Described as an authentic churrascaria restaurant, and proclaiming itself as a "Big Gastronomic Pleasure", Bem Brasil certainly lives up to its twin boasts.
With an atmosophere that is distinctly "Rio" and serving-up big portions, providing you pace yourself, Bem Brasil is not just a pleasure but more like an orgy of delights for meat lovers.
Churrascarias are Brazilian barbecue steakhouses and a style of dining that has quickly grabbed a loyal following in the UK.
That's hardly surprising, since - for a fixed price - you can eat as much as you like of a mouthwatering selection of grilled dishes, accompanied by a buffet offering hot side dishes or tempting salads.
The churrascaria takes its name from the style of barbecue spit that the gaùchos "cowboys" have used for centuries to roast beef as they herd cattle on horseback out on the pampas of Southern Brazil.
Bem Brasil translates as "Great Brazil" and is easy to find, opposite the Novotel, on the edge of Liverpool ONE, located in a former Victorian store on Hanover St.
The building has been completely transformed, with a bright airy feel and a full-on Brazilian theme.
The often breathtaking £1m conversion includes a huge "wall of running water" feature in the reception and bar downstairs along with giant blow-up photographs of colourful township homes.
Elsewhere there are muted mahogany accents and dark tones in the furnishings and polished wooden flooring, with big screen TVs dotted here and there, though those in the restaurant were switched-off when we dined.
Bem Liverpool is the third restaurant of its kind opened by the chain's Brazilian founder, Kleber Magalhaes, who opened his first churrascaria in a former Manchester pub five years back.
Kleber is quoted as saying: “Our food is authentic Brazilian, our venue reflects real Brazilian art, and our passion for football is the greatest in the world.
"When you combine food, music, art, passion and football in a truly multicultural city like Liverpool, you can feel the excitement!”
Arriving at Bem Brasil we were certainly made to feel very welcome by a smiling receptionist.
Shown to our half-round booth table upstairs a simple explanation was given of the self-service buffet and rodízio service.
The buffet was laid-out on a triangular island unit: the fresh salads one side, hot vegetables on another ranged alongside hot meat and fish dishes, with hot rice, black bean and pork stew, gravy and sauces simmering away on the third.
The rodízio service consists of "passador" waiters constantly touring the tables, offering a mind-boggling procession of barbecued meats, which they slice from a huge skewer that looks more like a sword, at the tables.
Each diner signifies whether they are ready to accept more meats via a small round cardboard tab: green on one side for "yes please" and red on the other for "not just yet".
The star of the feast was a succulent fillet steak which was cooked to perfection and melted in the mouth with a satisfying burst of tongue-tingling flavour.
The lamb too was tender, very lean, aromatic and flavoursome. The rib steak was perhaps best-suited to those with a really hearty appetite, but we particularly enjoyed tucking-in to the spicy individual chrorizo sausages.
We also enjoyed the chicken breast wrapped in bacon but passed when the passador offered garlic bread. We were getting full and wanted to save ourselves for more sausages!
Despite the fact that we dined early in the week, the spacious restaurant was well-subscribed and there was a cheerful atmosphere, while the booths and ample space between tables made for a pleasantly intimate feel.
Our waitress was delightful and I lost count of the number of times she visited the table to ask in an amiable manner "Is there anything I can get you guys?".
Nothing appeared too much trouble as she offered to change our plates and cutlery, or to replenish drinks, which for us were mainly from a wide selection of ice-cold lagers.
Make no mistake, this is no haphazard barbecue. Rather like the mesmerising rotisserie grill, it is a well-oiled machine.
The only drawback is that, with such a vast array of delicious food on offer at a fixed price, the uninitiated may fall prey to the temptation to over-eat.
But that is a risk worth taking to sample this most convivial dining experience. We were in a party of four, and amid the regular chatter, we noticed just how much time we each spent comparing and contrasting our opinions on the various dishes as they came along. Good fun!
These, mysteriously, included slices of cinnamon-coated grilled pineapple. It is meant as a between course 'palate cleanser', but we threw caution to the wind and showed our ignorance by turning it into a "pudding" - ordering slices accompanied with scoops of scrumptious vanilla ice cream.
Two hours after we started our South American carnivores adventure, rich tasting coffee and pleasantly brewed traditional tea rounded-off a memorable evening.
We had not been the only table celebrating a birthday on the night, and it's easy to see why the steakhouse is a destination for a special occasion. We headed home vowing to return, very soon, for second helpings.
Prices range from £12.50 for lunch, Mon-Fri, to £24.50p for dinner, served 6pm til late Mon-Thurs and starting at 4pm Fri,Sat and Sun.
For vegetarians, or those who decide to pass on the meat feast, the buffet alone costs as little £8.00, 12pm to 4pm Mon-Fri, or £12.50 at other times.
Reservations: 0151 709 0044
For more information visit: www.bembrasilrestaurant.com
Click rating: 9/10 - Excellent value for money.
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