Samba BBQ — Restaurant in New York

I have been meaning to try Samba for some time. I really loved Mokja the previous restaurant, and didn’t want to say farewell to their most excellent margarita pizza with fresh basil and mozzarella. Big shoes to fill.

Firstly, I’m so happy they preserved the antiquity of the charming bar section with the Tiffany lights, tin ceiling, antique signs, and that stunning and expansive, solid wood bar. All nostalgic treasures from years past. The bar itself is a great place to just have drinks and a small snack like a delicious choripán in a vintage pub setting.

Either way, I finally dined at Samba and was really delighted with the new concept. I found out that the owners have roots in Brazil so this is really a labor of love and an effort to share authentic Brazilian food with our community. I wish I had taken better food pictures but in truth I was too busy enjoying the generous offerings as they emerged fresh off the grill. Highlights were the picanha, sausage, pork belly, chicken hearts, and baby beef. The meat was perfectly seasoned and had that perfect chargrilled barbecue flavor. It is also a fun food experience anticipating the passadores coming out with the skewers and slicing juicy cuts right onto your heaping plate. I loved the salad bar which had so many amazing additional dishes. Highlights were the carnitas, feijoada (black beans and sausage, Brazil's national dish), the bolinhos de arroz (fried rice and cheese croquette balls), pão de queijo, and beef stroganoff. The condiments were also amazing and I topped each bite with either the beautiful vibrant hot sauce, the adorable little spicy preserved red chilis in oil, pickled onions, or chimichurri. They all tasted homemade.

The staff were all thoughtful and really make you feel like part of the family. They’re doting and care about your experience here. The owners are there hustling too and have a great presence there, like the very best mom-and-pop establishments. It is a more personal and intimate experience, versus other places where they’re more hands-off or nowhere to be found. Otherwise the Brazilian bartender was super lovely, and I was also so happy to see the OG manager was still there helping run the show. His kindness makes my day!

It is a sumptuous meal and a steal at $39.95 a person (kids are discounted). They also had $5 beers and $10 caipirinhas when I went although I didn’t drink. I’ve been to quite a few churrascarias and this one stands out for their hospitality and warmth, in addition to their exceptional food. A very welcome and unique addition to our...

It is just ok place. But I dont think it is worth it and we wont go back.

Start with salad bar, it is nice and decend variety. The churraso server will come with the meat, you will receive about 9 type of meats: pork and beef. No lamb. After the first round, you wont get more meat unless you ask for. The churraso guy will not stop by and only serving a new customer for the first round. I would say the first round was amazing, well seasoned, not over salt, arrived in warm perfect temperature, not over cook. It should be all you can eat, however, you need to ask the server for more meat. Even you ask, it will take long time to have your second and third round of meats. Unlike other brazilian BBQ place that the server will go around with the meat again and again, this place won't. I am assuming it is their strategy to keep the cost low. We found the second and additional meats are getting worst. Maybe the same quality, but it is well done.

SO if you come here, the trick is asking the meat as much as you want on the first round because you may not get it again on the second and third round.

You need to ask for refill water and etc even only two tables and they demand minimum 18% tips and google review. Sadly, they are on the middle of foodies area. There are many better...

If you are looking for a Rodizio experience in Flushing, then there’s no doubt Samba BBQ is the best restaurant to go to. And at modest $39.95 AYCE option, I don’t think you can do any better than what Samba does.

The salad bar, however, is tiny and not equipped to accommodate a large group of diners. If you are expecting the likes of Fogo de chao & Texas de Brazil, then you will be dissatisfied. There isn’t simply enough to compete with the big guys.

However, each and every side dishes were delicious. Everyone’s skipping out to eat more meats, but I find their rice and feijoada extremely flavorful.

I wouldn’t go out of my way to dine here, but if I am in the Flushing area and crave Brazilian cuisine, then I would not hesitate to dine at Samba. And once again, the owner really maxed out their offerings at $39.95. Can’t do...