Case Study - Nelore Brazilian Steak House

Author: Shannon Small, Eclipse Team Leader

Having moved from Brazil in 2002 at the age of 19, Cezar Da Silva, owner of the Nelore Brazilian Steak House, has had over 20 years of experience in the restaurant industry. Cezar also owns two ‘El Guaca’ Mexican restaurants and two ‘Mangiare Ristorante’ Italian restaurants, all based in the East of England. 

In his latest venture, Cezar decided to go back to his roots, opening the Brazilian Rodizio steakhouse Nelore, first in Newmarket and most recently in Hertford. The Rodizio style of restaurant offers an ‘all you can eat’ style of dining, with mouth-watering meat including steak sourced from Scotland and Uruguay, and an irresistible buffet of stews and salads.

The Project

Opened in September 2024, Nelore is situated in a beautifully converted grade 2 listed town house in the centre of Hertford. Previously a gastropub, the interior of the building was in a good state but needed a makeover to align with Cezar’s steakhouse vision! With a varied clientele, Nelore is a sophisticated dining experience offering top quality food and drink. 

With a steakhouse already opened in Newmarket, Cezar was keen to keep consistency in the interior design whilst giving the new venue its own identity with  high quality contract furniture.

The Challenges & Requirements

Owning and managing 6 restaurants is no easy feat. Cezar’s time is precious, so he needs to partner with reliable companies who he can trust to deliver exactly what he’s looking for. The main challenge for Cezar is that he prefers to manage the interior projects himself; he always has a very particular concept in mind for his restaurants and can’t necessarily rely on an interior designer to translate it effectively. 

Nelore has a sophisticated, upmarket vibe that echoes the premium quality of food that is on offer. The interior strikes a pleasing balance between dark and moody and warm and welcoming. Cezar was looking for commercial furniture that felt elegant and premium whilst being comfortable and having a rustic twist.

The Products

Cezar was immediately drawn to our Lucero range, comprising of a Side Chair and Bar Stool, upholstered in genuine quilted leather. The rich tan colour of the aniline leather has a naturally warm and aged look that gives the rustic edge that was needed. The metal sledge-style bases of the chair and stool emanate industrial cool whilst maintaining the chic style that befits Nelore. 

As a point of difference in certain areas, Cezar chose to use the Mid-Century inspired  Armando Armchairs, which like the Lucero range are upholstered in genuine leather and ooze sophistication. The tables in Nelore are constructed from our  Solid Oak Table Tops in a Rustic Antique finish, supported by simple black Auto Adjust Table Bases, which means the tables become self-levelling and extremely stable, no matter how many times a customer gets up to go to the buffet!

From top left: Lucero Bar Stool in Brown, Lucero Side Chair in Brown, Armando Armchair, Solid Oak Table Top in Rustic Antique , Auto Adjust KT22 Dining Table Base , Auto Adjust KX22 Dining Table Base

The Result

The interior of the Nelore Brazilian Steak House speaks for itself! Cezar has done a fantastic job of creating an ambience that is elegant and grown-up whilst also being cozy and inviting. The dark walls, contemporary artwork and warmth from the existing beams and brickwork, along with the stunning leather chairs all combine perfectly. And customer feedback has echoed that sentiment; Nelore enjoyed a very busy Christmas period and is seeing bookings pick up for 2025. 

Cezar is thrilled with the final look of the restaurant and is delighted with the style and quality of the furniture from Eclipse. The service he received was second-to-none and he wouldn’t hesitate to partner with us again for any new restaurant project.