Brazilian Beef is a small corner of Brazil on Wimborne Road, one of the busiest neighbourhood shopping streets in Bournemouth. Butcher, deli and café rolled into one, it has won a loyal following both among the town's Brazilian community and among local cooks after cuts of meat that supermarkets rarely carry. Anyone who has ever wanted to host a proper churrasco, the Brazilian barbecue centred on generous, well-marbled beef, should begin here.
What's on offer
The butcher's counter is the core of the business. Next to the everyday cuts is beef selected with the Brazilian grill in mind, trimmed and portioned for the barbecue, including the knuckle that regulars return for, along with sausages and South American beef from Argentina and Uruguay. Quality, freshness and value come up again and again in reviews.
Around the meat is a genuine deli and grocery. The shelves carry Brazilian store-cupboard basics, farofa, dried and tinned goods and soft drinks such as Guaraná among them, so an authentic meal can be put together at home. At the front a small café produces hot snacks and sweet things: golden coxinha, pão de queijo (the addictive little cheese breads) and cakes that reviewers speak highly of, with good coffee to go with them.
The feel of the place
It is a friendly, down-to-earth neighbourhood shop rather than a formal restaurant, and that is a large part of its charm. The staff, who speak Portuguese as well as English, are known for being warm and genuinely helpful, glad to explain unfamiliar products or suggest the right cut for what you are cooking. Homesick Brazilians after a taste of home and locals who are merely curious about the cuisine both find it an easy, welcoming place to browse.
Finding it
Brazilian Beef is at 606 Wimborne Road, in Winton on the northern side of Bournemouth. The drive from the town centre is simple, and Poole and Christchurch are both comfortably within reach. This part of Wimborne Road is a busy parade of independent shops, cafés and takeaways, so a visit combines well with a longer wander. As a working shopping street it usually has on-street pay-and-display parking nearby, although spaces can be taken at busy times.
Good to know
Booking is not a thing here; drop in during opening hours to shop, pick up a snack or order meat for a barbecue. Since it is as much a butcher and deli as a café, the selection is heavily meat-based and therefore less suited to vegetarians and vegans, although the breads, cheese breads, groceries and cakes deserve a look. Hours can change, so check the venue's own website or social channels before making the trip.
The rest of our food & drink guide covers more places to eat and drink along the coast, from neighbourhood finds like this to the town's better-known restaurants and cafés.