If you enjoy an abundance of meats during a meal and nighttime entertainment to accompany your dining, then Samba Brazilian Steakhouse & Lounge is just the place to venture into for a casual and laidback and fun dining experience.
Samba Dancers
At Samba Brazilian Steakhouse & Lounge, the signature meal is the option for an endless supply of meats, called the churrasco fare, which includes skewered meats lombinho (pork sirloin), coxinha (chicken) and picanha (sirloin steak). There also is an option to add shrimp to the mix for an up-charge.
Each meat is served tableside by friendly food presenters who offer the different varieties if you have opted in for the churrasco meal. With a red, yellow and green stand by your side, you indicate to the meat cutters if you would like them to continue offering the selections or if you need a break from the consistent rounds of meat. A fun addition to an everyday dinner!
Along with the churrasco fare, the diner can partake in a salad bar filled with pasta, rice beans and many assorted vegetables and potatoes. For those non-meat lovers of the party, this array of food is a veggie lover’s dream. Everything on the salad bar looked and tasted fresh, and it complemented the platters of meat very nicely.
For the start of the onslaught of skewered meats, we received a pork rib option, which was not my favorite of the evening due to the toughness of the piece on the bone and its rather bland taste, but things only went up from there. Next were the sirloin steak pieces, which had an excellent taste due to the perfect seasoning and cook of the meat; they were the standout for the red meat selection, which also possessed some beef tips and another steak option.
For poultry aficionados—which many restaurant diners are—the chicken pieces came later in the meal, and actually came to our table right when I was pondering whether or not I should request the white meat. Especially after craving it, the chicken bites were delicious, and highly recommended are the ones wrapped in bacon.
Lastly for almost an added bonus, we received a skewer with sausage links, something I was not expecting but was a pleasant surprise.
To wash down the mouthfuls of meat, sip on a signature Caipirinha, which come in several varieties and are a must when visiting Samba. The restaurant even touts a “Caipirinha Bar” serving Brazil’s national drink consisting of fresh-pressed cane juice, lime and cachaca. Flavors include a classic version, Strawberry Mint, Flor de Coco and Jalapeno-Cucumber, to name a few of the 20+ Caipirinhas. Other mixed drinks, beers and wines also are available.
The menu does not only consist of the churrasco fare though, and one can try something else if desired, like Lobster Mashed Potatoes, Farfoa (yucca flour, toasted with butter, bacon and salt), Portuguese Sausage, Beef Kabobs and Leg of Lamb. However, if wanting the full Samba experience, not ordering the all-you-can-eat aspect of the restaurant seems ill-advised.
Ending the meal, our friendly server brought us the mouthwatering dessert tray with several options for a sweet end like chocolate cake with ice cream and strawberry sauce (as well as real strawberries and blueberries), which we gladly made room to taste. Having quite the sweet tooth, the chocolate cake (recommended by our helpful waitress) was a highlight of our Samba time.
Also, throughout the dinner, entertainment was offered in the form of two Samba dancers who enticed others to join in their moves, which is an uplifting addition to the atmosphere.
For anyone looking to indulge in a considerable amount of meats, Samba is the place to be. However, if a dish with meat is not desirable, Samba might not hold your attention, even with the salad bar. The majority of the meats were up to par with other restaurants in the same price range, and Samba is meant for the non-vegetarian. Another plus to the Steakhouse is the entire event made out of the meal, complete with Samba dancers and a “red light/green light” game to coincide with the serving of meat, perfect for the tourist and attraction-filled sight of Universal’s CityWalk.
With a nearly brand new venue at Universal CityWalk, Samba Brazilian Steakhouse & Lounge is expanding already, adding to its already-existing location in Redondo Beach. For the new location, Monday through Friday, guests can enjoy a Happy Hour from 2 to 7 p.m. During the hours of 5 to 7 p.m., all of the Caipirinhas are $5 and house beers and wines are $3 in the patio and lounge area. At both locations a Champagne Brunch is served on Sundays starting at 11 a.m. The Universal location is found at 1000 Universal Studios Boulevard, Universal City, CA 91608-1008; the Redondo restaurant is located at 207 North Harbor Drive, Redondo Beach, CA 90277. For more information, visit www.SambaRestaurants.com.
