Tudo Bem — Restaurant in Hamilton

Won't be going back!! The whole experience was ruined by the very poor set-up. I was very hungry when we went in and was looking forward to this. I have been to Bem Brasil in England 3 times so was expecting a similar experience. However, after being sat at the table with my girlfriend we were presented with the drinks list. On the front was a list of around 15 cocktails. Not being a regular cocktail drinker, or speaker of Portuguese I had no idea what these cocktails were. Unfortunately, neither did the girl who was serving us. There are no descriptions at all so I decided not to have one, but my girlfriend wanted one so asked what a certain cocktail was. The girl serving did not know. All she could say was that the one at the top of the list was very famous in Brazil, and so was the second one. I said, "We are asking what the flavours are", but she didn't know but immediately started walking away saying she would ask. So I was not impressed. "Am I going to have to ask about every single one until I know of one that is a flavour I like?". When she came back she told my GF that it was flavoured with Passion Fruit, so she chose that one. Who knows, the other 14 may have been flavoured with our favourite fruit but we didn't want to go through this for each one. So on to the food. In every buffet I have ever been to in the world, there is a large selection of food in a central place that you can walk up to and fill your plate. It was like that in Bem Brasil, Manchester England. Once the person has their breads, salads, vegetables and other things, you sit down and then the bbq'd meat is brought to your table. Not here. Every item is brought out in a totally random fashion!! First came 2 small round pieces of bread. OK I thought, but I like my bread as an accompaniment, so even though I was hungry, I couldn't yet start eating. Then some Calimari came but I don't like squid so had to pass. Then came a dish of rice and a dish of beans, similar to Caribbean style, which is good if you like rice & beans.I don't mind it so had to put this on my plate, but would not have been my choice had I been free to choose, as in a proper buffet. Then came a piece of chicken. OK I had that. Tasted nice. Then came a piece of fried veg, I mean 1 piece. It seemed like they were giving out only single pieces of everything they brought and they were quite small. Good if it was a buffet but not good when hungry and being served random singular items. Then came some Cransky sausage, chopped into even smaller pieces than those small cranskies already are, and skewered. Being hungry I was reluctant to turn things down. There was quite some time between these items arriving. Then came a piece of fish. "What kind of fish", I asked. "I don't know I will find out", was the reply. So then I am sat there with rice, beans, bread, fish, cransky and chicken on my plate. Very random and not what I would have chosen, if I'd had a proper buffet style choice. We don't like undercooked meat so had to wait a very long time for any steak as I'd requested only "well done". It was like leather unfortunately. The lamb came and tasted great. The pork ribs also tasted great. Leaf salad was also brought in between these meats. After a while I have some bones and other bits which I didn't want to eat on my plate but again I had to ask to get a new plate. Every buffet I've ever been to has plates next to the buffet selection area so you can please yourself. I would never normally have fish on the same plate as my pork, but didn't have a choice here. Or rather I did have a choice and that was, have it, or don't have it. Once it got going we are being interrupted almost ever 10 seconds to ask if we want any of the next random thing. As I got thirstier I decided to have a cocktail as well so ordered the first one on the list, seeing as it was Brazil's most famous. Unfortunately it was Lemon flavoured, probably the fruit I hate most. A simple description on the menu could have avoided that. Too much trouble to ask about all of them. Food 6/10 Experience...

Went here last night and will never return. $62 for all you can eat? Sounds like a good deal right? Nope….you will sit at your table waiting like a dog for the staff to bring some scrappy meats to you. If you are lucky you will get more than a paper thin slice of meat, then will wait some more for the next sliver of meat. I hope you like it mostly raw because this is what you will get. I’m not a big eater at all but I left here unsatisfied as did the rest of my group. I do have to say the tiny amount of food I did receive was pretty tasty….there was just not enough! It was like a sampling stand at the supermarket.

There was no halloumi as stated on the menu. We got one little cheese bun to start. The coleslaw seemed like it was bought from New World a few days ago. Received one lot of fries and the other condiments. None were topped up despite asking several times. Same with the water. We got our own drinks from the bar. This place gave off the “trying to cut costs” vibe. Bookings are for only 90 minutes so they will give you as less as possible in this time.

The service was not great and they did not seem to know what they were doing. It wasn’t overly busy either. English was very poor too. The most action I saw of these staff was when our group got up to pay and they went to stand by the door. Maybe they thought we were going to do a runner?

The atmosphere was non existent here. No music. No chatter or engagement from staff. We were unlucky enough to have a drunken group of teen/early 20’s boys sat next to us. They were loud and obnoxious and walking over seats and knocking stuff around. There were more drug bags than meat. The staff never said a word to them. All the other guests in the place looked miserable.

I don’t normally give reviews but people need to know just how bad this place was. I assume this business has just changed hands given it is still in business but wow, they need to pick it up quickly.

Don’t waste your money here. This would be...

My first thought when I walked into Tudo Ben was, 'where have you been all these years?' The service was wow!!! The food was wowza!!!

We started off with a refreshing drink of the classic Caipirinha, perfect for a hot sunny day. It was divine. For all the teetotallers out there, they have a non-alcoholic version too. You only need to ask 😉, say that golden word 'please'. They ll oblige.

What can I say about the food, each each topped the previous. The red meats with chimichurri, the pork scotch, the sausages, the chicken wrapped in bacon, fish wrapped in banana leaf with salsa, pork rib, each one was outstanding and melt in mouth. On 2nd thoughts I was sure if it was the food that melt in my mouth, or was it my my mouth generating drool for more. The verdict is yet to come out on that one.

Each side that came with it was just as delightful and delicious.

Just when I thought I tried it all, they brought out the fried banana..OMFG!!!. I thought I nearly died. In that moment I thought I have tried it all, thats when they got the cinnamon dusted grilled pineapple.. I was certain, I was in heaven and the angels were singing. Or it could be the temptation that the devil speaks off. Either ways I accept my fate. 😉😉

Needless to say my friend and I never made it to the dessert menu thanks to the banana and pineapple. But we are certain they are just as good.

I am sure we departed in a food coma and the goofiest smile on our faces.

I can't express what we felt; a combination of happiness, feeling content, overwhelmed, I am running out of words sort of a situation.

Must try, please try, do try. That's all I can say 😊😊😊

P.S. for all my vegetarian and vegan friends, they apparently have a menu for you too. You should certainly look into it 😁😁.

It was more than 'Tudo Bem', thank you to you and your amazing crew. Their beautiful smiles are etched in...