Miami Yacht Access President Eduardo Cury’s Favorite Restaurants For Lunch Meetings

Miami Yacht Access President, Eduardo Cury, is one of the nation’s premier yacht brokers known for his expertise in the luxury yacht industry. Cury got his start in the hospitality industry, specifically restaurants. His first job after moving to America from Sao Paulo, Brazil was at Texas de Brazil, a popular churrascaria restaurant chain with locations both internationally and in the U.S. It was here that he got his initial experiences in customer service.

After working his way through multiple promotions, he found himself consistently working directly with the owners of the chain. Eventually he became Head of Operations, in charge of logistics and opening new locations all throughout Florida, which led him to Miami Beach. After seeing an opportunity to bring Brazilian beer to the restaurant chain’s menu, he negotiated with Brazil’s famous Itaipava Beer label to enter the United States market.

During this time, he switched gears. He reignited his passion for the ocean and luxury yachts, which stemmed from growing up around his father’s boating business. In 2004 he purchased his first yacht from Miami Beach Marina and rebuilt it, from the bottom up. With his prior experience in the industry; his ability to repair the engine, electronics, interior and more; and his location in Miami Beach, he shifted his goals to break in to the yachting business.

Taking advantage of his prior clientele and connections in the hospitality and restaurant industries, he launched Miami Yacht Access, his yacht brokerage company in 2010.

“Purchasing a yacht goes far beyond most any other investment that can be made. Not just from the monetary aspect, but from the experience, and that experience starts with a relationship,” Cury says. “Customer service and building a deep and meaningful relationship is first and foremost important.”

“There were times working for Texas de Brazil where I would go home sad or disappointed because there may have been a customer that wasn’t fully satisfied, and I just couldn’t let go of that,” he continues. “I always wanted to know that I could do whatever it would take for complete customer satisfaction.”

When he wines and dines clients, here are three restaurants that Cury frequents.

Texas de Brazil

Family-owned Texas de Brazil offers diners an authentic Brazilian steakhouse experience with an all-you-can-eat buffet in an upscale setting. The menu is divided in to three sections. There’s the salad menu featuring everything from fresh vegetables, cheeses, mixed salads and more; the hot savory section with items like garlic mashed potatoes, feijoada black beans, lobster bisque, cheese bread, fried bananas and more; and finally desserts that include all sorts of cakes, flan, pies and more.

The meats are the star of the show and are cooked over an open flame with natural wood charcoal. They offer everything from herb marinated pork loin and Brazilian sausage to parmesan pork loin and garlic picanha. It’s a meat-lovers paradise.

Little Brazil Miami Beach

This family-owned restaurant has been in business for over 12 years and offers diners a large selection of juicy rotisserie and grilled meats, fresh vegetables, garden salads, and homemade desserts. Sharable appetizers include traditional bites like the coxinha, soft dough croquette filled with seasoned chicken and cream cheese; camarao ao alho e oleo, sautéed shrimps on garlic and olive oil; and pastries filled with savory mixes like minced beef or shrimp and cream cheese.

Bigger entrees include authentic dishes like the picanha with char-grilled top sirloin steak cut on a sizzling skillet topped with roasted garlic; fraldinha grelhada, char-grilled skirt steak, served with fries and chimichurri; and frango piemontese, grilled chicken cubes with white rice in a cream, parmesan and mushrooms.

They also have fish and vegetarian dishes. Popular options include the risotto de camarao; and the tilapia com puree, grilled fish with mashed potatoes or veggies, served with shrimps, tomatoes and caper sauce.

Viva Brazil Signature 

This lively waterfront Brazilian steakhouse features large selection of Brazilian favorites on its menu. The tropical ambiance is perfect for festive get togethers and offers lush, vacation vibes. Founder Luciano Silva has curated an extensive menu with appetizers that range from crispy yucca bites with a garlic passion-fruit coulis and sautéed shrimp with truffle cream to to favorites like the artisan grilled sausage and fried farm cheese.

The menu has sections for “steak and chops”, which includes grilled lamb chops with a black fig reduction and angus beef “picanha”; “to share” with hearty cuts of meat like the tomahawk and 6-hour slow roasted beef rib; “Grandma’s Favorites” that include chicken stroganoff and creamy ‘arroz com pato’ with pulled braised duck meat; and “fish and seafood” which has everything from seared Atlantic salmon and classic Brazilian fish stew.

Viva Brazil also has impressive seafood towers to share and surf and turf options.