Brasil   2604 Dunlavy St Houston TX 77006 713.528.1993 You might also be interested in these:     Coffee Shop    Outdoor Dining    ZIP 77006   Add Review       MY REVIEW: You people are obviously not afraid to type a review in, but what about telling the staff or manager about your short-comings...getting all huffy-puffy behind a computer is no way to change things... NAME: Chocolate Moose SUBMITTED: 7/15/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 6/2008 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: I've been going to Brasil for a while now, usually once a week sometimes more, and I have always enjoyed dinner, coffee, the atmosphere, and the bands. After last night, I don't think I'll ever return. A friend was visiting last night from out of town, and I hadn't seen her in 3 years. We had dinner, then went to The C*hocolate Bar for chocolate covered cherries, then drove to Brasil to hang out for a little while before I took her back to her hotel. We brought our candy in with us, ordered coffee, and sat down and began talking. About 15 minutes later, someone who I assume was the manager or owner came over to our table, leaned over and put his hands down on our table, and said with an attitude, "In the future, please do not bring outside food in here. We sell our own desserts." I understand this, which is why I made sure we bought coffee instead of just drinking water. I apologized, at which point he stood up and turned away, and asked if he could bring us anything. I asked for a water, at which point he turned back around and with a bigger attitude said "I *MEANT* something from the *BAR*". I meantioned this today and have now heard experiences from others. It's a shame, because I really liked this place. NAME: RCW SUBMITTED: 6/19/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 6/18/2008 FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name... MY REVIEW: I tried looking up their website, but, the counter staff indicated they don't have one. Good: They filter their drinking water which should give them an extra 20 points in any kind of contest; I am not a bread person, but, the croissant is the tastiest sweetest, most buttery bread I have ever tasted; the music is played low enough so you can work or talk. Bad: Would somebody please install electrical outlets ???? Geeeezzzzz, you'd think at a coffee house you'd find these. I drove out of the way to come here thinking I could eat and work at the same time. But the only outlet was occupied by two tables cramed in the corner and the other outlet was next to the bus stop (outside) and occupied. Think OUTLETS OUTLETS OUTLETS!!!! Please please please give us comfortable chairs; Food just arrived: Eggs Benedict. augh. The eggs appear and taste as if they are hardboiled; the potatoes taste hours old and I'm guessing they were microwaved. It's official: I won't be running back here. I will resume my visitation schedule: Once every two years. NAME: MCH SUBMITTED: 5/19/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: Monday May 19, 2008 FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times RESPONSE: I am the head chef at cafe brasil in montrose this is in response to a review from carrissa.i love feedback in all forms both poistive and negative.but to write a place off because they a one cheeseburger is wrong. i believe in freedom of speech. i have add many new items since starting. i went from all can goods to fresh(black beans, hummus, fresh stocks). i haded fish tacos, tuna steak sandwich instead of canned. i make a veggie burger from starch. even mayo. i come from some of the top restaurant in the country and houston(aries, gravitas,shade) worked for many top level chefs. i knew coming on to update this classic many people woould be displeased and even hate me for some of the changes we as a mangement team have agreed to some of the items we took off due to low sales i run as specials and offer to guests who still wish to have them if i can. but to attack me, my career of 15plus yrs and compare me to mcd's is crazy. due to a bais every bussiness must grow and that angrys some. but it is the nature of the game. had she read the menu she may have enjoyed one of the new veggie dishes, i added more then took away and i have chalkboard specials all in all i added around 20-30 dishes as well as two soups and made quiche an all day item. she as her view but are sales are up more than ever. i wish chefs had a forum to respond to reviews that are unjust. i know not every dish i serve is perfect but i serve 15000 people a month. thank for reading this. Jason Hill MY REVIEW: BEWARE. This is no longer Cafe Brasil. This review is short and bitter as I have loved the old Brasil and it's menu for years. Need I say more than this... they now serve cheeseburgers. In a world filled with thousands of M*cDs and only one Cafe Brasil, I'm sure you will all be just as displeased and heart-broken with this generic change. My story: I walked in Cafe Brasil for the first time after a couple months to stand in a line so long it reached the door. For such a place as this, the long line and self service was never an annoyance, but this time it felt different. I couldn't point out the difference (I had already visited shortly after the kitchen expansion) but there it was, blocked by the crowd, the menu. Turning over the one-sided menu I did not find my favorites, so I just ordered what I knew. 'We don't have that anymore. Our menu has changed.' I always welcome something new - with the exception of M*cDs food. And that is what I stomached - nothing better than fast, generic, low-grade food. The End. NOTE to chef: Bad idea to save on cost by demolishing authenticity. NAME: Carissa SUBMITTED: 4/8/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 04/08 FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name... MY REVIEW: Cafe Brasil is always a work in progress... I frequent the place, love it most days,avoid it some on the weekends and realize that though it may have its flaws, they are always trying to perfect their formula to maintain the montrose ambiance while welcoming the river oaks tourists... The ordering system is somewhat chaotic, and the staff may not care to pamper you (though i have NEVER experienced anyone who didnt care about the food or coffee i received),and the owner- he seems to be tempermental... What keeps me going back to Brasil, what they have going for it- is a lovely environment, an enthusiastic new chef with a revitalized kitchen staff, a sassy manager who keeps the whippersnappers in line, inspired & yummy daily specials (i very rarely order off of the regular menu) and all of it made from scratch. I have moved in and out of Houston several times, living in the northwest and northeast in cities with a much more vibrant coffee/cafe culture than Houston, and this as close as we are going to get in Houston. Houston has always been too busy making money to hang out in cafes eating salad, it just doesn't exist the way it does in Austin... So perhaps this is where the disparity of reviews occurs- some patrons expecting to visit purely a restaurant to get in and out of, whereas others attend to read a newspaper, write a novel, eat some yummies,drink coffee, converse and linger. I can see where you might not like it if you had a two o clock conference call, but Brasil is what folks around here need. Despite the works in progress. NAME: ita SUBMITTED: 2/4/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 02/03/08 FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name... MY REVIEW: Food was good but the place was dirty. Contrary to other reviews, I didn't have a problem with the service. The guy at the counter was very nice and considerate. NAME: sweettooth SUBMITTED: 2/3/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: Jan 2008 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: I went there with a friend and we ordered a salad. After we ate our salad (which a super big salad) the waiter came and told us that he got confused with the order and that he had brought us a bigger salad that the one we have ordered, therefore he asked us to pay the differece. I'll not be back.... NAME: Felipe SUBMITTED: 1/20/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 01/08 FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times MY REVIEW: Went for breakfast. Food selections were limited, and arrived cold. The coffee was cold as well. I won't be returning. NAME: Lea SUBMITTED: 1/12/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 07/07 FREQUENCY: Visited once MY REVIEW: My fiance and I just wanted to grab a late night coffee so we were glad that Cafe Brasil is still around. He had the decaff and I had the decaff capuccino. Sorry state, but as is the usual, the decaff pot was probably unchanged throughout the day. Great coffee? Not really, but it was nice to sit on the tree covered patio and people watch. I was surprised to see the tasty food -- pizzas and sandwiches that others ordered. Probably come again next time...hungry. NAME: drfoodie SUBMITTED: 1/8/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 1/08 FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times MY REVIEW: My lunch today was awful. I normally always have a great meal at Brasil. But today I ordered one of the specials - a chicken fried steak sandwich with horseradish mayo and a side of fries. First, I was ignored by the sever at the counter in the brown felt hat while he chatted up one of his friends waiting for the other server to finish making his mocha. Once the guy in line a head of me got his mocha, the server in the brown hat did not pause for a moment to wait on the girl standing in line BEHIND me. I guess he though someone else was waiting on me, except that the place was mostly empty. 15 minutes later I got my food. The french fries looked like the last out of the bag, very few longer than a half an inch long, completely dried out, probably from freezer burn, and not the least bit hot when they cam to my table. The sandwich too was barely warm, the only good thing about it was the bread roll it came on. The CFS tasted like it was cooked earlier that day and left on a warming plate. It was dry and chewy and very hard to eat. I'm really disappointed that after they built their new kitchen, they cannot turn out better food. In fact I was always happy with the the old limited menu. It seemed to me they had that stuff down. NAME: Sealock SUBMITTED: 12/26/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: 12/2007 FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name... MY REVIEW: Brasil has excellent sandwiches, pizzas, plate dips. Their coffee is alright, nothing special. The ambiance I like, especially now they've remodelled and the kitchen is better ventilated. The owner does and has always picked on people he thinks are trying to camp out and study. I know people who stopped going because of it, and he even asked me to leave a few times many years ago. I think of the place as an old friend with bad habits. If it's crowded, I don't write or study there. All that said, I know a few people who have studied and then worked out of Brasil a few hours everyday for years. Including me. The owner gets used to people. He's just fickle and nervous and isn't envisioning a S*tarbucks. If you're put off by him but love the food I'd give it another chance: he's also got really nice sides. It was the only restaurant in the neighborhood that stayed open during Hurricane Rita, and all the owners -- mom, dad & young kids -- were in the kitchen doing dishes etc since a lot of their staff had left. They had red beans and rice for everybody, because that's what they could get with the entire city empty. It was great to have a place to go and see others. The owners also worked to make the public school in the neighborhood its in, and I have an apartment in, a Montessori. They are active in the neighborhood association. They support the arts. All these things make me forgive the owner's occasionally bad manners. But especially the Brasil Club does, best vegetarian sandwich in Houston. NAME: madge SUBMITTED: 9/27/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: 09/24 FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name... MY REVIEW: MY girlfriend and I use to visit this place about 3 times a week. We always order the turkey sandwich. We had not gone in about 6-8 months and decided it was time to go back. We ordered our usual turkey sandwiches and were quite dissapointed when they were brought to the table. The price went up a little over a buck from the last time we visited and you would think they would have kept the dish the same or maybe add on to it. Instead, they took away. You use to get pickles and bagel chips with the sandwich. Well, they added a $1 and took away the chips. Even the sanwiches are smaller now. The service has always been horrible, so we are kinda use to that. We will still probably go back, but ONLY for coffee. NO MORE FOOD! NAME: Valerie SUBMITTED: 4/16/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: March/2007 FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name... MY REVIEW: I've been frequenting this establishment since 1996. I might as well write a quick review since it's my favorite coffee shop. It's ambiance and people are quite eclectic, also evidenced by the artwork on the wall. It thankfully has not evolved into a pretentious see-and-be-seen place like the other coffee shop across the street. It's a great place to hang out with friends. There are a few occasional students with laptops. I've never had a problem with any of the workers, except for one miscreant, a cashier that tried to short me $8. Dodgy guy from the very beginning, I do not think he is employed there anymore. The beer selection is limited, although they had most of my favorites, including Chimay (Red, White, and Blue). The coffee is pretty good, but it doesn't come to you piping hot. The food is excellent. The pizzas are fresh, and the crust is tasty. Their various dips are also very good. The desserts are yummy and ruining my waistline. In summary, a dimly lit coffee shop that serves beer/wine and good food with a bonus of having live music at night. Come as you are. NAME: Leigha SUBMITTED: 5/12/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: 05/2006 FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name... MY REVIEW: I LOVE BRASIL, THE BREAKFAST IS GOOD AND THE PIZZAS ARE TOO DIE FOR. THERE'S LIVE MUSIC MONDAY- FRIDAY. (WED NIGHT JAZZ NIGHT) AND THEY PLAY MOVIES IN THERE BACK PATIO. THE STAFF IS VERY NICE AND WINE SMART. I CAN'T GET ENOUGHT OF THIS PLACE. P.S. MICHELLE YOU MIGHT BE GETTING THE WRONG SALAD, ASK FOR THE BRASIL CAESAR, NOT JUST A CAESAR, THE BRASIL CAESAR HAS HEART OF PALM. THE SAME THING HAPPEND TO ME. NAME: OP SUBMITTED: 2/10/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: 02/10/06 FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times MY REVIEW: At first, the eponymous caesar salad was something to crave. But lately its quality has been inconsistent. And today's salad doesn't taste anything like what I used to crave. Plus, it's the second time the salad has come without palm hearts. I called to ask if they had new people in the kitchen - because the taste of the dressing is so different - and they said there were two new employees back there. He didn't seem terribly concerned when I told him the salad didn't taste anything like previous salads had. One would think they'd want to know so they could spend some time training the new employees on how to make Brasil recipes. Consistency is a good thing - especially when you have a good dish to begin with. NAME: michelle SUBMITTED: 1/27/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: January 2006 FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times MY REVIEW: Phenomenal food, fantastic service, killer ritas, and prices are a little high, but it's worth it, b/c your abuelita never cooked food like this! NAME: tj SUBMITTED: 1/3/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: 12/24/05 FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times MY REVIEW: Bazil is a lovely place to eat. They have great breakfasts...I love their oatmeal. Their lunches are excellent too. The Brazil Chef with Tuna is outstanding. The service is typically good and I have not had an encounter with the manager. The servings are large and I think the prices are fair. NAME: lisa SUBMITTED: 12/26/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: 12/17/2005 FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name... MY REVIEW: Brasil....home of the hip and free....and some damn funny employees. Arthur and Ben keep me laughing like nobody's business. I've been going on and off to this place for a few years now. The pizzas are tops, and the iced coffee can't be beat. Sure, find a reason to complain, but I'd rather go and enjoy myself. Finally, I will say the manager can be a little less than friendly, but he has never ever asked me to leave. NAME: I AIN'T SCARED OF NO MANAGER! SUBMITTED: 11/4/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: 11.04.05 FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name... MY REVIEW: I will absolutely avoid this place in the future. The food and coffee are fine but what good is that if the manager's going to treat you like a bum? Today I drove in from Sugar Land and thought I would stop in here before a class. Since I'd been in the car a while, when I entered the establishment I had to go to the restroom before I ordered. I told the person at the counter I'd be right back and although I said hi, the manager just stared at me as I went by. When I came back, the manager was gone. I ordered a sandwich and a coffee drink, took a seat out on the patio, read while I waited for my food, noticed someone else drawing across the patio, folks reading like me, etc. When my food came, I ate it, a server pleasantly came by and pleasantly chatted with me and took my plate but left my drinks as I was still drinking them. I started a quick sketch while then, but within just a few minutes, the manager interupted me and asked me if I wanted a menu. I told him I'd just eaten and he said "oh, you mean before you got here." I told him no, I just ate at Brazil. Then the guy says, quite disbeleivingly, that he did not see me eat anything. And then he took the remains of my coffee drink. I should have shown him my receipt, but I was just shocked at the rudeness. Apparently, I looked like someone just using up space in his restroom and patio table. I eat out a lot and I understand an establishment's need to turn tables. But there were other open tables. I did pay for a meal and tip there. This whole encounter took less than an hour and the majority of the time was spent waiting for my food to arrive. I never saw him saying anything to the other patrons reading or drawing the entire time I was there. And there's just no excuse for that kind of rudeness. I'll be letting my other "arty" friends know we ought to find a better place to meet & eat. NAME: R. Jones SUBMITTED: 11/2/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: 11/03/05 FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times MY REVIEW: I have been going to Brasil 2 times a week or more for about a year now. The food is great and the staff are usually friendly and helpful. However, they are often college kids believing themselves to be smarter than they actually are. They they think that writing down your order is somehow uncalled for with an intellect such as their own. Don't be fooled - EVERY time they have taken my order without writing it down, it has been wrong. There are two people in specific that do this, one works at night, the other during the day. Make them write down your order if you want them to get it right. With regard to the negative reviews written - this is a cafe/restaurant, people. Camping out and studying for hours on end and buying nothing but a cup of coffee and a muffin is just plain rude and inconsiderate. Go to D*ietrich or S*tarbucks - better yet, the library! I have never seen the manager be rude to people and I have talked to him several times - he has always been friendly. Having said that, people taking up valuable table space (it's a small restaurant) sipping coffee while writing their papers would upset me as well. The ambiance is really cool and I love the fact that his daughter runs around flirting with people and playing around. She is adorable and it adds to the family atmosphere. I love this place! The food is fantastic and prices are great! One more thing that I must address because it really bothers me. Ever since the city ordinance prohibiting smoking indoors, all of the smokers dining here have migrated to the patio. Brasil has a fantastic patio area that is great for lunch outdoors on a nice day. Unfortunately, now it is always packed with smokers and fresh air with a meal is virtually impossible. I must admit that I frequent Brasil much less ever since this problem started. NAME: Jason SUBMITTED: 10/31/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: 10/30 FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name... MY REVIEW: I moved here from the Northeast 3 weeks ago and have been to Brasil 4 times now. I have read all the reviews. I think the food is great- I have had a few of their pizzas and two breakfasts. I have never been rushed out of there and the wait staff is always friendly. I will frequent Brasil often. NAME: LINE SUBMITTED: 10/1/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: 10/01/2005 FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times MY REVIEW: I have been going to Brasil about 10 years and I have come face to face with the manager. I think he is usually there during the day. I ordered breakfast meanwhile his children were playing ball in back room throwing it back and forth to each other and the place was not crowded. After my breakfast I went over and got coffee and biscotti and then he came over to my table. He was not polite and thought I was taking up the table. I did not go there for awhile but I have made my way back a few times since then. The food is great, the regular coffee choices are excellent, and they have great Ace draft beer. The desserts are a plus as well. Try the german chocolate cake it is excellent. NAME: angie SUBMITTED: 8/21/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: yesterday FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times MY REVIEW: I went to Brasils last night with a ever growing party of more then 15 people! My party and I had a blast! The service was nice and friendly.I was afraid after reading the reviews that the (crazy,jerk manager)was going to ask us to leave but nobody ever did. All our food came in a timely matter...AND LET ME SAY...IT WAS DELICIOUS! I had their itailian cherry soda(everyone should try it!)...and I had their greek salad w/their tomato soup. The salad was huge! To top it off we all shared some sausage & goat cheese pizza. The pizza is awesome! Its a really nice place to hang out... I was looking forward to the patio but it was pretty crowded. We got there around 7:45p and left alittle past midnight! None of the workers ever even made a nasty face at us or told us anything. To complete the perfect night we all had different desserts...The chocolate mousse cake is to die for!!! It was hella good! ((THE BEST!!)) I am orginaly from Cali & Brasil's is just your typical coffee cafe out of the Cali scene. The music was great-it was just really chill...a nice little laid back night. Whether they were sipping on wine or drinking thier Coronas & Dos XX everyone really enjoyed themselves. One of my freinds from Philly was really impressed that they had his Red Stripe(jamiacan) beer. It was a 1st time experience for most of my group--->AND WE WILL BE RETURINING. Its nice to go somewhere that makes you feel like your not in Houston! lol... NAME: Brasil's fan! :) SUBMITTED: 8/17/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: 08/2005 FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times MY REVIEW: After much fanfare I decided to give Brasil a try. Had pepperoni pizza and a turkey sandwich, both were excellent. The line was a bit long because the place is so popular, but it still moved fast. The staff was very nice. I like the choice of different areas (entrance, main room, patio) and the unique design and artwork, including the one identifying the proper restroom... [Austrian accent] I'll be back [/Austrian accent] NAME: Wolfgang SUBMITTED: 8/14/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: 08/13/2005 FREQUENCY: Visited once ©Copyright 1991 - 2008 B4-U-EAT.COM. All rights reserved. Design and database by B4-U-BUY