Brenda P.
Yelp
Once a week on Saturdays, Regina's Farm aims to provide guests with a unique Brazilian homestyle dinner experience. In doing so, the non-profit organization raises funds for the Las Olas Worship Center.
Led by Regina Rodrigues, the project organically began at her home, across the street from her church. Feeling nostalgic about her hometown in Brazil, she shared its food with friends every week after service. Slowly, it evolved from informal dinners and community fundraisers to what it is today--the toughest reservation to score in South Florida. Really.
I forget how I heard about this experience. At some point in 2019, I requested a reservation via text and was assigned a spring 2021 date. I accepted, hoping to keep that reservation, wondering what I would be up to in the future. By the time the date came around, COVID issues had canceled the much-awaited dinner. I never heard back about a reopening or rescheduling date. In 2022, almost a year later, I inquired once again and was offered an almost immediate reservation for that following week. Unfortunately, it was one I could not make. It would have to wait until the next offered reservation in 2023. It took four years, but I made it!
Wholesome, welcoming, and extremely laid-back are the best words to describe the overall experience at Regina's Farm.
5:00 p.m. As suggested in my text confirmation, our party of three arrived early. Parking was available across the street in a free designated lot. We then joined a short existing line that led us inside the property and to a table for registration. This is where guests checked in with the host, purchased drinks, and received picnic table assignments marked by colored ribbons. Only cash is accepted. Our party was the lucky color red, and the first group (out of six) to have access to the buffet.
The space, mostly mulched, holds around 20 picnic tables. Palm trees don multicolored lights and strung flags, creating a festive and unique environment as Brazilian tunes fill the air. Families gathered and explored the chicken coop and rabbit areas with their children, rode the swings, and used the kiddie wagons provided, adding to the lively atmosphere.
BYOB Guests are encouraged to bring wine or champagne. Glasses are provided. Beer and liquor are not allowed.
5:45 p.m. SOUP LINE Oversized pots holding several different types of soup (chicken, corn and bacon, sweet corn, oxtail, plus shrimp and fish) awaited guests--a perfect choice on a night when the weather teased in the lower 70s. A nearby table held ceramic pots and spoons for our use. One of the benefits of an early arrival was getting to this line quickly. The chicken and oxtail soups honestly tasted homemade in that grandma-lovingly-cooked-all-day way. I also enjoyed the accompanying cheese bread.
6:45 p.m. CHOW TIME Our group was up first. A few minutes later, our plates overflowed with a bounty of comfort eats. Most of the dishes tasted familiar to me due to the similarities in styles to Cuban food. On my plate? Delicious maduros, rice, yucca, and a combination of beans, oxtail, and sausage. An additional hearty chunk of oxtail also topped my plate and was the best of everything I tried. Given the time constraints, diners have no choice but to fill their plates to allow other groups to make the line and serve themselves. Thankfully, Regina's Farm provides enough food for all, ensuring everyone is well-catered for.
7:45 p.m. We sat and waited almost an hour after our main course for the desserts and coffee to be offered, but we were told it wouldn't be anytime soon. By this time, the lines still lingered, with another two groups awaiting their turn for the main dinner buffet. I suppose that's a downside of being the first group to dine.
8:00 p.m. Disappointed, we decided to leave and skip the last part. I'd looked forward to trying the much-talked-about desserts and sleeve-poured coffee. For our family, however, three hours with the potential of at least another hour left was a no-go.
Since our arrival, our son had also eyed a small kiddie train. I inquired about that as well but was told that, for safety, rides are only offered once the dinner lines subside. And with that, our visit concluded.
(THE FULL DETAILED REVIEW IS ON MY BLOG. LINK IN YELP BIO)
Even though dinner didn't end as well as I had hoped, I applaud the concept and remain happy that I experienced most of it. Time issues aside (and nothing some logistic tweaks can't fix), there really isn't anything out there like Regina's Farm.