Tucanos Brazilian Grill — Restaurant in Albuquerque

Been coming here for almost 20 years. This has been one of our go to places for a special occasion, haven't been here in about a year or so and today we went for our anniversary, for lunch with our children and left with that feeling of disappointment and overall LACKING. The older gentleman who is a "host/greeter" was super NOT friendly. When I walked up to be seated he just hind off have me a look like "yes? How many" without saying anything at all. I'm not sure if it was due to that medical thing around his throat, possibly a trach thing or what but if that's your job then he needs something where he shouldn't be in charge of something that requires greeting and talking. We went around 1:30 pm ish for lunch, waitress was friendly. The selection of the salad bar was bla, I know it's Brazilian but maybe research other options besides those currently have on the salad side that still stay within the culture. The back side of the salad bar has different types of mixed salads, nothing looked appetizing and didn't get anything from that section. The hot side, i did get some mashed potatoes and some mixed veggies but that's it. They used to have there deciduous pinto beans with these pieces of ham, oh my gosh.... but not today. And usually they have a good hearty soup/stew. Meat selection was ok, personally I don't care for beef that is really really red still or bloody, but my husband and son did. The sweet and spicy chicken was just as good as always. Pineapple always good. Dinner usually has more options and thinking I should have gone for dinner instead but wanted to get home early. But the overall feeling at the end I really don't want to pay that premium price for dinner for the same disappointment, idk we will see. Meat servers were very good as always. I didn't want more chicken than I already had, i don't care for the beef choices they offer, and same for the fish. I felt bored and lacking, so went back up to look on the entire salad bar, thinking maybe some fresh fruit , they had a sad little bowl of melon which I'm allergic to so couldn't have that. I walked around the whole thing and nothing else caught my eye to seem to try to satisfy. HERE'S MY HUGE PART... that left me just bla. I had to go to the bathroom, and I know there was a recent "remodel" only thing I seen different was the carpet,... anyway walking to the bathroom and the hallway leading to is pretty gross. The baseboards have that black gunk at the bottom and the doors are dirty and scuffed. The actual woman's bathroom was horrible, there was either poop or something brown on the floor near the toilet, something that had been recently cleaned and you could see the cleanup staining, the toilet didn't flush properly, I tried 4 times. The floors in the entire bathroom were disgusting not to mention the walls. For this place just having a "remodel" nothing in this bathroom has been changed since I've been coming here, and even so you could at least keep it clean. You can clearly see it hasn't been cleaned in quite some time. I was left very grossed out and not in a position where I want to eat after, eeewww. HERE'S THE THING, this has always been a upscale place to eat, I mean the price is shouldn't the entire experience be also?? Yes the salad with ranch and crutons was good, yes my 2 peices of chicken were good, yes pineapple was good. But, the bathrooms were like those of McDonald's or worse, and with a experience of lacking, where you have that feeling like, I want something that will really just hit the spot and couldn't find anything, and then that whole nasty hallway and bathroom part. I was done. Spending $130 for lunch alone for 5 people is alot, and for that premium price you want more bang for your buck, a clean environment, wonderful service from the time you come in to the time you leave, that host guy was sitting down on his phone when we left, didn't say a word to us. Who ever the GM of that place is should be ashamed! Get your...

Tonight I was excited to try the first Chef’s Feast dining experience at Tucanos in Albuquerque, which is a true celebration of Brazilian-inspired indulgence, delivering an immersive, four-course adventure in both flavor and service. From the moment I was seated, in a separate white tablecloth section, the special Chef’s appetizers (appertivos) set the tone for the evening. The selection includes a variety of bites that are artfully plated, bursting with bold flavors and designed to awaken your palate. Whether it’s crispy empanadas filled with savory chicken & cheese, partnered with cheesy bread balls and bacon-wrapped heart of palm, each appetizer teases what’s to come.

Next is the hearty spread of soups (sopas) and salads (ensaladas), a welcome progression that adds depth to the meal. The soups are warm, comforting, and perfectly seasoned, with traditional favorites like lobster bisque and butternut squash. The salads are equally impressive, showcasing a wide array of fresh, crisp vegetables and inventive dressings that range from tangy to creamy.

But the true centerpiece of the evening is the full churasco experience. This is where Tucanos shines, as the grill masters expertly carve rotisserie meats, vegetables, and their famous glazed pineapple directly at your table. The rotisserie meats—served in an endless parade—include succulent cuts like Picanha, perfectly seasoned with a crisp, golden crust and juicy, tender interior. The grehaldos also bring the opportunity to enjoy a selection of marinated fish, with each bite delivering layers of delicate flavor, whether it’s a flaky, lightly charred sea bass or the sweet, smoky salmon.

The attention to detail extends beyond the food, with servers carefully narrating each course as they arrive. Every dish is paired with one of three expertly chosen wines, part of the 3-wine flight that elevates the entire dining experience. The wines complement the courses beautifully, enhancing the flavors of the meats, fish, and even the side dishes with their unique profiles.

And as the evening draws to a close, the sobremesa—a special dessert offering—caps off the meal with absolute perfection. Tonight's special dessert was a homemade passion fruit infused decadent creamy cheesecake, drizzled in raspberry coulis and shaved dark chocolate, striking the right balance of sweetness and indulgence, leaving a lingering taste that ensures the entire experience remains unforgettable.

What truly sets the Chef’s Feast apart is the sense of exclusivity and the personalized service. The live carving at the table makes you feel part of the process, while the seamless attention from the staff creates an air of refinement. Tucanos masterfully delivers a dining experience that is both luxurious and comfortable, making every guest feel like they are part of a one-of-a-kind...

Will never go here again. We were given a 30 minute wait for a table which turned into a 40 minute wait; this wasn’t a really big issue since we sat at the bar and had drinks while we waited. While waiting at the bar, we noticed that it was warm inside of the restaurant. After being seated at our table the ambient temperature near the salad bar was warmer than the bar. When I asked our server why it was hot, she just ignored me. I can only assume the AC was broken. We asked our server to bring us waters to drink, and it took nearly another half hour to get our waters. It’s a possibility the server may have been confused because some of us had brought our drinks from the bar. We started eating before getting water. This is when the entertainment really started. A lady from the sidewalk passing by started yelling and screaming at a table closest to the glass windows (we couldn’t hear a thing). The lady kept this up for a good fifteen minutes, all while taking taking bites out of her styrofoam cup. Eventually our server tried to go tell the lady to go away, which didn’t work, then the head manager became involved which only seemed to agitate the screaming lady. The yelling lady began to speed walk in a figure eight motion for about thirty times yelling, before eventually leaving. The meat was actually very good, the salad I made myself, from the salad bar, not so much, it was warm. Then comes the part for desert. Someone from our party had a birthday and had signed up for the Tucanos birthday gift, which included either a desert or a free lunch. The person from our party decided to get the ice cream. We gave our server the phone number to redeem the ice cream and waited, and waited, and waited. And never got the ice cream. We just switch our little indicator to green again and waited for the grilled pineapple instead. The server eventually came back and asked if we were ready for the check, being that we were no longer in the mood for desert we said yes. We had four people in our party and only three people ate. We let the server know that since we didn’t get the ice cream we wanted to redeem the birthday meal instead. She came back with the check and the check STILL had a charge for four meals. I told her to fix this since one person only had a beer from the bar and the other person was redeeming her birthday meal. When she came back the last time there was still a charge for three meals. When I told her to what happened to the free meal. The server responded with the card has already been charged and cannot be changed. At this point I just wanted to get out, especially with the AC not working. I’ll attach a picture of my receipt to show I still gave a $20 tip. And at no point did I act like a Karen. What I can say, is I’ll never eat here again. I hope this restaurant runs out...