Elite Event: Flavors of Brazil at Beija Flor

Great Brazilian music, food and drinks! My favorite part was the live music and enough room to sway and dance a bit. The apps were delicious, fried empanadas. Mixed drinks were nice, full of that extra kick you need in the middle of the work week.
This was my first Unilocal Elite event and I was happily greeted by the host Jando! He made me feel very welcomed! We spoke a bit and I appreciated the time he took out to help me feel comfortable. Thank you!

Prelude: Four years in Queens (and five total in NYC), and I’m still discovering new things to do and hidden places to go to. Much of this success goes to Unilocal (thanks Unilocal!). Would I have gone to this joint if not for the good graces of Unilocal?I probably would have missed it.
Now, despite this place being a mere 10 minutes away (according to Google maps), I found myself arriving more than 15 minutes late (fashionably, of course). Upon entering the establishment, I noticed throngs of Unilocalers bombarding the bar staff with drink orders. While the quest for drinks could have become a perilous endeavor, the bar men and the bar lady did quite the job keeping drinks in hands; a bit of teamwork too with the Unilocalers though, even lighter drinkers went in on some double-​fisting action so as to double the amount of time they needed from having to brave the tempestuous crowd flooding the threshold of the bar.
Can’t blame my fellow elites from wanting to get their drink on, as the kitchen kept rolling out some Brazilian bites that we needed to wash down with some booze (multi-​flavored Caipirinhas and a simple but refreshing mimosa). Sausages, empanadas, croquettes, stews, and anything in between were being rolled out for our enjoyment.
Layout was great despite the packed house; some tables for those who wanted to rest those achy/​drunk knees… and a dance floor for those whose moves are superior to my Tin Man impression. Some dim lighting (once the sun went down) and the live band just enhanced the atmosphere… truly a romantic gem on the crown of the Queen (s).
A tip of the hat to the Unilocal staff for pulling off another crowd pleaser; and «obrigado» to our fearless leader Jando for outdoing himself yet again. Till the next event!

What a night to remember!!! Live music, good drinks, great food, awesome people and a great environment is how I can resume this event.
The space is just perfect for us the elite, because we were able to have free access to restaurant, although the line for the bar was busy. Great job to the bartender that never had a minute of rest giving away drinks all night. We have the option to drink mimosa, and caipirinha.
The mimosa is a cocktail composed of one part champagne and one part chilled citrus fruit juice, usually orange juice unless otherwise specified. They were ok, nothing out of this world.
The Caipirinha is Brazil’s national cocktail, made with cachaça, sugar and lime and additional juice, The had few flavor but the one i think were best was the fashion fruit and mango.
The food: The Chicken and cheese croquette had a great taste. Nice, tender, and moist on the inside. Beautifully bread crusted on the outside.
Chicken empanadas were good as well in terms of oil level and crispy texture.
The cheese empanadas were good.
Seafood Stew in the cute little yellow casserole dish, filled with shrimp and fish in a delicious I end up eating like 4 of them.
The staff was great from the owner and his son to everybody their serving.
The live band Monika and The Brazilians were awesome and interactive with getting everyone to dance.
Thanks, Jando, Monika, The staff of Flavors of Brazil at Beija Flor for this event.
PS: A special shoutout to Melissa for keeping my backpack in the office.

Awesome people, exotic drinks, delicious appetizers, live band, and an amazing environment… that’s what I call a superb elite event on a sultry summer evening!
The space was comfortable and perfectly assembled which allowed the elite’s to socialize either standing, sitting, observing, or dancing with one of my favorite band.
I’m a sucker for live bands and I’d instantly fall in love with Monika Oliveira and the Brazilians. Her voice was soothing and she’s so energetic. what a performer… just a lively band…
I also had the opportunity to speak to Monika on the side and learn a lot about the Brazilian culture and more about the band.
She’s just a personal person and great entertainer. I’m now friends with her on other social networks. Don’t hesitate to follow her on Instagram: @monikaoliveirasinger.
I was so taken away by the band and socializing with the other elites I’d either saw before or just met that I didn’t have the opportunity to really taste all the appetizers.
However, I did try the chicken empanadas! Yummy! Yummy! !
As for drinks, I’m not big with rum, but I was blown away by having the mango and lime Caipirinhas cocktails! Eventually I ended the night with a stiff mimosa.
The owners and the staff at Beija Flor accommodated us like family. Thank you!
I’m still amazed of how beautiful this restaurant looks with a touch of the South American culture presence. I’m looking forward to take my mom here for dinner in the future!
Thank you Jando and team for a terrific event! Very much appreciated! Don’t ever stop being creative! It’s inspiring!

What a fun event! The place was pretty packed and I saw a bunch of new faces.
The drinks were flowing at the bar throughout the evening. We had two choices. The caipirinha and a mimosa. This was my first time trying the caipirinha, which is Brazil’s national cocktail. I liked the taste of it, so I stuck with that all night. It sort of tasted like a stronger version of the mojito. I tried a few different flavors, from regular to mango to guava.
Light bites were passed around, which included empanadas, croquettes, stew, and Brazilian sausage. I think I liked the Brazilian sausage the best.
The restaurant had a cool vibe to it and the band added to the atmosphere.
It was great to see everyone and meeting the new elites, many of whom it was their first or second event.
Thanks Jando, team Unilocal,and Beija Flor for a great Wednesday evening and a fun way to kick off the July 4^th holiday!

I literally just became Unilocal Elite late Saturday (hell yea) so I almost missed this event. First, I loved how close it is to the city and it was a great spot that wasn’t surrounded by other restaurants so it stood out. I loved the attractive décor and flowers that were decorated by the owner (she also has two other restaurants) and was super nice and welcoming. I was amazed at Monika & the Brazilians! Her voice is excellent and really created a great vibe.
So when I walked it I was excited but a bit shy since it’s my first event and I’ve only gotten to know some of my fellow elites on Unilocal.Everyone was so welcoming and the food… Oh the food was heavenly. I had a few of the empanadas, fried queso, and the fish croquettes were finger licking delicious. I can’t forget the seafood stew that came in a tiny pan with a great amount of shrimp and fish, I had a couple of these lol. It was perfect with a dab of hot sauce. I think that everything there went great with that amazing spicy hot sauce .
As for the drinks, I was impressed that the bartenders moved quickly and kept there calm throughout the night. Since it was an open bar everyone constantly came for refills. I had the passion fruit caipirinha (a bit tangy), guava and finally the pineapple. It was a success event and I look forward to more!!! Thank you Jando #YelpQueens

I am a bad Elite.
There I said it!
I knew this was going to be a tough review to write because I got lost and caught up in all the fun of this event. I mean between all the great music from Monika Oliveira and Brazilians, this beautiful space draped with flowers among warm wood tones and engaging conversations with friends I hardly paid attention to the delicious food being passed around or perfect, individually made drinks!
How did they do it? How did they take this desolate corner of LIC and move it about 4,000 miles south to Brazil? Everywhere you looked smiles were on everyone faces as they sipped on variously flavored Caiprinhas, tried passed around authentic Brazilian bites as many Unilocalers moved and swayed to the intoxicating rhythms of the music and Portuguese lyrics that I could not understand yet spoke to me somehow. This was one sexy party!
Looking at the pictures now I know for sure I missed out on much by seeing food items that I did not have an opportunity to try, but the bites I did have were delicious. I could not speak intelligently about the exact ingredients in the items, but I do know they made me want to come back for more. Oh and those deceptively simple and seductive Caiprinhas — I knew one was all I could have because they will grab a hold of me for sure!
Unfortunately I didn’t listen to Jando when he said «One word: Moqueca», which from the pictures and description looks absolutely delicious. Luccas, his mother and staff made this an amazing event and make me want to come back soon to Beija-​Flor, their little corner of Brazil here in Queens, NYC!

Everybody whose anybody loves a Queens Unilocal Event. This one goes down in the book as a night to remember. Bejia Flor sits smack dab in the middle of nowhere in LIC. A diamond in the rough. We all know about Brazilian butt lifts, blow outs, hair extensions, and waxes. BUT BEJIA FLOR is L.I.C’s best kept Brazilian secret.
As soon as I arrived, the gorgeous hydrangeas that embellished the bar were a focal point. After Check-​In, I scurried to the bar where I bumped into Avalyn who was ordering a passion fruit Caipirinha. I opted for the same. The bartenders here are skilled. I loved the fresh limes and fruity tang. This drink crept up on me! The taste of a mojito, minus the mint. Later on I ordered the Guava flavored Caipirinha. DELICIOSO!
I mingled amongst the crowd and was thrilled to see many elites I had befriended but never met in person. Such a pleasure to see Gerardo, Sally. W, Tania. C and meet new friends like Lisa. R. You all are like my extended family. The ones we look foward to seeing on the holidays :) It seems everyone came out tonight even my Long Island Elite Mate Sha. F even smuggled her way into a Queens event.
I really enjoyed the live Brazilians band and lead singer. Very upbeat and sensual. Gave us the real feel of an all inclusive trip to Brazil. The place was warm enough to give us that true feel. By my 2^nd glass, I was tipsy and needed carbs.
COMIDA! The Empanadas were delicious. The fish croquettes, a piece of heaven. The fried Queso!!! O M G!!! I thoroughly enjoyed everything here. The strawberry fruit flavored rounds of shots were a classy touch! The beautifully modern, yet authentic flair and décor of this venue made it enjoyable.
I love that this is family owned and operated. After the event, I met with Lucas, the owner’s son who informed me of Sunday Brunch specials. I will be back like Arnold S!

Yuppie! Great performances, great food, and great company as always at tonight’s Unilocal Elite Event!
After regrets of missing the past few events, I am finally back into my Elite game. Thank you everyone for a warm welcoming back! Tonight, we Unilocal Elites got to experience a Brazilian night. Amazing performances from Monika & the Brazilians! Bravo! The bar was packed tonight. It’s no surprised since the two drinks the Caipirinha and Mimosa were really tasty! I got to enjoy the Passionfruit and Mango Caipirinha, the traditional Brazilian drink; which was pretty sweet and refreshing. Just perfect for my taste. I had a sip of the Mimosa de Cana and the taste was delightful; it would be a perfect drink to have for brunch!
We had a few food samples coming around. I really enjoyed the Brazilian Sausage and the Seafood Stew in particular. Brazilian Sausage was nicely spiced up which leaves my savory taste buds wanting another one. Seafood Stew came in such a cute yellow miniature pan but packed with generous amount of seafood such as fish and shrimp. I tasted a hint of coconut milk which really made the stew creamy and flavorful. Amount of spice was just the right amount. Loved it!
Thank you Jando, Unilocal Team, and Unilocal Elites for another fun event! Welcome new Unilocal Elites! It was quite interesting to see everyone so shy and not knowing each other that well at first. As the night goes and with a couple of drinks, it is heartwarming to see everyone is dancing and singing together!

Dancing, drinking, and debauchery.
These are some great things that start with D.
Beija Flor went out and marveled us with their hospitality. Kudos to them.
The drinks were super plentiful. The bartenders never looked phased despite the crazy lines. They kept churning as the night went. If you left a good tip, they made sure to repay you with a stiff drink on the return.
The first rounds of bites were nice appetizers. Mini beef empanadas, chicken croquettes, and fried catfish. All of which was amazing. Though the catfish and beef could have been helped out by some sauce. Select pieces were a bit dry. Then they brought out that hot sauce. Much needed. Much appreciated.
Next we got some sausage with cauliflower? I think. Then some small grilled cheese pieces. Both were decent. More of that D. You know you love that D.
Then came that stew. Wow! That was unreal. I couldn’t tell you what was exactly in it, but it was a great nevertheless. Had a nice kick too.
For the rest of the evening they brought out shots. Wasn’t really looking to endeavor much more, but some people took advantage of it. I took one to toast to Unilocal Queens.
The best part of the evening was the band. They provided the music and atmosphere. We got some dancing going on. People were in good spirits. It really made the event. Unless you put down your Unilocal swag and someone steals it.);
Thank you to the employees of Beija Flor. You provided us with a great Wednesday night. Or as I call it, «What day is it?» Big thanks to Jando for scheduling an awesome event on the hump day of many peoples work week.

Small storefront. Space for about 30 ppl. The dance floor is small enough for square dancing but better for a night of salsa.
The band was oh so live. The main singer in the white dress had that voice that you can dance to or a classy night out.
The DRINKS were caprinhas and mimosas. Both were nicely blended with juices for that vitamin c kick. Guava was my favorite. Passionfruit, Strawberry, and Cashews were okay. Okay, I lied Passionfruit was very good. The mimosa was okay but nothing to rave about.
Swaaaaaagggggg…topia. Did I just nab a Unilocal digi clock?
YES I DID.
I think that made my night.
The Food. Chicken and cheese balls was delish. Nice, tender, and moist on the inside. Beautifully bread crusted on the outside. Chicken empanadas were good as well in terms of oil level and crispy texture. The cheese empanadas were good but I’m not a fan of cheese. If you like the stuffed crust cheese at Pizza Hut, this might be all you order at this place. The polenta (cornmeal paste) with Brazilian sausage? WHAAATTTT? Out of this world. This is a MUST order when you come back to visit.
Thanks to Jando for an amazing night. Thanks for Beija Flor for hosting us. And as always thanks to all the lovely servers, bartenders and singers that made the night for us.
I will come back to dine-​in next time.
Little tidbit as I did get frowned at for claiming first to review. It is okay to add a tip to an event that you haven’t actually step foot in but it is NOT okay to claim first to review for said event.
NOTED.
1^st to tip whore from now on?
You betcha.
FAN.

I love my fellow Unilocalers!!! What an incredible evening. Who would have thought this place existed in LIC.
As I walked in, I heard a sweet voice singing. What a gorgeous woman singing in Portuguese. I forgot her name but it was awesome. I’m glad she pulled us ladies out onto the dance floor and I had a blast.
Omg the drinks!!! What a great job those bartenders did. Best Caipirinhas I have ever had in my life… mmmmm passion fruit!!! They busted their behind making some great drinks and bravo, they were excellent.
I met some great people last night (Marissa, Drex & Lisa to name a few) Thanks again Jando for such a great event. Unilocal really knows how to throw a party!