Brazilian Flame Bar & Grill — Restaurant in Gold Coast City

I really wanted to love Brazilian Flame Bar & Grill, especially after having amazing experiences at a similar restaurant in Toowoomba. Unfortunately, despite its potential and good food, the cramped layout and poor service made the experience fall flat.

To be clear: staff were friendly from the outset—we were there for a family 60th, and the waitress kindly stored our cupcakes in the fridge. But friendliness alone couldn't make up for the clear lack of organisation. There didn’t seem to be a floor manager present, and service was sporadic and chaotic throughout.

Our group of nine ordered drinks early in the evening, while the place was still quiet. Despite the waitress writing everything down, the order came out completely wrong: we were missing drinks, and what did arrive wasn’t what we’d ordered. It took multiple follow-ups just to get what we’d originally asked for, and once our side order was taken, our waitress disappeared for the rest of the night. I wanted to order a bottle of wine but couldn't get a waitress' attention again—even though some staff were chatting and making jokes with each other just a few tables away. The times we did make contact with the staff was via the meat servers, or one of our table physically having to get up and search for a waitress to make requests on everyone's behalf.

The meat servers were very friendly, but service was inconsistent. Being seated in a tight corner meant skewers often came with only a couple of pieces left, meaning barely half our table got anything. Other times, staff avoided serving the far side of the table entirely because it was too cramped to access.

We never turned our green flag to red, yet at one point the meat service stopped completely. We had to ask for it to resume, and had to repeatedly request the grilled pineapple before it finally arrived—by which time most of us were too full to enjoy it.

Speaking of space, we were meant to be 10 people, and we were grateful one couldn’t make it. Even with a chair missing, it was an EXTREMELY tight squeeze. It might be a Surfers Paradise thing, but the restaurant would benefit massively from fewer tables. The floor layout made movement and service difficult, and that’s with the place only about 70% full—I can’t imagine how it functions at full capacity.

To be fair, the food itself was excellent: juicy, flavourful meats, a good variety, and quality sides, including a fresh green salad. A+ on the food.

We still had a great night, but that was entirely thanks to good company—not the restaurant. Sadly, the cramped space, poor service, and lack of drink follow-through really soured the experience. At these prices, there are better options in Surfers. Sorry, BFB&G—Toowoomba takes the win on this one,...

Extremely disappointing experience

I went to this Brazilian Barbecue restaurant with my partner, and honestly, it was one of the worst dining experiences I’ve ever had on the Gold Coast.

From the beginning, the waiter who first attended our table (the heavier guy, to help identify who he was) had a very unpleasant attitude. He ignored our table several times, didn’t smile once, and seemed annoyed to even offer us the meats. His manners were completely unprofessional — no friendliness, no warmth, nothing.

When we first sat down, the plates on our table were dusty, and mine even had a small insect stuck to it. I politely asked for a clean plate, and he gave me a dirty look before replacing it. For a restaurant that charges $127 for two people, this kind of service is unacceptable.

At the beginning, he was the only one serving meats, and while speaking loudly in Portuguese with other staff, he ignored several tables, including ours. I understand it’s a Brazilian place, but this is Australia — they should also make an effort to communicate in English and be polite to all customers, not just those who speak Portuguese.

Later in the evening, a couple of other waiters started coming around — they were much more polite and professional. One of them even apologized and offered us pineapple, which was kind. But by then, our first impression had already been ruined.

The food itself was average at best. The meats were dry, overcooked, and not juicy or fresh. The chicken hearts were small, hard, and clearly overcooked — nothing like the tender, flavorful ones you expect at a proper churrasco. Some cuts looked like they had been cooked earlier and reheated.

The desserts were another disappointment — greasy churros, hard jelly cubes with no flavor. It felt like everything was mass-produced with no care for quality.

The atmosphere was extremely noisy, with staff shouting across the restaurant in Portuguese.

In summary, we paid premium prices for poor service, average food, and a very unpleasant experience. There are far better restaurants on the Gold Coast where you’ll be treated with respect and served quality food. I would not recommend this place at all.

I truly hope management reads this and takes it as constructive feedback, especially regarding the attitude of their staff — one rude waiter can completely ruin a couple’s...

G'day, Brazilian Flame. We rocked up with another family for a proper feed, keen on your rodizio buffet. We were ready to give the picanha a fair nudge and left hungry, but not in the way we wanted. Honestly, for the pretty money you charge, the service was a real shocker.

Right from the get-go, it felt a bit off. The bloke who served us initially seemed rushed, and we only scored one lot of sauces for the whole table. For two families? C'mon.

But the main event, the meats coming around, was where it properly fell apart. The meat carvers seemed to have a real blind spot for our table. We watched them do laps of the joint, piling meat high for other tables, especially for one couple they were chatting away with in their own language. Meanwhile, we were sitting there with our plates looking like a paddock after a drought. You couldn't miss it – it was as clear as day that we were being given the cold shoulder.

It got to the point where we were so hungry waiting for the next round that when someone did finally wander over, we had to ask for double portions just to make sure we'd actually get a feed. That's not how a buffet should work, mate. You shouldn't have to strategise like you're planning a military operation just to get some tucker.

The worst bit was trying to get anyone's attention. I gave a friendly "excuse me" to a waiter who looked right at me – I saw him clock me in his peripheral vision – and he just rocked on past like I was a ghost. Absolute disregard. Not a real Aussie way to treat people, that's for sure.

The food itself, when we got it, was decent. The chicken was juicy and the sausages had a good bite. But no amount of okay meat makes up for feeling like you're not welcome. It's a real shame, because the place has potential, but the service was utterly rooted.

Verdict: Would I recommend it? Not on your nelly. Save your bucks and go somewhere you're actually made to feel like a paying customer, not an inconvenience. We left feeling proper stiffed. A real shame, mate. Give this one a solid miss.

Pro-Tip for Management: Your staff need a lesson in giving everyone a "fair go". It's...