Guanabara

What can I say about this 'restaurant' that hasn't already been said?

Well, quite a lot actually. Despite the negativity of these reviews, some just don't go far enough. 'Awful, awful, awful', is accurate, but perhaps just a shade generous. Rather than trying to convey just how dreadful it was into words, I'm going to give some marks out of 10 instead. 1 being the lowest and 10 being, well, irrelevent.

Food Choice - 3/10

Food Flavour - 1/10

Ambience - 1/10

Music - 2/10

Service - 3/10

Price (even with 50% discount) - 2/10

Brazilianity - 2/10

Christmas lights, party flags and slight draught - 7/10

Wooden Benches - 10/10

In conclusion, if you like over-priced, tasteless, anti-Brazilian food served in a school hall with Girls Aloud blaring out then this is definetly for you! If not then you're better off at Chicken Cottage.
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2 Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 2
Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Awful, awful, awful. If you're considering going here, read the reviews and think again. A large group of us booked for a friend's birthday. When we arrived we were put on two separate tables with our backs to each other - not the best start! Not to mention the fact that the music was so loud, that we couldn't have spoken to our friends sitting next to us, never mind the ones stuck behind us. Then the food came. At least four people complained that their starters were cold. Mine was just as dry as anything, really disappointing. The mains were no better. Most of our party had ordered steak, so as they started to arrive, a friend of mine pointed out she hadn't been asked how she liked it cooked. Cue the staff rushing round the table asking how we wanted our steaks, then all of the steaks magically appearing 2 minutes later cooked in exactly the same way as the ones they'd tried to serve us earlier. I had the stew which was cold, fatty and horrible. By this point, it was more like a nightclub in there, with people falling into our table and us having to shout at each other just to be heard. Table was booked for 7.30, we left at 9.15. Do not waste your time or money here.
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Allyomally - View all reviews by this user
1 Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 1
Sunday, January 15, 2012

This place is awful. I purchased a groupon, similar to others that have written reviews. Firstly, I phoned up to make a reservation as instructed on the groupon, I was informed that this is fine, and that a table would be reserved which we can have for two hours, after which we can sit in the bar. Sounds great but when we turned up I was informed that we dont have a table, and that we have to perch at the bar surrounded by people who had just finished work desperate to drink themselves silly. The place was noisy and dirty. Staff were rude. The 'food' they served arrived in less than 5 minutes. You often have to wait longer in a fast food place! It was also cold, dry and tasteless. Brazilian food is flavoursome, and it is a discrace that they feel they can use the good reputation of Brazilian food for their tasteless rubbish. It was BY FAR the worst place I have eaten at in London. We arrived at the place at 18.01. We had left by 18.26. I think that says it all.
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LondonFoodLover - View all reviews by this user
0 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Thursday, December 08, 2011

This is for whom is going to Guanabara to have a nice time and wishes to taste a real great Brazilian meal at a vibrant venue.

I have booked a table for 21:00 to have dinner and to celebrate my bday. Met friends there at 20:00 had some drinks and at 21:00 the table was ready. We ordered the food and only at 22:45 the food - started - to arrive. More than disappointed, we decided to leave. A business that leaves its customers waiting for 1:45 min can't be that good. You seriously need to rethink the strategy. As a Brazilian I felt ashamed in front of my friends to face such situation. Please improve the system and organise this 'restaurant/carnival' team better. You are trying to cover too many things at the same small space very badly.
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4 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Sunday, November 13, 2011

Awful service, we booked on the Groupon bar snacks and cocktail deal but no bar area had been reserved and we were told we couldn't stand at the bar.

Food platters were disappointing and certainly not worth the value without the Groupon discount.

Cocktails were not well mixed and tasted of pure alcohol.
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2 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 2
Friday, November 11, 2011

Terrible food. Terrible service. We had booked a 3 course meal and they turned the restaurant into a nightclub around us. So the waiters and waitresses could not see/hear us when we tried to return food. Would never go again.
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0 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Saturday, November 05, 2011

i went there with my friend using a groupon voucher ,

Two members of staff look after us and were very friendly.

THe food was very nice and tasty and arrived quickly quickly! The cocktail was delicious.

We enjoyed the ambiance with the nice music in the background,the only thing was the air conditioning, we felt it was a bit cold in there but overall it was a nice evening out!
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Veronique
7 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 8
Monday, October 31, 2011

Date of visit, Sunday 30.10.11

Myself and my friend got a deal for this restaurant through KGB deals, a 3 course meal and a cocktail worth £22.95 for £8 per person.

You have to book and we booked the table for 5pm. We arrived around 4.30pm as on Sunday they have some drinks on special offer, so our plan was to sit with a drink and relax before our meal. Or so we thought!!!!! We arrived only to find the place closed. Although a member of staff did open the door so we could sit downstairs while they finished setting up, could they not have told us they dont open till 5pm??

At 5, we went upstairs to the dining area, and after 5 mins, someone came to take us and others that had arrived to be seated, despite being the first to be seated, we were the last to have our orders taken.

We received our free cocktail, which leaves a lot to be desired - wasnt very nice at all, then the starters arrived, I ordered chorizo and what came in its place was a very cheap tasting sausage that resembled a frankfurter/saveloy, I asked the waiter to check if i was given Chorizo, though he never got back to me. My friend ordered the spicy chicken, which is the only part of the meal we both thought was any good ( I pinched a piece of her chicken) The main of steak was served with cold chips and a salad, my friend commented hers was under seasoned, mine was too salty for my liking. We were planning to order a jug of cocktail at £18.00 but after tasting our free drink we decided to avoid wasting any more money in the resuaurant and go to a bar after for drinks we would actually enjoy. Also the air conditioning was on, making the seating area very cold, and when it arrived, the food even colder. I think they had the air conditioning in the restaurant as in the evening, it is apparently a popular dancing venu. The dancing on Sunday however was not scheduled to start untill 8pm.

By the time dessert arrived our enthusiam to enjoy our night out had well and truly gone. We ate as fast as we could, got up and walked out.

I would mark this restaurnt 1/5, but only because you cant really rate things 0/5. Thoroughly disappointed and would NEVER return.
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Rebecca
1 Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 1
Monday, October 31, 2011

The deal was for a platter and two cocktails for two. This is the second time that I have bought this deal from two different providers (KGB and Groupon).

On both occasions I was informed that this deals required seating by the bar where seating is at best limited. There was a wait on both occasions when ordering due to the number of customers and limited bar staff at the time. (I went on a Thursday and Friday night.)

They were very helpful on both nights but clearly very busy and not well organized for this deal. I do not blame the bar staff/waitress as they tried to do their best and were just very busy. I do however, think that it could have been better organized by management in regards to the seating especially as I had booked in advanced on both nights.

The last time we went (Friday) there was no seating whatsoever near the bar and as we did not want to eat standing up we decided to sit in the restaurant bit were we rudely informed by the lady dealing with the seating that we were not allowed to sit anywhere in the restaurant section (although not only were there plenty of seats available and the other waitress did not seem to mind, but also many seated there had not reserved the tables. Also some of the tables had no reserved notices and when I pointed this out I was told that they were reserved anyway.) We sat there anyway as we refused to eat standing awkwardly around. Had it been just drinks we would not have minded not to sit.

The bar staff were very nice and tried to accommodate us as best they could under the circumstances as was the waitress with the lovely dreads. I will add that it was a Friday night and as such expected it to be busy. So I take this into account when thinking about my experience at Guanabara.

The food was quite a simple but varied affair. Very tasty and although enough for me, my friend was still hungry at the end. The cocktails were really nice too and would definitely have again.

I have one more of this deals which I will use in the future with another friend. I will come on a week day as I think that may make the experience a lot more relaxed and the chances of grabbing a seat easier.

The atmosphere was quite nice and the music really good. A place to start the evening off with a good crowd and fantastic location.
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Hadi
7 Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, October 25, 2011

I went along to this restaurant as the result of a Groupon voucher gifted by a friend, and therefore had no idea what to expect. On arrival, I have to say I found the place a little overwhelming, rather like the entertainment deck of a ferry boat, a slight amount of cheesiness, but surreal cheesiness. Ok, so I suspended my judgment, I'm willing to give anything a go for a laugh/experience. However, on entering the restaurant we were not shown to a table but told Groupon vouchers were only redeemable at the bar... Ok... No seats or tables in the bar area...... Ok.... We try to order at the bar....... "you can't use your voucher until after 8pm"...... "but we called and booked for 7pm yesterday with no word of this"......... "the kitchen is busy"...... "can we speak to the manager"......... "no we're busy"....... ARRRRGGGHHHHH!!!!!! Ok, long story made very short. Senior staff eventually arrived and took order for food, made cocktails (very nice, by the way, best part!). Food eventually arrives.... COLD. Nuff said. If that's your idea of a good night out, then GAN FOR IT!!!!!
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Andy
0 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 1 | Value for money 0
Thursday, October 20, 2011