This is a wonderful place: as a New York food snob, I've had many mediocre meals in the vicinity, but Samba is an A+ for food and friendly warm solicitous service. We ate there last night -- my companion had a vegetarian dish with yucca gnocchi -- a sensation -- and I had a chicken and okra stew. Side dishes of perfectly cooked black beans and (separate) rice. To start, she had the kale / apple / walnut (or were they pecans?) salad; I had the potato croquettes stuffed with cod. Delicious bread to start -- with two gluten-free cheesebread spheres that were unlike any aberration calling itself GF bread. For dessert, a powerfully delicious passionfruit mousse for the lady; an ice-cream trio for me (mango, sweetcorn, coconut). They also served us a beverage of strawberry-mint elixir, beyond adjectives. I've listed the dishes above: each one was full of flavor and bright colors; the ingredients of the highest quality, tenderly handled in the kitchen and balanced intelligently. No need to ask for a salt shaker or "fresh-ground pepper." And the service was cheerful, quick, friendly, with none of the professional fakery that some servers adopt. We can't wait to go back again. Lovely food, lovely experience! read more

Great little gem My wife and I went here last Saturday and the food was amazing. We settled on three different vegan dishes that were prepared to perfection. The staff was very accommodating and pleasant. read more

We had some "bisteca" and some shrimp dish! It tasted good, decent portions... it was enough food for the 3 of us! Terrible, slow service, very slowwwww service! read more

Excellent meal and on point service. The cashew juice was delicious and fresh. We had the beef cavalo and the beef acebolado. I think it would be impossible to leave this restaurant hungry. Great, attentive service -- my water glass never got more than half empty. Would eat here again. read more

Food was amazing!!! Great service! We love their menú. The decor is very pleasant and cozy.

Once one of Montclair's better restaurants, it is now unjustifiably expensive with most entrees above $35 and a fixed service charge of 20% in addition to a credit card charge of 3%. The room is pleasant but tables painfully small making placement of a wine bottle with water and wine glasses difficult. Once free cheese balls are now charged at over $10 as an appetizer. Accompanying portions of rice and beans are now divided between couples in reduced portions.My most recent meal was tasteless though my wife enjoyed hers. Aware of my unhappiness staff did give us a free and pleasant dessert. This did not justify the expense, however. Not good value with a diminished quality to the offerings! read more

I love this place. It does look like a hole in the wall but once inside it's pretty cool. Weather permitting, there is limited outside dining. The food is freshly prepared, no sitting under a heat lamp, and the food is delicious. Plus they don't scrimp on the amount of food you get. Even with a large appetite you may end taking food home. I've taken people there and they've loved the food as well. Service is also very good. read more

This WAS our go to place. GF which is hard to find. Monday was our last time. lunch time after waiting 50 minutes for lunch. We kept asking our waiter when is our lunch coming. To his reply "it's coming" 5 minutes later still "it's coming" well our lunch never came. We walked out! Samba seemed more concerned with take out orders. Concentrate on what's right in front of you. needless to say. We will NEVER go back, or order dinner take out. Not to mention prices are getting higher. Good luck to you Samba read more

A friend introduced me to this charming hideway in the heart of downtown Montclair. I have to say, I love the atmosphere and the decor. It's very rustic and warm. The service was good and the food was good too. However, I don't think the food is as good as the food on Ferry Street in Newark. I think the ambiance is more what did it for me than anything else. I had the salmon which was very vanilla. It was just grilled salmon with run-of-the-mill veggies, nothing Brazilian or exotic. I guess I can fault myself for that, but it was the first time and I didn't know! I would definitely go back because I'm curious to try a spicier, more exotic dish and I really like the atmosphere. It's a refreshing addition to the Montclair foodie scene. read more

We Love Samba Montclair. We Don't eat a lot of Brazilian Food but this place is great! The, Food, Ambiance and the Staff are fabulous. Our second time here. Looking forward to visiting again. read more

My wife is Brazilian, she, her mother and I wanted an authentic meal experience. We sat down and ordered a couple Brazilian dishes to share which is typical in the culture. The prices were very high, over double what other Brazilian restaurants charge for the same food, but we didn't mind, or so we thought. We were informed by the manager they we had to order an extra main course AND and extra appetizer as they have a per table minimum (not on the menu.) The charge for our order was already $60 before tax for three people, the manager said that did not matter and the requirement was "because of COVID." A ridiculous excuse, and a loss of an easy $60 for the restaurant. Never again, we left. read more

Every time I come here I love every single bite of my food. They have interesting meals which are very tasty and seasoned perfectly. They're veggie options are just as great as the regular ones so it's great for a crowd with mixed preferences. The food tastes fresh, welll thought out and over all delicious. One of the best restaurants in montclair for sure. The wait is never long, decor is rustic and the lighting is perfectly dim. read more

Samba Montclair - Veg dinner: collard greens, perfectly seasoned veggies(carrots& Brusselssprouts)fried yuka& fried banana - Brazilian Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

I dined in for lunch with friends on a Saturday afternoon. We found a table easily. Staff was friendly and helpful with selections. Food came promptly. I was expecting the passion fruit juice to be sweeter but it was still manageable to consume. The French toast was served with fruit and felt like a healthy option. The meal was on the pricey side but had great presentation and I look forward to going back and trying more dishes on the menu. Place is a bit small but felt cozy and intimate. read more

Samba Montclair - Chocolate mousse - Brazilian Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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Popped in here on a whim for lunch on a Saturday around noon. It's hard to go wrong in this town but we were still extremely pleased with our decision. Service was attentive and friendly and the place looks great inside. They had a brunch menu and a regular menu, overall a pretty big selection. A ton of gluten free options including an all gluten-free dessert menu; I highly recommend coming here if you or your friends/family/partner are gluten intolerant or allergic. I do wish they had more brunch items with a Brazilian twist (whatever that would be, this is the first Brazilian restaurant I've been to). Anyway, the food. Delicious! I got the omelette with Brazilian sausage (very tasty, like Brazilian kielbasa) and collard greens. I'm not really big on green leafys, but as I said, I wanted to get a brunch meal with some Brazilian flair, and I enjoyed it. It came with yuca breakfast potatoes (amazing), a small mesclun salad (fresh and delicious), and a couple little pieces of their gluten free cheese bread (awesome). I also got a fresh squeezed orange juice (steep at $7 but very tasty) and tried the yuca gnocchi & vegetables dish which was phenomenal. Overall, I highly recommend and will definitely be returning to try one of their beef or chicken entrees. read more

Nice decor but honestly the food is something you would get from take out. So greasy/ no flavor and honestly gross. Me and my two friends and daughter went for lunch today and after a horrible lunch we ordered coffees that was served in Moscow Mule cups. The cups were scorching hot, we couldn't even put our lips on the cup. common sense not to serve coffee in a cup intended for cold drinks. Also pretty expensive! surprised this place is in business for this long. read more

Very good n tasty Brazilian food, definitely worth trying and will be back again. Service is very friendly as well. However some dishes especially the shrimp cooked in squash can be super duper hot... in my case I almost burnt my lip n tongue; heads up while serving would have been helpful. Not everyone is aware of traditional food and what to except you see. Taking away a star only for that! Service is very courteous and friendly but when they get busy perhaps it lacks attention, may be that's how they missed the "hot caution" in my case. read more

Samba Montclair - Bread to begin with... - Brazilian Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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Samba! It is a total experience that begins with the tropical decor to the detail to every item on the menu! The freshness and quality of item is just so amazing! Didn't miss the gluten at all! From the garlic shrimp appetizer to the entrees, mahi mahi seafood bowl to the pichania platter to the heart shaped churros with caramel dipping sauce dessert better than what we had in Cuba...along with the 5 star warm friendly service! Samba! read more

First of all, the ambience was fantastic. The music played was beautiful, romantic Brazilian acoustics. The lights they have hung make it a cozy and romantic atmosphere along with the candles at the table. Very nice restaurant for a date. Service was great and the food arrived quickly. Food was also incredible, highly recommend the steaks! read more

I highly recommend this restaurant to everyone! Staff is extremely friendly and prompt while providing great service, decor is beautifully designed in both of Samba's indoor and outdoor seating area, and the food is absolutely outstanding! 10/10! read more

Samba Montclair - Brazilian Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

Good food, nice ambience. Service felt a bit rushed (they are always busy it seems) but I keep coming back. Worth it!

The ambiance was fine, but the food was satisfactory and overpriced. Gluten-free just doesn't work for some dishes. Our waiter was great, but his support staff made us feel rushed as they attempted to clear plates before we were even finished. It was early on a weeknight, and the restaurant wasn't crowded, so the rushing felt unreasonable and a bit personal. For the amount of money we spent, we should have been made to feel welcome to stay. read more

The food was delicious and the potions were just right. The appetizers were also really good. The staff was nice and prompt.

This was my third (and last) attempt at dining at Samba. In total, I have had two dinners and one lunch. Neither the food nor the service have improved over my three visits. Tonight's dinner selections included an appetizer (Salgadinhos Sortidos) and a beef entree (Bife Acebolado). The appetizers were more gritty than tasteful and after half of the first one, I was done. The entree arrived and I had high hopes. I had asked for the steak to be cooked medium. Unfortunately, it was cooked well - very well. It was overcooked, dry and reminiscent of shoe leather - and had the taste of an overcooked steak. The side of yuca fries were practically cold and lacking in flavor. Not once during the meal did the server approach the table to asked how the meal was or if we needed anything further. By the time someone approached with a dessert menu, we were done. All in all, it feels like I spent $30.95 for a Diet Coke. From now on, I will make the trek to Newark when I have an urge for Brazilian food. read more

Good food, excellent service, the lunch special was worth it. Passionfruit juice: 4.5 out of 5 Shrimp: 4 out of 5 Steak: 4 out of 5 Flan: 3.5 out of 5 read more

Samba is everything fresh, quaint and great service! It's small but really hits the spot on an intimate date or even with a few friends. The food is incredibly good with fresh farm to table ingredients and frequently changes depending on the season and week (for brunch on Sundays). The fresh juices are refreshing, the price is just right and their wait staff are always polite. My husband and I have tried so many things on the menu, the gnocci, the chicken on Pao de queijo bread paninis, the burgers, the juices, steak, and even dessert...not a complaint from us or a friend who tried the avocado toast dish! Almost all dishes are gluten free and are made with either yucca or squash instead of flour and I do not even notice. Go here and you won't regret it. Great atmosphere and decor as well...Oh and its clean and so are the bathrooms! Pics are from a recent visit on our anniversary, to which they made GREAT! It's BYOB too so bring your choice! read more

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Place made my wife and I nauseous. Food is alrigt however i dont like how i got two salads when i asked for one and the silverware and glasses are yet again hairy. We stopped in awhile ago and couldn't get a lunch special and left and it was he same way. Maybe we shouldn't have come back... read more

Samba Montclair - Brazilian Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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I really wish there was a 3 1/2 star option because Samba was more than good and just short of exceptional. The interior is warm and intimate and the service, while not overly engaging, was attentive. We took our time with the Mandioca frita appetizer, admittedly, and I very much appreciate the spacing by our server, but our main courses were luke warm once the app was cleared. I worked in restaurants for many years so I know how difficult it is to coordinate with the kitchen, but there were only three tables at the time. The Brazilian sausage was wonderful and their strip steak was very good, but overall it's such an impressive space and warrants another visit. I recommend visiting Samba and I hope to try more of the menu soon. read more

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This is a really good little spot. The food is really good; the paninis make for a great, quick lunch and are more reasonably priced than the rest of the food. Whether the rest is worth the price is best for you to decide, but the paninis are a safe bet. Just be careful with adding sides (like fries) or additions (like avocado) to your meal because those can skyrocket the price which can be a little disheartening. The atmosphere is pretty claustrophobic, but as long as you know what you're getting into beforehand it's worth it. read more

Looking for some good Brazilian food, this is your spot. I have been to a lot of Caribbean restaurants but this was by far the best. The food was fantastic, service was great and it was a awesome atmosphere. I'm definitely going back and would highly recommend Samba read more

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My recommendations would be their special fiejoada that's only served on friday and saturday. It's really good and very comforting. Great for cold weather. The portion is good for 2 people as well. Asides from that, their desserts are good too which is the yuka cake and the one with coconut pudding with dates. Least favorites are the steak (too tough) and the duck on cheese ball appetizer with a blue cheese or gorgonzola. (Cheese taste was overpowering). The appetizer with squash and dried beef was ok. Do make a reservations since the place is small especially for a big group. BYOB read more

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The food was really good but the service was horrible. If you go, do yourself a favor and sit inside. We sat outside and our waiter seemed to constantly forget about it. It took him almost 30 minutes just to come back and take our order after we were given water. The food took awhile but was good. Afterward we had to wait a while for the check and once we got it, it was wrong. They almost charged us for some other table's dessert when we didn't have any dessert so we had to go inside and amend this error. Good food. Atrocious service read more

The owner of Samba is a wonderful business. He gave us a few extra cheese rolls because we told him we loved it last time we were there. He really made his restaurant gorgeous. He is humble and kind. The best is that Samba is farm to table. We ordered tiny organic fried chicken cuts on the bone with garlic, fresh parsley and olive oil. We had grilled paninis on gluten free bread with grilled organic chicken breast with fresh mozz, tomato and pesto. My date had grilled organic chicken breast with grilled pineapple and mango mustard. I highly recommend this restaurant. Can't wait to go back. read more

Looking for some local, authentic Brazilian food? Look no further! Samba is a must-visit. We had the lunch special which was awesome and everything tasted so flavorful. For a great price, you can get an app, salad, entree & dessert. If you are ever looking for a healthy meal when eating out, think of Samba! PS: thank you for the birthday flan read more

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I loved this place, the Camarão na moranga is really really good, and the service very good too! read more

Samba Montclair - Brazilian Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

amazing! gluten free and I have celiac super safe and friendly staff! Bruno great waiter- churros amazing!

we never got to try the cuisine because the owner threw us out. he became vicious and unhinged when i tried to explain that i am highly allergic to the detergent he uses to wash his uniforms (fabulosa - highly scented with toxic chemicals). i told him that the chemical scent made me feel ill, that i was glad i could be seated outside (i was!). that - when the weather got colder, i would not be able to eat there. i thought he'd want to know so he could re-think his laundry practices. perhaps it was, in part, a language problem. we kept trying to clarify that i was NOT insulting his restaurant! rather, i was letting him know that his choice of detergent was literally making me ill, and that i was unable to sit inside. he became abusive almost instantly, shouting at us in public. my wife and i are middle aged women who were calmly attempting to de-escalate his irrational and highly inappropriate behavior towards us, his guests. this only served to spike his rage. THEN HE THREW US OUT! i am living with a serious illness. one of the symptoms is an acute sensitivity to fragrances found in cologne, detergent and other chemicals like solvents and gasoline. rather than receive my feedback about accessibility, this petty foolish man attacked us. he is obviously unaware of the americans with disabilities act. when i told him that one of the symptoms of my illness is this allergic response, he pointed to his neck and shouted, "i had cancer! don't you play that game with me!" so, the gluten free bread was good and the menu looks good, but the owner is a world class asshat. you know what else? i kind of doubt he would have had that explosive response had we been dudes. or even younger women. so - if you want to breathe in a whole lotta fabulosa in a small airless space and put money into the pocket of an abusive bully, eat here! ADDENDUM: in response to my review, the owner sent a harassing message to me. he claims that we left without paying for cheese bread that we did not order, receive or eat; and that we left without paying for fizzy water with the bottle "in hand." seriously? HE THREW US OUT. we left with zero bottles. are we really supposed to pay for a few sips of fizzy water after we are verbally abused in public and ejected before we can even order food? after reading other negative reviews, it seems that there are numerous *other* instances of outrageous customer abuse and humiliation. particularly when the customer is a woman or female couple! read more

This was a great Brazilian place we stumbled upon yesterday afternoon. We ordered from the lunch special which is an appetizer, main course and a dessert. I loved my fried chicken appetizer and the main course Shrimp in a creamy yucca ,coconutty sauce was so flavorful. A must try from the menu . My husband ordered the sausage and yucca from the appetizer which was mouth watering as well. We didn't like the Passion fruit mousse as much ...not for our taste but others might like it . We rather enjoyed the coconut pudding. I loved how they served everything in small cast iron pans and pots. The ambiance was good and the service staff was excellent . read more

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First time eating here. Lived in Montclair my whole life. Heard good stuff. I got the special thing they only have on Fridays and Saturdays. It was good meats, but I have to come back and get the shrimp in an acorn. My meat was perfectly cooked. Literally falling off the bone.. My kids got chicken and fries with rice and beans. They loved it. Four ate here, reasonable prices, and it was GREAT!! read more

staff left a lot to be desired. greeter was arrogant and abrupt. ironic, since they have so many signs about "being kind". took 10 mins at minimum before someone finally asked if we're ready to order and the place wasn't even a tad bit busy/crowded! food took a while to be served and order was inaccurate. I didn't have the energy to even bring that up to their attention which could take another 30 mins longer for a 5-min task to make the correction. they have signs for "90-minute max" sitting time and to "be considerate" and " no exceptions", yet staff takes too long to attend to diners. again, they were not even busy! pricey for mediocre-at-best food in small servings. automatically added 3% surcharge for credit card use on the bill without even asking if paying cash/card. what we hoped for was a quick, nice lunch. what we got was super lagging service and mediocre food for lunch that cost about $90. would've been able to overlook prices if service and food were worthwhile, but both were subpar which left a bad taste in our mouths. definitely, not worth coming back for. additionally, as one reviewer mentioned: the liberal tees were off-putting..a total contradiction to their "be kind" reminders on the menu. read more

My husband and I celebrated our wedding anniversary tonight with our long time friends at Samba tonight. It was our first time there. The food was incredible, the owner and staff very gracious and the restaurant is beautiful!!!! We will definitely be back! read more