Samba Brazilian Grill

It was just ok. First finding parking at 6:45 pm on a Saturday was absolutely ridiculous. The building was clean and quite nice. The food was average. The gauchos did come around frequently. All in all it wasn't a bad experience but given the choice I will drive to Texas de Brazil where the selection of meats and salad bar are greater for the same price.

Food was just so/so. Have been to other Brazilian places and food far superior. They kept bringing the same meat to the table. Never got all of the meats. Did not offer a chicken option. Will not go back.

Each month, a small group of co-workers and I choose a place to eat and this week, it was Samba. The restaurant is a favorite of some because of the endless meat.

As many of our guests arrived to a largely empty restaurant (with a reservation), the hostess did not immediately greet us and when we checked in said that all six (6) of our party would have to be present (at that time, there were four of us present)- despite my saying that we anticipated the remaining two members of the party to be late.

This is a common practice for many bustling restaurants, especially those that do not accept reservations, as a means to have open tables for parties who are all present. In other words- restaurants NOT like Samba on Mondays at 6pm.

Eventually, as our party reached five, I had to tell the hostess that we would like to be seated with a more assertive approach and she did seat us. The experience, which was led by this frontline approach, was lackluster and not worth the amount paid.

I highly recommend Samba, and will be back repeatedly! This was my first time, and we checked out the brunch - phenomenal! I must try the regular evening menu now, as I hear there is even MORE items - mind-blowing! Great food, great cocktails, great service - 5 stars all the way!

Birthday. Food is usually good but service by the hostess was not very welcoming. There was no acknowledgement about special event. Had to tell the server.
When we arrived all of us together we were told parking lot is no longer available for the restaurant so it needed to be paid for or moved. One of us went down to move and the rest of us asked to be seated but were told no. The whole party had to be present, which we were. Then the car was moved and one of us who was waiting went to use the restroom. Again the host refused to seat us. Very unwelcoming and a silly policy since she saw we were all there for our reservation.
The price was increased significantly and is not a good value any longer.

Food was great as always, but customer service from the host was decadent. This is a place we usually love to come for special occasions but we might need to reconsider after today’s experience.

Excellent and plentiful food. The salad bar is generous with a lot of variety. I love the cinnamon it sounded strange, but it is actually delicious!

The food, service, and overall atmosphere was excellent. With the gauchos constantly making rounds with skewers of meat, you get what you pay for, especially if you don't fill up on sides.

We were VERY impressed with the GM(didn't catch his name. Only heard him introduce himself to a local customer at The Side Door on 9/21/19. Late 20s/early 30s, reddish hair/beard). He was hustling around, working on the floor, serving, bussing, bartending, filling water glasses, hosting, etc., and he did it all with a smile on his face and sweat rolling off his back. It is so refreshing to see a GM that truly cares about the business and isn't above doing the "grunt work". Leading by example is the best way to retain quality, reliable employees, and this gentleman is doing a fantastic job!

Great selections at the salad bar. Some felt that there should have been a greater selection of meat. High quality and well cooked meat nonetheless. Great dessert option! Service was fantastic.

We were at this restaurant a few years ago and it was good. We received some of worst service in a long time at this visit and likely won’t return. The waiter was inattentive and rude

The small room was great - low noise

There were flies/gnats surrounding the buffet and not many people there on a Friday night. The food was definitely tasted- I love Brazilian steakhouses but for the price paid and there being flies around the salad bar, it just didn’t earn a great rating

very nice place but most the meat they brought to the table was very over cooked and dry!

I enjoyed the food and the service. They have amazing roasted Pineapple. It was a nice atmosphere. A little dark but may of just been the table we were at.
Went for a second time, not as good. Plates weren’t cleared from the table, some meats were over cooked. Water guy did a great job keeping our water glasses full though.

Delicious food and great service at the bar. It took some time to get refreshers on our cocktails, however.

It was very delicious. It is a very expensive but tasty meal.

The meat was disappointing. Most of the meat was raw!

Just not worth the price. Average at best.

Our server was fantastic, I'd come back just because of her, the food being so good is a plus! I wish I could remember her name... she was on the opening shift Sunday morning.

terrible service, undeserved 20 % forced gratuity for 7 people, restaurant was not busy ro justify poor service. Dirty dishes were never pick up, very few rounds of meat, we’ve got served not even 5 meats from the 10 offered by the hostess whi explained the concept

If you like places that are different, you will like this place. I did not care for all the different choices on the salad bar, and stayed with the mashed potatoes and cheese. The chicken and pork were outstanding and the sirloin was good as well. The sausages were much too spicy, I would however, go back just to eat the grilled pineapple which was absolutely amazing. Service was excellent but they put us at a cramped table that was much too small even for two, at the entrance to the grill/kitchen area so there was a constant stream of staff running by while there were many empty tables.

My wife liked it much more than I but I wont be going back.

Love all the cuts of meat, and great salad bar. We try and get here once a month for a date night. Weve never had bad service, or poor food. Great atmosphere.

This is a great restaurant. If you've never eaten at a Brazillian steakhouse, you just have to try it! there are so many choices and you get to have all of it for the same price!

Great atmosphere, great lighting, great music, and food is out of this world! I was impressed with the drink menu too, definitely a gem in Madison! Awesome place to have a coworkers night out, or a date. 👌🤙🏼👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Excellent food but very pricey. 4 people only 2 had the meat portion as well as the salad bar, the other two just the salad bar. Total was $170 with one glass of wine.

We have been going there for years. This was the first time we were not well pleased. This reservation was for our anniversary and we stated it at the booking. From the onset with the hostess being rushed, to the server not being attentive to the meats coming back with a char but not seasoned, this was not the standard previously set. In addition, the policy of 20% auto gratuity when you use a Groupon is unfortunate when the service changes because the server KNOWS they are going to get the auto 20%. This is a problem when I feel if the server didn't warrant 20% why should they receive it. We always start with 20% where ever we go and then work our way down based on the service. I would still recommend, but they should reconsider the policy and some retraining from the front of the house to the back.

Anniversary dinner.

Food or meat was way too salty, my wife spent half the night in the bathroom, and I drank about a gallon of water, way way to salty, never again.

Salad bar was awesome and meat was delicious. All staff was professional.

food was good overall but not a juicy and scrumptious as in many times before. The side dishes as always were excellent

All the steak was red, not cooked well. I didn’t have change so I gave the servir cash and she didn’t ask if I needed change or not and kept $23 of change

Had a great time , it was an awesome experience for me and the wife

We enjoyed the quality of the meat offerings. The food bar was very well done with several items to choose from. Very friendly staff and clean restaurant.

I frequently take friends and visitors to Samba. One of our favorite places.

I've only ever been there for Sunday brunch up until this trip for dinner. Food selection was almost overwhelming in a good way. Never a disappointment!

Everything was wonderful! Our server was very attentive, friendly and personable. She made the experience fun! The food perfect and was amazing. The rest of the staff was extremely attentive too! The atmosphere is cozy and classy. We really enjoyed our evening at Samba.

Thank you!

So unique and the food is amazing! Definitely try the pineapple!!

We love sambas brazilian grill. It makes date night fun and romantic. The meats are always amazing. The management and servers are always so pleasnate when we are there. We usually come in once a month its amazing food.

8/1/19 Loved it. I am a vegetarian who was dining with 4 carnivores. The salad bar was LOADED with delicious options to fill me up. The potato corn chowder was a real standout. My friends were very happy with the variety of meats that were brought to the table for carving every couple of minutes. Our server was on the ball and very friendly and helpful. Wish we could have gone back a second time before we returned home to Georgia.

I almost only go to Samba when I have a Groupon and so I was originally disappointed this time when we got to Samba that there was a sign that said an extra 20% "service charge" would be added to any party using a Groupon. Thinking this was just a way for Samba to get MORE money and the fact that Groupon brings them so much business, I was very happy to learn that this 20% goes to your server as their tip. I am all about that and fully support making sure your waitstaff gets recognition for their service instead of just a service charge for no reason.

Food was good as always. My husband said quite a few of the meats were a little too salty. Always a nice dinner where you experience a food coma shortly thereafter.