Guanabara

I am reluctant to write an accurate review about Guanabara, for fear of this little jewel being discovered and overrun, but I just can't help myself.

As soon as you enter the bar, you are filled with a sense of yeasty benevolence towards your fellow man. The circular layout of the venue lends itself to the feeling of belonging and you half-expect the doorman to clasp you to his bosom and say 'Welcome home'

The beats are Brazilian, as is the menu and are the specialty cocktails. I've never seen the dance-floor because it's always full of pulsating humans, but my understanding is that it is flat and quite sound.

The wizard who practices his art in the kitchen produces food of exceptional quality which should rightly make the TV show-ponies hang their heads in shame.

You will never see your waitress until you want something and then you will discover she at your elbow wearing a smile you could pour on a waffle and making sure that you want for nothing.

The cocktails are beautifully balanced and the atmosphere along with the above combine to deliver you into transports of delight.

Don't take my word for it. In fact, you would probably be happier somewhere else.
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Adam Baker
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, October 20, 2011

I had such high hopes for this one as it looked cool. I have had a meal there, which was good value with the groupon voucher-- fejoada, cocktail, a starter and a dessert. The chorizo starter was good and the cocktail was generous in alcohol but the rest of the food is... well, pretty blah. I am going there again because when I bought 2 vouchers when I did. One consistent thing is that they need to really improve on their customer service. Their people manning the phones (and I believe I have spoken to at least two) are some of the rudest I have had to deal with. They had an "in-your-face" attitude. I have given this place a second chance but I don't think it will get a third. So, if you don't mind rude service, the place is alright, but so many bars out there, I'd rather be treated with respect and dignity.
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zeanjurek
6 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Thursday, October 20, 2011

Me and my boyfriend went there on the groupon voucher, and we were really disappointed.

First we had to wait quite a long time for a table, that we have booked a while in advance.

Than we were waiting over 20 min for a waiting staff to come and take an order.

The started came after 30 min , and obviously the main course took extremely long time as well. The food was not nice at all and what was the most embarrassing the food was COLD We did not eat our mains almost at all.

We also did not eat the dessert which was too heavy and had a feeling that it was prepared a long time in advance, because seemed to be not fresh.

Service was awful!! Will never go there again!!!!
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- View all reviews by this user
1 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 0
Monday, October 17, 2011

Arrived @7pm for our table that had been prebooked over the telephone in advance. We had vouchers from Groupon for a 3course meal in cluding a cocktail each, lovely! However, I was with daughter , who didn't have any I.D. with her. We were prevented from entering the restaurant , as it is a licenced bar, you need to be 18! I told the bouncer that this info us not on our printed paperwork , he said it is on the web site, which I did check on my phone there and then , but couldn't find any such info. We were served but in the foyer! Which was cold , in view of theatre goers and we had the only table. This meal was mesnt to be a nice end to a day out in London. But I must admit the staff(bouncer and manager couldn't have been more helpfully and kind). despite everything. We did enjoy, food was very nice.
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Lisa
8 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 10
Monday, October 17, 2011

The food was really tasty! I was surprised how huge the portions were! I was very impressed with the staff, friendly and attentive. Very good service! Capoira guys who did the show were brilliant!!! Music was ok, I would expect bit more Brazilian though. It was in the beginning but then it changed to commercial/ chart music which is not my favourite one. Overall it was really good experience! We would visit again! Thanks!
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Agata S Kaluza
10 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Sunday, October 16, 2011

I bought a kgb deal voucher to try out the meal.

The music was fantastic. Atmosphere was good, and the dancing lesson was quite fun, a very good place for clubbing- loud music.

Food wise, we all enjoyed the cocktail; the grilled chicken wings were superb, vegetarian fry was good. However, the main course was a bit let down. Dessert took a bit long but was absolutely delicious. The table service was excellent. The person whom took our order was polite and very helpful.

Overall, my friends and I had a good time there
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Yvonne - View all reviews by this user
8 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Sunday, October 16, 2011

I expected a great Friday night out with a fantastic dinner (a Groupon voucher with 3 courses and a cocktail). We were seated and our orders were taken in few minutes... We were laughing at a couple sitting close to us who were obviously not happy with the service.. and then we realize another couple was not happy with the service - they were waiting for their drinks for 30 minutes.. only then we realized that we have been waiting for our first course and drinks for more than 40 minutes. We complained to the waiter who took our orders... still no food or drinks... we asked the runners to check in the kitchen where are our starters since a group of 6 people who were seated 20 minutes later than us already got their drinks and starters. And after 60minutes of waiting we decided to leave the place, hungry and thirsty. We demanded our voucher back, however, the request to speak to the manager was not granted ( the exact words of a hostess - "Find him, he is somewhere inside").
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Nat
0 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Saturday, October 15, 2011

We had a fantastic evening on a Friday on the Groupon deal. The food was hot and tasty and deserts were really yummy. The only thing was there were 2 beef dishes for the main course and 1 fish and 1 veg. It would have been nice to have had a chicken option. Never the less it was good.

The waitress was excellent and very attentive to our drinks and demands.

As always, the music and entertainment was outstanding! We had the best table in the house and weren't asked to move when we had finished our meal.

A top night at Guanabara and would reccomend it to all ages!
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Manisha
10 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, October 13, 2011

We definitely had a great night here and was very different to our normal nights out! Thoroughly enjoyed the music and the dancing, along with the samba drums...great atmosphere!

We didn't eat in the end, we only had drinks, which I did find were quite expensive but I guess they were normal central London prices...so would only really come if we were having a big night out,

We had a table but had no table service, but we were right by the bar anyway so this wasn't much of a problem.

Overall, great birthday night out! Thank you!
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Lucy
7 Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 6
Wednesday, October 12, 2011

There was nothing about this place that makes me want to return. The food was a complete rip-off. The vegetarian platter - £17.50 for a medium sized plate with a sliced vegetable, some small cubes of cheese, a few nuts and a dollop of salad taking up most of the plate.

What the hell is salad doing on a sharing platter? As I said, a complete rip off.

The venue itself is dingy and dirty, terrible DJ music played too loud with the 'dancing' more like an aerobics class than anything else.

I would rather stay in and pull out my own teeth that go back to this dump and I hope it closes down soon.

I'm not just disappointed, I'm angry that places like this are spoiling what is a great city.
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Clive Perkins
0 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Friday, October 07, 2011