Favela Grill Brazilian Restaurant

My girlfriend and I have loved this place from the start. There daily lunch specials are awesome, especially the fish stew on friday. There dinners are amazing. We take friends there, family. It truly encapsulates what astoria is all about and has a charm seldom seen in establishments in the 30th ave area. I love it so much, i actually worry about it when i drive by and see it empty at a given time. BUT....and this pains me to say it, the service is taking on its name sake. Favela, it means "shanty town" in portuguese if u didn't know already, is becoming a bit shady. Let me plead my case. We showed up on a rainy Friday night in July. Had a nice dinner, got up to leave and my umbrella was gone. I went to the waiters, got nothing but shoulder shrugs. Somebody on the staff mentioned to check the people that had just left who were sitting behind us. Ran up to them in the pouring rain 3 blocks away, no dice. Came back in and the staff, including the bartender were "way too busy" attending to 1 person at the bar and 2 additional tables to help me out. Nobody could give me a straight answer it seemed when i asked what had happened. Finally i stood there and said i wasn't leaving without it, and out of thin air, it magically appeared from behind the bar, after 20 minutes! I looked at the bartender who had just told me he didn't have it, and he made no eye contact with me. He preceeded to sheepishly look down and polish his glasses. Guess he didn't want to walk home wet either. A second visit by my girlfriend and her friends from out of town met with similarly shady circumstances. They sat down, and a few minutes after ordering entrees ONLY, appetizers appeared out from the kitchen with smiling faces from the wait staff. A few tables had recieved them, and my girlfriend thought they must be trying out a new dish, compliments of the house. Survey says....XXXXXXXX!!! When the bill came, a $7 few from appetizers appeared on the bill. My girlfriend confronted the waiter about not having ordered the appetizers, who then, and I quote stated, " You ate them, didn't you!". She is german, so will not back down to any man, let alone a stupid moron like this. She told the man she wasn't paying. He then cut her off in the middle of her sentence, and took it off the bill in a manner that was very befitting of such a dickless magot. SOOOOO....without getting too emotional, summing up, the place is great, but let me ask you this: is it worth eating at an establishment where you have to check your pockets every 5 minutes to make sure you still have your wallet? You sure as hell can't eat with your hands in your pockets, so skip Favela, trust me, its not worth the hassel and time off work you have to take to go to small claims court.

Pros: Food and atmosphere

Cons: service

Posted 08/27/09

I went to Favela for the first time recently for dinner. I loved it, the food was so delicious! For an appetizer, my boyfriend and I shared the shrimp croquettes. They were warm and crispy and the portion was just right for two people. For my entree I chose the Costela Bam-Bam, the meat was so tender and flavorful. My boyfriend chose the Bife a Role, which was delicious as well. We opted not to have alcohol, and instead enjoyed Brazilian soda and cashew juice for the first time. The juice has a unique, pleasant taste and we liked it so much we ordered another one.

Even though we were quite full, we could not resist having the banana cake flambe and the coconut flan. The desserts were wonderful and decadent. The service was great as well, attentive and helpful with good suggestions. I had a terrific experience at the restaurant and definitely intend to go back often.

Pros: food, drinks, service

Cons: none

Posted 05/05/09

Great environment, delicious food and drinks, and FANTASTIC live music. It's a fun place, frequented by many Brazilians (including me!) so you know they are doing something right. Moqueca de peixe (fish stew) is great as are many of the beef cuts. I love it.

Pros: everything

Cons: nothing

Posted 12/03/08

A thankful culinary surprise tucked on a quiet street in Astoria. The restaurant has colorful murals, great music and attentive service. Try the codfish croquettes, a serving of six golfball size fried rounds filled with flaky white fish that arrive piping hot and crispy. The stroganoff franko has tender chicken in a tomato cream sauce with white rice and potato matchsticks. DELICIOUS. My boyfriend had to take a second bite of it to truly believe how delicious that entree was. Another dish we tried was a collective plate of beans, rice, fried beef and a fried egg - an enormous platter that could serve two or three people. Somehow we even found room for dessert, the banana cake flambee. It comes in a cast iron skillet and layers of firm plantain and gooey cake sit atop a pool of spoon-licking caramel. We will DEFINITELY be back.

Pros: I'm glad this place is in Astoria and I don't have to go to Manhattan.

Cons: The only con is that I can't eat here every day.

Posted 07/30/08

the atmosphere is easy and cosy. The food is just like my mom's! Being a brazilian that always looks for some great little restaurant to remind me from home I am finally happy to say I found something just like it. Their costela is to die for! As other brazilian specialities! Go Favela! Keep up with the good food!

Pros: great food.

Cons: far from my house.

Posted 07/23/08

One of the best Brazilian food in NY and CT area. Its staff is just amazing. You must go and feel like if you are in Brazil.Thanks guys for being great.

Posted 05/29/08

This restaurant is very cozy. Thurs-Sat the live music makes the dining experience relaxing and fun.
Unfortunately, the food is average. Their picanha is a couple of very thin steaks? Their Bobo de Camarao (typical dish from the northeast of Brazil) is kind of plain? Some other dishes are much better, like their steak with onions and Madeira sauce.
Overall, not the best (at least not yet) but a good experience.

Posted 05/13/08

We have dined in this restaurant several times. The food, service, and atmosphere are always great. Our dinners are always expertly prepared and very delicious. The owner and staff are always very hospitable. The Brazilian food is as good as you will enjoy anywhere in the city. The Salgadinhos are highly recommended as an appetizer. The Picanha is great as a main entree. Try the fried banana or coconut flan for dessert.

Pros: Great Food, Service & Atmosphere

Cons: None

Posted 11/17/07

Went for the (Wednesday) lunch special and was bowled over. Lean, moist, flavorful braised pork ribs with flavorful rice (reckon it had been cooked in broth), garlicky collard greens and great Brazilian style beans (with farofa and sausage). A steal for $6.95; well worth its dinner price of $10.95.

Pros: tasty

Cons: none

Posted 11/06/07

I've been to Favela many times... the service is great! If you are looking for a "homemade style food", that's the place to go!!! After trying many different dishes I realized that my favorite ones are tha "Costela Bam Bam" (Prime Rib), "Muqueca de Peixe" (FIsh Stew) and the Salmon. Not only the food is great...the music is nice and of course, the drinks are delicious!!!! You should try it... I'll bet you'll love it!!!

Posted 09/21/07

Went to Favela expecting to feel like I was in Brazil. I felt like I was in Astoria, extremely dissapointing. The Service was unattentive. I had to order our drinks more than once before it was brought to our table. The appetizers were nothing to brag about. The biggest disapointment, the Picanha, their signature dish came out flavorless. The side dishes of rice and beans were cold, not luikewarm but cold. Having been to Brazil and loving the culture I was truly disapointed.

Pros: Nice decoration, No wait to be seated

Cons: Cold Food, Cold Service

Posted 09/16/07

I love the food,excelent Service, it seem like i was in Brazil.
The Best place to eat Typical Brazilian food, if you want to eat brazilian food just go there, I'm sure you gonna love it.

Posted 07/16/07