Fogo De Chao Experience RED LIGHT, GREEN LIGHT - MEAT, MEAT, and MORE MEAT! Do I have your attention yet? The Fogo experience is like none other and one that should be shared with others looking for some guidance. Why Guidance? You may be getting into something you're not prepared for, something your taste buds may thank you for or maybe not depending on the person. The explosion of flavors you're about to encounter could be a little much and my fiance and I realized that there is actually options to approaching this meat intake extravaganza. One way is to simply accept the slice the specialist is about to give you from a freshly cooked piece of heaven. That's just fine, but another great option we found was to wait for a carving specialist that has already made a few cuts to his meat. Reason being, is that you'll actually get to taste your heaven and not just the amount of seasoning that they use to cook and prepare their delicacy. The Beef Ancho(rib eye) was by far one of the best cuts of beef we have ever tasted and recommend trying first so that your taste buds are warmed up. Another excellent selection was the house special, Picanha(top sirloin) and ask for a cut from the medium rare - medium for best results. Although I am a fan of lamb, I personally thought that it was over cooked. Be prepared to enjoy one of the best salad bars in the Metro! Pick from two prepared salad choices, two selections of prosciutto & cheese combinations, several veggie varieties and three pasta dishes. One of our recommendations is the potato salad and a must have if you plan on visiting for the first time. Finally, the Fogo experience truly is like none other and the concept of a green and red coaster telling the carving specialist whether or not you would like some more goodness is a cleaver idea. For anyone who wants to see what it's like to eat at an all inclusive resort or cruise liner, this is the place to visit. The staff is at all times ready to serve you, see to it that your table is clean at all times, ensure your side dishes are fresh and that you're choice of meat is near your table and readily available if needed. Yes Fogo is on the expensive side, but never-the-less a place to try at least once in your life.
(4)
JR W.
Friends took us to Fogo de Chao for dinner last Thursday. I was looking forward to a good time with friends, but didn't have very high expectations of the restaurant. I had heard about the concept, and the thought of people walking around and carving pieces of meat onto my plate didn't sound like the high-end experience for which we were paying. My perceptions were wrong. I enjoyed the entire experience. The food was wonderful. My regret about the salad bar was that I didn't have enough room in my stomach for a second trip. It was possibly the best salad bar I've ever experienced. Then came the meat. I loved it. The meat was seasoned wonderfully, and it was tender. I ate too much, but it was worth it! The service was very good, and the ambiance was nice. Try it!
(4)
Scott L.
I had never eaten at this location, and when it was suggested we go there with some friends from out of town, I was a little bummed because MSP has so many unique non-chain places to eat but I was impressed with the decor and the staff. If you've never eaten at a Brazilian BBQ, Fogo is the most authentic of the chains out there. I've spent a fair amount of time in Brazil and other than some missing menu staples (chicken hearts, gizzards and the HUGE dessert carts) Fogo is about as close as you can find in the states. So strap on he feedbag and channel your inner carnivore; eat, laugh and have a great time. Tip: Watch out for the capriania's! They have a brazilian liquor in them called cachaca, and from personal experience drink them s-l-o-w. Cachaca is a what I like to call a "sneaky" liquor. Before you know it the cachaca has "snuck" up on you and BAMM, your hammered.
(4)
Amanda S.
Was treated to lunch as an end of the year celebration for the upper management at Target Field. There were 9 of us seated at a very crowded, backed into the corner table. 4 of us flipped our cards to green right away, the other 5 scoped out the salad bar. Green cards waited 10 minutes for anything to come about. When the first skewer came around it had chicken and sausages. By the time it got to me there were just sausages. Never did see that chicken again. This is right about the time Little Miss Fussy Pants at the next table (about 2 years old) started her fuss. I happily ate my sausage until the last bite, and that is when we were bombarded with options, including the filet mignon. Which we all were able to enjoy. Little Miss Fussy Pants then began voicing her opinion. I understand she is from a different culture, but it sounded a lot like whining and crying to me. So the ball is rolling and skewers are brought out left and right. Am I the only one not accepting the house special that comes around every 3 minutes? Items start getting sparse and we begin sharing with the end of the table. Finally more filet mignon! Our table takes the entire skewer. Little Miss Fussy Pants kicks it into high gear. Who blames her? Everything else was over seasoned and not suited to the palate of a 2 year old. I feel for you girl. I understand the concept of waiting a bit after a meal to offer a desert, but in our case we were ready. Not only because of Little Miss Fussy Pants but a member of our party, who had too many Brazilian rum cocktails. Which were good, but ditch the straw as there is a pile of sugar at the bottom. The food was phenomenal, Little Miss Fussy Pants was not. I am astounded that a parent would bring a young child into this restaurant.
(3)
Myles D.
Very good food great salad bar. Its an experience going here not my favorite meat choices but very well prepared and different atmosphere.
(4)
Jennifer H.
I went here for restaurant week and I have to say the salad bar was amazing. Had fish, cheese, and a bunch of yummy stuff. In regards to the meat, it was super yum. If you are a huge meat eater, definitely go here. Overall, service was great and meat was awesome. The only think I didn't like like (hence no 5 star rating) was that the meat was a little salty. Like other reviewers, I think lunch for $30 is much more manageable, but if you want certain cuts of meat you have to go at dinner (filet mignon). Personally, I loved the picanha cut the best. Definitely a must try if you are from out of town and have never tried brazilian bbq.
(4)
Mae M.
Not a fan of their non-red meat options. Chicken is sometimes too dry and pork ribs are hard to eat. HOWEVER, their salad bar is my favorite experience and would pay just for that!
(4)
Andrew R.
Be prepared to be so full your ill! I've been here many times and they are the best with customer service. The largest & best salad bar I've ever seen in the twin cities. Don't forget ENDLESS meat !!! You need to make a reservation here always or you might not get in. Its a hot spot.
(5)
Amy R.
Fogo de Falling down full. Returned with my parents for a belated Christmas gift and had an excellent dinner. We really lucked out with our table being away from the traffic of the salad bar and traffic of patrons, gauchos and hungry people. Online reservations are nice and a cinch. Cofirmation a day ahead. Service was amazing here. Al, our server was excellent, attentive and genuinely outgoing and made the experience enjoyable as were the other people serving our area. All of them, always repleneshing and attending to us in every way. All the meat was wonderful. The rib eye especially was amazingly good and tender. Salad bar as always was delectable and fresh. The hearts of palm and the chicken salad noodle thingy= yum! Really great dining experience this time around. The staff here (all of them) really work their tails off to make a pleasurable dining experience. My only qualm is how closely the tables are spaced together nd how crowded it can be, but not a bigggie. Just makes me feel at times like I'm back on a stressful cruise ship= CROWDED obstacle course. Imagine how the servers and meat handlers feel....
(5)
Elyse M.
Fogo de Chao is a low-carber's dream. A stocked salad bar with plenty of vegetables (most of which are free of pesky glazes and other sugar-filled sauces) and cheeses is a perfect start to the meal, but make sure to save most of your room for the meat! If you go during lunch time, it's only $30 dollars instead of the usual price, and you get the same amount of food! While I would be willing to pay the normal price (it's that good), saving 20-ish bucks is always a treat. The friendly and helpful staff treats everyone with the same amount of respect, whether you are a refined, middle-aged businessman or a 20-something wearing a T-shirt and jeans. Most importantly, the meat is just incredible. They bring around 16 different cuts and types of meat, and not one (of the ones I tried... I don't eat lamb) wasn't absolutely top-notch. If I were a rich (wo)man, I would eat here at least weekly, if not more often than that. As it stands, though, Fogo is a luxury I can only afford occasionally. But a splendid occasion it is.
(5)
Qaiser B.
Yes it can be expensive for the common man and the wait could be a lot over weekends if you go without reservation yet the restaurant is such a delight to visit. Just the way meals are prepared and presented. Its a meat eating fest, filet mignon being the best of them all. though they have a grand salad bar. Pop Alert: Be careful about drinking soda, I did not care to ask only to find out later that the small and cute coke bottles dont come with the meal and the refills are not free either. My suggestion,stick to water. Its healthier, cost effective and you get to eat more of the meat :-)
(4)
Jonathan J.
The journey begins with a trip to the gourmet salad and sides bar which features gourmet salads, rare and exotic vegetables, fresh breads, imported cheeses, cured meats and more. Then the traditional Brazilian side dishes are served; polenta (fried cornmeal), gain mashed potatoes, caramelized bananas (my favorite) and cheese bread. When you come to sit down they will pull out your chair for you to sit down, then hold out a welcome hand. Don't make the same mistake I did and shake hands with them... It is your coat they are looking for. The best part comes next, they explain what the red and green coaster means... Flip the green side up and the meat buffet begins. Flip to red when you need to take a breather and eat what's on your plate. The chefs will come out with continuous table side service of fifteen different cuts of beef, pork, lamb, and chicken. They will describe the cut and ask if you would like any. Depending on the meat you may have to help catch the cut of meat off the skewer with your handy-dandy Brazilian tongs. The cuts come right off the fire and are sizzling when they land on your plate. Each one I had was excellent and perfectly seasoned. I don't know of any other places where you can get endless filet Mignon. If you are a meat lover, don't miss out on this place.
(5)
Marc P.
Third time here and my daughters first trip for her 18th birthday. Absolutely wonderful with stellar service like always! Still the best salad bar selection in the Twin Cities with higher end cold cuts, cheese, delicious salads and veggies. The Scalloped potatoes are to die for! The meats are always perfectly seasoned (just lightly salted/peppered) and roasted to perfection. My wife, daughter and I like our beef rare to medium rare and they do an outstanding job. Very tender, extremely juicy ribeye, filet, and the two cuts of sirloin are delicious. Lamb chops are tender and perfectly cooked. My favorite is always the small spicy Brazilian sausages. Complimentary cheesecake for the birthday girl was very nice. I had the creme brulee which was delicous! Service impeccable like my prior visits......from the hosts, to the waiter, to the manager who visited our table several times. I have seen some previous comments about the meat servers being brusque, but their job is to slice meat, not make conversation. Excellent job by the entire staff!
(5)
M N.
This is a fun experience. Great food, great service & excellent salad bar. I've been here three times. Newcomers I take love it too. A bit pricey but very worth it if you are a meat lover. The meat is very high quality. Good value. They are very fair about making sure you get the chance to try every cut of meat if you wish. You can request they send the Gaucho serving your favorite to your table so you get what you want. They do not try to force chicken on you all night like similar restaurants I've patronized (Carnivore) Popular so seating is close. Gets crowded. Need reservations. Have fun!!
(5)
mark m.
Great atmosphere, meat is always superbly cooked.
(5)
Carnivore X.
Leave your modesty at home, its time to put down some good quality red meat in serious quantities. I love this place. Many different cuts of beef, along with lamb, chicken, and sausage. Fogo says they have a salad bar, but I remain confused as to why. Salad is what food eats, and has no place in an establishment such as this. Rabbit food merely means less meat, which is never a good thing. I make the same mistake every time i dine here. The bacon-wrapped chicken is delicious, and big-bite sized, so i get one and chomp it. Do _NOT_ do this, as it is one of the hottest (temperature) things you may ever eat. Let it cool a bit. I stay away from the ribs, as they are unsauced, and therefore not my favorite, though the meat is still quite good. Beef. Lots of beef. Top sirloin, bottom sirloin, ribeye, garlic beef, house special, filet with or without bacon. Unless you are a communist, you will leave here with meat sweats, in a food coma, and on your table will be a plate with a pool of blood in it. Yes, carnivores, this establishment will, if you ask for it, NOT OVERCOOK YOUR BEEF!!! Bovine delight should arrive seasoned, seared, and a lovely red on the inside, after having been mildly insulted, gently killed, and wheeled through a warm room. The staff here has always been awesome, with one notable exception. Against our better judgement, we invited a friend and his wife. They have a baby that can eat real food, and while the baby acted like a baby, and my friend was his usual good self, his wife was a complete ball of bad. She insulted the hostess, which got us seated at the worst table the place has, then was rude to the servers, and left a colossal mess on the floor. (She feels it is not her responsibility to pick up after her child in a restaurant, that tips are for that sort of thing). In any case, I blame her, not the staff. She was a complete bitch, and will not be joining us again for dinner out. Ever. Be nice to your hostess and servers, and you shall be rewarded with an unending stream of meat brought to your table on swords and such. The one concession I make to non-meats here are the cheddar biscuits. They are awesome, and serve as a passable substitute for no baked potato. If you are a man, you must eat here or turn in your man card. Food as cavemen intended it to be. YUMMY!!! Now I must go, as writing this has made me hungry. If you are vegan or vegetarian, this place may well be the cure for that. Come here, do as nature intended, and you will be made whole, and able to function in civilized society again.
(5)
M L.
Service is top notch , quality of meats truly excellent! Worth every penny. Come with an empty stomach!
(5)
Wendy K.
My husband and I went to Fogo to celebrate Valentine's day this year and we had the BEST time. The food was great. I loved the salad buffet, the meat of coarse was wonderful as well as the carmelized bananas. I also love the beauty of the restaurant itself as well as the uniform of the waiters. It was a great experience, good for everyday or special occasions. I would highly recommend it.
(5)
Adel Z.
Excellent food for carnivores! Service was great. Salad bar was OK. Will visit again.
(5)
Tiffany L.
Theres so many reviews already so lets get to the lowdown the meat is all what its about prices are about 10dollars cheaper for lunch which isn't available on the weekends. When there is a wait before you get your table they will bring you out some of the cheese bread which is melt in your mouth amazing. The service is terrific and out there they offer valet if you are lazy to go find street parking or just don't want to park at a ramp near by which is about the same cost as valet to begin with. And if you go during restaurant week as I have done in the past the meal comes with dessert for the price of dinner alone but be sure to make reservations because they get booked quite quick during this time period. I am a meat lover but I would say one or two times a year would be alright to go because its just meat overload after the 2hours of eating and stuffing your face with everything. I almost forgot to mention thirsty try to the limeade the best thing on earth I swear made with condensed milk its AMAZING and will for sure leave you craving for more good thing refills are free so drink up!
(5)
J C.
I was expecting an elegant buffet dining experience and boy was I let down. I get buffets are never elegant but it's a classy looking place, there was this frenetic energy that made eating there really not enjoyable. The clientele's attire ranged from somewhat formal to dudes in baseball hats, it was like Vegas. I thought the salad bar was good and believe me, those gauchos were EVERYWHERE!! I would say a good place to go if you want to eat piles of meat.
(3)
Mai T.
Came for Restaurant Week = complimentary desserts! Great deal Desserts are okay, the creme brule and flan are probably best on the menu list. Love the salad bar!!! and the house cut. Service is great.
(4)
Whitney W.
Fiance took me here for a birthday dinner. I LOVE meat so he said this was going to be the best food I ever ate. He was right. Yes the salad bar is a little weird - but next time, I won't even eat the salad bar because you get so full on everything else. They give you mashed potatoes, fried bananas, bread and tons of other goodies with the meat. They are SO courteous. Probably the best service I ever had at a restaurant. They truly made me feel valued. Any time I flipped the card, someone was over there with meat ready to serve me. The garlic steak was to die for. It was the best steak of my life. I can't even describe it my mouth waters just thinking about it. If you have the extra money - TRY it. The money is 100% worth it. I can't wait to go back.
(5)
Darren B.
Oh my goodness, come hungry! Don't waste too much time on the huge salad bar, like I did and then realize how little of the steak and other meats you could actually eat. Good food, didn't care for the garlic steak though, just too much garlic. You will be full. Dang!
(5)
Bandana G.
It's a meat lovers paradise!!! Seriously, starve yourself for at least a day before you go here!! Because it is a lot of delicious meat, and it is very spendy!! You wanna make sure what you are paying is worth the amount of meat you eat :). I would not go here on a regular basis because - 1) it is expensive. 2) I tend to overeat. The meat was very good. The service was great. If you have your card flipped to green then you will instantly have someone serving you. We were a big group and our favorites were the Picanha and the house special sirloin with garlic. The lamb was pretty good too. The salad bar is amazing. But seriously if you just want salad then I would suggest finding a cheaper place. And if you're there for the meat then refrain yourself from visiting the salad bar. Although it might be a good idea to get a little fiber in your body to digest all that meat you will be eating. Get a reservation if you don't want to wait forever. And yes the drinks are expensive!
(4)
Amanda S.
Amazing food and service. We never had to wait for a thing. The manager came over to make sure everything was good and talked to us for a while instead of just doing a quick "how is everything". We also ordered a shrimp skewer that was excellent.
(5)
Mandy J.
Very good service, great wine menu, the food has always been excellent, lamb chops are the best. The price is actually not bad at all compare to the food and service you get. Oh btw free birthday desserts!
(5)
Salinee H.
Definitely an experience worth having. Fogo is not your every day restaurant, more like an event (worth noting is that birthday people get a free dessert). I had never been so it was interesting to see the whole process unfold. All the servers were attentive. The guys with the meat were so efficient. Everyone starts with the salad bar. I would have been happy with just that (in fact, if I were to go again, I'd probably just get the salad option). When you're done with the salad, just flip the card to green and wait for the meat to arrive. The pork meats were my favorite. I do wish I had done a better job of listening to what meats were what because I couldn't tell the difference between the steaks....I take that back, they tasted different from each other, but I had no idea what was what. Like I said, it's definitely worth going once but I probably won't find myself there too often.
(4)
Ramsey B.
I have dined at 4 of their Midwest locations. Although they're all great, the Minneapolis location is my favorite. Excellent customer service skills and staff. They make sure you leave completely satisfied and that you were able to fully enjoy multiple servings of your preferred menu item.
(5)
Amy B.
Need to gain a quick 5 pounds? Love anything wrapped in bacon? Sounds like Fogo de Chao is the place for you! 15 different types, cuts and unique flavors of meat in this Brazilian Steakhouse, and man, it is the best meat I have ever tasted! This place overs a flavorful salad bar that could satisfy the pickiest eaters in your household. With variety from the salad bar you can choose from Gourmet cheeses, Italian meats, salads, pasta salads, and breads! Just be careful not to load your plate too heavily on those goods, because the main course hasn't even been brought out yet! Lamb, Parmesan pork chops, fillet Mignon, steak and chicken are only a few of the 15, yes, FIFTEEN types of meat!! Make sure not to over stuff your face because the many desserts the place has is unbelievable! I had the Chocolate Mousse Cake, which is a 7 layer cake with white chocolate and milk chocolate mousse intermixed with the cake layers to create an experience your mouth will never forget! The only issue I had with Fogo was that after I had eaten half of my piece of cake, I noticed there was some sort of nut at the bottom of the cake, made my boyfriend try a bite, (I am allergic to almonds and pecans) and asked the waiter, and sure enough they were almonds... kind of misleading on the menu because none of the desserts mention products of nuts except the Turtle Cheesecake :P So nut allergies beware!!! The service was right on top of everything- grabbing plates, filling water, getting our favorite meats, and even pulling out my chair for me several times!!! Loved how appreciative the servers were, and friendly all the employees seemed to be :)
(5)
Chay V.
Yes I was at fogo de Chao . It was ok just that we did not get all the meat. The service ok. We have to ask for some off the meat. Ever time new one come out they be walk pass use . It was suck
(3)
Hli X.
It's restaurant week and since my friend and I both have never been here we decided to make reservation. First impression- Upon our arrival, we were told they were running late about 15 minutes, but actually end up waiting 30 minutes before my friend approach the host. They actually didn't realize we were waiting this long and was seated immediately. Waiting service- They were extremely busy. Waiters were all over the place trying to keep everything together. I give all the waiter props for staying sane. Added bonus, waiters all were nice and polite. Downer- since they were busy, we waited around a lot. I think we waited almost 30 minutes to get our bill and another 15 minutes for them to run our cards. Food- Meh. It was good, but not outstanding. Overall, it's basically a classy version of a buffet. I am glad I went during restaurant week and not pay the original price.
(2)
Abdallah A.
We loved the food and the service! They made every attempt to impress and take care of our every need!
(5)
Brian D.
The food and service was great felt a little over priced but a great experience.
(5)
C K.
As good as the food was I left quite upset. My advice to anyone who goes to this restaurant is DON'T WEAR WHITE. The waiters carry around copious amounts of bloody meat skewers and unfortunately my white blazer got in the way of some blood splatter and it's now ruined.
(3)
Eric S.
Fogo is great, from the atmosphere to the service. If having good service is high on your list for an enjoyable dinner, this is a great place to go. The meats are insanely good. My favorite is the lamb chops but it also seems like the hardest meat to get. The guy with the lamb chops just doesn't seem to be around as much as all the other guys. but everything here is amazing. As far as the salad bar goes, I wouldn't recommend skipping the it altogether, just take it easy at the salad bar. It's a must to try it because it's the best salad bar that I have ever seen! I'm amazed by how fast the servers come to your table when you flip your card over. It's like you get swarmed by meat immediately and If there's something you don't want, you just tell them and they go on their merry way. There were a few times I asked for rare and I got well done but their cuts are so good that it's really OK, I survived and was quite happy. I bet I easily put down 5 lbs. of meat the last time we were here. I had a few beers after dinner and after a couple burps I was good to go. This place is pretty awesome and if it's on your to do list, hurry up and make a reservation, it's something everyone should experience at least once. Note - This is not cheap and they don't have prices for drinks on the menu. We had 5 caipirinha's (their signature drink) all together and it was a little over $50 just for the drinks. But hey, they were really good and we don't eat here every day. It may be the best drink I've ever had in my life! Great friendly servers that all work together as a team, this place is really fun!
(5)
Sonya K.
Fogo de Chao is heaven for those who are meat lovers. The price is well-justified as long as you save your appetite for the experience. The meat is delicious, the staffs are fast nice, and will go around and make sure you get the cut of meat you want. There is an army of men in MC hammerish gaucho pants with meats on skewers. If they see you with your card flipped green they will ask if you want some. Flip your card around to red if you are overwhelmed with the meat decisions while you eat. For those who complain that its just too much meat, Fogo also has a spectacular salad bar. You can also just pay to do the salad bar, but if you are paying the full price to experience the whole Fogo shebang, then don't indulge too much in the salad bar or else you won't have room for all the succulent meat. The fried bananas, mash potatoes, and cheddar bread are also to die for. It does get a little loud there, but it's worth the noise.
(5)
Ahmad T.
This place was quite the find. They have their own style of serving the food which you will learn quickly as you go. The salad bar was very good!!! and the fillet mignon was otherworldly. You can't order a specific meat as you can try all 20 different cuts if you please. Awesome place the I can't say enough about. Not as expensive as I thought, $50 for each person all you can eat (meat and salad bar) and VERY strong local (Brasillian) drinks. Overall, a true event of eating.
(4)
Jorge G.
my god, them meats... it is just endless and it is just delicious. while you are reading this you could be eating some juicy pork, or beef, or lamb, or chicken along with a delicious salad bar. why are you still reading this? go eat at this place.
(5)
Mon P.
Im not really a beef eater, but I have to admit it's pretty amazing here. I and my friend came here for lunch last Friday. It was fairly busy, but we we seated immediately. The good: - The service Wow .. the service was truly exceptional here. I believe there wasnt any assigned server for the tables, but they all work together as a team. My friend brought her baby, and they made sure that her highchair was fastened properly. The meat gauchos were very prompt once we turned our green card. We almost didnt have to wait for anything. - The food From the cheese popovers to start, to awesome salad bar selection and side plates (caramelized banana, crispy polenta and garlic mashed potato), and then of course .. all the meat feast! We love the salad bar. We both agreed that we could have just come here to eat the salad bar alone and be totally satisfied and would totally get he money worth. Im dreaming about the smoked salmon, hearts of palm, sundried tomato, asparagus, prosciutto, and shitake mushroom just thinking about the salad bar. Oh and how could I forget the tabbouleh. salami and fresh mozz! And now the meat feast! .. I dont remember everything we tried now. I think we didnt try the pork chop, the chicken, and the beef ribs, but we did try everything else. The sausage was good. The lamb was cooked perfectly though a bit gamy but very yummy. We were surprised with the pork ribs. We had no idea what kind of rubs they put on because the ribs were very delicious. Filet Mignon was amazing. It was so moist and tender. It literally melted in my mouth. The rib eye, top & bottom sirloin were a bit dryer than filet mignon, but they were all very flavorful and very good. The VERY good: We had to wait for the Picanha, which was their signature steak for a while, but boy oh boy it was so worth the wait. This was no doubt our most favorite. We could see why this cut was considered their signature. It was really amazing. It was cooked to perfection. The fatty part was a little crispy but the meat part was still very tender and juicy. Im drooling now just thinking about it. Overall, it was a very good meal and fun experience. If you are a meat eater, i would totally encourage you to come and enjoy the bottomless meat feast!
(4)
Ryan W.
Meat lover's heaven. Be better to be hungry before you go there.
(4)
Mike L.
Yes, it's a meat restaurant. The deal is to get copious amounts of meat, and to not question whether going to another steakhouse would be tastier and a better experience. To some, that's worth it. To others, it's a novelty that you bring your out of town friends to because they've tried it elsewhere. It's a fun experience but of the cuts, how many are superb considering the price you pay? If you can eat a half pound of prosciutto and a couple pieces of lamb, it's very much worth it. Think about it. What other all-you-can-eat places are actually delicious? Seriously. If you do go, Sunday lunch is the way to do it with a reservation. Remember that since it's all you can eat, people stay so even with a reservation, you could wait 15-20 minutes. I'll probably skip going back because I like to support local business and frankly, for the price, a better experience can be had.
Awesome food and service. The salad bar was good but the side dishes and meat were to die for. And their specialty cocktail, can't remember the name was delicious. Service was awesome and prompt. So busy but never had to wait for a single thing. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Dwight C.
What a great place to absolutely gorge your self and not feel to guilty!! :) Service was very impressive but the food was even more so..I truly was in a meat coma after this experience. Would I do it again?? Damn right.
(5)
Chris M.
Warning: Many animals were harmed while forming this opinion. While not normally a fan of the all-you-can-eat concept (especially with a somewhat high price point), I am definitely a fan of Fogo de Chao. Sure, it can be excessive, but I seldom pretend to be strong-willed anyway. The food is generally quite good, though if you're going to a churrascaria the fire roasted cuts of meat are going to be the focal point. Though it can sometimes be difficult to get rarer cuts of meat, special requests are usually honored for those willing to wait a bit and servers are generally helpful in fulfilling said requests. The salad bar is also well stocked and is a good standby for those not hell-bent on getting gout. Finally, the service, while somewhat of service by committee, has always been good; from the front desk to the waiters, gauchos and bussers.
(4)
Joshua W.
Meat, meat, meat, meat, meat....oh yeah and more meat! This place was average, good, great and also exceptional depending on what you eat. They start you off with a salad bar with all kinds of tasty and fresh items. They have a quite a few aged cheeses and prosciutto, and if you like fresh parmigiana or mozzarella, its there and tastes great. I actually preferred it to some of the meats we tried. Flip your card over to green and the meat and a few sides (amazing cheese bread, garlic mashed potatoes, fried bananas, and polenta) will arrive. The bananas were my girlfriends favorite, I was partial to the polenta and cheese bread. We tried to try everything meat. Filet: very good, actually thought it may be better without the bacon wrap. Top Sirloin: both sirloins were the best of all of them, juiciest for sure, with great flavor. Bottom Sirloin: Really salty, much stiffer. Pork Loin: Not so good, very dry. Sausage: Nice plump, juicy with good flavors. Lamb: the lamb leg was delicious and moist, the chops were overcooked a bit and dry. Chicken: Both chickens, the filet and the legs were very good and flavorful. Pork Ribs: Kind of dry, no good way to get them off the bone without gnawing on them like a junkyard dog. Overall, it was good, but with only about 6 of the 11 meats we tried were above average. We eat also had a Caipirinha, a traditional Brazilian drink with sugar and limes, it was very good but a little too sweet for me. We had a desert, a very decadent slice of cake for my birthday, which I guess was on the house. It was amazing. I will definitely be back but like other Yelpers, I probably would be more apt to do a lunch than dinner just because it was pretty expensive. I was surprised by some people wearing T-shirts and shorts there. Classless Minnesotans : / Also, get a reservation. We were there for almost 2 hours eating, so it is probably fairly hard for them to free up tables. We went on Tuesday and it was packed. I can only imagine what a Friday or Saturday must be like.
(4)
Warren C.
I took the honor of fasting the entire day before dinner. Yes, it was worth it. Seldom do I drop $60 on a meal consisting of nothing but meat, but hey, you gotta let yourself go sometimes. As a person who enjoys cooking meat, I can tell you that Fogo has some of the best food in Minneapolis. Cuts are good, service is awesome, selection is at times overwhelming. They've got filet mignon, sirloin, bacon wrapped this and that, pork ribs, leg of lamb, and more. They've got a salad bar that doesn't actually contain that much salad, but a lot of other delicacies that I probably could've made a meal out of in itself. AYCE with meat: $46/person (weekday lunch only $30) AYCE salad only: $24/person I wish I could've just eaten forever without getting full. Too bad we all do, even the best of us. I don't believe there's an enforced dress code, but you shouldn't walk in too underdressed either.
(5)
Ashley F.
Incredibly disappointing for a $120 meal. I'd rather go to Manny's or the Oceanaire and pay the same price for one good cut of meat than for a mediocre parade of food. The best thing I had was the chicken wrapped in bacon. But everyone knows that bacon is cheating. My dad agreed that the best item of food wasn't even the meat, but the banana side. Salad bar was pretty terrible, most of the vegetables were dead. Probably really fun for people that never go out for nice meals.
(3)
Jeff S.
If you want to eat meat until you can't move, this is the place to go. To begin, a few pros. Did I mention the meat? You can eat as much as you want. Every time I leave this place, I tell my coworkers that if I don't show up the next morning, just know that I died happy. This place has a really nice setting in downtown Minneapolis (very close to Target Field, the Target Center, and a lot of nice hotels). Restaurant interior is nice: large, open dining rooms with lots of seating, nice decor, really high ceilings, nice dark wood interior. I don't drink, but I've seen the wine and drink lists, and they're pretty expansive. You can check out a lot of their wines that line the walls throughout the dining rooms. And to reiterate: meat. Specifically, beef. Lots and lots of beef. Brought right to your table and carved in front of you. Now to the cons (the reasons I don't rate it a 5). Don't get me wrong. This place is good. Really good. But I can't give it a 5 for a few reasons. First, it's pretty pricey. I've been to other churrascarias that are just as good with more food choices at half the price. I also can't say that the meat is really that special in terms of quality. It's good, don't get me wrong (and did I mention unlimited?). But there are other steakhouses nearby that have much better cuts. The salad bar, in my opinion isn't great; it's pretty limited (but in all fairness, that doesn't weigh to heavily in the rating because -- let's face it -- I'm not there for the salad bar). I've also never been too thrilled with the service. The host or hostess has always been great. But the guys who bring the meat around often seem disinterested or even annoyed. It also seems like they come at you rapid-fire for the first few minutes, but then ignore you after that. They don't come around again until the host or hostess asks you specifically what you're waiting for and then goes to request it. If you go in looking for some of the choices you find at other churrascarias, such as chicken hearts or grilled pineapple, you won't find them. I've asked about both of those, to which the staff responded that they don't serve those choices because Fogo is going for authenticity, and those choices aren't authentic. As someone who lived in Brasil for a few years, I call BS. Again, don't misunderstand. I love this place, and I'll go back every time I'm in town. But I can't quite get to a 5.
(4)
Immaculate I.
A Brazilian steakhouse that caters to the carnivore in me! Beware, this is a place where dinner costs ~$50 and lunch is about half that price but it is well worth it. All the meat (beef, pork, chicken etc) you can eat prepared exactly how you like it! Comes to you while you stuff your face and the only real work you'll have to do is flip the little coaster from green to red when you've had enough! For those health conscious there salad bar is pretty awesome too.
(5)
mumin k.
this location is as good as any other Fogo de Chao. My only complain is the service here. I felt we were rushed a little by the servers at the end of our dinner. Premium Caparinhias were excellent. All meats were very good.
(4)
Jess F.
We went for dinner Sunday night, the first day of 2011 MSP Winter Restaurant Week, and the place was packed! We made our reservations at 6:30 and were seated a little after 7; not a bad wait considering the venue, but it was a bit disappointing. Now for the meaty review, literally(!), the 10 kinds of meats really are tasty, generally seasoned well, and generally cooked to medium. It comes to you in large hunks by hunks (well, maybe just men) whom cut the meat right on to your plate. If you tell the waiter you want a particular kind of meat done to a certain level, he or she will find it for you. If you're not happy with the cuts of meat on your plate, there's always another cut or kind of meat on its way. I was very happy with the selection, sadden by the quality of one, unhappy with the doneness of one or two, and happy again because of the lamb chops. As a prior course to the meat, there's the salad bar. It's an upscale salad bar with the usual suspects and some awesome points like prosciutto, shaved parmesan, fresh mozzarella, sundried tomatoes in olive oil, and whole portabella caps. Remember, Fogo is a meat lover's place, so don't expect bacon bits to put on your salad, expect whole strips of bacon. I really enjoyed the options in and the quality of the salad bar. To accompany the meat, there are caramelized bananas or plantains, crispy polenta with parmesan, smooth and creamy mashed potatoes, and warm cheese bread. These appetizers are brought to your table in a similar fashion as the meat but with less fanfare. They just appear all warm and delicious. Wine and drink selection was decent with a good range of price options. Desserts ranged the normal spectrum. Since it was restaurant week, Fogo accompanied the meal with your choice of any dessert on the menu. We had the Papaya Cream, Molten Chocolate Cake, Key Lime Pie, and Flan. All but the Key Lime Pie (way too sweet) was good. Dessert wise, not much to write yelp about. The whole experience was fun and tasty, and what's surprising was it was never impersonal. The service, besides the wait, was impressive. We never felt forgotten, and we left happy and extremely full. For $30, hellz yeah! For almost $60 (including desert, not including a drink, taxes, and tip), you better be sure you can eat enough to make it worth it.
(4)
Elizabeth H.
Great salad bar and meat buffet with friendly staff but I found the restaurant chaotic and not very relaxing for dinner.
(3)
Spencer R.
This place is phenomenal. Definitely one of my favorites that I've been to in the Twin Cities, if not #1. There are enough reviews already that I won't waste time explaining the concept of the restaurant, but here are some of the highlights for me-- * Lunch = same as dinner, except much, much cheaper. Starve yourself the night before and go out to lunch the next day with an empty stomach, with plenty of time reserved for a nap afterwards! * The salad bar is fantastic enough on its own that you could honestly go there just for that, and ignore the endless parade of meat (but why would you ever want to do that?) * Same thing with the sides they stock you up on! I have to be very very careful that I don't eat too much polenta, but it's hard to resist. * My personal favorite of the meats that I have tried is the house special steak, medium or medium well. I can't really explain what it is about it, other than the deep excitement that I get every time a server wanders over with it. GO HERE!
(5)
Kohleen L.
Holy exploding stomach Batman! I had been wanting to visit Fogo de Chao for quite some time, since I'd heard such rave reviews from friends. So to celebrate my boyfriend's and my birthdays (3 days apart), some friends of ours took us out to Fogo. I must admit I had high expectations, but Fogo delivered on all counts! The service was great from the start. We arrived first, so after taking our coats, the hostess sent us to the bar to wait for our friends. The bartender came to get our drink orders immediately, and when she brought them she also provided us with complimentary cheese bread puffs, which are not very cheesy, but totally amazing! After our friends arrived and we were seated, our server explained to the newbie of the bunch (me) what to expect. I ordered the recommended house cocktail, which is a Brazilian drink called a Caipirinha--basically tons of fresh limes, sugar and Cachaça (sugar cane rum). It was simple, but oh so tasty--I think I had 2 or 3 before the night was over. One of our friends ordered a margarita (on the rocks), and a frozen one was delivered to the table moments later. When the server came by, he noticed the mistake without us mentioning it, and although our friend was fine with the frozen one, the server insisted that they make him happy--so he got the correct drink and even left the frozen one at the table. We all started at the salad bar--everything was exquisite, and I loved that there were other meats like smoked salmon at the salad bar...good thing I'm not a vegetarian! I was careful to not eat too much, because I was preparing for what was to come...but who can really prepare for giant slabs of meat to be dancing around you like sugar plum fairies? Well the protein fairies were extremely attentive--once you are finished with your salad plate, it's go time. There's plenty of entertainment to be had if you watch the gaucho chefs (go ahead--after all, they're watching you the whole time): flip your coaster to green and you'd swear there's a prize for who offers meat to you before the rest. Once you've received your fill for the moment, don't forget to flip your coaster back to red! If you don't, you will constantly be interrupted with offers of meaty goodness even if you're staring at a pile on your plate. My favorite cuts were the house cut (Picanha) and bottom sirloin (Fraldinha), but it was all amazing. In addition to the meat, they constantly replenish your table's supply of sides, including an unlimited amount of those fantastic cheese bread puffs. The environment is pretty quiet, which is nice because it's the perfect setting to converse while waiting for your food to digest and make room for more. Afterall, you want to get your money's worth right? Since we were celebrating two birthdays, they let us each select a dessert from the menu on the house! (They never even asked to see our IDs to verify our birthdays.) I had a rich chocolate mousse cake, while my BF ordered the key lime cheesecake--both delivered on beautifully decorated plates. We all shared the two, which were the perfect end to an absolutely scrumptious meal! I have not one bad thing say about this place. I can't even complain about the price, as I feel the experience is worth every penny (or hundred)! I recommend: Picanha (house cut of top sirloin), Fraldinha (Bottom Sirloin), Alcatra (Top Sirloin), Caipirinha cocktail, cheese bread and carmelized bananas. Tip: If you haven't popped your Fogo cherry yet, I would recommend trying it for lunch sometime. You'll have the same experience as dinner, but it'll be nearly half-price! Plus you'll have the rest of your day to try and burn off the calories. UPDATE: We had a reservation for lunch on 12/23/10. I guess everyone else in Minneapolis had that idea as well, because when we got there, the place was packed. We checked in with the hostess, and were told it would be a bit of a wait for our table. They didn't even check our coats for nearly 10 minutes, and we weren't seated until more than 30 minutes after our reservation time! I understand being busy, but that's a bit much. I'm hoping that was an isolated situation. Also, after multiple visits, I must say that the "Picanha" (house cut of top sirloin) is hands down my favorite--the seasoning on it makes my mouth water just thinking about it! It is by far the best cut of meat I have ever tasted, and it alone will keep me heading back to Fogo in the future.
(5)
Matt M.
Go for lunch. Everybody knows that. Pros: Everything is delicious, fancy, and magical (not literally). Cons: I pooped a brick. Seriously. Could've done masonry with it. Fogo is amazing. It's a vegetarian's nightmare and I love that. Although they do have a delicious salad bar... I must admit I've only tried it once. I am too busy shoving TASTY MEATS into my face. Said meats include bacon-wrapped filets, chicken, and many other cuts/varieties. I want to rattle them off, but it's so much fun to be surprised when they offer them to you. It's like Christmas morning and you don't know what Santa's gonna bring. I have zero complaints about the joint, other than the fact that as a general rule I despise dining downtown (on parking accessibility alone). That's no reason not to though. They do have valet service at any rate. It's worth the steep price, it truly is. I think that some steakhouses are overrated for the price, but Fogo lives up to the hype. I think I need to make a reservation now...
(5)
Roberto L.
This fogo is located in a mall. The interior follows the design of the others I have been to. The service was also impeccable, attention to detail is their forte! The cuts of caramelized meats fresh off the fire is a tantalizing experience. The guys in Gaucho suits ask you how you want it cooked and they regulate the depth of the cut to suit your pallet. One by one they file in a line to serve you. All of this of course comes at a premium, but it is worth it. Go and enjoy yourself.
(5)
David S.
I can't say enough good things about Fogo. I've been to a lot of them around the country and their quality is the same throughout: INCREDIBLE. The salad bar, the all you can eat selection of meats and the incredible desserts are well worth the price and the wait. Put it this way: it's so good, you'll get the "Meat Sweats."
(5)
Mark A.
If you are one who needs to "calorie up" and overindulge in copious amounts of meat then this is your place. It is well overpriced and though the service is fast, prompt, and friendly, it should be - $46 a head should give you that. I'm just not a fan of buffet style dining with huge salad bars and more meat than any human should consume in an hour. Save your money and go to a Capital Grille or equivalent. The atmosphere is better, as is the food quality and service.
(2)
No One I.
AMAZING!! From the food to the ambiance. The salad bar is to die for, they have a bowl of bacon that is cooked perfectly, all the meat is incredible! If you are going to go make sure you are starving. The desserts were good, I'd skip on it. But the food is hands down some of the best I have had.
(5)
Dawn G.
I love this place. The selection of meats is amazing and will satisfy any preference. I could not stop eating the cheesy biscuits or the caramelized bananas and probably filled up on those as much as I did on the meats. I can't say enough about the service. The servers are so professional and the managers make a point of stopping by to see how you're enjoying your meal and if there is any particular meat that you'd like to see come by. I'll keep going back, especially during Restaurant Week!
(4)
Jenna G.
LOVE Fogo De Chao!! I will definetly be coming back here again. The service was great, the hostess, managers and waiters all were super friendly and helpful with everything. Even though it is on the spendy side, it is well worth it if you save your appetite and enjoy eating different cuts of meat. The salad bar was also really good with lots of veggies, meats, pastas etc. It was a great experience, different then anywhere I have been before, and I would highly recommend!! oh yea and they have amazing cheesecake if you save room..
(5)
Kira M.
Fogo de straight to my thighs, Fogo de Food Coma! Wow, this was an experience in the best sense of the word! Celebrated our wedding anniversary here. The "salad" bar was so delicious and full of special, interesting treats that I will surely long for, til my next visit. The various meats were amazing, as was the service. We were completely catered to - The dinner as a whole was impeccable. We could have spent double at Murray's to feed one of us a steak - To feed both of us 5xs over was pure gluttony that we have never indulged in - it was kinda fun :)
(5)
Jonny T.
Also known as "Fogo de Holy Crap my pants no longer button". When I ate here I made the mistake of eating a burrito from Chipotle earlier in the day. The moral of the story is that you MUST prep yourself by coming with a big appetite. A few tips... 1. Drink water while eating here (trust me here). Stay hydrated for when you get the "meat sweats" later. 2. Don't eat too many of those bread roles. They're awesome but they fill you up. Remember, you're here to eat like a caveman. 3. Don't race - just because the dudes keep bringing you meat doesn't mean you have to stay on pace with them. Eat slowly and savor the meaty-goodness. 4. Wear elastic pants - you'll thank me for this one. Enjoy.
(4)
Anthony M.
Hands down my favorite place to eat in Minneapolis. The ribeye, beef ribs, and cheese rolls are fantastic! Dont waste your stomach space at the salad bar even though it is pretty good....MEAT MEAT MEAT!!!! If you go during lunch time M-T its half the price for the exact same food as you get during dinner!
(5)
Jeff F.
Most people have covered most of the usual topics on this review - ton of meat, a lot of food, blah, blah, blah. Here's what you should know: - Fogo is an average to mediocre Churrascaria - the salad bar is ok, but nothing exceptional. Most of the meats were dry and not really that flavorful or good. If you do find yourself here, have the lamb chops - incredible and without question the highlight of my Fogo de Chao visit. - $46/person for just food, no drinks or dessert in Minneapolis is retarded. Maybe it's a better value for lunch, but I'm not going to find out. I don't think you can pull chicago or NY Churrascaria prices in Minneapolis - The service was great.
(3)
Jerry B.
The service is excellent and the food is great. If you have not been here yet, I highly recommend you do so. I sure had a higher release of dopamine the first time around than the the few visits after.
(4)
Tammy L.
I recently went to Fogo for Restaurant week and I cannot stop raving about the service! If you've ever done restaurant week you know to get your reservations in as soon as they announce the dates. So I went ahead and made reservations for eight people two weeks in advance. The same night I had reservations at the place, I called and updated the number from eight to fourteen. I spoke with a kind woman over the phone and although I had reservations, I nearly doubled the amount of people so she told me there might be a little wait. I told her it was fine. I arrived ten minutes prior to our reservation time, and they gave me a buzzer. She told me when all fourteen people were here to let them know so I did. and I think it was exactly eight when they seated us (even though they were completely booked out and she warned me ahead of time there might be a little wait because I increased the number of people coming). The service was unbelievably amazing!!! Steve (they told us to call him Scuba Steve) was fantastic. Very very attentive even though he had five other tables to wait on and we were a huge party. Always refilling our bread baskets, water, asking if we needed anything, new plates, etc. I can't imagine how he kept his cool with a zoo packed restaurant and catering to six different tables at the same time, but he did. Food was delicious as always. Basically I just wanted to praise the place for amazing service in this update.
(4)
Billy V.
Great venue for a special dinner. Excellent food...go hungry! About $50 per person for all the meat you can eat...16 different cuts or types of meat plus a great salad bar.
(5)
Leah G.
Head to Fogo at lunch for a great deal, you get the same things that are on the dinner menu at half the price. What to drink: Cocktails. Beer will fill you up way too much. I would suggest their signature cocktail, it's like a mojito with tequila, yum. What to eat: Meat. You will stuff your face with fresh cooked filet, chicken, and pork that sizzles as it slides off the spit onto your plate. The meat comes in any cook temp that you want and if it's not rare enough for you they will cook you an extra bloody filet upon request. What to skip: Salad Bar. I know people rave about the salad bar at Fogo but I was left unimpressed. There was not enough veggies! There was a good selection of cold cuts and cheese though. Just don't expect to fill up on greens. The service was great, especially for our group of 18. Fogo would be a great option if you are looking for a holiday party venue.
(3)
Virginia M.
salad bar was great. everything seemed fresh. the meat was amazing. staff and servers are all friendly.
Um. Yeah. We aren't rich or even wealthy but I can see that we will be back at Fogo de Chao as soon as we can muster up $75 for lunch. As everyone says, yes, lunch is half price and they have the same food. It was also quiet in the restaurant for lunch so note that. Someone complained that Fogo was very loud so if noise isn't your thing hit it up in the afternoon. I had a little bit of all of the delicacies on the salad bar and felt good. Then we tried all of the meat they could bring us! The signature Picanha was our favorite, then the beef ancho, and then the filet mignon. Every type of chicken was flavorful and juicy and the pork loin coated in parmesan (Lombo) was incredible as well. Every single type of meat was tender, juicy and oh-so-flavorful-I-never-wanna-stop-eating-meat-Âomfg. I'm really not the hugest fan of meat and I adored this place. The service was nothing short of perfection. Our waters were filled so many times (Thankfully--since we had some drinks last night and were parched!), our plates changed, our side dishes renewed (and they were also so yummy!) and everyone kept asked us if there was a particular cut of meat we wanted. I truly felt special and fancy. Even the paper towels in the bathroom are nice! I can't wait to go back. I think it'd be very fun to go there with a big group of people!
(5)
Revtee A.
Great food! A little pricey but the quality and the service was worth maybe a trip a year.
(4)
Adam T.
One of the most fun dining experiences I've ever had. Great service - great food.
(5)
Rob G.
Still as terrific as always. Stopped in during restaurant week to stuff my fat face with greasy oily meat and loved every second. Can't wait for my next near death experience.
(5)
Lisa M.
Fogo de Chow Down! As you know, I'm not red meat eater, but all of my dining companions always enjoy a good piece of meat. I spent the afternoon doing other things to keep my mind off how hungry I was.... 4 of us went for dinner on a Saturday night. I was the only one who hadn't been there. We had a great time! They charge a $20 corking fee, so my very smart friends brought a couple of bottles of wine they all enjoyed. I had a signature cocktail and a couple others. The drinks were good. The salad bar is great! They have so many choices of veggies, cheese, meat, and bread you could literally fill up on only the salad bar. I enjoyed the meat and the experience, although I found the service of the waitress bringing the drinks, to be lacking. She only spoke to the men in the group. I had to ask for a drink when I wanted a new one. I was not offered a drink EVER in the 2 plus hours while there. She also asked only the men if they'd like new plates. If I could knock the rating down by 1/2 star based on our server I would. The 'meat men' however rocked! They moved quickly and politely with those big ol' sticks. The meat came fast and hot! I particularly enjoyed the bacon wrapped (I know, bacon - me?) chicken - the bacon was not fatty and cooked through and the chicken was MOIST and almost melted in your mouth. I find the side dishes to just be okay. The fried plantain was crispy but I just couldn't justify filling up on those. We could not resist dessert and had creme brulee and key lime cheesecake - both excellent choices. It was dessert which pushed my full stomach over the edge. Go, you'll only regret it later on when you can't possibly fit another morsel of food into your mouth!
(4)
Cj M.
As you may well know this is an upscale Brazilian Steakhouse. There are 17 locations in the U.S. Obviously in the major city markets. I went for lunch at 115 and there was no wait. Normally there is always a wait. So this was a good start. Unfortunately, I wasn't starving which is not a good thing because as you may know, you eat till it hurts at a place like this. That's exactly what I did and I'm still hurting. I normally don't eat till it hurts unless its at one of the top buffets in Vegas but the meats here are so damn tasty it was hard for me to stop! So if you are aware, there is the salad bar you start with an assortment of cold veggies in various mixtures and a few cold slices of meat and cheese. Don't grab too much of anything. I just took a sample or slice from each. The assortment of meats grilled on the large skewers arrive at your table on a regular basis while you have your card turned "green" when you want them to stop flip it over to "red". Don't load your plate up with meats because it will get cold rather quickly. Take your time fipping the card back and forth. FYI, lunch price went up from $24.50 to $28.50. smh :(
(4)
Linda R.
Loved it! Went for our anniversary while on a trip to the area. Food was amazing!
(5)
Julianne Z.
So for my friend's last weekend, we went to eat Fogo de Chao for their lunch special. Horrible idea. Not that it wasn't DELICIOUS! But that when I got back, I couldn't do anything. There were 3 sections of the meal. Salad Bar: The salad bar is truly amazing. I had a little bit of everything and it was all super fresh and delicious. I had their chicken and potato salad, fresh smoked salmon, fresh mozzarella, and a basil dressing that I would put on anything. It was a great part of the meal and it was a wonderful way to get to the meat :) Sides: So there were 4 kinds of sides. The caramelized bananas and creamy mashed potatoes were really good. But what really stole the show was the fried polenta and the pao de queijo. The pao de queijo is this warm cheese bread but it is so much more than that. The outside if this puffy shell and on the inside, it is this cheesy texture that melts in your mouth. It was amazing! MEAT!!!!: I tried a little bit of everything and it was so good! My favorites though were the lamb chops, lamb leg, sausage and the parmesan encrusted pork tenderloin. The lamb chop was so tender and the sausage had a great oregano flavor. The pork tenderloin was super moist on the inside and the parmesan cheese on top was divine. So now you can tell how unproductive at work I must have been that day, but the meal was perfect and I am definitely have my daily protein intake for the rest of the month. I would def. recommend going for lunch and not for dinner because it gets really pricy then.
(4)
Alexander V.
We had a terrible experience here. I was with a party of 12, all of whom were 40+ years old. We had reservations for 8:30 dinner. We showed up at 8:00 just in case they could seat us sooner; they said that they would try but that it was looking like 8:30 would be the actual time we would get in. We were told this by the 3 people working at the hostess counter. They gave us a buzzer to let us know when we would be seated. This is where the problems started. When we inquired about our wait time (4 different times), we were told by these 3 individuals working the front (the 3 women there on 2-1-14) that they were setting up our table. So thinking that we were just about to be seated, we refrained from ordering drinks or taking seats in the waiting area that they have. Fast forward 50 minutes and several more inquiries, we kept getting the same comments about the table being set up for our party. Finally I went and "spoke" to the host staff about the virtues of honesty and being direct. I carefully explained to them that if they had just been upfront with us about the lagging wait times instead of the lip service we received, we would have sat down at the tables in the waiting area and ordered drinks (by this time, all the tables in the waiting area were full and the bar was backed up). No apology from any of the hostesses. Just all 3 women avoiding direct eye contact at the same time. They knew they messed up. If this wasn't bad enough, when it came time to close out our tab, it took 10+ minutes to run our cards because there was a back up at the register, but we only found out about this when I got up and approached the person who took our cards to be swiped. Keeping the customer informed as to why things are taking so long would go a long ways to improving this establishments review. They dropped the ball this night and for what we spent there, we could have had a much nicer and relaxed night at Capital Grille across the way. No complaints on the quality of the meats. Salad bar was a mess; they need to service this area more frequently as it gets lost in the shuffle when things get busy.
(1)
Rich R.
Had tickets to an evening Lynx game, so decided to bite the bullet and go to this restaurant beforehand. It lived up to its reviews, IMHO. First, the sumptuous salad bar. Palm hearts, exotic cheeses, cured meats, ginormous asparagus spears, smoked salmon, sun dried tomatoes, prosciutto, olives, meat salads, etc. I followed the advice of yelp reviewers and paced myself to leave room for meat. And the meat. One mouth watering stream (seemingly endless!) of dripping, delicious, protein, sliced at your table. I felt like Caligula. And the service. This place was a well-oiled machine! A non-ending circuit of wait staff glided by, and swooped in precisely when needed. At their prices, this is definitely a "special occasion" dinner only, but I also DEFINITELY got what I paid for, and then some.
(5)
Banha S.
A very awesome experience, indeed. Food is great and so is the service. All you can eat Filet Mignon? Can't beat that at anywhere else. Honestly, the steak is not the BEST that I have eaten and I would not recommend going there if you just want a piece of the best tasting steak in your life. It's about quantity over here. Also, the only complain I have is the parking. That will be an extra 10 dollars. Overall, A must go restaurant and for any occasion. Where can you find all you can eat steak with the quality of this place? No where else! Filet Mignon, for the win!
(5)
Harin G.
Yummm this place makes my husband's lovely blue eyes sparkle at the mere mention. Then he immediately begins to hallucinate as he imagines himself eating endless pieces of succulent and tender lamb, pork, chicken, and BEEF! PETA will probably find me and through red paint on my house for saying this....I had slight curiosity about how many cows must meet their maker here (my tummy) but then easily shrugged off the thought. Who cares? It's so delicious!! The service is prompt. The salad bar is absolutely sensational (those BEETS!!!!) and now they have added a few hot items which was exciting to see on my last visit. And the excitement of flipping from red to green and not knowing what may come around keeps us coming back for more! WHY NOT 5 STARS? Well only because I can't eat here more than once every few months due to the meat sweats we walk out with every time. :-) DELISH!!!
(4)
Shin M.
This is a chain I've been to before so there's not much I have to say about it that I haven't said in my Chicago review. The place is really fancy ... there are a ton of employees that attack you with meat offerings when your card is flipped green... they're all really nice. The meat was good, my favorite was the lamb. Not a fan of the steak wrapped in bacon. Some of the meat was really salty. The caramelized bananas were my favorite thing ever at the Chicago location but they weren't that great here. THe other appetizer was weird too. The mashed potatoes were salty. The smoked salmon at the salad buffet wasnt great. But the steaks and meat in general, were pretty good. The chocolate molten cake was tiny but the best thing I had during my week long stay in Minneapolis. The chocolate lava was amazingggggg.
(4)
Thargnar L.
The food is, for the most part, excellent. That's a given. This is more of a guide for first time customers. Realize there are a *lot* of people and the food comes in waves, tactical meat acquisition is a must. Ask for two cards, glue the red sides together. When seated they will try to sell you on the house special drink, some kind of tequila and minty leaves concoction with enough sugar to literally kill a busload of diabetics. I was not a fan, I may now be diabetic. The little bread things on your table are freshly baked and delicious, and pretty much solid dough. They are designed to take up maximum room in the stomach and the equivalent of enemy sappers, they are your enemy. Ok, fine, have one, *one*, they are pretty tasty. The salad bar is a thing of fantastic beauty and delicious variety. Ignore it. Do not eat the day before. Or possibly the day before that. The bathrooms are in the far left rear from the entrance. I can't speak for the women's, but the handicapped stall in the men's room is like an executive suite, Grade A dook hut. Use it to make space halfway through your contest with The Meat. When finished your server may offer you a 'digestive' shot after you roll your eyes at the mention of desert. It is grappa. Grappa is lighter fluid that tastes a little bit like grape stems. It is also thirty something a shot. I'm fairly sure the bottle must have warnings about calling a physician if ingested. I would probably do one again anyway.
(4)
Christina G.
My God! Holy service! This place is like taking a 17 minute car ride to brazil! I think the floral arrangements atop the extensively thought out salad bar are bigger than my kitchen!! What a gorgeous additive to a wonderful environment. Most of the tables are large parties of people, but my boyfriend and I went there dressed like hobos and were treated the same as anyone else walking in and out of there. We usually get snubbed by servers because we don't drink and the only thing that could possibly indicate our readiness to tip well would be evaluating the retail cost of any handbag I'm carrying that day. I ordered a virgin margarita- it was basically orange juice and salt. I couldn't stomach it so the server took it off our bill immediately! The meat was amazing and pesto sauce in the salad bar went great on anything I dipped it in. It's pricy- and my boyfriend needed his yearly fogo fix so on a whim we went- and came home extremely happy! The host at the front even waved goodbye to me after I was out the front door outside!!! Well done FOGO!
(5)
H P.
Meat, meat and more meat. Beef ribs and horseradish heaven. medical alert: food coma side effect afterwards and may be accompanied by the "meat sweats". Still worth it if you are in that carnivorous kind of mood. Keep the weak and faint hearted at home, this is a place for serious meat eaters to chow down and do some serious damage. Vegetarians might witness some unsightly scenes and "gnashing of teeth"!
(4)
Wilko K.
If you want to get the meat sweats by eating the best steaks you can think off go to this awesome restaurant. Unlimited eating of fantastic quality steaks, pork, chicken and more. The salad bar is awesome and aswell are the usually home made deserts!
(5)
Luan T.
It goes without saying, I eat a lot...Judging from majority of my reviews, I like everyday man's menu where it is NOT complicated and easy choices. Nothing is more primal than meat on a stick. In this case Fogo de Chao use swords as their 'stick'. (Yes, I love this place on that principle alone). Your menu is simple, you have to go to the salad bar 1st and then you flip your drink coasters to green side up and let them bring meats after meats on a "stick'" until you say 'Uncle' and flip your coasters to RED. Life couldn't be simpler. I will be conservative on my review here - THERE NOTHING better out there when it comes to a STEAK than here. I don't know another place where I can eat all the all the prime cuts/meat you want for one price. Yes, there are some nice Texas restaurant can do this, but...Is it a 5 star restaurant? Can you get medium rare lamb? Again, all you can eat? I seriously doubt it. Think this place a 5 star meat buffet...a work of geniuses I tell you. I can say without hesitation, I have NEVER had a better piece of lamb than here (almost anywhere). I have to travel to the Middle East and begged an Arab to kill a lamb (make sure we faced Mecca and bless it to Alah for this meal, etc) and cook in a sand pit, etc to be this good. Go ahead, ask me how I know about this? Trust me on this, it is cheaper to go here instead...and less sand on your plate. One more ting, the Limeade drink is AMAZING here! I think I drank over 10 glasses last time I was there. Best time to go is lunch time - I think the price is $27 now...Not sure about the dinner price these days. Yes, the salad bar is amazing too, but you missing the point why you are there in the first place...Yes, I would slap you for filling up your plate with salad. And I would defriend you for going a second plate of it.
(5)
Suze S.
Look, there's already 270+ reviews, mostly positive. I'm sure there's not much I can add, so I'll keep it to the point. -You just HAVE to try this place at least once. -All of the meat is good. Don't even worry what it is, just have them slide it on your plate. Sweet talk them into giving you two servings of anything covered in bacon. -The service is impeccable! I'm serious, you will never feel more cherished as a customer. -the refills on the pop are NOT free. I think our beverage bill was as high as our food bill at our first visit, because we did not realize this. (And I can personally drink a metric crap-ton of Diet Coke.) -If you're dining with someone of the fairer sex or someone who claims to have a delicate appetite, there is no shame in having them just order the salad bar, and then offer them the occasional taste of your meaty treats. (Within reason, don't be a douche.) -The salad bar is totally worth the trip alone. So make good use of it! -Have a reservation or be sorry.
(4)
Rachael A.
I love meat. If I could choose one person/thing to live alone on a desert island with it would be meat. Fogo would get 5 stars IF their meat was local, humanely raised, and grass-finished, but it's a chain and that ain't gonna happen. Any place where I can go and have as many rare filet minon steaks as I please is a place I want to frequent, frequently. Not to mention their salad bar is delish. Full of fresh veggies and magic, that's what. The sides I can do without. I do love me a cheesy, gluten-free bread but since I am no longer a dairy-goer I guess its just steak and veggies for me! I'm not complaining :)
(4)
Melanie K.
Outside of their skills of serving meat...the service was Rare. Per the multiple reviews a recap on the theme. You get a one set price meal (no drinks included) for all the meat and salad bar you want. The restaurant has a very upscale feel but clientele is from casual to fine dinning. I am assuming the attire of the guests are dependent of the occasion. Our group made same day reservations for four on a Saturday night. When we arrived at our 8:00 reservation time we were told it would be another 15 minutes because there were multiple large parties that had not gotten up. We proceeded to wait 40 minutes past our reservation time. The worst part about this is that the we watched the hostess continue to tell the same lie over and over to other patrons that walked in with reservations. We were standing in the entrance with 2 large parties and multiple couples and knew just by looking that there was more then a 15 minute delay. The hostess clearly had no concept on how to pace the restaurant as she felt no remorse and continued to tell us and others waiting past their reservation that it we were the next table. We could all clearly see who was getting sat and it was not us. In addition to the terrible hostess who continued to let all the tables pile up I saw the manager address no one about their complaints. Our group asked for a manager to stop by because of our issue and he never showed. Our server told us at the end of the night that we could have free dessert, but I explained that at this point we already felt abandoned and disrespected that a manager never stopped by. Clearly there are more positive reviews so this must not be too much of a common theme. However considering they have a large holding area for guests waiting for tables at the entrance I cannot be so sure. The food was typical Brazilian with multiple slabs of delicious seasoned meat cooked to our preference. As a note once we got past the door our experience was four stars, which is why I rated this place as average versus all over terrible. The service drastically improved and you could see at that point were the wait staff was a well oiled and well mannered machine. Unfortunately, my very long first impression is still leaving a bad taste in my mouth so I doubt I will ever go back to this chain.
(3)
Jason Y.
We loved the food and the service! They made every attempt to impress and take care of our every need! The only thing that they could do better is the salad bar. I wasn't very impressed with the items they had available. Who cares though because I was there for the meat! I would recommend going here! Top notch service and the food is uniquely served! Be ready to pay up for it too as it isn't cheap to dine here! Great place to spoil yourself once and awhile!!! Check 'em out! It's worth it!
(5)
Tim S.
I've been wanting to go to this location of Fogo de Chao for a long time. Finally today I had the chance to go, and it was worth the wait! I know now not to load up on the salad bar, but that easily could have been done. I mean, which traditional bar has heart of palm and Tabbouleh? Then, 16 types of meat! I don't know which was my favorite. Actually, I think I was torn between the lamb and the filet mignon. Of course I love the bananas and the polenta. I wish I could make it like this. For dessert, the papaya ice cream topped off the perfect meal. All the servers were attentive and it was a perfect way to celebrate a birthday!
(5)
Bill H.
So I wanted to take my lovely wife to a unique spot on Valentines day. I asked a few foodie co-workers about it and two of them suggested Fogo de Chao. The concept sounded pretty good - table sliced, roasted meats. Massive buffet with lots of options... Yea, lets give it a shot. I made a reservation more than two months in advance and asked for a quiet corner, something a little romantic. "We will take care of you" I was told. Feb 14th, 2012 rolls around and we eagerly head downtown. We walk in to claim our table and get seated right next to the buffet. I mean we were practically on top of the damn thing. We took elbows to the head while we stared at peoples asses while they waited in the buffet line for almost two hours. Not that we wanted to be there for two hours... It was a 15-20 minute wait to get something off of the buffet and the table-side sliced meat was all dry and tasteless. Most of the food on the buffet was decent, but as a dedicated carnivore, I was really unimpressed with the meat. Not a great experience. And not great food either. I understand the reviews from the guys that get a kick out of packing in a massive amount of food. I find guilty pleasure in bellying up to the trough myself... but I want to gorge on good food, not just food. I was disappointed with Fogo de Chao, especially considering all of the other wonderful eateries near by.
(2)
Amy C.
First time there, went for dinner. Salad bar was wonderful, different flavors and textures (asparagus was awesome). Quick responses for flipped disc on table. There was just one time for a long wait on more meat though. Some confusion during dessert ordering, had to end up sharing but papaya cream was surprisingly refreshing so all was good. Service people should smile more often. Overall an ok experience with interesting dishes.
(4)
Jack G.
Any claim that this place is less than perfect is wrong! Everything about this restaurant is great. The food, the drinks, the service, the layout...even the bathrooms! We made a reservation in advance and were slightly late, I caked ahead and let them know and they said it was absolutely fine. Upon being seated we got shown the drink menu, I chose the caiprinha which was super strong and had plenty of lime in it. It was a great choice. We then checked out the salad bar where I almost filed myself before the main attraction. There was so much to choose from and it was all fantastic. The smoked salmon was excellent. I had never been to a fogo de chao restaurant before but I loved the green and red card system of showing you are ready for the meat. The service was very fast and the meat was always served at just the right temperature. My only company was that sometimes I did not know what cut I was actually eating! This place really knows how to deliver. It did everything right and this was reflected by the high prices they charge. It was expensive but worth it for a great experience and meal. I am definitely going to try and make a reservation during restaurant week!
(5)
Tobin L.
We dined here for our Wedding Anniversary. The food was delicious. The staff were very courteous and attentive. We received a free dessert since it was our Anniversary. Even though the food was delicious, I was a little surprised when I received a the bill. It was well over $100 for just two of us(and our dessert was complimentary). I would love to eat here regularly, but I'm not sure if I could afford to.
(3)
William C.
MEAT. COMA. That pretty much sums up what happens to your body after you have a buffet of meats brought to you at a white cloth table. I've been here A LOT over the years and I'm finally writing a review. The decor is fitting, you feel comfortable and at 'home' in a way. Big chairs, large tables and fresh white linens; you know when you hit the chair, you're in for a wonderful feast. The service is fantastic. Once you put your card on green, the meats begin to flow on to your plate. The staff stop right next to you and with precision, cut out a chunk of meat to your cooked tastes. If you don't see what you want, just ask them and it'll be in front of you in minutes. There is a wide variety of meats, LOTS OF COW with a dabbling of pork and chicken. You have to just go to Fogo and experience it for yourself. There is no alternative to Fogo, period. Don't think, just GO.
(5)
Art V.
Unfortunately my experience at fogo was nothing Brazilliant. The food was fantastic and the atmosphere was incredible but our waiter Tim seemed to have a quick temper and a snappy rude attitude. Not only with us at the table but was also incredibly short with his team, which made it very awkward to hear them interact. We avoided eye contact so he wouldn't come over and cringed when it was made. Willing to try again if we won't be stuck with this guy again.
(2)
Joe W.
I'm a meat lover, but this was the best place I've ever dined at. Go here instead of a steakhouse. You'll get higher quality food and as much of it as you want. Can't go wrong in my book. It is a bit expensive but $50 a plate was well worth it!!
(5)
Melissa R.
This place is absolutely amazing. Very pricy, but you will be impressed...not only by the food, but the service. You will walk out of there full as hell and happy as a clam!#
(5)
Luci R.
Tonight was my first experience at this venue. We had a group of seven as part of a MeetUp event for restaurant week (Sunday 2/23/14). I think we only waited about 15-20 minutes past our reservation time (5:30pm). The restaurant was clearly already very busy so that wasn't awful at all. The food was amazing, including the smoked salmon at the salad bar. My favorite cut of meet was the lamb chop. The food service was off-and-on, even tho multiple people at our table had their "green lights on". Our table was right by one of the wait stations, and the lady on the end (who was the organizer of the MeetUp) was stepped on and tripped over multiple times (even though her feet were clearly under the table). After being tripped on, stepped on, and not getting much attention, a complaint was made and service got much better. We understood during restaurant week it would be a little crazier maybe than others. The others in the group indicated they'd received much better service on previous occasions, even during restaurant week. I personally would go back another time, maybe during lunch, to check it out.
(4)
Mike N.
i have to admit the last time i was here it was much better. we cam here for restaurant week and were some what dissapointed the service was not as good and the cut down on the meat selection they provide for restaurant... boooooo although the selection was cut down the quality was still good...
(3)
Joelle P.
If you love meat, you will love Fogo de Chao. If you love eating meat until your stomach hurts, you will never leave Fogo de Chao. I personally fall into both of those categories. I love me some buffet, and the only thing better than Chinese buffets is unlimited, various amounts of delicious meats brought right to your table. That's right, you don't even have to get up. That is, unless you want salad...which brings me to my one big tip about Fogo... Don't fill up on salad! They suggest taking a trip to the salad bar before turning your card over (which signals the meat to come!). They do this because everything at the salad bar looks, and is, delicious. You will then fill up on carbs and salad and will eat less delicious meat. We learned this the hard way. Get salad, order meat, do not fill up on salad before you eat enough meat. Try the bacon wrapped filet, or the bacon wrapped chicken. Actually, try everything. Just prepare yourself to eat more than you have ever eaten.
(5)
S L.
I had a great experience and will be back. The staff is very attentive and I appreciate the quality of the food for such a cheap price!
(5)
Shelby M.
Salad bar was small for the price of alone being 25$, not worth that at all go buy yourself a nice salad somewhere else. The total package with meat wasn't very impressive either. Meat selections did not all come around even with the card on green, waiters and hostess were rude & complained about having to seat a large group (that's your job) the mashed potatoes were watery and honestly gross, the fried bananas (used as a palate cleanser) were cold and soft, opposite of what they should be. The gratuity was 18% no option to tip lower, only higher, my service was definitely not worth that and my meal came to 65$. If I was looking for some bread this place was good but otherwise overpriced, uncomfortable cramped seating, and I would never return or recommend anyone to fine here, go to a nice steakhouse somewhere else instead.
(1)
Maxx M.
Wow--this place is A MEAT LOVER'S PARADISE! Everything I put in my mouth was incredibly good!!! This includes every style of meat, the desserts, and even the veggies. I vowed to stay away from anything green before I arrived...but the salad bar lured me in. The service was also first rate. Make sure you go with any empty stomach. It's pricey...but worth every penny. My wife is from South America and she also gave the South American beef flavors a BIG Latin thumbs up! -Daddy Maxx Retro
(5)
Bronson M.
You know that feeling of sweet satiated agony you get after eating an awesome gluttonous meal? Yeah, that's pretty much how I felt after eating dinner here during restaurant week. I had eaten at the Fogo location in Dallas before for a work function but had never been to the Minneapolis location until recently. The interior of this place is cavernous but still seems to have issues with the acoustics as it was really loud. I know people say to go to Fogo during lunch because it's cheaper (which is true) but if you have the chance to go during restaurant week it is truly a steal. Since it's even busier during restaurant week reservations are needed in order to get a table. Even with reservations my buddy and I had to wait an extra 20 minutes to be seated which was a little annoying. After being seated we headed over to the salad bar to start off the meal. Since I was planning on just eating meat that night, I only loaded up my plate with prosciutto and cheeses (which they have an amazing selection of). All the meat I had piled onto my plate was excellent, although I wasn't too impressed with the chicken or sausage offerings. In all honestly, I couldn't tell you exactly which meats I tried since I literally just had the servers stop by and offload hunks of meat onto my plate...but rest assured they all tasted wonderful. Seriously, if Fogo participates in restaurant week again check it out as $30 for dinner and a dessert (which you won't be able to eat...but they let you take it home) is a stellar deal. After leaving Fogo I headed home already half in a meat-coma and well into the third trimester of a food baby pregnancy...and although the DNA tests were not conclusive I'm pretty sure Fogo is the father (no Maury Povich needed).
(4)
Trina S.
I love Fogo! The salad bar is really good and I always try to not pile a lot on my plate just because I want to save more room for the meat. I went last night for the second time this month...except this time it was for restaurant week. Dinner for only $30 who can say no to that?? Anyway, I love the customer service here. It goes above and beyond. I don't think I've ever had a bad experience here with their staff. My main priority when I come here are the lamb chops. SOOO GOOD! Never dry! There's really not much to say about this restaurant except for the fact that it's super good, service is fast, and the servers who cut the meat for you know what they're doing and do it well...unlike that wannabe Fogo place called Rodizio in Maple Grove where you get splattered as they cut the meat. Oh and the red wine sangria is probably the best sangria I've had other than the ones I make.
(5)
Neil K.
This place isn't a restaurant...it is a culinary adventure. Buckle up...or unbuckle up, as you devour a couple pounds of beef. Food is extraordinary. Service is stellar.
(5)
Tippaket T.
I like meat and vegetables equally. This place caters to the two sides of me equally. All their cuts of meat are fantastic, although there's one or two that are a bit on the salty side. The salad bar has a wide variety of non meat items such as cheeses, breads, and salads so I don't quite understand why it isn't good enough for some vegetarians. At least a place known for serving meat has a humongous alternative option for those who don't eat it (and is nicely presented imo). Lastly the service is outstanding. I'd recommend making a reservation since this place can get busy.
(5)
Luke C.
All you can eat for under 50$ plus drinks! Need I say more? I think not but just in case I'll tell you a bit more. The have a wonderful salad bar with everything you could expect from a salad bar and more. The meal is really an experience. There are waiters walking around with giant hunks of meat on skewers and you are given a disc with a green side and a red side. When you want them to stop by you and serve you, turn your disc to green. When you have had enough or need a break, turn your disc to red and you won't be bothered. It's really a fun system! They have chicken, pork, and beef. Different kinds of each that are all amazing! Their house brand of wine is also really good and goes with their meats perfectly. The atmosphere is really nice but the dress code seems pretty casual. I've eaten here after games and there were people wearing sweatshirts, jerseys, jeans, etc.
(5)
Annette L.
There should be a way to give six stars, because this place deserves it. The entire wait-staff work as a team, rather than having their own sections, which gives it a great ambience. The salad bar is to die for -- I'd never tried smoked salmon before, but wound up really enjoying it. I could have filled up on that and the salad bar (which also had a big pan of bacon for no reason at all -- AWESOME) alone, but it didn't stop there. Then came the "parade of meat," as I like to call it (even though that sounds filthy). They give you a little coaster that's red on one side and green on the other. When you flip the green side up, they start bringing around huge spits of meat. And this is the most fantastic stuff you've ever tasted -- porkchops, bacon-wrapped chicken breasts, filet mignon, and much more. They don't stop bringing it to you until you either flip the red side up, or explode. Whichever comes first. Best food coma I've ever had.
(5)
Jen W.
I've been here numerous times and have always had a pleasant experience! Service: 5 stars Food: 5 Stars Cleanliness: 5 Stars
(5)
Ryan W.
For $50 dollars a plate, you get a lot. I'm big on value when I go out to eat and even for a pricier place, I think you get it here. The salad bar alone is pretty amazing. The meat is fantastic. The first person who came to our table had bacon wrapped filet mignon. It was probably the best thing I've ever tasted. It's a fun place. Definitely expensive, but still worth going to every once in awhile. Service was also great.
(5)
Tammy V.
Well I'm not sure why this place gets 4 + 5 stars. My hubby and I went here on Sunday night. Ok, the wait was long even though we had reservations! I was very excited about the "salad bar" . I was so very disappointed . It was small in comparison to others and while they had interesting items it was not kept filled! Meat , meat , meat that's about all it is! Which if it was good meat that would be great! But it was marginal at best! I think this is one of those places you try because it sounds cool. In reality you never go back because other places are better !
(1)
Dane N.
I have been for lunch twice and dinner once. The deep fried bananas are my absolute favorite to go along with my steak. I do enjoy the wrapped in bacon selections as well. Service is always very fast and efficient and servers themselves are always polite and explain everything really well. I will be back!
(5)
Brad S.
Everything about Fogo is 5 stars across the board! Especially if you go during restaurant week! I have been to Fogo de Chao more than ten times. Every time I get amazing service, awesome food, and the meat sweats. Plus, I don't have to eat for a day or so afterwards. So, you probably know what Fogo is all about from the other reviews so I am going to give you some insider (or frequent flyer) tips. How about an even ten. 1. Ask for the beef ribs - do it! 2. Bacon wrapped filet (rare) is dessert @Tom C. (Unless its restaurant week and they include dessert.) 3. Papaya Cream is my favorite dessert especially when comped (if you are celebrating just about anything they will tend to comp a dessert for the table) 4. Get reservations 5. Tip 1 + 2 = AWESOME when you wrap the rib around the bacon wrapped filet - just an FYI ;) 6. You can get mint jelly upon request (if you're into that...) 7. Don't fill up on salad, but do visit the salad bar - there's meat there too! 8. Parking in the City Center ramp (entrance on 7th st.) is a great spot to park, low price, plus you don't even have to walk outside. 9. Parking in the summer (winter too I suppose..) can be had for free after 6pm on some of the surrounding streets. 10. Lunch is half price on weekdays - same stuff though. See ya there!
(5)
Ty E.
Great food. Great service. One of the best Brazilian restaurants I have eaten at.
(4)
Prescilla X.
OH EM GEE THIS WAS AMAZING! I came here on a Tuesday evening and there wasn't any wait what so ever which was great. We were instantly greeted by a host and than shown to our table. The service was immaculate and they definitely didn't miss a beat! The food here was absolutely breath-taking. Literally...I just kept eating and eating without even pausing for a breath. The meat that they serve is all delicious, tender, quality meat. Even their salad bar had a ton of options! I was extremely impressed by Fogo de Chao. I could never get tired of this place. A MUST TRY!!!!!!!!!
(5)
kyle t.
Loved this place. Best salad bar in the down town area. That's really not my call but a friend that has worked down town for 10+ years and eats out 3-4 days a week. I was visiting and loved the food, service and the salad bar. There is something about a bunch of different types of meat brought to the table over and over again until your full that makes me feel happy all over. What can I say, it's worth the experience. Enjoy. KT
(4)
Thomas N.
This is a steak heaven. There is nothing to complain about this place. The food is good and the service is great. If you are looking for a good and cheap meal, join them for lunch, only $28.95/person. I will return to this restaurant in a heart beat.
(5)
Mallory B.
I DARE you to try to leave this place without feeling pleasantly plump. It just doesn't happen. The salad bar is marvelous and has many unique offerings. Try the Basil dressing! The challenge is not making too huge of a salad because if you're like me, you might go crazy on the salad and not leave enough room to try all of the meats! ALL of them meat is phenom! My top favorites were the Filet Mignon and the Top Sirloin. The pork tenderloins were a little dry for my taste. And the pork ribs were seasoned to perfection...was that a hint of lime? Servers were great at making their rounds and we were never passed up. I would recommend requesting all of your meat to be medium or medium well. I almost always demand my meat well done, but I couldn't imagine eating any of their cuts at any more than medium! Sides included with the meal included fried polenta, fried bananas and garlic mashed potatoes. My favorite by far were the fried bananas! I'm pretty sure I ate a whole tray by myself! Their signature drink is absolutely positively to die for. Sugar cane distilled rum with limes and more sugar and as they say, tastes even better with all of their meats. I would highly recommend making reservations a few days ahead of time. I had a reservation for 6pm, we were seated and fed immediately. They were kind enough to ask if we were celebrating anything or were out for a dinner. We happened to be celebrating my mom's birthday and they offered us a dessert on the house. Fogo de Chao makes for a perfect night out with the family. I WILL be back!
(5)
Becky P.
The food was amazing! When you flip your little green card waiters came out of the woodwork with tasty Skewers of meat! My husband who can really pack it away was like a kids in a candy store! Gear experience!
(5)
Cheryl T.
Pricey? Yes. Worth it? YES! If you like meat, you are doing yourself a major disservice by not having eaten here before. We did have to wait a bit even though we had a reservation but it was on a Saturday night that had some birthday parties so that's understandable. As it was 5 degrees the night we went and fully expecting to require being rolled out after we dined, we opted for valet as there really is no close-by parking.
(5)
Liuyin S.
You step into Fogo, and you know you've made it. Here, is a delectable example of the finer things in life. You check in, they take your coat, lead you to your table, and they pull out your chair for you. My group was clearly not use to the service as only the last one in our party took the seat. Foreplay to this intense marathon starts with pao de quijo, or cheesy bread, in laymen's terms. These are not your italian french-bread-type garlic cheese breads, but bit-size muffins that are warm and truly cheesy and melts in your mouth like the home-made goodness mom never made. I was surprised by the impeccable service when we got a fresh basket... when there was still one left in our basket! Having worked in the restaurant business and having eaten at so many amazing places, I found the concept of the organization of the staff to be very original in that all the servers worked together. Any of them could take your table's order and bring you what you wanted... which I would imagine could cause some confusion somewhere along the line, but the fast and collaborative method in which everything flowed was astonishing. Next, it was time to explore the huge salad bar. I think it took us a good 10 mins to walk around the bar(!) that offered fresh mozzarella, bamboo shoots, salami, salmon, whole slices of crispy bacon(!), and lots of fresh cheeses, mushrooms, and greens that I have yet to name. One of my friends dropped his plate at the salad bar, and there were hands cleaning it up a second later. Service = amazing. In the organized fashion of all the signaling (with the red/green cards), I did have a few questions that remain unanswered, such as: how do I signal for a plate for meat? I've now finished my salad and wanted meat, so I turned my card green... and literally had to turn down 3 cuts before someone brought me a fresh plate. That seemed inefficient; I could have been savoring on exotic tenderness 40 secs earlier! Another question I had was, how do I track down what I want? Since you sit at your table and wait for the cuts to come to you, how do you get what you what if you are eyeing a specific cut? Turns out, you just ask. D'uh. The power of communication. In addition to the cheese bread, salad bar and 15 cuts of meat, you get sides - who has the room to squeeze these in is beyond me, but you get 3 sides: fried bananas, friend polentas, and garlic mashed potatoes topped with cheese. The polentas were my fav. The mash was too hearty for me with all the meat. The bananas added a great mix of sweetness to the palette. There were 13 types of meat and I vowed to try every one. I think I ended up with 12... but there were two types of lamb, so I forgone one. Here's my ranking: * Filet Mignon - 5 stars. Comes with 3 doneness - medium, medium rare, and well * Bacon Wrapped Filet Mignon - 5 stars. Bacon makes everything better. * Costela de porco - pork ribs - 5. Very juicy and perfectly peppered. * Beef Ancho - Rib Eye - 5. Succulent, mouth watering. Even near the end when I was beyond full, I loved it. * Lombo - Pork loin with Parmasean Cheese - 4 * Alcatra - top sirloin - 4. Came in medium or medium rare. Very tender, juicy, and red. * Fraladinha - botton sirloin. 3. The crispy part was too brunt and a tad dry. * Cordeio - lamb chops. 3. Came in medium/medium rare. I don't usually like lamb but this was good with a yummy kick to it and beautiful presentation. * Picanha - 3. The fatty party was mouth-watering and crispy but a tad too stringy and chewy for my inkling. * Linguica - 2. Nice spicy kick to it, but nothing too special from the average breakfast sausage. * Frango - 2. It's chicken. * But the one that came wrapped in bacon? I give that a 3. If you saved room for dessert, you didn't eat enough. If you didn't save room for dessert, you were an idiot. Wait, what? Win-Win or lose-lose? There were 4 of us, so we tried 4 different types. And my dessert preference in order comes down to: 1. Molten Chocolate Cake - Chocolate Cake with a fudge center. Served warm with scoop of vanilla ice cream. It was perfectly warm topped with the melted chocolate. Gooey goodness, and with strawberries! 2. Papaya Cream - Fresh papaya blended with vanilla ice cream. Topped with creme de cassis. Very light and actually fresh. 3. Creme Brule - Homemade vanilla bean custard with a glazed sugar coating 4. Chocolate Mousse Cake - Alternating layers of white and dark chocolate mousse and chocolate cake. Needless to say, it was a fabulous experience. I warn you now of the gluttony you will experience... and the wastefulness. I did feel my heart ache for leaving half a cow left unfinished on my plate, not to mention all the sides and fresh bread that were replaced and tossed when we were only half-way done with what we had on our table.
(5)
Mark L.
Unfairly, this place kinda auto-five-stars in terms of food selection. They have pretty much everything you could ever want, even if you're a vegetarian (awesome salad bar). We partook in both the meats brought by the waiters, and special ordered a few side dishes, which came quickly. As a tip, there is so much food that it's very easy to overeat. My suggestion is take a little bit of everything. Try the salad bar, try a few meats from the general pool, then special order a few. You'll also be bombarded with tasty rolls, fried bananas, and potatoes. Just sample everything.
(5)
Jeremy C.
Wow I could very much give this place a 5 star ratting (at this moment I'm calling it 4 star). Honestly though after having been here about a 1/2 dozen times I get less and less impressed each time. Not that the service lacks (it's amazing) nor does the food (it too is great), I am just somewhat burnt on the concept of so much food/meat. Perhaps I've reached a point in my life where I enjoy quality more than quantity, but truly the quality is great too. **Ok fine, this place is a 5 star, I'm changing my rating right now** I think it's my overall dislike of the buffet concept that has me disliking this place. So I put this out there to you, if you have never been to this establishment and you really like meat... go, check it out. But if you want something a little less 'super size me' then go and have a good steak at one of the numerous other nice steakhouses in the cities. One semi-valid reason to dislike this place... I dropped $90 on a meal and two glasses of wine.
(5)
Cengizhan O.
Wonderful place to splurge at. Loved the fried polenta and buffet options. Smoked salmon along with a bowl of bacon? Hell yeah. Service was fantastic and made us feel like royalty. The meat that came by the tables was flavorful and bountiful. Make sure you go hungry and pace yourself.
(5)
J T.
Went there for a B-day dinner in December. We had no reservations and they were very gracious to get the two of us in.with less than a 5 min wait. If you like meat this is the place. I'm sure I cant say anything about the meat that anyone else hasn't... Other than the lamb chops were outstanding. We ordered a great 07 Cab Sav from stags leap, it was on special for $75, I have seen this bottle go for $150 at other restaurants and I buy it for $60 for home. Really impressed with the nice pricing for that. What got me was the salad bar. LOVE the selection, Meats, cheeses, salads, beets, asparagus, fresh parm, and so many items I almost just had that. I could go there and just eat the salad bar! Other places should use this salad bar as a model! Don't go here and hope to keep a NYE resolution or if your are not really hungry. They bring the meat as fast as you can eat it. The service is truly outstanding. They don't hold back and really do make the experience enjoyable. The sides they bring are really well prepared and taste as good as you would expect. I tried to stay away from the bread and such so I could eat more of the meat but everything was good and couldn't help myself. They asked who's birthday it was and brought a comped desert at the end of our meal for them. This was like everything else truly tasty. We had the key lime pie and it hit the spot with some after dinner coffee's. We would go back there over and over. While it IS expensive, you get fabulous food, plenty of selection and no rush what soever. Plus this place brings a whole new meaning to "going green!" If you leave hungry, well you didn't try hard enough!
(5)
Daniel V.
This place my customer loves to come to. Frankly if not being able to expense it, Fogo would not be on my list. Now that is not because of the food, it's because of the fix price which for me personally I would never get my monies worth. I have recently gone vegetarian, so it was nice for me there is a salad bar only option. This was the first time really exploring the salad bar, before salad just took up space that the steak could better occupy, so other than walking by never really took notice. They really have a wide verity so it was easy to find options, and yes I was completely full when we left. If I was still a carnivore and a special occasion then this would be a good place to come. The wait staff has always been exceptional, they never let you go hungry if the chip is green.
(4)
Kelsey M.
Absolutely GREAT meal & atmosphere! The salad bar was great & the meat was cooked perfectly! Definitely worth every penny!
(4)
Anna H.
A-MAZ-ING!!! Brazilian-style all you can eat steak dinner is AMAZING. An endless supply of salt rubbed steak, sliced thinly, commencing immediately when you turn your "serve me" card to green. The supply stops once you've turned your card to red, but the servers still manage to fly across the room with their large swords of steak and giant knives.... I'm not sure how soemone hasn't accidentally gotten stabbed here, but hey.... Fogo de Chao is a true carnivore's paradise. But... I cannot forget to mention the SALAD BAR. Seriously - a vegetarian would feel like he died and went to heaven here, too. Brazilians ROCK when it comes to salads - and Fogo de Chao does an excellent job of providing a wonderful selection of Brazilian salads. But hey, eating at the salad bar is a rookie mistake... you've got to go for the meat :) I love this place. Oh, and you get it for about half price if you go for a week-day lunch.
(5)
Jordan H.
This is the ultimate place for meat lovers. It is a Brazilian style bbq place that, from what a friend from Brazil has told me, is pretty close to the real thing. You get seated at your table and your server gets your drink order and then the meat starts coming. Different serves with different cuts of meat come to your table side and offer you what they have. There is a salad bar included, which is quite good, however I would not go here for the salad. Be sure to leave room for all of the good stuff. This place is generally really busy especially on weekends so reservations are probably a good idea. It's about $40 per person without drinks and you can definitely get your money's worth if you come hungry. Atmosphere is some what dressy, but no need to dress up too much.
(4)
Calvin M.
This is my NUMBER ONE RESTAURANT in all of Minnesota. There are no restaurants like i! Fell the sizzle of fresh MEAT on the back of your neck! The price is worth it. You will truly be full, and the atmosphere is delightful. I can guarantee one of the best dinning experiences for you and your household.
(5)
Johnny P.
This place is a pricey dinner for two, but the service is exquisite. The salad bar has a lot of super delicious options. The meats are also excellent with my favorite being the prime rib cut. But if you don't like that cut, don't worry, they have 15 others!
(5)
Travis W.
Amazing meat selection with phenomenal flavor. Impeccable service. Slightly awkward salad bar. We will definitely be back!
(4)
Mariel L.
So, I had to wait a full day to digest what I just ate at Fogo de Chao (both figuratively and literally), and now I'm prepared to give my thoughts on this Mecca of meat. Too much information on my bodily functions there? I thought so, and thoughtfully disagree. You have to know what you're getting into before you go to Fogo de Chao. If you live under a rock (which is either a thin rock, or you have a great internet service provider), Fogo is an AYCE churrascaria, with men in gaucho pants carrying 10 types of skewered meat in one hand and dangerously dangling a sharp knife with another. We luckily got a table for Restaurant Week, and in preparation for this special dinner, I only ate soup and crackers for the entire day, wore loose-fitting clothes, and made my peace with God and Men. Y'know, just in case I "meat" the Big Guy after OD'ing on carnivorous pleasures. The place is huge and loud, but has enough space for the fluid motion of the impeccable staff. The servers and chefs were so fast while still being thoughtful and accommodating. The cheese bread starter was so awesome: it was crusty on the outside and extremely soft on the inside, with a texture that's somewhere between a cheesy gnocchi and a tapioca pearl. It's really hard to control yourself around them. Nevertheless, I knew I had to, since up next was the salad bar. Frankly, I wasn't as impressed with this as other diners have been. There's a lot of great options, though, so I concentrated on the cheeses, smoked salmon (my fave in the spread), the cured meats, and a little bit of the salad. But, and to quote my brother's response to a server at another Fogo de Chao in Cali, "I'm only here for the meat." My very first time I turned that disk green (signaling the gaucho chefs), you can see the panicked look in my face as a parade of chefs offered me a slice of every kind of meat. I swear to jeebus, they were like freaking ninjas, popping up beside me with a skewer. I believe I tried almost all varieties except for except for one, but I'm not going to describe every one. Let me just say that at some point, the beef cuts all start to taste the same. That's not a bad thing, though, because the meats are prime and well-seasoned. I guess if I were to pick a favorite beef cut, it would be the Fraldinha. I didn't like the bacon wrapped filet mignon because the inside was too rare for me and tasted too iron-y. The bacon wrapped chicken, however, was a hit, as well as the lombo - pork encrusted with parmesan. The chicken legs were superb, with a hot, crispy skin and a juicy inside. And, the sausage was also tasty with a hint of spice and strong flavors. Out of all of them, my fave would be the pork, but then again, anything covered in cheese will be given an upper hand. I guess I should've alternated the beef with the sides to differentiate the taste; they were also very delicious, too. The fried polenta with a little parmesan wasn't overly salty, and was crunchy. The bananas were sweet and reminiscent of the banana-Q of my youth, and the garlic mashed potatoes may not hold a candle to Buca's, but good nonetheless. It's kinda hard to tear yourself away from the meat when what you come for is the meat. That said, I did take sips of the very delicious caipirinha in between some bites, if only to remind myself to hydrate after the meat sweats.
(5)
Karen T.
Fogo is a chain. A pricey chain. An all-you-can-eat pricey, Brazilian barbeque chain. It's loud and boisterous (if you're looking for an intimate, private frou-frou dinner, head elsewhere). Those niceties out of the way, let's delve into why I love it so. First off, men come up to you with GIANT SKEWERS of meat repeatedly. You have your own little coaster-like button of green for "go" on one side and red for "stop" on the other. And if you get too drunk and forget to keep turning it, it's okay because they're used to it. Second, my first Fogo was with coworkers. 16 coworkers, to be exact, with a few from London, Chicago, Boston, San Francisco, Kansas City, NYC, etc. As this was a celebration and culmination of brokers' training while being shacked up in Minneapolis for 5 weeks, we decided to do what we do best: drink. I'm still not sure how many bottles of wine we downed, but the red went so incredibly well with the sirloins that the sommelier began replenishing bottles as soon as they were finished. I remember seeing a few piles of corks in the middle of the table and laughing hysterically at the sight. In retrospect, it wasn't that funny...but it WAS that much fun. Athletes joke that we're the only girls that would get your money's worth from a Fogo date. And my sad little post-collegiate athletics stomach proved the old adage right. To really get the best experience, I had to try little bites of everything. I almost wasted my appetite on the salad bar! Which is extensive and marvelous (once you've experienced it, it makes you look at any other restaurant's like a soup kitchen line), but it's like spending all your money on the little kiddy rides instead of the awesome roller coaster. Luckily, I checked myself before I wrecked myself...and spent the rest of the night gorging on bacon-wrapped or otherwise deliciously marinated chicken/pork/beef and wine. Their after-dinner drinks and dessert list (if you make it that far) is worth a try. We were there for four hours so my stomach had time to recuperate. I tried limoncello for the first time, which is amazing. In case you're wondering how much this ridiculous, obscene meal was: we ended up blowing $2100, but it was so incredibly worth it. $2100 for 17 people is nothing when you consider the AIG press junket the executives took for $440k... At least it was our own money!
(3)
Tina L.
Sorry, Fogo de Chao has delicious meats, but we really did not think it was worth paying $60/head. In Argentina (which I know isn't Brazil!), I had similar amounts and quality of meat for probably around 10 USD. We really DID enjoy the picanha (top sirloin) and the beef ancho (rib eye), and the service is pretty good... maybe I need to give it another try. Next time I think I'll starve myself for two days before coming here so I can feel like I ate $60 worth of meats.
(3)
Victor M.
went 2 weeks ago for lunch with a few co workers and we had a great time.. service is always good. The lunch is the same as dinner but cheaper. they have a great scotch selecton
(5)
Amir S.
Fogo de Chao's Deciding Algorithm: 1- Are you vegetarian at the moment? If yes, leave this page and close your browser ASAP and never again search "Fogo de Chao." If not go to 2. 2- True that you're not vegetarian now, but do you worship grill and kabobs? If yes go to 3. If not leave this page and work on your meet religious devotion! 3- Are you an all-you-can-eat kind of person? If yes go to 4. If not leave this page and never come back again! 4- Are you ready to pay a $$$ bill? If yes go to 5 and if not forget it for the time being and begin to save money or sell your spare kidney! 5- Can you resist a full salad bar and avoid stuffing your stomach with a huge variety of salads? If yes go to 6 and if not you can still go on but I feel very sorry for you! 6- Are you able to resist bottomless plates of caramelized banana and not let it stuff your stomach? If yes go to 7 and if not you could still go ahead. But be ashamed of yourself and your weak will-power! Do you really call yourself a wo/man? 7- Are you OK with leaving the restaurant while you can't even stand the meat's smell and are deciding to become a vegetarian for the rest of your life? If yes go to 8 and if not I'm afraid I have to not let you join the ex-meat-lovers group! 8- Congrats! You are ready to try Fogo de Chao for the first time! Be prepared to experience a vegetarian way of life for at least a couple of weeks after leaving the restaurant.
(5)
Anya S.
I ate a cow. And a little bit off the salad bar. Then another cow, and a baby cow. And a chicken. The salad bar alone is amazing. I dont know if this is funny or not, but the most amazing salad bar I've seen is at a steakhouse restaurant. I am not kidding, bring your grass eating friends there, and you can eat a cow, while they are nibbling on grass and veggies from the salad bar. Meat!!!!!!!!!!! Our little group ate enough food to feed a small African country for at least two weeks. Once you sit down, the hot man wearing funny pants start walking around flaunting their meat. Yammy!! You get a little card which tells the man if you want more meat or if you are full and satisfied and they should call for a dolly, as you are unable to move and they need you to vacate the table. Meat - there is 15 different choices, and they are all amazing [besides the pork, didnt try that]. Try them all, dont eat from the salad bar and save space in your tummy for yummy meats. The service - I have no complains, and usually I do have something that you could've been better. But not this time, Fogo de Chao is simply amazing and satisfied all of my carnivorish cravings. Plus the hot man in funny pants, love it. We didnt order desert, as noone could move after the meal, but I hear they are fabulous. Go there, eat some meat.
(5)
Christophe V.
Come hungry and you will enjoy this place. Never ending meat to your table with very good and not over the top service. I would rather go there for lunch since its cheaper and you still get everything that dinner offers. Also, the s angria is delicious!!
(5)
Chet M.
I go here for lunch and dinner. This place has great service and food. Salad bar is fresh and the meat is great. The price is a little spendy, but the price is made up from the quality of food and awesome service. A must try at least once even if you are a vegetarian. I would recommend this establishment to everyone.
(5)
Master A.
Meat, Meat, and more Meat. If you don't like meat, this place isn't for you. Green means you're gonna get a plate full meat enough to serve a party of 4 to down by your self. They have all the cuts of the beef, some chicken, pork, and lamb (the four food groups). Everything is wonderful. The meat is still sizzling when they bring it out to you. Love the pork ribs and rib-eye. Do not ask for A1 or Heinz sauce, because you don't need it. It will ruin the taste. They have a great salad bar too, but I wasn't there for the salad. The bar prices are very expensive. Be careful when asking for water, they gave me a $14 bottle of water that I thought was going to be free. Make sure you say free tap water. Yes, this place is expensive, but if you go during the lunch hour, it's half the price of dinner. It's worth every penny you pay. The service is top notch. They always had what I wanted to eat. The only con I have is that my bowel movement for the next 3 days was just dark as hell from all the meat I ate. I didn't want to see meat for another year after eating here. I've only been here 4 times. I come once a year. If you want a great experience, this is it.
(5)
John H.
A disclaimer. This was my first, and so far, only experience with a Brazilian steakhouse. I'm from Chicago where every block you see an ad for Ozzie's favorite: Brazzaz, so I'm familiar with the presentation of the meat. I just had no idea of the level of service. Went to lunch with my mom - she had received a $100 gift card to the place, and we decided to try it. She had been there - in DC i think - and knew what to expect. I hadn't eaten all day, and the sound of a typical steak was on my mind. First of all, the place is nice. We arrived at 1pm, and there weren't many people there. A few large parties, but maybe 15-20 couples. The place looks very big and spacious. Nice and dark and comfortable. We were dressed a bit classy due to meetings downtown, but the vibe looked generally casual. but right at the table, the guy pulls out your chair, places your napkin. The little things, right? Then they explain this red light-green light insanity. When the small coaster-like chip is red side up, no one will bother you. You can eat and enjoy the crazy nice salad bar -with prosciutto and cheeses and great veggies and salads - or the potatoes, pop overs, and plantains brought to the table. And drinks. Try a Brazilian beer or a fine single malt. But flip that baby to green and you're in for it. These guys harass you one at a time with these swords of red-meated-goodness. Want to try this filet? Wrapped in bacon? How about this sirloin? Or the chicken? Wrapped in bacon? Try this porkchop - and the lamb. How about rare? Medium rare? Well done? Here - I'll go get more. I'll run to the kitchen. I'm so sorry. And I'll wrap it in bacon. These guys buzz around like flies until you quickly rush to flip the card over again. Red means no. Please God no more. So after you deal with the 12 lbs of red meat on your plate, you can, like I did, cry and cry and wonder aloud why I haven't been here before, and why the server won't let me live here, or go back and stock up on more tasty treats from the salad bar or the incredible pop overs (this is how you make pop overs). Or flip the chip back over to the dark side and some guy will literally pop out from over your shoulder and offer you some steak. A basic, probably incorrect pricing guide: lunch is $25 a person. dinner $50. Drinks and copious tips extra. Talked to a server and explained that a weekend night, the place is packed and crazy, even without the dudes running around with swords. a great place if you have the hunger for red meat, the time, the budget, and the sweatpants you'll immediately change into afterward.
(5)
Marisa L.
If you've never been to a brazilian steak house I recommend you go just for the experience. Fogo de Chao has an amazing, delicious salad bar (so you fill up on veggies rather than the more expensive meat, i'm sure). But the baby mozzarella with tomatoes and balsamic vinegar was superb. The meats however were a little disappointing. The filet mignon was good and so was the special meat of the evening, however the pork loin and lamb chops and a few others were overcooked and flavorless. A good place to eat, but a chain feel and about $50 something per person. An ok place to eat, but i'd only go again if someone else was paying for it.
(3)
Alex C.
This place usually participates in Restaurant Week (advertised in Minneapolis St. Paul) making it an amazing $30 meal (monster dessert included). During Restaurant Week, this place is a zoo!. The potatoes and the cheese bread are fantastic as is the bananas. I don't really like the polenta. The salad bar is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever seen covering salmon lachs to hearts of palms and various prepared salads as well. For full disclosure, I only look at the salad bar, perhaps sampling one or two things. I save room for the meat. There isn't a bad cut of meat. The house cut and the sirloins are my favorite. But the lamb and the sausage are fantastic too. Lunch is more affordable at 25/person, otherwise the cost is about 50/person. There is an only salad bar choice...they may slap you if you ask about it though.
(4)
Cassandra N.
Excellent service, delicious food. If its your first time, go for lunch its $20 less than dinner. This place is for carnivorous beings, herbivores stay away! It makes you feel bad about all the starving people in the world. All you need to do when you're here is flip your card green and you have 5 people coming to you to offer you 20 different types of beef, pork, and chicken. Will not go again because of my current values in my life; but I definetly see the appeal.
(3)
Jeremy M.
A group of 10 of us went there for a bachelor party a few months back. About 2/3 of us had never been there, so I think the hype got the better of us as we were after the whole "all you can eat meat". The concept is OK, but nothing to get thrilled about. It kinda irritated me that while we had a reservation, we still had to wait over a 1/2 hour to get a table. I get they are trying to put everyone through and they need to move tables based on when others leave...but really - can't you plan that out a bit better? The big thing for me though - while the selection was amazing, only one or two of the cuts of meat were "extraordinary" and got the table excited. I can honestly say I've had better steak, chicken, pork, lamb, etc....while none of it was at the same time....it was better. This was a cool experience, but like I've told a lot of people - the food was fine, but if someone asked me where I wanted to go for my birthday or another special occasion, I'd have about a dozen other steakhouses in town where I could pay 1/2 as much a perfectly prepared steak. If I'm going to drive all the way downtown, pay 10 bucks to park it's got to be a really good meal.
(2)
Cindy L.
I'm from LA. Food heaven. We came here for a Dad's a Grad's celebration and it was the perfect place for our party of 8 which included 3 growing teens and 2 occasional vegans. Although a vegetarian could actually eat here because they have a large salad/vegetable bar, they may be totally grossed out by the fact that the leg of lamb actually looks like the leg of a lamb. Plus the $60/pp price tag (not including drinks and dessert) may make them gag on their asparagus. VIBE: It like Vegas, baby. Huge, clean, slick. It's very active with a sense of danger while the gaucho dressed men (I'm so glad they have MEN in kooky and oddly sexy costumes) carrying enormous skewers and razor sharp carving knives spin around the floor and come within' inches of your meat grubbin' face. It's a fun, special event atmosphere that serves a party of 12 as easily as a two top. 20 foot wine racks, it's impressive. SERVICE: Earnest and efficient. They have guests use a coaster that is red on one side and green on the other to signal the gauchos to bring the meat. Everyone gets one, so if you like it a couple ounces at a time and your neighbor wants half a cow all at once, everyone is happy. We had a lead guy, but again and again they told us they were a team and to ask anyone for anything. One warning: They would not let us start eating until our entire party was there. We were 3 then we were 7 then final-friggin'-ly we were 8 before they would even let us near the food. FOOD: They start you out with dinky and damn tasty yorkshire pudding pop-over thingies. Tiny but they will fill them as much as you want. 15 cuts of meat. Requested anything you want, however you want it. I found the leg of lamb they were toting around first to be a bit overdone for my tastes and the gaucho said, "We'll make a new one just for you." You know, after another one shot out Med-Rare to Rare about 15 minutes later, that headed straight for me fully intact, I kinda felt like they actually DID make one just for me. But I digress. It starts with a veggie side dish bar that has a great looking selection of well prepared produce. The best stuff I'd seen in MN so far. Fresh shitake mushrooms went great with the meat. The only fish in the whole place were these delicious slices of smoked salmon on the buffet. Not to worry though, they let you get started with the meat as soon you sit down with your veggies. Anytime I'm in a buffet situation I can't help but try to "win." You know, I stay away from the carbs and load up on the most expensive cuts of meat. So I'll tell you what I found to be "worth it" definitely save your popover consumption to go with the meat. I nice piece of rib eye is amazing wrapped up in one of those. The potatoes are good but whatever. The fried polenta cakes are unusually yummy. The "plantains" are cooked bananas. Get busy with the bacon wrapped filet, the leg of lamb, the house special and ooooh the BEEF RIB. But they are the ultimate winner. They bring you as much as you want of whatever you want but as the waiter said, "We always win." Like I said, Vegas style, the house always wins. There is no sauce for the meats, they intend you to taste the difference between the cuts. My entire party took advantage of the truffle salt I carry in my purse and I'm not sure I would have liked it all so much without it. Overall, since we were all chit-chatted out it was nice to be in the party environment without the awkward business of waiting for a regular restaurant trying to getting orders right for 8. My nephew asked to see the check, I thought he should know, so I let him see it. SPIT TAKE. Yeah, it's pricey, but we are from LA after all and sort of used to it.
(4)
Haeyoon C.
Everyone talks about the meat but I went for lunch and opted for just salad bar and sides and got $10 off my meal. The salad bar is filled with delicious hard cheese, artichokes, tomatoes, marinated greens, and other things. The sides include garlic mashed potatoes, bread, and a few other starches. Everything was delicious but, without going for the meat options, I felt like I had been eating too much of the same thing. I probably wouldn't go out of my way to come here again but I would recommend it to anyone who hasn't tried it. If you're a vegetarian you can get a great endless meal for $20. Rice and beans are available upon request but the beans are made with pork.
(3)
David P.
We visited Fogo de Chao in Minneapolis to celebrate our son's high school graduation. It was by far one of the best choices for an important occasion like this. We made a reservation online which was very simple, received a confirmation 24 hrs in advance which was reassuring. I also was able to move the reservation up a 1/2 a couple of hours before the the dinner, the person who handled this was happy to do this for us. The service from the moment you walk in the door was impeccable. We were greeted, seated, chairs pulled out for you, water served immediately. Our server clearly explained the process of eating here. The "team service" they employ here is top notch, Our glasses were never empty, our plates were cleared and replace immediately. The service around you is constant but in a way that it doesn't interfere with you conversations or enjoyment of the meal. The Food: Well, let me just say that I did not have one bite of anything that wasn't great. The salad bar has great choices, although it's hard to not take too much because you know you need room for the meat course! I would advise taking small portions of things you like, I went back later to get more of my favorites. Then it's time to flip your card to green. Wow, as soon as your card is flipped the sides (mashed potatoes, fried polenta, and fried bananas) arrive. The the servers immediately arrive with different cuts of meat, and keep arriving with more and more. All of it was great. I quickly learned to get the card flipped back to red for a "break". Our sever had advised us to do this. The variety of meat and the quality was awesome. Our sides were constantly refilled, and clean plates were brought every time one was empty. A nice touch was that if a cut of meat wasn't being brought to your table all you had to do was mention it to any of the servers and within a minute or two a server would arrive with it. We had desserts also, the chocolate mousse cake was great and very large. The creme brule was fantastic, and our son had the key lime pie which was also very good. **A nice touch was the congratulatory message for my son written on his plate in raspberry sauce. This was done without us having to ask even though I had only mentioned it in passing to our server that it was his graduation. Overall this was a great dining experience and I would highly recommend going here for special occasions.
(5)
Inga M.
Just had to write 279th positive review for them! Love the place: the food, the ambiance, the service, the atmosphere. Make sure that you always call ahead for reservations, especially on weekends, or you will be waiting and waiting...
(5)
Carrie W.
Meat, meat, meat, and MORE meat! Mmmmmm. Yes please! Two things to take note on: 1. This is not a place to have a romantic dinner. 2. Do not bring a vegetarian here, big mistake. Let me expand on both of these. My boyfriend and I went here for our little anniversary celebration. He is a man and he loves his meat. He was pretty much concerned with tasting as many of the different kinds of meat as possible, and not conversing with me. Haha. So, ladies, if you wanna make your man happy, take him there. If you want to have a night that is focused on the two of you, maybe go somewhere else. (Another note, I felt weird that I was kinda dressed up. I didn't know what to expect. Now I know.) This 2nd one is pretty explanatory. Yes, they have a salad bar but is a vegetarian going to want to watch men with huge slabs of meat walking around all night. No. Be nice, spare them the show of dead delicious animals. Now down to the food and service. I am a woman and probably don't know my steaks as well as men, but boy did they serve up some good meat! I was blown away. Everything melted in my mouth and needed no extra seasoning. The sides were delicious. I tried to make plantains like theirs and failed. So prefect and sweet! The service was great. Wait staff was attentive but not walking in on our conversation every 4 secs. The servers were quick and out of your hair as soon as the meat hit your plate. We received a gift card and that's why we didn't feel the hefty sting of $46/person. Really fun experience, I would love to go again but probably won't till I can afford it.
(4)
Andrew W.
I'll spare you the joke about jamming tons of meat into your body. Fogo de Chao is one of the most white trash things wrapped up in an outstanding package. This is a lazy mans buffet, you get to sit still in your chair and guys bring the food to you. It's like an awesome Old Country Buffet without the annoyance of all that exercise. I shouldn't discredit it by comparing it to a buffet though. This truly is great meat, great service, good location, and a very reasonably priced lunch special. I'd tell you about the salad bar everyone raves about but I'm not about to be made a sucker when all these fine cuts are being flung about. Fogo is a must go.
(5)
G H.
Another excellent meal at Fogo. Endless meats, tasty salad bar, and complimentary sides, Restaurant Week pricing....what more could a carnivore want? Well, let's touch on the basics. Restaurant Week is $30 regardless if you do salad bar only or the full meal and the price does include dessert. Regularly dinner is $50 ($27 for salad only) and lunch is $30 ($20 for salad only) with dessert a separate cost. It's beef, beef, beef with a smattering of chicken, pork, and lamb mixed in. The meat servers move around the room quickly, thus even if you're in the corner furthest from the kitchen, the meat is still warm. The only drawback is that the meat for Restaurant Week isn't as well seasoned or cooked to perfection in comparison to an ordinary week. Things are either too salty or lack any seasoning. The same holds true also if you come for big holidays (e.g. Father's day). It's as if the kitchen is churning to meat to fill the masses and don't really care for quality much. Sure I liked the filet offered, but Capital Grille's is definitely more flavorful. But then I am eating with the recognition that I'm in an expensive buffet vs. a steakhouse.
(5)
Dan H.
I went to dinner here when I was in town on business and was delighted to find out this is practically the the same as Rodizio Grill in Denver, which is Brazilian BBQ. In a nutshell, you are bombarded with several different waiters walking around with and all kinds of different meats. Each diner has a cardboard "button" that looks like a drink coaster that's red on one side, green on the other. If the green side is up, the waiters will offer you a slice of whatever delicious meaty treat they have. Red side up, enjoy a break to digest. Primarily different steak cuts (I like mine rare and they didn't disappoint), but they also had chicken, pork, and a couple of different sausages. The meats are the spotlight, but they also have an amazing salad bar. However, don't load up too much there...save as much room for the meat as you can. I somehow managed some space for desert and like the rest of the meal was awesome...had the NY style cheesecake. Another word of warning though, the deserts are big. Even if I wasn't about to burst from the main course, I would consider them huge. Service is best described as totally professional. We had a group of probably 50 to 60 and they handled us like we were a 2-top. If I was to point out a down side, it would have to be the layout of the restaurant in terms of noise. There are very few partitions and the place was packed, so the decibels reminded me more of a rowdy sports bar. If you're in the Twin Cities, don't pass this up.
(5)
Steven R.
Love this place, especially when I get to go with my teenage son who understands that when you're absolutely, completely, totally stuffed with really, really good meats of all types, then you need to tell the waiters that you won't take any more after you've had 16 more ounces.
(5)
Kara L.
I have never been to a Brazilian Steakhouse before. There are several different types of meat to choose from. I was almost considering being a vegetarian only because my tastes for meat have gotten VERY sensitive, to say the least, but after trying the chicken, I could not resist trying more and more and more! Getting to the restroom was a little overwhelming, dodging all of the tables and people (it was packed that night). The restroom was immaculate, which was really impressive. Overall, the food was so good I would walk on a wire to navigate the space. The salad bar is amazing and any salad bar that offers a variety of fine cheeses is a go for me. I got pretty full off of the salad, but could not turn down the chicken and pork for the entree. I will go back again and again. My only tip is maybe not to eat bread. You can eat bread at home any day of the week!! Save room for the meat. : )
(5)
Kevin C.
Seriously my favorite place to eat in the Twin Cities! Even though it's a chain restaurant, if you're in the mood for some amazing steak and willing to spend $65 a meal it's completely worth it. Bring your appetite!
(5)
Paola M.
I was there yesterday with a small group of friends. We took advantage of the restaurant week special and ended up stuffed.... We had a reservation for 9.30 but they were running late so we ended up seating around 10. While waiting I had a caipirinha, which was probably a mistake. The caipirinha was great, but got me pretty drunk (I dutifully ate little for lunch and after that had only some fruit at 5 or so, so I was basically on an empty stomach...). As the waiting was relatively long the waiter brought over some of those cheesy popovers: really good! So we were off to a great start in spite of the waiting. As soon as they seated us, we turned our little card and got our meat. And there we made mistake number 2: instead of getting one piece of meat and pace ourselves, we got like 4 or 5 and they were all so good that we ate them all pretty much immediately (plus I was still a bit lost in the midst of my caipirinha.....). I liked everything, but my favorite was probably the lamb chops. Then we took a break and visited the salad bar. Salad bar was not all that special... I was looking for something fresh and light that would help "diluting" the meat, but there wasn't much choice for that kind of food. The warm sides you get at the table (cheesy mashed potatoes, popovers, fried polenta, and baked bananas) were much better! After salad we started a second round, again we did not pace ourselves, so by the end of it we were almost ready to raise the white flag. This time my favorite was the filet mignon, the version not wrapped in bacon, super tender and very good. After this round, slowly but surely, we all gave in, raised the white flag and ordered coffee and digestifs, which they have a really good choice of. NOTE: they put lemon zest in coffees for decoration..... Service was also very good, our waiter was nice and chatty, but never overwhelming, and was always there when we needed him. Next time we will try to pace ourselves better and to take long walks in between helpings ;)
(4)
Jessica H.
Fogo de Chao was a bit overwhelming for me. The minute my card turned Green the Chefs were all over our table. I have to admit the way they carried their carving knives kinda freaked me out as the dining room was VERY crowded and they were squeezing behind peoples backs to get to everyone. With a restaurant like this I think you could go 50 times and have 50 different experiences. ** I LOVED the Filet Mignon was perfect melt in your mouth goodness. **The Chicken I left on my plate after taking just a small bite just didn't taste good at all... **Because of the service style the rest of the meats I tried all just ran together, they were all good but not great. **Salad bar, it was okay, visually it wasn't appealing to me at all. The Giant Mozza Balls just really turned me off the way they were sitting there. There was quite a bit of selection but once I saw those, I was kind of done looking. **Our table shared a Flan for dessert. It was my first time trying it so I am not sure if it supposed to have such an eggy aftertaste. It tasted good when I started and then when I finished I was left with the taste of Egg :/ I have to say for our group of 6 we had over a $600 bill...It was good but I don' t know if it was $100 per plate good. Service was really excellent though. I'd go back for someone elses special occasion, but I would never pick it myself.
(3)
Sakif F.
Unbelievable! Go hungry. Their lamb was some of the best I've had, and their house sirloin was exquisite. Pace yourself though, or you'll find food piling up on your plate. Get their papaya cream afterwards, it's worth it!
(5)
F U.
Went there once; I'll never go back. The way the pricing operates makes me think of an upscale Old Country Buffet. The salad bar was amazing, but THE MEAT WAS LOUSY; it was tough, dry and overcooked. When Brazilians and Argentines eat meat past medium rare, it is typically pounded thin and cooked directly over the coals with the speed necessary to preserve some moisture. Let me specify: this is not a place for those who like their meat bleeding; I asked twice and it was still overdone. If you're looking for a place to take your husband or boyfriend, I would pass on this place. The atmosphere is overly-formal and cold. There is no intimacy on the open dining floor where the majority of patrons are seated. Go to Jax or Mannys and get more (quality) for your money.
(1)
Eric S.
Exactly what it claims to be: a gleefully carnivorous festival. I approve. They'd get five stars from me if they had sushi on the salad bar, like churrascarias in Brazil do. (I'm thinking Porcão.) Service is excellent. I didn't wait more than 30 seconds after turning my card to green before being accosted - eagerly - by a bombacho-clad waiter wielding yet more delicious carnage. Picanha is the best cut, by far. (Vegetarians, stuff it. Veggie-muffin proselytizing at Fogo reminds me of a Bible-banger at a gay bar.)
(4)
Erin W.
All I can say is Fogo de WOW!!! This past Sunday my family and I went out to celebrate my parents' anniversary---37 years. My father is a carnivore and he's been RAVING about this place. I'm not a real big meat eater but what I had was grilled to perfection...my favorite was the rack of lamb...OMG! After my plate got drenched with blood I went to the salad bar which was where I spent the rest of my evening. Fogo's salad bar is top-notch. Fresh greens, excellent deli compliments, and smoked salmon to top it off. In addition to the great food the service was excellent from the hostess to the servers. Everyone worked as a unit to ensure that each patron had a memorable experience. FYI: Dinner is about $60. If you hit up lunch hour it's half that amount.
(5)
Pit M.
Fogo. Today was not our first, nor last visit. The service is outstanding. The salad bar is a feast in itself. The meat is overwhelming in selection and excellence. They take some lesser cuts of meat and turn them into delicacies but they have the prime cuts too. You really can't go wrong here unless you are looking for a light snack.
(5)
Tom C.
Can a filet wrapped in bacon be considered dessert? Fantastic service, great salad bar (with excellent cheese, smoked salmon, and artichoke hearts), and great meat. I focused on the leg of lamb and lamb chop (yum!) and settled for chocolate ice cream for dessert (the filet would be a worthy choice).
(5)
Monica B.
Had a late dinner here last Friday, had someone coming in from out of town that day, so hoped for a late one, and the manager actually helped us out and fit us in after a little pleading, lol I had been once before, and it was ok. So decided to try again when the time came. The dinner was great.. It was restaurant week, so they had a deal that you had to have reservations for and $30 a plate!! They served us dessert also. Everyone was very helpful and nice, even when I spilled my salad, (i still have no idea how that happened, I sat it down and the next thing i knew is it was on the floor, lol) then our out of town guest spills his Brazilian soda, which by the way was tasty. If you like ginger ale, you will love it. I think would work really good for a mixed drink too. Anyway, got there at 10:00 didnt leave till just after midnite, lol We had a great time just sitting and chatting and people watching. Then we left and went to a bar down the street and had a few drinks. All in all, we had a fantastic Friday nite thanks to this establishment. I will definitely be back and I recommend everyone try it at least once.
(5)
Mindy T.
Worth the money, very good food with super great service. Love this place!!!
(5)
Colin S.
Simply put, Fogo de Chao is an orgy of meat. The restaurant is a fun experience and priced reasonably for the amount of food available. You will not leave hungry (if you do then it is your fault.) The meat is varied and well cooked, especially the house cut of steak. The wine list is fun with some selections that appear to be reserved for the Fogo de Chao chain. We went at lunch and I am not sure if there is a significant difference between the lunch and dinner service except the price. Be warned that this place can be packed and loud.
(4)
Kyra M.
Other reviewers have explained how the system works at Fogo, so I won't go into that. You are greeted very well at Fogo. The servers are a handsome swarm of Brazilian men. I enjoyed that. The salad bar is awesome, with some very unique items on it. It was definitely a meal in itself. We tried every meat. The filet mignon was the best and truly amazing. All the others were ok to good. You can forgo the chicken and not miss anything. The gluttony was unimagineable. We were there around Christmastime, and the place was packed with what seemed like 800 people in there. This is a fun place to for the experience or with a group, but it's not a great place for a date for 2 reasons: #1 As mentioned in other reviews, it's pretty much the complete opposite of intimate, #2 Both of us had really bad gas after eating here LOL. I think that was due to the sheer amount of food consumed plus the incredible variety of foods on the salad bar. It taxed our digestive systems to the ultimate max. Fogo is not for those on a budget. Our bill was around $140 for the meal + only one wine and one beer. Factor in the tip, and it's easy to blow $200 bucks here for the honor of leaving with a tummyache. LOL It was a truly fun experience, though. Glad I went. I just can't imagine ever going again.
(3)
Marshall C.
Holy crap. This place is nuts. If you like meat, go here. We went for restaurant week. It has to be far and away the best deal in town. Dollar for dollar, I dont think you can beat their regular price either. The shear size of this place was a bit overwhelming. It certainly isnt a relaxing or romantic place. But, if you want damn good steak, and lots of it, you cant beat it. For $30, I probably ate $400 worth of steak at normal steakhouse prices. And I dont think it was any less quality than those other places. Definitely going back. Only drawback was the food coma that took about 24hrs to recover from...
(5)
Bork K.
I celebrated my 21st here. I had a pretty good time with my family and the food was really good. The two things that killed it were the price and the atmosphere. The total for 4 people was well over $300. The other issue is the fact that this place is a novelty. It's fun to try and really cool to have such a variety, but we reflected on the night and how many times we had to say " no, I'm waiting for _____ meat". Because of this, the restaurant lacks a relaxed atmosphere and the servers end up interrupting conversations through the night. It's a great place to try, but I won't be a repeat customer.
(3)
Jason K.
Salad bar is irresistible. It is so hard not to fill up on it. The meats are hit or miss tho. I've enjoyed the sirloin and ribeye more so than the tenderloin. The pork I've tried has been a little dry both times I visited. It's definitely an experience tho!
(4)
Allison K.
I had heard a lot about Fogo de Chao, if not only because of the outrageous prices (I'm a college student, okay?). I went here with my family for Thanksgiving one year, and I was not too impressed. While I may be biased because I am definitely not what you'd call a meat lover, I don't think the rest of my family was blown away either. However, the salad bar was incredible (certainly not just your typical salad fixins - there's cheese, seafood, bread, etc.). Apparently you can go just for the salad bar and skip all that meat. Like people have said, the service is great. Just make sure you flip over your card to red (STOP!) if you don't want to die. Or maybe y'all have better self-control than I do...
(3)
Takashi S.
well, very expensive with drinks.. but worth it. still cannot beat Fogo in Sao Paulo in authencitity and meat quality, but really worth it especailly if you love meat.
(4)
peggy l.
What can I say other than Fogo is a gastronomic orgy. The food is great many selections and the best is, you get to try them all. Leave room for dessert and try the black and white cake...you will want to lick the plate...d'lish. A word of advise... plan a nice long walk! pegsdish.blogspot.com
(5)
Sonja R.
We just celebrated my birthday at Fogo de Chao. I've been wanting to go for a long time and was very excited when we finally arrived. The place is beautiful inside. Nearly all the waitstaff, if not ALL of it has an accent. You sit down and have a salad bar option-I say skip it for the most part. I went up and ate some of it. Nothing popped as awesome and it just took up stomach room that could have been saved for more cuts of the 15 different meats that will be coming around. the meat was delicious, the sides that come out with the meats were delicious and the service was great. I advise anyone that wants to try this place to go for lunch. Dinner is VERY expensive and lunch is half price. My advise for vegetarians. Don't bother. BUT if you do want to go with your friends you can pay for salad bar only so you don't have to worry about a hefty price for just a salad. I didn't give this place 5 stars for several reasons. 1 is because the entire time I was eating I felt VERY watched by the staff. They monitor your need for food with a card that when flipped to green they stop. BEcause people are constantly walking by looking at your card there isn't a moment when people aren't surrounding the table. It was a little uncomfortable. Second, although this is probably a good thing, I hated how often side dishes were removed from the table. They wanted to keep them fresh and hot, so if a plate of mashed potatoes is on the table and barely touched, they replace it to keep them fresh. I hated how much I felt I be wasting food while I was there. The steaks were great, the Lamb was delicious and they provided mint jelly to eat with it even though I didn't request it. The meat is cooked to order. don't bother with the sausage and actually the pork ribs weren't much worth your time. This is getting long, but I lastly want to say GET DESSERT!!! They have a papaya cream dessert that is fantastic, not filling, and has enzymes that help you to digest the massive amounts of protein that you've eaten. PLEASE order this. It was delicious!
(4)
Ak k.
The food here is so-so. I think it's appealing that it is an all-you-can-eat type place, but I think all the steaks seem to taste the same after a while. My favorite part is the salad bar. I would give that a 5 star rating. If any one wants to try this place for the first time, I suggest going for lunch. It's the same menu at half the price - same experience.
(3)
John A.
I have been here for both Lunch and dinner; our service has always been great and everyone very attentive, no matter how busy it has been. The food is excellent and the salad bar a wonderful compliment to the fine meats. I find the key to true happiness here is to tell them exactly what type of meat you want, and then be patient enough to wait for your right cuts and temperature of meats you truly want and not take a bit of this and that just because they are there at the time. I prefer Rare to Blue, this requires me to really get across what I want and soon enough they start bringing it, it will work for you too no matter what type you like. Ok, we all know you are paying through the nose to eat here, and the fact the lunch is the same as dinner for half the price; you really should try to go for lunch most times. But I must say that once and awhile I like to go the nine yards and get the fine wine and make a pleasant evening of it. My one real gripe is the drinks are totally ridicules, pop is crazy and beer and other drinks are insane, so if you plan to drink, get a whole bottle of wine, it will cost you the same as 4 cokes depending on which one you buy... :)
(4)
Adam B.
I am a big fan of Churrascaria and this place is fantastic. The decor is stunning and I actually felt slightly embarassed having walked in there with shorts and T-Shirt. However, they didn't care.. and neither did I. I was quickly seated and flipped my coaster to green. As expected, the meat started flowing and within 30 minutes or so I was ready to burst. The ribs man, the ribs... were so damned good. I wanted to keep eating them even though I could already feel the meat creeping up my esophagus. My buddy that came with me must have eaten a good 30 ounces of filet mignon. Be prepared to take a long nap after eating at a Brazilian steak house.. and make sure you skip lunch. ;)
(5)
Ashlee V.
Fogo de Chao has now become a lifestyle choice beyond just a Brazilian steakhouse. I want to get married there, raise my children there, and just eat every day of my life there. I want to have breakfast of the salad bar and dine on the parmesan-slathered pork and the sirloin and filet all night long. The meat is just so juicy, so rich, so divine. For a "chain" restaurant (I say this loosely because I know there's more than one, but they're only in large cities and for the most part, pretty spread out), which doesn't necessarily make it bad--it's pretty damn good. You can request your meat a certain way from the waiter, so if you're not a hardcore anything-goes type of meat fan, you can also have it your way. The fried polenta they bring out all night is just to die for. I love polenta and it tastes just like a little bit crispier version of a french fry--except without even half as much of the grease. And for those of you that are vegetarians, do not fret! There is a salad bar here for $25 that is just incredible. I could have easily filled up there as much as I did with the meat. They've got very fresh produce and cheeses there that are just lovely. Fogo de Chao is the best meal I've ever had in my life. Meat, meat and more meat? Not to mention the best amaretto sour I've ever had in my life? Yes, please. Carnivory on this scale is not for the weak, but for me, it's becoming a lifestyle choice if I could afford it. Hail Fogo!
(5)
Adam S.
I went during restaurant week for lower prices, and I am a fan. My fiancee who's not a big meat eater even loved it. The food is very good, I wouldn't call it quality of other high steak houses, but the fact that you get to try such a variety brings it up a notch. The staff is very friendly. I would recommend a late lunch over dinner for cheaper prices, but that's me. Also, avoid the chicken. It's nothing special and why fill up on chicken when there is excellent beef being passed around. My Filet Mignon was over cooked, but still good. It was only piece of meat I had that wasnt cooked right, granted I could've gotten more and probably one cooked right (mid-rare).
(4)
Kathryn B.
It has a nice location downtown with an impressive outside facade. The meats are melt-in-your mouth tender and all you can eat. Additionally, the sides buffet is extensive and delicious. Well stocked bar with unique cocktails.
(4)
Cullen S.
A vegetarian perspective: Came here almost directly from the airport, got here on Thursday night about an hour before close. Easy to get a table at this point of course. I must say the staff was incredibly professional and pleasant. I wasn't sure who our actual server was because there were at least 3 staff members giving us a lot of attention. The star of the show here is obviously the meat, but I didn't have any. You get access to the salad bar, plus unlimited sides of their polenta and potatoes and plantains. This costs like $25-30. The quality of the salad bar is very high, all kinds of imaginative options. This was possibly the best meal I had in Minneapolis over the long weekend, and I went to a lot of highly-recommended places. My carnivore buddy loved it. Definitely try the house dessert. Bottom line, if you are a vegetarian you can still eat like a king. Just don't get squirmy by all the meat marching by.
(5)
Carolina M.
If you love meat, this is the place for you. Actually even if you don't love meat, you will after going to Fogo! I've been to this restaurant a few times, and while it is spendy (lunch is about $30, dinner is about $50) it is really worth it. This restaurant is best for a "special treat" kind of night. This isn't a place to diet, and if your vegetarian...well they have a great salad bar but their salad bar also includes such delicious choices as smoked salmon and prosciutto as well as a variety of imported cheeses. The salad bar is very tempting, but try to abstain, otherwise you won't have enough room for the piles of mouthwatering meat coming your way. The service is amazing, it is constant, and almost a little intimidating in how on top of you they are. Which is why they provide a card (red for stop coming to the table, green for keep the meat coming) so you can control your dining experience. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone, I simply can't do it justice with words. If you are on a budget, I recommed you go to lunch; its cheaper but they serve just as much food so you are not missing out. However, lunch is only available Monday - Friday. Drinks: They have won awards for their wines for the past decade! However the drinks are expensive, even pop and juice, the drinks (except for water) do not have free refills so be careful. If you are wondering about the menu, go to their website! They have pictures, video, and great explanations for everything.
(5)
John N.
It was great food, but the filet mignon was a little tough and not as great as expected and compared to other cuts. The server was quite lax as far as his prompt visits at the table were concerned.
(4)
Dina O.
The service is absolutelty amazing. They were on there toes as soon as we came through the door. We made reservations and were seated as soon as we gave our names. We were given some time to eat at the salad bar then the meats began. This was my first time here for my brthday meal. They brought out sides that I ate some and not others then I realized they were endless. Yay. The fried bananas were very good. I got through almost all the meats before exploding and still managed room for my free birthday desert which was nice. The only thing I could have lived the rest of my life without tasting was the leg of lamb. The service was dead on I forgot I was in downtown minneapolis for a second. I will definitely be going back sooner than later. 20 stars!!!
(5)
Irina R.
All-you-can-eat delicious meat. Great salad bar. Fast service. Do you need anything else?
(5)
Eileen H.
Wow. That pretty much sums up everything at Fogo de Chao. This place definitely lived up to the hype my brother built up since telling us a couple months ago he was going to take us there during our visit (which was last weekend). I started off with a caipirinha, a Brazilian cocktail that tasted like a margarita crossed with a mojito. It was yummy, but stroooooong! I made one trip to the salad bar, but didn't get too much because I was saving most of the real estate in my tummy for the meats! However, one could actually eat only from the salad bar and have a completely full meal. They have an amazing selection of cold meats, vegetables, gourmet salads and cheeses. So then came the part that I was looking forward to--the meat! If you're on the Atkin's diet, or if you're mostly a carnivore, this is the place for you. They offer 15 different types of meat, mostly cuts of beef, but they also have pork, chicken and lamb. I didn't have enough room to try all of them, but the ones I did try were all fantastic. I think my faves were the filet mignon and the picanha. I couldn't wait to try the ancho cut, which is the prime part of the ribeye (my fave cut of steak), but I got sort of a fatty piece with not much meat on it, so I couldn't really tell how good it was. Then later when I wanted to give it another go, I didn't have enough room! You get this two-sided disk to control how fast or slow you want them to bring you the various types of meat. At first I forgot about it and had it on the green side for awhile, and I was wondering, why do they keep bombarding me with meat??? Someone had to remind to change it to red until I wanted more. Amateur. The meat service is served with three different side dishes, which get replenished throughout your whole meal: fried bananas, garlic mashed potatoes & warm cheese bread. All three were delicious! The bananas were a little oily, but that didn't deter me from consuming a lot of them. The cheese bread was SO good. I had to force myself to stop eating it so I wouldn't get too full. So, as if I hadn't had enough to eat, my husband convinced me that we needed to order dessert! He pointed out that my sister-in-law ordered creme brulee and our daughter really liked it, so we should get some too. Since creme brulee is one of my top three favorite desserts, I consented, of course. It was great. Perfect ending to a perfect meal. I don't have anything bad to say about this establishment. The service was impeccable and the food was amazing. If you're ever in a city that has a Fogo de Chao (unfortunately there isn't one in the Bay Area. The closest one is in Beverly Hills), I would highly recommend trying it out. If you're a meat-lover like me, you won't be let down.
(5)
Elizabeth B.
Was visting family from out of state and we ended up here for Mother's Day for lunch...when a family friend heard we were going she got really excited and asked if she could come along because apparently it's super-good. I wasn't disappointed. The salad bar was really cool, and interesting. I wouldn't recommend coming at dinner because it's roughly twice as expensive and I hear it's essentially the same amount of food. Some cuts did not taste as good as others but the ones that did melted in your mouth like butta. This place is a Glutton's wet dream.
(5)
Hyojin O.
My family went here for lunch since it was cheaper than dinner. ($26.50 vs. $48.50) We parked at the city center parking lot for $11, woofta! But you could park at any other outside parking lot for cheaper, or bring lots of quarters for street parking. ($1.50/30 minutes) The atmosphere is really great. You really feel like you are at a Brazilian feast. There are men in gauchos running around with meat on skewers and a knife on another hand, some great pictures on the wall and a great arrangement of vegetables at the salad bar. I found the seasoning to be a bit salty on everything, even the vegetables. But the filet mignon and the house special picanha were great. They really have all kinds of meat that any steak/meat lovers could ever want. I ended up canivoring out too much and had some meat sweat and burps (gross i know) afterwards. Oh, one downer was that their pop comes in a tiny vintage glass bottles and is not bottomless! Paying more than $3 per pop? Fogo de Ciao! I personally think, for $26.50, I would rather grill for two at home...just my opinion. I doubt my husband will wear gauchos for his grilling attire, but at least I don't have to tip him then. :)
(3)
Kerry D.
This has become our go-to "occasion" restaurant. Always amazing food and service, the Caipirinhas are to-die-for delicious, and cuts of meat so, so delectable. We took my dad last weekend when he was in town visiting, and he got a little overwhelmed, ending up with a heaping plate of meat. "Dad, flip the disk! Flip the disk!" It was quite an adventure for him. We will be customers for a long time.
(5)
Kareem I.
Went during restaurant week, but service was still quick and accommodating. Lots of great food, from the salad bar to all the beef, chicken and pork. Definitely worth the price! Will be back for more delicious food.
(5)
Karen A.
My husband and I had a great experience. The salad bar was good. Nothing to special. The waiter was attentive to our needs and so were the gauchos. Never had to wait for meat. boy oh boy the meat.... If you're a meat lover this place will hit the spot! The caipirinha (Brazilian drink) was good too!
(4)
Yue L.
Came here because bf loves steak. Fogo de Chao has one of the best services, and various of meat to choose from. Cheesy bread is tasty and moist, baked banana is my favorite. Market table has smoky salmon which is another of my favorites.
(4)
David C.
Amazing value. Almost every item served here is high quality. Come hungry.
(4)
Donna S.
What a wonderful place to dine at! This is definitely my favorite place to eat at and not because of the delicious salad bar and various meats but because the service is always on point. Tonight I celebrated another birthday dinner here with close friends. I cannot even begin to tell you how amazing the staff is. The host up front are just so courteous and friendly. First let me say I felt awful because 2 of my guest didn't show up so I had open spots. But our server was so nice about it and so was Jay! Dinner was amazing and the service was always above and beyond, my guest had so much fun dining at Fogo. I always get nervous to have my birthday dinner(s) here at Fogo because not everyone is always willing to pay the $50. However, I always assure my guest that the food and service is worth every penny. I believe everyone needs and I mean NEEDS try Fogo at least once. You will not be disappointed and if you are then you don't know what is good service and food! Let me just take a moment and say JAY, another client customer service rep is amazing! The hospitality is truly sincere. There is nothing more exciting to me then to receive genuine customer service and this was given by Jay. All of my friends felt like we were at my house having a dinner party and not actually at a restaurant. That's how much Jay and the servers made us feel like we were at home. Two of my friends have never been to Fogo and were so excited to be there. They couldn't believe how great the service was and how personable Jay and our servers were with my group. This is why I always come to Fogo De Chao. It's the service that keeps me coming back along with the delicious food. I've read some reviews by other people say that Fogo is just "alright" but to truly enjoy the food you need to be a "meat" lover. You need to understand the different cuts of meat, you need to be able to really appreciate the seasoning and the cooking process that is put into the food. It's all about your taste buds and knowing the meat you're eating. Don't be fooled tho, the salad bar is also beyond delicious! Everything at the salad bar is fresh, if you can't appreciate the meat you will appreciate the amazing salad bar. Thank you Jay and your servers for the great service and experience you have provided to my friends and myself tonight! It was one of the best service and birthday dinner's I have had, I cannot thank you enough for everything tonight, you are awesome and made my birthday dinner magical!
(5)
Ryan K.
Long time friend and I took my wife to Fogo for the first time. Every time I've been it's been a 5 star experience and it just so happened my wife's first time was the best experience I've ever had so I felt compelled to share/yelp. Constant and attentive service kept our glasses and plates full the entire night. Friendly conversation from wait staff (but not annoying like some place can get). The salad bar as usual did not disappointed (it's the best in town). From walking through the front door to leaving happy and stuffed Fogo is always a sure-thing. friendly advice - PACE YOURSELF!
(5)
Noel S.
Hands down my favorite restaurant. End of story. The meat is fabulous. Try to get a taste of all the cuts. I recommend asking your Brazilian cowboy server for the beef rib. It looks like it belonged to a dinosaur and doesn't generally circulate. One slice of that is all you need to end the meat part of the meal on the right note. The papaya cream dessert is a must. Even if you are a butch man who doesn't eat desserts. This thing will actually make you feel a bit better when you are done packing in all that manly meat. It's got something to do with enzymes in papaya breaking down proteins. Trust me. It's science. The salad bar is actually one of the best in the twin cities. Unfortunately it is part of a meat focused restaurant concept. So it's a bit overshadowed. Give it a try to start, but for the sake of all that is good in the world, please don't go back to your table with a gaping plate of salad! That's just wrong.
(5)
naihomi r.
Great service and amazing salad bar!!! Ohhh... Don't forget dessert!! Overall everything was delish
(5)
Sarah S.
I just go to fo-go to enjoy lamb chops, I love their juicy lamb chops but this time around we got seated and began eating at 9:10am and no one come to our table with lamb chops till about 9:50pm.HATED IT!We requested meat servers to get send the server with lamb chops but they were all fail attempts! As much as I love fo-go i wasn't too happy with my experience. We even asked for mashed potatoes and no one ever got us them. Mad Mad!Didn't like their service at all this night!
(3)
Jane G.
Not sure what all of the raving reviews are about. The salad bar was great if you wanted to fill up on olives, tomatoes, and onions-weird selection there. I ordered the sea bass and it was very good, but the asparagus underneath it was undercooked. The meat they brought around was very average-nothing to rave about. The sides they brought us were cold and rather tasteless. The only two good things were the bread and the sangria. The dessert and coffee were standard. And for nearly $150??? Are you absolutely kidding me? Also, I do not feel that the environment is SO ritzy (actually not at all ritzy) that they can leave the prices off the menu. The waiter seemed in a hurry to clear our plates and shove the dessert menu at us, but neglected to clear our plates when the bill was due. I disliked the hurried and "fill 'em up and move 'em out" atmosphere this place generates. Verdict-very over-priced and average food.
(2)
Vee V.
Who gets meat sweats? Not this girl...I focused on the salad bar. Restaurant week at Fogo De Chao is the one of the best deals in my opinion. You do have restrictions on some cuts of meat like the filet mignon on the $30 menu, but you're not going to miss it, I promise. You also get a dessert with this price if you can fit it into your bulging belly at the end of this meal. My group got to the restaurant 10 minutes prior to our reservation. We got our buzzer and grabbed a table at the bar to start with drinks. I ordered a light Brazilian beer since I've never had one before. As soon as our drink orders were placed the delightful vibrations of the buzzer went off. We were seated super fast! There was someone there with waters immediately, and our server was ready to explain their regular menu along with the special. I had a sip of my crisp Brazilian beer, and off to the salad bar I went. I love the salad bar at this place. I don't care if everyone thinks I'm crazy for filling my plate here. Don't get me wrong. I love meat, but this salad bar has so much variety, I can't help myself. I always start with a baguette slice that I layer with some aged parmesan cheese, then beef steak tomatoes, and top it off with the smoked salmon. This is my jam! I also loaded up on capicola and prosciutto ham, asparagus, marinated mushrooms, sun dried tomatoes, cucumber salad, apple salad, and fresh mozzarella. There are so many other items aside from what I listed here. Not to mention you get all the little fixin's at your table like fluffy cheese bread ball things that are amaze-balls (see what I did there?), mash potatoes, polenta, and plantains. I have some bad news from the salad bar. Before I go on I must mention the squiggly hair I found on the aged parmesan cheese. It was pretty dang gross. I tapped on the shoulder of a bus boy and showed him my discovery. He took the piece of cheese away quickly and apologized, but didn't take the tray. I don't think it's the restaurants fault, there are a lot of people going through this area it could have been one of them. However, I do think he maybe should have taken the tray, who knows how may pieces of cheese this hair was rolling around on. I got back to my table and half of my group already had meats. Stinkers. I flipped my little round meat "wand" to green. I had the bottom sirloin, house special beef, sausage, lamb, and the parmesan crusted pork. The pork was my only disappointment, it was very dry. Everything else was just as I expected, perfect medium rare with all of the juicy thick meaty taste. For anyone that loves horseradish like I do, I recommend asking for the creamy and the raw and mixing it together for your beef. It's an explosion of flavor. I stayed away from all of the chicken, and bacon wrapped anything, Chicken is boring, and bacon sometimes over powers delicate flavors you sometimes miss anyhow. I ate a lot. This did not stop me from ordering a key lime pie. I didn't finish my pie, but gosh dang it I tried, my body failed me. I have to mention the paper towels in the restroom. This place has thick, folded, paper towels with their logo on it. That's some fancy stuff. I wanted to take a picture of it, but then I thought I would look creepy doing that in a bathroom. They were fully stocked with supplies, and the restroom was really clean for such a busy night. You can tell they were prepared to keep the entire restaurant presentable for the night. Kudos to them! The service was great. I was sort of thinking we might be in trouble with slow service because of how busy it was, but that did not affect us at all. We were seated so quickly and our server was on her game tonight. She was ready with new plates for us, checked on our water and beverages, and was always nearby and asking if we needed anything. Two different managers also stopped by the table to ask how we were doing. That's pretty cool when managers do that, it shows they care about good service. I really wanted to give them 5 stars, but I discovered a little problem the next day. They swiped my credit card 3 times, placing 3 different holds on my account, it was not a pleasant surprise.
(4)
Zack K.
I really like this place. We were a group of 10 and with drinks and dinner the bill came to $1,200 including tip. We arrived at 5:30 and left by 7:30 and in the beginning they were very attentive but no one came over to our table to ask us if we needed anything for the last 30 minutes. Finally I had to get up and find our waiter to bring the bill. The food was delicious!
(4)
Louise M.
*Steakhouse Hop* There's no better place to spend $50 per person on all you can eat steak other than Fogo de Chão. If we are talking about bang for your buck, holy shit people...nothing can beat Fogo! I got a text yesterday from my boss and he was at Fogo in Philly and he told me to add this to my bucket list. Apparently it was his first. I started laughing because Fogo and I are old friends. I don't know how many times I have eaten at a Fogo. I have been to the ones in downtown Chicago the most, and the newly opened one in O'Hare, Las Vegas, and lastly Minneapolis. For a chain, this place is crazy good and the meat.. oh the meat are so tasty. Okay, yeah it's all you can eat but this is no Golden Corral steak, mkay. The steaks are actually good quality, tender, and so flavorful. Plus, they have all kinds of meat from filet, top sirloin, bottom sirloin, chicken leg, Brazilian sausage, lamb chops, pork ribs, etc. my faves are the garlic beef and the house specialty, picanha. The sides are also awesome and not to mention the gigantic salad bar. Though, this one in Minneapolis has a lot smaller salad bar compared to Chicago locations. I really love the flash fried banana. So good! People keep thinking it's plantain. No, people.. It's banana. Dita, this banana is also far from vile. They're mushy caramelized sweet delicious accompaniment to any of the meat the gauchos are trying to serve you. For dessert, it may not sound good at first but the papaya cream...holy shit. I have never ordered it before until a friend strong armed me into trying it. I tried it and it was the best thing ever. I hate papaya mind you. To me, papaya is bird food. Every time I went to a tropical bird parks, those birds were eating papayas. However, this papaya cream was nothing like I had imagined. First off, it is always served super cold and creamy and that crème de cassis they pour on top just makes all the difference. One thing that can not be forgotten is their caipirinhas. Yummmm! It's hands down my all time favorite drink! Fresh limes muddled with cane sugar and cachaça (Brazilian rum). It's so refreshing and good. Yes this place is all you can eat but not eat all you can! I would get meat hangover after eating here but for special occasion once in awhile, what a great place to get food wasted and not too worry so much about the check. It's not cheap but hell you will make each dollar worthwhile. I had a friend that would go there and bring a ziplock bag and she would smuggle the awesome cheesy poofs (yorkshire pudding relative) under the table onto the bag. She liked it so much and she just wanted more. But it scared me as I never wanted to be booted out of there, ever! They say they don't have to go box. However, they packed me a dessert once to go for a service mishap. Aha!!!! I always had a great time and meal here. Yeah I may have had some mishaps but apparently it didn't stop me from coming. It's really awesome for what it is. Don't even bother with the other wannabe churrascarias. No other can beat Fogo de Chão!
(5)
Adam K.
As always Brazilian steakhouses do a great job filling your stomach full of meat. I have been to several Brazilian restaurants across the country and overseas when I was in the military. This one in particular is the best steakhouse I have been to. The food was good, but the most impressive part was how the restaurant staff worked as one. They had great teamwork and communication which is a difficult task in a restaurant using multiple servers!
(5)
Tiffany M.
Visited for Restaurant Week...$30 for salad bar fixings and protein galore. I followed the lead of my ol' HS BFF. Once we returned to our table from the salad bar, she flipped her card to green communicating to fill up our plates with meat...and they delivered. It was one gaucho after another...bang and it appears the brazilian steaks, which is the reason my BFF already had a fixin' of rice to go with the meats. I'm such a rookie --and had to get up for that fixin' of rice. Of all the meats served, I mostly enjoyed the chicken, pork ribs, and linguica. It seemed that I was always forgetting to flip my card to red and realized it when the gauchos would ask whether I wanted another cut of meat while my plate was already filled with meats waiting for me to devour. I probably could have done without the rice --what a filler.
(3)
Blake C.
Went for a celebration with some friends and it was amazing. Food was absolutely fabulous, service was impeccable. Deffenitly recommend it. It's spendy but worth the money.
(5)
Rowena N.
Bring a blanket/sleeping bag. You'll need it for the food coma (or postprandial somnolence... the condition is real). I always set low expectations for all-you-can-eat dining venues because I always consider you would trade off quality/service for quantity in most buffets. This place showed me how wrong I am! Salad bar: love love love. They have a variety of fresh salad (potato, pasta, caesar, fruit, you get my drift), and cold cuts (e.g., salami, prosciutto, salmon). I had to practice my self regulation skills to not try everything before servers came to our table with slabs of meat. Meat: I loved the picanha, fillet mignon, and beef ancho. They were so damn tender and juicy, i basically eyed the server every time he walked a vicinity of 8 feet from me. Quick at flagging. If you like more texture and chewier meat, the alcatra (sirloin) and cordeiro (lamb) were close seconds. Sides: The cheesy bread (or pao de queijo) were so puffy and airy. It was like eating cream puffs but replacing cream with light cheese---if that is even possible. Caramelized bananas were perfect given all the savory meat, sides and salad options. I never had polenta prepared this way (i.e., fried). I actually enjoyed it, I thought it was yucca fries at first place but the taste was a bit sweeter and texture was less grainy and more smooth. Overall the sides were perfect. Service: Again, I was blown away from the service. The servers were very attentive refilling our water, asking if we want additional sides or seafood, replacing plates, etc. They came by and joked around, asking us how was our afternoon. I was pleasantly surprised at how welcomed I felt during busy time of the day (we came right around lunch/rush hour). I loved the food, service, and ambience--what more could I ask for? I will definitely be back...and prepared for round 2.
(5)
Vy B.
Fogo is perfect if you are on a low carb diet or living a low carb lifestyle. There is so much meat there you will be sweating by the time you are done eating (meat sweats, they exist). The service is impeccable and they treat you like royalty the second you walk in the door. The meat cutters are hilarious and they have a great sense of humor when you are delirious from all of the meat you have eaten. The garlic steak is perfectly cooked and the short rib is also pretty solid. The mashed potatoes are well seasoned and the cheese bread/puff/whatever it is they serve you on the side are addicting!!! Those rolls are buttery and light but cheesy with just the right amount of saltiness. The salad bar is fresh and has a ton of different options outside of salad...you can essentially get pretty full from just doing the salad bar. Don't go overboard on the bread and rice/beans because you will fill yourself up before all of the meat gets the chance to get to your table. If you get the bananas, ask for some condensed milk on the side - they go perfectly together. It is very expensive to have a meal here ($25-$50 minimum) so if you are on a budget, go during lunch or else restaurant week. Valet is the easiest parking option but there are multiple ramps and open lots very closes to the restaurant. If you call ahead, you can arrange for them to write messages on their desserts for a special occasion - my sister surprised me with a congratulations for my graduation dinner.
(4)
Cynthia E.
I love Fogos food I love the salad bar and of course the steaks and meats and deserts!! here the thing I never get good service and I go there frequent not a lot but everytime I go the service starts great than it declines! like they forget about me lol no refills the bill comes an hour later at one point I stood up and walked in front and payed cause they get soo busy its a mess or I ask for sauce and 30 mins later they bring it ummm I don't need the sauce anymore. I love there food never had a complaint but for the price better service please!
(3)
Erin G.
A friend took me here to dinner last night. UM, YES PLEASE! This is hands down one of my favorite places for lots of reasons. The salad bar is AMAZING and not the traditional salad bar. Lots of elegant goodies. Unfortunately I was so busy stuffing myself that I didn't take any pictures. The meat is great too! I love to eat and I love all-you-can-eat and I love buffets where you can try a little but of everything. So this palce is perfect! The only thing that holds me back from coming more often is the price tag. My favorite meat last night was the pork chop. Delicious. I also really enjoyed the bottom sirloin and the pork tenderloin and the filet. The popovers are to die for and the polenta is soo good! Not a fan of the bananas that they bring out, and I didn't even try the potatoes (waste of space in my tummy, if you ask me). Service was fantastic. Even more attentive than usual, as I typically only have been here on the weekends, when it's so crowded and busy. For a cocktail, I got the signature drink, and it was very good. Perfect dinner overall. I will be back as often as I can!
(5)
Catherine C.
Oh FOGO. We were so looking forward to another outstanding experience, but service was desperately lacking and I think it was just too busy because of the holiday. It wasn't all bad, there were also good points to our dinner. It's just that I've experienced better at Fogo. We came on Valentine's Day so it was super packed and I had made reservations 2 months in advance especially for the occasion. I wanted to surprise the hubby. The atmosphere was an anxious, stressful one, not energetic and exciting as it usually is. We were seated 20 minutes before our reservation time, which almost never happens here at all! So that was a definite plus. While we waited, we managed to sit at the bar and have a drink. Drinks were actually too strong, and I couldn't finish mine. $14 later, I felt like that was a waste. It looked like they had added about 50 extra tables to an already packed dining room, in order to accommodate the holiday crowd. Also understandable, but not when you are packed so close to other guests and the tables are simply lined up one right next to the other. I felt like I was dining at Coffman cafeteria instead of a classy dinner joint. I got over it because I was hungry. I decided to let it go and enjoy. We sat there for about 10-15 minutes and felt ignored. This never happens. Really wanted some water and some cheesy bread to start off with. Finally, a server came up to us and got us water and was about to leave, so I had to ask for bread (again, this never happens) and he brusquely said: It's coming, Miss! and quickly walked away. Another 10 minutes went by, and we finally got bread and decided to go to the salad bar. I had to ask for the smoked salmon at the salad bar and the gaucho said he was just bringing more. Whew! Almost thought they wouldn't have any for some reason, so I felt relieved. It's my favorite! The food was delicious, fast, enjoyable and perfectly acceptable just as it should be. Since we were seated so close to the kitchen, the meats came right out to us as fresh and hot as they could be. Another plus! We were able to get our favorites, the house special, bacon-wrapped filet, pork ribs and lamb chops. But the service just wasn't there. It felt like a hunting game of constantly asking for more water throughout our dinner, and trying to track down our server. Finally we were done, and we waited for 20 minutes just to have our plates cleared. I had to ask to see a dessert menu. Normally they ask you if you would be interested in ordering dessert, but again it was a hunting game. I was able to order my favorite, the Creme Brulee, but sadly the custard was a bit lumpy and hard, not like it usually is. After dessert, somebody just dumped the check on our table and then rushed off. I didn't have a chance to even see who it was and I doubt that it was our server. Felt a bit odd, usually there's a pleasant "Thank You for dining with us, take your time and pay when you are ready...", right? Yeah. That's what should happen but it didn't. I firmly believe the servers were just too stressed so I will cut them some slack because I love Fogo so much and will come here again. BONUS: For dining here on the Valentine's weekend, each dining party got one gift card for another meal, valid for either lunch or dinner, Sunday - Thursday only, until April 30th. My hope is that next time I go, it will be back to normal.
(2)
Ryan P.
I ate lunch here with my family. I came having high expectations because this place had been highly recommended to me by friends and family. I'm not much of a salad fan, so I have nothing to say about the salad bar, as I didn't pay any mind to it. The meats were excellent. I had a variety of steaks and also had a hefty amount of salmon. I also enjoyed the delicious popovers that were constantly being brought to our table as soon as we finished the ones in our basket. Our server came by often and made sure that we were satisfied. There were a lot of customers, but the staff appeared to do a fine job managing them. I'm excited to come back here, as I had an excellent experience.
(5)
Kristy P.
Over priced and not worth it. I guess i can say I have tried it once but I would never go back. Salad bar was nothing great and I didn't eat half the meat I tried. I would try the meat and it was seasoned well but over cooked and just not very good. I wouldn't even finish a small piece. That being said the house special top sirloin was delicious but not worth the price tag. The "hot sides" at the table we underwhelming cold and a disappointment . Why would you put cold cooked bananas with a hot steak. Drinks were very expensive. Service wasn't bad The strawberry cream dessert wasn't bad but was so oversold for something that was actually a runny strawberry milk shake in a cup with a spoon . I recommend saving your money and go to a real steak house.
(2)
Tori K.
YUM! We went to Fogo de Chao due to many recommendations from friends. This restaurant did not disappoint. My husband and I went to Fogo de Chao for lunch. We had reservations and were seated as soon as we walked in. Our waitress was great, explaining what to expect and walked us through what to do. She emphasized that they all work together as a team to give us a great experience and they sure did. We started with delicious house drinks... a must try. We then headed to the salad bar for many unique items. My favorites were the potato salad, beats, mushrooms, and salmon. I know that many items on the salad bar look delicious, but take it easy, there are a lot of meats you will want to try. After the salad bar we flipped our cards to green and we quickly had many meats on our plates including pork tenderloin, chicken, sirloin, and too many others to remember. They were all very good, expect I did not really care for sausage. They were all seasoned extremely well and did not need sauces (ie ketchup or steak sauce) to go with them. I also ate my very first few bites of leg and rack of lamb I was impressed though I must admit I preferred the leg. Drinks and the two course meal was about $109 with tax. Well worth the money.... when planning on going here, please also consider you need to tip well. The wait staff and meat chefs work very hard to make sure you have a good experience here, they need to be tipped accordingly.
(4)
Renisha P.
Had the lunch buffet a while back and it's an experience you have to try at least once...a year :) It's "meatful" and I don't think I could eat that much meat on a regular basis but the food was delicious, the service was great and the atmosphere really nice. It's a fun place for groups as well; I will be trying it again.
(5)
Brian M.
The concept is simple you start off with a salad bar, but the real magic starts when you flip over the card at your table and the serves start to arrive with the various cuts of meat. Service is great and the meat is just as good. The servers are very friendly and offer to bring back and specific type of meat you are looking for. Service at this location was pretty good, with the staff frequently checking in on you to see if you want any specific cuts of meat or if you need anything . Prices are rather high, about $50/person however dollar for dollar this is a great deal. I usually have several cuts of steak and always leave satisfied, sometimes a little too much. Overall you cannot go wrong, go ahead and indulge yourself.
(4)
Chris F.
Was in Minneapolis for a couple days and couldn't decide on a local unique restaurant so decided to do the churrascaria thing with Fogo. I've been to one in the Chicago area as well as the one in Austin and Kansas City, and they were always pretty consistently good. The one here in Minneapolis was pretty good, but the meat was not as good as I remember the other locations being. Not sure if its genuinely so or if its just that thing that sometimes happens when you remember things better than they really were. I mean if you are hungry and just want endless portions of pretty good meat it will fit the bill, but this time i just felt like it was priced a little high for what you get... maybe I got spoiled recently eating at some nice steak establishments. The fillers like the cheesy rolls and bananas were as good as I remembered...and i had to make myself stop eating them to save room for more beef. Having been to other fogo's before i opted to skip the salad bar this time, so I'm not sure how their items compare, but it looked like others enjoyed them just fine. (stop reading here and only read on if you don't mind a bit of an op-ed that doesn't directly involve the quality of food and wait staff experience) One thing that I debated adding or not but really kind of affected my mood about eating here afterwards (tried to not let it affect the food and dining review portion above) was that the next day when one of the guys I'm working with locally here asked me where I ate, and I told him, he was like oh man, last time he went, he found some flyer in the hotel bathroom warning about how some manager guy at Fogo has multiple arrests for driving under the influence, and that he googled it and found it was legit. This kind of bothered me both because I've lost a family friend to a drunk driver hit, and i had just gotten some gofundme highlight email that included a fund campaign for a family who lost their dad to a drunk driver. There is just no excuse for driving under the influence (its called uber or taxi's for goodness sakes) and often means there are other behavioral issues at play. Don't know if he's still managing the place but its even worse that its a person in a leadership position. ugh.
(3)
Mandy H.
Went here for a friend's birthday. Absolutely the WORST service I've ever had. We all had our green sides up, but no one bothered coming!! There was ONE guy that came by every single time that offered lamb, but since our table of 18 all had lamb no one wanted it. We ended up requesting filet mignon and waited nearly half an hour (we watched the clock) until they came out. On top of that we never got refills on our waters, when we asked numerous times. After we finished with dessert, we waited another 30 mins (again we watched the clock) for our bill to come. This place really needs to brush up on their service. Everyone that was serving us looked upset. I've never had this bad of any type of service. I am never coming back to this location. You will not get your money worth, because they never come around! We sat there for 3 hours waiting and specifically requesting when we didn't see anyone come around. Of the 3 hours there, I would say we ate for only 45 minutes. It was a waste of money. No, they were not low on staff.
Have nothing but positive things to say about Fogo! I have only been to this location three times but have received exceptional service every time. Everyone from the food runners, host, servers and managers are doing their part to ensure you have a great dining experience. The salad bar has so many options, the sides that come with your food are some of my favorite anywhere and the selection of meats is what you would find in a traditional Brazilian steakhouse. It's great! My husband and I only come to Fogo for special occasions, and they don't disappoint. TIP: go for lunch! The same exact menu and service for less than full price!
(4)
Daniel R.
If you like meat this is a carnivore paradise - and they also have a great salad bar. If you have not been to a place like this...basically they bring spears of meat to your table and they cut off some for you to eat. There is a huge variety to choose from so if you don't like something wait for the next round. There is also a salad bar with a huge variety as well. The staff is friendly and helpful. This is not a "all you can eat buffet" type place. It's much more like the high end buffets in Vegas (and about as pricey as that too)
(4)
Josh K.
Hello everyone. My name is Josh, and I have a problem. I'm not an alcoholic, but, I ate at Fogo like an alcoholic at an open bar. Everything was absolutely perfect. Yes, it was for restaurant week so the true variety wasn't there in only getting 11 of their 16 meats, but, who gives a god damn when you can eat here for $20 off, eh? So, lets review some high points.... and low points. Low point - parking. City center on a Twins ball game night is gonna nail you for "event" parking. Be warned, and if you're planning ahead, valet it. You'll save a couple bucks (even though I completely disagree with paying for valet service, but, that's a Vegas thing in me). Another low point, and this isn't a knock on the food as much as possibly an educational moment for their staff, but, they really didn't know the difference between the cooking temps of rare, medium-rare,medium and so on. A few times people at the table requested a medium rare slab of steak and received something far more along the lines of blue or very rare. But, we're all carnivores and we ate the hell out of whatever cut was presented regardless. It's just one of those "snob" points when you've been a cook and grill very often. For those that don't like their meat on the salty side, be warned, a lot of their cuts options are on the salty side. Not over salted, by any means, but they definitely salt them up. So, if you're one of those that err on the side of little to no salt, this can be a turn off. The salad bar was awesome. I'd highly recommend getting some meat while the line is long or the bar is busy, and when it dies down, flip to red and hop up there to get your veggies. Otherwise, it can be somewhat irritating to deal with someone standing there looking at stuff guessing what it is as opposed to reading the sign right in front of them (queue up a "here's your sign" joke). Lets see... if you get the lamb, and you better, ask for a side of mint jelly. Thank me later. Or don't. Up to you. Service wise, couldn't have been better. Any time an animal was missing and I requested it from the server, that animal on a stick showed up promptly. Hard to complain about that. Groups of 6 or more, watch your bill for gratuity being included - just a heads up if you don't scope their website. Otherwise, it's a carnivores dream in there and enjoy.
(5)
Richard R.
Not good the service was slow and didnt listen to the customers.They forgot are drinks a couple of times and at one point they made me a drink i didnt order and then said we thought you would like it.all we seen was the chicken wing and saugage guy no filet guy and we asked a couple of times.dont waste your time here.Called the manager yesterday to complain he said he would call back in a hour 24 hours later no phone call.I will spend my money else where.we spent 340.00 for 4 people and two people left still hungry.
(1)
Katrina O.
Great salad bar selection. Hubby and I came here during restaurant week and it's $30 per person for the appetizers, the full salad bar, the churrascaria (although a few meat selections were excluded from restaurant week), and dessert. If you decide to dine on the full menu of meats, then you just pay regular price instead of restaurant week pricing. Trust me, having a few meats excluded does not detract from the experience or the meal. Our favorite cut of meat at churrascaria restaurants is the picanha (top sirloin), whether it's the regular or with garlic seasoning! Both ways are delicious! I was so full by the end that I had them box up my dessert to go!
(4)
Jennifer F.
Aaah Fogo...where to start? Hubby and I have been to this fine establishment a few times. Most recently was for restaurant week, and while we were disappointed to hear that only 11 of the 16 meats were available for us, the reduced price still made it worth it. We made a reservation for 10:30 on the last Friday of RW. We arrived on time and were seated promptly, I was actually kind of surprised to see how busy and full the place still was. Our waiter was friendly and efficient with keeping our water full and pouring my glass of wine. I am veeeeeery partial to their salad bar. Cheese, cured meats, salads, giant asparagus, smoked salmon. Yes please! Most recently I promised myself to only have a small sampling so that I could save room for the delicious meat, but it's hard to do. Oh, and don't even get me started on those cheesy pop over things. Hubby stared in astonishment as I quickly inhaled two and pondered aloud whether or not I should just stick the next batch they bring out in my purse to eat later - I didn't get the chance to do that unfortunately, they are pretty quick at clearing plates! The extras they bring out are worth noting too. That would be the mashed potatoes, plantains, and fried polenta. Hubby scoffs at these as he sees them as a distraction to the meat he constantly has piled on his plate. He may be right, but I helped myself to each and found them all to my liking. I think the plantains are even supposed to be a palate cleanser, right? The meat obviously is the main attraction of Fogo, and they deliver it in spades (or sabers?). When you flip your token to the green side you will get visited very rapidly by the fine gentlemen with their meat-on-a-sword. I usually flip it green, have a few pieces carved onto my plate, then flip it red so I can eat undisturbed, and flip it green again when I'm ready for more (or when I see that bacon wrapped filet...). Most of them will ask you what done-ness you prefer, but can be hit or miss. Hubby flagged down one of the guys who had a cut he wanted, but he declined saying his was a bit old and he was going to get a fresh one, and would be back for us. True to his word, he came right to our table a few minutes later and cut hubby a fresh slice of whatever it happened to be. We both picked the key lime pie for our complimentary desserts and were pleased with them. Due to the quick service we were actually out of there in under an hour. Kudos to that. Downside? Walking back to our car parked a couple blocks down and dodging the drunk Friday night party goers and Twins-celebrators. All and all I'm sure we will be back someday. Probably not for RW since they changed to offer less meats, but perhaps another special occasion as we have in the past. I recommend everyone try it at least once!
(4)
Melissa Rathman L.
For the price, not worth it. Salad Bar: We had been here once before and last time the salad bar was much better. People raved about it, but when we were there on Feb 7 wasn't really anything special. None of us wound up taking much....guess that's OK as we really came for the meat. One of my friends did really like the smoked salmon. Meat: Well, this is why we come here, right? And they didn't disappoint. Was surprised to find that one of my favorites was the bacon-wrapped chicken. Another great choice was the house steak. The gauchos are quick with service and there is plenty variety. This is the chain's forte. Drinks: Three in our party ordered caipirinhas. They were too strong to drink. All complained and asked for extra mixers. The waiter said, that was the way they were supposed to be. None in the party finished their drinks. What a waste at $13 a pop! The waiter should have offered to get them something else! Poor form on his part.
(3)
Dominique C.
I don't typically do buffets but this is the exception. I recommend not eating all day and coming ready to eat a horse. And you will get almost that: chicken, beef, pork and whatever eat your carnivorous heart desires. After the first time you should be able to know what you favor best and just ask for that - they were very accommodating if you just want to pass on the chicken breast and fill up on some rare beef. My main problem with is it is that the salad bar is awesome! I have a hard time stopping myself from getting overstuffed there and saving room for the meat. I wish there was just a salad bar option. The smoked salmon and manchego cheese are just a few of my favorite delicacies. The staff is friendly and super helpful and personally I love their uniforms and that they just walk around with meat on swords. Great for groups where you can just sample food and enjoy some lively conversation. Finally Caipirinha. Enough said.
(4)
Deb H.
This place has something for everyone. I find it somewhat ironic that The Palace of Meat (my own personal nickname for this restaurant) also happens to have the best salad bar you will find anywhere. Bring your appetite and your carnivore sensibilities. You will leave sassified!
(5)
Mia T.
I'll start out by saying that my man, the carnivore loves meat (duh!) and this restaurant is like a match made in heaven for him. We went there during restaurant week (1/2 priced?). If you know of restaurant week, book ahead of time b/c their reservation is full if you reserve it that week. We got a reservation at 9pm, arrived 30-40 min early and they were able to seat us in 10-15 minutes. This place is crowded (I don't think it's any less crowded even if not during restaurant week). The tables are close to one another, but the food makes up for the space. The salad bar is filled with fresh fruits, veggies, salads, condiments, etc. The meat is exceptionally flavorful and tasty. I'm not a fan of sausage but theirs was, 1 word, awesome! Definitely worthy of the price or at least one try. We'll be back!!!
(4)
Nancy N.
Who would have thought I would see one of my favorite restaurants just down the street of a new city to me?? My best friend and I were looking up places to go for dinner and literally just down the street was Fogo de Chao!! I was totally blown away because when I was first introduced to Fogo de Chao was when I was 18 and there wasn't that many locations around and I had only been to the one in Beverly Hills. My husband is not a big meat eater so the idea was never that enticing to him to go when we met, it was so fitting that I should dine with one of my favorite people at one if my favorite places when I was in MN! The cheese balls were to die for!! I could literally eat that all day long! The lamb was so juicy and flavorful! We totally forgot we were eating lamb because it wasn't gamey at all. Everything was superb, the service was prompt and attentive. Please don't fill yourself up at the salad bar, you should nibble but save your appetite and stomach for the good stuff like the meat and the cheese balls!!!! Cheers!!
(5)
Sara J.
Will this be the best steak you have ever had? Probably not. Will it be the most steak you have ever had? All I can say is, If you believe you can achieve! This place is good for a group dinner since everyone can make the choices that work for them and the checks can easily be done on a per person basis. Our waitstaff was very attentive and made sure we had everything we needed. The salad bar has some cheeses, vegetables, green salads, picnic salads (think potato) as well as beans, rice and potatoes. Once you start with the meats they also bring out the three warm table sides, crispy polenta, potatoes and friend bananas. They bring the meats fast, even with the guide at my table I felt a bit overwhelmed. I would have liked to learn a bit more about each of the cuts. My favorite foods of the whole dinner were the pao de queijo (cheese bread) and the ribeye. I could have eaten a full meal of just those two things. Overall I found the experience fun but since I don't typically eat a large amount of food it's not quite worth it for me.
(3)
Todd B.
There are few places that so perfectly celebrate our carnivorous tendencies. If it's meat you crave, consider Foga de chao. They also have one amazing salad bar!
(5)
Mark G.
Amazing food, Viva Brazil!! 1. Go hungry, you will eat a lot! 2. Prepare all day for this meal, They make dinner into an event. 3. Don't fill up on the salad bar, its amazing, but the meat is what you came for. 4. Be prepared for the best service you will ever get at a restaurant, teamwork at its best. 5. They redefine the tenderness of sirloin, how they can get it that tender is beyond me. 6. Pace yourself, you will be getting a rapid fire pace of delicious food thrown at you, go red if needed. 7. Its worth the money, don't let the price get you....ENJOY!!! I promise you will love it!!
(5)
Gabriel D.
Had this dinner planned out for a month. I was not disappointed. I stopped by after a work conference I was flown in town for that day and had been thinking about this meal and experience way before I was even here. Because that's what you get a Fogo, great quality food, an extensive salad bar with many more items then I could even name, wonderful cuts of meat that come out so fast that it's hard to keep up and fantastic service that other Bussiness need to model after. From the delicate taste of the cuts of meat to the knit gloves they handled the service side, it was an experience I will not soon forget and I will come back to next time I am in town again The limeade drink was delightful I must have had 5 of them. So sweet and Tart and smooth. My main server introduced me to it and I I was hooked. Anything I asked for was no problem and was acted upon with ease. Near the end of my visit I must have easily eaten about 100$ or more worth of food. I got more then my money's worth and that's fine with me. The quality of the food attention to detail and clean, we'll run environment make this location a must stop whenever in the area and for specials occasions. I do not hand out 5 star reviews almost ever but this location deserved it. I would be interested to try the DC location and see if this level of service can be found there also.
(5)
Troy P.
Meat.... Yeah, they serve a lot of meat and it's pretty damn good. My first visit I was really excited and equally amazed at the idea of flipping a paddle green or red to signal these meat ninjas to my table for some food. I mean if that thing is green you better put your game face on cause they pop over shoulders with sneaky skills and start slicing that cooked flesh until you say stop. A novel idea and quite appropriate really, considering there are like 17 Brazilians walking around with a different animal to carve up. Everything I had was tasty, if I had to pick my favorite I would probably go with the Sirloin and Lamb. Least favorite, Parmesan crusted Pork Tenderloin, the seasoning just wasn't necessary and didn't do it a lot of justice. Honestly I didn't even know what I was eating half the time, if it looked good I said yes, and it all looked good. They do provide a menu of meat they serve and any of the servers will tell you what they have but ultimately it's all worth trying. A lot of people mention the salad bar and it is also impressive. I don't know how much of a, "Salad Bar" it is considering there is one decent bowl of ice berg lettuce with your standard toppings. The rest of the items are smoked fish, cured meats, pasta, potato salad and bread. Easily qualify as a full meal and only about $16 bucks if I'm not mistaken. The sides were really good too, nothing too fancy, basically mashed potatoes glazed bananas and palenta cakes. All were good but served in small portions in order to keep the attention on the meat, duh! The service was top notch, you feel like you are at a fancy steak house with your own Maitre d'. They escort you from beginning to end and there really wasn't a moment where I needed food, drink or anything else. I wouldn't suggest coming here on a date or with someone that doesn't know how to indulge or eat very much. They will probably enjoy it but it will be serious over kill and a waste of money.
(4)
Xiomara M.
I went here for my last birthday and loved it. Staff was very attentive and sweet. Food was delicious. Totally recommended!
(5)
Andi S.
I love everything about this place - including the meat coma that I leave with. The service is impeccably amazing everytime. They pull out your chair for you and very frequently bring around clean plates, and ask about beverage refils (be careful with this as refils are not free!). You start with the salad bar, only to call it a salad bar would be like trying to call a king a peasant. This smorgousborg of meats, fresh cheeses, vegetables, breads, sides, and salads is enough to be a meal in itself! Come back as many times as you want throughout your meal! Next comes the meat phase. Once you turn your meat card to green you are almost immediately bombarded with meat brought around on swords! And that meat will keep coming in different cuts and styles until you flip your card back to red. If you are looking for one type in particular just let any server know and it will be sent to you with a quickness! And if you are somehow still hungry after all of that they have the most glorious desserts! I will admit the only time we take it to this level is on birthdays, because you get a free dessert. But the creme brulee is definitely worth every belly bursting bite!
(5)
Rebekah W.
This review is going to essentially be me gushing about the salad bar. It is the bomb-diggity. It has chesses, lettuce, salad toppers, asparagus (that happens to be the size of my arm), beets (so delicious!), as well as a ton of other cold pasta/ meat/ potato salads. In addition to all of the wonderfulness, there is a hot bar area that has a fish selection, beans, rice and potatoes that are hot and ready for action. They've also got a really great drink selection and the staff is wonderful at listening to what you like and making suggestions. Our visit on V-day was the first time I had been there and wasn't partaking in the delicious alcoholic beverages. They do have some great N/A drinks as well. As for the meat... I can't say that I'm that huge of a fan. I love meat/ steak/ seafood and never have issues with my protein intake but I always like the salad bar more than the meat. Although, when I enjoy a few of those fancy cocktails, it seems like I can eat more. My summary- enjoy the salad bar and fuggetabout the meat.
(4)
Allen L.
Meat lovers, you have found the promised land! The dinner starts out with a way, way above average salad bar that offers quite a few options including smoked salmon. The dinner consists of all you can eat of various excellent meats, chicken, steak, pork, all prepared to perfection. My wife and I eat out often and this is without question one of our favorite places to eat. If you're going on a weekend, make a reservation!
(5)
Jeff D.
This review is for a dinner dine in on Monday, June 22nd. After being delayed several times flying into Minny on business, it was about 9:30 before I checked into the Marriott City Center and didn't have dinner so I figured I'd pop in here before they closed. As usual, the food was on point and the Gauchos were flying around doing their thing. I'm mostly writing this review to give props to Shaw and Thomas for their above and beyond service. They did a great job asking if I needed anything including if I had specific food requests. Kudos to them! I hope to come back and have service by them when i'm back in September.
(4)
Nick H.
Too much! The buffet itself was regular. As soon as you turn your card over, you are bombarded by meat servers to the point of no return. Cost too much. Too full, too soon. As soon as you walk in, you see a giant seating arrangement to fill as many as possible. There is no good seat in the house. Server's weigh in on you, hand and foot. Then you slide your way to the buffet. No room for breathing.
(1)
Cage M.
Food was overall good. We felt we did not get enough for the dollar. Service was a slow. S'mores dessert was fantastic! We will not be returning.
(2)
Mark W.
Superbly marinated and grilled meats, and respectable salad bar. Uniquely served by wandering waiters who slice off discreet slices from large skewers according to customer specifications. Use small tongs to ease on your plate. This is apparently a typical format in Brazil. Excellent wine selection, especially Argentinian Malbecs. They serve eleven different options of beef, lamb, chicken and sausage. We liked the chicken, and the sausage is the best we've ever had anywhere. Use there colored disks to signal to the waiters if you still want another sample. We remembered this later as they kept on coming, and I fought this competitive urge to keep up. You can signal stop and go for as long as you like. The atmosphere is friendly and fun. The place was packed! This place is world class for food, service and atmosphere, and an entertaining dining experience. Wow!
(5)
Lacey H.
All I can say absolutely DELICIOUS!! !! We will forever go back as much as possible! That's it. Plain and simple.
(5)
Adam R.
I am a minivore: I am a carnivore of minimum proportions. And yet, this frenetic meat carnival offered a great experience. The salad-only option is great. There are smoked meats (and fish) aplenty, in a cornucopia of options (potato, pasta, greens, beets, cheeses, ENDLESS BACON, pickled delights, &c &c). For the smaller-tummied, it is a great[er] value and a very fine way to enjoy the night with your more cavernous, carnivorous friends. The meat flies fast and furious, a barrage against our friends, piling up and wafting great scents. I didn't steal a bite (restraint!) but from the evidence it was amazing; every bite disappeared. Unexpected gem: popovers served when you arrive. These golden air pockets sparkle on your tongue in a buttery splendor. AMAZing. Atmosphere is bright, dark wood, families, happy murmurs, and room enough for your big party. You can sit back, savor the experience, and slip into your meat coma.
(4)
Jenn C.
If u haven't been here before it takes a little getting used to, but once u get the hang of it they will blow u away and u can sit back and relax. Service is exceptionally prompt and speedy, there is always someone around if u need anything. If u want particular cuts of meat then just ask and they will be sure to have one of the gauchos send them by. Make sure if it's ur first time to try it all in small amounts and take at least one trip to the salad bar, it is AMAZING!!!!! their wine list is on point and diverse which is nice. U have reasonably priced bottles all the way to Cristal. I definitely suggest coming if u have time to spare so u can sick back and relax and enjoy everything. Ask for Jean (pronounced G-On) he is amazingly kind and sweet and makes sure u get taken care of and he's from Brazil, how much more authentic can u get?!?!?!
(4)
Sylvi R.
My husband and I went on a Friday night to enjoy an outstanding salad bar, meat, deserts and Caipis (Caipirinhas)! Delicious. Great, attentive and fast service and I also enjoyed observing how the staff interacted with each other: Very friendly, upbeat and pleasant. We seemed to have a very good table, because even though the restaurant was full, it wasn't loud and we could enjoy everything. Some people came in dressy attire, others casual, a mix that I liked as well. I definitely want to come back here next time visiting Minneapolis.
(5)
Liz B.
Fogo de Chao got nothin' on Pampas, the same type of restaurant but located in Palo Alto, CA. Pampas take it up a notch with their salad bar, and that's why I'm taking off one star on this one. (Yes, I do lower my rating if I've had something better.) First off, you gotta be a meat-lover to appreciate restaurants like these. It's unlimited meat for like $45-$50 with the salad bar. Service is superior. It's also not a romantic spot. It's actually a bit loud in there because there's just a lot of servers running around with their slab of meat. I also think it's best to bring a couple of friends. Four sounds like a good number to me. Add a few glasses of wine and you're on your way to a good night's sleep. :D
(4)
Colin M.
Very classy and fancy place to eat. The food is absolutely delicious! It is a bit pricey though, but well worth it ($45 all you can eat)!!
(5)
Tiffiny C.
A meat eater's paradise, Fogo de Chao is a brilliant invention. All you can eat top-shelf beef brought straight to your table for as long as you'd like? WIN. I went for lunch last Winter, saved $12 doing so (vs. dinner) and fell in love. The salad bar was smaller than expected, but was brimming with classy salads and tasty fresh baked breads. Everyone needs to experience this place. I even liked the lamb (and I usually hate it)!
(4)
Andrew H.
Perhaps the best dining experience I've ever had. I went here with a group of about 10 people. The service was attentive and friendly. The salad bar was exceptional. The meat...well of course the meat was out of this world. Here is what I loved about the 15 different kinds of meat (I tried them all), they always come out piping hot, cut how you like, as much as you would like. I've had great steaks elsewhere, I usually order a larger cut, but after the first few bites the steak cools off and it just isn't as amazing. But here, with sizzling meat constantly circling the table I loved every bite. Especially the Filet mignon (so tender!). I think this place is great with groups. I would also come back just for dessert as the molten lava cake was both sweet and satisfying. Also, I'd come back for lunch as it is only 27 for the full salad bar and meat courses as opposed to 47 at dinner. I am a Fogo believer and will be back for sure.
(5)
Tony C.
Lots and lots of meat. The only issue I have is that its a bit salty. Other then that. Let it rain meat. I don't even bother with the salad bar. But its probably the best salad bar I have ever seen. Don't even bother with the pork or chicken..
(4)
Jim H.
Wonderful experience! The Caipirinhas were very good and I could easily be satisfied with the salad bar only, but... the meat never stops coming. Everything was terrific. Be sure to find room for a couple of the mini popovers and taste the potatoes- excellent! Outstanding service, comfortable noise level, many reasons to return. Our group of 17 had a wonderful time celebrating a birthday. About $82 per person - in Minneapolis! Then again, the place was packed so I guess there is no recession. I guess I didn't look, but perhaps much of the bill came from all the local taxes that Mpls. has in place.
(4)
Ben K.
Meatgasm. Excellent food, excellent drinks. Pricey, but a great option for those 'special' dinners on which you don't mind dropping some extra cash.
(5)
Joy H.
At the risk of offending my fellow vegans and vegetarians, I have to say that the best restaurant salad bar in the Twin Cities is at the Brazilian steakhouse, Fogo de Chao. It's a great place to go for a special celebration (parent's anniversary or Father's Day) or an important work meeting when you have a combination of plant-eaters and meat-eaters in your party. The salad bar is a beautiful bounty of artistically displayed vegetables, including large asparagus spears, pickled roasted jewel onions, whole artichoke hearts, halves of red and yellow bell peppers, garden green beans, shiitake mushroom caps, cucumber slices with red onion, sliced beefsteak tomatoes, sundried tomatoes, broccoli bunches, hearts of palm and sliced beets. According to the manager, each of the veggies is steamed until crisp tender and then plunged into a cold bath to stop the cooking process. The resulting color and texture of the veggies is amazing. Some of the veggies are au natural; others are treated to a light toss in olive oil and sea salt to bring each to its fullest flavor potential. There are several types of greens: chopped greens with olives, torn romaine, spring greens and Caesar salad. There are a multitude of dressings to choose from, but the highlight is the bright green basil. The tabouleh is great, but I skip the other composed salads because they appear to have mayo. Completing the bar is the best sour dough bread I've had outside San Francisco. And there's a variety of fine cheeses, for those interested. If you are comfortable dining at a restaurant that supports the meat industry, and don't mind seeing cooked meat paraded around on swords by waiters dressed as gauchos, Fogo is definitely worth trying. The salad bar is $19.50 at lunch and $24.50 at dinner. You also receive all-you-can-eat sides of roasted bananas, deep fried polenta, seasoned mashed potatoes and mini popovers filled with cheese, which are brought to your table. Fogo de Chao is located in downtown Minneapolis at 645 Hennepin Ave. For more info: examiner.com/x-10371-Min…
(5)
kiki d.
If you like meat, you should try Fogo de Chao. The space is crowded and loud in an I'm-at-a-popular-hotspot kind of way. The meat stewards are constantly coming around to ask if you want the different cuts of meat, so altogether, there's a lot of action (not a good place for a serious discussion or a quiet, romantic evening). The salad bar is really really good as well - if they offered just the salad bar, I'd probably go more often (I'm not as much of a meat-eater and it feels silly to pay $50 and then fill up on salads...) Overall, a fun way to spend an evening, and a unique dining experience.
(4)
Isaac C.
One of the best Dinners I've ever had. Never thought I'd get tired of trying yummy steaks after yummy steaks. It is everything that other yelpers have told here and a little bit more. A little bit pricey for dinner though.
(4)
Sean H.
Carnivores rejoice, for this is your church! (and the salad bar is amazing too!) The service at this location was exceptional. Friendly and accommodating. While I've been to other traditional Brazilian churrascarias, Fogo de Chao is in a class all it's own. Starting with a caipirinha is a must! Follow this with the exceptional salad bar, but go easy, you've gotta save room. Once the pleasantries are out of the way, it's time to get down to business. And by business I mean a ton of meat! You'll have your choice of up to 15 different selections and you can try as many and as much as you like. My recommendation? Try the filet and the house special, picanha. Both are freaking amazing!
(5)
Aaron W.
If you love meet, you need to experience this place.
(5)
Chris C.
Pros: All you can eat meat; great salad bar; smoked salmon Cons: Too salty/greasy I was psyched to go to Fogo de Chao. All you can eat meat! Make sure you go there during lunch. I haven't been there for dinner yet, but my understanding is that it's basically the same menu, but $50 instead of $30. Besides, you'll need the rest of the afternoon to recover after consuming so much meat. There's a great salad bar too, full of things I didn't know about before. A highlight is the smoked salmon, which in my opinion is worth the price of the meal alone. It's easy to get loaded up on just the salad bar alone (and I bet they encourage it to save costs). Be sure to pace yourself accordingly, because there is a lot of meat to handle. To add to the stuffers you get free appetizers as well. I love the puffs, whatever they're really called. You also get fried bananas. Here's how it works for the meat. You get a coaster with green on one side and red on the other. Green means more meat, red means not yet. There's beef, lamb, pork, etc. Sometimes you get to choose whether you want it rare or well done, and they'll cut it accordingly. They do come quickly and in bunches, so once again, pace yourself. The food can get greasy/salty, which makes you feel full sooner than you'd expect. The service is very attentive and polite, and the atmosphere rivals a regular restaurant of this price range. I definitely recommend everyone, locals or visitors, to try this place at least once.
(4)
Nicole B.
Love Fogo! Brought my husband for the first time a few weeks ago and he was also in heaven. If you love steak, you'll love this place. You choose from 15 cuts of meats. The filet and the garlic seasoned top sirloin were our favorites In addition to the salad bar, as much meat as you can eat, your meal also includes unlimited side items: warm cheese bread, polenta, garlic mashed potatoes and caramelized bananas which are to die for. You never have to ask for more, the are automatically replaced when it looks as if your running low. My suggestion is to wear 'expandable pants'.
(5)
Jim S.
Celebrated My son's birthday with his choice and he chose this place. Service is incredible Food is fantastic We loved it
(5)
B M.
Great service, hearty meat, and my belly is full. All meat eaters need to experience this!
(4)
Zheng W.
Fogo de Chao is practically a really fancy and over-priced version of a buffet. The food was excellent, service was impeccable, and the restaurant itself was very impressive as well. However, I wouldn't put it over Capital Grille or Manny's as the top fine dining downtown. The place was extremely crowded and loud (granted we went on the Friday before Christmas but still), and the atmosphere was nothing like I'd expected. Neither of us ate an exorbitant amount of food but we left satisfied. I'd say go for the experience, but if you truly want to take someone out for an intimate and romantic night, Capital Grille or Manny's might be a better option.
(4)
K D.
The only reason it gets three stars is because of the impeccable service. I've seen the same service in four star restaurants. I only wish I could remember the name of our 'server' so I could give him the appropriate props. I've been to other Churrascarias and the food here pales in comparison. There is nothing special about the meats, and the 'salad bar' has very few interesting or authentic choices. They serve the same side dishes to everyone, but they are not worth mentioning, except the fried polenta. It tasted like the cardboard it was probably stored in. I make better fried polenta. My polenta would whip FdC's polenta's behind, then bury it in a pit, full of scorpians, just for its having the nerve of calling itself fried polenta. And it's loud. I don't understand when all restaurants became so loud. I know FdC can't control how loud its patrons speak..but..what ever happened to a nice quiet dinner? We went to several restaurants that weekend and had the same issue. Last year, we went to a sushi restaurant that played techno. Really? Sushi with loud techno? ....but I digress... Once you flip your card to green, be prepared to be aggressively....well...I can't come up with a word other than attacked...by 'gauchos'. We had so many coming at us we didn't even have time to flip to red! It was very overwhelming. A little less aggressiveness on the part of the 'gauchos' would have been nice. 60 bucks is a hefty price tag for what they offer (absolutely no seafood, btw), however, their molten chocolate cake was so good, I might have paid 60 bucks for that alone! And I don't usually care for sweets.
(3)
D. E.
Went here while on vacation with my GF. It was really nice. But is costed so damn much we ended up paying over $200 for 2 people.
(4)
Sarah C.
5 star restaurant! WORTH EVERY CENT. I wish I had the money to eat here once a month. When you sit down you're greeted by a lovely server, whom you probably will only see once or twice again. When you flip your card green a random handsome man comes to your table with a huge skewer of meat and cuts you off a slice of whatever they have, within a minute another server is there with a different meat selection. They keep on coming until you flip to red. You're always being asked if you want more meat or if you want another drink. Sometimes the manager asks how your food is, which is amazing. It's unlimited meat so my boyfriend and I usually don't eat lunch before we come so we can try everything. The waiters here literally wait on you, you feel like royalty. I've never felt so dined on ever in my life. Amazing service and amazing food. A+ check it out if you've never been $50 a plate
(5)
Linda N.
it has been almost a year since i've been here and now that i have more appreciation for meat (thanks to my boyfriend), i am now a fan. given that it was restaurant week, the bf is an ultimate meat lover and he has never been (OMG!). i know! the wait time wasn't that long. although, while we were waiting in the bar area, there were four tables in the "main" bar area, the tables around me got the complimentary cheese bread but me. WTF!!?? was it because i did not have a drink in my hand because the bf was grabbing it at the bar??? i thought that was the rudest part of the whole night. and even still, if the bread is being offered to patrons waiting to be seated, everyone should get it with or without a drink in hand. the more i think of it, the more angry i get. horrible horrible horrible now that we were seated at our dining table, the service in the dining area was hands down, the best! we had two non-meat servers always making sure we were doing alright. and they were beyond attentive. they asked if there were certain types of meat that we wanted to request. 5 minutes later, they checked back to see if it came and made sure it came in less than 5 minutes. OMG WOW! the staff was very knowledgeable regarding the wines and food. the food service was very fast paced so be prepared for that. --onto the delicious food! SALAD BAR not very impressive but did have a wide variety of things. they had a mini cheese and meat spread but there weren't any crackers! maybe i didn't see it? but cheese goes with crackers so well, always! i loved the mozzarella balls! although i didn't load up on the salad bar to save room for the steak, i was able to eat the lighter stuff to prepare the stomach. MEATS *note - to have the juiciest steak, always request medium rare filet mignon - first to hit the table: medium was a bit dry for me. luckily another filet came by that was medium rare. juicy, savory, and delicious top sirloin - cut off the fat, eat the sirloin in one piece. only way to do it since they slice it thin for you already ribeye - (when i was here last year, i was quite intoxicated so i wasn't able to savor the meats) but OH MY GOODNESS JUICY!!! i've never ordered ribeye at a steak joint ever bc the fattiness always turns me off. the meat was tender, gives you a good bite when you bite into it and beyond juicy!! i'm tellin ya - medium rare is the only way to go. cut around the fat and you can get some good a** meat!! bottom sirloin - dry, tough, not my first choice.. parmesan crusted pork - again, dry. the outside was flavorful and wasn't overly salted ribs - dried up quickly so you had to eat fast. not a crowd pleaser sausage link - italians make it better ;) SIDES mashed potatoes - we kept getting refills. chives, paprika (?), and butterrr. yumm!! polenta - i didn't try it but the bf didn't enjoy it. ate one piece and left it fried bananas - also didn't try it but the bf was eating that up! he really liked it that C-H-E-E-S-E-B-R-E-A-D! i could eat that all day long!! it was great with my mozzarella balls and i'd be happy with just eating that! mozzarella, cheesebread, and ribeye -- for me, the best items at Fogo to make a very satisfying meal we skipped dessert, no room :)
(4)
Alyssa B.
If you are a hardcore carnivore.... This place is for you! You have the best choices of Brazilian meats and great sides. It is also a fun concept, and a great place to go, especially for lunch!
(4)
Glenn H.
I'm comparing this very favorably to a Churrascaria that I had in Sao Paulo! OMG another terrrrrrific Carnivore's Paradise! I had dinner there with some colleagues. Excellent food and superior service. The salad bar/buffet was huge and yes has a problem with bi-directional patrons but is high variety and quality. If you are a vegetarian, you will certainly find something here but you would find that the highest priced salad bar you've ever had! The meat was done to perfection. Very highly recommended is the Picanha (prime part of the sirloin seasoned with sea salt or garlic--or both?)--tender C-shaped cuts of meat that are amazing. Do not miss it. Their little cheese bread ball appetizers are so good you could kill your appetite on just these, so don't or you'll miss the main courses. Also amazing but appetite killers are their deep-fried polenta sticks - O M G--could not stop eating those. Oh and there are fried bananas/plantains and a garlic cheese mashed potato appys on each table. The service was as previously reviewed friendly, very prompt and helpful--to the point of offering to bring what you wanted. One nice touch: the churrascaria typically has one rotating red/green sign for Stop and More respectively for each table. Fogo De Chao has a better method: a two sided paper circle that is provided for each patron, so there is more control over who can "order" and who can say "Stop, I'm not ready". The place was clean, busy (in the middle of the week) and fun for a group. So make your reservations, come early and very hungry and watch out for those delicious appetizers! But for only $40 per person, you'll also come away with a unique dining experience you won't forget soon. Highly recommended!
Holy meat coma Batman! This place is a meat eater's dream. I went on a man date with a buddy last fall with the sole intent of eating cow until I grew udders. The service here is amazing. It seemed like we had 10 different people keeping our beverages filled, clearing our plates, and replenishing sides. That or it was just one dude with some serious ninja skills. That's not even including the two dozen gauchos walking around with those glorious slabs of animal. My personal favorite is the fillet but they are all amazing in their own way. The salad bar was quite good too, but I had my eye on the prize so I didn't eat much off of it. It's a must try for carnivores but you really should clear your schedule after you're done cause you're just gonna want to lay down and nap.
(5)
Rich H.
I've been to this Fogo location 5 times (2x for Lunch), been to the Chicago location 3 times, and the Dallas location 5 times. All locations have given the same experience with consistent food. With that said, I love this place. I wanted to go last night, but they said it would be 90 min - 2 hour wait, so we went to Oceanaire instead. Fogo has cuts of meat you won't find anywhere else and everything is cooked so well. They make a Dynamite caipirinha, which is like a mojito but LOTS better. The Wine selection is fantastic, the cheese bread (Pon De Queso) is amazing -- and hard to reproduce at home, fried plantains are tasty, and the salad bar is legendary (but don't fill yourself up on that!). My favorite spot in the Minneapolis restaurant is a little cove that is at the back left of the room, somewhat near the bathrooms. We had a party of 8 people and it was a little more quiet and we still received amazing service. I'd guess if you were reading reviews, you might know how it works at Fogo. You flip up your pog to green which brings around all the guys with meat, you decide if you want that cut of meat as they come and you use your tongs to help guide it to your plate. The meat is unlimited, and if you want a particular cut, just tell them and they will send someone right over with that cut. This is a one of a kind restaurant, and while it is expensive, you will go home very full, and very happy.
(5)
Beth T.
This place is amazing! WARNING: this place is a vegan's nightmare. Do not take a vegetarian here! My husband and I went here for our anniversary. We wanted a nice place where not many kids would be. I was a little intimidated by the price, I have been to nice restaurants and been looked down upon by the staff. This place was complete opposite. The staff was above and beyond. Other waiters aside from ours constantly came by to check on us, service was fast. And there was a constant flow as people came by with different meats. My personal favorite was the Filet Mignon and garlic beef. When we started to slow down a bit, our waiter asked if it was a special occasion after telling him it was our anniversary he offered us a dessert on the house. We got the chocolate lava cake. It came out with a beautiful flower decorating it and "Happy Anniversary" written in chocolate on the rim of the plate. The cake was as good as the rest of the food. The chocolate filling was hot not just warm which is how most places serve it. We definitely plan on returning again.
(5)
Sarah Z.
I'm not a huge meat fan, in fact, I have never even ordered the meat at Fogo. I go because my husband is an extreme carnivore. I order the salad bar and eat lots of the delicious side dishes while he gorges himself on all the meat he can handle. He loves it and the salad bar is actually really good. The atmosphere is fun so it is a good date place. One time we had to wait 45 minutes for a table even though we had a reservation, but it was worth it!
(4)
Roxanne J.
Hi, well this is what I have to say about Fogo, we choose to go there for a birthday lunch. The service is absolutely top notch, they make you feel very welcome and appear to enjoy your business (unlike soooo many other places we have been to) the salad bar is clean and everything was fresh. The bread on the salad bar is so fresh you would think it was just came out of the oven minutes ago fresh. The little cheese popovers are really good. When it comes to the star of the show the meats, most of them were good that I tried. You get a bit overwhelmed when they come around in groves. I am not a huge meat eater so for me it was just o.k. Be prepared to spend a lot of money ( 140.00) for three of us for lunch, dinner would have been almost double ( ouch) drinks are really high so be careful 8.75 for a little rum and coke. I would never want to eat hear if I had any plans after because you leave there really full and tired. I also would never want to go here if I was on a date...the hustle and bustle would be way to intrusive , unless you really don't want to talk much with your date. So over all if the setting was right I would go back for lunch, I would never pay the dinner prices. I was kind of scratching my head going hmmm was that worth it? Well I came to this conclusion yes it was, kind of like going to the state fair where you spend an obscene amount of money but hey it only comes around once a year. So go pig out enjoy yourself and know you are going to spend a lot of money in advance so you are not shocked when the bill comes so as to ruin your adventure.
(3)
Morriss P.
Wow! This is *not* your usual restaurant. Do NOT go here unless you are prepared to be BOMBARDED with more meat than you ever dreamed existed in one restaurant. Fogo de Chao is a carnivore's heaven and a vegetarian's worst nightmare. Basically, you are armed with a simple drink coaster, red on one side and green on the other. If you flip it over from red to green, that is a signal that is broadcast to all corners of the restaurant (and probably other restaurants nearby) to the meat ninjas, errrrrr servers, who come running at you from every direction, plus they descend from the ceiling (ala Mission Impossible), armed with huge knives and skewers of succulent meat. The meat ninjas, errrrrr, servers then slice cuts of meat onto your plate until you beg them no more, or the pile of meat touches the ceiling, whichever comes first. (if you aren't quick, your pile of meat will touch the ceiling before you've had a chance to utter the words "no mas".) Was wonderfully fun for our group of eight. I give it four stars and not five, because seriously, it's too much meat. Or maybe just more meat than I can handle. The cuts of meat themselves were superb.
(4)
Special D.
Awesome meat buffet. Picanha is my favorite cut. The salad bar is good too and those cheese bread muffins are addictive. Great place to have an upscale meal.
(5)
Kye J.
Tonight was my first time at Fogo de Chao and I am so stuffed. When we arrived we were almost seated immediatly (with reservations) then asked to wait just a minute, and in just a minute a gentleman informed us he chose to seat us in a quieter spot and with a much better view of the "action". It was perfect, so being my first time, our waiter Steve explained how it was going to work and it worked great! Salad bar, I tried nearly everything and as an onion hater, I was extremely pleased that only a few items had onions in them. (Pico, onions themselves which were marinated) I would go back just to fill up on the salad bar, but as a meat lover I must have both. As most of the reviews have explained the ins and outs on how it works, I won't get into that, I tried 12 of the 13 meats (three are on the salad bar) that were offered and as a picky eater, I am afraid it will be difficult to meet these standards anywhere else. I tried all meats medium to meduim rare and that was perfect, texture, flavor and variety. I am new to lamb so that was different but not something I wouldn't try again. Okay, service was above and beyond excellent, on all levels, hostess, coatcheck, server, bussers, etc. I don't normally pay that much for a dinner and a bottle of wine that has no special occasion but my fiance and I like trying new foods, and the whole experience was worth every penny. Planning going back with a group next time. Oh, and if your vehicle has a clearance of under 6'5" the 7th street parking garage is right across the street, if not, it is super tough to find parking, we ended up several blocks away and it was a cold and windy walk.
(5)
Mollee F.
So much food - so little stomach space. Amazing salad bar that is easily a meal in and of itself. But how can you go to Fogo and not be ready to ingest mass amounts of meat??? Most of the cuts of meat are non-standard and worth the money you're shelling out for all-you-can-eat. It's a great way to sample several meats without regret. Polenta fries are also not to be missed. Great place for big groups.
(4)
Val B.
It's a lot of meat. I'm, like, a serious red meat lover and could eat steak every day, so trust me, when I say this I mean it. The salad bad is great, but a waste of stomach space when you have filet mignon coming and you weigh 110 lbs. Gauchos come around in ridiculous outfits with different meat on sticks. Most cuts are OK, many fall into the salty, dry or fatty categories, but the salty and fatty categories don't bother me as much. For the price ($50/person), they aren't the greatest cuts of meat but when you're here, you're here for quantity and not quality. It's like the Old Country Buffet of upscale steakhouses. I would rather spend the money on a great steak at Manny's, but it was fun to try and the service is nice. Except for the constant interruptions of meat-weilding gauchos, it's a nice way to spend a carnivorous evening with friends.
(3)
Mark S.
It was my daughter's birthday, and she and her partner love steak. Fogo d Chao was a great experience for us all for her birthday dinner. The service was excellent, and the salad bar and the 'meats on a steak' were everything we hoped for. With cocktails, desserts, and a tip the evening got spendy. But we'll go again next time we want to special evening in Mpls. The only down side, is that after eating as much as I did, I'm glad we didn't have a scheduled event afterwards.
(5)
Rick M.
While I liked the salad bar, I thought the restaurant was over-priced for the quality of the meal as a whole. And it seemed the quality of the meat suffered due to the emphasis of quantity -- it just did not strike me as good as others had described. Service was good; however, at this price point that's to be expected. I have to admit that I find it somewhat dissonant to have a "fine dining" experience when others at adjoining tables seemed to revel in "eating as much food as possible" -- ala Country Buffet. I'd rather go to Murrays in Minneapolis -- and would recommend it over Fogo De Chao for out-of-town visitors who would rather avoid "chain eating." BTW, the cost adds up quickly with cocktails, wine and/or desserts hence my "over $60" rating. YMMV if you keep it to one drink and eschew any post-dinner treats.
(2)
Dave A.
No doubt about it, this place has great food. But in terms of atmosphere, I felt like I was in a bee hive. Imagine 5 billion servers buzzing all over the place and interrupting you every 10 seconds. Not the place to have a relaxing meal, but perfect for large Americans who can't wait for the next piece of meat dropped on their plate.
(2)
Robert B.
I went for a family lunch. We had 5 adults and one four year old child. I have been to Brazillian barbecues on several other occasions. This holds true to the ones I have attended in the USA. I have been to two of them in Brazil so I have something to compare it to. Lots of excellent cuts of meat to eat until you can eat no more. They placed an emphasis on beef over other types of meat. Throw in a lot of lamb choices you have what you are likely to eat. There was one selection of chicken, sausage and pork. They do have an excellent salad bar, with cheese and other types of stuff to fill you up before meat. I suggest you go small on the salad. All the meat was excellently prepared and you can choose how well done the meat is. I tend towards medium to medium rare. But, the cuts were rare when you asked for it. I have no problem with that, others might. There is not a solid beer selection and nothing on tap. They do have an excellent wine selection. I chose a Brazillian beer which was good for the meal. The three complaints from the afternoon of gorging, the price is outrageous. We went for lunch and it was high. The place is packed as well, we had reservations and still had a 15-20 minute wait for a table. I do not think that is acceptable with a reservation. Service, for what you are being charged needs to improve. They should be waiting on you hand and foot. One person is in charge of the table, the people with meat do come around, but tend to overlook tables even with the green light. On several occasions we had to ask for a particular type of meat to come by our table. Once we did, they came en masse to our table. For the price, as I stated, they should be a lot more aware of their customers. At dessert, one person ordered coffee and it came well after dessert was finished. It is this type of detail I think where they fall short of a pricey high end establishment. As for the four year old, I have never seen him eat this much. I thought this would be a challenging place for him. It is not designed for kids. But, he seemed to enjoy being able to select different types of meat. I do not know if they charged full price for him. As high as the bill was I think they did, and should not. But, I cannot say as I did not see the bill to check.
(3)
Drew J.
It's a world renowned Brazillian Grill - not much I can say to top that. But the service is better than I've seen anywhere in town.
(4)
Mike B.
I've been to two Brazilian meat places like this. Fogo de Chao was considerably better than the other one, though the prices were the same. It's expensive, but a lot of fun, if you like meat. Unlike the other place, they don't go out of their way to fill you up with a bunch of tasty, bulky, inexpensive food.
(4)
Kelly G.
Steps for a successful visit to Fogo De Chao. 1. Step up to the bar and order a Caipirinha while waiting for the rest of your group to arrive. 2. Suck down said drink and when the others arrive, spontaneously buy one for everyone. 3. Discover upon receiving your tab exactly how much each drink costs and gulp inwardly. Keep it classy: stay cool and pretend you're a high roller and it's no big deal. No one wants to feel guilty because they are sipping on some deliciousness that you offered to buy for them. Do not forget to take care of the bartender. 4. Go to salad buffet and look at how beautiful everything is. Take miniscule portions of the cheese, pasta, caesar, and salmon (yes, even the salad bar consists of many cold meats), because you will need space for the farm that is about to take up residence in your stomach. 5. Sit at your spot, decide impulsively to order one more Caipirinha and flip your red coaster to the green side. 6. Green means go: be polite to all the attractive young men offering you skewers of meat. Take a little of everything. Inhale like it is the first meal you have ever eaten. 7. Say a little prayer thanking God that you are not a vegetarian. 8. Main dishes you must try: cordeiro (lamb chops), filet mignon, lombo (parmesan pork filets), Fraldinha...wait, strike that, just try everything. 9. Repeat. 10. Try to have dessert, but if you don't make it, don't feel bad. 11. Get valet because you probably will not be able to walk, and pray the zipper on your pencil skirt (or pants for you gentlemen) holds until you get home. I'm putting four $ for price because of all the delicious Caipirinhas I decided to consume on my last visit. Service was phenomenal, my water glass never made it to half empty (I *am* a pessimist), and the gaucho chefs consistently kept an eye out for green coasters. I did not have to wait for service once. Fogo is good for kids, provided they are well-behaved and will not get in the way of the servers. But in my opinion that's true anywhere, including Denny's.
(5)
Kristin K.
Just stuffed my face at Fogo. The wait staff share all the tips at the end of each shift, so you can bet that you'll get excellent service by all employees. You'll never hear "your waiter is over there..." Every employee is fully prepared to answer every question, bring you a new plate, or get you a drink from the bar. The food is to die for, beautiful atmosphere, it's perfect. Yes it's worth every penny!!! go go go
(5)
Lalala S.
awesome all you can eat! lots of meat!! yesss!
(5)
Sara B.
I went to Fogo de Chao for date night with my boyfriend at the time. We took every last penny we had (with him not having a job and me being laid off it was a struggle) to go there. It was spendy, but WELL worth it. I love steak and every other kind of meat, so this was my kind of place. You don't really have to do anything, which is great! I am incredibly indecisive and large menus are horrible for me, since I regret decisions I make. So....the fact that I just got to sit there and enjoy was the best part about eating there. I see where my District manager got the idea for wine glasses at my present place of employment, they do the large glasses and small carafes for "refills." All in all, this place was great. I recommend dressing up...it makes it that much more fun. But you can be like some of the crazies we saw and wear jeans, a hoodie and a backwards/cocked basebal cap. To each their own!
(5)
Ryan P.
I took a client to Fogo a few months back for dinner and it was awesome. The variety of salads and meat was exceptional. I would definitely go again. Just in case you haven't been here, you should know the following: 1. It's all you can eat. 2. There is a salad bar (skip and enjoy the meat) 3. The meat is all you can eat but it is brought around by servers and slice from a skewer for you. Very good, especially with a group of people
(4)
Aaron S.
Went here before a show at the Orpheum expecting a classy "meat parade" and Fogo de Chao exceeded expectations. Everything has already been said about the tasty food, so I won't waste characters here. I will say that the demeanor of the staff was top notch - professional, gracious, and made you feel like an important guest. The decor fits the theme and earns a thumbs up, too. It's a great spot for special occasions for couples as well as groups, plus business outings on expense accounts. If you're feeling up for it, try the Caipirinha. It's kind of like a hybrid between a mojito and a margarita. Very tasty, and true to form, they don't skimp on substance if you know what I mean...
(5)
Carlos H.
We have been to other churrascarias but this one is the best of all. We found the service to be excellent with many cuts of meat (variety of 15) but also the waiter/waitress service was very attentive. So, there is a salad bar included and my faves are the hearts of palm, artichoke hearts and dried tomatos...items not usually available at standard salad bars. Hot dishes brought to each table consist of warm cheese biscuits, very unique, fried polenta and mashed potatoes and fried bananas. When the meat is sliced you can have a choice of rare or well done slices and of course, as much as you please. I liked the filet mignon, but honestly there was nothing I didn't like. One item not tried was the leg of lamb but I can say it looked fantastic. The place was crowded for a lunch, but I would suggest better to go when it's crowded than empty because the food turns over faster. Everyone I saw was having a great time. Also to note, the bathrooms were clean and on the way out there were beautiful chocolates along with my standard matchbook souvenir.
(4)
Lenore K.
Wonderful, wonderful red meat. The best I have had in any restaurant. Skip the pork and chicken-it's good enough but no where near as good as any of the cuts of beef. The salad bar is very nice, and while they only have three dressing choices the ranch is amazingly good-do try it if you like ranch dressing at all. "Good service" is an understatement, the service is elegant. Your chair is pushed in for you, very busy waiters get out of your way ASAP if you are walking around the restaurant. When my waiter forgot the saucer for my coffee, he not only insisted on bringing it but replaced the coffee with a fresh cup. My table had cheesecake, chocolate cake and cream brule for desert, all were excellent. Even the coffee was exceptional. Expensive, absolutely. My table of 4 spent $191.00 for lunch without alcohol and before the tip.It was our company holiday lunch. I plan to return for a special occasion. Not just great food, but a great experience.
(5)
Mal S.
$$$$ but worth every penny. I don't see how this place can disappoint.
(5)
Daniel B.
actually a 2 or 3....went with one to balance the overhype. this is a businessman or woman's tax deduction restaurant. $29 for lunch. yes, fun to have meat choices, but the salad bar was no better than most $12 places, most of the meat okay, just one out of 6 really swell. room nice, waiters great. just way overpriced for what it is.
(1)
Lori G.
What I would like to point out is not their food but their service! It is impressive! Absolutely make you feel comfortable and worth the money!
(4)
Harsh K.
Beverly hills fogo de chao= 4stars. This one is a level up because the food is the same, and the price is a third less! If you haven't been to a churrascaria before ( rodizio focused on meat) you should definitely stop by. The cuts to focus on are the picanha, and the ribeye, but much of the other stuff is good. I was disappointed by the linguica and the bacon wrapped chicken, but everything else was top notch. The one thing I should mention is that when this place gets crowded the service supposedly diminishes drastically. Uncharacteristically for us, we ate a super early dinner, so the place was pretty slow and we received excellent service the whole time.
(5)
Dani S.
Worth every penny! Had a great family experience - service was great, food was fabulous!
(5)
scott s.
I think that Fogo is one of the best places to eat in Minneapolis. Wait staff is fun and if you have a group of friends-even better. Cool dinks and a fun, open atmosphere. Make sure you come hungry for meat because this place will not let you down.
(4)
Koli F.
I love this place! This is where we go for our anniversary. Great service, wonderful salad bar, plentiful side dishes, & gluttonous meat parades. Kinda spendy! Go for lunch when it's half off... it's all the same as dinner & it wont be $100 for two people. Unless of course you get a bottle of wine too
(5)
Tim P.
Love to get my Fogo on! Lunch or Dinner, both are good. Although lunch is a better value as everything is the same for about $20 less. Start with a caipirinha, limes, sugar and rum never tasted so good. Hit the salad bar and make a little nest in your stomach for meat to call home. Turn your card to green and let the meat flow! Salad bar is fresh and full of interesting items. The cheesy buns they start you with are good too, but the star of the show is the meat. And if you get a bad piece? Don't eat it, they will bring more. If there is too much cow carnage on your plate? They will bring you a new one. Man it is good. Just remember to prep your stomach for two days prior so you get your moneys worth.
(5)
Lauren R.
While I'm typically not a fan of buffet-style restaurants, this one ranks at the top of my list! They have the so many choices of meat cooked just to your liking and a yummy assortment of side items at their salad bar. My favorite dishes though are the mashed potatoes and fried bananas they bring to your table...to die for! The Limeade is also a refreshing drink to sip on while you encapsulate in the splendor of food. But, be sure to pay attention the the color of your coaster as you'll get bombarded with meat choices if it is set to green and you'll have to keep restarting your conversation with your dinner-mate.
(4)
Timothy D.
If you love meat, this is the place for you. Flip your toen to the green side, and brace yourself. You will be swarmed with offers of all kinds of wonderful meaty dishes. Oh, and they have a great salad bar as well.
(5)
Suben K.
Be sure and make reservations, make it a "very light" breakfast at home on the day of your reservation, make it an extra long work out at your gym up until an hour or so before your dinner reservation. Make the earliest possible time for your reservation, for the place get packed and fast. You could start with a glass of their house red, at their Wine Bar while waiting to be seated). Upon being seated, their salad bar can be very enticing and beatifully inviting but show restrain... Once the Gouchos come around with their skewers of meat(s) all I can say is try and pace your self with the green and red card indicator and from that point onwards enjoy an un-adultrated Royal Feast. Word of advise, go with folks who appreciate good food that don't mind the quantity to boot. Trust me, don't be shy to take a breather.....Just think, "you" paid for it! Get your money's worth. Lastly, try and take a long stroll, before getting into your car to start back for home.
(4)
K D.
Vegans beware, Talk about a meat lovers paradise! Bring your appetite, If you love good food and lots of it you,ll love Fogo
(5)
Matt W.
Fogo was wonderful. Speedy service with a smile! They have piles of meat for you, all expertly prepared. The atmosphere was a nice "white tablecloth" setting with carribeian flair. Quite expensive per person, but totally worth it. I don't give out many 5 stars, only when well deserved.
(5)
Javier O.
If it is a food over dose you are looking for, you have picked the right place. Here is the gist of it. First, you grab a small plate and walk around the salad bar. There is plenty to chose from however, I will not bother getting anything more than just the essentials. When you are done with your salad, servers come table side with meats skewered on swords and carve up some of the best tasting meats you can imagine. Think fast, because if you are not paying attention, the servers will be line up by your side and it is difficult to turn the away. you have to be quick with the stop and go sign, otherwise, you are engulfed by a sea of Brazilian style cowboys catering to your protein needs. By the end of the evening, i promise, you will not need to eat meet for the rest of the month. Food comatose here is is the norm.
(5)
Ryan F.
This place is tops!!!! You want a fun experience and great food look no further. The selection of meat is vast and service is top notch. A great place for a group to get together, still nice for a date but truly more the merrier. Make sure you are planning on taking 2-3 hours to eat as it adds to the group/family feel of this place.
(5)
Karman L.
Who doesn't like Fogo de Chao!? I don't think I will go into the details about the meat there, cuz it's always great. But the service is not as good as others that I've been to (i.e. DC, Atlanta, Dallas or Chicago) - waiter rushed us to order our drink (5 sec after we sat down) and he talked wayyyyyy too fast.... - they didn't change our plates as often as other locations... - when they take our plates away, they didn't replace them with new ones...??? - they didn't refill my drink (usually they will do that before you are even done) The setup of the dining area is not as opened compare to the other locations...it's a bit confusing to navigate to the salad bar and tables are tight for the servers to move around...
(4)
Ashe L.
Meeat lovers? yes this is the place for you beefeaters. Although quite pricy for a goup together or a pair I'd say. Depends if you want to go all out.
(5)
Sean M.
WoW! A dining experience to remember. Very cool ambiance, outstanding food and impeccable service. The meat is some of the best I have ever had, and there is no salad bar like the one at Fogo de Chao. The food is expensive, but totally worth it! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
(5)
Nikki M.
Very cool place! The service is oustanding. Worth the price for sure. I liked the experience. The entire menu concept is unlike anything else in the Twin Cities. The salad bar was awsome. All three sides; polenta, potatos and plantains were delicious. And the meat.So many options,so good,but my favorrite was the filet mignon. Go.Just dont go expecting to eat light :)
(5)
Sabrina L.
I really do like Fogo. I've gone to Fogo four times, but this last experience really left me with negative feelings even after waiting a few days to see if my feelings would change. I went last Thursday, on October 25th for restaurant week with a group of 19 friends. During restaurant week, Fogo advertises a dinner for $30 dollars including dessert. I had never had dessert at Fogo before and all my friends raved about the amazing selection, so I was definitely hyped up. Dinner was great, but when dessert came, the manager came and told our tables, not only were we not getting to pick our desserts we weren't even going to get our own individualized desserts as advertised because our group was so big. We would have to share desserts family style. On top of that he only brought out desserts that were clearly not high on demand, so no popular molten lava, no creme brulee, but every other table although smaller got to choose what dessert they wanted and got there own. Had the manager approached every guest in the restaurant the same way by not giving them a choice and having them share family style, i would have been more understanding, but he pinpointed our table to choose not to honor the deal as advertised for restaurant week. If Fogo can't handle the demand for restaurant week and the number of customers it attracts then they shouldn't participate and promise what they can't give.
(2)
A P.
Boom! I ate here with my wife for my Birthday. The food was excellent. She has an allergy to Gluten, must the staff was fully aware of what she could and could not eat. Spendy! So watch out and make sure you are ready for the commitment. I would absolutely go back. They offer 15 meats, 4 are really great, 8 are good, and the rest... The fillet mignon was the best that night, but still doesn't beat Gianni's.
(4)
Cara B.
This is the best restaurant EVER! I have never had poor service or food quality that was less than perfect.
(5)
Frank G.
I went to Fogo de Chao on Thursday for lunch with 4 of my friends. We were all WOWED by the FANTASTIC customer service!! Along with the FANTASTIC SALAD Buffet and the 15 meats that they bring to the table. There was not a one item that we did not like. Matt and the rest of the amazing staff did a AWESOME job!!! Can't wait to get back to FOGO!!!!!
(5)
Rego S.
The best service I've ever gotten at a Brazilian barbecue in the US. I'm used to resigning myself to whatever meats are going around, but at this place, they'll even stop by and ask if there's a certain meat you're looking for, and then they'll bring it right out in just a couple minutes. This plus the salad bar complete with fresh mozzarella etc. was definitely worth the $40 prix fixe. My only suggestion for improvement would be a "START HERE" sign at the salad bar because when it gets crowded, there's no defined line and people get confused and frustrated. Stacking the plates at the salad bar instead of a separate table would help too.
(5)
tammika s.
Fogo de chao is a great place if you're looking for delicious food served by hot guys wearing gauchos. The salad bar is terrific...I love the smoked salmon with ciabatta. The warm cheese bread will melt in your mouth. The fried bananas are tasty and the meat is delectable! For a beverage, I usually have a quarana...it's similar to a ginger ale with cherry flavor. Lunch is $26 and dinner is $48.
(4)
johanna s.
Three relatives, my boyfriend and I celebrated four birthdays at Fogo De Chao last Friday. I found it to be a wonderful, meatastic experience! All of the previous reviews of this place are correct- the salad bar kicks serious butt (GIANT asparagus, killer fruit salad, smoked salmon, fresh mozzarella), there are 15 kinds of meat coming at you and it costs about $50/person. The food was great, no question. I would honestly feel like I had a good meal if I had just eaten off the salad bar. The meat was very well seasoned and met the picky expectations of my family. My mother is a huge fan of lamb and found theirs to be quite delicious. She made sounds while eating the lamb that I'm still not sure I should have witnessed as her daughter. I turned the tables on her when devouring the bottom roast and the garlic beef. Yum, yum, yum, yum, yum! As I chewed on beef with my eyes closed, I wanted to write an ode to the meat, celebrating it's perfectly seasoned juiciness and unlimited availability. I found the service (beyond the gauchos) to be excellent as well. I had a reservation for 6pm and arrived a bit late...the hostess was nothing but pleasant and seated us at a great table. Our server was extremely attentive and made sure that the meats we wanted more of made it to our table (sometimes he would have us flip our coins to the 'stop' side and would simply send over the meat guy of our choice, so we weren't constantly bombarded by other meats we didn't want). All things supplemental to the meat (sides and beverages) were constantly being refilled. My water glass ever became less than half full. There was never a lack of potatoes to dig into. Some of us had coffee at the end of the meal- not only did I ever run out of coffee, but instead of just filling my cup with more the server would bring a whole new cup. I really dug that. Your plates also get replaced on occasion, which is another nice touch. I enjoyed devouring a series of meat and then taking a breather...when I was ready to dig in again I had a fresh, clean plate waiting for me. Since we were celebrating four birthdays that evening, the server gave us four free deserts at the end of the meal. Sure, everybody said they didn't want any desert, but when I ordered two kinds of cheesecake, a key lime pie and a creme brulee...well, there was barely a desert carcass left over when we got up from the table. The deserts were greatly enjoyed by all of us. I found the cheesecake to be especially tasty and others enjoyed the key lime pie, noting it's lovely tartness. So, there you go. I went and conquered the land o' meat and look forward to another meat coma soon. Great food, great service and definitely worth the cost in my opinion.
(5)
Melissa M.
Great food and atmosphere. The staff is extremely friendly and accommodating.
(4)
Chris P.
I have been here several times before and have always had a great experience. The salad bar alone is worth the trip and if I recall, you can get a salad bar only meal. For those who have never been here it is an all you can eat Brazilian style steak house restaurant. The selections of food on the salad bar are always fresh and delicious. I am a big fan of the heart of palm and the asparagus as well as cheese selections. If you are vegan you have wide selections. For you carnivores the bowl of bacon strips next to the Cesar Salad will win you over. Now for the main course. The servers walk around with the fresh cooked meats on their spits (looks more like knives to me and I am sure there is a term for these) and all you do is turn over the card on your table, green side up means I want more and red side up means to hold off. The servers are always friendly and offer you the wide selection of their goods. As a friend said, how can you go wrong at a restaurant with hot men serving you meat? My favorite is the Pichanha (Top Sirloin). I like the seasoning but some may prefer the light version which does not have as much garlic and salt rub. Another great specialty is the Lombo (Pork Loin) which is crusted in Parmesan cheese. The best way to enjoy is to try a little of everything and then get seconds on what you really like. Yes, you may call it expensive but it is worth it for a nice evening.
(5)
Nate R.
Outstanding meat selections and the sides were also good. The service was excellent. Our waiter and "the sword guys" were attentive and polite. Their wine selection was good and they helped us make some good picks. However, it's not cheap. And beware the man wandering around offering after-dinner drinks. You can rack up a huge, huge bill with this friendly gentleman!
(5)
S A.
It's not fast food, but the food comes really fast and often. Amazing Salad Bar. House drink "Caipirinha" tastes like limeaide. made with Cachaça, the most popular distilled alcoholic beverage in Brazil. Picanha is my favorite cut of meat.
(5)
D L.
I went here with a friend on a relatively busy weekday for lunch. When we started lunch the room was quite empty, but by the time we finished (with a break in between!) the room was very full and not once did I notice a decline in service. The service here was fantastic as was the food. I would give 5 stars on the salad bar alone - I've never seen such a generous display of artichoke hearts, roasted peppers, or hearts of palm in a salad bar. The meats offered were pretty distinct in flavor and the selection was nice. I like the fact that you can choose if you want your meats well done, medium, etc. You'd think that with all the walking around the waiters have to do that the meats would be cold by the time they get to you, but it's not. In fact, the meats served were perfect. The waiters are also really attentive and kept our table clean with fresh plates. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone who loves meat and really good salad.
(5)
Chris W.
Amazing meaty goodness. A Brazilian steakhouse right downtown. The premise is you basically get a few apps served at the table, a fantastic salad bar, then a little stop/go light where you flip the little card over from the red stop light to the green go side a bunch of guys with skewers of mean swarm in like bees on honey. I would typically fast prior to a dinner like this for a couple of days but, the free Jimmy Johns for lunch took me by surprise, I did however cease eating (it was difficult but, I did it). Upon arrival none of us fell for the apps and immediately hit the salad bar where they had alot of fantastic selection. I grabbed a bunch of stuff to try in very tiny portions, just a taste, along with some possible complements to the meaty goodness that was sure to follow. They had everything from fresh mozzarella (fresh the balls) to marinated portobello's, all good stuff. We were offered separate plates for the meaty goodness that was about to be set upon us. The co-worker sitting next to me flipped his card over thinking it was mine and they started swarming. The lamb chops arrived first, fantastic stuff, I put that on my list of skewers to watch for. Having a party of 5 people with the power to have a constant flow of skewers coming to the tables (sometimes we had 3-4 skewers at a time) was great, if the sausage comes around to the guy who flips his card it's a pass if the filet comes by you just show some interest and it's yours ('keep it coming', 'more', 'more', 'more'). Carefully I timed my food consumption so that I could consume several pounds of meat before my brain would signal my stomach it was full, although, I did'nt eat too hastily, I just did'nt take my time about it. I tried almost everything at least once including the sausage (I love sausage and while it's good the beef and lamb was much better). I passed on all other porks and focused on the beef and the lamb chops. The lamb chops only came by twice. They has several varieties of beef all had different types of crust. I am more of a medium rare guy so I typically would end up with several slices of the stuff. Once I hit the 48oz mark or so, I started trying the various apps on the table, they were all good, in fact I had a couple of banana things and some of the other fried foods. Oh, the other thing was iced tea. No filling beer, etc. I think I had 6 glasses or so it would just keep filling itself up. $47.50/head. getting to the restroom was a bit of a challenge due to the maze they were forced to put up due to a couple of large parties, I saw a couple tables aligned with 20+ people so they are able to accommodate fairly large groups. I also took the opportunity to walk through the rear where they had an open dining room, and a partitioned dining room where they were setting up for a private company type event. It was a Wed night and the main dining room was packed solid, our reservations were for 45 minutes prior to but, it was not a problem. I have heard that even with reservations you may have to wait on some of the hotter evenings. I had toyed with the idea of bringing several square feet of aluminum foil and gallon sized zip locks but, forgot to grab them on my way out of the house in the morning. Overall it was an amazing dining experience, one that I will be planning for again ASARP. (as soon as reasonably possible) A meat lovers paradise (especially beef). Go hungry, go often, don't forget the ziplocks (although I am sure this practice is banned I am quite good at it in stealth). If you should get stuck with a dud (don't like the sausage) forget about it and press forward to the next surprise. I flipped my card very few times, my strategy was to wait for the cut of meat I was after to show up next to someone else then wave them over. I would definitely recommend trying a little bit of everything.
(5)
Nick M.
4 stars only because I have better in Miami, but IMHO, we are talking about differing degrees of deliciousness (any place I can ingest pounds of meat at one sitting is aces 10 in my book). Take your time, and don't be afraid to ask the staff to send over your favorite cuts.
(4)
Jered R.
Great food and even better service I ran across another one of these when I was down in atlanta, when I found out they had one in minnesota I had to visit. it was a great night and the staff worked hard to make it so. Dispite an overflowing line (which we made reservations before hand so were not subject to) The watress made sure everything on the table was neat and cleaned up glasses full and all our sides nice and warm. Best service I have ever had. The food is amazing, I am not one for salad bars so I did not frequent it but it was all tender, perfectly done and so well seasoned that you did not want to add one single thing to the plate Great place and unique
(5)
Christopher Q.
I've not been to Brazil and so I admit I'm no authority to really judge but I've tried Brazilian steak joints all over the country. This is one of the best ones around. Also one of the priciest .The quality justified the price and all the meat I tried were good. I would so come here again cos it certainly satisfied my appetite.
(3)
Tom L.
We went here for my wife's birthday and had a great time. The salad bar lived up to the other reviewer's comments, and I agree that the filet and house special are the two best meat choices. The prime rib cuts were a bit tough, but the sausage and pork were very good. The lamb was not that great. The staff are extremely fast; once you indicate that you are ready for more meat (by flipping over your table card) you are immediately served by a gaucho. We skipped lunch that day so had plenty of room for the great dinner - I recommend that to others. With 4 of us and a bottle of wine we spent $250, definitely worth it for a special occasion.
(4)
Mike C.
WOW!!!! I don't know if I can add much to the glowing reviews already published. The hostess greeted our party of four with a huge smile and a cheery 'welcome to Fogo de Chao. We were seated quickly and one of the army of staff was right there to explain how the meal would be served, and he explained the use of the red/green disc, waiting at his side was a waiter who asked offered us ice water and asked if we wanted drinks. Beers were ordered and a house special for my sister-in-law whose birthday we were celebrating. Off to the salad bar, the appropriate response on first seeing it is OMG! OMG there laid out neatly was smoked salmon, prosciutto, salamis and cheeses cut into wedges, all very much crying out to be eaten, but wait there is more, OMG, again, heart of palm, artichoke hearts, sundried tomatoes in olive oil, mozzarella balls, sliced tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, asparagus spears, and so much more. Not your typical salad bar, not even close, there is even a staff member handing you your salad plate as approach the salad bar. Don't pile your plate, walk around once to see what is there, then carefully select just enough to fully awaken your appetite, remember you will soon be tasting fifteen different meats served on huge skewers, cooked to perfection, OMG, again! Then back to the table, beers poured and inviting. There is cheese breads, not like you have had before eating here, little glossy yellow almost popover looking, and very yummy, but don't eat too much, MEAT awaits! Let the feast continue, here comes the first meat attack, we didn't have to turn our discs to green, an empty salad plate was all that was needed for the chef with the top sirloin to be alerted to our needs, then like a line of taxis cab at a taxi rank, as one chef delivered and left the next appeared, quick where is the red disc! We ate, the meats were as perfectly cooked as I have ever had, rare with juices dripping, hot and oh so tasty, try saying OMG with a mouth filled with rare top side sirloin, it's not easy but you keep wanting to say OMG. I paused and looked around. The tables around us were filled with smiling diners, all saying OMG, or something similar and all smiling, big smiles, the smiles of diners eating one of the best meat feasts ever. I watched the chefs rushing around in their Gaucho pants, tucked into black boots and held up by really neat wide black leather gaucho belts, all smiling. OK pause over back to the meat feast, prime rib, lamb chops, leg of lamb, filet mignon, and chicken legs, there is even sausage which I didn't get to try, next time I will. Oh and the side dishes, garlic mash, crispy fried polenta and fried bananas, all very tasty and a wonderful distraction for taste buds bombarded with meat juices and OMG, I am salivating as I write this! The side dishes must have RFID chips in the dish such that when two servings have been taken a message alerts the server to replace the dish with more! Now we are all pausing again. No this time we are done, approaching meat overload, pleasantly about to burst, and then dessert is mentioned. OK this can't be passed up; flan, key lime pie and papaya cream are ordered. The flan, one of my all time favourite dessert dishes since I had my first one in Spain and lots more in Portugal, was absolutely one of the best I have ever had. The Key lime pie had just the right amount of lime and sweetness and caramel toffee tastes, the papaya cream is subtle, smooth and creamy. WOW! What an experience. Try it, do lunch, the same menu as dinner but less spendy, but do try it.
(5)
Jason S.
Welcome to the Meat Parade! I've been to a number of Churrascarias--some chains and some local. Out of the four that I've been to, Fogo De Chao is my favorite. FIrst, I must mention how accomodating they were to a business.dinner that I attended. We had planned a dinner for which we expected about fifty people. We only ended up with about 20. They treated us very fairly and only charged us for those who showed...even though they could have charged us for more. Now back to the food. This place would cause vegetarian nightmares. (although there is an outstanding salad bar, with a huge variety of produce, meats, and cheese) For meat eaters, it's spectacular. As long as you keep the disc at your table turned to green, the waiters will continually bring you a variety of meats. All of the meats are flavorful. I found the beef to be the most consistently good. Some of the pork was a bit on the salty side, and I wasn't a big fan of the linguica (sausage). However, most everything was well-prepared, and the service was very attentive. (They also made a point of asking me if there were any specific meats that I wanted them to bring back around for further enjoyment). If you have a designated driver, or are staying at a hotel within walking distance, enjoy some of their drinks. They have a number of specialy beverages--pricey but enjoyable. And everyone at our table raved about their dessert. I enjoy this genre of restaurant, and believe that Fogo is at the top of the churrascaria game.
(4)
Jerome W.
We were on vacation inn Minneapolis and decided to go to Fogo de Chao near the corner of Hennepin and seventh. The restaurant is centrally located in the midst of activity near Target Center and so street parking is non existent but there's lots of parking structures and lots around. We have been to many churrascarias but this one is the best of all. We found the service to be excellent with many cuts of meat (variety of 15) but also the waiter/waitress service was very attentive. So, there is a salad bar included and my faves are the hearts of palm, artichoke hearts and dried tomatos...items not usually available at standard salad bars. Hot dishes brought to each table consist of warm cheese biscuits, very unique, fried polenta and mashed potatoes and fried bananas. When the meat is sliced you can have a choice of rare or well done slices and of course, as much as you please. I liked the filet mignon, but honestly there was nothing I didn't like. One item not tried was the leg of lamb but I can say it looked fantastic. The place was crowded for a lunch, but I would suggest better to go when it's crowded than empty because the food turns over faster. Everyone I saw was having a great time. Also to note, the bathrooms were clean and on the way out there were beautiful chocolates along with my standard matchbook souvenir.
(5)
K G.
Most of my friends in Minnesota RAVE about this place so I figured I had to try it while I was in town. When you walk in, the ambience is really nice and they certainly go the extra mile to make it a fancy restaurant. The salad bar is ok, not that special. The meats are ok, most were pretty dry. The filet was the best, of course they only bring that around every 15th trip because it's the most expensive. The servers were nice, except when you ask for something specific (we asked for a certain meat cooked well done and waited at least 20 minutes). The whole green card/red card thing seemed a little tacky for a restaurant like that...I'd almost rather order the few kinds I wanted and have them bring it out on a plate. The polenta was really good - a highlight for me. The mashed potatoes I could have made better at home. But the worst part was the check - good lord, what a ripoff! It's like $60-70 bucks per person. I'd go to Manny's to spend this kind of dough, it's a way better meal.
(2)
Nick C.
I went to Fogo de Chao a couple of days ago for a business dinner and enjoyed every minute of it. The atmosphere is great, very lively and energetic, even on a Wednesday. The food is quite good and it is a fun dining experience. This place is the ultimate guy destination if you think about it, all you can eat meat served on swords... what more can you ask for! A couple of warnings, go light at the salad bar... everything is great, but make sure not to fill up before the meat brigade begins and be sure not to wear tight pants, you are going to eat, a lot... sweat pants may even be the best option. . The only real complaint I have is that when you have your poker chip flipped to green the service can get overwhelming to the point that you forget which meat you are enjoying. A couple of my favorites were the garlic pork, top tenderloin, and the chicken... yes the chicken. The wine list is also very nice, and if you search hard enough, you can find some pretty decent deals (relatively speaking). Overall, Fogo de Chao was a very nice place and I wouldn't hesitate to go back, especially for business.
(4)
GAIL V.
Yep Its as good as it gets ...I love fogo de chao!! Where can you find this much meat served constantly until you are too full too move?? LOVE IT!!!
(5)
Meg L.
For a special outing, or just an outing if you can afford it, was stupendous. Great food, lovely salad bar, great service. The meat the constantly bring to your table is like something that happens in a good dream, and you wake up and go, gee I wish that was real!! For 47.50 pp, it can be! Dont fall for the starchy stuff they bring you as sides. Its good, but not "charred garlicky flavored flesh delivered tableside good". As a girl from Kansas City, where a BBQed side of beef is eaten at any given picnic/tailgate...this was the answer to my prayers.
(5)
E V.
A carnivore's dream come true! The meat is outstanding and out of this world!! Fogo's meat selection inclues pork, lamb, chicken, linguisa and of course who could ever forget the BEEF? The beef is seasoned gaucho sytle! (with sea salt)!! I recommend you start with the sirloins, then move to filet mignon, followed by picanha (brazilian specialty cut) and eventually ending with my favorite ancho beef (rib eye). Be very careful!! The salad bar is gorgeous and it has a wide selection of goodies. From experience, I say skip the salad bar and head straight for the gusto. However if you simply can't leave the salad bar alone, let's just say you won't be dissapointed. I've been to Fogo de Chao in Beverly Hills several times (since I live in Los Angeles)!! My wife is from Hastings, MN so I decided to yelp this location especially because of the price difference. As is, Fogo is worth every cent, but this location is over $20 cheaper for dinner then out here on the west coast!!! I would give this location 6 stars!!!! Service 5 stars Cost 6 stars Food 5 stars Ambiance 5 stars
(5)
Diane W.
Everybody talks about the meat and the service--both are amazing, so come hungry! And, make reservations! But, I'd like to highlight the salad bar, which was beautiful with fresh choices and their AMAZINGLY wonderful Flan dessert--the best I ever had! My husband got the Flan dessert free for his birthday and they decorated the plate with "Happy Birthday," a candle and an edible flower. Such a nice touch--but, the flavor and mouth feel was so wonderful, they could have served it on a paper plate and I would have enjoyed it as much (my husband let me "taste." I "tasted" a lot!)
(5)
DM L.
Great salad bar and attentive staff. Filet and chicken drums were the best, although all the meats were salty. Fun to try but wouldn't go back.
(3)
Ra M.
Great and expensive. Only worth it for those who like red meat though... Otherwise it's a waste of money.
(5)
Eleanor J.
Went here for a fun ladies' night with my sisters-in-law. Made a reservation 5 days in advance, online. We received several confirmation emails about the reservation via email, but when we showed up on-time, they seemed to be having trouble finding it. So 30 minutes after our reservation we were finally seated. Our server recommended the Caipirinha, which was so boozy it was undrinkable. I've had them frequently in the past, and they are typically refreshing, not chewy. The salad bar was disappointing- not as many salads as I remember, and the cheesy potatoes weren't cheesy at all. Mostly a flour roux-goo. The meats were tasty, but service was slow and repetitive. Never did see the bacon-wrapped filet, which was disappointing. At the end of the meal, our server asked us if we were celebrating an event (the second visit she made to our table all evening), a fact which was clearly denoted on our reservation. So I ruined the birthday surprise for my sister-in-law, and she got us a papaya cream. It was the worst thing - tasted like melted vanilla ice cream and gooey heavy cream. Left a nasty film in my mouth. Bummer. I was way disappointed. The extra star was for despite all of these lapses, my sister-in-law had a blast and she didn't seem to notice the issues.
(2)
Jack F.
As far as Brazilian barbecue goes, this is great! I was there for lunch which was $35 for a walking meat buffet. The interior of the restaurant is pretty amazing, nice vaulted ceiling surrounding their 'salad bar', I put that in quotes because it consisted of prosciutto, smoked salmon, salami, variety of fresh cheese, and of course many types of salads. If you're a VEGETARIAN don't fret, you can get just the salad bar as an option! **TIP** don't get all crazy and fill up on that salad! Also make sure you dominate their refillable limeade. Very tasty with the perfect acidity to keep your appetite going! Alas the meat! If you haven't been there they have a disc you can flip with red on one side and green on the other. Red means stop and green means go, and when its green you will be swarmed from all side with Pit master, for lack of a better term, with saber's of meat that some may offer perfect temperature meat from medium rare to well done. There are a multitude of choices from different types; lamb, beef, pork, chicken and different cuts from sirloins to tenderloins. My favorite was the lamb chops, so tender and perfectly seasoned. My least favorite was the garlic pork, it was crusted in parmesan cheese as well. They also have complimentary sides that are refillable, our table had these delicate cheese filled popovers, mash potatoes, and fried polenta (looks like Mc'D french toast sticks) They were all very tasty I especially liked the popovers. Final Word: I would go back on special occasions, if i were a meat fanatic I would give it 5 stars, but it was a bit too much meat ratio for my taste. So I would say a high 4! #meatsweats, #meatcoma #GreenAllDay
(4)
Isaac A.
Come hungry! The salad bar is a necessary trip, included in the dinner price. The drinks are pricy but they're strong and very good! My waitstaff have always been very friendly and accommodating! The cheesecake is actual New York cheesecake-a big slice! My first time here, I arrived after a Twins' game wearing only my Johan Santana shirt and jeans. You quickly realize the dress code! That waiter did not mind and we even talked about the various Twins' players that come here. Later in the night, my waiter told me Francisco Liriano was there, two tables behind me! It was suggested I go over and say hi, which I did. I got my picture taken and was star struck! I couldn't eat after that but the experience was amazing!
(5)
Jake M.
I went here with the wife. Heard a lot of good things from people we know. And obviously yelp has good things to say about the place as well. So since we were able to get rid of the kids for the night we thought we would try this place out. The service was great. This place is all about service too as the meat is ferried around from table to table for people wanting more. We never ran out of food at any point. The times we had a special request they were prompt to get what we asked for. The salad bar was pretty good. I'm sure it's actually excellent and more me not being used to the types of salads they had to offer. But I did find a couple things I liked as the selection is vast. As for the meat it was good. The meat is not crazy seasoned and there's no sauces. So if you like salted grilled meats great place to eat. For me I like more flavor added to the meat when I eat it. I think it's really personal preference on how you enjoy your food. For me it was fun to go, try and eat for the night. But I doubt I'll be going back. Please be aware this place is expensive! I knew that going in, $50 per person with no drinks or deserts or extras. Plus you'll be leaving a tip. I'm only bringing it up as the table next to us left no tip and this place is very service driven. So go give it a try! It deserves at least that much. And maybe you'll like how they cook and serve their meats more than I and decide to go back!
(4)
Lisa B.
I've been wanting to dine here for a couple of years. We could never get reservations when we wanted to go. Maybe I built it up too much in my mind, but it was sub-par. I've had better steak. We each had two cocktails and then the standard meal. We had a creme brulee at the end of the night. The food was okay, but not great. Definitely NOT worth the $230.00 my bill ended up being. If I were going to spend that much money on a meal I expect something a lot better. It also has a buffet atmosphere. A lot of kids and big families there. I expected a quieter and nicer dining experience. I dressed up for the occasion and it was not necessary. Don't quite understand the hype. Probably won't eat here again. I've had better dining experiences for a lot less.
(2)
Shannon H.
We love Fogo. Like to eat here whenever we can. Servers are helpful, polite, awesome. Have always gone with a reservation and have always been seated right away. The meat is delicious! Makes me wanna go right now.
(5)
Yuqing L.
Great self-served salad bar. Not a good deal for people who cannot eat that much.... won't go there if I need to pay by myself. :P Good to treat male friends who eat a lot. LOL
(4)
Garry W.
5th annual Fathers Day visit to Fogo, love that they give you a gift card for a free meal on a return visit - even though it expires in less than 60 days. Food as always is fabulous and the service exceptional. Love the salad bar, though easy to fill up and not enjoy as much meat since you are too full. Disappointed that the much-advertised shrimp, either grilled or chilled, is not included on the $49,99 pricetag - in fact, it's a very expensive add-on. With 2 kids in tow, it is just too expensive. They need to come up with some shrimp on the skewer that is included, even if it's only one or two pieces. Price tag for 3 with drinks and tip was well over $200.00. Once a year special occasion is fine, but prohibitive any other time. Otherwise a great meal, lots of fun, good memories. One star deducted for misleading shrimp advertising and high prices.
(4)
Phillip Y.
Well, I came here with my girlfriend's family to check it out during restaurant week. So, it was about $30 or half-off regular price. I would have to say that everything was wonderful and also a blur since my stomach was full. There are lots to decide from beef, lamb, chicken, etc. However, you have to be very selective or will end up eating alot- missing out on other higher premium meats. I thought the salad bar was very good but also really different. You get a circular card to place next to your plate to turn GREEN for more meat or RED for no meat. Get use to turning RED when you see alot of meat being recycled. I remembered that alot of people waited for lamb before turning GREEN. So, be sure to have a plan and stick to it:)
(4)
Andrew T.
Alright, I had anticipated going to this place quite a bit. Its a pretty nifty place. You flip a disc over for a server to come and serve you the meats. The rest of the meal consists of a salad bar with tons of choices.The vegetables and stuff were really fresh. I had mushrooms, jalepenos, potato salad, apple salad, smoked salmon, parmesean cheese, some really good kind of greens, black beans, pico de gaillo and a few more things for my salad. Oh plus those kalamata olives - excelente. Theres also some bread given throughout the meal which was warm and soft - really good. They also give you pollenta, fried bananas and one other fried potato type thing which were all good too. The meats I had were filet mignon, ribeye, chicken, sausage, pork ribs, and lamb chops. The steaks were pretty much average. Cooked about medium and seasoned with salt and pepper. The ribs were good, but not rubbed with anything special. The chicken was so so. The lamb chops were pretty tough but not terrible. The sausage however was great; my favorite of the meats. The wine I had, which was a cabernet sauvignon, was absolutely wonderful. I wish I knew where it was made. Now for the biggest downer of the night: The prices. Boy ohh boy at 50 bucks a plate plus drinks and tip, I was not particularly blown away by the meal. I mean the service is great, the whole experience was fun and different, but man.... the price is up there for a solid 4 out of 5 in my opinion. Another minus was the lack of sauces with the meats. I will go back someday when I have the funds because of its uniqueness and that wine I got. But I will not make a habit of dining here.
(4)
Yan Z.
Pretty good food but their chef can't really handle lamb, because their lamb always has the bad and heavy mutton odour or that's the Brazilian BBQ should be(maybe). Overall, this restaurant is a very fancy and good tasty.
(4)
Meghann F.
Came here last night with some out of town visitors. It was decent food, I guess maybe it's not really for me - since I don't love buffets and I usually go light on the meat. The salad bar was good, but from everything I have heard about the amazing-ness of it, i expected it to blow me out of the water. Definitely could have just made a meal out of this! The meat was good, whenever you turned your coaster to green they were on you like vultures!! I ate a lot of lamb, and beef and tried the chicken and sausage, some was really good, some was meh. The wine list was extensive, and expensive! Dessert was good but also overpriced - $10 for pretty much anything - oh but $8 for a scoop of ice cream. I left more than uncomfortably full. Don't get me wrong, it was good - but to me was overpriced. You can get an amazing meal for less at any of the non chain restaurants down the street.
(3)
Maria Y.
Salad bar was good. Beef was good...wish I had steak sauce. Lamb chops, ribs, sausage and meatballs were my favorite. The pork was really dry. The waiters and servers were really nice. Can't wait to go again.
(4)
Ashley P.
Fantastic experience! For my husband's 30th birthday we gathered a group of family ages 29-98 for a fantastic celebration. Aside from the phenomenal non-stop selections of beef, poultry, pork, lamb, sides and salads the service alone was worth a return. We certainly appreciated the birthday surprises but adored the special attention our soon-to-be 99-year old aunt received from all levels of staff, thank you all!
(5)
Cindy D.
I usually come here during special occasions like birthdays, celebrations and of course RESTAURANT WEEK! Imagine coming here all the time spending money on these crazy meat!-I would be homeless for a year. Here is a little tip about this place, the minute you find out there is a restaurant week....MAKE RESERVATION QUICK! Seriously do that! (Regular price is $50 but $30 for RW) This place is insane crazy packed during that time, but their service is amazingly fast! Try to make reservation around 6 or 7 so you wouldn't be full eating too much meat. I would suggest take a day off the next day if you need to or go work out:) I would not suggest to get drinks here since they are super expensive, just pre-drinks at home or go to a bar. Their salad bar is soooooo goooooood! Their meat are so tender and juicy that you don't need sauce at all but since I am a sauce person, I usually ask for all of them. You will definitely see me here soon. Since it is located in downtown Minneapolis, parking is kind of hard to find meter parking. They do valet for $10 but there is a Park and Shop that is a block away from the restaurant, after 4 or 5pm it is $5. We came here last night and there was a guy sitting next to us brought his own set of knives attached to his waist.. thought that was pretty awesome! Next time I'm bringing my own asian spicy sauce! Just want to say ENJOY!
(4)
Burkhard T.
Best lunch ever Any kind of meat any time and it all tastes great. The meat is we flavored and they cook if to order. The service is awesome. They are friendly, spot on and very attentive. Prices are high but we'll worth it.
(5)
Zachary H.
You get what you pay for and the experience here is second to none. With a full bar, endless food and a super friendly and professional staff, a stop at Fogo de Chao will be a night to remember. Remember to save plenty of room for all the meat that they slice right at your table!!!!
(5)
Mary S.
Went here on a Monday night, this is the kind of place you should go to on a weekend when it's busy, tons of food sitting out dried up because it's not getting eaten, paid 50 dollars a person and ate half of what we should have, you can't eat fried up smoked salmon and deli meats, the cheeses were great, one of the salads was good, then we got rice and scalloped potatoes, those were very good, guys come around with all types of meats on skewers and slice onto your plate, tasty, only two things O thought were not right, one is that there should be some sort of seafood option included, the second is that there should be a dessert bar for this price,
(3)
Jason S.
I don't care what everyone else who gave it less then 5 stars say and chances are they are the worst kind of customers. Yes there are bad customers. If you are needy, often upset (like all the time), and when you go out to eat nothing is ever perfect for you. Do yourself a favor and stay inside your house and never go out again, and if you so go out never speak because you are a terrible person. This place has top of the line service and if you knew how much a cut of filet mignon is then you would never complains about the prices again. This place deserves 5 stars just for the limeade they serve, unbelievably good.
(5)
Lina H.
I have a love and hate relationship for FOGO! I love the place because the red sangria is so refreshingly yummy! just the way i want it prepared for me.. with freshly diced fruits and made with a high quality branded wine. The meat servers are always so tentative to my needs. If they didnt serve me the cut i want, they go out of their way to go get it! "House special please!".. the cheese balls are to die for.. i have no idea how many calories are in that thing but they are so yummy that i cant help pooping at least 4 of them before the actually dinner... all you can eat meat, salad bar and cheese bars... perfect for a carnivore such as myself. i hate this place because i end up over eating every single time... causing me to hit the gym double the amount i already do. Fogo is great for dates, special occasions and if you're super hungry. Dinner is around $50 a person Lunch is around $28 a person
(5)
Keith S.
Ya know...I think my favorite thing that I had here was the caipirinha. It was just that good and exposed me to cachaca which I now stock in my fridge. I always heard about how amazing the salad bar was but you never touched it because the meat was so good. I'm not sure I agree. The salad bar was good, but really I was expecting more from an options standpoint. Quality was there, just not the quantity. Meat. You already know. It was all exceptional, however I wish they were a little more subtle with how they served it. It seemed to be feast or famine. You'd have nothing for a little bit and then have 8 guys slinging knives around you trying to fill your plate. I'd like it to be a little more relaxed. Service was great though, very attentive and they did well in filling a few requests from our large party for certain cuts to return to the table. I would NOT come here on an early date. Something I realized as I saw a few couples walking in/out. This place is a glorified (legitimately) buffet. You don't take dates to buffets. Need to have that relationship comfortable before you stuff your face this much.
(4)
Joy H.
If I'm ever a vegan, I think I'd convert right back to omnomnomnomnivorism when I go to Fogo de Chao. With 17 different cuts of meat and scrumptious brazilian side dishes, this is one meaty paradise to mindlessly indulge your delights in. I tried to starve myself throughout the day in preparation of the feast that was to come. And yet, as ravenous as I was, I could only eat about 2 plates of food before waving a white flag (or flip up the red tag). The whole ordeal was just too much. Nevermind the 17 varieties of meat--I didn't even get to try all the dishes that the salad bar has to offer. Since the event was for a friend's bday, I also brought in a cake for the end-of-the-meal festivity. Needless to say, none of us could eat a whole slice by the time it was brought out. And, yes, this was even after the unbuttoning of pants/loosening of belts was accounted for. The food was THAT good that we couldn't stop ourselves from filling it into all the void spaces of our stomachs. Cardiac arrest? Worth it. I never felt so barbarian as I did when I was there. This is definitely a place you should only try once in a blue moon. I wouldn't be returning there any time soon, but after losing the 5 lbs I probably gained from when I was last there, I'd heavily take it into consideration.
(4)
Jennie S.
Maybe this place is worth it if you really like this sort of thing. Our bill was $105 for two people and I only had the salad bar!
(2)
Claudia G.
I gave this place five stars but now I'm changing it to four. Why? Well the service is still great. (Minus the fact that some of the guys giving out the meat are kinda rude) the servers are attentive and the managers are always asking how you are doing which I like. However some of the cheese bread they bring out is kind of cold. Some are fresh out the oven and some taste like it's been sitting out for while. Also some of the meat tastes really dry and some come out too burnt. The lamb chops especially. The medium well is too bloody for my taste but the well done is too dry and burnt. Is there no happy middle? Anyways other that that I still like Fogo and hope to continue to go there.
(4)
Paige V.
Reservations at 8 pm on a Friday night. Cold bar was disappointing, expected more selection. Cheap cuts of meats kept making appearances after we made several, several requests for different cuts..asked by multiple waiters. Lamb & beef ribs showed up almost an hour after the 3rd request and was given the burnt ends & shamefully small amounts. We were never asked nor did the requested meats reappear again. Waiter disappeared for most of the time we were there. We did receive complimentary desserts for the birthday girls, but waited over 30 minutes. I would've have been happy to pay this price if the waiter was better, and annoyed I had to pay over $60 for tips for 6 people. If it was based on 'our' waiter alone, I'd ask him to pay for my dinner, but I appreciate the attentive gentlemen that stopped by with the skewers. Will not go back. Not worth it when our requests were neglected.
(2)
Cool Nutz X.
Ribs were a bit dry. Everything else was good. No roasted pineapple though, which was a staple item for me at any Brazilian Steakhouse. Staff was on point and the manager was very attentive. Always a good stop and great dining. Sodas are per bottle and not free refills.
(3)
ray t.
Classic all-you-can eat Brazilian steakhouse....a great value if you can arrive hungry and eat your share of meat. Meat - I tried all the meat offerings and they were delicious. None of it was dry, which can happen at these kinds of places when the meat doesn't turnover quickly and dries out & cools down as it's being circulated around the restaurant. Salad & sides bar - Huge selection...fresh veggies, cheeses, seafood, carbs, etc. Unfortunately, all the seafood selections were served cold, which didn't go well with the fact that it was less than 10 degrees F outside. :) Service - The place was packed, which caused the servers to run out of meat frequently, which meant a little wait for some selections of meat, but that's understandable. They were attentive...keeping out table bussed and glasses filled. Atmosphere - Even though it was packed, there were no lines at the salad/sides bar and it was still easy to hold a conversation at our table.
(4)
Jane V.
This is an ok restaurant. It's not as good as everyone says though. If you love meat, it sounds like a great concept, right? Problem is that protein fills you up fast and you won't be able to enjoy anything else, so you're really only eating less than $10 worth of meats/food for $60. I rather pay $60 for a really good steak and meal than $60 for a variety of ok meats. Salad bar wasn't that great either. The best thing I remember about this place was their papaya dessert.
(3)
Libby L.
The meat is good, but not like amazing. I think the salad bar doesn't have that much variety, but the quality is very good. I like this place, but I probably wouldn't go more than once a year.
(4)
mike r.
I love Fogo de Chao. I have never had a bad meal or time here. Make sure you go with a big appetite because you are going to be eating a lot. If you are someone who doesn't eat a lot, this might not be the place for you. The salad bar is great but be carefull because it is very easy to eat too much at the salad bar. There are far too many amazing types of food to choose from on the salad bar alone. When the meat starts making its way around to your table make sure to try it all. I dont know how they do it but every type of meat is just amazing. Always flavourful and juicy. The 'per plate" price may seem steep to some people but really i think that they could easily charge more for what you get. There is a cheaper option during the day but I personally have always been there for dinner. The deserts are also just as good as everything else there. If you want to go there and think it's too pricey, don't order any pop or alcohol. You will save a lot my not doing so. Personally, I say keep the red wine flowing with your meal here.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet, Garage Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Nicholas G.
Fogo De Chao Experience RED LIGHT, GREEN LIGHT - MEAT, MEAT, and MORE MEAT! Do I have your attention yet? The Fogo experience is like none other and one that should be shared with others looking for some guidance. Why Guidance? You may be getting into something you're not prepared for, something your taste buds may thank you for or maybe not depending on the person. The explosion of flavors you're about to encounter could be a little much and my fiance and I realized that there is actually options to approaching this meat intake extravaganza. One way is to simply accept the slice the specialist is about to give you from a freshly cooked piece of heaven. That's just fine, but another great option we found was to wait for a carving specialist that has already made a few cuts to his meat. Reason being, is that you'll actually get to taste your heaven and not just the amount of seasoning that they use to cook and prepare their delicacy. The Beef Ancho(rib eye) was by far one of the best cuts of beef we have ever tasted and recommend trying first so that your taste buds are warmed up. Another excellent selection was the house special, Picanha(top sirloin) and ask for a cut from the medium rare - medium for best results. Although I am a fan of lamb, I personally thought that it was over cooked. Be prepared to enjoy one of the best salad bars in the Metro! Pick from two prepared salad choices, two selections of prosciutto & cheese combinations, several veggie varieties and three pasta dishes. One of our recommendations is the potato salad and a must have if you plan on visiting for the first time. Finally, the Fogo experience truly is like none other and the concept of a green and red coaster telling the carving specialist whether or not you would like some more goodness is a cleaver idea. For anyone who wants to see what it's like to eat at an all inclusive resort or cruise liner, this is the place to visit. The staff is at all times ready to serve you, see to it that your table is clean at all times, ensure your side dishes are fresh and that you're choice of meat is near your table and readily available if needed. Yes Fogo is on the expensive side, but never-the-less a place to try at least once in your life.
(4)JR W.
Friends took us to Fogo de Chao for dinner last Thursday. I was looking forward to a good time with friends, but didn't have very high expectations of the restaurant. I had heard about the concept, and the thought of people walking around and carving pieces of meat onto my plate didn't sound like the high-end experience for which we were paying. My perceptions were wrong. I enjoyed the entire experience. The food was wonderful. My regret about the salad bar was that I didn't have enough room in my stomach for a second trip. It was possibly the best salad bar I've ever experienced. Then came the meat. I loved it. The meat was seasoned wonderfully, and it was tender. I ate too much, but it was worth it! The service was very good, and the ambiance was nice. Try it!
(4)Scott L.
I had never eaten at this location, and when it was suggested we go there with some friends from out of town, I was a little bummed because MSP has so many unique non-chain places to eat but I was impressed with the decor and the staff. If you've never eaten at a Brazilian BBQ, Fogo is the most authentic of the chains out there. I've spent a fair amount of time in Brazil and other than some missing menu staples (chicken hearts, gizzards and the HUGE dessert carts) Fogo is about as close as you can find in the states. So strap on he feedbag and channel your inner carnivore; eat, laugh and have a great time. Tip: Watch out for the capriania's! They have a brazilian liquor in them called cachaca, and from personal experience drink them s-l-o-w. Cachaca is a what I like to call a "sneaky" liquor. Before you know it the cachaca has "snuck" up on you and BAMM, your hammered.
(4)Amanda S.
Was treated to lunch as an end of the year celebration for the upper management at Target Field. There were 9 of us seated at a very crowded, backed into the corner table. 4 of us flipped our cards to green right away, the other 5 scoped out the salad bar. Green cards waited 10 minutes for anything to come about. When the first skewer came around it had chicken and sausages. By the time it got to me there were just sausages. Never did see that chicken again. This is right about the time Little Miss Fussy Pants at the next table (about 2 years old) started her fuss. I happily ate my sausage until the last bite, and that is when we were bombarded with options, including the filet mignon. Which we all were able to enjoy. Little Miss Fussy Pants then began voicing her opinion. I understand she is from a different culture, but it sounded a lot like whining and crying to me. So the ball is rolling and skewers are brought out left and right. Am I the only one not accepting the house special that comes around every 3 minutes? Items start getting sparse and we begin sharing with the end of the table. Finally more filet mignon! Our table takes the entire skewer. Little Miss Fussy Pants kicks it into high gear. Who blames her? Everything else was over seasoned and not suited to the palate of a 2 year old. I feel for you girl. I understand the concept of waiting a bit after a meal to offer a desert, but in our case we were ready. Not only because of Little Miss Fussy Pants but a member of our party, who had too many Brazilian rum cocktails. Which were good, but ditch the straw as there is a pile of sugar at the bottom. The food was phenomenal, Little Miss Fussy Pants was not. I am astounded that a parent would bring a young child into this restaurant.
(3)Myles D.
Very good food great salad bar. Its an experience going here not my favorite meat choices but very well prepared and different atmosphere.
(4)Jennifer H.
I went here for restaurant week and I have to say the salad bar was amazing. Had fish, cheese, and a bunch of yummy stuff. In regards to the meat, it was super yum. If you are a huge meat eater, definitely go here. Overall, service was great and meat was awesome. The only think I didn't like like (hence no 5 star rating) was that the meat was a little salty. Like other reviewers, I think lunch for $30 is much more manageable, but if you want certain cuts of meat you have to go at dinner (filet mignon). Personally, I loved the picanha cut the best. Definitely a must try if you are from out of town and have never tried brazilian bbq.
(4)Mae M.
Not a fan of their non-red meat options. Chicken is sometimes too dry and pork ribs are hard to eat. HOWEVER, their salad bar is my favorite experience and would pay just for that!
(4)Andrew R.
Be prepared to be so full your ill! I've been here many times and they are the best with customer service. The largest & best salad bar I've ever seen in the twin cities. Don't forget ENDLESS meat !!! You need to make a reservation here always or you might not get in. Its a hot spot.
(5)Amy R.
Fogo de Falling down full. Returned with my parents for a belated Christmas gift and had an excellent dinner. We really lucked out with our table being away from the traffic of the salad bar and traffic of patrons, gauchos and hungry people. Online reservations are nice and a cinch. Cofirmation a day ahead. Service was amazing here. Al, our server was excellent, attentive and genuinely outgoing and made the experience enjoyable as were the other people serving our area. All of them, always repleneshing and attending to us in every way. All the meat was wonderful. The rib eye especially was amazingly good and tender. Salad bar as always was delectable and fresh. The hearts of palm and the chicken salad noodle thingy= yum! Really great dining experience this time around. The staff here (all of them) really work their tails off to make a pleasurable dining experience. My only qualm is how closely the tables are spaced together nd how crowded it can be, but not a bigggie. Just makes me feel at times like I'm back on a stressful cruise ship= CROWDED obstacle course. Imagine how the servers and meat handlers feel....
(5)Elyse M.
Fogo de Chao is a low-carber's dream. A stocked salad bar with plenty of vegetables (most of which are free of pesky glazes and other sugar-filled sauces) and cheeses is a perfect start to the meal, but make sure to save most of your room for the meat! If you go during lunch time, it's only $30 dollars instead of the usual price, and you get the same amount of food! While I would be willing to pay the normal price (it's that good), saving 20-ish bucks is always a treat. The friendly and helpful staff treats everyone with the same amount of respect, whether you are a refined, middle-aged businessman or a 20-something wearing a T-shirt and jeans. Most importantly, the meat is just incredible. They bring around 16 different cuts and types of meat, and not one (of the ones I tried... I don't eat lamb) wasn't absolutely top-notch. If I were a rich (wo)man, I would eat here at least weekly, if not more often than that. As it stands, though, Fogo is a luxury I can only afford occasionally. But a splendid occasion it is.
(5)Qaiser B.
Yes it can be expensive for the common man and the wait could be a lot over weekends if you go without reservation yet the restaurant is such a delight to visit. Just the way meals are prepared and presented. Its a meat eating fest, filet mignon being the best of them all. though they have a grand salad bar. Pop Alert: Be careful about drinking soda, I did not care to ask only to find out later that the small and cute coke bottles dont come with the meal and the refills are not free either. My suggestion,stick to water. Its healthier, cost effective and you get to eat more of the meat :-)
(4)Jonathan J.
The journey begins with a trip to the gourmet salad and sides bar which features gourmet salads, rare and exotic vegetables, fresh breads, imported cheeses, cured meats and more. Then the traditional Brazilian side dishes are served; polenta (fried cornmeal), gain mashed potatoes, caramelized bananas (my favorite) and cheese bread. When you come to sit down they will pull out your chair for you to sit down, then hold out a welcome hand. Don't make the same mistake I did and shake hands with them... It is your coat they are looking for. The best part comes next, they explain what the red and green coaster means... Flip the green side up and the meat buffet begins. Flip to red when you need to take a breather and eat what's on your plate. The chefs will come out with continuous table side service of fifteen different cuts of beef, pork, lamb, and chicken. They will describe the cut and ask if you would like any. Depending on the meat you may have to help catch the cut of meat off the skewer with your handy-dandy Brazilian tongs. The cuts come right off the fire and are sizzling when they land on your plate. Each one I had was excellent and perfectly seasoned. I don't know of any other places where you can get endless filet Mignon. If you are a meat lover, don't miss out on this place.
(5)Marc P.
Third time here and my daughters first trip for her 18th birthday. Absolutely wonderful with stellar service like always! Still the best salad bar selection in the Twin Cities with higher end cold cuts, cheese, delicious salads and veggies. The Scalloped potatoes are to die for! The meats are always perfectly seasoned (just lightly salted/peppered) and roasted to perfection. My wife, daughter and I like our beef rare to medium rare and they do an outstanding job. Very tender, extremely juicy ribeye, filet, and the two cuts of sirloin are delicious. Lamb chops are tender and perfectly cooked. My favorite is always the small spicy Brazilian sausages. Complimentary cheesecake for the birthday girl was very nice. I had the creme brulee which was delicous! Service impeccable like my prior visits......from the hosts, to the waiter, to the manager who visited our table several times. I have seen some previous comments about the meat servers being brusque, but their job is to slice meat, not make conversation. Excellent job by the entire staff!
(5)M N.
This is a fun experience. Great food, great service & excellent salad bar. I've been here three times. Newcomers I take love it too. A bit pricey but very worth it if you are a meat lover. The meat is very high quality. Good value. They are very fair about making sure you get the chance to try every cut of meat if you wish. You can request they send the Gaucho serving your favorite to your table so you get what you want. They do not try to force chicken on you all night like similar restaurants I've patronized (Carnivore) Popular so seating is close. Gets crowded. Need reservations. Have fun!!
(5)mark m.
Great atmosphere, meat is always superbly cooked.
(5)Carnivore X.
Leave your modesty at home, its time to put down some good quality red meat in serious quantities. I love this place. Many different cuts of beef, along with lamb, chicken, and sausage. Fogo says they have a salad bar, but I remain confused as to why. Salad is what food eats, and has no place in an establishment such as this. Rabbit food merely means less meat, which is never a good thing. I make the same mistake every time i dine here. The bacon-wrapped chicken is delicious, and big-bite sized, so i get one and chomp it. Do _NOT_ do this, as it is one of the hottest (temperature) things you may ever eat. Let it cool a bit. I stay away from the ribs, as they are unsauced, and therefore not my favorite, though the meat is still quite good. Beef. Lots of beef. Top sirloin, bottom sirloin, ribeye, garlic beef, house special, filet with or without bacon. Unless you are a communist, you will leave here with meat sweats, in a food coma, and on your table will be a plate with a pool of blood in it. Yes, carnivores, this establishment will, if you ask for it, NOT OVERCOOK YOUR BEEF!!! Bovine delight should arrive seasoned, seared, and a lovely red on the inside, after having been mildly insulted, gently killed, and wheeled through a warm room. The staff here has always been awesome, with one notable exception. Against our better judgement, we invited a friend and his wife. They have a baby that can eat real food, and while the baby acted like a baby, and my friend was his usual good self, his wife was a complete ball of bad. She insulted the hostess, which got us seated at the worst table the place has, then was rude to the servers, and left a colossal mess on the floor. (She feels it is not her responsibility to pick up after her child in a restaurant, that tips are for that sort of thing). In any case, I blame her, not the staff. She was a complete bitch, and will not be joining us again for dinner out. Ever. Be nice to your hostess and servers, and you shall be rewarded with an unending stream of meat brought to your table on swords and such. The one concession I make to non-meats here are the cheddar biscuits. They are awesome, and serve as a passable substitute for no baked potato. If you are a man, you must eat here or turn in your man card. Food as cavemen intended it to be. YUMMY!!! Now I must go, as writing this has made me hungry. If you are vegan or vegetarian, this place may well be the cure for that. Come here, do as nature intended, and you will be made whole, and able to function in civilized society again.
(5)M L.
Service is top notch , quality of meats truly excellent! Worth every penny. Come with an empty stomach!
(5)Wendy K.
My husband and I went to Fogo to celebrate Valentine's day this year and we had the BEST time. The food was great. I loved the salad buffet, the meat of coarse was wonderful as well as the carmelized bananas. I also love the beauty of the restaurant itself as well as the uniform of the waiters. It was a great experience, good for everyday or special occasions. I would highly recommend it.
(5)Adel Z.
Excellent food for carnivores! Service was great. Salad bar was OK. Will visit again.
(5)Tiffany L.
Theres so many reviews already so lets get to the lowdown the meat is all what its about prices are about 10dollars cheaper for lunch which isn't available on the weekends. When there is a wait before you get your table they will bring you out some of the cheese bread which is melt in your mouth amazing. The service is terrific and out there they offer valet if you are lazy to go find street parking or just don't want to park at a ramp near by which is about the same cost as valet to begin with. And if you go during restaurant week as I have done in the past the meal comes with dessert for the price of dinner alone but be sure to make reservations because they get booked quite quick during this time period. I am a meat lover but I would say one or two times a year would be alright to go because its just meat overload after the 2hours of eating and stuffing your face with everything. I almost forgot to mention thirsty try to the limeade the best thing on earth I swear made with condensed milk its AMAZING and will for sure leave you craving for more good thing refills are free so drink up!
(5)J C.
I was expecting an elegant buffet dining experience and boy was I let down. I get buffets are never elegant but it's a classy looking place, there was this frenetic energy that made eating there really not enjoyable. The clientele's attire ranged from somewhat formal to dudes in baseball hats, it was like Vegas. I thought the salad bar was good and believe me, those gauchos were EVERYWHERE!! I would say a good place to go if you want to eat piles of meat.
(3)Mai T.
Came for Restaurant Week = complimentary desserts! Great deal Desserts are okay, the creme brule and flan are probably best on the menu list. Love the salad bar!!! and the house cut. Service is great.
(4)Whitney W.
Fiance took me here for a birthday dinner. I LOVE meat so he said this was going to be the best food I ever ate. He was right. Yes the salad bar is a little weird - but next time, I won't even eat the salad bar because you get so full on everything else. They give you mashed potatoes, fried bananas, bread and tons of other goodies with the meat. They are SO courteous. Probably the best service I ever had at a restaurant. They truly made me feel valued. Any time I flipped the card, someone was over there with meat ready to serve me. The garlic steak was to die for. It was the best steak of my life. I can't even describe it my mouth waters just thinking about it. If you have the extra money - TRY it. The money is 100% worth it. I can't wait to go back.
(5)Darren B.
Oh my goodness, come hungry! Don't waste too much time on the huge salad bar, like I did and then realize how little of the steak and other meats you could actually eat. Good food, didn't care for the garlic steak though, just too much garlic. You will be full. Dang!
(5)Bandana G.
It's a meat lovers paradise!!! Seriously, starve yourself for at least a day before you go here!! Because it is a lot of delicious meat, and it is very spendy!! You wanna make sure what you are paying is worth the amount of meat you eat :). I would not go here on a regular basis because - 1) it is expensive. 2) I tend to overeat. The meat was very good. The service was great. If you have your card flipped to green then you will instantly have someone serving you. We were a big group and our favorites were the Picanha and the house special sirloin with garlic. The lamb was pretty good too. The salad bar is amazing. But seriously if you just want salad then I would suggest finding a cheaper place. And if you're there for the meat then refrain yourself from visiting the salad bar. Although it might be a good idea to get a little fiber in your body to digest all that meat you will be eating. Get a reservation if you don't want to wait forever. And yes the drinks are expensive!
(4)Amanda S.
Amazing food and service. We never had to wait for a thing. The manager came over to make sure everything was good and talked to us for a while instead of just doing a quick "how is everything". We also ordered a shrimp skewer that was excellent.
(5)Mandy J.
Very good service, great wine menu, the food has always been excellent, lamb chops are the best. The price is actually not bad at all compare to the food and service you get. Oh btw free birthday desserts!
(5)Salinee H.
Definitely an experience worth having. Fogo is not your every day restaurant, more like an event (worth noting is that birthday people get a free dessert). I had never been so it was interesting to see the whole process unfold. All the servers were attentive. The guys with the meat were so efficient. Everyone starts with the salad bar. I would have been happy with just that (in fact, if I were to go again, I'd probably just get the salad option). When you're done with the salad, just flip the card to green and wait for the meat to arrive. The pork meats were my favorite. I do wish I had done a better job of listening to what meats were what because I couldn't tell the difference between the steaks....I take that back, they tasted different from each other, but I had no idea what was what. Like I said, it's definitely worth going once but I probably won't find myself there too often.
(4)Ramsey B.
I have dined at 4 of their Midwest locations. Although they're all great, the Minneapolis location is my favorite. Excellent customer service skills and staff. They make sure you leave completely satisfied and that you were able to fully enjoy multiple servings of your preferred menu item.
(5)Amy B.
Need to gain a quick 5 pounds? Love anything wrapped in bacon? Sounds like Fogo de Chao is the place for you! 15 different types, cuts and unique flavors of meat in this Brazilian Steakhouse, and man, it is the best meat I have ever tasted! This place overs a flavorful salad bar that could satisfy the pickiest eaters in your household. With variety from the salad bar you can choose from Gourmet cheeses, Italian meats, salads, pasta salads, and breads! Just be careful not to load your plate too heavily on those goods, because the main course hasn't even been brought out yet! Lamb, Parmesan pork chops, fillet Mignon, steak and chicken are only a few of the 15, yes, FIFTEEN types of meat!! Make sure not to over stuff your face because the many desserts the place has is unbelievable! I had the Chocolate Mousse Cake, which is a 7 layer cake with white chocolate and milk chocolate mousse intermixed with the cake layers to create an experience your mouth will never forget! The only issue I had with Fogo was that after I had eaten half of my piece of cake, I noticed there was some sort of nut at the bottom of the cake, made my boyfriend try a bite, (I am allergic to almonds and pecans) and asked the waiter, and sure enough they were almonds... kind of misleading on the menu because none of the desserts mention products of nuts except the Turtle Cheesecake :P So nut allergies beware!!! The service was right on top of everything- grabbing plates, filling water, getting our favorite meats, and even pulling out my chair for me several times!!! Loved how appreciative the servers were, and friendly all the employees seemed to be :)
(5)Chay V.
Yes I was at fogo de Chao . It was ok just that we did not get all the meat. The service ok. We have to ask for some off the meat. Ever time new one come out they be walk pass use . It was suck
(3)Hli X.
It's restaurant week and since my friend and I both have never been here we decided to make reservation. First impression- Upon our arrival, we were told they were running late about 15 minutes, but actually end up waiting 30 minutes before my friend approach the host. They actually didn't realize we were waiting this long and was seated immediately. Waiting service- They were extremely busy. Waiters were all over the place trying to keep everything together. I give all the waiter props for staying sane. Added bonus, waiters all were nice and polite. Downer- since they were busy, we waited around a lot. I think we waited almost 30 minutes to get our bill and another 15 minutes for them to run our cards. Food- Meh. It was good, but not outstanding. Overall, it's basically a classy version of a buffet. I am glad I went during restaurant week and not pay the original price.
(2)Abdallah A.
We loved the food and the service! They made every attempt to impress and take care of our every need!
(5)Brian D.
The food and service was great felt a little over priced but a great experience.
(5)C K.
As good as the food was I left quite upset. My advice to anyone who goes to this restaurant is DON'T WEAR WHITE. The waiters carry around copious amounts of bloody meat skewers and unfortunately my white blazer got in the way of some blood splatter and it's now ruined.
(3)Eric S.
Fogo is great, from the atmosphere to the service. If having good service is high on your list for an enjoyable dinner, this is a great place to go. The meats are insanely good. My favorite is the lamb chops but it also seems like the hardest meat to get. The guy with the lamb chops just doesn't seem to be around as much as all the other guys. but everything here is amazing. As far as the salad bar goes, I wouldn't recommend skipping the it altogether, just take it easy at the salad bar. It's a must to try it because it's the best salad bar that I have ever seen! I'm amazed by how fast the servers come to your table when you flip your card over. It's like you get swarmed by meat immediately and If there's something you don't want, you just tell them and they go on their merry way. There were a few times I asked for rare and I got well done but their cuts are so good that it's really OK, I survived and was quite happy. I bet I easily put down 5 lbs. of meat the last time we were here. I had a few beers after dinner and after a couple burps I was good to go. This place is pretty awesome and if it's on your to do list, hurry up and make a reservation, it's something everyone should experience at least once. Note - This is not cheap and they don't have prices for drinks on the menu. We had 5 caipirinha's (their signature drink) all together and it was a little over $50 just for the drinks. But hey, they were really good and we don't eat here every day. It may be the best drink I've ever had in my life! Great friendly servers that all work together as a team, this place is really fun!
(5)Sonya K.
Fogo de Chao is heaven for those who are meat lovers. The price is well-justified as long as you save your appetite for the experience. The meat is delicious, the staffs are fast nice, and will go around and make sure you get the cut of meat you want. There is an army of men in MC hammerish gaucho pants with meats on skewers. If they see you with your card flipped green they will ask if you want some. Flip your card around to red if you are overwhelmed with the meat decisions while you eat. For those who complain that its just too much meat, Fogo also has a spectacular salad bar. You can also just pay to do the salad bar, but if you are paying the full price to experience the whole Fogo shebang, then don't indulge too much in the salad bar or else you won't have room for all the succulent meat. The fried bananas, mash potatoes, and cheddar bread are also to die for. It does get a little loud there, but it's worth the noise.
(5)Ahmad T.
This place was quite the find. They have their own style of serving the food which you will learn quickly as you go. The salad bar was very good!!! and the fillet mignon was otherworldly. You can't order a specific meat as you can try all 20 different cuts if you please. Awesome place the I can't say enough about. Not as expensive as I thought, $50 for each person all you can eat (meat and salad bar) and VERY strong local (Brasillian) drinks. Overall, a true event of eating.
(4)Jorge G.
my god, them meats... it is just endless and it is just delicious. while you are reading this you could be eating some juicy pork, or beef, or lamb, or chicken along with a delicious salad bar. why are you still reading this? go eat at this place.
(5)Mon P.
Im not really a beef eater, but I have to admit it's pretty amazing here. I and my friend came here for lunch last Friday. It was fairly busy, but we we seated immediately. The good: - The service Wow .. the service was truly exceptional here. I believe there wasnt any assigned server for the tables, but they all work together as a team. My friend brought her baby, and they made sure that her highchair was fastened properly. The meat gauchos were very prompt once we turned our green card. We almost didnt have to wait for anything. - The food From the cheese popovers to start, to awesome salad bar selection and side plates (caramelized banana, crispy polenta and garlic mashed potato), and then of course .. all the meat feast! We love the salad bar. We both agreed that we could have just come here to eat the salad bar alone and be totally satisfied and would totally get he money worth. Im dreaming about the smoked salmon, hearts of palm, sundried tomato, asparagus, prosciutto, and shitake mushroom just thinking about the salad bar. Oh and how could I forget the tabbouleh. salami and fresh mozz! And now the meat feast! .. I dont remember everything we tried now. I think we didnt try the pork chop, the chicken, and the beef ribs, but we did try everything else. The sausage was good. The lamb was cooked perfectly though a bit gamy but very yummy. We were surprised with the pork ribs. We had no idea what kind of rubs they put on because the ribs were very delicious. Filet Mignon was amazing. It was so moist and tender. It literally melted in my mouth. The rib eye, top & bottom sirloin were a bit dryer than filet mignon, but they were all very flavorful and very good. The VERY good: We had to wait for the Picanha, which was their signature steak for a while, but boy oh boy it was so worth the wait. This was no doubt our most favorite. We could see why this cut was considered their signature. It was really amazing. It was cooked to perfection. The fatty part was a little crispy but the meat part was still very tender and juicy. Im drooling now just thinking about it. Overall, it was a very good meal and fun experience. If you are a meat eater, i would totally encourage you to come and enjoy the bottomless meat feast!
(4)Ryan W.
Meat lover's heaven. Be better to be hungry before you go there.
(4)Mike L.
Yes, it's a meat restaurant. The deal is to get copious amounts of meat, and to not question whether going to another steakhouse would be tastier and a better experience. To some, that's worth it. To others, it's a novelty that you bring your out of town friends to because they've tried it elsewhere. It's a fun experience but of the cuts, how many are superb considering the price you pay? If you can eat a half pound of prosciutto and a couple pieces of lamb, it's very much worth it. Think about it. What other all-you-can-eat places are actually delicious? Seriously. If you do go, Sunday lunch is the way to do it with a reservation. Remember that since it's all you can eat, people stay so even with a reservation, you could wait 15-20 minutes. I'll probably skip going back because I like to support local business and frankly, for the price, a better experience can be had.
(3)Jessica L.
My second time at a Brazilian Steakhouse and my 2nd stop of Restaurant Week! Décor: Full, lively and abuzz. It sets the tone for a hearty atmosphere but in a classy way. My favorite part is their use of wine bottles along the walls/sectioners. Also, people were pretty casual- no shorts, but not exactly business casual, so dress how you think fits. Service: The people carrying around the meat never missed/overlooked me (granted, I was sitting at the very outer edge of the table... purposely, hehehhe). They paid attention to what I asked for (usually the rarest part of the meat) and gave me what they could. One was fantastic and said, "Sorry, this cut won't be very rare." And when he sliced it down for my friend who wanted medium rare, I was very impressed that he told me, as medium rare was really the rarest of the cut that he had. Fantastic!!! I love honesty. Food: I ate as much as I could (which of course, was a sampler of EVERYTHING!) My FAVORITES were the bottom sirloin and the lamb chop. The rest I found either a little dry for my taste or just not to my personal liking. Other favorites at the table were the filet mignon and the top sirloin. Eh, to each their own. - I also LOVED the variety at the salad bar. I guess you got to get your veggies in somehow - All tables also get the obligatory grilled plantains (Could be improved; they were a bit small and soggy), mashed potatos (okay) and cripsy polenta (I didn't like it..) but also, the bread (DELICIOUSS!!!! I WARN you NOT to fill up on this bread before you hit the meat! It's tempting, I know...) - Papaya creme is SO good. Light, refreshing and yummy- get it!!! - My friend also got a hot chocolate lava cake and not only did it look great but he realllyy liked it!! Overall: Restaurant was a REAL steal. It saved about 40% including tip (heh, math nerd...) so I LOVED my experience. Of course, Fogo is not a place I can frequent; nor would I go if I had to pay full price. BUT t as far as Brazilian steakhouses go--and if you are ready to eat some meat and try the experience, hey this isn't bad.
(3)Gena E.
Awesome food and service. The salad bar was good but the side dishes and meat were to die for. And their specialty cocktail, can't remember the name was delicious. Service was awesome and prompt. So busy but never had to wait for a single thing. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Dwight C.
What a great place to absolutely gorge your self and not feel to guilty!! :) Service was very impressive but the food was even more so..I truly was in a meat coma after this experience. Would I do it again?? Damn right.
(5)Chris M.
Warning: Many animals were harmed while forming this opinion. While not normally a fan of the all-you-can-eat concept (especially with a somewhat high price point), I am definitely a fan of Fogo de Chao. Sure, it can be excessive, but I seldom pretend to be strong-willed anyway. The food is generally quite good, though if you're going to a churrascaria the fire roasted cuts of meat are going to be the focal point. Though it can sometimes be difficult to get rarer cuts of meat, special requests are usually honored for those willing to wait a bit and servers are generally helpful in fulfilling said requests. The salad bar is also well stocked and is a good standby for those not hell-bent on getting gout. Finally, the service, while somewhat of service by committee, has always been good; from the front desk to the waiters, gauchos and bussers.
(4)Joshua W.
Meat, meat, meat, meat, meat....oh yeah and more meat! This place was average, good, great and also exceptional depending on what you eat. They start you off with a salad bar with all kinds of tasty and fresh items. They have a quite a few aged cheeses and prosciutto, and if you like fresh parmigiana or mozzarella, its there and tastes great. I actually preferred it to some of the meats we tried. Flip your card over to green and the meat and a few sides (amazing cheese bread, garlic mashed potatoes, fried bananas, and polenta) will arrive. The bananas were my girlfriends favorite, I was partial to the polenta and cheese bread. We tried to try everything meat. Filet: very good, actually thought it may be better without the bacon wrap. Top Sirloin: both sirloins were the best of all of them, juiciest for sure, with great flavor. Bottom Sirloin: Really salty, much stiffer. Pork Loin: Not so good, very dry. Sausage: Nice plump, juicy with good flavors. Lamb: the lamb leg was delicious and moist, the chops were overcooked a bit and dry. Chicken: Both chickens, the filet and the legs were very good and flavorful. Pork Ribs: Kind of dry, no good way to get them off the bone without gnawing on them like a junkyard dog. Overall, it was good, but with only about 6 of the 11 meats we tried were above average. We eat also had a Caipirinha, a traditional Brazilian drink with sugar and limes, it was very good but a little too sweet for me. We had a desert, a very decadent slice of cake for my birthday, which I guess was on the house. It was amazing. I will definitely be back but like other Yelpers, I probably would be more apt to do a lunch than dinner just because it was pretty expensive. I was surprised by some people wearing T-shirts and shorts there. Classless Minnesotans : / Also, get a reservation. We were there for almost 2 hours eating, so it is probably fairly hard for them to free up tables. We went on Tuesday and it was packed. I can only imagine what a Friday or Saturday must be like.
(4)Warren C.
I took the honor of fasting the entire day before dinner. Yes, it was worth it. Seldom do I drop $60 on a meal consisting of nothing but meat, but hey, you gotta let yourself go sometimes. As a person who enjoys cooking meat, I can tell you that Fogo has some of the best food in Minneapolis. Cuts are good, service is awesome, selection is at times overwhelming. They've got filet mignon, sirloin, bacon wrapped this and that, pork ribs, leg of lamb, and more. They've got a salad bar that doesn't actually contain that much salad, but a lot of other delicacies that I probably could've made a meal out of in itself. AYCE with meat: $46/person (weekday lunch only $30) AYCE salad only: $24/person I wish I could've just eaten forever without getting full. Too bad we all do, even the best of us. I don't believe there's an enforced dress code, but you shouldn't walk in too underdressed either.
(5)Ashley F.
Incredibly disappointing for a $120 meal. I'd rather go to Manny's or the Oceanaire and pay the same price for one good cut of meat than for a mediocre parade of food. The best thing I had was the chicken wrapped in bacon. But everyone knows that bacon is cheating. My dad agreed that the best item of food wasn't even the meat, but the banana side. Salad bar was pretty terrible, most of the vegetables were dead. Probably really fun for people that never go out for nice meals.
(3)Jeff S.
If you want to eat meat until you can't move, this is the place to go. To begin, a few pros. Did I mention the meat? You can eat as much as you want. Every time I leave this place, I tell my coworkers that if I don't show up the next morning, just know that I died happy. This place has a really nice setting in downtown Minneapolis (very close to Target Field, the Target Center, and a lot of nice hotels). Restaurant interior is nice: large, open dining rooms with lots of seating, nice decor, really high ceilings, nice dark wood interior. I don't drink, but I've seen the wine and drink lists, and they're pretty expansive. You can check out a lot of their wines that line the walls throughout the dining rooms. And to reiterate: meat. Specifically, beef. Lots and lots of beef. Brought right to your table and carved in front of you. Now to the cons (the reasons I don't rate it a 5). Don't get me wrong. This place is good. Really good. But I can't give it a 5 for a few reasons. First, it's pretty pricey. I've been to other churrascarias that are just as good with more food choices at half the price. I also can't say that the meat is really that special in terms of quality. It's good, don't get me wrong (and did I mention unlimited?). But there are other steakhouses nearby that have much better cuts. The salad bar, in my opinion isn't great; it's pretty limited (but in all fairness, that doesn't weigh to heavily in the rating because -- let's face it -- I'm not there for the salad bar). I've also never been too thrilled with the service. The host or hostess has always been great. But the guys who bring the meat around often seem disinterested or even annoyed. It also seems like they come at you rapid-fire for the first few minutes, but then ignore you after that. They don't come around again until the host or hostess asks you specifically what you're waiting for and then goes to request it. If you go in looking for some of the choices you find at other churrascarias, such as chicken hearts or grilled pineapple, you won't find them. I've asked about both of those, to which the staff responded that they don't serve those choices because Fogo is going for authenticity, and those choices aren't authentic. As someone who lived in Brasil for a few years, I call BS. Again, don't misunderstand. I love this place, and I'll go back every time I'm in town. But I can't quite get to a 5.
(4)Immaculate I.
A Brazilian steakhouse that caters to the carnivore in me! Beware, this is a place where dinner costs ~$50 and lunch is about half that price but it is well worth it. All the meat (beef, pork, chicken etc) you can eat prepared exactly how you like it! Comes to you while you stuff your face and the only real work you'll have to do is flip the little coaster from green to red when you've had enough! For those health conscious there salad bar is pretty awesome too.
(5)mumin k.
this location is as good as any other Fogo de Chao. My only complain is the service here. I felt we were rushed a little by the servers at the end of our dinner. Premium Caparinhias were excellent. All meats were very good.
(4)Jess F.
We went for dinner Sunday night, the first day of 2011 MSP Winter Restaurant Week, and the place was packed! We made our reservations at 6:30 and were seated a little after 7; not a bad wait considering the venue, but it was a bit disappointing. Now for the meaty review, literally(!), the 10 kinds of meats really are tasty, generally seasoned well, and generally cooked to medium. It comes to you in large hunks by hunks (well, maybe just men) whom cut the meat right on to your plate. If you tell the waiter you want a particular kind of meat done to a certain level, he or she will find it for you. If you're not happy with the cuts of meat on your plate, there's always another cut or kind of meat on its way. I was very happy with the selection, sadden by the quality of one, unhappy with the doneness of one or two, and happy again because of the lamb chops. As a prior course to the meat, there's the salad bar. It's an upscale salad bar with the usual suspects and some awesome points like prosciutto, shaved parmesan, fresh mozzarella, sundried tomatoes in olive oil, and whole portabella caps. Remember, Fogo is a meat lover's place, so don't expect bacon bits to put on your salad, expect whole strips of bacon. I really enjoyed the options in and the quality of the salad bar. To accompany the meat, there are caramelized bananas or plantains, crispy polenta with parmesan, smooth and creamy mashed potatoes, and warm cheese bread. These appetizers are brought to your table in a similar fashion as the meat but with less fanfare. They just appear all warm and delicious. Wine and drink selection was decent with a good range of price options. Desserts ranged the normal spectrum. Since it was restaurant week, Fogo accompanied the meal with your choice of any dessert on the menu. We had the Papaya Cream, Molten Chocolate Cake, Key Lime Pie, and Flan. All but the Key Lime Pie (way too sweet) was good. Dessert wise, not much to write yelp about. The whole experience was fun and tasty, and what's surprising was it was never impersonal. The service, besides the wait, was impressive. We never felt forgotten, and we left happy and extremely full. For $30, hellz yeah! For almost $60 (including desert, not including a drink, taxes, and tip), you better be sure you can eat enough to make it worth it.
(4)Elizabeth H.
Great salad bar and meat buffet with friendly staff but I found the restaurant chaotic and not very relaxing for dinner.
(3)Spencer R.
This place is phenomenal. Definitely one of my favorites that I've been to in the Twin Cities, if not #1. There are enough reviews already that I won't waste time explaining the concept of the restaurant, but here are some of the highlights for me-- * Lunch = same as dinner, except much, much cheaper. Starve yourself the night before and go out to lunch the next day with an empty stomach, with plenty of time reserved for a nap afterwards! * The salad bar is fantastic enough on its own that you could honestly go there just for that, and ignore the endless parade of meat (but why would you ever want to do that?) * Same thing with the sides they stock you up on! I have to be very very careful that I don't eat too much polenta, but it's hard to resist. * My personal favorite of the meats that I have tried is the house special steak, medium or medium well. I can't really explain what it is about it, other than the deep excitement that I get every time a server wanders over with it. GO HERE!
(5)Kohleen L.
Holy exploding stomach Batman! I had been wanting to visit Fogo de Chao for quite some time, since I'd heard such rave reviews from friends. So to celebrate my boyfriend's and my birthdays (3 days apart), some friends of ours took us out to Fogo. I must admit I had high expectations, but Fogo delivered on all counts! The service was great from the start. We arrived first, so after taking our coats, the hostess sent us to the bar to wait for our friends. The bartender came to get our drink orders immediately, and when she brought them she also provided us with complimentary cheese bread puffs, which are not very cheesy, but totally amazing! After our friends arrived and we were seated, our server explained to the newbie of the bunch (me) what to expect. I ordered the recommended house cocktail, which is a Brazilian drink called a Caipirinha--basically tons of fresh limes, sugar and Cachaça (sugar cane rum). It was simple, but oh so tasty--I think I had 2 or 3 before the night was over. One of our friends ordered a margarita (on the rocks), and a frozen one was delivered to the table moments later. When the server came by, he noticed the mistake without us mentioning it, and although our friend was fine with the frozen one, the server insisted that they make him happy--so he got the correct drink and even left the frozen one at the table. We all started at the salad bar--everything was exquisite, and I loved that there were other meats like smoked salmon at the salad bar...good thing I'm not a vegetarian! I was careful to not eat too much, because I was preparing for what was to come...but who can really prepare for giant slabs of meat to be dancing around you like sugar plum fairies? Well the protein fairies were extremely attentive--once you are finished with your salad plate, it's go time. There's plenty of entertainment to be had if you watch the gaucho chefs (go ahead--after all, they're watching you the whole time): flip your coaster to green and you'd swear there's a prize for who offers meat to you before the rest. Once you've received your fill for the moment, don't forget to flip your coaster back to red! If you don't, you will constantly be interrupted with offers of meaty goodness even if you're staring at a pile on your plate. My favorite cuts were the house cut (Picanha) and bottom sirloin (Fraldinha), but it was all amazing. In addition to the meat, they constantly replenish your table's supply of sides, including an unlimited amount of those fantastic cheese bread puffs. The environment is pretty quiet, which is nice because it's the perfect setting to converse while waiting for your food to digest and make room for more. Afterall, you want to get your money's worth right? Since we were celebrating two birthdays, they let us each select a dessert from the menu on the house! (They never even asked to see our IDs to verify our birthdays.) I had a rich chocolate mousse cake, while my BF ordered the key lime cheesecake--both delivered on beautifully decorated plates. We all shared the two, which were the perfect end to an absolutely scrumptious meal! I have not one bad thing say about this place. I can't even complain about the price, as I feel the experience is worth every penny (or hundred)! I recommend: Picanha (house cut of top sirloin), Fraldinha (Bottom Sirloin), Alcatra (Top Sirloin), Caipirinha cocktail, cheese bread and carmelized bananas. Tip: If you haven't popped your Fogo cherry yet, I would recommend trying it for lunch sometime. You'll have the same experience as dinner, but it'll be nearly half-price! Plus you'll have the rest of your day to try and burn off the calories. UPDATE: We had a reservation for lunch on 12/23/10. I guess everyone else in Minneapolis had that idea as well, because when we got there, the place was packed. We checked in with the hostess, and were told it would be a bit of a wait for our table. They didn't even check our coats for nearly 10 minutes, and we weren't seated until more than 30 minutes after our reservation time! I understand being busy, but that's a bit much. I'm hoping that was an isolated situation. Also, after multiple visits, I must say that the "Picanha" (house cut of top sirloin) is hands down my favorite--the seasoning on it makes my mouth water just thinking about it! It is by far the best cut of meat I have ever tasted, and it alone will keep me heading back to Fogo in the future.
(5)Matt M.
Go for lunch. Everybody knows that. Pros: Everything is delicious, fancy, and magical (not literally). Cons: I pooped a brick. Seriously. Could've done masonry with it. Fogo is amazing. It's a vegetarian's nightmare and I love that. Although they do have a delicious salad bar... I must admit I've only tried it once. I am too busy shoving TASTY MEATS into my face. Said meats include bacon-wrapped filets, chicken, and many other cuts/varieties. I want to rattle them off, but it's so much fun to be surprised when they offer them to you. It's like Christmas morning and you don't know what Santa's gonna bring. I have zero complaints about the joint, other than the fact that as a general rule I despise dining downtown (on parking accessibility alone). That's no reason not to though. They do have valet service at any rate. It's worth the steep price, it truly is. I think that some steakhouses are overrated for the price, but Fogo lives up to the hype. I think I need to make a reservation now...
(5)Roberto L.
This fogo is located in a mall. The interior follows the design of the others I have been to. The service was also impeccable, attention to detail is their forte! The cuts of caramelized meats fresh off the fire is a tantalizing experience. The guys in Gaucho suits ask you how you want it cooked and they regulate the depth of the cut to suit your pallet. One by one they file in a line to serve you. All of this of course comes at a premium, but it is worth it. Go and enjoy yourself.
(5)David S.
I can't say enough good things about Fogo. I've been to a lot of them around the country and their quality is the same throughout: INCREDIBLE. The salad bar, the all you can eat selection of meats and the incredible desserts are well worth the price and the wait. Put it this way: it's so good, you'll get the "Meat Sweats."
(5)Mark A.
If you are one who needs to "calorie up" and overindulge in copious amounts of meat then this is your place. It is well overpriced and though the service is fast, prompt, and friendly, it should be - $46 a head should give you that. I'm just not a fan of buffet style dining with huge salad bars and more meat than any human should consume in an hour. Save your money and go to a Capital Grille or equivalent. The atmosphere is better, as is the food quality and service.
(2)No One I.
AMAZING!! From the food to the ambiance. The salad bar is to die for, they have a bowl of bacon that is cooked perfectly, all the meat is incredible! If you are going to go make sure you are starving. The desserts were good, I'd skip on it. But the food is hands down some of the best I have had.
(5)Dawn G.
I love this place. The selection of meats is amazing and will satisfy any preference. I could not stop eating the cheesy biscuits or the caramelized bananas and probably filled up on those as much as I did on the meats. I can't say enough about the service. The servers are so professional and the managers make a point of stopping by to see how you're enjoying your meal and if there is any particular meat that you'd like to see come by. I'll keep going back, especially during Restaurant Week!
(4)Jenna G.
LOVE Fogo De Chao!! I will definetly be coming back here again. The service was great, the hostess, managers and waiters all were super friendly and helpful with everything. Even though it is on the spendy side, it is well worth it if you save your appetite and enjoy eating different cuts of meat. The salad bar was also really good with lots of veggies, meats, pastas etc. It was a great experience, different then anywhere I have been before, and I would highly recommend!! oh yea and they have amazing cheesecake if you save room..
(5)Kira M.
Fogo de straight to my thighs, Fogo de Food Coma! Wow, this was an experience in the best sense of the word! Celebrated our wedding anniversary here. The "salad" bar was so delicious and full of special, interesting treats that I will surely long for, til my next visit. The various meats were amazing, as was the service. We were completely catered to - The dinner as a whole was impeccable. We could have spent double at Murray's to feed one of us a steak - To feed both of us 5xs over was pure gluttony that we have never indulged in - it was kinda fun :)
(5)Jonny T.
Also known as "Fogo de Holy Crap my pants no longer button". When I ate here I made the mistake of eating a burrito from Chipotle earlier in the day. The moral of the story is that you MUST prep yourself by coming with a big appetite. A few tips... 1. Drink water while eating here (trust me here). Stay hydrated for when you get the "meat sweats" later. 2. Don't eat too many of those bread roles. They're awesome but they fill you up. Remember, you're here to eat like a caveman. 3. Don't race - just because the dudes keep bringing you meat doesn't mean you have to stay on pace with them. Eat slowly and savor the meaty-goodness. 4. Wear elastic pants - you'll thank me for this one. Enjoy.
(4)Anthony M.
Hands down my favorite place to eat in Minneapolis. The ribeye, beef ribs, and cheese rolls are fantastic! Dont waste your stomach space at the salad bar even though it is pretty good....MEAT MEAT MEAT!!!! If you go during lunch time M-T its half the price for the exact same food as you get during dinner!
(5)Jeff F.
Most people have covered most of the usual topics on this review - ton of meat, a lot of food, blah, blah, blah. Here's what you should know: - Fogo is an average to mediocre Churrascaria - the salad bar is ok, but nothing exceptional. Most of the meats were dry and not really that flavorful or good. If you do find yourself here, have the lamb chops - incredible and without question the highlight of my Fogo de Chao visit. - $46/person for just food, no drinks or dessert in Minneapolis is retarded. Maybe it's a better value for lunch, but I'm not going to find out. I don't think you can pull chicago or NY Churrascaria prices in Minneapolis - The service was great.
(3)Jerry B.
The service is excellent and the food is great. If you have not been here yet, I highly recommend you do so. I sure had a higher release of dopamine the first time around than the the few visits after.
(4)Tammy L.
I recently went to Fogo for Restaurant week and I cannot stop raving about the service! If you've ever done restaurant week you know to get your reservations in as soon as they announce the dates. So I went ahead and made reservations for eight people two weeks in advance. The same night I had reservations at the place, I called and updated the number from eight to fourteen. I spoke with a kind woman over the phone and although I had reservations, I nearly doubled the amount of people so she told me there might be a little wait. I told her it was fine. I arrived ten minutes prior to our reservation time, and they gave me a buzzer. She told me when all fourteen people were here to let them know so I did. and I think it was exactly eight when they seated us (even though they were completely booked out and she warned me ahead of time there might be a little wait because I increased the number of people coming). The service was unbelievably amazing!!! Steve (they told us to call him Scuba Steve) was fantastic. Very very attentive even though he had five other tables to wait on and we were a huge party. Always refilling our bread baskets, water, asking if we needed anything, new plates, etc. I can't imagine how he kept his cool with a zoo packed restaurant and catering to six different tables at the same time, but he did. Food was delicious as always. Basically I just wanted to praise the place for amazing service in this update.
(4)Billy V.
Great venue for a special dinner. Excellent food...go hungry! About $50 per person for all the meat you can eat...16 different cuts or types of meat plus a great salad bar.
(5)Leah G.
Head to Fogo at lunch for a great deal, you get the same things that are on the dinner menu at half the price. What to drink: Cocktails. Beer will fill you up way too much. I would suggest their signature cocktail, it's like a mojito with tequila, yum. What to eat: Meat. You will stuff your face with fresh cooked filet, chicken, and pork that sizzles as it slides off the spit onto your plate. The meat comes in any cook temp that you want and if it's not rare enough for you they will cook you an extra bloody filet upon request. What to skip: Salad Bar. I know people rave about the salad bar at Fogo but I was left unimpressed. There was not enough veggies! There was a good selection of cold cuts and cheese though. Just don't expect to fill up on greens. The service was great, especially for our group of 18. Fogo would be a great option if you are looking for a holiday party venue.
(3)Virginia M.
salad bar was great. everything seemed fresh. the meat was amazing. staff and servers are all friendly.
(5)Paul M.
Great place to eat. I have never eatin anywhere like this before, it was quite the experience. If you love great tasting meat this is the place to eat. I especially enjoyed the lamb short ribs. As well I had a creme brûlée which was made just perfectly, I would recommend this restaurant to anybody.
(5)Nicole N.
Um. Yeah. We aren't rich or even wealthy but I can see that we will be back at Fogo de Chao as soon as we can muster up $75 for lunch. As everyone says, yes, lunch is half price and they have the same food. It was also quiet in the restaurant for lunch so note that. Someone complained that Fogo was very loud so if noise isn't your thing hit it up in the afternoon. I had a little bit of all of the delicacies on the salad bar and felt good. Then we tried all of the meat they could bring us! The signature Picanha was our favorite, then the beef ancho, and then the filet mignon. Every type of chicken was flavorful and juicy and the pork loin coated in parmesan (Lombo) was incredible as well. Every single type of meat was tender, juicy and oh-so-flavorful-I-never-wanna-stop-eating-meat-Âomfg. I'm really not the hugest fan of meat and I adored this place. The service was nothing short of perfection. Our waters were filled so many times (Thankfully--since we had some drinks last night and were parched!), our plates changed, our side dishes renewed (and they were also so yummy!) and everyone kept asked us if there was a particular cut of meat we wanted. I truly felt special and fancy. Even the paper towels in the bathroom are nice! I can't wait to go back. I think it'd be very fun to go there with a big group of people!
(5)Revtee A.
Great food! A little pricey but the quality and the service was worth maybe a trip a year.
(4)Adam T.
One of the most fun dining experiences I've ever had. Great service - great food.
(5)Rob G.
Still as terrific as always. Stopped in during restaurant week to stuff my fat face with greasy oily meat and loved every second. Can't wait for my next near death experience.
(5)Lisa M.
Fogo de Chow Down! As you know, I'm not red meat eater, but all of my dining companions always enjoy a good piece of meat. I spent the afternoon doing other things to keep my mind off how hungry I was.... 4 of us went for dinner on a Saturday night. I was the only one who hadn't been there. We had a great time! They charge a $20 corking fee, so my very smart friends brought a couple of bottles of wine they all enjoyed. I had a signature cocktail and a couple others. The drinks were good. The salad bar is great! They have so many choices of veggies, cheese, meat, and bread you could literally fill up on only the salad bar. I enjoyed the meat and the experience, although I found the service of the waitress bringing the drinks, to be lacking. She only spoke to the men in the group. I had to ask for a drink when I wanted a new one. I was not offered a drink EVER in the 2 plus hours while there. She also asked only the men if they'd like new plates. If I could knock the rating down by 1/2 star based on our server I would. The 'meat men' however rocked! They moved quickly and politely with those big ol' sticks. The meat came fast and hot! I particularly enjoyed the bacon wrapped (I know, bacon - me?) chicken - the bacon was not fatty and cooked through and the chicken was MOIST and almost melted in your mouth. I find the side dishes to just be okay. The fried plantain was crispy but I just couldn't justify filling up on those. We could not resist dessert and had creme brulee and key lime cheesecake - both excellent choices. It was dessert which pushed my full stomach over the edge. Go, you'll only regret it later on when you can't possibly fit another morsel of food into your mouth!
(4)Cj M.
As you may well know this is an upscale Brazilian Steakhouse. There are 17 locations in the U.S. Obviously in the major city markets. I went for lunch at 115 and there was no wait. Normally there is always a wait. So this was a good start. Unfortunately, I wasn't starving which is not a good thing because as you may know, you eat till it hurts at a place like this. That's exactly what I did and I'm still hurting. I normally don't eat till it hurts unless its at one of the top buffets in Vegas but the meats here are so damn tasty it was hard for me to stop! So if you are aware, there is the salad bar you start with an assortment of cold veggies in various mixtures and a few cold slices of meat and cheese. Don't grab too much of anything. I just took a sample or slice from each. The assortment of meats grilled on the large skewers arrive at your table on a regular basis while you have your card turned "green" when you want them to stop flip it over to "red". Don't load your plate up with meats because it will get cold rather quickly. Take your time fipping the card back and forth. FYI, lunch price went up from $24.50 to $28.50. smh :(
(4)Linda R.
Loved it! Went for our anniversary while on a trip to the area. Food was amazing!
(5)Julianne Z.
So for my friend's last weekend, we went to eat Fogo de Chao for their lunch special. Horrible idea. Not that it wasn't DELICIOUS! But that when I got back, I couldn't do anything. There were 3 sections of the meal. Salad Bar: The salad bar is truly amazing. I had a little bit of everything and it was all super fresh and delicious. I had their chicken and potato salad, fresh smoked salmon, fresh mozzarella, and a basil dressing that I would put on anything. It was a great part of the meal and it was a wonderful way to get to the meat :) Sides: So there were 4 kinds of sides. The caramelized bananas and creamy mashed potatoes were really good. But what really stole the show was the fried polenta and the pao de queijo. The pao de queijo is this warm cheese bread but it is so much more than that. The outside if this puffy shell and on the inside, it is this cheesy texture that melts in your mouth. It was amazing! MEAT!!!!: I tried a little bit of everything and it was so good! My favorites though were the lamb chops, lamb leg, sausage and the parmesan encrusted pork tenderloin. The lamb chop was so tender and the sausage had a great oregano flavor. The pork tenderloin was super moist on the inside and the parmesan cheese on top was divine. So now you can tell how unproductive at work I must have been that day, but the meal was perfect and I am definitely have my daily protein intake for the rest of the month. I would def. recommend going for lunch and not for dinner because it gets really pricy then.
(4)Alexander V.
We had a terrible experience here. I was with a party of 12, all of whom were 40+ years old. We had reservations for 8:30 dinner. We showed up at 8:00 just in case they could seat us sooner; they said that they would try but that it was looking like 8:30 would be the actual time we would get in. We were told this by the 3 people working at the hostess counter. They gave us a buzzer to let us know when we would be seated. This is where the problems started. When we inquired about our wait time (4 different times), we were told by these 3 individuals working the front (the 3 women there on 2-1-14) that they were setting up our table. So thinking that we were just about to be seated, we refrained from ordering drinks or taking seats in the waiting area that they have. Fast forward 50 minutes and several more inquiries, we kept getting the same comments about the table being set up for our party. Finally I went and "spoke" to the host staff about the virtues of honesty and being direct. I carefully explained to them that if they had just been upfront with us about the lagging wait times instead of the lip service we received, we would have sat down at the tables in the waiting area and ordered drinks (by this time, all the tables in the waiting area were full and the bar was backed up). No apology from any of the hostesses. Just all 3 women avoiding direct eye contact at the same time. They knew they messed up. If this wasn't bad enough, when it came time to close out our tab, it took 10+ minutes to run our cards because there was a back up at the register, but we only found out about this when I got up and approached the person who took our cards to be swiped. Keeping the customer informed as to why things are taking so long would go a long ways to improving this establishments review. They dropped the ball this night and for what we spent there, we could have had a much nicer and relaxed night at Capital Grille across the way. No complaints on the quality of the meats. Salad bar was a mess; they need to service this area more frequently as it gets lost in the shuffle when things get busy.
(1)Rich R.
Had tickets to an evening Lynx game, so decided to bite the bullet and go to this restaurant beforehand. It lived up to its reviews, IMHO. First, the sumptuous salad bar. Palm hearts, exotic cheeses, cured meats, ginormous asparagus spears, smoked salmon, sun dried tomatoes, prosciutto, olives, meat salads, etc. I followed the advice of yelp reviewers and paced myself to leave room for meat. And the meat. One mouth watering stream (seemingly endless!) of dripping, delicious, protein, sliced at your table. I felt like Caligula. And the service. This place was a well-oiled machine! A non-ending circuit of wait staff glided by, and swooped in precisely when needed. At their prices, this is definitely a "special occasion" dinner only, but I also DEFINITELY got what I paid for, and then some.
(5)Banha S.
A very awesome experience, indeed. Food is great and so is the service. All you can eat Filet Mignon? Can't beat that at anywhere else. Honestly, the steak is not the BEST that I have eaten and I would not recommend going there if you just want a piece of the best tasting steak in your life. It's about quantity over here. Also, the only complain I have is the parking. That will be an extra 10 dollars. Overall, A must go restaurant and for any occasion. Where can you find all you can eat steak with the quality of this place? No where else! Filet Mignon, for the win!
(5)Harin G.
Yummm this place makes my husband's lovely blue eyes sparkle at the mere mention. Then he immediately begins to hallucinate as he imagines himself eating endless pieces of succulent and tender lamb, pork, chicken, and BEEF! PETA will probably find me and through red paint on my house for saying this....I had slight curiosity about how many cows must meet their maker here (my tummy) but then easily shrugged off the thought. Who cares? It's so delicious!! The service is prompt. The salad bar is absolutely sensational (those BEETS!!!!) and now they have added a few hot items which was exciting to see on my last visit. And the excitement of flipping from red to green and not knowing what may come around keeps us coming back for more! WHY NOT 5 STARS? Well only because I can't eat here more than once every few months due to the meat sweats we walk out with every time. :-) DELISH!!!
(4)Shin M.
This is a chain I've been to before so there's not much I have to say about it that I haven't said in my Chicago review. The place is really fancy ... there are a ton of employees that attack you with meat offerings when your card is flipped green... they're all really nice. The meat was good, my favorite was the lamb. Not a fan of the steak wrapped in bacon. Some of the meat was really salty. The caramelized bananas were my favorite thing ever at the Chicago location but they weren't that great here. THe other appetizer was weird too. The mashed potatoes were salty. The smoked salmon at the salad buffet wasnt great. But the steaks and meat in general, were pretty good. The chocolate molten cake was tiny but the best thing I had during my week long stay in Minneapolis. The chocolate lava was amazingggggg.
(4)Thargnar L.
The food is, for the most part, excellent. That's a given. This is more of a guide for first time customers. Realize there are a *lot* of people and the food comes in waves, tactical meat acquisition is a must. Ask for two cards, glue the red sides together. When seated they will try to sell you on the house special drink, some kind of tequila and minty leaves concoction with enough sugar to literally kill a busload of diabetics. I was not a fan, I may now be diabetic. The little bread things on your table are freshly baked and delicious, and pretty much solid dough. They are designed to take up maximum room in the stomach and the equivalent of enemy sappers, they are your enemy. Ok, fine, have one, *one*, they are pretty tasty. The salad bar is a thing of fantastic beauty and delicious variety. Ignore it. Do not eat the day before. Or possibly the day before that. The bathrooms are in the far left rear from the entrance. I can't speak for the women's, but the handicapped stall in the men's room is like an executive suite, Grade A dook hut. Use it to make space halfway through your contest with The Meat. When finished your server may offer you a 'digestive' shot after you roll your eyes at the mention of desert. It is grappa. Grappa is lighter fluid that tastes a little bit like grape stems. It is also thirty something a shot. I'm fairly sure the bottle must have warnings about calling a physician if ingested. I would probably do one again anyway.
(4)Christina G.
My God! Holy service! This place is like taking a 17 minute car ride to brazil! I think the floral arrangements atop the extensively thought out salad bar are bigger than my kitchen!! What a gorgeous additive to a wonderful environment. Most of the tables are large parties of people, but my boyfriend and I went there dressed like hobos and were treated the same as anyone else walking in and out of there. We usually get snubbed by servers because we don't drink and the only thing that could possibly indicate our readiness to tip well would be evaluating the retail cost of any handbag I'm carrying that day. I ordered a virgin margarita- it was basically orange juice and salt. I couldn't stomach it so the server took it off our bill immediately! The meat was amazing and pesto sauce in the salad bar went great on anything I dipped it in. It's pricy- and my boyfriend needed his yearly fogo fix so on a whim we went- and came home extremely happy! The host at the front even waved goodbye to me after I was out the front door outside!!! Well done FOGO!
(5)H P.
Meat, meat and more meat. Beef ribs and horseradish heaven. medical alert: food coma side effect afterwards and may be accompanied by the "meat sweats". Still worth it if you are in that carnivorous kind of mood. Keep the weak and faint hearted at home, this is a place for serious meat eaters to chow down and do some serious damage. Vegetarians might witness some unsightly scenes and "gnashing of teeth"!
(4)Wilko K.
If you want to get the meat sweats by eating the best steaks you can think off go to this awesome restaurant. Unlimited eating of fantastic quality steaks, pork, chicken and more. The salad bar is awesome and aswell are the usually home made deserts!
(5)Luan T.
It goes without saying, I eat a lot...Judging from majority of my reviews, I like everyday man's menu where it is NOT complicated and easy choices. Nothing is more primal than meat on a stick. In this case Fogo de Chao use swords as their 'stick'. (Yes, I love this place on that principle alone). Your menu is simple, you have to go to the salad bar 1st and then you flip your drink coasters to green side up and let them bring meats after meats on a "stick'" until you say 'Uncle' and flip your coasters to RED. Life couldn't be simpler. I will be conservative on my review here - THERE NOTHING better out there when it comes to a STEAK than here. I don't know another place where I can eat all the all the prime cuts/meat you want for one price. Yes, there are some nice Texas restaurant can do this, but...Is it a 5 star restaurant? Can you get medium rare lamb? Again, all you can eat? I seriously doubt it. Think this place a 5 star meat buffet...a work of geniuses I tell you. I can say without hesitation, I have NEVER had a better piece of lamb than here (almost anywhere). I have to travel to the Middle East and begged an Arab to kill a lamb (make sure we faced Mecca and bless it to Alah for this meal, etc) and cook in a sand pit, etc to be this good. Go ahead, ask me how I know about this? Trust me on this, it is cheaper to go here instead...and less sand on your plate. One more ting, the Limeade drink is AMAZING here! I think I drank over 10 glasses last time I was there. Best time to go is lunch time - I think the price is $27 now...Not sure about the dinner price these days. Yes, the salad bar is amazing too, but you missing the point why you are there in the first place...Yes, I would slap you for filling up your plate with salad. And I would defriend you for going a second plate of it.
(5)Suze S.
Look, there's already 270+ reviews, mostly positive. I'm sure there's not much I can add, so I'll keep it to the point. -You just HAVE to try this place at least once. -All of the meat is good. Don't even worry what it is, just have them slide it on your plate. Sweet talk them into giving you two servings of anything covered in bacon. -The service is impeccable! I'm serious, you will never feel more cherished as a customer. -the refills on the pop are NOT free. I think our beverage bill was as high as our food bill at our first visit, because we did not realize this. (And I can personally drink a metric crap-ton of Diet Coke.) -If you're dining with someone of the fairer sex or someone who claims to have a delicate appetite, there is no shame in having them just order the salad bar, and then offer them the occasional taste of your meaty treats. (Within reason, don't be a douche.) -The salad bar is totally worth the trip alone. So make good use of it! -Have a reservation or be sorry.
(4)Rachael A.
I love meat. If I could choose one person/thing to live alone on a desert island with it would be meat. Fogo would get 5 stars IF their meat was local, humanely raised, and grass-finished, but it's a chain and that ain't gonna happen. Any place where I can go and have as many rare filet minon steaks as I please is a place I want to frequent, frequently. Not to mention their salad bar is delish. Full of fresh veggies and magic, that's what. The sides I can do without. I do love me a cheesy, gluten-free bread but since I am no longer a dairy-goer I guess its just steak and veggies for me! I'm not complaining :)
(4)Melanie K.
Outside of their skills of serving meat...the service was Rare. Per the multiple reviews a recap on the theme. You get a one set price meal (no drinks included) for all the meat and salad bar you want. The restaurant has a very upscale feel but clientele is from casual to fine dinning. I am assuming the attire of the guests are dependent of the occasion. Our group made same day reservations for four on a Saturday night. When we arrived at our 8:00 reservation time we were told it would be another 15 minutes because there were multiple large parties that had not gotten up. We proceeded to wait 40 minutes past our reservation time. The worst part about this is that the we watched the hostess continue to tell the same lie over and over to other patrons that walked in with reservations. We were standing in the entrance with 2 large parties and multiple couples and knew just by looking that there was more then a 15 minute delay. The hostess clearly had no concept on how to pace the restaurant as she felt no remorse and continued to tell us and others waiting past their reservation that it we were the next table. We could all clearly see who was getting sat and it was not us. In addition to the terrible hostess who continued to let all the tables pile up I saw the manager address no one about their complaints. Our group asked for a manager to stop by because of our issue and he never showed. Our server told us at the end of the night that we could have free dessert, but I explained that at this point we already felt abandoned and disrespected that a manager never stopped by. Clearly there are more positive reviews so this must not be too much of a common theme. However considering they have a large holding area for guests waiting for tables at the entrance I cannot be so sure. The food was typical Brazilian with multiple slabs of delicious seasoned meat cooked to our preference. As a note once we got past the door our experience was four stars, which is why I rated this place as average versus all over terrible. The service drastically improved and you could see at that point were the wait staff was a well oiled and well mannered machine. Unfortunately, my very long first impression is still leaving a bad taste in my mouth so I doubt I will ever go back to this chain.
(3)Jason Y.
We loved the food and the service! They made every attempt to impress and take care of our every need! The only thing that they could do better is the salad bar. I wasn't very impressed with the items they had available. Who cares though because I was there for the meat! I would recommend going here! Top notch service and the food is uniquely served! Be ready to pay up for it too as it isn't cheap to dine here! Great place to spoil yourself once and awhile!!! Check 'em out! It's worth it!
(5)Tim S.
I've been wanting to go to this location of Fogo de Chao for a long time. Finally today I had the chance to go, and it was worth the wait! I know now not to load up on the salad bar, but that easily could have been done. I mean, which traditional bar has heart of palm and Tabbouleh? Then, 16 types of meat! I don't know which was my favorite. Actually, I think I was torn between the lamb and the filet mignon. Of course I love the bananas and the polenta. I wish I could make it like this. For dessert, the papaya ice cream topped off the perfect meal. All the servers were attentive and it was a perfect way to celebrate a birthday!
(5)Bill H.
So I wanted to take my lovely wife to a unique spot on Valentines day. I asked a few foodie co-workers about it and two of them suggested Fogo de Chao. The concept sounded pretty good - table sliced, roasted meats. Massive buffet with lots of options... Yea, lets give it a shot. I made a reservation more than two months in advance and asked for a quiet corner, something a little romantic. "We will take care of you" I was told. Feb 14th, 2012 rolls around and we eagerly head downtown. We walk in to claim our table and get seated right next to the buffet. I mean we were practically on top of the damn thing. We took elbows to the head while we stared at peoples asses while they waited in the buffet line for almost two hours. Not that we wanted to be there for two hours... It was a 15-20 minute wait to get something off of the buffet and the table-side sliced meat was all dry and tasteless. Most of the food on the buffet was decent, but as a dedicated carnivore, I was really unimpressed with the meat. Not a great experience. And not great food either. I understand the reviews from the guys that get a kick out of packing in a massive amount of food. I find guilty pleasure in bellying up to the trough myself... but I want to gorge on good food, not just food. I was disappointed with Fogo de Chao, especially considering all of the other wonderful eateries near by.
(2)Amy C.
First time there, went for dinner. Salad bar was wonderful, different flavors and textures (asparagus was awesome). Quick responses for flipped disc on table. There was just one time for a long wait on more meat though. Some confusion during dessert ordering, had to end up sharing but papaya cream was surprisingly refreshing so all was good. Service people should smile more often. Overall an ok experience with interesting dishes.
(4)Jack G.
Any claim that this place is less than perfect is wrong! Everything about this restaurant is great. The food, the drinks, the service, the layout...even the bathrooms! We made a reservation in advance and were slightly late, I caked ahead and let them know and they said it was absolutely fine. Upon being seated we got shown the drink menu, I chose the caiprinha which was super strong and had plenty of lime in it. It was a great choice. We then checked out the salad bar where I almost filed myself before the main attraction. There was so much to choose from and it was all fantastic. The smoked salmon was excellent. I had never been to a fogo de chao restaurant before but I loved the green and red card system of showing you are ready for the meat. The service was very fast and the meat was always served at just the right temperature. My only company was that sometimes I did not know what cut I was actually eating! This place really knows how to deliver. It did everything right and this was reflected by the high prices they charge. It was expensive but worth it for a great experience and meal. I am definitely going to try and make a reservation during restaurant week!
(5)Tobin L.
We dined here for our Wedding Anniversary. The food was delicious. The staff were very courteous and attentive. We received a free dessert since it was our Anniversary. Even though the food was delicious, I was a little surprised when I received a the bill. It was well over $100 for just two of us(and our dessert was complimentary). I would love to eat here regularly, but I'm not sure if I could afford to.
(3)William C.
MEAT. COMA. That pretty much sums up what happens to your body after you have a buffet of meats brought to you at a white cloth table. I've been here A LOT over the years and I'm finally writing a review. The decor is fitting, you feel comfortable and at 'home' in a way. Big chairs, large tables and fresh white linens; you know when you hit the chair, you're in for a wonderful feast. The service is fantastic. Once you put your card on green, the meats begin to flow on to your plate. The staff stop right next to you and with precision, cut out a chunk of meat to your cooked tastes. If you don't see what you want, just ask them and it'll be in front of you in minutes. There is a wide variety of meats, LOTS OF COW with a dabbling of pork and chicken. You have to just go to Fogo and experience it for yourself. There is no alternative to Fogo, period. Don't think, just GO.
(5)Art V.
Unfortunately my experience at fogo was nothing Brazilliant. The food was fantastic and the atmosphere was incredible but our waiter Tim seemed to have a quick temper and a snappy rude attitude. Not only with us at the table but was also incredibly short with his team, which made it very awkward to hear them interact. We avoided eye contact so he wouldn't come over and cringed when it was made. Willing to try again if we won't be stuck with this guy again.
(2)Joe W.
I'm a meat lover, but this was the best place I've ever dined at. Go here instead of a steakhouse. You'll get higher quality food and as much of it as you want. Can't go wrong in my book. It is a bit expensive but $50 a plate was well worth it!!
(5)Melissa R.
This place is absolutely amazing. Very pricy, but you will be impressed...not only by the food, but the service. You will walk out of there full as hell and happy as a clam!#
(5)Luci R.
Tonight was my first experience at this venue. We had a group of seven as part of a MeetUp event for restaurant week (Sunday 2/23/14). I think we only waited about 15-20 minutes past our reservation time (5:30pm). The restaurant was clearly already very busy so that wasn't awful at all. The food was amazing, including the smoked salmon at the salad bar. My favorite cut of meet was the lamb chop. The food service was off-and-on, even tho multiple people at our table had their "green lights on". Our table was right by one of the wait stations, and the lady on the end (who was the organizer of the MeetUp) was stepped on and tripped over multiple times (even though her feet were clearly under the table). After being tripped on, stepped on, and not getting much attention, a complaint was made and service got much better. We understood during restaurant week it would be a little crazier maybe than others. The others in the group indicated they'd received much better service on previous occasions, even during restaurant week. I personally would go back another time, maybe during lunch, to check it out.
(4)Mike N.
i have to admit the last time i was here it was much better. we cam here for restaurant week and were some what dissapointed the service was not as good and the cut down on the meat selection they provide for restaurant... boooooo although the selection was cut down the quality was still good...
(3)Joelle P.
If you love meat, you will love Fogo de Chao. If you love eating meat until your stomach hurts, you will never leave Fogo de Chao. I personally fall into both of those categories. I love me some buffet, and the only thing better than Chinese buffets is unlimited, various amounts of delicious meats brought right to your table. That's right, you don't even have to get up. That is, unless you want salad...which brings me to my one big tip about Fogo... Don't fill up on salad! They suggest taking a trip to the salad bar before turning your card over (which signals the meat to come!). They do this because everything at the salad bar looks, and is, delicious. You will then fill up on carbs and salad and will eat less delicious meat. We learned this the hard way. Get salad, order meat, do not fill up on salad before you eat enough meat. Try the bacon wrapped filet, or the bacon wrapped chicken. Actually, try everything. Just prepare yourself to eat more than you have ever eaten.
(5)S L.
I had a great experience and will be back. The staff is very attentive and I appreciate the quality of the food for such a cheap price!
(5)Shelby M.
Salad bar was small for the price of alone being 25$, not worth that at all go buy yourself a nice salad somewhere else. The total package with meat wasn't very impressive either. Meat selections did not all come around even with the card on green, waiters and hostess were rude & complained about having to seat a large group (that's your job) the mashed potatoes were watery and honestly gross, the fried bananas (used as a palate cleanser) were cold and soft, opposite of what they should be. The gratuity was 18% no option to tip lower, only higher, my service was definitely not worth that and my meal came to 65$. If I was looking for some bread this place was good but otherwise overpriced, uncomfortable cramped seating, and I would never return or recommend anyone to fine here, go to a nice steakhouse somewhere else instead.
(1)Maxx M.
Wow--this place is A MEAT LOVER'S PARADISE! Everything I put in my mouth was incredibly good!!! This includes every style of meat, the desserts, and even the veggies. I vowed to stay away from anything green before I arrived...but the salad bar lured me in. The service was also first rate. Make sure you go with any empty stomach. It's pricey...but worth every penny. My wife is from South America and she also gave the South American beef flavors a BIG Latin thumbs up! -Daddy Maxx Retro
(5)Bronson M.
You know that feeling of sweet satiated agony you get after eating an awesome gluttonous meal? Yeah, that's pretty much how I felt after eating dinner here during restaurant week. I had eaten at the Fogo location in Dallas before for a work function but had never been to the Minneapolis location until recently. The interior of this place is cavernous but still seems to have issues with the acoustics as it was really loud. I know people say to go to Fogo during lunch because it's cheaper (which is true) but if you have the chance to go during restaurant week it is truly a steal. Since it's even busier during restaurant week reservations are needed in order to get a table. Even with reservations my buddy and I had to wait an extra 20 minutes to be seated which was a little annoying. After being seated we headed over to the salad bar to start off the meal. Since I was planning on just eating meat that night, I only loaded up my plate with prosciutto and cheeses (which they have an amazing selection of). All the meat I had piled onto my plate was excellent, although I wasn't too impressed with the chicken or sausage offerings. In all honestly, I couldn't tell you exactly which meats I tried since I literally just had the servers stop by and offload hunks of meat onto my plate...but rest assured they all tasted wonderful. Seriously, if Fogo participates in restaurant week again check it out as $30 for dinner and a dessert (which you won't be able to eat...but they let you take it home) is a stellar deal. After leaving Fogo I headed home already half in a meat-coma and well into the third trimester of a food baby pregnancy...and although the DNA tests were not conclusive I'm pretty sure Fogo is the father (no Maury Povich needed).
(4)Trina S.
I love Fogo! The salad bar is really good and I always try to not pile a lot on my plate just because I want to save more room for the meat. I went last night for the second time this month...except this time it was for restaurant week. Dinner for only $30 who can say no to that?? Anyway, I love the customer service here. It goes above and beyond. I don't think I've ever had a bad experience here with their staff. My main priority when I come here are the lamb chops. SOOO GOOD! Never dry! There's really not much to say about this restaurant except for the fact that it's super good, service is fast, and the servers who cut the meat for you know what they're doing and do it well...unlike that wannabe Fogo place called Rodizio in Maple Grove where you get splattered as they cut the meat. Oh and the red wine sangria is probably the best sangria I've had other than the ones I make.
(5)Neil K.
This place isn't a restaurant...it is a culinary adventure. Buckle up...or unbuckle up, as you devour a couple pounds of beef. Food is extraordinary. Service is stellar.
(5)Tippaket T.
I like meat and vegetables equally. This place caters to the two sides of me equally. All their cuts of meat are fantastic, although there's one or two that are a bit on the salty side. The salad bar has a wide variety of non meat items such as cheeses, breads, and salads so I don't quite understand why it isn't good enough for some vegetarians. At least a place known for serving meat has a humongous alternative option for those who don't eat it (and is nicely presented imo). Lastly the service is outstanding. I'd recommend making a reservation since this place can get busy.
(5)Luke C.
All you can eat for under 50$ plus drinks! Need I say more? I think not but just in case I'll tell you a bit more. The have a wonderful salad bar with everything you could expect from a salad bar and more. The meal is really an experience. There are waiters walking around with giant hunks of meat on skewers and you are given a disc with a green side and a red side. When you want them to stop by you and serve you, turn your disc to green. When you have had enough or need a break, turn your disc to red and you won't be bothered. It's really a fun system! They have chicken, pork, and beef. Different kinds of each that are all amazing! Their house brand of wine is also really good and goes with their meats perfectly. The atmosphere is really nice but the dress code seems pretty casual. I've eaten here after games and there were people wearing sweatshirts, jerseys, jeans, etc.
(5)Annette L.
There should be a way to give six stars, because this place deserves it. The entire wait-staff work as a team, rather than having their own sections, which gives it a great ambience. The salad bar is to die for -- I'd never tried smoked salmon before, but wound up really enjoying it. I could have filled up on that and the salad bar (which also had a big pan of bacon for no reason at all -- AWESOME) alone, but it didn't stop there. Then came the "parade of meat," as I like to call it (even though that sounds filthy). They give you a little coaster that's red on one side and green on the other. When you flip the green side up, they start bringing around huge spits of meat. And this is the most fantastic stuff you've ever tasted -- porkchops, bacon-wrapped chicken breasts, filet mignon, and much more. They don't stop bringing it to you until you either flip the red side up, or explode. Whichever comes first. Best food coma I've ever had.
(5)Jen W.
I've been here numerous times and have always had a pleasant experience! Service: 5 stars Food: 5 Stars Cleanliness: 5 Stars
(5)Ryan W.
For $50 dollars a plate, you get a lot. I'm big on value when I go out to eat and even for a pricier place, I think you get it here. The salad bar alone is pretty amazing. The meat is fantastic. The first person who came to our table had bacon wrapped filet mignon. It was probably the best thing I've ever tasted. It's a fun place. Definitely expensive, but still worth going to every once in awhile. Service was also great.
(5)Tammy V.
Well I'm not sure why this place gets 4 + 5 stars. My hubby and I went here on Sunday night. Ok, the wait was long even though we had reservations! I was very excited about the "salad bar" . I was so very disappointed . It was small in comparison to others and while they had interesting items it was not kept filled! Meat , meat , meat that's about all it is! Which if it was good meat that would be great! But it was marginal at best! I think this is one of those places you try because it sounds cool. In reality you never go back because other places are better !
(1)Dane N.
I have been for lunch twice and dinner once. The deep fried bananas are my absolute favorite to go along with my steak. I do enjoy the wrapped in bacon selections as well. Service is always very fast and efficient and servers themselves are always polite and explain everything really well. I will be back!
(5)Brad S.
Everything about Fogo is 5 stars across the board! Especially if you go during restaurant week! I have been to Fogo de Chao more than ten times. Every time I get amazing service, awesome food, and the meat sweats. Plus, I don't have to eat for a day or so afterwards. So, you probably know what Fogo is all about from the other reviews so I am going to give you some insider (or frequent flyer) tips. How about an even ten. 1. Ask for the beef ribs - do it! 2. Bacon wrapped filet (rare) is dessert @Tom C. (Unless its restaurant week and they include dessert.) 3. Papaya Cream is my favorite dessert especially when comped (if you are celebrating just about anything they will tend to comp a dessert for the table) 4. Get reservations 5. Tip 1 + 2 = AWESOME when you wrap the rib around the bacon wrapped filet - just an FYI ;) 6. You can get mint jelly upon request (if you're into that...) 7. Don't fill up on salad, but do visit the salad bar - there's meat there too! 8. Parking in the City Center ramp (entrance on 7th st.) is a great spot to park, low price, plus you don't even have to walk outside. 9. Parking in the summer (winter too I suppose..) can be had for free after 6pm on some of the surrounding streets. 10. Lunch is half price on weekdays - same stuff though. See ya there!
(5)Ty E.
Great food. Great service. One of the best Brazilian restaurants I have eaten at.
(4)Prescilla X.
OH EM GEE THIS WAS AMAZING! I came here on a Tuesday evening and there wasn't any wait what so ever which was great. We were instantly greeted by a host and than shown to our table. The service was immaculate and they definitely didn't miss a beat! The food here was absolutely breath-taking. Literally...I just kept eating and eating without even pausing for a breath. The meat that they serve is all delicious, tender, quality meat. Even their salad bar had a ton of options! I was extremely impressed by Fogo de Chao. I could never get tired of this place. A MUST TRY!!!!!!!!!
(5)kyle t.
Loved this place. Best salad bar in the down town area. That's really not my call but a friend that has worked down town for 10+ years and eats out 3-4 days a week. I was visiting and loved the food, service and the salad bar. There is something about a bunch of different types of meat brought to the table over and over again until your full that makes me feel happy all over. What can I say, it's worth the experience. Enjoy. KT
(4)Thomas N.
This is a steak heaven. There is nothing to complain about this place. The food is good and the service is great. If you are looking for a good and cheap meal, join them for lunch, only $28.95/person. I will return to this restaurant in a heart beat.
(5)Mallory B.
I DARE you to try to leave this place without feeling pleasantly plump. It just doesn't happen. The salad bar is marvelous and has many unique offerings. Try the Basil dressing! The challenge is not making too huge of a salad because if you're like me, you might go crazy on the salad and not leave enough room to try all of the meats! ALL of them meat is phenom! My top favorites were the Filet Mignon and the Top Sirloin. The pork tenderloins were a little dry for my taste. And the pork ribs were seasoned to perfection...was that a hint of lime? Servers were great at making their rounds and we were never passed up. I would recommend requesting all of your meat to be medium or medium well. I almost always demand my meat well done, but I couldn't imagine eating any of their cuts at any more than medium! Sides included with the meal included fried polenta, fried bananas and garlic mashed potatoes. My favorite by far were the fried bananas! I'm pretty sure I ate a whole tray by myself! Their signature drink is absolutely positively to die for. Sugar cane distilled rum with limes and more sugar and as they say, tastes even better with all of their meats. I would highly recommend making reservations a few days ahead of time. I had a reservation for 6pm, we were seated and fed immediately. They were kind enough to ask if we were celebrating anything or were out for a dinner. We happened to be celebrating my mom's birthday and they offered us a dessert on the house. Fogo de Chao makes for a perfect night out with the family. I WILL be back!
(5)Becky P.
The food was amazing! When you flip your little green card waiters came out of the woodwork with tasty Skewers of meat! My husband who can really pack it away was like a kids in a candy store! Gear experience!
(5)Cheryl T.
Pricey? Yes. Worth it? YES! If you like meat, you are doing yourself a major disservice by not having eaten here before. We did have to wait a bit even though we had a reservation but it was on a Saturday night that had some birthday parties so that's understandable. As it was 5 degrees the night we went and fully expecting to require being rolled out after we dined, we opted for valet as there really is no close-by parking.
(5)Liuyin S.
You step into Fogo, and you know you've made it. Here, is a delectable example of the finer things in life. You check in, they take your coat, lead you to your table, and they pull out your chair for you. My group was clearly not use to the service as only the last one in our party took the seat. Foreplay to this intense marathon starts with pao de quijo, or cheesy bread, in laymen's terms. These are not your italian french-bread-type garlic cheese breads, but bit-size muffins that are warm and truly cheesy and melts in your mouth like the home-made goodness mom never made. I was surprised by the impeccable service when we got a fresh basket... when there was still one left in our basket! Having worked in the restaurant business and having eaten at so many amazing places, I found the concept of the organization of the staff to be very original in that all the servers worked together. Any of them could take your table's order and bring you what you wanted... which I would imagine could cause some confusion somewhere along the line, but the fast and collaborative method in which everything flowed was astonishing. Next, it was time to explore the huge salad bar. I think it took us a good 10 mins to walk around the bar(!) that offered fresh mozzarella, bamboo shoots, salami, salmon, whole slices of crispy bacon(!), and lots of fresh cheeses, mushrooms, and greens that I have yet to name. One of my friends dropped his plate at the salad bar, and there were hands cleaning it up a second later. Service = amazing. In the organized fashion of all the signaling (with the red/green cards), I did have a few questions that remain unanswered, such as: how do I signal for a plate for meat? I've now finished my salad and wanted meat, so I turned my card green... and literally had to turn down 3 cuts before someone brought me a fresh plate. That seemed inefficient; I could have been savoring on exotic tenderness 40 secs earlier! Another question I had was, how do I track down what I want? Since you sit at your table and wait for the cuts to come to you, how do you get what you what if you are eyeing a specific cut? Turns out, you just ask. D'uh. The power of communication. In addition to the cheese bread, salad bar and 15 cuts of meat, you get sides - who has the room to squeeze these in is beyond me, but you get 3 sides: fried bananas, friend polentas, and garlic mashed potatoes topped with cheese. The polentas were my fav. The mash was too hearty for me with all the meat. The bananas added a great mix of sweetness to the palette. There were 13 types of meat and I vowed to try every one. I think I ended up with 12... but there were two types of lamb, so I forgone one. Here's my ranking: * Filet Mignon - 5 stars. Comes with 3 doneness - medium, medium rare, and well * Bacon Wrapped Filet Mignon - 5 stars. Bacon makes everything better. * Costela de porco - pork ribs - 5. Very juicy and perfectly peppered. * Beef Ancho - Rib Eye - 5. Succulent, mouth watering. Even near the end when I was beyond full, I loved it. * Lombo - Pork loin with Parmasean Cheese - 4 * Alcatra - top sirloin - 4. Came in medium or medium rare. Very tender, juicy, and red. * Fraladinha - botton sirloin. 3. The crispy part was too brunt and a tad dry. * Cordeio - lamb chops. 3. Came in medium/medium rare. I don't usually like lamb but this was good with a yummy kick to it and beautiful presentation. * Picanha - 3. The fatty party was mouth-watering and crispy but a tad too stringy and chewy for my inkling. * Linguica - 2. Nice spicy kick to it, but nothing too special from the average breakfast sausage. * Frango - 2. It's chicken. * But the one that came wrapped in bacon? I give that a 3. If you saved room for dessert, you didn't eat enough. If you didn't save room for dessert, you were an idiot. Wait, what? Win-Win or lose-lose? There were 4 of us, so we tried 4 different types. And my dessert preference in order comes down to: 1. Molten Chocolate Cake - Chocolate Cake with a fudge center. Served warm with scoop of vanilla ice cream. It was perfectly warm topped with the melted chocolate. Gooey goodness, and with strawberries! 2. Papaya Cream - Fresh papaya blended with vanilla ice cream. Topped with creme de cassis. Very light and actually fresh. 3. Creme Brule - Homemade vanilla bean custard with a glazed sugar coating 4. Chocolate Mousse Cake - Alternating layers of white and dark chocolate mousse and chocolate cake. Needless to say, it was a fabulous experience. I warn you now of the gluttony you will experience... and the wastefulness. I did feel my heart ache for leaving half a cow left unfinished on my plate, not to mention all the sides and fresh bread that were replaced and tossed when we were only half-way done with what we had on our table.
(5)Mark L.
Unfairly, this place kinda auto-five-stars in terms of food selection. They have pretty much everything you could ever want, even if you're a vegetarian (awesome salad bar). We partook in both the meats brought by the waiters, and special ordered a few side dishes, which came quickly. As a tip, there is so much food that it's very easy to overeat. My suggestion is take a little bit of everything. Try the salad bar, try a few meats from the general pool, then special order a few. You'll also be bombarded with tasty rolls, fried bananas, and potatoes. Just sample everything.
(5)Jeremy C.
Wow I could very much give this place a 5 star ratting (at this moment I'm calling it 4 star). Honestly though after having been here about a 1/2 dozen times I get less and less impressed each time. Not that the service lacks (it's amazing) nor does the food (it too is great), I am just somewhat burnt on the concept of so much food/meat. Perhaps I've reached a point in my life where I enjoy quality more than quantity, but truly the quality is great too. **Ok fine, this place is a 5 star, I'm changing my rating right now** I think it's my overall dislike of the buffet concept that has me disliking this place. So I put this out there to you, if you have never been to this establishment and you really like meat... go, check it out. But if you want something a little less 'super size me' then go and have a good steak at one of the numerous other nice steakhouses in the cities. One semi-valid reason to dislike this place... I dropped $90 on a meal and two glasses of wine.
(5)Cengizhan O.
Wonderful place to splurge at. Loved the fried polenta and buffet options. Smoked salmon along with a bowl of bacon? Hell yeah. Service was fantastic and made us feel like royalty. The meat that came by the tables was flavorful and bountiful. Make sure you go hungry and pace yourself.
(5)J T.
Went there for a B-day dinner in December. We had no reservations and they were very gracious to get the two of us in.with less than a 5 min wait. If you like meat this is the place. I'm sure I cant say anything about the meat that anyone else hasn't... Other than the lamb chops were outstanding. We ordered a great 07 Cab Sav from stags leap, it was on special for $75, I have seen this bottle go for $150 at other restaurants and I buy it for $60 for home. Really impressed with the nice pricing for that. What got me was the salad bar. LOVE the selection, Meats, cheeses, salads, beets, asparagus, fresh parm, and so many items I almost just had that. I could go there and just eat the salad bar! Other places should use this salad bar as a model! Don't go here and hope to keep a NYE resolution or if your are not really hungry. They bring the meat as fast as you can eat it. The service is truly outstanding. They don't hold back and really do make the experience enjoyable. The sides they bring are really well prepared and taste as good as you would expect. I tried to stay away from the bread and such so I could eat more of the meat but everything was good and couldn't help myself. They asked who's birthday it was and brought a comped desert at the end of our meal for them. This was like everything else truly tasty. We had the key lime pie and it hit the spot with some after dinner coffee's. We would go back there over and over. While it IS expensive, you get fabulous food, plenty of selection and no rush what soever. Plus this place brings a whole new meaning to "going green!" If you leave hungry, well you didn't try hard enough!
(5)Daniel V.
This place my customer loves to come to. Frankly if not being able to expense it, Fogo would not be on my list. Now that is not because of the food, it's because of the fix price which for me personally I would never get my monies worth. I have recently gone vegetarian, so it was nice for me there is a salad bar only option. This was the first time really exploring the salad bar, before salad just took up space that the steak could better occupy, so other than walking by never really took notice. They really have a wide verity so it was easy to find options, and yes I was completely full when we left. If I was still a carnivore and a special occasion then this would be a good place to come. The wait staff has always been exceptional, they never let you go hungry if the chip is green.
(4)Kelsey M.
Absolutely GREAT meal & atmosphere! The salad bar was great & the meat was cooked perfectly! Definitely worth every penny!
(4)Anna H.
A-MAZ-ING!!! Brazilian-style all you can eat steak dinner is AMAZING. An endless supply of salt rubbed steak, sliced thinly, commencing immediately when you turn your "serve me" card to green. The supply stops once you've turned your card to red, but the servers still manage to fly across the room with their large swords of steak and giant knives.... I'm not sure how soemone hasn't accidentally gotten stabbed here, but hey.... Fogo de Chao is a true carnivore's paradise. But... I cannot forget to mention the SALAD BAR. Seriously - a vegetarian would feel like he died and went to heaven here, too. Brazilians ROCK when it comes to salads - and Fogo de Chao does an excellent job of providing a wonderful selection of Brazilian salads. But hey, eating at the salad bar is a rookie mistake... you've got to go for the meat :) I love this place. Oh, and you get it for about half price if you go for a week-day lunch.
(5)Jordan H.
This is the ultimate place for meat lovers. It is a Brazilian style bbq place that, from what a friend from Brazil has told me, is pretty close to the real thing. You get seated at your table and your server gets your drink order and then the meat starts coming. Different serves with different cuts of meat come to your table side and offer you what they have. There is a salad bar included, which is quite good, however I would not go here for the salad. Be sure to leave room for all of the good stuff. This place is generally really busy especially on weekends so reservations are probably a good idea. It's about $40 per person without drinks and you can definitely get your money's worth if you come hungry. Atmosphere is some what dressy, but no need to dress up too much.
(4)Calvin M.
This is my NUMBER ONE RESTAURANT in all of Minnesota. There are no restaurants like i! Fell the sizzle of fresh MEAT on the back of your neck! The price is worth it. You will truly be full, and the atmosphere is delightful. I can guarantee one of the best dinning experiences for you and your household.
(5)Johnny P.
This place is a pricey dinner for two, but the service is exquisite. The salad bar has a lot of super delicious options. The meats are also excellent with my favorite being the prime rib cut. But if you don't like that cut, don't worry, they have 15 others!
(5)Travis W.
Amazing meat selection with phenomenal flavor. Impeccable service. Slightly awkward salad bar. We will definitely be back!
(4)Mariel L.
So, I had to wait a full day to digest what I just ate at Fogo de Chao (both figuratively and literally), and now I'm prepared to give my thoughts on this Mecca of meat. Too much information on my bodily functions there? I thought so, and thoughtfully disagree. You have to know what you're getting into before you go to Fogo de Chao. If you live under a rock (which is either a thin rock, or you have a great internet service provider), Fogo is an AYCE churrascaria, with men in gaucho pants carrying 10 types of skewered meat in one hand and dangerously dangling a sharp knife with another. We luckily got a table for Restaurant Week, and in preparation for this special dinner, I only ate soup and crackers for the entire day, wore loose-fitting clothes, and made my peace with God and Men. Y'know, just in case I "meat" the Big Guy after OD'ing on carnivorous pleasures. The place is huge and loud, but has enough space for the fluid motion of the impeccable staff. The servers and chefs were so fast while still being thoughtful and accommodating. The cheese bread starter was so awesome: it was crusty on the outside and extremely soft on the inside, with a texture that's somewhere between a cheesy gnocchi and a tapioca pearl. It's really hard to control yourself around them. Nevertheless, I knew I had to, since up next was the salad bar. Frankly, I wasn't as impressed with this as other diners have been. There's a lot of great options, though, so I concentrated on the cheeses, smoked salmon (my fave in the spread), the cured meats, and a little bit of the salad. But, and to quote my brother's response to a server at another Fogo de Chao in Cali, "I'm only here for the meat." My very first time I turned that disk green (signaling the gaucho chefs), you can see the panicked look in my face as a parade of chefs offered me a slice of every kind of meat. I swear to jeebus, they were like freaking ninjas, popping up beside me with a skewer. I believe I tried almost all varieties except for except for one, but I'm not going to describe every one. Let me just say that at some point, the beef cuts all start to taste the same. That's not a bad thing, though, because the meats are prime and well-seasoned. I guess if I were to pick a favorite beef cut, it would be the Fraldinha. I didn't like the bacon wrapped filet mignon because the inside was too rare for me and tasted too iron-y. The bacon wrapped chicken, however, was a hit, as well as the lombo - pork encrusted with parmesan. The chicken legs were superb, with a hot, crispy skin and a juicy inside. And, the sausage was also tasty with a hint of spice and strong flavors. Out of all of them, my fave would be the pork, but then again, anything covered in cheese will be given an upper hand. I guess I should've alternated the beef with the sides to differentiate the taste; they were also very delicious, too. The fried polenta with a little parmesan wasn't overly salty, and was crunchy. The bananas were sweet and reminiscent of the banana-Q of my youth, and the garlic mashed potatoes may not hold a candle to Buca's, but good nonetheless. It's kinda hard to tear yourself away from the meat when what you come for is the meat. That said, I did take sips of the very delicious caipirinha in between some bites, if only to remind myself to hydrate after the meat sweats.
(5)Karen T.
Fogo is a chain. A pricey chain. An all-you-can-eat pricey, Brazilian barbeque chain. It's loud and boisterous (if you're looking for an intimate, private frou-frou dinner, head elsewhere). Those niceties out of the way, let's delve into why I love it so. First off, men come up to you with GIANT SKEWERS of meat repeatedly. You have your own little coaster-like button of green for "go" on one side and red for "stop" on the other. And if you get too drunk and forget to keep turning it, it's okay because they're used to it. Second, my first Fogo was with coworkers. 16 coworkers, to be exact, with a few from London, Chicago, Boston, San Francisco, Kansas City, NYC, etc. As this was a celebration and culmination of brokers' training while being shacked up in Minneapolis for 5 weeks, we decided to do what we do best: drink. I'm still not sure how many bottles of wine we downed, but the red went so incredibly well with the sirloins that the sommelier began replenishing bottles as soon as they were finished. I remember seeing a few piles of corks in the middle of the table and laughing hysterically at the sight. In retrospect, it wasn't that funny...but it WAS that much fun. Athletes joke that we're the only girls that would get your money's worth from a Fogo date. And my sad little post-collegiate athletics stomach proved the old adage right. To really get the best experience, I had to try little bites of everything. I almost wasted my appetite on the salad bar! Which is extensive and marvelous (once you've experienced it, it makes you look at any other restaurant's like a soup kitchen line), but it's like spending all your money on the little kiddy rides instead of the awesome roller coaster. Luckily, I checked myself before I wrecked myself...and spent the rest of the night gorging on bacon-wrapped or otherwise deliciously marinated chicken/pork/beef and wine. Their after-dinner drinks and dessert list (if you make it that far) is worth a try. We were there for four hours so my stomach had time to recuperate. I tried limoncello for the first time, which is amazing. In case you're wondering how much this ridiculous, obscene meal was: we ended up blowing $2100, but it was so incredibly worth it. $2100 for 17 people is nothing when you consider the AIG press junket the executives took for $440k... At least it was our own money!
(3)Tina L.
Sorry, Fogo de Chao has delicious meats, but we really did not think it was worth paying $60/head. In Argentina (which I know isn't Brazil!), I had similar amounts and quality of meat for probably around 10 USD. We really DID enjoy the picanha (top sirloin) and the beef ancho (rib eye), and the service is pretty good... maybe I need to give it another try. Next time I think I'll starve myself for two days before coming here so I can feel like I ate $60 worth of meats.
(3)Victor M.
went 2 weeks ago for lunch with a few co workers and we had a great time.. service is always good. The lunch is the same as dinner but cheaper. they have a great scotch selecton
(5)Amir S.
Fogo de Chao's Deciding Algorithm: 1- Are you vegetarian at the moment? If yes, leave this page and close your browser ASAP and never again search "Fogo de Chao." If not go to 2. 2- True that you're not vegetarian now, but do you worship grill and kabobs? If yes go to 3. If not leave this page and work on your meet religious devotion! 3- Are you an all-you-can-eat kind of person? If yes go to 4. If not leave this page and never come back again! 4- Are you ready to pay a $$$ bill? If yes go to 5 and if not forget it for the time being and begin to save money or sell your spare kidney! 5- Can you resist a full salad bar and avoid stuffing your stomach with a huge variety of salads? If yes go to 6 and if not you can still go on but I feel very sorry for you! 6- Are you able to resist bottomless plates of caramelized banana and not let it stuff your stomach? If yes go to 7 and if not you could still go ahead. But be ashamed of yourself and your weak will-power! Do you really call yourself a wo/man? 7- Are you OK with leaving the restaurant while you can't even stand the meat's smell and are deciding to become a vegetarian for the rest of your life? If yes go to 8 and if not I'm afraid I have to not let you join the ex-meat-lovers group! 8- Congrats! You are ready to try Fogo de Chao for the first time! Be prepared to experience a vegetarian way of life for at least a couple of weeks after leaving the restaurant.
(5)Anya S.
I ate a cow. And a little bit off the salad bar. Then another cow, and a baby cow. And a chicken. The salad bar alone is amazing. I dont know if this is funny or not, but the most amazing salad bar I've seen is at a steakhouse restaurant. I am not kidding, bring your grass eating friends there, and you can eat a cow, while they are nibbling on grass and veggies from the salad bar. Meat!!!!!!!!!!! Our little group ate enough food to feed a small African country for at least two weeks. Once you sit down, the hot man wearing funny pants start walking around flaunting their meat. Yammy!! You get a little card which tells the man if you want more meat or if you are full and satisfied and they should call for a dolly, as you are unable to move and they need you to vacate the table. Meat - there is 15 different choices, and they are all amazing [besides the pork, didnt try that]. Try them all, dont eat from the salad bar and save space in your tummy for yummy meats. The service - I have no complains, and usually I do have something that you could've been better. But not this time, Fogo de Chao is simply amazing and satisfied all of my carnivorish cravings. Plus the hot man in funny pants, love it. We didnt order desert, as noone could move after the meal, but I hear they are fabulous. Go there, eat some meat.
(5)Christophe V.
Come hungry and you will enjoy this place. Never ending meat to your table with very good and not over the top service. I would rather go there for lunch since its cheaper and you still get everything that dinner offers. Also, the s angria is delicious!!
(5)Chet M.
I go here for lunch and dinner. This place has great service and food. Salad bar is fresh and the meat is great. The price is a little spendy, but the price is made up from the quality of food and awesome service. A must try at least once even if you are a vegetarian. I would recommend this establishment to everyone.
(5)Master A.
Meat, Meat, and more Meat. If you don't like meat, this place isn't for you. Green means you're gonna get a plate full meat enough to serve a party of 4 to down by your self. They have all the cuts of the beef, some chicken, pork, and lamb (the four food groups). Everything is wonderful. The meat is still sizzling when they bring it out to you. Love the pork ribs and rib-eye. Do not ask for A1 or Heinz sauce, because you don't need it. It will ruin the taste. They have a great salad bar too, but I wasn't there for the salad. The bar prices are very expensive. Be careful when asking for water, they gave me a $14 bottle of water that I thought was going to be free. Make sure you say free tap water. Yes, this place is expensive, but if you go during the lunch hour, it's half the price of dinner. It's worth every penny you pay. The service is top notch. They always had what I wanted to eat. The only con I have is that my bowel movement for the next 3 days was just dark as hell from all the meat I ate. I didn't want to see meat for another year after eating here. I've only been here 4 times. I come once a year. If you want a great experience, this is it.
(5)John H.
A disclaimer. This was my first, and so far, only experience with a Brazilian steakhouse. I'm from Chicago where every block you see an ad for Ozzie's favorite: Brazzaz, so I'm familiar with the presentation of the meat. I just had no idea of the level of service. Went to lunch with my mom - she had received a $100 gift card to the place, and we decided to try it. She had been there - in DC i think - and knew what to expect. I hadn't eaten all day, and the sound of a typical steak was on my mind. First of all, the place is nice. We arrived at 1pm, and there weren't many people there. A few large parties, but maybe 15-20 couples. The place looks very big and spacious. Nice and dark and comfortable. We were dressed a bit classy due to meetings downtown, but the vibe looked generally casual. but right at the table, the guy pulls out your chair, places your napkin. The little things, right? Then they explain this red light-green light insanity. When the small coaster-like chip is red side up, no one will bother you. You can eat and enjoy the crazy nice salad bar -with prosciutto and cheeses and great veggies and salads - or the potatoes, pop overs, and plantains brought to the table. And drinks. Try a Brazilian beer or a fine single malt. But flip that baby to green and you're in for it. These guys harass you one at a time with these swords of red-meated-goodness. Want to try this filet? Wrapped in bacon? How about this sirloin? Or the chicken? Wrapped in bacon? Try this porkchop - and the lamb. How about rare? Medium rare? Well done? Here - I'll go get more. I'll run to the kitchen. I'm so sorry. And I'll wrap it in bacon. These guys buzz around like flies until you quickly rush to flip the card over again. Red means no. Please God no more. So after you deal with the 12 lbs of red meat on your plate, you can, like I did, cry and cry and wonder aloud why I haven't been here before, and why the server won't let me live here, or go back and stock up on more tasty treats from the salad bar or the incredible pop overs (this is how you make pop overs). Or flip the chip back over to the dark side and some guy will literally pop out from over your shoulder and offer you some steak. A basic, probably incorrect pricing guide: lunch is $25 a person. dinner $50. Drinks and copious tips extra. Talked to a server and explained that a weekend night, the place is packed and crazy, even without the dudes running around with swords. a great place if you have the hunger for red meat, the time, the budget, and the sweatpants you'll immediately change into afterward.
(5)Marisa L.
If you've never been to a brazilian steak house I recommend you go just for the experience. Fogo de Chao has an amazing, delicious salad bar (so you fill up on veggies rather than the more expensive meat, i'm sure). But the baby mozzarella with tomatoes and balsamic vinegar was superb. The meats however were a little disappointing. The filet mignon was good and so was the special meat of the evening, however the pork loin and lamb chops and a few others were overcooked and flavorless. A good place to eat, but a chain feel and about $50 something per person. An ok place to eat, but i'd only go again if someone else was paying for it.
(3)Alex C.
This place usually participates in Restaurant Week (advertised in Minneapolis St. Paul) making it an amazing $30 meal (monster dessert included). During Restaurant Week, this place is a zoo!. The potatoes and the cheese bread are fantastic as is the bananas. I don't really like the polenta. The salad bar is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever seen covering salmon lachs to hearts of palms and various prepared salads as well. For full disclosure, I only look at the salad bar, perhaps sampling one or two things. I save room for the meat. There isn't a bad cut of meat. The house cut and the sirloins are my favorite. But the lamb and the sausage are fantastic too. Lunch is more affordable at 25/person, otherwise the cost is about 50/person. There is an only salad bar choice...they may slap you if you ask about it though.
(4)Cassandra N.
Excellent service, delicious food. If its your first time, go for lunch its $20 less than dinner. This place is for carnivorous beings, herbivores stay away! It makes you feel bad about all the starving people in the world. All you need to do when you're here is flip your card green and you have 5 people coming to you to offer you 20 different types of beef, pork, and chicken. Will not go again because of my current values in my life; but I definetly see the appeal.
(3)Jeremy M.
A group of 10 of us went there for a bachelor party a few months back. About 2/3 of us had never been there, so I think the hype got the better of us as we were after the whole "all you can eat meat". The concept is OK, but nothing to get thrilled about. It kinda irritated me that while we had a reservation, we still had to wait over a 1/2 hour to get a table. I get they are trying to put everyone through and they need to move tables based on when others leave...but really - can't you plan that out a bit better? The big thing for me though - while the selection was amazing, only one or two of the cuts of meat were "extraordinary" and got the table excited. I can honestly say I've had better steak, chicken, pork, lamb, etc....while none of it was at the same time....it was better. This was a cool experience, but like I've told a lot of people - the food was fine, but if someone asked me where I wanted to go for my birthday or another special occasion, I'd have about a dozen other steakhouses in town where I could pay 1/2 as much a perfectly prepared steak. If I'm going to drive all the way downtown, pay 10 bucks to park it's got to be a really good meal.
(2)Cindy L.
I'm from LA. Food heaven. We came here for a Dad's a Grad's celebration and it was the perfect place for our party of 8 which included 3 growing teens and 2 occasional vegans. Although a vegetarian could actually eat here because they have a large salad/vegetable bar, they may be totally grossed out by the fact that the leg of lamb actually looks like the leg of a lamb. Plus the $60/pp price tag (not including drinks and dessert) may make them gag on their asparagus. VIBE: It like Vegas, baby. Huge, clean, slick. It's very active with a sense of danger while the gaucho dressed men (I'm so glad they have MEN in kooky and oddly sexy costumes) carrying enormous skewers and razor sharp carving knives spin around the floor and come within' inches of your meat grubbin' face. It's a fun, special event atmosphere that serves a party of 12 as easily as a two top. 20 foot wine racks, it's impressive. SERVICE: Earnest and efficient. They have guests use a coaster that is red on one side and green on the other to signal the gauchos to bring the meat. Everyone gets one, so if you like it a couple ounces at a time and your neighbor wants half a cow all at once, everyone is happy. We had a lead guy, but again and again they told us they were a team and to ask anyone for anything. One warning: They would not let us start eating until our entire party was there. We were 3 then we were 7 then final-friggin'-ly we were 8 before they would even let us near the food. FOOD: They start you out with dinky and damn tasty yorkshire pudding pop-over thingies. Tiny but they will fill them as much as you want. 15 cuts of meat. Requested anything you want, however you want it. I found the leg of lamb they were toting around first to be a bit overdone for my tastes and the gaucho said, "We'll make a new one just for you." You know, after another one shot out Med-Rare to Rare about 15 minutes later, that headed straight for me fully intact, I kinda felt like they actually DID make one just for me. But I digress. It starts with a veggie side dish bar that has a great looking selection of well prepared produce. The best stuff I'd seen in MN so far. Fresh shitake mushrooms went great with the meat. The only fish in the whole place were these delicious slices of smoked salmon on the buffet. Not to worry though, they let you get started with the meat as soon you sit down with your veggies. Anytime I'm in a buffet situation I can't help but try to "win." You know, I stay away from the carbs and load up on the most expensive cuts of meat. So I'll tell you what I found to be "worth it" definitely save your popover consumption to go with the meat. I nice piece of rib eye is amazing wrapped up in one of those. The potatoes are good but whatever. The fried polenta cakes are unusually yummy. The "plantains" are cooked bananas. Get busy with the bacon wrapped filet, the leg of lamb, the house special and ooooh the BEEF RIB. But they are the ultimate winner. They bring you as much as you want of whatever you want but as the waiter said, "We always win." Like I said, Vegas style, the house always wins. There is no sauce for the meats, they intend you to taste the difference between the cuts. My entire party took advantage of the truffle salt I carry in my purse and I'm not sure I would have liked it all so much without it. Overall, since we were all chit-chatted out it was nice to be in the party environment without the awkward business of waiting for a regular restaurant trying to getting orders right for 8. My nephew asked to see the check, I thought he should know, so I let him see it. SPIT TAKE. Yeah, it's pricey, but we are from LA after all and sort of used to it.
(4)Haeyoon C.
Everyone talks about the meat but I went for lunch and opted for just salad bar and sides and got $10 off my meal. The salad bar is filled with delicious hard cheese, artichokes, tomatoes, marinated greens, and other things. The sides include garlic mashed potatoes, bread, and a few other starches. Everything was delicious but, without going for the meat options, I felt like I had been eating too much of the same thing. I probably wouldn't go out of my way to come here again but I would recommend it to anyone who hasn't tried it. If you're a vegetarian you can get a great endless meal for $20. Rice and beans are available upon request but the beans are made with pork.
(3)David P.
We visited Fogo de Chao in Minneapolis to celebrate our son's high school graduation. It was by far one of the best choices for an important occasion like this. We made a reservation online which was very simple, received a confirmation 24 hrs in advance which was reassuring. I also was able to move the reservation up a 1/2 a couple of hours before the the dinner, the person who handled this was happy to do this for us. The service from the moment you walk in the door was impeccable. We were greeted, seated, chairs pulled out for you, water served immediately. Our server clearly explained the process of eating here. The "team service" they employ here is top notch, Our glasses were never empty, our plates were cleared and replace immediately. The service around you is constant but in a way that it doesn't interfere with you conversations or enjoyment of the meal. The Food: Well, let me just say that I did not have one bite of anything that wasn't great. The salad bar has great choices, although it's hard to not take too much because you know you need room for the meat course! I would advise taking small portions of things you like, I went back later to get more of my favorites. Then it's time to flip your card to green. Wow, as soon as your card is flipped the sides (mashed potatoes, fried polenta, and fried bananas) arrive. The the servers immediately arrive with different cuts of meat, and keep arriving with more and more. All of it was great. I quickly learned to get the card flipped back to red for a "break". Our sever had advised us to do this. The variety of meat and the quality was awesome. Our sides were constantly refilled, and clean plates were brought every time one was empty. A nice touch was that if a cut of meat wasn't being brought to your table all you had to do was mention it to any of the servers and within a minute or two a server would arrive with it. We had desserts also, the chocolate mousse cake was great and very large. The creme brule was fantastic, and our son had the key lime pie which was also very good. **A nice touch was the congratulatory message for my son written on his plate in raspberry sauce. This was done without us having to ask even though I had only mentioned it in passing to our server that it was his graduation. Overall this was a great dining experience and I would highly recommend going here for special occasions.
(5)Inga M.
Just had to write 279th positive review for them! Love the place: the food, the ambiance, the service, the atmosphere. Make sure that you always call ahead for reservations, especially on weekends, or you will be waiting and waiting...
(5)Carrie W.
Meat, meat, meat, and MORE meat! Mmmmmm. Yes please! Two things to take note on: 1. This is not a place to have a romantic dinner. 2. Do not bring a vegetarian here, big mistake. Let me expand on both of these. My boyfriend and I went here for our little anniversary celebration. He is a man and he loves his meat. He was pretty much concerned with tasting as many of the different kinds of meat as possible, and not conversing with me. Haha. So, ladies, if you wanna make your man happy, take him there. If you want to have a night that is focused on the two of you, maybe go somewhere else. (Another note, I felt weird that I was kinda dressed up. I didn't know what to expect. Now I know.) This 2nd one is pretty explanatory. Yes, they have a salad bar but is a vegetarian going to want to watch men with huge slabs of meat walking around all night. No. Be nice, spare them the show of dead delicious animals. Now down to the food and service. I am a woman and probably don't know my steaks as well as men, but boy did they serve up some good meat! I was blown away. Everything melted in my mouth and needed no extra seasoning. The sides were delicious. I tried to make plantains like theirs and failed. So prefect and sweet! The service was great. Wait staff was attentive but not walking in on our conversation every 4 secs. The servers were quick and out of your hair as soon as the meat hit your plate. We received a gift card and that's why we didn't feel the hefty sting of $46/person. Really fun experience, I would love to go again but probably won't till I can afford it.
(4)Andrew W.
I'll spare you the joke about jamming tons of meat into your body. Fogo de Chao is one of the most white trash things wrapped up in an outstanding package. This is a lazy mans buffet, you get to sit still in your chair and guys bring the food to you. It's like an awesome Old Country Buffet without the annoyance of all that exercise. I shouldn't discredit it by comparing it to a buffet though. This truly is great meat, great service, good location, and a very reasonably priced lunch special. I'd tell you about the salad bar everyone raves about but I'm not about to be made a sucker when all these fine cuts are being flung about. Fogo is a must go.
(5)G H.
Another excellent meal at Fogo. Endless meats, tasty salad bar, and complimentary sides, Restaurant Week pricing....what more could a carnivore want? Well, let's touch on the basics. Restaurant Week is $30 regardless if you do salad bar only or the full meal and the price does include dessert. Regularly dinner is $50 ($27 for salad only) and lunch is $30 ($20 for salad only) with dessert a separate cost. It's beef, beef, beef with a smattering of chicken, pork, and lamb mixed in. The meat servers move around the room quickly, thus even if you're in the corner furthest from the kitchen, the meat is still warm. The only drawback is that the meat for Restaurant Week isn't as well seasoned or cooked to perfection in comparison to an ordinary week. Things are either too salty or lack any seasoning. The same holds true also if you come for big holidays (e.g. Father's day). It's as if the kitchen is churning to meat to fill the masses and don't really care for quality much. Sure I liked the filet offered, but Capital Grille's is definitely more flavorful. But then I am eating with the recognition that I'm in an expensive buffet vs. a steakhouse.
(5)Dan H.
I went to dinner here when I was in town on business and was delighted to find out this is practically the the same as Rodizio Grill in Denver, which is Brazilian BBQ. In a nutshell, you are bombarded with several different waiters walking around with and all kinds of different meats. Each diner has a cardboard "button" that looks like a drink coaster that's red on one side, green on the other. If the green side is up, the waiters will offer you a slice of whatever delicious meaty treat they have. Red side up, enjoy a break to digest. Primarily different steak cuts (I like mine rare and they didn't disappoint), but they also had chicken, pork, and a couple of different sausages. The meats are the spotlight, but they also have an amazing salad bar. However, don't load up too much there...save as much room for the meat as you can. I somehow managed some space for desert and like the rest of the meal was awesome...had the NY style cheesecake. Another word of warning though, the deserts are big. Even if I wasn't about to burst from the main course, I would consider them huge. Service is best described as totally professional. We had a group of probably 50 to 60 and they handled us like we were a 2-top. If I was to point out a down side, it would have to be the layout of the restaurant in terms of noise. There are very few partitions and the place was packed, so the decibels reminded me more of a rowdy sports bar. If you're in the Twin Cities, don't pass this up.
(5)Steven R.
Love this place, especially when I get to go with my teenage son who understands that when you're absolutely, completely, totally stuffed with really, really good meats of all types, then you need to tell the waiters that you won't take any more after you've had 16 more ounces.
(5)Kara L.
I have never been to a Brazilian Steakhouse before. There are several different types of meat to choose from. I was almost considering being a vegetarian only because my tastes for meat have gotten VERY sensitive, to say the least, but after trying the chicken, I could not resist trying more and more and more! Getting to the restroom was a little overwhelming, dodging all of the tables and people (it was packed that night). The restroom was immaculate, which was really impressive. Overall, the food was so good I would walk on a wire to navigate the space. The salad bar is amazing and any salad bar that offers a variety of fine cheeses is a go for me. I got pretty full off of the salad, but could not turn down the chicken and pork for the entree. I will go back again and again. My only tip is maybe not to eat bread. You can eat bread at home any day of the week!! Save room for the meat. : )
(5)Kevin C.
Seriously my favorite place to eat in the Twin Cities! Even though it's a chain restaurant, if you're in the mood for some amazing steak and willing to spend $65 a meal it's completely worth it. Bring your appetite!
(5)Paola M.
I was there yesterday with a small group of friends. We took advantage of the restaurant week special and ended up stuffed.... We had a reservation for 9.30 but they were running late so we ended up seating around 10. While waiting I had a caipirinha, which was probably a mistake. The caipirinha was great, but got me pretty drunk (I dutifully ate little for lunch and after that had only some fruit at 5 or so, so I was basically on an empty stomach...). As the waiting was relatively long the waiter brought over some of those cheesy popovers: really good! So we were off to a great start in spite of the waiting. As soon as they seated us, we turned our little card and got our meat. And there we made mistake number 2: instead of getting one piece of meat and pace ourselves, we got like 4 or 5 and they were all so good that we ate them all pretty much immediately (plus I was still a bit lost in the midst of my caipirinha.....). I liked everything, but my favorite was probably the lamb chops. Then we took a break and visited the salad bar. Salad bar was not all that special... I was looking for something fresh and light that would help "diluting" the meat, but there wasn't much choice for that kind of food. The warm sides you get at the table (cheesy mashed potatoes, popovers, fried polenta, and baked bananas) were much better! After salad we started a second round, again we did not pace ourselves, so by the end of it we were almost ready to raise the white flag. This time my favorite was the filet mignon, the version not wrapped in bacon, super tender and very good. After this round, slowly but surely, we all gave in, raised the white flag and ordered coffee and digestifs, which they have a really good choice of. NOTE: they put lemon zest in coffees for decoration..... Service was also very good, our waiter was nice and chatty, but never overwhelming, and was always there when we needed him. Next time we will try to pace ourselves better and to take long walks in between helpings ;)
(4)Jessica H.
Fogo de Chao was a bit overwhelming for me. The minute my card turned Green the Chefs were all over our table. I have to admit the way they carried their carving knives kinda freaked me out as the dining room was VERY crowded and they were squeezing behind peoples backs to get to everyone. With a restaurant like this I think you could go 50 times and have 50 different experiences. ** I LOVED the Filet Mignon was perfect melt in your mouth goodness. **The Chicken I left on my plate after taking just a small bite just didn't taste good at all... **Because of the service style the rest of the meats I tried all just ran together, they were all good but not great. **Salad bar, it was okay, visually it wasn't appealing to me at all. The Giant Mozza Balls just really turned me off the way they were sitting there. There was quite a bit of selection but once I saw those, I was kind of done looking. **Our table shared a Flan for dessert. It was my first time trying it so I am not sure if it supposed to have such an eggy aftertaste. It tasted good when I started and then when I finished I was left with the taste of Egg :/ I have to say for our group of 6 we had over a $600 bill...It was good but I don' t know if it was $100 per plate good. Service was really excellent though. I'd go back for someone elses special occasion, but I would never pick it myself.
(3)Sakif F.
Unbelievable! Go hungry. Their lamb was some of the best I've had, and their house sirloin was exquisite. Pace yourself though, or you'll find food piling up on your plate. Get their papaya cream afterwards, it's worth it!
(5)F U.
Went there once; I'll never go back. The way the pricing operates makes me think of an upscale Old Country Buffet. The salad bar was amazing, but THE MEAT WAS LOUSY; it was tough, dry and overcooked. When Brazilians and Argentines eat meat past medium rare, it is typically pounded thin and cooked directly over the coals with the speed necessary to preserve some moisture. Let me specify: this is not a place for those who like their meat bleeding; I asked twice and it was still overdone. If you're looking for a place to take your husband or boyfriend, I would pass on this place. The atmosphere is overly-formal and cold. There is no intimacy on the open dining floor where the majority of patrons are seated. Go to Jax or Mannys and get more (quality) for your money.
(1)Eric S.
Exactly what it claims to be: a gleefully carnivorous festival. I approve. They'd get five stars from me if they had sushi on the salad bar, like churrascarias in Brazil do. (I'm thinking Porcão.) Service is excellent. I didn't wait more than 30 seconds after turning my card to green before being accosted - eagerly - by a bombacho-clad waiter wielding yet more delicious carnage. Picanha is the best cut, by far. (Vegetarians, stuff it. Veggie-muffin proselytizing at Fogo reminds me of a Bible-banger at a gay bar.)
(4)Erin W.
All I can say is Fogo de WOW!!! This past Sunday my family and I went out to celebrate my parents' anniversary---37 years. My father is a carnivore and he's been RAVING about this place. I'm not a real big meat eater but what I had was grilled to perfection...my favorite was the rack of lamb...OMG! After my plate got drenched with blood I went to the salad bar which was where I spent the rest of my evening. Fogo's salad bar is top-notch. Fresh greens, excellent deli compliments, and smoked salmon to top it off. In addition to the great food the service was excellent from the hostess to the servers. Everyone worked as a unit to ensure that each patron had a memorable experience. FYI: Dinner is about $60. If you hit up lunch hour it's half that amount.
(5)Pit M.
Fogo. Today was not our first, nor last visit. The service is outstanding. The salad bar is a feast in itself. The meat is overwhelming in selection and excellence. They take some lesser cuts of meat and turn them into delicacies but they have the prime cuts too. You really can't go wrong here unless you are looking for a light snack.
(5)Tom C.
Can a filet wrapped in bacon be considered dessert? Fantastic service, great salad bar (with excellent cheese, smoked salmon, and artichoke hearts), and great meat. I focused on the leg of lamb and lamb chop (yum!) and settled for chocolate ice cream for dessert (the filet would be a worthy choice).
(5)Monica B.
Had a late dinner here last Friday, had someone coming in from out of town that day, so hoped for a late one, and the manager actually helped us out and fit us in after a little pleading, lol I had been once before, and it was ok. So decided to try again when the time came. The dinner was great.. It was restaurant week, so they had a deal that you had to have reservations for and $30 a plate!! They served us dessert also. Everyone was very helpful and nice, even when I spilled my salad, (i still have no idea how that happened, I sat it down and the next thing i knew is it was on the floor, lol) then our out of town guest spills his Brazilian soda, which by the way was tasty. If you like ginger ale, you will love it. I think would work really good for a mixed drink too. Anyway, got there at 10:00 didnt leave till just after midnite, lol We had a great time just sitting and chatting and people watching. Then we left and went to a bar down the street and had a few drinks. All in all, we had a fantastic Friday nite thanks to this establishment. I will definitely be back and I recommend everyone try it at least once.
(5)Mindy T.
Worth the money, very good food with super great service. Love this place!!!
(5)Colin S.
Simply put, Fogo de Chao is an orgy of meat. The restaurant is a fun experience and priced reasonably for the amount of food available. You will not leave hungry (if you do then it is your fault.) The meat is varied and well cooked, especially the house cut of steak. The wine list is fun with some selections that appear to be reserved for the Fogo de Chao chain. We went at lunch and I am not sure if there is a significant difference between the lunch and dinner service except the price. Be warned that this place can be packed and loud.
(4)Kyra M.
Other reviewers have explained how the system works at Fogo, so I won't go into that. You are greeted very well at Fogo. The servers are a handsome swarm of Brazilian men. I enjoyed that. The salad bar is awesome, with some very unique items on it. It was definitely a meal in itself. We tried every meat. The filet mignon was the best and truly amazing. All the others were ok to good. You can forgo the chicken and not miss anything. The gluttony was unimagineable. We were there around Christmastime, and the place was packed with what seemed like 800 people in there. This is a fun place to for the experience or with a group, but it's not a great place for a date for 2 reasons: #1 As mentioned in other reviews, it's pretty much the complete opposite of intimate, #2 Both of us had really bad gas after eating here LOL. I think that was due to the sheer amount of food consumed plus the incredible variety of foods on the salad bar. It taxed our digestive systems to the ultimate max. Fogo is not for those on a budget. Our bill was around $140 for the meal + only one wine and one beer. Factor in the tip, and it's easy to blow $200 bucks here for the honor of leaving with a tummyache. LOL It was a truly fun experience, though. Glad I went. I just can't imagine ever going again.
(3)Marshall C.
Holy crap. This place is nuts. If you like meat, go here. We went for restaurant week. It has to be far and away the best deal in town. Dollar for dollar, I dont think you can beat their regular price either. The shear size of this place was a bit overwhelming. It certainly isnt a relaxing or romantic place. But, if you want damn good steak, and lots of it, you cant beat it. For $30, I probably ate $400 worth of steak at normal steakhouse prices. And I dont think it was any less quality than those other places. Definitely going back. Only drawback was the food coma that took about 24hrs to recover from...
(5)Bork K.
I celebrated my 21st here. I had a pretty good time with my family and the food was really good. The two things that killed it were the price and the atmosphere. The total for 4 people was well over $300. The other issue is the fact that this place is a novelty. It's fun to try and really cool to have such a variety, but we reflected on the night and how many times we had to say " no, I'm waiting for _____ meat". Because of this, the restaurant lacks a relaxed atmosphere and the servers end up interrupting conversations through the night. It's a great place to try, but I won't be a repeat customer.
(3)Jason K.
Salad bar is irresistible. It is so hard not to fill up on it. The meats are hit or miss tho. I've enjoyed the sirloin and ribeye more so than the tenderloin. The pork I've tried has been a little dry both times I visited. It's definitely an experience tho!
(4)Allison K.
I had heard a lot about Fogo de Chao, if not only because of the outrageous prices (I'm a college student, okay?). I went here with my family for Thanksgiving one year, and I was not too impressed. While I may be biased because I am definitely not what you'd call a meat lover, I don't think the rest of my family was blown away either. However, the salad bar was incredible (certainly not just your typical salad fixins - there's cheese, seafood, bread, etc.). Apparently you can go just for the salad bar and skip all that meat. Like people have said, the service is great. Just make sure you flip over your card to red (STOP!) if you don't want to die. Or maybe y'all have better self-control than I do...
(3)Takashi S.
well, very expensive with drinks.. but worth it. still cannot beat Fogo in Sao Paulo in authencitity and meat quality, but really worth it especailly if you love meat.
(4)peggy l.
What can I say other than Fogo is a gastronomic orgy. The food is great many selections and the best is, you get to try them all. Leave room for dessert and try the black and white cake...you will want to lick the plate...d'lish. A word of advise... plan a nice long walk! pegsdish.blogspot.com
(5)Sonja R.
We just celebrated my birthday at Fogo de Chao. I've been wanting to go for a long time and was very excited when we finally arrived. The place is beautiful inside. Nearly all the waitstaff, if not ALL of it has an accent. You sit down and have a salad bar option-I say skip it for the most part. I went up and ate some of it. Nothing popped as awesome and it just took up stomach room that could have been saved for more cuts of the 15 different meats that will be coming around. the meat was delicious, the sides that come out with the meats were delicious and the service was great. I advise anyone that wants to try this place to go for lunch. Dinner is VERY expensive and lunch is half price. My advise for vegetarians. Don't bother. BUT if you do want to go with your friends you can pay for salad bar only so you don't have to worry about a hefty price for just a salad. I didn't give this place 5 stars for several reasons. 1 is because the entire time I was eating I felt VERY watched by the staff. They monitor your need for food with a card that when flipped to green they stop. BEcause people are constantly walking by looking at your card there isn't a moment when people aren't surrounding the table. It was a little uncomfortable. Second, although this is probably a good thing, I hated how often side dishes were removed from the table. They wanted to keep them fresh and hot, so if a plate of mashed potatoes is on the table and barely touched, they replace it to keep them fresh. I hated how much I felt I be wasting food while I was there. The steaks were great, the Lamb was delicious and they provided mint jelly to eat with it even though I didn't request it. The meat is cooked to order. don't bother with the sausage and actually the pork ribs weren't much worth your time. This is getting long, but I lastly want to say GET DESSERT!!! They have a papaya cream dessert that is fantastic, not filling, and has enzymes that help you to digest the massive amounts of protein that you've eaten. PLEASE order this. It was delicious!
(4)Ak k.
The food here is so-so. I think it's appealing that it is an all-you-can-eat type place, but I think all the steaks seem to taste the same after a while. My favorite part is the salad bar. I would give that a 5 star rating. If any one wants to try this place for the first time, I suggest going for lunch. It's the same menu at half the price - same experience.
(3)John A.
I have been here for both Lunch and dinner; our service has always been great and everyone very attentive, no matter how busy it has been. The food is excellent and the salad bar a wonderful compliment to the fine meats. I find the key to true happiness here is to tell them exactly what type of meat you want, and then be patient enough to wait for your right cuts and temperature of meats you truly want and not take a bit of this and that just because they are there at the time. I prefer Rare to Blue, this requires me to really get across what I want and soon enough they start bringing it, it will work for you too no matter what type you like. Ok, we all know you are paying through the nose to eat here, and the fact the lunch is the same as dinner for half the price; you really should try to go for lunch most times. But I must say that once and awhile I like to go the nine yards and get the fine wine and make a pleasant evening of it. My one real gripe is the drinks are totally ridicules, pop is crazy and beer and other drinks are insane, so if you plan to drink, get a whole bottle of wine, it will cost you the same as 4 cokes depending on which one you buy... :)
(4)Adam B.
I am a big fan of Churrascaria and this place is fantastic. The decor is stunning and I actually felt slightly embarassed having walked in there with shorts and T-Shirt. However, they didn't care.. and neither did I. I was quickly seated and flipped my coaster to green. As expected, the meat started flowing and within 30 minutes or so I was ready to burst. The ribs man, the ribs... were so damned good. I wanted to keep eating them even though I could already feel the meat creeping up my esophagus. My buddy that came with me must have eaten a good 30 ounces of filet mignon. Be prepared to take a long nap after eating at a Brazilian steak house.. and make sure you skip lunch. ;)
(5)Ashlee V.
Fogo de Chao has now become a lifestyle choice beyond just a Brazilian steakhouse. I want to get married there, raise my children there, and just eat every day of my life there. I want to have breakfast of the salad bar and dine on the parmesan-slathered pork and the sirloin and filet all night long. The meat is just so juicy, so rich, so divine. For a "chain" restaurant (I say this loosely because I know there's more than one, but they're only in large cities and for the most part, pretty spread out), which doesn't necessarily make it bad--it's pretty damn good. You can request your meat a certain way from the waiter, so if you're not a hardcore anything-goes type of meat fan, you can also have it your way. The fried polenta they bring out all night is just to die for. I love polenta and it tastes just like a little bit crispier version of a french fry--except without even half as much of the grease. And for those of you that are vegetarians, do not fret! There is a salad bar here for $25 that is just incredible. I could have easily filled up there as much as I did with the meat. They've got very fresh produce and cheeses there that are just lovely. Fogo de Chao is the best meal I've ever had in my life. Meat, meat and more meat? Not to mention the best amaretto sour I've ever had in my life? Yes, please. Carnivory on this scale is not for the weak, but for me, it's becoming a lifestyle choice if I could afford it. Hail Fogo!
(5)Adam S.
I went during restaurant week for lower prices, and I am a fan. My fiancee who's not a big meat eater even loved it. The food is very good, I wouldn't call it quality of other high steak houses, but the fact that you get to try such a variety brings it up a notch. The staff is very friendly. I would recommend a late lunch over dinner for cheaper prices, but that's me. Also, avoid the chicken. It's nothing special and why fill up on chicken when there is excellent beef being passed around. My Filet Mignon was over cooked, but still good. It was only piece of meat I had that wasnt cooked right, granted I could've gotten more and probably one cooked right (mid-rare).
(4)Kathryn B.
It has a nice location downtown with an impressive outside facade. The meats are melt-in-your mouth tender and all you can eat. Additionally, the sides buffet is extensive and delicious. Well stocked bar with unique cocktails.
(4)Cullen S.
A vegetarian perspective: Came here almost directly from the airport, got here on Thursday night about an hour before close. Easy to get a table at this point of course. I must say the staff was incredibly professional and pleasant. I wasn't sure who our actual server was because there were at least 3 staff members giving us a lot of attention. The star of the show here is obviously the meat, but I didn't have any. You get access to the salad bar, plus unlimited sides of their polenta and potatoes and plantains. This costs like $25-30. The quality of the salad bar is very high, all kinds of imaginative options. This was possibly the best meal I had in Minneapolis over the long weekend, and I went to a lot of highly-recommended places. My carnivore buddy loved it. Definitely try the house dessert. Bottom line, if you are a vegetarian you can still eat like a king. Just don't get squirmy by all the meat marching by.
(5)Carolina M.
If you love meat, this is the place for you. Actually even if you don't love meat, you will after going to Fogo! I've been to this restaurant a few times, and while it is spendy (lunch is about $30, dinner is about $50) it is really worth it. This restaurant is best for a "special treat" kind of night. This isn't a place to diet, and if your vegetarian...well they have a great salad bar but their salad bar also includes such delicious choices as smoked salmon and prosciutto as well as a variety of imported cheeses. The salad bar is very tempting, but try to abstain, otherwise you won't have enough room for the piles of mouthwatering meat coming your way. The service is amazing, it is constant, and almost a little intimidating in how on top of you they are. Which is why they provide a card (red for stop coming to the table, green for keep the meat coming) so you can control your dining experience. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone, I simply can't do it justice with words. If you are on a budget, I recommed you go to lunch; its cheaper but they serve just as much food so you are not missing out. However, lunch is only available Monday - Friday. Drinks: They have won awards for their wines for the past decade! However the drinks are expensive, even pop and juice, the drinks (except for water) do not have free refills so be careful. If you are wondering about the menu, go to their website! They have pictures, video, and great explanations for everything.
(5)John N.
It was great food, but the filet mignon was a little tough and not as great as expected and compared to other cuts. The server was quite lax as far as his prompt visits at the table were concerned.
(4)Dina O.
The service is absolutelty amazing. They were on there toes as soon as we came through the door. We made reservations and were seated as soon as we gave our names. We were given some time to eat at the salad bar then the meats began. This was my first time here for my brthday meal. They brought out sides that I ate some and not others then I realized they were endless. Yay. The fried bananas were very good. I got through almost all the meats before exploding and still managed room for my free birthday desert which was nice. The only thing I could have lived the rest of my life without tasting was the leg of lamb. The service was dead on I forgot I was in downtown minneapolis for a second. I will definitely be going back sooner than later. 20 stars!!!
(5)Irina R.
All-you-can-eat delicious meat. Great salad bar. Fast service. Do you need anything else?
(5)Eileen H.
Wow. That pretty much sums up everything at Fogo de Chao. This place definitely lived up to the hype my brother built up since telling us a couple months ago he was going to take us there during our visit (which was last weekend). I started off with a caipirinha, a Brazilian cocktail that tasted like a margarita crossed with a mojito. It was yummy, but stroooooong! I made one trip to the salad bar, but didn't get too much because I was saving most of the real estate in my tummy for the meats! However, one could actually eat only from the salad bar and have a completely full meal. They have an amazing selection of cold meats, vegetables, gourmet salads and cheeses. So then came the part that I was looking forward to--the meat! If you're on the Atkin's diet, or if you're mostly a carnivore, this is the place for you. They offer 15 different types of meat, mostly cuts of beef, but they also have pork, chicken and lamb. I didn't have enough room to try all of them, but the ones I did try were all fantastic. I think my faves were the filet mignon and the picanha. I couldn't wait to try the ancho cut, which is the prime part of the ribeye (my fave cut of steak), but I got sort of a fatty piece with not much meat on it, so I couldn't really tell how good it was. Then later when I wanted to give it another go, I didn't have enough room! You get this two-sided disk to control how fast or slow you want them to bring you the various types of meat. At first I forgot about it and had it on the green side for awhile, and I was wondering, why do they keep bombarding me with meat??? Someone had to remind to change it to red until I wanted more. Amateur. The meat service is served with three different side dishes, which get replenished throughout your whole meal: fried bananas, garlic mashed potatoes & warm cheese bread. All three were delicious! The bananas were a little oily, but that didn't deter me from consuming a lot of them. The cheese bread was SO good. I had to force myself to stop eating it so I wouldn't get too full. So, as if I hadn't had enough to eat, my husband convinced me that we needed to order dessert! He pointed out that my sister-in-law ordered creme brulee and our daughter really liked it, so we should get some too. Since creme brulee is one of my top three favorite desserts, I consented, of course. It was great. Perfect ending to a perfect meal. I don't have anything bad to say about this establishment. The service was impeccable and the food was amazing. If you're ever in a city that has a Fogo de Chao (unfortunately there isn't one in the Bay Area. The closest one is in Beverly Hills), I would highly recommend trying it out. If you're a meat-lover like me, you won't be let down.
(5)Elizabeth B.
Was visting family from out of state and we ended up here for Mother's Day for lunch...when a family friend heard we were going she got really excited and asked if she could come along because apparently it's super-good. I wasn't disappointed. The salad bar was really cool, and interesting. I wouldn't recommend coming at dinner because it's roughly twice as expensive and I hear it's essentially the same amount of food. Some cuts did not taste as good as others but the ones that did melted in your mouth like butta. This place is a Glutton's wet dream.
(5)Hyojin O.
My family went here for lunch since it was cheaper than dinner. ($26.50 vs. $48.50) We parked at the city center parking lot for $11, woofta! But you could park at any other outside parking lot for cheaper, or bring lots of quarters for street parking. ($1.50/30 minutes) The atmosphere is really great. You really feel like you are at a Brazilian feast. There are men in gauchos running around with meat on skewers and a knife on another hand, some great pictures on the wall and a great arrangement of vegetables at the salad bar. I found the seasoning to be a bit salty on everything, even the vegetables. But the filet mignon and the house special picanha were great. They really have all kinds of meat that any steak/meat lovers could ever want. I ended up canivoring out too much and had some meat sweat and burps (gross i know) afterwards. Oh, one downer was that their pop comes in a tiny vintage glass bottles and is not bottomless! Paying more than $3 per pop? Fogo de Ciao! I personally think, for $26.50, I would rather grill for two at home...just my opinion. I doubt my husband will wear gauchos for his grilling attire, but at least I don't have to tip him then. :)
(3)Kerry D.
This has become our go-to "occasion" restaurant. Always amazing food and service, the Caipirinhas are to-die-for delicious, and cuts of meat so, so delectable. We took my dad last weekend when he was in town visiting, and he got a little overwhelmed, ending up with a heaping plate of meat. "Dad, flip the disk! Flip the disk!" It was quite an adventure for him. We will be customers for a long time.
(5)Kareem I.
Went during restaurant week, but service was still quick and accommodating. Lots of great food, from the salad bar to all the beef, chicken and pork. Definitely worth the price! Will be back for more delicious food.
(5)Karen A.
My husband and I had a great experience. The salad bar was good. Nothing to special. The waiter was attentive to our needs and so were the gauchos. Never had to wait for meat. boy oh boy the meat.... If you're a meat lover this place will hit the spot! The caipirinha (Brazilian drink) was good too!
(4)Yue L.
Came here because bf loves steak. Fogo de Chao has one of the best services, and various of meat to choose from. Cheesy bread is tasty and moist, baked banana is my favorite. Market table has smoky salmon which is another of my favorites.
(4)David C.
Amazing value. Almost every item served here is high quality. Come hungry.
(4)Donna S.
What a wonderful place to dine at! This is definitely my favorite place to eat at and not because of the delicious salad bar and various meats but because the service is always on point. Tonight I celebrated another birthday dinner here with close friends. I cannot even begin to tell you how amazing the staff is. The host up front are just so courteous and friendly. First let me say I felt awful because 2 of my guest didn't show up so I had open spots. But our server was so nice about it and so was Jay! Dinner was amazing and the service was always above and beyond, my guest had so much fun dining at Fogo. I always get nervous to have my birthday dinner(s) here at Fogo because not everyone is always willing to pay the $50. However, I always assure my guest that the food and service is worth every penny. I believe everyone needs and I mean NEEDS try Fogo at least once. You will not be disappointed and if you are then you don't know what is good service and food! Let me just take a moment and say JAY, another client customer service rep is amazing! The hospitality is truly sincere. There is nothing more exciting to me then to receive genuine customer service and this was given by Jay. All of my friends felt like we were at my house having a dinner party and not actually at a restaurant. That's how much Jay and the servers made us feel like we were at home. Two of my friends have never been to Fogo and were so excited to be there. They couldn't believe how great the service was and how personable Jay and our servers were with my group. This is why I always come to Fogo De Chao. It's the service that keeps me coming back along with the delicious food. I've read some reviews by other people say that Fogo is just "alright" but to truly enjoy the food you need to be a "meat" lover. You need to understand the different cuts of meat, you need to be able to really appreciate the seasoning and the cooking process that is put into the food. It's all about your taste buds and knowing the meat you're eating. Don't be fooled tho, the salad bar is also beyond delicious! Everything at the salad bar is fresh, if you can't appreciate the meat you will appreciate the amazing salad bar. Thank you Jay and your servers for the great service and experience you have provided to my friends and myself tonight! It was one of the best service and birthday dinner's I have had, I cannot thank you enough for everything tonight, you are awesome and made my birthday dinner magical!
(5)Ryan K.
Long time friend and I took my wife to Fogo for the first time. Every time I've been it's been a 5 star experience and it just so happened my wife's first time was the best experience I've ever had so I felt compelled to share/yelp. Constant and attentive service kept our glasses and plates full the entire night. Friendly conversation from wait staff (but not annoying like some place can get). The salad bar as usual did not disappointed (it's the best in town). From walking through the front door to leaving happy and stuffed Fogo is always a sure-thing. friendly advice - PACE YOURSELF!
(5)Noel S.
Hands down my favorite restaurant. End of story. The meat is fabulous. Try to get a taste of all the cuts. I recommend asking your Brazilian cowboy server for the beef rib. It looks like it belonged to a dinosaur and doesn't generally circulate. One slice of that is all you need to end the meat part of the meal on the right note. The papaya cream dessert is a must. Even if you are a butch man who doesn't eat desserts. This thing will actually make you feel a bit better when you are done packing in all that manly meat. It's got something to do with enzymes in papaya breaking down proteins. Trust me. It's science. The salad bar is actually one of the best in the twin cities. Unfortunately it is part of a meat focused restaurant concept. So it's a bit overshadowed. Give it a try to start, but for the sake of all that is good in the world, please don't go back to your table with a gaping plate of salad! That's just wrong.
(5)naihomi r.
Great service and amazing salad bar!!! Ohhh... Don't forget dessert!! Overall everything was delish
(5)Sarah S.
I just go to fo-go to enjoy lamb chops, I love their juicy lamb chops but this time around we got seated and began eating at 9:10am and no one come to our table with lamb chops till about 9:50pm.HATED IT!We requested meat servers to get send the server with lamb chops but they were all fail attempts! As much as I love fo-go i wasn't too happy with my experience. We even asked for mashed potatoes and no one ever got us them. Mad Mad!Didn't like their service at all this night!
(3)Jane G.
Not sure what all of the raving reviews are about. The salad bar was great if you wanted to fill up on olives, tomatoes, and onions-weird selection there. I ordered the sea bass and it was very good, but the asparagus underneath it was undercooked. The meat they brought around was very average-nothing to rave about. The sides they brought us were cold and rather tasteless. The only two good things were the bread and the sangria. The dessert and coffee were standard. And for nearly $150??? Are you absolutely kidding me? Also, I do not feel that the environment is SO ritzy (actually not at all ritzy) that they can leave the prices off the menu. The waiter seemed in a hurry to clear our plates and shove the dessert menu at us, but neglected to clear our plates when the bill was due. I disliked the hurried and "fill 'em up and move 'em out" atmosphere this place generates. Verdict-very over-priced and average food.
(2)Vee V.
Who gets meat sweats? Not this girl...I focused on the salad bar. Restaurant week at Fogo De Chao is the one of the best deals in my opinion. You do have restrictions on some cuts of meat like the filet mignon on the $30 menu, but you're not going to miss it, I promise. You also get a dessert with this price if you can fit it into your bulging belly at the end of this meal. My group got to the restaurant 10 minutes prior to our reservation. We got our buzzer and grabbed a table at the bar to start with drinks. I ordered a light Brazilian beer since I've never had one before. As soon as our drink orders were placed the delightful vibrations of the buzzer went off. We were seated super fast! There was someone there with waters immediately, and our server was ready to explain their regular menu along with the special. I had a sip of my crisp Brazilian beer, and off to the salad bar I went. I love the salad bar at this place. I don't care if everyone thinks I'm crazy for filling my plate here. Don't get me wrong. I love meat, but this salad bar has so much variety, I can't help myself. I always start with a baguette slice that I layer with some aged parmesan cheese, then beef steak tomatoes, and top it off with the smoked salmon. This is my jam! I also loaded up on capicola and prosciutto ham, asparagus, marinated mushrooms, sun dried tomatoes, cucumber salad, apple salad, and fresh mozzarella. There are so many other items aside from what I listed here. Not to mention you get all the little fixin's at your table like fluffy cheese bread ball things that are amaze-balls (see what I did there?), mash potatoes, polenta, and plantains. I have some bad news from the salad bar. Before I go on I must mention the squiggly hair I found on the aged parmesan cheese. It was pretty dang gross. I tapped on the shoulder of a bus boy and showed him my discovery. He took the piece of cheese away quickly and apologized, but didn't take the tray. I don't think it's the restaurants fault, there are a lot of people going through this area it could have been one of them. However, I do think he maybe should have taken the tray, who knows how may pieces of cheese this hair was rolling around on. I got back to my table and half of my group already had meats. Stinkers. I flipped my little round meat "wand" to green. I had the bottom sirloin, house special beef, sausage, lamb, and the parmesan crusted pork. The pork was my only disappointment, it was very dry. Everything else was just as I expected, perfect medium rare with all of the juicy thick meaty taste. For anyone that loves horseradish like I do, I recommend asking for the creamy and the raw and mixing it together for your beef. It's an explosion of flavor. I stayed away from all of the chicken, and bacon wrapped anything, Chicken is boring, and bacon sometimes over powers delicate flavors you sometimes miss anyhow. I ate a lot. This did not stop me from ordering a key lime pie. I didn't finish my pie, but gosh dang it I tried, my body failed me. I have to mention the paper towels in the restroom. This place has thick, folded, paper towels with their logo on it. That's some fancy stuff. I wanted to take a picture of it, but then I thought I would look creepy doing that in a bathroom. They were fully stocked with supplies, and the restroom was really clean for such a busy night. You can tell they were prepared to keep the entire restaurant presentable for the night. Kudos to them! The service was great. I was sort of thinking we might be in trouble with slow service because of how busy it was, but that did not affect us at all. We were seated so quickly and our server was on her game tonight. She was ready with new plates for us, checked on our water and beverages, and was always nearby and asking if we needed anything. Two different managers also stopped by the table to ask how we were doing. That's pretty cool when managers do that, it shows they care about good service. I really wanted to give them 5 stars, but I discovered a little problem the next day. They swiped my credit card 3 times, placing 3 different holds on my account, it was not a pleasant surprise.
(4)Zack K.
I really like this place. We were a group of 10 and with drinks and dinner the bill came to $1,200 including tip. We arrived at 5:30 and left by 7:30 and in the beginning they were very attentive but no one came over to our table to ask us if we needed anything for the last 30 minutes. Finally I had to get up and find our waiter to bring the bill. The food was delicious!
(4)Louise M.
*Steakhouse Hop* There's no better place to spend $50 per person on all you can eat steak other than Fogo de Chão. If we are talking about bang for your buck, holy shit people...nothing can beat Fogo! I got a text yesterday from my boss and he was at Fogo in Philly and he told me to add this to my bucket list. Apparently it was his first. I started laughing because Fogo and I are old friends. I don't know how many times I have eaten at a Fogo. I have been to the ones in downtown Chicago the most, and the newly opened one in O'Hare, Las Vegas, and lastly Minneapolis. For a chain, this place is crazy good and the meat.. oh the meat are so tasty. Okay, yeah it's all you can eat but this is no Golden Corral steak, mkay. The steaks are actually good quality, tender, and so flavorful. Plus, they have all kinds of meat from filet, top sirloin, bottom sirloin, chicken leg, Brazilian sausage, lamb chops, pork ribs, etc. my faves are the garlic beef and the house specialty, picanha. The sides are also awesome and not to mention the gigantic salad bar. Though, this one in Minneapolis has a lot smaller salad bar compared to Chicago locations. I really love the flash fried banana. So good! People keep thinking it's plantain. No, people.. It's banana. Dita, this banana is also far from vile. They're mushy caramelized sweet delicious accompaniment to any of the meat the gauchos are trying to serve you. For dessert, it may not sound good at first but the papaya cream...holy shit. I have never ordered it before until a friend strong armed me into trying it. I tried it and it was the best thing ever. I hate papaya mind you. To me, papaya is bird food. Every time I went to a tropical bird parks, those birds were eating papayas. However, this papaya cream was nothing like I had imagined. First off, it is always served super cold and creamy and that crème de cassis they pour on top just makes all the difference. One thing that can not be forgotten is their caipirinhas. Yummmm! It's hands down my all time favorite drink! Fresh limes muddled with cane sugar and cachaça (Brazilian rum). It's so refreshing and good. Yes this place is all you can eat but not eat all you can! I would get meat hangover after eating here but for special occasion once in awhile, what a great place to get food wasted and not too worry so much about the check. It's not cheap but hell you will make each dollar worthwhile. I had a friend that would go there and bring a ziplock bag and she would smuggle the awesome cheesy poofs (yorkshire pudding relative) under the table onto the bag. She liked it so much and she just wanted more. But it scared me as I never wanted to be booted out of there, ever! They say they don't have to go box. However, they packed me a dessert once to go for a service mishap. Aha!!!! I always had a great time and meal here. Yeah I may have had some mishaps but apparently it didn't stop me from coming. It's really awesome for what it is. Don't even bother with the other wannabe churrascarias. No other can beat Fogo de Chão!
(5)Adam K.
As always Brazilian steakhouses do a great job filling your stomach full of meat. I have been to several Brazilian restaurants across the country and overseas when I was in the military. This one in particular is the best steakhouse I have been to. The food was good, but the most impressive part was how the restaurant staff worked as one. They had great teamwork and communication which is a difficult task in a restaurant using multiple servers!
(5)Tiffany M.
Visited for Restaurant Week...$30 for salad bar fixings and protein galore. I followed the lead of my ol' HS BFF. Once we returned to our table from the salad bar, she flipped her card to green communicating to fill up our plates with meat...and they delivered. It was one gaucho after another...bang and it appears the brazilian steaks, which is the reason my BFF already had a fixin' of rice to go with the meats. I'm such a rookie --and had to get up for that fixin' of rice. Of all the meats served, I mostly enjoyed the chicken, pork ribs, and linguica. It seemed that I was always forgetting to flip my card to red and realized it when the gauchos would ask whether I wanted another cut of meat while my plate was already filled with meats waiting for me to devour. I probably could have done without the rice --what a filler.
(3)Blake C.
Went for a celebration with some friends and it was amazing. Food was absolutely fabulous, service was impeccable. Deffenitly recommend it. It's spendy but worth the money.
(5)Rowena N.
Bring a blanket/sleeping bag. You'll need it for the food coma (or postprandial somnolence... the condition is real). I always set low expectations for all-you-can-eat dining venues because I always consider you would trade off quality/service for quantity in most buffets. This place showed me how wrong I am! Salad bar: love love love. They have a variety of fresh salad (potato, pasta, caesar, fruit, you get my drift), and cold cuts (e.g., salami, prosciutto, salmon). I had to practice my self regulation skills to not try everything before servers came to our table with slabs of meat. Meat: I loved the picanha, fillet mignon, and beef ancho. They were so damn tender and juicy, i basically eyed the server every time he walked a vicinity of 8 feet from me. Quick at flagging. If you like more texture and chewier meat, the alcatra (sirloin) and cordeiro (lamb) were close seconds. Sides: The cheesy bread (or pao de queijo) were so puffy and airy. It was like eating cream puffs but replacing cream with light cheese---if that is even possible. Caramelized bananas were perfect given all the savory meat, sides and salad options. I never had polenta prepared this way (i.e., fried). I actually enjoyed it, I thought it was yucca fries at first place but the taste was a bit sweeter and texture was less grainy and more smooth. Overall the sides were perfect. Service: Again, I was blown away from the service. The servers were very attentive refilling our water, asking if we want additional sides or seafood, replacing plates, etc. They came by and joked around, asking us how was our afternoon. I was pleasantly surprised at how welcomed I felt during busy time of the day (we came right around lunch/rush hour). I loved the food, service, and ambience--what more could I ask for? I will definitely be back...and prepared for round 2.
(5)Vy B.
Fogo is perfect if you are on a low carb diet or living a low carb lifestyle. There is so much meat there you will be sweating by the time you are done eating (meat sweats, they exist). The service is impeccable and they treat you like royalty the second you walk in the door. The meat cutters are hilarious and they have a great sense of humor when you are delirious from all of the meat you have eaten. The garlic steak is perfectly cooked and the short rib is also pretty solid. The mashed potatoes are well seasoned and the cheese bread/puff/whatever it is they serve you on the side are addicting!!! Those rolls are buttery and light but cheesy with just the right amount of saltiness. The salad bar is fresh and has a ton of different options outside of salad...you can essentially get pretty full from just doing the salad bar. Don't go overboard on the bread and rice/beans because you will fill yourself up before all of the meat gets the chance to get to your table. If you get the bananas, ask for some condensed milk on the side - they go perfectly together. It is very expensive to have a meal here ($25-$50 minimum) so if you are on a budget, go during lunch or else restaurant week. Valet is the easiest parking option but there are multiple ramps and open lots very closes to the restaurant. If you call ahead, you can arrange for them to write messages on their desserts for a special occasion - my sister surprised me with a congratulations for my graduation dinner.
(4)Cynthia E.
I love Fogos food I love the salad bar and of course the steaks and meats and deserts!! here the thing I never get good service and I go there frequent not a lot but everytime I go the service starts great than it declines! like they forget about me lol no refills the bill comes an hour later at one point I stood up and walked in front and payed cause they get soo busy its a mess or I ask for sauce and 30 mins later they bring it ummm I don't need the sauce anymore. I love there food never had a complaint but for the price better service please!
(3)Erin G.
A friend took me here to dinner last night. UM, YES PLEASE! This is hands down one of my favorite places for lots of reasons. The salad bar is AMAZING and not the traditional salad bar. Lots of elegant goodies. Unfortunately I was so busy stuffing myself that I didn't take any pictures. The meat is great too! I love to eat and I love all-you-can-eat and I love buffets where you can try a little but of everything. So this palce is perfect! The only thing that holds me back from coming more often is the price tag. My favorite meat last night was the pork chop. Delicious. I also really enjoyed the bottom sirloin and the pork tenderloin and the filet. The popovers are to die for and the polenta is soo good! Not a fan of the bananas that they bring out, and I didn't even try the potatoes (waste of space in my tummy, if you ask me). Service was fantastic. Even more attentive than usual, as I typically only have been here on the weekends, when it's so crowded and busy. For a cocktail, I got the signature drink, and it was very good. Perfect dinner overall. I will be back as often as I can!
(5)Catherine C.
Oh FOGO. We were so looking forward to another outstanding experience, but service was desperately lacking and I think it was just too busy because of the holiday. It wasn't all bad, there were also good points to our dinner. It's just that I've experienced better at Fogo. We came on Valentine's Day so it was super packed and I had made reservations 2 months in advance especially for the occasion. I wanted to surprise the hubby. The atmosphere was an anxious, stressful one, not energetic and exciting as it usually is. We were seated 20 minutes before our reservation time, which almost never happens here at all! So that was a definite plus. While we waited, we managed to sit at the bar and have a drink. Drinks were actually too strong, and I couldn't finish mine. $14 later, I felt like that was a waste. It looked like they had added about 50 extra tables to an already packed dining room, in order to accommodate the holiday crowd. Also understandable, but not when you are packed so close to other guests and the tables are simply lined up one right next to the other. I felt like I was dining at Coffman cafeteria instead of a classy dinner joint. I got over it because I was hungry. I decided to let it go and enjoy. We sat there for about 10-15 minutes and felt ignored. This never happens. Really wanted some water and some cheesy bread to start off with. Finally, a server came up to us and got us water and was about to leave, so I had to ask for bread (again, this never happens) and he brusquely said: It's coming, Miss! and quickly walked away. Another 10 minutes went by, and we finally got bread and decided to go to the salad bar. I had to ask for the smoked salmon at the salad bar and the gaucho said he was just bringing more. Whew! Almost thought they wouldn't have any for some reason, so I felt relieved. It's my favorite! The food was delicious, fast, enjoyable and perfectly acceptable just as it should be. Since we were seated so close to the kitchen, the meats came right out to us as fresh and hot as they could be. Another plus! We were able to get our favorites, the house special, bacon-wrapped filet, pork ribs and lamb chops. But the service just wasn't there. It felt like a hunting game of constantly asking for more water throughout our dinner, and trying to track down our server. Finally we were done, and we waited for 20 minutes just to have our plates cleared. I had to ask to see a dessert menu. Normally they ask you if you would be interested in ordering dessert, but again it was a hunting game. I was able to order my favorite, the Creme Brulee, but sadly the custard was a bit lumpy and hard, not like it usually is. After dessert, somebody just dumped the check on our table and then rushed off. I didn't have a chance to even see who it was and I doubt that it was our server. Felt a bit odd, usually there's a pleasant "Thank You for dining with us, take your time and pay when you are ready...", right? Yeah. That's what should happen but it didn't. I firmly believe the servers were just too stressed so I will cut them some slack because I love Fogo so much and will come here again. BONUS: For dining here on the Valentine's weekend, each dining party got one gift card for another meal, valid for either lunch or dinner, Sunday - Thursday only, until April 30th. My hope is that next time I go, it will be back to normal.
(2)Ryan P.
I ate lunch here with my family. I came having high expectations because this place had been highly recommended to me by friends and family. I'm not much of a salad fan, so I have nothing to say about the salad bar, as I didn't pay any mind to it. The meats were excellent. I had a variety of steaks and also had a hefty amount of salmon. I also enjoyed the delicious popovers that were constantly being brought to our table as soon as we finished the ones in our basket. Our server came by often and made sure that we were satisfied. There were a lot of customers, but the staff appeared to do a fine job managing them. I'm excited to come back here, as I had an excellent experience.
(5)Kristy P.
Over priced and not worth it. I guess i can say I have tried it once but I would never go back. Salad bar was nothing great and I didn't eat half the meat I tried. I would try the meat and it was seasoned well but over cooked and just not very good. I wouldn't even finish a small piece. That being said the house special top sirloin was delicious but not worth the price tag. The "hot sides" at the table we underwhelming cold and a disappointment . Why would you put cold cooked bananas with a hot steak. Drinks were very expensive. Service wasn't bad The strawberry cream dessert wasn't bad but was so oversold for something that was actually a runny strawberry milk shake in a cup with a spoon . I recommend saving your money and go to a real steak house.
(2)Tori K.
YUM! We went to Fogo de Chao due to many recommendations from friends. This restaurant did not disappoint. My husband and I went to Fogo de Chao for lunch. We had reservations and were seated as soon as we walked in. Our waitress was great, explaining what to expect and walked us through what to do. She emphasized that they all work together as a team to give us a great experience and they sure did. We started with delicious house drinks... a must try. We then headed to the salad bar for many unique items. My favorites were the potato salad, beats, mushrooms, and salmon. I know that many items on the salad bar look delicious, but take it easy, there are a lot of meats you will want to try. After the salad bar we flipped our cards to green and we quickly had many meats on our plates including pork tenderloin, chicken, sirloin, and too many others to remember. They were all very good, expect I did not really care for sausage. They were all seasoned extremely well and did not need sauces (ie ketchup or steak sauce) to go with them. I also ate my very first few bites of leg and rack of lamb I was impressed though I must admit I preferred the leg. Drinks and the two course meal was about $109 with tax. Well worth the money.... when planning on going here, please also consider you need to tip well. The wait staff and meat chefs work very hard to make sure you have a good experience here, they need to be tipped accordingly.
(4)Renisha P.
Had the lunch buffet a while back and it's an experience you have to try at least once...a year :) It's "meatful" and I don't think I could eat that much meat on a regular basis but the food was delicious, the service was great and the atmosphere really nice. It's a fun place for groups as well; I will be trying it again.
(5)Brian M.
The concept is simple you start off with a salad bar, but the real magic starts when you flip over the card at your table and the serves start to arrive with the various cuts of meat. Service is great and the meat is just as good. The servers are very friendly and offer to bring back and specific type of meat you are looking for. Service at this location was pretty good, with the staff frequently checking in on you to see if you want any specific cuts of meat or if you need anything . Prices are rather high, about $50/person however dollar for dollar this is a great deal. I usually have several cuts of steak and always leave satisfied, sometimes a little too much. Overall you cannot go wrong, go ahead and indulge yourself.
(4)Chris F.
Was in Minneapolis for a couple days and couldn't decide on a local unique restaurant so decided to do the churrascaria thing with Fogo. I've been to one in the Chicago area as well as the one in Austin and Kansas City, and they were always pretty consistently good. The one here in Minneapolis was pretty good, but the meat was not as good as I remember the other locations being. Not sure if its genuinely so or if its just that thing that sometimes happens when you remember things better than they really were. I mean if you are hungry and just want endless portions of pretty good meat it will fit the bill, but this time i just felt like it was priced a little high for what you get... maybe I got spoiled recently eating at some nice steak establishments. The fillers like the cheesy rolls and bananas were as good as I remembered...and i had to make myself stop eating them to save room for more beef. Having been to other fogo's before i opted to skip the salad bar this time, so I'm not sure how their items compare, but it looked like others enjoyed them just fine. (stop reading here and only read on if you don't mind a bit of an op-ed that doesn't directly involve the quality of food and wait staff experience) One thing that I debated adding or not but really kind of affected my mood about eating here afterwards (tried to not let it affect the food and dining review portion above) was that the next day when one of the guys I'm working with locally here asked me where I ate, and I told him, he was like oh man, last time he went, he found some flyer in the hotel bathroom warning about how some manager guy at Fogo has multiple arrests for driving under the influence, and that he googled it and found it was legit. This kind of bothered me both because I've lost a family friend to a drunk driver hit, and i had just gotten some gofundme highlight email that included a fund campaign for a family who lost their dad to a drunk driver. There is just no excuse for driving under the influence (its called uber or taxi's for goodness sakes) and often means there are other behavioral issues at play. Don't know if he's still managing the place but its even worse that its a person in a leadership position. ugh.
(3)Mandy H.
Went here for a friend's birthday. Absolutely the WORST service I've ever had. We all had our green sides up, but no one bothered coming!! There was ONE guy that came by every single time that offered lamb, but since our table of 18 all had lamb no one wanted it. We ended up requesting filet mignon and waited nearly half an hour (we watched the clock) until they came out. On top of that we never got refills on our waters, when we asked numerous times. After we finished with dessert, we waited another 30 mins (again we watched the clock) for our bill to come. This place really needs to brush up on their service. Everyone that was serving us looked upset. I've never had this bad of any type of service. I am never coming back to this location. You will not get your money worth, because they never come around! We sat there for 3 hours waiting and specifically requesting when we didn't see anyone come around. Of the 3 hours there, I would say we ate for only 45 minutes. It was a waste of money. No, they were not low on staff.
(1)Joella B.
I'm not sure I have adequate words to describe how much I enjoyed Fogo de Chao. They have a pleasant classic atmosphere. The bathrooms are spacious and nice. Those are the low points. The salad bar has wide variety of things including manchego cheese, lox, and asparagus. The side dishes are perfectly prepared and compliment the meats perfectly, especially combining the mashed potatoes and the sausages! The sautéed bananas could be a dessert on their own. Then you get to the meats. There is so much variety to choose from and if you pace yourself you can try them all. Every one that I tried was good but certain items really stood out as excellent. I particularly recommend linguica (a garlicky pork sausage), picanha (prime sirloin seasoned with garlic), cordeiro (leg of lamb), and the filet mignon. If you have a chance try the guarana soda it's excellent. So is their signature cocktail. I only tried the creme brûlée dessert but if it is anything to go by, all the desserts are top notch. Probably the best and most memorable celebratory meal I've had in a very long time.
(5)Cassie B.
Have nothing but positive things to say about Fogo! I have only been to this location three times but have received exceptional service every time. Everyone from the food runners, host, servers and managers are doing their part to ensure you have a great dining experience. The salad bar has so many options, the sides that come with your food are some of my favorite anywhere and the selection of meats is what you would find in a traditional Brazilian steakhouse. It's great! My husband and I only come to Fogo for special occasions, and they don't disappoint. TIP: go for lunch! The same exact menu and service for less than full price!
(4)Daniel R.
If you like meat this is a carnivore paradise - and they also have a great salad bar. If you have not been to a place like this...basically they bring spears of meat to your table and they cut off some for you to eat. There is a huge variety to choose from so if you don't like something wait for the next round. There is also a salad bar with a huge variety as well. The staff is friendly and helpful. This is not a "all you can eat buffet" type place. It's much more like the high end buffets in Vegas (and about as pricey as that too)
(4)Josh K.
Hello everyone. My name is Josh, and I have a problem. I'm not an alcoholic, but, I ate at Fogo like an alcoholic at an open bar. Everything was absolutely perfect. Yes, it was for restaurant week so the true variety wasn't there in only getting 11 of their 16 meats, but, who gives a god damn when you can eat here for $20 off, eh? So, lets review some high points.... and low points. Low point - parking. City center on a Twins ball game night is gonna nail you for "event" parking. Be warned, and if you're planning ahead, valet it. You'll save a couple bucks (even though I completely disagree with paying for valet service, but, that's a Vegas thing in me). Another low point, and this isn't a knock on the food as much as possibly an educational moment for their staff, but, they really didn't know the difference between the cooking temps of rare, medium-rare,medium and so on. A few times people at the table requested a medium rare slab of steak and received something far more along the lines of blue or very rare. But, we're all carnivores and we ate the hell out of whatever cut was presented regardless. It's just one of those "snob" points when you've been a cook and grill very often. For those that don't like their meat on the salty side, be warned, a lot of their cuts options are on the salty side. Not over salted, by any means, but they definitely salt them up. So, if you're one of those that err on the side of little to no salt, this can be a turn off. The salad bar was awesome. I'd highly recommend getting some meat while the line is long or the bar is busy, and when it dies down, flip to red and hop up there to get your veggies. Otherwise, it can be somewhat irritating to deal with someone standing there looking at stuff guessing what it is as opposed to reading the sign right in front of them (queue up a "here's your sign" joke). Lets see... if you get the lamb, and you better, ask for a side of mint jelly. Thank me later. Or don't. Up to you. Service wise, couldn't have been better. Any time an animal was missing and I requested it from the server, that animal on a stick showed up promptly. Hard to complain about that. Groups of 6 or more, watch your bill for gratuity being included - just a heads up if you don't scope their website. Otherwise, it's a carnivores dream in there and enjoy.
(5)Richard R.
Not good the service was slow and didnt listen to the customers.They forgot are drinks a couple of times and at one point they made me a drink i didnt order and then said we thought you would like it.all we seen was the chicken wing and saugage guy no filet guy and we asked a couple of times.dont waste your time here.Called the manager yesterday to complain he said he would call back in a hour 24 hours later no phone call.I will spend my money else where.we spent 340.00 for 4 people and two people left still hungry.
(1)Katrina O.
Great salad bar selection. Hubby and I came here during restaurant week and it's $30 per person for the appetizers, the full salad bar, the churrascaria (although a few meat selections were excluded from restaurant week), and dessert. If you decide to dine on the full menu of meats, then you just pay regular price instead of restaurant week pricing. Trust me, having a few meats excluded does not detract from the experience or the meal. Our favorite cut of meat at churrascaria restaurants is the picanha (top sirloin), whether it's the regular or with garlic seasoning! Both ways are delicious! I was so full by the end that I had them box up my dessert to go!
(4)Jennifer F.
Aaah Fogo...where to start? Hubby and I have been to this fine establishment a few times. Most recently was for restaurant week, and while we were disappointed to hear that only 11 of the 16 meats were available for us, the reduced price still made it worth it. We made a reservation for 10:30 on the last Friday of RW. We arrived on time and were seated promptly, I was actually kind of surprised to see how busy and full the place still was. Our waiter was friendly and efficient with keeping our water full and pouring my glass of wine. I am veeeeeery partial to their salad bar. Cheese, cured meats, salads, giant asparagus, smoked salmon. Yes please! Most recently I promised myself to only have a small sampling so that I could save room for the delicious meat, but it's hard to do. Oh, and don't even get me started on those cheesy pop over things. Hubby stared in astonishment as I quickly inhaled two and pondered aloud whether or not I should just stick the next batch they bring out in my purse to eat later - I didn't get the chance to do that unfortunately, they are pretty quick at clearing plates! The extras they bring out are worth noting too. That would be the mashed potatoes, plantains, and fried polenta. Hubby scoffs at these as he sees them as a distraction to the meat he constantly has piled on his plate. He may be right, but I helped myself to each and found them all to my liking. I think the plantains are even supposed to be a palate cleanser, right? The meat obviously is the main attraction of Fogo, and they deliver it in spades (or sabers?). When you flip your token to the green side you will get visited very rapidly by the fine gentlemen with their meat-on-a-sword. I usually flip it green, have a few pieces carved onto my plate, then flip it red so I can eat undisturbed, and flip it green again when I'm ready for more (or when I see that bacon wrapped filet...). Most of them will ask you what done-ness you prefer, but can be hit or miss. Hubby flagged down one of the guys who had a cut he wanted, but he declined saying his was a bit old and he was going to get a fresh one, and would be back for us. True to his word, he came right to our table a few minutes later and cut hubby a fresh slice of whatever it happened to be. We both picked the key lime pie for our complimentary desserts and were pleased with them. Due to the quick service we were actually out of there in under an hour. Kudos to that. Downside? Walking back to our car parked a couple blocks down and dodging the drunk Friday night party goers and Twins-celebrators. All and all I'm sure we will be back someday. Probably not for RW since they changed to offer less meats, but perhaps another special occasion as we have in the past. I recommend everyone try it at least once!
(4)Melissa Rathman L.
For the price, not worth it. Salad Bar: We had been here once before and last time the salad bar was much better. People raved about it, but when we were there on Feb 7 wasn't really anything special. None of us wound up taking much....guess that's OK as we really came for the meat. One of my friends did really like the smoked salmon. Meat: Well, this is why we come here, right? And they didn't disappoint. Was surprised to find that one of my favorites was the bacon-wrapped chicken. Another great choice was the house steak. The gauchos are quick with service and there is plenty variety. This is the chain's forte. Drinks: Three in our party ordered caipirinhas. They were too strong to drink. All complained and asked for extra mixers. The waiter said, that was the way they were supposed to be. None in the party finished their drinks. What a waste at $13 a pop! The waiter should have offered to get them something else! Poor form on his part.
(3)Dominique C.
I don't typically do buffets but this is the exception. I recommend not eating all day and coming ready to eat a horse. And you will get almost that: chicken, beef, pork and whatever eat your carnivorous heart desires. After the first time you should be able to know what you favor best and just ask for that - they were very accommodating if you just want to pass on the chicken breast and fill up on some rare beef. My main problem with is it is that the salad bar is awesome! I have a hard time stopping myself from getting overstuffed there and saving room for the meat. I wish there was just a salad bar option. The smoked salmon and manchego cheese are just a few of my favorite delicacies. The staff is friendly and super helpful and personally I love their uniforms and that they just walk around with meat on swords. Great for groups where you can just sample food and enjoy some lively conversation. Finally Caipirinha. Enough said.
(4)Deb H.
This place has something for everyone. I find it somewhat ironic that The Palace of Meat (my own personal nickname for this restaurant) also happens to have the best salad bar you will find anywhere. Bring your appetite and your carnivore sensibilities. You will leave sassified!
(5)Mia T.
I'll start out by saying that my man, the carnivore loves meat (duh!) and this restaurant is like a match made in heaven for him. We went there during restaurant week (1/2 priced?). If you know of restaurant week, book ahead of time b/c their reservation is full if you reserve it that week. We got a reservation at 9pm, arrived 30-40 min early and they were able to seat us in 10-15 minutes. This place is crowded (I don't think it's any less crowded even if not during restaurant week). The tables are close to one another, but the food makes up for the space. The salad bar is filled with fresh fruits, veggies, salads, condiments, etc. The meat is exceptionally flavorful and tasty. I'm not a fan of sausage but theirs was, 1 word, awesome! Definitely worthy of the price or at least one try. We'll be back!!!
(4)Nancy N.
Who would have thought I would see one of my favorite restaurants just down the street of a new city to me?? My best friend and I were looking up places to go for dinner and literally just down the street was Fogo de Chao!! I was totally blown away because when I was first introduced to Fogo de Chao was when I was 18 and there wasn't that many locations around and I had only been to the one in Beverly Hills. My husband is not a big meat eater so the idea was never that enticing to him to go when we met, it was so fitting that I should dine with one of my favorite people at one if my favorite places when I was in MN! The cheese balls were to die for!! I could literally eat that all day long! The lamb was so juicy and flavorful! We totally forgot we were eating lamb because it wasn't gamey at all. Everything was superb, the service was prompt and attentive. Please don't fill yourself up at the salad bar, you should nibble but save your appetite and stomach for the good stuff like the meat and the cheese balls!!!! Cheers!!
(5)Sara J.
Will this be the best steak you have ever had? Probably not. Will it be the most steak you have ever had? All I can say is, If you believe you can achieve! This place is good for a group dinner since everyone can make the choices that work for them and the checks can easily be done on a per person basis. Our waitstaff was very attentive and made sure we had everything we needed. The salad bar has some cheeses, vegetables, green salads, picnic salads (think potato) as well as beans, rice and potatoes. Once you start with the meats they also bring out the three warm table sides, crispy polenta, potatoes and friend bananas. They bring the meats fast, even with the guide at my table I felt a bit overwhelmed. I would have liked to learn a bit more about each of the cuts. My favorite foods of the whole dinner were the pao de queijo (cheese bread) and the ribeye. I could have eaten a full meal of just those two things. Overall I found the experience fun but since I don't typically eat a large amount of food it's not quite worth it for me.
(3)Todd B.
There are few places that so perfectly celebrate our carnivorous tendencies. If it's meat you crave, consider Foga de chao. They also have one amazing salad bar!
(5)Mark G.
Amazing food, Viva Brazil!! 1. Go hungry, you will eat a lot! 2. Prepare all day for this meal, They make dinner into an event. 3. Don't fill up on the salad bar, its amazing, but the meat is what you came for. 4. Be prepared for the best service you will ever get at a restaurant, teamwork at its best. 5. They redefine the tenderness of sirloin, how they can get it that tender is beyond me. 6. Pace yourself, you will be getting a rapid fire pace of delicious food thrown at you, go red if needed. 7. Its worth the money, don't let the price get you....ENJOY!!! I promise you will love it!!
(5)Gabriel D.
Had this dinner planned out for a month. I was not disappointed. I stopped by after a work conference I was flown in town for that day and had been thinking about this meal and experience way before I was even here. Because that's what you get a Fogo, great quality food, an extensive salad bar with many more items then I could even name, wonderful cuts of meat that come out so fast that it's hard to keep up and fantastic service that other Bussiness need to model after. From the delicate taste of the cuts of meat to the knit gloves they handled the service side, it was an experience I will not soon forget and I will come back to next time I am in town again The limeade drink was delightful I must have had 5 of them. So sweet and Tart and smooth. My main server introduced me to it and I I was hooked. Anything I asked for was no problem and was acted upon with ease. Near the end of my visit I must have easily eaten about 100$ or more worth of food. I got more then my money's worth and that's fine with me. The quality of the food attention to detail and clean, we'll run environment make this location a must stop whenever in the area and for specials occasions. I do not hand out 5 star reviews almost ever but this location deserved it. I would be interested to try the DC location and see if this level of service can be found there also.
(5)Troy P.
Meat.... Yeah, they serve a lot of meat and it's pretty damn good. My first visit I was really excited and equally amazed at the idea of flipping a paddle green or red to signal these meat ninjas to my table for some food. I mean if that thing is green you better put your game face on cause they pop over shoulders with sneaky skills and start slicing that cooked flesh until you say stop. A novel idea and quite appropriate really, considering there are like 17 Brazilians walking around with a different animal to carve up. Everything I had was tasty, if I had to pick my favorite I would probably go with the Sirloin and Lamb. Least favorite, Parmesan crusted Pork Tenderloin, the seasoning just wasn't necessary and didn't do it a lot of justice. Honestly I didn't even know what I was eating half the time, if it looked good I said yes, and it all looked good. They do provide a menu of meat they serve and any of the servers will tell you what they have but ultimately it's all worth trying. A lot of people mention the salad bar and it is also impressive. I don't know how much of a, "Salad Bar" it is considering there is one decent bowl of ice berg lettuce with your standard toppings. The rest of the items are smoked fish, cured meats, pasta, potato salad and bread. Easily qualify as a full meal and only about $16 bucks if I'm not mistaken. The sides were really good too, nothing too fancy, basically mashed potatoes glazed bananas and palenta cakes. All were good but served in small portions in order to keep the attention on the meat, duh! The service was top notch, you feel like you are at a fancy steak house with your own Maitre d'. They escort you from beginning to end and there really wasn't a moment where I needed food, drink or anything else. I wouldn't suggest coming here on a date or with someone that doesn't know how to indulge or eat very much. They will probably enjoy it but it will be serious over kill and a waste of money.
(4)Xiomara M.
I went here for my last birthday and loved it. Staff was very attentive and sweet. Food was delicious. Totally recommended!
(5)Andi S.
I love everything about this place - including the meat coma that I leave with. The service is impeccably amazing everytime. They pull out your chair for you and very frequently bring around clean plates, and ask about beverage refils (be careful with this as refils are not free!). You start with the salad bar, only to call it a salad bar would be like trying to call a king a peasant. This smorgousborg of meats, fresh cheeses, vegetables, breads, sides, and salads is enough to be a meal in itself! Come back as many times as you want throughout your meal! Next comes the meat phase. Once you turn your meat card to green you are almost immediately bombarded with meat brought around on swords! And that meat will keep coming in different cuts and styles until you flip your card back to red. If you are looking for one type in particular just let any server know and it will be sent to you with a quickness! And if you are somehow still hungry after all of that they have the most glorious desserts! I will admit the only time we take it to this level is on birthdays, because you get a free dessert. But the creme brulee is definitely worth every belly bursting bite!
(5)Rebekah W.
This review is going to essentially be me gushing about the salad bar. It is the bomb-diggity. It has chesses, lettuce, salad toppers, asparagus (that happens to be the size of my arm), beets (so delicious!), as well as a ton of other cold pasta/ meat/ potato salads. In addition to all of the wonderfulness, there is a hot bar area that has a fish selection, beans, rice and potatoes that are hot and ready for action. They've also got a really great drink selection and the staff is wonderful at listening to what you like and making suggestions. Our visit on V-day was the first time I had been there and wasn't partaking in the delicious alcoholic beverages. They do have some great N/A drinks as well. As for the meat... I can't say that I'm that huge of a fan. I love meat/ steak/ seafood and never have issues with my protein intake but I always like the salad bar more than the meat. Although, when I enjoy a few of those fancy cocktails, it seems like I can eat more. My summary- enjoy the salad bar and fuggetabout the meat.
(4)Allen L.
Meat lovers, you have found the promised land! The dinner starts out with a way, way above average salad bar that offers quite a few options including smoked salmon. The dinner consists of all you can eat of various excellent meats, chicken, steak, pork, all prepared to perfection. My wife and I eat out often and this is without question one of our favorite places to eat. If you're going on a weekend, make a reservation!
(5)Jeff D.
This review is for a dinner dine in on Monday, June 22nd. After being delayed several times flying into Minny on business, it was about 9:30 before I checked into the Marriott City Center and didn't have dinner so I figured I'd pop in here before they closed. As usual, the food was on point and the Gauchos were flying around doing their thing. I'm mostly writing this review to give props to Shaw and Thomas for their above and beyond service. They did a great job asking if I needed anything including if I had specific food requests. Kudos to them! I hope to come back and have service by them when i'm back in September.
(4)Nick H.
Too much! The buffet itself was regular. As soon as you turn your card over, you are bombarded by meat servers to the point of no return. Cost too much. Too full, too soon. As soon as you walk in, you see a giant seating arrangement to fill as many as possible. There is no good seat in the house. Server's weigh in on you, hand and foot. Then you slide your way to the buffet. No room for breathing.
(1)Cage M.
Food was overall good. We felt we did not get enough for the dollar. Service was a slow. S'mores dessert was fantastic! We will not be returning.
(2)Mark W.
Superbly marinated and grilled meats, and respectable salad bar. Uniquely served by wandering waiters who slice off discreet slices from large skewers according to customer specifications. Use small tongs to ease on your plate. This is apparently a typical format in Brazil. Excellent wine selection, especially Argentinian Malbecs. They serve eleven different options of beef, lamb, chicken and sausage. We liked the chicken, and the sausage is the best we've ever had anywhere. Use there colored disks to signal to the waiters if you still want another sample. We remembered this later as they kept on coming, and I fought this competitive urge to keep up. You can signal stop and go for as long as you like. The atmosphere is friendly and fun. The place was packed! This place is world class for food, service and atmosphere, and an entertaining dining experience. Wow!
(5)Lacey H.
All I can say absolutely DELICIOUS!! !! We will forever go back as much as possible! That's it. Plain and simple.
(5)Adam R.
I am a minivore: I am a carnivore of minimum proportions. And yet, this frenetic meat carnival offered a great experience. The salad-only option is great. There are smoked meats (and fish) aplenty, in a cornucopia of options (potato, pasta, greens, beets, cheeses, ENDLESS BACON, pickled delights, &c &c). For the smaller-tummied, it is a great[er] value and a very fine way to enjoy the night with your more cavernous, carnivorous friends. The meat flies fast and furious, a barrage against our friends, piling up and wafting great scents. I didn't steal a bite (restraint!) but from the evidence it was amazing; every bite disappeared. Unexpected gem: popovers served when you arrive. These golden air pockets sparkle on your tongue in a buttery splendor. AMAZing. Atmosphere is bright, dark wood, families, happy murmurs, and room enough for your big party. You can sit back, savor the experience, and slip into your meat coma.
(4)Jenn C.
If u haven't been here before it takes a little getting used to, but once u get the hang of it they will blow u away and u can sit back and relax. Service is exceptionally prompt and speedy, there is always someone around if u need anything. If u want particular cuts of meat then just ask and they will be sure to have one of the gauchos send them by. Make sure if it's ur first time to try it all in small amounts and take at least one trip to the salad bar, it is AMAZING!!!!! their wine list is on point and diverse which is nice. U have reasonably priced bottles all the way to Cristal. I definitely suggest coming if u have time to spare so u can sick back and relax and enjoy everything. Ask for Jean (pronounced G-On) he is amazingly kind and sweet and makes sure u get taken care of and he's from Brazil, how much more authentic can u get?!?!?!
(4)Sylvi R.
My husband and I went on a Friday night to enjoy an outstanding salad bar, meat, deserts and Caipis (Caipirinhas)! Delicious. Great, attentive and fast service and I also enjoyed observing how the staff interacted with each other: Very friendly, upbeat and pleasant. We seemed to have a very good table, because even though the restaurant was full, it wasn't loud and we could enjoy everything. Some people came in dressy attire, others casual, a mix that I liked as well. I definitely want to come back here next time visiting Minneapolis.
(5)Liz B.
Fogo de Chao got nothin' on Pampas, the same type of restaurant but located in Palo Alto, CA. Pampas take it up a notch with their salad bar, and that's why I'm taking off one star on this one. (Yes, I do lower my rating if I've had something better.) First off, you gotta be a meat-lover to appreciate restaurants like these. It's unlimited meat for like $45-$50 with the salad bar. Service is superior. It's also not a romantic spot. It's actually a bit loud in there because there's just a lot of servers running around with their slab of meat. I also think it's best to bring a couple of friends. Four sounds like a good number to me. Add a few glasses of wine and you're on your way to a good night's sleep. :D
(4)Colin M.
Very classy and fancy place to eat. The food is absolutely delicious! It is a bit pricey though, but well worth it ($45 all you can eat)!!
(5)Tiffiny C.
A meat eater's paradise, Fogo de Chao is a brilliant invention. All you can eat top-shelf beef brought straight to your table for as long as you'd like? WIN. I went for lunch last Winter, saved $12 doing so (vs. dinner) and fell in love. The salad bar was smaller than expected, but was brimming with classy salads and tasty fresh baked breads. Everyone needs to experience this place. I even liked the lamb (and I usually hate it)!
(4)Andrew H.
Perhaps the best dining experience I've ever had. I went here with a group of about 10 people. The service was attentive and friendly. The salad bar was exceptional. The meat...well of course the meat was out of this world. Here is what I loved about the 15 different kinds of meat (I tried them all), they always come out piping hot, cut how you like, as much as you would like. I've had great steaks elsewhere, I usually order a larger cut, but after the first few bites the steak cools off and it just isn't as amazing. But here, with sizzling meat constantly circling the table I loved every bite. Especially the Filet mignon (so tender!). I think this place is great with groups. I would also come back just for dessert as the molten lava cake was both sweet and satisfying. Also, I'd come back for lunch as it is only 27 for the full salad bar and meat courses as opposed to 47 at dinner. I am a Fogo believer and will be back for sure.
(5)Tony C.
Lots and lots of meat. The only issue I have is that its a bit salty. Other then that. Let it rain meat. I don't even bother with the salad bar. But its probably the best salad bar I have ever seen. Don't even bother with the pork or chicken..
(4)Jim H.
Wonderful experience! The Caipirinhas were very good and I could easily be satisfied with the salad bar only, but... the meat never stops coming. Everything was terrific. Be sure to find room for a couple of the mini popovers and taste the potatoes- excellent! Outstanding service, comfortable noise level, many reasons to return. Our group of 17 had a wonderful time celebrating a birthday. About $82 per person - in Minneapolis! Then again, the place was packed so I guess there is no recession. I guess I didn't look, but perhaps much of the bill came from all the local taxes that Mpls. has in place.
(4)Ben K.
Meatgasm. Excellent food, excellent drinks. Pricey, but a great option for those 'special' dinners on which you don't mind dropping some extra cash.
(5)Joy H.
At the risk of offending my fellow vegans and vegetarians, I have to say that the best restaurant salad bar in the Twin Cities is at the Brazilian steakhouse, Fogo de Chao. It's a great place to go for a special celebration (parent's anniversary or Father's Day) or an important work meeting when you have a combination of plant-eaters and meat-eaters in your party. The salad bar is a beautiful bounty of artistically displayed vegetables, including large asparagus spears, pickled roasted jewel onions, whole artichoke hearts, halves of red and yellow bell peppers, garden green beans, shiitake mushroom caps, cucumber slices with red onion, sliced beefsteak tomatoes, sundried tomatoes, broccoli bunches, hearts of palm and sliced beets. According to the manager, each of the veggies is steamed until crisp tender and then plunged into a cold bath to stop the cooking process. The resulting color and texture of the veggies is amazing. Some of the veggies are au natural; others are treated to a light toss in olive oil and sea salt to bring each to its fullest flavor potential. There are several types of greens: chopped greens with olives, torn romaine, spring greens and Caesar salad. There are a multitude of dressings to choose from, but the highlight is the bright green basil. The tabouleh is great, but I skip the other composed salads because they appear to have mayo. Completing the bar is the best sour dough bread I've had outside San Francisco. And there's a variety of fine cheeses, for those interested. If you are comfortable dining at a restaurant that supports the meat industry, and don't mind seeing cooked meat paraded around on swords by waiters dressed as gauchos, Fogo is definitely worth trying. The salad bar is $19.50 at lunch and $24.50 at dinner. You also receive all-you-can-eat sides of roasted bananas, deep fried polenta, seasoned mashed potatoes and mini popovers filled with cheese, which are brought to your table. Fogo de Chao is located in downtown Minneapolis at 645 Hennepin Ave. For more info: examiner.com/x-10371-Min…
(5)kiki d.
If you like meat, you should try Fogo de Chao. The space is crowded and loud in an I'm-at-a-popular-hotspot kind of way. The meat stewards are constantly coming around to ask if you want the different cuts of meat, so altogether, there's a lot of action (not a good place for a serious discussion or a quiet, romantic evening). The salad bar is really really good as well - if they offered just the salad bar, I'd probably go more often (I'm not as much of a meat-eater and it feels silly to pay $50 and then fill up on salads...) Overall, a fun way to spend an evening, and a unique dining experience.
(4)Isaac C.
One of the best Dinners I've ever had. Never thought I'd get tired of trying yummy steaks after yummy steaks. It is everything that other yelpers have told here and a little bit more. A little bit pricey for dinner though.
(4)Sean H.
Carnivores rejoice, for this is your church! (and the salad bar is amazing too!) The service at this location was exceptional. Friendly and accommodating. While I've been to other traditional Brazilian churrascarias, Fogo de Chao is in a class all it's own. Starting with a caipirinha is a must! Follow this with the exceptional salad bar, but go easy, you've gotta save room. Once the pleasantries are out of the way, it's time to get down to business. And by business I mean a ton of meat! You'll have your choice of up to 15 different selections and you can try as many and as much as you like. My recommendation? Try the filet and the house special, picanha. Both are freaking amazing!
(5)Aaron W.
If you love meet, you need to experience this place.
(5)Chris C.
Pros: All you can eat meat; great salad bar; smoked salmon Cons: Too salty/greasy I was psyched to go to Fogo de Chao. All you can eat meat! Make sure you go there during lunch. I haven't been there for dinner yet, but my understanding is that it's basically the same menu, but $50 instead of $30. Besides, you'll need the rest of the afternoon to recover after consuming so much meat. There's a great salad bar too, full of things I didn't know about before. A highlight is the smoked salmon, which in my opinion is worth the price of the meal alone. It's easy to get loaded up on just the salad bar alone (and I bet they encourage it to save costs). Be sure to pace yourself accordingly, because there is a lot of meat to handle. To add to the stuffers you get free appetizers as well. I love the puffs, whatever they're really called. You also get fried bananas. Here's how it works for the meat. You get a coaster with green on one side and red on the other. Green means more meat, red means not yet. There's beef, lamb, pork, etc. Sometimes you get to choose whether you want it rare or well done, and they'll cut it accordingly. They do come quickly and in bunches, so once again, pace yourself. The food can get greasy/salty, which makes you feel full sooner than you'd expect. The service is very attentive and polite, and the atmosphere rivals a regular restaurant of this price range. I definitely recommend everyone, locals or visitors, to try this place at least once.
(4)Nicole B.
Love Fogo! Brought my husband for the first time a few weeks ago and he was also in heaven. If you love steak, you'll love this place. You choose from 15 cuts of meats. The filet and the garlic seasoned top sirloin were our favorites In addition to the salad bar, as much meat as you can eat, your meal also includes unlimited side items: warm cheese bread, polenta, garlic mashed potatoes and caramelized bananas which are to die for. You never have to ask for more, the are automatically replaced when it looks as if your running low. My suggestion is to wear 'expandable pants'.
(5)Jim S.
Celebrated My son's birthday with his choice and he chose this place. Service is incredible Food is fantastic We loved it
(5)B M.
Great service, hearty meat, and my belly is full. All meat eaters need to experience this!
(4)Zheng W.
Fogo de Chao is practically a really fancy and over-priced version of a buffet. The food was excellent, service was impeccable, and the restaurant itself was very impressive as well. However, I wouldn't put it over Capital Grille or Manny's as the top fine dining downtown. The place was extremely crowded and loud (granted we went on the Friday before Christmas but still), and the atmosphere was nothing like I'd expected. Neither of us ate an exorbitant amount of food but we left satisfied. I'd say go for the experience, but if you truly want to take someone out for an intimate and romantic night, Capital Grille or Manny's might be a better option.
(4)K D.
The only reason it gets three stars is because of the impeccable service. I've seen the same service in four star restaurants. I only wish I could remember the name of our 'server' so I could give him the appropriate props. I've been to other Churrascarias and the food here pales in comparison. There is nothing special about the meats, and the 'salad bar' has very few interesting or authentic choices. They serve the same side dishes to everyone, but they are not worth mentioning, except the fried polenta. It tasted like the cardboard it was probably stored in. I make better fried polenta. My polenta would whip FdC's polenta's behind, then bury it in a pit, full of scorpians, just for its having the nerve of calling itself fried polenta. And it's loud. I don't understand when all restaurants became so loud. I know FdC can't control how loud its patrons speak..but..what ever happened to a nice quiet dinner? We went to several restaurants that weekend and had the same issue. Last year, we went to a sushi restaurant that played techno. Really? Sushi with loud techno? ....but I digress... Once you flip your card to green, be prepared to be aggressively....well...I can't come up with a word other than attacked...by 'gauchos'. We had so many coming at us we didn't even have time to flip to red! It was very overwhelming. A little less aggressiveness on the part of the 'gauchos' would have been nice. 60 bucks is a hefty price tag for what they offer (absolutely no seafood, btw), however, their molten chocolate cake was so good, I might have paid 60 bucks for that alone! And I don't usually care for sweets.
(3)D. E.
Went here while on vacation with my GF. It was really nice. But is costed so damn much we ended up paying over $200 for 2 people.
(4)Sarah C.
5 star restaurant! WORTH EVERY CENT. I wish I had the money to eat here once a month. When you sit down you're greeted by a lovely server, whom you probably will only see once or twice again. When you flip your card green a random handsome man comes to your table with a huge skewer of meat and cuts you off a slice of whatever they have, within a minute another server is there with a different meat selection. They keep on coming until you flip to red. You're always being asked if you want more meat or if you want another drink. Sometimes the manager asks how your food is, which is amazing. It's unlimited meat so my boyfriend and I usually don't eat lunch before we come so we can try everything. The waiters here literally wait on you, you feel like royalty. I've never felt so dined on ever in my life. Amazing service and amazing food. A+ check it out if you've never been $50 a plate
(5)Linda N.
it has been almost a year since i've been here and now that i have more appreciation for meat (thanks to my boyfriend), i am now a fan. given that it was restaurant week, the bf is an ultimate meat lover and he has never been (OMG!). i know! the wait time wasn't that long. although, while we were waiting in the bar area, there were four tables in the "main" bar area, the tables around me got the complimentary cheese bread but me. WTF!!?? was it because i did not have a drink in my hand because the bf was grabbing it at the bar??? i thought that was the rudest part of the whole night. and even still, if the bread is being offered to patrons waiting to be seated, everyone should get it with or without a drink in hand. the more i think of it, the more angry i get. horrible horrible horrible now that we were seated at our dining table, the service in the dining area was hands down, the best! we had two non-meat servers always making sure we were doing alright. and they were beyond attentive. they asked if there were certain types of meat that we wanted to request. 5 minutes later, they checked back to see if it came and made sure it came in less than 5 minutes. OMG WOW! the staff was very knowledgeable regarding the wines and food. the food service was very fast paced so be prepared for that. --onto the delicious food! SALAD BAR not very impressive but did have a wide variety of things. they had a mini cheese and meat spread but there weren't any crackers! maybe i didn't see it? but cheese goes with crackers so well, always! i loved the mozzarella balls! although i didn't load up on the salad bar to save room for the steak, i was able to eat the lighter stuff to prepare the stomach. MEATS *note - to have the juiciest steak, always request medium rare filet mignon - first to hit the table: medium was a bit dry for me. luckily another filet came by that was medium rare. juicy, savory, and delicious top sirloin - cut off the fat, eat the sirloin in one piece. only way to do it since they slice it thin for you already ribeye - (when i was here last year, i was quite intoxicated so i wasn't able to savor the meats) but OH MY GOODNESS JUICY!!! i've never ordered ribeye at a steak joint ever bc the fattiness always turns me off. the meat was tender, gives you a good bite when you bite into it and beyond juicy!! i'm tellin ya - medium rare is the only way to go. cut around the fat and you can get some good a** meat!! bottom sirloin - dry, tough, not my first choice.. parmesan crusted pork - again, dry. the outside was flavorful and wasn't overly salted ribs - dried up quickly so you had to eat fast. not a crowd pleaser sausage link - italians make it better ;) SIDES mashed potatoes - we kept getting refills. chives, paprika (?), and butterrr. yumm!! polenta - i didn't try it but the bf didn't enjoy it. ate one piece and left it fried bananas - also didn't try it but the bf was eating that up! he really liked it that C-H-E-E-S-E-B-R-E-A-D! i could eat that all day long!! it was great with my mozzarella balls and i'd be happy with just eating that! mozzarella, cheesebread, and ribeye -- for me, the best items at Fogo to make a very satisfying meal we skipped dessert, no room :)
(4)Alyssa B.
If you are a hardcore carnivore.... This place is for you! You have the best choices of Brazilian meats and great sides. It is also a fun concept, and a great place to go, especially for lunch!
(4)Glenn H.
I'm comparing this very favorably to a Churrascaria that I had in Sao Paulo! OMG another terrrrrrific Carnivore's Paradise! I had dinner there with some colleagues. Excellent food and superior service. The salad bar/buffet was huge and yes has a problem with bi-directional patrons but is high variety and quality. If you are a vegetarian, you will certainly find something here but you would find that the highest priced salad bar you've ever had! The meat was done to perfection. Very highly recommended is the Picanha (prime part of the sirloin seasoned with sea salt or garlic--or both?)--tender C-shaped cuts of meat that are amazing. Do not miss it. Their little cheese bread ball appetizers are so good you could kill your appetite on just these, so don't or you'll miss the main courses. Also amazing but appetite killers are their deep-fried polenta sticks - O M G--could not stop eating those. Oh and there are fried bananas/plantains and a garlic cheese mashed potato appys on each table. The service was as previously reviewed friendly, very prompt and helpful--to the point of offering to bring what you wanted. One nice touch: the churrascaria typically has one rotating red/green sign for Stop and More respectively for each table. Fogo De Chao has a better method: a two sided paper circle that is provided for each patron, so there is more control over who can "order" and who can say "Stop, I'm not ready". The place was clean, busy (in the middle of the week) and fun for a group. So make your reservations, come early and very hungry and watch out for those delicious appetizers! But for only $40 per person, you'll also come away with a unique dining experience you won't forget soon. Highly recommended!
(5)Corey C.
A really great place if your a meat lover! I wouldn't suggest to a vegetarian due to the high price, but the salad bar is also phenomenal!!!! Like others have said, don't fall for all the bread they try to stuff down your throat before you get your table, its good bread, but your paying $50 a person for all the meat, not for pieces of bread. For desert I had the crème brûlée, I haven't had crème brûlée enough times to really compare it to anyone else, but it was very good, and for sure topped Macaroni Grill crème brûlée. The only down side, they don't bring the really good cuts out as often as the lower quality meats, you almost have to flag someone down to find the leg of lamb and filet mignon.
(4)Andy G.
Holy meat coma Batman! This place is a meat eater's dream. I went on a man date with a buddy last fall with the sole intent of eating cow until I grew udders. The service here is amazing. It seemed like we had 10 different people keeping our beverages filled, clearing our plates, and replenishing sides. That or it was just one dude with some serious ninja skills. That's not even including the two dozen gauchos walking around with those glorious slabs of animal. My personal favorite is the fillet but they are all amazing in their own way. The salad bar was quite good too, but I had my eye on the prize so I didn't eat much off of it. It's a must try for carnivores but you really should clear your schedule after you're done cause you're just gonna want to lay down and nap.
(5)Rich H.
I've been to this Fogo location 5 times (2x for Lunch), been to the Chicago location 3 times, and the Dallas location 5 times. All locations have given the same experience with consistent food. With that said, I love this place. I wanted to go last night, but they said it would be 90 min - 2 hour wait, so we went to Oceanaire instead. Fogo has cuts of meat you won't find anywhere else and everything is cooked so well. They make a Dynamite caipirinha, which is like a mojito but LOTS better. The Wine selection is fantastic, the cheese bread (Pon De Queso) is amazing -- and hard to reproduce at home, fried plantains are tasty, and the salad bar is legendary (but don't fill yourself up on that!). My favorite spot in the Minneapolis restaurant is a little cove that is at the back left of the room, somewhat near the bathrooms. We had a party of 8 people and it was a little more quiet and we still received amazing service. I'd guess if you were reading reviews, you might know how it works at Fogo. You flip up your pog to green which brings around all the guys with meat, you decide if you want that cut of meat as they come and you use your tongs to help guide it to your plate. The meat is unlimited, and if you want a particular cut, just tell them and they will send someone right over with that cut. This is a one of a kind restaurant, and while it is expensive, you will go home very full, and very happy.
(5)Beth T.
This place is amazing! WARNING: this place is a vegan's nightmare. Do not take a vegetarian here! My husband and I went here for our anniversary. We wanted a nice place where not many kids would be. I was a little intimidated by the price, I have been to nice restaurants and been looked down upon by the staff. This place was complete opposite. The staff was above and beyond. Other waiters aside from ours constantly came by to check on us, service was fast. And there was a constant flow as people came by with different meats. My personal favorite was the Filet Mignon and garlic beef. When we started to slow down a bit, our waiter asked if it was a special occasion after telling him it was our anniversary he offered us a dessert on the house. We got the chocolate lava cake. It came out with a beautiful flower decorating it and "Happy Anniversary" written in chocolate on the rim of the plate. The cake was as good as the rest of the food. The chocolate filling was hot not just warm which is how most places serve it. We definitely plan on returning again.
(5)Sarah Z.
I'm not a huge meat fan, in fact, I have never even ordered the meat at Fogo. I go because my husband is an extreme carnivore. I order the salad bar and eat lots of the delicious side dishes while he gorges himself on all the meat he can handle. He loves it and the salad bar is actually really good. The atmosphere is fun so it is a good date place. One time we had to wait 45 minutes for a table even though we had a reservation, but it was worth it!
(4)Roxanne J.
Hi, well this is what I have to say about Fogo, we choose to go there for a birthday lunch. The service is absolutely top notch, they make you feel very welcome and appear to enjoy your business (unlike soooo many other places we have been to) the salad bar is clean and everything was fresh. The bread on the salad bar is so fresh you would think it was just came out of the oven minutes ago fresh. The little cheese popovers are really good. When it comes to the star of the show the meats, most of them were good that I tried. You get a bit overwhelmed when they come around in groves. I am not a huge meat eater so for me it was just o.k. Be prepared to spend a lot of money ( 140.00) for three of us for lunch, dinner would have been almost double ( ouch) drinks are really high so be careful 8.75 for a little rum and coke. I would never want to eat hear if I had any plans after because you leave there really full and tired. I also would never want to go here if I was on a date...the hustle and bustle would be way to intrusive , unless you really don't want to talk much with your date. So over all if the setting was right I would go back for lunch, I would never pay the dinner prices. I was kind of scratching my head going hmmm was that worth it? Well I came to this conclusion yes it was, kind of like going to the state fair where you spend an obscene amount of money but hey it only comes around once a year. So go pig out enjoy yourself and know you are going to spend a lot of money in advance so you are not shocked when the bill comes so as to ruin your adventure.
(3)Morriss P.
Wow! This is *not* your usual restaurant. Do NOT go here unless you are prepared to be BOMBARDED with more meat than you ever dreamed existed in one restaurant. Fogo de Chao is a carnivore's heaven and a vegetarian's worst nightmare. Basically, you are armed with a simple drink coaster, red on one side and green on the other. If you flip it over from red to green, that is a signal that is broadcast to all corners of the restaurant (and probably other restaurants nearby) to the meat ninjas, errrrrr servers, who come running at you from every direction, plus they descend from the ceiling (ala Mission Impossible), armed with huge knives and skewers of succulent meat. The meat ninjas, errrrrr, servers then slice cuts of meat onto your plate until you beg them no more, or the pile of meat touches the ceiling, whichever comes first. (if you aren't quick, your pile of meat will touch the ceiling before you've had a chance to utter the words "no mas".) Was wonderfully fun for our group of eight. I give it four stars and not five, because seriously, it's too much meat. Or maybe just more meat than I can handle. The cuts of meat themselves were superb.
(4)Special D.
Awesome meat buffet. Picanha is my favorite cut. The salad bar is good too and those cheese bread muffins are addictive. Great place to have an upscale meal.
(5)Kye J.
Tonight was my first time at Fogo de Chao and I am so stuffed. When we arrived we were almost seated immediatly (with reservations) then asked to wait just a minute, and in just a minute a gentleman informed us he chose to seat us in a quieter spot and with a much better view of the "action". It was perfect, so being my first time, our waiter Steve explained how it was going to work and it worked great! Salad bar, I tried nearly everything and as an onion hater, I was extremely pleased that only a few items had onions in them. (Pico, onions themselves which were marinated) I would go back just to fill up on the salad bar, but as a meat lover I must have both. As most of the reviews have explained the ins and outs on how it works, I won't get into that, I tried 12 of the 13 meats (three are on the salad bar) that were offered and as a picky eater, I am afraid it will be difficult to meet these standards anywhere else. I tried all meats medium to meduim rare and that was perfect, texture, flavor and variety. I am new to lamb so that was different but not something I wouldn't try again. Okay, service was above and beyond excellent, on all levels, hostess, coatcheck, server, bussers, etc. I don't normally pay that much for a dinner and a bottle of wine that has no special occasion but my fiance and I like trying new foods, and the whole experience was worth every penny. Planning going back with a group next time. Oh, and if your vehicle has a clearance of under 6'5" the 7th street parking garage is right across the street, if not, it is super tough to find parking, we ended up several blocks away and it was a cold and windy walk.
(5)Mollee F.
So much food - so little stomach space. Amazing salad bar that is easily a meal in and of itself. But how can you go to Fogo and not be ready to ingest mass amounts of meat??? Most of the cuts of meat are non-standard and worth the money you're shelling out for all-you-can-eat. It's a great way to sample several meats without regret. Polenta fries are also not to be missed. Great place for big groups.
(4)Val B.
It's a lot of meat. I'm, like, a serious red meat lover and could eat steak every day, so trust me, when I say this I mean it. The salad bad is great, but a waste of stomach space when you have filet mignon coming and you weigh 110 lbs. Gauchos come around in ridiculous outfits with different meat on sticks. Most cuts are OK, many fall into the salty, dry or fatty categories, but the salty and fatty categories don't bother me as much. For the price ($50/person), they aren't the greatest cuts of meat but when you're here, you're here for quantity and not quality. It's like the Old Country Buffet of upscale steakhouses. I would rather spend the money on a great steak at Manny's, but it was fun to try and the service is nice. Except for the constant interruptions of meat-weilding gauchos, it's a nice way to spend a carnivorous evening with friends.
(3)Mark S.
It was my daughter's birthday, and she and her partner love steak. Fogo d Chao was a great experience for us all for her birthday dinner. The service was excellent, and the salad bar and the 'meats on a steak' were everything we hoped for. With cocktails, desserts, and a tip the evening got spendy. But we'll go again next time we want to special evening in Mpls. The only down side, is that after eating as much as I did, I'm glad we didn't have a scheduled event afterwards.
(5)Rick M.
While I liked the salad bar, I thought the restaurant was over-priced for the quality of the meal as a whole. And it seemed the quality of the meat suffered due to the emphasis of quantity -- it just did not strike me as good as others had described. Service was good; however, at this price point that's to be expected. I have to admit that I find it somewhat dissonant to have a "fine dining" experience when others at adjoining tables seemed to revel in "eating as much food as possible" -- ala Country Buffet. I'd rather go to Murrays in Minneapolis -- and would recommend it over Fogo De Chao for out-of-town visitors who would rather avoid "chain eating." BTW, the cost adds up quickly with cocktails, wine and/or desserts hence my "over $60" rating. YMMV if you keep it to one drink and eschew any post-dinner treats.
(2)Dave A.
No doubt about it, this place has great food. But in terms of atmosphere, I felt like I was in a bee hive. Imagine 5 billion servers buzzing all over the place and interrupting you every 10 seconds. Not the place to have a relaxing meal, but perfect for large Americans who can't wait for the next piece of meat dropped on their plate.
(2)Robert B.
I went for a family lunch. We had 5 adults and one four year old child. I have been to Brazillian barbecues on several other occasions. This holds true to the ones I have attended in the USA. I have been to two of them in Brazil so I have something to compare it to. Lots of excellent cuts of meat to eat until you can eat no more. They placed an emphasis on beef over other types of meat. Throw in a lot of lamb choices you have what you are likely to eat. There was one selection of chicken, sausage and pork. They do have an excellent salad bar, with cheese and other types of stuff to fill you up before meat. I suggest you go small on the salad. All the meat was excellently prepared and you can choose how well done the meat is. I tend towards medium to medium rare. But, the cuts were rare when you asked for it. I have no problem with that, others might. There is not a solid beer selection and nothing on tap. They do have an excellent wine selection. I chose a Brazillian beer which was good for the meal. The three complaints from the afternoon of gorging, the price is outrageous. We went for lunch and it was high. The place is packed as well, we had reservations and still had a 15-20 minute wait for a table. I do not think that is acceptable with a reservation. Service, for what you are being charged needs to improve. They should be waiting on you hand and foot. One person is in charge of the table, the people with meat do come around, but tend to overlook tables even with the green light. On several occasions we had to ask for a particular type of meat to come by our table. Once we did, they came en masse to our table. For the price, as I stated, they should be a lot more aware of their customers. At dessert, one person ordered coffee and it came well after dessert was finished. It is this type of detail I think where they fall short of a pricey high end establishment. As for the four year old, I have never seen him eat this much. I thought this would be a challenging place for him. It is not designed for kids. But, he seemed to enjoy being able to select different types of meat. I do not know if they charged full price for him. As high as the bill was I think they did, and should not. But, I cannot say as I did not see the bill to check.
(3)Drew J.
It's a world renowned Brazillian Grill - not much I can say to top that. But the service is better than I've seen anywhere in town.
(4)Mike B.
I've been to two Brazilian meat places like this. Fogo de Chao was considerably better than the other one, though the prices were the same. It's expensive, but a lot of fun, if you like meat. Unlike the other place, they don't go out of their way to fill you up with a bunch of tasty, bulky, inexpensive food.
(4)Kelly G.
Steps for a successful visit to Fogo De Chao. 1. Step up to the bar and order a Caipirinha while waiting for the rest of your group to arrive. 2. Suck down said drink and when the others arrive, spontaneously buy one for everyone. 3. Discover upon receiving your tab exactly how much each drink costs and gulp inwardly. Keep it classy: stay cool and pretend you're a high roller and it's no big deal. No one wants to feel guilty because they are sipping on some deliciousness that you offered to buy for them. Do not forget to take care of the bartender. 4. Go to salad buffet and look at how beautiful everything is. Take miniscule portions of the cheese, pasta, caesar, and salmon (yes, even the salad bar consists of many cold meats), because you will need space for the farm that is about to take up residence in your stomach. 5. Sit at your spot, decide impulsively to order one more Caipirinha and flip your red coaster to the green side. 6. Green means go: be polite to all the attractive young men offering you skewers of meat. Take a little of everything. Inhale like it is the first meal you have ever eaten. 7. Say a little prayer thanking God that you are not a vegetarian. 8. Main dishes you must try: cordeiro (lamb chops), filet mignon, lombo (parmesan pork filets), Fraldinha...wait, strike that, just try everything. 9. Repeat. 10. Try to have dessert, but if you don't make it, don't feel bad. 11. Get valet because you probably will not be able to walk, and pray the zipper on your pencil skirt (or pants for you gentlemen) holds until you get home. I'm putting four $ for price because of all the delicious Caipirinhas I decided to consume on my last visit. Service was phenomenal, my water glass never made it to half empty (I *am* a pessimist), and the gaucho chefs consistently kept an eye out for green coasters. I did not have to wait for service once. Fogo is good for kids, provided they are well-behaved and will not get in the way of the servers. But in my opinion that's true anywhere, including Denny's.
(5)Kristin K.
Just stuffed my face at Fogo. The wait staff share all the tips at the end of each shift, so you can bet that you'll get excellent service by all employees. You'll never hear "your waiter is over there..." Every employee is fully prepared to answer every question, bring you a new plate, or get you a drink from the bar. The food is to die for, beautiful atmosphere, it's perfect. Yes it's worth every penny!!! go go go
(5)Lalala S.
awesome all you can eat! lots of meat!! yesss!
(5)Sara B.
I went to Fogo de Chao for date night with my boyfriend at the time. We took every last penny we had (with him not having a job and me being laid off it was a struggle) to go there. It was spendy, but WELL worth it. I love steak and every other kind of meat, so this was my kind of place. You don't really have to do anything, which is great! I am incredibly indecisive and large menus are horrible for me, since I regret decisions I make. So....the fact that I just got to sit there and enjoy was the best part about eating there. I see where my District manager got the idea for wine glasses at my present place of employment, they do the large glasses and small carafes for "refills." All in all, this place was great. I recommend dressing up...it makes it that much more fun. But you can be like some of the crazies we saw and wear jeans, a hoodie and a backwards/cocked basebal cap. To each their own!
(5)Ryan P.
I took a client to Fogo a few months back for dinner and it was awesome. The variety of salads and meat was exceptional. I would definitely go again. Just in case you haven't been here, you should know the following: 1. It's all you can eat. 2. There is a salad bar (skip and enjoy the meat) 3. The meat is all you can eat but it is brought around by servers and slice from a skewer for you. Very good, especially with a group of people
(4)Aaron S.
Went here before a show at the Orpheum expecting a classy "meat parade" and Fogo de Chao exceeded expectations. Everything has already been said about the tasty food, so I won't waste characters here. I will say that the demeanor of the staff was top notch - professional, gracious, and made you feel like an important guest. The decor fits the theme and earns a thumbs up, too. It's a great spot for special occasions for couples as well as groups, plus business outings on expense accounts. If you're feeling up for it, try the Caipirinha. It's kind of like a hybrid between a mojito and a margarita. Very tasty, and true to form, they don't skimp on substance if you know what I mean...
(5)Carlos H.
We have been to other churrascarias but this one is the best of all. We found the service to be excellent with many cuts of meat (variety of 15) but also the waiter/waitress service was very attentive. So, there is a salad bar included and my faves are the hearts of palm, artichoke hearts and dried tomatos...items not usually available at standard salad bars. Hot dishes brought to each table consist of warm cheese biscuits, very unique, fried polenta and mashed potatoes and fried bananas. When the meat is sliced you can have a choice of rare or well done slices and of course, as much as you please. I liked the filet mignon, but honestly there was nothing I didn't like. One item not tried was the leg of lamb but I can say it looked fantastic. The place was crowded for a lunch, but I would suggest better to go when it's crowded than empty because the food turns over faster. Everyone I saw was having a great time. Also to note, the bathrooms were clean and on the way out there were beautiful chocolates along with my standard matchbook souvenir.
(4)Lenore K.
Wonderful, wonderful red meat. The best I have had in any restaurant. Skip the pork and chicken-it's good enough but no where near as good as any of the cuts of beef. The salad bar is very nice, and while they only have three dressing choices the ranch is amazingly good-do try it if you like ranch dressing at all. "Good service" is an understatement, the service is elegant. Your chair is pushed in for you, very busy waiters get out of your way ASAP if you are walking around the restaurant. When my waiter forgot the saucer for my coffee, he not only insisted on bringing it but replaced the coffee with a fresh cup. My table had cheesecake, chocolate cake and cream brule for desert, all were excellent. Even the coffee was exceptional. Expensive, absolutely. My table of 4 spent $191.00 for lunch without alcohol and before the tip.It was our company holiday lunch. I plan to return for a special occasion. Not just great food, but a great experience.
(5)Mal S.
$$$$ but worth every penny. I don't see how this place can disappoint.
(5)Daniel B.
actually a 2 or 3....went with one to balance the overhype. this is a businessman or woman's tax deduction restaurant. $29 for lunch. yes, fun to have meat choices, but the salad bar was no better than most $12 places, most of the meat okay, just one out of 6 really swell. room nice, waiters great. just way overpriced for what it is.
(1)Lori G.
What I would like to point out is not their food but their service! It is impressive! Absolutely make you feel comfortable and worth the money!
(4)Harsh K.
Beverly hills fogo de chao= 4stars. This one is a level up because the food is the same, and the price is a third less! If you haven't been to a churrascaria before ( rodizio focused on meat) you should definitely stop by. The cuts to focus on are the picanha, and the ribeye, but much of the other stuff is good. I was disappointed by the linguica and the bacon wrapped chicken, but everything else was top notch. The one thing I should mention is that when this place gets crowded the service supposedly diminishes drastically. Uncharacteristically for us, we ate a super early dinner, so the place was pretty slow and we received excellent service the whole time.
(5)Dani S.
Worth every penny! Had a great family experience - service was great, food was fabulous!
(5)scott s.
I think that Fogo is one of the best places to eat in Minneapolis. Wait staff is fun and if you have a group of friends-even better. Cool dinks and a fun, open atmosphere. Make sure you come hungry for meat because this place will not let you down.
(4)Koli F.
I love this place! This is where we go for our anniversary. Great service, wonderful salad bar, plentiful side dishes, & gluttonous meat parades. Kinda spendy! Go for lunch when it's half off... it's all the same as dinner & it wont be $100 for two people. Unless of course you get a bottle of wine too
(5)Tim P.
Love to get my Fogo on! Lunch or Dinner, both are good. Although lunch is a better value as everything is the same for about $20 less. Start with a caipirinha, limes, sugar and rum never tasted so good. Hit the salad bar and make a little nest in your stomach for meat to call home. Turn your card to green and let the meat flow! Salad bar is fresh and full of interesting items. The cheesy buns they start you with are good too, but the star of the show is the meat. And if you get a bad piece? Don't eat it, they will bring more. If there is too much cow carnage on your plate? They will bring you a new one. Man it is good. Just remember to prep your stomach for two days prior so you get your moneys worth.
(5)Lauren R.
While I'm typically not a fan of buffet-style restaurants, this one ranks at the top of my list! They have the so many choices of meat cooked just to your liking and a yummy assortment of side items at their salad bar. My favorite dishes though are the mashed potatoes and fried bananas they bring to your table...to die for! The Limeade is also a refreshing drink to sip on while you encapsulate in the splendor of food. But, be sure to pay attention the the color of your coaster as you'll get bombarded with meat choices if it is set to green and you'll have to keep restarting your conversation with your dinner-mate.
(4)Timothy D.
If you love meat, this is the place for you. Flip your toen to the green side, and brace yourself. You will be swarmed with offers of all kinds of wonderful meaty dishes. Oh, and they have a great salad bar as well.
(5)Suben K.
Be sure and make reservations, make it a "very light" breakfast at home on the day of your reservation, make it an extra long work out at your gym up until an hour or so before your dinner reservation. Make the earliest possible time for your reservation, for the place get packed and fast. You could start with a glass of their house red, at their Wine Bar while waiting to be seated). Upon being seated, their salad bar can be very enticing and beatifully inviting but show restrain... Once the Gouchos come around with their skewers of meat(s) all I can say is try and pace your self with the green and red card indicator and from that point onwards enjoy an un-adultrated Royal Feast. Word of advise, go with folks who appreciate good food that don't mind the quantity to boot. Trust me, don't be shy to take a breather.....Just think, "you" paid for it! Get your money's worth. Lastly, try and take a long stroll, before getting into your car to start back for home.
(4)K D.
Vegans beware, Talk about a meat lovers paradise! Bring your appetite, If you love good food and lots of it you,ll love Fogo
(5)Matt W.
Fogo was wonderful. Speedy service with a smile! They have piles of meat for you, all expertly prepared. The atmosphere was a nice "white tablecloth" setting with carribeian flair. Quite expensive per person, but totally worth it. I don't give out many 5 stars, only when well deserved.
(5)Javier O.
If it is a food over dose you are looking for, you have picked the right place. Here is the gist of it. First, you grab a small plate and walk around the salad bar. There is plenty to chose from however, I will not bother getting anything more than just the essentials. When you are done with your salad, servers come table side with meats skewered on swords and carve up some of the best tasting meats you can imagine. Think fast, because if you are not paying attention, the servers will be line up by your side and it is difficult to turn the away. you have to be quick with the stop and go sign, otherwise, you are engulfed by a sea of Brazilian style cowboys catering to your protein needs. By the end of the evening, i promise, you will not need to eat meet for the rest of the month. Food comatose here is is the norm.
(5)Ryan F.
This place is tops!!!! You want a fun experience and great food look no further. The selection of meat is vast and service is top notch. A great place for a group to get together, still nice for a date but truly more the merrier. Make sure you are planning on taking 2-3 hours to eat as it adds to the group/family feel of this place.
(5)Karman L.
Who doesn't like Fogo de Chao!? I don't think I will go into the details about the meat there, cuz it's always great. But the service is not as good as others that I've been to (i.e. DC, Atlanta, Dallas or Chicago) - waiter rushed us to order our drink (5 sec after we sat down) and he talked wayyyyyy too fast.... - they didn't change our plates as often as other locations... - when they take our plates away, they didn't replace them with new ones...??? - they didn't refill my drink (usually they will do that before you are even done) The setup of the dining area is not as opened compare to the other locations...it's a bit confusing to navigate to the salad bar and tables are tight for the servers to move around...
(4)Ashe L.
Meeat lovers? yes this is the place for you beefeaters. Although quite pricy for a goup together or a pair I'd say. Depends if you want to go all out.
(5)Sean M.
WoW! A dining experience to remember. Very cool ambiance, outstanding food and impeccable service. The meat is some of the best I have ever had, and there is no salad bar like the one at Fogo de Chao. The food is expensive, but totally worth it! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
(5)Nikki M.
Very cool place! The service is oustanding. Worth the price for sure. I liked the experience. The entire menu concept is unlike anything else in the Twin Cities. The salad bar was awsome. All three sides; polenta, potatos and plantains were delicious. And the meat.So many options,so good,but my favorrite was the filet mignon. Go.Just dont go expecting to eat light :)
(5)Sabrina L.
I really do like Fogo. I've gone to Fogo four times, but this last experience really left me with negative feelings even after waiting a few days to see if my feelings would change. I went last Thursday, on October 25th for restaurant week with a group of 19 friends. During restaurant week, Fogo advertises a dinner for $30 dollars including dessert. I had never had dessert at Fogo before and all my friends raved about the amazing selection, so I was definitely hyped up. Dinner was great, but when dessert came, the manager came and told our tables, not only were we not getting to pick our desserts we weren't even going to get our own individualized desserts as advertised because our group was so big. We would have to share desserts family style. On top of that he only brought out desserts that were clearly not high on demand, so no popular molten lava, no creme brulee, but every other table although smaller got to choose what dessert they wanted and got there own. Had the manager approached every guest in the restaurant the same way by not giving them a choice and having them share family style, i would have been more understanding, but he pinpointed our table to choose not to honor the deal as advertised for restaurant week. If Fogo can't handle the demand for restaurant week and the number of customers it attracts then they shouldn't participate and promise what they can't give.
(2)A P.
Boom! I ate here with my wife for my Birthday. The food was excellent. She has an allergy to Gluten, must the staff was fully aware of what she could and could not eat. Spendy! So watch out and make sure you are ready for the commitment. I would absolutely go back. They offer 15 meats, 4 are really great, 8 are good, and the rest... The fillet mignon was the best that night, but still doesn't beat Gianni's.
(4)Cara B.
This is the best restaurant EVER! I have never had poor service or food quality that was less than perfect.
(5)Frank G.
I went to Fogo de Chao on Thursday for lunch with 4 of my friends. We were all WOWED by the FANTASTIC customer service!! Along with the FANTASTIC SALAD Buffet and the 15 meats that they bring to the table. There was not a one item that we did not like. Matt and the rest of the amazing staff did a AWESOME job!!! Can't wait to get back to FOGO!!!!!
(5)Rego S.
The best service I've ever gotten at a Brazilian barbecue in the US. I'm used to resigning myself to whatever meats are going around, but at this place, they'll even stop by and ask if there's a certain meat you're looking for, and then they'll bring it right out in just a couple minutes. This plus the salad bar complete with fresh mozzarella etc. was definitely worth the $40 prix fixe. My only suggestion for improvement would be a "START HERE" sign at the salad bar because when it gets crowded, there's no defined line and people get confused and frustrated. Stacking the plates at the salad bar instead of a separate table would help too.
(5)tammika s.
Fogo de chao is a great place if you're looking for delicious food served by hot guys wearing gauchos. The salad bar is terrific...I love the smoked salmon with ciabatta. The warm cheese bread will melt in your mouth. The fried bananas are tasty and the meat is delectable! For a beverage, I usually have a quarana...it's similar to a ginger ale with cherry flavor. Lunch is $26 and dinner is $48.
(4)johanna s.
Three relatives, my boyfriend and I celebrated four birthdays at Fogo De Chao last Friday. I found it to be a wonderful, meatastic experience! All of the previous reviews of this place are correct- the salad bar kicks serious butt (GIANT asparagus, killer fruit salad, smoked salmon, fresh mozzarella), there are 15 kinds of meat coming at you and it costs about $50/person. The food was great, no question. I would honestly feel like I had a good meal if I had just eaten off the salad bar. The meat was very well seasoned and met the picky expectations of my family. My mother is a huge fan of lamb and found theirs to be quite delicious. She made sounds while eating the lamb that I'm still not sure I should have witnessed as her daughter. I turned the tables on her when devouring the bottom roast and the garlic beef. Yum, yum, yum, yum, yum! As I chewed on beef with my eyes closed, I wanted to write an ode to the meat, celebrating it's perfectly seasoned juiciness and unlimited availability. I found the service (beyond the gauchos) to be excellent as well. I had a reservation for 6pm and arrived a bit late...the hostess was nothing but pleasant and seated us at a great table. Our server was extremely attentive and made sure that the meats we wanted more of made it to our table (sometimes he would have us flip our coins to the 'stop' side and would simply send over the meat guy of our choice, so we weren't constantly bombarded by other meats we didn't want). All things supplemental to the meat (sides and beverages) were constantly being refilled. My water glass ever became less than half full. There was never a lack of potatoes to dig into. Some of us had coffee at the end of the meal- not only did I ever run out of coffee, but instead of just filling my cup with more the server would bring a whole new cup. I really dug that. Your plates also get replaced on occasion, which is another nice touch. I enjoyed devouring a series of meat and then taking a breather...when I was ready to dig in again I had a fresh, clean plate waiting for me. Since we were celebrating four birthdays that evening, the server gave us four free deserts at the end of the meal. Sure, everybody said they didn't want any desert, but when I ordered two kinds of cheesecake, a key lime pie and a creme brulee...well, there was barely a desert carcass left over when we got up from the table. The deserts were greatly enjoyed by all of us. I found the cheesecake to be especially tasty and others enjoyed the key lime pie, noting it's lovely tartness. So, there you go. I went and conquered the land o' meat and look forward to another meat coma soon. Great food, great service and definitely worth the cost in my opinion.
(5)Melissa M.
Great food and atmosphere. The staff is extremely friendly and accommodating.
(4)Chris P.
I have been here several times before and have always had a great experience. The salad bar alone is worth the trip and if I recall, you can get a salad bar only meal. For those who have never been here it is an all you can eat Brazilian style steak house restaurant. The selections of food on the salad bar are always fresh and delicious. I am a big fan of the heart of palm and the asparagus as well as cheese selections. If you are vegan you have wide selections. For you carnivores the bowl of bacon strips next to the Cesar Salad will win you over. Now for the main course. The servers walk around with the fresh cooked meats on their spits (looks more like knives to me and I am sure there is a term for these) and all you do is turn over the card on your table, green side up means I want more and red side up means to hold off. The servers are always friendly and offer you the wide selection of their goods. As a friend said, how can you go wrong at a restaurant with hot men serving you meat? My favorite is the Pichanha (Top Sirloin). I like the seasoning but some may prefer the light version which does not have as much garlic and salt rub. Another great specialty is the Lombo (Pork Loin) which is crusted in Parmesan cheese. The best way to enjoy is to try a little of everything and then get seconds on what you really like. Yes, you may call it expensive but it is worth it for a nice evening.
(5)Nate R.
Outstanding meat selections and the sides were also good. The service was excellent. Our waiter and "the sword guys" were attentive and polite. Their wine selection was good and they helped us make some good picks. However, it's not cheap. And beware the man wandering around offering after-dinner drinks. You can rack up a huge, huge bill with this friendly gentleman!
(5)S A.
It's not fast food, but the food comes really fast and often. Amazing Salad Bar. House drink "Caipirinha" tastes like limeaide. made with Cachaça, the most popular distilled alcoholic beverage in Brazil. Picanha is my favorite cut of meat.
(5)D L.
I went here with a friend on a relatively busy weekday for lunch. When we started lunch the room was quite empty, but by the time we finished (with a break in between!) the room was very full and not once did I notice a decline in service. The service here was fantastic as was the food. I would give 5 stars on the salad bar alone - I've never seen such a generous display of artichoke hearts, roasted peppers, or hearts of palm in a salad bar. The meats offered were pretty distinct in flavor and the selection was nice. I like the fact that you can choose if you want your meats well done, medium, etc. You'd think that with all the walking around the waiters have to do that the meats would be cold by the time they get to you, but it's not. In fact, the meats served were perfect. The waiters are also really attentive and kept our table clean with fresh plates. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone who loves meat and really good salad.
(5)Chris W.
Amazing meaty goodness. A Brazilian steakhouse right downtown. The premise is you basically get a few apps served at the table, a fantastic salad bar, then a little stop/go light where you flip the little card over from the red stop light to the green go side a bunch of guys with skewers of mean swarm in like bees on honey. I would typically fast prior to a dinner like this for a couple of days but, the free Jimmy Johns for lunch took me by surprise, I did however cease eating (it was difficult but, I did it). Upon arrival none of us fell for the apps and immediately hit the salad bar where they had alot of fantastic selection. I grabbed a bunch of stuff to try in very tiny portions, just a taste, along with some possible complements to the meaty goodness that was sure to follow. They had everything from fresh mozzarella (fresh the balls) to marinated portobello's, all good stuff. We were offered separate plates for the meaty goodness that was about to be set upon us. The co-worker sitting next to me flipped his card over thinking it was mine and they started swarming. The lamb chops arrived first, fantastic stuff, I put that on my list of skewers to watch for. Having a party of 5 people with the power to have a constant flow of skewers coming to the tables (sometimes we had 3-4 skewers at a time) was great, if the sausage comes around to the guy who flips his card it's a pass if the filet comes by you just show some interest and it's yours ('keep it coming', 'more', 'more', 'more'). Carefully I timed my food consumption so that I could consume several pounds of meat before my brain would signal my stomach it was full, although, I did'nt eat too hastily, I just did'nt take my time about it. I tried almost everything at least once including the sausage (I love sausage and while it's good the beef and lamb was much better). I passed on all other porks and focused on the beef and the lamb chops. The lamb chops only came by twice. They has several varieties of beef all had different types of crust. I am more of a medium rare guy so I typically would end up with several slices of the stuff. Once I hit the 48oz mark or so, I started trying the various apps on the table, they were all good, in fact I had a couple of banana things and some of the other fried foods. Oh, the other thing was iced tea. No filling beer, etc. I think I had 6 glasses or so it would just keep filling itself up. $47.50/head. getting to the restroom was a bit of a challenge due to the maze they were forced to put up due to a couple of large parties, I saw a couple tables aligned with 20+ people so they are able to accommodate fairly large groups. I also took the opportunity to walk through the rear where they had an open dining room, and a partitioned dining room where they were setting up for a private company type event. It was a Wed night and the main dining room was packed solid, our reservations were for 45 minutes prior to but, it was not a problem. I have heard that even with reservations you may have to wait on some of the hotter evenings. I had toyed with the idea of bringing several square feet of aluminum foil and gallon sized zip locks but, forgot to grab them on my way out of the house in the morning. Overall it was an amazing dining experience, one that I will be planning for again ASARP. (as soon as reasonably possible) A meat lovers paradise (especially beef). Go hungry, go often, don't forget the ziplocks (although I am sure this practice is banned I am quite good at it in stealth). If you should get stuck with a dud (don't like the sausage) forget about it and press forward to the next surprise. I flipped my card very few times, my strategy was to wait for the cut of meat I was after to show up next to someone else then wave them over. I would definitely recommend trying a little bit of everything.
(5)Nick M.
4 stars only because I have better in Miami, but IMHO, we are talking about differing degrees of deliciousness (any place I can ingest pounds of meat at one sitting is aces 10 in my book). Take your time, and don't be afraid to ask the staff to send over your favorite cuts.
(4)Jered R.
Great food and even better service I ran across another one of these when I was down in atlanta, when I found out they had one in minnesota I had to visit. it was a great night and the staff worked hard to make it so. Dispite an overflowing line (which we made reservations before hand so were not subject to) The watress made sure everything on the table was neat and cleaned up glasses full and all our sides nice and warm. Best service I have ever had. The food is amazing, I am not one for salad bars so I did not frequent it but it was all tender, perfectly done and so well seasoned that you did not want to add one single thing to the plate Great place and unique
(5)Christopher Q.
I've not been to Brazil and so I admit I'm no authority to really judge but I've tried Brazilian steak joints all over the country. This is one of the best ones around. Also one of the priciest .The quality justified the price and all the meat I tried were good. I would so come here again cos it certainly satisfied my appetite.
(3)Tom L.
We went here for my wife's birthday and had a great time. The salad bar lived up to the other reviewer's comments, and I agree that the filet and house special are the two best meat choices. The prime rib cuts were a bit tough, but the sausage and pork were very good. The lamb was not that great. The staff are extremely fast; once you indicate that you are ready for more meat (by flipping over your table card) you are immediately served by a gaucho. We skipped lunch that day so had plenty of room for the great dinner - I recommend that to others. With 4 of us and a bottle of wine we spent $250, definitely worth it for a special occasion.
(4)Mike C.
WOW!!!! I don't know if I can add much to the glowing reviews already published. The hostess greeted our party of four with a huge smile and a cheery 'welcome to Fogo de Chao. We were seated quickly and one of the army of staff was right there to explain how the meal would be served, and he explained the use of the red/green disc, waiting at his side was a waiter who asked offered us ice water and asked if we wanted drinks. Beers were ordered and a house special for my sister-in-law whose birthday we were celebrating. Off to the salad bar, the appropriate response on first seeing it is OMG! OMG there laid out neatly was smoked salmon, prosciutto, salamis and cheeses cut into wedges, all very much crying out to be eaten, but wait there is more, OMG, again, heart of palm, artichoke hearts, sundried tomatoes in olive oil, mozzarella balls, sliced tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, asparagus spears, and so much more. Not your typical salad bar, not even close, there is even a staff member handing you your salad plate as approach the salad bar. Don't pile your plate, walk around once to see what is there, then carefully select just enough to fully awaken your appetite, remember you will soon be tasting fifteen different meats served on huge skewers, cooked to perfection, OMG, again! Then back to the table, beers poured and inviting. There is cheese breads, not like you have had before eating here, little glossy yellow almost popover looking, and very yummy, but don't eat too much, MEAT awaits! Let the feast continue, here comes the first meat attack, we didn't have to turn our discs to green, an empty salad plate was all that was needed for the chef with the top sirloin to be alerted to our needs, then like a line of taxis cab at a taxi rank, as one chef delivered and left the next appeared, quick where is the red disc! We ate, the meats were as perfectly cooked as I have ever had, rare with juices dripping, hot and oh so tasty, try saying OMG with a mouth filled with rare top side sirloin, it's not easy but you keep wanting to say OMG. I paused and looked around. The tables around us were filled with smiling diners, all saying OMG, or something similar and all smiling, big smiles, the smiles of diners eating one of the best meat feasts ever. I watched the chefs rushing around in their Gaucho pants, tucked into black boots and held up by really neat wide black leather gaucho belts, all smiling. OK pause over back to the meat feast, prime rib, lamb chops, leg of lamb, filet mignon, and chicken legs, there is even sausage which I didn't get to try, next time I will. Oh and the side dishes, garlic mash, crispy fried polenta and fried bananas, all very tasty and a wonderful distraction for taste buds bombarded with meat juices and OMG, I am salivating as I write this! The side dishes must have RFID chips in the dish such that when two servings have been taken a message alerts the server to replace the dish with more! Now we are all pausing again. No this time we are done, approaching meat overload, pleasantly about to burst, and then dessert is mentioned. OK this can't be passed up; flan, key lime pie and papaya cream are ordered. The flan, one of my all time favourite dessert dishes since I had my first one in Spain and lots more in Portugal, was absolutely one of the best I have ever had. The Key lime pie had just the right amount of lime and sweetness and caramel toffee tastes, the papaya cream is subtle, smooth and creamy. WOW! What an experience. Try it, do lunch, the same menu as dinner but less spendy, but do try it.
(5)Jason S.
Welcome to the Meat Parade! I've been to a number of Churrascarias--some chains and some local. Out of the four that I've been to, Fogo De Chao is my favorite. FIrst, I must mention how accomodating they were to a business.dinner that I attended. We had planned a dinner for which we expected about fifty people. We only ended up with about 20. They treated us very fairly and only charged us for those who showed...even though they could have charged us for more. Now back to the food. This place would cause vegetarian nightmares. (although there is an outstanding salad bar, with a huge variety of produce, meats, and cheese) For meat eaters, it's spectacular. As long as you keep the disc at your table turned to green, the waiters will continually bring you a variety of meats. All of the meats are flavorful. I found the beef to be the most consistently good. Some of the pork was a bit on the salty side, and I wasn't a big fan of the linguica (sausage). However, most everything was well-prepared, and the service was very attentive. (They also made a point of asking me if there were any specific meats that I wanted them to bring back around for further enjoyment). If you have a designated driver, or are staying at a hotel within walking distance, enjoy some of their drinks. They have a number of specialy beverages--pricey but enjoyable. And everyone at our table raved about their dessert. I enjoy this genre of restaurant, and believe that Fogo is at the top of the churrascaria game.
(4)Jerome W.
We were on vacation inn Minneapolis and decided to go to Fogo de Chao near the corner of Hennepin and seventh. The restaurant is centrally located in the midst of activity near Target Center and so street parking is non existent but there's lots of parking structures and lots around. We have been to many churrascarias but this one is the best of all. We found the service to be excellent with many cuts of meat (variety of 15) but also the waiter/waitress service was very attentive. So, there is a salad bar included and my faves are the hearts of palm, artichoke hearts and dried tomatos...items not usually available at standard salad bars. Hot dishes brought to each table consist of warm cheese biscuits, very unique, fried polenta and mashed potatoes and fried bananas. When the meat is sliced you can have a choice of rare or well done slices and of course, as much as you please. I liked the filet mignon, but honestly there was nothing I didn't like. One item not tried was the leg of lamb but I can say it looked fantastic. The place was crowded for a lunch, but I would suggest better to go when it's crowded than empty because the food turns over faster. Everyone I saw was having a great time. Also to note, the bathrooms were clean and on the way out there were beautiful chocolates along with my standard matchbook souvenir.
(5)K G.
Most of my friends in Minnesota RAVE about this place so I figured I had to try it while I was in town. When you walk in, the ambience is really nice and they certainly go the extra mile to make it a fancy restaurant. The salad bar is ok, not that special. The meats are ok, most were pretty dry. The filet was the best, of course they only bring that around every 15th trip because it's the most expensive. The servers were nice, except when you ask for something specific (we asked for a certain meat cooked well done and waited at least 20 minutes). The whole green card/red card thing seemed a little tacky for a restaurant like that...I'd almost rather order the few kinds I wanted and have them bring it out on a plate. The polenta was really good - a highlight for me. The mashed potatoes I could have made better at home. But the worst part was the check - good lord, what a ripoff! It's like $60-70 bucks per person. I'd go to Manny's to spend this kind of dough, it's a way better meal.
(2)Nick C.
I went to Fogo de Chao a couple of days ago for a business dinner and enjoyed every minute of it. The atmosphere is great, very lively and energetic, even on a Wednesday. The food is quite good and it is a fun dining experience. This place is the ultimate guy destination if you think about it, all you can eat meat served on swords... what more can you ask for! A couple of warnings, go light at the salad bar... everything is great, but make sure not to fill up before the meat brigade begins and be sure not to wear tight pants, you are going to eat, a lot... sweat pants may even be the best option. . The only real complaint I have is that when you have your poker chip flipped to green the service can get overwhelming to the point that you forget which meat you are enjoying. A couple of my favorites were the garlic pork, top tenderloin, and the chicken... yes the chicken. The wine list is also very nice, and if you search hard enough, you can find some pretty decent deals (relatively speaking). Overall, Fogo de Chao was a very nice place and I wouldn't hesitate to go back, especially for business.
(4)GAIL V.
Yep Its as good as it gets ...I love fogo de chao!! Where can you find this much meat served constantly until you are too full too move?? LOVE IT!!!
(5)Meg L.
For a special outing, or just an outing if you can afford it, was stupendous. Great food, lovely salad bar, great service. The meat the constantly bring to your table is like something that happens in a good dream, and you wake up and go, gee I wish that was real!! For 47.50 pp, it can be! Dont fall for the starchy stuff they bring you as sides. Its good, but not "charred garlicky flavored flesh delivered tableside good". As a girl from Kansas City, where a BBQed side of beef is eaten at any given picnic/tailgate...this was the answer to my prayers.
(5)E V.
A carnivore's dream come true! The meat is outstanding and out of this world!! Fogo's meat selection inclues pork, lamb, chicken, linguisa and of course who could ever forget the BEEF? The beef is seasoned gaucho sytle! (with sea salt)!! I recommend you start with the sirloins, then move to filet mignon, followed by picanha (brazilian specialty cut) and eventually ending with my favorite ancho beef (rib eye). Be very careful!! The salad bar is gorgeous and it has a wide selection of goodies. From experience, I say skip the salad bar and head straight for the gusto. However if you simply can't leave the salad bar alone, let's just say you won't be dissapointed. I've been to Fogo de Chao in Beverly Hills several times (since I live in Los Angeles)!! My wife is from Hastings, MN so I decided to yelp this location especially because of the price difference. As is, Fogo is worth every cent, but this location is over $20 cheaper for dinner then out here on the west coast!!! I would give this location 6 stars!!!! Service 5 stars Cost 6 stars Food 5 stars Ambiance 5 stars
(5)Diane W.
Everybody talks about the meat and the service--both are amazing, so come hungry! And, make reservations! But, I'd like to highlight the salad bar, which was beautiful with fresh choices and their AMAZINGLY wonderful Flan dessert--the best I ever had! My husband got the Flan dessert free for his birthday and they decorated the plate with "Happy Birthday," a candle and an edible flower. Such a nice touch--but, the flavor and mouth feel was so wonderful, they could have served it on a paper plate and I would have enjoyed it as much (my husband let me "taste." I "tasted" a lot!)
(5)DM L.
Great salad bar and attentive staff. Filet and chicken drums were the best, although all the meats were salty. Fun to try but wouldn't go back.
(3)Ra M.
Great and expensive. Only worth it for those who like red meat though... Otherwise it's a waste of money.
(5)Eleanor J.
Went here for a fun ladies' night with my sisters-in-law. Made a reservation 5 days in advance, online. We received several confirmation emails about the reservation via email, but when we showed up on-time, they seemed to be having trouble finding it. So 30 minutes after our reservation we were finally seated. Our server recommended the Caipirinha, which was so boozy it was undrinkable. I've had them frequently in the past, and they are typically refreshing, not chewy. The salad bar was disappointing- not as many salads as I remember, and the cheesy potatoes weren't cheesy at all. Mostly a flour roux-goo. The meats were tasty, but service was slow and repetitive. Never did see the bacon-wrapped filet, which was disappointing. At the end of the meal, our server asked us if we were celebrating an event (the second visit she made to our table all evening), a fact which was clearly denoted on our reservation. So I ruined the birthday surprise for my sister-in-law, and she got us a papaya cream. It was the worst thing - tasted like melted vanilla ice cream and gooey heavy cream. Left a nasty film in my mouth. Bummer. I was way disappointed. The extra star was for despite all of these lapses, my sister-in-law had a blast and she didn't seem to notice the issues.
(2)Jack F.
As far as Brazilian barbecue goes, this is great! I was there for lunch which was $35 for a walking meat buffet. The interior of the restaurant is pretty amazing, nice vaulted ceiling surrounding their 'salad bar', I put that in quotes because it consisted of prosciutto, smoked salmon, salami, variety of fresh cheese, and of course many types of salads. If you're a VEGETARIAN don't fret, you can get just the salad bar as an option! **TIP** don't get all crazy and fill up on that salad! Also make sure you dominate their refillable limeade. Very tasty with the perfect acidity to keep your appetite going! Alas the meat! If you haven't been there they have a disc you can flip with red on one side and green on the other. Red means stop and green means go, and when its green you will be swarmed from all side with Pit master, for lack of a better term, with saber's of meat that some may offer perfect temperature meat from medium rare to well done. There are a multitude of choices from different types; lamb, beef, pork, chicken and different cuts from sirloins to tenderloins. My favorite was the lamb chops, so tender and perfectly seasoned. My least favorite was the garlic pork, it was crusted in parmesan cheese as well. They also have complimentary sides that are refillable, our table had these delicate cheese filled popovers, mash potatoes, and fried polenta (looks like Mc'D french toast sticks) They were all very tasty I especially liked the popovers. Final Word: I would go back on special occasions, if i were a meat fanatic I would give it 5 stars, but it was a bit too much meat ratio for my taste. So I would say a high 4! #meatsweats, #meatcoma #GreenAllDay
(4)Isaac A.
Come hungry! The salad bar is a necessary trip, included in the dinner price. The drinks are pricy but they're strong and very good! My waitstaff have always been very friendly and accommodating! The cheesecake is actual New York cheesecake-a big slice! My first time here, I arrived after a Twins' game wearing only my Johan Santana shirt and jeans. You quickly realize the dress code! That waiter did not mind and we even talked about the various Twins' players that come here. Later in the night, my waiter told me Francisco Liriano was there, two tables behind me! It was suggested I go over and say hi, which I did. I got my picture taken and was star struck! I couldn't eat after that but the experience was amazing!
(5)Jake M.
I went here with the wife. Heard a lot of good things from people we know. And obviously yelp has good things to say about the place as well. So since we were able to get rid of the kids for the night we thought we would try this place out. The service was great. This place is all about service too as the meat is ferried around from table to table for people wanting more. We never ran out of food at any point. The times we had a special request they were prompt to get what we asked for. The salad bar was pretty good. I'm sure it's actually excellent and more me not being used to the types of salads they had to offer. But I did find a couple things I liked as the selection is vast. As for the meat it was good. The meat is not crazy seasoned and there's no sauces. So if you like salted grilled meats great place to eat. For me I like more flavor added to the meat when I eat it. I think it's really personal preference on how you enjoy your food. For me it was fun to go, try and eat for the night. But I doubt I'll be going back. Please be aware this place is expensive! I knew that going in, $50 per person with no drinks or deserts or extras. Plus you'll be leaving a tip. I'm only bringing it up as the table next to us left no tip and this place is very service driven. So go give it a try! It deserves at least that much. And maybe you'll like how they cook and serve their meats more than I and decide to go back!
(4)Lisa B.
I've been wanting to dine here for a couple of years. We could never get reservations when we wanted to go. Maybe I built it up too much in my mind, but it was sub-par. I've had better steak. We each had two cocktails and then the standard meal. We had a creme brulee at the end of the night. The food was okay, but not great. Definitely NOT worth the $230.00 my bill ended up being. If I were going to spend that much money on a meal I expect something a lot better. It also has a buffet atmosphere. A lot of kids and big families there. I expected a quieter and nicer dining experience. I dressed up for the occasion and it was not necessary. Don't quite understand the hype. Probably won't eat here again. I've had better dining experiences for a lot less.
(2)Shannon H.
We love Fogo. Like to eat here whenever we can. Servers are helpful, polite, awesome. Have always gone with a reservation and have always been seated right away. The meat is delicious! Makes me wanna go right now.
(5)Yuqing L.
Great self-served salad bar. Not a good deal for people who cannot eat that much.... won't go there if I need to pay by myself. :P Good to treat male friends who eat a lot. LOL
(4)Garry W.
5th annual Fathers Day visit to Fogo, love that they give you a gift card for a free meal on a return visit - even though it expires in less than 60 days. Food as always is fabulous and the service exceptional. Love the salad bar, though easy to fill up and not enjoy as much meat since you are too full. Disappointed that the much-advertised shrimp, either grilled or chilled, is not included on the $49,99 pricetag - in fact, it's a very expensive add-on. With 2 kids in tow, it is just too expensive. They need to come up with some shrimp on the skewer that is included, even if it's only one or two pieces. Price tag for 3 with drinks and tip was well over $200.00. Once a year special occasion is fine, but prohibitive any other time. Otherwise a great meal, lots of fun, good memories. One star deducted for misleading shrimp advertising and high prices.
(4)Phillip Y.
Well, I came here with my girlfriend's family to check it out during restaurant week. So, it was about $30 or half-off regular price. I would have to say that everything was wonderful and also a blur since my stomach was full. There are lots to decide from beef, lamb, chicken, etc. However, you have to be very selective or will end up eating alot- missing out on other higher premium meats. I thought the salad bar was very good but also really different. You get a circular card to place next to your plate to turn GREEN for more meat or RED for no meat. Get use to turning RED when you see alot of meat being recycled. I remembered that alot of people waited for lamb before turning GREEN. So, be sure to have a plan and stick to it:)
(4)Andrew T.
Alright, I had anticipated going to this place quite a bit. Its a pretty nifty place. You flip a disc over for a server to come and serve you the meats. The rest of the meal consists of a salad bar with tons of choices.The vegetables and stuff were really fresh. I had mushrooms, jalepenos, potato salad, apple salad, smoked salmon, parmesean cheese, some really good kind of greens, black beans, pico de gaillo and a few more things for my salad. Oh plus those kalamata olives - excelente. Theres also some bread given throughout the meal which was warm and soft - really good. They also give you pollenta, fried bananas and one other fried potato type thing which were all good too. The meats I had were filet mignon, ribeye, chicken, sausage, pork ribs, and lamb chops. The steaks were pretty much average. Cooked about medium and seasoned with salt and pepper. The ribs were good, but not rubbed with anything special. The chicken was so so. The lamb chops were pretty tough but not terrible. The sausage however was great; my favorite of the meats. The wine I had, which was a cabernet sauvignon, was absolutely wonderful. I wish I knew where it was made. Now for the biggest downer of the night: The prices. Boy ohh boy at 50 bucks a plate plus drinks and tip, I was not particularly blown away by the meal. I mean the service is great, the whole experience was fun and different, but man.... the price is up there for a solid 4 out of 5 in my opinion. Another minus was the lack of sauces with the meats. I will go back someday when I have the funds because of its uniqueness and that wine I got. But I will not make a habit of dining here.
(4)Yan Z.
Pretty good food but their chef can't really handle lamb, because their lamb always has the bad and heavy mutton odour or that's the Brazilian BBQ should be(maybe). Overall, this restaurant is a very fancy and good tasty.
(4)Meghann F.
Came here last night with some out of town visitors. It was decent food, I guess maybe it's not really for me - since I don't love buffets and I usually go light on the meat. The salad bar was good, but from everything I have heard about the amazing-ness of it, i expected it to blow me out of the water. Definitely could have just made a meal out of this! The meat was good, whenever you turned your coaster to green they were on you like vultures!! I ate a lot of lamb, and beef and tried the chicken and sausage, some was really good, some was meh. The wine list was extensive, and expensive! Dessert was good but also overpriced - $10 for pretty much anything - oh but $8 for a scoop of ice cream. I left more than uncomfortably full. Don't get me wrong, it was good - but to me was overpriced. You can get an amazing meal for less at any of the non chain restaurants down the street.
(3)Maria Y.
Salad bar was good. Beef was good...wish I had steak sauce. Lamb chops, ribs, sausage and meatballs were my favorite. The pork was really dry. The waiters and servers were really nice. Can't wait to go again.
(4)Ashley P.
Fantastic experience! For my husband's 30th birthday we gathered a group of family ages 29-98 for a fantastic celebration. Aside from the phenomenal non-stop selections of beef, poultry, pork, lamb, sides and salads the service alone was worth a return. We certainly appreciated the birthday surprises but adored the special attention our soon-to-be 99-year old aunt received from all levels of staff, thank you all!
(5)Cindy D.
I usually come here during special occasions like birthdays, celebrations and of course RESTAURANT WEEK! Imagine coming here all the time spending money on these crazy meat!-I would be homeless for a year. Here is a little tip about this place, the minute you find out there is a restaurant week....MAKE RESERVATION QUICK! Seriously do that! (Regular price is $50 but $30 for RW) This place is insane crazy packed during that time, but their service is amazingly fast! Try to make reservation around 6 or 7 so you wouldn't be full eating too much meat. I would suggest take a day off the next day if you need to or go work out:) I would not suggest to get drinks here since they are super expensive, just pre-drinks at home or go to a bar. Their salad bar is soooooo goooooood! Their meat are so tender and juicy that you don't need sauce at all but since I am a sauce person, I usually ask for all of them. You will definitely see me here soon. Since it is located in downtown Minneapolis, parking is kind of hard to find meter parking. They do valet for $10 but there is a Park and Shop that is a block away from the restaurant, after 4 or 5pm it is $5. We came here last night and there was a guy sitting next to us brought his own set of knives attached to his waist.. thought that was pretty awesome! Next time I'm bringing my own asian spicy sauce! Just want to say ENJOY!
(4)Burkhard T.
Best lunch ever Any kind of meat any time and it all tastes great. The meat is we flavored and they cook if to order. The service is awesome. They are friendly, spot on and very attentive. Prices are high but we'll worth it.
(5)Zachary H.
You get what you pay for and the experience here is second to none. With a full bar, endless food and a super friendly and professional staff, a stop at Fogo de Chao will be a night to remember. Remember to save plenty of room for all the meat that they slice right at your table!!!!
(5)Mary S.
Went here on a Monday night, this is the kind of place you should go to on a weekend when it's busy, tons of food sitting out dried up because it's not getting eaten, paid 50 dollars a person and ate half of what we should have, you can't eat fried up smoked salmon and deli meats, the cheeses were great, one of the salads was good, then we got rice and scalloped potatoes, those were very good, guys come around with all types of meats on skewers and slice onto your plate, tasty, only two things O thought were not right, one is that there should be some sort of seafood option included, the second is that there should be a dessert bar for this price,
(3)Jason S.
I don't care what everyone else who gave it less then 5 stars say and chances are they are the worst kind of customers. Yes there are bad customers. If you are needy, often upset (like all the time), and when you go out to eat nothing is ever perfect for you. Do yourself a favor and stay inside your house and never go out again, and if you so go out never speak because you are a terrible person. This place has top of the line service and if you knew how much a cut of filet mignon is then you would never complains about the prices again. This place deserves 5 stars just for the limeade they serve, unbelievably good.
(5)Lina H.
I have a love and hate relationship for FOGO! I love the place because the red sangria is so refreshingly yummy! just the way i want it prepared for me.. with freshly diced fruits and made with a high quality branded wine. The meat servers are always so tentative to my needs. If they didnt serve me the cut i want, they go out of their way to go get it! "House special please!".. the cheese balls are to die for.. i have no idea how many calories are in that thing but they are so yummy that i cant help pooping at least 4 of them before the actually dinner... all you can eat meat, salad bar and cheese bars... perfect for a carnivore such as myself. i hate this place because i end up over eating every single time... causing me to hit the gym double the amount i already do. Fogo is great for dates, special occasions and if you're super hungry. Dinner is around $50 a person Lunch is around $28 a person
(5)Keith S.
Ya know...I think my favorite thing that I had here was the caipirinha. It was just that good and exposed me to cachaca which I now stock in my fridge. I always heard about how amazing the salad bar was but you never touched it because the meat was so good. I'm not sure I agree. The salad bar was good, but really I was expecting more from an options standpoint. Quality was there, just not the quantity. Meat. You already know. It was all exceptional, however I wish they were a little more subtle with how they served it. It seemed to be feast or famine. You'd have nothing for a little bit and then have 8 guys slinging knives around you trying to fill your plate. I'd like it to be a little more relaxed. Service was great though, very attentive and they did well in filling a few requests from our large party for certain cuts to return to the table. I would NOT come here on an early date. Something I realized as I saw a few couples walking in/out. This place is a glorified (legitimately) buffet. You don't take dates to buffets. Need to have that relationship comfortable before you stuff your face this much.
(4)Joy H.
If I'm ever a vegan, I think I'd convert right back to omnomnomnomnivorism when I go to Fogo de Chao. With 17 different cuts of meat and scrumptious brazilian side dishes, this is one meaty paradise to mindlessly indulge your delights in. I tried to starve myself throughout the day in preparation of the feast that was to come. And yet, as ravenous as I was, I could only eat about 2 plates of food before waving a white flag (or flip up the red tag). The whole ordeal was just too much. Nevermind the 17 varieties of meat--I didn't even get to try all the dishes that the salad bar has to offer. Since the event was for a friend's bday, I also brought in a cake for the end-of-the-meal festivity. Needless to say, none of us could eat a whole slice by the time it was brought out. And, yes, this was even after the unbuttoning of pants/loosening of belts was accounted for. The food was THAT good that we couldn't stop ourselves from filling it into all the void spaces of our stomachs. Cardiac arrest? Worth it. I never felt so barbarian as I did when I was there. This is definitely a place you should only try once in a blue moon. I wouldn't be returning there any time soon, but after losing the 5 lbs I probably gained from when I was last there, I'd heavily take it into consideration.
(4)Jennie S.
Maybe this place is worth it if you really like this sort of thing. Our bill was $105 for two people and I only had the salad bar!
(2)Claudia G.
I gave this place five stars but now I'm changing it to four. Why? Well the service is still great. (Minus the fact that some of the guys giving out the meat are kinda rude) the servers are attentive and the managers are always asking how you are doing which I like. However some of the cheese bread they bring out is kind of cold. Some are fresh out the oven and some taste like it's been sitting out for while. Also some of the meat tastes really dry and some come out too burnt. The lamb chops especially. The medium well is too bloody for my taste but the well done is too dry and burnt. Is there no happy middle? Anyways other that that I still like Fogo and hope to continue to go there.
(4)Paige V.
Reservations at 8 pm on a Friday night. Cold bar was disappointing, expected more selection. Cheap cuts of meats kept making appearances after we made several, several requests for different cuts..asked by multiple waiters. Lamb & beef ribs showed up almost an hour after the 3rd request and was given the burnt ends & shamefully small amounts. We were never asked nor did the requested meats reappear again. Waiter disappeared for most of the time we were there. We did receive complimentary desserts for the birthday girls, but waited over 30 minutes. I would've have been happy to pay this price if the waiter was better, and annoyed I had to pay over $60 for tips for 6 people. If it was based on 'our' waiter alone, I'd ask him to pay for my dinner, but I appreciate the attentive gentlemen that stopped by with the skewers. Will not go back. Not worth it when our requests were neglected.
(2)Cool Nutz X.
Ribs were a bit dry. Everything else was good. No roasted pineapple though, which was a staple item for me at any Brazilian Steakhouse. Staff was on point and the manager was very attentive. Always a good stop and great dining. Sodas are per bottle and not free refills.
(3)ray t.
Classic all-you-can eat Brazilian steakhouse....a great value if you can arrive hungry and eat your share of meat. Meat - I tried all the meat offerings and they were delicious. None of it was dry, which can happen at these kinds of places when the meat doesn't turnover quickly and dries out & cools down as it's being circulated around the restaurant. Salad & sides bar - Huge selection...fresh veggies, cheeses, seafood, carbs, etc. Unfortunately, all the seafood selections were served cold, which didn't go well with the fact that it was less than 10 degrees F outside. :) Service - The place was packed, which caused the servers to run out of meat frequently, which meant a little wait for some selections of meat, but that's understandable. They were attentive...keeping out table bussed and glasses filled. Atmosphere - Even though it was packed, there were no lines at the salad/sides bar and it was still easy to hold a conversation at our table.
(4)Jane V.
This is an ok restaurant. It's not as good as everyone says though. If you love meat, it sounds like a great concept, right? Problem is that protein fills you up fast and you won't be able to enjoy anything else, so you're really only eating less than $10 worth of meats/food for $60. I rather pay $60 for a really good steak and meal than $60 for a variety of ok meats. Salad bar wasn't that great either. The best thing I remember about this place was their papaya dessert.
(3)Libby L.
The meat is good, but not like amazing. I think the salad bar doesn't have that much variety, but the quality is very good. I like this place, but I probably wouldn't go more than once a year.
(4)mike r.
I love Fogo de Chao. I have never had a bad meal or time here. Make sure you go with a big appetite because you are going to be eating a lot. If you are someone who doesn't eat a lot, this might not be the place for you. The salad bar is great but be carefull because it is very easy to eat too much at the salad bar. There are far too many amazing types of food to choose from on the salad bar alone. When the meat starts making its way around to your table make sure to try it all. I dont know how they do it but every type of meat is just amazing. Always flavourful and juicy. The 'per plate" price may seem steep to some people but really i think that they could easily charge more for what you get. There is a cheaper option during the day but I personally have always been there for dinner. The deserts are also just as good as everything else there. If you want to go there and think it's too pricey, don't order any pop or alcohol. You will save a lot my not doing so. Personally, I say keep the red wine flowing with your meal here.
(5)