My wife and I are Brazilian steakhouse noobs, having only tried and repeatedly visited the one in West Hartford (but $50 a person can drain that bank account). So our friends kept telling us about Banana Brazil, but I had been hesitant because it's pay per pound, instead of a full service buffet. But having visited today, the math checks out - Banana Brazil is a STEAL. Let's start off with the obvious - the location is rough and parking is terrible. But after jaywalking, my friends and I walked in to a shabby-looking hole in the wall. To the left are paper plates (for eat-in) and aluminum plates (for to-go). Don't worry that there's no covers, they'll put it on for you at the cashier. It's buffet-style, pick whatever, just know you're paying per pound. All I got was rice because the main event is the steak. Loads of choices, sliced to bite size pieces. I got the top sirloin and garlic beef. My plate and a canned mango drink came to about $18. When you stop to compare this to a fancy churrasco, you're really just cutting to the chase. You're not waiting for the top sirloin to come to you to eat a few slices, then wait a couple of minutes for another dish to come by. At Banana Brazil, get all you want and eat - it's that simple. I will be back - and loading up $50 worth of meat next time! read more

Banana Brazil - Rice, Garlic Beef, Top Sirloin - Brazilian Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

Very poor experience and bad food. Pricing options were very confusing, and complicated. The main buffet line they have out is $11.49 a pound, and then the meat behind the counter is $16.49. I took about a pound and a half from the buffet of the beef stew, chicken, rice, plantains, and tomato salad, and a cheese ball. Then I ordered separately the meat behind the counter. The more expensive meat that was supposed to be medium rare was incredibly gamy, hard to swallow and quite under seasoned. Not good at all. That was a waste. The beef stew was also under seasoned, the sauce lacked flavor, and taste. This was softer, it was fine meat but nothing that should be restaurant grade. The rice resembled a sea. Someone dumped way too much salt in, it was dreadful. The tomato salad was not salted, and had no dressing, a lackluster item. The plantains were not crisp as they should be. The cheese bread ball, a cheese flavored rock. Worthless. Lastly to the chicken which was the brightest spot, it was nice and soft and juicy, perhaps the only good thing on that whole buffet line. And this didnt come close to cutting it for me. As if I wanted more I would have to keep on paying and I was already $30 down. I never intended to spend so much. The pricing seems fair but once you start eating, you will go though plates and have to stop yourself before the bill is in the $40 plus dollar range. It makes no sense why they charge per pound and not just do one charge and it be ayce. Charging 11.49 for rice or beans, at 11.49 at the same price as the beef stew is ridiculous. The sauces that they have also are all mass produced processed junk. They didn't taste fresh. Terrible waste of money, won't be back find literally any other restaurant to go to. Another thing, this restaurant had flags around there store, I believe for the world cup, you would think this is fine and dandy however in the front of the store a freaking NORTH KOREA flag was hung up, and get this, it went right next to a Russia, China & Iran flag!!! This is a massive naivety, even though I don't believe it was deliberate it is unacceptable. read more

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I've always heard great things about banana Brazil and I finally got around to trying it out. It's serve yourself and weighed at the register. There are tables but the spot in general is no-frills. I got the yellow rice and peas, black beans, Maduros, Pernil, and steak. Everything was great but I wasn't a fan of the maduros. They were way too mushy for my liking. I wish they had pao de queijo! The staff was friendly and quick. Great spot for a quick and affordable bite. read more

Banana Brazil - Brazilian Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

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Very tasty Brazilian steakhouse in not the nicest place. I've been to this location twice before. They are across from a local cinema, with a little bit of parking in the front. There's a bunch of buffett tables with hot and cold dishes. You get a tin carry-out container, you fill it with what you want, then head to the spits to get your meats. The guys behind the counter will take out the meat you want and will carve you however much you would like. They charge by the pound, you weigh your foods then pay at the counter. It's very much like a buffett in terms of the ring out process. The foods fresh, tasty, and abundant. They are not labeled well, so some things are guesswork as to what you get. But although you can't identify some things, it's going to taste good. Price is reasonable for the portions. It's not pretty, but it's tasty read more

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This is mostly a Buffett style restaurant with a twist. Here's how it works: 1. Grab a plate and fill it with as much or as little as you want. You choose from an assortment of main dishes and sides. 2. (Optional) Go to the counter and order from a list of roasting meats listed on a menu to the top left of the counter. You can choose how it is cooked, from rare to well done. I recommend the top sirloin medium rare and add some cimichurri sauce. 3. Move to the right on the counter and weigh your plate. You are charged per pound. Items from the Buffett are one price per lb. Adding the roasted meats increases the price per lb. 4. Pick a dessert from a refrigerated shelf to the right of the counter. (Desserts are charged per item, not by the lb) The pricing was a little confusing and was not well explained or written down. Luckily a regular was there to help walk me through it. I loaded my plate with an assortment of food that totaled about 3 pounds. (It adds up fast) Everything was flavorful and delicious. I especially liked the yellow rice and stewed beef in carrots and peppers. The only reason Banana Brazil missed the 5 star mark was that many of the "hot" dishes from the Buffett were cold or tepid. The receipt was itemized in strange groupings that made it hard to know what each person in our group was charged for each plate. Still definitely worth a visit. read more

Great place of you're looking for variety. They offer several items in their buffet from veggies to meat, to carbs and dessert. Overall the side dishes were good. The meats were a bit on the dry side, even the sirloin that was cut to order. The atmosphere had a cafeteria feel to it. The staff are friendly. They have a huge variety of canned, bottled, and fresh beverages. Can't decide what to eat, this places makes it easy for the undecided. read more

Banana Brazil - Brazilian Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

Food is great. And very reasonable price. Price is based on weight. So I definitely would recommend this place

You have to pay per plate. You're looking at $45-60 per person before you're full. It very expensive to eat here.

My wife and I have eaten at various Brazillian BBQ restaurants over the years, and this place does a great spit roast for so many different types of meats (and a huge chafing range with so many other foods to choose from as well). It isn't upscale at all, so this probably wouldn't be my choice to take a first date to, unless they really crave this type of food. It does feel a bit like eating BBQ in a low-key deli-- there's not a tablecloth or placemat to be found here. When we first came to the restaurant a couple years back, there were two options-- buy by weight, or all you can eat. We enjoyed the latter, because you could get a little bit of everything to try out, and if you discovered you liked something, you could get more of that. But they've done away with that. Now it's only sold by weight, and I think the quality of the food has also gone downhill a bit since. As you have to weigh your food, if you want seconds, you need to go to the very back of the line and get a plate and re-pay... it just feels like it's a bit of a hassle now, and made us decide to only have one plate of food and call it quits. When I asked the owner about the change, he said the AYCE had "too many problems", but didn't elaborate further. While I can understand that they maybe had people sharing food when they shouldn't, I think overall it hurt the business to have made this change... we're going to look for another option in the future when we get a hankering for Brazillian BBQ. read more

Friendly service snd has a community type of feel. And there's hardly ever a wait to use the postal part of the store.

I enjoyed my recent meal at Banana Brazil. They have a huge selection of buffet items as well as rotisserie meats like chicken, steak, ribs and sausage. Standout items for me included the steaks, a beef potato stew, an avocado tomato salad and the Yucca fries. I also liked the choice of sauces to change things up. The pork ribs were cooked a bit past prime and were a bit over seasoned. bB is located across the movie theatre parking lot. The inside is comfortable, but more functional than decorated. Service was pretty good. Four Stars. I would definitely return. read more

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I went for lunch on a Sunday. For meats, I went for ribs, garlic beef and spicy sausage. Garlic beef was my favorite. Everything tasted good in the begining, but was too salty to my taste. By the time I started third piece, I could no longer eat anything more due to salt. I wanted to try the grilled pineapple, but they were out of it. They had many fresh juices including gauva, mango, cashew mango and passion fruit. I had a passion fruit juice. I should have weighed my lunch, it would have been cheaper that way. Instead I payed a fixed higher price. read more

Banana Brazil - spicy sausage, garlic beef, ribs etc. - Brazilian Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

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I went to Banana Brazil with my family. This is a Brazilian buffet, or they can charge you by weight, depends on how much you'd like to eat. I really like this concept. It takes some pressure off of eating too much. This is a very small space. There are a few salads, plantains, some rice dishes, that you can see when you walk in. If you'd like meat, you can ask for it at the register, they'll cut it off the skewer. There is a variety of meats to choose from. I got some salads when I was here. I got lobster salad, plantains, tomato salad, potato salad. I tried the pork off of my brother's plate. Honestly, everything was very bland. The meat was very chewy and overcooked. I really wasn't impressed by anything.. until.. They have desserts here. I had their three milks cake. This was so, creamy and delicious! It is moist and soft, and sweet! I really loved it! Unfortunately the food didn't impress me, but the cake gets 5 stars! read more

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This is the second location for Banana Brazil we have been to and once again amazed!! The quality of food that comes out of these locations amazes me - when you walk in there are steam tables to your left. Grab your plate and take as much as you want of all your sides and some proteins - then get to the front and you have your choice of sooo many proteins. Everything is fresh and delicious!!! Designed for high crowds you Pay by the pound and then find your seat. Meaning even if it's busy - you never really wait. This a destination location - take the trip!! It's so worth it. read more

Banana Brazil - Sampler - Brazilian Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

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You know the food is good when you forget to take more pictures. Ambiance- the place is very casual. A two room establishment. Main room has Buffett, front counter, grill/kitchen area. Back room has all tables and bathrooms. Not fancy at all, pretty barebones in a perfect way. I'm going to be honest, based on what we walked in to and even the outside I was unsure about this place. I was pleasantly wrong. Service- there is minimums service aside from drinks because it is a Buffett. The service we did get was top notch. Seriously. The young man who came over and asked our drink order, as well as helped us with a dessert to go was the best. So friendly and kind. The man at the front speaks little English but out such a smile on my face. The food is delicious. Authentic Brazilian food at your finger tips. Each dish I tried, you could taste the love and care that goes into making it. I have nothing bad to say about this place. We are already talking about when we can go back and how this will be a great lunch spot as well. 10/10 read more

Banana Brazil - Brazilian Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

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My husband and I are hooked on Banana Brazil after first visiting this fall. We've eaten there at least 5 times now. Banana Brazil serves a delicious assortment of meats. I love their traditional picanha, spicy sausage, garlic beef, and beef ribs. My husband always goes for the chicken and roast pork. You can choose the degree of doneness for the beef, and it's as good as the expensive Brazilian steakhouses. They have a large selection of hot and cold sides that you serve yourself. The sweet plantains are a must for me. The restaurant also offers a selection of desserts that look great, although we've always been too full to try them. Finally, the service is super friendly and helpful. I'm so glad that we have this place in CT!! read more

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Great food, especially the steak, perfect amount of salt, it's a buffet service so you get to pick your favorites. Just a common restaurant with average ambiance, not too fancy, good enough for everyone. read more

This is a fah sho, yea, right on. You want Brazilian food? You wanna be full? Why isn't this spot on your list? Service so good, I have no clue why it's not packed. I'm actually shocked. I cleaned the plate for what this is, what it is, and quality of food. This is a 5. Eating inside feels like Thanksgiving. read more

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A friend shared this place with us. We have been here a handful of times. We love the buffet style and always get the steak. It is delicious! I love their plantains. I would like to see them put some money into the seating area. read more

This past week, Sunday funday dinner consisted of traditional Brazilian barbecue made with charcoal imported from Brazil! This was my first time here and all I can say is WOW. I was grabbing a to-go, but I would definitely come back here and eat again. I got so much deliciousness in one container. Garlic steak, plantains, yucca, rice, beans...my mouth might be watering just thinking about it. When you walk in, grab a container to the left and start with the buffet bar. There are so many fun items to choose from. Just take a look at some of the delicious pics that I posted. There is something for everyone. Once done, head over to the meat carving station and pick your meats. They will cut it off the skewer right in front of you. I also really like the grilled pineapple. It was so good! Banana Brazil is right across the street from the movie theater, so note to self for next time- this could be a fun combo. Dinner and a movie. The staff was great and helped explain everything. They even helped describe the different types of food on the buffet. I also saw they have desserts on the way out. You know I will reporting back on that when I return. And I will definitely be returning soon! read more

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comida muy buena pero compré dos órdenes y un jugo parcha y una coca cola y m cobraron 80 pesos para mí fue demasiado dinero

Everything was delicious! First time here and will go again. I had the white rice beans, steak, chorizo a lasagna some sweet plantains and fried yuca. read more

Muy sabrosa la comida! Siempre hay buenos acompañantes para comer con la carne. Excelente lugar para almorzar.

The food is AMAZING. I have gone back 2 times in about a week. Everything is fresh and the customer service is amazing. I love the juices and the prices. Definitely worth it ! read more

Banana Brazil - Brazilian Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

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Good food. Friendly service and atmosphere. You can pay by the pound or all you can eat BBQ. and as first timers we kinda missed the mark and took up too much stomach real estate with the buffet. (Which is absolutely delicious). The real star here is the BBQ meat options behind the counter. We sampled and loved them but were just too full for much. I'm no expert in Brazilian fare, but it felt home cooked and authentic... and that was the feedback from other regular patrons who were there and chatting. This is a diamond in the rough! read more

Banana Brazil - Brazilian buffet! - Brazilian Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

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We went there for lunch and, between the 2 of us, had (I only know the English) yellow rice, pork chunks, beans, some noodles with I think pork in it, a lasagna looking dish, yucca, fried plantains, and corn on the cob and carrots. Everything was good, but the pork chunks were at least 1/2 fat and I didn't care for the plantains. The rice and carrots were really good. I thought it was outrageously priced for what we got. We used 2 of the small tins for the buffet and didn't get any of the meats being carved on the spits. We also got 2 small (8.5 oz) mineral waters. The total was $40 and change. It was mostly rice and beans and pasta with a few chunks of fatty (but really good) pork. I think the restaurant should label what is at the buffet. I had mostly no idea what I was putting into my container. read more

This is the chillest Brazilian restaurant you'll ever visit if you've never been here. Parking can be on the street or parking lot on the side of the building. It's the only restaurant in the area and it's easy to find. When you walk in, walk up to the cashier and tell them what your like if it's your first time visit. They offer full buffet and food purchased by the pound as well as meat. Not only is this place a restaurant, it's also a shop! Prices are very very reasonable because it's not like a traditional Brazilian restaurant because you can just purchase food to go and you dont have to eat there; its cafeteria style. I tried numerous dishes and the spicy sausage, pork loin, chicken breast and a beef roast. The chicken and sausage were incredible! I got my plate of rice, beans and cold and hot veggies at the buffet then went up to the counter and got the meats. They weighed the food and I sat down and ate at the restaurant. I also tried the passionfruit juice. Overall the food and drink was all DELICIOUS! I would be a regular customer if I lived in this area but you can be on and out of there in 5 minutes if you are getting takeout and they have numerous dishes. This place is a gem! Great job!!!! read more

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This place is awesome. Good food and cost effective. I just wish the pricing was posted somewhere! I just went off the yelp reviews and got all you can eat for $20 but it seems like you could pay per pound for a plate if you wish. I got a bunch of selections from the buffet including yellow rice, beans, fish, salad, potato salad and fruit. It was all fresh clean and tasted good. From the churrasco meats, I got beef rib, garlic steak and sirloin steak. It was hard to tell which specific piece was which as they pile them all together on your plate, but I believe the beef rib was the best. The employees and owners were all super friendly and always had a smile on their face. Will be back! read more

Banana Brazil - Brazilian Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

First time visiting. Went in for lunch. Full trays of food that were fresh and hot. Everything I tried was flavorful and delicious. Perfectly cooked meats. Price is $8.99/lb for food in the trays without grilled meats. If you even add one sausage from the grill to your plate the price changes to $13.99. I added 3 sausage and it changed the price by $8.00. I had got a bit over 1.6 lbs. so essentially I paid $8 for three sausage.I suggest purchasing the buffet line first. Then go back and get the grill. Especially if you are only going to get one or two grill items. It will be cheaper. Overall good food will be back. read more

I stopped in for lunch. $15. I could not believe the variety, quality, freshness, and authenticity of what Banana Brazil offers for that price. Granted, it does not have the décor of some other "steak" places, its not on the nicest street, but the food truly speaks for itself. Meander the buffet for genuine Brazilian cuisine, everything from pulled pork, to fried plantains, to potatoes, rice, sausages, chicken gizzard in a rich tomato broth (believe me, while the texture is a bit unique, it's really good) And you haven't even made it to the grill yet. The grill master has at least a dozen rotisseries of meat going at any one time. Top sirloin, beef ribs, pork sausage, bacon wrapped chicken, grilled chicken, chicken hearts, pork loin, all at your request. All the meats are simply seasoned to allow you to taste their true flavors. Of course, you can add spiciness and sauces to your heart's content. The grill master was even able to cut pieces at my requested doneness, something that is a little more difficult when dealing with such a lunch rush, quantity, and cook time. Awesome food, can't believe I didn't come here sooner. read more

Banana Brazil - Brazilian Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

If you like good meats and salads, you will love these locally owned restaurants. Yes, this is an all-you-eat for about $25 self-service restaurant. It serves the same kind of broiled steaks (etc) as the restaurant expensive fancy Brazilian restaurants but at one-third the price. And their very fresh grilled steaks, chicken, ribs, sausages etc are broiled as you wait, watching the "show". The side dishes include many types of salads, vegetables, and stews add to your meal. Service is very pleasant! read more

Bummer, Banana Brazil is no longer offering an all you can eat option. As of 1 December 2021 purchase and pay by the pound is the only dining option. I guess inflation must have forced them to change their businesses model. I wish they had just raised the price and still offered the all you can eat option. Even though it's a 45 minute drive, we have eaten at Banana Brazil once a month or so for years and always loved the place. We were very disappointed with the change and just left. Nice people but the cafeteria styled service without the all you can eat option is not something I will be back for. I wish them well in their new endeavor but sadly today will be my last visit to Banana Brazil...... read more

Good food and service. It's especially perfect when you don't have a lot of time and just want to grab food and go. The grilled meats are a must. read more

It appears to be one of those super official hood spots with authentic, culture rich food. I can't wait till they open I've been fasting just for this experience. This isn't my first visit btw read more

From the outside, it could look a little sketchy but the food is really good! For the price (Around $15), it is amazing! There is a wide selection of side items to go with the meat. Some items include steamed veggies, fried plantains (my favorite!), and fried rice. Although not everything go well with the meat necessarily, it was good to have a variety. However, it is important to note that some sides looked a little dry/cold. I liked that there is also a variety of meat and flavors. Some were dry and salty. read more

Banana Brazil - Brazilian Near Me - Hartford, Connecticut

Really cool spot, visited for lunch today for my dad's birthday. A little confusing if you haven't been before - you just grab plates and self-serving from the buffet, if you want any meats from the grill (BBQ) you just wait at the counter and the guy will plate it for you. Don't forget the farofa (looks like sand - just dip your meat into it, a STAPLE in Brasil) on the counter!! Grab any drinks or wine from the coolers on the side and find a seat! You'll pay for everything at the end. Food here is typical of Minas Gerais state in Brazil, very friendly service and clean area. Felt super authentic, reminded me of some buffets in Rio where people would grab some meats, rice, and collard greens during their lunch break. read more

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So very tasty and can be cost effective. I highly recommend the chicken wrapped in bacon The plates we got came out to be ~$10 per pound but there was no way to know that until we got to the register // it's clear that this restaurant has a set group of regulars and you need to be in the know to know what to ask for and how'. I've gone back three times now it's really really tasty high quality food read more

We moved here just 7 days ago. I never had Brazilian food before so I was pleasantly surprised to find an awesome buffet reasonably priced. Moreover, the staff were cordial. We paid after having the food. Definitely will go back there again. read more

I am glad that I spotted Banana Brazil. This review is based on my second visit within 2 few weeks apart and my experience varied both the time - both with respect to the taste of the food. The friendly and warm natured owner at the register and the humble staff will definitely make your experience good. They have a good buffet spread with some traditional dishes and in the buffet are some options of chicken, meat and pork along with salads and fruits. The buffet costs $11.99. In addition to the buffet you have the choice of the meats from the grill and this option costs $14.99. That is a bargain if you have a big appetite :) I was a little disappointed with the taste of food in the buffet along with the meats and that is why I have given Banana Brazil a 3 star rating. I am definitely going back here and will update my reviews accordingly. Overall, I am glad I spotted this place. read more

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Always a crowd pleaser! Price is unbeatable. Great service as well. They don't lack on the quality even with the price!