Fogo de Chao
Fogo de Chao is a grand, shining, immaculate churrascaria that offers good food and attentive service. That said, it definitely gives off the air of a corporate chain, so don't go if you are expecting local charm and/or character. The prices are not exactly inexpensive but you do get to eat all you can, so make sure you arrive hungry. You will most likely roll out the door stuffed to the gills but, then again, that is the nature of this kind of venue. The service can be a little overwhelming, so don't go if you are not in the mood to be fawned over. The caipirinhas are dreadful so stick with the wine.
Atmosphere
Although most churrascarias I've been to in Brazil have been casual, down-to-earth institutions, I was told by a Brazilian friend that when they first made their appearance, churrascarias were grand, elegant establishments, with white-glove service and beautiful surroundings. Fogo de Chao follows that tradition with a large elegant dining room swathed in dark, rich colors, plush carpeting, and tables with elegant white cloths and gleaming wine goblets. Windows are shuttered, giving the room a private and hushed club-like feel. In the center of the room, the dramatically-lit and perfectly-stocked salad bar gleams like a shining Mecca of all that is tasty. Tables are large and well-spaced, giving diners the luxury of space while they dine, and servers are ever-present, waiting to please. Soft instrumental music plays overhead.
Service
Although primarily a gussied-up buffet, the service at Fogo de Chao is top-notch, most likely to remind you that even though you are going up and getting your own food, you are still being served.
And served you are; God forbid you should pull out your own chair, put your own napkin on your lap, or touch your own plate! That said, all of the staff (most of which have charming, if not exactly Brazilian, accents) are well-trained and aim to please, and they do try their best to engage you in conversation. I give them an A for effort, though most the time we found them a little suffocating. There is such a thing as being over-served.
And served you are; God forbid you should pull out your own chair, put your own napkin on your lap, or touch your own plate! That said, all of the staff (most of which have charming, if not exactly Brazilian, accents) are well-trained and aim to please, and they do try their best to engage you in conversation. I give them an A for effort, though most the time we found them a little suffocating. There is such a thing as being over-served.
Food
If you love meat and enjoy salad, you will simply fall in love with the food at Fogo de Chao, which is basically an all-you-can-eat selection of passed grilled meats, and a long, self-serve salad bar.
If you've never experienced a churasscaria, it basically goes like this: You visit the salad bar and fill a plate with cheese, salad, and vegetables. Then you return to the table where you are given a large coaster-like token. You turn the token so the green side is up and the Goucho Chefs come to your table with different selections meat, including tenderloin, pork, lamb, sausage, etc. When you are satisfied, you turn your token to red and the Gauchos stop. You repeat this pattern until you are comfortably full or, more likely, stuffed to the gills.
Although most churracarias in this area are essentially the same, the difference is in the quality and selection of the food offered. In the case of Fogo de Chao, the food is high quality, mostly authentic. On the salad bar are roasted sweet peppers, spicy peppadew peppers, hearts of palm, potato salad, cheese, and sauces. At the table are house-made cheese bread, crispy polenta, and sauteed bananas ( I still don't understand why they don't serve plantains)
The meat is all good, though the standouts for us were the bacon-wrapped tenderloin, chicken, and pork. We both found the lamb too gamey. There are supposedly 16 different cuts of meat that make the rounds, though I only remember the same few circulating again and again. The one thing I appreciate more about Fogo de Chao than other churrascarias in the area is their sticking more to the Brazilian menu and not succumbing to the typical American taste by offering things like ravioli and mint jelly (then again, there are those bananas...)
To drink, Fogo de Chao has a full bar offering a selection of interesting cocktails, most of which contain the popular and very lethal cachaca (a liquor made of sugarcane but stronger than rum) and none of which are listed with prices (Grrr). Because I love a good caipirinha, I was very disappointed when mine ($9.50) was too sweet and tasted like a chain restaurant margarita. I did something I never do with liquor, I sent it back, and asked for one that was not as sweet. The second version was all lime juice, like a gimlet, and was just as bad. I asked if by chance they made the drink with sweet and sour or roses lime juice instead of fresh muddled lime and the server assured me they did not. Still, I have my doubts. I gave my drink to my less-caipirinha-discerning companion and, sadly, stuck with water.
Fogo de Chao also offers a selection of a la carte desserts form $8-$10 but we were too full to indulge.
Fogo de Chao prices are usually $19.50/per person for lunch, and $42/ per person for dinner, though we took advantage of a late Summer special of $30/person.
If you've never experienced a churasscaria, it basically goes like this: You visit the salad bar and fill a plate with cheese, salad, and vegetables. Then you return to the table where you are given a large coaster-like token. You turn the token so the green side is up and the Goucho Chefs come to your table with different selections meat, including tenderloin, pork, lamb, sausage, etc. When you are satisfied, you turn your token to red and the Gauchos stop. You repeat this pattern until you are comfortably full or, more likely, stuffed to the gills.
Although most churracarias in this area are essentially the same, the difference is in the quality and selection of the food offered. In the case of Fogo de Chao, the food is high quality, mostly authentic. On the salad bar are roasted sweet peppers, spicy peppadew peppers, hearts of palm, potato salad, cheese, and sauces. At the table are house-made cheese bread, crispy polenta, and sauteed bananas ( I still don't understand why they don't serve plantains)
The meat is all good, though the standouts for us were the bacon-wrapped tenderloin, chicken, and pork. We both found the lamb too gamey. There are supposedly 16 different cuts of meat that make the rounds, though I only remember the same few circulating again and again. The one thing I appreciate more about Fogo de Chao than other churrascarias in the area is their sticking more to the Brazilian menu and not succumbing to the typical American taste by offering things like ravioli and mint jelly (then again, there are those bananas...)
To drink, Fogo de Chao has a full bar offering a selection of interesting cocktails, most of which contain the popular and very lethal cachaca (a liquor made of sugarcane but stronger than rum) and none of which are listed with prices (Grrr). Because I love a good caipirinha, I was very disappointed when mine ($9.50) was too sweet and tasted like a chain restaurant margarita. I did something I never do with liquor, I sent it back, and asked for one that was not as sweet. The second version was all lime juice, like a gimlet, and was just as bad. I asked if by chance they made the drink with sweet and sour or roses lime juice instead of fresh muddled lime and the server assured me they did not. Still, I have my doubts. I gave my drink to my less-caipirinha-discerning companion and, sadly, stuck with water.
Fogo de Chao also offers a selection of a la carte desserts form $8-$10 but we were too full to indulge.
Fogo de Chao prices are usually $19.50/per person for lunch, and $42/ per person for dinner, though we took advantage of a late Summer special of $30/person.
Cleanliness
Immaculate and squeaky clean from top to bottom, including the bathrooms.
Pros
Good food, Authentic choices, Attentive service.
Cons
Bad caipirinhas, Staff can be a little stifling.