
Viva Brazil Cardiff
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Quick info
About Viva Brazil Cardiff
Viva Brazil Cardiff is a Brazilian restaurant on St Mary St in Cardiff, next to the train station, built around the rodízio format. Carvers bring meat to each table, and guests choose between the classic rodízio and the premium one, which adds rib-eye and fillet steak. The cooking runs on a charcoal barbeque, and a salad bar with vegetables sits alongside the meats. Dessert includes barbecued pineapple with cinnamon. A bottomless menu is offered, and a small bar area holds guests waiting to be seated. The restaurant is open daily.
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Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention picanha steak, rib-eye premium upgrade, salad bar and bottomless menu.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention picanha steak, rib-eye premium upgrade, salad bar and bottomless menu.
Customer Review Summary
Diners come for the rodízio meats, with the picanha singled out as the best steak and others describing the cuts as plentiful and quick to reach the table. Close behind is the staff, called friendly and attentive in most reviews, and one family notes the highchairs and plastic cutlery already set out for their little ones. Reviewers also mention a Merlot and a Chardonnay, a cocktail, and a bottomless menu used for an anniversary. The salad bar splits opinion, delicious to some and simple and unremarkable to others. Pricing is the recurring complaint. Two three-star reviewers call the meal overpriced, citing the extra charge for the rib-eye and fillet upgrade, dinner costing more than lunch for the same menu, and a service fee added automatically to the bill. One found the rib-eye not worth the upgrade. Another felt rushed after three waiters asked in quick succession to take their order, and a third said the meat was underdone for a partner. One meal ended on barbecued pineapple with cinnamon, and at another birthday table the staff sang happy birthday.
Customer Review Summary
Diners come for the rodízio meats, with the picanha singled out as the best steak and others describing the cuts as plentiful and quick to reach the table. Close behind is the staff, called friendly and attentive in most reviews, and one family notes the highchairs and plastic cutlery already set out for their little ones. Reviewers also mention a Merlot and a Chardonnay, a cocktail, and a bottomless menu used for an anniversary. The salad bar splits opinion, delicious to some and simple and unremarkable to others. Pricing is the recurring complaint. Two three-star reviewers call the meal overpriced, citing the extra charge for the rib-eye and fillet upgrade, dinner costing more than lunch for the same menu, and a service fee added automatically to the bill. One found the rib-eye not worth the upgrade. Another felt rushed after three waiters asked in quick succession to take their order, and a third said the meat was underdone for a partner. One meal ended on barbecued pineapple with cinnamon, and at another birthday table the staff sang happy birthday.
Featured reviews
- Laura Webster
“I came here for my brothers birthday meal. The staff were so kind, especially Patrik. They all sung happy birthday at the end too! The salad bar was delicious and the staff were very attentive :)”
- Kali D
“Absolutely wonderful, staff were amazing and the food was really friendly. It was lovely to see they had added highchairs and plastic cutlery to the table, as we had added information about having little ones with us. These little touches make everyone feel welcome/included. Thank you for a lovely experience, will be back !”
- A
“Viva Brazil in Cardiff is a perfect introduction to the Brazilian rodízio concept, and it makes the whole experience feel exciting right from the start. The idea is simple but brilliant: you can choose either the full or classic rodízio, and at the prices on offer it feels very accessible for what you get. It is the kind of place that invites you to relax, enjoy the pace, and properly experience Brazilian dining rather than rushing through a meal. One of the best parts of the visit was Clayton, who was excellent throughout. He was friendly, accommodating, and very clear in explaining how the concept works, which made everything easy to understand even if it is your first time trying rodízio. That kind of service really matters in a restaurant built around a unique dining style, because it helps you settle in and enjoy the experience rather than wondering what comes next. His helpful attitude made the whole meal feel smoother and more welcoming. The steak selection was the real highlight, and for me the picanha stood out as the best steak of all. It was tender, flavorful, and cooked in a way that really showed off why Brazilian barbecue has such a strong reputation. Every time the meats came around, there was a sense of anticipation, and the picanha delivered completely. It was the kind of dish that makes you understand why rodízio is so popular. The salad bar was adequate, though nothing especially remarkable. It did the job and gave you the usual supporting options, but this was clearly not the main attraction of the meal. The focus here is definitely on the meat, and that is where the restaurant earns its points. The location is another major advantage, sitting right next to the train station, which makes it very convenient whether you are meeting friends, traveling through Cardiff, or simply looking for an easy dinner spot. To finish, they served barbecued pineapple with cinnamon powder, which was a lovely ending to the meal. It added a sweet, warm note after all the savory meats and gave the experience a classic Brazilian finish. Overall, it was a very good way to try Brazilian food, and the combination of affordable pricing, friendly service, and strong meat quality made it worthwhile.”
- Zoe Windsor
“Went to celebrate our 10 Year Anniversary on Thursday night and tried the new Bottomless menu. We have been coming to Viva Brazil for years but last night was the best experience we had at the restaurant. The staff were so friendly and helpful, very attentive, especially our server Catarina D. She made our anniversary meal extra special. The service was fantastic. The food was incredible and the drinks were flowing. Highly recommend trying the Bottomless menu.”
- Coralie Roy
“Staff was absolutely fantastic! The different types of meat kept coming very fast so that was definitely a great thing and most of meat served was delicious but it is not worth the price we paid for it. They have a very weird pricing system where dinner costs £10 more per person than lunch time ( for exact same menu selection) and another £9 extra if you want to enjoy some rib eye steak ( which in my opinion, after trying it, was not worth paying the extra). There is a 10% “discretionary” service fee ( not so much discretionary as they add it automatically on your bill) to be aware of. Your dinner can end up costing a lot more than what you planned for really. The buffet was ok but nothing amazing, very simple vegetables selection. This restaurant can be grateful for their staff as without them I would not even have given 3 stars. Just way too overpriced for what it is.”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Good to know
“Chic Brazilian restaurant with meat carvers moving from table to table, plus a charcoal barbeque.”
- AccessibilityWheelchair-accessible entrance · Wheelchair-accessible seating · Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Amenities
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Show more amenities
- Accessibility· 3
- Wheelchair-accessible seating
- Wheelchair-accessible toilet
- Wheelchair-accessible car park
Location
Restaurants near Viva Brazil Cardiff
- 0.1 mi£10–20Outdoor seatingVegan optionsVegetarian options
pan-fried sea bass, eggs benedict, pancakes with bacon or berries
- Greek Village4.43150.1 mi£10–20Wheelchair accessibleGood for kids
chicken gyros, lamb souvlaki, sharing platter
- The Ivy Cardiff4.42,1590.2 miWheelchair accessible
upstairs toilets decor, acacia tree upstairs, complimentary celebration dessert
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viva Brazil Cardiff | 4.54,222 | — | — | picanha steak, rib-eye premium upgrade, salad bar |
| Bill's Cardiff Central RestaurantOutdoor seating · Vegan options · Vegetarian options | 4.33,622 | 0.1 mi | £10–20 | pan-fried sea bass, eggs benedict, pancakes with bacon or berries |
| Greek VillageWheelchair accessible · Good for kids | 4.4315 | 0.1 mi | £10–20 | chicken gyros, lamb souvlaki, sharing platter |
| The Ivy CardiffWheelchair accessible | 4.42,159 | 0.2 mi | — | upstairs toilets decor, acacia tree upstairs, complimentary celebration dessert |
The 3 nearest restaurants by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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