties. After being repeatedly encouraged to open their own spot, the family decided to jump into the restaurant business and they opened U Samba Cafe.

A mission statement or philosophy: U Samba’s goal is to offer homemade authentic Brazilian dishes at a reasonable price. It was fitting to name the restaurant after the lively style of dance that originated in Brazil because, Baglioli said, “everybody there loves samba.”

What’s the decor like? U Samba is bright and cheery, with vibrant walls of blue, yellow and green and whimsical tropical fabric accents. Simple dark wood tables provide ample seating for small or big groups, and a large window that faces New York Street lets in lots of natural light.

Food specialties: Feijoada, a Brazilian black bean stew served over Brazilian rice with collard greens, is a favorite. Diners also rave about the steak rolls, stuffed gnocchi and pastels, a crispy empanada dough filled with your choice of ground beef, chicken, cheese, shrimp or heart of palm.

We’re different because: This family-owned cafe dishes up traditional Brazilian cuisine that can’t be found in a big chain restaurant. They are excited to share their passion for their native food with others and carefully craft all of the menu items to maintain authenticity while meeting the needs of their customers.

Extras: U Samba offers carryout and caters parties of all sizes. They also offer a full line of frozen items to make things convenient for customers who want to have their favorites at home or for their own event.

Price range: Appetizers range from $2 for a crispy croquette filled with chicken or beef to $6 for yucca fries topped with chopped bacon. Entrees range from $9 to $12 for pasta, chicken and meat specialties, and desserts range from $1 for a hand-crafted Brazilian chocolate bon bon to $4 for chocolate mousse.

Logistics: U Samba Cafe is located at 37 W. New York St. in downtown Aurora, within walking distance of the Hollywood Casino. It is open Tuesday through Thursday from noon to 2 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from noon to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 6 p.m. They are closed on Monday. Call 630-897-3903 or visit usambacafe.com.

Jane Donahue is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.