While the meat was overall tasty and the salad bar was fun, I just wasn't as impressed with the food as I thought I'd be. I've been to another Brazilian Steakhouse before in Fresno, CA of all places, and the meat there was better in my opinion. I prefer my meat rare to medium rare, and quite a few of the options were overcooked. The Papaya Cream dessert however was amazing, and the wait staff was friendly and attentive as well.
(3)
Modhar K.
better plan a half-marathon the day after you visit to get back in shape...meat is superb and they have descent selection of malbecs ... Salad bar is good as well
(5)
Mo C.
Just a fantastic experience! I love Brazilian Steakhouses. The price tag is worth the splurge every now and then. This place is great for groups. Recently, I organized a dinner for MeetIn.org and asked everyone to meet in the bar area. The bartender was a riot and we had a great time chatting with him over happy hour cocktails. He even recommended a superb wine for us to enjoy with our meal. Delish! Tip: They have free valet parking. You may have to circle the block a couple times to get to it (the entrance is not intuitive). Just remember that the valet guys are working for tips, so give 'em some cash when you pick up your car.
(5)
julie n.
It's 5280 restaurant week...and first time at Fogo. Not impressed. But it might it restaurant week could be to blame. Pineapple is $8 extra and the meats were good but only a few choices. Salad bar mirrored all the other Brazilian steak houses. I'm going to Rodizio's tonight. Stay tuned. They do have free valet which is a plus.
(3)
Claudia B.
What can I say? I'm a Brazilian native who absolutely loves Brazilian food. I've had the "real thing" in Brazil my whole life. The street side neighborhood inspired churrascarias and the biggest and most popular Churrascaria restaurant in Rio. I first went to one of these restaurants in Dallas (their first US location) and fell in love. I've been to the Denver location twice and they don't dissapoint! Here's how I judge a place who claims to serve Brazilian food: their Pao de Queijo (it baffles me if a "Brazilian" restaurant doesn't even serve them) and their Caipirinhas. Both of these are the best of the best that I've had in the US (outside from my own house, of course). The meats are perfectly cooked and seasoned and you are never short of food. If you like a particular cut of meat, just tell the first gaucho (that's the man with the large sword with hunks of meat on it) that comes to your table. Next thing you know they will be there over and over again. I tend to primarily eat the Picanha (Top Sirloin) and the Fraudinha (Bottom Sirloin). I'll have a little of the Filet Mignon and a little of the Saugage. If you want to eat these meats the real Brazilian way, ask the waitor to bring you "farofa" with your rice and beans. They won't bring it unless you ask for it. Mix a little bit of it with your rice and beans...but also "dip" your meats into this grainy yumminess so you get a little layer of it stuck to the juicyness of your steak. AWEEEESOOOOOME. The staff is always so attentive and nice and wonderful. We even had one of their customer relationship representatives talk to us last time. I was telling him about how Fogo is the best, most authentic Brazilian BBQ place in the US and how I've been going for over 10 years (starting in Dallas) and we ended up getting a hard cover book from the place detailing their history with tons of great photos and even their Pao de Queijo recipe!! It's a bit different than mine so I'll have to try it at home and see how it compares to the one at the restaurant ;). You will NOT be dissapointed but remember to starve a bit during lunch. Seriously, do not even eath lunch if you are able to do that. You will need the room :).
(5)
Arthur I.
As a Brazilian, I might know a little bit about Brazilian food: Fogo de Chão is the prime place for Rodizio in town. It is not the true and perfect Brazilian experience, but as the 5-star suggests, "As good as it gets". The meat comes how it is supposed to come, well grilled, and salted. If you ask for other goodies and meet, they usually have (One of those things you will only know if you know the culture), such as Cow Ribs, Farofa, and so forth. It is pricey, and dinner can be expensive. I have gone for lunch and for dinner there, and the experience is very similar. The manager comes to the table to ask how is it working for everybody, very polite, and usually a Brazilian with great experience in the business. I would have to try Texas de Brazil in Denver, but they pretty much match in Chicago. Rodizio Grill is the lower level RodÃzio in town.
(5)
Cheryl L.
If I could give them 3.5 stars I would but I can't so I'm rounding down. The service would get 4 to 5 starts. I wasn't exactly sure who our waiter was but it didn't seem to matter - it was like we had 8 of them. Each person clearing my plate, filling my water glass, seeing if there was any special meat that I was looking for and bringing that guy to my table. We had reservations and were seated right away. Each and every staff member was friendly and oh so helpful. We wanted to come in while they were still doing their special summer pricing of $38 per person (this is discounted from their reg price of $44.50) so if you can try a new place and save some cash it's always a good thing. They explain how everything works and then you head over to the salad bar or you do have the option to drive right into the meat portion of the night. I was so very disappointed in the salad bar. There was actually a very high expectation when we first walked by and there was a huge bowl of bacon right there staring you in the face. Upon gathering my veggies and salad items I headed back to the table and began to dig in. What I found was that nothing really had any flavor. The mozzarella cheese seemed to be fresh (perhaps even homemade but it was tasteless), the asparagus was competent and most of the other things I left on the plate. It was not very memorable and at this point I'm not even sure what else I had. I swear that there must be some sort of beacon with the red/green coaster that they give you. Once I turned mine to green there were about 8 guys right behind me asking me what kind of meat that I wanted. It sort of reminded me of when you go to the coy ponds and you have all those fish and you throw in a piece of popcorn or bread and about 10,000 of them try to eat the same thing. The meat kept coming and coming and coming until I felt that I was going to explode. Some were more successful than others. I really like the lamb chops and the garlic crusted steak. I thought the ribeye and the filet were a little lack-luster for me. I expect a nice bold flavor from Ribeye and this one didn't seem to have any. I didn't like the Parmesan crusted pork (I think it was pork - Oh no I'm not say that I'm not sure if they were using pork it's just that I can't remember exactly what meat it was) at all. I thought that the cheese bread balls were okay and the polenta sticks were wonderful. The during the meal they brought banana and mashed potatoes. The bananas were okay but I'm not a huge fan of cooked bananas unless it is in bananas foster. My husband tasted the mashed potatoes and says to me "Why are they using spuds from a box?" They were just not good. Since we had a party of 7 they added 18% gratuity to the bill. So while I'm all for them adding this to ensure that the servers aren't stiffed they did miss out on a bigger tip. if the restaurant makes this decision for me I don't go back and correct them. So all-in-all I don't know that I'll be back to Fogo.
(3)
Sydney G.
This place had such great food! I enjoyed the Brazilian steakhouse type service where they come around to the table. My favorite was the Parmesan crusted pork, but I didn't dislike any of the different options. They also had yummy side dishes like mashed potatoes and polenta. The salad bar was nice as well. I would recommend their lemonade and their very Limey margaritas!
(5)
Greg O.
Food: This week, I have eaten at both the Rodizio Grill and Fogo de Chao--both Brazilian restaurants--and I found the Rodizio to have better-tasting meats. Fogo did have a better salad bar, and I enjoyed the meats and cheeses it had to offer. Service: The service was perfect. The entire staff seemed responsible for each table, and I never had to wait for anything. I also liked how one person asked me if there was a type of meat I wanted, rather than me waiting for the usual rotation. Ambiance: This place is obviously more classy than Rodizios, and I would suggest wearing a decent outfit in order to fit in. The tables were also less crowded, which I appreciated. Cleanliness: There were no complaints about cleanliness. Price: The price is higher than Rodizios by about $10. Overall: While the price is higher and the meats weren't as flavorful, I did like this restaurant, and I would eat here again. I would probably wait for a special occasion though.
(4)
Sara C.
Ever since I've been here for Brazilian Churrascaria I have fallen in love. Not like I wasn't in love before but this place is just the best one I've been out of all the ones I've been to. I think it's because of the service and the quality of the food. The service really tops it off though. Since I've been to Fogo de Chao I have never gone to another Texas De Brazil or Rodizio's. Maybe because I like getting my chair pushed in when I sit and they do that just about every time! The quality of the salad bar, when you get a chance to go to the salad bar, is amazing. I love all the cold dishes with the smoked salmon, grilled artichoke hearts, asparagus...etc. I say when you get a chance because a lot of the people won't eat that to fill them up so they can pack in more meat during the trip. I really like their chewy bread and their fried bread that looks like french fries. (Tasted like fried corn bread sticks.) Everything here is amazing, I accidentally tried the lamb and it wasn't until second bite that I realized it was lamb. It was not that gamey, I'm just not a lamb eater. I loved all the steak selections and even their chicken is tasty. Try at least one bite of everything! The lunch buffet would run you $25 before drinks/tax/tip and dinner is $45, which is fairly consistent across the churrascaria business. You have to have their capirinha, it's about $10 for the drink but they make it strong. Really tasty stuff! If it wasn't for celebrating our 2nd anniversary, I probably wouldn't have stuffed myself so full. Wait a minute, who am I kidding? Of course I would have!
(5)
D G.
Amazing dinner tonight. The servers Nicholas and Kristin we re fabulous. Shawn the manager was really great, bringing us special cuts right from the fire. The Meat Fell Apart With Our Forks. You need to come here. Seriously.
(5)
Jacquie G.
This place is absolutely amazing. Come here if you want to be treated like royalty. Our waiter Tyler knew exactly what we wanted our first time here. The drinks are tasty and the food is drool worthy. I felt like I'd gone to brazil! I'll be coming back for sure!
(5)
Brian A.
MEAT!!! Lot's and LOT's of meat! And it's on sticks!! Meat on sticks... a man's paradise! My wife and I went here for our anniversary dinner, which they offered us a free desert however we were WAY too full to take them up on it. Also, we had reservations on a Saturday night, and they were not required... I was a bit surprised by this. The salad bar was good, but if you go there for the salad bar... you need to have your head examined. The meat is really the star of the show, and the staff will be there in a heart beat to give you the meat you crave. If you want something, let them know and ANY of the staff will make sure you get it. Really, that is awesome service. All of the sides were also good, but really, it's about the meat. So try not to eat the whole day before coming, as it's not a cheap meal, but you do get what you pay for. With tax, tip (20%), and drinks our bill was $135 for 2 people.
(4)
Edward S.
I loved this place. The salad bar is fantastic and the gentlemen who bring the meat to the table are expert with the presentation. I will go back again and again. I do recommend that you fast the day that you dine here. You will want to try the huge variety of delicious meats as well as a spectacularly stocked salad bar.
(5)
Becky C.
Let me start by saying that all you can eat is not generally a good thing for me. I eat very small portions so I never get my money's worth. However, in the past buffets have let me take what was left on my plate home with me. Not here. And not only would they not let me take things home the host was very snide about it. "With all due respect ma'am maybe you should put less on your plate". I assure you I only had a normal restaurant portion on my plate. Absolutely ridiculous that for $45 I don't come home with leftovers. One of my joys of eating out is the to go box I always take home. Even when I go to breakfast I take something home because I can never eat the portions in a restaurant and I hate wasting food. I was told "if we let everyone take food to go we'd have to close our doors". I don't believe that at all...they did not seem to be hurting for business and at $45 I think they could be a little more accommodating. I recently found out that rodizio does let you take food to go and for less money....next time friends want to go for Brazilian steakhouse that's where we'll go Also drink service was terrible. I had to ask twice for my first cocktail and I was never offered a second cocktail. I only went there because friends wanted to go. The food isn't that great for the price, especially if I have to stuff myself to the point of discomfort to get my money's worth.
(1)
Rob C.
What can I say great service, beautiful salad bar but the succulent meat feast is a dream from ribs to filet mignon chicken, pork, steak, lamb & different kinds of sausages. the bake bananas are yummy as well as the fried polenta & mashed potatoes. dont forget the extremely nice bar cart have a $225.00 cognac totally worth it & for desert have the papaya cream it helps you to digest all the protein you consumed. you can dress up or casually Denver is just that cool but make reservations it stays busy even during weeknights I hope to see you there!
(5)
Ron C.
F is as in Fogo and Fraud - as far as Restaurant Week is concerned. If you are going to showcase your restaurant to occasional regular diners and those who may be trying you for the first time, it is imperative to offer a full meats menu. Had I realized you eliminated filet mignon, ribeye and beef ribs from your offerings for restaurant week, I may have gone elsewhere. Or done lunch at your establishment during the week to get the full meats dining experience. So basically for the $30 Restaurant Week price, you deleted at least $10 in meats from your regular menu charge....sneaky. At least offer the missing meats as a separate add-on, again though if you did that then people would realize your dishonesty in the first place. The dining experience itself was decent as usual, great salad bar, pretty good meats of those that were served (if you like constant top sirloin). Service was a bit uneven, the meat servers get in your face and if you are out to the salad bar, they almost knock you over (and glare at you). My server was generally efficient, but it took almost 30 minutes to provide a final bill and receipt so that I could leave (missed an hourly bus as result-asked if he could get it fairly quick). Was completely unacceptable and reflected in his final tip (I planned on tipping 25% & barely did 15%). All in all this was a decent meal but given the dishonesty and new vibe of this restaurant, it will be way down the list of places I consider for a special night out or for a work event in the future. It pains me to say this, as I have done both of the latter in the past with great results. Just a different restaurant now than in the past based on my observations.
(2)
Trigger S.
Bravo! From start to finish we received nothing but an awesome experience our waiter a tall chizzled Hispanic boy named Taylor or Tyler (too busy staring at the food) made sure we were 100% taken care as did his helper and other staff members of fogo. The only thing better than the service was the quality of meats they had. The men carrying the cuts were on point and the second you flipped your card over they were there. It was almost as if they were proud that of their product and wanted nothing more than to see your face as you put their meat inside your mouth. One of the best restaurant experiences I've ever had by far. Oh and the blonde manager is almost enough reason to come back. Love you guys.
(5)
P K.
I honestly do not know why this place is so highly rated. I went here last night with another family and was absolutely shocked when we got the bill. Yes we had a few bottles of wine and the meats were flavorful (mashed potatoes and pineapple were the only sides offered to us). I also knew about the fixed pricing in advance. I found the environment pretty crazed and waiting for select cuts of meats was somewhat annoying. Attentive service was spotty. The salad bar was very average. If I want a good steak with a better environment and likely cheaper, I will head to del friscos or Elways.
(3)
Adrian H.
Headline: Meat Lovers in Paradise So, this is a Brazilian steakhouse. You pretty much know what to expect. Start with parking - there is a parking garage on Wynkoop right next to the Smiling Moose Deli that has free valet parking with validation, which they do as soon as you walk in the door. There is a bar while you wait for your table, and everything is white linen cloth service. I wish there had been some music in the background, but it didn't really need it in this open space. On to the food. Firstly, you have a "salad" bar, which is anything but ordinary. Yes, you have salad stuff, but you also have smoked salmon, a variety of cold cut meats and cheeses, and a number of things you won't find on your average salad bar. You could easily just eat the salad bar and be happy. But that isn't why you come to a Brazilian steakhouse. You come for the second course. Meat, meat and more meat, with some excellent sides thrown in. Fried bananas, which were soft and didn't actually taste of much; Fried Polenta liberally sprinkled with grated parmesan - a crunchy exterior and soft middle made to look like a fry, but you needed the parmesan; cheese bread - by far the best of the sides was nicely cheesy. What about the meat? Well, lamb T-bones and Leg; various cuts of steak; pork and beef ribs, and Linguica. All were perfectly cooked - just ask how well done you want it and it shall be so. Wine - they have it. We ordered a Terrazas Reserva Malbec, which was nicely full bodied. However, watch for the extra pours - malbecs like to breath and the servers like to top it off. If this was such an excellent meal, why only four stars? Service. We had to ask four times to get linguica brought to the table, and after our plates were cleared away, it took an eternity to get the check, even though we asked for the dessert menu. This kind of spoiled the whole experience, and brought it down a notch. I highly recommend using the OpenTable booking - it was on the quieter side when we started, but by 6:30pm, the place was hopping.
(4)
Victor B.
Being someone who simply loves my red meat entrees, Fogo is simply paradise. Eating here for lunch is even better as the price for all of that quality of food simply can not be beat! My girl and I decided to come here as we had never been together and since we are both Fogo fans and both being a bit on the carnivorous side (but also thrifty at times....) we decided that restaurant week would be the time to come back here and imbibe in some delicious meaty heaven. We got here at around 1:30 which also fit in the lunch time frame and the meal was even less expensive than had we dined here for the restaurant week price. If you've never been to a Brazilian steakhouse you must visit and soon. Gauchos come around to your table with various meats on sword like skewers and serve such succulent cuts cooked to exactly how you like it. Flip your coin over to red when you want to stop otherwise prepare for meat overload. The salad bar has excellent accompaniments to the meat and some delicious gourmet options by itself. The liquor cart that travels around the restaurant is also very cool and upscale and contains such luxuries as Johnnie Walker Blue and other vintages of booze that are older than I am. So if you're not a vegetarian or a vegan and would like to enter a carnivorously heavenly state.....visit Fogo (but come by for lunch so you don't have to pay as much :-))
(5)
Scheri T.
I celebrated my wedding anniversary here and it did not disappoint. We arrived early and they offered to seat us, but we chose to hang out at the bar instead. Once seated we were greeted with an eager waiter who introduced us to the proper technique for ordering meat. We have been to Brazilian Steakhouses before, however the ambience at Fogo de Chao was surprisingly warm. The interior is decorated in dark wood and the tables covered in long white tablecloths. Our table was nestled along the wine cellar. Talk about romantic! We were careful not to fill up on the salad bar goodies, but it was a struggle. The salads were fresh and there were a lot of greens to choose from. They even had a cheese and meat section which we utilized after our meal and before dessert. They do not offer any seafood choices however the meat selections were wonderful. My husband & I are red meat eaters and we were NOT disappointed. The filet melts in your mouth and the prime cuts of ribeye and sirloin were delicious! They provide you with a description of all the meats they serve so you can choose what you want ahead of time. We shared the flan for dessert and it was a great way to end the meal. They gave us the dessert free to celebrate our anniversary. They even decorated the plate with the words "Happy Anniversary." Overall it was a fantastic experience. I would definitely go there again for a special occasion.
(5)
Melissa D.
Man, is this place good. The salad bar is fantastic. I could get full off that alone! They have a bunch of different options and you can get as much as you want. Then, the waiters come by each table with different meats and you choose which ones you want. It's all awesome. But, oh my god, the best part: their cheese rolls! So good. They have a basket of them on each table and they are honestly like the best things ever. They were definitely my favorite part of the meal. That's not to say that the rest of the stuff wasn't absolutely delicious, but wooow.
(5)
Stephanie S.
I love Fogo de Chao... my husband and I have been 4 times now because we are such bigs fans. I'm not sure why there are some bad reviews complaining about "meat quality", but I have always had outstanding food everytime. Yes- they feed you A LOT so bring your appetite. That is the whole idea of a Brazilian Steakhouse, so if you do not LOVE meat then it's probably not going to be worth the money to you. The service is always exceptional when we go- they are very attentive. It can be a bit overwhelming at times, but honestly I would rather have a server who is over attentive
(5)
Sarah L.
Was brought to fogo for my birthday and was blown away by the food, ambiance and the service. Tyler far far exceeded all of our expectations. His knowledge of wine and pairing it with items was incredible. Thank you for an amazing night!!!
(5)
Amanda G.
I love their caramelized bananas, so good. Great service, what a wonderful place for any celebration.
(5)
Jamie L.
Thanks to the person who just posted a review on Fogo that reminded me to update mine. So here's the skinny. (Hah. Skinny. At an all you can eat Brazilian Steakhouse.) I'm wavering between dropping Fogo a star for having a sub-par Salad Bar selection, and leaving them at 4 stars for exceptional service. So I'mma just go ahead and leave it. The service this time was *impeccable* Our water glasses were constantly refilled, at no more than 2 sips down. (Which is actually necessary, because of the insanely salty meats.) They tried to refill our sides, but I told them I didn't want to waste them, and not once after that did they offer. That's pretty impressive communication, since there were 5 or 6 Gauchos running around. Plus, it's a great place to go for your birthday. We had 2 certificates from a previous visit for free "Special Occasion" meals (SCORE!!) **AND** they gave us a Birthday Flan on the house again... I really didn't expect that with a coupon. So service here is NOT lacking. What is lacking, you ask? Well, for starters, the Salad Bar. Yes, they have a few cured meats, and ginormous Fresh Mozarella Balls. But really, that's it. The asparagus were the size of your average Redwood Tree, and the "Other Side" of the salad bar (The one NOT facing the front of the restaurant) is stocked with boring lettuce, cucumbers, and SYSCO Dressings. Meh to the Mehx! I'd been back to Rodizio for Lunch the week before, and indeed made my lunch solely off their Salad Bar. You could not do that here. Then, there's their meats. Sure, they give you all that you care to shovel in. And yes, the Picana, Ancho Ribeye, and Filet (Not the overcooked, bacon-wrapped one) are good. And their Bottom-Round is seasoned perfectly (Although the "Rare" side was more "Raw"... literally.) But overall? The meats are oversalted, and some tend towards the dry-to-the-point-of-sawdust consistency. (That Bacon-Wrapped Filet Nugget was Choke-Worthy, the Pork Ribs were not even Jerky quality, and the Parmesan Crusted Pork Tenderloin was made even drier by the grated bits of Parm tickling your throat.) Also, and I know I'm a Miamian being picky about this, but their Flan is creamier than it should be... Flan should be more of a standalone Custard, almost "Jello-Like" when you "cut" into it. This was more of a thick pudding. Delicious, though, at the same time. But- Also keeping this at a 4-Star Rating are those Cheese Puffs. Yes, their Pan de Quejo are ridiculously addictive and delicious. And their sweet bananas are crazy easy to keep popping in your mouth. So, overall, I'd say this is an awesome service experience, with good food, and plenty of it. Maybe when someone else is paying is the time to head here!
(4)
Michael C.
Great food and outstanding cheese. Impeccable staff. Note the ambiance and food here is better than Rodizio. Also note: people that have had bariatrice surgery get half off.
(4)
Sophie W.
Excellent place to visit if you love red meat! They have a plenty to choose from a broad menu. All you can eat. The cost of dinner is 46.50 $per person. I've been there for several times with my friends and we really enjoyed it. The service is really friendly and helpful. They also serve delicious desserts; my favorite is chocolate cake, definitely worth a try! Their drinks are also really good! My favorite one is caipirinha, which is a classic Brazilian cocktail. The only reason why I'm giving them 4/5 starts is that it can be pricey, especially when are you planning to take your whole family.
(4)
Erin E.
My boyfriend and I came here during 5280 (as that's probably the only way we could afford to check it out!) Maybe this place is different when it's not 5280, but they had packed so many tables in there it felt more like a cafeteria than a restaurant. If we're going to spend $100 on dinner/wine, I'd like a slightly better ambiance. Maybe I'm asking too much, but they said on the night we were there, they took 1,000 reservations- AKA they were anxious to get us in, shove meat down our throats, and get us the hell outta there. I'm a lover of meats and cheeses, but this stuff was so over-salted, I thought I might keel over at the table. I'm glad I didn't have a Blood Pressure reading within the next month, or my doctor would have been really pissed. After a while all the meats started to taste the same....just loaded with salt. The salad bar was good, but our waiters made us feel like idiots for trying it out. "You've never been here before?! Don't fill up on the salad bar," they laughed. We couldn't be quick about turning our card from green to red to STOP the meats from coming! These waiters are ON IT like I've never seen. The level of activity is so overwhelming that we forgot to turn out cards over, and they would be there in a split second- shaving generous portions of meat onto our plate. Normally I love trying all the different options, but I couldn't keep up with the amount of meat they were serving VS. me eating it. Therefore the food got piled up, and I was full before getting to try it all. And that's what I so dislike about this place. It's sad to me to see all this food get wasted. There are no to-go boxes, nor do I think they put any leftovers for hungry people to enjoy. I imagine the people I see who search in dumpsters behind my apartment would have had a feast with what was left on my plate. They would have been horrified to watch all of that get thrown away and the thought of that plagued me through dinner and as we were leaving. I love me some food, and am guilty of being a glutton sometimes....but this was over the top. However, just to spite this idea, and as uncouth as it is, we hid some food in a napkin to take back to our 3 cats who live like royalty. And that made me happy. Hehehe
(3)
Cat C.
Fogo hosted a company dinner for us last week. I will NEVER recover from the MOST EXCELLENT baked salmon! The rest was excellent too. Thanks Fogo!!! Not sure about the TVs (I don't need them) as we had 500 people in there that night.
(5)
Tina F.
always consistent! sangria was way too fruity and sweet for my taste. it included strawberries and tons of unstirred sugar at the bottom... i don't recall strawberries in most of the sangrias i've had but... the ciaprina's on the other hand are super yummy. they are on the lime/tart side, but that's how i like my drinks (not sweet)
(4)
Haleigh M.
Service was great. There were waiters everywhere to help you with whatever you needed but almost to a fault. Waiters were stopping at our table almost every 20 seconds to confirm that we were having a good meal. We felt a little anxious with all of the attention and movement of meat and waiters around us. The Food was delicious, I loved the fresh salad bar and my boyfriend loved the meat. There were so many different types of meat to choose from. We sampled all of them between the two of us!
(4)
Mike I.
It's been a few years since I've been to a Fogo De Chao but it won't be years for my next visit. I forgot how much I love this place and how much fun it is to dine here. It's such an experience and a great way to spend a few non rushed hours with your special someone. Our party arrived a bit early so we could have a few drinks in the bar. Great selection of wine and the martini's was perfect! Once we were sat at the table the wait staff took the time to explain how everything worked for those who had never dined at Fogo before. The salad bar is amazing and the selection of cheese could be a meal in and of itself. It's hard to not want to fill up on these items. But, for me, I prep'd all day by not having breakfast or lunch so a had a little salad and cheese. The sides arrived, cheese rolls, garlic mashed potatoes and the caramelized plantains and we were ready for the meat. The cool thing is that when you flip your card from red to green the gauchos swarm you with their large skewers ladened with amazing cuts of meat. Whether your taste is for the medium rare to medium well they have it all on the same skewer. If you have a special requests the gaucho will scuttle back and make it special for you. We sampled all the meats but my favorites were the lamb followed by the pork, beef then sausage. We had such a feast paired with some great wine. When you need a break just flip the card back to red and enjoy. We topped the amazing dinner off with great dessert. We had the South American Flan and Creme Brule. It went well with the Port we selected. While Fogo isn't one of those places you'll want to dine at each week you'll definitely want to enjoy it with good friends or folks that are in from out of town. It's such a memorable experience, give yourself a couple of hours to fully enjoy. I kept thinking of my vegan friends and how much they were missing out. But hey, too bad for them... Oh, and there is complimentary valet parking...
(5)
Cat S.
OH EM GEE. I don't think I want to look at or taste meat for the next 2 weeks. In order to preserve my poor heart. I was invited along for a 5280 dinner here (and paid for, so how could I refuse?) at Fogo De Chao. I probably should have not eaten for the previous 2 days. With that said.. unlimited salad bar + meat = whoa. I could not eat after that for a full day. We went Saturday and my first real meal after that was today's (Monday's) lunch. Some of the meats were dry and too salty, but some were sooo flavorful! I loved the filet mignon and the "house special" sirloin. The parmesan pork was also pretty delicious. The wait staff was okay.. but it was first night of restaurant week + fully packed dining room = what else can you expect? My favorite = the bananas. OMG. I think our table of 6 had 10 of those banana plates. DEEREECIOUS.
(3)
Mailou V.
First time at Fogo for 5280 restaurant week and not impressed. It was a busy night, made reservations and waited about 30 minutes to be seated. I wish I could like the restaurant more, but it might it restaurant week to blame for the limited menu items. Felt like I just ate sirloin this, sirloin that and nothing new to crave for. Variety would have been nice but the guys who come around with the meat were little to be seen. Variety for the salad bar would have been nice (like rodizio) and not just salad, although the lock was deliciously awesome. Some of the seasonings on the steaks were a little too overwhelming. I'm pretty sure I walked away with high blood pressure. The layout of the place was a little too crowded for me. Overall, it was a decent experience, but not a to go place after all the excitement I hear about this place.
(3)
Allison B.
Fogo De Chão is fabulous. I have eaten here numerous times and I will be back. We ate here tonight for restaurant week and I couldn't believe how busy they were. We sat in Evan's section and he took great care of us. He was very helpful with the wine list and helped me select a good wine at a reasonable price. Smoked salmon was not on the salad bar as it normally is, and Evan was kind enough to bring me some. Fogo is a great choice for restaurant week because other than serving a few less cuts of meat and leaving the grilled pineapple off the menu, nothing else changes. Other restaurants alter their menus quite a bit, but not here. I always leave feeling stuffed and happy. If I'm going to fork over the $ to go to an expensive restaurant, this is at the top of my list of choices. The flan on the dessert menu is not to be missed. You can't go wrong here. It's not just dinner-it's a dining experience.
(5)
Brandi S.
Love this particular Fogo de Chao because of the great service. I've been to a few others since I'm from Minnesota, but I've never been to one with managers that actually approach you and talk with you - I believe her name was Kim, super friendly and approachable. They seem to genuinely care at this location. The food of course is always exceptional! Thank you for another great visit - many more to come!
(5)
Richard D.
Great food. Come hungry and leave happy. The service is great definitely coming back.
(4)
Stephen K.
(Shame, shame on me...more rediscovered smartphone notes from months ago) Disclaimer: This is not a full review of FDC...I was here for a 303Networking job event thingy. That being said...FDC's staff supplied appetizers of polenta liberally dusted with parmesan, juicy chunks of chicken breast wrapped in bacon, and Brazilian pork sausage -- *addictiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiive...*...when I want breakfast sausage again, I know I really really don't want breakfast sausage...I want amazing Brazilian pork sausage. Someday, I hope to come here for a full meal -- but even if that never happens, their apps are pretty amazing.
(4)
Anya M.
I've never chosen to go to this place on my own, and here is why. Overall, if you want to indulge in some good meat, for the price & value, you would be better off at 1) Elway's, 2) Capital Grill, or 3) Ocean Prime. I feel that for $45 a person your money would be better spent at these places than at Fogo. Why? These places are more relaxing because you aren't being hassled by the meat servers who all seem to swarm upon you at the same time, placing sticks of meat almost on your lap, always interrupting your conversation (even if your card is turned to "no thanks"). By constantly bringing new food, you never know what to choose. And for some reason you are always full by the time the meat you ACTUALLY wanted gets around. A waste, especially since only about half of the meat is noticeably good, the other half is forgettable. Also, the first three places all have a better & more upscale atmosphere (I mean come on, the salad bar. Even though it is a 'classy' one, it still grosses me out. And having to go get your own plate out of a plate dispenser for $45? No thanks). Even though some of the flavors at this place are good, I feel like it is a scam where they try to fill you up on the salad bar, have really greasy sides, and bring out the cheap meats first (hello sausage & chicken). And THEN when you are TOTALLY full, they bring out the good meats, which are the ones you wanted in the first place. Then you force yourself to pig out just to try and "get your money's worth" and it isn't as enjoyable as just ordering something you really wanted and enjoying it. AND you cannot take home leftovers. That being said, here are my positives: almost everything is GLUTEN FREE. The greasy cheese bread is gluten free and awesome (so surprising) as well as those polenta french fries and fried bananas (see, fried +greasy carbs = less meat eating =waste of money). They also provide free dessert for birthdays, and there is complimentary valet to the right of the restaurant, in the middle of the block. I would only recommend this place for its novelty value or for out of towners who are curious. Not romantic or intimate at all.
(2)
Russell G.
And here I thought this will be just like Texas de Brazil.....not even close! This spot blows the competition out of the water. The seasoning of each type of meat was just right and the salad bar was extensive. The wine was pricey but I think that can be said for almost any restaurant. Oh, did I mention they wrap stuff in bacon?!?!?!! Because they do! The night we were there I had fillet Mignon with and without bacon! Chicken with bacon, pork...you guessed it...in BACON!! Besides the bacon, the meats were all tender, juicy and I even had seconds of the lamb. That is rare as I am not a big fan of the taste. This place is pricey but certainly worth every penny.
(5)
Peter H.
Consistency is Fogo's best attraction and ironically, it's worst quality. Whether you're there for a midweek lunch or weekend dinner, the highly attentive service and perfect preparation of meat is always impeccable. However, you'll quickly get the Groundhog Day effect after a few outings in that every visit is the exact same. Special events are no longer special, because there was nothing remarkable from one to the other. Fogo is best for quenching that carnivorous urge and enjoying the fine dining experience, but not for creating memorable occasions. That said, my favorite cuts are the house garlic beef, rack of lamb, and filet mignon, of course. The salad bar is very good, but not as good as Texas de Brazil, and I reeeally wish they would change it up occasionally. Everyone needs to try Fogo at least once, but maybe once is all you need.
(4)
Jake V.
Do you want an unlimited selection of meats?!? This is your place. Eat the chicken hearts and anything else you've never tried before.
(4)
Julie H.
After further discussion of Fogo with my BFF we decided this place is probably best as a lunchtime hangover helper. Don't take a date, you will not get lucky with a food-baby... and won't even want to. I went once for dinner and had a decent experience all around. It's similar to other Brazilian Steak places. I don't see myself going back unless I have houseguests that want to check it out.
(3)
Robert J.
Great restaurant, great service--except that my wife and I don't normally spend this kind of money on a dinner, this is something we do for a special occasion. This was a special occasion, to celebrate my wife's birthday. When I called to make the reservation, they asked and I answered that this was her birthday dinner. I know that the restaurant offers a complimentary dessert for birthdays... When we realized after paying for dinner that their note about her birthday had slipped through the cracks, we were less than impressed. While we would go back, since it's a great restaurant, it was depressing to see all the other birthdays that were remembered and celebrated with a dessert while we were there, I overheard the server ask the table next to us, and there were a couple birthdays, so he said he'd bring out a couple of desserts for them... Why ask if it's a special occasion over the phone for a reservation when it is so easily missed by the staff? Unfortunately, this really simple oversight ruined a lot of the otherwise great experience for us.
(3)
Adam J.
Holy hell. I've been here twice now, and both times my digestive system has threatened to walk out on me and never return. That's actually a compliment to the restaurant, a byproduct of me eating what must amount to an entire animal worth of meat in one sitting. The salad bar is fantastic, although sometimes I feel like skipping it in order to save room for the meat. They have a fair variety of stuff at the salad bar, some ordinary and some extraordinary (entire artichoke hearts, huge chunks of fresh parmesan cheese). But the real deal is the meat. You flip your card over to green and it's like the flood gates open. Men rush to you with skewers of meats, and before you know it, there's a pile of different types of meat on your plate. It's ALL delicious, though some slabs of beef tend to run together. You'll want to watch for the parmesan crusted anything, whatever the house special is, and anything wrapped in bacon. Treat yourself to a little prime rib and top sirloin, as well. You just have to be careful with your red/green card that tells the servers to feed you or not, because if that baby's green, you WILL continue to get meat. They also have some sides on the table. The polenta fries and the bananas/plantains are fan-freaking-tastic. The mashed potatoes are mashed potatoes. Their cheesecakes for dessert (if there's any space left in your stomach) are also amazing. I probably wouldn't take a militant vegan here (although I might, just to watch her horrified face at all the poor widdle animaws that get eaten), but for anyone who wants to totally pig out on deliciously seasoned, perfectly cooked slabs of meat, you can't beat this. Just make sure you clear some time the following day, because your digestive system will show you why eating 10 pounds of meat is not something you should do every day.
(5)
Mike M.
Best meal I've ever had. Been back numerous times and its top notch every time. Great place!!
(5)
Julia B.
I thought it was good but not as amazing as everyone is saying. With all the raves I was expecting a more amazing salad bar, but it was really good and pretty. I was expecting Vegas, I think, which might be dumb, as Nobody said that, exactly. Anyway, the service is rushed and comes off as curt, and this is the main reason I am giving 3 stars instead of 4. We did go during restaurant week, and I suspect they shoved many more tables in to accomodate a rush. Also the crowd felt a little rough, so It went from feeling like a grand experience to a golden corrall experience, (with steak salmon and pretty cheeses). heheh. THat said the meat is a little overwhelming, and delicious. But I dont LOVE meat,it gets a little freaky, all these dudes with Knives and meat coming at you, AND FAST. Also the meat was not SO seasoned, so some people like that. Some of the meat dudes walked right by me. I was holding out for the steak. Which was yum. The brazillian cocktails were really delicious, and I recommend getting those. Go on an empty stomach, then, Its tempting to load up at the pretty salad bar, but don't; thats how they getchya.
(3)
Ru L.
A paleo dieter's heaven; great salad bar and all that beef! The many cuts of bovine are Devine, while the swine is fine and the chicken is kick in'. I opted out of the mashers and the fried polenta and just hit it up caveman style. Each cut of beef is small, but believe me the more the gauchos visit the table the faster you fill up. Enjoy.
(4)
Pam T.
This place will be our new go-to place for over-indulging on red meat! As soon as you are seated the excellent service starts, along with those yummy cheese rolls. It takes a lot of self control not to load up at the salad bar. I tried to limit myself to just a bite of everything I chose, but still had a full plate. They had a card on the table which showed the different cuts of meat they served which was helpful. So of course we had to try almost everything that went by the table. Just like the salad bar, your plate will fill up quickly. But it's a good way to figure out what you like. My favorite was the bacon wrapped filet. My husband thought the parmesan pork loin was really good but I thought it was too dry. I passed on the mashed potatoes (more room for meat). I think next time I will take a break and get a place of some veggies from the salad bar, just to balance out all the protein. They have a good selection of desserts and we ordered a chocolate cake. When our waiter noticed my husband had left my anniversary card on the table he asked if it was an occasion. We said yes so they brought us another dessert, the caramel flan, with "Happy Anniversary" written on the dish. Very nice of them.
(5)
Nicole W.
Another large outing and another stellar performance at Fogo! Valet parking - free- yup - still rocks (although the valet grinding the gears on the way out - less than cool - and yes we drive a stick shift, whatever) Staff was very friendly - even though we called a mere 2 hours prior and asked to bring over 20 people in at 8pm. They split us into 2 tables and fawned over us, like the super stars we were! ;) They have special "newbie" folios for those new to eating tons of meat! That was very helpful those those we dragged along that were not all into the meat on a stick! I have the whole process down now - skip the salad bar - no need to waste precious stomach room on that! Careful with the sides - they fill you up too! But the carmelized bananas - well, you really can't say no to those! And the little balls of heaven - the baby popovers - which we found out were gluten free - a win for some of our friends at the table! Staff kept checking on us and put up with our antics and even checked if there was a special cut of meat we were looking for and they would sent it over! I stuck with the filet mignon and filet mignon only. Except for one deviance into the special of the house. I was stuffed and happy! Restaurant week they are doing a special deal - i might have to go back sooner rather than later!
(4)
Megan E.
Came here for supper with DH and a friend. We had plenty of food, again, and left feeling VERY VERY full. We were half an hour early and had no problems being seated (but it was 5:30 on a Saturday - by 8 there were crowds waiting). I asked for a mojito and was offered their house special version instead. It was good, but at $13, I was a little disappointed and I wasn't told the price until the bill came. Our friend ordered tonic water, which never arrived but was placed on the bill. When we pointed that out, they brought a complimentary creme brule and removed it from the bill. Nice, but man was it hard to get that down after the meal! They had complimentary valet parking in the garage next door for dinner - that was nicer than hunting around like we did at lunch. I have to say, if you want a ton of meat (and other stuff) and have plenty of time, check this place out but if you aren't one to eat a lot, it's not really worth it for supper, maybe lunch though.
(4)
Carly B.
I know my opinion really shouldn't "count" since I didn't participate in the meatstravaganza, but here's my candid view on the salad bar as well as this place in general. "But Carly what are you doing at Fogo to begin with then," you ask? Well, it was Father's day and I was taking my dad out. He hates most places (he literally goes in with an intent to dislike anywhere new), but he likes Rodizio and he loooooooooves meat. He likes salad bars too. So I suppose I was "taking one for the team" and hoping to introduce him to a new plave he might actually like. Let's start with the service: about as good as you'd expect with about eight different people waiting on you. Some of it felt downright forced. The restaurant wasn't super full, so I'd say there was about one server/gaucho/busser for every two people but none particularly stood out. The drinks: the Caipirinha was super strong, tasty, loaded with fresh limes, and of a decent size. My dad really only drinks beer, but you can't call him a beer lover. Out of the vast, wonderful world of craft beer and interesting imports he will drink MGD, Rolling Rock or Pacifico. Usually no exceptions. Fogo is not know for their beer selection. Fortunately he tried their Brazilian beer (very dark in color, but very light in flavor) and he liked it enough to drink two. The salad bar: it's okay. A bit on the smaller side, but it had some pretty tasty things (tabbouleh, chickpea salad, potato salad, and a really tasty green basil dressing) and some very boring things (fat, unseasoned asparagus, tomato slices, pre-made Caesar salad). Overall pretty good, but nothing I was dying to get seconds of. The sides: they start you out with the most delicious cheese bread (Pao de Queijo) and then bring out sides of polenta, garlic mashed potatoes, and brown sugary carmelized bananas. The bread really is the star, each little ball is hot and springy and cheesy and delicious. The polenta is pretty good too but I realized this toward the end of the meal when I was running out of room. Very similar springy texture as the Pao de Queijo. The potatoes seem to really be an afterthought....like "lets add on a side of boring garlic mashed potatoes for good measure". Unneccessary. The meat: may have very well been amazing, but dad described it as "not bad". He can be difficult to read. He likes the chicken hearts at Rodizio and Fogo doesn't have chicken hearts so that was probably a dad point against them. The price: Daaaaaayum! I'm all for splurge dinners and everything, but two beers, a cocktail, a salad bar, and regular meal were $95 pre-tip. I don't mind spending money on a great splurge dinner, but it's usually for something artfully prepared and really tasty flavors. The bread was great, but I can get a carb overload at other places at a much more reasonable price. Conclusion: these types of restaurants have their place in dining, but it's really not my scene. If I have $100 to spend on dinner, I'd probably take it to one of the many seasonal/chef-driven restaurants around town.
(3)
Naor B.
i was in denver over july 4th weekend and have already been in fogo in la. i must say the one in denver was much better food was better The service here was excellent
(5)
Danika L.
When I see reviews such as "top notch" and "best food ever" I can't help but wonder if these people were eating from dumpsters before...not sure what all the hype is about but I'm guessing it's coming from frugal people who can't resist an all you can eat place. Sorry but for me it's absolutely about quality over quantity so it's gonna have to take a little more than endless plates of crap and a salad bar to do it for me. Also just a tip guys this wouldn't be a good place to take a date, it was extremely loud and chaotic. And ladies if you do go don't dress up because the crowd is very casual and you will feel like a hooker walking up to the salad bar in heels.
(1)
Kim K.
Even though I only visited for lunch and didn't get the full eat until you burst experience, I still felt like I needed a serious nap and possibly some cholesterol meds afterwards. So much meat, so little time. Take note where they keep the emergency defibrillator if you do go for dinner.
(4)
Amanda M.
Maybe it's because I went during restaurant week, but I was not all that enthused by this place. First of all we were seated 25 minutes after our reservation time, which wasn't a huge deal since we found some seats in the bar area and my friend had a chance to enjoy an $8 cocktail. The space is MUCH larger than I expected, it seemed like more of a banquet hall then a restaurant, and I didn't find the decor inviting or appealing. Maybe it's because they were packed to the brim, but all the gauchos and hosts and people running around made it feel more like a crowded dim sum restaurant than an upscale steakhouse. As for the salad bar, I thought it was on par with Texas De Brazil minus the fact they didn't have lobster bisque and sauteed mushrooms. All of the food sitting out was good and fresh. They had tabouli, mozzarella balls, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, chicken salad, olives, cured meats, bread, giant asparagus, hearts of palm, artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, smoked salmon, peppers etc. I found it to be an abundant selection-- it's just not presented on a ginormous bar like TDB. As for the meat I found most of it to be pretty dry and/or flavorless. If you ask for a certain "doneness" and they have a skewer, they are going to give you a piece of meat from the bottom either way. The only thing I really enjoyed was the filet (not bacon wrapped). I got a small piece when I first sat down, and literally was searching for it for an hour and a half. I asked multiple waitstaff to send it over to no avail. Finally it randomly came around and I asked the gaucho to give me a big hunk of it. Unfortunately he gave me a piece that was cooked way past well-done and it was gray in the middle. However, the people who brought the side dishes around were on top of their game, and we never went without the delicious cheesy bread, mashed potatoes, polenta cakes, or sweet plantains (or were they bananas?). This being restaurant week the clientele probably wasn't the same as usual, but as my friend put it, we felt like we were in the upper-deck of a Nuggets game. A server accidentally dropped a huge glass plate used at the salad bar, and no less than 15 people decided to yell "Oooohhhhh!!". I'm sorry, but since when does that fly at a restaurant? It's funny at the Great American Beer Festival... but not here. I was actually embarrassed to be eating at the same place as these people. This is by no means Fogo's fault, since they can't turn people away for being trashy... but still... it put a damper on the evening. I would like to try Fogo again once all of Denver isn't there at the same time.
(3)
Jen L.
I really want to give a rating of 3 1/2 stars in all fairness. To start off with I'm not one to indulge in a carnivorous feast, if you are this is the place for you. The salad bar is full of unique items some of which I had no idea what they were. Some labels would have helpful. The meat was good, but I'm not one that cares for a meal of just meat so my review will be on the over all experience of this establishment. I really did not enjoy this style of service. The restaurant is huge so it is very noisy and very hard to enjoy the company at your table. I was not fond of our waiter. He showed us the drink menu from afar and explained to us what the drinks were and walked off. When he came back we had to ask for the drink menu and the wine list. If they have beer I wasen't sure because that wasn't on a beverage menu we received. When we asked for the dessert menu it also had drinks on it that I would have preferred over the Brazilian rum thing I ordered. I really did not care for the way the food is served. It seemed crazy and hectic juggling plates and drinks, and tongs. This was not my thing at all. People are constantly coming to the table, not just the meat guys, but managers, and servers. My last coment is upscale or casual? It had elements of both, and I think they should pick one. All in all I was not overly impressed with this style of service and would not be back.
(3)
Eugene N.
Before you read, please note that I'm a dude, and besides vegetarians, who can complain about all you can eat meat?! With that being said though, I love the caramelized bananas! Coming in, expecting to eat really good meat (which I did) but was taken by the bananas! Kinda weird and unexpected but they are served at your table at the beginning, like an appetizer. Now onto the meat. Great quality meat, but it's Fogo De Chao, so expect the best franchised Brazilian BBQ. Oh, and the service was excellent!
(5)
Cassandra F.
Okay, this place serves up more food than I thought it was possible to consume. Make sure when you go that you have barely eaten that day! I love brazilian food, I had a brazilian neighbor once and she turned me on to all sorts of things. While I still don't think this food is as good as hers, it's the closest I've come! The caiparinhas here are fantastic, try the tropical one it's made with strawberries instead of limes. Yum! As others say, the salad bar is amazing. You could make a wonderful meal just out of that. And the sides they bring around are great. Love the pao de queijo and the polenta. Once the meat starts coming, be prepared. Green on are card means "More", red means "Stop". Be mindful of which is up, because they'll just keep bringing you food otherwise! It's a little pricey, but you get a lot of food for the money. I ate till I could barely move, so it was definitely worth it.
(5)
Brian O.
The night started with our company running late, so we settled into the comfy bar. Jayce was a great bar tender, meeting our needs for a cosmo and a nice single malt with just the right amount of ice. Our company was unavoidably delayed due to the traffic getting to the Denver Parada of Lights. Once they arrived, we settled into our table with Greg for an intruduction to Fago; I've been a big fan of the Fago De Chao in Las Vegas; this place was bigger but there were more tables so with the need to go to the buffet for the excellent salad, I'd say it was a little tight. The salad bar while not the point of the meat fest of Fago, was fresh and excellent; I enjoyed the roasted garlic, beets, sliced dry meets, and the buffalo mozarella. Once we had completed the salads, the plates were quickly wisked away. Our wine, a 2009 Rodney Strong Cab Sauv, was an excellent start. If you have not been to the typical Brazilian experience, you turn over your serving card to green and waiters with large skewers of cooked meat decend on your table with various meets; we partcularly enjoyed the leg of lamb, the lamb chops and the top sirloin. As the waiters arrive, you can choose from rare to well done on each of the meats. My partner also njoyed a lovely garlic pork peice that I must have missed. The lower sirloin, the chicken were also good. I would note that the bacon wrapped filet I think was my favorite; jiucy rare with just the right amount of done-ness on the bacon. Our main course was also served with mashed potatoes and fried bananas and there is an extensive desert and after dinner drinks menu. Since we gorged on the meat, all these went by the wayside. All in all a great night with great company and service. We spent about $105 per head that included two bottles of wine and tip. A great night.
(4)
Cobra K.
Not bad. Came here for a birthday dinner with The Woman. We had two dinners costing $45 per person. Our 3 year old daughter ate for free. Service was fantastic and the atmosphere was very posh. What I didn't like was the fact that they didn''t have beef tongue or chicken hearts. Really! Come on!!! Oh, and if you ask in the beginning, the servers will bring out FREE DESSERT for birthdays.
(3)
Sungeeta A.
I loved my trip to Fogo de Chao. The salad bar was amazing - I don't know where they get their giant vegetables, but they are very fresh. The meats were plentiful and all tasty, my favorite being the top sirloin and filet mignon. I had the Papaya cream for dessert (to help me digest!), which was ice cream mixed with papaya. It was not my favorite but decent. I didn't realize how much I ate until I walked outside and had trouble breathing. It was worth it though! I would definitely go back!
(5)
Lewis B.
First time a Fogo and the dining experience was superb! Food and service was great. I only wish they had a broader selection of vegetables i.e. steamed mixed veggies, spinach, broccoli or asparagus. Otherwise we would definitely return and recommend it to others.
(4)
Kyle M.
place and service is fantastic. love the servers they are funny and entertaining.
(5)
Heidi S.
Meat. Sweet, sweet, holy tasty, tasty meat. Thank you animal *LAMB* for giving your life for me. Oh and *HOLY COW* and with all honesty, I really do send a prayer up for the animal that is nourishing me. Get the lamb chops, the filet and the sirloin. Slather much of it in the Chimichurri sauce *moment alone* - thank the beast and turn that card to the green side one more time. Maybe go real easy on anything bacon wrapped, everything is already way salty enough...oh, and don't hold onto that salad plate too long, they seem to get nervous about it.... Our server was impersonal and avoided eye contact as if there was someone more important behind us, but our drinks were filled and refilled with glee. Every once in awhile a gorgeous blonde would wonder by and ask if everything was OK. It was. Oh and the men with meat on swords - well, either gender is giddy about that. One thing that struck us as odd as we got our bill the waiter asked what our special occasion was for coming in while he sorta looked past us (both of us in baseball hats) - the ball-n-chain set down his Maker's Mark and said, "No special occasion, just taking my wife to dinner.' Waiter guy looked a little perplexed. Boo-friggen-yeah.
(5)
Ryan T.
Fogo De Chao is my absolute favorite restaurant, especially since I am a carnivore at heart. Ever since I visited their Beverly Hills location a few years ago, I have been hooked on this all you can eat Brazilian steakhouse. For those of you who have not been initiated in the churrascaria experience, here is how things work. After you have been seated and had a chance to enjoy a drink, the waiter will point out the fine salad bar that they have on hand. While I must admit that their salad bar is quite impressive, I have never ever bothered to visit it as my sole mission is to satisfy my meat fix. Next, you will be given a card. When the green side of the card is turned up, this signals the gaucho waiters that you are ready for the meat feast to begin. You can choose from 15 different cuts of meat that are brought to your table, sliced, and served on your plate. When the red side of the card is turned up, this lets the waiters know that you are taking a break until you are ready for more meat. For me, my absolute favorite cut is the picanha or prime cut of the top sirloin that just so happens to be FDC's signature steak. Some of my other favorites are the fraldinha or bottom sirloin and the beef ancho which is the prime cut of the rib eye. All of the aforementioned cuts of meat were just so juicy and cooked to the medium rare that I just love. Besides the fine meats that are constantly being carved at your table, the service at FDC is also some of the best that I have experienced at any fine establishment. If there is a particular cut of meat that you crave but have not seen for awhile, all you need to do is tell the waiter and he will actually grab your desired meat from the grill in the kitchen. If you love meat, you must find a way to visit Fogo De Chao and experience this churrascaria for yourself.
(5)
Safford B.
I'm sorry, but I'm just not sold on the Brazilian steakhouse eat-til-you-puke concept, even in the "premium" format that Fogo De Chao tries to pull off. It's just a little cruise-shippy to me. We came here for Denver Restaurant Week, so we called several months ahead to get a reservation. When we arrived, we were still told that we needed to wait 15-20 minutes, and that they'd put our name on the waiting list. Pretty sure that's what reservations are for. Because it was Denver Restaurant Week, the crowd may have been a little more herd-like than usual, but it really put me off. The salad bar was a stampede. The staff couldn't figure out how to do crowd control, and I was shoved out of the way by an old woman trying to get in front of me so that she could get the last scoop of chicken salad. Cafeteria classy. As for the salad bar itself, it was good. I do enjoy all of the marinated vegetables like portobellos and hearts of palm, and the cured meats are good as well. Of course, you can pick up all of this stuff in the deli at Whole Foods or some of the fancier King Soopers, so it's not unique, but it's good. The meat was a major disappointment. Most of it was overcooked. I am a rare guy myself, but understand in this kind of setting, I'm going to be in the minority. That being said though, when pretty much every cut of meat is grey, I can't be the only one thinking that all the flavor and texture is gone. The filet mignon was the only thing I saw that was medium-rare. Unfortunately, it was nothing but sinew. It took me eight motions with a serrated knife to get through it. Definitely not "melt in your mouth" quality. The bacon-wrapped version of the filet never made it our way, so we didn't get to give it a second try. A few items will be spared this scathing review. The pork sausage (linguica) was really good. The fried polenta was also hard to stop eating. Unfortunately, a couple of high spots isn't enough to make up for the fact that Fogo was a kitschy and underwhelming experience. This is the last time we burn a Denver Restaurant Week night on a chain, no matter how popular it is.
(2)
Karen P.
We have eaten here several times and the food has always been fabulous. I am giving only 2 stars because of the manner I was treated by the hostess staff on our way out. I asked if they could call a cab to pick us up. I was told that a cab would take 20 minutes and they would only make the call if we would promise to wait for it. What? I guess they are afraid to offend the cab driver. We just spent several hundred dollars on dinner and I was not happy being dictated to about the terms of a cab ride. I know this is a little thing, but it left me with a bad taste in my mouth. There are lots of other great restaurants where we can go spend our money.
(2)
S P.
This place rocks! Great food quality and selection, and service. The salad bar is super fresh and offers an excellent variety. The meat selection is vast and high quality. The taste is perfect. What could be better? An excellent attentive staff. The other churrascarias in town are terrible- bad meat taste and quality. This place is world class.
(5)
LaShawn R.
We were here for Denver Restaurant Week for a meal before going to see Wanda Sykes at the Paramount. Having never been there before, I was expecting the place to be like Texas de Brazil. Yes, it is a Churrascaria (Brazilian steakhouse) like Texas de Brazil, but that's pretty much the only comparison. The salad bar definitely had fewer selections, and the meat server guys (I know they have a much better title than that but it eludes me right now) scarcely made an appearance at our table when we flipped our cards to green. When they did make an appearance to our table, it was usually with a beef selection. The sirloin was plentiful but not much else was coming around. We had to request that the linquica and chicken come to our table. The best thing about the meal was the drink I had. I forget what it was called but it tasted like a mojito-margarita hybrid. It was yummy. Other than that, there was nothing special about Fogo de Chao. I will definitely stay true to Texas de Brazil when I feel like gorging myself with tasty spitted meat!
(2)
Siv L.
Being from the Philadelphia area, I've always wanted to try Fogo de Chao but ended up going to the one in Denver with my boyfriend and cousin this past week. The service was great. Everyone was friendly and attentive. No reservation was needed. We ordered a bottle of red and started off snacking on pao de queijo, warm cheese bread. It is so delicious, we couldn't resist filling our bellies with extra bread (not a good idea for a place like this). We then stopped off at the salad bar. I wanted to try a bite of everything but refrained. Some of my favorites were the tabbouleh (first time having it, very parsley-heavy and not too much bulgur wheat, very great with the lamb!), the smoked salmon (so yummy!), the thick bacon, and the shitake mushrooms. With all of this came sides that included polenta, garlic mashed potatoes, and carmelized bananas. I didn't want to fill up on sweets so only tried a few bites of the mashed potatoes and loved them. When we finally were ready to start on some meat, they kept coming and coming (despite our cards being turned with red (STOP!) face up). My goal was to try everything but ended up losing track of what I had eaten as I got fuller and fuller. The pieces that were cut were very large (we ended up wasting a ton of meat so my suggestion would be for the servers to cut smaller pieces more frequently so that food will be less likely to be wasted). I also did not like that sometimes I would ask for medium rare and instead would be served meat prepared medium, so I was reluctant to fill up with meat that wasn't prepared to my liking (another reason why I was so wasteful). We tried most meats (I didn't try the filet wrapped in bacon, the pork loin covered with Parmesan cheese, pork ribs, or leg of lamb). I did however try everything else (sausage, chicken leg, chicken wrapped in bacon, rib eye, beef ribs, filet mignon, 2 types of top sirloin, bottom sirloin, and lamb chops). By far, my favorites were the lamb chops, top sirloin (so juicy and thin), and the chicken leg (juicy and marinated very well). I ended up asking for more lamb chops after lamb chops but towards the end of the night, I was being served chops cooked medium instead of medium rare which I had requested. However I still enjoyed all of the lamb (especially with the tabbouleh!). Although I recommend Fogo de Chao for anyone who's never been, I probably would not eat here again as I thought towards the end of the meal that if I ate any more meat I would puke and become a vegetarian! I love meat too much to risk ruining my relationship with it during another trip to Fogo de Chao! But red meat lovers should come and eat their hearts out!
(4)
Nicole U.
Meat baby and fat pants. That is the aftermath of eating here, but oh so worth it. I have eaten at the Beverly Hills location and decided this would be a great place to take my aunt to while on vacation in Colorado. We were not let down. The salad bar started off the meal just right. I had a plate full of fresh mozzarella, manchego and parmesan cheeses, a few slices of tomatoes and some other veggies. The meat selection was awesome. I loved flipping over that little round card to signal to bring on the meat. The servers came flying by, I was a little overwhelmed at first but then just sat back and watched the show. I loved everything. The pork ribs were tasty, the beef ribs so perfectly tender. The bacon wrapped chicken, and filet were of course awesome as well. If I had to pick my favorite I would be torn between the lamb chops, and the parmesan crusted pork loin. Both were beyond good. I had seconds, and thirds of each and flagged down the server for just these items. This meal was ridiculous. I have never been so full in my entire life. We staggered out in a meat coma that lasted well until the following day.
(5)
Brittany H.
What can I say that hasn't been said about Fogo de Chao? Well, I'm not too sure, but I'll give my two cents anyway. This place was ah-mazing! I had no idea what to expect of Fogo aside from lots of meat. But it's so much more than that! Immediately upon entering you're greeted by warm, friendly, and attentive staff with terribly exciting pants. Next, you'll be seated in a beautiful and immaculate dinning room with a large, delicious salad bar. I could've made a meal straight from the salad bar alone, but knew I had to wait for the main course. I've never been to a Brazilian BBQ, so I was very impressed with the whole experience. You have a coaster with a green side and a red side, which informs the staff who are constantly coming around to each table with skewers of beautiful cuts of meat whether you're ready to sample some more or not. I loved that concept. But here's what you go to Fogo de Chao for: the meat! Vegetarians need not apply! I haven't had so much meat and such delicious cuts before. Holy cow, yes sir, this was amazing on every level. Hot, juicy, and flavorful cuts that keep streaming out of the kitchen. Absolutely fantastic. I couldn't believe how much I actually enjoyed this. I was lucky enough to sample some desserts as well: the flan and the creme brulee. Firstly the flan was so sweet and pure deliciousness. Yum-o! The Brazilian take on flan was brilliant. The creme brulee was also very tasty. Sorry beef cows of the world, Fogo de Chao is out to get you. And you can only hope that you make your way here to delight the taste buds of its diners!
(5)
Alden G.
Fun and pleasant place, hard-working staff. Chain restaurant, has appeal for small parties, and "date night." The distinguishing feature is the continual, revolving presentation of 15 different cuts of meat to your plate. Fogo is about the experience. We had fun; after awhile, I found the constant interruption a bit of a bother though; time to turn over the card from green to red. Best to mellow the experience with a bottle of very good Argentine Malbec (try Alamoso, $35).
There was a lot of hype prior to me going there as everyone that I've talked to that has been there was always raving about it. I missed going here when my co-workers cheaped out on our trip to Houston, so this time, when I found out that I had to work in Denver and that there was a location there, I told myself that I'm not gonna skip this place. I skipped the salads and other "fillers" and jumped right to the meats. My favorites were the cheese crusted pork and the top sirloin. The filet was nice and tender, but was not as flavorful as the sirloin. The bacon wrapped chicken was also good. I also loved the bananas and the bread. Their Gold Caipirinha was excellent, went down very smooth and 20 times better than a margarita. In my mind, I thought I would be able to eat serving after serving of meat, but I waved the white flag after about 3 rounds of meats and didn't even have room for flan...that says a lot if you know me, I love my flans! The decor was nice, a classic looking dining room, darkly lit. There were not very many people there as it was a Tuesday evening. The bill came to about 75 bucks a person, not bad for all you can eat meat plus a premium cocktail.
(5)
Stephanie F.
TYLER was amazing! Great service & great food! I will be coming back to this restaurant very soon.
(5)
David M.
When The Hulk takes SuperGirl to the Prom where does he take her to dinner? Fogo de Chao. It's like the Capitol Grill meets Kitchen Buffet: A high end cafeteria where they bring the cow to you and slice him up at your table. Very good salad bar (me loves dat smoked salmon and the mega-wheel of Parmigiano-Reggiano rocks) (asparagus too thick, but that's a minor complaint, huh). Good, and never-ending, but not great, meat products, and some purty good sides (carmelized bananas, polenta cakes, beans = neat). Worth $38/a head. Sure, if you're pregnant and eating for yourself and your about-to-be quadruplets, Excessive? You betcha. Fun? Yes. Good servers and fast and furious attention accompany the gluttony. Bottom line, try it when you need to bulk up your wrestling weight class.
(3)
Meredith G.
What should you do on a Monday off and right after a hard bike ride? Go eat all the meat you can fit in your belly (plus dessert). I had my first Fogo experience today and it was lovely. The restaurant was not crowded and the staff were prompt to fill our plates with their various meat dishes and sides. They even came when my card was flipped to red. I loved everything I had except for the fillet wrapped in bacon. To get the bacon so crispy the meat was to well done for my liking. But that's ok, move it aside and get something else. The side of polenta and bananas were amazing and if you haven't put them together in 1 bite make sure you try that combo next time you go. I would eat that for dessert! But, I'm a serious desert lover and now I know I like Brazilian flan. It was creamy and luscious covered with a thin caramel sauce. I would definitely heard here for a huge lunch again. It's Only $25 vs. $35 at dinner time for the same food offerings.
(5)
Justin A.
Fogo is absolutely delicious. Salad Bar is good, with tons of gourmet cheeses and other ingredients. The Cheese Bread on the table is also good. And..where else can you find Guarana or Diet Coke in a glass bottle at a restaurant?. But...the best part. The minute you turn the card to Green, they attack you with meats. Every cut of meat is succulent and cooked to perfection. Delicious. Service is also top notch. Come here hungry and leave in a wheel barrel.
(5)
Simon J.
Been here a few times - food is always great, service is also excellent. Will defo be back. Only complaint is they do not validate parking at lunchtime. Did not realize that and I ended up paying almost $10 to park when meter parking would have been just $1.50. Otherwise, excellent.
(4)
Lauren D.
Our absolute favorite restaurant in denver. The atmosphere is great and the wait staff is impeccable. Our first time in, Evan waited on us and made our evening very special. We've requested him every time since then. The steaks are amazing, especially the picanha. Highly recommended!!
(5)
Ian K.
Simply the best restaurant in Denver all around!!!! Thanks for the memories Fogo!
(5)
Kristol T.
The food and service is top notch! Everything was so delicious and it was so hard to say no! I've been several times and my company had our Christmas Party there back in December. I couldn't stop talking about this place so I finally got my sister and her family hooked on going too!! They also have this mojito that was really good!
(5)
Josh P.
Fogo de Chao literally translated means "coma of meat" or meat coma. That is the feeling one will experience the entire next day having gorged themselves here the night before. For carnivores, the primitive gluttony - along with the pure chaos that is whisking about sharp knives and pounds of spit fired hot meats upon skewers without seriously injuring anyone - is worth experiencing at least once. A word of advice though, take the following day off.
(3)
Lindsey H.
There's not much I can add that hasn't already been said, so I'll just say this place was amazing. Best salad bar I've ever seen- it was hard not to fill up before the meat parade. And the meat parade itself- out of control delicious! I love that they'll bring out anything you want. The service is absolutely top notch. It doesn't get any better than this. It's not cheap, but it's worth every penny.
(5)
Jeff V.
Four, yeah four stars is about good for the food there. I went back to fogo with friends for restaurant week and decided to finish my review upon my second visit. This place really does have a great atmosphere for small groups of friends. The loud and busy place allows for any type of dinner talk you choose. The salad bar was amazing and I almost went fully stupid on the hearts of palm, on the the meats! The best things here is the house special, then all the beef portions. Everything else was ok in my mind but that beef so beefy so goody. I'd def go back and would check it out at lunch. Same menu, half the price.
(4)
Taylor V.
My brother likes Rodizio best, my roommate loves Texas De Brazil, but if you ask me, Fogo De Chao is easily the best Brazilian churrascaria steakhouse in Denver. I do enjoy both of those other restaurants as well, but if it's my turn to pick - it's Fogo De Chao every time. In my opinion the salad bar selection is best here, the meats are always delicious and high quality, and the service is untouchable.
(5)
True M.
Went here after my high school graduation for lunch and loved it. The guachos were very kind and would come to our table with various sorts of meat. I just loved how they would come right after I flipped my card. The selection of meat is amazing, and the salad bar is filled with delicious fresh veggies and appetizers. I don't even have much to say about this place because it is already amazing in itself. You have to go try it out yourself, but go during lunch because it's cheaper :)
(5)
Danielle V.
Took advantage of this place for 5280 week. And WOW! The meat is fabulous!! And of course, more then I can handle! This is definitely a GREAT place for your hungry men. Otherwise it might be too pricey to eat here when a 6 oz steak would be enough to fill you. However the service, the taste, and quality are the best. Our waiter was just wonderful and when he got too busy to check on us, which we honestly didn't notice, he sent us a free round of drinks. The salad bar was ok to me. A nice one, but nothing that totally grabbed my attention and honestly.... WHO WANTS A SALAD when you have all that juicy meat in your face! :) A very fun place for a VERY hungry group. But you have to be just that, HUNGRY! Don't waste your time if you want a small meal.
(4)
Jenny S.
They did everything but wipe my face and call me your royal highness. The service was outstanding. I was almost afraid to look up and make eye contact because I didn't want them to rush over to me. The food was great. Endless servings of steak, lamb, chicken and a beautiful salad bar. I've been to 4 other churrascarias and Fogo de Chao definitely has been the best so far. The price is very reasonable for what you are getting and I was surprised it was not more expensive. They also have complimentary valet parking and downtown this is a huge bonus. Another cool note that makes this place stand out is many of the servers were speaking Portuguese to each other and it totally added to my experience!
(5)
Hans O.
Fogo is the real deal; once you step in you feel the difference already from all churrascarias you have been, including Boi na Braza (which is my second favorite). You'll feel a bold, traditional feeling the minute to step in. Its the same feeling as when you enter a pioneer house or farm in the south of Brazil, a welcoming, warmth, friendly, mysteryous, yet humble, and that's the exact feeling all Fogo's gives you, including the ones in Sao Paulo. I can't compliment Fogo enough; their forte is steaks and they are really good at it, they specialize in steaks and other minor details such as sushi, fish, and other sides are well prepared but the spotlight is on the steaks. Fogo maintain their quality through all of their restaurants, the same great quality you get here, you'll get it in Brazil. Just in Brazil, they have won the title of the best Churrascaria de espeto corrido for 7 consecutive years from a well known magazine, Veja. Their steaks are top notch, very tender, moist, grilled to perfection. And the first thing the waiter does is get your drinking order and how exactly you like to enjoy your steaksan and voila!!! Perfect steaks at all times, not rocket science, but it does makes a world of difference! That's the difference that makes a world class-churrascaria. My favorite cuts are Fraldinha, picanha, and the lamb was well seasoned and super good. All the sides, including the salad bar is very delicious, but very simple, nothing extravagant. Fogo is not nor wll be a place for the best salad bar. Service and great and attentive. You will not regret! If you want to explore and get to know a real Brazilian steakhouse, Fogo is what you are awaiting for! I recommend giving them a call prior your visit, they sometimes have some pricing specials plus you'll guarantee a seat!
(5)
H A.
Good food, good service and a bit expensive. Overall I love it :-)
(4)
Krisztina F.
Fogo, you've done it again. No matter which city, always 5 star. Service is anticipatory without being aggressive. I thought about it, and it arrived. Seriously...you could be sitting there thinking "MMM, this Parmesan encrusted pork loin is delicious...but is there any more filet mignon or prime rib?" And voila! There it is, skewered and served at your side. For a Brazilian steakhouse, they out salad-bar and side every other meat-centric establishment I know of. Even lunch is served with complimentary mashed potatoes and yummy cheese popovers. It's a feast for the eyes, the taste buds, and your stomach. And if your first date can't watch you delicately and slowly gorge yourself on some of the most delicious meats in the universe, you probably shouldn't be dating, anyways. Pricing is about as follows, with no alcohol: Lunch 25/full meal or 19 for the salad bar, And your dinner is about $40. Worth every single penny. It's a great place for a business lunch, for out of town guest when you have time to luxuriate in a restaurant, and well, it's my kind of romantic dinner out! I mean seriously, I don't give too many 5-stars.
(5)
Daniel B.
Wow, a great all you can eat brazilian steakhouse. While not everything brought out was superb ... it all was really good. They did struggle getting some medium rare steak out at one point ... but I was eating an enormous amount and it had to be hard to keep up! The "salad bar" is not a run of the mill salad bar ... it has a very impressive variety of exotic options ... and the the Caipirinhas are delectable and use a quality cachaça! Bring an appetite and avoid the carbs ... this place is all about the protein loading ;)
(5)
Florence S.
I came here at the urging of a friend since I had been to other churrascarias except this one. We were running a little late for our 5p reservation due to traffic and called to let them know, which they were understanding. They have complimentary valet in a garage, which is very nice and convenient. Upon entering, we were greeted and seated immediately. We chose to do the summer feast, which was only $35. The salad bar was plentiful and they also had potatoes au gratin, black beans, and white rice in warmers on the side of the salad bar. They also bring out polenta "fries" and fried bananas. Like with all churrascarias, the meat is plentiful and I was extremely happy that they had rare pieces. My only complaint about the meats is that the edges are highly salted and in some pieces, it was like eating a salt lick. The staff was helpful and were always offering to get me a new plate. When we asked for the check, it took about 10 min, but it was because they were getting my birthday creme brulee ready, so I can't really fault them on that.
(5)
Brian P.
This place is a top notch Brazilian Barbeque joint. My coworkers commented on how much better it is than others they had visited. Some pro-tips: Prices aren't prominent. Dinner will cost you about $50/person without drinks. Get everything medium to well done. Their medium rare is closer to rare. The pineapple is excellent, but don't fill up on it. I recommend staying away from the lamb. Other people liked it. The ambiance, food, and service was great. Some of the meat (e.g. lamb, garlic beef) wasn't as good as I would have hoped, but overall I liked it will definitely go back.
(4)
David A.
When I first walked in, I felt the place was a little dark and dreary. It was restaurant week so the place was very busy. We had a drink in the slightly cramped bar area while we waited the 20 minutes for our reservation. None of the drinks were particularly well crafted, especially considering the moderate fee they charged for them. After we were seated the wait staff started taking care of us very well. Everyone was polite and very attentive. They'll bring you mashed potatoes, fried polenta, and fried bananas. They try very hard to make sure you don't run out. They'll have you treat yourself to their salad bar; which I found uninspired (I don't know of anyone who enjoys steaks with cold green beans and cold mushrooms). After you get situated, you flip your little cards over to green, indicating you are ready for meat. The beef really is the star of the show here. Everything is nicely seasoned and sizzling hot when it gets to the table. The overwhelming favorite at our table was the bottom sirloin. In last place was their bacon wrapped chicken, which struck us as frozen food brought back to life in a microwave. You'll pay a chunk of change to eat here. In return you'll get delicious red meats, excellent service, and all you can eat. Do I think it's worth it? -Not really sure. Will I go back? -Nope.
(3)
Qiongxiao Y.
Great food! Soiloin is my first choice of meat there! Pineapples are great! It was a pity that I got full in 15 minutes I wish I had eaten more for the money I paid!!!
(5)
Sam V.
Came here for a company dinner; what a treat! We were treated to the whole 9 yards-- the full churrasco experience for everyone! First of all, the service was absolutely exceptional. I'm pescaterian and they happily subbed the table-side carvings for their Mango Chilean Sea Bass. It was flavorful, succulent, and cooked perfectly. The 'Market Table' and sides are choice and it was hard to not get full on those options alone. Overall, it was a well executed and exceptional dining experience (especially given the fact they had to tend to many people). I'm definitely going to come again (minus my coworkers).
(5)
J K.
This place is GOOD. The kind of good where you are actually excited about it, thinking ahead and it ends up being the best part of your day. Meats are amazing, sides are amazing, drinks are amazing, salad is amazing. It's pricey but worth it.
(5)
Jenny P.
I've been to a few Brazilian steakhouses before and just thought it was okay but the meat at Fogo really is fantastic. The lunch deal is definitely worth the price. The salad bar alone is usually full of great salads, meat, cheese, and salmon but I try to not get too full from eating it so that I can focus on the meat. My favorite is the house special. Everytime they slice you a piece, I think they take it back inside to char the outside again so that every piece always has a nice char on the outside. I also love the filet mignon, medium to medium rare. Very tender and juicy. I'm not a huge chicken fan but I like their little chicken drumsticks as well, very flavorful. Then of course there is the cheese bread. Its only good with its warm though. One of the waiters showed us a trick, to put a little condensed milk in the cheese bread and eat it with the bananas. Its pretty much a dessert at this point and soooo good.
(5)
Morgan J.
I don't live here, but every time I come visit my sister, I'm coming here. I'm not sure what all I ate, but none of it was bad. Tyler (really wish I remembered his last name to make sure he knows who I'm talking about) put up with my crazy family and then some. We're a difficult bunch but he laughed with us and engaged far more than I'm used to with any restaurant staff I've ever come across. I ate some of EVERYTHING we were offered, but I think the lamb and the bottom sirloin were my favorites. I'll let you know when I come back and try again. The molten chocolate cake was magnificent as well. But, food aside, I will definitely look for Tyler when I come back. He made it fun rather than overwhelming with the amount of food.
(5)
Yoomi P.
What an amazing place for meatlovers! :) So, I've been to the Fogo in LA, and of course loved it. The meat quality/taste is pretty much the same as the LA location. Picanha is my favorite, and I believe it's the most famous/popular one. I recommend if you go there for the first time, to try a little bit of EVERY meat. But make sure to ask for small pieces b/c otherwise you'll probably explode before you can try half of their selections lol. As for the salad bar, I like the options in LA better, but the Denver location had enough to satisfy my veggies/cheese cravings. :) My favorite part about brazilian bbq is the pau de quejo (sp?) The amazing cheesy chewy goodness that simply melts in your mouth. I eat at least 10 of them whenever I go... which leaves no room for the delicious meat :((( I also absolutely love their grilled pineapple that's sprinkled with cinnamon. It goes GREAT with the meat. I can't forget the fried bananas! Mmmmmmmmm. So much goodness... The only thing I can recommend is to really try EVERYTHING. The meat, cheese bread, pineapple, bananas, polenta, brazilian soda, salad bar.. EVERYTHING!! You'll love the experience, I guarantee it :)
(4)
Phil B.
Meat meat and more meat! Walking the line between a gourmet and gourmand, I do love some Brazilian steakhouse goodness. The service is solid, although on a busy night it is easy to get lost in the crowd. Additionally, depending on where you are, it can be a significant hike to the salad bar (because we all know that why you go to a steakhouse is the salad...) and there seems to be less foot traffic of those kind folks carrying the meat which I so desire to eat. Seated in a high traffic area, it is easily 5 stars (the lamb definitely brings it up to 5) but stuck in a corner, if you are in the far back, you will have to ask for various meats and you will have to be patient (which would drop it to 3 stars). We were there twice in 2 week, once with a great location, then with a walk far enough to make me wonder if we were getting seated in another restaurant. And thus, by the law of averages, 4 stars it is.
(4)
Daniel T.
Again, Fogo is the greatest chain ever created in the history of mankind. This spot is pretty awesome. $25 for lunch is a ridiculously cheap price for all the amazing beef you get! Just sit and eat all of the pequena. Parking kind of sucks, but once you get settled in a parking structure, just walk on over!
(5)
Belinda L.
I cannot express how happy I was trying this restaurant out. First you should only come here on an empty stomach. The cost is hefty. The atmosphere was calm. The service was prompt. We didn't want for anything. They tended to us like we were royalty. My glass was magically filled. It was like I turned my head and when I turned it back my glass was full. The only thing they didn't do was cut my food up and spoon feed me. The valet was complimentary too. I didn't want to leave this place! Highly recommend.
(5)
Michael M.
My daughter said "what have you gotten us into?!" Afterwards she thought it was great. Neither of us had done Brazilian steakhouse before so I'm sure Mississippi people looked a little lost, but we quickly found our comfort zone. The food was amazing, wait staff courteous and very helpful, and atmosphere great. We were casually dressed but felt very comfortable as others were as well. Definitely worth it!
(5)
Hunter R.
Love this place!!! Carnivores only. Be sure to come hungry, then make sure your plans for the night are to hit the couch in what my friend calls a "meat coma". Amazing service makes it 5 stars for me, especially after having very poor service at the other Brazilian steakhouse in Denver.
(5)
Jamie C.
Great deal for Denver Restaurant Week! All you can eat Brazilian BBQ, that's the only way to go! It's definitely a fantastic dining experience since you can try various cuts of different steaks/meats instead of just being stuck with one option. The Fraldinha (Bottom Sirloin) was my absolute favorite cut. It was perfectly seared on the outside with a saltier taste. The meat was perfectly tender and that's all I wanted most of the night. All the other meats were delicious as well, particularly the garlic Picanha, but bottom sirloin was just the most memorable for me that night. Awesome and huge salad bar! Side dishes: The pão de queijo (warm cheese bread) is also to die for here. My best friend can eat baskets and baskets but it's the best when it first comes out. I'm definitely a texture person when it comes to food and this side dish is perfection crispy on the outside but soft and chewy on the inside and it's just fantastic. The caramelized bananas are also really great for when you want to change up your palette and opt for something slightly sweet. If it's not sweet enough for you, definitely get some condensed milk on the side to pour over it! Tip: Get some Chimichurri sauce to pair with your meats when you want to change it up a bit during the meal. Complimentary valet.
(5)
Lily S.
Everything's good but I'm just not a big fan of this type of cuisine so I can't rate it 4-stars. 3.5 is more like it and if you don't have time to read the rest of the review please be assured you'll love it if Brazilian style roasted meats are your thing. So my friend said we had to come on New Year's day since it falls on a Thursday this time which means we'll get half-priced food during lunch hours ($26.30 per person, as opposed to $50 at night) and free street parking! Good point. It was a party of about 15 and we sat at a long table. The nice thing is you don't have to wait till the entire party arrives, people are going to be late, you'll just help yourself to foods in the salad bar! My most favorite is the Marinated Grilled Zucchini, OMG the marinade and the grill marks make the sliced squash so flavorful and not at all soggy. You can probably eat your worth of money by getting a lot of smoked salmon, lol. I, on the other hand, saved room for the to-die-for lemonade, or rather, Brazilian Limeade. It's $4.50 per glass but with endless refills. I hate regular lemonade, even freshly squeezed ones, thought they taste too much like the citrus skin, but this Limeade is a whole different story. I late looked up the recipe online and it consists of lime juice, milk, and sweetened condensed milk, just think of the ingredients and you should know how yummy the drink is. It's also cloudy and slightly foamy as the waiter pours it from the pitcher into the glass, it's beautiful to look at, almost reminds me of a Pina Colada. The meats can be non-stop if you want it, get the grilled pineapple, it compliments the chicken very well. I ate so many kinds of meats I couldn't keep a straight list. But again, if I'm given the choice of Korean BBQ or this, I'll pick the Asian alternative, but that's just me. Service is always on the spot, got absolutely nothing to complain about. Fogo De Chao is a nice restaurant that has its own brand chocolate and napkin! I enjoyed dinging here.
(3)
Steve A.
Been to many Brazilian stack houses and out of all of them in the different states I would say this one was my least favorite. The service is slow at times. The staff was not as polite as I would expect going to a high end restaurant. The food was ok.
(3)
Linda T.
I've been craving meat! So this is the place to come. I am a college student so Fogo de Chao is more like a splurge but it was well worth it after finals. A few friends and I came for lunch after finals were over to celebrate since lunch is $26.50. Even if you did not want to eat meat, they have a very extensive salad bar that could probably satisfy you. If not, the cheese bread that they bring out is delicious. One of my friends were full but kept asking the waitress for their cheese bread. I had the green circle on the table and the meat kept coming my way. I think my favorites were the picanha, filet mignon and the filet mignon wrapped with bacon. Some pieces were salty but I'm glad they had the meat seasoned. It was a great day and the food was great. The service was amazing and when I want to celebrate again, here I will come! :)
(5)
Jaime H.
I was super excited to bring my work team here during our training in Denver. The Minneapolis Fogo is Awesome and I wanted my team to have the same experience. I was very disappointed when we walked past the salad bar (that resembled an old country buffett salad bar)on the way to our table. It didn't even come close to the appearance of the Mpls Fogo. It didn't have the Cheeses and even more importantly didn't have the smoked Salmon that I often think about that Mpls has. The waitress was very nice and service was very good. The meat served was similar to the Mpls FOGO. It was very good. I was relieved once I tasted the meats. I had to give 3 stars for the lack of ambience I was expecting comparing to the MPLS location.
(3)
Monica J.
My husband loves Fogo de Chão restaurants so much that we visit them while we are travelling to other cities. For Labor Day weekend we were staying in Boulder, Colorado but just had to make the drive to downtown Denver (which wasn't bad actually) to dine here Sunday evening with some friends. The food was pretty much the same as any other location. Which is to say, it was delicious. I love getting the little red peppers at the salad bar as well as the marinated artichokes and mushrooms. The meats are all fantastic and I like to ask for some chimichurri sauce to accompany them. The service at the Denver location was warm and friendly and everyone was on the spot to get fresh plates or whatever items we needed. The only downside is somehow no one ever brought my hubby's iced tea. We had them take it off the bill at the end of the night so no big deal. We lucked out in that it was restaurant week and so our meal was only $30!!!
(5)
Dave H.
Endless tasty roasted meat, served at the table. There's a fine salad bar you can visit as often as you want, too, though that's gotten pared down a bit over the past few days. The service, a tag team approach, is always highly attentive, with the exception of delays in getting back drinks from the bar (though the caiparinhas are worth the wait.
(4)
Megan J.
Took a large group for a birthday party and they did absolutely everything right. Food was amazing, service was impeccable, and we all left happy. Several people from our party are ready to go back! I'd recommend one must have item, but to be honest, I can't choose. All the main course items were cooked to perfection, and the salad bar was so delicious I could have just had that and been happy.
(5)
Grace B.
If you are like me, Foodie on a Budget, try this place during Denver Restaurant Week! All you can eat Brazilian BBQ with only few meats taken out of the menu for Denver Restaurant Week. Not to mention a great selection of bottomless salad bar to go with your meat and baskets of Brazilian cheese bread, platters of caramelized bananas, plates of mashed potatoes studded with garlic and trays of crispy polenta! Caramelized bananas was very sweet and crispy polenta was salty but nice addition. TIP: Ask for some Chimichurri sauce to go with your meat, which helps you refresh your mouth by neutralizing the fattiness of the meat. This sauce will help you eat more meat for sure! Now stop reading reviews on yelp and GO TRY THIS PLACE! (One of the best deals from Denver Restaurant Week!)
(4)
Dawn H.
Overall: The dinner is $46.50 + tax per person. Not too shabby. As far as the entire experience, Fogo is a solid 3.5 stars for me. So who does what better (i.e. Fogo vs. Rodizio vs. TdB)? The answer -- it's a mixed bag. Meats: Fogo -- best flavor by far. Personally, I prefer the meat selection (variety) at Rodizio, but there is no denying the quality here by far, especially the lamb. Pineapple -- Rodizio. The pineapple at Fogo is smothered in way too much cinnamon, but I must admit, this is splitting hairs. I say that because the pineapple gaucho only came around once over the course of an hour, and it made me sad. :( Mashed Potatoes -- Fogo. Just the right amount of garlic and were complimentary to the meats served. Fried Bananas -- Rodizio. The fried bananas at Fogo are bit on the oily and mushy side and fell apart easily. Salad Bar -- TdB. No soup options at Fogo. The salad bar itself at Fogo was still nice though -- it's just that TdB has more salad bar offerings, including lobster bisque. Fogo offers the usual salad greens and fixings, real bacon, artichokes, sundried tomatoes, various mayo-infused salad (i.e. pototao salad, chicken salad), prosciutto, salami, various cheeses, olives, smoked salmon.....and that's all I can recall at the moment. Service: Fogo/TdB. At both locations, the gauchos are really quick and the servers are 20 steps ahead when it comes to basic services (i.e. refilling beverages, etc.) The creme brulee at Fogo is worth noting -- please save room for this! It was overall really good -- just wish I could incorporate all the pros from the various locations and combine them together into one restaurant!
(3)
Riza H. C.
Friday February 28th 2014. Last day of Denver Restaurant Week for some establishments aka restaurants in town. For FOGO DE CHAO Denver, when I checked, they extended that Denver Restaurant Week till the weekend of March 2nd 2014. I have made reservations sometime back coz for one Hubs wanted to have a "AYCE". Yes its DWR with $30 per person just for food. Yes, this establishment was packed to the brim. We had the reservation for 21:30hrs, I told Hubs to arrive early in case we can have our seats early. Thank God we did, we were seated @ 21:10hrs, though our table is like in the middle of "traffic", aka near the SALAD BAR, added bonus to Hubs content. Then when our server arrived, man, too many people aka to many servers. Since this establishment is LOUD with other patrons, I can barely hear what's going on, though I know the style of Dining, this establishment has to offer. From the Denver Restaurant Week Menu these were the following items : * Salad & Sides Bar * Bread and Side Dishes * Main Course * Picanha * Alcatra * Fraldinha * Cordeiro * Linguica * Costela de Porco * Lombo * Frango Take note, out of 8 Meat Items, we CAN ONLY eat 4 of it, coz the rest contain PORK. First misleading information since this is NOT stated when we made the reservations. The Salad bar, seems ok, nothing stellar nothing fancy - Err personally it looks so sad, and Hubs agreed to that sentiments too *SIGH* I managed to get the Salmon, the rest are PASTA, and Vegetables. It would be nice, if there are "LABELS" indicated at the Salad Bar, like what we are eating etc etc but they were NOT - Second Epic Fail. On my right, well actually to the back where I was seating, they offer the trays of Carbs such as Rice. Yes, Hubs tends to like the Brazilian Cheese Bread, and the Crispy Polenta. I like the Brazilian Cheese Bread too. We don't like the Garlic Mash Potatoes coz it went cold. They brought out all these items including the Caramelized Bananas, that went to COLD too fast. *SECOND BIG SIGH* To add with that, since I might be a little under the weather, I cannot really enjoy this DWR to the fullest. Hence this 3 stars Generous review. I felt we were short-changed coz of the limited kind of meats they offer. It was NOT stated in any shape or form when we went to make the Reservation Online. Hubs rated this experience as 3 Stars, personally for me, for the Value, of the DWR 2014, Fogo De Chao Denver offer is 2.5 Stars, but OVERALL Dining Experience more like 2 Stars at best. Since Hubs had coffee ($2.55) was added to the cost and our Dinner that evening was $67.55. The Main Server that evening is Jordan and the Cashier is Ksenia. Left the establishment about 22:50hrs ish. FOGO DE CHAO 1513 Wynkoop St Denver, CO 80202 @38/2014
(3)
Jason A.
Amazing place. A friend recommended this place to me so we went here on an anniversary date. Even better than I expected. Service is great. So is the food (my favorite was probably the beef ancho (ribeye). The sides - and the bread - are also delicious, which poses a problem because you don't really want to fill up on those. Would definitely visit again.
(5)
J T.
I came here for a birthday celebration, unfortunately it coincided with restaurant week. Madness! I love restaurant week, but it's gotten out of hand crazy busy. It was wall to wall people. I've been to 2 other Fogo's, but this is my first visit to this location in Denver. I made reservations but because of restaurant week I still had to wait for 20 minutes for our table. Not bad considering others were telling me they had been waiting for longer. Service was good- our server was in from Kansas City for restaurant week. He was lovely. Very attentive, consistent with the service I've come to expect from Fogo. Valet parking is free (the lot next to the restaurant is where to go for that) it is a great service! Yay for valet! Love, love love the pao de quiego (cheese bread) it is amazing. The Fogo version is just So delicious. I could have sat here and just ate that all night, but luckily I diversified. I hit the salad bar... I was honestly disappointed by the selection. Where was the bowl of bacon I've come to expect and love? Missing. The prosciutto? Nope. The hearts of Palm? Nada. The wheel of parmaggiana regianno? Nope. Instead there was some generic salami, and cheese slices and bowls of lettuces. Booo. Their shiitake mushrooms were also just regular button mushrooms. Dissapointing. I love the Fogo salad bars at the other locations I've eaten at... I hope that this isn't a regional issue. I'm hoping that this was because it was restaurant week and they had a stripped down version of their regular salad bar. It really didn't cut the mustard for me...( yes, I am the girl that goes to a meat fest to eat salad). But who goes to a churrascuria for the salad? The meat is definitely the main event at this place. The meat more than made up for the salad bar. The gauchos kept coming with the meat offerings, they were attentive and were like meat magicians..." I see your plate is nearly half empty, more meats?" Seriously, I keep forgetting to wear my fat pants to these places. The bottom sirloin was my favorite cut. Picanha and the flank were also amazing. It was all amazingly flavored, salty, melty, meaty deliciousness. I loved the bananas, not a fan of the polenta fries, the potatoes were great but a touch cold. I wish I made room for dessert but honestly I just spent the rest of the night fighting off the dreaded meat sweats. Oh the meat sweats! I regret nothing!
(4)
Kristine N.
Came during restaurant week and we had a reservation at 7. Checked in at 6:40 and didn't get sat until about 7:20. That was frustrating. The salad bar is nice with plenty of options. They also have a couple of hot dishes along the buffet line. On to the meat, it was SLOW! But the best ones were the bottom shoulder, the Parmesan crusted, and the garlic steak. Yum. Side dishes were good, especially the fries!!!
(4)
Shane A.
Some of the best food I've had. Make sure to bring an appetite, you'll need it! Specifically there's a server named Manny who took complete care of us all night. No sooner than I spilled my drink, he was there - he could have caught the glass if he was any faster to respond. He took care of us all night - made sure we had everything we needed, sometimes before we even realized we needed it. It was a great experience.
(5)
Rae L.
I brought my friend here for his birthday and we both had an excellent time. While the ambiance is not exactly friendly to romance, being a little loud and filled with bustling servers, it was a nice place to get an excellent meal. The service was above and beyond, although you never seem to have the same server for very long as everyone chips in. I loved the costumes of the meat carriers, a nice authentic touch. The food was fabulous. The buffet items were all well done, however I stuck to the cured meats and cheeses and a few of the salads. There was so much to choose from I didn't want to fill up before the meat began. My cocktails were a little slow (where is the bar in this place I don't know) in getting to me, but they were all well made and incredibly tasty. The meat is of course the star however. I didn't want to stop eating it was so good! And they aren't kidding that once you flip green, you will be bombarded by meat. Sometimes even when it's flipped to red, but who is going to say no to such well prepared Filet Mignon? They have various temps cooked on their skewers so if one likes their meat cooked till it's soul is writhing in agony and the other likes it bloody, it's okay. We ended the meal with dessert and a cognac. The servers even went out of their way, even though no one had told them directly, they had overheard our conversation and written Happy Birthday on the plate of the birthday boy - now that's attention to detail! Yes, Fago de Chao is expensive. But it's an experience and one worth having more than once! I can't wait to take more people here to celebrate!
(4)
Amy O.
Need to go back for more pão de queijo and caipirinha!!!! YUM
(5)
Ryssby R.
If you are are going to participate in restaurant week it is important that you take the opportunity to impress - our server MinWoo did a fantastic job paying attention his clients and taking care of little things that make a big difference. They have a great wine list and the team work is impressive. Great job to the management as your staff is only a good as the leadership and great job to the support staff because a business is only as good as their people. Thank you.
(5)
Leigh W.
We are big fans of Fogo De Chao and the wide variety of flavorful meats. They carry so many different meats and have a great salad bar and the side dishes are tasty too! Do not make the mistake of making a big salad to start with, you want to save room for the important stuff the steak, chicken, pork, etc!! The wait staff are on top of it as well never leaving your plate empty. This is by far my favorite Brazilian Steak House I have been too. Not a fan of Rodizio, they just do not have the taste to their meats like Fogo does!
(4)
Ramon G.
4.5 to be exact. The food and service speaks for itself at Fogo. As you walk in you know you are about to experience something special. The meats- A delicious assortment consisting of beef, lamb, pork and sausage. Depending on the cut you do get to pick your preferred temperature. I usually stick around medium rare to medium. My fav's are the rib eye, top/bottom sirloin and the garlic tenderloin. The salad bar- Not bad but I think Texas De Brazil has the edge on this. (Not that you come here to eat salad) The bread- Pao de queijo is like candy. Sides- Love the bananas. Service- Knowledgeable, friendly and very attentive. Wine- I've had good luck with their Carmenere's and Cabs. Dessert- Are you kidding? Hint- Don't eat meat all week and be sure to hike a 14'er or run a marathon prior to dining at Fogo. You'll be alright....
(4)
Stephanie A.
came for 5280 week, Enjoyed it to pieces their salad bar is wicked awesome. and the meat! OH THE DELICIOUS MEAT! The service is fantastic, had the Creme brulee for dessert and cried tears of joy upon taking the first bite of the heavenly masterpiece. They take great care of you here. If I were to mention a down point, all I would say is that the hostess seemed a little unfriendly, I like to be greeted with a smile, and a hello. Other than that, sheer perfection.
(5)
Akilah R.
Their signature drinks are phenomenal! I went with a group of friends, some of whom have been to Rio, and it took them back. Great scene, great food, great service (staff push in your chair once you're seated - they're all about the details here). Very attentive, very professional and friendly. Not much more to say than that.
(4)
Christina Z.
What can I say about Fogo de Chao that hasn't already been said? Other than it's incredibly, mouth-watering delicious, here are a couple of my notes that I'd like to contribute: 1. Go for lunch. It's about half the price and you get all of the same meats (you'll get a couple more sides with dinner, but why eat mashed potatos when you have dozens of pounds of sizzling meat that await?) The side dishes are awesome at both meals, so you won't feel like you're missing out. 2. The salad bar is included with the all-you-can-eat meats and it is awesome. So awesome, in fact, I called the restaurant back the next day to ask WHAT TYPES OF CHEESES WERE FEATURED...they were THAT GOOD. (For those of you who are curious: aged machego and 24-month aged parmesan.) 3. I have an inside joke with my boyfriend that he should take some notes from the gauchos at Fogo...they treat you like a lady (if you happen to be a woman, at least)! To be sure, it's way-over-the-top and it's hard to take their pants seriously, but everytime my boyfriend gets out of line, I let him know that the Fogo men are next in line. But really, once I ordered the caiparainha and it didn't taste great, so they took it back (after I drank half haha) and made me a new, better one after asking what flavors I liked.
(5)
Heather P.
Wonderful place for groups, a little loud for maybe a intimate solo date. My group thought the service was great, we were stuffed! Must have a little of everything but do get the fogo beef, garlic pork, and bacon wrapped chicken.
(4)
Maggie B.
Another year of Restaurant Week and another great choice! Fogo did not disappoint! I love the fact that the staff works together as a group instead of as individual waiters. It makes getting what you need much easier and you can enjoy your dinner without having to keep looking for your waiter. The steak was amazing as always but this time the chicken was cooked almost (if not better) than the steak. I ate more chicken this time than I ever had before. It was so delicious! I also love the side buffet at the Denver location. They have a ton of options and variety for you to choose not to mention the sides that get brought over to the table. The side buffet is so good it's hard to remember to save room for steak! Also, make sure to save room for cheesecake. This was the first time we have eaten dessert at Fogo and the cheesecake was amazing....just as good as Cheesecake Factory! As always I highly recommended this place for any occasion!
(5)
Jerry S.
Went for 5280 for the 4th year in a row. I gotta say it's the best 5280 bang for your buck. Holy meat gluttony, love it!! Never disappointing... unless you're a vegetarian.
(5)
J. S.
I have been to about 7-8 Brazilian style steakhouses...and not all Brazilian steakhouses are created equal, that's for sure! Fogo is at the top of the list in my book, the food AND service are both top notch, so I have no complaints here. One thing I should disclose before saying more: we did NOT go on 5280 nights...there seems to be a trend of bad reviews listed by people who ate here during restaurant week. That being said, we have been to this Denver location twice and have been very happy and fulfilled both times. My husband and I have really enjoyed the ambiance and the quality of service and food here. It doesn't get better than that at a restaurant. I don't think either of us ever needed to ask for refills, nor did we have the meat carvers avoid us...just the opposite! They brought us fresh polenta and cheese bread without us asking...just amazing! The meat was tender and juicy. I pefer mine cooked about medium rare and I was very pleased with the cooking of the meat. At the very end of our meal, they surprised us by bringing out a dessert and written in chocolate syrup around the plate it said: "Happy Anniversary!" which was a thoughtful and nice touch. We were very pleased! Definitely try the brazilian flan, I used to hate flan until I had Brazilian flan. Now I'm hooked! I'm curious to try Texas de Brazil, but this place is so good, I just can't justify taking the risk in case Texas de Brazil sucks in comparison... especially since Fogo de Chao is so amazing! If any other Yelpers have been to both, let me know how they compare. We are so thrilled with Fogo that we won't be trying Texas unless we hear otherwise. We are just THAT smitten! :)
(5)
Monica L.
Denver Restaurant Week at Fogo last night was terrific. We went early before they got too busy which worked out well. The atmosphere, service and food were all as good as when I was there when it wasn't DRW. On the salad bar, don't miss the Caesar salad. Their Caesar dressing is really good. The cheese popovers are addictive. My favorite meats are the pork ribs, bacon-wrapped filet, chicken legs and lamb chops. I recommend you skip the turtle cheesecake. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't good either. My husband and two friends had the key lime pie and raved about it. Next time, I'd order the key lime pie or try the chocolate mousse cake.
(4)
Aileen D.
It was all fine and dandy until I hit the salad bar. Great salad bar, heavy on the cheeses and fabulous salmon and chicken salad. But.....What do you mean no rice? I always have black beans which i spoon over rice. It kinda ruined my evening. The polenta cakes and mashed potatoes were ok but not what I was looking forward too. The beef options [esp. the filet] were very tasty and well-seasoned as well as the sausage but I didn't care for the pork [dry], chicken [dry]. Definitely opt for deswert....key lime pie! The servers were very attentive, almost like a parade. It did get annoying when they ignored the RED but, in most instances, I'm glad they persisted. I would come back, if someone else was picking up the tab.
(3)
Peter M.
Come with money. Leave happy. The lunch is by far the best deal. Same exact thing as dinner, only a good deal less expensive. Hey, vegetarians... This place is not for you - you are probably not a good fit. at all. Skewers of meat... All kinds. One after another. So good. Bad first date spot. Come hungry. Don't pretend it's not tasty. Eat LOTS! All in one pricing makes this place awesome for those with an appetite for meat, but bad for calorie counting, self conscious types. Those types should go get a salad while real Americans get their grub on. That is all. Go Broncos.
(5)
Chris W.
Great Salad bar with HUGE asparagus spears, greens, artichokes, hearts of palm even? ...cured meats and cheeses, lots to choose from! Go easy and save some room for the MEAT! Some of my favorite's were the Picanha, Filet Mignon, and the Alcatra. In my opinion, don't bother with dessert, and get an extra order of the caramelized bananas If you're drinking, be careful of the Caipirinha's (especially the premium one @ $12.50 a pop), they go down really easy! Glad we were dining here during Denver Restaurant Week....I think I would save this one for lunch time, and save a little coin. Lunch = $24.50 pp Dinner = $42.50 pp The atmosphere is pretty loud, and there are servers rushing around quite a bit. This is somewhat expected due to the way they serve the meats, and such. Just note that a quiet/intimate "date" night might be difficult to obtain here. Again, this may be due to the Restaurant Week rush. Cheers, CW
Fantastic food and drink + outstanding service+the best dining companion =perfect evening! After reading my less than stellar review, one of the family members that own Fogo de Chao contacted me, we then talked on the phone, I explained my concerns, he understood where I was coming from and he then explained that they were just coming off of restaurant week so the food and service may have not been up to par, he insisted not only on refunding my money, but mailing me a $100 gift card because he wanted to me to try them again. Obviously impressive. To top it off, B had received a $50 gift card from Laura L. as a thank you for helping with Yelpalooza 2.0 so we had decided that at some point we'd do it up. We finally did and it was amazing! The food was much better this time. Not only better but wonderful! And the service wasn't as over the top as last time. Attentive, but not hovering. B. adored the Fillet Mignon and was bummed that they had not circulated the again so when they came over with another meat, he asked about it and they brought more out to him. Perhaps that is my only complaint: the circulation of the meats. It seems that they circulate some meats more than others, and I don't think it's based on popularity or cooking time, but more on the cost of the cut of meat. It was a bummer because I was full and they had cleared my plate they came out with new meats that hadn't been out before. I'm sure they would have brought me a new plate if I had asked, but I wanted to save room for dessert. And I'm glad I did! I've been on a Key Lime Pie craze lately so I had that. Outstanding! B had the strawberry ice cream thingy. It was tasty, but we both agreed that it was nothing to write home about. B also wanted to have the drink cart come over, they did and I had a really tasty sweet wine, comparable to a port, and B had some extra fancy edition of Grand Marnier. While it won't be a place I'll frequent, I'll definitely return to Fogo when I'm in the mood for a meat-fest and have the extra money to spend.
(4)
Kathleen A.
Nothing spells Valentine's Day better than a full-on bonafied meat coma with your significant other. I had been to Fogo a few times before, in Chicago. The Denver spot was no different. The service is still spectacular and the food is AMAZING. Funny that Rob K. calls this place a "meat parade" because that was Matt's very same expression after a few gauchos came out with different cuts of meat. I referred to it as a Meat storm so you get the picture. Everything was delicious. I can't really narrow down my absolute favorite, but the standouts were: the chicken legs, parmesean encrusted pork loin and bacon wrapped chicken and filets. I also loved the sides-carmelized bananas, polenta and mashed potatoes. But do not focus on these so much as the meat you are consuming! The staff was very attentive, and did not hesitate to fulfill my multiple meat requests. They made sure our sides were always fresh and hot and drinks never empty!!! If you are a meat eater you have to come here! Make sure you starve yourself all day first to get your money's worth. Sure the salad bar is great, but don't waste your stomach space! At $38 per person this place is definitely worth every penny.
(5)
Dan S.
Up front, let me say I vacillated a bit between four and five stars. We had a tremendous meal here with a group of friends. My wife eats gluten-free, and almost everything was gluten-free - even the cheese bread (po de queijo), which is made with manioc flour. A real treat for her. Our server not only gave her some suggestions but brought the manager over who was familiar with everything and gave her the rundown - they were very accommodating. The salad bar is not as extensive as some, but the food was fresh, tasty and fun. They make a basil sauce/dressing that is excellent, particularly with the hearts of palm and artichokes. My wife may very well just have the salad bar when we go next. As we approach the meats, they bring over some sides - heavenly carmelized bananas, next to forgettable crispy polenta and mashed potatos I didn't even try. BUT, make sure you ask for the optional side dishes - the farofa (also made with manioc flour) and beans were great (and awesome together). The meats ranged from pretty good to great. I was pleasantly surprised by the Parmesan Pork - a great combination and not overdone. The Fraldinha was very good, the Picanha just a little disappointing (it is breathtaking in Brasil, including at a Fogo de Chao I ate at in Sao Paolo). The pork ribs were terrific. The service was rapid fire - take a deep breath and tell them no if you don't want a particular type. Also, don't be shy about asking them to bring something specific over, if you haven't tried it or just want more. They have the good Guarana (Antarctica, which is a Brasilian soda, compared to ginger ale, but better). I was salivating at the idea of Papaya Cream with Creme de Cassis - it is a wonder of the desert world. Their version is heavier on the ice cream than I prefer, but still excellent and the best I've had in the States. Don't miss it. One critical note, and it is a small one, but they brought over a fancy cart with after dinner drinks and the sales pitch was a little heavy-handed. We managed to say 'no thank you', however. A great place for a group and a plethora of choices if you eat gluten-free.
(4)
Amanda G.
This is the best 52.80 week deal hands down. I'd been to the Fogo's in LA and thought it was great. It's a chain and they are apparently all identical...with the exception of the price. LA charges you more. Anyhow, we went for $52.80 week and it was great. You get to eat off the full menu (and this place has potential to be gluttony), the food is great and the experience is fun (if a little intense). We didn't love how packed in we were but other than that, highly recommended. Call now and get a reservation for next year. :)
(4)
Saad A.
Great restaurant, one of the best Brazilian Churrascaria cuisines you can find anywhere.. oh and it absolutely dwarfes any other Brazilian restaurants that are nearby, no comparison what so ever..
(5)
Stephanie L.
I'd been wanting to try Fogo for a while. My husband had been a few times in other US cities, and said it was the best churascaria around. We dined there recently and it did not dissapoint. I am a huge fan of the salad bar, although calling it a salad bar is really an insult. I can't get enough of the fresh cheeses and meats and the fresh veggies. So onto the main course... the meat. It was wonderful. Defintiely a higher quality meat that other churascarias that I've been to. My favorite was their house special, the garlic beef and the lamb chops. The side dishes they bring out are also great. What is most impressive about Fogo is the staff and the service. They do not mess around. Most people I know could take a lesson on work ethic from them. Expensive.... but worth it every once in a whle.
(5)
Shane S.
Impressive... after a disappointing meal at one of Denver's finest steakhouses the night before, this restaurant was a pleasant surprise. I can't believe I am saying this but the salad bar alone was worth the trip. Be careful not to fill up too much at the salad bar and bring your appetite. This place is a typical Brazilian steakhouse where the waiters come table-side with endless cuts of meat. You have a "button" which is red on one side and green on the other which will alert the waitstaff to either come to your table with more meat or lay low for a while. They also have some side dishes like garlic mashed and asparagus which accompany the endless meat-fest. Some of the meat was spectacular and perfectly cooked (The garlic steak), some others were either slightly over or under cooked but the quality of the meat and the marinades made up for it. Overall a very great night of meat! My Creme brulee for desert was fantastic. Most of the customers were in very casual attire.
(4)
Christian R.
The meat here isn't necessarily something to crave for, but there is a "variety" of selection to chose from. Most definitely don't waste your stomach space on the salad bar. Great place to come with meat loving friends and family.
(4)
Kevin K.
Went there for my birthday last year and we had a group of 12. We still talk about how awesome that meal was. Great ambiance and super tasty meats. A bit salty perhaps but still awesome. The cold bar was really impressive too.
(5)
Meg D.
My father took me, the vegan, to dinner here. Let me preface this review by saying it wasn't my choice. However... As soon as we arrived, my father informed the waitress that I "didn't eat meat" and was there anything on the menu for me? The waitress informed him that I could make selections from the salad bar and that my meal would be at a reduced price. I have to admit, the salad bar was excellent. Lots of variety, and lots of things that I was able to choose from. The waitress also went out of her way for me, bringing me the polenta fries without cheese on top, and she had the chef make a special order of mashed potatoes for me without any dairy. I was so grateful to the waitress for going out of her way for me - she didn't have to and the above and beyond service was well-appreciated. However, the charge for the salad alone was $25, and I feel that was quite unreasonable given it was the only thing I was able to have.
(4)
Joe Y.
Best Buffet With 7 locations in Brazil, Fogo is the benchmark for Rodizio and Texas De Brazil. Go for $27 lunch or $47 dinner and free valet parking. Rodizio is bit cheaper but they don't offer the same quality, salad bar, and appetizers. Filet migon is ok, but my favorite is the Ancho (Rib Eye).
(5)
Garth E.
THIS PLACE IS UNREAL. First, the waiter comes around with a tray of Caipirinha cocktails. Personally, I love everything that has to do with limes, especially drinks. The Caipirinha is full of muddled lime slices and rum. How much better can you get? Then, you start your salad bar course. The salad bar seems almost endless. Full of different salads, cured meats, cheeses, grilled and marinated vegetables, and so much more. You will definitely be tempted to fill your plate with a little bit of everything and go back for more. BUT DON'T. THE MEAT IS STILL COMING. My personal strategy is to get a little bit of all my most favorite things (cured meats and cheese) and force myself to avoid everything else. Trust me, it won't be easy. After you've finished your salad bar course, you turn your little card to green. Green means go. As in, BRING ON THE MEAT. In hoards the waiters come over with swords of meat, asking you if you'd like some. My advice? Say yes to everything. It's all so good. There's also unlimited sides (mashed potatoes, fried polenta, and fried plantains). Again, the sides are tempting, but I'd minimize them and focus on the meat. Dessert? Totally unnecessary. You'll definitely get the meat sweats with this place. But it's definitely worth it.
(5)
Marcy P.
Could not have been more happy with this place. Went on December 6th for my boyfriends birthday dinner. Super friendly and attentive staff and the beef is to die for! My boyfriend and I were literally gasping at how delicious every piece of meat we tried was. Saving up to go back again! spent around $150 for the two of us and well worth it.
(5)
aaron n.
Love Fogo de Chao, I've been here probably 8 times already. Make sure to try the Brazillian soda, it's probably the best regular soda there is made with real sugar. The filet wrapped with bacon is a personal favorite. Can't go wrong with the cheese bread either.
(5)
Meggin R.
If it wasn't for the service of the hostess this would be a total five star for me. We went last night for our "valentines." We do it early so we avoid the crowds. We made a reservation a few days before. When we walked up I said "7 o clock reservation for Ben Jackson" That is a very easy name to say, understand, and spell. The hostess was very confused. "I don't have a reservation for Ben, is that the last name?" I explained that no, Jackson is the last name, Ben is the first. Thinking "duh". After a bit more squinting she found it. She handed us a pager and we went to sit at the bar. I asked for some fruity cocktail and they did an amazing job. As a people watcher, I was really impressed with the bar staff. There were only two of them, and they were taking orders from the very busy bar, plus all of the waiters who came in an yelled very complicated drink orders. They were great. After waiting and waiting and waiting, and seeing a couple go in who I know came in after I was done with my drink, I went up to the hostess and asked. She said "oh, yeah, I didn't write down your pager number." So we had been sitting there and waiting, and she hadn't even tried to find us to correct it. At one point someone came around and asked if we were Jeff, but that isn't quite Ben. I was not pleased. But they seated us right away after that. Once we got in it was great. As usual, my husband ate far too much at the salad bar. I limited my self to the good cheese and excellent salami and prosciutto. When we flipped our cards to green it was a bit overwhelming. The meat comes fast and furious. So fast, that at one point after one left, my husband grabbed our cards and flipped them over very fast. We managed to try one of everything, and it was amazing. We've been to Rodizio, but its been so long ago that I can't remember it well enough to compare. We decided to do Fogo instead because they support NPR, and we like to go to places that support NPR. All and all, if they lost the hostess, this is a fantastic place to go.
(4)
Jared B.
One of my favorite places around. The food and staff are both amazing and over the top. Fogo de Chao is the epitome of going the extra step. I have never been taken better care of at a restaurant in my life. The money spent is worth every penny. OM NOM NOM
(5)
Courtney Z.
I was very excited about my 5280 reservation at Fogo de Chao this past Saturday night, I'd heard great things and looked forward to trying the place for myself. We arrived about 20 minutes prior to our reservation. First gripe, we completely missed their sign for valet parking which is located down the street from the entrance to the restaurant. We ended up spending $10 to park in a garage about a block away due to their poor signage. Since we were early, we decided we would grab a drink at the (crowded) bar. After a 5+ minute wait, the bartender took our order. We asked for 2 glasses of Pinot Noir. To our disappointment, the wine wasn't very good. We assumed it was the house wine and decided just to drink it anyway and we could get a better bottle at the table. They offered to just transfer the drinks to our table. Our name was called promptly at 8, luckily, since the bar was overly packed with waiting patrons. Service at Fogo was the only thing worth praise. The waitstaff was on top of their game, keeping water full and checking in on us frequently (but not too frequently!). The dining area lacked atmosphere; it was almost cafeteria-like with table upon table stacked in a large open room. And extremely bright for an 8pm Saturday dinner out. All of the meat seemed to have been soaked in salt. The filet was the only thing that was really excellent. Anything that was wrapped in bacon was over wrapped (think 2 huge slices of bacon for a tiny bite of chicken!). The rest of the red meats all tasted the same - like salt! When we finally got our tab we found out our bad Pinot Noir from the bar was $14 a glass! We had a bottle of wine with our meal (Malbec) that was on special for $28 -- our two bad glasses of Pinot cost as much as a nice bottle of Malbec! WTF? While I left full, I felt like there were several meats that I missed, but once I discovered that everything tasted like salt, I didn't really want anything else. Bottom line, I wouldn't go back. Especially to pay full price for the experience. Save your $$ and enjoy a nice, well flavored steak at one of the many Denver options!
(2)
Donald M.
I am thrilled to award my prestigious Yelp Five Star Rating to Fogo de Chao. Two chief things to be cognizant of: go hungry and eat slowly. It's easy to get greedy and let the gauchos pile meat on your plate, but don't fall prey. Each selection, and I believe that there are fifteen selections, is stellar (the seasoning can be a bit heavy-handed), but you will surely favor some over the others. Try as many as you can, chew your food, and then gorge on your favorites. My favorite was beef. The salad bar is nothing to sneeze at either. It features a dizzying array of salads, vegetables, and cold dishes, but go easy. Go ahead and eat that salad, but be mindful of what you're there for: meat. The smoked salmon is easily the most delicious I've eaten. It tastes like bacon. Genius.
(5)
Larren M.
I waited to complete this review until I had another chance to try Fogo de Chao since the first time was a special circumstance and not the experience people normally receive. That being said, I feel like I have a much firmer grasp on my opinion, and I'm going as far as to say that Fogo de Chao is the best "Brazilian" steak house I've had the pleasure of stuffing my face at. Let's start with our first experience at Fogo de Chao. My wonderful boss decided that Fogo would be a great place to hold our Christmas party this last year and I couldn't have agreed more. I had heard great things about Fogo de Chao before getting a chance to go, so I was very excited. Well, immediately upon walking in, the wife and I were greeted and escorted through the restaurant to our party. Just the quick trip to our private room and I was astonished by the size of the place. There is a lot of dining space, which makes sense considering the type of place it is. I think having a private room for my first experience at Fogo made me a little spoiled. As I mentioned, our first trip to Fogo de Chao was with my work -- no expense was spared and we had an entire group of people looking after us which made the experience much more personable from a service and dining standpoint. That's not to say that our second trip wasn't comparable. The second time we were with great friends, which made up for the short comings of the experience. For me the second trip wasn't as intimate, the tables were very close together(which I'm sure was due to restaurant week) and we didn't have that unlimited attention "thing" going on like we did the first time around. Despite my complaints, the service at Fogo de Chao is on point and the entire staff deserves high marks. Things don't change much at Fogo de Chao(s). From what I can tell by going there twice, they always have the same cuts of meat and the same items on the salad bar. Which is not a bad thing; you definitely get what you pay for. Upon being seated we were promptly greeted, asked what we'd like to drink and whether or not it was our first time dinning at Fogo de Chao. If it is your first time, they give you a brief speech about how it all works. It's all about "green" for go and "red" for stop on the round cards they give you to signal the meat-men to start cutting. Once you are brought up to speed, you get to start with the salad bar. This is not the salad bar at Wendy's. You can choose from an assortment of delicious things: hearts of Palm, fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, marinated mushrooms, giant asparagus, various types of lettuce and dressings (sauces), cheeses, plates of cured meats and smoked salmon, and even a huge bowl full of bacon - and I don't mean bacon bits, I'm talking full pieces! One bit of advice is not to let the salad bar fill you up. Trust me, you'll be tempted, but be strong. You can always take another trip back. After enjoying your lovely salad with the various accoutrements, the table will be cleared and the show will begin. In the case of our first experience at Fogo de Chao, I had never seen anything quite like it. The people that served the meat flooded the room and in a tornado of meat and swords they flew around cutting this, cutting that and dropping it onto our plates. This was when I realized just how crucial that little card is they give you. Our second experience wasn't quite as fanciful. I doubt they could have done it as well as our first time around. As the meat is served to you, you'll also notice an assortment of sides being placed around the table. Seasoned mashed potatoes, which are the bomb I might add, little wedges of crispy hot polenta, pão de queijo (warm cheese bread), and caramelized bananas. Good god do those bananas fit in well. I found myself taking a bite of the bananas after every bite of meat. Those two flavors worked very well together. There are about 15 different cuts of meat served. Without going into every single one of them, I'll just mention the ones I like best. At the top of that list it'll have to be the Picanha, very moist and delicious and perfectly cooked and cut to your liking with wonderful bits of salt on the outside. Next I'll go with the Beef Ancho (rib eye). There is no question that the rib eye is my favorite cut of meat and this is no exception; perfectly salty and juicy. The Cordeiro (lamb) is exceptionally nice; it was very savory with that subtle gamey flavor. One of my other favorites was the Linguica (sausage); it's a pork sausage with a nice blend of seasonings that give it just a little bit of a bite. There are many more, even cuts that are wrapped in bacon, but those are my favorites. With great service and outstanding food quality, Fogo de Chao really does it right. Fogo de Chao is a great addition to the Denver food scene. It's a great place to take friends or a group of people and enjoy a very unique meal and dining experience. I'd bring your appetite if I were you.
(4)
Brooke B.
Ooooh. my. God. Amazing! We got a gift certificate for Christmas and already went to enjoy a date night here- and it was heavenly. It's definitely not a quiet, romantic spot- but it's friggin' delish. I have been to other Brazilian Steakhouses and NONE have had meat this good. I'm by no means a meat connoisseur, but I knew enough to appreciate every. single. BITE! You must be quick on the flip for the green light/red light to bring or stop the meat. They want to give you everything! It's ok to say no and wait a few minutes to ensure you don't collapse in a food coma. Expensive, but worth every penny! You would never be able to try all of those meats on your own for that price. Yumm...
(5)
Daniel T.
Good food and good service. Salad bar is plentiful and the meats always keep coming. That said, Fogo de Chao will never be Texas de Brazil. Fogo's meats are good but not exceptional. The staff is good but sometimes forgetful and slow. Ambiance is more "retirement community" than a night out. So it's a very good place but has some places to improve on for the price.
(3)
Topher M.
You can read the other reviews, or look up - what a currascaria is all about. Qualifications in my book: 1) Don't eat all day before arriving and 2) Being an extreme carnivore helps. I can tell you that all of the meat here is simply amazing - not your standard currascaria fare, but simply better. Typically there are a few varieties that are too tough, bland, whatever. You won't experience that here. They do well with cutting to your favored "doneness" - bloody to crisp. Now - with that out of the way... the highlight is really the salad. When you arrive at churrascarias, you go for the roughage first... typically a salad bar. Like the meat - they take it to the next level. Shitake mushrooms, beautiful spinach and other greens, gouda and queso manchego; I kid you not - I could (would) have filled up on the salad bar if the delicious meat-fest wasn't to follow and would have been satisfied. With the meal - you get amazing biscuits (cheesebread, or pao de queijdo - the recipe is online), polenta squares, sweet sauted bananas, and garlic mashed potatoes. Yes, this is all before you turn the coaster over to green and the servers flock to your table with kabobed goodness. A little bugged about the caipirinha. Not traditional. Still good. Minor detail. Now, this is not your lower-end currascaria. I've been to one in Brooklyn that was picnic talbes and wooden hourglass-shaped signals at the end of table with green meaning "the whole damned table wants meat NOW". This is for high-brow carnivores. The food and aesthetics are within that same caliper. Expensive, and amazing. TERRIFIC for groups. Might be romantic for a date - fun at least, but the onslaught of servers is distracting. As we are strange people in a strange town... we asked for a quick tour of the back, somewhat jokingly. The server didn't miss a beat and brought us back to see behind-the-scenes. Great service, attitude, and loads o' fun.
(5)
Jarrod R.
In my thirty or so years of doing solid foods, I for the first time found what was unequivocally the best meal of my life. I realize that is very bold statement and not something to throw out there lightly, but the certainty of my of my declaration is absolute with this one. Only after the benchmark has been set can we establish where the bar truly sits. As for the benchmark, we're not talking about Sizzler, Texas Roadhouse or even Outback. I am talking about the likes of Morton's, Ruth's Chris, and the Double Eagle in Ft. Worth. I've tried the famous steakhouses bearing the names of Jordan, Farve, Elway and Nolan Ryan with all paling in comparison. The high rating speaks for itself and with all the rave reviews I ask myself what can even be left to say about this place and yet I can't help but feel compelled to share my own experience. I went in aware of all of the hype surrounding the salad bar and yet was still blown away. What has to be the most impressive salad bar I've ever seen is included with every meal here. The highlights include a Mount Everest of high quality, crisp, perfectly cooked full strips of bacon. Then there were 1/2 thick slices of fresh and tasty tomatoes the size of a softball. Where are they even finding tomatoes like this; it's winter and we're in Denver. Seasoned balls of fresh mozzarella? Perfect. Strips of smoked salmon? Why not. Enough choices of high quality sliced meats and cheeses to rival any deli? You bet. Then there was the standard build it yourself salad faire. That said, standard in Fogo De Choa fashion is by no means average; we're not talking about a Ruby Tuesday here. As great as this salad bar is, unless you're a vegetarian, you're not going to want to do anything more than dabble in it because the best is yet to come. As I flipped my card over to green (signaling bring on the meat) my heart began to race just a little. From that moment on there was an onslaught of Gauchos (Brazilian cowboys) in full costume wielding skewers with offerings of carnivorous heavenly delights moments removed from the open flame. I was raised on red meat and consider myself well versed in the art of the steak, but yet none of this prepared me for what I experienced on this night. Every bite of every cut of meat I tried was flavorful, succulent and absolutely perfect in every way. I really enjoyed being able to experience the subtle differences of each of the different cuts of meats all in one sitting. Unlike a typical steak place where a sides come ale carte at $7 plus a pop, they're included with your meal here. Unfortunately the mashed potatoes were merely a distraction from the show and were quickly banished to the far side of the table like a red headed step child. With food as good as this I would accept bad service, no service, slow service or whatever they wanted to throw at me. However I've got to say the service I received here was as good or better than any I've ever received anywhere. I especially appreciated that after sampling my choice of the 15 meat offerings, the chance to request return visits of all of my favorites. The entire experience was incredible and memories of the Fraldinha (bottom cut of sirloin) will not soon be forgotten. Where there were once nightly dreams of Bianca Kajlich, there are now only reoccurring visions of Fogo De Chao's steaks. Well except for the one a couple of nights ago where she was standing at my table in lingerie. Unfortunately my only thought was "God, I hope she doesn't distract the Gauchos en route with my next serving of steak." I would definitely recommend that anyone who has an opportunity to try this place does.
(5)
Howard R.
This is my second review. Fogo De Chao is certainly doing something right because they are opening up in other locations. The first real treat and the "best thing I ever ate" is the smoked salmon at the salad bar. I have never had salmon like this. Perfectly smoked and top notch. This is a MUST. The meats, service, ambience, side dishes, also are superb. If you look at the many reviews on Yelp, you will notice that this place has more 5 starts than most. For good reason-they really do everything right. Fogo satisfies on every level.
(5)
Steve O.
Let me preface this by noting that I am a huge fan of meats. The best aspect of this restaurant, however, is that the main course of 15+ meats is merely the tip of this delicious iceberg. Let's start from the beginning... The salad bar alone is simply amazing. Mixed greens, asparagus, smoked salmon & fresh mozzarella make it stand out from any other salad bar you've been to. The plethora of meat is delivered freshly prepared, still sizzling on a skewer ready to be transferred to your plate with a pair of personal tongs. The bottom sirloin had to be my favorite, but the filet mignon was a close second. The system entails a little round coaster which when flipped on it's red side indicates you are content for the time being, and when the green side is showing you want more animal! Be aware when the green is showing, they are phenomenally relentless in filling your plate with meat. Lastly, are the amazing sides. If at any point you still have even an ounce of room left in your stomach, savor crispy hot polenta, garlic mashed potatoes, pão de queijo (warm cheese bread) or caramelized bananas. It may not sound appealing at first, but I was more than content being carted out of Fogo de Chao in a wheel barrel. SO full of culinary greatness that even standing became a challenge. Simply put, it's a great atmosphere and even better cuisine. (If you hit it up during 5280 week (between Feb & Mar), which I was fortunate enough to do, a meal for two is on $52.80 - a fantastic deal)
(5)
Damion W.
Stay away from the salad bar... Focus on the meat!! :-P Great place to eat...
(5)
Randy L.
I'm probably gonna catch hell for this, but here goes: Fogo de Chao is the best steak house in Denver. And on top of that, it's all you can eat! When you walk in, you might be tempted to start by making a gigantic salad at Fogo's INTENSE salad bar, but that's a rookie mistake. While their salad selections are tasty and plentiful, you're at a god damn steak house that lets you eat as much as you want, so get your head in the game. Here's how it works: You get a little coaster with a red side and a green side. Green means go, red means stop. Rocket science it isn't. When the green side is facing up, gauchos with swords full of delicious meat descend upon your table like a swarm of bees that want to feed you instead of killing you. Maybe that's a bad simile. Oh well. Anyway, they keep bringing you the various cuts of meat until you flip your card to red so that you can try to catch up on the brand new pile of protein waiting for you on your plate. You also get unlimited sides - fried polenta (my favorite side), caramelized bananas, and garlic mashed potatoes. The bananas are a great way to cleanse your palate between cuts of meat, and they're also sweet and delicious. The mashed potatoes are, well, mashed potatoes. They're not going to knock your socks off if you've ever had potatoes before, but they're very good. I recommend the picanha (house special top sirloin), the beef ancho (rib eye), the fraldinha (bottom sirloin), and of course, the fillet Mignon wrapped in bacon. Fogo's steaks are the most flavorful, tender cuts I've ever eaten, and I have had my share of steak. The lamb is also good, but can be a bit too lamb-y. The chicken is very, very flavorful, but you're at a steak house, so don't waste precious belly room. The only thing I don't like is the sausage, but there are 15 freaking cuts of meat, so it's not like there aren't plenty of options for discerning carnivores. One of the best things about Fogo de Chao is the service. The staff is the most friendly, attentive staff I've ever experienced. Waiters refill drinks and sides before you're 1/3 of the way done with them, but aren't intrusive. I think they undergo some kind of stealth ninja training in addition to waiter training, because often times when eating there I look down and discover I have a full drink and a brand new plate of delicious, crispy polenta. Anyway, I'll stop going on and on about the food so you hopefully won't think I'm some kind of fat monster. You're looking at about $35/person to eat here (plus drinks and desserts, which are both DYNAMITE), but it's worth every penny, considering you can spend that much (and more) at other high end steak houses and get inferior food and nowhere near the level of service that Fogo consistently offers. I am not exaggerating at all when I say that Fogo de Chao is my favorite restaurant.
(5)
Nikole T.
I thought this place was pretty good! The filet migon and lamb were amazing! The only complaint I have is the staff was a little too invasive. I felt like I was constantly being watched by the servers not delivering meat to the table.
(3)
Rick G.
This last week was the the my parent's inaugural visit to the lovely Mile High City that I now call home. It was a seminal occasion as this I think I might have started to , as those in the know say, "arrive." You know I own a house that isn't a dump, have a job that am good at I don't hate ALL the time, some friends who don't loathe me TO much and I know how to enjoy a good scotch. In other words, I am entering a nice time in my life where I am old enough to know better and young enough to not give a fuck if I so choose. So I took my parents here when they visited from Israel and/or San Diego. This visit, I knew, was going to be a test of sorts, an examination by which my parents could be certain that I was not living in a dumpster, shooting heroin and in general living in a bad way, as is often the want of Jewish parents. Initially my father was hesitant to go as he proclaims "any place that doesn't have a sign in English has something to hide." I forgive my father for such verbal reproaches and observations such as this because : 1. He is from Texas. 2. He is a Republican from Texas. 3. He is a recently retired Master Gunny who spent 25 years in the USMC and a Republican and from Texas. My father is the epitome of a lovable curmudgeon, a gruff, terrifying man with a heart of gold. It's both his best quality and his worst failure. In response to this, my mother rolled her eyes, took a deep centering breath and prepared to lay into my father. Seeing this in process I said "Dad, I want to buy you and Mom a nice steak dinner at the best place in town. Fogo is THE best place in town. So, will let me buy you a steak dinner? I think I owe it to you after all I put you through when I was growing up." FYI: I was a very good kid and never really put him through anything, but it helped the cause. He pondered what I had just said, and as he ALWAYS does, begrudgingly agreed to to go. After retrieving my parents from the hotel where they were staying, we arrived and were seated. Service, as is usual at Fogo is top notch - attentive and doting without being intrusive. Glasses are filled, drinks are refreshed and empty plates whisked away. My mother loved that they pulled our her chair. She giggled in delight that there are establishments where this practice still occurs. One's first time at Fogo can be a bit disorienting as the whole place is in a constant buzz of activity with sizzling meat platters being rushed to and fro. This is one of the few places I have been where bacon-wrapped meat is not a culinary apology, as it so often is. After a filling meal, at which I had the picanha, my father settled on the prime rib and my mother the filet mignon, I asked them how they liked it. My father said that it was one of the best steaks he had ever had and because my dad was happy, my mom was happy. When we left, I saw that my Mom and Dad were holding hands and seemed to be walking closer together than usual, a little more affectionate that usual. After dropping my parents off at the hotel, I went home and relieved an email from my father thanking me for a wonderful time and a great steak. He indicated he was glad to have visited and hopes to again very soon. Fogo, thank you for a great venue, a great time and helping bring my family and myself closer together.
(5)
Michelle A.
Ok so it was their 1st 5280. on a Saturday night. They were not ready for the people with reservations. We had an 8pm dinner. We sat at 910pm. People were not happy. Many tried for a reservation somewhere else. There was a group of 8 and they called a number of restaurants. I tried to help with some of the ones I knew. Finally they called Capital Grill. No problem. They left for an immediate reservation. The bar was a zoo and the bartedender almost got help from a stranger but she really said she was not qualified. They were so backed up. I am sure they lost money as people were asked to pay at dinner. Once seated the service was good. However we were seated by the front door and I guess some servers never saw us sitting there. As we only were offered 7 kinds of meat out of 15. I personally will not return as I know there are others who will not go back. Too bad. I am going to Impulse and Zink Kitchen for 5280. I hope the wait is better.
(4)
Briella M.
Awesome place to celebrate my anniversary. Great service!! Great food. Will be back soon.
(5)
Robert B.
(I know I normally look down my nose at chain restaurants, and Fogo do Chao IS a chain, but they sure don't act like one!) If you like meat, and you're in Denver, you HAVE to put this place on your 'short list'. We have an OK Brazilian grill in Seattle (Ipanema), but this place makes them look like low-grade dog food! What works: 1) Front of house service: The whole staff is 'eye-candy' good looking, and normally that's a 'red flag' for me (pretty people normally aren't very competent, right?). But these folks are as professional, competent, and accommodating as they are easy on the eyes. They have a concept that any staff member can work the dining room and attend to any table, and that applies from the GM on down (!). You're never waiting for someone. They make great recommendations, and are quick to take care of special requests and go that extra bit. For example, I wanted a plate of their caramelized bananas for dessert (a side included with the dinner). The server brought them out with a tiny pitcher of sweetened condensed milk, and suggested I try drizzling it on if I'm going to enjoy it as a dessert (it worked beautifully). In another situation, I thought I wanted a more rare lamb chop, the server obliged me, and I realized to my horror that I really didn't want what I asked for (it was a bit TOO rare). The server happily brought me another chop that was perfect. They will give you whatever you want, and replace it if you realize it was a bad idea. 2) Food: The salad bar is quite good, with extremely fresh ingredients that are artfully presented. But let's face it, you're here for the MEAT! They are exquisitely marinated and grilled, and have excellent flavour. You can enjoy a number of different beef, lamb, chicken and pork offerings. Particular standouts for me are the beer-marinated chicken legs, the bacon-wrapped filet mignon, leg of lamb, and the aforementioned lamb chops. The only less-than-satisfactory note was with a couple of the pork offerings. The pork ribs and parmesan-crusted pork tenderloin were rather overdone. Granted, pork is a hard dish to 'nail' in this style of cuisine. Normally, this would've downgraded them to 4 stars, but the superior quality of their service saves the '5-star' rating for them. Given how attentive they are, I wouldn't be at all surprised if they're 'tweaking' these dishes as you read this. This place is quite reasonable for what you're getting if you watch your bar tab. If you're in need for a serious protein fix, Fogo de Chao is THE place in DEN for you!
(5)
Sheng S.
This was my first time at Fogo de Chao in Denver. I've been to many Brazilian steakhouses all over including in Brazil. I was a bit disappointed. It was very bright, loud with lots of noise and the staff was overwhelming. What I meant by overwhelming is the wait staff were running around with their heads cut off. Everyone was running somewhere. You may think this would be a plus but it made me feel like I was standing still but everyone else was walking fast on Fifth Avenue in New York City brushing my shoulders. Not a good feeling. I've been to many other Brazilian steakhouses but never had that feeling and still got my food in good time. After we sat down, one of the wait staff came over and started explaining to us how it works. It would help if he spoke better English. He had a thick accent and was speaking at 100mph. Even if spoke well English it would still be hard to understand him. I asked my girlfriend did you understand a word he said. She said no. I don't know if he's really Brazilian or Mexican but slow down your English. We barely saw him for the rest of our dinner. I have found most of the wait staff to be Mexicans. I guess they're trying to pass them off as Brazilians. What's disturbing is they come to you very very often to a point where it gets annoying. They never have what you really want like the filet mignon. Maybe they're trying to get rid of the cheap stuff. When you request something their English is not very good and afterwards 2 or 3 other waiters will ask you if you just ordered that. Communication seems to be lacking. And if I turn over the card to red, that means DO NOT come over. The food was just ok. For an all you can eat place I guess you can't expect top notch steak. However, when you're paying $50 per person I would expect better quality. I would rather get a $75 steak from Vegas than to spend $50 on unlimited mediocre steak. I guess there would be many others that will disagree on that. Quality vs Quantity? The 2 best I liked were the filet mignon and the garlic one. They were still meh compared to the great steakhouses and some of the best steaks I've had in Vegas. I would rate it as a few notches under Ruth's Chris. I still reminisce of the place in Brazil I ate at. It was such a relaxing dinner and the steak was cook very well. The wait staff there even though they spoke Portuguese and little English never gave me this rushed feeling. This dinner made me felt so aggressive. We were out of there in less than 30 minutes. To top it off some guy outside was hitting on my girlfriend while I was getting my parking ticket validated. Never will I be back at this place again!
(2)
Sara Z.
This was my first rodizion, but definitely won't be my last. Wow! Delicious. The service was superb and I just adored Wagner!!! They also were very nice to accomodate my "well done" meat request. I cant wait to try others and hope they are all as good. Oh, the filet was my favorite, but the bacon wrapped chicken was a close runner up!
(5)
Sulema M.
Just received a note from an employee that gave my rating a "Poor!!" compliment. Strange, a "Poor!!" compliment in her words. Rather than complimenting my review as "Poor!!", provide some feedback that makes sense like any other employee or company rep would. Marcela Z, it's not nice to harass those who pay your paycheck my dear - maybe I should call the boss?
(1)
Andrea K.
Ok, just because I have zero desire to dine there again does not mean that it is bad. It was delicious. The salad bar is phenomenal! They tell you not to fill up at the salad bar but it is difficult not to!! We went there for 5280- awesome deal since it was their regular schtick for half the price. I love meat but I could probably go back and just eat at the salad bar. The smoked salmon, the vegetables, the peppers...yum. The meat was good too though some of it lacked flavor in my opinion and was overcooked. By far the best pieces were from the prime cuts of the beef. At the regular price, I wouldn't go here unless I could belly up a million times and make it worth it. Otherwise, I'm quite happy just receiving one plate at a normal restaurant. So...it's great- truly- but only if you can make an all-you-can-eat meat extravaganza worth it for you. Service is top notch. You are never without food for even one second.
(4)
Justin M.
I've tried a different brazilian steakhouse, but so far, this is my favorite place. the service is great, and the food is always on point. and to know that they're participating in the 5280 restaurant week is great. I'll definitely try to visit during the 5280 week!
(5)
Michael W.
Lets just skip the BS and do a little comparison style reviewing; just a little. Overall, I'd say they're meat selections taste better than there rival in Stapleton. The salad bar on the other hand, doesn't hold a candle to that same rival. I would give the Stapleton competitor the edge when it comes to the bars selection too. Sill haven't completed the trifecta; Rodizo is on my list. More specifically, Fogo is very upscale in ambiance and operation in comparison to similar places I've been. The staff is top notch and almost "too" attentive, at times. You can feel them eying your glass for a refill. As an added touch, I like that this chain has locations in Brazil, adding to it's claims of authenticity. There's really not much else to say, ummmm, there's complimentary valet service and they don't charge for kids (5 and under I guess). I'd visit again without a second guess.
(4)
Thomas Y.
The same rule applies to Fogo de Chao that applies to any other Brazilian Churrascaria restaurants. Go hungry or you won't enjoy it. The gaucho's here are well trained and very friendly. I can go pretty in-depth on here on the selection of the meats, but this place has identical offerings as Texas de Brazil or Rodizio's (they do have wild game offerings) down the street, and I've touched on the types of meats on a few of my other reviews. Recommendations: Chicken wrapped in bacon. Filet Mignon. Pork. Every meat. How does this place differentiate itself from the likes of the others? Ambiance, customer service, and value, especially during 5280 Week. I also have heard that this place is more authentic with several restaurant locations at the heart of Brazil. In closing, I do prefer Texas de Brazil more due to the selection at the salad bar and the drinks at the bar seems better. You won't go wrong with either of the big three. Enjoy and again, go hungry!
(4)
Albert C.
If you love meat, then there's not much else you can ask for. My wife and I are from out of town, but were in Denver for a few days. After reading the reviews, I decided we had to go for dinner. This place did not disappoint. This was our first time to a brazilian steakhouse. From the attentive service and tons of options, as people have described this is an eating experience. Sure you are talking about $46.50 per person, which is a pricey meal. But when you compare prices with going to a nice steakhouse, it's comparable. For me, the quality is comparable to nice steakhouses, so what makes this better is the selection plus it's all you can eat. For a comparable price, you get a nice salad bar with fresh higher-end ingredients (from prosciutto and smoked salmon to a wide variety of vegetables). Most importantly the choice in meats. There's chicken, pork, lamb, and beef. To name a few, there is filet mignon, rib eye, and rack of lamb. Some meats and marinades tasted better than others, but our favorites were the filet and a cut of beef marinated with garlic. For those unfamiliar with the experience, you start off with a two-sided card (green and red) to signify when you are ready for the meat. At all times, servers are holding different types of meats and delivering them to guests. Typically you start off with the card on RED and start off on the salad bar. Once you are ready for meat, you flip over your card to GREEN and servers will individually begin presenting you with different meat options. They present you with the meat and you can tell them how much and how cooked you would like your meat. This continues as long as you have your card turned over to GREEN. It can be a little overwhelming as servers continue to stop by, but you always have the option of turning over to RED until you are once again ready for more. For meat lovers, what more can you ask for? I only wish they had one in Northern California. Looks like the closest ones for me would be in Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
(5)
Michael A.
We were greeted with pleasant smiles and warm, friendly service. The ambiance of the overall dining atmosphere was upscale, yet personal and private. The salad bar was stocked with odds and ends of many different things to sample, leading up to a dinner full of indulgence. The side dishes were wonderful compliments to the main course of the many varieties of meat, while providing the perfect balance of taste for a fully refined dinner for any palate. Some claim that there are too many people visiting their tables, but we can say in complete honesty every individual who approached our table was not a distraction, all whom were extremely kind. We ended our meal with the Creme Brule, which possessed the perfect flavor of mildy sweet, yet satisfyingly delicious contrast to the delightfully, wonderful meal.
(5)
Eric S.
Ate here for 5280 Denver Restaurant Week last weekend for my sister-in-laws birthday. The salad bar blew me away as did all the antipasti they provide. Very nice touch, and be sure to try the smoked salmon antipasti. The meats they bring to you are top notch, but I just wish they offered some dipping sauces for your various cuts of meat. My only turn off was the fact that the waiter tried to remember each member of my parties first name with little or no success and it got old after a bit. Other than that, great experience.
(5)
Dorian V.
Wow! That's all I can say about this place...my son described it as "gastrronomic rapture on the tongue"...From the time we walked in to our table and had a first look at the expansive salad bar with it's shaved parmesan bowl and just about anything you can think of as far as salad bars go...it was fantastic and I could have just had that as my meal and been stuffed! But, the best was yet to come. Every type of meat selection you could ask for and more was appearing before our eyes...my top choice was the sirloin...tender, juicy and melt-in-your-mouth delightful. The only reason I did not award this restaurant five stars was that the chicken was slightly on the dry side but nothing's perfect, right? I would highly recommend this restaurant for it's menu selection and the service which was top-notch!
(4)
Sheri G.
This place is like Meat Mecca. For a carnivore like myself, this place is a veritable pantheon of dead animal, cooked to perfection. It is a tad on the pricey side, but for the amount and quality of food you get, it's worth the splurge every now and then. Salad bar was pretty good (hooray for the giant bowl of bacon!), and the polenta and plantain side dishes made me wish I had more room in my stomach. Keep an eye on your red/green card, because the gauchos are definitely on point with bringing more delicious meat very quickly. Next time I'll make sure to skip lunch (and possibly breakfast).
(4)
Alissa S.
You know that friend you have. The one you take out to a restaurant and they're never full. The one who orders two burritos at Chipotle even though one burrito is already a rice and bean filled carb monster. This is the place you want to take that friend. Teams of waiters parading around endless swords of meat has to be the answer to someone's prayer. And you really can't go wrong, since they also have an awesome salad bar that's a meal in itself. Definitely a few steps above your typical Rodizio restaurant. However, I'm pretty sure there's a conspiracy to try and fill up the customer on sides, since they couldn't stop replacing our plates of polenta, mashed potatoes, cheese bread and caramelized bananas. This kind of bothered me, because I don't think we'd finish even half of our side before it was replaced with a fresh batch. I appreciate good service, but that just seems overly wasteful to me. If you can, check this place out during lunch. It's about half the price.
(4)
Rod H.
Just not that good, honestly. If you've never been to a Brazilian Steakhouse before, I can imagine this place comes off as pretty good. But I've been to one before, and this place sucked pretty bad in comparison. No matter how done you ask for your cut of meat to be, it comes off the outer edge. Most of the meat was under-seasoned and bland (or, in the case of the lamb, way too salty). There was also a serious lack of variety in the meat, with little to distinguish the different cuts of beef. A few items (the chicken legs) were downright disgusting, and the chef used the age old "wrap it in bacon if it has no flavor" with not one, but two different items. The mashed potato side dish tasted fake, from a box. The filet was excellent, but the rest of the items I'd group somewhere between bad and alright at best. The service was weak. I sat with my card facing green side up for the entire meal and was barely approached enough at all, far from the usual "overwhelming swarm" I should have gotten. I eventually placed my card on top of my water glass to draw as much attention to it as possible, but even that was no help. I went during restaurant week where the meal was about half-off. If you go here during a normal week and pay over $40 per person, you're a sucker. Brazilian steakhouses can be delicious, but this one is a poor entry.
(2)
Idan S.
First off let me say that if I had more money I'd eat there all the time! It is a family tradition to go to churrascarias or sushi restaurants for people's birthdays, and so we recently went there for my brother's birthday and I just about ate myself into a lamb/beef food coma. Lamb chops, lamb shank, bacon-wrapped fillet, picanha, fried bananas, pan de queijo, and sauteed mushrooms make me a very very very happy person. I have to say that their appetizer buffet isn't nearly as nice as Texas De Brazil's, but who cares? The meat quality was above and beyond anything you'll find at Texas De Brazil or Rodizio. Just a word of warning: If you are tempted to order anything off their dessert/shot cart make sure to ask how much it costs first...
(5)
Ziyu W.
A perfect place for a meat lover! I was in Denver for a weekend and decided to check this place out as it was in walking distance from the hotel, and I had always missed my chances when I was in AZ...so here we go. Salad bar was decent, pretty standard, but I'd say go easy with the salad bar, the meat is a lot more important!! 15 different kinds of meat, and I think I've tried all. Everything was excellent! I especially liked the medium rare filet and the ribs. So delish!! Our sides are grilled banana, mashed potatoes, and some kind of golden bread thingy.. I loved the grilled banana, so sweet and so good!! Service was very attentive! Everybody was so nice! I haven't experienced such great service in a while, we were definitely treated well! Outstanding service + delicious food = 5 stars!
(5)
Richard M.
I was in Denver for a business meeting and decided to go out to dinner with a few friends, Fogo de Chao was centrally located so we ventured in to gorge ourselves on meat. I was really impressed with the taste of the meat, it all tasted different and delicious. I've had Brazilian BBQ before and the meats weren't this tasty. There salad bar had a great selection of fresh veggies, cheeses, and sliced salami, sausages and prosciutto. The hearts of palm, buffalo mozzarella, smoked salmon and capers, marinate mushrooms were great. We ate fillet mignon, rib eye, bottom flank, sirloin, chicken, sausage wrapped in bacon, pork ribs, rack of lamb, leg of lamb and more. On top of the meat they kept coming around with side dishes of mashed garlic potato's, grilled asparagus, string beans, fried polenta. It was great and the service was wonderful. Good place to stuff yourself and it's priced fair.
(4)
Jeff C.
It was a great experience. I thought the prices were reasonable. The only reason they have a fantastic salad bar is so you eat less meat (which helps their bottom line). The salad bar is great--all I could ask for and it is hard to not fill your plate. But of course you are here for the meat so it can be quite a quandary balancing the salad bar with the meat. Anyway, the meats were delicious. A couple of things were a little dry, but it was a Monday night that I ate here and it was only 25% (if that) full, so I am sure they do not prepare as much meat and some things turn on the pit a little long. However it was all very good. My only complaint (and I am smarter than this) is that they asked if we wanted desert. Well, I was unsure if it was included or not. The salad bar is included with the meal so I was half thinking that desert might be. Anyway I ordered the "Strawberry Cream" not fully understanding what it was. It is really just a strawberry milkshake with a optional splash of blackberry liquor on top. It was very yummy if I say! However, we got the bill and it was $9.50. I think they should bring you a desert menu so that you A.) see the pricing and B.) realize it is additional. Two observations--I ate at Texas de Brazil in Northfield a while ago and the prices seem much better here than at TdeB. However, TdeB had a much larger salad bar with many more selections. I think I prefer Fogo's since it is less tempting! Anyway, this place is 4.5 stars for me and I will be back!!!
(4)
Matherine G.
Positive: We really liked the filet mignon (hard to mess up the best cut) and the bread that came with the meal. Negative: Where do we start? We made a reservation and still had to wait 35 minutes. When our server asked us if we had to wait long, we told him. His response was that that wait "wasn't too bad" and that essentially that we should be thankful that the wait was only that long. No apology whatsoever. We found the meat to be inconsistent. Some items were way overcooked. The salad bar was a disappointment ("exotic vegetables"? what's so exotic about cold broccoli and sliced tomatoes?). We waited 15 minutes for our bill to come after being told that "the cashiers were backed up." When the bill did come, we were overcharged (our tab included a 9 dollar drink that we didn't order). Overall: We were really disappointed by Fogo, especially after reading some of the glowing reviews from other Yelpers. We were so excited to eat here and we really wanted to like it. But from start to finish, Fogo did not live up to the hype. We won't be back, at least not until we try Rodizio and other brazilian steakhouses first.
(2)
Kent T.
It's a carnivore theme park. Many cows died to bring us Fogo de Chao...and we owe it to their memories to eat them medium rare. Endless skewers of meat are paraded past your table like models on a runway. Flip your coaster to the "GREEN" side and they'll arrive at your table. Need a break or a breather? Just flip it to "RED". You also get side orders of mashed potatoes, plantains and a fried corn bready thing (whose name I forget). The only cut I don't recommend is the paremesan-breaded meat. It's rather salty and doesn't mesh well with the other juicy cuts you're offered. The salad bar is a meal unto itself. Be sure to snag some of the smoked salmon slices. The apple salad is delicious and almost doubles as a dessert dish. You might think Fogo is comparable to Rodizio, but it blows them away. It's sad to think that, back in the 80's, my teenaged mind used to get excited about old AYCE places like Country Buffet. I've matured since then and I'm glad the AYCE concept has, as well. Might also be a good idea to fast before going here.
(5)
Micah R.
Very good meats. Abundant salad bar. I went at for restaurant week so I got the $52.80 price. I reccomend that b/c unlike some other places, their menu is not limited during that time. It is all you can eat meat and it was good. The filet mingon is by far the best, so wait for that if you can waive off enough of their picanha special. The only negatives are the price (when not doing 5280) and the fact that one meal here shaves about a year off your life expectancy, not to mention its miracle grow effect on your waistline.
(3)
Freddie C.
Like everyone else here this week, I was taking advantage of an opportunity to get into Fogo for nearly 1/2 the regular price. You'd think this place would be on the shady side considering how busy they are. Nope. The service was RIDICULOUSLY spot on. They never let me sit down without pulling my chair for me. What?! I'm getting a meat extravaganza at an insane deal, and you're pulling my chair out? WAY TO GO FOGO! For anyone who knows me, it's a puzzler that I even agreed to go here, as I do not eat red meat. (Not because I love cows, I actually hate them because they taste so bad.) I was willing to sit through it for cheap to let my blood-loving boyfriend chow down, and maybe I'd mow on some bacon-wrapped-chicken. Through it all, the chicken was probably the worst meat option they had. Dry. Dry. Dry. And flavorless. Now, cue the heavenly angel music, here comes the lamb chops. WTFFFFF!?!? I almost grabbed that stick of meat from that poor boy's hands. When you get here, and you should (SOON), make sure to seek this out. You will NOT be let down. And if you don't like it, you're dumb and your opinion doesn't matter to me. Read any of the reviews here, and you know this place is the bee's knees. It's true. It's really good for a group, a couple, a hungry dude(ette), and anyone who likes food. And their coffee is YUM. Yeah, the coffee I had at the end of my meal was memorable. Yum. Yum. Yum. *Don't eat lunch before you go here. And don't make plans for after you leave, as you'll be needing a nap in your food coma. Also, it's hard to feel romantic afterward as you're supporting your lower back with your hands as you nurse your growing food baby. So heads up guys, this is the END of your date.
(5)
Victor H.
Even Parking is not an issue!!! It is Free! W@W! The service is Spot -On-Perfect ! Perfect Perfect ! Oh! Did I say PERFECT!...?! I came as a carnivore and wasn't in the least bit disappointed ---Meat, Meat and more Meat.... Oh such wonderful Lamb, Cooked and cut right off the skewer right onto my plate!....Yummmm Some mint jelly to kick it into second gear and seasoned with not too much salt or pepper! The steaks were ALL too good--- FLANK STEAK, PRIME RIB, Beef Ribs----Oh! The Ribs, and the flavor! I tell you Peeps, the Beef is there and just waiting to fulfill your fantasy for Protein! Don't forget to bring your cholesterol pills and drink plenty of water. The wine selection is excellent and again, you will not be disapointed....A wide range of wines and a full bar too-boot. Let's talk about the service----- The moment we came here, the Ma trade sat us in a wonderful location of our choosing, though the place was moderately packed. There wasn't a time we were in want of anything. The waiters, and I mean waiters (several), came to our table to check on us for whatever might be needed ie: clean plate, new knife and fork...anything! The water was kept full and the side plates were never without being replaced if it didn't quite make the grade in heat, freshness, and overall quality. Great place to impress a Date, and so relaxing, you'd think you were in Beverly Hills.... Bone-That's Petite! But there is nothing Petite in this place! It is a Big 5 STARS for me-----
(5)
Sami K.
The salad bar was very good and top notch but I was very disappointed with the meat which why I really wanted to try this place, every piece was really salty. I don't mind a little salt but this was a little too much for my liking. I complained and got a couple of pieces cooked special for me but that was it. Every time they came by with a piece of meat after I complained about the salt, I was told it wasn't salty but it was. I stopped eating short of my full satisfaction. For the price I expected more.
(1)
Mike R.
I have eaten at several of these across the US. They will not dissapoint. Awesome salad bar. The meats are always done to perfection. You will not ever leave feeling anytrhing other than stuffed.
(4)
A M.
When I visit my husband in Denver we always find ourselves on YELP to discover our next favorite place to eat :) We saw review for this place on yelp and we were very excited by what we saw. Our visit was nothing less than everything we expected. This place has alot of class and the food is awesome. You put your card on the green side when your ready for meat and the waiters come around with a freshly cooked selection of everything imaginable. You don't have to wait at all for the meat because they are constantly doing rounds.... Filet mignon, ribs, lamb chobs, lamb, etc.. I have to say I am not a big lamb fan but theirs is so tender and flavorful.... Even the salad bar was fresh. I say differently go you wont be dissappointed at all it is worth the 38.50 a person they charge.
(5)
Jen S.
i tried this place in brazil the first time i ate at a fogo and stuff myself by trying every piece of meat available. now im a bit smarter and i stick to: - picanha - medium rare - the meat and the flavor AMAZING - top sirloin / bottom sirloin - both good - filet mignon - garlic beef - who can say no to garlic?? salad bar- i cant ALL meat the whole night so i like to balance it out with some veggies. they have all sorts. salads, asparagus, mushrooms, cheese, etc side orders - cheesy rolls - my table loved these. but a bit too filling for me. have to save room for the meat! but i allow myself to eat one or two - fried polenta - YUMMM must eat; this was probably the dish that got replaced the most - fried bananas cant get better - mashed potatoes - nothing too special so i usually skip it - plantains - maybe because by the time i tried it, the dish was cold but i didn't like it - black beans / rice - just a couple other plates you can get, not too special dessert - signature PAPAYA CREAM - usually i don't like papaya but i got it because 1. its their signature dish 2. the waiter said it helps you digest your food (totally true) 3. its mixed with ice cream, even more yum; must must must get!!! super refreshing after the meal - South American FLAN - second signature dish. BEST FLAN EVER. if you love flan, you will love this dish - creme brulee - this was the waiter's favorite and it was pretty delicious. it was done just right with the sugar crusted on top fogo is the only brazilian steakhouse i will go to. there are cheaper priced ones but their service and their steak is not as good. you might as well spend the extra bucks on a better meal. plus you dont eat like this everyday, so you can splurge once in a while. also i dont think you can find another restaurant where almost all the waiters speak portuguese... compared to other fogo's (price differs by location), this is by far one of the cheapest and i would take advantage of it. while you're there, might as well get a drink to go with the meat. i usually get a red wine - they have tons of selection. or you can go with a traditional caipirinha ($7.50 for a regular one $10.00 for a premium one - dont konw what the difference is - go with the regular one) lastly, the service was superb. we were asked multiple times how everything was and if we needed any other small plates and if you wanted a particular piece of meat you can ask for it and someone will come to you. our side orders and glasses were filled and our requests answered quickly. the waiters were friendly and we had a great time! we always come here when we're on a business trip.
(4)
Norman P.
I took advantage of the $52.80 Restaurant Week deal to come check this place out. There used to be a big ad on a billboard visible via lightrail route on my way to school - made me always want to give it a try. My expectations were set at the same standard as Texas de Brazil and Rodizio's Grill. Unfortunately, it is the first Brazilian grill I've been to that doesn't get a perfect rating. Close but no cigar. The food was, indeed, quite good. But every piece I got of the Picanha (signature sirloin) was well-done. Nothing against well-done, but I like my sirloin a little bloody (not like vampire bloody, but tender/juicy bloody). Even when I asked for a medium rare piece, I got well-done. Hmm. The salad bar was presented well and had various delicious sides sides to go with your meal. I was a little wary about it though, because last time I checked prosciutto, smoked salmon ans shitake mushrooms weren't Brazilian. 2nd Hmmm. In the end, all was still good so i didn't really mind it. Lastly, it could have been because of the business of the Restaurant week deal, but the service was a little slow. It took the servers quite some time to make their way to our table and they definitely weren't in as high spirits and enthusiasm as the server's I remember from Texas de Brazil and Rodizio's. This place is quite good, don't get me wrong. But unfortunately, for Fogo de Chao, if I every get hungry for some Brazilian grilled meat, I have some other options I'd rather go back to. 4 stars, delicious but not as good - I may have thought differently if Fogo de Chao had been the first Brazilian grill I went to. Stay hungry my friends!
(4)
Ang H.
The salad bar is to die for - love the full block of parmesan cheese! The Cesar salad is so tasty, fresh veggies, and huge asparagus - I'm getting hungry as I type this review. It's so yummy. And then comes the meat. What a fun experience! Turn your card to green and all kinds of meat shows up at the table bacon wrapped filet, parmesan crusted pork, ribeye, lamb, ribs, and my absolute favorite (the house special), Picanha, which is a prime cut of top sirloin. This restaurant is definitely for special occasions - at $50 a person and a very expensive bar, it's a bit too pricey for me almost not worth that amount of money. The side dishes are just okay - garlic mashed potatoes, polenta fries, and warm cinnamon bananas.
(4)
Jason B.
This place is soo good there varieties of meat a delicious but like some one else stated the waiters are on it if you turn your card over you had better be ready to bang because your going to get meat and lots of it that being said I love this place but the price tag is a bit high especially if you are dining with a light eater but if you happen to be in town with say the New York giants then go a head a do it you won't be sorry but if your dining with the ice capades then might want to look elsewhere
(4)
Matt C.
Food's amazing. Service is some of the best in Denver. Restaurant itself has a great location, layout, and set up. Clientele? Miserable. This isn't thier fault. It really isn't. But every time I go to Fogo de Chao (I've been three times), I swear that I'm never going back because I don't want to deal with my fellow diners. So here's the breakdown: Tourists: Lot's of 'em. FdC is near the 16th Street Mall and a few of the downtown hotels. So there are a lot of tourists. I'm not sure what it is about tourists, but they can be really needy of the staff. Which detracts from the staff's ability to serve everyone else. "Dates:" Certainly an okay place to take a date. That is if you happen to be in early middle age and are desparate to impress your younger, or at least respectively better looking, date. Same as above, these guys get needy and just can't stop harassing the waitstaff. Wasted Yuppie Party: Again, it's a great restaurant for groups, and definitely a good place for a birthday party. But there always seem to be one or two larger groups of yuppies there for a special event. And they're always wasted. Really, throughly, trashed. And they're loud. And obnoxious. And abusive to the staff. And flagrantly discussing sex and/or drugs in front of families/children. So...maybe I just need to go during "off" hours...
(2)
Laurie W.
We came, we saw, we ate. It was ok. Nothing spectacular, except for the quantity of food. We went on Friday, the last night of restaurant week, which I know is a no-no. But we'd been wanting to try Fogo and, hey, why not take the bargain? First, it looked as if they'd crammed many more tables into the restaurant than would normally be there. I can't say that for certain, as I had never been there on a normal night, but the back of my chair was literally sticking into the doorway to the kitchen. That can't be normal. The salad bar was good, everything was very fresh. The Chicken Salad had "surprise, raisins!" in it. The tabbouleh was actually very good! There were cheeses, prosciutto, cucumber salad and many other items. Everything was of good quality. And then the meat came. I am no stranger to Brazilian Steakhouses. I love the concept of men at my beck and call, serving me from their large skewers of meat. Seriously, how can that be wrong? It did go wrong. I love getting a little of this, a little of that. Well, the Gauchos we cutting of huge hunks of meat. I'd say that each serving was 4-6 oz. That is a lot of meat, especially if you get a piece that's mostly fat, or overcooked, or that you just don't like. It created so much waste. I felt bad, leaving so much meat on my plate, but I got a hunk of rib-eye about the size of my hand that was mostly fat. The first piece of garlic Picanha I tried was overcooked and tough. The pork grilled in a parmesan crust never came by, so I didn't get to try it. There were some brighter spots. The sausages were pleasantly flavored with sage, the chicken drumsticks were nicely seasoned and the little cheese bread things were wonderful. And the offering of a $25 bottle of wine was good. I'd give Fogo de Chao another chance on a night that was not during restaurant week. But for the quality of food, Mr. Mixer and I agreed we'd rather go to Rodizio any day!
(3)
Stan L.
To be honest, I'm bored of typical American Steakhouses. This place is unique! You can choose from different meats cooked to your choice. It's just heaven for meat lovers! Very friendly staff and great service. I highly recommend this place and you better come hungry! :)
(5)
Nia S.
Wow, never experienced such a place before. If you like meat, you have to try this place! I really liked the service, they made us feel special. I do have one tiny complaint...no free drink refills on soda? Really...for such an expensive place, this is really cheap!
(4)
David C.
Great as always. All the food is well prepared and tasty. The staff is very attentive. Highly recommended (if you love meat).
(5)
Thomas S.
Some days I am glad am not a vegan anymore. Okay, okay, everyday I am glad that I can partake in glutinous all-you-can-eat meat orgies like the one offered at Fogo de Chao. Sure, it is not something I want to do on a daily basis, but I am always grateful that it is an option. I finally exercised that option last Saturday. Fogo de Chao does not mess around when it comes to service. They smother you with constant service, bringing fresh plates, new sides, and constantly asking you how your meal is going. This is great if you are on a bad date and you want any distraction that will allow you not to speak with your companion, but the rest of us with interesting things to say will eventually get annoyed. Fogo de Chao is also a spectacle of extravagance. Without saying a word, the staff will swoop by your table to take away your unfinished sides before returning with fresh sides. Over the course of the meal, my companion and I ate approximately 8 fried polenta squares, while FdC threw away 13 squares from our table alone. No lectures about starving kids in Africa here! Ultimately, the bottom line is the food. At Fogo de Chao, the food is a-okay. Sure, it is much better than any buffet in town, but that alone doesn't make it great. I was disappointed that the most potent meat swords were those loaded with the cheaper quality meats - items wrapped in bacon and poorer quality meats. The better items, such as their picanha, were not seen as frequently at our table. The meats were good, but I found the seasoning to be a bit bland, and many of my cuts were over cooked beyond the preferred medium rare. Furthermore, I found the salad bar to be somewhat lacking and the side dishes (other than the fried polenta) were very uninteresting. After the bill arrived and sat at our table for a couple of minutes, a member of the staff came over and offered dessert liquor. He did not make it clear whether the liquor was on the house, but since our bill had arrived already, I made the assumption that his offer was free. After pouring our drinks, he grabbed our bill and had it returned with an extra $15 added for the drinks. Son of a b*tch! I'm all for paying for what I consume, but I would expect a place with great service like FdC to be a little more up front about charging for extras.
(3)
Cristeen J.
Waaay to go to Fogo De Chao! Their awesome salad bar is yummy, but don't fill up too much! Because when you flip your card over to green...all these yummy food will be at your table in a blink of an eye. We were very impressed with their selections from the wine/cognac "cart." Great dinning experience!
(4)
Andrea R.
As though I was being fattened for slaughter, the waitstaff continued to bring meat after meat after meat after meat, most of which was mediocre and tough, even though I clearly had the red side of my 'coaster' in plain view. They recommended the most expensive glass of wine, because I'm pretty sure that's what they are told to do. I was always amused when a staff person had only a small amount of meat left on his sword and would ask me how I would like it cooked. Without regard to what I actually said (rare, medium, well-done) he would simply just give me the remainder of the meat on the sword. You can't tell me that it always just happened to be the right done-ness. You can't. I won't be back, but if I ever did, I would just pay the $20-something for the exquisite salad bar. That alone had enough meat and protein choices for me. For those of you meat tooth types- you'll be in absolute heaven just because you like meat, but not much else.
(1)
Mario L.
Fogo de Chao - A Haiku More meat on a sword! Somewhere PETA is crying Help me my heart hurts My goal with this review is to spread some knowledge. To keep it real. If you notice there are a TON of 5 star reviews for this place. And that's a problem. To be a 5 star joint you have to have all the bases covered. Everything has to be verging on perfect. And Fogo is almost there. They just have 1 problem. . . The food isn't actually that good Yeah I said it. The decor and ambiance are all great. This place screams class. The service CANNOT be beat. My wine glass was never bellow half full, neither was my water. The swordsman were so frequent they barely gave you time to eat what was on your plate. Fresh sides were brought regularly. New plates and silver ware provided frequently. All great. But still not a 5 star. That's because nothing you eat is so good that you would say "STOP GIVE ME 10 OZs OF THIS". All of the meat is good in small pieces. But if you stop and pace yourself. Try to TASTE what your eating you realize that the vast majority is average cuts of meat over seasoned and not served at the correct temperature. Take the Bacon wrapped Fillet. If you had a full size portion the salt would cause you to dry up like the Sahara. Even the Polenta cakes on the side were overly seasoned. I know that this place is a gimmick. And i LOVE that gimmick. I would recommend Fogo 10 times out of 10. But you go to Fogo for the Brazilian Steakhouse experience. Not for an amazing meal. And that's fine. That's what Restaurant Week is for. Great dining experiences. And that is what you get. But I am not going to lie to you and say that you cant get a better steak elsewhere. All of that said, there is always room for meat on sticks in the repertoire.
(4)
John S.
There is truly nothing bad I can say about Fogo de Chao. Honestly. I visited there with my family last night and the whole experience was fantastic. The service was over the top! The staff continuously checked up on us and made sure we had everything we wanted and more. In a setting where quantity is the focus, it'd be very easy to skimp on quality. Not at all. Everything I had from the salad bar to the meat was amazing. They serve several Brazilian meats as well as a few we'd all know like ribeye, sirloin, and filet. Honestly, every one of them was outstanding. We had papaya cream and cake for dessert, both equally as good. I didn't pick up the check, but it's hard for me to imagine a price this wouldn't be worth!
(5)
Lisa H.
This was my first time at Fogo de Chao, in which I had high hopes for. I made reservations for my husband's 40th birthday. We had a group of 15 people, and I will have to say, though we had a good time with good friends, I was a bit disappointed by this restaurant. Over all the food was ok, but not really worth the price. The salad bar is good with many options, but it is basically a buffet, and the servers are rushing around cutting off pieces of mediocre meat, and placing it on our plates. I had previously brought in a cake and was told it would be cut and plated for us. They brought the cake out, set it on the table and handed me a cake cutter to do it myself. Good thing I have a lot of restaurant serving experience, considering I had to cut and serve 15 people their cake! For how much this restaurant costs, I should have never had to take over the job of a server. This was my night off from the restaurant I work in! Maybe I was the one who should have been the tipped, lol! It was pretty appalling! Because it was a large party we were all charged gratuity on our tabs, which is fine, definitely understandable and expected, considering it was such a large party. After we all paid our tabs, my husband bought a round of shots at the end of dinner for everyone, which they automatically charged gratuity on as well. I have worked in restaurants for 20+ years and I have never seen a restaurant charge gratuity for a round of shots! We should have NEVER been charged gratuity (over 20$) for the bartender to do his job, and pour 15 shots of rum. Overall I feel like this place was trying to get anything they could out of us, without giving quality service. I usually have much sympathy for busy servers, because I am a server myself, but this level of "customer service" was just unacceptable. This was a big day for my husband and his friends, I just wish this restaurant would have acknowledged that too. It was not very welcoming, and we all left feeling kind of rushed and ripped off!
(2)
Nancy K.
I went to Fogo De Chao tonight and it was great. There are reasons that I have to give it a 4 star instead of 5 though. I have been to Rodizio many times before and I would give them the same star rating. Not b/c Rodizio has better meat or even the same meat (Fogo has lamb) but they have more selections. So to sum up the pros and cons from the two places... -Meat selection = Rodizio has more selections -Better meat = Fogo De Chao -Better Salad Bar = Rodizio (but who goes there to eat salad??) -Sides dishes = Fogo De Chao (since Rodizio didn't even have any. but at Fogo, they switch them out even when I was only half done with each dish. it was very wasteful. I wish they would just wait until we are done then give us another. they were all very good. i probably ate too much "filler") oh, speaking of filler, Fogo has the best fried banana that come free with the meal. I LOVE THE BANANA!!! A+++ on that one. We also tried the key lime pie which turned out kinda like key lime cheesecake but it was still very good. all and all, these two places are about even for me. If Fogo De Chao has grilled pineapple and grilled tomatoes, i would never go back to Rodizio but as it stands now, it's about even for me. price point, came to $111 for 2 with a glass of wine and a pie, i guess it's expensive and not the most healthy but hey, not like you eat like that everyday. can't afford to, anyway.
(4)
Ruben P.
I have noticed this place for a while now and finally last Saturday my curiosity got the best of me. Let me start by saying, I should not have waited so long to try this. The meal started out with a salad from an absolutely elegant salad bar with some choices that are a little out of the ordinary for a normal salad bar, It also included full pieces of bacon that seemed to be cooked to a nice crisp and added a little something to my salad. When you are ready to eat the main courses, be ready for quite the production. The waitstaff is supremely attentive to their guests and had the salad plates away form the table in a matter of seconds and the dinner service ready. There were 3 sides at the table and meat ready to consume almost immediately. The food was great. I highly suggest the rib eye. Everything was seasoned well and the experience was wonderful. I suppose my only real criticism is that the waitstaff is a little too enthusiastic about the wine. It bordered on annoying especially if you are trying to have a conversation. All in all I will be back and would suggest it highly for a special occasion or just a night when you want a great meal.
(4)
Miguel M.
We made reservations for our anniversary, it took us an hour to get to this restaurant. the waiter sat us by the kitchen, which was very noisy. We had more than one waiter which we were very confused to what was going on. The staff was running around like they were running out of a burning building. The salad bar was fair.The meat was Chewy and of poor quality. The manager came to our table to see how everything was going, but before we could get the words out of our mouths he went to greet a different table. This is a good looking restaurant but the service was poor and the food wasn't worth the money that we paid. We paid $ 165.00, which definitely wasn't worth it. There's plenty of restaurants that you can get a much better meal and better service for the price. I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone
(2)
Nicholas V.
Dear sweet artery Clogging goodness, love this place best to hit it up during restaurant week. Meal for two has normally been 52.80 plus tax. Picanha, and lamb is particularly good. Happy eating.
(5)
Danny L.
Eating does not get better than this. That is all.
(5)
Mina N.
I absolutely love their salad bar. I would mix it with the steak from the BBQ. I went there on a weekday, so my friend and I were the only two there. Loved the ambiance. The staff was very nice and attentive. I felt bad whenever I did not want a piece of meat that they came with, so I ended up overstuffing myself. Their soda is delicious, so expensive for soda, but so good.
(4)
zaya c.
LOVE the food, love the service :) must go place! especially if u're really hungry because the foods are always ready!
(5)
Kyle M.
One word: overwhelming. I watched "The Biggest Loser" the same night after I ate there, and felt that the two concepts were incompatible. If I had to pick, I'd choose "The Biggest Fogo" any day. I felt full for three days. I almost felt like I needed to blog about my post-dining experience and the mental steps I needed to take to deal with it... There are so many reviews on here that you probably have already gathered that this place is good. We went for 5280 week, and the place was practically blowing up. It was incredibly busy, and the gauchos were slicing meat off their swords like their MC Hammer pants were on FIRE. It was totally enjoyable. Best side = the carmelized bananas. Don't be shy...they'll bring you as many as you can eat. They sort of ended up being like the ginger I eat with my sushi: good palate cleansers. Although they will send around the "house specialty" more frequently than the other cuts, you will be most satisfied by waiting for or requesting other cuts you haven't seen in a while (like the filet or the surprisingly top-notch chicken legs). They won't be offended if you request something different than what they're offering you, so don't be shy. Finally, the caipirinhas are delish. REALLY strong and well worth the $7.50 pricetag. The one drawback - some of the cuts are dry, but this seems random. Mostly, they were good and moist (at least they were when we went there), but you'll occasionally get a dry cut. If you get one, just push it aside, and request something else.
(4)
Jeremy K.
Fogo de Chao's "Cheese Bread" was listed by Denver Magazine as one of the top 100 must eat dishes in the city, so I gave it a shot: Rating: 5 (out of 10) Price: n/a (included in $38 meal) The Skinny: Saying you must go to Fogo de Chao for the cheese bread is like saying you must go to the circus for the popcorn. It misses the whole damn point of the show. And there is a show at Fogo. Waiters line up carrying 12 inch spears full of freshly flamed and sizzling meat, carving it tableside for your chest thumping pleasure... mmmm. And the cheese bread? Yeah... it's there. It sits, lying quietly on the table, away from the action. Hoping there might be a lull in the meat parade for someone to keep their mouth occupied. The taste is fine, maybe even slightly better than fine. But no one - not one person - should go to Fogo and sacrifice any part of empty stomach on the bread. It's a waste of valuable space you'll need for the carnivore ceremony that carries on as long as you can. I've got a picture of it up on the blog in my profile jko
(4)
Andy L.
Took advantage of the Denver Restaurant week deal on Monday night 7:30 with a party of six. First time here and I have to say it was nothing short of delicious. Great salad bar to have plenty of goodies with the meats. We had non-stop guacho chefs coming by all night with all of the good meats and plenty of great sides. Place was sociable, loud, and had a ton of people. Our waiter said they served 1,200 people on Sunday and Monday was "much easier" at 800! Really great time and I still am dreaming about how good the meats were. Also good deal on wine for 5280 week and we got two bottles of a good Malbec for $52.80 which was perfect for our group size.
(5)
Kristy L.
Muy delicioso! Beautiful salad bar. What really caught my attention was the crispy bacon next to a huge wheel-bowl of Parmesan. Filet mignon and Tbone was perfectly juicy, flavorful and hot off the broiler. Who can deny bacon wrapped filet mignon. Lamb was a little peppery for me. Pork tenderloin was a little bland. Awesome sides: best polenta I've ever had, and a fried carmelized banana, also piping hot. we were super stuffed but shared a carmelized flan, "the best" mom has "ever had"--super creamy custard with perfect carmelization. And it wouldn't be Brazilian without the caipirinhas, made to delight you with a little breeze of liquid copacabana. I did ask our waiter if there would be any fogo or pagoge. He just said "what?" in a Spanish accent. Of course! All the Brazilians are in Boulder! We all left with our taste buds tantalized and very full bellies. Obrigato!
(5)
Sage M.
I would like to give Fogo de Chao 4.5 stars, but I will err on the side of generosity - as they seem to do with their customers. If you are wanting to plan a special occasion group dinner, this is an excellent place to put on your short list. We enjoyed a marvelous birthday dinner with 12 friends at Fogo de Chao in October, and will definitely return. Here are a few of the particulars: Earlier in the day, I had dropped off a personalized birthday cake, candles and flowers at the restaurant. They weren't even open for diners; they instructed me to just come on in and meet with the manager. He was very gracious. I was not prepared for the gorgeous flower arrangement they created at our table when we arrived. It was quite lovely. They not only served the Birthday Boy a house dessert with his name emblazoned on it, they also brought out the personalized cake with candles aflame. They shower, shower, shower you with attention. Once you sit, be prepared to eat immediately. There is no lag time here. You sit, you give you drink order within seconds, and off you go to the salad bar. Bread, fried bananas and polenta cakes are ever-present at your table, as well. Drinks don't go dry here. The nonstop array of grilled meats, once begun, is dizzying. Want a break? Flip the coin to red. Want another selection? Flip to green. Do you really like the applewood bacon-wrapped sausage, or are you more interested in little lamb chops? They do remember what you like and encourage you to not be shy. I disagree with the review that said this wasn't a good 'first date' place. I think it's a great ice breaker to have a ridiculous selection of grilled meats waved in front of your face. It's interactive and entertaining. Isn't that what dates are all about?
(5)
Megan N.
WOW!! this place is soooo good. And not just the food, but the customer service was out of this world. When we were first seated, we were near a big party. I guess a few more people showed up for the party and the manager asked us if they could re-seat us. No big deal to us, we were literally just seated. He then offered to buy us desert because we moved. !!! They went above and beyond. The food was delicious. Worth every penny. The potato salad was so good. i wish they sold it to take home ; ) no joke!! i love this place, cant wait to go back. Great date place, awesome for big groups and taking people from out of town. thanks you Fogo de chao!!
(5)
Rick K.
Comida brasileira.... ^__________^ **************************************************Â* Fogo de Chao gives me a lot of mixed feelings. On one hand, it is in fact a great deal (especially when you go for a Restaurant Week or lunch specials). On the other hand, my Brazilian roots tell me this churrascaria pales in comparison to the humblest BBQ houses in Brazil. Take this review with a grain of salt. I think the salad bar is great and presents a vast array of greens, cheeses, and side dishes. The downsides is that it is anything BUT brazilian. At least they had Hearts of Palm, though they weren't so fresh. The meats were in fact well done... but I feel like there was something amiss. I can't exactly put my finger on it, but the flavors were not what I remember from when I was a kid. All in all, they had the basic cuts: Filet Mignon, Picanha (sirloin), garlic sirloin, sausages, chicken, etc. Unfortunately, they didn't have chicken heart (which is an absolute must in any traditional brazilian steak house). The side dishes were great. Polenta, farofa (eat it with the meat, people), white rice, cheesebread.... oh the cheesebread was delicious. The service was good. It was an eyesore to see the Portuguese speaking brazilian waiters though. I don't care about what everyone says... to me this place is 4/5... perhaps their locations in Brazil are better, but this customer is a tough reviewer when it comes to Brazilian food. Don't mess with me; I grew up there. FYI... if you want a fuller Brazilian experience, order the caipirinha (40% alcohol content I think) and drive responsibly AND/OR the guarana (traditional Brazilian soda).
(4)
Melodi R.
I'm not sure if it was the tasty food or the great company, but while in Denver visiting friends, we enjoyed a nice meal at Fogo! The bartender made me a special vanilla Manhattan (like I first loved at Gold Class Cinema). Their salad bar was amazing and we were told it is available as a vegetarian option and for lunch as well. The meat is as expected, but too much! I didn't know I could turn the pog to "stop" and the back to "go" which I should have...the waiters with the meat come by every 2 seconds and it feels a bit interruptive. My fault. Dan, the customer service specialist, was very nice and spent time chatting with us about Fogo, Chicago, restaurant week and Yelp! Give it a try! I hope you all like it as much as we did!
(4)
Ryan O.
Fogo is pricey, but well worth the money! The salad bar is awesome, but it feels wrong to eat from the salad bar when so much delicious meat is waiting for you! I'm not a fan of lamb, but the lamb was excellent. My favorite are the bacon wrapped chicken and bacon wrapped filet mignon. The 'house special' sirloin is also incredibly tasty!! Service is spectacular. If you need to wait for someone, something is wrong. If a 'gaucho' comes by and doesn't have what you want, tell them and they will send another over for you. I have never received service like this anywhere else.
(5)
Steven S.
I was take there for my birthday by my girlfriend at the time. It was absolutely incredible! Both food and service could not have been better. Meat with a side of meat? Yes. I did not try anything that my taste buds didn't love. Eventually, I had to be helped to the door and to the valet stand as I'd eaten more than my body could handle. Pricey, but well worth the splurge for a special occasion!
(5)
Skip V.
So we've wanted to try Fogo since they opened, since our "thing" seems to be churrascarias right now. Being a voracious carnivore, it doesn't get any better than the Brazilian steakhouse experience! Fogo de Chao is about as good as it gets when it comes to this type of restaurant. We've tried all three brands in the Denver area; Rodizio, TdB, and now Fogo. We held off on Fogo for quite some time, as it was pricier than the others when they first opened, but it looks like pricing has now been brought in line to the market. What a mistake it was to not go sooner; it's well worth the price. We went on a Sunday before going to a Broncos game, so we expected it to be busy, but it was maybe about 1/3 full at 4:30pm. Parking was as easy as it gets; there's free valet parking! Service was by far the best of the three. A team of gauchos and waitstaff attended to every need. One glitch; we had to wait probably 15 minutes for our check, as it seemed our main waiter had moved sections or something. No worries... still made it the game in time. I always have to start off with the Brazil's signature cocktail; the caipirinha. Pretty standard here; lots of lime and cachaça. Very tasty! I do like Rodizio's version the best, to be honest though - less lime, more alcohol! The salad bar was tremendous. Pretty standard fare for churrascarias; lots of hearts of palm, olives, smoked meats and cheeses, yada yada yada. Very good, though. I could go there (or to any Churrascaria) just for the salad bar since they're sooo good. I was slightly disappointed in that either there was not a "sides station/bar", or we weren't directed to it, if there was. We were however provided with the standard appetizers and sides that are brought to the table; cheese bread, polenta, caramelized bananas, and garlic mashed potatoes. Not that I really eat the sides at these kinds of places (got to leave room for the meat!), but I do like a taste of soup, if it's good (like the lobster bisque at TdB or the cold strawberry soup is at Rodizio!) or some black beans once in a while. I honestly would've given five stars if there were more sides. On to the main event - the meat. This was as good as it gets. Temperature was just how I like it; rare to mid-rare, and all of it as tender as possible for the cut. I'm a huge fan of lamb, and Fogo does not disappoint. Chops and leg of lamb were both available. The filet mignon was tremendous; I don't think I've had a more tender cut anywhere before. I do wish there were a fish selection, though. I don't think too many gauchos were on the coast catching what was biting back in the day, though. The kicker, though? Breaking with what seems to be the norm with churrascarias, the meat was lightly seasoned; just enough to bring the flavor out and not overpower. THANK YOU!! I'm rather salt-averse, so this was very welcome. Overall, Fogo seems to me to be the best of the three churrascarias in the area. Well worth the money, with the best food, service, parking, and ambiance out of the three! We'll definitely be back!!
(4)
Lacey M.
Stop #4 for Restaurant Week 2010. There's not a whole lot more to add about this place, that hasn't already been said. Yes, countless swords of meat just waiting for your card to be turned over to green. Service is precise, at times maybe even too much. We kept being given new plates of sides when only a small amount had been eaten (huge waste of food, btw). The moment your card is green, expect meat being delivered within seconds...and not stopping until it's red. The salad bar is fantastic, and could make a meal of that alone. The star of the meal for me, however, was the Red Sangria. OMG. I've never had sangria THAT good before! It comes only in pitchers though, small and large. Do yourself a favor and just order the large....you'll want more, trust me. Our server dropped the ball at the end of our meal. We waited an exceptionally long time for dessert, and again for the bill. The service was so incredibly fast throughout the entire meal, so this was very disappointing and just plain annoying. After stuffing ourselves silly we were just ready to get the hell out of there to start burning off some of that meal! Overall though, the food was excellent, drinks were amazing, service mainly good. I definitely will return, and prefer this place a million times over the Brazilian Steakhouse up the street.
(4)
Dave B.
Serious disappointment. I have been looking longingly at Fogo's ad in the United in-flight mag for years. Finally went the other night for 5280 (perhaps better results would be had on a normal night). The good: the salab bar is superb. Great caesar, smoked salmon, cheese, olives, marinated peppers, marinated mushrooms, artichoke hearts, etc. The meat is generally very good. Really liked the sirloin, lamb, and the pork tenderloin. I love salt, and many of the meats were very salty (I could see others liking this much less than I did). The bad: we were there late (9:30) and the servers were still running around dumping meat on our plates as quickly as possible and running away, with zero explanation of what each meat was. No matter how much I pleaded for "just a sliver" they would invariably dump a 5oz slab on my plate. After a while we gave up and turned my wife's card to "stop", and just split my steak between us--and it was still too much. A pretty disgusting waste of food (and they don't let you take it home). The server said it all gets thrown away. I'm no Sally Struthers, but the waste disgusted me. The ugly: I didn't go there expecting a romantic dinner, but this is the last place I'd go on date. Crowded, hectic, bustling, cavernous room. Felt like a college cafeteria. Not a relaxing atmosphere at all. Wine list is good. But the beer list would be supbar at Hooters. Not a single micro (Coors, Coors Light, Amstel, Heineken, Blue Moon, and a Brazilian lager). Settled for a Heineken. They didn't have a glass. I really am surprised, but I have zero desire to go back, even for 5280.
(3)
Emily R.
If you're going to shell out $50 per person on dinner and you're craving some Brazillian meat, I definitely recommend Texas de Brazil over this place. I went here for Valentine's day and everything (salad bar, meat, sides) was a disappointment. We decided not to stay for dessert.
(2)
Rob K.
An incredible "Meat Parade" including salad bar and sides for the cost of a petite filet and no sides at many neighboring steakhouses. Fogo allows you to have a gluttonous experience for 1/2 the price of the Prime steakhouses in town. Cheap? No. Incredible Value? YES!!!! For those who think $38.50 is not a value, Golden Corral's 9.99 sirloin and shrimp special is not a "value" either. It is low prices for low-grade food. So let's get our benchmarks straight.... Come hungry (I always skip lunch before) because you get your choice over over a dozen cuts of beef, lamb, pork, and chicken, most cooked to the temp you prefer....so there really is something for everyone (except those pesky vegans). Bottom sirloin, picanha, pork ribs, and ribeye were my faves. Don't fill up on the cheese bread (cheesy poofs), either. cuz they're sinfully addictive. When will they start opening Cheesy Poof Dispensaries in Denver? Soon, I'm sure..... The service is swarming without being intrusive (use your red light/green light wisely to summon/shoo away gauchos) and the staff is genuinely eager to please and make sure you enjoy your experience. Refreshing dirty plates, exchanging silverware, bringing fresh sides when yours cool off. I have been to Fogo de Chao in a few different cities over the years and this one is running great for being so new (opened summer 09). Because the salad bar/meat parade is such a good value at sub-$40, the add-ons of drinks and desserts are on the pricier side. And the price for lunch is an even better deal (sub-30 for the exact same meal) But a tip for the wine drinker - they mark up the inexpensive bottles much more than the mid-tier ones, so the wines you get for $50-60 are significantly better than the $30-40 wines, not just marginally better. SIGNIFICANTLY. Stay in South America as the domestic offerings are big name and "no soul" wineries in most cases. Your dollar will go a lot further with their Malbec selections which are very diverse and well thought out. They even carry some of best boutique producers from Argentina that can be hard to find (Luca, Tikal, La Posta)
(5)
Darcy P.
My husband and I took a trip after Xmas to Denver just for a few days. He looked online for a good place to eat, and we wound up here. I'm so glad we did! This was an amazing experience! Not only was the treatment from the staff professional, kind and attentive, but the food was gorgeous and extremely tasty! The salad bar is beautiful and unique with meats, cheeses, and different vegetables. The bread on the table was a Brazilian treat, soft and cheesy. There were about 15 meats... and you could have every one if you wanted! Each was so flavorful! The restaurant had the best meat I've ever had, including sirloin, bacon wrapped chicken, and filet mignon. Delicious! Also, servers sporatically came by to ensure we were given the chance to eat every meat we wanted from the menu. Fantastic!
(5)
Trey F.
My favorite restaurant!!! In every way!!!
(5)
Dani G.
OHMIGAWD. We went here on Monday, party of 2, around 7pm for Restaurant Week, just to take advantage of a slightly cheaper price. Well, it was worth every cent, plus some. Complementary valet is wonderful, especially in the Impossible to Find Parking Land that is LoDo. 1. The White Sangria is AMAZING. They hand cut the fruit, and there is a lot of it - a serve the drink with a spoon for eating the fruit later! Perfect. It was served in a pitcher (meant for 2, for 16 dollars) but it definitely filled 5-6 glasses. 2. The salad bar. Heaven. Asparagus spears that were the size of small trees, cheese galore (including a rather impressive brick of Parmesan Reggiano), and a "basil sauce" dressing that I want to buy by the gallon. Great selection of a couple of cold meats as well. Not to mention the appetizers they bring out - cheese rolls that melt in your mouth, delicious fried bananas, mashed potatoes, and fried polenta. I would eat those bananas by the ton. 3. The meat. Oh my god....every single piece was delectable. I don't eat pork, but my meal companion was raving about it. The lamb and the beef options were simply delicious, and did not need an ounce of seasoning or sauce. I usually dunk my steaks in Heinz 57 or something, but this was in no way necessary at Fogo de Chao. 4. The service. The hostess was very friendly, and we were sat promptly even without a reservation. Our server was simply fantastic. He recommended an ice wine for me and a malbec for my boyfriend for dessert that was a wonderful digestive and was not ridiculously expensive. He also told us that the lunch menu is cheaper but is the exact same menu as dinner - that's good to know for us starving students! 5. Dessert. We were too full to even order it, and we aren't big sweet tooths, but that key lime pie did look awfully good as it passed by us. I was in a meat/cheese coma for hours, it was delicious. We will absolutely be back!
(5)
Patricia W.
This had to be one of the best dinning experiences I have ever had. Not only was the food superb but the service was impeccable! We were treated like royalty, the staff were fantastic, the food was absolutely fantastic! VERY MUCH WORTH YOUR TIME!
(5)
Turok ..
This is me and my lady's favorite place on earth. I am giving it 5 stars. I live by the skin of my balls and I figure I should eat well while I'm on this earth.
(5)
Christina H.
Everything from start to finish was amazing at Fogo de Chao. Some might say their service is smothering but I found it just enthusiastic and a little comical. Everything I ate from the cheesy bread to the salad to the meat to the limeade non-alcoholic beverage with unlimited refills was EXCELLENT. Also, since they were forewarned it was a birthday dinner I got a complimentary birthday dessert (creme brulee to die for!) AND a coupon for another free dinner! This was quite possibly one of my best dining experiences, though I've been to fancier restaurants. And to top things off, nearly everything is gluten-free a Fogo. The only exempted items are the bread at the salad bar (the table cheese bread is made with yucca plant flour so its gluten-free), tabouli, and the beer-marinated chicken wings. My Celiac's affected boyfriend ate like a king! I think if you find yourself disappointed with Fogo, you should get your head checked.
(5)
Flavio G.
I headed to Fogo de Chao for the first time last night for a friend's birthday dinner. My journey at Fogo de Chao started enjoying my favorite drink, "Caipirinha". It is Brazil's national cocktail; made with cachaça (Brazilian rum), sugar and lime. When enjoying my drink their friendly staff explains how it works. Basically, it is kind of all you can eat; salad bar, meats and side dishes. Gourmet salad and sides bar - A great variety of items including fresh cut vegetables, imported cheeses, cured meats and Brazilian side dishes. Your control your service with a small green and red sided chip. The green side signals the "gaucho" to bring out skewers of sizzling meats to the table, when it is sliced and served. When you are satisfied, flip the disc to the red side until you are ready for more offerings. That will take me long time to describe every meat cut served at Fogo de Chao. Let's go over the special one: "Picanha" (Top Sirloin) which is the house specialty. They prepare picanha in two different ways: the traditional light seasoning, with sea salt and a more robust garlic seasoned version. I definitely prefer it seasoned only with sea salt. This way the original taste of the meat is preserved and I can enjoy the flavor much better. If you have room for a dessert, they have a delicious selection. My preferred one is the papaya cream. Made with papaya, vanilla ice cream and Crème de Cassis liqueur. Just delicious! Another strong point to register here, their A Class staff. On a restaurant business, a big differential is not keep asking you if you need something, but in provide you with what you want at the time you need it. People at Fogo de Chao know how to do that very well. I have enjoyed many different Brazilian steak houses when leaving for long time in Brazil, and for sure Fogo de Chao is the best one that I have tried in Colorado.
(5)
Carolyn G.
Hit or miss on the meat- some good - some really dry. I had the salad bar too and ended up getting sick. Like a really really really expensive denny's but only with meat.
(1)
Jelena W.
They're open! They're open! Finally! At last! Huzzah! Gratuitous exclamation points! That said, I thought Fogo de Chao in Philadelphia had alarmingly attentive service, but the waitstaff at the new Denver location make Fogo Philly look like a greasy spoon. I suspect they've brought in some of their best servers from other locations around the country (one of the gauchos mentioned he had worked in the Beverly Hills location) to help get things started in Denver. So, if you can pay a visit while this location is brand new, do so, and you'll enjoy service so good that you're tempted to just hand your wallet to the nearest waiter. Want to know how good the service was? My boyfriend wears a lot of black. Okay, he wears only black, with the occasional red accent. Anyway, we arrived and he headed for the restroom while I made a beeline for the salad bar (Parmesan! Prosciutto! I missed you both so much!) to fill a plate. I was away from our table for only a moment, but, like magic, my boyfriend's white napkin had been replaced by a black one when we returned to the table. I mean, seriously? They're already carrying around hunks of bloody, meaty deliciousness and serving every freaking table in the restaurant at the same time, and they found time to notice his color preference and quietly adjust his napkin to match? I dare you to eat here, tip less than 25%, and not feel like the worst person in the world for it. Not convinced yet? Allow me to continue. My boyfriend is very attached to his coat; also, it had our gift card in it (a birthday gift from my mother). Hence, he did not allow anyone to take his coat. Moments after he declined the offer to take his coat, a waiter appeared with a cloth to cover it on the back of the chair so that no meat drippings would go astray and mar said favorite coat. Still not enough? How about this: Every time I got up for any reason, whether to revisit the salad bar or wash my hands, a server appeared out of nowhere to pull out my chair when I was ready to sit back down. Glorious. "But, Jelena," you say, "You haven't even mentioned the food!" The food, you say? You want to hear about the food? I'd love to tell you all about the tender crescents of picanha with their perfectly seasoned outer crust and delicate pink centers, or about the beef ancho juicy enough to melt in the mouth, or even the bacon-wrapped filet mignon fit for kings, but I'm still in a well-earned food coma. Wake me in a week or so. Forget Helen of Troy. I'm pretty sure it was picanha that launched a thousand ships. I know if someone took my picanha, I'd send an armada to take it back. I know you're drooling all over your keyboard and ready to go make your reservations, but bear with me for just a moment more. Let me tell you about the magical end to the evening. You see, it was my birthday yesterday. Fogo opens July 23rd, my birthday is July 26th, just try and convince me that it isn't a birthday present from the universe. I dare you. I, indulging a bit on my birthday, got a chocolate martini and we shared a creme brulee for dessert. In order to avoid appearing self-centered or any possibility of singing, I hadn't mentioned my birthday to the staff. We simply enjoyed dessert and asked for the check. When a server returned with our receipt, my boyfriend complimented him by saying, "Thank you for making her birthday evening wonderful." The server mentioned that Fogo offers complimentary desserts on birthdays, and offered to remove the dessert from our bill. I said it wasn't necessary but would be very kind. He took the check back and we sat for a few moments trying not to move too much lest we explode. Suddenly, the server returned with an envelope. "Normally we do complimentary desserts on birthdays," he said, "But instead, since this is a new restaurant, we got you a gift card for dinner for two. A present for the birthday." I gaped. We gave our enthusiastic thanks. A free dinner for two? Holy picanha, Batman! As we stumbled out of the restaurant in awe, I saw that the valet had already pulled my car around and opened the door for me. There was a time when I would have laughed at the very suggestion that I should pay over $100 for dinner and drinks for two people at a chain restaurant. That was before I met Fogo. What are you waiting for? Go! Devour! Be pampered! Enjoy!
(5)
lauren b.
After hearing raves about Fogo de Chao and reading the great reviews here on Yelp, I was pretty ecstatic when my fiance won a gift card here on the radio (yay sports radio!). The service was spectacular. The host lead us directly to our table (we had made a res earlier in the day) and our first of many servers highly recommended the Brazilian version of a mojito to drink. We took him up on his suggested and were glad we did. The drink was very mojitio-esq but was stiff enough that it lasted all dinner. Props to the bartenders at Fogo de Chao. The salad bar was everything we expected and more. I seriously want to go back just for the cheese, prosciutto, and exotic salad experience. The side dishes that were brought to the table were ok - I wasn't a big fan of the bananas (they were soggy to me) and the mashed potatoes (albeit I'm not a mashed potatoes fan [I KNOW]) but the cheese popovers were bomb. They seriously tasted like cheezits mashed into a light, fluffy roll. The meat was pretty good. I was scared to flip my card over to the green side in fear of being swarmed with overzealous servers, so I let my fiance try it out first. I seriously think that the servers can spot the wrist flip of the card from across the room because they literally appear at your table with meat ready to carve IMMEDIATELY. When I finally had the courage to try the meat I only tried a few - the steak (not usually a big steak fan but it was delicious) and the bacon wrapped chicken were easily my favorites. I tried one bite of meat that tasted a bit fatty, but overall it was pretty good. I'll be back - it's a great place to take out of town guests or if you want to binge and stuff yourself to the brim. In all honesty, I wouldn't mind coming back just to enjoy the drinks and salad bar.
(4)
Jenna A.
Ate here last night for Restaurant Week and had a blast! It was pretty packed in but I still was able to get a reservation for 12 at 8pm on a Monday...made on Sunday at 9pm. Yes! The waiters, gaucho chefs and meat cutter specialists were spectacular. Every minute I had a new meat being cut off right next to me..thankfully no meat juice splatter considering they're pros. My boyfriend was even speaking Portguese to many of them, so authentic! Most of the women in the group don't eat a lot of red meat but we were devouring everything that came by. The men in the group were getting meat sweats. Those mashed potatoes and bananas were delightful. The salad bar is amazing, as well, with the most delicious cheeses and enormous vegetables. Dessert comes with the $52.80 meal and with 12 people we all got to sample. Between Turtle Cheesecake, Chocolate Mousse and Key Lime..the winner was...The Key Lime! I'd go back for a cold slice of that pie anytime. $52.80 is a spectacular deal for everything we got. Great service and food options. Will go back anyday!
(5)
Paul D.
I absolutely love this place. As soon as you're ready for the main course you flip your little card from red to green and are assaulted instantly by guys with hot meat and knives....wait that doesn't sound very pleasant. Seriously though. The service is insane. Your drinks are never empty, you can get a clean plate in an instant, and the filet mignon, Picanha and other cuts of meat are spectacular. If you appreciate great cuts of meat cooked to perfection this place is a must. I've also gone there with people that are not steak fans and they left happy and full from the other items on the menu. Seriously one of my favorite places.
(5)
Ronnie A.
Probably my first or second 5-Star! YES! This is the best Brazillian Steakhouse to happen in Denver! Flawless service and even better cuts of meat! Salad bar was top notch and compliments the meats very well. Their Papaya Cream is an amazing sealer to the entire meal experience. I went there during lunch time with my out of state family who were visiting for the weekend. A group of 5. My parents opted for the salad bar only and still were impressed with their taste and selection. Coming from folks who are adhered to home cooked meals, says a lot about what Fogo is providing in their salad bars! Me and my brother are true carnivores and we turn our signs GREEN right away and the mind boggling aroma and the sizzle of the meats started to encumber our sights and minds! My favorites were: Lamb Leg, Lamb Chops and Garlic Beef. My least fav was the chicken! I would have liked more seasoning and more grilled texture on those rather than the crispy fried texture! The side dishes were as good as rest fo their items. The fried banana was amazin and went well with their cheese rolls. Mashed potato was great as well. We also tried their Guarana Soda, Espresso Shot, Papaya Cream, and Creme Brule. All were very pleasant to our tastebuds! Lastly, I want to compliment their service one more time. They probably set the standard for dine in expereince we look for. Royal treatment is what I would call it!
(5)
Serenity M.
A few of my friends and I came here for restaurant week. I was soo excited to try their "15 cuts" of different meats! I mean- I'm not a carnivore, but 15?!?! haha. Yeah-NO. So from those 15, 2 types are sausages, 3 are chicken, i'm not sure if they count the bacon that was wrapped around meats as one but the rest were less than mediocre meats that were tough to chew, by no means were these meats tender. Not only were they tough to chew, some were OVERLY salty while others tasted under-seasoned. The only one I really enjoyed was the filet mignon. That was the only one with consistent seasoning and tenderness. The one good thing I have to say is in regards to their service, which is pretty good. The servers replace the side dishes all throughout dinner, and even though your plates of mashed potatoes, cheesy bread, and plantains aren't finished they'll give you a fresh batch! Oh and the salad bar that everyone raves about has you're regular run of the mill salad stuff, some salmon (also salty), pepperoni, really hard bacon, mushrooms, and asparagus. I recommend not eating a lot at the salad bar to save room for the mediocre meat, also if in the middle of your meal you feel like you can no longer taste the difference between the meats, refresh your palette by grabbing something from the salad bar.
(3)
Miriam K.
First, if you don't like meat, this is not a place for you. Fogo de Chao is a "rodizio", all you can eat meat Brazilian style. The salad bar was beautiful but I didn't try much from there. The picanha was suculent and the tastier I had in ages. The fraldinha was the other best meat. All the meats were very tasty and well prepared. But to enjoy your experience there, I recommend you try to eat like a Brazilian does: control your red/green tag wisely; choose the meats you really love; eat slowly, enjoy every byte; don't overdo on the salad bar or the "pao de queijo" (cheese bread). That is hard as all the side dishes are excellent. Besides the high quality food, the service is wonderful: discrete and extremely efficient.
(5)
Neal J.
First visit to Fogo in Denver and like the others it doesn't disappoint. A group of us went to Fogo for a team dinner, which we frequently do when traveling, but since a new one opened in Denver, we obviously had to go. Frequent diners of Fogo de Chao know how important it is to pace yourself. The caipirinhas from the bar are a delicious way to start off the meal. Then it's off to an amazing salad bar, but be careful not to fill up here because you'll need all your appetite for the main course. Once you are ready for the main course, flip your marker to green and the stream of servers carrying different delicious meats on a skewer parade by your table carving off as much or as little as you want. If you need a break, turn your marker to red and they will bypass you until you flip it green again. I really love this place, especially for group settings as they have several party rooms which can accommodate a wide range of party sizes. As an extra special treat, we were given a tour of the restaurant and kitchen. Definitely a 5 star Brazilian steakhouse, hands down better than Rodizio.
(5)
Jonathan W.
Hi all This past Wednesday we were invited down to Fogo de Chao ( fogodechao.com ) the night before it opened to try out its offerings. I will be honest that when we were invited, the first thing that went through my head is, "Wow, that's only a few blocks away from the Rodizio Grill. Either the folks at Fogo are crazy for setting up so close to another very popular Brazilian steakhouse or they must think they are just that much better and I was very interested to find out which it was. If you haven't been to a Brazilian steakhouse before, it is a pretty interesting set up. When you first enter you see several servers moving around the room very quickly. They carry different meats on skewers from table to table and it seems to be a bit chaotic. But after you watch it a bit it actually resembles some well choreographed dance. The basic concept is it's an all you can eat steakhouse.... Yes, yes I know most of us think of all you can eat type places and just know the food is going to be fair at best, but somehow that is not the case here. The meat is brought to your table and carved tableside for you and somehow it is always served nice and hot. There is also a large salad bar (though by calling the one at Fogo a salad bar is doing it an injustice). The salad bar is all you can eat as well, which makes a big problem as far as I am concerned. The darn salad bar had so many things I wanted to try it made it hard to save room for the meats. Part 1: The "salad bar" After we sat down and our drink orders were taken they brought us some hot cheese bread. These were hot and with a nice bit of gooey cheese in the middle. After enjoying one of those we headed over to the salad bar. Wow, this is not your normal everyday salad bar the first thing we ran into was marinated shitake mushrooms followed by several different peppers, fresh heart of palm, artichoke, incredible sun dried tomatoes, asparagus, fresh ball mozzarella cheese, 3 different cheeses, some very nice salmon (yes on the salad bar) and other meats, fresh bread and of course 3 or 4 different salads. Another nice touch was some nice Olive oil and Balsamic sitting on top of the bar. I am not going to go through each item but everything was very good with the stand outs for me being the red peppers which were sweet with a nice but not over powering rush of heat at the end, he wonderful asparagus, and the shitake mushrooms... mmmmm mushrooms. When we finished enjoying that, we were given fresh plates and my father (for a steakhouse seemed to be a good place to bring dad)ordered some wine which they seem to have a great selection. Part 2: Meat! I am not going to go over everything we had that but will mention the high and lows. Best: "Picanha" which is the house specialty. This is a sirloin cut and seasoned with sea salt. I also enjoyed the Filet Mignon. Both of these cuts of meats were incredible and melted in your mouth. It was tender and perfectly cooked. I have been to very good steakhouses that did not have meat this good and the ones that did have meat this good you could defiantly not keep on asking for more! Other memorable cuts were the" Lombo" pork loin filets crusted with parmesan. These were also incredible and would be something I would recommend seeking out purposely if you do head out there. The other meats with one exception were all very well cooked and prepared and we made sure to try each one (even if towards the end we were asking them to cut the smallest bit they could). It is amazing to me that they can serve so many different items table side constantly and keep them hot and perfectly cooked. Some sort of magic if you ask me. Only one item to me was not very good. That was the costela de poreo (pork ribs). I found my cut to be a bit dry and so did not enjoy them but to be fair both Barb and my father who came along with us enjoyed it. Part 3: Dessert When we finally turned over to the red side of the indicator for the last time and prepared ourselves to go we were asked if we wanted to try dessert. We looked at each other and decided, "What the heck!" Any thought of diets or portion control had been blown away that night. Suffice it to say the desserts were of the same quality of the meal. So good in fact we actually polished them off completely even after that huge meal and that is a compliment indeed. My father could not quit talking about the coffee that he had with dessert, not being a coffee drinker myself I cannot say, but for him to praise his coffee it must have been darn good. We can see now why they felt confident enough to place Fogo de Chao where they did. In our opinion it is at a higher level than its close neighbor. From the prompt attentive wait staff to the perfectly cooked meats and great salad bar only one thing really comes to mind when we both think of that night...... YUMMMMMM. If you would like to see some pictures of our meal feel free to take a peek at our blog.
(4)
Taylor L.
Oh, Fogo de Chao. Why do you make every evening magical? This is a tale of unfortunate circumstances, valiantly kept at bay with the awesome powers of customer service. I know Fogo de Chao. I have drunk the Kool-Aid. I began my indoctrination at their restaurant in Chicago. Finding that they were about to open a location in Denver made my little heart sing with joy. I immediately went on their website and made a reservation for lunch the day after they opened. Two hours before our reservation, my friend received a call from Fogo. After a few minutes of conversation, he turned to me. "I have good news and I have bad news. The bad news is apparently before they changed the website, the system allowed them to accept reservations for lunch. They're not actually open for lunch today, or any day until August." My heart, upon hearing these words, nearly sprang a leak. I hadn't eaten all that morning, knowing I would be in a meat-induced coma by that afternoon. "The good news is that they feel so terrible about the computer glitch that they've invited us to make a reservation for anytime we like this evening, and they'll pay for our dinner." My heart, upon hearing these words, ran for cover, because it knew I was about to bombard it with cholesterol and alcohol and many other 'ol's including Fol-de-rol-lol, O Joyous Day. We went that evening. Everything was just as I remembered it. We had waiters who were so attentive that one actually caught my fork midway to the floor as I dropped it. I had two capirinhas that appeared to be poured directly out of the mouth of a benevolent god. We ate every kind of meat they had, and many twice, and we never let the picanha man go by our table, ever. We think he knew this. He was there a lot. We drank ice wine that had been squeezed into its delicious nectar by fairies, and soothed our abused tummies with papaya and strawberry cream. The manager came by to apologize again for our "inconvenience" and I'm afraid we very nearly laughed at him. As we picked up our car from the valet, we discovered valet parking was free. Oh, Fogo. We're so glad you're here. Never stop being you.
(5)
Janora C.
Finally had a chance to try this place Saturday night! Maybe a dumb idea since it was the first night of restaurant week and they were running an hour and a half behind on reservations but I think it ended up being fine since we had a late reservation and there seemed to be a mass exodus of all the 7pm reservations so we ended up waiting only about 20 mins. In any case, this place is ideal for a large groups, it's a large restaurant and they have complimentary valet-- both awesome when you're trying to eat in LoDo! I can't even remember all the meat I ate, it was ridiculous. Let's just say I definitely had the meat sweats by the time I left (is that TMI?!). The side dishes were good too, especially the polenta and friend bananas. We ordered a large pitcher of Sangria to share with the table-- amazing. It was like a liquored fruit salad. Trying to get my mom to come down and take me here for my bday, yummy! Also, is it just me or is the staff ridiculously good looking?
(5)
Jarred F.
Just average Brazilian steakhouse to us. We had HIGH hopes for this place, having heard such great things from friends back east, with people even saying this was the 'best' Churrascaria out there. While the meats were good and the salad bar decent, we found the entire experience very average. To begin with the salad bar was just not as sophisticated as other Brazilian steakhouse experiences, with it just being sparse and not very colorful. The roasted peppers weren't even very roasted. Some of the meats were over seasoned, salty, and even a bit dry at times. Nothing besides the Picanhna was tender, with most cuts being tough.
(3)
John R.
When planning my soon-to-be Brother-in-laws (thats a lof ot hyphens) bachelor party I wanted it to be a memorable night. So when I thought about where 15 guys would want to eat dinner Fogo De Chao was an easy choice. What fits better with men then unlimited meat. When we first arrived we grabbed a drink at the bar. Nice and quaint, nothing extremely memorable. Walking through the restaurant to our table was kind of exciting as you are weaving through plenty of meat carrying workers. The waiter we had was kind of an ass who insisted we shut up so he can explain how the system works even though all of us had been to a place like this. However, the rest of the staffw as very nice, polite and helpful. So the meats started coming. 93% of them were delicious. The Filet, House Specialty, Parm Pork, some others were absolutly fantastic. There are some to stay away from: the ones that look like suasuage links, the chicken wrapped in bacon, and by far the worst thing there is the lamb chops. These were the worst I have ever had, which is strange given how outstanding to good everything else was. The Salad Bar (which is not your ordinary Salad Bar) was very disappointing. I had read and heard that this was outstanding. This is not the case. Besides your typical salad and cheese and light meats there was nothing to scream about. They could step up their game on this one. Random Fact: Groups of bachelor parties tend to cause scenes and with the fast paced energy in that place it fits in perfectly, especially when you scream and yell at the first guy to turn his circle to red (what a woman). Helpful Hint: Try everything they got and if you don't like it push it to the side. Then after you have had it all be sure to tell a waiter what kinds of meat you want to come back around. This will save you a lot of time telling the guys with the crap meat no.
(4)
Brian G.
It's a meatapoloza...what else can you say? I've never been at a loss for words so I will try and elaborate. The wife and I have been a handful of times and haven't been let down once. Service is impeccable and a true team effort that boarders on clairvoyance. They seem to know what each other is doing at all times while maintaining fresh plates, full glasses and pulling out your chair. The meats are brought around at a furious pace with may of them sizzling as they hit you plate. I prefer all my meats mid rare to rare and the wife is mid rare to medium. This posed very little challenge for the nomadic waiter waiting to shave meat to your plate. This is not the most realxing restaurants however. it is (because it has to be) in constant motion. Ifd you don't want to be interupted, this is not the place for you.
(4)
Valeda S.
Our night during Restaurant Week was a ton of fun and the food was very good. Mind blowing, not really, but very good. It's a great social environment, there were 6 of us ladies out for "Meat Night", and for $26 the experience was well worth the price, however I'd hesitate to go back at full price. Although the service was fantastic (may be due to the fact that a bunch of Brazilian guys can really have fun waiting on a table full of ladies), I was a little off put by the obvious Restaurant Week setup - new tables were popping up left and right with folding chairs. Folding chairs! Probably the best item I had all night was the garlic beef, otherwise everything else was solid; not bad, but not going down in the history books either. If I could give this place 3.5 stars I would, but because of the fun we had, the service and the price I'll give Fogo the benefit of the doubt!
(4)
Jisha J.
I love Fogo. I have tried all of the other Brazilian steakhouses and this place is still my absolute favorite. The meat is always delicious! They always bring out these little cheese puffs along with mashed potatoes, fried polenta, and caramelized plantains. All of these sides are outstanding. The salad bar is wonderful as well. They have a variety of deli meats, veggies, and yummy cheeses. The service is always wonderful and you might as well keep your card on green so you can try all the wonderful meats!
(5)
Anthony S.
Expensive! This place is double if not triple Expensive. A good buffet with drinks is about 15 USD. This place, just for one person is three times that. Then there's drinks no refills and dessert to go. The place is chic but, casual. Very nice bricks and mortar. The staff, for the most part are right on, as well is the food. The salad bar is gastro pleasing with meat, cheeses, and pickled assortments to go with your salad fixings. The carmelized bananas are good ( I like these for breakfast) but, the mashed potatoes seem cheeky (out of the box fresh); both come with the meal. But, really the servings throughout the meal are right on delicious. The great atmosphere and constant attention of the staff are expected for the price. Everything about this place was at the top Including the price. A small 6 oz coke in a bottle was 2.95/ I had three. Dessert was a casual 9.00 USD. I had a half filled glass of mango creme and kahlua like syrup added. I didn't like the buttermilk, spoilt taste of the creme. Thank goodness for the syrup. I actually got change back from a Benjamin after a good tip. It was indeed a wonderful onetime experience.
(5)
Derec S.
My experience with Fogo was a couple weeks after they opened. It's a challenging location given a major competitor is three blocks down, within easy walking distance. The service was great and the staff was really friendly and attentive. I meat was delicious and I had to pace myself, flipping between the green and red, to avoid being bombarded with succulent and juicy prime rib, lamb, chicken, and sausages. The salad bar was great but didn't seem to have the selection of other Brazilian churascarias in town. While it seemed enough for me, that was the feedback from my vegetarian companion. We enjoyed our night out and would go back but it's probably lower down on our list than other similar places though it's close to where I live.
(4)
Elizabeth B.
Wow! My family and I had my Dad's 50th birthday here. Amazing customer service, delicious food and a beautiful, upscale atmosphere. The salad bar is amazing! So much variety and the desserts and wine list were to die for. I hope to visit this place again in the future!
(5)
Adrian M.
Overall- the service, food and atmosphere was excellent. The meat was just absolutely the best. The atmosphere was upclass and prestine. Service was all smiles from the entrance all the way to end of lunch. The only thing is - well it still is not too pricey but a bit up there. A.
(4)
Mikey Y.
Eating here rendered all previous meals inadequate. This statement is all encompassing (service, food, drinks, etc.).
(5)
Stephanie M.
Pricey, but good experience. Worth at least one trip!
(5)
diane s.
Typical Brazilian Barbeque. Attentive staff, average salad bar, but DELICIOUS barbeque. We were a party of three new to Denver, but looking for some food adventure. I have been to other chain Brazilian barbecue places, but decided to try something new. Fogo de Chao did not disappoint. Attention by staff was superb, drinks amazing. Great for large parties.
(4)
Bonnie F.
Just went for the first time, it was great. Some of the meat was a little salty, but overall it was good. Love those cheesy bread muffins.
(4)
Jason S.
This place is great! Huge salad bar! Its pretty straight forward, you get a coaster with one side red and the other side green. Red=no more meat and Green=Slice it up dude! I walked about stuffed. I did not eat the next day I was so full.
(4)
Liliana T.
As a meat lover couple, both my husband and I really love the "Gaucho" Brazilian grill where you can eat as much meat as your tummy allows. We're so happy to hear about Fogo de Chao. I immediately made a reservation online for my husband's birthday dinner today (Sunday). I didn't know if they do something special for the birthday boy, so I put my request on the birthday dessert on the special request note when I made the reservation. It was fast and easy. Me likey this restaurant already :-) We got there about 10 minutes late because of the Rockies Game, but the waiter seated us immediately and our server immediately explained to us how the system works in a very pleasant manner. We started with the salad. Oh...it's a salad bar from heaven! Marinated shiitake mushroom, roasted sun-dried tomatoes, asparagus, thin sliced bacons, pepperoni, cheese and varieties of antipasti, fresh homemade vinaigrette dressing, basil cream sauce, oh I can go on and on...:-) As soon as we finished eating our salad, we flipped our card to the green side. We didn't wait long, a parade of grilled meat started immediately: lamb chop, fillet mignon, ribeye, sirloin, pork loin, all the meat goodness. They are nicely seasoned and very tender. My husband said that the pork loin is a tad too dry, but the beef are delicious. While the "gaucho" chefs were serving us with the meat, our server placed the mashed potato, caramelized banana and fried polenta on our table. These side dishes were also good - I especially enjoyed the polenta and the banana. The service didn't just stop there. When *any* of the server saw us just sitting on the table with empty plate, they immediately came to our table and asked if everything is fine and if there's a certain dish/meat we would like to be served. And as soon as we placed our meat request, the picanhas came to our table in less than 5 minutes. That's impressive! We really appreciate the servers attentiveness to the customers and the fast response of our requests. In the beginning of my story, I mentioned about putting a special dessert request for my husband, the birthday guy. Nobody mentioned anything about it and since my husband said that he's full, I didn't make any attempt to ask about it. But to our surprise, our server came to our table with a big plate of chocolate molten cake with vanilla ice cream and fresh sliced strawberries with a "Happy Birthday" writing with red and green sauce. WOW!!! This really shows that they DO read my request and they served it just on the right time. Fogo de Chao, I must say, this is the BEST Dining experience my husband and I ever had. You made the birthday dinner more special and personal with your great service and attentiveness. You can be sure we will come back again for our second, third and numerous visit in near future :-)
(5)
Adrian C.
Been there three times now, and I can definitely state it is worth every penny. Some complain the food is salty, but you can ask for custom servings, if you're sensitive. The wait staff is very attentive, which is awesome. However, I can understand that some prefer to be left alone - this is not you're typical restaurant; it's an experience. Try it out, don't be too critical, and enjoy!
(5)
Mel H.
This is a gluten free review. I went during 5280, which was a great deal. If I didn't need to be gluten free I would give this place only 3 stars. There is so much a person who needs to be gluten or wheat free can eat here, but I am spoiled from going to Texas de Brazil (their salad bar is amazing and their meat were better, but it's pretty far away from us). We also had a reservation, but were not seated for about 45 minutes after it, and that was a little annoying. We tried almost everything here, the chicken and pork were dry, just like any other churrascaria, so we didn't eat much of that. The lamb chops were better than Texas de Brazil, not gamey even a little bit. The beef was just not seasoned quite as well to us and a couple of the side pieces were a little burned tasting. For dessert we had creme brulee (excellent), cheesecake (excellent) and the key lime pie, which my friend picked the crust and top off (okay to good depending on how you like your key-lime). I went with my husband and one of my best friends and they agreed that if we are going to go, we will go to Texas de Brazil, but this location is better (closer) and the atmosphere was good.
(4)
April G.
This is my favorite restaurant!!! I tried out Fogo De Chao on Saturday night and was blown away! The ambiance was amazing! The food was delicious, there was a large variety of meats, a fantastic salad bar, and the service was the best I have ever had! If you would like to be treated liked a star go to Fogo De Chao!
(5)
Kenny Z.
Meat, baby!
(4)
Renley R.
YUM! Ok, so while I can go on forever about how great the food is here and how professional the atmosphere is (you can actually have a conversation here) or about how accomodating the staff was on my visit (made me feel like it king :) ) I would first like to instead mention a rule to be kept in mind when dining here: Pace yourself. The food is so good you will want to fill you place with every pass. And since the portions are as generaous as you wish, you can get full fast. But there are so many optiosn to try, some are very much worth having a second bite, so chew lots of times, eat slow and savour every bite. Also don't be afraid to ask for a slive of meat to be cooked a little more or less, they are very willing to make sure you have the meal cooked to your exact liking. So with that said, the meat selections are great. There is so little more I can say other than - its fresh meat cooked to your specifications what is there not to like? How about the meal "garnish" aka the salad bar? Smoked salmon, mouth watering chicken salad, and many fresh produce to fill you up well before the main course arrives. Get a bottle or two of their imported Brazilian beer and pretend like you are in Sao Paolo.
(5)
Lisa X.
After reading through some yelp.com reviews last night, my friend and I decided to give this place a try. Oh my gosh! It was a great experience. The salad bar was wonderful. It wasn't a normal salad bar. It had items on it like hearts of palm, sun-dried tomatoes, pesto, Boston bibb lettuce, green beans, peppadews, and all other sorts of neat-o stuff. Next, they brought side dishes and these wonderful cheese puffs that melted in your mouth. I think I ate 6 of them. Yum! The side dishes were mashed potatoes, Parmesan polenta, and sauteed bananas. The bananas and polenta were very good. Once we flipped our cards to green, the meat parade started. Each meat chef stopped by our table with a different cut of meat, each one delicious. My favorite was the Filet Mignon. It was tender and mouthwatering. We both had dessert which was Flan and Creme Brulee. Both very good, but we were really too full to enjoy it. The service was very attentive to the point that you couldn't finish a conversation before being interrupted by meat or water refills. Not a bad thing. My friend says the only thing lacking was some Brazilian music. I think the dining experience was great and definitely one of those places that you go to for special events and not very often since you pretty much end up in a meat coma at the end.
(5)
James Z.
Absolutely spectacular. Everything was delicious. Fantastic atmosphere and an awesome dinner. Highly recommended.
(5)
Myla P.
If it weren't for those pesky USDA guidelines that say to eat fruits and vegetables as part of a balanced diet, I would be a carnivore. Well, maybe that's not entirely true; if I had Fogo de Chao's salad bar at my disposal for every meal, eating enough vegetables would not be an issue. Make sure you come to this restaurant hungry. Not to get your money's worth, but to be able to sample everything they have to offer. Your experience starts with the salad bar, which features only a couple traditional American salad bar ingredients, followed by prosciutto, salami, cheese, artichoke hearts, hearts of palm, marinated tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, , beets, and asparagus. You are also given a basket of cheese bread. It's very difficult to not fill up during this first course. Flip your coaster over to green. Your plate is immediately exchanged for a clean one, and you are assaulted by gauchos bearing swords filled with meat. Linguica sausage, bacon-wrapped chicken, pork ribs, flank steak, top round, bottom round, sirloin, leg of lamb, lamb chops, parmesan-crusted pork loin, filet mignon, ribeye, and my personal favorite and house specialty: Picanha. Make sure to flip your coaster to red and take a break from time to time. Side dishes of fried bananas, crispy polenta and mashed potatoes are served with the meat and replenished constantly. Also, be sure to save room for dessert! The key lime pie and the chocolate mousse cake are both amazing. We went for my birthday and my dessert was complimentary. As for drinks, I have had their house pinot noir and their Caiprinha, and both are very good. This is not a cheap dinner by any means, but very reasonable for the quality of food and service you receive, especially when compared to more pretentious expensive restaurants nearby. You also can't beat the complimentary valet parking right next to the restaurant, so you can just waddle your over-stuffed self back to your car.
(5)
Mike S.
Holy meat-on-a-stick! Never in my life have I had more meat thrown at me (not literally) than when I was at Fogo's. For $40 you get two all-you-can-eat courses. Vegetarians beware! The first course "salad bar" is not your ordinary Village Inn salad bar. It's stocked with prosciutto, smoked salmon, sun-dried tomatoes and balls of mozzarella. The second course consists of dudes with giant skewers of meat running around that they shave off onto your plate. Fillets, lamb chops, sausage, rib-eye, and the list goes on. The service couldn't have been better. Just when you thought you were ready to take a break, BAM!, another 3 pounds of beef is on your plate. And they were very patient with our very loud and obnoxious group. Extra points to them for not kicking us out.
(5)
Mar S.
Amazing food! Amazing service! Nothing negative to say (except that it's pretty pricey). Just bring your biggest appetite and make sure you love meat. They even gave us a complimentary dessert for our birthday celebration.
(5)
Charlotte S.
what say about it ? I mean is the best steakhouse around Denver where you don't only eat meat, but get to enjoy the salad bar, and authentic Brazilian food as well, and lots of it. and they keep bring you more meat, and more meat ;-) that's the "rodizio" style. love that, and I am coming back soon :-) the service as always was excellent , my plate never got empty, my friends all loved the place, the price, well its not a cheap place, but then again, you pay for what you get and at fogo de chao it is worthy every penny. I am very very happy and full ;-) I am Brazilian too, and every time i miss home, I go there to eat picanha and drink guarana yummy ;-)
(5)
Liz S.
One word: gauche.
(3)
Jessica T.
Have you ever just said the name really fast a few times? Try it! It's a good time! My husband and I just dined there with some very good friends. None of us were new to the Brazilian steakhouse experience, but this was my first time at this particular restaurant. There's something inherently wonderful about men walking around ready to carve delicious, fire grilled meat to you at the flip of a card. The ambiance was wonderful, the salad bar was a dream, and the meat was fall off the bone delicious. Then, to add insult to fat kid injury, they have those amazing cheese rolls, fried polenta with parmesan cheese, and caramelized bananas. I normally don't make it very far at an endless eating situation, but this time I paced myself and was even able to share a dessert with my love. And by share I mean he ate most of it and I had a few delightful spoonfuls and gave up. Since my eyelids are heavy just typing this review, I think some cardio might be in order. Tomorrow. After I wake from my food coma.
(4)
Zina S.
We were impressed by the quality of food and the service in this place when we found out this is a chain restaurant! The variety of meats is wide and the quality is high. All the meats were juicy and well seasoned. The salad bar was well stocked with all sorts of veggies and salad trimmings. This place was a real treat and worth the price.
(5)
Ray R.
If you're a lover of well prepared food, like a finer dinning feel, but want all you can eat, this is the place. Any fat guy worth a quarter of his weight knows what the colors mean at a Brazilian BBQ, green means go, red means I'm stuffed, but bring me more of those cheese puff bread things while I prepare for round two. Don't pig out on just one thing though, go for the experience, try a bit of everything. If ya like something, no worries, it'll come back to visit. Save some room for dessert, gluttony isn't wasted here, but selective gluttony is more enjoyable. I had great service, was worth the price, wide variety, good salad bar & desserts. If you aren't a carnivore, it's still not a bad place to chow down. Have been there multiple occations and still have the same opinion.
(4)
Dee S.
Located at 15th and Wynkoop, What I would call the NW corner. There is complimentary valet parking right next to the restaurant. Don't park anywhere else because it's too expensive and some of the parking garages are only made for little compact cars. On to the restaurant. There is this salad bar that is included with the price. When crowded, it's hard to determine where to line up. There is only one salad bar so it's takes time to get around the bar once you even find where the line is. Quality of the salad bar was good. I was determined to not fill up on the salad bar. I liked the beets, bacon, cold cuts, smoked salmon, olives and mushrooms from the salad bar. At the table they give you a cardboard coaster disc. Green on one side red on the other side. Face it with green up means you want meat. Red up, pass me up. Then you get these guys coming around with spindles of meat. They tell you what it is but it was hard to understand. I just has to ask, is it beef? And they usually say what it is again with more terms. Anyway, they give you these tongs and you're supposed to use the tongs to grab the meat as they cut the meat off the spindle. Well, I didn't know that so the first time the guy came by, he sat there and I was wondering why he was pausing. I finally realized, with help from friends at the table, what I was supposed to do with the tongs. Now I have the hang of it. I tried a lot of meat. Sausages, chicken with bacon, pork ribs, all kinds of sirlion, pork, chicken leg, I found the meat to be salty. They give you fried banana, mashed potatoes, fried polenta, and a brazillian puff type bread. The mashed potatoes and bread worked good to counter the saltiness of the meat. 6 hours later, I'm still craving water. I got to the point when the guy would cut a part of that would be the salty part, I'd ask him to cut off from a different part. Went during 5280, so that was why it was crowded. I don't know the normal price for dinner, but for $26.40, it was a good deal.
(3)
Robert C.
For a meat eater who also thrills in a great salad bar, this place ranks among the best. The waiters, in their gaucho get-up, roam around the tables with skewers of freshly roasted meats of all kinds and cuts. Just make sure your little coaster (green on one side, red on the other) is showing the color you want (green for "more" and red for "I'm full for now") or the waiters will keep coming at you with more meat. Service was top rate, and the South American wines, in large Bordeaux-type stemware, went very well with the meal. Would make it a stop every time I pass through Denver (they are a chain, in other cities as well).
(5)
Becky H.
My husband and I have dined here 4 times now and every single time we've had outstanding service and the food is to die for. I love the salad bar - they offer a wide variety of salads, cold meats, cheeses and other items. After you whet your palate with that, it's time for the meat-fest. You can eat and eat and eat to your heart's content. You can tell the waiters how you like the meat cooked and they'll slice off a piece according to what you ask for, so no worries about getting under or overdone meat. And if you don't like it, leave it on your plate and try the next cut! Along with the meat, they bring mashed potatoes, grilled bananas, polenta and this divine cheese bread. I would come here just for the cheese bread. Yes, it's that good. It is a little pricier than we usually go for, but for special occasions, we always think of Fogo de Chao first! I love it!!
(5)
T. F.
As close to perfection as a meat emporium can come. We made reservations for a birthday celebration, having never been here before (although visited rodizio type houses both in Brazil and New York). Here's a quick summary of our experience: beautiful room. Low noise level. Super-attentive courteous service. Excellent bar drinks. The buffet, typidal of rodizios, while not as varied as other places we'd been, featured cold foods of A-1 quality. Freshly baked pao-de-queijo mini rolls (Brazilian cheese-filled buns) were regularly served. Every meat --chicken, beef, lamb-- was tender and tasty. The fried polenta and mashed potatoes... same thing. The birthday guest was served a complimentary candle-topped cake portion on a beautiful decorated plate. 'Nuff said. This place is a winner. Pricey, but worth every $.
(5)
Angelica F.
One word.... YUM!! We decided to take advantage of the Denver Restaurant Week prices on Tuesday night; $52.80 is a awesome deal for two people. We had a fantastic experience and had a blast sharing it with our friends. It's DRW so I expected most of the "pricier" restaurants to be booked and very busy. Of course, we did have to a couple minutes after our reservation before we were seated, but it's DRW, it's to be expected. The noise level was loud but not to the point where the four of us were screaming at each other over the table. This restaurant is huge with odd pictures on the walls, but that won't stop me from trying a place or lower my review ratings. We started our experience at the salad bar and was not disappointed at the selection that was offered. We seated ourselves at our designated table, finished our salad plates and waited 15 seconds after our cards were flipped to green before the first gaucho chef arrived. Our waiter and the many gaucho chefs were on top of their game for such a busy night! We were offered different meats left and right, it was a ravenous carnivorous feast. It was a little overwhelming at times with everything that was offered, but it was still fun. The sides of mashed potatoes, polenta, fried bananas and OMG the bread rolls that were filled with some kind of cheese were a-maz-ing. The selection of wine was pretty good too. For desert we had the Papaya Cream that was very delicious. (FYI: Take your spoon and rub it against the cinnamon that they use to decorate your plate with and combine it with the papaya cream. It's almost like listening to the sound of angels.) So many meats to choose from, sides that seemed to have magically appeared at our table, a good salad bar, phenomenal dessert and friendly attentive staff makes this a fabulous must-visit-in-the-near-future type of restaurant.
(5)
Veronica W.
A meal at Fogo is not just a meal, it's an experience. From the moment you park at the complimentary valet it is something special. The staff make you feel like you are their only focus despite the fact that you are in a room with a couple hundred other people. The management has taken great time and care to make sure that their staff are there for you, and it's evident from the minute you walk in the door until you roll your stuffed belly out the door. If you are a stickler for service this is a restaurant for you. I never felt like I was being hawked by the staff, but I also never had a need/want for anything that there wasn't a staff person right there to get it for me. The food- spectacular. Do you have to like meat? To get your money's worth probably, but the salad bar & side dishes stand out as not to be missed. The fried bananas make an excellent contrast to the grilled meat. All that being said the meat is the reason you go. MEAT!! Lots of meat! Delicious, wonderful meat. mmmmm.... Now, the price. Yes, it's pricey. This is not somewhere you are going to go regularly unless you've got deep pockets and a giant stomach. It is somewhere that you go for special occasssions. It is somewhere that you expect to spend a lot and get every pennies worth and you do.
(5)
Adebowale A.
My wife and I love meat and we're total fans of churrascarias. We've been to at least 9 Brazilian restaurants in different cites and 4 different Fogo de Chao's including the one in Beverly Hills which was expensive and in all our trips, this was THE BEST Brazilian churrascaria we've ever been to. The service especially was something to write home, call home or fax home about. Everyone was concerned with what you wanted, what you needed, what you liked and they were all willing to accomodate you. Not talking of the gauchos, e must have had at least 10 other people walking round to ensure you were well catered for. The food was totally seasoned, well done, medium or whichever way you wanted it done and the sides were also the same as any other Fogo. After dinner, we had a presentation of after dinner drunks and had a 150 year anniversary Grand Marnier which was heavenly. At the end of the meal we got a bill about two-thirds what we paid in Beverly Hills not drinking any alcohol. If you like meat, chicken and you visit Denver, you had better be at the Fogo!
(5)
Kyle G.
WONDERFUL food ... deffinety expensive but all in all worth it ... wish they enforced a dress code, for the price and awesomeness shouldn't have to see rock and roll t-shirts and flip flops
(4)
Lisa M.
Like the Fogo de Chao in Chicago and D.C., this restaurant featured outstanding service. The salad bar was well-stocked, varied, and fresh, and the Caipirinhas were spot on. The side of fried bananas was terrific, as were the rolls (what exactly do they put in those, anyway?). The filet was good, but I thought the sirloin was a bit tough. Really, the meat didn't do much for me. Creme brulee was a nice finishing touch. My companions couldn't stop raving about what a great experience they had. Definite thumbs up.
(4)
Cookie M.
We went for restaurant week, and we didn't have any reservations. However, we were able to get seated right away. Props on that. But we did get there right when they opened. Salad bar was good (smoked salmon was delicious). I ate a bit too much from the salad bar. Advice--Make sure you limit yourself so you have room for the varieties of meats. Service was spot on. We barely took a slice of polenta or a carmelized banana, and the waiters whisked the plates away and gave us new ones. Made me think what happens to the leftovers. The meats were good, but started tasting the same after a while. Definitely liked the lamb and the filet. Good experience! Similiar to Rhodizio Grill; however, the salad bar here was better. But pretty much the same to me. Overall, a great experience!
(4)
Patrick M.
Fantastic food and service. I talk about this place all the time and I have only been once. I had a blast! It was worth every penny. In fact I think I under paid. Excellent food.......just awesome. To date, the best I have ever had.
(5)
Christina J.
Dear Yelp, Will you be my best friend? You always tell me about the most amazing places to eat, drink and make merry, and I think it's time I repaid the favor by making our BFF-ness official. While you're thinking on this request, let me enlighten you about the origins of this proposal. Thanks to your infinite wisdom I went to Fogo de Chao tonight, and had the most perfect meat I've eaten, probably ever. The picanha was just amazing. Even the fat was smoky and salty, and it literally melted in my mouth. I know that's probably a bit too graphic, considering that we're still not fully committed yet, but it needed to be said. Lest you think I'm so fickle as to base my desire to be your best friend on a single dish I'd also like to bring up the fact that the service was exceptional. From the free valet parking and complimentary coat check to the super attentive and genuinely engaged staff I don't think I've ever felt so cared for in a restaurant in my whole life. You want to know the best part, dearest Yelp? They don't judge you when you keep on eating. In fact, the waitstaff encouraged me to eat until I was verging on stuffed and then they offered me dessert. So now that you know my true feelings, Yelp, and I've outlined why I am asking for you to be my new best friend, what do you say? Once we're besties maybe we can go to Fogo de Chao for lunch to celebrate?
(5)
Mark G.
The most amazing service of any restaurant. The gauchos, managers, and wait staff are constantly making sure your every need or wish is granted with your water glass constantly being refilled, along with any plates of food, whether you want more or not. The entire staff is exceptionally well trained.
(5)
I F.
Overrated. Some of the food is pretty good. But the rest sucks really bad. Not a very big selection of food. Excellent service though. Waiters absolutely keep an eye on you an attended.
(3)
Jonathan G.
Excellent! The restaurant is in Downtown Denver. From the outside, it's looks like an ordinary steakhouse, but walk inside and you're in for a surprise. Parking is available both on the street and valet in the garage next door. I suggest valet and save the time. Walking in to an dim lit common area/bar, you are greeted by the maitre'd and taken to your table. You start with a waiter at your table explaining how the steakhouse works, they explain the card and what is available to you. The first plate is salad. They have an awesome salad bar full with different cheeses and greens. Then out come the gauchos. with the skewers and ready to go. The meats are the finest cuts you can get. There are plates of mashed potatoes, fried banana, and a fried cheese that are kept stocked your entire stay, meaning if you take one scoop of mashed potatoes, expect it to be refilled with in 4 minutes. The wait staff is excellent and the way the gauchos move is like clock work. Jason was our main server and walked us through the meats the whole night. Tip well, all of these guys work hard for the money.
(5)
Archer D.
Disgusting, All You Can Eat- Meat Buffet - Chain Restaurant. Save your money and go to Sizzlers, at least they give you ulimated soft serve ice cream.
(1)
ELLY W.
The lunch is a spectacular value. The service is tops. Some people mention that the service was too much, but I thought it was very unobtrusive. Great place to take out of town guests.
(5)
Tari S.
What more can I say..... it was wonderful and delicious!
(5)
Quisha H.
I was here for a company party. The best meat on the planet. The best mixed drinks on the planet. I went to a couple of places in Denver and this was by far the best. Also, the little guy in the black pants and high boots was great. I think his name was Jose.
(5)
Sara B.
Super fun experience for our family - our 5 yr old loved it! Expensive...but both the 5 and 2 yr old were free.
(4)
Kristin D.
When this opened right by my house, I wasn't overly excited but since it was across the street we decided to check it out. I would rank their service level among the best in Denver, and I'm pretty picky on service so this is a big compliment! Food was good, the meat isn't really cooked to temperture as much as I would like but the quality of the beef and the flavor is good. We have already been back for lunch and I expect this to be a new favorite when we can go hungry!
(5)
Alison K.
This place is wonderful! They could do with more chicken options, but the meat is perfection. Their Veggie Bar is great, too, but I wouldn't recommend this restaurant for your vegetarian friends. Definitely stop here if you love roasted meat.
(4)
Ming T.
FANTASTIC. Really.... it was. I went here last Saturday the 7th for my husband's birthday with his parents. The place was busy and even though I had made a reservation for 7:30 we still had to wait half an hour for a seat. The hostess did bring out some of the wonderful cheese bread to help us stave off the hunger pains. I tried to resist the cheesetastic wonders but they are DELICIOUS! I immediately told me husband that he needed to find the recipe and make some for me. After we were escorted to our seats a VERY competent waiter explains to us the process and we got started with the salad bar. The bar was very nice, a good selection of cold cuts...definitely NOT a salad bar for Vegetarians or Vegans though. There was more meat on my salad than greens! They did have a ENTIRE wheel of Parm cheese sitting out for us to dig from...nice. Next came the meat-gasim. We never were wanting for more than 3 minutes. The gauchos were very nice and the busboys were amazing! We barely ate half of the food on the side-dish plates before they were whisked away and replaced with full dishes. The staff made sure we had clean plates and that every whim was taken care of. The wine my father-in-law ordered was pretty good but not decanted properly had lots of sediment...but he told me it tasted fantastic. My husband had some dark Brazilian beer which he didn't love but he said paired nicely with the meat. They don't have any beers on tap as we found out. My mother-in-law likes her meat killed and they even made sure they gave her very cooked cuts. She loved the Parm crusted Pork and the bacon wrapped filet. Everything was cooked exactly to our liking, sometimes the Gauchos would even run back to the kitchen for another piece of meat if they thought that the current one was too cooked for your taste. Honestly, one of the best services I've ever experienced! After we stuffed ourselves silly and admired the amazing amount of work the staff did we were presented with the dessert menu. Even though we were all busting at the seams we decided to order dessert. The waiter compted my husband's birthday creme brulee and my in-laws had the chocolate mousse cake. Both were delicious but the mousse cake was out of this world! Layers of sponge sandwiched with mousse and drizzled with ganache! OMG! As we were paying the bill, get this...they presented my husband with a gift certificate for another dinner! How amazing is that? They basically paid us to eat there! Verdict- Expensive, but SOOOO worth it. Just close your eyes and enjoy the taste of marbled beefy money. ;)
(5)
miguel f.
Mmmmeat! The service is phenomenal too.
(5)
S P.
Its 3 stars because 1. I think Texas De Brazil has more food choices. TDB has more salad bar options, soups, cheeses, etc.... Fogo de chao had a very small salad bar in comparison. I remember eating quail eggs and other funky things at TDB, but at Fogo, it was very standard. 2. The main entree items were also very limited. For a heavy eater and someone who likes to try a variety of foods, Texas De Brazil is better. I think Fogo is less options because they are situated in downtown and perhaps cost more to pay their rent so they give us less food!!! Taste wise - it was okay. I wasn't "overwhelmed". The staff was "rushed" and my water, coke was not refilled. Very unhappy with service. I am taking me and my friends to Texas De Brazil next time.
(3)
Devon P.
Fogo de Chao was a fun experience! A group of us went during restaurant week and had fabulous food and a great time. You get a ton of fabulous food. The salad bar was not your typical salad bar, you had a choice of gourmet cheeses, different olive oils, artichoke hearts, asparagus, and many other ingredients you wouldn't normally get at a salad bar. The unlimited choices of meet were wonderful! This is a great place to take people who are visiting from out of town or family events. I highly recommend this place.
(4)
Kelly N.
What's better than a buffet of meats? :) I enjoyed the filet mignon the most, although I don't remember it coming by as often as I wanted it to. I also liked the chicken. The salad bar was all right, nothing to fantasize about... but, my favorite was the apple salad. Great service! YUM! 52.80 week so it was a bargain! Would I come here again? I'd probably wait until next year to again during Denver Restaurant week...
(4)
Andrea P.
I'm really at a 4.5 stars, it's not the best dining experience I've ever had, but it's very far from the worst. I had to wait 24 hours to write this as I was still in a meat coma, and still may very well be. Though the price tag is hefty, there's lots of food to go around. I made sure I ate my $38.50 worth of food, which I found to be a large mistake. The meat for the most part was really good, didn't care for the chicken too much, and I'm on the Jew diet so I didn't try the pork either. The salad bar was a little lack luster, which may be b/c I have an addiction to Whole Foods where $7.99 per pound buys you a lot more in that department than the $19.99 for only salad bar here. I don't know what those bananas were- but they were a-okay by me. I don't know if A Game was on b/c it was V-Day, but the service was great. Didn't find it too pushy or over whelming and everyone was there to help if you needed it. If you're looking for a great date place this may not be your first bet, as it's pretty loud and not very intimate (more thinking 1st few dates where getting to know each other is semi important). If your goal for dinner is to see how much meat you can eat in one sitting- welcome to Heaven. Tip: Make reservations and for dinner hours there's complimentary parking.
(4)
Daniel M.
great service..great food..great atmoshpere...
(5)
Jon H.
Had my birthday dinner there. It was a great experience. I would go back for special occasions. The waitstaff is great. The salad bar was memorable. The assorted meats, especially the lamb chops, were delicious. Impressive wine list. Fun place. Conversation is limited due to the constant interruptions by very professional servers, but then I didn't go there for lengthy discussions. Much unlike some of the yelp reviewers who have to write volumes of boring crap just to get a simple point across. Brevity is not only the soul of wit but also restaurant reviews.
(4)
Dennis S.
Wow you had better be hungry the food never stops. Honestly the salad bar is so elaborate that it would be plenty by itself. We were a large group 12+ this place works great for such a large group. Lots of meat choices that are excellent.
(5)
Cindy F.
Had a late night dinner here with my friend while visiting Denver. She is a very adventerous diner, and we wanted to try something new. The atmosphere is quite casual, I wish it were a bit more discerning. There were loud children and some younger guys wearing backwards hats and shorts near us. BUT here is a review of the food and service. 1) Salad bar, very good but don't take too much or you will regret it. Enjoyed the palm hearts, a thin piece of salami, caesar salad, sunroasted tomato, amazing little mozzerella ball. The mushrooms were far too salty, tasted like soy sauce, not mushrooms. 2)Side dishes, bread puffs, delicious. Similar consistency to a savory creme puff. Delicious. Mashed potatoes, nothing special. I love potatoes, and these were no bueno, possibly instant. Crispy polenta, decent, worth trying, a little greasy. Carmelized bananas, tasty unique. 3) Meat! Everything I had was very good or better. My favorite was the bottom sirloin-- very delicious, tender, hot, EXCELLENT. I tried everything but the pork....we were there late in the evening, and pork was not offered to us. I wouldn't have tried it anyway, so no love lost on me. 4) Dessert. An adorable little sprite of a man talked us into trying dessert, even though we were stuffed to the gills. I had the papaya creme, papaya blended with vanilla ice cream. My friend had the flan. Both delicious, mine was light as a cloud, hers was very rich. Both worth their price of about $9 each. 5) Drink. She had a glass of napa red wine, $16.50 for one glass, she enjoyed it. I'm not a wine drinker, had water. Finally, the service was very very good. We had a late reservation, and I didn't feel rushed, although I think we kept the staff there a few mins after closing time. Overall, a strong 4 stars, worth it for a special dinner. Pretip bill was about $120, but worth every penny for a treat. On the ride back to my hotel, the driver told us it's an even better deal for lunch, $25 per person. Maybe I will do that next time, even better!
(4)
i n.
God I love this place! Never take a vegitarian here:) I have never eaten more lamb and Filet Mignon in one sitting in my life. The service is amaizing and the food is incredible
(5)
Pj M.
Good, but not as good as the Atlanta location. Still had a great time
(4)
Dawn M.
We went for restaurant week. I have to say, I really liked Fogo de Chao. We did Texas de Brazil last year for DRW, and I've been to FDC outside of DRW. I have to say, I like FDC a bit more. We did have to wait a bit on Saturday - they told us 30-45 minutes, and we waited 40. It was the first day, of their first DRW, so I'll cut them a break on that. Salad bar. Not bad. TDB has a lot more though. Service. I was blown away by their service on other occasions. For DRW, it was just pretty good. We had to ask for sides. We never saw the flank steak, but when we asked for it, it came within minutes, and it was fresh off the grill. Meat. Love it! The filet and lamb chops are amazing. I also like that they serve their full menu for DRW. Dessert. They had key lime pie, a chocolate mousse cake and a turtle cheesecake. The pie was great, and the mousse cake was alright - heavier than I thought it would be. Overall, a great experience. It's pretty intense, not my style overall. I'd prefer a nice relaxing dinner, as opposed to meat coming at me from all angles! It's a great deal for Restaurant Week, and they have free valet parking, which is a bonus!
(4)
CALVIN S.
So sad-my first experience with Fogo during restaurant week was NOTHING like what we experienced today. Went for my B-day, parked where we did last time, no Valet to be seen. Upon our arrival into the restaurant, the hostess informed us that they didn't validate parking for lunch. WHAT????? So people who go for lunch don't deserve the same hospitality that evening diners do? That soured us right off the bat. My wife showed her displeasure quite openly, but the hostess didn't really seem to care and was very uninterested in being accommodating in any type of way. Being a former Director of Concierge and Guest Services back in the day, my wife was absolutely appalled at the lack of customer service this establishment provides to its employees;--she wouldn't want someone to walk out of her business feeling the way we did. Anyway-back to the food: Mediocre at best, CANNED ranch dressing on the salad bar? At $19.50 a pop for the salad bar, you'd think they could whip up some fresh dressing. Once again, food was nothing more than average, with the exception of the cheese buns, fried polenta, and the Picanha which were very good, but I want to be wowed all around and not by a couple of sides and just one of the meats. Had it not been for the horrible treatment by the hostess today, I probably would have given 3 stars--just shows you how untrained staff can really hurt your business. (My wife wanted me to give one star.) We'll stick with Rodizio Grille from now on---much better selection, better prices, and SUPERB customer service , EVEN for us lowly lunch customers!! Oh, Rodizio also has a birthday club, which is a very nice gesture at least for those of us who can't go downtown and have pricey meals on a regular basis.
(2)
Tom C.
I ate here back in February and was so excited because I haven't ate at a Brazilian Restaurant before. Why blogging it now, you ask? Because it's been bottling up for a minute. But long story short. The meats they hand out were out of this world. 100% to that! But the low score, you also ask. I was there at their lunch deals, and they would serve you their side dishes. One of the side dishes is a fried banana, which I personally like. But there was something wrong. As I was biting through, I thought it was the burned, charcoal part of the banana. It was a STAPLE, like the one's you would find in cardboard boxes with packaged food products. I was shocked because I was close to eating this thing. Can you imagine that! So I told my server to let the manager know about this incident. She didn't do anything and charged me full price anyway because the manager would of had a talk with me or I guess she didn't bring it up to his attention. And for some reason, they were handing out fruitcakes to everyone that ate there and my server gave me one. OMG. Really? That was stupid in my part for not personally bringing it to the manager's attention. It's a great restaurant, but hopefully mistakes like that don't happen there constantly...
(2)
Casey H.
Came here for New Year's Eve dinner with the boyfriend. It was so good that it kind of pissed me off. Why has all of the meat I've eaten my entire life not tasted like this! I have wasted so much time not eating this food. Can't wait to go back.
(5)
Terry B.
This is the real deal kids. Rodizio has got to be nervous. I'd visited the Fogo in Dallas for lunch, but my Brazilian wife and I decided to do dinner at Fogo the other night. I've been to Brazil twice and had churrascaria in a small town outside of Rio put on by some locals as well as a famous restaurant in Rio called Porcao. Fogo is right up there with both of these memorable meals in the "mother country." First off, the service is here beyond top notch. (I'd say it ranks up there with some of the best restauarant service I've ever had, and we've eaten at some very nice restaurants in our lives) We actually had people running to our chairs to pull them out after visiting the salad bar or restroom. It seems there's not a moment the servers (there's more than one "waiter/waitress" for a section and they all work together constantly monitoring their area) aren't within earshot. The gauchos all spoke Portugese, which caught my gringo butt off guard. One gaucho even offered to bring rice and beans (which doesn't typically come out) once he noticed she spoke real Portugese as opposed to my gringoness. Unfortunately, we're taking a break from drinking, so we weren't able to try a caipirinha. I happen to like the way I make mine anyway. ;) They do have Guarana which is a soft drink that tastes like a berry that grows in the Amazon. It's a fantastic drink, (the closest American thing I can relate it to is Cherry 7-Up, but much better) and if you haven't tried it and are in the mood to lay off the sauce, please do. It's the Brazilian national non-alcoholic drink, but it is loaded w/ caffeine. If you've never had a caipirinha, or only at Cafe Brazil, (whose caiirinhas were horrible when we visited twice) you must try a real caipirinha. It's a very simple drink with lime juice, cachaca, and sugar a'nd they'll knock you on your seat if you have more than two. The rice and beans were fantastic, and were a tast of being in Brazil again eating a lunch or dinner as rice and beans are served with darn near every meal in Brazil. Fantastic stuff! The picanha and fraldinha were fantastic. Perfectly seasoned and perfectly cooked. I wasn't a fan of the lamb chop I had as it was overcooked, but the other meats including the filet were absolutely wonderful. The salad bar is one of the best you'll encounter with fantasticly fresh ingredients such as proscuito, (sp?) salami, cheeses including fresh-made mozzerella, asparagus stalks the size of a Chipotle burrito, unbelievable Hearts of Palm, and wonderful salad along with pasta salads. Don't fill up on this stuff though as the real star of the show is the meats. And please, try the pao de quejo, (cheese bread) which is another Brazilian specialty not to miss. We thoguht we were too stuffed to enjoy a desert, but the waiter talked us into the Papaya Cream as it has a digestive enzyme to help with all the meat we'd just eaten. After having the delicious Papaya Cream with a dribble of Creme de Cassis, we found our stomachs were definitely in better shape than prior, and it was delicious. I'd had a Papaya Cream in Brazil and enjoyed it a tad more than this, but that's not to take anything away from this simple, but lovely dessert. For a mere $38.00, you get all you can eat, fantastically cooked meats of all kinds along with a number of wonderful foods. You could go to a great steakhouse and spend that much alone for a mere steak with no sides, so please give this place a try. You won't regret it.
(5)
K. W.
Hubby and I were looking for a new place to eat in Denver while we were staying downtown. I looked on yelp and found Fogo de Chao. We had eaten at Rodizio Grill previously so we knew what to expect. This is a great place. The salad bar did not have nearly the amount of items that Rodizio does BUT what they do have is fabulous. The meats are VERY good and be careful...when you flip your coaster to green for "go"...boy do they get there fast. We were swarmed by people with fresh meat. The bonus is that you get to choose how rare you want it (you do not get to do this at Rodizio). The price is a bit more than Rodizio as well but the service is much better as are the meats. Downside is they do not have the grilled pineapple which is a favorite of mine. They offered fresh hot bread, polenta cakes and fried bananas throughout the meal. A definite "must" if you have the extra money. I liked that I could make reservations through a mobile app on my phone. We will return in the future
(4)
Tylor L.
this is arguably the best restaraunt in denver right now. better meat selection than texas de brazil, though it has less sides. great value pick despite the price. only $25 for lunch, with seemingly every cut of meat. the cuts of meat were sensational.
(5)
robert b.
i really liked it. full disclosure: i'm a pig. i love meat too. i am a big salad bar guy. why wouldnt i love it, right? well, most brazilian steakhouses that i have been to here in the usa just arent very good. the other two in denver are perfect examples although the one right down the street from fogo is way worse than the other. i thought the meat was really good and not salted to death. they had choices of temperature. the lamb chops were really good. i didnt waste my time with side orders. 4 stars is a fair rating. maybe 4 1/2. cant do 5 because i didnt love all the choices but its the best of the three in denver by far.
(4)
Catherine B.
This is truly the best Brazilian steakhouse in town. The service is impeccable, and the food is to die for. We tried Rodizio for comparison and for a few bucks more a person, you get infinitely better food and service at Fogo. Don't miss it!
(5)
K.E. Y.
the meat here is definitely tasty, but talk about sensory overload! after hitting the great salad bar i was almost full already, but managed to try some of the chicken, pork sausage and filet. all of it was flavorful and the servers were eager to slice as much meat as you'd want. since we went for 5280 week it was a complete steal, but even at regular prices i'd say it's worth it. their meat quality is as good as any high end steak place in denver and the variety is absolutely awesome. if you're a lover of red meat, this is the place to get as much as you'd want! the desserts were delicious too, key lime pie and chocolate mousse cake, yummy!!!
(4)
Brittany G.
After a recommendation from a friend, I decided to research this restaurant further just to make sure it was going to be up to par for the price. And let me say, after reading exceptional review after exceptional review I was VERY excited to dine here with my girlfriend. I read about exceptional service, free valet, wonderful food, etc. etc. So my expectations were very high for this restaurant and let me tell you how it went. We dined here last Wednesday night, so it was not crowded at all. I made reservations on line (which was an added bonus because I prefer to do anything and everything that I can on line rather than to make an extra call). We parked using the free valet which was very nice given the temps being below zero last week. As we are in are early 20s we were a little worried about the dress code as we aren't very 'fancy shamcey', but ended up wearing nice jeans and sweaters, which fit well with the other guests attire at the restaurant, even topped the guests attire that were wearing Avalanche jerseys (avs game same night). We were seated instantly and had our coats checked together. We usually end up getting very cold in restaurants so I was a little worried about not having a coat, but we were seated near a window that either had a heater right next to the table or the table/chairs were equipped with warmers because we were never cold. Now, for the food experience. We were instantly met by a waiter who started to describe how Fogo works with the meat and salad bar, etc. This was probably the only minor issue of the night, is that the waiter talked way to fast and had a very deep accent and we were unable to completely understand him. No worries though, we were able to get a clarification by another waiter right way. We started with the salad bar, which was exceptional, however, I did not want to fill up as I was saving up for the real dinner. After we finished our salad, it was time for dinner. Oh, side note, as I order my drink (the famous Brazilian drink that they serve there which was delicious) the waiter recognized that I had just turned 21 and in fact was celebrating this with my girlfriend that night and said happy birthday. So after receiving a new plate for meat, we flipped our card over (telling the waiters we are ready). I believe that we tried all the different types of meats, and they provide an unlimited amount of sides (three different types). The service was excellent throughout our meal. At one point the waiter spilled meat on the table as he was giving it to me on my plate and they came to politely scrap it away and also put a white napkin over the stained table cloth. As we were looking at the desserts, when we ordered one they came out with a candle in it and happy birthday enscripted on the plate with a sauce, which was very thoughtful as I didn't specifically state it was my birthday until they checked my ID. One of the waiters (or he may have been a manager of some sort) was constantly asking how everything was and engaged in small talk with us. As we were paying for the bill (dessert was taking off the bill for my birthday), the manager guy came over and handed me a free meal coupon and said happy birthday! I was very surprised as I have never had this happen at a restaurant, let alone a $40 meal restaurant. As you can see, the service and food was excellent and I would recommend this place to everyone. I already have told most of my friends and family about our spectacular dinner there and told them they have to try it. So you have to as well! It is amazing and you won't be disappointed!
(5)
Brittany M.
I have never heard one negative thing about Fogo de Chao, only amazing reviews, so I was really looking forward to trying it out over Denver Restaurant Week. Big Mistake. I always use DRW to try new places and if the food is good and I have a good experience I go back, simple as that. I have found some of my favorite restaurants that way, but Fogo de Chao was overbooked, understaffed and way under prepared. A couple of the cuts of meat that I was dying to try didn't even come out and around to us until after we'd paid our bill. We really weren't impressed with the meal and shame on us for ordering the wine that was part of the special because they'd already sold out and gave us another that was pretty bad. There's a chance I'll go back but only because my experience was the first negative thing I'd ever heard of at the restaurant. In my opinion Denver Restaurant Week should be a time to showcase your food and the experience you provide so that you'll increase your return business. All in all, I can't give a review for how the restaurant is normally, it looks like it's actually a pretty amazing dinner from the reviews and from what I've heard from friends (which is why I'm giving three stars instead of one or two) but definitely do not go there for Restaurant Week.
(3)
liz t.
very clean! Great service(could not do enough for you) asked several times how we liked everything. Seated right away. Always filled water. Fun evening. Go hungry.
(5)
Peg L.
Wow! I brought 15 people here for a surprise 50th b-day celebration and it was extraordinary! The excellence and service that was given to our party in the preparation phase (choosing wines, the private room, etc.) and the actual evening itself has me choosing this as my favorite restaurant! We had a vegetarian guest and a gluten free guest that were completely accommodated. The salad bar is the best I have ever experienced and the desserts? Well, you just gotta, even if you have to take it home. I can't wait to go back and plan to during the holidays. The food will make you weep with gratitude that God created beef. I don't mind paying if you get what you pay for and here you do and more. This is a completely service oriented establishment based on excellence. The video on their site couldn't be more true to the real deal. They really do treat you as if you are a part of their family and our guest cannot stop talking about our fabulous evening.
(5)
Kalia K.
We had an awesome time! Everyone was super nice, sometimes too attentive, even when we had our buttons turned over (if you've never been to a Brazillian steakhouse, you have buttons that tell the servers if you want meat or not), but overall they were great! We went there for my son's 16th birthday and they totally hooked it up - gave him a free dessert (they wrote happy birthday in syrup on the plate, nice touch!), which you often expect, but they gave him a certificate for a free meal on our next visit. Definitely good marketing cuz not like he'll go by himself, lol, but still pretty cool!!! The grub was super yummy! IMO, their meat is better than Texas de Brazil, but their salad bar pales in comparison to Texas de Brazil. However, you go their for the meat mostly right? One of my friends that came is part Brazil and speaks some portugese and some of the servers were actually Brazilian too, gotta love that! My advice - say it's your birthday, even one of the servers said they don't check ID (hopefully nobody from there is reading this, ha-ha). Happy eating!
(4)
matt h.
Went here for restaurant week and I really liked the meat, though the salad bar was not nearly as impressive as the ones at Texas de Brazil or a place called Tucanos in Albuquerque. The atmosphere is nice, the free valet parking is great, and the filet and bacon wrapped chicken both will be part of my dreams for a while. However, the service was only average, and the sausage was bland. Pretty much our entire group thought it was not quite as good as Texas de Brazil.
(4)
Sturm B.
This place is awsome! While I have always loved this format (ie Rodizio), Fogo takes it to the next level. Especially if you are a guy (which I am) I don't see how you could possibly not like the whole "bring me chunks of meat until I say stop" thing. Add a fantastic wine list and grade-a service, and its hard to beat.
(5)
SHEILA G.
what more can I say that eveyone has not...........LOVED IT! .....and be sure to go there w/a hungry stomach.
(5)
Claire S.
No disrespect meant whatsoever, I think this place is A-Ok and I'm sure I'll go back some time. That's what 3 stars means to me. The service is quick, courteous, and cheerful. They are super organized and on top of it. It seems like if a cog were out of place the whole machine might back up and explode. I watched Chicken Run recently.That may be affecting my writing. The point is, no cogs are out of place. They are a well-oiled machine. I love how cheerful and lively the atmosphere is. You can have a really nice conversation with each person sitting on either side of you. The tables for 5+ people are pretty big so you probably won't get a chance to have meaningful convo with the people on the other side of the table, at least not during restaurant week. No big deal to me, I like it loud. And it's not the echoey, vacuous, metallic loud which I find alienating and disorienting, it's... cozy loud. There's something about this business concept that kind of gets me, preventing the 4th star. Don't get me wrong, I'm a total hedonist and glutton, but this type of excess makes me feel self-conscious about how much food is wasted. You could probably say the same for all buffets, but this food is way better than your standard all you can eat situation. I kind of love that the meat sword dudes are called, in all seriousness, gauchos. (Yes, I know I just said meat sword, but it's really the perfect description if you go you'll see what I mean.)
(3)
Mecca S.
I love rodizio. The o ly thing I miss about new jersey. This place is pricey but great food and service. The shrimp cocktail is humongous
(5)
Jackie P.
This place was amazing. Quality and ambiance all in one place.
(5)
Robin S.
Gluten free freaks rejoice! You can eat almost everything here. There is complimentary cheese bread baked with yuca flour, crispy polenta that hasn't been fried with other flour items, garlic mashed potatoes, and caramelized bananas. That's just for starters! Out of 16 different meats, only the chicken has gluten (it's marinated in beer). The salad bar has a couple of items with gluten, but you can make a meal out of the salad bar alone. Great teamwork and smooth service means you never have to wait for food. The Parmesan cheese pork loin was surprisingly my favorite. I'm not even a pork fan, but the flavors and juiciness of the Lombo was the stand out to me. Somehow, we left room for dessert. Their signature Papaya Cream is gluten free and is supposed to have enzymes that help with digestion so it seemed like a good idea for our full bellies. Perfect consistency, not too sweet, and extra yummy with the creme de cassis on top. For the amount of food my husband can eat, it was a great value. Actually, just the fact that he could eat almost everything and feel like a normal diner was worth it. The wine prices were reasonable too. The Broquel Malbec was delicious; one of the servers stopped to talk about wine with us and even brought the bottle over so we could easily spot it in a store. Great experience. It's a must go for gluten free eaters!
(4)
Kelly T.
Get ready for the MEAT SWEATS! Tried this place a few days ago for Denver Restaurant Week and it was uhhh-mazing. Order a bottle of Malbec and get started - what are you waiting for?! The place was packed and we had to sit in a small middle table, but considering the week, no biggie. The service is so spot-on, don't forget to flip that coin to red because the gauchos are ON IT. The salad bar is phenomenal, and the smoked salmon was a really nice touch. The house special sirloin, bacon-wrapped chicken and parmesan herb pork were all fantastic. Ron Swanson would approve! You'll probably be full after a run through the salad bar, and try as you might, you WILL overeat here. Just embrace it, roll yourself to the curb, and call a cab.
(4)
Cam T.
Now THIS is a 5 star restaurant experience. I don't eat Fogo De Chao often, but when I do, it's amazing and deeeelicious. As soon as I heard that I was headed to Fogo for dinner, I did what any normal human being would do: I fasted. That's right. Might as well get your money's worth. So I showed up starving and ready to feast. And of course, it didn't disappoint. The salad bar is amazing, so many cheeses. Then the main course: cheese puffs, enough meat to make a vegetarian queasy, and my favorite, the cinnamon pineapple slices. Overall, an amazing restaurant, would eat here every week if I was made of money.
(5)
Rashid 7.
We arrived a little late, about half an hour before closing time but that was fine because we were kindly greeted and escorted to a nice free table among many people. This place was busy, ( a Saturday night of course ) and busy for a reason! This place is really nice! Great service and the food is amazing. There is a salad buffet bar ( beautiful veg and salad ) and great tender meats which melt in the mouth! They also served us fried large chips with sprinkled cheese, caramelized bananas, and mash potatoes for side. Great atmosphere, quite smart. Try to make an effort to dress up here. There were a lot of people wearing dresses and suits. There was a large dessert selection - delicious! I had the key lime pie which was amazing. Hands down this place has got to be one of the best places to eat in Denver. You can not pass this place up! Great for special occasions too.
(5)
Teema C.
Hubby and I went here for Denver's restaurant week - it was packed! I think they did a great job considering how full the restaurant was. I thought the salad bar and side items were of good quality. The meats were tasty, but def a bit too salty - I'm not sure if this is done on purpose so that customers would eat less or if Brazilian meats are supposed to be salty. My favorite was the pork ribs. Would I be back? Probably not, I think this is more of a one time experience type place, although I may go back just to take someone else to experience this.
(4)
Jason H.
Very good love the grilled pineapple great service. But I will say it may be a step below some of the competition. Still very good though
(4)
Linh N.
Service was prpfessional and meat was delicious. House drinks and dessert were on point
(5)
Jeremy S.
This must be a really hard restaurant to operate. They provide an amazing experience: I am highly impressed by the choreography, the professionalism of the service, and even the quality of the food--no, this is not Peter Luger steak, but anyone who comes here expecting that deserves to be disappointed. Even the salad bar is quality (and obviously they'd like you to fill up a little bit there... and in fact, you probably should keep a few extra greens on your plate for when the meat parade begins). And even discounted 40% for Restaurant Week, which is a zoo everywhere in town, the Fogo staff kept it together. I've had more chaotic Resto Week experiences in other, more sedate restaurants. It is not literally flawless--it's a bit harder to find a waitress than a meat skewer, some meat cuts are better than others (duh), and simply being in an environment in which many individuals are moving very quickly with very sharp knives through the establishment can get your heart rate up a few beats. (They seem to handle the knives quite well: don't be afraid to bring young kids, esp since they're free!) If I could I'd give it 4.5 stars, but give them the bump in light of the high-degree-of-difficultly aspect of pulling it all off.
(5)
Luke F.
This place is almost gluttonous! It literally has the best meat I've ever had. Try the bananas and the pineapples also! The salmon at the salad bar was amazing. The price is totally worth it. I definitely recommend.
(5)
Brian T.
This place pales in comparison to Rodizio down the street. I've been to this location 3 times now and I should have learned by now to just keep walking. The meat is extremely salt her, to the point where it overpowers the flavor of the meat itself. On my last visit I ended up having to specifically ask for the filet and rib eye as I never saw either in the first 40 minutes. Also WTF is with pineapple being $8.50 for a 2 inch slice?! It's included as part of the standard menu over at Rodizio.
(2)
Kaelin T.
Definitely ask for Tyler!!! He was awesome! Amazing Service & Food to DIE FOR! :) The top and bottom sirloin are my favorites & the filet cuts like butter!
(5)
Wendy W.
Alot to eat from the salad bar. The Strawberry lemonade was really good. There were many different cuts of meat. Our favorite is still the Garlic Picanha. After awhile, they all taste the same. Yes, sometimes they seem to all swarm up to serve different cuts. Scared me alittle. But for sure, to get your bucks worth, make sure you go on an empty stomach.
I'm not much of a red meat eater, but you would never have guessed that had you seen me chowing down at Fogo the other day during lunch. Fillet wrapped in bacon, top sirloin, bottom sirloin, short ribs, lamb, sausage. You name it, they probably have it. While the tender, juicy, perfectly seasoned meat steals the show here, the salad bar is nothing to gloss over. It's well stocked with prepared salads, such as potato or tabbouleh; asparagus. hearts of palm and assorted veggies; olives; salmon and cured meats; and cheeses galore. While it's certainly not easy to do, I recommend saving enough room for dessert. I've never tasted better creme brulee. Definitely pricey whether you're here for lunch or for dinner, but as it is all you can eat, you can try to get your money's worth.
(4)
Cristen T.
My two experiences at Fogo De Chao have been two of the best in terms of service, food and general delight. My husband's family treated us to this great restaurant twice. My first trip there I didn't have a clue what I was in for and this last one was just as great, if not better. Let's start with the outstanding service. I have had great service at a lot of places but nothing like the service at Fogo in Denver. The serving staff blows my mind with how on top of everything they are. Both times, if ever there was a question, the knowledgeable staff would have the answer in an instant. If ever there was a half-full glass, without even being noticed it would be refilled. If ever you look at your plate and think, "I don't feel like eating the rest of this; I wish I could have a clean plate," someone will notice and ask you if you'd like a new plate. I am convinced they have learned how to read minds at Fogo. It must be part of their training or something. They really are all about making you as happy, comfortable and pleased as possible. It is really something else. Moving on to the food, it starts at the stellar salad bar. Everything is fresh and it is constantly being adjusted and rearranged to look as appetizing as possible. And boy is it appetizing: fresh meats and cheeses, cool refreshing salads, wonderfully textured bread, steaming sides. They also bring incredible dishes to your table on fancy silver dishes. I loved the polenta fries and cheesy mini rolls are delectable. During your meal they provide fried bananas and creamy garlic mashed potatoes. The beverages are great as well. You can order a cocktail or a local beer or Brazilian ginger ale and it is all so very satisfying. And then, there is the glorious, delicious, perfect meat. This is one place that could sway even the most steadfast vegetarian. I shudder to think that I could have missed out by remaining a vegetarian. Fogo De Chao uses local meat (except the lamb, which they get from New Zealand) and you can tell. As soon as you flip your little coaster from red to green you are rewarded with a plethora of sizzling beef, chicken, pork and lamb. The servers who bring it out to your table are the ones that cook it in the back so they know where on the cut will be rare or well done. My absolute favorites were the rib eye, top sirloin and the house cut. We also ended up getting a complimentary dessert here because we were on our honeymoon! We ordered the Creme Brulee and while it was wonderful it wasn't the best I've ever had (that would be Paley's Place in Portland, Oregon). I think, if ever presented with the option again, I will skip dessert and just eat more of their sinfully delicious beef. Fogo De Chao has been one of the two most all-around marvelous dining experiences. I have to say that this place doesn't deserve 5 stars, it deserves 5 million. It is absolute excellence.
(5)
Bruce F.
If you're a true carnivore with an appetite then this is your heaven. Yes, round one through the extensive salad bar was very good, but the meat is why you eat here. The service is non stop with an endless variety of meats. You also select rare, well done or anywhere in between. Eat as fast or as slow as you like. They don't judge at Fogo they just keep it coming. Our table loved the pineapple and bananas as well. I also appreciate the space between the tables so I didn't hear anyone's conversation except my own table. Fun experience.
(4)
Ryan T.
We were here for my birthday and over all it was a decent place! The service was average but not great! First time going for Brazilian cuisine so it was different but the food was delicious! I've heard a lot about the place and had also recommended this place to a lot of people because I always hear great things about it. We had about 12 people at the table with two bottles of wine and some appetizers and the check came to $1009. There was definitely a lot of food and they all come to you at once! It kind of gave me an impression that they were in line to shove you with meat! ( Which I am not complaining) They only come by like couple times and goodbye to your table! I like taking breaks when I'm eating so after a plate , I took a break and was ready for second and yet the server who served us thought we were ALL DONE even though some people was still eating! She asked if anyone was interested in looking at the dessert menu? It really gave me an impression that she either wanted to leave early ( Thursday night) or she wanted us to leave! I don't think a plate of food or meat is done for me or some of my party and the fact that she did NOT even ask or offer if we would like more food made me want to give them one star. A little tip... if you want to make more gratuity, maybe you should ask your table if they are full and if they would like the meat runner to come by once more. The fact that I had to ask them to come over again made me want to give this restaurant a one star. I only stopped by the salad bar once but really wish they didn't make me feel like I was trying to be greedy and asking for more food. I doubt I would come back here again and yes I do work in the hotel so I will definitely share my experience with the guests and probably send them to other Brazilian steakhouse.
(2)
Amy F.
This place is a total meatfest. Yes, I am a fan. Great cocktail service, attentive staff, and interesting salad bar. Any salad bar that has real bacon on it-wins, unless you are super picky, that salad bar has a decent spread. The meat entourage is overwhelming, but super delicious. Several options, and you choose your pace, with those red light green light coasters. Bring some Benjamin's if you come with a big group and will order cocktails- its spendy, but oh so good.
(4)
Jack T.
Downtown for a concert and went here on a recommendation from a friend. Got in right away,the staff was pleasant and attentive. Have tried other Brazilian Steakhouses but thought the meat here was better. My wife loved the bacon wrapped chicken and roasted pineapple. Overall all of the meats were tasty and well prepared. Would make a great spot for a date night..
(4)
Flor A.
Be prepared to eat a lot of meat. The desserts were mediocre don't bother. Great Wine list0
(4)
Phung L.
As far as Brazilian steakhouses go, Fogo de Chao is the cream of the crop! Sure it's a tad bit more pricey than the other places, but you definitely get what you pay for! Complementary valet, superb customer service, and better cuts of meat. Who doesn't like a staggering amount of meat? Overkill? Perhaps, but be sure to come with an appetite.
(5)
G M.
Dear "Peyton Manning" jersey wearing douche, I want to just get my review in before you try to trash Fogo de Chao later tonight (like you threatened). We received fantastic service. We always had someone at the table faster than your 2015 Chevy Penismobile can drop off your next trophy-wife after your next failed attempt to get a comped meal. The Parmesan encrusted pork loin was cooked perfectly. When we asked for a particular temperature of meat, it was done exactly how we asked. If you think the meat was too rare, you should probably pay more attention to what you say and less on impressing a quarter of the restaurant with the "million times" you've been here. I'm glad they didn't comp your entire meal. The staff was exemplary and the other patrons smile at each other to have your self important swagger exit our airspace in a huff.
(5)
Adam L.
Meat was dry and fatty. I have been to lots of Brazilian steakhouses and fogo Denver was a disappointment and a waste of money. I went on a Wednesday night so i think because they were slow they weren't rotating to fresh meat. Unacceptable for the price paid! Won't go back
(1)
Ben D.
Over cooked meat
(2)
Mark L.
Have always been a HUGE fan for Fogo and try to visit a couple times a year. I was even okay when they raised the Restaurant Week price from $52.80 to $60.00. I guess the confusion comes in when you notice they offer less meats and removed the salmon and asparagus for the salad bar. My wife enjoys the salmon as much, if not more, as the meat, so the salami they put down in place just didn't do the trick. It seems they raised prices while cutting back on the food offered. Starting to get the feel of an all you can eat buffet in Blackhawk as opposed to fine dining. They was also little to no organization for who was actually assigned to our table. I think we've earned a break from Fogo for the time being, but will return eventually.
(3)
Carolyn H.
Went here for resturant week. Bad choice. The salad bar was the best part of the meal and it was even bad. The meat was like eating fat and leather combined. I know they probably cut corners because of the lower prices for resturant week but this place was bad. I will never go back.
(1)
Jeska H.
Pretty mediocre. The service was quite good, but the food was meh. The veggies were tasty and there was a nice variety. But the meat, though plentiful, was not fantastic. Red meat was kind of tough, and we tried all different kinds of cuts, filet, top and bottom sirloin, tenderloin. Too expensive for what you get.
(3)
Jennifer B.
I'm a big fan of Fogo! I was an avid visitor to the Fogo in Philadelphia with family and friends. When I saw the deal for Fogo where the price was dropped to $38 per person I recommended that a group of us go to take advantage of the deal. A group date we did with a table of 8 I think. Service was impeccable as it always tends to be at these places. Can't sip water without someone refilling the inch you just drank. Never felt wanting anything which is a beautiful thing. The salad bar was very tasty. I thought the offerings were well presented and cooked pretty good. The seasonings were lacking a bit, not enough flavor. I know they have to appeal to a broad audience but there could have been a kick with one of the offerings. I'm always a sucker for the asparagus, perfectly done and oh so yummy. Time to flip your chip to green and watch and march of the meat come your direction and buy oh boy do they swarm you. Always a good thing when men with meat come ask you "How you want it". I think I must have tried everything they had. Some of the favorites were the garlic seasoned steak, lamb chops, and one of the amazing cuts of steak, I forget the name now. I thought the majority of them were all melt in your mouth delicious. Sometimes a steak doesn't need aggressive seasoning to be delicious it just needs to be done right and these were don right. The sides on the table and there to distract you from your ability to eat $38-$50 worth of steak, don't let it distract you, eat meats, meats, and more meats and savor every bite. The trip was worth it and I would come back again and continue my love, love relationship with Fogo. Fogo oh how I love thee.
(4)
Dale Z.
I came here to take advantage of the $38 dinner special through August 3rd. The place was nice and clean, and the service was excellent. I enjoyed the "salad bar" offerings (it is hard to go wrong with a bowl of crispy bacon). They also had a wheel of parmesan, as well as other cheeses, cured meats and salads. It was not as varied as Rodizio used to be, but was solid. I enjoyed the cheese bread and polenta, and I always like the bananas. I avoided the mashed potatoes. My theory is that these items (although well-prepared) are served as "filler" to reduce your total meat consumption. I generally like the meats served at churrascarias, and this one was no exception. One minor (but repeated) complaint would be being asked how i want my meat, replying "rare", and then having them cut from the charred outside when there is an interior cut right next to it. The second time and third time the server did this to me, I said, "No, I wanted rare". He seemed rather miffed that he had to discard that piece. But, if you are going to ask me what I want, you need to listen to the answer. This should not just be a pro-forma courtesy that serves no actual purpose. I really enjoyed the garlic beef and the lamb chops, and I thought the linguisa was pretty good as well. I found the leg of lamb to be a touch gamey. Some of the offerings were a little too salty for my tastes. All in all, this was a good (extravagant) meal. It strikes me as somewhere I might take visitors from out of town or business associates, rather than a regular place to hang out with friends.
(4)
Leonard E.
It pains me to have to give this place a 2 star rating. It's a nice place. I love the environment.. The people and service were exceptional. The food was just not up to par. The meat or the hot food at the bar was not seasoned very well. I was highly disappointed. Texas de Brazil blows this place out of the water. Rodizio is far better. I dropped $75 and it was just me on my ticket. I expected much more. Maybe it was because of the holiday season. Maybe I need to go back and give them another chance.
(2)
Young B.
So delicious and amazing service! I would recommend this place to anyone! They have an unlimited salad bar with great selections and unlimited meat! The waiters are also very friendly! mmm :)
(5)
Scott F.
We had made a reservation online which was very quick and convenient. We got there about 20 minutes early and they sat us anyway. Service was outstanding! We were a table of 2 and had at least 3 waiters at all times. The meat guys were very regular as well. For those that haven't been to one of these, you have a disc at your table that is red on one side and green on the other. Flip to green, and the meat guys stop by with something different all the time. Flip to red, they pass by. With that said, the meat was good, some was overcooked. (The reason for only 4 stars.) The waiter brought carmalized bananas.....best thing of the night! The meat guys also brought roasted pineapple. Very good! The "salad bar" was diverse. My favorite was the scalloped potatoes and the different loose meats. Who needs salad anyway! Give it a try!
(4)
Yasser S.
Love Brazilian steakhouses but this was first experience at fogo here in downtown and was thoroughly disappointed.meat mentioned on website wasnt present, as it wasn't packed I was still waiting on my meat and ended up eating more salad than meat.medium well was usually burnt part and salty.and when I say salty I mean SALTY.salad bar was bland.long story short ended up wasting 50$,bad mood and at burger joint to fill my appetite later. Better Brazilian choices available.
(1)
Lynda M.
Alright let me just sum this place up by saying that you sit at a table and get to have a crappy buffet and then men come around and offer you copious amounts of meat. Yes, meat men. Meat men are in abundance at this place. They practically shove the meat down your throat. I'm not going to lie, I put the scraps in my napkin and put it in my purse and went home and fed my dogs, while my partner projectile vomited massive amounts of meat into the toilet. Gluttony at its finest. I'm glad we went during restaurant week because it was only $30 per person instead of $50.
(2)
Trina G.
A solid 4.5! I always make my first Restaurant Week reservation at Fogo. The reservations go fast and its not something we want to miss. I have been to Fogo several times when its not Restaurant Week, but my service was even better than normal for how busy it was last night. The nice GM came and asked us if we were looking for any meats specifically several times and the meat always showed up. The salad bar was amazing as always. SO MANY OPTIONS! The only thing keeping me from 5 stars is the drink prices. I understand upscale restaurant pricing (why do you think I fill up my reservations for Restaurant Week) but to not have a white wine under 9 bucks (the house wine was sold out) is a little too much. All in all, Fogo is a must. I have been to Rodizio and Texas de Brazil many times, and there is no going back after Fogo.
(4)
Shea W.
Where to start with Fogo? Disclaimer: I've never paid full price here before because: why even? I went once for restaurant week and once ON A SUNDAY, yo, because they do 30.00 all you can eat restaurant week special every sunday. Lemme set the scene. Salad bar? Not even the right word for it! Salad-cheese-meat-pickled things bar. Anything you've ever wished a salad bar had? This place has. Also, eat like 3 hearts of palm and I think your 30 bucks has already paid for itself (but serious side note. Why is hearts of palm so expensive??) Once you're at your table you have a giant pog. Yes, pog from the 90's. The green side tells the waiters "bring da meat" and boy do they bring it. Tip to not look like an idiot: use your tongs to help them get the meat on yo plate. All the meat is delicious and sooooooo Rich. By the 3rd piece I'm always stuffed to the gills. It's almost overwhelming but just turn dat pog to the red side for a bit to catch your breath. Final tip: complimentary valet but please tip them with cash!! The guy was so surprised when I handed him money. He must get stiffed a lot!
(4)
Jeff M.
Great services, awesome menu - a truly great dining experience. Pace yourself.
(5)
Tracey B.
When I think if Fogo I think business men in suits - boys club kinda place. All of the meat is excellent, salad bar is above average, sides of unlimited mashed potatoes and plantains were good not spectacular. Service is top notch. Will I go back? Probably not, but it's definitely worth going at least once.
(4)
Yulia R.
We had our wedding party at Fogo de Chao. It is an awesome place for the parties since every guest will find something delicious to eat. Great meat variety for the meat lovers. Even vegetarians will find something tasty at the salad bar. Grilled pineapple and the cheese bread are amazing.
(5)
Sarah H.
Dang. Fogo went from my favorite churrascaria to my least favorite in two visits. What a shame. They sent an announcement via email that they were extending their Denver Restaurant Week deal every Sunday through the end of March, so I went and was really disappointed to discover that they had pared down the salad bar to the point that there was nothing but a few cheap cheeses, lunch meats, and salads. Also, while I can understand offering a limited selection of meats for the reduced price, they decided not to serve the grilled pineapple, which is one of my favorite items at Fogo. What was really disturbing is that it wasn't like there was a seperate salad bar for the full price diners - they had the same bad selection for 50% more in price. The whole thing just struck me as pointless - the whole point of Restaurant Week is to get people hooked so they'll come back and pay full price, not to have them say, "It wasn't a bad deal for $30, but I'd never pay more than that for what we got!". Sometimes when you make a marketing decision, you have to accept an upfront loss for long-term gains. Otherwise, why bother participating in DRW at all? A couple weeks later, I got another email from Fogo saying that they were offering $25 off dinner when you presented the email offer to your server. When I read the fine print, it said "Good for up to 5 per table". This to me implies that the deal is good for each diner, up to 5 diners per table in the same way that a grocery coupon that says "$1 off, limit 5" means you get $1 off each item up to the first 5 purchased. It seemed like a deal that was too good to be true but I couldn't pass it up, so I invited some friends to come out with me and told them I'd foot the bill since it'd be so affordable. Come time to pay the check, the bill was much than I had expected. I asked my server why the discount was only applied once and she said that we would need a seperate coupon code for each diner. The Boy, who also susbscribes to the Fogo email, said "If I'd known that I'd have kept mine, but it really looks like you're offering the deal per diner so I deleted it." Our server's response? She made jokes about how if they gave the discount to everyone they'd be paying us to eat there and made ABSOLUTELY NO ATTEMPT to assist us further, other than badgering The Boy to pull up his deleted filed for another coupon code, which he couldn't do since he didn't bring his phone . So if I'd come alone or if each of us had a code, wouldn't THAT being paying us to eat there too? It made no sense and we all left feeling insulted. I wasn't looking for her to give us the full discount that the email implied, but to make no attempt to offer anything at all? That just felt like a bait and switch. It's a shame that Fogo's service and business choices have gone so far downhill, because their food is still good. But after these last two experiences, I seriously doubt I'll go back again and I'll start recommending one of the competitors to my friends and family when we're having a group dinner out.
(1)
Pamela S.
I LOVE Fogo but we dined recently for Denver Restaurant Week and they went extremely cheap. I usually LOVE all of the smoked salmon, asparagus, hearts of palm and that parmesan cheese wheel! However, none of that was available this time around. The selection of meats was still delicious, even though it was minimized. I guess you get what you pay for.
(3)
Miranda M.
Absolutely fantastic food, from the salad bar to the meat. Definitely among the best meat I've ever had. My drink was delayed compared to everyone else at my table (I think they forgot about it, since two other people at the table ordered the same thing), but overall, great service.
(4)
Rachel J.
This place is soooo good!! We went here for Valentines Day this year, my boyfriend knows the way to my heart is food. Unlimited food. There is a large salad bar that you can go to when you first sit down. There was a lot of different salad items and also deli meat with cheeses. They bring you roles and fried bananas to your table as well. Now I don't need to tell you this but all those items are a trap! They will make you full so you can't eat all the delicious meat that comes around. Trust me I was was wishing I laid off the swiss cheese when they came around with beef wrapped in bacon that I couldn't eat for the fear of my intestines exploding. Another tip, create a will before you go in case this happens to you. All the different meat that came around was so good. You put your card on green if you want the next meat coming around to stop and hook a brother up. Then when you feel like death and need to come up for fresh air you set your card to red. Another plus is that we got a free gift card to go back since we went on Valentines Day. Let's just say I let my boyfriend hold my hand that night for taking me to this place. My fat, chunky, full of meat, hand.
(5)
Jewels L.
How could you not love fogo!!! Atmosphere and service are on point. I love the appetizer bar, but be careful not to overeat on that appetizer bar or you won't have room for some delicious filet mignon and whatever else meat they have. I must say that the Caipirinhas are a must try! Best national Brazilian drink! Yummers!!! I'd recommend this places for the meat lover in your life! It's very high end and classy.
My husband and I checked out Fogo de chao during restaurant week. I have to say, it was a different experience, and I enjoyed some of it, but I just would not go back. Even during restaurant week, I don't feel that what you paid was worth it. The ambiance was very hectic, and I expected more for an upscale restaurant. In one completely visible hallway, they had chairs messily stacked up on each other, which is just not acceptable in my opinion for a restaurant that says it is "classy". The meat was very good, but everything else was extremely subpar. In fact, the mashed potatoes were disgusting, tasted like the ones from a box. The best thing at the salad bar was the kale salad. My advice would be to go somewhere else....
(2)
Holly S.
Fogo has become one of our favorite restaurants. They have amazing service, someone is always nearby to help. Their salad bar is the best in my opinion...they have more choices on the salad bar (that are good quality) than the other Brazilian steakhouses I have been to. Their meat quality is the best too. My daughter is a HUGE fan of their pineapple, when we come in they know to come by every 5 minutes with pineapple. I have to admit, I love it too. I have tried it at Rodizo and thought it was flavorless, but at Fogo they but a nice mixture of cinnamon and spices on it that makes it a little crispy and OH so good. I went to TdB recently because that use to be our favorite before trying Fogo and my husband kept saying he thought he remembered their meat was better. But it definitely was not, they cut smaller slices that all seemed to have an abundance of fat. They also do not season their meat as well, I found myself salting the meat to give it more flavor. I definitely do not have to do that at Fogo de Chao. We tried Rodizo because it was cheaper and you def pay for what you get. Their salad bar was messy and there were rotten greens, the service was horrid and the meats were subpar. It is definitely worth it to pay a little more for Fogo. We have never seen their salad bar look messy are ransacked even when they are extremely busy. It seems their staff pays great attention to detail and keep everything in place. I have 2 kids ages 4 and 6. This is their favorite restaurant as well. Normally if we ask them where they want to go for dinner they yell "the meat on the stick place". It is where they request to go for their birthdays too and togo makes them feel special. At some fancier restaurants when you go in with 2 little kids you are treated not as nice...almost as their way of saying WHY WOULD YOU BRNIG KIDS HERE. But not at Fogo. The servers talk to our kids, ask them what they would like to see brought to the table, fetch the forks they drop on the floor and replace them with new ones and on both their birthdays it seemed like every server at some point stopped by the table to tell them happy birthday and ask about how their birthday. We love this place. Updated 02/02/15 I our opinion of this place has only improved. We have gone for all 4 of our birthdays and were treated to a super yummy dessert and special attention. They even seem to recognize us well enough now that they remember that my daughter is in love with their pinepple and make sure we get enough of it. We had one time where the service was not as great as normal, it was when they were having a LOT of banquets for the holidays and there were not a lot of open tables. But even with the decreased attention it was still better than a lot of places we go.
(5)
Melissa C.
I am very happy with my experience here. The food was wayyy better than I expected. All of the meats were seasoned and cooked very nicely, and were beyond plentiful. The "salad" bar was amazing - scalloped potatoes, various salad fixins, cheeses, smoked salmon, fresh mozzarella balls, asparagus, etc. You have to be very careful here, but I wasn't, and ended up eating too much before the meats, so I got very full very fast. But I don't regret it, because the everything I had was delightful. I also had a very tasty strawberry drink from the bartender, and later ordered a caiphirina (sp?) with dinner, which was also wonderful. The staff was pleasant and the restaurant is very nice.
(5)
Noah P.
I love coming here! It has become a staple for birthday dinners. For those who have never been here before be warned it is a lot of food, or more specifically a lot of meat. If youre not a fan of red meat in various forms, or meat in general, this is not a restaurant for you. I would suggest if you are going to go with a group of people. Not only is it a great place to catch up, but it paces you with your meal. The restaurant offers a classy dinning area that is inline with a lot of steakhouses. If you are going on a Friday or Saturday night I would suggest getting a reservation. I have never had a problem getting a place to sit and this is also with a party of 10. The staff is very friendly and will explain the process to anyone who is new (the long and short; you have a coaster with a green and red side. Green means I want food, red means Im ok). You can start with a pretty extensive salad bar or go right into the meat. When you flip your coaster to green the various waiters will start coming by with platters and cuts of meat. You choose what you want and at what temperature. This is a wonderful place to go if you are celebrating any event but it is not an every day place as with drinks it can get pricey. However I always feel that I can eat enough meat to justify the price. It is a unique experience just to go and see for yourself. Go hungry but leave full!
(5)
Ian S.
Everything about my visit to Fogo De Chau was perfect, we had a large party of 25+ people after an event in Denver. All the staff was very accommodating to all of our needs, a special thanks to Shaun, the manager, and Nick and Kelly, our wait staff, they were all fantastic. The food was great just like any other time at Fogo, can't get enough of that caramelized pineapple!
(5)
Aman S.
Typical Brazilian steak place. I have been to many of these, and they are all the same.
(3)
Natalia K.
I've spent a few months living in Brazil, so I've been to my share of authentic churrascarias. I've also been to the few of them around Denver and the SF Bay Area (I highly recommend Pampas if you're ever in Palo Alto). This place is just ok compared to everywhere else I've gone -- churrascaria or regular restaurant. MEDIOCRE FOOD: The service is great and very prompt (but with so many men running around cutting meat for everyone, that's to be expected). But the actual food--which is the reason I assume most people would come here--is just ok. The salad bar wasn't amazing and nothing really stood out to me. And the meat was the same. It was good meat prepared rather well, but it wasn't as good as a nice $30 steak somewhere like Vesta or Capitol Grill. I'd rather have one smaller piece of meat that tasted fantastic, than endless portions of it that taste ok. GO TO RODIZIO: One of my biggest qualms about this place is that most of the meat is actually pretty much the same thing: some variation of beef. I rarely saw pork or lamb going around, much less anything else. This is why I prefer Rodizio (just a few blocks away). Not only do they have nearly 10 variations of beef, but they also offer things like sweet-and-spicy chicken, chicken hearts, turkey wrapped in bacon, pork loin in parmesan and bacon, sugar-glazed ham, fish -- and surprisingly one of my favorites because it goes well with the meat and breaks up the protein rush: grilled pineapple. Now THAT'S worth paying for. Honestly, the best thing about this place was the amazing, fluffy mashed potato dish that was like a bottomless mimosa: it just kept getting refilled at my table and I kept eating it. But I wouldn't pay $40 just to have those mashed potatoes again.
(3)
Jennifer R.
SERVICE: Truly great. Maybe a little TOO fast, as you don't have time to think before your food is brought to you. In that sense it felt a little hurried. All of the staff is very friendly and accommodating. I do, however, feel badly that the meat servers are forced to wear gaucho pants. Personally, I feel these giant pants should be reserved for pregnant women but in any case not young men. FOOD: All of the items at the sides bar are very fresh looking/tasting. I can't be the only idiot that thought the round white cheese was butter... Can I? Like one or two more labels would have helped a simpleton, like myself out. The meats we tried were cooked and seasoned well for the most part. My husband and I each found something mouthwatering and delicious to "try" multiple times. EXPERIENCE: Here's where I had to dock their score and it's not their fault. I just am not a fan of the Brazilian steakhouse style. All of the meat running around and having a sides buffet made the atmosphere a little overwhelming. It was much too carnival-like to me. It was not a relaxing dining experience which is my personal preference. So not their fault, but I just prefer something a little more intimate and leisurely.
(4)
Misty A.
I went here on the invitation of friends and financee. I loved every bit of food I had. The wait staff was wonderful. The cleanliness of the restaurant was great. Complimentary valet service was very close as well. I will be coming back.
(5)
Danette D.
My family and I took advantage of the awesome Restaurant Week deal and decided to try Fogo de Chao! And it was amazing. From the get go the host were very accomodating. There was 8 of us and we requested a table near the the corner as we had a baby in a stroller; so we preferred the corner as we had somewhere to park the stroller and the baby would get less distracted. Service was phenomenal. Everybody worked as a team and they were on top of it. I never had an empty glass of water and they when they see your plate is getting full from all that meat they go and grab you another plate. When there'll be times we'd want to try a specific meat they'd track it down for you. Never did I have to look around the room when I needed someone, it's almost like they can read your mind as soon as you think you need something they're there. And oh my gosh the salad bar! If I didn't eat red meat, I'd be perfectly happy with just the salad bar! It's not the typical salad bar where you'll find wilty greens, shredded carrots, bacon bits and whatnot. But some things you'll find fresh romaine, smoked salmon, giant asparagus, apple salad, imported cheeses and actual slices of bacon! Gah I'm drooling just thinking about it. The meats were very tender and tasteful, and the variety of sauces they provide for it was a nice touch (but to be honest, with how well they seasoned their meats sauce weren't needed). The sides were also great, I couldn't get over the brazillian cheese bread and the polenta. At the end of the night I was so full it hurt to move! It was a little overwhelming at first as each of the servers started bringing meat. When there's 6+ people at one time offering you different things you wouldn't know where to start.
(5)
Melisa G.
My husband and I had been wanting to try Fogo de Chão for a while. We finally did Saturday night and couldn't have been more pleased! The food was INCREDIBLE and there was an abundance of it, the picãna (sp?) which was the house specialty meat was AMAZING. My favorite part believe it or not was the staff, they were extremely cohesive and worked as a team and it showed. I work in the customer service industry and there is nothing that pisses me off more than a rude waiter or server, but that IS NOT the case at this restaurant I was truly impressed! Obviously this place is on the higher end of the price point, but TOTALLY WORTH IT.
(5)
Ryan B.
Do not eat all day before you arrive at Fogo! Really, I am serious, starve yourself first. Also, be prepared to shell out serious cash because this place is not cheap. The meat is fantastically good and you can literally have as much as you want. The grilled pineapple is also delicious. The salad bar is even good, though they warn you not to fill up there. If you are a vegan, you should stay home, but if you like actual food, I recommend going here every few years. More often than that and you may explode. I don't really know of any downside to eating here other than the price. But, it is worth it... if you have the money, go nuts!
(4)
Jessie G.
This is one of my favorite places to go downtown. The food has always been awesome and the service even better. Go for lunch! It is the same menu for half the price and it isn't as busy so you get food faster and the services is better. Love this place!
(5)
Michael M.
Worth every penny. That's coming from an omnivore. I really love meat, and grilled or smoked meat especially. This was probably my ideal meal. Big hulking slabs of meat are not easy to grill well. Anyone who's grilled a flank steak or a London broil knows it can be a challenge to hit the sweet spot where the meat is tender and juicy inside, but flavorful and crusted outside. Every piece of meat I was served was spot-on. I didn't ask for medium-rare and get a bloody mess or burnt up end piece. They also have a nice salad bar, including thin sliced salmon, and the fried bananas are addictive. The service is of course, showy and prompt. The manager walks around making sure nothing gets missed. I went here for my anniversary, and I can't afford to come here often. I do feel that the quality and presentation lived up to the price though.
(5)
Lisa R.
Made reservations, arrived a few minutes learly and was seated about 15 minutes after our reservation time. The food and service was excellent. Salad bar needs to list what each item is. There were items on the salad bar that I did not know what it was, and it would have been helpful to have the item identified on a card, The food kept coming, but there was no system. Many times they brought the same food to our table. We had to ask for certain meats. Food was delicious staff very friendly.
(4)
Ronald T.
The best brazilian steak i've ever had. And the polenta is gorgeous. Great atmosphere and they make me come back veery fast.
(5)
Diane V.
I'm a HUGE fan of Fogo de Chao (see my other 2 reviews at different locations)!! I can't stop saying great things about this chain since the meat is always so tender and delicious. But I gave this particular location 4 stars because the meat was drier than I was used to, the salad bar wasn't that great, and the pao de queijo seemed to be lacking in cheese, like they almost ran out and squeezed what they could for each cheese bread. Still a very good place to eat Brazilian steak! The best! And I think I saw some NFL football players there - at least they were as buff as some! Service was excellent and attentive. Highly recommended!
(4)
D W.
We had a party of 8 or so on a Saturday night and everyone agreed it was a great, flawless experience. Prompt seating and excellent true 5 star service, the servings were delicious, salad bar (especially smoked salmon) first rate. You can probably get better steak but the variety of beef, pork, chicken and lamb is something you can only do at a place like this. Tyler was our main guy and he really took care of us, knew his wines like a sommelier and was very fun as well, as was the entire crew. Oh and free valet parking which in downtown is a big plus, really made it easy to get a group in there painlessly. Fun, delicious and we'll go back - once we digest that first meal.
(5)
Tif D.
There are some cool things about this place, I almost gave it 5 stars. The good: tasty fried polenta stix and cheesy puff-bread, upscale salad bar with uncommon offerings- sliced cheeses, smoked salmon, proscutto, apple salad, and scalloped potatoes that were the bomb. The meats were good, I got a few inedible bites that did detract, but overall they were all pretty good and gluttonously dished out to your hearts discontent. You get tasty sides with your meats too, like fried plantains, mashed potatoes and grilled pineapple. Here is my holdback: there are not any sauces for the meats, no horseradish cream or whatever Brazilian sauces they do? There is nothing that is spicey or hot. The meat carver's are a little abrupt, they are in hurry to work the room and you feel pressured to grab the slice they are carving with your little tongs with adeptness, they also spill au jus on the table cloth, your pants and inside your purse on the floor. It's a little haphazard, if you get me. So while everything was prepared well and the portions huge, nothing is thoughtfully put together to compliment any other item. There is also no flow to the meal, I'm unsure whether or not I'm supposed to eat my salad and then eat a whole plate of meat or just sit there eating off 2 plates. I went for lunch and it was a group of 100, so it's tough to judge. I would go back though, when I'm starving obviously.
(4)
Bill K.
Excellent food and excellent service. I used to work near by so I've been to this location several times. Unlike other nearby Brazilian steakhouses, Fogo keeps up a good pace serving their meats. My favorite dish is their lamb chops, super flavorful and cooked just right. Another must is the filet mignon, which is very juicy and tender. They also have a good wine selection and a buffet table loaded with smoked meats, cheeses, salads, vegetables, soups/stews, and rice/beans. If you're waiting for a specific meat, just ask the wait staff. They'll make sure to bring it to your table.
(5)
Cecil M.
Hands down the best meal I've ever had. Don't waste time on the salad bar unless that is all you're eating. Service is unmatched, and the experience is worth the price tag.
(5)
Sara B.
Restaurants like Fogo De Chao are the reason I could never be a vegetarian. I love me some meat and Fogo is the place to go for it! With the variety they have, there is something for everyone. And the salad bar! Oh the salad bar...how could you not love it. P.S. Have you seen the trees that they serve and claim to be asparagus? Get in my belly!! My only complaint about this place is the chicken...it was really dry. Hey, one thing on the menu has to not be so tasty right? The service is impeccable and they have the best creme brulee I have ever tasted. It's like bwutta, baby!
(4)
Tuan M.
Probably the most expensive restaurant I have ever ate at. It was for graduation so I guess I dont feel as bad spending $55 dollars for an all-you-can-eat buffet. I wanted to celebrate but couldnt afford doing the whole "poppin' bottles" thing, so I felt this restaurant was the next best thing.The waiters brought different types of meat to your table. The rib eye and shirloin was magnificent. It was until they brought out the lamb.....
(3)
Harold W.
My goodness this place is phenomenal. If you have never been to a Brazilian steakhouse then this is the one to go to. The salad bar is always fresh with some of the best options you can think of. Now for the main meal, each customer has a circle object that looks like a cup holder, one side is red the other side is green and when you are ready to eat meat you flip it over to green and someone will come around every two minutes with a different type of meat for you to eat until you flip it over to red. Some of the meats include filet minion, ribeye, chicken and others. My favorite was the pineapple which has a cinnamon type spice to it and it is delicious. The staff was very friendly, it's a good place to have a nice dinner with the family, girlfriend, wife or other lol. Also the price is about $50.00 per person I had 2 people with me and the bill was around $170.00 so yea it's worth it.
(5)
Chloe T.
Three stars for awesome meat- lamb and filet mignon were exceptional. But service here is just ok. While everyone was friendly, the second we flipped our cards over signaling the waiters we were ready for the meat course, it was like a feeding frenzy. Every second someone was coming over asking if we wanted this or that and it was a little overwhelming. Also not worth $50 per person for what you get. While meat was good, there are plenty of excellent places who can serve amazing meat for less than $50. We essentially spent $200 for a few bites of steak, unfortunately.
(3)
t. o.
My spouse arranged for a family dinner here on Christmas Eve. Though relatively young and moderately hip, we eat like old people, so our reservation was for 5:30, which so often is simply the best time to go to restaurants, Better tables, better service, better food. Partner grew up in Dallas and had been to that one a couple times many years ago. She was disappointed by the (by comparison) paltry so-called salad bar, which she said used to have crab, shrimp, salmon, etc. Still, the rest of us thought the bar was fine. I could never eat meat again in my life and be happy about it, but she loves the meats, so I was game (ha.) I had a few tasty bits of cow, a few not so tasty bits (forget about the sausage.) The place was half empty when we came in and was packed within 30 minutes, so it was a nice lively atmosphere. But I don't think anyone thought they would be heading back again afterwards. We did find a great, relatively cheap bottle of organic Chilean red wine on the menu,. which felt like a big score. I know wine ok; it was a good deal. The actual highlight of that night was visiting the new Union Station for a drink before dinner. A perfect capper would have been popping into Tattered Cover, but we were ready for home, a fire, and a long winters night after dinner. An enjoyable one off, but it's pretty much exactly what you'd expect.
(3)
Brittany S.
We went here for our work Christmas lunch. I had not been to a Brazilian steakhouse previously. Maybe I'm just not a fan of this type of place, but I didn't enjoy it. They walk around and offer you slices of meat. Most of the meat was heavily seasoned and salty. Also most of the meat was beef. There was some lamb and chicken, but I don't think I ever saw any pork passed around and most of the beef that was served tasted very similar to the last. My favorite thing about this place was the salad bar. And the service was good.
(3)
Hannah Y.
I went here during restaurant week last march and I was really excited to try a Brazilian Steakhouse. I heard good things about Fogo de Chao but it didn't live up to my expectations. In their defense, I don't eat meat in access and I think having so much of it in one sitting just didn't sit well with me. The lamb was delicious! I love lamb and I consider myself to be a lamb snob and this place had delicious ham. The salad bar was not a traditional salad bar; however, I loved all of the things that they had. Smoked salmon, roasted garlic, hearts of palm, mmmmmmm. Also, the biscuits were to die for. They are like a buttery biscuit stuffed with cheese. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. I think the only reason why I give this place 3 stars is not because it isn't good but because of the concept. I like to leave wanting me and wanting to come back but after eating here, I had my fill and I am set for a long time. They come around with meat as soon as you flip your card over and usually your eyes are bigger than your stomach and I could not eat everything that they served me but I wanted to try everything. I was overwhelmed.
(3)
Matthew T.
Went to eat here on the Friday following the New Year. Driving downtown can be pretty hectic on weekend evenings, but this restaurant started things off amazing, with complimentary valet parking. This makes a huge difference on those crowded streets, especially in the snowy cold we had. Walking in, there is a nice bar area where you can enjoy a drink while waiting for your table. Thankfully, we had reservations, so were whisked straight in by the hostess. Once seated, the level of service became apparent. We were quickly greeted, brought water, and introduced to the ins and outs of a Brazilian steakhouse. Throughout the whole meal, a water glass was never left half full, courtesy checks as to whether we'd like specific cuts of meat brought, appetizers, sides, quality of food, all were abundant but not overbearing. Perhaps the best service I've experienced. And, of course, the food. The salad bar was beautiful, with delicious choices from salads to cheeses to meats to vegetables that would have easily provided a wonderful dining experience by themselves. Of course, that wasn't all. Flip your table marker to green, and the attentive servers would come by with the twelve different cuts of meat, serving you portions from a taste to a generous slice at your request, cooked as you prefer, and continuing to come by until your marker is flipped back to red to give you a break to enjoy the perfectly seasoned delectable meats. All in all, an amazing dining experience. I will definitely recommend visits here, and return myself.
(5)
Jade T.
This place has now been dubbed my FAVORITE in terms of Brazilian food and Steakhouses!! Sorry Rei Del Gado, and Texas De Brazil! The salad bar offers a huge selection of sides to go with the 17 different cuts of meat that rotate to your table. The parsley salad and smoked salmon were some of the best I've had!! As long as you're bold enough to keep your coaster flipped on "Green" the meats keep coming! Have to say the pork ribs, parmesean crusted chicken, and grilled pineapple made several trips to our table! Delicious!! The staff definitely made sure we got our money's worth and then some as our glasses were never empty and every need was catered too. They even brought fresh chopped fruit for my toddler who wasn't interested in entertaining the skewers of meat presented to the table! We ate, drank, and left so full we could burst! Save room for dessert!! The creme brulee was divine!!!
(5)
Audrey C.
My experience here was amazing! My boyfriend had come up to Denver to visit me for spring break and we decided on this restaurant as a little impulse date night for just the two of us. For a set price of like ~$50, you get to have the salad bar (which is the biggest and nicest one I've ever seen! It made me so excited) and pretty much all you can eat of the meats that they provide. The service here was excellent! I felt really well taken care of by the staff; however, that also could be due to the fact we went on a Sunday night and the restaurant was pretty dead. Regardless! It was an amazing experience. The meats tasted excellent and the greens were fresh! They also brought over little sides which consisted of fried banana, mashed potatoes, and a little puffy butter bread thing that tasted amazing! We loved our experience here! The only reason why I wouldn't come back is because the amount of food was almost overwhelming for me! I enjoyed myself so much that I practically had to roll out of the restaurant as a ball from eating too much. So delicious! Highly recommend! Especially for that carnivore in your life.
(5)
b h.
I'm very late in writing this review, but wanted to make sure it got done, because there were so many people to thank. In April, 2015 we did a special event dinner at this fabulous restaurant in downtown Denver. It was very convenient to our conference location at the Hyatt, but more importantly, it's right up the alley of our group, which adheres to a low carb lifestyle. From the start, the group sales manager, Jennifer DeAngelis, was thorough, professional, and very helpful in making sure our event fit our group's budget and needs. She was very accommodating in customizing a menu that met the restrictions of our group. Particularly, this group started out at expecting about 80 people, and ended up with about 130! Talk about flexibility...she made sure our event was still private, and still had an air of intimacy. She never batted an eye as the numbers went up and up, and even when our count went over the capacity of the private room, she came up with a solution that fit our needs. The day of the the event, the setup was perfect, thanks to the help and hard work of Robert and his staff. Robert was instrumental in finding the best way to set up the room so that everyone in the newly-configured arrangement could see and hear the speaker. We used their sound system and mic, my only advice is to make sure the wireless mic has fresh batteries before using. If you can believe it, we actually were allowed to have each party pay with a separate check...very rare, indeed when you are talking about this number of people...but a convenience that made it possible to do the event at all. The amazing waitstaff, hand-picked by Jennifer and our lead, Manny, handled this challenge with grace and speed...very professionally serving this large group, and effectively handling what could have been a very chaotic 'end of evening' when 130 people all asked for their check at the same time! This staff did not miss a beat, and the organization and efficiency with which they handled everything was truly amazing. Note that it is helpful to make an announcement to guests about the procedures to secure their help in making sure everyone gets their check settled in a timely fashion. All in all, I highly recommend doing any special event/dinner/meeting at Fogo de Chao in Denver. Their staff is up to it, and very proficient at providing the utmost in service and flexibility for a flawless event. Crediting the entire staff that helped us that evening, the event was a rousing success thanks to all of your hard work and good humor.
(5)
Lee K.
A meat lovers paradise! Absolutely enjoyed everything they had to offer! Came here for valentines and left with a wonderful food coma. Worth every penny!
(5)
Steve P.
What a wonderful experience. The best barbecue I've ever had. the pineapple is really good too. Ask for Christy she's the greatest server in the place.
(5)
Adel Z.
My favorite place to satisfy my inner carnivore. Consistently good with excellent cuts of meat cooked to perfection. Oh and BTW they have a salad bar.
(5)
Joey B.
The experience service wise was excellent. Some of the best service I've ever had in Denver. The food is the reason I'm giving it 4 stars Instead of 5. We sat down, the girlfriend ordered some kind of tequila cocktail with fresh lime, kind of like a mojito crossed with a Margarita. I asked for something bold red and south american, and was presented with the Susana Balbo Cabernet (probably 09). Good choice waitress, I love that one. Anyways then they bring out these delicious little appetizers, fried polenta dusted with parmesan, and little squishy cheesy bread balls (not sure what they're called), very tasty. At first it's an open salad bar but the waitress advised us not to fill up on salads and go for the meats. But the salad bar is super on par- everything from real bacon strips to baba ganoush. Next comes a caramelized plantain (they called it a bannana, I knew better) and their mashed potatoes. They set these two big sides on your table and the guys walk around with swords and cut you off tidbits of this and that meat. Very tasty. One of the cuts, their house specialty was actually pretty salty, but in their defense I see why, it was the end of heel, and the first cut so it was all crusted in salt not just the edges. We tried it all though, our server was very attentive to make sure we got every piece of meat me wanted. Their dessert list leaves something to be desired. I had a nutty Irishman cocktail and the girlfriend has some kind of chocolate coffee, and we shared a creme brule. The issue is all of their desserts seem so generic, nothing popped out and said "hey try me!!" Either way not a bad experience. 200+ for a dinner and drinks for 2 with a good tip. To be expected. 4 out of 5 for the price of the food and service
(4)
Lisa W.
So disappointing. I've been here several times and have always had great service and overall experiences. Not sure what was going on today, but we had terrible service. We saw the waitress upon arrival and then never saw her again. Had to flag down other servers to get stuff, including the check (after a 20 minute wait.) we were so excited because we brought my folks this time around to show how great this place is, only to be disappointed. We had our kids with us (ages 6 and 3) and they were well behaved, so not sure if that was the problem. I also noticed a help wanted sign in the window outside, so maybe they were short staffed. Very disappointing considering the amount of coin we dropped for dinner. Maybe we will go to rodizio next time.
(2)
Wade B.
Let me start off by saying the staff at this Fogo de Chao are the best!! I brought in a party of 76 (some equated it to a small wedding) and the staff handled everything without any issues. The sales manager, Jennifer, was also very helpful throughout the planning of my event. The food and drinks were equally as good. All in all it was a successful event and I would not think twice about choosing somewhere else to hold my next event. Fogo de Chao should be proud of the team they have at the Denver location. 10 out of 10!!
(5)
Jelena W.
They're open! They're open! Finally! At last! Huzzah! Gratuitous exclamation points! That said, I thought Fogo de Chao in Philadelphia had alarmingly attentive service, but the waitstaff at the new Denver location make Fogo Philly look like a greasy spoon. I suspect they've brought in some of their best servers from other locations around the country (one of the gauchos mentioned he had worked in the Beverly Hills location) to help get things started in Denver. So, if you can pay a visit while this location is brand new, do so, and you'll enjoy service so good that you're tempted to just hand your wallet to the nearest waiter. Want to know how good the service was? My boyfriend wears a lot of black. Okay, he wears only black, with the occasional red accent. Anyway, we arrived and he headed for the restroom while I made a beeline for the salad bar (Parmesan! Prosciutto! I missed you both so much!) to fill a plate. I was away from our table for only a moment, but, like magic, my boyfriend's white napkin had been replaced by a black one when we returned to the table. I mean, seriously? They're already carrying around hunks of bloody, meaty deliciousness and serving every freaking table in the restaurant at the same time, and they found time to notice his color preference and quietly adjust his napkin to match? I dare you to eat here, tip less than 25%, and not feel like the worst person in the world for it. Not convinced yet? Allow me to continue. My boyfriend is very attached to his coat; also, it had our gift card in it (a birthday gift from my mother). Hence, he did not allow anyone to take his coat. Moments after he declined the offer to take his coat, a waiter appeared with a cloth to cover it on the back of the chair so that no meat drippings would go astray and mar said favorite coat. Still not enough? How about this: Every time I got up for any reason, whether to revisit the salad bar or wash my hands, a server appeared out of nowhere to pull out my chair when I was ready to sit back down. Glorious. "But, Jelena," you say, "You haven't even mentioned the food!" The food, you say? You want to hear about the food? I'd love to tell you all about the tender crescents of picanha with their perfectly seasoned outer crust and delicate pink centers, or about the beef ancho juicy enough to melt in the mouth, or even the bacon-wrapped filet mignon fit for kings, but I'm still in a well-earned food coma. Wake me in a week or so. Forget Helen of Troy. I'm pretty sure it was picanha that launched a thousand ships. I know if someone took my picanha, I'd send an armada to take it back. I know you're drooling all over your keyboard and ready to go make your reservations, but bear with me for just a moment more. Let me tell you about the magical end to the evening. You see, it was my birthday yesterday. Fogo opens July 23rd, my birthday is July 26th, just try and convince me that it isn't a birthday present from the universe. I dare you. I, indulging a bit on my birthday, got a chocolate martini and we shared a creme brulee for dessert. In order to avoid appearing self-centered or any possibility of singing, I hadn't mentioned my birthday to the staff. We simply enjoyed dessert and asked for the check. When a server returned with our receipt, my boyfriend complimented him by saying, "Thank you for making her birthday evening wonderful." The server mentioned that Fogo offers complimentary desserts on birthdays, and offered to remove the dessert from our bill. I said it wasn't necessary but would be very kind. He took the check back and we sat for a few moments trying not to move too much lest we explode. Suddenly, the server returned with an envelope. "Normally we do complimentary desserts on birthdays," he said, "But instead, since this is a new restaurant, we got you a gift card for dinner for two. A present for the birthday." I gaped. We gave our enthusiastic thanks. A free dinner for two? Holy picanha, Batman! As we stumbled out of the restaurant in awe, I saw that the valet had already pulled my car around and opened the door for me. There was a time when I would have laughed at the very suggestion that I should pay over $100 for dinner and drinks for two people at a chain restaurant. That was before I met Fogo. What are you waiting for? Go! Devour! Be pampered! Enjoy!
(5)
Nia S.
Wow, never experienced such a place before. If you like meat, you have to try this place! I really liked the service, they made us feel special. I do have one tiny complaint...no free drink refills on soda? Really...for such an expensive place, this is really cheap!
(4)
David C.
Great as always. All the food is well prepared and tasty. The staff is very attentive. Highly recommended (if you love meat).
(5)
Eric S.
Ate here for 5280 Denver Restaurant Week last weekend for my sister-in-laws birthday. The salad bar blew me away as did all the antipasti they provide. Very nice touch, and be sure to try the smoked salmon antipasti. The meats they bring to you are top notch, but I just wish they offered some dipping sauces for your various cuts of meat. My only turn off was the fact that the waiter tried to remember each member of my parties first name with little or no success and it got old after a bit. Other than that, great experience.
(5)
Randy L.
I'm probably gonna catch hell for this, but here goes: Fogo de Chao is the best steak house in Denver. And on top of that, it's all you can eat! When you walk in, you might be tempted to start by making a gigantic salad at Fogo's INTENSE salad bar, but that's a rookie mistake. While their salad selections are tasty and plentiful, you're at a god damn steak house that lets you eat as much as you want, so get your head in the game. Here's how it works: You get a little coaster with a red side and a green side. Green means go, red means stop. Rocket science it isn't. When the green side is facing up, gauchos with swords full of delicious meat descend upon your table like a swarm of bees that want to feed you instead of killing you. Maybe that's a bad simile. Oh well. Anyway, they keep bringing you the various cuts of meat until you flip your card to red so that you can try to catch up on the brand new pile of protein waiting for you on your plate. You also get unlimited sides - fried polenta (my favorite side), caramelized bananas, and garlic mashed potatoes. The bananas are a great way to cleanse your palate between cuts of meat, and they're also sweet and delicious. The mashed potatoes are, well, mashed potatoes. They're not going to knock your socks off if you've ever had potatoes before, but they're very good. I recommend the picanha (house special top sirloin), the beef ancho (rib eye), the fraldinha (bottom sirloin), and of course, the fillet Mignon wrapped in bacon. Fogo's steaks are the most flavorful, tender cuts I've ever eaten, and I have had my share of steak. The lamb is also good, but can be a bit too lamb-y. The chicken is very, very flavorful, but you're at a steak house, so don't waste precious belly room. The only thing I don't like is the sausage, but there are 15 freaking cuts of meat, so it's not like there aren't plenty of options for discerning carnivores. One of the best things about Fogo de Chao is the service. The staff is the most friendly, attentive staff I've ever experienced. Waiters refill drinks and sides before you're 1/3 of the way done with them, but aren't intrusive. I think they undergo some kind of stealth ninja training in addition to waiter training, because often times when eating there I look down and discover I have a full drink and a brand new plate of delicious, crispy polenta. Anyway, I'll stop going on and on about the food so you hopefully won't think I'm some kind of fat monster. You're looking at about $35/person to eat here (plus drinks and desserts, which are both DYNAMITE), but it's worth every penny, considering you can spend that much (and more) at other high end steak houses and get inferior food and nowhere near the level of service that Fogo consistently offers. I am not exaggerating at all when I say that Fogo de Chao is my favorite restaurant.
(5)
Patricia W.
This had to be one of the best dinning experiences I have ever had. Not only was the food superb but the service was impeccable! We were treated like royalty, the staff were fantastic, the food was absolutely fantastic! VERY MUCH WORTH YOUR TIME!
(5)
Turok ..
This is me and my lady's favorite place on earth. I am giving it 5 stars. I live by the skin of my balls and I figure I should eat well while I'm on this earth.
(5)
Carolyn G.
Hit or miss on the meat- some good - some really dry. I had the salad bar too and ended up getting sick. Like a really really really expensive denny's but only with meat.
(1)
Steve O.
Let me preface this by noting that I am a huge fan of meats. The best aspect of this restaurant, however, is that the main course of 15+ meats is merely the tip of this delicious iceberg. Let's start from the beginning... The salad bar alone is simply amazing. Mixed greens, asparagus, smoked salmon & fresh mozzarella make it stand out from any other salad bar you've been to. The plethora of meat is delivered freshly prepared, still sizzling on a skewer ready to be transferred to your plate with a pair of personal tongs. The bottom sirloin had to be my favorite, but the filet mignon was a close second. The system entails a little round coaster which when flipped on it's red side indicates you are content for the time being, and when the green side is showing you want more animal! Be aware when the green is showing, they are phenomenally relentless in filling your plate with meat. Lastly, are the amazing sides. If at any point you still have even an ounce of room left in your stomach, savor crispy hot polenta, garlic mashed potatoes, pão de queijo (warm cheese bread) or caramelized bananas. It may not sound appealing at first, but I was more than content being carted out of Fogo de Chao in a wheel barrel. SO full of culinary greatness that even standing became a challenge. Simply put, it's a great atmosphere and even better cuisine. (If you hit it up during 5280 week (between Feb & Mar), which I was fortunate enough to do, a meal for two is on $52.80 - a fantastic deal)
(5)
Damion W.
Stay away from the salad bar... Focus on the meat!! :-P Great place to eat...
(5)
Michelle A.
Ok so it was their 1st 5280. on a Saturday night. They were not ready for the people with reservations. We had an 8pm dinner. We sat at 910pm. People were not happy. Many tried for a reservation somewhere else. There was a group of 8 and they called a number of restaurants. I tried to help with some of the ones I knew. Finally they called Capital Grill. No problem. They left for an immediate reservation. The bar was a zoo and the bartedender almost got help from a stranger but she really said she was not qualified. They were so backed up. I am sure they lost money as people were asked to pay at dinner. Once seated the service was good. However we were seated by the front door and I guess some servers never saw us sitting there. As we only were offered 7 kinds of meat out of 15. I personally will not return as I know there are others who will not go back. Too bad. I am going to Impulse and Zink Kitchen for 5280. I hope the wait is better.
(4)
Briella M.
Awesome place to celebrate my anniversary. Great service!! Great food. Will be back soon.
(5)
Rick G.
This last week was the the my parent's inaugural visit to the lovely Mile High City that I now call home. It was a seminal occasion as this I think I might have started to , as those in the know say, "arrive." You know I own a house that isn't a dump, have a job that am good at I don't hate ALL the time, some friends who don't loathe me TO much and I know how to enjoy a good scotch. In other words, I am entering a nice time in my life where I am old enough to know better and young enough to not give a fuck if I so choose. So I took my parents here when they visited from Israel and/or San Diego. This visit, I knew, was going to be a test of sorts, an examination by which my parents could be certain that I was not living in a dumpster, shooting heroin and in general living in a bad way, as is often the want of Jewish parents. Initially my father was hesitant to go as he proclaims "any place that doesn't have a sign in English has something to hide." I forgive my father for such verbal reproaches and observations such as this because : 1. He is from Texas. 2. He is a Republican from Texas. 3. He is a recently retired Master Gunny who spent 25 years in the USMC and a Republican and from Texas. My father is the epitome of a lovable curmudgeon, a gruff, terrifying man with a heart of gold. It's both his best quality and his worst failure. In response to this, my mother rolled her eyes, took a deep centering breath and prepared to lay into my father. Seeing this in process I said "Dad, I want to buy you and Mom a nice steak dinner at the best place in town. Fogo is THE best place in town. So, will let me buy you a steak dinner? I think I owe it to you after all I put you through when I was growing up." FYI: I was a very good kid and never really put him through anything, but it helped the cause. He pondered what I had just said, and as he ALWAYS does, begrudgingly agreed to to go. After retrieving my parents from the hotel where they were staying, we arrived and were seated. Service, as is usual at Fogo is top notch - attentive and doting without being intrusive. Glasses are filled, drinks are refreshed and empty plates whisked away. My mother loved that they pulled our her chair. She giggled in delight that there are establishments where this practice still occurs. One's first time at Fogo can be a bit disorienting as the whole place is in a constant buzz of activity with sizzling meat platters being rushed to and fro. This is one of the few places I have been where bacon-wrapped meat is not a culinary apology, as it so often is. After a filling meal, at which I had the picanha, my father settled on the prime rib and my mother the filet mignon, I asked them how they liked it. My father said that it was one of the best steaks he had ever had and because my dad was happy, my mom was happy. When we left, I saw that my Mom and Dad were holding hands and seemed to be walking closer together than usual, a little more affectionate that usual. After dropping my parents off at the hotel, I went home and relieved an email from my father thanking me for a wonderful time and a great steak. He indicated he was glad to have visited and hopes to again very soon. Fogo, thank you for a great venue, a great time and helping bring my family and myself closer together.
(5)
Robert B.
(I know I normally look down my nose at chain restaurants, and Fogo do Chao IS a chain, but they sure don't act like one!) If you like meat, and you're in Denver, you HAVE to put this place on your 'short list'. We have an OK Brazilian grill in Seattle (Ipanema), but this place makes them look like low-grade dog food! What works: 1) Front of house service: The whole staff is 'eye-candy' good looking, and normally that's a 'red flag' for me (pretty people normally aren't very competent, right?). But these folks are as professional, competent, and accommodating as they are easy on the eyes. They have a concept that any staff member can work the dining room and attend to any table, and that applies from the GM on down (!). You're never waiting for someone. They make great recommendations, and are quick to take care of special requests and go that extra bit. For example, I wanted a plate of their caramelized bananas for dessert (a side included with the dinner). The server brought them out with a tiny pitcher of sweetened condensed milk, and suggested I try drizzling it on if I'm going to enjoy it as a dessert (it worked beautifully). In another situation, I thought I wanted a more rare lamb chop, the server obliged me, and I realized to my horror that I really didn't want what I asked for (it was a bit TOO rare). The server happily brought me another chop that was perfect. They will give you whatever you want, and replace it if you realize it was a bad idea. 2) Food: The salad bar is quite good, with extremely fresh ingredients that are artfully presented. But let's face it, you're here for the MEAT! They are exquisitely marinated and grilled, and have excellent flavour. You can enjoy a number of different beef, lamb, chicken and pork offerings. Particular standouts for me are the beer-marinated chicken legs, the bacon-wrapped filet mignon, leg of lamb, and the aforementioned lamb chops. The only less-than-satisfactory note was with a couple of the pork offerings. The pork ribs and parmesan-crusted pork tenderloin were rather overdone. Granted, pork is a hard dish to 'nail' in this style of cuisine. Normally, this would've downgraded them to 4 stars, but the superior quality of their service saves the '5-star' rating for them. Given how attentive they are, I wouldn't be at all surprised if they're 'tweaking' these dishes as you read this. This place is quite reasonable for what you're getting if you watch your bar tab. If you're in need for a serious protein fix, Fogo de Chao is THE place in DEN for you!
(5)
Nikole T.
I thought this place was pretty good! The filet migon and lamb were amazing! The only complaint I have is the staff was a little too invasive. I felt like I was constantly being watched by the servers not delivering meat to the table.
(3)
Howard R.
This is my second review. Fogo De Chao is certainly doing something right because they are opening up in other locations. The first real treat and the "best thing I ever ate" is the smoked salmon at the salad bar. I have never had salmon like this. Perfectly smoked and top notch. This is a MUST. The meats, service, ambience, side dishes, also are superb. If you look at the many reviews on Yelp, you will notice that this place has more 5 starts than most. For good reason-they really do everything right. Fogo satisfies on every level.
(5)
Sheng S.
This was my first time at Fogo de Chao in Denver. I've been to many Brazilian steakhouses all over including in Brazil. I was a bit disappointed. It was very bright, loud with lots of noise and the staff was overwhelming. What I meant by overwhelming is the wait staff were running around with their heads cut off. Everyone was running somewhere. You may think this would be a plus but it made me feel like I was standing still but everyone else was walking fast on Fifth Avenue in New York City brushing my shoulders. Not a good feeling. I've been to many other Brazilian steakhouses but never had that feeling and still got my food in good time. After we sat down, one of the wait staff came over and started explaining to us how it works. It would help if he spoke better English. He had a thick accent and was speaking at 100mph. Even if spoke well English it would still be hard to understand him. I asked my girlfriend did you understand a word he said. She said no. I don't know if he's really Brazilian or Mexican but slow down your English. We barely saw him for the rest of our dinner. I have found most of the wait staff to be Mexicans. I guess they're trying to pass them off as Brazilians. What's disturbing is they come to you very very often to a point where it gets annoying. They never have what you really want like the filet mignon. Maybe they're trying to get rid of the cheap stuff. When you request something their English is not very good and afterwards 2 or 3 other waiters will ask you if you just ordered that. Communication seems to be lacking. And if I turn over the card to red, that means DO NOT come over. The food was just ok. For an all you can eat place I guess you can't expect top notch steak. However, when you're paying $50 per person I would expect better quality. I would rather get a $75 steak from Vegas than to spend $50 on unlimited mediocre steak. I guess there would be many others that will disagree on that. Quality vs Quantity? The 2 best I liked were the filet mignon and the garlic one. They were still meh compared to the great steakhouses and some of the best steaks I've had in Vegas. I would rate it as a few notches under Ruth's Chris. I still reminisce of the place in Brazil I ate at. It was such a relaxing dinner and the steak was cook very well. The wait staff there even though they spoke Portuguese and little English never gave me this rushed feeling. This dinner made me felt so aggressive. We were out of there in less than 30 minutes. To top it off some guy outside was hitting on my girlfriend while I was getting my parking ticket validated. Never will I be back at this place again!
(2)
Sara Z.
This was my first rodizion, but definitely won't be my last. Wow! Delicious. The service was superb and I just adored Wagner!!! They also were very nice to accomodate my "well done" meat request. I cant wait to try others and hope they are all as good. Oh, the filet was my favorite, but the bacon wrapped chicken was a close runner up!
(5)
Sulema M.
Just received a note from an employee that gave my rating a "Poor!!" compliment. Strange, a "Poor!!" compliment in her words. Rather than complimenting my review as "Poor!!", provide some feedback that makes sense like any other employee or company rep would. Marcela Z, it's not nice to harass those who pay your paycheck my dear - maybe I should call the boss?
(1)
Andrea K.
Ok, just because I have zero desire to dine there again does not mean that it is bad. It was delicious. The salad bar is phenomenal! They tell you not to fill up at the salad bar but it is difficult not to!! We went there for 5280- awesome deal since it was their regular schtick for half the price. I love meat but I could probably go back and just eat at the salad bar. The smoked salmon, the vegetables, the peppers...yum. The meat was good too though some of it lacked flavor in my opinion and was overcooked. By far the best pieces were from the prime cuts of the beef. At the regular price, I wouldn't go here unless I could belly up a million times and make it worth it. Otherwise, I'm quite happy just receiving one plate at a normal restaurant. So...it's great- truly- but only if you can make an all-you-can-eat meat extravaganza worth it for you. Service is top notch. You are never without food for even one second.
(4)
Justin M.
I've tried a different brazilian steakhouse, but so far, this is my favorite place. the service is great, and the food is always on point. and to know that they're participating in the 5280 restaurant week is great. I'll definitely try to visit during the 5280 week!
(5)
Michael W.
Lets just skip the BS and do a little comparison style reviewing; just a little. Overall, I'd say they're meat selections taste better than there rival in Stapleton. The salad bar on the other hand, doesn't hold a candle to that same rival. I would give the Stapleton competitor the edge when it comes to the bars selection too. Sill haven't completed the trifecta; Rodizo is on my list. More specifically, Fogo is very upscale in ambiance and operation in comparison to similar places I've been. The staff is top notch and almost "too" attentive, at times. You can feel them eying your glass for a refill. As an added touch, I like that this chain has locations in Brazil, adding to it's claims of authenticity. There's really not much else to say, ummmm, there's complimentary valet service and they don't charge for kids (5 and under I guess). I'd visit again without a second guess.
(4)
Thomas Y.
The same rule applies to Fogo de Chao that applies to any other Brazilian Churrascaria restaurants. Go hungry or you won't enjoy it. The gaucho's here are well trained and very friendly. I can go pretty in-depth on here on the selection of the meats, but this place has identical offerings as Texas de Brazil or Rodizio's (they do have wild game offerings) down the street, and I've touched on the types of meats on a few of my other reviews. Recommendations: Chicken wrapped in bacon. Filet Mignon. Pork. Every meat. How does this place differentiate itself from the likes of the others? Ambiance, customer service, and value, especially during 5280 Week. I also have heard that this place is more authentic with several restaurant locations at the heart of Brazil. In closing, I do prefer Texas de Brazil more due to the selection at the salad bar and the drinks at the bar seems better. You won't go wrong with either of the big three. Enjoy and again, go hungry!
(4)
Albert C.
If you love meat, then there's not much else you can ask for. My wife and I are from out of town, but were in Denver for a few days. After reading the reviews, I decided we had to go for dinner. This place did not disappoint. This was our first time to a brazilian steakhouse. From the attentive service and tons of options, as people have described this is an eating experience. Sure you are talking about $46.50 per person, which is a pricey meal. But when you compare prices with going to a nice steakhouse, it's comparable. For me, the quality is comparable to nice steakhouses, so what makes this better is the selection plus it's all you can eat. For a comparable price, you get a nice salad bar with fresh higher-end ingredients (from prosciutto and smoked salmon to a wide variety of vegetables). Most importantly the choice in meats. There's chicken, pork, lamb, and beef. To name a few, there is filet mignon, rib eye, and rack of lamb. Some meats and marinades tasted better than others, but our favorites were the filet and a cut of beef marinated with garlic. For those unfamiliar with the experience, you start off with a two-sided card (green and red) to signify when you are ready for the meat. At all times, servers are holding different types of meats and delivering them to guests. Typically you start off with the card on RED and start off on the salad bar. Once you are ready for meat, you flip over your card to GREEN and servers will individually begin presenting you with different meat options. They present you with the meat and you can tell them how much and how cooked you would like your meat. This continues as long as you have your card turned over to GREEN. It can be a little overwhelming as servers continue to stop by, but you always have the option of turning over to RED until you are once again ready for more. For meat lovers, what more can you ask for? I only wish they had one in Northern California. Looks like the closest ones for me would be in Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
(5)
Michael A.
We were greeted with pleasant smiles and warm, friendly service. The ambiance of the overall dining atmosphere was upscale, yet personal and private. The salad bar was stocked with odds and ends of many different things to sample, leading up to a dinner full of indulgence. The side dishes were wonderful compliments to the main course of the many varieties of meat, while providing the perfect balance of taste for a fully refined dinner for any palate. Some claim that there are too many people visiting their tables, but we can say in complete honesty every individual who approached our table was not a distraction, all whom were extremely kind. We ended our meal with the Creme Brule, which possessed the perfect flavor of mildy sweet, yet satisfyingly delicious contrast to the delightfully, wonderful meal.
(5)
Steven S.
I was take there for my birthday by my girlfriend at the time. It was absolutely incredible! Both food and service could not have been better. Meat with a side of meat? Yes. I did not try anything that my taste buds didn't love. Eventually, I had to be helped to the door and to the valet stand as I'd eaten more than my body could handle. Pricey, but well worth the splurge for a special occasion!
(5)
Dorian V.
Wow! That's all I can say about this place...my son described it as "gastrronomic rapture on the tongue"...From the time we walked in to our table and had a first look at the expansive salad bar with it's shaved parmesan bowl and just about anything you can think of as far as salad bars go...it was fantastic and I could have just had that as my meal and been stuffed! But, the best was yet to come. Every type of meat selection you could ask for and more was appearing before our eyes...my top choice was the sirloin...tender, juicy and melt-in-your-mouth delightful. The only reason I did not award this restaurant five stars was that the chicken was slightly on the dry side but nothing's perfect, right? I would highly recommend this restaurant for it's menu selection and the service which was top-notch!
(4)
Sheri G.
This place is like Meat Mecca. For a carnivore like myself, this place is a veritable pantheon of dead animal, cooked to perfection. It is a tad on the pricey side, but for the amount and quality of food you get, it's worth the splurge every now and then. Salad bar was pretty good (hooray for the giant bowl of bacon!), and the polenta and plantain side dishes made me wish I had more room in my stomach. Keep an eye on your red/green card, because the gauchos are definitely on point with bringing more delicious meat very quickly. Next time I'll make sure to skip lunch (and possibly breakfast).
(4)
Alissa S.
You know that friend you have. The one you take out to a restaurant and they're never full. The one who orders two burritos at Chipotle even though one burrito is already a rice and bean filled carb monster. This is the place you want to take that friend. Teams of waiters parading around endless swords of meat has to be the answer to someone's prayer. And you really can't go wrong, since they also have an awesome salad bar that's a meal in itself. Definitely a few steps above your typical Rodizio restaurant. However, I'm pretty sure there's a conspiracy to try and fill up the customer on sides, since they couldn't stop replacing our plates of polenta, mashed potatoes, cheese bread and caramelized bananas. This kind of bothered me, because I don't think we'd finish even half of our side before it was replaced with a fresh batch. I appreciate good service, but that just seems overly wasteful to me. If you can, check this place out during lunch. It's about half the price.
(4)
Jeff V.
Four, yeah four stars is about good for the food there. I went back to fogo with friends for restaurant week and decided to finish my review upon my second visit. This place really does have a great atmosphere for small groups of friends. The loud and busy place allows for any type of dinner talk you choose. The salad bar was amazing and I almost went fully stupid on the hearts of palm, on the the meats! The best things here is the house special, then all the beef portions. Everything else was ok in my mind but that beef so beefy so goody. I'd def go back and would check it out at lunch. Same menu, half the price.
(4)
Rod H.
Just not that good, honestly. If you've never been to a Brazilian Steakhouse before, I can imagine this place comes off as pretty good. But I've been to one before, and this place sucked pretty bad in comparison. No matter how done you ask for your cut of meat to be, it comes off the outer edge. Most of the meat was under-seasoned and bland (or, in the case of the lamb, way too salty). There was also a serious lack of variety in the meat, with little to distinguish the different cuts of beef. A few items (the chicken legs) were downright disgusting, and the chef used the age old "wrap it in bacon if it has no flavor" with not one, but two different items. The mashed potato side dish tasted fake, from a box. The filet was excellent, but the rest of the items I'd group somewhere between bad and alright at best. The service was weak. I sat with my card facing green side up for the entire meal and was barely approached enough at all, far from the usual "overwhelming swarm" I should have gotten. I eventually placed my card on top of my water glass to draw as much attention to it as possible, but even that was no help. I went during restaurant week where the meal was about half-off. If you go here during a normal week and pay over $40 per person, you're a sucker. Brazilian steakhouses can be delicious, but this one is a poor entry.
(2)
Idan S.
First off let me say that if I had more money I'd eat there all the time! It is a family tradition to go to churrascarias or sushi restaurants for people's birthdays, and so we recently went there for my brother's birthday and I just about ate myself into a lamb/beef food coma. Lamb chops, lamb shank, bacon-wrapped fillet, picanha, fried bananas, pan de queijo, and sauteed mushrooms make me a very very very happy person. I have to say that their appetizer buffet isn't nearly as nice as Texas De Brazil's, but who cares? The meat quality was above and beyond anything you'll find at Texas De Brazil or Rodizio. Just a word of warning: If you are tempted to order anything off their dessert/shot cart make sure to ask how much it costs first...
(5)
Ziyu W.
A perfect place for a meat lover! I was in Denver for a weekend and decided to check this place out as it was in walking distance from the hotel, and I had always missed my chances when I was in AZ...so here we go. Salad bar was decent, pretty standard, but I'd say go easy with the salad bar, the meat is a lot more important!! 15 different kinds of meat, and I think I've tried all. Everything was excellent! I especially liked the medium rare filet and the ribs. So delish!! Our sides are grilled banana, mashed potatoes, and some kind of golden bread thingy.. I loved the grilled banana, so sweet and so good!! Service was very attentive! Everybody was so nice! I haven't experienced such great service in a while, we were definitely treated well! Outstanding service + delicious food = 5 stars!
(5)
Richard M.
I was in Denver for a business meeting and decided to go out to dinner with a few friends, Fogo de Chao was centrally located so we ventured in to gorge ourselves on meat. I was really impressed with the taste of the meat, it all tasted different and delicious. I've had Brazilian BBQ before and the meats weren't this tasty. There salad bar had a great selection of fresh veggies, cheeses, and sliced salami, sausages and prosciutto. The hearts of palm, buffalo mozzarella, smoked salmon and capers, marinate mushrooms were great. We ate fillet mignon, rib eye, bottom flank, sirloin, chicken, sausage wrapped in bacon, pork ribs, rack of lamb, leg of lamb and more. On top of the meat they kept coming around with side dishes of mashed garlic potato's, grilled asparagus, string beans, fried polenta. It was great and the service was wonderful. Good place to stuff yourself and it's priced fair.
(4)
Jeff C.
It was a great experience. I thought the prices were reasonable. The only reason they have a fantastic salad bar is so you eat less meat (which helps their bottom line). The salad bar is great--all I could ask for and it is hard to not fill your plate. But of course you are here for the meat so it can be quite a quandary balancing the salad bar with the meat. Anyway, the meats were delicious. A couple of things were a little dry, but it was a Monday night that I ate here and it was only 25% (if that) full, so I am sure they do not prepare as much meat and some things turn on the pit a little long. However it was all very good. My only complaint (and I am smarter than this) is that they asked if we wanted desert. Well, I was unsure if it was included or not. The salad bar is included with the meal so I was half thinking that desert might be. Anyway I ordered the "Strawberry Cream" not fully understanding what it was. It is really just a strawberry milkshake with a optional splash of blackberry liquor on top. It was very yummy if I say! However, we got the bill and it was $9.50. I think they should bring you a desert menu so that you A.) see the pricing and B.) realize it is additional. Two observations--I ate at Texas de Brazil in Northfield a while ago and the prices seem much better here than at TdeB. However, TdeB had a much larger salad bar with many more selections. I think I prefer Fogo's since it is less tempting! Anyway, this place is 4.5 stars for me and I will be back!!!
(4)
Matherine G.
Positive: We really liked the filet mignon (hard to mess up the best cut) and the bread that came with the meal. Negative: Where do we start? We made a reservation and still had to wait 35 minutes. When our server asked us if we had to wait long, we told him. His response was that that wait "wasn't too bad" and that essentially that we should be thankful that the wait was only that long. No apology whatsoever. We found the meat to be inconsistent. Some items were way overcooked. The salad bar was a disappointment ("exotic vegetables"? what's so exotic about cold broccoli and sliced tomatoes?). We waited 15 minutes for our bill to come after being told that "the cashiers were backed up." When the bill did come, we were overcharged (our tab included a 9 dollar drink that we didn't order). Overall: We were really disappointed by Fogo, especially after reading some of the glowing reviews from other Yelpers. We were so excited to eat here and we really wanted to like it. But from start to finish, Fogo did not live up to the hype. We won't be back, at least not until we try Rodizio and other brazilian steakhouses first.
(2)
Kent T.
It's a carnivore theme park. Many cows died to bring us Fogo de Chao...and we owe it to their memories to eat them medium rare. Endless skewers of meat are paraded past your table like models on a runway. Flip your coaster to the "GREEN" side and they'll arrive at your table. Need a break or a breather? Just flip it to "RED". You also get side orders of mashed potatoes, plantains and a fried corn bready thing (whose name I forget). The only cut I don't recommend is the paremesan-breaded meat. It's rather salty and doesn't mesh well with the other juicy cuts you're offered. The salad bar is a meal unto itself. Be sure to snag some of the smoked salmon slices. The apple salad is delicious and almost doubles as a dessert dish. You might think Fogo is comparable to Rodizio, but it blows them away. It's sad to think that, back in the 80's, my teenaged mind used to get excited about old AYCE places like Country Buffet. I've matured since then and I'm glad the AYCE concept has, as well. Might also be a good idea to fast before going here.
(5)
Micah R.
Very good meats. Abundant salad bar. I went at for restaurant week so I got the $52.80 price. I reccomend that b/c unlike some other places, their menu is not limited during that time. It is all you can eat meat and it was good. The filet mingon is by far the best, so wait for that if you can waive off enough of their picanha special. The only negatives are the price (when not doing 5280) and the fact that one meal here shaves about a year off your life expectancy, not to mention its miracle grow effect on your waistline.
(3)
Freddie C.
Like everyone else here this week, I was taking advantage of an opportunity to get into Fogo for nearly 1/2 the regular price. You'd think this place would be on the shady side considering how busy they are. Nope. The service was RIDICULOUSLY spot on. They never let me sit down without pulling my chair for me. What?! I'm getting a meat extravaganza at an insane deal, and you're pulling my chair out? WAY TO GO FOGO! For anyone who knows me, it's a puzzler that I even agreed to go here, as I do not eat red meat. (Not because I love cows, I actually hate them because they taste so bad.) I was willing to sit through it for cheap to let my blood-loving boyfriend chow down, and maybe I'd mow on some bacon-wrapped-chicken. Through it all, the chicken was probably the worst meat option they had. Dry. Dry. Dry. And flavorless. Now, cue the heavenly angel music, here comes the lamb chops. WTFFFFF!?!? I almost grabbed that stick of meat from that poor boy's hands. When you get here, and you should (SOON), make sure to seek this out. You will NOT be let down. And if you don't like it, you're dumb and your opinion doesn't matter to me. Read any of the reviews here, and you know this place is the bee's knees. It's true. It's really good for a group, a couple, a hungry dude(ette), and anyone who likes food. And their coffee is YUM. Yeah, the coffee I had at the end of my meal was memorable. Yum. Yum. Yum. *Don't eat lunch before you go here. And don't make plans for after you leave, as you'll be needing a nap in your food coma. Also, it's hard to feel romantic afterward as you're supporting your lower back with your hands as you nurse your growing food baby. So heads up guys, this is the END of your date.
(5)
Victor H.
Even Parking is not an issue!!! It is Free! W@W! The service is Spot -On-Perfect ! Perfect Perfect ! Oh! Did I say PERFECT!...?! I came as a carnivore and wasn't in the least bit disappointed ---Meat, Meat and more Meat.... Oh such wonderful Lamb, Cooked and cut right off the skewer right onto my plate!....Yummmm Some mint jelly to kick it into second gear and seasoned with not too much salt or pepper! The steaks were ALL too good--- FLANK STEAK, PRIME RIB, Beef Ribs----Oh! The Ribs, and the flavor! I tell you Peeps, the Beef is there and just waiting to fulfill your fantasy for Protein! Don't forget to bring your cholesterol pills and drink plenty of water. The wine selection is excellent and again, you will not be disapointed....A wide range of wines and a full bar too-boot. Let's talk about the service----- The moment we came here, the Ma trade sat us in a wonderful location of our choosing, though the place was moderately packed. There wasn't a time we were in want of anything. The waiters, and I mean waiters (several), came to our table to check on us for whatever might be needed ie: clean plate, new knife and fork...anything! The water was kept full and the side plates were never without being replaced if it didn't quite make the grade in heat, freshness, and overall quality. Great place to impress a Date, and so relaxing, you'd think you were in Beverly Hills.... Bone-That's Petite! But there is nothing Petite in this place! It is a Big 5 STARS for me-----
(5)
Sami K.
The salad bar was very good and top notch but I was very disappointed with the meat which why I really wanted to try this place, every piece was really salty. I don't mind a little salt but this was a little too much for my liking. I complained and got a couple of pieces cooked special for me but that was it. Every time they came by with a piece of meat after I complained about the salt, I was told it wasn't salty but it was. I stopped eating short of my full satisfaction. For the price I expected more.
(1)
Mike R.
I have eaten at several of these across the US. They will not dissapoint. Awesome salad bar. The meats are always done to perfection. You will not ever leave feeling anytrhing other than stuffed.
(4)
A M.
When I visit my husband in Denver we always find ourselves on YELP to discover our next favorite place to eat :) We saw review for this place on yelp and we were very excited by what we saw. Our visit was nothing less than everything we expected. This place has alot of class and the food is awesome. You put your card on the green side when your ready for meat and the waiters come around with a freshly cooked selection of everything imaginable. You don't have to wait at all for the meat because they are constantly doing rounds.... Filet mignon, ribs, lamb chobs, lamb, etc.. I have to say I am not a big lamb fan but theirs is so tender and flavorful.... Even the salad bar was fresh. I say differently go you wont be dissappointed at all it is worth the 38.50 a person they charge.
(5)
Jen S.
i tried this place in brazil the first time i ate at a fogo and stuff myself by trying every piece of meat available. now im a bit smarter and i stick to: - picanha - medium rare - the meat and the flavor AMAZING - top sirloin / bottom sirloin - both good - filet mignon - garlic beef - who can say no to garlic?? salad bar- i cant ALL meat the whole night so i like to balance it out with some veggies. they have all sorts. salads, asparagus, mushrooms, cheese, etc side orders - cheesy rolls - my table loved these. but a bit too filling for me. have to save room for the meat! but i allow myself to eat one or two - fried polenta - YUMMM must eat; this was probably the dish that got replaced the most - fried bananas cant get better - mashed potatoes - nothing too special so i usually skip it - plantains - maybe because by the time i tried it, the dish was cold but i didn't like it - black beans / rice - just a couple other plates you can get, not too special dessert - signature PAPAYA CREAM - usually i don't like papaya but i got it because 1. its their signature dish 2. the waiter said it helps you digest your food (totally true) 3. its mixed with ice cream, even more yum; must must must get!!! super refreshing after the meal - South American FLAN - second signature dish. BEST FLAN EVER. if you love flan, you will love this dish - creme brulee - this was the waiter's favorite and it was pretty delicious. it was done just right with the sugar crusted on top fogo is the only brazilian steakhouse i will go to. there are cheaper priced ones but their service and their steak is not as good. you might as well spend the extra bucks on a better meal. plus you dont eat like this everyday, so you can splurge once in a while. also i dont think you can find another restaurant where almost all the waiters speak portuguese... compared to other fogo's (price differs by location), this is by far one of the cheapest and i would take advantage of it. while you're there, might as well get a drink to go with the meat. i usually get a red wine - they have tons of selection. or you can go with a traditional caipirinha ($7.50 for a regular one $10.00 for a premium one - dont konw what the difference is - go with the regular one) lastly, the service was superb. we were asked multiple times how everything was and if we needed any other small plates and if you wanted a particular piece of meat you can ask for it and someone will come to you. our side orders and glasses were filled and our requests answered quickly. the waiters were friendly and we had a great time! we always come here when we're on a business trip.
(4)
Norman P.
I took advantage of the $52.80 Restaurant Week deal to come check this place out. There used to be a big ad on a billboard visible via lightrail route on my way to school - made me always want to give it a try. My expectations were set at the same standard as Texas de Brazil and Rodizio's Grill. Unfortunately, it is the first Brazilian grill I've been to that doesn't get a perfect rating. Close but no cigar. The food was, indeed, quite good. But every piece I got of the Picanha (signature sirloin) was well-done. Nothing against well-done, but I like my sirloin a little bloody (not like vampire bloody, but tender/juicy bloody). Even when I asked for a medium rare piece, I got well-done. Hmm. The salad bar was presented well and had various delicious sides sides to go with your meal. I was a little wary about it though, because last time I checked prosciutto, smoked salmon ans shitake mushrooms weren't Brazilian. 2nd Hmmm. In the end, all was still good so i didn't really mind it. Lastly, it could have been because of the business of the Restaurant week deal, but the service was a little slow. It took the servers quite some time to make their way to our table and they definitely weren't in as high spirits and enthusiasm as the server's I remember from Texas de Brazil and Rodizio's. This place is quite good, don't get me wrong. But unfortunately, for Fogo de Chao, if I every get hungry for some Brazilian grilled meat, I have some other options I'd rather go back to. 4 stars, delicious but not as good - I may have thought differently if Fogo de Chao had been the first Brazilian grill I went to. Stay hungry my friends!
(4)
Ang H.
The salad bar is to die for - love the full block of parmesan cheese! The Cesar salad is so tasty, fresh veggies, and huge asparagus - I'm getting hungry as I type this review. It's so yummy. And then comes the meat. What a fun experience! Turn your card to green and all kinds of meat shows up at the table bacon wrapped filet, parmesan crusted pork, ribeye, lamb, ribs, and my absolute favorite (the house special), Picanha, which is a prime cut of top sirloin. This restaurant is definitely for special occasions - at $50 a person and a very expensive bar, it's a bit too pricey for me almost not worth that amount of money. The side dishes are just okay - garlic mashed potatoes, polenta fries, and warm cinnamon bananas.
(4)
Jason B.
This place is soo good there varieties of meat a delicious but like some one else stated the waiters are on it if you turn your card over you had better be ready to bang because your going to get meat and lots of it that being said I love this place but the price tag is a bit high especially if you are dining with a light eater but if you happen to be in town with say the New York giants then go a head a do it you won't be sorry but if your dining with the ice capades then might want to look elsewhere
(4)
Matt C.
Food's amazing. Service is some of the best in Denver. Restaurant itself has a great location, layout, and set up. Clientele? Miserable. This isn't thier fault. It really isn't. But every time I go to Fogo de Chao (I've been three times), I swear that I'm never going back because I don't want to deal with my fellow diners. So here's the breakdown: Tourists: Lot's of 'em. FdC is near the 16th Street Mall and a few of the downtown hotels. So there are a lot of tourists. I'm not sure what it is about tourists, but they can be really needy of the staff. Which detracts from the staff's ability to serve everyone else. "Dates:" Certainly an okay place to take a date. That is if you happen to be in early middle age and are desparate to impress your younger, or at least respectively better looking, date. Same as above, these guys get needy and just can't stop harassing the waitstaff. Wasted Yuppie Party: Again, it's a great restaurant for groups, and definitely a good place for a birthday party. But there always seem to be one or two larger groups of yuppies there for a special event. And they're always wasted. Really, throughly, trashed. And they're loud. And obnoxious. And abusive to the staff. And flagrantly discussing sex and/or drugs in front of families/children. So...maybe I just need to go during "off" hours...
(2)
Stan L.
To be honest, I'm bored of typical American Steakhouses. This place is unique! You can choose from different meats cooked to your choice. It's just heaven for meat lovers! Very friendly staff and great service. I highly recommend this place and you better come hungry! :)
(5)
Josh P.
Fogo de Chao literally translated means "coma of meat" or meat coma. That is the feeling one will experience the entire next day having gorged themselves here the night before. For carnivores, the primitive gluttony - along with the pure chaos that is whisking about sharp knives and pounds of spit fired hot meats upon skewers without seriously injuring anyone - is worth experiencing at least once. A word of advice though, take the following day off.
(3)
Mina N.
I absolutely love their salad bar. I would mix it with the steak from the BBQ. I went there on a weekday, so my friend and I were the only two there. Loved the ambiance. The staff was very nice and attentive. I felt bad whenever I did not want a piece of meat that they came with, so I ended up overstuffing myself. Their soda is delicious, so expensive for soda, but so good.
(4)
zaya c.
LOVE the food, love the service :) must go place! especially if u're really hungry because the foods are always ready!
(5)
Laurie W.
We came, we saw, we ate. It was ok. Nothing spectacular, except for the quantity of food. We went on Friday, the last night of restaurant week, which I know is a no-no. But we'd been wanting to try Fogo and, hey, why not take the bargain? First, it looked as if they'd crammed many more tables into the restaurant than would normally be there. I can't say that for certain, as I had never been there on a normal night, but the back of my chair was literally sticking into the doorway to the kitchen. That can't be normal. The salad bar was good, everything was very fresh. The Chicken Salad had "surprise, raisins!" in it. The tabbouleh was actually very good! There were cheeses, prosciutto, cucumber salad and many other items. Everything was of good quality. And then the meat came. I am no stranger to Brazilian Steakhouses. I love the concept of men at my beck and call, serving me from their large skewers of meat. Seriously, how can that be wrong? It did go wrong. I love getting a little of this, a little of that. Well, the Gauchos we cutting of huge hunks of meat. I'd say that each serving was 4-6 oz. That is a lot of meat, especially if you get a piece that's mostly fat, or overcooked, or that you just don't like. It created so much waste. I felt bad, leaving so much meat on my plate, but I got a hunk of rib-eye about the size of my hand that was mostly fat. The first piece of garlic Picanha I tried was overcooked and tough. The pork grilled in a parmesan crust never came by, so I didn't get to try it. There were some brighter spots. The sausages were pleasantly flavored with sage, the chicken drumsticks were nicely seasoned and the little cheese bread things were wonderful. And the offering of a $25 bottle of wine was good. I'd give Fogo de Chao another chance on a night that was not during restaurant week. But for the quality of food, Mr. Mixer and I agreed we'd rather go to Rodizio any day!
(3)
Thomas S.
Some days I am glad am not a vegan anymore. Okay, okay, everyday I am glad that I can partake in glutinous all-you-can-eat meat orgies like the one offered at Fogo de Chao. Sure, it is not something I want to do on a daily basis, but I am always grateful that it is an option. I finally exercised that option last Saturday. Fogo de Chao does not mess around when it comes to service. They smother you with constant service, bringing fresh plates, new sides, and constantly asking you how your meal is going. This is great if you are on a bad date and you want any distraction that will allow you not to speak with your companion, but the rest of us with interesting things to say will eventually get annoyed. Fogo de Chao is also a spectacle of extravagance. Without saying a word, the staff will swoop by your table to take away your unfinished sides before returning with fresh sides. Over the course of the meal, my companion and I ate approximately 8 fried polenta squares, while FdC threw away 13 squares from our table alone. No lectures about starving kids in Africa here! Ultimately, the bottom line is the food. At Fogo de Chao, the food is a-okay. Sure, it is much better than any buffet in town, but that alone doesn't make it great. I was disappointed that the most potent meat swords were those loaded with the cheaper quality meats - items wrapped in bacon and poorer quality meats. The better items, such as their picanha, were not seen as frequently at our table. The meats were good, but I found the seasoning to be a bit bland, and many of my cuts were over cooked beyond the preferred medium rare. Furthermore, I found the salad bar to be somewhat lacking and the side dishes (other than the fried polenta) were very uninteresting. After the bill arrived and sat at our table for a couple of minutes, a member of the staff came over and offered dessert liquor. He did not make it clear whether the liquor was on the house, but since our bill had arrived already, I made the assumption that his offer was free. After pouring our drinks, he grabbed our bill and had it returned with an extra $15 added for the drinks. Son of a b*tch! I'm all for paying for what I consume, but I would expect a place with great service like FdC to be a little more up front about charging for extras.
(3)
Cristeen J.
Waaay to go to Fogo De Chao! Their awesome salad bar is yummy, but don't fill up too much! Because when you flip your card over to green...all these yummy food will be at your table in a blink of an eye. We were very impressed with their selections from the wine/cognac "cart." Great dinning experience!
(4)
Andrea R.
As though I was being fattened for slaughter, the waitstaff continued to bring meat after meat after meat after meat, most of which was mediocre and tough, even though I clearly had the red side of my 'coaster' in plain view. They recommended the most expensive glass of wine, because I'm pretty sure that's what they are told to do. I was always amused when a staff person had only a small amount of meat left on his sword and would ask me how I would like it cooked. Without regard to what I actually said (rare, medium, well-done) he would simply just give me the remainder of the meat on the sword. You can't tell me that it always just happened to be the right done-ness. You can't. I won't be back, but if I ever did, I would just pay the $20-something for the exquisite salad bar. That alone had enough meat and protein choices for me. For those of you meat tooth types- you'll be in absolute heaven just because you like meat, but not much else.
(1)
Mario L.
Fogo de Chao - A Haiku More meat on a sword! Somewhere PETA is crying Help me my heart hurts My goal with this review is to spread some knowledge. To keep it real. If you notice there are a TON of 5 star reviews for this place. And that's a problem. To be a 5 star joint you have to have all the bases covered. Everything has to be verging on perfect. And Fogo is almost there. They just have 1 problem. . . The food isn't actually that good Yeah I said it. The decor and ambiance are all great. This place screams class. The service CANNOT be beat. My wine glass was never bellow half full, neither was my water. The swordsman were so frequent they barely gave you time to eat what was on your plate. Fresh sides were brought regularly. New plates and silver ware provided frequently. All great. But still not a 5 star. That's because nothing you eat is so good that you would say "STOP GIVE ME 10 OZs OF THIS". All of the meat is good in small pieces. But if you stop and pace yourself. Try to TASTE what your eating you realize that the vast majority is average cuts of meat over seasoned and not served at the correct temperature. Take the Bacon wrapped Fillet. If you had a full size portion the salt would cause you to dry up like the Sahara. Even the Polenta cakes on the side were overly seasoned. I know that this place is a gimmick. And i LOVE that gimmick. I would recommend Fogo 10 times out of 10. But you go to Fogo for the Brazilian Steakhouse experience. Not for an amazing meal. And that's fine. That's what Restaurant Week is for. Great dining experiences. And that is what you get. But I am not going to lie to you and say that you cant get a better steak elsewhere. All of that said, there is always room for meat on sticks in the repertoire.
(4)
Darcy P.
My husband and I took a trip after Xmas to Denver just for a few days. He looked online for a good place to eat, and we wound up here. I'm so glad we did! This was an amazing experience! Not only was the treatment from the staff professional, kind and attentive, but the food was gorgeous and extremely tasty! The salad bar is beautiful and unique with meats, cheeses, and different vegetables. The bread on the table was a Brazilian treat, soft and cheesy. There were about 15 meats... and you could have every one if you wanted! Each was so flavorful! The restaurant had the best meat I've ever had, including sirloin, bacon wrapped chicken, and filet mignon. Delicious! Also, servers sporatically came by to ensure we were given the chance to eat every meat we wanted from the menu. Fantastic!
(5)
Trey F.
My favorite restaurant!!! In every way!!!
(5)
Lisa H.
This was my first time at Fogo de Chao, in which I had high hopes for. I made reservations for my husband's 40th birthday. We had a group of 15 people, and I will have to say, though we had a good time with good friends, I was a bit disappointed by this restaurant. Over all the food was ok, but not really worth the price. The salad bar is good with many options, but it is basically a buffet, and the servers are rushing around cutting off pieces of mediocre meat, and placing it on our plates. I had previously brought in a cake and was told it would be cut and plated for us. They brought the cake out, set it on the table and handed me a cake cutter to do it myself. Good thing I have a lot of restaurant serving experience, considering I had to cut and serve 15 people their cake! For how much this restaurant costs, I should have never had to take over the job of a server. This was my night off from the restaurant I work in! Maybe I was the one who should have been the tipped, lol! It was pretty appalling! Because it was a large party we were all charged gratuity on our tabs, which is fine, definitely understandable and expected, considering it was such a large party. After we all paid our tabs, my husband bought a round of shots at the end of dinner for everyone, which they automatically charged gratuity on as well. I have worked in restaurants for 20+ years and I have never seen a restaurant charge gratuity for a round of shots! We should have NEVER been charged gratuity (over 20$) for the bartender to do his job, and pour 15 shots of rum. Overall I feel like this place was trying to get anything they could out of us, without giving quality service. I usually have much sympathy for busy servers, because I am a server myself, but this level of "customer service" was just unacceptable. This was a big day for my husband and his friends, I just wish this restaurant would have acknowledged that too. It was not very welcoming, and we all left feeling kind of rushed and ripped off!
(2)
Nancy K.
I went to Fogo De Chao tonight and it was great. There are reasons that I have to give it a 4 star instead of 5 though. I have been to Rodizio many times before and I would give them the same star rating. Not b/c Rodizio has better meat or even the same meat (Fogo has lamb) but they have more selections. So to sum up the pros and cons from the two places... -Meat selection = Rodizio has more selections -Better meat = Fogo De Chao -Better Salad Bar = Rodizio (but who goes there to eat salad??) -Sides dishes = Fogo De Chao (since Rodizio didn't even have any. but at Fogo, they switch them out even when I was only half done with each dish. it was very wasteful. I wish they would just wait until we are done then give us another. they were all very good. i probably ate too much "filler") oh, speaking of filler, Fogo has the best fried banana that come free with the meal. I LOVE THE BANANA!!! A+++ on that one. We also tried the key lime pie which turned out kinda like key lime cheesecake but it was still very good. all and all, these two places are about even for me. If Fogo De Chao has grilled pineapple and grilled tomatoes, i would never go back to Rodizio but as it stands now, it's about even for me. price point, came to $111 for 2 with a glass of wine and a pie, i guess it's expensive and not the most healthy but hey, not like you eat like that everyday. can't afford to, anyway.
(4)
John S.
There is truly nothing bad I can say about Fogo de Chao. Honestly. I visited there with my family last night and the whole experience was fantastic. The service was over the top! The staff continuously checked up on us and made sure we had everything we wanted and more. In a setting where quantity is the focus, it'd be very easy to skimp on quality. Not at all. Everything I had from the salad bar to the meat was amazing. They serve several Brazilian meats as well as a few we'd all know like ribeye, sirloin, and filet. Honestly, every one of them was outstanding. We had papaya cream and cake for dessert, both equally as good. I didn't pick up the check, but it's hard for me to imagine a price this wouldn't be worth!
(5)
Ruben P.
I have noticed this place for a while now and finally last Saturday my curiosity got the best of me. Let me start by saying, I should not have waited so long to try this. The meal started out with a salad from an absolutely elegant salad bar with some choices that are a little out of the ordinary for a normal salad bar, It also included full pieces of bacon that seemed to be cooked to a nice crisp and added a little something to my salad. When you are ready to eat the main courses, be ready for quite the production. The waitstaff is supremely attentive to their guests and had the salad plates away form the table in a matter of seconds and the dinner service ready. There were 3 sides at the table and meat ready to consume almost immediately. The food was great. I highly suggest the rib eye. Everything was seasoned well and the experience was wonderful. I suppose my only real criticism is that the waitstaff is a little too enthusiastic about the wine. It bordered on annoying especially if you are trying to have a conversation. All in all I will be back and would suggest it highly for a special occasion or just a night when you want a great meal.
(4)
Miguel M.
We made reservations for our anniversary, it took us an hour to get to this restaurant. the waiter sat us by the kitchen, which was very noisy. We had more than one waiter which we were very confused to what was going on. The staff was running around like they were running out of a burning building. The salad bar was fair.The meat was Chewy and of poor quality. The manager came to our table to see how everything was going, but before we could get the words out of our mouths he went to greet a different table. This is a good looking restaurant but the service was poor and the food wasn't worth the money that we paid. We paid $ 165.00, which definitely wasn't worth it. There's plenty of restaurants that you can get a much better meal and better service for the price. I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone
(2)
Nicholas V.
Dear sweet artery Clogging goodness, love this place best to hit it up during restaurant week. Meal for two has normally been 52.80 plus tax. Picanha, and lamb is particularly good. Happy eating.
(5)
Danny L.
Eating does not get better than this. That is all.
(5)
Kyle M.
One word: overwhelming. I watched "The Biggest Loser" the same night after I ate there, and felt that the two concepts were incompatible. If I had to pick, I'd choose "The Biggest Fogo" any day. I felt full for three days. I almost felt like I needed to blog about my post-dining experience and the mental steps I needed to take to deal with it... There are so many reviews on here that you probably have already gathered that this place is good. We went for 5280 week, and the place was practically blowing up. It was incredibly busy, and the gauchos were slicing meat off their swords like their MC Hammer pants were on FIRE. It was totally enjoyable. Best side = the carmelized bananas. Don't be shy...they'll bring you as many as you can eat. They sort of ended up being like the ginger I eat with my sushi: good palate cleansers. Although they will send around the "house specialty" more frequently than the other cuts, you will be most satisfied by waiting for or requesting other cuts you haven't seen in a while (like the filet or the surprisingly top-notch chicken legs). They won't be offended if you request something different than what they're offering you, so don't be shy. Finally, the caipirinhas are delish. REALLY strong and well worth the $7.50 pricetag. The one drawback - some of the cuts are dry, but this seems random. Mostly, they were good and moist (at least they were when we went there), but you'll occasionally get a dry cut. If you get one, just push it aside, and request something else.
(4)
Jeremy K.
Fogo de Chao's "Cheese Bread" was listed by Denver Magazine as one of the top 100 must eat dishes in the city, so I gave it a shot: Rating: 5 (out of 10) Price: n/a (included in $38 meal) The Skinny: Saying you must go to Fogo de Chao for the cheese bread is like saying you must go to the circus for the popcorn. It misses the whole damn point of the show. And there is a show at Fogo. Waiters line up carrying 12 inch spears full of freshly flamed and sizzling meat, carving it tableside for your chest thumping pleasure... mmmm. And the cheese bread? Yeah... it's there. It sits, lying quietly on the table, away from the action. Hoping there might be a lull in the meat parade for someone to keep their mouth occupied. The taste is fine, maybe even slightly better than fine. But no one - not one person - should go to Fogo and sacrifice any part of empty stomach on the bread. It's a waste of valuable space you'll need for the carnivore ceremony that carries on as long as you can. I've got a picture of it up on the blog in my profile jko
(4)
Andy L.
Took advantage of the Denver Restaurant week deal on Monday night 7:30 with a party of six. First time here and I have to say it was nothing short of delicious. Great salad bar to have plenty of goodies with the meats. We had non-stop guacho chefs coming by all night with all of the good meats and plenty of great sides. Place was sociable, loud, and had a ton of people. Our waiter said they served 1,200 people on Sunday and Monday was "much easier" at 800! Really great time and I still am dreaming about how good the meats were. Also good deal on wine for 5280 week and we got two bottles of a good Malbec for $52.80 which was perfect for our group size.
(5)
Kristy L.
Muy delicioso! Beautiful salad bar. What really caught my attention was the crispy bacon next to a huge wheel-bowl of Parmesan. Filet mignon and Tbone was perfectly juicy, flavorful and hot off the broiler. Who can deny bacon wrapped filet mignon. Lamb was a little peppery for me. Pork tenderloin was a little bland. Awesome sides: best polenta I've ever had, and a fried carmelized banana, also piping hot. we were super stuffed but shared a carmelized flan, "the best" mom has "ever had"--super creamy custard with perfect carmelization. And it wouldn't be Brazilian without the caipirinhas, made to delight you with a little breeze of liquid copacabana. I did ask our waiter if there would be any fogo or pagoge. He just said "what?" in a Spanish accent. Of course! All the Brazilians are in Boulder! We all left with our taste buds tantalized and very full bellies. Obrigato!
(5)
Sage M.
I would like to give Fogo de Chao 4.5 stars, but I will err on the side of generosity - as they seem to do with their customers. If you are wanting to plan a special occasion group dinner, this is an excellent place to put on your short list. We enjoyed a marvelous birthday dinner with 12 friends at Fogo de Chao in October, and will definitely return. Here are a few of the particulars: Earlier in the day, I had dropped off a personalized birthday cake, candles and flowers at the restaurant. They weren't even open for diners; they instructed me to just come on in and meet with the manager. He was very gracious. I was not prepared for the gorgeous flower arrangement they created at our table when we arrived. It was quite lovely. They not only served the Birthday Boy a house dessert with his name emblazoned on it, they also brought out the personalized cake with candles aflame. They shower, shower, shower you with attention. Once you sit, be prepared to eat immediately. There is no lag time here. You sit, you give you drink order within seconds, and off you go to the salad bar. Bread, fried bananas and polenta cakes are ever-present at your table, as well. Drinks don't go dry here. The nonstop array of grilled meats, once begun, is dizzying. Want a break? Flip the coin to red. Want another selection? Flip to green. Do you really like the applewood bacon-wrapped sausage, or are you more interested in little lamb chops? They do remember what you like and encourage you to not be shy. I disagree with the review that said this wasn't a good 'first date' place. I think it's a great ice breaker to have a ridiculous selection of grilled meats waved in front of your face. It's interactive and entertaining. Isn't that what dates are all about?
(5)
Megan N.
WOW!! this place is soooo good. And not just the food, but the customer service was out of this world. When we were first seated, we were near a big party. I guess a few more people showed up for the party and the manager asked us if they could re-seat us. No big deal to us, we were literally just seated. He then offered to buy us desert because we moved. !!! They went above and beyond. The food was delicious. Worth every penny. The potato salad was so good. i wish they sold it to take home ; ) no joke!! i love this place, cant wait to go back. Great date place, awesome for big groups and taking people from out of town. thanks you Fogo de chao!!
(5)
Rick K.
Comida brasileira.... ^__________^ **************************************************Â* Fogo de Chao gives me a lot of mixed feelings. On one hand, it is in fact a great deal (especially when you go for a Restaurant Week or lunch specials). On the other hand, my Brazilian roots tell me this churrascaria pales in comparison to the humblest BBQ houses in Brazil. Take this review with a grain of salt. I think the salad bar is great and presents a vast array of greens, cheeses, and side dishes. The downsides is that it is anything BUT brazilian. At least they had Hearts of Palm, though they weren't so fresh. The meats were in fact well done... but I feel like there was something amiss. I can't exactly put my finger on it, but the flavors were not what I remember from when I was a kid. All in all, they had the basic cuts: Filet Mignon, Picanha (sirloin), garlic sirloin, sausages, chicken, etc. Unfortunately, they didn't have chicken heart (which is an absolute must in any traditional brazilian steak house). The side dishes were great. Polenta, farofa (eat it with the meat, people), white rice, cheesebread.... oh the cheesebread was delicious. The service was good. It was an eyesore to see the Portuguese speaking brazilian waiters though. I don't care about what everyone says... to me this place is 4/5... perhaps their locations in Brazil are better, but this customer is a tough reviewer when it comes to Brazilian food. Don't mess with me; I grew up there. FYI... if you want a fuller Brazilian experience, order the caipirinha (40% alcohol content I think) and drive responsibly AND/OR the guarana (traditional Brazilian soda).
(4)
Melodi R.
I'm not sure if it was the tasty food or the great company, but while in Denver visiting friends, we enjoyed a nice meal at Fogo! The bartender made me a special vanilla Manhattan (like I first loved at Gold Class Cinema). Their salad bar was amazing and we were told it is available as a vegetarian option and for lunch as well. The meat is as expected, but too much! I didn't know I could turn the pog to "stop" and the back to "go" which I should have...the waiters with the meat come by every 2 seconds and it feels a bit interruptive. My fault. Dan, the customer service specialist, was very nice and spent time chatting with us about Fogo, Chicago, restaurant week and Yelp! Give it a try! I hope you all like it as much as we did!
(4)
Skip V.
So we've wanted to try Fogo since they opened, since our "thing" seems to be churrascarias right now. Being a voracious carnivore, it doesn't get any better than the Brazilian steakhouse experience! Fogo de Chao is about as good as it gets when it comes to this type of restaurant. We've tried all three brands in the Denver area; Rodizio, TdB, and now Fogo. We held off on Fogo for quite some time, as it was pricier than the others when they first opened, but it looks like pricing has now been brought in line to the market. What a mistake it was to not go sooner; it's well worth the price. We went on a Sunday before going to a Broncos game, so we expected it to be busy, but it was maybe about 1/3 full at 4:30pm. Parking was as easy as it gets; there's free valet parking! Service was by far the best of the three. A team of gauchos and waitstaff attended to every need. One glitch; we had to wait probably 15 minutes for our check, as it seemed our main waiter had moved sections or something. No worries... still made it the game in time. I always have to start off with the Brazil's signature cocktail; the caipirinha. Pretty standard here; lots of lime and cachaça. Very tasty! I do like Rodizio's version the best, to be honest though - less lime, more alcohol! The salad bar was tremendous. Pretty standard fare for churrascarias; lots of hearts of palm, olives, smoked meats and cheeses, yada yada yada. Very good, though. I could go there (or to any Churrascaria) just for the salad bar since they're sooo good. I was slightly disappointed in that either there was not a "sides station/bar", or we weren't directed to it, if there was. We were however provided with the standard appetizers and sides that are brought to the table; cheese bread, polenta, caramelized bananas, and garlic mashed potatoes. Not that I really eat the sides at these kinds of places (got to leave room for the meat!), but I do like a taste of soup, if it's good (like the lobster bisque at TdB or the cold strawberry soup is at Rodizio!) or some black beans once in a while. I honestly would've given five stars if there were more sides. On to the main event - the meat. This was as good as it gets. Temperature was just how I like it; rare to mid-rare, and all of it as tender as possible for the cut. I'm a huge fan of lamb, and Fogo does not disappoint. Chops and leg of lamb were both available. The filet mignon was tremendous; I don't think I've had a more tender cut anywhere before. I do wish there were a fish selection, though. I don't think too many gauchos were on the coast catching what was biting back in the day, though. The kicker, though? Breaking with what seems to be the norm with churrascarias, the meat was lightly seasoned; just enough to bring the flavor out and not overpower. THANK YOU!! I'm rather salt-averse, so this was very welcome. Overall, Fogo seems to me to be the best of the three churrascarias in the area. Well worth the money, with the best food, service, parking, and ambiance out of the three! We'll definitely be back!!
(4)
Ryan O.
Fogo is pricey, but well worth the money! The salad bar is awesome, but it feels wrong to eat from the salad bar when so much delicious meat is waiting for you! I'm not a fan of lamb, but the lamb was excellent. My favorite are the bacon wrapped chicken and bacon wrapped filet mignon. The 'house special' sirloin is also incredibly tasty!! Service is spectacular. If you need to wait for someone, something is wrong. If a 'gaucho' comes by and doesn't have what you want, tell them and they will send another over for you. I have never received service like this anywhere else.
(5)
Lacey M.
Stop #4 for Restaurant Week 2010. There's not a whole lot more to add about this place, that hasn't already been said. Yes, countless swords of meat just waiting for your card to be turned over to green. Service is precise, at times maybe even too much. We kept being given new plates of sides when only a small amount had been eaten (huge waste of food, btw). The moment your card is green, expect meat being delivered within seconds...and not stopping until it's red. The salad bar is fantastic, and could make a meal of that alone. The star of the meal for me, however, was the Red Sangria. OMG. I've never had sangria THAT good before! It comes only in pitchers though, small and large. Do yourself a favor and just order the large....you'll want more, trust me. Our server dropped the ball at the end of our meal. We waited an exceptionally long time for dessert, and again for the bill. The service was so incredibly fast throughout the entire meal, so this was very disappointing and just plain annoying. After stuffing ourselves silly we were just ready to get the hell out of there to start burning off some of that meal! Overall though, the food was excellent, drinks were amazing, service mainly good. I definitely will return, and prefer this place a million times over the Brazilian Steakhouse up the street.
(4)
Dave B.
Serious disappointment. I have been looking longingly at Fogo's ad in the United in-flight mag for years. Finally went the other night for 5280 (perhaps better results would be had on a normal night). The good: the salab bar is superb. Great caesar, smoked salmon, cheese, olives, marinated peppers, marinated mushrooms, artichoke hearts, etc. The meat is generally very good. Really liked the sirloin, lamb, and the pork tenderloin. I love salt, and many of the meats were very salty (I could see others liking this much less than I did). The bad: we were there late (9:30) and the servers were still running around dumping meat on our plates as quickly as possible and running away, with zero explanation of what each meat was. No matter how much I pleaded for "just a sliver" they would invariably dump a 5oz slab on my plate. After a while we gave up and turned my wife's card to "stop", and just split my steak between us--and it was still too much. A pretty disgusting waste of food (and they don't let you take it home). The server said it all gets thrown away. I'm no Sally Struthers, but the waste disgusted me. The ugly: I didn't go there expecting a romantic dinner, but this is the last place I'd go on date. Crowded, hectic, bustling, cavernous room. Felt like a college cafeteria. Not a relaxing atmosphere at all. Wine list is good. But the beer list would be supbar at Hooters. Not a single micro (Coors, Coors Light, Amstel, Heineken, Blue Moon, and a Brazilian lager). Settled for a Heineken. They didn't have a glass. I really am surprised, but I have zero desire to go back, even for 5280.
(3)
Emily R.
If you're going to shell out $50 per person on dinner and you're craving some Brazillian meat, I definitely recommend Texas de Brazil over this place. I went here for Valentine's day and everything (salad bar, meat, sides) was a disappointment. We decided not to stay for dessert.
(2)
Rob K.
An incredible "Meat Parade" including salad bar and sides for the cost of a petite filet and no sides at many neighboring steakhouses. Fogo allows you to have a gluttonous experience for 1/2 the price of the Prime steakhouses in town. Cheap? No. Incredible Value? YES!!!! For those who think $38.50 is not a value, Golden Corral's 9.99 sirloin and shrimp special is not a "value" either. It is low prices for low-grade food. So let's get our benchmarks straight.... Come hungry (I always skip lunch before) because you get your choice over over a dozen cuts of beef, lamb, pork, and chicken, most cooked to the temp you prefer....so there really is something for everyone (except those pesky vegans). Bottom sirloin, picanha, pork ribs, and ribeye were my faves. Don't fill up on the cheese bread (cheesy poofs), either. cuz they're sinfully addictive. When will they start opening Cheesy Poof Dispensaries in Denver? Soon, I'm sure..... The service is swarming without being intrusive (use your red light/green light wisely to summon/shoo away gauchos) and the staff is genuinely eager to please and make sure you enjoy your experience. Refreshing dirty plates, exchanging silverware, bringing fresh sides when yours cool off. I have been to Fogo de Chao in a few different cities over the years and this one is running great for being so new (opened summer 09). Because the salad bar/meat parade is such a good value at sub-$40, the add-ons of drinks and desserts are on the pricier side. And the price for lunch is an even better deal (sub-30 for the exact same meal) But a tip for the wine drinker - they mark up the inexpensive bottles much more than the mid-tier ones, so the wines you get for $50-60 are significantly better than the $30-40 wines, not just marginally better. SIGNIFICANTLY. Stay in South America as the domestic offerings are big name and "no soul" wineries in most cases. Your dollar will go a lot further with their Malbec selections which are very diverse and well thought out. They even carry some of best boutique producers from Argentina that can be hard to find (Luca, Tikal, La Posta)
(5)
Danielle V.
Took advantage of this place for 5280 week. And WOW! The meat is fabulous!! And of course, more then I can handle! This is definitely a GREAT place for your hungry men. Otherwise it might be too pricey to eat here when a 6 oz steak would be enough to fill you. However the service, the taste, and quality are the best. Our waiter was just wonderful and when he got too busy to check on us, which we honestly didn't notice, he sent us a free round of drinks. The salad bar was ok to me. A nice one, but nothing that totally grabbed my attention and honestly.... WHO WANTS A SALAD when you have all that juicy meat in your face! :) A very fun place for a VERY hungry group. But you have to be just that, HUNGRY! Don't waste your time if you want a small meal.
(4)
Jenny S.
They did everything but wipe my face and call me your royal highness. The service was outstanding. I was almost afraid to look up and make eye contact because I didn't want them to rush over to me. The food was great. Endless servings of steak, lamb, chicken and a beautiful salad bar. I've been to 4 other churrascarias and Fogo de Chao definitely has been the best so far. The price is very reasonable for what you are getting and I was surprised it was not more expensive. They also have complimentary valet parking and downtown this is a huge bonus. Another cool note that makes this place stand out is many of the servers were speaking Portuguese to each other and it totally added to my experience!
(5)
Hans O.
Fogo is the real deal; once you step in you feel the difference already from all churrascarias you have been, including Boi na Braza (which is my second favorite). You'll feel a bold, traditional feeling the minute to step in. Its the same feeling as when you enter a pioneer house or farm in the south of Brazil, a welcoming, warmth, friendly, mysteryous, yet humble, and that's the exact feeling all Fogo's gives you, including the ones in Sao Paulo. I can't compliment Fogo enough; their forte is steaks and they are really good at it, they specialize in steaks and other minor details such as sushi, fish, and other sides are well prepared but the spotlight is on the steaks. Fogo maintain their quality through all of their restaurants, the same great quality you get here, you'll get it in Brazil. Just in Brazil, they have won the title of the best Churrascaria de espeto corrido for 7 consecutive years from a well known magazine, Veja. Their steaks are top notch, very tender, moist, grilled to perfection. And the first thing the waiter does is get your drinking order and how exactly you like to enjoy your steaksan and voila!!! Perfect steaks at all times, not rocket science, but it does makes a world of difference! That's the difference that makes a world class-churrascaria. My favorite cuts are Fraldinha, picanha, and the lamb was well seasoned and super good. All the sides, including the salad bar is very delicious, but very simple, nothing extravagant. Fogo is not nor wll be a place for the best salad bar. Service and great and attentive. You will not regret! If you want to explore and get to know a real Brazilian steakhouse, Fogo is what you are awaiting for! I recommend giving them a call prior your visit, they sometimes have some pricing specials plus you'll guarantee a seat!
(5)
H A.
Good food, good service and a bit expensive. Overall I love it :-)
(4)
Krisztina F.
Fogo, you've done it again. No matter which city, always 5 star. Service is anticipatory without being aggressive. I thought about it, and it arrived. Seriously...you could be sitting there thinking "MMM, this Parmesan encrusted pork loin is delicious...but is there any more filet mignon or prime rib?" And voila! There it is, skewered and served at your side. For a Brazilian steakhouse, they out salad-bar and side every other meat-centric establishment I know of. Even lunch is served with complimentary mashed potatoes and yummy cheese popovers. It's a feast for the eyes, the taste buds, and your stomach. And if your first date can't watch you delicately and slowly gorge yourself on some of the most delicious meats in the universe, you probably shouldn't be dating, anyways. Pricing is about as follows, with no alcohol: Lunch 25/full meal or 19 for the salad bar, And your dinner is about $40. Worth every single penny. It's a great place for a business lunch, for out of town guest when you have time to luxuriate in a restaurant, and well, it's my kind of romantic dinner out! I mean seriously, I don't give too many 5-stars.
(5)
Kristol T.
The food and service is top notch! Everything was so delicious and it was so hard to say no! I've been several times and my company had our Christmas Party there back in December. I couldn't stop talking about this place so I finally got my sister and her family hooked on going too!! They also have this mojito that was really good!
(5)
Cookie M.
We went for restaurant week, and we didn't have any reservations. However, we were able to get seated right away. Props on that. But we did get there right when they opened. Salad bar was good (smoked salmon was delicious). I ate a bit too much from the salad bar. Advice--Make sure you limit yourself so you have room for the varieties of meats. Service was spot on. We barely took a slice of polenta or a carmelized banana, and the waiters whisked the plates away and gave us new ones. Made me think what happens to the leftovers. The meats were good, but started tasting the same after a while. Definitely liked the lamb and the filet. Good experience! Similiar to Rhodizio Grill; however, the salad bar here was better. But pretty much the same to me. Overall, a great experience!
(4)
Dani G.
OHMIGAWD. We went here on Monday, party of 2, around 7pm for Restaurant Week, just to take advantage of a slightly cheaper price. Well, it was worth every cent, plus some. Complementary valet is wonderful, especially in the Impossible to Find Parking Land that is LoDo. 1. The White Sangria is AMAZING. They hand cut the fruit, and there is a lot of it - a serve the drink with a spoon for eating the fruit later! Perfect. It was served in a pitcher (meant for 2, for 16 dollars) but it definitely filled 5-6 glasses. 2. The salad bar. Heaven. Asparagus spears that were the size of small trees, cheese galore (including a rather impressive brick of Parmesan Reggiano), and a "basil sauce" dressing that I want to buy by the gallon. Great selection of a couple of cold meats as well. Not to mention the appetizers they bring out - cheese rolls that melt in your mouth, delicious fried bananas, mashed potatoes, and fried polenta. I would eat those bananas by the ton. 3. The meat. Oh my god....every single piece was delectable. I don't eat pork, but my meal companion was raving about it. The lamb and the beef options were simply delicious, and did not need an ounce of seasoning or sauce. I usually dunk my steaks in Heinz 57 or something, but this was in no way necessary at Fogo de Chao. 4. The service. The hostess was very friendly, and we were sat promptly even without a reservation. Our server was simply fantastic. He recommended an ice wine for me and a malbec for my boyfriend for dessert that was a wonderful digestive and was not ridiculously expensive. He also told us that the lunch menu is cheaper but is the exact same menu as dinner - that's good to know for us starving students! 5. Dessert. We were too full to even order it, and we aren't big sweet tooths, but that key lime pie did look awfully good as it passed by us. I was in a meat/cheese coma for hours, it was delicious. We will absolutely be back!
(5)
Christina H.
Everything from start to finish was amazing at Fogo de Chao. Some might say their service is smothering but I found it just enthusiastic and a little comical. Everything I ate from the cheesy bread to the salad to the meat to the limeade non-alcoholic beverage with unlimited refills was EXCELLENT. Also, since they were forewarned it was a birthday dinner I got a complimentary birthday dessert (creme brulee to die for!) AND a coupon for another free dinner! This was quite possibly one of my best dining experiences, though I've been to fancier restaurants. And to top things off, nearly everything is gluten-free a Fogo. The only exempted items are the bread at the salad bar (the table cheese bread is made with yucca plant flour so its gluten-free), tabouli, and the beer-marinated chicken wings. My Celiac's affected boyfriend ate like a king! I think if you find yourself disappointed with Fogo, you should get your head checked.
(5)
Patrick M.
Fantastic food and service. I talk about this place all the time and I have only been once. I had a blast! It was worth every penny. In fact I think I under paid. Excellent food.......just awesome. To date, the best I have ever had.
(5)
Flavio G.
I headed to Fogo de Chao for the first time last night for a friend's birthday dinner. My journey at Fogo de Chao started enjoying my favorite drink, "Caipirinha". It is Brazil's national cocktail; made with cachaça (Brazilian rum), sugar and lime. When enjoying my drink their friendly staff explains how it works. Basically, it is kind of all you can eat; salad bar, meats and side dishes. Gourmet salad and sides bar - A great variety of items including fresh cut vegetables, imported cheeses, cured meats and Brazilian side dishes. Your control your service with a small green and red sided chip. The green side signals the "gaucho" to bring out skewers of sizzling meats to the table, when it is sliced and served. When you are satisfied, flip the disc to the red side until you are ready for more offerings. That will take me long time to describe every meat cut served at Fogo de Chao. Let's go over the special one: "Picanha" (Top Sirloin) which is the house specialty. They prepare picanha in two different ways: the traditional light seasoning, with sea salt and a more robust garlic seasoned version. I definitely prefer it seasoned only with sea salt. This way the original taste of the meat is preserved and I can enjoy the flavor much better. If you have room for a dessert, they have a delicious selection. My preferred one is the papaya cream. Made with papaya, vanilla ice cream and Crème de Cassis liqueur. Just delicious! Another strong point to register here, their A Class staff. On a restaurant business, a big differential is not keep asking you if you need something, but in provide you with what you want at the time you need it. People at Fogo de Chao know how to do that very well. I have enjoyed many different Brazilian steak houses when leaving for long time in Brazil, and for sure Fogo de Chao is the best one that I have tried in Colorado.
(5)
lauren b.
After hearing raves about Fogo de Chao and reading the great reviews here on Yelp, I was pretty ecstatic when my fiance won a gift card here on the radio (yay sports radio!). The service was spectacular. The host lead us directly to our table (we had made a res earlier in the day) and our first of many servers highly recommended the Brazilian version of a mojito to drink. We took him up on his suggested and were glad we did. The drink was very mojitio-esq but was stiff enough that it lasted all dinner. Props to the bartenders at Fogo de Chao. The salad bar was everything we expected and more. I seriously want to go back just for the cheese, prosciutto, and exotic salad experience. The side dishes that were brought to the table were ok - I wasn't a big fan of the bananas (they were soggy to me) and the mashed potatoes (albeit I'm not a mashed potatoes fan [I KNOW]) but the cheese popovers were bomb. They seriously tasted like cheezits mashed into a light, fluffy roll. The meat was pretty good. I was scared to flip my card over to the green side in fear of being swarmed with overzealous servers, so I let my fiance try it out first. I seriously think that the servers can spot the wrist flip of the card from across the room because they literally appear at your table with meat ready to carve IMMEDIATELY. When I finally had the courage to try the meat I only tried a few - the steak (not usually a big steak fan but it was delicious) and the bacon wrapped chicken were easily my favorites. I tried one bite of meat that tasted a bit fatty, but overall it was pretty good. I'll be back - it's a great place to take out of town guests or if you want to binge and stuff yourself to the brim. In all honesty, I wouldn't mind coming back just to enjoy the drinks and salad bar.
(4)
Jenna A.
Ate here last night for Restaurant Week and had a blast! It was pretty packed in but I still was able to get a reservation for 12 at 8pm on a Monday...made on Sunday at 9pm. Yes! The waiters, gaucho chefs and meat cutter specialists were spectacular. Every minute I had a new meat being cut off right next to me..thankfully no meat juice splatter considering they're pros. My boyfriend was even speaking Portguese to many of them, so authentic! Most of the women in the group don't eat a lot of red meat but we were devouring everything that came by. The men in the group were getting meat sweats. Those mashed potatoes and bananas were delightful. The salad bar is amazing, as well, with the most delicious cheeses and enormous vegetables. Dessert comes with the $52.80 meal and with 12 people we all got to sample. Between Turtle Cheesecake, Chocolate Mousse and Key Lime..the winner was...The Key Lime! I'd go back for a cold slice of that pie anytime. $52.80 is a spectacular deal for everything we got. Great service and food options. Will go back anyday!
(5)
Ronnie A.
Probably my first or second 5-Star! YES! This is the best Brazillian Steakhouse to happen in Denver! Flawless service and even better cuts of meat! Salad bar was top notch and compliments the meats very well. Their Papaya Cream is an amazing sealer to the entire meal experience. I went there during lunch time with my out of state family who were visiting for the weekend. A group of 5. My parents opted for the salad bar only and still were impressed with their taste and selection. Coming from folks who are adhered to home cooked meals, says a lot about what Fogo is providing in their salad bars! Me and my brother are true carnivores and we turn our signs GREEN right away and the mind boggling aroma and the sizzle of the meats started to encumber our sights and minds! My favorites were: Lamb Leg, Lamb Chops and Garlic Beef. My least fav was the chicken! I would have liked more seasoning and more grilled texture on those rather than the crispy fried texture! The side dishes were as good as rest fo their items. The fried banana was amazin and went well with their cheese rolls. Mashed potato was great as well. We also tried their Guarana Soda, Espresso Shot, Papaya Cream, and Creme Brule. All were very pleasant to our tastebuds! Lastly, I want to compliment their service one more time. They probably set the standard for dine in expereince we look for. Royal treatment is what I would call it!
(5)
Serenity M.
A few of my friends and I came here for restaurant week. I was soo excited to try their "15 cuts" of different meats! I mean- I'm not a carnivore, but 15?!?! haha. Yeah-NO. So from those 15, 2 types are sausages, 3 are chicken, i'm not sure if they count the bacon that was wrapped around meats as one but the rest were less than mediocre meats that were tough to chew, by no means were these meats tender. Not only were they tough to chew, some were OVERLY salty while others tasted under-seasoned. The only one I really enjoyed was the filet mignon. That was the only one with consistent seasoning and tenderness. The one good thing I have to say is in regards to their service, which is pretty good. The servers replace the side dishes all throughout dinner, and even though your plates of mashed potatoes, cheesy bread, and plantains aren't finished they'll give you a fresh batch! Oh and the salad bar that everyone raves about has you're regular run of the mill salad stuff, some salmon (also salty), pepperoni, really hard bacon, mushrooms, and asparagus. I recommend not eating a lot at the salad bar to save room for the mediocre meat, also if in the middle of your meal you feel like you can no longer taste the difference between the meats, refresh your palette by grabbing something from the salad bar.
(3)
Miriam K.
First, if you don't like meat, this is not a place for you. Fogo de Chao is a "rodizio", all you can eat meat Brazilian style. The salad bar was beautiful but I didn't try much from there. The picanha was suculent and the tastier I had in ages. The fraldinha was the other best meat. All the meats were very tasty and well prepared. But to enjoy your experience there, I recommend you try to eat like a Brazilian does: control your red/green tag wisely; choose the meats you really love; eat slowly, enjoy every byte; don't overdo on the salad bar or the "pao de queijo" (cheese bread). That is hard as all the side dishes are excellent. Besides the high quality food, the service is wonderful: discrete and extremely efficient.
(5)
Neal J.
First visit to Fogo in Denver and like the others it doesn't disappoint. A group of us went to Fogo for a team dinner, which we frequently do when traveling, but since a new one opened in Denver, we obviously had to go. Frequent diners of Fogo de Chao know how important it is to pace yourself. The caipirinhas from the bar are a delicious way to start off the meal. Then it's off to an amazing salad bar, but be careful not to fill up here because you'll need all your appetite for the main course. Once you are ready for the main course, flip your marker to green and the stream of servers carrying different delicious meats on a skewer parade by your table carving off as much or as little as you want. If you need a break, turn your marker to red and they will bypass you until you flip it green again. I really love this place, especially for group settings as they have several party rooms which can accommodate a wide range of party sizes. As an extra special treat, we were given a tour of the restaurant and kitchen. Definitely a 5 star Brazilian steakhouse, hands down better than Rodizio.
(5)
Jonathan W.
Hi all This past Wednesday we were invited down to Fogo de Chao ( fogodechao.com ) the night before it opened to try out its offerings. I will be honest that when we were invited, the first thing that went through my head is, "Wow, that's only a few blocks away from the Rodizio Grill. Either the folks at Fogo are crazy for setting up so close to another very popular Brazilian steakhouse or they must think they are just that much better and I was very interested to find out which it was. If you haven't been to a Brazilian steakhouse before, it is a pretty interesting set up. When you first enter you see several servers moving around the room very quickly. They carry different meats on skewers from table to table and it seems to be a bit chaotic. But after you watch it a bit it actually resembles some well choreographed dance. The basic concept is it's an all you can eat steakhouse.... Yes, yes I know most of us think of all you can eat type places and just know the food is going to be fair at best, but somehow that is not the case here. The meat is brought to your table and carved tableside for you and somehow it is always served nice and hot. There is also a large salad bar (though by calling the one at Fogo a salad bar is doing it an injustice). The salad bar is all you can eat as well, which makes a big problem as far as I am concerned. The darn salad bar had so many things I wanted to try it made it hard to save room for the meats. Part 1: The "salad bar" After we sat down and our drink orders were taken they brought us some hot cheese bread. These were hot and with a nice bit of gooey cheese in the middle. After enjoying one of those we headed over to the salad bar. Wow, this is not your normal everyday salad bar the first thing we ran into was marinated shitake mushrooms followed by several different peppers, fresh heart of palm, artichoke, incredible sun dried tomatoes, asparagus, fresh ball mozzarella cheese, 3 different cheeses, some very nice salmon (yes on the salad bar) and other meats, fresh bread and of course 3 or 4 different salads. Another nice touch was some nice Olive oil and Balsamic sitting on top of the bar. I am not going to go through each item but everything was very good with the stand outs for me being the red peppers which were sweet with a nice but not over powering rush of heat at the end, he wonderful asparagus, and the shitake mushrooms... mmmmm mushrooms. When we finished enjoying that, we were given fresh plates and my father (for a steakhouse seemed to be a good place to bring dad)ordered some wine which they seem to have a great selection. Part 2: Meat! I am not going to go over everything we had that but will mention the high and lows. Best: "Picanha" which is the house specialty. This is a sirloin cut and seasoned with sea salt. I also enjoyed the Filet Mignon. Both of these cuts of meats were incredible and melted in your mouth. It was tender and perfectly cooked. I have been to very good steakhouses that did not have meat this good and the ones that did have meat this good you could defiantly not keep on asking for more! Other memorable cuts were the" Lombo" pork loin filets crusted with parmesan. These were also incredible and would be something I would recommend seeking out purposely if you do head out there. The other meats with one exception were all very well cooked and prepared and we made sure to try each one (even if towards the end we were asking them to cut the smallest bit they could). It is amazing to me that they can serve so many different items table side constantly and keep them hot and perfectly cooked. Some sort of magic if you ask me. Only one item to me was not very good. That was the costela de poreo (pork ribs). I found my cut to be a bit dry and so did not enjoy them but to be fair both Barb and my father who came along with us enjoyed it. Part 3: Dessert When we finally turned over to the red side of the indicator for the last time and prepared ourselves to go we were asked if we wanted to try dessert. We looked at each other and decided, "What the heck!" Any thought of diets or portion control had been blown away that night. Suffice it to say the desserts were of the same quality of the meal. So good in fact we actually polished them off completely even after that huge meal and that is a compliment indeed. My father could not quit talking about the coffee that he had with dessert, not being a coffee drinker myself I cannot say, but for him to praise his coffee it must have been darn good. We can see now why they felt confident enough to place Fogo de Chao where they did. In our opinion it is at a higher level than its close neighbor. From the prompt attentive wait staff to the perfectly cooked meats and great salad bar only one thing really comes to mind when we both think of that night...... YUMMMMMM. If you would like to see some pictures of our meal feel free to take a peek at our blog.
(4)
Taylor L.
Oh, Fogo de Chao. Why do you make every evening magical? This is a tale of unfortunate circumstances, valiantly kept at bay with the awesome powers of customer service. I know Fogo de Chao. I have drunk the Kool-Aid. I began my indoctrination at their restaurant in Chicago. Finding that they were about to open a location in Denver made my little heart sing with joy. I immediately went on their website and made a reservation for lunch the day after they opened. Two hours before our reservation, my friend received a call from Fogo. After a few minutes of conversation, he turned to me. "I have good news and I have bad news. The bad news is apparently before they changed the website, the system allowed them to accept reservations for lunch. They're not actually open for lunch today, or any day until August." My heart, upon hearing these words, nearly sprang a leak. I hadn't eaten all that morning, knowing I would be in a meat-induced coma by that afternoon. "The good news is that they feel so terrible about the computer glitch that they've invited us to make a reservation for anytime we like this evening, and they'll pay for our dinner." My heart, upon hearing these words, ran for cover, because it knew I was about to bombard it with cholesterol and alcohol and many other 'ol's including Fol-de-rol-lol, O Joyous Day. We went that evening. Everything was just as I remembered it. We had waiters who were so attentive that one actually caught my fork midway to the floor as I dropped it. I had two capirinhas that appeared to be poured directly out of the mouth of a benevolent god. We ate every kind of meat they had, and many twice, and we never let the picanha man go by our table, ever. We think he knew this. He was there a lot. We drank ice wine that had been squeezed into its delicious nectar by fairies, and soothed our abused tummies with papaya and strawberry cream. The manager came by to apologize again for our "inconvenience" and I'm afraid we very nearly laughed at him. As we picked up our car from the valet, we discovered valet parking was free. Oh, Fogo. We're so glad you're here. Never stop being you.
(5)
Janora C.
Finally had a chance to try this place Saturday night! Maybe a dumb idea since it was the first night of restaurant week and they were running an hour and a half behind on reservations but I think it ended up being fine since we had a late reservation and there seemed to be a mass exodus of all the 7pm reservations so we ended up waiting only about 20 mins. In any case, this place is ideal for a large groups, it's a large restaurant and they have complimentary valet-- both awesome when you're trying to eat in LoDo! I can't even remember all the meat I ate, it was ridiculous. Let's just say I definitely had the meat sweats by the time I left (is that TMI?!). The side dishes were good too, especially the polenta and friend bananas. We ordered a large pitcher of Sangria to share with the table-- amazing. It was like a liquored fruit salad. Trying to get my mom to come down and take me here for my bday, yummy! Also, is it just me or is the staff ridiculously good looking?
(5)
John R.
When planning my soon-to-be Brother-in-laws (thats a lof ot hyphens) bachelor party I wanted it to be a memorable night. So when I thought about where 15 guys would want to eat dinner Fogo De Chao was an easy choice. What fits better with men then unlimited meat. When we first arrived we grabbed a drink at the bar. Nice and quaint, nothing extremely memorable. Walking through the restaurant to our table was kind of exciting as you are weaving through plenty of meat carrying workers. The waiter we had was kind of an ass who insisted we shut up so he can explain how the system works even though all of us had been to a place like this. However, the rest of the staffw as very nice, polite and helpful. So the meats started coming. 93% of them were delicious. The Filet, House Specialty, Parm Pork, some others were absolutly fantastic. There are some to stay away from: the ones that look like suasuage links, the chicken wrapped in bacon, and by far the worst thing there is the lamb chops. These were the worst I have ever had, which is strange given how outstanding to good everything else was. The Salad Bar (which is not your ordinary Salad Bar) was very disappointing. I had read and heard that this was outstanding. This is not the case. Besides your typical salad and cheese and light meats there was nothing to scream about. They could step up their game on this one. Random Fact: Groups of bachelor parties tend to cause scenes and with the fast paced energy in that place it fits in perfectly, especially when you scream and yell at the first guy to turn his circle to red (what a woman). Helpful Hint: Try everything they got and if you don't like it push it to the side. Then after you have had it all be sure to tell a waiter what kinds of meat you want to come back around. This will save you a lot of time telling the guys with the crap meat no.
(4)
P K.
I honestly do not know why this place is so highly rated. I went here last night with another family and was absolutely shocked when we got the bill. Yes we had a few bottles of wine and the meats were flavorful (mashed potatoes and pineapple were the only sides offered to us). I also knew about the fixed pricing in advance. I found the environment pretty crazed and waiting for select cuts of meats was somewhat annoying. Attentive service was spotty. The salad bar was very average. If I want a good steak with a better environment and likely cheaper, I will head to del friscos or Elways.
(3)
Mike I.
It's been a few years since I've been to a Fogo De Chao but it won't be years for my next visit. I forgot how much I love this place and how much fun it is to dine here. It's such an experience and a great way to spend a few non rushed hours with your special someone. Our party arrived a bit early so we could have a few drinks in the bar. Great selection of wine and the martini's was perfect! Once we were sat at the table the wait staff took the time to explain how everything worked for those who had never dined at Fogo before. The salad bar is amazing and the selection of cheese could be a meal in and of itself. It's hard to not want to fill up on these items. But, for me, I prep'd all day by not having breakfast or lunch so a had a little salad and cheese. The sides arrived, cheese rolls, garlic mashed potatoes and the caramelized plantains and we were ready for the meat. The cool thing is that when you flip your card from red to green the gauchos swarm you with their large skewers ladened with amazing cuts of meat. Whether your taste is for the medium rare to medium well they have it all on the same skewer. If you have a special requests the gaucho will scuttle back and make it special for you. We sampled all the meats but my favorites were the lamb followed by the pork, beef then sausage. We had such a feast paired with some great wine. When you need a break just flip the card back to red and enjoy. We topped the amazing dinner off with great dessert. We had the South American Flan and Creme Brule. It went well with the Port we selected. While Fogo isn't one of those places you'll want to dine at each week you'll definitely want to enjoy it with good friends or folks that are in from out of town. It's such a memorable experience, give yourself a couple of hours to fully enjoy. I kept thinking of my vegan friends and how much they were missing out. But hey, too bad for them... Oh, and there is complimentary valet parking...
(5)
Cat S.
OH EM GEE. I don't think I want to look at or taste meat for the next 2 weeks. In order to preserve my poor heart. I was invited along for a 5280 dinner here (and paid for, so how could I refuse?) at Fogo De Chao. I probably should have not eaten for the previous 2 days. With that said.. unlimited salad bar + meat = whoa. I could not eat after that for a full day. We went Saturday and my first real meal after that was today's (Monday's) lunch. Some of the meats were dry and too salty, but some were sooo flavorful! I loved the filet mignon and the "house special" sirloin. The parmesan pork was also pretty delicious. The wait staff was okay.. but it was first night of restaurant week + fully packed dining room = what else can you expect? My favorite = the bananas. OMG. I think our table of 6 had 10 of those banana plates. DEEREECIOUS.
(3)
Mailou V.
First time at Fogo for 5280 restaurant week and not impressed. It was a busy night, made reservations and waited about 30 minutes to be seated. I wish I could like the restaurant more, but it might it restaurant week to blame for the limited menu items. Felt like I just ate sirloin this, sirloin that and nothing new to crave for. Variety would have been nice but the guys who come around with the meat were little to be seen. Variety for the salad bar would have been nice (like rodizio) and not just salad, although the lock was deliciously awesome. Some of the seasonings on the steaks were a little too overwhelming. I'm pretty sure I walked away with high blood pressure. The layout of the place was a little too crowded for me. Overall, it was a decent experience, but not a to go place after all the excitement I hear about this place.
(3)
Allison B.
Fogo De Chão is fabulous. I have eaten here numerous times and I will be back. We ate here tonight for restaurant week and I couldn't believe how busy they were. We sat in Evan's section and he took great care of us. He was very helpful with the wine list and helped me select a good wine at a reasonable price. Smoked salmon was not on the salad bar as it normally is, and Evan was kind enough to bring me some. Fogo is a great choice for restaurant week because other than serving a few less cuts of meat and leaving the grilled pineapple off the menu, nothing else changes. Other restaurants alter their menus quite a bit, but not here. I always leave feeling stuffed and happy. If I'm going to fork over the $ to go to an expensive restaurant, this is at the top of my list of choices. The flan on the dessert menu is not to be missed. You can't go wrong here. It's not just dinner-it's a dining experience.
(5)
Brandi S.
Love this particular Fogo de Chao because of the great service. I've been to a few others since I'm from Minnesota, but I've never been to one with managers that actually approach you and talk with you - I believe her name was Kim, super friendly and approachable. They seem to genuinely care at this location. The food of course is always exceptional! Thank you for another great visit - many more to come!
(5)
Richard D.
Great food. Come hungry and leave happy. The service is great definitely coming back.
(4)
Anya M.
I've never chosen to go to this place on my own, and here is why. Overall, if you want to indulge in some good meat, for the price & value, you would be better off at 1) Elway's, 2) Capital Grill, or 3) Ocean Prime. I feel that for $45 a person your money would be better spent at these places than at Fogo. Why? These places are more relaxing because you aren't being hassled by the meat servers who all seem to swarm upon you at the same time, placing sticks of meat almost on your lap, always interrupting your conversation (even if your card is turned to "no thanks"). By constantly bringing new food, you never know what to choose. And for some reason you are always full by the time the meat you ACTUALLY wanted gets around. A waste, especially since only about half of the meat is noticeably good, the other half is forgettable. Also, the first three places all have a better & more upscale atmosphere (I mean come on, the salad bar. Even though it is a 'classy' one, it still grosses me out. And having to go get your own plate out of a plate dispenser for $45? No thanks). Even though some of the flavors at this place are good, I feel like it is a scam where they try to fill you up on the salad bar, have really greasy sides, and bring out the cheap meats first (hello sausage & chicken). And THEN when you are TOTALLY full, they bring out the good meats, which are the ones you wanted in the first place. Then you force yourself to pig out just to try and "get your money's worth" and it isn't as enjoyable as just ordering something you really wanted and enjoying it. AND you cannot take home leftovers. That being said, here are my positives: almost everything is GLUTEN FREE. The greasy cheese bread is gluten free and awesome (so surprising) as well as those polenta french fries and fried bananas (see, fried +greasy carbs = less meat eating =waste of money). They also provide free dessert for birthdays, and there is complimentary valet to the right of the restaurant, in the middle of the block. I would only recommend this place for its novelty value or for out of towners who are curious. Not romantic or intimate at all.
(2)
Russell G.
And here I thought this will be just like Texas de Brazil.....not even close! This spot blows the competition out of the water. The seasoning of each type of meat was just right and the salad bar was extensive. The wine was pricey but I think that can be said for almost any restaurant. Oh, did I mention they wrap stuff in bacon?!?!?!! Because they do! The night we were there I had fillet Mignon with and without bacon! Chicken with bacon, pork...you guessed it...in BACON!! Besides the bacon, the meats were all tender, juicy and I even had seconds of the lamb. That is rare as I am not a big fan of the taste. This place is pricey but certainly worth every penny.
(5)
Peter H.
Consistency is Fogo's best attraction and ironically, it's worst quality. Whether you're there for a midweek lunch or weekend dinner, the highly attentive service and perfect preparation of meat is always impeccable. However, you'll quickly get the Groundhog Day effect after a few outings in that every visit is the exact same. Special events are no longer special, because there was nothing remarkable from one to the other. Fogo is best for quenching that carnivorous urge and enjoying the fine dining experience, but not for creating memorable occasions. That said, my favorite cuts are the house garlic beef, rack of lamb, and filet mignon, of course. The salad bar is very good, but not as good as Texas de Brazil, and I reeeally wish they would change it up occasionally. Everyone needs to try Fogo at least once, but maybe once is all you need.
(4)
Jake V.
Do you want an unlimited selection of meats?!? This is your place. Eat the chicken hearts and anything else you've never tried before.
(4)
Julie H.
After further discussion of Fogo with my BFF we decided this place is probably best as a lunchtime hangover helper. Don't take a date, you will not get lucky with a food-baby... and won't even want to. I went once for dinner and had a decent experience all around. It's similar to other Brazilian Steak places. I don't see myself going back unless I have houseguests that want to check it out.
(3)
Robert J.
Great restaurant, great service--except that my wife and I don't normally spend this kind of money on a dinner, this is something we do for a special occasion. This was a special occasion, to celebrate my wife's birthday. When I called to make the reservation, they asked and I answered that this was her birthday dinner. I know that the restaurant offers a complimentary dessert for birthdays... When we realized after paying for dinner that their note about her birthday had slipped through the cracks, we were less than impressed. While we would go back, since it's a great restaurant, it was depressing to see all the other birthdays that were remembered and celebrated with a dessert while we were there, I overheard the server ask the table next to us, and there were a couple birthdays, so he said he'd bring out a couple of desserts for them... Why ask if it's a special occasion over the phone for a reservation when it is so easily missed by the staff? Unfortunately, this really simple oversight ruined a lot of the otherwise great experience for us.
(3)
Adam J.
Holy hell. I've been here twice now, and both times my digestive system has threatened to walk out on me and never return. That's actually a compliment to the restaurant, a byproduct of me eating what must amount to an entire animal worth of meat in one sitting. The salad bar is fantastic, although sometimes I feel like skipping it in order to save room for the meat. They have a fair variety of stuff at the salad bar, some ordinary and some extraordinary (entire artichoke hearts, huge chunks of fresh parmesan cheese). But the real deal is the meat. You flip your card over to green and it's like the flood gates open. Men rush to you with skewers of meats, and before you know it, there's a pile of different types of meat on your plate. It's ALL delicious, though some slabs of beef tend to run together. You'll want to watch for the parmesan crusted anything, whatever the house special is, and anything wrapped in bacon. Treat yourself to a little prime rib and top sirloin, as well. You just have to be careful with your red/green card that tells the servers to feed you or not, because if that baby's green, you WILL continue to get meat. They also have some sides on the table. The polenta fries and the bananas/plantains are fan-freaking-tastic. The mashed potatoes are mashed potatoes. Their cheesecakes for dessert (if there's any space left in your stomach) are also amazing. I probably wouldn't take a militant vegan here (although I might, just to watch her horrified face at all the poor widdle animaws that get eaten), but for anyone who wants to totally pig out on deliciously seasoned, perfectly cooked slabs of meat, you can't beat this. Just make sure you clear some time the following day, because your digestive system will show you why eating 10 pounds of meat is not something you should do every day.
(5)
Mike M.
Best meal I've ever had. Been back numerous times and its top notch every time. Great place!!
(5)
Julia B.
I thought it was good but not as amazing as everyone is saying. With all the raves I was expecting a more amazing salad bar, but it was really good and pretty. I was expecting Vegas, I think, which might be dumb, as Nobody said that, exactly. Anyway, the service is rushed and comes off as curt, and this is the main reason I am giving 3 stars instead of 4. We did go during restaurant week, and I suspect they shoved many more tables in to accomodate a rush. Also the crowd felt a little rough, so It went from feeling like a grand experience to a golden corrall experience, (with steak salmon and pretty cheeses). heheh. THat said the meat is a little overwhelming, and delicious. But I dont LOVE meat,it gets a little freaky, all these dudes with Knives and meat coming at you, AND FAST. Also the meat was not SO seasoned, so some people like that. Some of the meat dudes walked right by me. I was holding out for the steak. Which was yum. The brazillian cocktails were really delicious, and I recommend getting those. Go on an empty stomach, then, Its tempting to load up at the pretty salad bar, but don't; thats how they getchya.
(3)
Naor B.
i was in denver over july 4th weekend and have already been in fogo in la. i must say the one in denver was much better food was better The service here was excellent
(5)
Pam T.
This place will be our new go-to place for over-indulging on red meat! As soon as you are seated the excellent service starts, along with those yummy cheese rolls. It takes a lot of self control not to load up at the salad bar. I tried to limit myself to just a bite of everything I chose, but still had a full plate. They had a card on the table which showed the different cuts of meat they served which was helpful. So of course we had to try almost everything that went by the table. Just like the salad bar, your plate will fill up quickly. But it's a good way to figure out what you like. My favorite was the bacon wrapped filet. My husband thought the parmesan pork loin was really good but I thought it was too dry. I passed on the mashed potatoes (more room for meat). I think next time I will take a break and get a place of some veggies from the salad bar, just to balance out all the protein. They have a good selection of desserts and we ordered a chocolate cake. When our waiter noticed my husband had left my anniversary card on the table he asked if it was an occasion. We said yes so they brought us another dessert, the caramel flan, with "Happy Anniversary" written on the dish. Very nice of them.
(5)
Nicole W.
Another large outing and another stellar performance at Fogo! Valet parking - free- yup - still rocks (although the valet grinding the gears on the way out - less than cool - and yes we drive a stick shift, whatever) Staff was very friendly - even though we called a mere 2 hours prior and asked to bring over 20 people in at 8pm. They split us into 2 tables and fawned over us, like the super stars we were! ;) They have special "newbie" folios for those new to eating tons of meat! That was very helpful those those we dragged along that were not all into the meat on a stick! I have the whole process down now - skip the salad bar - no need to waste precious stomach room on that! Careful with the sides - they fill you up too! But the carmelized bananas - well, you really can't say no to those! And the little balls of heaven - the baby popovers - which we found out were gluten free - a win for some of our friends at the table! Staff kept checking on us and put up with our antics and even checked if there was a special cut of meat we were looking for and they would sent it over! I stuck with the filet mignon and filet mignon only. Except for one deviance into the special of the house. I was stuffed and happy! Restaurant week they are doing a special deal - i might have to go back sooner rather than later!
(4)
Megan E.
Came here for supper with DH and a friend. We had plenty of food, again, and left feeling VERY VERY full. We were half an hour early and had no problems being seated (but it was 5:30 on a Saturday - by 8 there were crowds waiting). I asked for a mojito and was offered their house special version instead. It was good, but at $13, I was a little disappointed and I wasn't told the price until the bill came. Our friend ordered tonic water, which never arrived but was placed on the bill. When we pointed that out, they brought a complimentary creme brule and removed it from the bill. Nice, but man was it hard to get that down after the meal! They had complimentary valet parking in the garage next door for dinner - that was nicer than hunting around like we did at lunch. I have to say, if you want a ton of meat (and other stuff) and have plenty of time, check this place out but if you aren't one to eat a lot, it's not really worth it for supper, maybe lunch though.
(4)
Carly B.
I know my opinion really shouldn't "count" since I didn't participate in the meatstravaganza, but here's my candid view on the salad bar as well as this place in general. "But Carly what are you doing at Fogo to begin with then," you ask? Well, it was Father's day and I was taking my dad out. He hates most places (he literally goes in with an intent to dislike anywhere new), but he likes Rodizio and he loooooooooves meat. He likes salad bars too. So I suppose I was "taking one for the team" and hoping to introduce him to a new plave he might actually like. Let's start with the service: about as good as you'd expect with about eight different people waiting on you. Some of it felt downright forced. The restaurant wasn't super full, so I'd say there was about one server/gaucho/busser for every two people but none particularly stood out. The drinks: the Caipirinha was super strong, tasty, loaded with fresh limes, and of a decent size. My dad really only drinks beer, but you can't call him a beer lover. Out of the vast, wonderful world of craft beer and interesting imports he will drink MGD, Rolling Rock or Pacifico. Usually no exceptions. Fogo is not know for their beer selection. Fortunately he tried their Brazilian beer (very dark in color, but very light in flavor) and he liked it enough to drink two. The salad bar: it's okay. A bit on the smaller side, but it had some pretty tasty things (tabbouleh, chickpea salad, potato salad, and a really tasty green basil dressing) and some very boring things (fat, unseasoned asparagus, tomato slices, pre-made Caesar salad). Overall pretty good, but nothing I was dying to get seconds of. The sides: they start you out with the most delicious cheese bread (Pao de Queijo) and then bring out sides of polenta, garlic mashed potatoes, and brown sugary carmelized bananas. The bread really is the star, each little ball is hot and springy and cheesy and delicious. The polenta is pretty good too but I realized this toward the end of the meal when I was running out of room. Very similar springy texture as the Pao de Queijo. The potatoes seem to really be an afterthought....like "lets add on a side of boring garlic mashed potatoes for good measure". Unneccessary. The meat: may have very well been amazing, but dad described it as "not bad". He can be difficult to read. He likes the chicken hearts at Rodizio and Fogo doesn't have chicken hearts so that was probably a dad point against them. The price: Daaaaaayum! I'm all for splurge dinners and everything, but two beers, a cocktail, a salad bar, and regular meal were $95 pre-tip. I don't mind spending money on a great splurge dinner, but it's usually for something artfully prepared and really tasty flavors. The bread was great, but I can get a carb overload at other places at a much more reasonable price. Conclusion: these types of restaurants have their place in dining, but it's really not my scene. If I have $100 to spend on dinner, I'd probably take it to one of the many seasonal/chef-driven restaurants around town.
(3)
Stephen K.
(Shame, shame on me...more rediscovered smartphone notes from months ago) Disclaimer: This is not a full review of FDC...I was here for a 303Networking job event thingy. That being said...FDC's staff supplied appetizers of polenta liberally dusted with parmesan, juicy chunks of chicken breast wrapped in bacon, and Brazilian pork sausage -- *addictiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiive...*...when I want breakfast sausage again, I know I really really don't want breakfast sausage...I want amazing Brazilian pork sausage. Someday, I hope to come here for a full meal -- but even if that never happens, their apps are pretty amazing.
(4)
Danika L.
When I see reviews such as "top notch" and "best food ever" I can't help but wonder if these people were eating from dumpsters before...not sure what all the hype is about but I'm guessing it's coming from frugal people who can't resist an all you can eat place. Sorry but for me it's absolutely about quality over quantity so it's gonna have to take a little more than endless plates of crap and a salad bar to do it for me. Also just a tip guys this wouldn't be a good place to take a date, it was extremely loud and chaotic. And ladies if you do go don't dress up because the crowd is very casual and you will feel like a hooker walking up to the salad bar in heels.
(1)
Kim K.
Even though I only visited for lunch and didn't get the full eat until you burst experience, I still felt like I needed a serious nap and possibly some cholesterol meds afterwards. So much meat, so little time. Take note where they keep the emergency defibrillator if you do go for dinner.
(4)
Amanda M.
Maybe it's because I went during restaurant week, but I was not all that enthused by this place. First of all we were seated 25 minutes after our reservation time, which wasn't a huge deal since we found some seats in the bar area and my friend had a chance to enjoy an $8 cocktail. The space is MUCH larger than I expected, it seemed like more of a banquet hall then a restaurant, and I didn't find the decor inviting or appealing. Maybe it's because they were packed to the brim, but all the gauchos and hosts and people running around made it feel more like a crowded dim sum restaurant than an upscale steakhouse. As for the salad bar, I thought it was on par with Texas De Brazil minus the fact they didn't have lobster bisque and sauteed mushrooms. All of the food sitting out was good and fresh. They had tabouli, mozzarella balls, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, chicken salad, olives, cured meats, bread, giant asparagus, hearts of palm, artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, smoked salmon, peppers etc. I found it to be an abundant selection-- it's just not presented on a ginormous bar like TDB. As for the meat I found most of it to be pretty dry and/or flavorless. If you ask for a certain "doneness" and they have a skewer, they are going to give you a piece of meat from the bottom either way. The only thing I really enjoyed was the filet (not bacon wrapped). I got a small piece when I first sat down, and literally was searching for it for an hour and a half. I asked multiple waitstaff to send it over to no avail. Finally it randomly came around and I asked the gaucho to give me a big hunk of it. Unfortunately he gave me a piece that was cooked way past well-done and it was gray in the middle. However, the people who brought the side dishes around were on top of their game, and we never went without the delicious cheesy bread, mashed potatoes, polenta cakes, or sweet plantains (or were they bananas?). This being restaurant week the clientele probably wasn't the same as usual, but as my friend put it, we felt like we were in the upper-deck of a Nuggets game. A server accidentally dropped a huge glass plate used at the salad bar, and no less than 15 people decided to yell "Oooohhhhh!!". I'm sorry, but since when does that fly at a restaurant? It's funny at the Great American Beer Festival... but not here. I was actually embarrassed to be eating at the same place as these people. This is by no means Fogo's fault, since they can't turn people away for being trashy... but still... it put a damper on the evening. I would like to try Fogo again once all of Denver isn't there at the same time.
(3)
Ru L.
A paleo dieter's heaven; great salad bar and all that beef! The many cuts of bovine are Devine, while the swine is fine and the chicken is kick in'. I opted out of the mashers and the fried polenta and just hit it up caveman style. Each cut of beef is small, but believe me the more the gauchos visit the table the faster you fill up. Enjoy.
(4)
Jen L.
I really want to give a rating of 3 1/2 stars in all fairness. To start off with I'm not one to indulge in a carnivorous feast, if you are this is the place for you. The salad bar is full of unique items some of which I had no idea what they were. Some labels would have helpful. The meat was good, but I'm not one that cares for a meal of just meat so my review will be on the over all experience of this establishment. I really did not enjoy this style of service. The restaurant is huge so it is very noisy and very hard to enjoy the company at your table. I was not fond of our waiter. He showed us the drink menu from afar and explained to us what the drinks were and walked off. When he came back we had to ask for the drink menu and the wine list. If they have beer I wasen't sure because that wasn't on a beverage menu we received. When we asked for the dessert menu it also had drinks on it that I would have preferred over the Brazilian rum thing I ordered. I really did not care for the way the food is served. It seemed crazy and hectic juggling plates and drinks, and tongs. This was not my thing at all. People are constantly coming to the table, not just the meat guys, but managers, and servers. My last coment is upscale or casual? It had elements of both, and I think they should pick one. All in all I was not overly impressed with this style of service and would not be back.
(3)
Eugene N.
Before you read, please note that I'm a dude, and besides vegetarians, who can complain about all you can eat meat?! With that being said though, I love the caramelized bananas! Coming in, expecting to eat really good meat (which I did) but was taken by the bananas! Kinda weird and unexpected but they are served at your table at the beginning, like an appetizer. Now onto the meat. Great quality meat, but it's Fogo De Chao, so expect the best franchised Brazilian BBQ. Oh, and the service was excellent!
(5)
Cassandra F.
Okay, this place serves up more food than I thought it was possible to consume. Make sure when you go that you have barely eaten that day! I love brazilian food, I had a brazilian neighbor once and she turned me on to all sorts of things. While I still don't think this food is as good as hers, it's the closest I've come! The caiparinhas here are fantastic, try the tropical one it's made with strawberries instead of limes. Yum! As others say, the salad bar is amazing. You could make a wonderful meal just out of that. And the sides they bring around are great. Love the pao de queijo and the polenta. Once the meat starts coming, be prepared. Green on are card means "More", red means "Stop". Be mindful of which is up, because they'll just keep bringing you food otherwise! It's a little pricey, but you get a lot of food for the money. I ate till I could barely move, so it was definitely worth it.
(5)
Brian O.
The night started with our company running late, so we settled into the comfy bar. Jayce was a great bar tender, meeting our needs for a cosmo and a nice single malt with just the right amount of ice. Our company was unavoidably delayed due to the traffic getting to the Denver Parada of Lights. Once they arrived, we settled into our table with Greg for an intruduction to Fago; I've been a big fan of the Fago De Chao in Las Vegas; this place was bigger but there were more tables so with the need to go to the buffet for the excellent salad, I'd say it was a little tight. The salad bar while not the point of the meat fest of Fago, was fresh and excellent; I enjoyed the roasted garlic, beets, sliced dry meets, and the buffalo mozarella. Once we had completed the salads, the plates were quickly wisked away. Our wine, a 2009 Rodney Strong Cab Sauv, was an excellent start. If you have not been to the typical Brazilian experience, you turn over your serving card to green and waiters with large skewers of cooked meat decend on your table with various meets; we partcularly enjoyed the leg of lamb, the lamb chops and the top sirloin. As the waiters arrive, you can choose from rare to well done on each of the meats. My partner also njoyed a lovely garlic pork peice that I must have missed. The lower sirloin, the chicken were also good. I would note that the bacon wrapped filet I think was my favorite; jiucy rare with just the right amount of done-ness on the bacon. Our main course was also served with mashed potatoes and fried bananas and there is an extensive desert and after dinner drinks menu. Since we gorged on the meat, all these went by the wayside. All in all a great night with great company and service. We spent about $105 per head that included two bottles of wine and tip. A great night.
(4)
Cobra K.
Not bad. Came here for a birthday dinner with The Woman. We had two dinners costing $45 per person. Our 3 year old daughter ate for free. Service was fantastic and the atmosphere was very posh. What I didn't like was the fact that they didn''t have beef tongue or chicken hearts. Really! Come on!!! Oh, and if you ask in the beginning, the servers will bring out FREE DESSERT for birthdays.
(3)
Sungeeta A.
I loved my trip to Fogo de Chao. The salad bar was amazing - I don't know where they get their giant vegetables, but they are very fresh. The meats were plentiful and all tasty, my favorite being the top sirloin and filet mignon. I had the Papaya cream for dessert (to help me digest!), which was ice cream mixed with papaya. It was not my favorite but decent. I didn't realize how much I ate until I walked outside and had trouble breathing. It was worth it though! I would definitely go back!
(5)
Lewis B.
First time a Fogo and the dining experience was superb! Food and service was great. I only wish they had a broader selection of vegetables i.e. steamed mixed veggies, spinach, broccoli or asparagus. Otherwise we would definitely return and recommend it to others.
(4)
Kyle M.
place and service is fantastic. love the servers they are funny and entertaining.
(5)
Sophie W.
Excellent place to visit if you love red meat! They have a plenty to choose from a broad menu. All you can eat. The cost of dinner is 46.50 $per person. I've been there for several times with my friends and we really enjoyed it. The service is really friendly and helpful. They also serve delicious desserts; my favorite is chocolate cake, definitely worth a try! Their drinks are also really good! My favorite one is caipirinha, which is a classic Brazilian cocktail. The only reason why I'm giving them 4/5 starts is that it can be pricey, especially when are you planning to take your whole family.
(4)
Heidi S.
Meat. Sweet, sweet, holy tasty, tasty meat. Thank you animal *LAMB* for giving your life for me. Oh and *HOLY COW* and with all honesty, I really do send a prayer up for the animal that is nourishing me. Get the lamb chops, the filet and the sirloin. Slather much of it in the Chimichurri sauce *moment alone* - thank the beast and turn that card to the green side one more time. Maybe go real easy on anything bacon wrapped, everything is already way salty enough...oh, and don't hold onto that salad plate too long, they seem to get nervous about it.... Our server was impersonal and avoided eye contact as if there was someone more important behind us, but our drinks were filled and refilled with glee. Every once in awhile a gorgeous blonde would wonder by and ask if everything was OK. It was. Oh and the men with meat on swords - well, either gender is giddy about that. One thing that struck us as odd as we got our bill the waiter asked what our special occasion was for coming in while he sorta looked past us (both of us in baseball hats) - the ball-n-chain set down his Maker's Mark and said, "No special occasion, just taking my wife to dinner.' Waiter guy looked a little perplexed. Boo-friggen-yeah.
(5)
Leigh W.
We are big fans of Fogo De Chao and the wide variety of flavorful meats. They carry so many different meats and have a great salad bar and the side dishes are tasty too! Do not make the mistake of making a big salad to start with, you want to save room for the important stuff the steak, chicken, pork, etc!! The wait staff are on top of it as well never leaving your plate empty. This is by far my favorite Brazilian Steak House I have been too. Not a fan of Rodizio, they just do not have the taste to their meats like Fogo does!
(4)
Joe Y.
Best Buffet With 7 locations in Brazil, Fogo is the benchmark for Rodizio and Texas De Brazil. Go for $27 lunch or $47 dinner and free valet parking. Rodizio is bit cheaper but they don't offer the same quality, salad bar, and appetizers. Filet migon is ok, but my favorite is the Ancho (Rib Eye).
(5)
S P.
This place rocks! Great food quality and selection, and service. The salad bar is super fresh and offers an excellent variety. The meat selection is vast and high quality. The taste is perfect. What could be better? An excellent attentive staff. The other churrascarias in town are terrible- bad meat taste and quality. This place is world class.
(5)
diane s.
Typical Brazilian Barbeque. Attentive staff, average salad bar, but DELICIOUS barbeque. We were a party of three new to Denver, but looking for some food adventure. I have been to other chain Brazilian barbecue places, but decided to try something new. Fogo de Chao did not disappoint. Attention by staff was superb, drinks amazing. Great for large parties.
(4)
Bonnie F.
Just went for the first time, it was great. Some of the meat was a little salty, but overall it was good. Love those cheesy bread muffins.
(4)
Robert C.
For a meat eater who also thrills in a great salad bar, this place ranks among the best. The waiters, in their gaucho get-up, roam around the tables with skewers of freshly roasted meats of all kinds and cuts. Just make sure your little coaster (green on one side, red on the other) is showing the color you want (green for "more" and red for "I'm full for now") or the waiters will keep coming at you with more meat. Service was top rate, and the South American wines, in large Bordeaux-type stemware, went very well with the meal. Would make it a stop every time I pass through Denver (they are a chain, in other cities as well).
(5)
Adrian M.
Overall- the service, food and atmosphere was excellent. The meat was just absolutely the best. The atmosphere was upclass and prestine. Service was all smiles from the entrance all the way to end of lunch. The only thing is - well it still is not too pricey but a bit up there. A.
(4)
Mikey Y.
Eating here rendered all previous meals inadequate. This statement is all encompassing (service, food, drinks, etc.).
(5)
Stephanie M.
Pricey, but good experience. Worth at least one trip!
(5)
Liliana T.
As a meat lover couple, both my husband and I really love the "Gaucho" Brazilian grill where you can eat as much meat as your tummy allows. We're so happy to hear about Fogo de Chao. I immediately made a reservation online for my husband's birthday dinner today (Sunday). I didn't know if they do something special for the birthday boy, so I put my request on the birthday dessert on the special request note when I made the reservation. It was fast and easy. Me likey this restaurant already :-) We got there about 10 minutes late because of the Rockies Game, but the waiter seated us immediately and our server immediately explained to us how the system works in a very pleasant manner. We started with the salad. Oh...it's a salad bar from heaven! Marinated shiitake mushroom, roasted sun-dried tomatoes, asparagus, thin sliced bacons, pepperoni, cheese and varieties of antipasti, fresh homemade vinaigrette dressing, basil cream sauce, oh I can go on and on...:-) As soon as we finished eating our salad, we flipped our card to the green side. We didn't wait long, a parade of grilled meat started immediately: lamb chop, fillet mignon, ribeye, sirloin, pork loin, all the meat goodness. They are nicely seasoned and very tender. My husband said that the pork loin is a tad too dry, but the beef are delicious. While the "gaucho" chefs were serving us with the meat, our server placed the mashed potato, caramelized banana and fried polenta on our table. These side dishes were also good - I especially enjoyed the polenta and the banana. The service didn't just stop there. When *any* of the server saw us just sitting on the table with empty plate, they immediately came to our table and asked if everything is fine and if there's a certain dish/meat we would like to be served. And as soon as we placed our meat request, the picanhas came to our table in less than 5 minutes. That's impressive! We really appreciate the servers attentiveness to the customers and the fast response of our requests. In the beginning of my story, I mentioned about putting a special dessert request for my husband, the birthday guy. Nobody mentioned anything about it and since my husband said that he's full, I didn't make any attempt to ask about it. But to our surprise, our server came to our table with a big plate of chocolate molten cake with vanilla ice cream and fresh sliced strawberries with a "Happy Birthday" writing with red and green sauce. WOW!!! This really shows that they DO read my request and they served it just on the right time. Fogo de Chao, I must say, this is the BEST Dining experience my husband and I ever had. You made the birthday dinner more special and personal with your great service and attentiveness. You can be sure we will come back again for our second, third and numerous visit in near future :-)
(5)
Adrian C.
Been there three times now, and I can definitely state it is worth every penny. Some complain the food is salty, but you can ask for custom servings, if you're sensitive. The wait staff is very attentive, which is awesome. However, I can understand that some prefer to be left alone - this is not you're typical restaurant; it's an experience. Try it out, don't be too critical, and enjoy!
(5)
Mel H.
This is a gluten free review. I went during 5280, which was a great deal. If I didn't need to be gluten free I would give this place only 3 stars. There is so much a person who needs to be gluten or wheat free can eat here, but I am spoiled from going to Texas de Brazil (their salad bar is amazing and their meat were better, but it's pretty far away from us). We also had a reservation, but were not seated for about 45 minutes after it, and that was a little annoying. We tried almost everything here, the chicken and pork were dry, just like any other churrascaria, so we didn't eat much of that. The lamb chops were better than Texas de Brazil, not gamey even a little bit. The beef was just not seasoned quite as well to us and a couple of the side pieces were a little burned tasting. For dessert we had creme brulee (excellent), cheesecake (excellent) and the key lime pie, which my friend picked the crust and top off (okay to good depending on how you like your key-lime). I went with my husband and one of my best friends and they agreed that if we are going to go, we will go to Texas de Brazil, but this location is better (closer) and the atmosphere was good.
(4)
April G.
This is my favorite restaurant!!! I tried out Fogo De Chao on Saturday night and was blown away! The ambiance was amazing! The food was delicious, there was a large variety of meats, a fantastic salad bar, and the service was the best I have ever had! If you would like to be treated liked a star go to Fogo De Chao!
(5)
Kenny Z.
Meat, baby!
(4)
Renley R.
YUM! Ok, so while I can go on forever about how great the food is here and how professional the atmosphere is (you can actually have a conversation here) or about how accomodating the staff was on my visit (made me feel like it king :) ) I would first like to instead mention a rule to be kept in mind when dining here: Pace yourself. The food is so good you will want to fill you place with every pass. And since the portions are as generaous as you wish, you can get full fast. But there are so many optiosn to try, some are very much worth having a second bite, so chew lots of times, eat slow and savour every bite. Also don't be afraid to ask for a slive of meat to be cooked a little more or less, they are very willing to make sure you have the meal cooked to your exact liking. So with that said, the meat selections are great. There is so little more I can say other than - its fresh meat cooked to your specifications what is there not to like? How about the meal "garnish" aka the salad bar? Smoked salmon, mouth watering chicken salad, and many fresh produce to fill you up well before the main course arrives. Get a bottle or two of their imported Brazilian beer and pretend like you are in Sao Paolo.
(5)
Lisa X.
After reading through some yelp.com reviews last night, my friend and I decided to give this place a try. Oh my gosh! It was a great experience. The salad bar was wonderful. It wasn't a normal salad bar. It had items on it like hearts of palm, sun-dried tomatoes, pesto, Boston bibb lettuce, green beans, peppadews, and all other sorts of neat-o stuff. Next, they brought side dishes and these wonderful cheese puffs that melted in your mouth. I think I ate 6 of them. Yum! The side dishes were mashed potatoes, Parmesan polenta, and sauteed bananas. The bananas and polenta were very good. Once we flipped our cards to green, the meat parade started. Each meat chef stopped by our table with a different cut of meat, each one delicious. My favorite was the Filet Mignon. It was tender and mouthwatering. We both had dessert which was Flan and Creme Brulee. Both very good, but we were really too full to enjoy it. The service was very attentive to the point that you couldn't finish a conversation before being interrupted by meat or water refills. Not a bad thing. My friend says the only thing lacking was some Brazilian music. I think the dining experience was great and definitely one of those places that you go to for special events and not very often since you pretty much end up in a meat coma at the end.
(5)
James Z.
Absolutely spectacular. Everything was delicious. Fantastic atmosphere and an awesome dinner. Highly recommended.
(5)
Myla P.
If it weren't for those pesky USDA guidelines that say to eat fruits and vegetables as part of a balanced diet, I would be a carnivore. Well, maybe that's not entirely true; if I had Fogo de Chao's salad bar at my disposal for every meal, eating enough vegetables would not be an issue. Make sure you come to this restaurant hungry. Not to get your money's worth, but to be able to sample everything they have to offer. Your experience starts with the salad bar, which features only a couple traditional American salad bar ingredients, followed by prosciutto, salami, cheese, artichoke hearts, hearts of palm, marinated tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, , beets, and asparagus. You are also given a basket of cheese bread. It's very difficult to not fill up during this first course. Flip your coaster over to green. Your plate is immediately exchanged for a clean one, and you are assaulted by gauchos bearing swords filled with meat. Linguica sausage, bacon-wrapped chicken, pork ribs, flank steak, top round, bottom round, sirloin, leg of lamb, lamb chops, parmesan-crusted pork loin, filet mignon, ribeye, and my personal favorite and house specialty: Picanha. Make sure to flip your coaster to red and take a break from time to time. Side dishes of fried bananas, crispy polenta and mashed potatoes are served with the meat and replenished constantly. Also, be sure to save room for dessert! The key lime pie and the chocolate mousse cake are both amazing. We went for my birthday and my dessert was complimentary. As for drinks, I have had their house pinot noir and their Caiprinha, and both are very good. This is not a cheap dinner by any means, but very reasonable for the quality of food and service you receive, especially when compared to more pretentious expensive restaurants nearby. You also can't beat the complimentary valet parking right next to the restaurant, so you can just waddle your over-stuffed self back to your car.
(5)
Mike S.
Holy meat-on-a-stick! Never in my life have I had more meat thrown at me (not literally) than when I was at Fogo's. For $40 you get two all-you-can-eat courses. Vegetarians beware! The first course "salad bar" is not your ordinary Village Inn salad bar. It's stocked with prosciutto, smoked salmon, sun-dried tomatoes and balls of mozzarella. The second course consists of dudes with giant skewers of meat running around that they shave off onto your plate. Fillets, lamb chops, sausage, rib-eye, and the list goes on. The service couldn't have been better. Just when you thought you were ready to take a break, BAM!, another 3 pounds of beef is on your plate. And they were very patient with our very loud and obnoxious group. Extra points to them for not kicking us out.
(5)
Mar S.
Amazing food! Amazing service! Nothing negative to say (except that it's pretty pricey). Just bring your biggest appetite and make sure you love meat. They even gave us a complimentary dessert for our birthday celebration.
(5)
Charlotte S.
what say about it ? I mean is the best steakhouse around Denver where you don't only eat meat, but get to enjoy the salad bar, and authentic Brazilian food as well, and lots of it. and they keep bring you more meat, and more meat ;-) that's the "rodizio" style. love that, and I am coming back soon :-) the service as always was excellent , my plate never got empty, my friends all loved the place, the price, well its not a cheap place, but then again, you pay for what you get and at fogo de chao it is worthy every penny. I am very very happy and full ;-) I am Brazilian too, and every time i miss home, I go there to eat picanha and drink guarana yummy ;-)
(5)
Liz S.
One word: gauche.
(3)
Jessica T.
Have you ever just said the name really fast a few times? Try it! It's a good time! My husband and I just dined there with some very good friends. None of us were new to the Brazilian steakhouse experience, but this was my first time at this particular restaurant. There's something inherently wonderful about men walking around ready to carve delicious, fire grilled meat to you at the flip of a card. The ambiance was wonderful, the salad bar was a dream, and the meat was fall off the bone delicious. Then, to add insult to fat kid injury, they have those amazing cheese rolls, fried polenta with parmesan cheese, and caramelized bananas. I normally don't make it very far at an endless eating situation, but this time I paced myself and was even able to share a dessert with my love. And by share I mean he ate most of it and I had a few delightful spoonfuls and gave up. Since my eyelids are heavy just typing this review, I think some cardio might be in order. Tomorrow. After I wake from my food coma.
(4)
Zina S.
We were impressed by the quality of food and the service in this place when we found out this is a chain restaurant! The variety of meats is wide and the quality is high. All the meats were juicy and well seasoned. The salad bar was well stocked with all sorts of veggies and salad trimmings. This place was a real treat and worth the price.
(5)
Ray R.
If you're a lover of well prepared food, like a finer dinning feel, but want all you can eat, this is the place. Any fat guy worth a quarter of his weight knows what the colors mean at a Brazilian BBQ, green means go, red means I'm stuffed, but bring me more of those cheese puff bread things while I prepare for round two. Don't pig out on just one thing though, go for the experience, try a bit of everything. If ya like something, no worries, it'll come back to visit. Save some room for dessert, gluttony isn't wasted here, but selective gluttony is more enjoyable. I had great service, was worth the price, wide variety, good salad bar & desserts. If you aren't a carnivore, it's still not a bad place to chow down. Have been there multiple occations and still have the same opinion.
(4)
Dee S.
Located at 15th and Wynkoop, What I would call the NW corner. There is complimentary valet parking right next to the restaurant. Don't park anywhere else because it's too expensive and some of the parking garages are only made for little compact cars. On to the restaurant. There is this salad bar that is included with the price. When crowded, it's hard to determine where to line up. There is only one salad bar so it's takes time to get around the bar once you even find where the line is. Quality of the salad bar was good. I was determined to not fill up on the salad bar. I liked the beets, bacon, cold cuts, smoked salmon, olives and mushrooms from the salad bar. At the table they give you a cardboard coaster disc. Green on one side red on the other side. Face it with green up means you want meat. Red up, pass me up. Then you get these guys coming around with spindles of meat. They tell you what it is but it was hard to understand. I just has to ask, is it beef? And they usually say what it is again with more terms. Anyway, they give you these tongs and you're supposed to use the tongs to grab the meat as they cut the meat off the spindle. Well, I didn't know that so the first time the guy came by, he sat there and I was wondering why he was pausing. I finally realized, with help from friends at the table, what I was supposed to do with the tongs. Now I have the hang of it. I tried a lot of meat. Sausages, chicken with bacon, pork ribs, all kinds of sirlion, pork, chicken leg, I found the meat to be salty. They give you fried banana, mashed potatoes, fried polenta, and a brazillian puff type bread. The mashed potatoes and bread worked good to counter the saltiness of the meat. 6 hours later, I'm still craving water. I got to the point when the guy would cut a part of that would be the salty part, I'd ask him to cut off from a different part. Went during 5280, so that was why it was crowded. I don't know the normal price for dinner, but for $26.40, it was a good deal.
(3)
Jason S.
This place is great! Huge salad bar! Its pretty straight forward, you get a coaster with one side red and the other side green. Red=no more meat and Green=Slice it up dude! I walked about stuffed. I did not eat the next day I was so full.
(4)
Becky H.
My husband and I have dined here 4 times now and every single time we've had outstanding service and the food is to die for. I love the salad bar - they offer a wide variety of salads, cold meats, cheeses and other items. After you whet your palate with that, it's time for the meat-fest. You can eat and eat and eat to your heart's content. You can tell the waiters how you like the meat cooked and they'll slice off a piece according to what you ask for, so no worries about getting under or overdone meat. And if you don't like it, leave it on your plate and try the next cut! Along with the meat, they bring mashed potatoes, grilled bananas, polenta and this divine cheese bread. I would come here just for the cheese bread. Yes, it's that good. It is a little pricier than we usually go for, but for special occasions, we always think of Fogo de Chao first! I love it!!
(5)
T. F.
As close to perfection as a meat emporium can come. We made reservations for a birthday celebration, having never been here before (although visited rodizio type houses both in Brazil and New York). Here's a quick summary of our experience: beautiful room. Low noise level. Super-attentive courteous service. Excellent bar drinks. The buffet, typidal of rodizios, while not as varied as other places we'd been, featured cold foods of A-1 quality. Freshly baked pao-de-queijo mini rolls (Brazilian cheese-filled buns) were regularly served. Every meat --chicken, beef, lamb-- was tender and tasty. The fried polenta and mashed potatoes... same thing. The birthday guest was served a complimentary candle-topped cake portion on a beautiful decorated plate. 'Nuff said. This place is a winner. Pricey, but worth every $.
(5)
Angelica F.
One word.... YUM!! We decided to take advantage of the Denver Restaurant Week prices on Tuesday night; $52.80 is a awesome deal for two people. We had a fantastic experience and had a blast sharing it with our friends. It's DRW so I expected most of the "pricier" restaurants to be booked and very busy. Of course, we did have to a couple minutes after our reservation before we were seated, but it's DRW, it's to be expected. The noise level was loud but not to the point where the four of us were screaming at each other over the table. This restaurant is huge with odd pictures on the walls, but that won't stop me from trying a place or lower my review ratings. We started our experience at the salad bar and was not disappointed at the selection that was offered. We seated ourselves at our designated table, finished our salad plates and waited 15 seconds after our cards were flipped to green before the first gaucho chef arrived. Our waiter and the many gaucho chefs were on top of their game for such a busy night! We were offered different meats left and right, it was a ravenous carnivorous feast. It was a little overwhelming at times with everything that was offered, but it was still fun. The sides of mashed potatoes, polenta, fried bananas and OMG the bread rolls that were filled with some kind of cheese were a-maz-ing. The selection of wine was pretty good too. For desert we had the Papaya Cream that was very delicious. (FYI: Take your spoon and rub it against the cinnamon that they use to decorate your plate with and combine it with the papaya cream. It's almost like listening to the sound of angels.) So many meats to choose from, sides that seemed to have magically appeared at our table, a good salad bar, phenomenal dessert and friendly attentive staff makes this a fabulous must-visit-in-the-near-future type of restaurant.
(5)
Veronica W.
A meal at Fogo is not just a meal, it's an experience. From the moment you park at the complimentary valet it is something special. The staff make you feel like you are their only focus despite the fact that you are in a room with a couple hundred other people. The management has taken great time and care to make sure that their staff are there for you, and it's evident from the minute you walk in the door until you roll your stuffed belly out the door. If you are a stickler for service this is a restaurant for you. I never felt like I was being hawked by the staff, but I also never had a need/want for anything that there wasn't a staff person right there to get it for me. The food- spectacular. Do you have to like meat? To get your money's worth probably, but the salad bar & side dishes stand out as not to be missed. The fried bananas make an excellent contrast to the grilled meat. All that being said the meat is the reason you go. MEAT!! Lots of meat! Delicious, wonderful meat. mmmmm.... Now, the price. Yes, it's pricey. This is not somewhere you are going to go regularly unless you've got deep pockets and a giant stomach. It is somewhere that you go for special occasssions. It is somewhere that you expect to spend a lot and get every pennies worth and you do.
(5)
Adebowale A.
My wife and I love meat and we're total fans of churrascarias. We've been to at least 9 Brazilian restaurants in different cites and 4 different Fogo de Chao's including the one in Beverly Hills which was expensive and in all our trips, this was THE BEST Brazilian churrascaria we've ever been to. The service especially was something to write home, call home or fax home about. Everyone was concerned with what you wanted, what you needed, what you liked and they were all willing to accomodate you. Not talking of the gauchos, e must have had at least 10 other people walking round to ensure you were well catered for. The food was totally seasoned, well done, medium or whichever way you wanted it done and the sides were also the same as any other Fogo. After dinner, we had a presentation of after dinner drunks and had a 150 year anniversary Grand Marnier which was heavenly. At the end of the meal we got a bill about two-thirds what we paid in Beverly Hills not drinking any alcohol. If you like meat, chicken and you visit Denver, you had better be at the Fogo!
(5)
Kyle G.
WONDERFUL food ... deffinety expensive but all in all worth it ... wish they enforced a dress code, for the price and awesomeness shouldn't have to see rock and roll t-shirts and flip flops
(4)
Lisa M.
Like the Fogo de Chao in Chicago and D.C., this restaurant featured outstanding service. The salad bar was well-stocked, varied, and fresh, and the Caipirinhas were spot on. The side of fried bananas was terrific, as were the rolls (what exactly do they put in those, anyway?). The filet was good, but I thought the sirloin was a bit tough. Really, the meat didn't do much for me. Creme brulee was a nice finishing touch. My companions couldn't stop raving about what a great experience they had. Definite thumbs up.
(4)
Christina J.
Dear Yelp, Will you be my best friend? You always tell me about the most amazing places to eat, drink and make merry, and I think it's time I repaid the favor by making our BFF-ness official. While you're thinking on this request, let me enlighten you about the origins of this proposal. Thanks to your infinite wisdom I went to Fogo de Chao tonight, and had the most perfect meat I've eaten, probably ever. The picanha was just amazing. Even the fat was smoky and salty, and it literally melted in my mouth. I know that's probably a bit too graphic, considering that we're still not fully committed yet, but it needed to be said. Lest you think I'm so fickle as to base my desire to be your best friend on a single dish I'd also like to bring up the fact that the service was exceptional. From the free valet parking and complimentary coat check to the super attentive and genuinely engaged staff I don't think I've ever felt so cared for in a restaurant in my whole life. You want to know the best part, dearest Yelp? They don't judge you when you keep on eating. In fact, the waitstaff encouraged me to eat until I was verging on stuffed and then they offered me dessert. So now that you know my true feelings, Yelp, and I've outlined why I am asking for you to be my new best friend, what do you say? Once we're besties maybe we can go to Fogo de Chao for lunch to celebrate?
(5)
Mark G.
The most amazing service of any restaurant. The gauchos, managers, and wait staff are constantly making sure your every need or wish is granted with your water glass constantly being refilled, along with any plates of food, whether you want more or not. The entire staff is exceptionally well trained.
(5)
I F.
Overrated. Some of the food is pretty good. But the rest sucks really bad. Not a very big selection of food. Excellent service though. Waiters absolutely keep an eye on you an attended.
(3)
Paul D.
I absolutely love this place. As soon as you're ready for the main course you flip your little card from red to green and are assaulted instantly by guys with hot meat and knives....wait that doesn't sound very pleasant. Seriously though. The service is insane. Your drinks are never empty, you can get a clean plate in an instant, and the filet mignon, Picanha and other cuts of meat are spectacular. If you appreciate great cuts of meat cooked to perfection this place is a must. I've also gone there with people that are not steak fans and they left happy and full from the other items on the menu. Seriously one of my favorite places.
(5)
Young B.
So delicious and amazing service! I would recommend this place to anyone! They have an unlimited salad bar with great selections and unlimited meat! The waiters are also very friendly! mmm :)
(5)
Jonathan G.
Excellent! The restaurant is in Downtown Denver. From the outside, it's looks like an ordinary steakhouse, but walk inside and you're in for a surprise. Parking is available both on the street and valet in the garage next door. I suggest valet and save the time. Walking in to an dim lit common area/bar, you are greeted by the maitre'd and taken to your table. You start with a waiter at your table explaining how the steakhouse works, they explain the card and what is available to you. The first plate is salad. They have an awesome salad bar full with different cheeses and greens. Then out come the gauchos. with the skewers and ready to go. The meats are the finest cuts you can get. There are plates of mashed potatoes, fried banana, and a fried cheese that are kept stocked your entire stay, meaning if you take one scoop of mashed potatoes, expect it to be refilled with in 4 minutes. The wait staff is excellent and the way the gauchos move is like clock work. Jason was our main server and walked us through the meats the whole night. Tip well, all of these guys work hard for the money.
(5)
Archer D.
Disgusting, All You Can Eat- Meat Buffet - Chain Restaurant. Save your money and go to Sizzlers, at least they give you ulimated soft serve ice cream.
(1)
ELLY W.
The lunch is a spectacular value. The service is tops. Some people mention that the service was too much, but I thought it was very unobtrusive. Great place to take out of town guests.
(5)
Tari S.
What more can I say..... it was wonderful and delicious!
(5)
Quisha H.
I was here for a company party. The best meat on the planet. The best mixed drinks on the planet. I went to a couple of places in Denver and this was by far the best. Also, the little guy in the black pants and high boots was great. I think his name was Jose.
(5)
Sara B.
Super fun experience for our family - our 5 yr old loved it! Expensive...but both the 5 and 2 yr old were free.
(4)
Kristin D.
When this opened right by my house, I wasn't overly excited but since it was across the street we decided to check it out. I would rank their service level among the best in Denver, and I'm pretty picky on service so this is a big compliment! Food was good, the meat isn't really cooked to temperture as much as I would like but the quality of the beef and the flavor is good. We have already been back for lunch and I expect this to be a new favorite when we can go hungry!
(5)
Alison K.
This place is wonderful! They could do with more chicken options, but the meat is perfection. Their Veggie Bar is great, too, but I wouldn't recommend this restaurant for your vegetarian friends. Definitely stop here if you love roasted meat.
(4)
Ming T.
FANTASTIC. Really.... it was. I went here last Saturday the 7th for my husband's birthday with his parents. The place was busy and even though I had made a reservation for 7:30 we still had to wait half an hour for a seat. The hostess did bring out some of the wonderful cheese bread to help us stave off the hunger pains. I tried to resist the cheesetastic wonders but they are DELICIOUS! I immediately told me husband that he needed to find the recipe and make some for me. After we were escorted to our seats a VERY competent waiter explains to us the process and we got started with the salad bar. The bar was very nice, a good selection of cold cuts...definitely NOT a salad bar for Vegetarians or Vegans though. There was more meat on my salad than greens! They did have a ENTIRE wheel of Parm cheese sitting out for us to dig from...nice. Next came the meat-gasim. We never were wanting for more than 3 minutes. The gauchos were very nice and the busboys were amazing! We barely ate half of the food on the side-dish plates before they were whisked away and replaced with full dishes. The staff made sure we had clean plates and that every whim was taken care of. The wine my father-in-law ordered was pretty good but not decanted properly had lots of sediment...but he told me it tasted fantastic. My husband had some dark Brazilian beer which he didn't love but he said paired nicely with the meat. They don't have any beers on tap as we found out. My mother-in-law likes her meat killed and they even made sure they gave her very cooked cuts. She loved the Parm crusted Pork and the bacon wrapped filet. Everything was cooked exactly to our liking, sometimes the Gauchos would even run back to the kitchen for another piece of meat if they thought that the current one was too cooked for your taste. Honestly, one of the best services I've ever experienced! After we stuffed ourselves silly and admired the amazing amount of work the staff did we were presented with the dessert menu. Even though we were all busting at the seams we decided to order dessert. The waiter compted my husband's birthday creme brulee and my in-laws had the chocolate mousse cake. Both were delicious but the mousse cake was out of this world! Layers of sponge sandwiched with mousse and drizzled with ganache! OMG! As we were paying the bill, get this...they presented my husband with a gift certificate for another dinner! How amazing is that? They basically paid us to eat there! Verdict- Expensive, but SOOOO worth it. Just close your eyes and enjoy the taste of marbled beefy money. ;)
(5)
miguel f.
Mmmmeat! The service is phenomenal too.
(5)
S P.
Its 3 stars because 1. I think Texas De Brazil has more food choices. TDB has more salad bar options, soups, cheeses, etc.... Fogo de chao had a very small salad bar in comparison. I remember eating quail eggs and other funky things at TDB, but at Fogo, it was very standard. 2. The main entree items were also very limited. For a heavy eater and someone who likes to try a variety of foods, Texas De Brazil is better. I think Fogo is less options because they are situated in downtown and perhaps cost more to pay their rent so they give us less food!!! Taste wise - it was okay. I wasn't "overwhelmed". The staff was "rushed" and my water, coke was not refilled. Very unhappy with service. I am taking me and my friends to Texas De Brazil next time.
(3)
Brian G.
It's a meatapoloza...what else can you say? I've never been at a loss for words so I will try and elaborate. The wife and I have been a handful of times and haven't been let down once. Service is impeccable and a true team effort that boarders on clairvoyance. They seem to know what each other is doing at all times while maintaining fresh plates, full glasses and pulling out your chair. The meats are brought around at a furious pace with may of them sizzling as they hit you plate. I prefer all my meats mid rare to rare and the wife is mid rare to medium. This posed very little challenge for the nomadic waiter waiting to shave meat to your plate. This is not the most realxing restaurants however. it is (because it has to be) in constant motion. Ifd you don't want to be interupted, this is not the place for you.
(4)
Valeda S.
Our night during Restaurant Week was a ton of fun and the food was very good. Mind blowing, not really, but very good. It's a great social environment, there were 6 of us ladies out for "Meat Night", and for $26 the experience was well worth the price, however I'd hesitate to go back at full price. Although the service was fantastic (may be due to the fact that a bunch of Brazilian guys can really have fun waiting on a table full of ladies), I was a little off put by the obvious Restaurant Week setup - new tables were popping up left and right with folding chairs. Folding chairs! Probably the best item I had all night was the garlic beef, otherwise everything else was solid; not bad, but not going down in the history books either. If I could give this place 3.5 stars I would, but because of the fun we had, the service and the price I'll give Fogo the benefit of the doubt!
(4)
Jisha J.
I love Fogo. I have tried all of the other Brazilian steakhouses and this place is still my absolute favorite. The meat is always delicious! They always bring out these little cheese puffs along with mashed potatoes, fried polenta, and caramelized plantains. All of these sides are outstanding. The salad bar is wonderful as well. They have a variety of deli meats, veggies, and yummy cheeses. The service is always wonderful and you might as well keep your card on green so you can try all the wonderful meats!
(5)
Anthony S.
Expensive! This place is double if not triple Expensive. A good buffet with drinks is about 15 USD. This place, just for one person is three times that. Then there's drinks no refills and dessert to go. The place is chic but, casual. Very nice bricks and mortar. The staff, for the most part are right on, as well is the food. The salad bar is gastro pleasing with meat, cheeses, and pickled assortments to go with your salad fixings. The carmelized bananas are good ( I like these for breakfast) but, the mashed potatoes seem cheeky (out of the box fresh); both come with the meal. But, really the servings throughout the meal are right on delicious. The great atmosphere and constant attention of the staff are expected for the price. Everything about this place was at the top Including the price. A small 6 oz coke in a bottle was 2.95/ I had three. Dessert was a casual 9.00 USD. I had a half filled glass of mango creme and kahlua like syrup added. I didn't like the buttermilk, spoilt taste of the creme. Thank goodness for the syrup. I actually got change back from a Benjamin after a good tip. It was indeed a wonderful onetime experience.
(5)
Derec S.
My experience with Fogo was a couple weeks after they opened. It's a challenging location given a major competitor is three blocks down, within easy walking distance. The service was great and the staff was really friendly and attentive. I meat was delicious and I had to pace myself, flipping between the green and red, to avoid being bombarded with succulent and juicy prime rib, lamb, chicken, and sausages. The salad bar was great but didn't seem to have the selection of other Brazilian churascarias in town. While it seemed enough for me, that was the feedback from my vegetarian companion. We enjoyed our night out and would go back but it's probably lower down on our list than other similar places though it's close to where I live.
(4)
Elizabeth B.
Wow! My family and I had my Dad's 50th birthday here. Amazing customer service, delicious food and a beautiful, upscale atmosphere. The salad bar is amazing! So much variety and the desserts and wine list were to die for. I hope to visit this place again in the future!
(5)
Andrea P.
I'm really at a 4.5 stars, it's not the best dining experience I've ever had, but it's very far from the worst. I had to wait 24 hours to write this as I was still in a meat coma, and still may very well be. Though the price tag is hefty, there's lots of food to go around. I made sure I ate my $38.50 worth of food, which I found to be a large mistake. The meat for the most part was really good, didn't care for the chicken too much, and I'm on the Jew diet so I didn't try the pork either. The salad bar was a little lack luster, which may be b/c I have an addiction to Whole Foods where $7.99 per pound buys you a lot more in that department than the $19.99 for only salad bar here. I don't know what those bananas were- but they were a-okay by me. I don't know if A Game was on b/c it was V-Day, but the service was great. Didn't find it too pushy or over whelming and everyone was there to help if you needed it. If you're looking for a great date place this may not be your first bet, as it's pretty loud and not very intimate (more thinking 1st few dates where getting to know each other is semi important). If your goal for dinner is to see how much meat you can eat in one sitting- welcome to Heaven. Tip: Make reservations and for dinner hours there's complimentary parking.
(4)
Daniel M.
great service..great food..great atmoshpere...
(5)
Jon H.
Had my birthday dinner there. It was a great experience. I would go back for special occasions. The waitstaff is great. The salad bar was memorable. The assorted meats, especially the lamb chops, were delicious. Impressive wine list. Fun place. Conversation is limited due to the constant interruptions by very professional servers, but then I didn't go there for lengthy discussions. Much unlike some of the yelp reviewers who have to write volumes of boring crap just to get a simple point across. Brevity is not only the soul of wit but also restaurant reviews.
(4)
Dennis S.
Wow you had better be hungry the food never stops. Honestly the salad bar is so elaborate that it would be plenty by itself. We were a large group 12+ this place works great for such a large group. Lots of meat choices that are excellent.
(5)
Cindy F.
Had a late night dinner here with my friend while visiting Denver. She is a very adventerous diner, and we wanted to try something new. The atmosphere is quite casual, I wish it were a bit more discerning. There were loud children and some younger guys wearing backwards hats and shorts near us. BUT here is a review of the food and service. 1) Salad bar, very good but don't take too much or you will regret it. Enjoyed the palm hearts, a thin piece of salami, caesar salad, sunroasted tomato, amazing little mozzerella ball. The mushrooms were far too salty, tasted like soy sauce, not mushrooms. 2)Side dishes, bread puffs, delicious. Similar consistency to a savory creme puff. Delicious. Mashed potatoes, nothing special. I love potatoes, and these were no bueno, possibly instant. Crispy polenta, decent, worth trying, a little greasy. Carmelized bananas, tasty unique. 3) Meat! Everything I had was very good or better. My favorite was the bottom sirloin-- very delicious, tender, hot, EXCELLENT. I tried everything but the pork....we were there late in the evening, and pork was not offered to us. I wouldn't have tried it anyway, so no love lost on me. 4) Dessert. An adorable little sprite of a man talked us into trying dessert, even though we were stuffed to the gills. I had the papaya creme, papaya blended with vanilla ice cream. My friend had the flan. Both delicious, mine was light as a cloud, hers was very rich. Both worth their price of about $9 each. 5) Drink. She had a glass of napa red wine, $16.50 for one glass, she enjoyed it. I'm not a wine drinker, had water. Finally, the service was very very good. We had a late reservation, and I didn't feel rushed, although I think we kept the staff there a few mins after closing time. Overall, a strong 4 stars, worth it for a special dinner. Pretip bill was about $120, but worth every penny for a treat. On the ride back to my hotel, the driver told us it's an even better deal for lunch, $25 per person. Maybe I will do that next time, even better!
(4)
i n.
God I love this place! Never take a vegitarian here:) I have never eaten more lamb and Filet Mignon in one sitting in my life. The service is amaizing and the food is incredible
(5)
Pj M.
Good, but not as good as the Atlanta location. Still had a great time
(4)
Dawn M.
We went for restaurant week. I have to say, I really liked Fogo de Chao. We did Texas de Brazil last year for DRW, and I've been to FDC outside of DRW. I have to say, I like FDC a bit more. We did have to wait a bit on Saturday - they told us 30-45 minutes, and we waited 40. It was the first day, of their first DRW, so I'll cut them a break on that. Salad bar. Not bad. TDB has a lot more though. Service. I was blown away by their service on other occasions. For DRW, it was just pretty good. We had to ask for sides. We never saw the flank steak, but when we asked for it, it came within minutes, and it was fresh off the grill. Meat. Love it! The filet and lamb chops are amazing. I also like that they serve their full menu for DRW. Dessert. They had key lime pie, a chocolate mousse cake and a turtle cheesecake. The pie was great, and the mousse cake was alright - heavier than I thought it would be. Overall, a great experience. It's pretty intense, not my style overall. I'd prefer a nice relaxing dinner, as opposed to meat coming at me from all angles! It's a great deal for Restaurant Week, and they have free valet parking, which is a bonus!
(4)
CALVIN S.
So sad-my first experience with Fogo during restaurant week was NOTHING like what we experienced today. Went for my B-day, parked where we did last time, no Valet to be seen. Upon our arrival into the restaurant, the hostess informed us that they didn't validate parking for lunch. WHAT????? So people who go for lunch don't deserve the same hospitality that evening diners do? That soured us right off the bat. My wife showed her displeasure quite openly, but the hostess didn't really seem to care and was very uninterested in being accommodating in any type of way. Being a former Director of Concierge and Guest Services back in the day, my wife was absolutely appalled at the lack of customer service this establishment provides to its employees;--she wouldn't want someone to walk out of her business feeling the way we did. Anyway-back to the food: Mediocre at best, CANNED ranch dressing on the salad bar? At $19.50 a pop for the salad bar, you'd think they could whip up some fresh dressing. Once again, food was nothing more than average, with the exception of the cheese buns, fried polenta, and the Picanha which were very good, but I want to be wowed all around and not by a couple of sides and just one of the meats. Had it not been for the horrible treatment by the hostess today, I probably would have given 3 stars--just shows you how untrained staff can really hurt your business. (My wife wanted me to give one star.) We'll stick with Rodizio Grille from now on---much better selection, better prices, and SUPERB customer service , EVEN for us lowly lunch customers!! Oh, Rodizio also has a birthday club, which is a very nice gesture at least for those of us who can't go downtown and have pricey meals on a regular basis.
(2)
Tom C.
I ate here back in February and was so excited because I haven't ate at a Brazilian Restaurant before. Why blogging it now, you ask? Because it's been bottling up for a minute. But long story short. The meats they hand out were out of this world. 100% to that! But the low score, you also ask. I was there at their lunch deals, and they would serve you their side dishes. One of the side dishes is a fried banana, which I personally like. But there was something wrong. As I was biting through, I thought it was the burned, charcoal part of the banana. It was a STAPLE, like the one's you would find in cardboard boxes with packaged food products. I was shocked because I was close to eating this thing. Can you imagine that! So I told my server to let the manager know about this incident. She didn't do anything and charged me full price anyway because the manager would of had a talk with me or I guess she didn't bring it up to his attention. And for some reason, they were handing out fruitcakes to everyone that ate there and my server gave me one. OMG. Really? That was stupid in my part for not personally bringing it to the manager's attention. It's a great restaurant, but hopefully mistakes like that don't happen there constantly...
(2)
Casey H.
Came here for New Year's Eve dinner with the boyfriend. It was so good that it kind of pissed me off. Why has all of the meat I've eaten my entire life not tasted like this! I have wasted so much time not eating this food. Can't wait to go back.
(5)
Terry B.
This is the real deal kids. Rodizio has got to be nervous. I'd visited the Fogo in Dallas for lunch, but my Brazilian wife and I decided to do dinner at Fogo the other night. I've been to Brazil twice and had churrascaria in a small town outside of Rio put on by some locals as well as a famous restaurant in Rio called Porcao. Fogo is right up there with both of these memorable meals in the "mother country." First off, the service is here beyond top notch. (I'd say it ranks up there with some of the best restauarant service I've ever had, and we've eaten at some very nice restaurants in our lives) We actually had people running to our chairs to pull them out after visiting the salad bar or restroom. It seems there's not a moment the servers (there's more than one "waiter/waitress" for a section and they all work together constantly monitoring their area) aren't within earshot. The gauchos all spoke Portugese, which caught my gringo butt off guard. One gaucho even offered to bring rice and beans (which doesn't typically come out) once he noticed she spoke real Portugese as opposed to my gringoness. Unfortunately, we're taking a break from drinking, so we weren't able to try a caipirinha. I happen to like the way I make mine anyway. ;) They do have Guarana which is a soft drink that tastes like a berry that grows in the Amazon. It's a fantastic drink, (the closest American thing I can relate it to is Cherry 7-Up, but much better) and if you haven't tried it and are in the mood to lay off the sauce, please do. It's the Brazilian national non-alcoholic drink, but it is loaded w/ caffeine. If you've never had a caipirinha, or only at Cafe Brazil, (whose caiirinhas were horrible when we visited twice) you must try a real caipirinha. It's a very simple drink with lime juice, cachaca, and sugar a'nd they'll knock you on your seat if you have more than two. The rice and beans were fantastic, and were a tast of being in Brazil again eating a lunch or dinner as rice and beans are served with darn near every meal in Brazil. Fantastic stuff! The picanha and fraldinha were fantastic. Perfectly seasoned and perfectly cooked. I wasn't a fan of the lamb chop I had as it was overcooked, but the other meats including the filet were absolutely wonderful. The salad bar is one of the best you'll encounter with fantasticly fresh ingredients such as proscuito, (sp?) salami, cheeses including fresh-made mozzerella, asparagus stalks the size of a Chipotle burrito, unbelievable Hearts of Palm, and wonderful salad along with pasta salads. Don't fill up on this stuff though as the real star of the show is the meats. And please, try the pao de quejo, (cheese bread) which is another Brazilian specialty not to miss. We thoguht we were too stuffed to enjoy a desert, but the waiter talked us into the Papaya Cream as it has a digestive enzyme to help with all the meat we'd just eaten. After having the delicious Papaya Cream with a dribble of Creme de Cassis, we found our stomachs were definitely in better shape than prior, and it was delicious. I'd had a Papaya Cream in Brazil and enjoyed it a tad more than this, but that's not to take anything away from this simple, but lovely dessert. For a mere $38.00, you get all you can eat, fantastically cooked meats of all kinds along with a number of wonderful foods. You could go to a great steakhouse and spend that much alone for a mere steak with no sides, so please give this place a try. You won't regret it.
(5)
K. W.
Hubby and I were looking for a new place to eat in Denver while we were staying downtown. I looked on yelp and found Fogo de Chao. We had eaten at Rodizio Grill previously so we knew what to expect. This is a great place. The salad bar did not have nearly the amount of items that Rodizio does BUT what they do have is fabulous. The meats are VERY good and be careful...when you flip your coaster to green for "go"...boy do they get there fast. We were swarmed by people with fresh meat. The bonus is that you get to choose how rare you want it (you do not get to do this at Rodizio). The price is a bit more than Rodizio as well but the service is much better as are the meats. Downside is they do not have the grilled pineapple which is a favorite of mine. They offered fresh hot bread, polenta cakes and fried bananas throughout the meal. A definite "must" if you have the extra money. I liked that I could make reservations through a mobile app on my phone. We will return in the future
(4)
Tylor L.
this is arguably the best restaraunt in denver right now. better meat selection than texas de brazil, though it has less sides. great value pick despite the price. only $25 for lunch, with seemingly every cut of meat. the cuts of meat were sensational.
(5)
robert b.
i really liked it. full disclosure: i'm a pig. i love meat too. i am a big salad bar guy. why wouldnt i love it, right? well, most brazilian steakhouses that i have been to here in the usa just arent very good. the other two in denver are perfect examples although the one right down the street from fogo is way worse than the other. i thought the meat was really good and not salted to death. they had choices of temperature. the lamb chops were really good. i didnt waste my time with side orders. 4 stars is a fair rating. maybe 4 1/2. cant do 5 because i didnt love all the choices but its the best of the three in denver by far.
(4)
Catherine B.
This is truly the best Brazilian steakhouse in town. The service is impeccable, and the food is to die for. We tried Rodizio for comparison and for a few bucks more a person, you get infinitely better food and service at Fogo. Don't miss it!
(5)
K.E. Y.
the meat here is definitely tasty, but talk about sensory overload! after hitting the great salad bar i was almost full already, but managed to try some of the chicken, pork sausage and filet. all of it was flavorful and the servers were eager to slice as much meat as you'd want. since we went for 5280 week it was a complete steal, but even at regular prices i'd say it's worth it. their meat quality is as good as any high end steak place in denver and the variety is absolutely awesome. if you're a lover of red meat, this is the place to get as much as you'd want! the desserts were delicious too, key lime pie and chocolate mousse cake, yummy!!!
(4)
Brittany G.
After a recommendation from a friend, I decided to research this restaurant further just to make sure it was going to be up to par for the price. And let me say, after reading exceptional review after exceptional review I was VERY excited to dine here with my girlfriend. I read about exceptional service, free valet, wonderful food, etc. etc. So my expectations were very high for this restaurant and let me tell you how it went. We dined here last Wednesday night, so it was not crowded at all. I made reservations on line (which was an added bonus because I prefer to do anything and everything that I can on line rather than to make an extra call). We parked using the free valet which was very nice given the temps being below zero last week. As we are in are early 20s we were a little worried about the dress code as we aren't very 'fancy shamcey', but ended up wearing nice jeans and sweaters, which fit well with the other guests attire at the restaurant, even topped the guests attire that were wearing Avalanche jerseys (avs game same night). We were seated instantly and had our coats checked together. We usually end up getting very cold in restaurants so I was a little worried about not having a coat, but we were seated near a window that either had a heater right next to the table or the table/chairs were equipped with warmers because we were never cold. Now, for the food experience. We were instantly met by a waiter who started to describe how Fogo works with the meat and salad bar, etc. This was probably the only minor issue of the night, is that the waiter talked way to fast and had a very deep accent and we were unable to completely understand him. No worries though, we were able to get a clarification by another waiter right way. We started with the salad bar, which was exceptional, however, I did not want to fill up as I was saving up for the real dinner. After we finished our salad, it was time for dinner. Oh, side note, as I order my drink (the famous Brazilian drink that they serve there which was delicious) the waiter recognized that I had just turned 21 and in fact was celebrating this with my girlfriend that night and said happy birthday. So after receiving a new plate for meat, we flipped our card over (telling the waiters we are ready). I believe that we tried all the different types of meats, and they provide an unlimited amount of sides (three different types). The service was excellent throughout our meal. At one point the waiter spilled meat on the table as he was giving it to me on my plate and they came to politely scrap it away and also put a white napkin over the stained table cloth. As we were looking at the desserts, when we ordered one they came out with a candle in it and happy birthday enscripted on the plate with a sauce, which was very thoughtful as I didn't specifically state it was my birthday until they checked my ID. One of the waiters (or he may have been a manager of some sort) was constantly asking how everything was and engaged in small talk with us. As we were paying for the bill (dessert was taking off the bill for my birthday), the manager guy came over and handed me a free meal coupon and said happy birthday! I was very surprised as I have never had this happen at a restaurant, let alone a $40 meal restaurant. As you can see, the service and food was excellent and I would recommend this place to everyone. I already have told most of my friends and family about our spectacular dinner there and told them they have to try it. So you have to as well! It is amazing and you won't be disappointed!
(5)
Brittany M.
I have never heard one negative thing about Fogo de Chao, only amazing reviews, so I was really looking forward to trying it out over Denver Restaurant Week. Big Mistake. I always use DRW to try new places and if the food is good and I have a good experience I go back, simple as that. I have found some of my favorite restaurants that way, but Fogo de Chao was overbooked, understaffed and way under prepared. A couple of the cuts of meat that I was dying to try didn't even come out and around to us until after we'd paid our bill. We really weren't impressed with the meal and shame on us for ordering the wine that was part of the special because they'd already sold out and gave us another that was pretty bad. There's a chance I'll go back but only because my experience was the first negative thing I'd ever heard of at the restaurant. In my opinion Denver Restaurant Week should be a time to showcase your food and the experience you provide so that you'll increase your return business. All in all, I can't give a review for how the restaurant is normally, it looks like it's actually a pretty amazing dinner from the reviews and from what I've heard from friends (which is why I'm giving three stars instead of one or two) but definitely do not go there for Restaurant Week.
(3)
liz t.
very clean! Great service(could not do enough for you) asked several times how we liked everything. Seated right away. Always filled water. Fun evening. Go hungry.
(5)
Peg L.
Wow! I brought 15 people here for a surprise 50th b-day celebration and it was extraordinary! The excellence and service that was given to our party in the preparation phase (choosing wines, the private room, etc.) and the actual evening itself has me choosing this as my favorite restaurant! We had a vegetarian guest and a gluten free guest that were completely accommodated. The salad bar is the best I have ever experienced and the desserts? Well, you just gotta, even if you have to take it home. I can't wait to go back and plan to during the holidays. The food will make you weep with gratitude that God created beef. I don't mind paying if you get what you pay for and here you do and more. This is a completely service oriented establishment based on excellence. The video on their site couldn't be more true to the real deal. They really do treat you as if you are a part of their family and our guest cannot stop talking about our fabulous evening.
(5)
Kalia K.
We had an awesome time! Everyone was super nice, sometimes too attentive, even when we had our buttons turned over (if you've never been to a Brazillian steakhouse, you have buttons that tell the servers if you want meat or not), but overall they were great! We went there for my son's 16th birthday and they totally hooked it up - gave him a free dessert (they wrote happy birthday in syrup on the plate, nice touch!), which you often expect, but they gave him a certificate for a free meal on our next visit. Definitely good marketing cuz not like he'll go by himself, lol, but still pretty cool!!! The grub was super yummy! IMO, their meat is better than Texas de Brazil, but their salad bar pales in comparison to Texas de Brazil. However, you go their for the meat mostly right? One of my friends that came is part Brazil and speaks some portugese and some of the servers were actually Brazilian too, gotta love that! My advice - say it's your birthday, even one of the servers said they don't check ID (hopefully nobody from there is reading this, ha-ha). Happy eating!
(4)
matt h.
Went here for restaurant week and I really liked the meat, though the salad bar was not nearly as impressive as the ones at Texas de Brazil or a place called Tucanos in Albuquerque. The atmosphere is nice, the free valet parking is great, and the filet and bacon wrapped chicken both will be part of my dreams for a while. However, the service was only average, and the sausage was bland. Pretty much our entire group thought it was not quite as good as Texas de Brazil.
(4)
Sturm B.
This place is awsome! While I have always loved this format (ie Rodizio), Fogo takes it to the next level. Especially if you are a guy (which I am) I don't see how you could possibly not like the whole "bring me chunks of meat until I say stop" thing. Add a fantastic wine list and grade-a service, and its hard to beat.
(5)
SHEILA G.
what more can I say that eveyone has not...........LOVED IT! .....and be sure to go there w/a hungry stomach.
(5)
Devon P.
Fogo de Chao was a fun experience! A group of us went during restaurant week and had fabulous food and a great time. You get a ton of fabulous food. The salad bar was not your typical salad bar, you had a choice of gourmet cheeses, different olive oils, artichoke hearts, asparagus, and many other ingredients you wouldn't normally get at a salad bar. The unlimited choices of meet were wonderful! This is a great place to take people who are visiting from out of town or family events. I highly recommend this place.
(4)
Kelly N.
What's better than a buffet of meats? :) I enjoyed the filet mignon the most, although I don't remember it coming by as often as I wanted it to. I also liked the chicken. The salad bar was all right, nothing to fantasize about... but, my favorite was the apple salad. Great service! YUM! 52.80 week so it was a bargain! Would I come here again? I'd probably wait until next year to again during Denver Restaurant week...
(4)
Florence S.
I came here at the urging of a friend since I had been to other churrascarias except this one. We were running a little late for our 5p reservation due to traffic and called to let them know, which they were understanding. They have complimentary valet in a garage, which is very nice and convenient. Upon entering, we were greeted and seated immediately. We chose to do the summer feast, which was only $35. The salad bar was plentiful and they also had potatoes au gratin, black beans, and white rice in warmers on the side of the salad bar. They also bring out polenta "fries" and fried bananas. Like with all churrascarias, the meat is plentiful and I was extremely happy that they had rare pieces. My only complaint about the meats is that the edges are highly salted and in some pieces, it was like eating a salt lick. The staff was helpful and were always offering to get me a new plate. When we asked for the check, it took about 10 min, but it was because they were getting my birthday creme brulee ready, so I can't really fault them on that.
(5)
Brian P.
This place is a top notch Brazilian Barbeque joint. My coworkers commented on how much better it is than others they had visited. Some pro-tips: Prices aren't prominent. Dinner will cost you about $50/person without drinks. Get everything medium to well done. Their medium rare is closer to rare. The pineapple is excellent, but don't fill up on it. I recommend staying away from the lamb. Other people liked it. The ambiance, food, and service was great. Some of the meat (e.g. lamb, garlic beef) wasn't as good as I would have hoped, but overall I liked it will definitely go back.
(4)
Daniel B.
Wow, a great all you can eat brazilian steakhouse. While not everything brought out was superb ... it all was really good. They did struggle getting some medium rare steak out at one point ... but I was eating an enormous amount and it had to be hard to keep up! The "salad bar" is not a run of the mill salad bar ... it has a very impressive variety of exotic options ... and the the Caipirinhas are delectable and use a quality cachaça! Bring an appetite and avoid the carbs ... this place is all about the protein loading ;)
(5)
Belinda L.
I cannot express how happy I was trying this restaurant out. First you should only come here on an empty stomach. The cost is hefty. The atmosphere was calm. The service was prompt. We didn't want for anything. They tended to us like we were royalty. My glass was magically filled. It was like I turned my head and when I turned it back my glass was full. The only thing they didn't do was cut my food up and spoon feed me. The valet was complimentary too. I didn't want to leave this place! Highly recommend.
(5)
Michael M.
My daughter said "what have you gotten us into?!" Afterwards she thought it was great. Neither of us had done Brazilian steakhouse before so I'm sure Mississippi people looked a little lost, but we quickly found our comfort zone. The food was amazing, wait staff courteous and very helpful, and atmosphere great. We were casually dressed but felt very comfortable as others were as well. Definitely worth it!
(5)
David A.
When I first walked in, I felt the place was a little dark and dreary. It was restaurant week so the place was very busy. We had a drink in the slightly cramped bar area while we waited the 20 minutes for our reservation. None of the drinks were particularly well crafted, especially considering the moderate fee they charged for them. After we were seated the wait staff started taking care of us very well. Everyone was polite and very attentive. They'll bring you mashed potatoes, fried polenta, and fried bananas. They try very hard to make sure you don't run out. They'll have you treat yourself to their salad bar; which I found uninspired (I don't know of anyone who enjoys steaks with cold green beans and cold mushrooms). After you get situated, you flip your little cards over to green, indicating you are ready for meat. The beef really is the star of the show here. Everything is nicely seasoned and sizzling hot when it gets to the table. The overwhelming favorite at our table was the bottom sirloin. In last place was their bacon wrapped chicken, which struck us as frozen food brought back to life in a microwave. You'll pay a chunk of change to eat here. In return you'll get delicious red meats, excellent service, and all you can eat. Do I think it's worth it? -Not really sure. Will I go back? -Nope.
(3)
Qiongxiao Y.
Great food! Soiloin is my first choice of meat there! Pineapples are great! It was a pity that I got full in 15 minutes I wish I had eaten more for the money I paid!!!
(5)
Sam V.
Came here for a company dinner; what a treat! We were treated to the whole 9 yards-- the full churrasco experience for everyone! First of all, the service was absolutely exceptional. I'm pescaterian and they happily subbed the table-side carvings for their Mango Chilean Sea Bass. It was flavorful, succulent, and cooked perfectly. The 'Market Table' and sides are choice and it was hard to not get full on those options alone. Overall, it was a well executed and exceptional dining experience (especially given the fact they had to tend to many people). I'm definitely going to come again (minus my coworkers).
(5)
J K.
This place is GOOD. The kind of good where you are actually excited about it, thinking ahead and it ends up being the best part of your day. Meats are amazing, sides are amazing, drinks are amazing, salad is amazing. It's pricey but worth it.
(5)
Jenny P.
I've been to a few Brazilian steakhouses before and just thought it was okay but the meat at Fogo really is fantastic. The lunch deal is definitely worth the price. The salad bar alone is usually full of great salads, meat, cheese, and salmon but I try to not get too full from eating it so that I can focus on the meat. My favorite is the house special. Everytime they slice you a piece, I think they take it back inside to char the outside again so that every piece always has a nice char on the outside. I also love the filet mignon, medium to medium rare. Very tender and juicy. I'm not a huge chicken fan but I like their little chicken drumsticks as well, very flavorful. Then of course there is the cheese bread. Its only good with its warm though. One of the waiters showed us a trick, to put a little condensed milk in the cheese bread and eat it with the bananas. Its pretty much a dessert at this point and soooo good.
(5)
Morgan J.
I don't live here, but every time I come visit my sister, I'm coming here. I'm not sure what all I ate, but none of it was bad. Tyler (really wish I remembered his last name to make sure he knows who I'm talking about) put up with my crazy family and then some. We're a difficult bunch but he laughed with us and engaged far more than I'm used to with any restaurant staff I've ever come across. I ate some of EVERYTHING we were offered, but I think the lamb and the bottom sirloin were my favorites. I'll let you know when I come back and try again. The molten chocolate cake was magnificent as well. But, food aside, I will definitely look for Tyler when I come back. He made it fun rather than overwhelming with the amount of food.
(5)
Yoomi P.
What an amazing place for meatlovers! :) So, I've been to the Fogo in LA, and of course loved it. The meat quality/taste is pretty much the same as the LA location. Picanha is my favorite, and I believe it's the most famous/popular one. I recommend if you go there for the first time, to try a little bit of EVERY meat. But make sure to ask for small pieces b/c otherwise you'll probably explode before you can try half of their selections lol. As for the salad bar, I like the options in LA better, but the Denver location had enough to satisfy my veggies/cheese cravings. :) My favorite part about brazilian bbq is the pau de quejo (sp?) The amazing cheesy chewy goodness that simply melts in your mouth. I eat at least 10 of them whenever I go... which leaves no room for the delicious meat :((( I also absolutely love their grilled pineapple that's sprinkled with cinnamon. It goes GREAT with the meat. I can't forget the fried bananas! Mmmmmmmmm. So much goodness... The only thing I can recommend is to really try EVERYTHING. The meat, cheese bread, pineapple, bananas, polenta, brazilian soda, salad bar.. EVERYTHING!! You'll love the experience, I guarantee it :)
(4)
Phil B.
Meat meat and more meat! Walking the line between a gourmet and gourmand, I do love some Brazilian steakhouse goodness. The service is solid, although on a busy night it is easy to get lost in the crowd. Additionally, depending on where you are, it can be a significant hike to the salad bar (because we all know that why you go to a steakhouse is the salad...) and there seems to be less foot traffic of those kind folks carrying the meat which I so desire to eat. Seated in a high traffic area, it is easily 5 stars (the lamb definitely brings it up to 5) but stuck in a corner, if you are in the far back, you will have to ask for various meats and you will have to be patient (which would drop it to 3 stars). We were there twice in 2 week, once with a great location, then with a walk far enough to make me wonder if we were getting seated in another restaurant. And thus, by the law of averages, 4 stars it is.
(4)
Daniel T.
Again, Fogo is the greatest chain ever created in the history of mankind. This spot is pretty awesome. $25 for lunch is a ridiculously cheap price for all the amazing beef you get! Just sit and eat all of the pequena. Parking kind of sucks, but once you get settled in a parking structure, just walk on over!
(5)
Hunter R.
Love this place!!! Carnivores only. Be sure to come hungry, then make sure your plans for the night are to hit the couch in what my friend calls a "meat coma". Amazing service makes it 5 stars for me, especially after having very poor service at the other Brazilian steakhouse in Denver.
(5)
Jamie C.
Great deal for Denver Restaurant Week! All you can eat Brazilian BBQ, that's the only way to go! It's definitely a fantastic dining experience since you can try various cuts of different steaks/meats instead of just being stuck with one option. The Fraldinha (Bottom Sirloin) was my absolute favorite cut. It was perfectly seared on the outside with a saltier taste. The meat was perfectly tender and that's all I wanted most of the night. All the other meats were delicious as well, particularly the garlic Picanha, but bottom sirloin was just the most memorable for me that night. Awesome and huge salad bar! Side dishes: The pão de queijo (warm cheese bread) is also to die for here. My best friend can eat baskets and baskets but it's the best when it first comes out. I'm definitely a texture person when it comes to food and this side dish is perfection crispy on the outside but soft and chewy on the inside and it's just fantastic. The caramelized bananas are also really great for when you want to change up your palette and opt for something slightly sweet. If it's not sweet enough for you, definitely get some condensed milk on the side to pour over it! Tip: Get some Chimichurri sauce to pair with your meats when you want to change it up a bit during the meal. Complimentary valet.
(5)
Lily S.
Everything's good but I'm just not a big fan of this type of cuisine so I can't rate it 4-stars. 3.5 is more like it and if you don't have time to read the rest of the review please be assured you'll love it if Brazilian style roasted meats are your thing. So my friend said we had to come on New Year's day since it falls on a Thursday this time which means we'll get half-priced food during lunch hours ($26.30 per person, as opposed to $50 at night) and free street parking! Good point. It was a party of about 15 and we sat at a long table. The nice thing is you don't have to wait till the entire party arrives, people are going to be late, you'll just help yourself to foods in the salad bar! My most favorite is the Marinated Grilled Zucchini, OMG the marinade and the grill marks make the sliced squash so flavorful and not at all soggy. You can probably eat your worth of money by getting a lot of smoked salmon, lol. I, on the other hand, saved room for the to-die-for lemonade, or rather, Brazilian Limeade. It's $4.50 per glass but with endless refills. I hate regular lemonade, even freshly squeezed ones, thought they taste too much like the citrus skin, but this Limeade is a whole different story. I late looked up the recipe online and it consists of lime juice, milk, and sweetened condensed milk, just think of the ingredients and you should know how yummy the drink is. It's also cloudy and slightly foamy as the waiter pours it from the pitcher into the glass, it's beautiful to look at, almost reminds me of a Pina Colada. The meats can be non-stop if you want it, get the grilled pineapple, it compliments the chicken very well. I ate so many kinds of meats I couldn't keep a straight list. But again, if I'm given the choice of Korean BBQ or this, I'll pick the Asian alternative, but that's just me. Service is always on the spot, got absolutely nothing to complain about. Fogo De Chao is a nice restaurant that has its own brand chocolate and napkin! I enjoyed dinging here.
(3)
Steve A.
Been to many Brazilian stack houses and out of all of them in the different states I would say this one was my least favorite. The service is slow at times. The staff was not as polite as I would expect going to a high end restaurant. The food was ok.
(3)
Linda T.
I've been craving meat! So this is the place to come. I am a college student so Fogo de Chao is more like a splurge but it was well worth it after finals. A few friends and I came for lunch after finals were over to celebrate since lunch is $26.50. Even if you did not want to eat meat, they have a very extensive salad bar that could probably satisfy you. If not, the cheese bread that they bring out is delicious. One of my friends were full but kept asking the waitress for their cheese bread. I had the green circle on the table and the meat kept coming my way. I think my favorites were the picanha, filet mignon and the filet mignon wrapped with bacon. Some pieces were salty but I'm glad they had the meat seasoned. It was a great day and the food was great. The service was amazing and when I want to celebrate again, here I will come! :)
(5)
Jaime H.
I was super excited to bring my work team here during our training in Denver. The Minneapolis Fogo is Awesome and I wanted my team to have the same experience. I was very disappointed when we walked past the salad bar (that resembled an old country buffett salad bar)on the way to our table. It didn't even come close to the appearance of the Mpls Fogo. It didn't have the Cheeses and even more importantly didn't have the smoked Salmon that I often think about that Mpls has. The waitress was very nice and service was very good. The meat served was similar to the Mpls FOGO. It was very good. I was relieved once I tasted the meats. I had to give 3 stars for the lack of ambience I was expecting comparing to the MPLS location.
(3)
Monica J.
My husband loves Fogo de Chão restaurants so much that we visit them while we are travelling to other cities. For Labor Day weekend we were staying in Boulder, Colorado but just had to make the drive to downtown Denver (which wasn't bad actually) to dine here Sunday evening with some friends. The food was pretty much the same as any other location. Which is to say, it was delicious. I love getting the little red peppers at the salad bar as well as the marinated artichokes and mushrooms. The meats are all fantastic and I like to ask for some chimichurri sauce to accompany them. The service at the Denver location was warm and friendly and everyone was on the spot to get fresh plates or whatever items we needed. The only downside is somehow no one ever brought my hubby's iced tea. We had them take it off the bill at the end of the night so no big deal. We lucked out in that it was restaurant week and so our meal was only $30!!!
(5)
Dave H.
Endless tasty roasted meat, served at the table. There's a fine salad bar you can visit as often as you want, too, though that's gotten pared down a bit over the past few days. The service, a tag team approach, is always highly attentive, with the exception of delays in getting back drinks from the bar (though the caiparinhas are worth the wait.
(4)
Dawn H.
Overall: The dinner is $46.50 + tax per person. Not too shabby. As far as the entire experience, Fogo is a solid 3.5 stars for me. So who does what better (i.e. Fogo vs. Rodizio vs. TdB)? The answer -- it's a mixed bag. Meats: Fogo -- best flavor by far. Personally, I prefer the meat selection (variety) at Rodizio, but there is no denying the quality here by far, especially the lamb. Pineapple -- Rodizio. The pineapple at Fogo is smothered in way too much cinnamon, but I must admit, this is splitting hairs. I say that because the pineapple gaucho only came around once over the course of an hour, and it made me sad. :( Mashed Potatoes -- Fogo. Just the right amount of garlic and were complimentary to the meats served. Fried Bananas -- Rodizio. The fried bananas at Fogo are bit on the oily and mushy side and fell apart easily. Salad Bar -- TdB. No soup options at Fogo. The salad bar itself at Fogo was still nice though -- it's just that TdB has more salad bar offerings, including lobster bisque. Fogo offers the usual salad greens and fixings, real bacon, artichokes, sundried tomatoes, various mayo-infused salad (i.e. pototao salad, chicken salad), prosciutto, salami, various cheeses, olives, smoked salmon.....and that's all I can recall at the moment. Service: Fogo/TdB. At both locations, the gauchos are really quick and the servers are 20 steps ahead when it comes to basic services (i.e. refilling beverages, etc.) The creme brulee at Fogo is worth noting -- please save room for this! It was overall really good -- just wish I could incorporate all the pros from the various locations and combine them together into one restaurant!
(3)
Megan J.
Took a large group for a birthday party and they did absolutely everything right. Food was amazing, service was impeccable, and we all left happy. Several people from our party are ready to go back! I'd recommend one must have item, but to be honest, I can't choose. All the main course items were cooked to perfection, and the salad bar was so delicious I could have just had that and been happy.
(5)
Grace B.
If you are like me, Foodie on a Budget, try this place during Denver Restaurant Week! All you can eat Brazilian BBQ with only few meats taken out of the menu for Denver Restaurant Week. Not to mention a great selection of bottomless salad bar to go with your meat and baskets of Brazilian cheese bread, platters of caramelized bananas, plates of mashed potatoes studded with garlic and trays of crispy polenta! Caramelized bananas was very sweet and crispy polenta was salty but nice addition. TIP: Ask for some Chimichurri sauce to go with your meat, which helps you refresh your mouth by neutralizing the fattiness of the meat. This sauce will help you eat more meat for sure! Now stop reading reviews on yelp and GO TRY THIS PLACE! (One of the best deals from Denver Restaurant Week!)
(4)
Riza H. C.
Friday February 28th 2014. Last day of Denver Restaurant Week for some establishments aka restaurants in town. For FOGO DE CHAO Denver, when I checked, they extended that Denver Restaurant Week till the weekend of March 2nd 2014. I have made reservations sometime back coz for one Hubs wanted to have a "AYCE". Yes its DWR with $30 per person just for food. Yes, this establishment was packed to the brim. We had the reservation for 21:30hrs, I told Hubs to arrive early in case we can have our seats early. Thank God we did, we were seated @ 21:10hrs, though our table is like in the middle of "traffic", aka near the SALAD BAR, added bonus to Hubs content. Then when our server arrived, man, too many people aka to many servers. Since this establishment is LOUD with other patrons, I can barely hear what's going on, though I know the style of Dining, this establishment has to offer. From the Denver Restaurant Week Menu these were the following items : * Salad & Sides Bar * Bread and Side Dishes * Main Course * Picanha * Alcatra * Fraldinha * Cordeiro * Linguica * Costela de Porco * Lombo * Frango Take note, out of 8 Meat Items, we CAN ONLY eat 4 of it, coz the rest contain PORK. First misleading information since this is NOT stated when we made the reservations. The Salad bar, seems ok, nothing stellar nothing fancy - Err personally it looks so sad, and Hubs agreed to that sentiments too *SIGH* I managed to get the Salmon, the rest are PASTA, and Vegetables. It would be nice, if there are "LABELS" indicated at the Salad Bar, like what we are eating etc etc but they were NOT - Second Epic Fail. On my right, well actually to the back where I was seating, they offer the trays of Carbs such as Rice. Yes, Hubs tends to like the Brazilian Cheese Bread, and the Crispy Polenta. I like the Brazilian Cheese Bread too. We don't like the Garlic Mash Potatoes coz it went cold. They brought out all these items including the Caramelized Bananas, that went to COLD too fast. *SECOND BIG SIGH* To add with that, since I might be a little under the weather, I cannot really enjoy this DWR to the fullest. Hence this 3 stars Generous review. I felt we were short-changed coz of the limited kind of meats they offer. It was NOT stated in any shape or form when we went to make the Reservation Online. Hubs rated this experience as 3 Stars, personally for me, for the Value, of the DWR 2014, Fogo De Chao Denver offer is 2.5 Stars, but OVERALL Dining Experience more like 2 Stars at best. Since Hubs had coffee ($2.55) was added to the cost and our Dinner that evening was $67.55. The Main Server that evening is Jordan and the Cashier is Ksenia. Left the establishment about 22:50hrs ish. FOGO DE CHAO 1513 Wynkoop St Denver, CO 80202 @38/2014
(3)
Jason A.
Amazing place. A friend recommended this place to me so we went here on an anniversary date. Even better than I expected. Service is great. So is the food (my favorite was probably the beef ancho (ribeye). The sides - and the bread - are also delicious, which poses a problem because you don't really want to fill up on those. Would definitely visit again.
(5)
J T.
I came here for a birthday celebration, unfortunately it coincided with restaurant week. Madness! I love restaurant week, but it's gotten out of hand crazy busy. It was wall to wall people. I've been to 2 other Fogo's, but this is my first visit to this location in Denver. I made reservations but because of restaurant week I still had to wait for 20 minutes for our table. Not bad considering others were telling me they had been waiting for longer. Service was good- our server was in from Kansas City for restaurant week. He was lovely. Very attentive, consistent with the service I've come to expect from Fogo. Valet parking is free (the lot next to the restaurant is where to go for that) it is a great service! Yay for valet! Love, love love the pao de quiego (cheese bread) it is amazing. The Fogo version is just So delicious. I could have sat here and just ate that all night, but luckily I diversified. I hit the salad bar... I was honestly disappointed by the selection. Where was the bowl of bacon I've come to expect and love? Missing. The prosciutto? Nope. The hearts of Palm? Nada. The wheel of parmaggiana regianno? Nope. Instead there was some generic salami, and cheese slices and bowls of lettuces. Booo. Their shiitake mushrooms were also just regular button mushrooms. Dissapointing. I love the Fogo salad bars at the other locations I've eaten at... I hope that this isn't a regional issue. I'm hoping that this was because it was restaurant week and they had a stripped down version of their regular salad bar. It really didn't cut the mustard for me...( yes, I am the girl that goes to a meat fest to eat salad). But who goes to a churrascuria for the salad? The meat is definitely the main event at this place. The meat more than made up for the salad bar. The gauchos kept coming with the meat offerings, they were attentive and were like meat magicians..." I see your plate is nearly half empty, more meats?" Seriously, I keep forgetting to wear my fat pants to these places. The bottom sirloin was my favorite cut. Picanha and the flank were also amazing. It was all amazingly flavored, salty, melty, meaty deliciousness. I loved the bananas, not a fan of the polenta fries, the potatoes were great but a touch cold. I wish I made room for dessert but honestly I just spent the rest of the night fighting off the dreaded meat sweats. Oh the meat sweats! I regret nothing!
(4)
Kristine N.
Came during restaurant week and we had a reservation at 7. Checked in at 6:40 and didn't get sat until about 7:20. That was frustrating. The salad bar is nice with plenty of options. They also have a couple of hot dishes along the buffet line. On to the meat, it was SLOW! But the best ones were the bottom shoulder, the Parmesan crusted, and the garlic steak. Yum. Side dishes were good, especially the fries!!!
(4)
Shane A.
Some of the best food I've had. Make sure to bring an appetite, you'll need it! Specifically there's a server named Manny who took complete care of us all night. No sooner than I spilled my drink, he was there - he could have caught the glass if he was any faster to respond. He took care of us all night - made sure we had everything we needed, sometimes before we even realized we needed it. It was a great experience.
(5)
Scott F.
We had made a reservation online which was very quick and convenient. We got there about 20 minutes early and they sat us anyway. Service was outstanding! We were a table of 2 and had at least 3 waiters at all times. The meat guys were very regular as well. For those that haven't been to one of these, you have a disc at your table that is red on one side and green on the other. Flip to green, and the meat guys stop by with something different all the time. Flip to red, they pass by. With that said, the meat was good, some was overcooked. (The reason for only 4 stars.) The waiter brought carmalized bananas.....best thing of the night! The meat guys also brought roasted pineapple. Very good! The "salad bar" was diverse. My favorite was the scalloped potatoes and the different loose meats. Who needs salad anyway! Give it a try!
(4)
Yasser S.
Love Brazilian steakhouses but this was first experience at fogo here in downtown and was thoroughly disappointed.meat mentioned on website wasnt present, as it wasn't packed I was still waiting on my meat and ended up eating more salad than meat.medium well was usually burnt part and salty.and when I say salty I mean SALTY.salad bar was bland.long story short ended up wasting 50$,bad mood and at burger joint to fill my appetite later. Better Brazilian choices available.
(1)
Lynda M.
Alright let me just sum this place up by saying that you sit at a table and get to have a crappy buffet and then men come around and offer you copious amounts of meat. Yes, meat men. Meat men are in abundance at this place. They practically shove the meat down your throat. I'm not going to lie, I put the scraps in my napkin and put it in my purse and went home and fed my dogs, while my partner projectile vomited massive amounts of meat into the toilet. Gluttony at its finest. I'm glad we went during restaurant week because it was only $30 per person instead of $50.
(2)
Trina G.
A solid 4.5! I always make my first Restaurant Week reservation at Fogo. The reservations go fast and its not something we want to miss. I have been to Fogo several times when its not Restaurant Week, but my service was even better than normal for how busy it was last night. The nice GM came and asked us if we were looking for any meats specifically several times and the meat always showed up. The salad bar was amazing as always. SO MANY OPTIONS! The only thing keeping me from 5 stars is the drink prices. I understand upscale restaurant pricing (why do you think I fill up my reservations for Restaurant Week) but to not have a white wine under 9 bucks (the house wine was sold out) is a little too much. All in all, Fogo is a must. I have been to Rodizio and Texas de Brazil many times, and there is no going back after Fogo.
(4)
Shea W.
Where to start with Fogo? Disclaimer: I've never paid full price here before because: why even? I went once for restaurant week and once ON A SUNDAY, yo, because they do 30.00 all you can eat restaurant week special every sunday. Lemme set the scene. Salad bar? Not even the right word for it! Salad-cheese-meat-pickled things bar. Anything you've ever wished a salad bar had? This place has. Also, eat like 3 hearts of palm and I think your 30 bucks has already paid for itself (but serious side note. Why is hearts of palm so expensive??) Once you're at your table you have a giant pog. Yes, pog from the 90's. The green side tells the waiters "bring da meat" and boy do they bring it. Tip to not look like an idiot: use your tongs to help them get the meat on yo plate. All the meat is delicious and sooooooo Rich. By the 3rd piece I'm always stuffed to the gills. It's almost overwhelming but just turn dat pog to the red side for a bit to catch your breath. Final tip: complimentary valet but please tip them with cash!! The guy was so surprised when I handed him money. He must get stiffed a lot!
(4)
Jeff M.
Great services, awesome menu - a truly great dining experience. Pace yourself.
(5)
Tracey B.
When I think if Fogo I think business men in suits - boys club kinda place. All of the meat is excellent, salad bar is above average, sides of unlimited mashed potatoes and plantains were good not spectacular. Service is top notch. Will I go back? Probably not, but it's definitely worth going at least once.
(4)
Yulia R.
We had our wedding party at Fogo de Chao. It is an awesome place for the parties since every guest will find something delicious to eat. Great meat variety for the meat lovers. Even vegetarians will find something tasty at the salad bar. Grilled pineapple and the cheese bread are amazing.
(5)
Sarah H.
Dang. Fogo went from my favorite churrascaria to my least favorite in two visits. What a shame. They sent an announcement via email that they were extending their Denver Restaurant Week deal every Sunday through the end of March, so I went and was really disappointed to discover that they had pared down the salad bar to the point that there was nothing but a few cheap cheeses, lunch meats, and salads. Also, while I can understand offering a limited selection of meats for the reduced price, they decided not to serve the grilled pineapple, which is one of my favorite items at Fogo. What was really disturbing is that it wasn't like there was a seperate salad bar for the full price diners - they had the same bad selection for 50% more in price. The whole thing just struck me as pointless - the whole point of Restaurant Week is to get people hooked so they'll come back and pay full price, not to have them say, "It wasn't a bad deal for $30, but I'd never pay more than that for what we got!". Sometimes when you make a marketing decision, you have to accept an upfront loss for long-term gains. Otherwise, why bother participating in DRW at all? A couple weeks later, I got another email from Fogo saying that they were offering $25 off dinner when you presented the email offer to your server. When I read the fine print, it said "Good for up to 5 per table". This to me implies that the deal is good for each diner, up to 5 diners per table in the same way that a grocery coupon that says "$1 off, limit 5" means you get $1 off each item up to the first 5 purchased. It seemed like a deal that was too good to be true but I couldn't pass it up, so I invited some friends to come out with me and told them I'd foot the bill since it'd be so affordable. Come time to pay the check, the bill was much than I had expected. I asked my server why the discount was only applied once and she said that we would need a seperate coupon code for each diner. The Boy, who also susbscribes to the Fogo email, said "If I'd known that I'd have kept mine, but it really looks like you're offering the deal per diner so I deleted it." Our server's response? She made jokes about how if they gave the discount to everyone they'd be paying us to eat there and made ABSOLUTELY NO ATTEMPT to assist us further, other than badgering The Boy to pull up his deleted filed for another coupon code, which he couldn't do since he didn't bring his phone . So if I'd come alone or if each of us had a code, wouldn't THAT being paying us to eat there too? It made no sense and we all left feeling insulted. I wasn't looking for her to give us the full discount that the email implied, but to make no attempt to offer anything at all? That just felt like a bait and switch. It's a shame that Fogo's service and business choices have gone so far downhill, because their food is still good. But after these last two experiences, I seriously doubt I'll go back again and I'll start recommending one of the competitors to my friends and family when we're having a group dinner out.
(1)
Pamela S.
I LOVE Fogo but we dined recently for Denver Restaurant Week and they went extremely cheap. I usually LOVE all of the smoked salmon, asparagus, hearts of palm and that parmesan cheese wheel! However, none of that was available this time around. The selection of meats was still delicious, even though it was minimized. I guess you get what you pay for.
(3)
Miranda M.
Absolutely fantastic food, from the salad bar to the meat. Definitely among the best meat I've ever had. My drink was delayed compared to everyone else at my table (I think they forgot about it, since two other people at the table ordered the same thing), but overall, great service.
(4)
Harold W.
My goodness this place is phenomenal. If you have never been to a Brazilian steakhouse then this is the one to go to. The salad bar is always fresh with some of the best options you can think of. Now for the main meal, each customer has a circle object that looks like a cup holder, one side is red the other side is green and when you are ready to eat meat you flip it over to green and someone will come around every two minutes with a different type of meat for you to eat until you flip it over to red. Some of the meats include filet minion, ribeye, chicken and others. My favorite was the pineapple which has a cinnamon type spice to it and it is delicious. The staff was very friendly, it's a good place to have a nice dinner with the family, girlfriend, wife or other lol. Also the price is about $50.00 per person I had 2 people with me and the bill was around $170.00 so yea it's worth it.
(5)
Chloe T.
Three stars for awesome meat- lamb and filet mignon were exceptional. But service here is just ok. While everyone was friendly, the second we flipped our cards over signaling the waiters we were ready for the meat course, it was like a feeding frenzy. Every second someone was coming over asking if we wanted this or that and it was a little overwhelming. Also not worth $50 per person for what you get. While meat was good, there are plenty of excellent places who can serve amazing meat for less than $50. We essentially spent $200 for a few bites of steak, unfortunately.
(3)
t. o.
My spouse arranged for a family dinner here on Christmas Eve. Though relatively young and moderately hip, we eat like old people, so our reservation was for 5:30, which so often is simply the best time to go to restaurants, Better tables, better service, better food. Partner grew up in Dallas and had been to that one a couple times many years ago. She was disappointed by the (by comparison) paltry so-called salad bar, which she said used to have crab, shrimp, salmon, etc. Still, the rest of us thought the bar was fine. I could never eat meat again in my life and be happy about it, but she loves the meats, so I was game (ha.) I had a few tasty bits of cow, a few not so tasty bits (forget about the sausage.) The place was half empty when we came in and was packed within 30 minutes, so it was a nice lively atmosphere. But I don't think anyone thought they would be heading back again afterwards. We did find a great, relatively cheap bottle of organic Chilean red wine on the menu,. which felt like a big score. I know wine ok; it was a good deal. The actual highlight of that night was visiting the new Union Station for a drink before dinner. A perfect capper would have been popping into Tattered Cover, but we were ready for home, a fire, and a long winters night after dinner. An enjoyable one off, but it's pretty much exactly what you'd expect.
(3)
Brittany S.
We went here for our work Christmas lunch. I had not been to a Brazilian steakhouse previously. Maybe I'm just not a fan of this type of place, but I didn't enjoy it. They walk around and offer you slices of meat. Most of the meat was heavily seasoned and salty. Also most of the meat was beef. There was some lamb and chicken, but I don't think I ever saw any pork passed around and most of the beef that was served tasted very similar to the last. My favorite thing about this place was the salad bar. And the service was good.
(3)
Hannah Y.
I went here during restaurant week last march and I was really excited to try a Brazilian Steakhouse. I heard good things about Fogo de Chao but it didn't live up to my expectations. In their defense, I don't eat meat in access and I think having so much of it in one sitting just didn't sit well with me. The lamb was delicious! I love lamb and I consider myself to be a lamb snob and this place had delicious ham. The salad bar was not a traditional salad bar; however, I loved all of the things that they had. Smoked salmon, roasted garlic, hearts of palm, mmmmmmm. Also, the biscuits were to die for. They are like a buttery biscuit stuffed with cheese. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. I think the only reason why I give this place 3 stars is not because it isn't good but because of the concept. I like to leave wanting me and wanting to come back but after eating here, I had my fill and I am set for a long time. They come around with meat as soon as you flip your card over and usually your eyes are bigger than your stomach and I could not eat everything that they served me but I wanted to try everything. I was overwhelmed.
(3)
Matthew T.
Went to eat here on the Friday following the New Year. Driving downtown can be pretty hectic on weekend evenings, but this restaurant started things off amazing, with complimentary valet parking. This makes a huge difference on those crowded streets, especially in the snowy cold we had. Walking in, there is a nice bar area where you can enjoy a drink while waiting for your table. Thankfully, we had reservations, so were whisked straight in by the hostess. Once seated, the level of service became apparent. We were quickly greeted, brought water, and introduced to the ins and outs of a Brazilian steakhouse. Throughout the whole meal, a water glass was never left half full, courtesy checks as to whether we'd like specific cuts of meat brought, appetizers, sides, quality of food, all were abundant but not overbearing. Perhaps the best service I've experienced. And, of course, the food. The salad bar was beautiful, with delicious choices from salads to cheeses to meats to vegetables that would have easily provided a wonderful dining experience by themselves. Of course, that wasn't all. Flip your table marker to green, and the attentive servers would come by with the twelve different cuts of meat, serving you portions from a taste to a generous slice at your request, cooked as you prefer, and continuing to come by until your marker is flipped back to red to give you a break to enjoy the perfectly seasoned delectable meats. All in all, an amazing dining experience. I will definitely recommend visits here, and return myself.
(5)
Jade T.
This place has now been dubbed my FAVORITE in terms of Brazilian food and Steakhouses!! Sorry Rei Del Gado, and Texas De Brazil! The salad bar offers a huge selection of sides to go with the 17 different cuts of meat that rotate to your table. The parsley salad and smoked salmon were some of the best I've had!! As long as you're bold enough to keep your coaster flipped on "Green" the meats keep coming! Have to say the pork ribs, parmesean crusted chicken, and grilled pineapple made several trips to our table! Delicious!! The staff definitely made sure we got our money's worth and then some as our glasses were never empty and every need was catered too. They even brought fresh chopped fruit for my toddler who wasn't interested in entertaining the skewers of meat presented to the table! We ate, drank, and left so full we could burst! Save room for dessert!! The creme brulee was divine!!!
(5)
Audrey C.
My experience here was amazing! My boyfriend had come up to Denver to visit me for spring break and we decided on this restaurant as a little impulse date night for just the two of us. For a set price of like ~$50, you get to have the salad bar (which is the biggest and nicest one I've ever seen! It made me so excited) and pretty much all you can eat of the meats that they provide. The service here was excellent! I felt really well taken care of by the staff; however, that also could be due to the fact we went on a Sunday night and the restaurant was pretty dead. Regardless! It was an amazing experience. The meats tasted excellent and the greens were fresh! They also brought over little sides which consisted of fried banana, mashed potatoes, and a little puffy butter bread thing that tasted amazing! We loved our experience here! The only reason why I wouldn't come back is because the amount of food was almost overwhelming for me! I enjoyed myself so much that I practically had to roll out of the restaurant as a ball from eating too much. So delicious! Highly recommend! Especially for that carnivore in your life.
(5)
b h.
I'm very late in writing this review, but wanted to make sure it got done, because there were so many people to thank. In April, 2015 we did a special event dinner at this fabulous restaurant in downtown Denver. It was very convenient to our conference location at the Hyatt, but more importantly, it's right up the alley of our group, which adheres to a low carb lifestyle. From the start, the group sales manager, Jennifer DeAngelis, was thorough, professional, and very helpful in making sure our event fit our group's budget and needs. She was very accommodating in customizing a menu that met the restrictions of our group. Particularly, this group started out at expecting about 80 people, and ended up with about 130! Talk about flexibility...she made sure our event was still private, and still had an air of intimacy. She never batted an eye as the numbers went up and up, and even when our count went over the capacity of the private room, she came up with a solution that fit our needs. The day of the the event, the setup was perfect, thanks to the help and hard work of Robert and his staff. Robert was instrumental in finding the best way to set up the room so that everyone in the newly-configured arrangement could see and hear the speaker. We used their sound system and mic, my only advice is to make sure the wireless mic has fresh batteries before using. If you can believe it, we actually were allowed to have each party pay with a separate check...very rare, indeed when you are talking about this number of people...but a convenience that made it possible to do the event at all. The amazing waitstaff, hand-picked by Jennifer and our lead, Manny, handled this challenge with grace and speed...very professionally serving this large group, and effectively handling what could have been a very chaotic 'end of evening' when 130 people all asked for their check at the same time! This staff did not miss a beat, and the organization and efficiency with which they handled everything was truly amazing. Note that it is helpful to make an announcement to guests about the procedures to secure their help in making sure everyone gets their check settled in a timely fashion. All in all, I highly recommend doing any special event/dinner/meeting at Fogo de Chao in Denver. Their staff is up to it, and very proficient at providing the utmost in service and flexibility for a flawless event. Crediting the entire staff that helped us that evening, the event was a rousing success thanks to all of your hard work and good humor.
(5)
Lee K.
A meat lovers paradise! Absolutely enjoyed everything they had to offer! Came here for valentines and left with a wonderful food coma. Worth every penny!
(5)
Steve P.
What a wonderful experience. The best barbecue I've ever had. the pineapple is really good too. Ask for Christy she's the greatest server in the place.
(5)
Adel Z.
My favorite place to satisfy my inner carnivore. Consistently good with excellent cuts of meat cooked to perfection. Oh and BTW they have a salad bar.
(5)
Joey B.
The experience service wise was excellent. Some of the best service I've ever had in Denver. The food is the reason I'm giving it 4 stars Instead of 5. We sat down, the girlfriend ordered some kind of tequila cocktail with fresh lime, kind of like a mojito crossed with a Margarita. I asked for something bold red and south american, and was presented with the Susana Balbo Cabernet (probably 09). Good choice waitress, I love that one. Anyways then they bring out these delicious little appetizers, fried polenta dusted with parmesan, and little squishy cheesy bread balls (not sure what they're called), very tasty. At first it's an open salad bar but the waitress advised us not to fill up on salads and go for the meats. But the salad bar is super on par- everything from real bacon strips to baba ganoush. Next comes a caramelized plantain (they called it a bannana, I knew better) and their mashed potatoes. They set these two big sides on your table and the guys walk around with swords and cut you off tidbits of this and that meat. Very tasty. One of the cuts, their house specialty was actually pretty salty, but in their defense I see why, it was the end of heel, and the first cut so it was all crusted in salt not just the edges. We tried it all though, our server was very attentive to make sure we got every piece of meat me wanted. Their dessert list leaves something to be desired. I had a nutty Irishman cocktail and the girlfriend has some kind of chocolate coffee, and we shared a creme brule. The issue is all of their desserts seem so generic, nothing popped out and said "hey try me!!" Either way not a bad experience. 200+ for a dinner and drinks for 2 with a good tip. To be expected. 4 out of 5 for the price of the food and service
(4)
Lisa W.
So disappointing. I've been here several times and have always had great service and overall experiences. Not sure what was going on today, but we had terrible service. We saw the waitress upon arrival and then never saw her again. Had to flag down other servers to get stuff, including the check (after a 20 minute wait.) we were so excited because we brought my folks this time around to show how great this place is, only to be disappointed. We had our kids with us (ages 6 and 3) and they were well behaved, so not sure if that was the problem. I also noticed a help wanted sign in the window outside, so maybe they were short staffed. Very disappointing considering the amount of coin we dropped for dinner. Maybe we will go to rodizio next time.
(2)
Wade B.
Let me start off by saying the staff at this Fogo de Chao are the best!! I brought in a party of 76 (some equated it to a small wedding) and the staff handled everything without any issues. The sales manager, Jennifer, was also very helpful throughout the planning of my event. The food and drinks were equally as good. All in all it was a successful event and I would not think twice about choosing somewhere else to hold my next event. Fogo de Chao should be proud of the team they have at the Denver location. 10 out of 10!!
(5)
Rachel J.
This place is soooo good!! We went here for Valentines Day this year, my boyfriend knows the way to my heart is food. Unlimited food. There is a large salad bar that you can go to when you first sit down. There was a lot of different salad items and also deli meat with cheeses. They bring you roles and fried bananas to your table as well. Now I don't need to tell you this but all those items are a trap! They will make you full so you can't eat all the delicious meat that comes around. Trust me I was was wishing I laid off the swiss cheese when they came around with beef wrapped in bacon that I couldn't eat for the fear of my intestines exploding. Another tip, create a will before you go in case this happens to you. All the different meat that came around was so good. You put your card on green if you want the next meat coming around to stop and hook a brother up. Then when you feel like death and need to come up for fresh air you set your card to red. Another plus is that we got a free gift card to go back since we went on Valentines Day. Let's just say I let my boyfriend hold my hand that night for taking me to this place. My fat, chunky, full of meat, hand.
(5)
Jewels L.
How could you not love fogo!!! Atmosphere and service are on point. I love the appetizer bar, but be careful not to overeat on that appetizer bar or you won't have room for some delicious filet mignon and whatever else meat they have. I must say that the Caipirinhas are a must try! Best national Brazilian drink! Yummers!!! I'd recommend this places for the meat lover in your life! It's very high end and classy.
My husband and I checked out Fogo de chao during restaurant week. I have to say, it was a different experience, and I enjoyed some of it, but I just would not go back. Even during restaurant week, I don't feel that what you paid was worth it. The ambiance was very hectic, and I expected more for an upscale restaurant. In one completely visible hallway, they had chairs messily stacked up on each other, which is just not acceptable in my opinion for a restaurant that says it is "classy". The meat was very good, but everything else was extremely subpar. In fact, the mashed potatoes were disgusting, tasted like the ones from a box. The best thing at the salad bar was the kale salad. My advice would be to go somewhere else....
(2)
Holly S.
Fogo has become one of our favorite restaurants. They have amazing service, someone is always nearby to help. Their salad bar is the best in my opinion...they have more choices on the salad bar (that are good quality) than the other Brazilian steakhouses I have been to. Their meat quality is the best too. My daughter is a HUGE fan of their pineapple, when we come in they know to come by every 5 minutes with pineapple. I have to admit, I love it too. I have tried it at Rodizo and thought it was flavorless, but at Fogo they but a nice mixture of cinnamon and spices on it that makes it a little crispy and OH so good. I went to TdB recently because that use to be our favorite before trying Fogo and my husband kept saying he thought he remembered their meat was better. But it definitely was not, they cut smaller slices that all seemed to have an abundance of fat. They also do not season their meat as well, I found myself salting the meat to give it more flavor. I definitely do not have to do that at Fogo de Chao. We tried Rodizo because it was cheaper and you def pay for what you get. Their salad bar was messy and there were rotten greens, the service was horrid and the meats were subpar. It is definitely worth it to pay a little more for Fogo. We have never seen their salad bar look messy are ransacked even when they are extremely busy. It seems their staff pays great attention to detail and keep everything in place. I have 2 kids ages 4 and 6. This is their favorite restaurant as well. Normally if we ask them where they want to go for dinner they yell "the meat on the stick place". It is where they request to go for their birthdays too and togo makes them feel special. At some fancier restaurants when you go in with 2 little kids you are treated not as nice...almost as their way of saying WHY WOULD YOU BRNIG KIDS HERE. But not at Fogo. The servers talk to our kids, ask them what they would like to see brought to the table, fetch the forks they drop on the floor and replace them with new ones and on both their birthdays it seemed like every server at some point stopped by the table to tell them happy birthday and ask about how their birthday. We love this place. Updated 02/02/15 I our opinion of this place has only improved. We have gone for all 4 of our birthdays and were treated to a super yummy dessert and special attention. They even seem to recognize us well enough now that they remember that my daughter is in love with their pinepple and make sure we get enough of it. We had one time where the service was not as great as normal, it was when they were having a LOT of banquets for the holidays and there were not a lot of open tables. But even with the decreased attention it was still better than a lot of places we go.
(5)
Melissa C.
I am very happy with my experience here. The food was wayyy better than I expected. All of the meats were seasoned and cooked very nicely, and were beyond plentiful. The "salad" bar was amazing - scalloped potatoes, various salad fixins, cheeses, smoked salmon, fresh mozzarella balls, asparagus, etc. You have to be very careful here, but I wasn't, and ended up eating too much before the meats, so I got very full very fast. But I don't regret it, because the everything I had was delightful. I also had a very tasty strawberry drink from the bartender, and later ordered a caiphirina (sp?) with dinner, which was also wonderful. The staff was pleasant and the restaurant is very nice.
(5)
Noah P.
I love coming here! It has become a staple for birthday dinners. For those who have never been here before be warned it is a lot of food, or more specifically a lot of meat. If youre not a fan of red meat in various forms, or meat in general, this is not a restaurant for you. I would suggest if you are going to go with a group of people. Not only is it a great place to catch up, but it paces you with your meal. The restaurant offers a classy dinning area that is inline with a lot of steakhouses. If you are going on a Friday or Saturday night I would suggest getting a reservation. I have never had a problem getting a place to sit and this is also with a party of 10. The staff is very friendly and will explain the process to anyone who is new (the long and short; you have a coaster with a green and red side. Green means I want food, red means Im ok). You can start with a pretty extensive salad bar or go right into the meat. When you flip your coaster to green the various waiters will start coming by with platters and cuts of meat. You choose what you want and at what temperature. This is a wonderful place to go if you are celebrating any event but it is not an every day place as with drinks it can get pricey. However I always feel that I can eat enough meat to justify the price. It is a unique experience just to go and see for yourself. Go hungry but leave full!
(5)
Ian S.
Everything about my visit to Fogo De Chau was perfect, we had a large party of 25+ people after an event in Denver. All the staff was very accommodating to all of our needs, a special thanks to Shaun, the manager, and Nick and Kelly, our wait staff, they were all fantastic. The food was great just like any other time at Fogo, can't get enough of that caramelized pineapple!
(5)
Aman S.
Typical Brazilian steak place. I have been to many of these, and they are all the same.
(3)
Natalia K.
I've spent a few months living in Brazil, so I've been to my share of authentic churrascarias. I've also been to the few of them around Denver and the SF Bay Area (I highly recommend Pampas if you're ever in Palo Alto). This place is just ok compared to everywhere else I've gone -- churrascaria or regular restaurant. MEDIOCRE FOOD: The service is great and very prompt (but with so many men running around cutting meat for everyone, that's to be expected). But the actual food--which is the reason I assume most people would come here--is just ok. The salad bar wasn't amazing and nothing really stood out to me. And the meat was the same. It was good meat prepared rather well, but it wasn't as good as a nice $30 steak somewhere like Vesta or Capitol Grill. I'd rather have one smaller piece of meat that tasted fantastic, than endless portions of it that taste ok. GO TO RODIZIO: One of my biggest qualms about this place is that most of the meat is actually pretty much the same thing: some variation of beef. I rarely saw pork or lamb going around, much less anything else. This is why I prefer Rodizio (just a few blocks away). Not only do they have nearly 10 variations of beef, but they also offer things like sweet-and-spicy chicken, chicken hearts, turkey wrapped in bacon, pork loin in parmesan and bacon, sugar-glazed ham, fish -- and surprisingly one of my favorites because it goes well with the meat and breaks up the protein rush: grilled pineapple. Now THAT'S worth paying for. Honestly, the best thing about this place was the amazing, fluffy mashed potato dish that was like a bottomless mimosa: it just kept getting refilled at my table and I kept eating it. But I wouldn't pay $40 just to have those mashed potatoes again.
(3)
Jennifer R.
SERVICE: Truly great. Maybe a little TOO fast, as you don't have time to think before your food is brought to you. In that sense it felt a little hurried. All of the staff is very friendly and accommodating. I do, however, feel badly that the meat servers are forced to wear gaucho pants. Personally, I feel these giant pants should be reserved for pregnant women but in any case not young men. FOOD: All of the items at the sides bar are very fresh looking/tasting. I can't be the only idiot that thought the round white cheese was butter... Can I? Like one or two more labels would have helped a simpleton, like myself out. The meats we tried were cooked and seasoned well for the most part. My husband and I each found something mouthwatering and delicious to "try" multiple times. EXPERIENCE: Here's where I had to dock their score and it's not their fault. I just am not a fan of the Brazilian steakhouse style. All of the meat running around and having a sides buffet made the atmosphere a little overwhelming. It was much too carnival-like to me. It was not a relaxing dining experience which is my personal preference. So not their fault, but I just prefer something a little more intimate and leisurely.
(4)
Misty A.
I went here on the invitation of friends and financee. I loved every bit of food I had. The wait staff was wonderful. The cleanliness of the restaurant was great. Complimentary valet service was very close as well. I will be coming back.
(5)
Danette D.
My family and I took advantage of the awesome Restaurant Week deal and decided to try Fogo de Chao! And it was amazing. From the get go the host were very accomodating. There was 8 of us and we requested a table near the the corner as we had a baby in a stroller; so we preferred the corner as we had somewhere to park the stroller and the baby would get less distracted. Service was phenomenal. Everybody worked as a team and they were on top of it. I never had an empty glass of water and they when they see your plate is getting full from all that meat they go and grab you another plate. When there'll be times we'd want to try a specific meat they'd track it down for you. Never did I have to look around the room when I needed someone, it's almost like they can read your mind as soon as you think you need something they're there. And oh my gosh the salad bar! If I didn't eat red meat, I'd be perfectly happy with just the salad bar! It's not the typical salad bar where you'll find wilty greens, shredded carrots, bacon bits and whatnot. But some things you'll find fresh romaine, smoked salmon, giant asparagus, apple salad, imported cheeses and actual slices of bacon! Gah I'm drooling just thinking about it. The meats were very tender and tasteful, and the variety of sauces they provide for it was a nice touch (but to be honest, with how well they seasoned their meats sauce weren't needed). The sides were also great, I couldn't get over the brazillian cheese bread and the polenta. At the end of the night I was so full it hurt to move! It was a little overwhelming at first as each of the servers started bringing meat. When there's 6+ people at one time offering you different things you wouldn't know where to start.
(5)
Melisa G.
My husband and I had been wanting to try Fogo de Chão for a while. We finally did Saturday night and couldn't have been more pleased! The food was INCREDIBLE and there was an abundance of it, the picãna (sp?) which was the house specialty meat was AMAZING. My favorite part believe it or not was the staff, they were extremely cohesive and worked as a team and it showed. I work in the customer service industry and there is nothing that pisses me off more than a rude waiter or server, but that IS NOT the case at this restaurant I was truly impressed! Obviously this place is on the higher end of the price point, but TOTALLY WORTH IT.
(5)
Ryan B.
Do not eat all day before you arrive at Fogo! Really, I am serious, starve yourself first. Also, be prepared to shell out serious cash because this place is not cheap. The meat is fantastically good and you can literally have as much as you want. The grilled pineapple is also delicious. The salad bar is even good, though they warn you not to fill up there. If you are a vegan, you should stay home, but if you like actual food, I recommend going here every few years. More often than that and you may explode. I don't really know of any downside to eating here other than the price. But, it is worth it... if you have the money, go nuts!
(4)
Jessie G.
This is one of my favorite places to go downtown. The food has always been awesome and the service even better. Go for lunch! It is the same menu for half the price and it isn't as busy so you get food faster and the services is better. Love this place!
(5)
Michael M.
Worth every penny. That's coming from an omnivore. I really love meat, and grilled or smoked meat especially. This was probably my ideal meal. Big hulking slabs of meat are not easy to grill well. Anyone who's grilled a flank steak or a London broil knows it can be a challenge to hit the sweet spot where the meat is tender and juicy inside, but flavorful and crusted outside. Every piece of meat I was served was spot-on. I didn't ask for medium-rare and get a bloody mess or burnt up end piece. They also have a nice salad bar, including thin sliced salmon, and the fried bananas are addictive. The service is of course, showy and prompt. The manager walks around making sure nothing gets missed. I went here for my anniversary, and I can't afford to come here often. I do feel that the quality and presentation lived up to the price though.
(5)
Lisa R.
Made reservations, arrived a few minutes learly and was seated about 15 minutes after our reservation time. The food and service was excellent. Salad bar needs to list what each item is. There were items on the salad bar that I did not know what it was, and it would have been helpful to have the item identified on a card, The food kept coming, but there was no system. Many times they brought the same food to our table. We had to ask for certain meats. Food was delicious staff very friendly.
(4)
Ronald T.
The best brazilian steak i've ever had. And the polenta is gorgeous. Great atmosphere and they make me come back veery fast.
(5)
Diane V.
I'm a HUGE fan of Fogo de Chao (see my other 2 reviews at different locations)!! I can't stop saying great things about this chain since the meat is always so tender and delicious. But I gave this particular location 4 stars because the meat was drier than I was used to, the salad bar wasn't that great, and the pao de queijo seemed to be lacking in cheese, like they almost ran out and squeezed what they could for each cheese bread. Still a very good place to eat Brazilian steak! The best! And I think I saw some NFL football players there - at least they were as buff as some! Service was excellent and attentive. Highly recommended!
(4)
D W.
We had a party of 8 or so on a Saturday night and everyone agreed it was a great, flawless experience. Prompt seating and excellent true 5 star service, the servings were delicious, salad bar (especially smoked salmon) first rate. You can probably get better steak but the variety of beef, pork, chicken and lamb is something you can only do at a place like this. Tyler was our main guy and he really took care of us, knew his wines like a sommelier and was very fun as well, as was the entire crew. Oh and free valet parking which in downtown is a big plus, really made it easy to get a group in there painlessly. Fun, delicious and we'll go back - once we digest that first meal.
(5)
Tif D.
There are some cool things about this place, I almost gave it 5 stars. The good: tasty fried polenta stix and cheesy puff-bread, upscale salad bar with uncommon offerings- sliced cheeses, smoked salmon, proscutto, apple salad, and scalloped potatoes that were the bomb. The meats were good, I got a few inedible bites that did detract, but overall they were all pretty good and gluttonously dished out to your hearts discontent. You get tasty sides with your meats too, like fried plantains, mashed potatoes and grilled pineapple. Here is my holdback: there are not any sauces for the meats, no horseradish cream or whatever Brazilian sauces they do? There is nothing that is spicey or hot. The meat carver's are a little abrupt, they are in hurry to work the room and you feel pressured to grab the slice they are carving with your little tongs with adeptness, they also spill au jus on the table cloth, your pants and inside your purse on the floor. It's a little haphazard, if you get me. So while everything was prepared well and the portions huge, nothing is thoughtfully put together to compliment any other item. There is also no flow to the meal, I'm unsure whether or not I'm supposed to eat my salad and then eat a whole plate of meat or just sit there eating off 2 plates. I went for lunch and it was a group of 100, so it's tough to judge. I would go back though, when I'm starving obviously.
(4)
Bill K.
Excellent food and excellent service. I used to work near by so I've been to this location several times. Unlike other nearby Brazilian steakhouses, Fogo keeps up a good pace serving their meats. My favorite dish is their lamb chops, super flavorful and cooked just right. Another must is the filet mignon, which is very juicy and tender. They also have a good wine selection and a buffet table loaded with smoked meats, cheeses, salads, vegetables, soups/stews, and rice/beans. If you're waiting for a specific meat, just ask the wait staff. They'll make sure to bring it to your table.
(5)
Cecil M.
Hands down the best meal I've ever had. Don't waste time on the salad bar unless that is all you're eating. Service is unmatched, and the experience is worth the price tag.
(5)
Modhar K.
better plan a half-marathon the day after you visit to get back in shape...meat is superb and they have descent selection of malbecs ... Salad bar is good as well
(5)
Mo C.
Just a fantastic experience! I love Brazilian Steakhouses. The price tag is worth the splurge every now and then. This place is great for groups. Recently, I organized a dinner for MeetIn.org and asked everyone to meet in the bar area. The bartender was a riot and we had a great time chatting with him over happy hour cocktails. He even recommended a superb wine for us to enjoy with our meal. Delish! Tip: They have free valet parking. You may have to circle the block a couple times to get to it (the entrance is not intuitive). Just remember that the valet guys are working for tips, so give 'em some cash when you pick up your car.
(5)
julie n.
It's 5280 restaurant week...and first time at Fogo. Not impressed. But it might it restaurant week could be to blame. Pineapple is $8 extra and the meats were good but only a few choices. Salad bar mirrored all the other Brazilian steak houses. I'm going to Rodizio's tonight. Stay tuned. They do have free valet which is a plus.
(3)
Wendy W.
Alot to eat from the salad bar. The Strawberry lemonade was really good. There were many different cuts of meat. Our favorite is still the Garlic Picanha. After awhile, they all taste the same. Yes, sometimes they seem to all swarm up to serve different cuts. Scared me alittle. But for sure, to get your bucks worth, make sure you go on an empty stomach.
(3)
Jane F.
While the meat was overall tasty and the salad bar was fun, I just wasn't as impressed with the food as I thought I'd be. I've been to another Brazilian Steakhouse before in Fresno, CA of all places, and the meat there was better in my opinion. I prefer my meat rare to medium rare, and quite a few of the options were overcooked. The Papaya Cream dessert however was amazing, and the wait staff was friendly and attentive as well.
(3)
Sara B.
Restaurants like Fogo De Chao are the reason I could never be a vegetarian. I love me some meat and Fogo is the place to go for it! With the variety they have, there is something for everyone. And the salad bar! Oh the salad bar...how could you not love it. P.S. Have you seen the trees that they serve and claim to be asparagus? Get in my belly!! My only complaint about this place is the chicken...it was really dry. Hey, one thing on the menu has to not be so tasty right? The service is impeccable and they have the best creme brulee I have ever tasted. It's like bwutta, baby!
(4)
Claire S.
No disrespect meant whatsoever, I think this place is A-Ok and I'm sure I'll go back some time. That's what 3 stars means to me. The service is quick, courteous, and cheerful. They are super organized and on top of it. It seems like if a cog were out of place the whole machine might back up and explode. I watched Chicken Run recently.That may be affecting my writing. The point is, no cogs are out of place. They are a well-oiled machine. I love how cheerful and lively the atmosphere is. You can have a really nice conversation with each person sitting on either side of you. The tables for 5+ people are pretty big so you probably won't get a chance to have meaningful convo with the people on the other side of the table, at least not during restaurant week. No big deal to me, I like it loud. And it's not the echoey, vacuous, metallic loud which I find alienating and disorienting, it's... cozy loud. There's something about this business concept that kind of gets me, preventing the 4th star. Don't get me wrong, I'm a total hedonist and glutton, but this type of excess makes me feel self-conscious about how much food is wasted. You could probably say the same for all buffets, but this food is way better than your standard all you can eat situation. I kind of love that the meat sword dudes are called, in all seriousness, gauchos. (Yes, I know I just said meat sword, but it's really the perfect description if you go you'll see what I mean.)
(3)
Mecca S.
I love rodizio. The o ly thing I miss about new jersey. This place is pricey but great food and service. The shrimp cocktail is humongous
(5)
Jackie P.
This place was amazing. Quality and ambiance all in one place.
(5)
Robin S.
Gluten free freaks rejoice! You can eat almost everything here. There is complimentary cheese bread baked with yuca flour, crispy polenta that hasn't been fried with other flour items, garlic mashed potatoes, and caramelized bananas. That's just for starters! Out of 16 different meats, only the chicken has gluten (it's marinated in beer). The salad bar has a couple of items with gluten, but you can make a meal out of the salad bar alone. Great teamwork and smooth service means you never have to wait for food. The Parmesan cheese pork loin was surprisingly my favorite. I'm not even a pork fan, but the flavors and juiciness of the Lombo was the stand out to me. Somehow, we left room for dessert. Their signature Papaya Cream is gluten free and is supposed to have enzymes that help with digestion so it seemed like a good idea for our full bellies. Perfect consistency, not too sweet, and extra yummy with the creme de cassis on top. For the amount of food my husband can eat, it was a great value. Actually, just the fact that he could eat almost everything and feel like a normal diner was worth it. The wine prices were reasonable too. The Broquel Malbec was delicious; one of the servers stopped to talk about wine with us and even brought the bottle over so we could easily spot it in a store. Great experience. It's a must go for gluten free eaters!
(4)
Kelly T.
Get ready for the MEAT SWEATS! Tried this place a few days ago for Denver Restaurant Week and it was uhhh-mazing. Order a bottle of Malbec and get started - what are you waiting for?! The place was packed and we had to sit in a small middle table, but considering the week, no biggie. The service is so spot-on, don't forget to flip that coin to red because the gauchos are ON IT. The salad bar is phenomenal, and the smoked salmon was a really nice touch. The house special sirloin, bacon-wrapped chicken and parmesan herb pork were all fantastic. Ron Swanson would approve! You'll probably be full after a run through the salad bar, and try as you might, you WILL overeat here. Just embrace it, roll yourself to the curb, and call a cab.
(4)
Cam T.
Now THIS is a 5 star restaurant experience. I don't eat Fogo De Chao often, but when I do, it's amazing and deeeelicious. As soon as I heard that I was headed to Fogo for dinner, I did what any normal human being would do: I fasted. That's right. Might as well get your money's worth. So I showed up starving and ready to feast. And of course, it didn't disappoint. The salad bar is amazing, so many cheeses. Then the main course: cheese puffs, enough meat to make a vegetarian queasy, and my favorite, the cinnamon pineapple slices. Overall, an amazing restaurant, would eat here every week if I was made of money.
(5)
Rashid 7.
We arrived a little late, about half an hour before closing time but that was fine because we were kindly greeted and escorted to a nice free table among many people. This place was busy, ( a Saturday night of course ) and busy for a reason! This place is really nice! Great service and the food is amazing. There is a salad buffet bar ( beautiful veg and salad ) and great tender meats which melt in the mouth! They also served us fried large chips with sprinkled cheese, caramelized bananas, and mash potatoes for side. Great atmosphere, quite smart. Try to make an effort to dress up here. There were a lot of people wearing dresses and suits. There was a large dessert selection - delicious! I had the key lime pie which was amazing. Hands down this place has got to be one of the best places to eat in Denver. You can not pass this place up! Great for special occasions too.
(5)
Teema C.
Hubby and I went here for Denver's restaurant week - it was packed! I think they did a great job considering how full the restaurant was. I thought the salad bar and side items were of good quality. The meats were tasty, but def a bit too salty - I'm not sure if this is done on purpose so that customers would eat less or if Brazilian meats are supposed to be salty. My favorite was the pork ribs. Would I be back? Probably not, I think this is more of a one time experience type place, although I may go back just to take someone else to experience this.
(4)
Jason H.
Very good love the grilled pineapple great service. But I will say it may be a step below some of the competition. Still very good though
(4)
Linh N.
Service was prpfessional and meat was delicious. House drinks and dessert were on point
(5)
Jeremy S.
This must be a really hard restaurant to operate. They provide an amazing experience: I am highly impressed by the choreography, the professionalism of the service, and even the quality of the food--no, this is not Peter Luger steak, but anyone who comes here expecting that deserves to be disappointed. Even the salad bar is quality (and obviously they'd like you to fill up a little bit there... and in fact, you probably should keep a few extra greens on your plate for when the meat parade begins). And even discounted 40% for Restaurant Week, which is a zoo everywhere in town, the Fogo staff kept it together. I've had more chaotic Resto Week experiences in other, more sedate restaurants. It is not literally flawless--it's a bit harder to find a waitress than a meat skewer, some meat cuts are better than others (duh), and simply being in an environment in which many individuals are moving very quickly with very sharp knives through the establishment can get your heart rate up a few beats. (They seem to handle the knives quite well: don't be afraid to bring young kids, esp since they're free!) If I could I'd give it 4.5 stars, but give them the bump in light of the high-degree-of-difficultly aspect of pulling it all off.
(5)
Luke F.
This place is almost gluttonous! It literally has the best meat I've ever had. Try the bananas and the pineapples also! The salmon at the salad bar was amazing. The price is totally worth it. I definitely recommend.
(5)
Brian T.
This place pales in comparison to Rodizio down the street. I've been to this location 3 times now and I should have learned by now to just keep walking. The meat is extremely salt her, to the point where it overpowers the flavor of the meat itself. On my last visit I ended up having to specifically ask for the filet and rib eye as I never saw either in the first 40 minutes. Also WTF is with pineapple being $8.50 for a 2 inch slice?! It's included as part of the standard menu over at Rodizio.
(2)
Kaelin T.
Definitely ask for Tyler!!! He was awesome! Amazing Service & Food to DIE FOR! :) The top and bottom sirloin are my favorites & the filet cuts like butter!
(5)
Tuan M.
Probably the most expensive restaurant I have ever ate at. It was for graduation so I guess I dont feel as bad spending $55 dollars for an all-you-can-eat buffet. I wanted to celebrate but couldnt afford doing the whole "poppin' bottles" thing, so I felt this restaurant was the next best thing.The waiters brought different types of meat to your table. The rib eye and shirloin was magnificent. It was until they brought out the lamb.....
I'm not much of a red meat eater, but you would never have guessed that had you seen me chowing down at Fogo the other day during lunch. Fillet wrapped in bacon, top sirloin, bottom sirloin, short ribs, lamb, sausage. You name it, they probably have it. While the tender, juicy, perfectly seasoned meat steals the show here, the salad bar is nothing to gloss over. It's well stocked with prepared salads, such as potato or tabbouleh; asparagus. hearts of palm and assorted veggies; olives; salmon and cured meats; and cheeses galore. While it's certainly not easy to do, I recommend saving enough room for dessert. I've never tasted better creme brulee. Definitely pricey whether you're here for lunch or for dinner, but as it is all you can eat, you can try to get your money's worth.
(4)
Cristen T.
My two experiences at Fogo De Chao have been two of the best in terms of service, food and general delight. My husband's family treated us to this great restaurant twice. My first trip there I didn't have a clue what I was in for and this last one was just as great, if not better. Let's start with the outstanding service. I have had great service at a lot of places but nothing like the service at Fogo in Denver. The serving staff blows my mind with how on top of everything they are. Both times, if ever there was a question, the knowledgeable staff would have the answer in an instant. If ever there was a half-full glass, without even being noticed it would be refilled. If ever you look at your plate and think, "I don't feel like eating the rest of this; I wish I could have a clean plate," someone will notice and ask you if you'd like a new plate. I am convinced they have learned how to read minds at Fogo. It must be part of their training or something. They really are all about making you as happy, comfortable and pleased as possible. It is really something else. Moving on to the food, it starts at the stellar salad bar. Everything is fresh and it is constantly being adjusted and rearranged to look as appetizing as possible. And boy is it appetizing: fresh meats and cheeses, cool refreshing salads, wonderfully textured bread, steaming sides. They also bring incredible dishes to your table on fancy silver dishes. I loved the polenta fries and cheesy mini rolls are delectable. During your meal they provide fried bananas and creamy garlic mashed potatoes. The beverages are great as well. You can order a cocktail or a local beer or Brazilian ginger ale and it is all so very satisfying. And then, there is the glorious, delicious, perfect meat. This is one place that could sway even the most steadfast vegetarian. I shudder to think that I could have missed out by remaining a vegetarian. Fogo De Chao uses local meat (except the lamb, which they get from New Zealand) and you can tell. As soon as you flip your little coaster from red to green you are rewarded with a plethora of sizzling beef, chicken, pork and lamb. The servers who bring it out to your table are the ones that cook it in the back so they know where on the cut will be rare or well done. My absolute favorites were the rib eye, top sirloin and the house cut. We also ended up getting a complimentary dessert here because we were on our honeymoon! We ordered the Creme Brulee and while it was wonderful it wasn't the best I've ever had (that would be Paley's Place in Portland, Oregon). I think, if ever presented with the option again, I will skip dessert and just eat more of their sinfully delicious beef. Fogo De Chao has been one of the two most all-around marvelous dining experiences. I have to say that this place doesn't deserve 5 stars, it deserves 5 million. It is absolute excellence.
(5)
Bruce F.
If you're a true carnivore with an appetite then this is your heaven. Yes, round one through the extensive salad bar was very good, but the meat is why you eat here. The service is non stop with an endless variety of meats. You also select rare, well done or anywhere in between. Eat as fast or as slow as you like. They don't judge at Fogo they just keep it coming. Our table loved the pineapple and bananas as well. I also appreciate the space between the tables so I didn't hear anyone's conversation except my own table. Fun experience.
(4)
Ryan T.
We were here for my birthday and over all it was a decent place! The service was average but not great! First time going for Brazilian cuisine so it was different but the food was delicious! I've heard a lot about the place and had also recommended this place to a lot of people because I always hear great things about it. We had about 12 people at the table with two bottles of wine and some appetizers and the check came to $1009. There was definitely a lot of food and they all come to you at once! It kind of gave me an impression that they were in line to shove you with meat! ( Which I am not complaining) They only come by like couple times and goodbye to your table! I like taking breaks when I'm eating so after a plate , I took a break and was ready for second and yet the server who served us thought we were ALL DONE even though some people was still eating! She asked if anyone was interested in looking at the dessert menu? It really gave me an impression that she either wanted to leave early ( Thursday night) or she wanted us to leave! I don't think a plate of food or meat is done for me or some of my party and the fact that she did NOT even ask or offer if we would like more food made me want to give them one star. A little tip... if you want to make more gratuity, maybe you should ask your table if they are full and if they would like the meat runner to come by once more. The fact that I had to ask them to come over again made me want to give this restaurant a one star. I only stopped by the salad bar once but really wish they didn't make me feel like I was trying to be greedy and asking for more food. I doubt I would come back here again and yes I do work in the hotel so I will definitely share my experience with the guests and probably send them to other Brazilian steakhouse.
(2)
Amy F.
This place is a total meatfest. Yes, I am a fan. Great cocktail service, attentive staff, and interesting salad bar. Any salad bar that has real bacon on it-wins, unless you are super picky, that salad bar has a decent spread. The meat entourage is overwhelming, but super delicious. Several options, and you choose your pace, with those red light green light coasters. Bring some Benjamin's if you come with a big group and will order cocktails- its spendy, but oh so good.
(4)
Jack T.
Downtown for a concert and went here on a recommendation from a friend. Got in right away,the staff was pleasant and attentive. Have tried other Brazilian Steakhouses but thought the meat here was better. My wife loved the bacon wrapped chicken and roasted pineapple. Overall all of the meats were tasty and well prepared. Would make a great spot for a date night..
(4)
Flor A.
Be prepared to eat a lot of meat. The desserts were mediocre don't bother. Great Wine list0
(4)
Phung L.
As far as Brazilian steakhouses go, Fogo de Chao is the cream of the crop! Sure it's a tad bit more pricey than the other places, but you definitely get what you pay for! Complementary valet, superb customer service, and better cuts of meat. Who doesn't like a staggering amount of meat? Overkill? Perhaps, but be sure to come with an appetite.
(5)
G M.
Dear "Peyton Manning" jersey wearing douche, I want to just get my review in before you try to trash Fogo de Chao later tonight (like you threatened). We received fantastic service. We always had someone at the table faster than your 2015 Chevy Penismobile can drop off your next trophy-wife after your next failed attempt to get a comped meal. The Parmesan encrusted pork loin was cooked perfectly. When we asked for a particular temperature of meat, it was done exactly how we asked. If you think the meat was too rare, you should probably pay more attention to what you say and less on impressing a quarter of the restaurant with the "million times" you've been here. I'm glad they didn't comp your entire meal. The staff was exemplary and the other patrons smile at each other to have your self important swagger exit our airspace in a huff.
(5)
Adam L.
Meat was dry and fatty. I have been to lots of Brazilian steakhouses and fogo Denver was a disappointment and a waste of money. I went on a Wednesday night so i think because they were slow they weren't rotating to fresh meat. Unacceptable for the price paid! Won't go back
(1)
Ben D.
Over cooked meat
(2)
Mark L.
Have always been a HUGE fan for Fogo and try to visit a couple times a year. I was even okay when they raised the Restaurant Week price from $52.80 to $60.00. I guess the confusion comes in when you notice they offer less meats and removed the salmon and asparagus for the salad bar. My wife enjoys the salmon as much, if not more, as the meat, so the salami they put down in place just didn't do the trick. It seems they raised prices while cutting back on the food offered. Starting to get the feel of an all you can eat buffet in Blackhawk as opposed to fine dining. They was also little to no organization for who was actually assigned to our table. I think we've earned a break from Fogo for the time being, but will return eventually.
(3)
Carolyn H.
Went here for resturant week. Bad choice. The salad bar was the best part of the meal and it was even bad. The meat was like eating fat and leather combined. I know they probably cut corners because of the lower prices for resturant week but this place was bad. I will never go back.
(1)
Jeska H.
Pretty mediocre. The service was quite good, but the food was meh. The veggies were tasty and there was a nice variety. But the meat, though plentiful, was not fantastic. Red meat was kind of tough, and we tried all different kinds of cuts, filet, top and bottom sirloin, tenderloin. Too expensive for what you get.
(3)
Jennifer B.
I'm a big fan of Fogo! I was an avid visitor to the Fogo in Philadelphia with family and friends. When I saw the deal for Fogo where the price was dropped to $38 per person I recommended that a group of us go to take advantage of the deal. A group date we did with a table of 8 I think. Service was impeccable as it always tends to be at these places. Can't sip water without someone refilling the inch you just drank. Never felt wanting anything which is a beautiful thing. The salad bar was very tasty. I thought the offerings were well presented and cooked pretty good. The seasonings were lacking a bit, not enough flavor. I know they have to appeal to a broad audience but there could have been a kick with one of the offerings. I'm always a sucker for the asparagus, perfectly done and oh so yummy. Time to flip your chip to green and watch and march of the meat come your direction and buy oh boy do they swarm you. Always a good thing when men with meat come ask you "How you want it". I think I must have tried everything they had. Some of the favorites were the garlic seasoned steak, lamb chops, and one of the amazing cuts of steak, I forget the name now. I thought the majority of them were all melt in your mouth delicious. Sometimes a steak doesn't need aggressive seasoning to be delicious it just needs to be done right and these were don right. The sides on the table and there to distract you from your ability to eat $38-$50 worth of steak, don't let it distract you, eat meats, meats, and more meats and savor every bite. The trip was worth it and I would come back again and continue my love, love relationship with Fogo. Fogo oh how I love thee.
(4)
Dale Z.
I came here to take advantage of the $38 dinner special through August 3rd. The place was nice and clean, and the service was excellent. I enjoyed the "salad bar" offerings (it is hard to go wrong with a bowl of crispy bacon). They also had a wheel of parmesan, as well as other cheeses, cured meats and salads. It was not as varied as Rodizio used to be, but was solid. I enjoyed the cheese bread and polenta, and I always like the bananas. I avoided the mashed potatoes. My theory is that these items (although well-prepared) are served as "filler" to reduce your total meat consumption. I generally like the meats served at churrascarias, and this one was no exception. One minor (but repeated) complaint would be being asked how i want my meat, replying "rare", and then having them cut from the charred outside when there is an interior cut right next to it. The second time and third time the server did this to me, I said, "No, I wanted rare". He seemed rather miffed that he had to discard that piece. But, if you are going to ask me what I want, you need to listen to the answer. This should not just be a pro-forma courtesy that serves no actual purpose. I really enjoyed the garlic beef and the lamb chops, and I thought the linguisa was pretty good as well. I found the leg of lamb to be a touch gamey. Some of the offerings were a little too salty for my tastes. All in all, this was a good (extravagant) meal. It strikes me as somewhere I might take visitors from out of town or business associates, rather than a regular place to hang out with friends.
(4)
Claudia B.
What can I say? I'm a Brazilian native who absolutely loves Brazilian food. I've had the "real thing" in Brazil my whole life. The street side neighborhood inspired churrascarias and the biggest and most popular Churrascaria restaurant in Rio. I first went to one of these restaurants in Dallas (their first US location) and fell in love. I've been to the Denver location twice and they don't dissapoint! Here's how I judge a place who claims to serve Brazilian food: their Pao de Queijo (it baffles me if a "Brazilian" restaurant doesn't even serve them) and their Caipirinhas. Both of these are the best of the best that I've had in the US (outside from my own house, of course). The meats are perfectly cooked and seasoned and you are never short of food. If you like a particular cut of meat, just tell the first gaucho (that's the man with the large sword with hunks of meat on it) that comes to your table. Next thing you know they will be there over and over again. I tend to primarily eat the Picanha (Top Sirloin) and the Fraudinha (Bottom Sirloin). I'll have a little of the Filet Mignon and a little of the Saugage. If you want to eat these meats the real Brazilian way, ask the waitor to bring you "farofa" with your rice and beans. They won't bring it unless you ask for it. Mix a little bit of it with your rice and beans...but also "dip" your meats into this grainy yumminess so you get a little layer of it stuck to the juicyness of your steak. AWEEEESOOOOOME. The staff is always so attentive and nice and wonderful. We even had one of their customer relationship representatives talk to us last time. I was telling him about how Fogo is the best, most authentic Brazilian BBQ place in the US and how I've been going for over 10 years (starting in Dallas) and we ended up getting a hard cover book from the place detailing their history with tons of great photos and even their Pao de Queijo recipe!! It's a bit different than mine so I'll have to try it at home and see how it compares to the one at the restaurant ;). You will NOT be dissapointed but remember to starve a bit during lunch. Seriously, do not even eath lunch if you are able to do that. You will need the room :).
(5)
Arthur I.
As a Brazilian, I might know a little bit about Brazilian food: Fogo de Chão is the prime place for Rodizio in town. It is not the true and perfect Brazilian experience, but as the 5-star suggests, "As good as it gets". The meat comes how it is supposed to come, well grilled, and salted. If you ask for other goodies and meet, they usually have (One of those things you will only know if you know the culture), such as Cow Ribs, Farofa, and so forth. It is pricey, and dinner can be expensive. I have gone for lunch and for dinner there, and the experience is very similar. The manager comes to the table to ask how is it working for everybody, very polite, and usually a Brazilian with great experience in the business. I would have to try Texas de Brazil in Denver, but they pretty much match in Chicago. Rodizio Grill is the lower level RodÃzio in town.
(5)
Leonard E.
It pains me to have to give this place a 2 star rating. It's a nice place. I love the environment.. The people and service were exceptional. The food was just not up to par. The meat or the hot food at the bar was not seasoned very well. I was highly disappointed. Texas de Brazil blows this place out of the water. Rodizio is far better. I dropped $75 and it was just me on my ticket. I expected much more. Maybe it was because of the holiday season. Maybe I need to go back and give them another chance.
(2)
Cheryl L.
If I could give them 3.5 stars I would but I can't so I'm rounding down. The service would get 4 to 5 starts. I wasn't exactly sure who our waiter was but it didn't seem to matter - it was like we had 8 of them. Each person clearing my plate, filling my water glass, seeing if there was any special meat that I was looking for and bringing that guy to my table. We had reservations and were seated right away. Each and every staff member was friendly and oh so helpful. We wanted to come in while they were still doing their special summer pricing of $38 per person (this is discounted from their reg price of $44.50) so if you can try a new place and save some cash it's always a good thing. They explain how everything works and then you head over to the salad bar or you do have the option to drive right into the meat portion of the night. I was so very disappointed in the salad bar. There was actually a very high expectation when we first walked by and there was a huge bowl of bacon right there staring you in the face. Upon gathering my veggies and salad items I headed back to the table and began to dig in. What I found was that nothing really had any flavor. The mozzarella cheese seemed to be fresh (perhaps even homemade but it was tasteless), the asparagus was competent and most of the other things I left on the plate. It was not very memorable and at this point I'm not even sure what else I had. I swear that there must be some sort of beacon with the red/green coaster that they give you. Once I turned mine to green there were about 8 guys right behind me asking me what kind of meat that I wanted. It sort of reminded me of when you go to the coy ponds and you have all those fish and you throw in a piece of popcorn or bread and about 10,000 of them try to eat the same thing. The meat kept coming and coming and coming until I felt that I was going to explode. Some were more successful than others. I really like the lamb chops and the garlic crusted steak. I thought the ribeye and the filet were a little lack-luster for me. I expect a nice bold flavor from Ribeye and this one didn't seem to have any. I didn't like the Parmesan crusted pork (I think it was pork - Oh no I'm not say that I'm not sure if they were using pork it's just that I can't remember exactly what meat it was) at all. I thought that the cheese bread balls were okay and the polenta sticks were wonderful. The during the meal they brought banana and mashed potatoes. The bananas were okay but I'm not a huge fan of cooked bananas unless it is in bananas foster. My husband tasted the mashed potatoes and says to me "Why are they using spuds from a box?" They were just not good. Since we had a party of 7 they added 18% gratuity to the bill. So while I'm all for them adding this to ensure that the servers aren't stiffed they did miss out on a bigger tip. if the restaurant makes this decision for me I don't go back and correct them. So all-in-all I don't know that I'll be back to Fogo.
(3)
Sydney G.
This place had such great food! I enjoyed the Brazilian steakhouse type service where they come around to the table. My favorite was the Parmesan crusted pork, but I didn't dislike any of the different options. They also had yummy side dishes like mashed potatoes and polenta. The salad bar was nice as well. I would recommend their lemonade and their very Limey margaritas!
(5)
Adrian H.
Headline: Meat Lovers in Paradise So, this is a Brazilian steakhouse. You pretty much know what to expect. Start with parking - there is a parking garage on Wynkoop right next to the Smiling Moose Deli that has free valet parking with validation, which they do as soon as you walk in the door. There is a bar while you wait for your table, and everything is white linen cloth service. I wish there had been some music in the background, but it didn't really need it in this open space. On to the food. Firstly, you have a "salad" bar, which is anything but ordinary. Yes, you have salad stuff, but you also have smoked salmon, a variety of cold cut meats and cheeses, and a number of things you won't find on your average salad bar. You could easily just eat the salad bar and be happy. But that isn't why you come to a Brazilian steakhouse. You come for the second course. Meat, meat and more meat, with some excellent sides thrown in. Fried bananas, which were soft and didn't actually taste of much; Fried Polenta liberally sprinkled with grated parmesan - a crunchy exterior and soft middle made to look like a fry, but you needed the parmesan; cheese bread - by far the best of the sides was nicely cheesy. What about the meat? Well, lamb T-bones and Leg; various cuts of steak; pork and beef ribs, and Linguica. All were perfectly cooked - just ask how well done you want it and it shall be so. Wine - they have it. We ordered a Terrazas Reserva Malbec, which was nicely full bodied. However, watch for the extra pours - malbecs like to breath and the servers like to top it off. If this was such an excellent meal, why only four stars? Service. We had to ask four times to get linguica brought to the table, and after our plates were cleared away, it took an eternity to get the check, even though we asked for the dessert menu. This kind of spoiled the whole experience, and brought it down a notch. I highly recommend using the OpenTable booking - it was on the quieter side when we started, but by 6:30pm, the place was hopping.
(4)
Stephanie S.
I love Fogo de Chao... my husband and I have been 4 times now because we are such bigs fans. I'm not sure why there are some bad reviews complaining about "meat quality", but I have always had outstanding food everytime. Yes- they feed you A LOT so bring your appetite. That is the whole idea of a Brazilian Steakhouse, so if you do not LOVE meat then it's probably not going to be worth the money to you. The service is always exceptional when we go- they are very attentive. It can be a bit overwhelming at times, but honestly I would rather have a server who is over attentive
(5)
Sarah L.
Was brought to fogo for my birthday and was blown away by the food, ambiance and the service. Tyler far far exceeded all of our expectations. His knowledge of wine and pairing it with items was incredible. Thank you for an amazing night!!!
(5)
Victor B.
Being someone who simply loves my red meat entrees, Fogo is simply paradise. Eating here for lunch is even better as the price for all of that quality of food simply can not be beat! My girl and I decided to come here as we had never been together and since we are both Fogo fans and both being a bit on the carnivorous side (but also thrifty at times....) we decided that restaurant week would be the time to come back here and imbibe in some delicious meaty heaven. We got here at around 1:30 which also fit in the lunch time frame and the meal was even less expensive than had we dined here for the restaurant week price. If you've never been to a Brazilian steakhouse you must visit and soon. Gauchos come around to your table with various meats on sword like skewers and serve such succulent cuts cooked to exactly how you like it. Flip your coin over to red when you want to stop otherwise prepare for meat overload. The salad bar has excellent accompaniments to the meat and some delicious gourmet options by itself. The liquor cart that travels around the restaurant is also very cool and upscale and contains such luxuries as Johnnie Walker Blue and other vintages of booze that are older than I am. So if you're not a vegetarian or a vegan and would like to enter a carnivorously heavenly state.....visit Fogo (but come by for lunch so you don't have to pay as much :-))
(5)
Scheri T.
I celebrated my wedding anniversary here and it did not disappoint. We arrived early and they offered to seat us, but we chose to hang out at the bar instead. Once seated we were greeted with an eager waiter who introduced us to the proper technique for ordering meat. We have been to Brazilian Steakhouses before, however the ambience at Fogo de Chao was surprisingly warm. The interior is decorated in dark wood and the tables covered in long white tablecloths. Our table was nestled along the wine cellar. Talk about romantic! We were careful not to fill up on the salad bar goodies, but it was a struggle. The salads were fresh and there were a lot of greens to choose from. They even had a cheese and meat section which we utilized after our meal and before dessert. They do not offer any seafood choices however the meat selections were wonderful. My husband & I are red meat eaters and we were NOT disappointed. The filet melts in your mouth and the prime cuts of ribeye and sirloin were delicious! They provide you with a description of all the meats they serve so you can choose what you want ahead of time. We shared the flan for dessert and it was a great way to end the meal. They gave us the dessert free to celebrate our anniversary. They even decorated the plate with the words "Happy Anniversary." Overall it was a fantastic experience. I would definitely go there again for a special occasion.
(5)
Melissa D.
Man, is this place good. The salad bar is fantastic. I could get full off that alone! They have a bunch of different options and you can get as much as you want. Then, the waiters come by each table with different meats and you choose which ones you want. It's all awesome. But, oh my god, the best part: their cheese rolls! So good. They have a basket of them on each table and they are honestly like the best things ever. They were definitely my favorite part of the meal. That's not to say that the rest of the stuff wasn't absolutely delicious, but wooow.
(5)
Amanda G.
I love their caramelized bananas, so good. Great service, what a wonderful place for any celebration.
(5)
Jamie L.
Thanks to the person who just posted a review on Fogo that reminded me to update mine. So here's the skinny. (Hah. Skinny. At an all you can eat Brazilian Steakhouse.) I'm wavering between dropping Fogo a star for having a sub-par Salad Bar selection, and leaving them at 4 stars for exceptional service. So I'mma just go ahead and leave it. The service this time was *impeccable* Our water glasses were constantly refilled, at no more than 2 sips down. (Which is actually necessary, because of the insanely salty meats.) They tried to refill our sides, but I told them I didn't want to waste them, and not once after that did they offer. That's pretty impressive communication, since there were 5 or 6 Gauchos running around. Plus, it's a great place to go for your birthday. We had 2 certificates from a previous visit for free "Special Occasion" meals (SCORE!!) **AND** they gave us a Birthday Flan on the house again... I really didn't expect that with a coupon. So service here is NOT lacking. What is lacking, you ask? Well, for starters, the Salad Bar. Yes, they have a few cured meats, and ginormous Fresh Mozarella Balls. But really, that's it. The asparagus were the size of your average Redwood Tree, and the "Other Side" of the salad bar (The one NOT facing the front of the restaurant) is stocked with boring lettuce, cucumbers, and SYSCO Dressings. Meh to the Mehx! I'd been back to Rodizio for Lunch the week before, and indeed made my lunch solely off their Salad Bar. You could not do that here. Then, there's their meats. Sure, they give you all that you care to shovel in. And yes, the Picana, Ancho Ribeye, and Filet (Not the overcooked, bacon-wrapped one) are good. And their Bottom-Round is seasoned perfectly (Although the "Rare" side was more "Raw"... literally.) But overall? The meats are oversalted, and some tend towards the dry-to-the-point-of-sawdust consistency. (That Bacon-Wrapped Filet Nugget was Choke-Worthy, the Pork Ribs were not even Jerky quality, and the Parmesan Crusted Pork Tenderloin was made even drier by the grated bits of Parm tickling your throat.) Also, and I know I'm a Miamian being picky about this, but their Flan is creamier than it should be... Flan should be more of a standalone Custard, almost "Jello-Like" when you "cut" into it. This was more of a thick pudding. Delicious, though, at the same time. But- Also keeping this at a 4-Star Rating are those Cheese Puffs. Yes, their Pan de Quejo are ridiculously addictive and delicious. And their sweet bananas are crazy easy to keep popping in your mouth. So, overall, I'd say this is an awesome service experience, with good food, and plenty of it. Maybe when someone else is paying is the time to head here!
(4)
Michael C.
Great food and outstanding cheese. Impeccable staff. Note the ambiance and food here is better than Rodizio. Also note: people that have had bariatrice surgery get half off.
(4)
Erin E.
My boyfriend and I came here during 5280 (as that's probably the only way we could afford to check it out!) Maybe this place is different when it's not 5280, but they had packed so many tables in there it felt more like a cafeteria than a restaurant. If we're going to spend $100 on dinner/wine, I'd like a slightly better ambiance. Maybe I'm asking too much, but they said on the night we were there, they took 1,000 reservations- AKA they were anxious to get us in, shove meat down our throats, and get us the hell outta there. I'm a lover of meats and cheeses, but this stuff was so over-salted, I thought I might keel over at the table. I'm glad I didn't have a Blood Pressure reading within the next month, or my doctor would have been really pissed. After a while all the meats started to taste the same....just loaded with salt. The salad bar was good, but our waiters made us feel like idiots for trying it out. "You've never been here before?! Don't fill up on the salad bar," they laughed. We couldn't be quick about turning our card from green to red to STOP the meats from coming! These waiters are ON IT like I've never seen. The level of activity is so overwhelming that we forgot to turn out cards over, and they would be there in a split second- shaving generous portions of meat onto our plate. Normally I love trying all the different options, but I couldn't keep up with the amount of meat they were serving VS. me eating it. Therefore the food got piled up, and I was full before getting to try it all. And that's what I so dislike about this place. It's sad to me to see all this food get wasted. There are no to-go boxes, nor do I think they put any leftovers for hungry people to enjoy. I imagine the people I see who search in dumpsters behind my apartment would have had a feast with what was left on my plate. They would have been horrified to watch all of that get thrown away and the thought of that plagued me through dinner and as we were leaving. I love me some food, and am guilty of being a glutton sometimes....but this was over the top. However, just to spite this idea, and as uncouth as it is, we hid some food in a napkin to take back to our 3 cats who live like royalty. And that made me happy. Hehehe
(3)
Cat C.
Fogo hosted a company dinner for us last week. I will NEVER recover from the MOST EXCELLENT baked salmon! The rest was excellent too. Thanks Fogo!!! Not sure about the TVs (I don't need them) as we had 500 people in there that night.
(5)
Tina F.
always consistent! sangria was way too fruity and sweet for my taste. it included strawberries and tons of unstirred sugar at the bottom... i don't recall strawberries in most of the sangrias i've had but... the ciaprina's on the other hand are super yummy. they are on the lime/tart side, but that's how i like my drinks (not sweet)
(4)
Haleigh M.
Service was great. There were waiters everywhere to help you with whatever you needed but almost to a fault. Waiters were stopping at our table almost every 20 seconds to confirm that we were having a good meal. We felt a little anxious with all of the attention and movement of meat and waiters around us. The Food was delicious, I loved the fresh salad bar and my boyfriend loved the meat. There were so many different types of meat to choose from. We sampled all of them between the two of us!
(4)
Ryan T.
Fogo De Chao is my absolute favorite restaurant, especially since I am a carnivore at heart. Ever since I visited their Beverly Hills location a few years ago, I have been hooked on this all you can eat Brazilian steakhouse. For those of you who have not been initiated in the churrascaria experience, here is how things work. After you have been seated and had a chance to enjoy a drink, the waiter will point out the fine salad bar that they have on hand. While I must admit that their salad bar is quite impressive, I have never ever bothered to visit it as my sole mission is to satisfy my meat fix. Next, you will be given a card. When the green side of the card is turned up, this signals the gaucho waiters that you are ready for the meat feast to begin. You can choose from 15 different cuts of meat that are brought to your table, sliced, and served on your plate. When the red side of the card is turned up, this lets the waiters know that you are taking a break until you are ready for more meat. For me, my absolute favorite cut is the picanha or prime cut of the top sirloin that just so happens to be FDC's signature steak. Some of my other favorites are the fraldinha or bottom sirloin and the beef ancho which is the prime cut of the rib eye. All of the aforementioned cuts of meat were just so juicy and cooked to the medium rare that I just love. Besides the fine meats that are constantly being carved at your table, the service at FDC is also some of the best that I have experienced at any fine establishment. If there is a particular cut of meat that you crave but have not seen for awhile, all you need to do is tell the waiter and he will actually grab your desired meat from the grill in the kitchen. If you love meat, you must find a way to visit Fogo De Chao and experience this churrascaria for yourself.
(5)
Greg O.
Food: This week, I have eaten at both the Rodizio Grill and Fogo de Chao--both Brazilian restaurants--and I found the Rodizio to have better-tasting meats. Fogo did have a better salad bar, and I enjoyed the meats and cheeses it had to offer. Service: The service was perfect. The entire staff seemed responsible for each table, and I never had to wait for anything. I also liked how one person asked me if there was a type of meat I wanted, rather than me waiting for the usual rotation. Ambiance: This place is obviously more classy than Rodizios, and I would suggest wearing a decent outfit in order to fit in. The tables were also less crowded, which I appreciated. Cleanliness: There were no complaints about cleanliness. Price: The price is higher than Rodizios by about $10. Overall: While the price is higher and the meats weren't as flavorful, I did like this restaurant, and I would eat here again. I would probably wait for a special occasion though.
(4)
Alden G.
Fun and pleasant place, hard-working staff. Chain restaurant, has appeal for small parties, and "date night." The distinguishing feature is the continual, revolving presentation of 15 different cuts of meat to your plate. Fogo is about the experience. We had fun; after awhile, I found the constant interruption a bit of a bother though; time to turn over the card from green to red. Best to mellow the experience with a bottle of very good Argentine Malbec (try Alamoso, $35).
(4)
Sara C.
Ever since I've been here for Brazilian Churrascaria I have fallen in love. Not like I wasn't in love before but this place is just the best one I've been out of all the ones I've been to. I think it's because of the service and the quality of the food. The service really tops it off though. Since I've been to Fogo de Chao I have never gone to another Texas De Brazil or Rodizio's. Maybe because I like getting my chair pushed in when I sit and they do that just about every time! The quality of the salad bar, when you get a chance to go to the salad bar, is amazing. I love all the cold dishes with the smoked salmon, grilled artichoke hearts, asparagus...etc. I say when you get a chance because a lot of the people won't eat that to fill them up so they can pack in more meat during the trip. I really like their chewy bread and their fried bread that looks like french fries. (Tasted like fried corn bread sticks.) Everything here is amazing, I accidentally tried the lamb and it wasn't until second bite that I realized it was lamb. It was not that gamey, I'm just not a lamb eater. I loved all the steak selections and even their chicken is tasty. Try at least one bite of everything! The lunch buffet would run you $25 before drinks/tax/tip and dinner is $45, which is fairly consistent across the churrascaria business. You have to have their capirinha, it's about $10 for the drink but they make it strong. Really tasty stuff! If it wasn't for celebrating our 2nd anniversary, I probably wouldn't have stuffed myself so full. Wait a minute, who am I kidding? Of course I would have!
(5)
D G.
Amazing dinner tonight. The servers Nicholas and Kristin we re fabulous. Shawn the manager was really great, bringing us special cuts right from the fire. The Meat Fell Apart With Our Forks. You need to come here. Seriously.
(5)
Jacquie G.
This place is absolutely amazing. Come here if you want to be treated like royalty. Our waiter Tyler knew exactly what we wanted our first time here. The drinks are tasty and the food is drool worthy. I felt like I'd gone to brazil! I'll be coming back for sure!
(5)
Brian A.
MEAT!!! Lot's and LOT's of meat! And it's on sticks!! Meat on sticks... a man's paradise! My wife and I went here for our anniversary dinner, which they offered us a free desert however we were WAY too full to take them up on it. Also, we had reservations on a Saturday night, and they were not required... I was a bit surprised by this. The salad bar was good, but if you go there for the salad bar... you need to have your head examined. The meat is really the star of the show, and the staff will be there in a heart beat to give you the meat you crave. If you want something, let them know and ANY of the staff will make sure you get it. Really, that is awesome service. All of the sides were also good, but really, it's about the meat. So try not to eat the whole day before coming, as it's not a cheap meal, but you do get what you pay for. With tax, tip (20%), and drinks our bill was $135 for 2 people.
(4)
Edward S.
I loved this place. The salad bar is fantastic and the gentlemen who bring the meat to the table are expert with the presentation. I will go back again and again. I do recommend that you fast the day that you dine here. You will want to try the huge variety of delicious meats as well as a spectacularly stocked salad bar.
(5)
Becky C.
Let me start by saying that all you can eat is not generally a good thing for me. I eat very small portions so I never get my money's worth. However, in the past buffets have let me take what was left on my plate home with me. Not here. And not only would they not let me take things home the host was very snide about it. "With all due respect ma'am maybe you should put less on your plate". I assure you I only had a normal restaurant portion on my plate. Absolutely ridiculous that for $45 I don't come home with leftovers. One of my joys of eating out is the to go box I always take home. Even when I go to breakfast I take something home because I can never eat the portions in a restaurant and I hate wasting food. I was told "if we let everyone take food to go we'd have to close our doors". I don't believe that at all...they did not seem to be hurting for business and at $45 I think they could be a little more accommodating. I recently found out that rodizio does let you take food to go and for less money....next time friends want to go for Brazilian steakhouse that's where we'll go Also drink service was terrible. I had to ask twice for my first cocktail and I was never offered a second cocktail. I only went there because friends wanted to go. The food isn't that great for the price, especially if I have to stuff myself to the point of discomfort to get my money's worth.
(1)
Rob C.
What can I say great service, beautiful salad bar but the succulent meat feast is a dream from ribs to filet mignon chicken, pork, steak, lamb & different kinds of sausages. the bake bananas are yummy as well as the fried polenta & mashed potatoes. dont forget the extremely nice bar cart have a $225.00 cognac totally worth it & for desert have the papaya cream it helps you to digest all the protein you consumed. you can dress up or casually Denver is just that cool but make reservations it stays busy even during weeknights I hope to see you there!
(5)
Ron C.
F is as in Fogo and Fraud - as far as Restaurant Week is concerned. If you are going to showcase your restaurant to occasional regular diners and those who may be trying you for the first time, it is imperative to offer a full meats menu. Had I realized you eliminated filet mignon, ribeye and beef ribs from your offerings for restaurant week, I may have gone elsewhere. Or done lunch at your establishment during the week to get the full meats dining experience. So basically for the $30 Restaurant Week price, you deleted at least $10 in meats from your regular menu charge....sneaky. At least offer the missing meats as a separate add-on, again though if you did that then people would realize your dishonesty in the first place. The dining experience itself was decent as usual, great salad bar, pretty good meats of those that were served (if you like constant top sirloin). Service was a bit uneven, the meat servers get in your face and if you are out to the salad bar, they almost knock you over (and glare at you). My server was generally efficient, but it took almost 30 minutes to provide a final bill and receipt so that I could leave (missed an hourly bus as result-asked if he could get it fairly quick). Was completely unacceptable and reflected in his final tip (I planned on tipping 25% & barely did 15%). All in all this was a decent meal but given the dishonesty and new vibe of this restaurant, it will be way down the list of places I consider for a special night out or for a work event in the future. It pains me to say this, as I have done both of the latter in the past with great results. Just a different restaurant now than in the past based on my observations.
(2)
Trigger S.
Bravo! From start to finish we received nothing but an awesome experience our waiter a tall chizzled Hispanic boy named Taylor or Tyler (too busy staring at the food) made sure we were 100% taken care as did his helper and other staff members of fogo. The only thing better than the service was the quality of meats they had. The men carrying the cuts were on point and the second you flipped your card over they were there. It was almost as if they were proud that of their product and wanted nothing more than to see your face as you put their meat inside your mouth. One of the best restaurant experiences I've ever had by far. Oh and the blonde manager is almost enough reason to come back. Love you guys.
(5)
David M.
When The Hulk takes SuperGirl to the Prom where does he take her to dinner? Fogo de Chao. It's like the Capitol Grill meets Kitchen Buffet: A high end cafeteria where they bring the cow to you and slice him up at your table. Very good salad bar (me loves dat smoked salmon and the mega-wheel of Parmigiano-Reggiano rocks) (asparagus too thick, but that's a minor complaint, huh). Good, and never-ending, but not great, meat products, and some purty good sides (carmelized bananas, polenta cakes, beans = neat). Worth $38/a head. Sure, if you're pregnant and eating for yourself and your about-to-be quadruplets, Excessive? You betcha. Fun? Yes. Good servers and fast and furious attention accompany the gluttony. Bottom line, try it when you need to bulk up your wrestling weight class.
(3)
Meredith G.
What should you do on a Monday off and right after a hard bike ride? Go eat all the meat you can fit in your belly (plus dessert). I had my first Fogo experience today and it was lovely. The restaurant was not crowded and the staff were prompt to fill our plates with their various meat dishes and sides. They even came when my card was flipped to red. I loved everything I had except for the fillet wrapped in bacon. To get the bacon so crispy the meat was to well done for my liking. But that's ok, move it aside and get something else. The side of polenta and bananas were amazing and if you haven't put them together in 1 bite make sure you try that combo next time you go. I would eat that for dessert! But, I'm a serious desert lover and now I know I like Brazilian flan. It was creamy and luscious covered with a thin caramel sauce. I would definitely heard here for a huge lunch again. It's Only $25 vs. $35 at dinner time for the same food offerings.
(5)
Justin A.
Fogo is absolutely delicious. Salad Bar is good, with tons of gourmet cheeses and other ingredients. The Cheese Bread on the table is also good. And..where else can you find Guarana or Diet Coke in a glass bottle at a restaurant?. But...the best part. The minute you turn the card to Green, they attack you with meats. Every cut of meat is succulent and cooked to perfection. Delicious. Service is also top notch. Come here hungry and leave in a wheel barrel.
(5)
Simon J.
Been here a few times - food is always great, service is also excellent. Will defo be back. Only complaint is they do not validate parking at lunchtime. Did not realize that and I ended up paying almost $10 to park when meter parking would have been just $1.50. Otherwise, excellent.
(4)
Lauren D.
Our absolute favorite restaurant in denver. The atmosphere is great and the wait staff is impeccable. Our first time in, Evan waited on us and made our evening very special. We've requested him every time since then. The steaks are amazing, especially the picanha. Highly recommended!!
(5)
Ian K.
Simply the best restaurant in Denver all around!!!! Thanks for the memories Fogo!
(5)
Monica L.
Denver Restaurant Week at Fogo last night was terrific. We went early before they got too busy which worked out well. The atmosphere, service and food were all as good as when I was there when it wasn't DRW. On the salad bar, don't miss the Caesar salad. Their Caesar dressing is really good. The cheese popovers are addictive. My favorite meats are the pork ribs, bacon-wrapped filet, chicken legs and lamb chops. I recommend you skip the turtle cheesecake. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't good either. My husband and two friends had the key lime pie and raved about it. Next time, I'd order the key lime pie or try the chocolate mousse cake.
(4)
Stephanie A.
came for 5280 week, Enjoyed it to pieces their salad bar is wicked awesome. and the meat! OH THE DELICIOUS MEAT! The service is fantastic, had the Creme brulee for dessert and cried tears of joy upon taking the first bite of the heavenly masterpiece. They take great care of you here. If I were to mention a down point, all I would say is that the hostess seemed a little unfriendly, I like to be greeted with a smile, and a hello. Other than that, sheer perfection.
(5)
Akilah R.
Their signature drinks are phenomenal! I went with a group of friends, some of whom have been to Rio, and it took them back. Great scene, great food, great service (staff push in your chair once you're seated - they're all about the details here). Very attentive, very professional and friendly. Not much more to say than that.
(4)
Saad A.
Great restaurant, one of the best Brazilian Churrascaria cuisines you can find anywhere.. oh and it absolutely dwarfes any other Brazilian restaurants that are nearby, no comparison what so ever..
(5)
Rae L.
I brought my friend here for his birthday and we both had an excellent time. While the ambiance is not exactly friendly to romance, being a little loud and filled with bustling servers, it was a nice place to get an excellent meal. The service was above and beyond, although you never seem to have the same server for very long as everyone chips in. I loved the costumes of the meat carriers, a nice authentic touch. The food was fabulous. The buffet items were all well done, however I stuck to the cured meats and cheeses and a few of the salads. There was so much to choose from I didn't want to fill up before the meat began. My cocktails were a little slow (where is the bar in this place I don't know) in getting to me, but they were all well made and incredibly tasty. The meat is of course the star however. I didn't want to stop eating it was so good! And they aren't kidding that once you flip green, you will be bombarded by meat. Sometimes even when it's flipped to red, but who is going to say no to such well prepared Filet Mignon? They have various temps cooked on their skewers so if one likes their meat cooked till it's soul is writhing in agony and the other likes it bloody, it's okay. We ended the meal with dessert and a cognac. The servers even went out of their way, even though no one had told them directly, they had overheard our conversation and written Happy Birthday on the plate of the birthday boy - now that's attention to detail! Yes, Fago de Chao is expensive. But it's an experience and one worth having more than once! I can't wait to take more people here to celebrate!
(4)
Amy O.
Need to go back for more pão de queijo and caipirinha!!!! YUM
(5)
Ryssby R.
If you are are going to participate in restaurant week it is important that you take the opportunity to impress - our server MinWoo did a fantastic job paying attention his clients and taking care of little things that make a big difference. They have a great wine list and the team work is impressive. Great job to the management as your staff is only a good as the leadership and great job to the support staff because a business is only as good as their people. Thank you.
(5)
Ramon G.
4.5 to be exact. The food and service speaks for itself at Fogo. As you walk in you know you are about to experience something special. The meats- A delicious assortment consisting of beef, lamb, pork and sausage. Depending on the cut you do get to pick your preferred temperature. I usually stick around medium rare to medium. My fav's are the rib eye, top/bottom sirloin and the garlic tenderloin. The salad bar- Not bad but I think Texas De Brazil has the edge on this. (Not that you come here to eat salad) The bread- Pao de queijo is like candy. Sides- Love the bananas. Service- Knowledgeable, friendly and very attentive. Wine- I've had good luck with their Carmenere's and Cabs. Dessert- Are you kidding? Hint- Don't eat meat all week and be sure to hike a 14'er or run a marathon prior to dining at Fogo. You'll be alright....
(4)
Christina Z.
What can I say about Fogo de Chao that hasn't already been said? Other than it's incredibly, mouth-watering delicious, here are a couple of my notes that I'd like to contribute: 1. Go for lunch. It's about half the price and you get all of the same meats (you'll get a couple more sides with dinner, but why eat mashed potatos when you have dozens of pounds of sizzling meat that await?) The side dishes are awesome at both meals, so you won't feel like you're missing out. 2. The salad bar is included with the all-you-can-eat meats and it is awesome. So awesome, in fact, I called the restaurant back the next day to ask WHAT TYPES OF CHEESES WERE FEATURED...they were THAT GOOD. (For those of you who are curious: aged machego and 24-month aged parmesan.) 3. I have an inside joke with my boyfriend that he should take some notes from the gauchos at Fogo...they treat you like a lady (if you happen to be a woman, at least)! To be sure, it's way-over-the-top and it's hard to take their pants seriously, but everytime my boyfriend gets out of line, I let him know that the Fogo men are next in line. But really, once I ordered the caiparainha and it didn't taste great, so they took it back (after I drank half haha) and made me a new, better one after asking what flavors I liked.
(5)
Heather P.
Wonderful place for groups, a little loud for maybe a intimate solo date. My group thought the service was great, we were stuffed! Must have a little of everything but do get the fogo beef, garlic pork, and bacon wrapped chicken.
(4)
Maggie B.
Another year of Restaurant Week and another great choice! Fogo did not disappoint! I love the fact that the staff works together as a group instead of as individual waiters. It makes getting what you need much easier and you can enjoy your dinner without having to keep looking for your waiter. The steak was amazing as always but this time the chicken was cooked almost (if not better) than the steak. I ate more chicken this time than I ever had before. It was so delicious! I also love the side buffet at the Denver location. They have a ton of options and variety for you to choose not to mention the sides that get brought over to the table. The side buffet is so good it's hard to remember to save room for steak! Also, make sure to save room for cheesecake. This was the first time we have eaten dessert at Fogo and the cheesecake was amazing....just as good as Cheesecake Factory! As always I highly recommended this place for any occasion!
(5)
Jerry S.
Went for 5280 for the 4th year in a row. I gotta say it's the best 5280 bang for your buck. Holy meat gluttony, love it!! Never disappointing... unless you're a vegetarian.
(5)
Amanda G.
This is the best 52.80 week deal hands down. I'd been to the Fogo's in LA and thought it was great. It's a chain and they are apparently all identical...with the exception of the price. LA charges you more. Anyhow, we went for $52.80 week and it was great. You get to eat off the full menu (and this place has potential to be gluttony), the food is great and the experience is fun (if a little intense). We didn't love how packed in we were but other than that, highly recommended. Call now and get a reservation for next year. :)
(4)
J. S.
I have been to about 7-8 Brazilian style steakhouses...and not all Brazilian steakhouses are created equal, that's for sure! Fogo is at the top of the list in my book, the food AND service are both top notch, so I have no complaints here. One thing I should disclose before saying more: we did NOT go on 5280 nights...there seems to be a trend of bad reviews listed by people who ate here during restaurant week. That being said, we have been to this Denver location twice and have been very happy and fulfilled both times. My husband and I have really enjoyed the ambiance and the quality of service and food here. It doesn't get better than that at a restaurant. I don't think either of us ever needed to ask for refills, nor did we have the meat carvers avoid us...just the opposite! They brought us fresh polenta and cheese bread without us asking...just amazing! The meat was tender and juicy. I pefer mine cooked about medium rare and I was very pleased with the cooking of the meat. At the very end of our meal, they surprised us by bringing out a dessert and written in chocolate syrup around the plate it said: "Happy Anniversary!" which was a thoughtful and nice touch. We were very pleased! Definitely try the brazilian flan, I used to hate flan until I had Brazilian flan. Now I'm hooked! I'm curious to try Texas de Brazil, but this place is so good, I just can't justify taking the risk in case Texas de Brazil sucks in comparison... especially since Fogo de Chao is so amazing! If any other Yelpers have been to both, let me know how they compare. We are so thrilled with Fogo that we won't be trying Texas unless we hear otherwise. We are just THAT smitten! :)
(5)
Aileen D.
It was all fine and dandy until I hit the salad bar. Great salad bar, heavy on the cheeses and fabulous salmon and chicken salad. But.....What do you mean no rice? I always have black beans which i spoon over rice. It kinda ruined my evening. The polenta cakes and mashed potatoes were ok but not what I was looking forward too. The beef options [esp. the filet] were very tasty and well-seasoned as well as the sausage but I didn't care for the pork [dry], chicken [dry]. Definitely opt for deswert....key lime pie! The servers were very attentive, almost like a parade. It did get annoying when they ignored the RED but, in most instances, I'm glad they persisted. I would come back, if someone else was picking up the tab.
(3)
Peter M.
Come with money. Leave happy. The lunch is by far the best deal. Same exact thing as dinner, only a good deal less expensive. Hey, vegetarians... This place is not for you - you are probably not a good fit. at all. Skewers of meat... All kinds. One after another. So good. Bad first date spot. Come hungry. Don't pretend it's not tasty. Eat LOTS! All in one pricing makes this place awesome for those with an appetite for meat, but bad for calorie counting, self conscious types. Those types should go get a salad while real Americans get their grub on. That is all. Go Broncos.
(5)
Chris W.
Great Salad bar with HUGE asparagus spears, greens, artichokes, hearts of palm even? ...cured meats and cheeses, lots to choose from! Go easy and save some room for the MEAT! Some of my favorite's were the Picanha, Filet Mignon, and the Alcatra. In my opinion, don't bother with dessert, and get an extra order of the caramelized bananas If you're drinking, be careful of the Caipirinha's (especially the premium one @ $12.50 a pop), they go down really easy! Glad we were dining here during Denver Restaurant Week....I think I would save this one for lunch time, and save a little coin. Lunch = $24.50 pp Dinner = $42.50 pp The atmosphere is pretty loud, and there are servers rushing around quite a bit. This is somewhat expected due to the way they serve the meats, and such. Just note that a quiet/intimate "date" night might be difficult to obtain here. Again, this may be due to the Restaurant Week rush. Cheers, CW
(3)
Amanda T.
Fantastic food and drink + outstanding service+the best dining companion =perfect evening! After reading my less than stellar review, one of the family members that own Fogo de Chao contacted me, we then talked on the phone, I explained my concerns, he understood where I was coming from and he then explained that they were just coming off of restaurant week so the food and service may have not been up to par, he insisted not only on refunding my money, but mailing me a $100 gift card because he wanted to me to try them again. Obviously impressive. To top it off, B had received a $50 gift card from Laura L. as a thank you for helping with Yelpalooza 2.0 so we had decided that at some point we'd do it up. We finally did and it was amazing! The food was much better this time. Not only better but wonderful! And the service wasn't as over the top as last time. Attentive, but not hovering. B. adored the Fillet Mignon and was bummed that they had not circulated the again so when they came over with another meat, he asked about it and they brought more out to him. Perhaps that is my only complaint: the circulation of the meats. It seems that they circulate some meats more than others, and I don't think it's based on popularity or cooking time, but more on the cost of the cut of meat. It was a bummer because I was full and they had cleared my plate they came out with new meats that hadn't been out before. I'm sure they would have brought me a new plate if I had asked, but I wanted to save room for dessert. And I'm glad I did! I've been on a Key Lime Pie craze lately so I had that. Outstanding! B had the strawberry ice cream thingy. It was tasty, but we both agreed that it was nothing to write home about. B also wanted to have the drink cart come over, they did and I had a really tasty sweet wine, comparable to a port, and B had some extra fancy edition of Grand Marnier. While it won't be a place I'll frequent, I'll definitely return to Fogo when I'm in the mood for a meat-fest and have the extra money to spend.
(4)
Kathleen A.
Nothing spells Valentine's Day better than a full-on bonafied meat coma with your significant other. I had been to Fogo a few times before, in Chicago. The Denver spot was no different. The service is still spectacular and the food is AMAZING. Funny that Rob K. calls this place a "meat parade" because that was Matt's very same expression after a few gauchos came out with different cuts of meat. I referred to it as a Meat storm so you get the picture. Everything was delicious. I can't really narrow down my absolute favorite, but the standouts were: the chicken legs, parmesean encrusted pork loin and bacon wrapped chicken and filets. I also loved the sides-carmelized bananas, polenta and mashed potatoes. But do not focus on these so much as the meat you are consuming! The staff was very attentive, and did not hesitate to fulfill my multiple meat requests. They made sure our sides were always fresh and hot and drinks never empty!!! If you are a meat eater you have to come here! Make sure you starve yourself all day first to get your money's worth. Sure the salad bar is great, but don't waste your stomach space! At $38 per person this place is definitely worth every penny.
(5)
Dan S.
Up front, let me say I vacillated a bit between four and five stars. We had a tremendous meal here with a group of friends. My wife eats gluten-free, and almost everything was gluten-free - even the cheese bread (po de queijo), which is made with manioc flour. A real treat for her. Our server not only gave her some suggestions but brought the manager over who was familiar with everything and gave her the rundown - they were very accommodating. The salad bar is not as extensive as some, but the food was fresh, tasty and fun. They make a basil sauce/dressing that is excellent, particularly with the hearts of palm and artichokes. My wife may very well just have the salad bar when we go next. As we approach the meats, they bring over some sides - heavenly carmelized bananas, next to forgettable crispy polenta and mashed potatos I didn't even try. BUT, make sure you ask for the optional side dishes - the farofa (also made with manioc flour) and beans were great (and awesome together). The meats ranged from pretty good to great. I was pleasantly surprised by the Parmesan Pork - a great combination and not overdone. The Fraldinha was very good, the Picanha just a little disappointing (it is breathtaking in Brasil, including at a Fogo de Chao I ate at in Sao Paolo). The pork ribs were terrific. The service was rapid fire - take a deep breath and tell them no if you don't want a particular type. Also, don't be shy about asking them to bring something specific over, if you haven't tried it or just want more. They have the good Guarana (Antarctica, which is a Brasilian soda, compared to ginger ale, but better). I was salivating at the idea of Papaya Cream with Creme de Cassis - it is a wonder of the desert world. Their version is heavier on the ice cream than I prefer, but still excellent and the best I've had in the States. Don't miss it. One critical note, and it is a small one, but they brought over a fancy cart with after dinner drinks and the sales pitch was a little heavy-handed. We managed to say 'no thank you', however. A great place for a group and a plethora of choices if you eat gluten-free.
(4)
Stephanie L.
I'd been wanting to try Fogo for a while. My husband had been a few times in other US cities, and said it was the best churascaria around. We dined there recently and it did not dissapoint. I am a huge fan of the salad bar, although calling it a salad bar is really an insult. I can't get enough of the fresh cheeses and meats and the fresh veggies. So onto the main course... the meat. It was wonderful. Defintiely a higher quality meat that other churascarias that I've been to. My favorite was their house special, the garlic beef and the lamb chops. The side dishes they bring out are also great. What is most impressive about Fogo is the staff and the service. They do not mess around. Most people I know could take a lesson on work ethic from them. Expensive.... but worth it every once in a whle.
(5)
Shane S.
Impressive... after a disappointing meal at one of Denver's finest steakhouses the night before, this restaurant was a pleasant surprise. I can't believe I am saying this but the salad bar alone was worth the trip. Be careful not to fill up too much at the salad bar and bring your appetite. This place is a typical Brazilian steakhouse where the waiters come table-side with endless cuts of meat. You have a "button" which is red on one side and green on the other which will alert the waitstaff to either come to your table with more meat or lay low for a while. They also have some side dishes like garlic mashed and asparagus which accompany the endless meat-fest. Some of the meat was spectacular and perfectly cooked (The garlic steak), some others were either slightly over or under cooked but the quality of the meat and the marinades made up for it. Overall a very great night of meat! My Creme brulee for desert was fantastic. Most of the customers were in very casual attire.
(4)
Christian R.
The meat here isn't necessarily something to crave for, but there is a "variety" of selection to chose from. Most definitely don't waste your stomach space on the salad bar. Great place to come with meat loving friends and family.
(4)
Kevin K.
Went there for my birthday last year and we had a group of 12. We still talk about how awesome that meal was. Great ambiance and super tasty meats. A bit salty perhaps but still awesome. The cold bar was really impressive too.
(5)
Meg D.
My father took me, the vegan, to dinner here. Let me preface this review by saying it wasn't my choice. However... As soon as we arrived, my father informed the waitress that I "didn't eat meat" and was there anything on the menu for me? The waitress informed him that I could make selections from the salad bar and that my meal would be at a reduced price. I have to admit, the salad bar was excellent. Lots of variety, and lots of things that I was able to choose from. The waitress also went out of her way for me, bringing me the polenta fries without cheese on top, and she had the chef make a special order of mashed potatoes for me without any dairy. I was so grateful to the waitress for going out of her way for me - she didn't have to and the above and beyond service was well-appreciated. However, the charge for the salad alone was $25, and I feel that was quite unreasonable given it was the only thing I was able to have.
(4)
Garth E.
THIS PLACE IS UNREAL. First, the waiter comes around with a tray of Caipirinha cocktails. Personally, I love everything that has to do with limes, especially drinks. The Caipirinha is full of muddled lime slices and rum. How much better can you get? Then, you start your salad bar course. The salad bar seems almost endless. Full of different salads, cured meats, cheeses, grilled and marinated vegetables, and so much more. You will definitely be tempted to fill your plate with a little bit of everything and go back for more. BUT DON'T. THE MEAT IS STILL COMING. My personal strategy is to get a little bit of all my most favorite things (cured meats and cheese) and force myself to avoid everything else. Trust me, it won't be easy. After you've finished your salad bar course, you turn your little card to green. Green means go. As in, BRING ON THE MEAT. In hoards the waiters come over with swords of meat, asking you if you'd like some. My advice? Say yes to everything. It's all so good. There's also unlimited sides (mashed potatoes, fried polenta, and fried plantains). Again, the sides are tempting, but I'd minimize them and focus on the meat. Dessert? Totally unnecessary. You'll definitely get the meat sweats with this place. But it's definitely worth it.
(5)
Marcy P.
Could not have been more happy with this place. Went on December 6th for my boyfriends birthday dinner. Super friendly and attentive staff and the beef is to die for! My boyfriend and I were literally gasping at how delicious every piece of meat we tried was. Saving up to go back again! spent around $150 for the two of us and well worth it.
(5)
Brooke B.
Ooooh. my. God. Amazing! We got a gift certificate for Christmas and already went to enjoy a date night here- and it was heavenly. It's definitely not a quiet, romantic spot- but it's friggin' delish. I have been to other Brazilian Steakhouses and NONE have had meat this good. I'm by no means a meat connoisseur, but I knew enough to appreciate every. single. BITE! You must be quick on the flip for the green light/red light to bring or stop the meat. They want to give you everything! It's ok to say no and wait a few minutes to ensure you don't collapse in a food coma. Expensive, but worth every penny! You would never be able to try all of those meats on your own for that price. Yumm...
(5)
Daniel T.
Good food and good service. Salad bar is plentiful and the meats always keep coming. That said, Fogo de Chao will never be Texas de Brazil. Fogo's meats are good but not exceptional. The staff is good but sometimes forgetful and slow. Ambiance is more "retirement community" than a night out. So it's a very good place but has some places to improve on for the price.
(3)
Meggin R.
If it wasn't for the service of the hostess this would be a total five star for me. We went last night for our "valentines." We do it early so we avoid the crowds. We made a reservation a few days before. When we walked up I said "7 o clock reservation for Ben Jackson" That is a very easy name to say, understand, and spell. The hostess was very confused. "I don't have a reservation for Ben, is that the last name?" I explained that no, Jackson is the last name, Ben is the first. Thinking "duh". After a bit more squinting she found it. She handed us a pager and we went to sit at the bar. I asked for some fruity cocktail and they did an amazing job. As a people watcher, I was really impressed with the bar staff. There were only two of them, and they were taking orders from the very busy bar, plus all of the waiters who came in an yelled very complicated drink orders. They were great. After waiting and waiting and waiting, and seeing a couple go in who I know came in after I was done with my drink, I went up to the hostess and asked. She said "oh, yeah, I didn't write down your pager number." So we had been sitting there and waiting, and she hadn't even tried to find us to correct it. At one point someone came around and asked if we were Jeff, but that isn't quite Ben. I was not pleased. But they seated us right away after that. Once we got in it was great. As usual, my husband ate far too much at the salad bar. I limited my self to the good cheese and excellent salami and prosciutto. When we flipped our cards to green it was a bit overwhelming. The meat comes fast and furious. So fast, that at one point after one left, my husband grabbed our cards and flipped them over very fast. We managed to try one of everything, and it was amazing. We've been to Rodizio, but its been so long ago that I can't remember it well enough to compare. We decided to do Fogo instead because they support NPR, and we like to go to places that support NPR. All and all, if they lost the hostess, this is a fantastic place to go.
(4)
Jared B.
One of my favorite places around. The food and staff are both amazing and over the top. Fogo de Chao is the epitome of going the extra step. I have never been taken better care of at a restaurant in my life. The money spent is worth every penny. OM NOM NOM
(5)
aaron n.
Love Fogo de Chao, I've been here probably 8 times already. Make sure to try the Brazillian soda, it's probably the best regular soda there is made with real sugar. The filet wrapped with bacon is a personal favorite. Can't go wrong with the cheese bread either.
(5)
Courtney Z.
I was very excited about my 5280 reservation at Fogo de Chao this past Saturday night, I'd heard great things and looked forward to trying the place for myself. We arrived about 20 minutes prior to our reservation. First gripe, we completely missed their sign for valet parking which is located down the street from the entrance to the restaurant. We ended up spending $10 to park in a garage about a block away due to their poor signage. Since we were early, we decided we would grab a drink at the (crowded) bar. After a 5+ minute wait, the bartender took our order. We asked for 2 glasses of Pinot Noir. To our disappointment, the wine wasn't very good. We assumed it was the house wine and decided just to drink it anyway and we could get a better bottle at the table. They offered to just transfer the drinks to our table. Our name was called promptly at 8, luckily, since the bar was overly packed with waiting patrons. Service at Fogo was the only thing worth praise. The waitstaff was on top of their game, keeping water full and checking in on us frequently (but not too frequently!). The dining area lacked atmosphere; it was almost cafeteria-like with table upon table stacked in a large open room. And extremely bright for an 8pm Saturday dinner out. All of the meat seemed to have been soaked in salt. The filet was the only thing that was really excellent. Anything that was wrapped in bacon was over wrapped (think 2 huge slices of bacon for a tiny bite of chicken!). The rest of the red meats all tasted the same - like salt! When we finally got our tab we found out our bad Pinot Noir from the bar was $14 a glass! We had a bottle of wine with our meal (Malbec) that was on special for $28 -- our two bad glasses of Pinot cost as much as a nice bottle of Malbec! WTF? While I left full, I felt like there were several meats that I missed, but once I discovered that everything tasted like salt, I didn't really want anything else. Bottom line, I wouldn't go back. Especially to pay full price for the experience. Save your $$ and enjoy a nice, well flavored steak at one of the many Denver options!
(2)
Donald M.
I am thrilled to award my prestigious Yelp Five Star Rating to Fogo de Chao. Two chief things to be cognizant of: go hungry and eat slowly. It's easy to get greedy and let the gauchos pile meat on your plate, but don't fall prey. Each selection, and I believe that there are fifteen selections, is stellar (the seasoning can be a bit heavy-handed), but you will surely favor some over the others. Try as many as you can, chew your food, and then gorge on your favorites. My favorite was beef. The salad bar is nothing to sneeze at either. It features a dizzying array of salads, vegetables, and cold dishes, but go easy. Go ahead and eat that salad, but be mindful of what you're there for: meat. The smoked salmon is easily the most delicious I've eaten. It tastes like bacon. Genius.
(5)
Larren M.
I waited to complete this review until I had another chance to try Fogo de Chao since the first time was a special circumstance and not the experience people normally receive. That being said, I feel like I have a much firmer grasp on my opinion, and I'm going as far as to say that Fogo de Chao is the best "Brazilian" steak house I've had the pleasure of stuffing my face at. Let's start with our first experience at Fogo de Chao. My wonderful boss decided that Fogo would be a great place to hold our Christmas party this last year and I couldn't have agreed more. I had heard great things about Fogo de Chao before getting a chance to go, so I was very excited. Well, immediately upon walking in, the wife and I were greeted and escorted through the restaurant to our party. Just the quick trip to our private room and I was astonished by the size of the place. There is a lot of dining space, which makes sense considering the type of place it is. I think having a private room for my first experience at Fogo made me a little spoiled. As I mentioned, our first trip to Fogo de Chao was with my work -- no expense was spared and we had an entire group of people looking after us which made the experience much more personable from a service and dining standpoint. That's not to say that our second trip wasn't comparable. The second time we were with great friends, which made up for the short comings of the experience. For me the second trip wasn't as intimate, the tables were very close together(which I'm sure was due to restaurant week) and we didn't have that unlimited attention "thing" going on like we did the first time around. Despite my complaints, the service at Fogo de Chao is on point and the entire staff deserves high marks. Things don't change much at Fogo de Chao(s). From what I can tell by going there twice, they always have the same cuts of meat and the same items on the salad bar. Which is not a bad thing; you definitely get what you pay for. Upon being seated we were promptly greeted, asked what we'd like to drink and whether or not it was our first time dinning at Fogo de Chao. If it is your first time, they give you a brief speech about how it all works. It's all about "green" for go and "red" for stop on the round cards they give you to signal the meat-men to start cutting. Once you are brought up to speed, you get to start with the salad bar. This is not the salad bar at Wendy's. You can choose from an assortment of delicious things: hearts of Palm, fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, marinated mushrooms, giant asparagus, various types of lettuce and dressings (sauces), cheeses, plates of cured meats and smoked salmon, and even a huge bowl full of bacon - and I don't mean bacon bits, I'm talking full pieces! One bit of advice is not to let the salad bar fill you up. Trust me, you'll be tempted, but be strong. You can always take another trip back. After enjoying your lovely salad with the various accoutrements, the table will be cleared and the show will begin. In the case of our first experience at Fogo de Chao, I had never seen anything quite like it. The people that served the meat flooded the room and in a tornado of meat and swords they flew around cutting this, cutting that and dropping it onto our plates. This was when I realized just how crucial that little card is they give you. Our second experience wasn't quite as fanciful. I doubt they could have done it as well as our first time around. As the meat is served to you, you'll also notice an assortment of sides being placed around the table. Seasoned mashed potatoes, which are the bomb I might add, little wedges of crispy hot polenta, pão de queijo (warm cheese bread), and caramelized bananas. Good god do those bananas fit in well. I found myself taking a bite of the bananas after every bite of meat. Those two flavors worked very well together. There are about 15 different cuts of meat served. Without going into every single one of them, I'll just mention the ones I like best. At the top of that list it'll have to be the Picanha, very moist and delicious and perfectly cooked and cut to your liking with wonderful bits of salt on the outside. Next I'll go with the Beef Ancho (rib eye). There is no question that the rib eye is my favorite cut of meat and this is no exception; perfectly salty and juicy. The Cordeiro (lamb) is exceptionally nice; it was very savory with that subtle gamey flavor. One of my other favorites was the Linguica (sausage); it's a pork sausage with a nice blend of seasonings that give it just a little bit of a bite. There are many more, even cuts that are wrapped in bacon, but those are my favorites. With great service and outstanding food quality, Fogo de Chao really does it right. Fogo de Chao is a great addition to the Denver food scene. It's a great place to take friends or a group of people and enjoy a very unique meal and dining experience. I'd bring your appetite if I were you.
(4)
Topher M.
You can read the other reviews, or look up - what a currascaria is all about. Qualifications in my book: 1) Don't eat all day before arriving and 2) Being an extreme carnivore helps. I can tell you that all of the meat here is simply amazing - not your standard currascaria fare, but simply better. Typically there are a few varieties that are too tough, bland, whatever. You won't experience that here. They do well with cutting to your favored "doneness" - bloody to crisp. Now - with that out of the way... the highlight is really the salad. When you arrive at churrascarias, you go for the roughage first... typically a salad bar. Like the meat - they take it to the next level. Shitake mushrooms, beautiful spinach and other greens, gouda and queso manchego; I kid you not - I could (would) have filled up on the salad bar if the delicious meat-fest wasn't to follow and would have been satisfied. With the meal - you get amazing biscuits (cheesebread, or pao de queijdo - the recipe is online), polenta squares, sweet sauted bananas, and garlic mashed potatoes. Yes, this is all before you turn the coaster over to green and the servers flock to your table with kabobed goodness. A little bugged about the caipirinha. Not traditional. Still good. Minor detail. Now, this is not your lower-end currascaria. I've been to one in Brooklyn that was picnic talbes and wooden hourglass-shaped signals at the end of table with green meaning "the whole damned table wants meat NOW". This is for high-brow carnivores. The food and aesthetics are within that same caliper. Expensive, and amazing. TERRIFIC for groups. Might be romantic for a date - fun at least, but the onslaught of servers is distracting. As we are strange people in a strange town... we asked for a quick tour of the back, somewhat jokingly. The server didn't miss a beat and brought us back to see behind-the-scenes. Great service, attitude, and loads o' fun.
(5)
True M.
Went here after my high school graduation for lunch and loved it. The guachos were very kind and would come to our table with various sorts of meat. I just loved how they would come right after I flipped my card. The selection of meat is amazing, and the salad bar is filled with delicious fresh veggies and appetizers. I don't even have much to say about this place because it is already amazing in itself. You have to go try it out yourself, but go during lunch because it's cheaper :)
(5)
Jarrod R.
In my thirty or so years of doing solid foods, I for the first time found what was unequivocally the best meal of my life. I realize that is very bold statement and not something to throw out there lightly, but the certainty of my of my declaration is absolute with this one. Only after the benchmark has been set can we establish where the bar truly sits. As for the benchmark, we're not talking about Sizzler, Texas Roadhouse or even Outback. I am talking about the likes of Morton's, Ruth's Chris, and the Double Eagle in Ft. Worth. I've tried the famous steakhouses bearing the names of Jordan, Farve, Elway and Nolan Ryan with all paling in comparison. The high rating speaks for itself and with all the rave reviews I ask myself what can even be left to say about this place and yet I can't help but feel compelled to share my own experience. I went in aware of all of the hype surrounding the salad bar and yet was still blown away. What has to be the most impressive salad bar I've ever seen is included with every meal here. The highlights include a Mount Everest of high quality, crisp, perfectly cooked full strips of bacon. Then there were 1/2 thick slices of fresh and tasty tomatoes the size of a softball. Where are they even finding tomatoes like this; it's winter and we're in Denver. Seasoned balls of fresh mozzarella? Perfect. Strips of smoked salmon? Why not. Enough choices of high quality sliced meats and cheeses to rival any deli? You bet. Then there was the standard build it yourself salad faire. That said, standard in Fogo De Choa fashion is by no means average; we're not talking about a Ruby Tuesday here. As great as this salad bar is, unless you're a vegetarian, you're not going to want to do anything more than dabble in it because the best is yet to come. As I flipped my card over to green (signaling bring on the meat) my heart began to race just a little. From that moment on there was an onslaught of Gauchos (Brazilian cowboys) in full costume wielding skewers with offerings of carnivorous heavenly delights moments removed from the open flame. I was raised on red meat and consider myself well versed in the art of the steak, but yet none of this prepared me for what I experienced on this night. Every bite of every cut of meat I tried was flavorful, succulent and absolutely perfect in every way. I really enjoyed being able to experience the subtle differences of each of the different cuts of meats all in one sitting. Unlike a typical steak place where a sides come ale carte at $7 plus a pop, they're included with your meal here. Unfortunately the mashed potatoes were merely a distraction from the show and were quickly banished to the far side of the table like a red headed step child. With food as good as this I would accept bad service, no service, slow service or whatever they wanted to throw at me. However I've got to say the service I received here was as good or better than any I've ever received anywhere. I especially appreciated that after sampling my choice of the 15 meat offerings, the chance to request return visits of all of my favorites. The entire experience was incredible and memories of the Fraldinha (bottom cut of sirloin) will not soon be forgotten. Where there were once nightly dreams of Bianca Kajlich, there are now only reoccurring visions of Fogo De Chao's steaks. Well except for the one a couple of nights ago where she was standing at my table in lingerie. Unfortunately my only thought was "God, I hope she doesn't distract the Gauchos en route with my next serving of steak." I would definitely recommend that anyone who has an opportunity to try this place does.
(5)
Safford B.
I'm sorry, but I'm just not sold on the Brazilian steakhouse eat-til-you-puke concept, even in the "premium" format that Fogo De Chao tries to pull off. It's just a little cruise-shippy to me. We came here for Denver Restaurant Week, so we called several months ahead to get a reservation. When we arrived, we were still told that we needed to wait 15-20 minutes, and that they'd put our name on the waiting list. Pretty sure that's what reservations are for. Because it was Denver Restaurant Week, the crowd may have been a little more herd-like than usual, but it really put me off. The salad bar was a stampede. The staff couldn't figure out how to do crowd control, and I was shoved out of the way by an old woman trying to get in front of me so that she could get the last scoop of chicken salad. Cafeteria classy. As for the salad bar itself, it was good. I do enjoy all of the marinated vegetables like portobellos and hearts of palm, and the cured meats are good as well. Of course, you can pick up all of this stuff in the deli at Whole Foods or some of the fancier King Soopers, so it's not unique, but it's good. The meat was a major disappointment. Most of it was overcooked. I am a rare guy myself, but understand in this kind of setting, I'm going to be in the minority. That being said though, when pretty much every cut of meat is grey, I can't be the only one thinking that all the flavor and texture is gone. The filet mignon was the only thing I saw that was medium-rare. Unfortunately, it was nothing but sinew. It took me eight motions with a serrated knife to get through it. Definitely not "melt in your mouth" quality. The bacon-wrapped version of the filet never made it our way, so we didn't get to give it a second try. A few items will be spared this scathing review. The pork sausage (linguica) was really good. The fried polenta was also hard to stop eating. Unfortunately, a couple of high spots isn't enough to make up for the fact that Fogo was a kitschy and underwhelming experience. This is the last time we burn a Denver Restaurant Week night on a chain, no matter how popular it is.
(2)
Karen P.
We have eaten here several times and the food has always been fabulous. I am giving only 2 stars because of the manner I was treated by the hostess staff on our way out. I asked if they could call a cab to pick us up. I was told that a cab would take 20 minutes and they would only make the call if we would promise to wait for it. What? I guess they are afraid to offend the cab driver. We just spent several hundred dollars on dinner and I was not happy being dictated to about the terms of a cab ride. I know this is a little thing, but it left me with a bad taste in my mouth. There are lots of other great restaurants where we can go spend our money.
(2)
LaShawn R.
We were here for Denver Restaurant Week for a meal before going to see Wanda Sykes at the Paramount. Having never been there before, I was expecting the place to be like Texas de Brazil. Yes, it is a Churrascaria (Brazilian steakhouse) like Texas de Brazil, but that's pretty much the only comparison. The salad bar definitely had fewer selections, and the meat server guys (I know they have a much better title than that but it eludes me right now) scarcely made an appearance at our table when we flipped our cards to green. When they did make an appearance to our table, it was usually with a beef selection. The sirloin was plentiful but not much else was coming around. We had to request that the linquica and chicken come to our table. The best thing about the meal was the drink I had. I forget what it was called but it tasted like a mojito-margarita hybrid. It was yummy. Other than that, there was nothing special about Fogo de Chao. I will definitely stay true to Texas de Brazil when I feel like gorging myself with tasty spitted meat!
(2)
Siv L.
Being from the Philadelphia area, I've always wanted to try Fogo de Chao but ended up going to the one in Denver with my boyfriend and cousin this past week. The service was great. Everyone was friendly and attentive. No reservation was needed. We ordered a bottle of red and started off snacking on pao de queijo, warm cheese bread. It is so delicious, we couldn't resist filling our bellies with extra bread (not a good idea for a place like this). We then stopped off at the salad bar. I wanted to try a bite of everything but refrained. Some of my favorites were the tabbouleh (first time having it, very parsley-heavy and not too much bulgur wheat, very great with the lamb!), the smoked salmon (so yummy!), the thick bacon, and the shitake mushrooms. With all of this came sides that included polenta, garlic mashed potatoes, and carmelized bananas. I didn't want to fill up on sweets so only tried a few bites of the mashed potatoes and loved them. When we finally were ready to start on some meat, they kept coming and coming (despite our cards being turned with red (STOP!) face up). My goal was to try everything but ended up losing track of what I had eaten as I got fuller and fuller. The pieces that were cut were very large (we ended up wasting a ton of meat so my suggestion would be for the servers to cut smaller pieces more frequently so that food will be less likely to be wasted). I also did not like that sometimes I would ask for medium rare and instead would be served meat prepared medium, so I was reluctant to fill up with meat that wasn't prepared to my liking (another reason why I was so wasteful). We tried most meats (I didn't try the filet wrapped in bacon, the pork loin covered with Parmesan cheese, pork ribs, or leg of lamb). I did however try everything else (sausage, chicken leg, chicken wrapped in bacon, rib eye, beef ribs, filet mignon, 2 types of top sirloin, bottom sirloin, and lamb chops). By far, my favorites were the lamb chops, top sirloin (so juicy and thin), and the chicken leg (juicy and marinated very well). I ended up asking for more lamb chops after lamb chops but towards the end of the night, I was being served chops cooked medium instead of medium rare which I had requested. However I still enjoyed all of the lamb (especially with the tabbouleh!). Although I recommend Fogo de Chao for anyone who's never been, I probably would not eat here again as I thought towards the end of the meal that if I ate any more meat I would puke and become a vegetarian! I love meat too much to risk ruining my relationship with it during another trip to Fogo de Chao! But red meat lovers should come and eat their hearts out!
(4)
Nicole U.
Meat baby and fat pants. That is the aftermath of eating here, but oh so worth it. I have eaten at the Beverly Hills location and decided this would be a great place to take my aunt to while on vacation in Colorado. We were not let down. The salad bar started off the meal just right. I had a plate full of fresh mozzarella, manchego and parmesan cheeses, a few slices of tomatoes and some other veggies. The meat selection was awesome. I loved flipping over that little round card to signal to bring on the meat. The servers came flying by, I was a little overwhelmed at first but then just sat back and watched the show. I loved everything. The pork ribs were tasty, the beef ribs so perfectly tender. The bacon wrapped chicken, and filet were of course awesome as well. If I had to pick my favorite I would be torn between the lamb chops, and the parmesan crusted pork loin. Both were beyond good. I had seconds, and thirds of each and flagged down the server for just these items. This meal was ridiculous. I have never been so full in my entire life. We staggered out in a meat coma that lasted well until the following day.
(5)
Brittany H.
What can I say that hasn't been said about Fogo de Chao? Well, I'm not too sure, but I'll give my two cents anyway. This place was ah-mazing! I had no idea what to expect of Fogo aside from lots of meat. But it's so much more than that! Immediately upon entering you're greeted by warm, friendly, and attentive staff with terribly exciting pants. Next, you'll be seated in a beautiful and immaculate dinning room with a large, delicious salad bar. I could've made a meal straight from the salad bar alone, but knew I had to wait for the main course. I've never been to a Brazilian BBQ, so I was very impressed with the whole experience. You have a coaster with a green side and a red side, which informs the staff who are constantly coming around to each table with skewers of beautiful cuts of meat whether you're ready to sample some more or not. I loved that concept. But here's what you go to Fogo de Chao for: the meat! Vegetarians need not apply! I haven't had so much meat and such delicious cuts before. Holy cow, yes sir, this was amazing on every level. Hot, juicy, and flavorful cuts that keep streaming out of the kitchen. Absolutely fantastic. I couldn't believe how much I actually enjoyed this. I was lucky enough to sample some desserts as well: the flan and the creme brulee. Firstly the flan was so sweet and pure deliciousness. Yum-o! The Brazilian take on flan was brilliant. The creme brulee was also very tasty. Sorry beef cows of the world, Fogo de Chao is out to get you. And you can only hope that you make your way here to delight the taste buds of its diners!
There was a lot of hype prior to me going there as everyone that I've talked to that has been there was always raving about it. I missed going here when my co-workers cheaped out on our trip to Houston, so this time, when I found out that I had to work in Denver and that there was a location there, I told myself that I'm not gonna skip this place. I skipped the salads and other "fillers" and jumped right to the meats. My favorites were the cheese crusted pork and the top sirloin. The filet was nice and tender, but was not as flavorful as the sirloin. The bacon wrapped chicken was also good. I also loved the bananas and the bread. Their Gold Caipirinha was excellent, went down very smooth and 20 times better than a margarita. In my mind, I thought I would be able to eat serving after serving of meat, but I waved the white flag after about 3 rounds of meats and didn't even have room for flan...that says a lot if you know me, I love my flans! The decor was nice, a classic looking dining room, darkly lit. There were not very many people there as it was a Tuesday evening. The bill came to about 75 bucks a person, not bad for all you can eat meat plus a premium cocktail.
(5)
Stephanie F.
TYLER was amazing! Great service & great food! I will be coming back to this restaurant very soon.
My brother likes Rodizio best, my roommate loves Texas De Brazil, but if you ask me, Fogo De Chao is easily the best Brazilian churrascaria steakhouse in Denver. I do enjoy both of those other restaurants as well, but if it's my turn to pick - it's Fogo De Chao every time. In my opinion the salad bar selection is best here, the meats are always delicious and high quality, and the service is untouchable.
(5)
Lindsey H.
There's not much I can add that hasn't already been said, so I'll just say this place was amazing. Best salad bar I've ever seen- it was hard not to fill up before the meat parade. And the meat parade itself- out of control delicious! I love that they'll bring out anything you want. The service is absolutely top notch. It doesn't get any better than this. It's not cheap, but it's worth every penny.
(5)
Jarred F.
Just average Brazilian steakhouse to us. We had HIGH hopes for this place, having heard such great things from friends back east, with people even saying this was the 'best' Churrascaria out there. While the meats were good and the salad bar decent, we found the entire experience very average. To begin with the salad bar was just not as sophisticated as other Brazilian steakhouse experiences, with it just being sparse and not very colorful. The roasted peppers weren't even very roasted. Some of the meats were over seasoned, salty, and even a bit dry at times. Nothing besides the Picanhna was tender, with most cuts being tough.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet, Garage, Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Jane F.
While the meat was overall tasty and the salad bar was fun, I just wasn't as impressed with the food as I thought I'd be. I've been to another Brazilian Steakhouse before in Fresno, CA of all places, and the meat there was better in my opinion. I prefer my meat rare to medium rare, and quite a few of the options were overcooked. The Papaya Cream dessert however was amazing, and the wait staff was friendly and attentive as well.
(3)Modhar K.
better plan a half-marathon the day after you visit to get back in shape...meat is superb and they have descent selection of malbecs ... Salad bar is good as well
(5)Mo C.
Just a fantastic experience! I love Brazilian Steakhouses. The price tag is worth the splurge every now and then. This place is great for groups. Recently, I organized a dinner for MeetIn.org and asked everyone to meet in the bar area. The bartender was a riot and we had a great time chatting with him over happy hour cocktails. He even recommended a superb wine for us to enjoy with our meal. Delish! Tip: They have free valet parking. You may have to circle the block a couple times to get to it (the entrance is not intuitive). Just remember that the valet guys are working for tips, so give 'em some cash when you pick up your car.
(5)julie n.
It's 5280 restaurant week...and first time at Fogo. Not impressed. But it might it restaurant week could be to blame. Pineapple is $8 extra and the meats were good but only a few choices. Salad bar mirrored all the other Brazilian steak houses. I'm going to Rodizio's tonight. Stay tuned. They do have free valet which is a plus.
(3)Claudia B.
What can I say? I'm a Brazilian native who absolutely loves Brazilian food. I've had the "real thing" in Brazil my whole life. The street side neighborhood inspired churrascarias and the biggest and most popular Churrascaria restaurant in Rio. I first went to one of these restaurants in Dallas (their first US location) and fell in love. I've been to the Denver location twice and they don't dissapoint! Here's how I judge a place who claims to serve Brazilian food: their Pao de Queijo (it baffles me if a "Brazilian" restaurant doesn't even serve them) and their Caipirinhas. Both of these are the best of the best that I've had in the US (outside from my own house, of course). The meats are perfectly cooked and seasoned and you are never short of food. If you like a particular cut of meat, just tell the first gaucho (that's the man with the large sword with hunks of meat on it) that comes to your table. Next thing you know they will be there over and over again. I tend to primarily eat the Picanha (Top Sirloin) and the Fraudinha (Bottom Sirloin). I'll have a little of the Filet Mignon and a little of the Saugage. If you want to eat these meats the real Brazilian way, ask the waitor to bring you "farofa" with your rice and beans. They won't bring it unless you ask for it. Mix a little bit of it with your rice and beans...but also "dip" your meats into this grainy yumminess so you get a little layer of it stuck to the juicyness of your steak. AWEEEESOOOOOME. The staff is always so attentive and nice and wonderful. We even had one of their customer relationship representatives talk to us last time. I was telling him about how Fogo is the best, most authentic Brazilian BBQ place in the US and how I've been going for over 10 years (starting in Dallas) and we ended up getting a hard cover book from the place detailing their history with tons of great photos and even their Pao de Queijo recipe!! It's a bit different than mine so I'll have to try it at home and see how it compares to the one at the restaurant ;). You will NOT be dissapointed but remember to starve a bit during lunch. Seriously, do not even eath lunch if you are able to do that. You will need the room :).
(5)Arthur I.
As a Brazilian, I might know a little bit about Brazilian food: Fogo de Chão is the prime place for Rodizio in town. It is not the true and perfect Brazilian experience, but as the 5-star suggests, "As good as it gets". The meat comes how it is supposed to come, well grilled, and salted. If you ask for other goodies and meet, they usually have (One of those things you will only know if you know the culture), such as Cow Ribs, Farofa, and so forth. It is pricey, and dinner can be expensive. I have gone for lunch and for dinner there, and the experience is very similar. The manager comes to the table to ask how is it working for everybody, very polite, and usually a Brazilian with great experience in the business. I would have to try Texas de Brazil in Denver, but they pretty much match in Chicago. Rodizio Grill is the lower level RodÃzio in town.
(5)Cheryl L.
If I could give them 3.5 stars I would but I can't so I'm rounding down. The service would get 4 to 5 starts. I wasn't exactly sure who our waiter was but it didn't seem to matter - it was like we had 8 of them. Each person clearing my plate, filling my water glass, seeing if there was any special meat that I was looking for and bringing that guy to my table. We had reservations and were seated right away. Each and every staff member was friendly and oh so helpful. We wanted to come in while they were still doing their special summer pricing of $38 per person (this is discounted from their reg price of $44.50) so if you can try a new place and save some cash it's always a good thing. They explain how everything works and then you head over to the salad bar or you do have the option to drive right into the meat portion of the night. I was so very disappointed in the salad bar. There was actually a very high expectation when we first walked by and there was a huge bowl of bacon right there staring you in the face. Upon gathering my veggies and salad items I headed back to the table and began to dig in. What I found was that nothing really had any flavor. The mozzarella cheese seemed to be fresh (perhaps even homemade but it was tasteless), the asparagus was competent and most of the other things I left on the plate. It was not very memorable and at this point I'm not even sure what else I had. I swear that there must be some sort of beacon with the red/green coaster that they give you. Once I turned mine to green there were about 8 guys right behind me asking me what kind of meat that I wanted. It sort of reminded me of when you go to the coy ponds and you have all those fish and you throw in a piece of popcorn or bread and about 10,000 of them try to eat the same thing. The meat kept coming and coming and coming until I felt that I was going to explode. Some were more successful than others. I really like the lamb chops and the garlic crusted steak. I thought the ribeye and the filet were a little lack-luster for me. I expect a nice bold flavor from Ribeye and this one didn't seem to have any. I didn't like the Parmesan crusted pork (I think it was pork - Oh no I'm not say that I'm not sure if they were using pork it's just that I can't remember exactly what meat it was) at all. I thought that the cheese bread balls were okay and the polenta sticks were wonderful. The during the meal they brought banana and mashed potatoes. The bananas were okay but I'm not a huge fan of cooked bananas unless it is in bananas foster. My husband tasted the mashed potatoes and says to me "Why are they using spuds from a box?" They were just not good. Since we had a party of 7 they added 18% gratuity to the bill. So while I'm all for them adding this to ensure that the servers aren't stiffed they did miss out on a bigger tip. if the restaurant makes this decision for me I don't go back and correct them. So all-in-all I don't know that I'll be back to Fogo.
(3)Sydney G.
This place had such great food! I enjoyed the Brazilian steakhouse type service where they come around to the table. My favorite was the Parmesan crusted pork, but I didn't dislike any of the different options. They also had yummy side dishes like mashed potatoes and polenta. The salad bar was nice as well. I would recommend their lemonade and their very Limey margaritas!
(5)Greg O.
Food: This week, I have eaten at both the Rodizio Grill and Fogo de Chao--both Brazilian restaurants--and I found the Rodizio to have better-tasting meats. Fogo did have a better salad bar, and I enjoyed the meats and cheeses it had to offer. Service: The service was perfect. The entire staff seemed responsible for each table, and I never had to wait for anything. I also liked how one person asked me if there was a type of meat I wanted, rather than me waiting for the usual rotation. Ambiance: This place is obviously more classy than Rodizios, and I would suggest wearing a decent outfit in order to fit in. The tables were also less crowded, which I appreciated. Cleanliness: There were no complaints about cleanliness. Price: The price is higher than Rodizios by about $10. Overall: While the price is higher and the meats weren't as flavorful, I did like this restaurant, and I would eat here again. I would probably wait for a special occasion though.
(4)Sara C.
Ever since I've been here for Brazilian Churrascaria I have fallen in love. Not like I wasn't in love before but this place is just the best one I've been out of all the ones I've been to. I think it's because of the service and the quality of the food. The service really tops it off though. Since I've been to Fogo de Chao I have never gone to another Texas De Brazil or Rodizio's. Maybe because I like getting my chair pushed in when I sit and they do that just about every time! The quality of the salad bar, when you get a chance to go to the salad bar, is amazing. I love all the cold dishes with the smoked salmon, grilled artichoke hearts, asparagus...etc. I say when you get a chance because a lot of the people won't eat that to fill them up so they can pack in more meat during the trip. I really like their chewy bread and their fried bread that looks like french fries. (Tasted like fried corn bread sticks.) Everything here is amazing, I accidentally tried the lamb and it wasn't until second bite that I realized it was lamb. It was not that gamey, I'm just not a lamb eater. I loved all the steak selections and even their chicken is tasty. Try at least one bite of everything! The lunch buffet would run you $25 before drinks/tax/tip and dinner is $45, which is fairly consistent across the churrascaria business. You have to have their capirinha, it's about $10 for the drink but they make it strong. Really tasty stuff! If it wasn't for celebrating our 2nd anniversary, I probably wouldn't have stuffed myself so full. Wait a minute, who am I kidding? Of course I would have!
(5)D G.
Amazing dinner tonight. The servers Nicholas and Kristin we re fabulous. Shawn the manager was really great, bringing us special cuts right from the fire. The Meat Fell Apart With Our Forks. You need to come here. Seriously.
(5)Jacquie G.
This place is absolutely amazing. Come here if you want to be treated like royalty. Our waiter Tyler knew exactly what we wanted our first time here. The drinks are tasty and the food is drool worthy. I felt like I'd gone to brazil! I'll be coming back for sure!
(5)Brian A.
MEAT!!! Lot's and LOT's of meat! And it's on sticks!! Meat on sticks... a man's paradise! My wife and I went here for our anniversary dinner, which they offered us a free desert however we were WAY too full to take them up on it. Also, we had reservations on a Saturday night, and they were not required... I was a bit surprised by this. The salad bar was good, but if you go there for the salad bar... you need to have your head examined. The meat is really the star of the show, and the staff will be there in a heart beat to give you the meat you crave. If you want something, let them know and ANY of the staff will make sure you get it. Really, that is awesome service. All of the sides were also good, but really, it's about the meat. So try not to eat the whole day before coming, as it's not a cheap meal, but you do get what you pay for. With tax, tip (20%), and drinks our bill was $135 for 2 people.
(4)Edward S.
I loved this place. The salad bar is fantastic and the gentlemen who bring the meat to the table are expert with the presentation. I will go back again and again. I do recommend that you fast the day that you dine here. You will want to try the huge variety of delicious meats as well as a spectacularly stocked salad bar.
(5)Becky C.
Let me start by saying that all you can eat is not generally a good thing for me. I eat very small portions so I never get my money's worth. However, in the past buffets have let me take what was left on my plate home with me. Not here. And not only would they not let me take things home the host was very snide about it. "With all due respect ma'am maybe you should put less on your plate". I assure you I only had a normal restaurant portion on my plate. Absolutely ridiculous that for $45 I don't come home with leftovers. One of my joys of eating out is the to go box I always take home. Even when I go to breakfast I take something home because I can never eat the portions in a restaurant and I hate wasting food. I was told "if we let everyone take food to go we'd have to close our doors". I don't believe that at all...they did not seem to be hurting for business and at $45 I think they could be a little more accommodating. I recently found out that rodizio does let you take food to go and for less money....next time friends want to go for Brazilian steakhouse that's where we'll go Also drink service was terrible. I had to ask twice for my first cocktail and I was never offered a second cocktail. I only went there because friends wanted to go. The food isn't that great for the price, especially if I have to stuff myself to the point of discomfort to get my money's worth.
(1)Rob C.
What can I say great service, beautiful salad bar but the succulent meat feast is a dream from ribs to filet mignon chicken, pork, steak, lamb & different kinds of sausages. the bake bananas are yummy as well as the fried polenta & mashed potatoes. dont forget the extremely nice bar cart have a $225.00 cognac totally worth it & for desert have the papaya cream it helps you to digest all the protein you consumed. you can dress up or casually Denver is just that cool but make reservations it stays busy even during weeknights I hope to see you there!
(5)Ron C.
F is as in Fogo and Fraud - as far as Restaurant Week is concerned. If you are going to showcase your restaurant to occasional regular diners and those who may be trying you for the first time, it is imperative to offer a full meats menu. Had I realized you eliminated filet mignon, ribeye and beef ribs from your offerings for restaurant week, I may have gone elsewhere. Or done lunch at your establishment during the week to get the full meats dining experience. So basically for the $30 Restaurant Week price, you deleted at least $10 in meats from your regular menu charge....sneaky. At least offer the missing meats as a separate add-on, again though if you did that then people would realize your dishonesty in the first place. The dining experience itself was decent as usual, great salad bar, pretty good meats of those that were served (if you like constant top sirloin). Service was a bit uneven, the meat servers get in your face and if you are out to the salad bar, they almost knock you over (and glare at you). My server was generally efficient, but it took almost 30 minutes to provide a final bill and receipt so that I could leave (missed an hourly bus as result-asked if he could get it fairly quick). Was completely unacceptable and reflected in his final tip (I planned on tipping 25% & barely did 15%). All in all this was a decent meal but given the dishonesty and new vibe of this restaurant, it will be way down the list of places I consider for a special night out or for a work event in the future. It pains me to say this, as I have done both of the latter in the past with great results. Just a different restaurant now than in the past based on my observations.
(2)Trigger S.
Bravo! From start to finish we received nothing but an awesome experience our waiter a tall chizzled Hispanic boy named Taylor or Tyler (too busy staring at the food) made sure we were 100% taken care as did his helper and other staff members of fogo. The only thing better than the service was the quality of meats they had. The men carrying the cuts were on point and the second you flipped your card over they were there. It was almost as if they were proud that of their product and wanted nothing more than to see your face as you put their meat inside your mouth. One of the best restaurant experiences I've ever had by far. Oh and the blonde manager is almost enough reason to come back. Love you guys.
(5)P K.
I honestly do not know why this place is so highly rated. I went here last night with another family and was absolutely shocked when we got the bill. Yes we had a few bottles of wine and the meats were flavorful (mashed potatoes and pineapple were the only sides offered to us). I also knew about the fixed pricing in advance. I found the environment pretty crazed and waiting for select cuts of meats was somewhat annoying. Attentive service was spotty. The salad bar was very average. If I want a good steak with a better environment and likely cheaper, I will head to del friscos or Elways.
(3)Adrian H.
Headline: Meat Lovers in Paradise So, this is a Brazilian steakhouse. You pretty much know what to expect. Start with parking - there is a parking garage on Wynkoop right next to the Smiling Moose Deli that has free valet parking with validation, which they do as soon as you walk in the door. There is a bar while you wait for your table, and everything is white linen cloth service. I wish there had been some music in the background, but it didn't really need it in this open space. On to the food. Firstly, you have a "salad" bar, which is anything but ordinary. Yes, you have salad stuff, but you also have smoked salmon, a variety of cold cut meats and cheeses, and a number of things you won't find on your average salad bar. You could easily just eat the salad bar and be happy. But that isn't why you come to a Brazilian steakhouse. You come for the second course. Meat, meat and more meat, with some excellent sides thrown in. Fried bananas, which were soft and didn't actually taste of much; Fried Polenta liberally sprinkled with grated parmesan - a crunchy exterior and soft middle made to look like a fry, but you needed the parmesan; cheese bread - by far the best of the sides was nicely cheesy. What about the meat? Well, lamb T-bones and Leg; various cuts of steak; pork and beef ribs, and Linguica. All were perfectly cooked - just ask how well done you want it and it shall be so. Wine - they have it. We ordered a Terrazas Reserva Malbec, which was nicely full bodied. However, watch for the extra pours - malbecs like to breath and the servers like to top it off. If this was such an excellent meal, why only four stars? Service. We had to ask four times to get linguica brought to the table, and after our plates were cleared away, it took an eternity to get the check, even though we asked for the dessert menu. This kind of spoiled the whole experience, and brought it down a notch. I highly recommend using the OpenTable booking - it was on the quieter side when we started, but by 6:30pm, the place was hopping.
(4)Victor B.
Being someone who simply loves my red meat entrees, Fogo is simply paradise. Eating here for lunch is even better as the price for all of that quality of food simply can not be beat! My girl and I decided to come here as we had never been together and since we are both Fogo fans and both being a bit on the carnivorous side (but also thrifty at times....) we decided that restaurant week would be the time to come back here and imbibe in some delicious meaty heaven. We got here at around 1:30 which also fit in the lunch time frame and the meal was even less expensive than had we dined here for the restaurant week price. If you've never been to a Brazilian steakhouse you must visit and soon. Gauchos come around to your table with various meats on sword like skewers and serve such succulent cuts cooked to exactly how you like it. Flip your coin over to red when you want to stop otherwise prepare for meat overload. The salad bar has excellent accompaniments to the meat and some delicious gourmet options by itself. The liquor cart that travels around the restaurant is also very cool and upscale and contains such luxuries as Johnnie Walker Blue and other vintages of booze that are older than I am. So if you're not a vegetarian or a vegan and would like to enter a carnivorously heavenly state.....visit Fogo (but come by for lunch so you don't have to pay as much :-))
(5)Scheri T.
I celebrated my wedding anniversary here and it did not disappoint. We arrived early and they offered to seat us, but we chose to hang out at the bar instead. Once seated we were greeted with an eager waiter who introduced us to the proper technique for ordering meat. We have been to Brazilian Steakhouses before, however the ambience at Fogo de Chao was surprisingly warm. The interior is decorated in dark wood and the tables covered in long white tablecloths. Our table was nestled along the wine cellar. Talk about romantic! We were careful not to fill up on the salad bar goodies, but it was a struggle. The salads were fresh and there were a lot of greens to choose from. They even had a cheese and meat section which we utilized after our meal and before dessert. They do not offer any seafood choices however the meat selections were wonderful. My husband & I are red meat eaters and we were NOT disappointed. The filet melts in your mouth and the prime cuts of ribeye and sirloin were delicious! They provide you with a description of all the meats they serve so you can choose what you want ahead of time. We shared the flan for dessert and it was a great way to end the meal. They gave us the dessert free to celebrate our anniversary. They even decorated the plate with the words "Happy Anniversary." Overall it was a fantastic experience. I would definitely go there again for a special occasion.
(5)Melissa D.
Man, is this place good. The salad bar is fantastic. I could get full off that alone! They have a bunch of different options and you can get as much as you want. Then, the waiters come by each table with different meats and you choose which ones you want. It's all awesome. But, oh my god, the best part: their cheese rolls! So good. They have a basket of them on each table and they are honestly like the best things ever. They were definitely my favorite part of the meal. That's not to say that the rest of the stuff wasn't absolutely delicious, but wooow.
(5)Stephanie S.
I love Fogo de Chao... my husband and I have been 4 times now because we are such bigs fans. I'm not sure why there are some bad reviews complaining about "meat quality", but I have always had outstanding food everytime. Yes- they feed you A LOT so bring your appetite. That is the whole idea of a Brazilian Steakhouse, so if you do not LOVE meat then it's probably not going to be worth the money to you. The service is always exceptional when we go- they are very attentive. It can be a bit overwhelming at times, but honestly I would rather have a server who is over attentive
(5)Sarah L.
Was brought to fogo for my birthday and was blown away by the food, ambiance and the service. Tyler far far exceeded all of our expectations. His knowledge of wine and pairing it with items was incredible. Thank you for an amazing night!!!
(5)Amanda G.
I love their caramelized bananas, so good. Great service, what a wonderful place for any celebration.
(5)Jamie L.
Thanks to the person who just posted a review on Fogo that reminded me to update mine. So here's the skinny. (Hah. Skinny. At an all you can eat Brazilian Steakhouse.) I'm wavering between dropping Fogo a star for having a sub-par Salad Bar selection, and leaving them at 4 stars for exceptional service. So I'mma just go ahead and leave it. The service this time was *impeccable* Our water glasses were constantly refilled, at no more than 2 sips down. (Which is actually necessary, because of the insanely salty meats.) They tried to refill our sides, but I told them I didn't want to waste them, and not once after that did they offer. That's pretty impressive communication, since there were 5 or 6 Gauchos running around. Plus, it's a great place to go for your birthday. We had 2 certificates from a previous visit for free "Special Occasion" meals (SCORE!!) **AND** they gave us a Birthday Flan on the house again... I really didn't expect that with a coupon. So service here is NOT lacking. What is lacking, you ask? Well, for starters, the Salad Bar. Yes, they have a few cured meats, and ginormous Fresh Mozarella Balls. But really, that's it. The asparagus were the size of your average Redwood Tree, and the "Other Side" of the salad bar (The one NOT facing the front of the restaurant) is stocked with boring lettuce, cucumbers, and SYSCO Dressings. Meh to the Mehx! I'd been back to Rodizio for Lunch the week before, and indeed made my lunch solely off their Salad Bar. You could not do that here. Then, there's their meats. Sure, they give you all that you care to shovel in. And yes, the Picana, Ancho Ribeye, and Filet (Not the overcooked, bacon-wrapped one) are good. And their Bottom-Round is seasoned perfectly (Although the "Rare" side was more "Raw"... literally.) But overall? The meats are oversalted, and some tend towards the dry-to-the-point-of-sawdust consistency. (That Bacon-Wrapped Filet Nugget was Choke-Worthy, the Pork Ribs were not even Jerky quality, and the Parmesan Crusted Pork Tenderloin was made even drier by the grated bits of Parm tickling your throat.) Also, and I know I'm a Miamian being picky about this, but their Flan is creamier than it should be... Flan should be more of a standalone Custard, almost "Jello-Like" when you "cut" into it. This was more of a thick pudding. Delicious, though, at the same time. But- Also keeping this at a 4-Star Rating are those Cheese Puffs. Yes, their Pan de Quejo are ridiculously addictive and delicious. And their sweet bananas are crazy easy to keep popping in your mouth. So, overall, I'd say this is an awesome service experience, with good food, and plenty of it. Maybe when someone else is paying is the time to head here!
(4)Michael C.
Great food and outstanding cheese. Impeccable staff. Note the ambiance and food here is better than Rodizio. Also note: people that have had bariatrice surgery get half off.
(4)Sophie W.
Excellent place to visit if you love red meat! They have a plenty to choose from a broad menu. All you can eat. The cost of dinner is 46.50 $per person. I've been there for several times with my friends and we really enjoyed it. The service is really friendly and helpful. They also serve delicious desserts; my favorite is chocolate cake, definitely worth a try! Their drinks are also really good! My favorite one is caipirinha, which is a classic Brazilian cocktail. The only reason why I'm giving them 4/5 starts is that it can be pricey, especially when are you planning to take your whole family.
(4)Erin E.
My boyfriend and I came here during 5280 (as that's probably the only way we could afford to check it out!) Maybe this place is different when it's not 5280, but they had packed so many tables in there it felt more like a cafeteria than a restaurant. If we're going to spend $100 on dinner/wine, I'd like a slightly better ambiance. Maybe I'm asking too much, but they said on the night we were there, they took 1,000 reservations- AKA they were anxious to get us in, shove meat down our throats, and get us the hell outta there. I'm a lover of meats and cheeses, but this stuff was so over-salted, I thought I might keel over at the table. I'm glad I didn't have a Blood Pressure reading within the next month, or my doctor would have been really pissed. After a while all the meats started to taste the same....just loaded with salt. The salad bar was good, but our waiters made us feel like idiots for trying it out. "You've never been here before?! Don't fill up on the salad bar," they laughed. We couldn't be quick about turning our card from green to red to STOP the meats from coming! These waiters are ON IT like I've never seen. The level of activity is so overwhelming that we forgot to turn out cards over, and they would be there in a split second- shaving generous portions of meat onto our plate. Normally I love trying all the different options, but I couldn't keep up with the amount of meat they were serving VS. me eating it. Therefore the food got piled up, and I was full before getting to try it all. And that's what I so dislike about this place. It's sad to me to see all this food get wasted. There are no to-go boxes, nor do I think they put any leftovers for hungry people to enjoy. I imagine the people I see who search in dumpsters behind my apartment would have had a feast with what was left on my plate. They would have been horrified to watch all of that get thrown away and the thought of that plagued me through dinner and as we were leaving. I love me some food, and am guilty of being a glutton sometimes....but this was over the top. However, just to spite this idea, and as uncouth as it is, we hid some food in a napkin to take back to our 3 cats who live like royalty. And that made me happy. Hehehe
(3)Cat C.
Fogo hosted a company dinner for us last week. I will NEVER recover from the MOST EXCELLENT baked salmon! The rest was excellent too. Thanks Fogo!!! Not sure about the TVs (I don't need them) as we had 500 people in there that night.
(5)Tina F.
always consistent! sangria was way too fruity and sweet for my taste. it included strawberries and tons of unstirred sugar at the bottom... i don't recall strawberries in most of the sangrias i've had but... the ciaprina's on the other hand are super yummy. they are on the lime/tart side, but that's how i like my drinks (not sweet)
(4)Haleigh M.
Service was great. There were waiters everywhere to help you with whatever you needed but almost to a fault. Waiters were stopping at our table almost every 20 seconds to confirm that we were having a good meal. We felt a little anxious with all of the attention and movement of meat and waiters around us. The Food was delicious, I loved the fresh salad bar and my boyfriend loved the meat. There were so many different types of meat to choose from. We sampled all of them between the two of us!
(4)Mike I.
It's been a few years since I've been to a Fogo De Chao but it won't be years for my next visit. I forgot how much I love this place and how much fun it is to dine here. It's such an experience and a great way to spend a few non rushed hours with your special someone. Our party arrived a bit early so we could have a few drinks in the bar. Great selection of wine and the martini's was perfect! Once we were sat at the table the wait staff took the time to explain how everything worked for those who had never dined at Fogo before. The salad bar is amazing and the selection of cheese could be a meal in and of itself. It's hard to not want to fill up on these items. But, for me, I prep'd all day by not having breakfast or lunch so a had a little salad and cheese. The sides arrived, cheese rolls, garlic mashed potatoes and the caramelized plantains and we were ready for the meat. The cool thing is that when you flip your card from red to green the gauchos swarm you with their large skewers ladened with amazing cuts of meat. Whether your taste is for the medium rare to medium well they have it all on the same skewer. If you have a special requests the gaucho will scuttle back and make it special for you. We sampled all the meats but my favorites were the lamb followed by the pork, beef then sausage. We had such a feast paired with some great wine. When you need a break just flip the card back to red and enjoy. We topped the amazing dinner off with great dessert. We had the South American Flan and Creme Brule. It went well with the Port we selected. While Fogo isn't one of those places you'll want to dine at each week you'll definitely want to enjoy it with good friends or folks that are in from out of town. It's such a memorable experience, give yourself a couple of hours to fully enjoy. I kept thinking of my vegan friends and how much they were missing out. But hey, too bad for them... Oh, and there is complimentary valet parking...
(5)Cat S.
OH EM GEE. I don't think I want to look at or taste meat for the next 2 weeks. In order to preserve my poor heart. I was invited along for a 5280 dinner here (and paid for, so how could I refuse?) at Fogo De Chao. I probably should have not eaten for the previous 2 days. With that said.. unlimited salad bar + meat = whoa. I could not eat after that for a full day. We went Saturday and my first real meal after that was today's (Monday's) lunch. Some of the meats were dry and too salty, but some were sooo flavorful! I loved the filet mignon and the "house special" sirloin. The parmesan pork was also pretty delicious. The wait staff was okay.. but it was first night of restaurant week + fully packed dining room = what else can you expect? My favorite = the bananas. OMG. I think our table of 6 had 10 of those banana plates. DEEREECIOUS.
(3)Mailou V.
First time at Fogo for 5280 restaurant week and not impressed. It was a busy night, made reservations and waited about 30 minutes to be seated. I wish I could like the restaurant more, but it might it restaurant week to blame for the limited menu items. Felt like I just ate sirloin this, sirloin that and nothing new to crave for. Variety would have been nice but the guys who come around with the meat were little to be seen. Variety for the salad bar would have been nice (like rodizio) and not just salad, although the lock was deliciously awesome. Some of the seasonings on the steaks were a little too overwhelming. I'm pretty sure I walked away with high blood pressure. The layout of the place was a little too crowded for me. Overall, it was a decent experience, but not a to go place after all the excitement I hear about this place.
(3)Allison B.
Fogo De Chão is fabulous. I have eaten here numerous times and I will be back. We ate here tonight for restaurant week and I couldn't believe how busy they were. We sat in Evan's section and he took great care of us. He was very helpful with the wine list and helped me select a good wine at a reasonable price. Smoked salmon was not on the salad bar as it normally is, and Evan was kind enough to bring me some. Fogo is a great choice for restaurant week because other than serving a few less cuts of meat and leaving the grilled pineapple off the menu, nothing else changes. Other restaurants alter their menus quite a bit, but not here. I always leave feeling stuffed and happy. If I'm going to fork over the $ to go to an expensive restaurant, this is at the top of my list of choices. The flan on the dessert menu is not to be missed. You can't go wrong here. It's not just dinner-it's a dining experience.
(5)Brandi S.
Love this particular Fogo de Chao because of the great service. I've been to a few others since I'm from Minnesota, but I've never been to one with managers that actually approach you and talk with you - I believe her name was Kim, super friendly and approachable. They seem to genuinely care at this location. The food of course is always exceptional! Thank you for another great visit - many more to come!
(5)Richard D.
Great food. Come hungry and leave happy. The service is great definitely coming back.
(4)Stephen K.
(Shame, shame on me...more rediscovered smartphone notes from months ago) Disclaimer: This is not a full review of FDC...I was here for a 303Networking job event thingy. That being said...FDC's staff supplied appetizers of polenta liberally dusted with parmesan, juicy chunks of chicken breast wrapped in bacon, and Brazilian pork sausage -- *addictiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiive...*...when I want breakfast sausage again, I know I really really don't want breakfast sausage...I want amazing Brazilian pork sausage. Someday, I hope to come here for a full meal -- but even if that never happens, their apps are pretty amazing.
(4)Anya M.
I've never chosen to go to this place on my own, and here is why. Overall, if you want to indulge in some good meat, for the price & value, you would be better off at 1) Elway's, 2) Capital Grill, or 3) Ocean Prime. I feel that for $45 a person your money would be better spent at these places than at Fogo. Why? These places are more relaxing because you aren't being hassled by the meat servers who all seem to swarm upon you at the same time, placing sticks of meat almost on your lap, always interrupting your conversation (even if your card is turned to "no thanks"). By constantly bringing new food, you never know what to choose. And for some reason you are always full by the time the meat you ACTUALLY wanted gets around. A waste, especially since only about half of the meat is noticeably good, the other half is forgettable. Also, the first three places all have a better & more upscale atmosphere (I mean come on, the salad bar. Even though it is a 'classy' one, it still grosses me out. And having to go get your own plate out of a plate dispenser for $45? No thanks). Even though some of the flavors at this place are good, I feel like it is a scam where they try to fill you up on the salad bar, have really greasy sides, and bring out the cheap meats first (hello sausage & chicken). And THEN when you are TOTALLY full, they bring out the good meats, which are the ones you wanted in the first place. Then you force yourself to pig out just to try and "get your money's worth" and it isn't as enjoyable as just ordering something you really wanted and enjoying it. AND you cannot take home leftovers. That being said, here are my positives: almost everything is GLUTEN FREE. The greasy cheese bread is gluten free and awesome (so surprising) as well as those polenta french fries and fried bananas (see, fried +greasy carbs = less meat eating =waste of money). They also provide free dessert for birthdays, and there is complimentary valet to the right of the restaurant, in the middle of the block. I would only recommend this place for its novelty value or for out of towners who are curious. Not romantic or intimate at all.
(2)Russell G.
And here I thought this will be just like Texas de Brazil.....not even close! This spot blows the competition out of the water. The seasoning of each type of meat was just right and the salad bar was extensive. The wine was pricey but I think that can be said for almost any restaurant. Oh, did I mention they wrap stuff in bacon?!?!?!! Because they do! The night we were there I had fillet Mignon with and without bacon! Chicken with bacon, pork...you guessed it...in BACON!! Besides the bacon, the meats were all tender, juicy and I even had seconds of the lamb. That is rare as I am not a big fan of the taste. This place is pricey but certainly worth every penny.
(5)Peter H.
Consistency is Fogo's best attraction and ironically, it's worst quality. Whether you're there for a midweek lunch or weekend dinner, the highly attentive service and perfect preparation of meat is always impeccable. However, you'll quickly get the Groundhog Day effect after a few outings in that every visit is the exact same. Special events are no longer special, because there was nothing remarkable from one to the other. Fogo is best for quenching that carnivorous urge and enjoying the fine dining experience, but not for creating memorable occasions. That said, my favorite cuts are the house garlic beef, rack of lamb, and filet mignon, of course. The salad bar is very good, but not as good as Texas de Brazil, and I reeeally wish they would change it up occasionally. Everyone needs to try Fogo at least once, but maybe once is all you need.
(4)Jake V.
Do you want an unlimited selection of meats?!? This is your place. Eat the chicken hearts and anything else you've never tried before.
(4)Julie H.
After further discussion of Fogo with my BFF we decided this place is probably best as a lunchtime hangover helper. Don't take a date, you will not get lucky with a food-baby... and won't even want to. I went once for dinner and had a decent experience all around. It's similar to other Brazilian Steak places. I don't see myself going back unless I have houseguests that want to check it out.
(3)Robert J.
Great restaurant, great service--except that my wife and I don't normally spend this kind of money on a dinner, this is something we do for a special occasion. This was a special occasion, to celebrate my wife's birthday. When I called to make the reservation, they asked and I answered that this was her birthday dinner. I know that the restaurant offers a complimentary dessert for birthdays... When we realized after paying for dinner that their note about her birthday had slipped through the cracks, we were less than impressed. While we would go back, since it's a great restaurant, it was depressing to see all the other birthdays that were remembered and celebrated with a dessert while we were there, I overheard the server ask the table next to us, and there were a couple birthdays, so he said he'd bring out a couple of desserts for them... Why ask if it's a special occasion over the phone for a reservation when it is so easily missed by the staff? Unfortunately, this really simple oversight ruined a lot of the otherwise great experience for us.
(3)Adam J.
Holy hell. I've been here twice now, and both times my digestive system has threatened to walk out on me and never return. That's actually a compliment to the restaurant, a byproduct of me eating what must amount to an entire animal worth of meat in one sitting. The salad bar is fantastic, although sometimes I feel like skipping it in order to save room for the meat. They have a fair variety of stuff at the salad bar, some ordinary and some extraordinary (entire artichoke hearts, huge chunks of fresh parmesan cheese). But the real deal is the meat. You flip your card over to green and it's like the flood gates open. Men rush to you with skewers of meats, and before you know it, there's a pile of different types of meat on your plate. It's ALL delicious, though some slabs of beef tend to run together. You'll want to watch for the parmesan crusted anything, whatever the house special is, and anything wrapped in bacon. Treat yourself to a little prime rib and top sirloin, as well. You just have to be careful with your red/green card that tells the servers to feed you or not, because if that baby's green, you WILL continue to get meat. They also have some sides on the table. The polenta fries and the bananas/plantains are fan-freaking-tastic. The mashed potatoes are mashed potatoes. Their cheesecakes for dessert (if there's any space left in your stomach) are also amazing. I probably wouldn't take a militant vegan here (although I might, just to watch her horrified face at all the poor widdle animaws that get eaten), but for anyone who wants to totally pig out on deliciously seasoned, perfectly cooked slabs of meat, you can't beat this. Just make sure you clear some time the following day, because your digestive system will show you why eating 10 pounds of meat is not something you should do every day.
(5)Mike M.
Best meal I've ever had. Been back numerous times and its top notch every time. Great place!!
(5)Julia B.
I thought it was good but not as amazing as everyone is saying. With all the raves I was expecting a more amazing salad bar, but it was really good and pretty. I was expecting Vegas, I think, which might be dumb, as Nobody said that, exactly. Anyway, the service is rushed and comes off as curt, and this is the main reason I am giving 3 stars instead of 4. We did go during restaurant week, and I suspect they shoved many more tables in to accomodate a rush. Also the crowd felt a little rough, so It went from feeling like a grand experience to a golden corrall experience, (with steak salmon and pretty cheeses). heheh. THat said the meat is a little overwhelming, and delicious. But I dont LOVE meat,it gets a little freaky, all these dudes with Knives and meat coming at you, AND FAST. Also the meat was not SO seasoned, so some people like that. Some of the meat dudes walked right by me. I was holding out for the steak. Which was yum. The brazillian cocktails were really delicious, and I recommend getting those. Go on an empty stomach, then, Its tempting to load up at the pretty salad bar, but don't; thats how they getchya.
(3)Ru L.
A paleo dieter's heaven; great salad bar and all that beef! The many cuts of bovine are Devine, while the swine is fine and the chicken is kick in'. I opted out of the mashers and the fried polenta and just hit it up caveman style. Each cut of beef is small, but believe me the more the gauchos visit the table the faster you fill up. Enjoy.
(4)Pam T.
This place will be our new go-to place for over-indulging on red meat! As soon as you are seated the excellent service starts, along with those yummy cheese rolls. It takes a lot of self control not to load up at the salad bar. I tried to limit myself to just a bite of everything I chose, but still had a full plate. They had a card on the table which showed the different cuts of meat they served which was helpful. So of course we had to try almost everything that went by the table. Just like the salad bar, your plate will fill up quickly. But it's a good way to figure out what you like. My favorite was the bacon wrapped filet. My husband thought the parmesan pork loin was really good but I thought it was too dry. I passed on the mashed potatoes (more room for meat). I think next time I will take a break and get a place of some veggies from the salad bar, just to balance out all the protein. They have a good selection of desserts and we ordered a chocolate cake. When our waiter noticed my husband had left my anniversary card on the table he asked if it was an occasion. We said yes so they brought us another dessert, the caramel flan, with "Happy Anniversary" written on the dish. Very nice of them.
(5)Nicole W.
Another large outing and another stellar performance at Fogo! Valet parking - free- yup - still rocks (although the valet grinding the gears on the way out - less than cool - and yes we drive a stick shift, whatever) Staff was very friendly - even though we called a mere 2 hours prior and asked to bring over 20 people in at 8pm. They split us into 2 tables and fawned over us, like the super stars we were! ;) They have special "newbie" folios for those new to eating tons of meat! That was very helpful those those we dragged along that were not all into the meat on a stick! I have the whole process down now - skip the salad bar - no need to waste precious stomach room on that! Careful with the sides - they fill you up too! But the carmelized bananas - well, you really can't say no to those! And the little balls of heaven - the baby popovers - which we found out were gluten free - a win for some of our friends at the table! Staff kept checking on us and put up with our antics and even checked if there was a special cut of meat we were looking for and they would sent it over! I stuck with the filet mignon and filet mignon only. Except for one deviance into the special of the house. I was stuffed and happy! Restaurant week they are doing a special deal - i might have to go back sooner rather than later!
(4)Megan E.
Came here for supper with DH and a friend. We had plenty of food, again, and left feeling VERY VERY full. We were half an hour early and had no problems being seated (but it was 5:30 on a Saturday - by 8 there were crowds waiting). I asked for a mojito and was offered their house special version instead. It was good, but at $13, I was a little disappointed and I wasn't told the price until the bill came. Our friend ordered tonic water, which never arrived but was placed on the bill. When we pointed that out, they brought a complimentary creme brule and removed it from the bill. Nice, but man was it hard to get that down after the meal! They had complimentary valet parking in the garage next door for dinner - that was nicer than hunting around like we did at lunch. I have to say, if you want a ton of meat (and other stuff) and have plenty of time, check this place out but if you aren't one to eat a lot, it's not really worth it for supper, maybe lunch though.
(4)Carly B.
I know my opinion really shouldn't "count" since I didn't participate in the meatstravaganza, but here's my candid view on the salad bar as well as this place in general. "But Carly what are you doing at Fogo to begin with then," you ask? Well, it was Father's day and I was taking my dad out. He hates most places (he literally goes in with an intent to dislike anywhere new), but he likes Rodizio and he loooooooooves meat. He likes salad bars too. So I suppose I was "taking one for the team" and hoping to introduce him to a new plave he might actually like. Let's start with the service: about as good as you'd expect with about eight different people waiting on you. Some of it felt downright forced. The restaurant wasn't super full, so I'd say there was about one server/gaucho/busser for every two people but none particularly stood out. The drinks: the Caipirinha was super strong, tasty, loaded with fresh limes, and of a decent size. My dad really only drinks beer, but you can't call him a beer lover. Out of the vast, wonderful world of craft beer and interesting imports he will drink MGD, Rolling Rock or Pacifico. Usually no exceptions. Fogo is not know for their beer selection. Fortunately he tried their Brazilian beer (very dark in color, but very light in flavor) and he liked it enough to drink two. The salad bar: it's okay. A bit on the smaller side, but it had some pretty tasty things (tabbouleh, chickpea salad, potato salad, and a really tasty green basil dressing) and some very boring things (fat, unseasoned asparagus, tomato slices, pre-made Caesar salad). Overall pretty good, but nothing I was dying to get seconds of. The sides: they start you out with the most delicious cheese bread (Pao de Queijo) and then bring out sides of polenta, garlic mashed potatoes, and brown sugary carmelized bananas. The bread really is the star, each little ball is hot and springy and cheesy and delicious. The polenta is pretty good too but I realized this toward the end of the meal when I was running out of room. Very similar springy texture as the Pao de Queijo. The potatoes seem to really be an afterthought....like "lets add on a side of boring garlic mashed potatoes for good measure". Unneccessary. The meat: may have very well been amazing, but dad described it as "not bad". He can be difficult to read. He likes the chicken hearts at Rodizio and Fogo doesn't have chicken hearts so that was probably a dad point against them. The price: Daaaaaayum! I'm all for splurge dinners and everything, but two beers, a cocktail, a salad bar, and regular meal were $95 pre-tip. I don't mind spending money on a great splurge dinner, but it's usually for something artfully prepared and really tasty flavors. The bread was great, but I can get a carb overload at other places at a much more reasonable price. Conclusion: these types of restaurants have their place in dining, but it's really not my scene. If I have $100 to spend on dinner, I'd probably take it to one of the many seasonal/chef-driven restaurants around town.
(3)Naor B.
i was in denver over july 4th weekend and have already been in fogo in la. i must say the one in denver was much better food was better The service here was excellent
(5)Danika L.
When I see reviews such as "top notch" and "best food ever" I can't help but wonder if these people were eating from dumpsters before...not sure what all the hype is about but I'm guessing it's coming from frugal people who can't resist an all you can eat place. Sorry but for me it's absolutely about quality over quantity so it's gonna have to take a little more than endless plates of crap and a salad bar to do it for me. Also just a tip guys this wouldn't be a good place to take a date, it was extremely loud and chaotic. And ladies if you do go don't dress up because the crowd is very casual and you will feel like a hooker walking up to the salad bar in heels.
(1)Kim K.
Even though I only visited for lunch and didn't get the full eat until you burst experience, I still felt like I needed a serious nap and possibly some cholesterol meds afterwards. So much meat, so little time. Take note where they keep the emergency defibrillator if you do go for dinner.
(4)Amanda M.
Maybe it's because I went during restaurant week, but I was not all that enthused by this place. First of all we were seated 25 minutes after our reservation time, which wasn't a huge deal since we found some seats in the bar area and my friend had a chance to enjoy an $8 cocktail. The space is MUCH larger than I expected, it seemed like more of a banquet hall then a restaurant, and I didn't find the decor inviting or appealing. Maybe it's because they were packed to the brim, but all the gauchos and hosts and people running around made it feel more like a crowded dim sum restaurant than an upscale steakhouse. As for the salad bar, I thought it was on par with Texas De Brazil minus the fact they didn't have lobster bisque and sauteed mushrooms. All of the food sitting out was good and fresh. They had tabouli, mozzarella balls, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, chicken salad, olives, cured meats, bread, giant asparagus, hearts of palm, artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, smoked salmon, peppers etc. I found it to be an abundant selection-- it's just not presented on a ginormous bar like TDB. As for the meat I found most of it to be pretty dry and/or flavorless. If you ask for a certain "doneness" and they have a skewer, they are going to give you a piece of meat from the bottom either way. The only thing I really enjoyed was the filet (not bacon wrapped). I got a small piece when I first sat down, and literally was searching for it for an hour and a half. I asked multiple waitstaff to send it over to no avail. Finally it randomly came around and I asked the gaucho to give me a big hunk of it. Unfortunately he gave me a piece that was cooked way past well-done and it was gray in the middle. However, the people who brought the side dishes around were on top of their game, and we never went without the delicious cheesy bread, mashed potatoes, polenta cakes, or sweet plantains (or were they bananas?). This being restaurant week the clientele probably wasn't the same as usual, but as my friend put it, we felt like we were in the upper-deck of a Nuggets game. A server accidentally dropped a huge glass plate used at the salad bar, and no less than 15 people decided to yell "Oooohhhhh!!". I'm sorry, but since when does that fly at a restaurant? It's funny at the Great American Beer Festival... but not here. I was actually embarrassed to be eating at the same place as these people. This is by no means Fogo's fault, since they can't turn people away for being trashy... but still... it put a damper on the evening. I would like to try Fogo again once all of Denver isn't there at the same time.
(3)Jen L.
I really want to give a rating of 3 1/2 stars in all fairness. To start off with I'm not one to indulge in a carnivorous feast, if you are this is the place for you. The salad bar is full of unique items some of which I had no idea what they were. Some labels would have helpful. The meat was good, but I'm not one that cares for a meal of just meat so my review will be on the over all experience of this establishment. I really did not enjoy this style of service. The restaurant is huge so it is very noisy and very hard to enjoy the company at your table. I was not fond of our waiter. He showed us the drink menu from afar and explained to us what the drinks were and walked off. When he came back we had to ask for the drink menu and the wine list. If they have beer I wasen't sure because that wasn't on a beverage menu we received. When we asked for the dessert menu it also had drinks on it that I would have preferred over the Brazilian rum thing I ordered. I really did not care for the way the food is served. It seemed crazy and hectic juggling plates and drinks, and tongs. This was not my thing at all. People are constantly coming to the table, not just the meat guys, but managers, and servers. My last coment is upscale or casual? It had elements of both, and I think they should pick one. All in all I was not overly impressed with this style of service and would not be back.
(3)Eugene N.
Before you read, please note that I'm a dude, and besides vegetarians, who can complain about all you can eat meat?! With that being said though, I love the caramelized bananas! Coming in, expecting to eat really good meat (which I did) but was taken by the bananas! Kinda weird and unexpected but they are served at your table at the beginning, like an appetizer. Now onto the meat. Great quality meat, but it's Fogo De Chao, so expect the best franchised Brazilian BBQ. Oh, and the service was excellent!
(5)Cassandra F.
Okay, this place serves up more food than I thought it was possible to consume. Make sure when you go that you have barely eaten that day! I love brazilian food, I had a brazilian neighbor once and she turned me on to all sorts of things. While I still don't think this food is as good as hers, it's the closest I've come! The caiparinhas here are fantastic, try the tropical one it's made with strawberries instead of limes. Yum! As others say, the salad bar is amazing. You could make a wonderful meal just out of that. And the sides they bring around are great. Love the pao de queijo and the polenta. Once the meat starts coming, be prepared. Green on are card means "More", red means "Stop". Be mindful of which is up, because they'll just keep bringing you food otherwise! It's a little pricey, but you get a lot of food for the money. I ate till I could barely move, so it was definitely worth it.
(5)Brian O.
The night started with our company running late, so we settled into the comfy bar. Jayce was a great bar tender, meeting our needs for a cosmo and a nice single malt with just the right amount of ice. Our company was unavoidably delayed due to the traffic getting to the Denver Parada of Lights. Once they arrived, we settled into our table with Greg for an intruduction to Fago; I've been a big fan of the Fago De Chao in Las Vegas; this place was bigger but there were more tables so with the need to go to the buffet for the excellent salad, I'd say it was a little tight. The salad bar while not the point of the meat fest of Fago, was fresh and excellent; I enjoyed the roasted garlic, beets, sliced dry meets, and the buffalo mozarella. Once we had completed the salads, the plates were quickly wisked away. Our wine, a 2009 Rodney Strong Cab Sauv, was an excellent start. If you have not been to the typical Brazilian experience, you turn over your serving card to green and waiters with large skewers of cooked meat decend on your table with various meets; we partcularly enjoyed the leg of lamb, the lamb chops and the top sirloin. As the waiters arrive, you can choose from rare to well done on each of the meats. My partner also njoyed a lovely garlic pork peice that I must have missed. The lower sirloin, the chicken were also good. I would note that the bacon wrapped filet I think was my favorite; jiucy rare with just the right amount of done-ness on the bacon. Our main course was also served with mashed potatoes and fried bananas and there is an extensive desert and after dinner drinks menu. Since we gorged on the meat, all these went by the wayside. All in all a great night with great company and service. We spent about $105 per head that included two bottles of wine and tip. A great night.
(4)Cobra K.
Not bad. Came here for a birthday dinner with The Woman. We had two dinners costing $45 per person. Our 3 year old daughter ate for free. Service was fantastic and the atmosphere was very posh. What I didn't like was the fact that they didn''t have beef tongue or chicken hearts. Really! Come on!!! Oh, and if you ask in the beginning, the servers will bring out FREE DESSERT for birthdays.
(3)Sungeeta A.
I loved my trip to Fogo de Chao. The salad bar was amazing - I don't know where they get their giant vegetables, but they are very fresh. The meats were plentiful and all tasty, my favorite being the top sirloin and filet mignon. I had the Papaya cream for dessert (to help me digest!), which was ice cream mixed with papaya. It was not my favorite but decent. I didn't realize how much I ate until I walked outside and had trouble breathing. It was worth it though! I would definitely go back!
(5)Lewis B.
First time a Fogo and the dining experience was superb! Food and service was great. I only wish they had a broader selection of vegetables i.e. steamed mixed veggies, spinach, broccoli or asparagus. Otherwise we would definitely return and recommend it to others.
(4)Kyle M.
place and service is fantastic. love the servers they are funny and entertaining.
(5)Heidi S.
Meat. Sweet, sweet, holy tasty, tasty meat. Thank you animal *LAMB* for giving your life for me. Oh and *HOLY COW* and with all honesty, I really do send a prayer up for the animal that is nourishing me. Get the lamb chops, the filet and the sirloin. Slather much of it in the Chimichurri sauce *moment alone* - thank the beast and turn that card to the green side one more time. Maybe go real easy on anything bacon wrapped, everything is already way salty enough...oh, and don't hold onto that salad plate too long, they seem to get nervous about it.... Our server was impersonal and avoided eye contact as if there was someone more important behind us, but our drinks were filled and refilled with glee. Every once in awhile a gorgeous blonde would wonder by and ask if everything was OK. It was. Oh and the men with meat on swords - well, either gender is giddy about that. One thing that struck us as odd as we got our bill the waiter asked what our special occasion was for coming in while he sorta looked past us (both of us in baseball hats) - the ball-n-chain set down his Maker's Mark and said, "No special occasion, just taking my wife to dinner.' Waiter guy looked a little perplexed. Boo-friggen-yeah.
(5)Ryan T.
Fogo De Chao is my absolute favorite restaurant, especially since I am a carnivore at heart. Ever since I visited their Beverly Hills location a few years ago, I have been hooked on this all you can eat Brazilian steakhouse. For those of you who have not been initiated in the churrascaria experience, here is how things work. After you have been seated and had a chance to enjoy a drink, the waiter will point out the fine salad bar that they have on hand. While I must admit that their salad bar is quite impressive, I have never ever bothered to visit it as my sole mission is to satisfy my meat fix. Next, you will be given a card. When the green side of the card is turned up, this signals the gaucho waiters that you are ready for the meat feast to begin. You can choose from 15 different cuts of meat that are brought to your table, sliced, and served on your plate. When the red side of the card is turned up, this lets the waiters know that you are taking a break until you are ready for more meat. For me, my absolute favorite cut is the picanha or prime cut of the top sirloin that just so happens to be FDC's signature steak. Some of my other favorites are the fraldinha or bottom sirloin and the beef ancho which is the prime cut of the rib eye. All of the aforementioned cuts of meat were just so juicy and cooked to the medium rare that I just love. Besides the fine meats that are constantly being carved at your table, the service at FDC is also some of the best that I have experienced at any fine establishment. If there is a particular cut of meat that you crave but have not seen for awhile, all you need to do is tell the waiter and he will actually grab your desired meat from the grill in the kitchen. If you love meat, you must find a way to visit Fogo De Chao and experience this churrascaria for yourself.
(5)Safford B.
I'm sorry, but I'm just not sold on the Brazilian steakhouse eat-til-you-puke concept, even in the "premium" format that Fogo De Chao tries to pull off. It's just a little cruise-shippy to me. We came here for Denver Restaurant Week, so we called several months ahead to get a reservation. When we arrived, we were still told that we needed to wait 15-20 minutes, and that they'd put our name on the waiting list. Pretty sure that's what reservations are for. Because it was Denver Restaurant Week, the crowd may have been a little more herd-like than usual, but it really put me off. The salad bar was a stampede. The staff couldn't figure out how to do crowd control, and I was shoved out of the way by an old woman trying to get in front of me so that she could get the last scoop of chicken salad. Cafeteria classy. As for the salad bar itself, it was good. I do enjoy all of the marinated vegetables like portobellos and hearts of palm, and the cured meats are good as well. Of course, you can pick up all of this stuff in the deli at Whole Foods or some of the fancier King Soopers, so it's not unique, but it's good. The meat was a major disappointment. Most of it was overcooked. I am a rare guy myself, but understand in this kind of setting, I'm going to be in the minority. That being said though, when pretty much every cut of meat is grey, I can't be the only one thinking that all the flavor and texture is gone. The filet mignon was the only thing I saw that was medium-rare. Unfortunately, it was nothing but sinew. It took me eight motions with a serrated knife to get through it. Definitely not "melt in your mouth" quality. The bacon-wrapped version of the filet never made it our way, so we didn't get to give it a second try. A few items will be spared this scathing review. The pork sausage (linguica) was really good. The fried polenta was also hard to stop eating. Unfortunately, a couple of high spots isn't enough to make up for the fact that Fogo was a kitschy and underwhelming experience. This is the last time we burn a Denver Restaurant Week night on a chain, no matter how popular it is.
(2)Karen P.
We have eaten here several times and the food has always been fabulous. I am giving only 2 stars because of the manner I was treated by the hostess staff on our way out. I asked if they could call a cab to pick us up. I was told that a cab would take 20 minutes and they would only make the call if we would promise to wait for it. What? I guess they are afraid to offend the cab driver. We just spent several hundred dollars on dinner and I was not happy being dictated to about the terms of a cab ride. I know this is a little thing, but it left me with a bad taste in my mouth. There are lots of other great restaurants where we can go spend our money.
(2)S P.
This place rocks! Great food quality and selection, and service. The salad bar is super fresh and offers an excellent variety. The meat selection is vast and high quality. The taste is perfect. What could be better? An excellent attentive staff. The other churrascarias in town are terrible- bad meat taste and quality. This place is world class.
(5)LaShawn R.
We were here for Denver Restaurant Week for a meal before going to see Wanda Sykes at the Paramount. Having never been there before, I was expecting the place to be like Texas de Brazil. Yes, it is a Churrascaria (Brazilian steakhouse) like Texas de Brazil, but that's pretty much the only comparison. The salad bar definitely had fewer selections, and the meat server guys (I know they have a much better title than that but it eludes me right now) scarcely made an appearance at our table when we flipped our cards to green. When they did make an appearance to our table, it was usually with a beef selection. The sirloin was plentiful but not much else was coming around. We had to request that the linquica and chicken come to our table. The best thing about the meal was the drink I had. I forget what it was called but it tasted like a mojito-margarita hybrid. It was yummy. Other than that, there was nothing special about Fogo de Chao. I will definitely stay true to Texas de Brazil when I feel like gorging myself with tasty spitted meat!
(2)Siv L.
Being from the Philadelphia area, I've always wanted to try Fogo de Chao but ended up going to the one in Denver with my boyfriend and cousin this past week. The service was great. Everyone was friendly and attentive. No reservation was needed. We ordered a bottle of red and started off snacking on pao de queijo, warm cheese bread. It is so delicious, we couldn't resist filling our bellies with extra bread (not a good idea for a place like this). We then stopped off at the salad bar. I wanted to try a bite of everything but refrained. Some of my favorites were the tabbouleh (first time having it, very parsley-heavy and not too much bulgur wheat, very great with the lamb!), the smoked salmon (so yummy!), the thick bacon, and the shitake mushrooms. With all of this came sides that included polenta, garlic mashed potatoes, and carmelized bananas. I didn't want to fill up on sweets so only tried a few bites of the mashed potatoes and loved them. When we finally were ready to start on some meat, they kept coming and coming (despite our cards being turned with red (STOP!) face up). My goal was to try everything but ended up losing track of what I had eaten as I got fuller and fuller. The pieces that were cut were very large (we ended up wasting a ton of meat so my suggestion would be for the servers to cut smaller pieces more frequently so that food will be less likely to be wasted). I also did not like that sometimes I would ask for medium rare and instead would be served meat prepared medium, so I was reluctant to fill up with meat that wasn't prepared to my liking (another reason why I was so wasteful). We tried most meats (I didn't try the filet wrapped in bacon, the pork loin covered with Parmesan cheese, pork ribs, or leg of lamb). I did however try everything else (sausage, chicken leg, chicken wrapped in bacon, rib eye, beef ribs, filet mignon, 2 types of top sirloin, bottom sirloin, and lamb chops). By far, my favorites were the lamb chops, top sirloin (so juicy and thin), and the chicken leg (juicy and marinated very well). I ended up asking for more lamb chops after lamb chops but towards the end of the night, I was being served chops cooked medium instead of medium rare which I had requested. However I still enjoyed all of the lamb (especially with the tabbouleh!). Although I recommend Fogo de Chao for anyone who's never been, I probably would not eat here again as I thought towards the end of the meal that if I ate any more meat I would puke and become a vegetarian! I love meat too much to risk ruining my relationship with it during another trip to Fogo de Chao! But red meat lovers should come and eat their hearts out!
(4)Nicole U.
Meat baby and fat pants. That is the aftermath of eating here, but oh so worth it. I have eaten at the Beverly Hills location and decided this would be a great place to take my aunt to while on vacation in Colorado. We were not let down. The salad bar started off the meal just right. I had a plate full of fresh mozzarella, manchego and parmesan cheeses, a few slices of tomatoes and some other veggies. The meat selection was awesome. I loved flipping over that little round card to signal to bring on the meat. The servers came flying by, I was a little overwhelmed at first but then just sat back and watched the show. I loved everything. The pork ribs were tasty, the beef ribs so perfectly tender. The bacon wrapped chicken, and filet were of course awesome as well. If I had to pick my favorite I would be torn between the lamb chops, and the parmesan crusted pork loin. Both were beyond good. I had seconds, and thirds of each and flagged down the server for just these items. This meal was ridiculous. I have never been so full in my entire life. We staggered out in a meat coma that lasted well until the following day.
(5)Brittany H.
What can I say that hasn't been said about Fogo de Chao? Well, I'm not too sure, but I'll give my two cents anyway. This place was ah-mazing! I had no idea what to expect of Fogo aside from lots of meat. But it's so much more than that! Immediately upon entering you're greeted by warm, friendly, and attentive staff with terribly exciting pants. Next, you'll be seated in a beautiful and immaculate dinning room with a large, delicious salad bar. I could've made a meal straight from the salad bar alone, but knew I had to wait for the main course. I've never been to a Brazilian BBQ, so I was very impressed with the whole experience. You have a coaster with a green side and a red side, which informs the staff who are constantly coming around to each table with skewers of beautiful cuts of meat whether you're ready to sample some more or not. I loved that concept. But here's what you go to Fogo de Chao for: the meat! Vegetarians need not apply! I haven't had so much meat and such delicious cuts before. Holy cow, yes sir, this was amazing on every level. Hot, juicy, and flavorful cuts that keep streaming out of the kitchen. Absolutely fantastic. I couldn't believe how much I actually enjoyed this. I was lucky enough to sample some desserts as well: the flan and the creme brulee. Firstly the flan was so sweet and pure deliciousness. Yum-o! The Brazilian take on flan was brilliant. The creme brulee was also very tasty. Sorry beef cows of the world, Fogo de Chao is out to get you. And you can only hope that you make your way here to delight the taste buds of its diners!
(5)Alden G.
Fun and pleasant place, hard-working staff. Chain restaurant, has appeal for small parties, and "date night." The distinguishing feature is the continual, revolving presentation of 15 different cuts of meat to your plate. Fogo is about the experience. We had fun; after awhile, I found the constant interruption a bit of a bother though; time to turn over the card from green to red. Best to mellow the experience with a bottle of very good Argentine Malbec (try Alamoso, $35).
(4)Claire B.
FOGO DE WOW!!!!!!! Just keep your card face up to greeeen!!! The phrase for this restaurant "Keep it coming' baby!!!" Don't eat all day, then go here. You start off with the salad bar, mind you, utilize this salad bar as your healthy side dishes to the carved meats arriving to your table every few minutes. Once you return from the salad bar, turn that card from red to green for the meats to come sliding of swords. They also offer side dishes, though I highly recommend the banana flambé mmmmmmm to die for. Because I'm a hearts of palm fan, you can load up here, since their sooooo damn expensive in the markets. Too bad no doggy bag here hehehehehehe. It's expensive but.... Well worth the delicious food, atmosphere, service and dining experience. I would say its like a Brazillian version of Dim Sum lol!!!!!! Instead of carts coming around, it's men with meats on swords. I recommend all the meats excluding the links... Sorry link fans, this carnivore is there for some lean juicy meats, not hot dogs/brawts ;) The salad bar alone is filling. 5 stars for everything!!!!!!
(5)Rob L.
There was a lot of hype prior to me going there as everyone that I've talked to that has been there was always raving about it. I missed going here when my co-workers cheaped out on our trip to Houston, so this time, when I found out that I had to work in Denver and that there was a location there, I told myself that I'm not gonna skip this place. I skipped the salads and other "fillers" and jumped right to the meats. My favorites were the cheese crusted pork and the top sirloin. The filet was nice and tender, but was not as flavorful as the sirloin. The bacon wrapped chicken was also good. I also loved the bananas and the bread. Their Gold Caipirinha was excellent, went down very smooth and 20 times better than a margarita. In my mind, I thought I would be able to eat serving after serving of meat, but I waved the white flag after about 3 rounds of meats and didn't even have room for flan...that says a lot if you know me, I love my flans! The decor was nice, a classic looking dining room, darkly lit. There were not very many people there as it was a Tuesday evening. The bill came to about 75 bucks a person, not bad for all you can eat meat plus a premium cocktail.
(5)Stephanie F.
TYLER was amazing! Great service & great food! I will be coming back to this restaurant very soon.
(5)David M.
When The Hulk takes SuperGirl to the Prom where does he take her to dinner? Fogo de Chao. It's like the Capitol Grill meets Kitchen Buffet: A high end cafeteria where they bring the cow to you and slice him up at your table. Very good salad bar (me loves dat smoked salmon and the mega-wheel of Parmigiano-Reggiano rocks) (asparagus too thick, but that's a minor complaint, huh). Good, and never-ending, but not great, meat products, and some purty good sides (carmelized bananas, polenta cakes, beans = neat). Worth $38/a head. Sure, if you're pregnant and eating for yourself and your about-to-be quadruplets, Excessive? You betcha. Fun? Yes. Good servers and fast and furious attention accompany the gluttony. Bottom line, try it when you need to bulk up your wrestling weight class.
(3)Meredith G.
What should you do on a Monday off and right after a hard bike ride? Go eat all the meat you can fit in your belly (plus dessert). I had my first Fogo experience today and it was lovely. The restaurant was not crowded and the staff were prompt to fill our plates with their various meat dishes and sides. They even came when my card was flipped to red. I loved everything I had except for the fillet wrapped in bacon. To get the bacon so crispy the meat was to well done for my liking. But that's ok, move it aside and get something else. The side of polenta and bananas were amazing and if you haven't put them together in 1 bite make sure you try that combo next time you go. I would eat that for dessert! But, I'm a serious desert lover and now I know I like Brazilian flan. It was creamy and luscious covered with a thin caramel sauce. I would definitely heard here for a huge lunch again. It's Only $25 vs. $35 at dinner time for the same food offerings.
(5)Justin A.
Fogo is absolutely delicious. Salad Bar is good, with tons of gourmet cheeses and other ingredients. The Cheese Bread on the table is also good. And..where else can you find Guarana or Diet Coke in a glass bottle at a restaurant?. But...the best part. The minute you turn the card to Green, they attack you with meats. Every cut of meat is succulent and cooked to perfection. Delicious. Service is also top notch. Come here hungry and leave in a wheel barrel.
(5)Simon J.
Been here a few times - food is always great, service is also excellent. Will defo be back. Only complaint is they do not validate parking at lunchtime. Did not realize that and I ended up paying almost $10 to park when meter parking would have been just $1.50. Otherwise, excellent.
(4)Lauren D.
Our absolute favorite restaurant in denver. The atmosphere is great and the wait staff is impeccable. Our first time in, Evan waited on us and made our evening very special. We've requested him every time since then. The steaks are amazing, especially the picanha. Highly recommended!!
(5)Ian K.
Simply the best restaurant in Denver all around!!!! Thanks for the memories Fogo!
(5)Kristol T.
The food and service is top notch! Everything was so delicious and it was so hard to say no! I've been several times and my company had our Christmas Party there back in December. I couldn't stop talking about this place so I finally got my sister and her family hooked on going too!! They also have this mojito that was really good!
(5)Josh P.
Fogo de Chao literally translated means "coma of meat" or meat coma. That is the feeling one will experience the entire next day having gorged themselves here the night before. For carnivores, the primitive gluttony - along with the pure chaos that is whisking about sharp knives and pounds of spit fired hot meats upon skewers without seriously injuring anyone - is worth experiencing at least once. A word of advice though, take the following day off.
(3)Lindsey H.
There's not much I can add that hasn't already been said, so I'll just say this place was amazing. Best salad bar I've ever seen- it was hard not to fill up before the meat parade. And the meat parade itself- out of control delicious! I love that they'll bring out anything you want. The service is absolutely top notch. It doesn't get any better than this. It's not cheap, but it's worth every penny.
(5)Jeff V.
Four, yeah four stars is about good for the food there. I went back to fogo with friends for restaurant week and decided to finish my review upon my second visit. This place really does have a great atmosphere for small groups of friends. The loud and busy place allows for any type of dinner talk you choose. The salad bar was amazing and I almost went fully stupid on the hearts of palm, on the the meats! The best things here is the house special, then all the beef portions. Everything else was ok in my mind but that beef so beefy so goody. I'd def go back and would check it out at lunch. Same menu, half the price.
(4)Taylor V.
My brother likes Rodizio best, my roommate loves Texas De Brazil, but if you ask me, Fogo De Chao is easily the best Brazilian churrascaria steakhouse in Denver. I do enjoy both of those other restaurants as well, but if it's my turn to pick - it's Fogo De Chao every time. In my opinion the salad bar selection is best here, the meats are always delicious and high quality, and the service is untouchable.
(5)True M.
Went here after my high school graduation for lunch and loved it. The guachos were very kind and would come to our table with various sorts of meat. I just loved how they would come right after I flipped my card. The selection of meat is amazing, and the salad bar is filled with delicious fresh veggies and appetizers. I don't even have much to say about this place because it is already amazing in itself. You have to go try it out yourself, but go during lunch because it's cheaper :)
(5)Danielle V.
Took advantage of this place for 5280 week. And WOW! The meat is fabulous!! And of course, more then I can handle! This is definitely a GREAT place for your hungry men. Otherwise it might be too pricey to eat here when a 6 oz steak would be enough to fill you. However the service, the taste, and quality are the best. Our waiter was just wonderful and when he got too busy to check on us, which we honestly didn't notice, he sent us a free round of drinks. The salad bar was ok to me. A nice one, but nothing that totally grabbed my attention and honestly.... WHO WANTS A SALAD when you have all that juicy meat in your face! :) A very fun place for a VERY hungry group. But you have to be just that, HUNGRY! Don't waste your time if you want a small meal.
(4)Jenny S.
They did everything but wipe my face and call me your royal highness. The service was outstanding. I was almost afraid to look up and make eye contact because I didn't want them to rush over to me. The food was great. Endless servings of steak, lamb, chicken and a beautiful salad bar. I've been to 4 other churrascarias and Fogo de Chao definitely has been the best so far. The price is very reasonable for what you are getting and I was surprised it was not more expensive. They also have complimentary valet parking and downtown this is a huge bonus. Another cool note that makes this place stand out is many of the servers were speaking Portuguese to each other and it totally added to my experience!
(5)Hans O.
Fogo is the real deal; once you step in you feel the difference already from all churrascarias you have been, including Boi na Braza (which is my second favorite). You'll feel a bold, traditional feeling the minute to step in. Its the same feeling as when you enter a pioneer house or farm in the south of Brazil, a welcoming, warmth, friendly, mysteryous, yet humble, and that's the exact feeling all Fogo's gives you, including the ones in Sao Paulo. I can't compliment Fogo enough; their forte is steaks and they are really good at it, they specialize in steaks and other minor details such as sushi, fish, and other sides are well prepared but the spotlight is on the steaks. Fogo maintain their quality through all of their restaurants, the same great quality you get here, you'll get it in Brazil. Just in Brazil, they have won the title of the best Churrascaria de espeto corrido for 7 consecutive years from a well known magazine, Veja. Their steaks are top notch, very tender, moist, grilled to perfection. And the first thing the waiter does is get your drinking order and how exactly you like to enjoy your steaksan and voila!!! Perfect steaks at all times, not rocket science, but it does makes a world of difference! That's the difference that makes a world class-churrascaria. My favorite cuts are Fraldinha, picanha, and the lamb was well seasoned and super good. All the sides, including the salad bar is very delicious, but very simple, nothing extravagant. Fogo is not nor wll be a place for the best salad bar. Service and great and attentive. You will not regret! If you want to explore and get to know a real Brazilian steakhouse, Fogo is what you are awaiting for! I recommend giving them a call prior your visit, they sometimes have some pricing specials plus you'll guarantee a seat!
(5)H A.
Good food, good service and a bit expensive. Overall I love it :-)
(4)Krisztina F.
Fogo, you've done it again. No matter which city, always 5 star. Service is anticipatory without being aggressive. I thought about it, and it arrived. Seriously...you could be sitting there thinking "MMM, this Parmesan encrusted pork loin is delicious...but is there any more filet mignon or prime rib?" And voila! There it is, skewered and served at your side. For a Brazilian steakhouse, they out salad-bar and side every other meat-centric establishment I know of. Even lunch is served with complimentary mashed potatoes and yummy cheese popovers. It's a feast for the eyes, the taste buds, and your stomach. And if your first date can't watch you delicately and slowly gorge yourself on some of the most delicious meats in the universe, you probably shouldn't be dating, anyways. Pricing is about as follows, with no alcohol: Lunch 25/full meal or 19 for the salad bar, And your dinner is about $40. Worth every single penny. It's a great place for a business lunch, for out of town guest when you have time to luxuriate in a restaurant, and well, it's my kind of romantic dinner out! I mean seriously, I don't give too many 5-stars.
(5)Daniel B.
Wow, a great all you can eat brazilian steakhouse. While not everything brought out was superb ... it all was really good. They did struggle getting some medium rare steak out at one point ... but I was eating an enormous amount and it had to be hard to keep up! The "salad bar" is not a run of the mill salad bar ... it has a very impressive variety of exotic options ... and the the Caipirinhas are delectable and use a quality cachaça! Bring an appetite and avoid the carbs ... this place is all about the protein loading ;)
(5)Florence S.
I came here at the urging of a friend since I had been to other churrascarias except this one. We were running a little late for our 5p reservation due to traffic and called to let them know, which they were understanding. They have complimentary valet in a garage, which is very nice and convenient. Upon entering, we were greeted and seated immediately. We chose to do the summer feast, which was only $35. The salad bar was plentiful and they also had potatoes au gratin, black beans, and white rice in warmers on the side of the salad bar. They also bring out polenta "fries" and fried bananas. Like with all churrascarias, the meat is plentiful and I was extremely happy that they had rare pieces. My only complaint about the meats is that the edges are highly salted and in some pieces, it was like eating a salt lick. The staff was helpful and were always offering to get me a new plate. When we asked for the check, it took about 10 min, but it was because they were getting my birthday creme brulee ready, so I can't really fault them on that.
(5)Brian P.
This place is a top notch Brazilian Barbeque joint. My coworkers commented on how much better it is than others they had visited. Some pro-tips: Prices aren't prominent. Dinner will cost you about $50/person without drinks. Get everything medium to well done. Their medium rare is closer to rare. The pineapple is excellent, but don't fill up on it. I recommend staying away from the lamb. Other people liked it. The ambiance, food, and service was great. Some of the meat (e.g. lamb, garlic beef) wasn't as good as I would have hoped, but overall I liked it will definitely go back.
(4)David A.
When I first walked in, I felt the place was a little dark and dreary. It was restaurant week so the place was very busy. We had a drink in the slightly cramped bar area while we waited the 20 minutes for our reservation. None of the drinks were particularly well crafted, especially considering the moderate fee they charged for them. After we were seated the wait staff started taking care of us very well. Everyone was polite and very attentive. They'll bring you mashed potatoes, fried polenta, and fried bananas. They try very hard to make sure you don't run out. They'll have you treat yourself to their salad bar; which I found uninspired (I don't know of anyone who enjoys steaks with cold green beans and cold mushrooms). After you get situated, you flip your little cards over to green, indicating you are ready for meat. The beef really is the star of the show here. Everything is nicely seasoned and sizzling hot when it gets to the table. The overwhelming favorite at our table was the bottom sirloin. In last place was their bacon wrapped chicken, which struck us as frozen food brought back to life in a microwave. You'll pay a chunk of change to eat here. In return you'll get delicious red meats, excellent service, and all you can eat. Do I think it's worth it? -Not really sure. Will I go back? -Nope.
(3)Qiongxiao Y.
Great food! Soiloin is my first choice of meat there! Pineapples are great! It was a pity that I got full in 15 minutes I wish I had eaten more for the money I paid!!!
(5)Sam V.
Came here for a company dinner; what a treat! We were treated to the whole 9 yards-- the full churrasco experience for everyone! First of all, the service was absolutely exceptional. I'm pescaterian and they happily subbed the table-side carvings for their Mango Chilean Sea Bass. It was flavorful, succulent, and cooked perfectly. The 'Market Table' and sides are choice and it was hard to not get full on those options alone. Overall, it was a well executed and exceptional dining experience (especially given the fact they had to tend to many people). I'm definitely going to come again (minus my coworkers).
(5)J K.
This place is GOOD. The kind of good where you are actually excited about it, thinking ahead and it ends up being the best part of your day. Meats are amazing, sides are amazing, drinks are amazing, salad is amazing. It's pricey but worth it.
(5)Jenny P.
I've been to a few Brazilian steakhouses before and just thought it was okay but the meat at Fogo really is fantastic. The lunch deal is definitely worth the price. The salad bar alone is usually full of great salads, meat, cheese, and salmon but I try to not get too full from eating it so that I can focus on the meat. My favorite is the house special. Everytime they slice you a piece, I think they take it back inside to char the outside again so that every piece always has a nice char on the outside. I also love the filet mignon, medium to medium rare. Very tender and juicy. I'm not a huge chicken fan but I like their little chicken drumsticks as well, very flavorful. Then of course there is the cheese bread. Its only good with its warm though. One of the waiters showed us a trick, to put a little condensed milk in the cheese bread and eat it with the bananas. Its pretty much a dessert at this point and soooo good.
(5)Morgan J.
I don't live here, but every time I come visit my sister, I'm coming here. I'm not sure what all I ate, but none of it was bad. Tyler (really wish I remembered his last name to make sure he knows who I'm talking about) put up with my crazy family and then some. We're a difficult bunch but he laughed with us and engaged far more than I'm used to with any restaurant staff I've ever come across. I ate some of EVERYTHING we were offered, but I think the lamb and the bottom sirloin were my favorites. I'll let you know when I come back and try again. The molten chocolate cake was magnificent as well. But, food aside, I will definitely look for Tyler when I come back. He made it fun rather than overwhelming with the amount of food.
(5)Yoomi P.
What an amazing place for meatlovers! :) So, I've been to the Fogo in LA, and of course loved it. The meat quality/taste is pretty much the same as the LA location. Picanha is my favorite, and I believe it's the most famous/popular one. I recommend if you go there for the first time, to try a little bit of EVERY meat. But make sure to ask for small pieces b/c otherwise you'll probably explode before you can try half of their selections lol. As for the salad bar, I like the options in LA better, but the Denver location had enough to satisfy my veggies/cheese cravings. :) My favorite part about brazilian bbq is the pau de quejo (sp?) The amazing cheesy chewy goodness that simply melts in your mouth. I eat at least 10 of them whenever I go... which leaves no room for the delicious meat :((( I also absolutely love their grilled pineapple that's sprinkled with cinnamon. It goes GREAT with the meat. I can't forget the fried bananas! Mmmmmmmmm. So much goodness... The only thing I can recommend is to really try EVERYTHING. The meat, cheese bread, pineapple, bananas, polenta, brazilian soda, salad bar.. EVERYTHING!! You'll love the experience, I guarantee it :)
(4)Phil B.
Meat meat and more meat! Walking the line between a gourmet and gourmand, I do love some Brazilian steakhouse goodness. The service is solid, although on a busy night it is easy to get lost in the crowd. Additionally, depending on where you are, it can be a significant hike to the salad bar (because we all know that why you go to a steakhouse is the salad...) and there seems to be less foot traffic of those kind folks carrying the meat which I so desire to eat. Seated in a high traffic area, it is easily 5 stars (the lamb definitely brings it up to 5) but stuck in a corner, if you are in the far back, you will have to ask for various meats and you will have to be patient (which would drop it to 3 stars). We were there twice in 2 week, once with a great location, then with a walk far enough to make me wonder if we were getting seated in another restaurant. And thus, by the law of averages, 4 stars it is.
(4)Daniel T.
Again, Fogo is the greatest chain ever created in the history of mankind. This spot is pretty awesome. $25 for lunch is a ridiculously cheap price for all the amazing beef you get! Just sit and eat all of the pequena. Parking kind of sucks, but once you get settled in a parking structure, just walk on over!
(5)Belinda L.
I cannot express how happy I was trying this restaurant out. First you should only come here on an empty stomach. The cost is hefty. The atmosphere was calm. The service was prompt. We didn't want for anything. They tended to us like we were royalty. My glass was magically filled. It was like I turned my head and when I turned it back my glass was full. The only thing they didn't do was cut my food up and spoon feed me. The valet was complimentary too. I didn't want to leave this place! Highly recommend.
(5)Michael M.
My daughter said "what have you gotten us into?!" Afterwards she thought it was great. Neither of us had done Brazilian steakhouse before so I'm sure Mississippi people looked a little lost, but we quickly found our comfort zone. The food was amazing, wait staff courteous and very helpful, and atmosphere great. We were casually dressed but felt very comfortable as others were as well. Definitely worth it!
(5)Hunter R.
Love this place!!! Carnivores only. Be sure to come hungry, then make sure your plans for the night are to hit the couch in what my friend calls a "meat coma". Amazing service makes it 5 stars for me, especially after having very poor service at the other Brazilian steakhouse in Denver.
(5)Jamie C.
Great deal for Denver Restaurant Week! All you can eat Brazilian BBQ, that's the only way to go! It's definitely a fantastic dining experience since you can try various cuts of different steaks/meats instead of just being stuck with one option. The Fraldinha (Bottom Sirloin) was my absolute favorite cut. It was perfectly seared on the outside with a saltier taste. The meat was perfectly tender and that's all I wanted most of the night. All the other meats were delicious as well, particularly the garlic Picanha, but bottom sirloin was just the most memorable for me that night. Awesome and huge salad bar! Side dishes: The pão de queijo (warm cheese bread) is also to die for here. My best friend can eat baskets and baskets but it's the best when it first comes out. I'm definitely a texture person when it comes to food and this side dish is perfection crispy on the outside but soft and chewy on the inside and it's just fantastic. The caramelized bananas are also really great for when you want to change up your palette and opt for something slightly sweet. If it's not sweet enough for you, definitely get some condensed milk on the side to pour over it! Tip: Get some Chimichurri sauce to pair with your meats when you want to change it up a bit during the meal. Complimentary valet.
(5)Lily S.
Everything's good but I'm just not a big fan of this type of cuisine so I can't rate it 4-stars. 3.5 is more like it and if you don't have time to read the rest of the review please be assured you'll love it if Brazilian style roasted meats are your thing. So my friend said we had to come on New Year's day since it falls on a Thursday this time which means we'll get half-priced food during lunch hours ($26.30 per person, as opposed to $50 at night) and free street parking! Good point. It was a party of about 15 and we sat at a long table. The nice thing is you don't have to wait till the entire party arrives, people are going to be late, you'll just help yourself to foods in the salad bar! My most favorite is the Marinated Grilled Zucchini, OMG the marinade and the grill marks make the sliced squash so flavorful and not at all soggy. You can probably eat your worth of money by getting a lot of smoked salmon, lol. I, on the other hand, saved room for the to-die-for lemonade, or rather, Brazilian Limeade. It's $4.50 per glass but with endless refills. I hate regular lemonade, even freshly squeezed ones, thought they taste too much like the citrus skin, but this Limeade is a whole different story. I late looked up the recipe online and it consists of lime juice, milk, and sweetened condensed milk, just think of the ingredients and you should know how yummy the drink is. It's also cloudy and slightly foamy as the waiter pours it from the pitcher into the glass, it's beautiful to look at, almost reminds me of a Pina Colada. The meats can be non-stop if you want it, get the grilled pineapple, it compliments the chicken very well. I ate so many kinds of meats I couldn't keep a straight list. But again, if I'm given the choice of Korean BBQ or this, I'll pick the Asian alternative, but that's just me. Service is always on the spot, got absolutely nothing to complain about. Fogo De Chao is a nice restaurant that has its own brand chocolate and napkin! I enjoyed dinging here.
(3)Steve A.
Been to many Brazilian stack houses and out of all of them in the different states I would say this one was my least favorite. The service is slow at times. The staff was not as polite as I would expect going to a high end restaurant. The food was ok.
(3)Linda T.
I've been craving meat! So this is the place to come. I am a college student so Fogo de Chao is more like a splurge but it was well worth it after finals. A few friends and I came for lunch after finals were over to celebrate since lunch is $26.50. Even if you did not want to eat meat, they have a very extensive salad bar that could probably satisfy you. If not, the cheese bread that they bring out is delicious. One of my friends were full but kept asking the waitress for their cheese bread. I had the green circle on the table and the meat kept coming my way. I think my favorites were the picanha, filet mignon and the filet mignon wrapped with bacon. Some pieces were salty but I'm glad they had the meat seasoned. It was a great day and the food was great. The service was amazing and when I want to celebrate again, here I will come! :)
(5)Jaime H.
I was super excited to bring my work team here during our training in Denver. The Minneapolis Fogo is Awesome and I wanted my team to have the same experience. I was very disappointed when we walked past the salad bar (that resembled an old country buffett salad bar)on the way to our table. It didn't even come close to the appearance of the Mpls Fogo. It didn't have the Cheeses and even more importantly didn't have the smoked Salmon that I often think about that Mpls has. The waitress was very nice and service was very good. The meat served was similar to the Mpls FOGO. It was very good. I was relieved once I tasted the meats. I had to give 3 stars for the lack of ambience I was expecting comparing to the MPLS location.
(3)Monica J.
My husband loves Fogo de Chão restaurants so much that we visit them while we are travelling to other cities. For Labor Day weekend we were staying in Boulder, Colorado but just had to make the drive to downtown Denver (which wasn't bad actually) to dine here Sunday evening with some friends. The food was pretty much the same as any other location. Which is to say, it was delicious. I love getting the little red peppers at the salad bar as well as the marinated artichokes and mushrooms. The meats are all fantastic and I like to ask for some chimichurri sauce to accompany them. The service at the Denver location was warm and friendly and everyone was on the spot to get fresh plates or whatever items we needed. The only downside is somehow no one ever brought my hubby's iced tea. We had them take it off the bill at the end of the night so no big deal. We lucked out in that it was restaurant week and so our meal was only $30!!!
(5)Dave H.
Endless tasty roasted meat, served at the table. There's a fine salad bar you can visit as often as you want, too, though that's gotten pared down a bit over the past few days. The service, a tag team approach, is always highly attentive, with the exception of delays in getting back drinks from the bar (though the caiparinhas are worth the wait.
(4)Megan J.
Took a large group for a birthday party and they did absolutely everything right. Food was amazing, service was impeccable, and we all left happy. Several people from our party are ready to go back! I'd recommend one must have item, but to be honest, I can't choose. All the main course items were cooked to perfection, and the salad bar was so delicious I could have just had that and been happy.
(5)Grace B.
If you are like me, Foodie on a Budget, try this place during Denver Restaurant Week! All you can eat Brazilian BBQ with only few meats taken out of the menu for Denver Restaurant Week. Not to mention a great selection of bottomless salad bar to go with your meat and baskets of Brazilian cheese bread, platters of caramelized bananas, plates of mashed potatoes studded with garlic and trays of crispy polenta! Caramelized bananas was very sweet and crispy polenta was salty but nice addition. TIP: Ask for some Chimichurri sauce to go with your meat, which helps you refresh your mouth by neutralizing the fattiness of the meat. This sauce will help you eat more meat for sure! Now stop reading reviews on yelp and GO TRY THIS PLACE! (One of the best deals from Denver Restaurant Week!)
(4)Dawn H.
Overall: The dinner is $46.50 + tax per person. Not too shabby. As far as the entire experience, Fogo is a solid 3.5 stars for me. So who does what better (i.e. Fogo vs. Rodizio vs. TdB)? The answer -- it's a mixed bag. Meats: Fogo -- best flavor by far. Personally, I prefer the meat selection (variety) at Rodizio, but there is no denying the quality here by far, especially the lamb. Pineapple -- Rodizio. The pineapple at Fogo is smothered in way too much cinnamon, but I must admit, this is splitting hairs. I say that because the pineapple gaucho only came around once over the course of an hour, and it made me sad. :( Mashed Potatoes -- Fogo. Just the right amount of garlic and were complimentary to the meats served. Fried Bananas -- Rodizio. The fried bananas at Fogo are bit on the oily and mushy side and fell apart easily. Salad Bar -- TdB. No soup options at Fogo. The salad bar itself at Fogo was still nice though -- it's just that TdB has more salad bar offerings, including lobster bisque. Fogo offers the usual salad greens and fixings, real bacon, artichokes, sundried tomatoes, various mayo-infused salad (i.e. pototao salad, chicken salad), prosciutto, salami, various cheeses, olives, smoked salmon.....and that's all I can recall at the moment. Service: Fogo/TdB. At both locations, the gauchos are really quick and the servers are 20 steps ahead when it comes to basic services (i.e. refilling beverages, etc.) The creme brulee at Fogo is worth noting -- please save room for this! It was overall really good -- just wish I could incorporate all the pros from the various locations and combine them together into one restaurant!
(3)Riza H. C.
Friday February 28th 2014. Last day of Denver Restaurant Week for some establishments aka restaurants in town. For FOGO DE CHAO Denver, when I checked, they extended that Denver Restaurant Week till the weekend of March 2nd 2014. I have made reservations sometime back coz for one Hubs wanted to have a "AYCE". Yes its DWR with $30 per person just for food. Yes, this establishment was packed to the brim. We had the reservation for 21:30hrs, I told Hubs to arrive early in case we can have our seats early. Thank God we did, we were seated @ 21:10hrs, though our table is like in the middle of "traffic", aka near the SALAD BAR, added bonus to Hubs content. Then when our server arrived, man, too many people aka to many servers. Since this establishment is LOUD with other patrons, I can barely hear what's going on, though I know the style of Dining, this establishment has to offer. From the Denver Restaurant Week Menu these were the following items : * Salad & Sides Bar * Bread and Side Dishes * Main Course * Picanha * Alcatra * Fraldinha * Cordeiro * Linguica * Costela de Porco * Lombo * Frango Take note, out of 8 Meat Items, we CAN ONLY eat 4 of it, coz the rest contain PORK. First misleading information since this is NOT stated when we made the reservations. The Salad bar, seems ok, nothing stellar nothing fancy - Err personally it looks so sad, and Hubs agreed to that sentiments too *SIGH* I managed to get the Salmon, the rest are PASTA, and Vegetables. It would be nice, if there are "LABELS" indicated at the Salad Bar, like what we are eating etc etc but they were NOT - Second Epic Fail. On my right, well actually to the back where I was seating, they offer the trays of Carbs such as Rice. Yes, Hubs tends to like the Brazilian Cheese Bread, and the Crispy Polenta. I like the Brazilian Cheese Bread too. We don't like the Garlic Mash Potatoes coz it went cold. They brought out all these items including the Caramelized Bananas, that went to COLD too fast. *SECOND BIG SIGH* To add with that, since I might be a little under the weather, I cannot really enjoy this DWR to the fullest. Hence this 3 stars Generous review. I felt we were short-changed coz of the limited kind of meats they offer. It was NOT stated in any shape or form when we went to make the Reservation Online. Hubs rated this experience as 3 Stars, personally for me, for the Value, of the DWR 2014, Fogo De Chao Denver offer is 2.5 Stars, but OVERALL Dining Experience more like 2 Stars at best. Since Hubs had coffee ($2.55) was added to the cost and our Dinner that evening was $67.55. The Main Server that evening is Jordan and the Cashier is Ksenia. Left the establishment about 22:50hrs ish. FOGO DE CHAO 1513 Wynkoop St Denver, CO 80202 @38/2014
(3)Jason A.
Amazing place. A friend recommended this place to me so we went here on an anniversary date. Even better than I expected. Service is great. So is the food (my favorite was probably the beef ancho (ribeye). The sides - and the bread - are also delicious, which poses a problem because you don't really want to fill up on those. Would definitely visit again.
(5)J T.
I came here for a birthday celebration, unfortunately it coincided with restaurant week. Madness! I love restaurant week, but it's gotten out of hand crazy busy. It was wall to wall people. I've been to 2 other Fogo's, but this is my first visit to this location in Denver. I made reservations but because of restaurant week I still had to wait for 20 minutes for our table. Not bad considering others were telling me they had been waiting for longer. Service was good- our server was in from Kansas City for restaurant week. He was lovely. Very attentive, consistent with the service I've come to expect from Fogo. Valet parking is free (the lot next to the restaurant is where to go for that) it is a great service! Yay for valet! Love, love love the pao de quiego (cheese bread) it is amazing. The Fogo version is just So delicious. I could have sat here and just ate that all night, but luckily I diversified. I hit the salad bar... I was honestly disappointed by the selection. Where was the bowl of bacon I've come to expect and love? Missing. The prosciutto? Nope. The hearts of Palm? Nada. The wheel of parmaggiana regianno? Nope. Instead there was some generic salami, and cheese slices and bowls of lettuces. Booo. Their shiitake mushrooms were also just regular button mushrooms. Dissapointing. I love the Fogo salad bars at the other locations I've eaten at... I hope that this isn't a regional issue. I'm hoping that this was because it was restaurant week and they had a stripped down version of their regular salad bar. It really didn't cut the mustard for me...( yes, I am the girl that goes to a meat fest to eat salad). But who goes to a churrascuria for the salad? The meat is definitely the main event at this place. The meat more than made up for the salad bar. The gauchos kept coming with the meat offerings, they were attentive and were like meat magicians..." I see your plate is nearly half empty, more meats?" Seriously, I keep forgetting to wear my fat pants to these places. The bottom sirloin was my favorite cut. Picanha and the flank were also amazing. It was all amazingly flavored, salty, melty, meaty deliciousness. I loved the bananas, not a fan of the polenta fries, the potatoes were great but a touch cold. I wish I made room for dessert but honestly I just spent the rest of the night fighting off the dreaded meat sweats. Oh the meat sweats! I regret nothing!
(4)Kristine N.
Came during restaurant week and we had a reservation at 7. Checked in at 6:40 and didn't get sat until about 7:20. That was frustrating. The salad bar is nice with plenty of options. They also have a couple of hot dishes along the buffet line. On to the meat, it was SLOW! But the best ones were the bottom shoulder, the Parmesan crusted, and the garlic steak. Yum. Side dishes were good, especially the fries!!!
(4)Shane A.
Some of the best food I've had. Make sure to bring an appetite, you'll need it! Specifically there's a server named Manny who took complete care of us all night. No sooner than I spilled my drink, he was there - he could have caught the glass if he was any faster to respond. He took care of us all night - made sure we had everything we needed, sometimes before we even realized we needed it. It was a great experience.
(5)Rae L.
I brought my friend here for his birthday and we both had an excellent time. While the ambiance is not exactly friendly to romance, being a little loud and filled with bustling servers, it was a nice place to get an excellent meal. The service was above and beyond, although you never seem to have the same server for very long as everyone chips in. I loved the costumes of the meat carriers, a nice authentic touch. The food was fabulous. The buffet items were all well done, however I stuck to the cured meats and cheeses and a few of the salads. There was so much to choose from I didn't want to fill up before the meat began. My cocktails were a little slow (where is the bar in this place I don't know) in getting to me, but they were all well made and incredibly tasty. The meat is of course the star however. I didn't want to stop eating it was so good! And they aren't kidding that once you flip green, you will be bombarded by meat. Sometimes even when it's flipped to red, but who is going to say no to such well prepared Filet Mignon? They have various temps cooked on their skewers so if one likes their meat cooked till it's soul is writhing in agony and the other likes it bloody, it's okay. We ended the meal with dessert and a cognac. The servers even went out of their way, even though no one had told them directly, they had overheard our conversation and written Happy Birthday on the plate of the birthday boy - now that's attention to detail! Yes, Fago de Chao is expensive. But it's an experience and one worth having more than once! I can't wait to take more people here to celebrate!
(4)Amy O.
Need to go back for more pão de queijo and caipirinha!!!! YUM
(5)Ryssby R.
If you are are going to participate in restaurant week it is important that you take the opportunity to impress - our server MinWoo did a fantastic job paying attention his clients and taking care of little things that make a big difference. They have a great wine list and the team work is impressive. Great job to the management as your staff is only a good as the leadership and great job to the support staff because a business is only as good as their people. Thank you.
(5)Leigh W.
We are big fans of Fogo De Chao and the wide variety of flavorful meats. They carry so many different meats and have a great salad bar and the side dishes are tasty too! Do not make the mistake of making a big salad to start with, you want to save room for the important stuff the steak, chicken, pork, etc!! The wait staff are on top of it as well never leaving your plate empty. This is by far my favorite Brazilian Steak House I have been too. Not a fan of Rodizio, they just do not have the taste to their meats like Fogo does!
(4)Ramon G.
4.5 to be exact. The food and service speaks for itself at Fogo. As you walk in you know you are about to experience something special. The meats- A delicious assortment consisting of beef, lamb, pork and sausage. Depending on the cut you do get to pick your preferred temperature. I usually stick around medium rare to medium. My fav's are the rib eye, top/bottom sirloin and the garlic tenderloin. The salad bar- Not bad but I think Texas De Brazil has the edge on this. (Not that you come here to eat salad) The bread- Pao de queijo is like candy. Sides- Love the bananas. Service- Knowledgeable, friendly and very attentive. Wine- I've had good luck with their Carmenere's and Cabs. Dessert- Are you kidding? Hint- Don't eat meat all week and be sure to hike a 14'er or run a marathon prior to dining at Fogo. You'll be alright....
(4)Stephanie A.
came for 5280 week, Enjoyed it to pieces their salad bar is wicked awesome. and the meat! OH THE DELICIOUS MEAT! The service is fantastic, had the Creme brulee for dessert and cried tears of joy upon taking the first bite of the heavenly masterpiece. They take great care of you here. If I were to mention a down point, all I would say is that the hostess seemed a little unfriendly, I like to be greeted with a smile, and a hello. Other than that, sheer perfection.
(5)Akilah R.
Their signature drinks are phenomenal! I went with a group of friends, some of whom have been to Rio, and it took them back. Great scene, great food, great service (staff push in your chair once you're seated - they're all about the details here). Very attentive, very professional and friendly. Not much more to say than that.
(4)Christina Z.
What can I say about Fogo de Chao that hasn't already been said? Other than it's incredibly, mouth-watering delicious, here are a couple of my notes that I'd like to contribute: 1. Go for lunch. It's about half the price and you get all of the same meats (you'll get a couple more sides with dinner, but why eat mashed potatos when you have dozens of pounds of sizzling meat that await?) The side dishes are awesome at both meals, so you won't feel like you're missing out. 2. The salad bar is included with the all-you-can-eat meats and it is awesome. So awesome, in fact, I called the restaurant back the next day to ask WHAT TYPES OF CHEESES WERE FEATURED...they were THAT GOOD. (For those of you who are curious: aged machego and 24-month aged parmesan.) 3. I have an inside joke with my boyfriend that he should take some notes from the gauchos at Fogo...they treat you like a lady (if you happen to be a woman, at least)! To be sure, it's way-over-the-top and it's hard to take their pants seriously, but everytime my boyfriend gets out of line, I let him know that the Fogo men are next in line. But really, once I ordered the caiparainha and it didn't taste great, so they took it back (after I drank half haha) and made me a new, better one after asking what flavors I liked.
(5)Heather P.
Wonderful place for groups, a little loud for maybe a intimate solo date. My group thought the service was great, we were stuffed! Must have a little of everything but do get the fogo beef, garlic pork, and bacon wrapped chicken.
(4)Maggie B.
Another year of Restaurant Week and another great choice! Fogo did not disappoint! I love the fact that the staff works together as a group instead of as individual waiters. It makes getting what you need much easier and you can enjoy your dinner without having to keep looking for your waiter. The steak was amazing as always but this time the chicken was cooked almost (if not better) than the steak. I ate more chicken this time than I ever had before. It was so delicious! I also love the side buffet at the Denver location. They have a ton of options and variety for you to choose not to mention the sides that get brought over to the table. The side buffet is so good it's hard to remember to save room for steak! Also, make sure to save room for cheesecake. This was the first time we have eaten dessert at Fogo and the cheesecake was amazing....just as good as Cheesecake Factory! As always I highly recommended this place for any occasion!
(5)Jerry S.
Went for 5280 for the 4th year in a row. I gotta say it's the best 5280 bang for your buck. Holy meat gluttony, love it!! Never disappointing... unless you're a vegetarian.
(5)J. S.
I have been to about 7-8 Brazilian style steakhouses...and not all Brazilian steakhouses are created equal, that's for sure! Fogo is at the top of the list in my book, the food AND service are both top notch, so I have no complaints here. One thing I should disclose before saying more: we did NOT go on 5280 nights...there seems to be a trend of bad reviews listed by people who ate here during restaurant week. That being said, we have been to this Denver location twice and have been very happy and fulfilled both times. My husband and I have really enjoyed the ambiance and the quality of service and food here. It doesn't get better than that at a restaurant. I don't think either of us ever needed to ask for refills, nor did we have the meat carvers avoid us...just the opposite! They brought us fresh polenta and cheese bread without us asking...just amazing! The meat was tender and juicy. I pefer mine cooked about medium rare and I was very pleased with the cooking of the meat. At the very end of our meal, they surprised us by bringing out a dessert and written in chocolate syrup around the plate it said: "Happy Anniversary!" which was a thoughtful and nice touch. We were very pleased! Definitely try the brazilian flan, I used to hate flan until I had Brazilian flan. Now I'm hooked! I'm curious to try Texas de Brazil, but this place is so good, I just can't justify taking the risk in case Texas de Brazil sucks in comparison... especially since Fogo de Chao is so amazing! If any other Yelpers have been to both, let me know how they compare. We are so thrilled with Fogo that we won't be trying Texas unless we hear otherwise. We are just THAT smitten! :)
(5)Monica L.
Denver Restaurant Week at Fogo last night was terrific. We went early before they got too busy which worked out well. The atmosphere, service and food were all as good as when I was there when it wasn't DRW. On the salad bar, don't miss the Caesar salad. Their Caesar dressing is really good. The cheese popovers are addictive. My favorite meats are the pork ribs, bacon-wrapped filet, chicken legs and lamb chops. I recommend you skip the turtle cheesecake. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't good either. My husband and two friends had the key lime pie and raved about it. Next time, I'd order the key lime pie or try the chocolate mousse cake.
(4)Aileen D.
It was all fine and dandy until I hit the salad bar. Great salad bar, heavy on the cheeses and fabulous salmon and chicken salad. But.....What do you mean no rice? I always have black beans which i spoon over rice. It kinda ruined my evening. The polenta cakes and mashed potatoes were ok but not what I was looking forward too. The beef options [esp. the filet] were very tasty and well-seasoned as well as the sausage but I didn't care for the pork [dry], chicken [dry]. Definitely opt for deswert....key lime pie! The servers were very attentive, almost like a parade. It did get annoying when they ignored the RED but, in most instances, I'm glad they persisted. I would come back, if someone else was picking up the tab.
(3)Peter M.
Come with money. Leave happy. The lunch is by far the best deal. Same exact thing as dinner, only a good deal less expensive. Hey, vegetarians... This place is not for you - you are probably not a good fit. at all. Skewers of meat... All kinds. One after another. So good. Bad first date spot. Come hungry. Don't pretend it's not tasty. Eat LOTS! All in one pricing makes this place awesome for those with an appetite for meat, but bad for calorie counting, self conscious types. Those types should go get a salad while real Americans get their grub on. That is all. Go Broncos.
(5)Chris W.
Great Salad bar with HUGE asparagus spears, greens, artichokes, hearts of palm even? ...cured meats and cheeses, lots to choose from! Go easy and save some room for the MEAT! Some of my favorite's were the Picanha, Filet Mignon, and the Alcatra. In my opinion, don't bother with dessert, and get an extra order of the caramelized bananas If you're drinking, be careful of the Caipirinha's (especially the premium one @ $12.50 a pop), they go down really easy! Glad we were dining here during Denver Restaurant Week....I think I would save this one for lunch time, and save a little coin. Lunch = $24.50 pp Dinner = $42.50 pp The atmosphere is pretty loud, and there are servers rushing around quite a bit. This is somewhat expected due to the way they serve the meats, and such. Just note that a quiet/intimate "date" night might be difficult to obtain here. Again, this may be due to the Restaurant Week rush. Cheers, CW
(3)Doug Y.
This is a prime example of why I am a yelp-o-maniac. I met really cool people that have turned me onto foods that are a little left turn for me when I was stuck making rights. Thanks so-o-o much Dave for letting me help to celebrate your birthday. Parabéns amigo. Best salad bar to date. Picture perfect and tasty. More and better meat than you could shake.... yeah. Fabulous service. Caipirinhas!!!!!!!! I couldn't have been enjoying the fantastic meal in any better company either. Brazil is more than a favorite movie for me now. It's where some of my favorite people come from. Saúde !
(5)Amanda T.
Fantastic food and drink + outstanding service+the best dining companion =perfect evening! After reading my less than stellar review, one of the family members that own Fogo de Chao contacted me, we then talked on the phone, I explained my concerns, he understood where I was coming from and he then explained that they were just coming off of restaurant week so the food and service may have not been up to par, he insisted not only on refunding my money, but mailing me a $100 gift card because he wanted to me to try them again. Obviously impressive. To top it off, B had received a $50 gift card from Laura L. as a thank you for helping with Yelpalooza 2.0 so we had decided that at some point we'd do it up. We finally did and it was amazing! The food was much better this time. Not only better but wonderful! And the service wasn't as over the top as last time. Attentive, but not hovering. B. adored the Fillet Mignon and was bummed that they had not circulated the again so when they came over with another meat, he asked about it and they brought more out to him. Perhaps that is my only complaint: the circulation of the meats. It seems that they circulate some meats more than others, and I don't think it's based on popularity or cooking time, but more on the cost of the cut of meat. It was a bummer because I was full and they had cleared my plate they came out with new meats that hadn't been out before. I'm sure they would have brought me a new plate if I had asked, but I wanted to save room for dessert. And I'm glad I did! I've been on a Key Lime Pie craze lately so I had that. Outstanding! B had the strawberry ice cream thingy. It was tasty, but we both agreed that it was nothing to write home about. B also wanted to have the drink cart come over, they did and I had a really tasty sweet wine, comparable to a port, and B had some extra fancy edition of Grand Marnier. While it won't be a place I'll frequent, I'll definitely return to Fogo when I'm in the mood for a meat-fest and have the extra money to spend.
(4)Kathleen A.
Nothing spells Valentine's Day better than a full-on bonafied meat coma with your significant other. I had been to Fogo a few times before, in Chicago. The Denver spot was no different. The service is still spectacular and the food is AMAZING. Funny that Rob K. calls this place a "meat parade" because that was Matt's very same expression after a few gauchos came out with different cuts of meat. I referred to it as a Meat storm so you get the picture. Everything was delicious. I can't really narrow down my absolute favorite, but the standouts were: the chicken legs, parmesean encrusted pork loin and bacon wrapped chicken and filets. I also loved the sides-carmelized bananas, polenta and mashed potatoes. But do not focus on these so much as the meat you are consuming! The staff was very attentive, and did not hesitate to fulfill my multiple meat requests. They made sure our sides were always fresh and hot and drinks never empty!!! If you are a meat eater you have to come here! Make sure you starve yourself all day first to get your money's worth. Sure the salad bar is great, but don't waste your stomach space! At $38 per person this place is definitely worth every penny.
(5)Dan S.
Up front, let me say I vacillated a bit between four and five stars. We had a tremendous meal here with a group of friends. My wife eats gluten-free, and almost everything was gluten-free - even the cheese bread (po de queijo), which is made with manioc flour. A real treat for her. Our server not only gave her some suggestions but brought the manager over who was familiar with everything and gave her the rundown - they were very accommodating. The salad bar is not as extensive as some, but the food was fresh, tasty and fun. They make a basil sauce/dressing that is excellent, particularly with the hearts of palm and artichokes. My wife may very well just have the salad bar when we go next. As we approach the meats, they bring over some sides - heavenly carmelized bananas, next to forgettable crispy polenta and mashed potatos I didn't even try. BUT, make sure you ask for the optional side dishes - the farofa (also made with manioc flour) and beans were great (and awesome together). The meats ranged from pretty good to great. I was pleasantly surprised by the Parmesan Pork - a great combination and not overdone. The Fraldinha was very good, the Picanha just a little disappointing (it is breathtaking in Brasil, including at a Fogo de Chao I ate at in Sao Paolo). The pork ribs were terrific. The service was rapid fire - take a deep breath and tell them no if you don't want a particular type. Also, don't be shy about asking them to bring something specific over, if you haven't tried it or just want more. They have the good Guarana (Antarctica, which is a Brasilian soda, compared to ginger ale, but better). I was salivating at the idea of Papaya Cream with Creme de Cassis - it is a wonder of the desert world. Their version is heavier on the ice cream than I prefer, but still excellent and the best I've had in the States. Don't miss it. One critical note, and it is a small one, but they brought over a fancy cart with after dinner drinks and the sales pitch was a little heavy-handed. We managed to say 'no thank you', however. A great place for a group and a plethora of choices if you eat gluten-free.
(4)Amanda G.
This is the best 52.80 week deal hands down. I'd been to the Fogo's in LA and thought it was great. It's a chain and they are apparently all identical...with the exception of the price. LA charges you more. Anyhow, we went for $52.80 week and it was great. You get to eat off the full menu (and this place has potential to be gluttony), the food is great and the experience is fun (if a little intense). We didn't love how packed in we were but other than that, highly recommended. Call now and get a reservation for next year. :)
(4)Saad A.
Great restaurant, one of the best Brazilian Churrascaria cuisines you can find anywhere.. oh and it absolutely dwarfes any other Brazilian restaurants that are nearby, no comparison what so ever..
(5)Stephanie L.
I'd been wanting to try Fogo for a while. My husband had been a few times in other US cities, and said it was the best churascaria around. We dined there recently and it did not dissapoint. I am a huge fan of the salad bar, although calling it a salad bar is really an insult. I can't get enough of the fresh cheeses and meats and the fresh veggies. So onto the main course... the meat. It was wonderful. Defintiely a higher quality meat that other churascarias that I've been to. My favorite was their house special, the garlic beef and the lamb chops. The side dishes they bring out are also great. What is most impressive about Fogo is the staff and the service. They do not mess around. Most people I know could take a lesson on work ethic from them. Expensive.... but worth it every once in a whle.
(5)Shane S.
Impressive... after a disappointing meal at one of Denver's finest steakhouses the night before, this restaurant was a pleasant surprise. I can't believe I am saying this but the salad bar alone was worth the trip. Be careful not to fill up too much at the salad bar and bring your appetite. This place is a typical Brazilian steakhouse where the waiters come table-side with endless cuts of meat. You have a "button" which is red on one side and green on the other which will alert the waitstaff to either come to your table with more meat or lay low for a while. They also have some side dishes like garlic mashed and asparagus which accompany the endless meat-fest. Some of the meat was spectacular and perfectly cooked (The garlic steak), some others were either slightly over or under cooked but the quality of the meat and the marinades made up for it. Overall a very great night of meat! My Creme brulee for desert was fantastic. Most of the customers were in very casual attire.
(4)Christian R.
The meat here isn't necessarily something to crave for, but there is a "variety" of selection to chose from. Most definitely don't waste your stomach space on the salad bar. Great place to come with meat loving friends and family.
(4)Kevin K.
Went there for my birthday last year and we had a group of 12. We still talk about how awesome that meal was. Great ambiance and super tasty meats. A bit salty perhaps but still awesome. The cold bar was really impressive too.
(5)Meg D.
My father took me, the vegan, to dinner here. Let me preface this review by saying it wasn't my choice. However... As soon as we arrived, my father informed the waitress that I "didn't eat meat" and was there anything on the menu for me? The waitress informed him that I could make selections from the salad bar and that my meal would be at a reduced price. I have to admit, the salad bar was excellent. Lots of variety, and lots of things that I was able to choose from. The waitress also went out of her way for me, bringing me the polenta fries without cheese on top, and she had the chef make a special order of mashed potatoes for me without any dairy. I was so grateful to the waitress for going out of her way for me - she didn't have to and the above and beyond service was well-appreciated. However, the charge for the salad alone was $25, and I feel that was quite unreasonable given it was the only thing I was able to have.
(4)Joe Y.
Best Buffet With 7 locations in Brazil, Fogo is the benchmark for Rodizio and Texas De Brazil. Go for $27 lunch or $47 dinner and free valet parking. Rodizio is bit cheaper but they don't offer the same quality, salad bar, and appetizers. Filet migon is ok, but my favorite is the Ancho (Rib Eye).
(5)Garth E.
THIS PLACE IS UNREAL. First, the waiter comes around with a tray of Caipirinha cocktails. Personally, I love everything that has to do with limes, especially drinks. The Caipirinha is full of muddled lime slices and rum. How much better can you get? Then, you start your salad bar course. The salad bar seems almost endless. Full of different salads, cured meats, cheeses, grilled and marinated vegetables, and so much more. You will definitely be tempted to fill your plate with a little bit of everything and go back for more. BUT DON'T. THE MEAT IS STILL COMING. My personal strategy is to get a little bit of all my most favorite things (cured meats and cheese) and force myself to avoid everything else. Trust me, it won't be easy. After you've finished your salad bar course, you turn your little card to green. Green means go. As in, BRING ON THE MEAT. In hoards the waiters come over with swords of meat, asking you if you'd like some. My advice? Say yes to everything. It's all so good. There's also unlimited sides (mashed potatoes, fried polenta, and fried plantains). Again, the sides are tempting, but I'd minimize them and focus on the meat. Dessert? Totally unnecessary. You'll definitely get the meat sweats with this place. But it's definitely worth it.
(5)Marcy P.
Could not have been more happy with this place. Went on December 6th for my boyfriends birthday dinner. Super friendly and attentive staff and the beef is to die for! My boyfriend and I were literally gasping at how delicious every piece of meat we tried was. Saving up to go back again! spent around $150 for the two of us and well worth it.
(5)aaron n.
Love Fogo de Chao, I've been here probably 8 times already. Make sure to try the Brazillian soda, it's probably the best regular soda there is made with real sugar. The filet wrapped with bacon is a personal favorite. Can't go wrong with the cheese bread either.
(5)Meggin R.
If it wasn't for the service of the hostess this would be a total five star for me. We went last night for our "valentines." We do it early so we avoid the crowds. We made a reservation a few days before. When we walked up I said "7 o clock reservation for Ben Jackson" That is a very easy name to say, understand, and spell. The hostess was very confused. "I don't have a reservation for Ben, is that the last name?" I explained that no, Jackson is the last name, Ben is the first. Thinking "duh". After a bit more squinting she found it. She handed us a pager and we went to sit at the bar. I asked for some fruity cocktail and they did an amazing job. As a people watcher, I was really impressed with the bar staff. There were only two of them, and they were taking orders from the very busy bar, plus all of the waiters who came in an yelled very complicated drink orders. They were great. After waiting and waiting and waiting, and seeing a couple go in who I know came in after I was done with my drink, I went up to the hostess and asked. She said "oh, yeah, I didn't write down your pager number." So we had been sitting there and waiting, and she hadn't even tried to find us to correct it. At one point someone came around and asked if we were Jeff, but that isn't quite Ben. I was not pleased. But they seated us right away after that. Once we got in it was great. As usual, my husband ate far too much at the salad bar. I limited my self to the good cheese and excellent salami and prosciutto. When we flipped our cards to green it was a bit overwhelming. The meat comes fast and furious. So fast, that at one point after one left, my husband grabbed our cards and flipped them over very fast. We managed to try one of everything, and it was amazing. We've been to Rodizio, but its been so long ago that I can't remember it well enough to compare. We decided to do Fogo instead because they support NPR, and we like to go to places that support NPR. All and all, if they lost the hostess, this is a fantastic place to go.
(4)Jared B.
One of my favorite places around. The food and staff are both amazing and over the top. Fogo de Chao is the epitome of going the extra step. I have never been taken better care of at a restaurant in my life. The money spent is worth every penny. OM NOM NOM
(5)Courtney Z.
I was very excited about my 5280 reservation at Fogo de Chao this past Saturday night, I'd heard great things and looked forward to trying the place for myself. We arrived about 20 minutes prior to our reservation. First gripe, we completely missed their sign for valet parking which is located down the street from the entrance to the restaurant. We ended up spending $10 to park in a garage about a block away due to their poor signage. Since we were early, we decided we would grab a drink at the (crowded) bar. After a 5+ minute wait, the bartender took our order. We asked for 2 glasses of Pinot Noir. To our disappointment, the wine wasn't very good. We assumed it was the house wine and decided just to drink it anyway and we could get a better bottle at the table. They offered to just transfer the drinks to our table. Our name was called promptly at 8, luckily, since the bar was overly packed with waiting patrons. Service at Fogo was the only thing worth praise. The waitstaff was on top of their game, keeping water full and checking in on us frequently (but not too frequently!). The dining area lacked atmosphere; it was almost cafeteria-like with table upon table stacked in a large open room. And extremely bright for an 8pm Saturday dinner out. All of the meat seemed to have been soaked in salt. The filet was the only thing that was really excellent. Anything that was wrapped in bacon was over wrapped (think 2 huge slices of bacon for a tiny bite of chicken!). The rest of the red meats all tasted the same - like salt! When we finally got our tab we found out our bad Pinot Noir from the bar was $14 a glass! We had a bottle of wine with our meal (Malbec) that was on special for $28 -- our two bad glasses of Pinot cost as much as a nice bottle of Malbec! WTF? While I left full, I felt like there were several meats that I missed, but once I discovered that everything tasted like salt, I didn't really want anything else. Bottom line, I wouldn't go back. Especially to pay full price for the experience. Save your $$ and enjoy a nice, well flavored steak at one of the many Denver options!
(2)Donald M.
I am thrilled to award my prestigious Yelp Five Star Rating to Fogo de Chao. Two chief things to be cognizant of: go hungry and eat slowly. It's easy to get greedy and let the gauchos pile meat on your plate, but don't fall prey. Each selection, and I believe that there are fifteen selections, is stellar (the seasoning can be a bit heavy-handed), but you will surely favor some over the others. Try as many as you can, chew your food, and then gorge on your favorites. My favorite was beef. The salad bar is nothing to sneeze at either. It features a dizzying array of salads, vegetables, and cold dishes, but go easy. Go ahead and eat that salad, but be mindful of what you're there for: meat. The smoked salmon is easily the most delicious I've eaten. It tastes like bacon. Genius.
(5)Larren M.
I waited to complete this review until I had another chance to try Fogo de Chao since the first time was a special circumstance and not the experience people normally receive. That being said, I feel like I have a much firmer grasp on my opinion, and I'm going as far as to say that Fogo de Chao is the best "Brazilian" steak house I've had the pleasure of stuffing my face at. Let's start with our first experience at Fogo de Chao. My wonderful boss decided that Fogo would be a great place to hold our Christmas party this last year and I couldn't have agreed more. I had heard great things about Fogo de Chao before getting a chance to go, so I was very excited. Well, immediately upon walking in, the wife and I were greeted and escorted through the restaurant to our party. Just the quick trip to our private room and I was astonished by the size of the place. There is a lot of dining space, which makes sense considering the type of place it is. I think having a private room for my first experience at Fogo made me a little spoiled. As I mentioned, our first trip to Fogo de Chao was with my work -- no expense was spared and we had an entire group of people looking after us which made the experience much more personable from a service and dining standpoint. That's not to say that our second trip wasn't comparable. The second time we were with great friends, which made up for the short comings of the experience. For me the second trip wasn't as intimate, the tables were very close together(which I'm sure was due to restaurant week) and we didn't have that unlimited attention "thing" going on like we did the first time around. Despite my complaints, the service at Fogo de Chao is on point and the entire staff deserves high marks. Things don't change much at Fogo de Chao(s). From what I can tell by going there twice, they always have the same cuts of meat and the same items on the salad bar. Which is not a bad thing; you definitely get what you pay for. Upon being seated we were promptly greeted, asked what we'd like to drink and whether or not it was our first time dinning at Fogo de Chao. If it is your first time, they give you a brief speech about how it all works. It's all about "green" for go and "red" for stop on the round cards they give you to signal the meat-men to start cutting. Once you are brought up to speed, you get to start with the salad bar. This is not the salad bar at Wendy's. You can choose from an assortment of delicious things: hearts of Palm, fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, marinated mushrooms, giant asparagus, various types of lettuce and dressings (sauces), cheeses, plates of cured meats and smoked salmon, and even a huge bowl full of bacon - and I don't mean bacon bits, I'm talking full pieces! One bit of advice is not to let the salad bar fill you up. Trust me, you'll be tempted, but be strong. You can always take another trip back. After enjoying your lovely salad with the various accoutrements, the table will be cleared and the show will begin. In the case of our first experience at Fogo de Chao, I had never seen anything quite like it. The people that served the meat flooded the room and in a tornado of meat and swords they flew around cutting this, cutting that and dropping it onto our plates. This was when I realized just how crucial that little card is they give you. Our second experience wasn't quite as fanciful. I doubt they could have done it as well as our first time around. As the meat is served to you, you'll also notice an assortment of sides being placed around the table. Seasoned mashed potatoes, which are the bomb I might add, little wedges of crispy hot polenta, pão de queijo (warm cheese bread), and caramelized bananas. Good god do those bananas fit in well. I found myself taking a bite of the bananas after every bite of meat. Those two flavors worked very well together. There are about 15 different cuts of meat served. Without going into every single one of them, I'll just mention the ones I like best. At the top of that list it'll have to be the Picanha, very moist and delicious and perfectly cooked and cut to your liking with wonderful bits of salt on the outside. Next I'll go with the Beef Ancho (rib eye). There is no question that the rib eye is my favorite cut of meat and this is no exception; perfectly salty and juicy. The Cordeiro (lamb) is exceptionally nice; it was very savory with that subtle gamey flavor. One of my other favorites was the Linguica (sausage); it's a pork sausage with a nice blend of seasonings that give it just a little bit of a bite. There are many more, even cuts that are wrapped in bacon, but those are my favorites. With great service and outstanding food quality, Fogo de Chao really does it right. Fogo de Chao is a great addition to the Denver food scene. It's a great place to take friends or a group of people and enjoy a very unique meal and dining experience. I'd bring your appetite if I were you.
(4)Brooke B.
Ooooh. my. God. Amazing! We got a gift certificate for Christmas and already went to enjoy a date night here- and it was heavenly. It's definitely not a quiet, romantic spot- but it's friggin' delish. I have been to other Brazilian Steakhouses and NONE have had meat this good. I'm by no means a meat connoisseur, but I knew enough to appreciate every. single. BITE! You must be quick on the flip for the green light/red light to bring or stop the meat. They want to give you everything! It's ok to say no and wait a few minutes to ensure you don't collapse in a food coma. Expensive, but worth every penny! You would never be able to try all of those meats on your own for that price. Yumm...
(5)Daniel T.
Good food and good service. Salad bar is plentiful and the meats always keep coming. That said, Fogo de Chao will never be Texas de Brazil. Fogo's meats are good but not exceptional. The staff is good but sometimes forgetful and slow. Ambiance is more "retirement community" than a night out. So it's a very good place but has some places to improve on for the price.
(3)Topher M.
You can read the other reviews, or look up - what a currascaria is all about. Qualifications in my book: 1) Don't eat all day before arriving and 2) Being an extreme carnivore helps. I can tell you that all of the meat here is simply amazing - not your standard currascaria fare, but simply better. Typically there are a few varieties that are too tough, bland, whatever. You won't experience that here. They do well with cutting to your favored "doneness" - bloody to crisp. Now - with that out of the way... the highlight is really the salad. When you arrive at churrascarias, you go for the roughage first... typically a salad bar. Like the meat - they take it to the next level. Shitake mushrooms, beautiful spinach and other greens, gouda and queso manchego; I kid you not - I could (would) have filled up on the salad bar if the delicious meat-fest wasn't to follow and would have been satisfied. With the meal - you get amazing biscuits (cheesebread, or pao de queijdo - the recipe is online), polenta squares, sweet sauted bananas, and garlic mashed potatoes. Yes, this is all before you turn the coaster over to green and the servers flock to your table with kabobed goodness. A little bugged about the caipirinha. Not traditional. Still good. Minor detail. Now, this is not your lower-end currascaria. I've been to one in Brooklyn that was picnic talbes and wooden hourglass-shaped signals at the end of table with green meaning "the whole damned table wants meat NOW". This is for high-brow carnivores. The food and aesthetics are within that same caliper. Expensive, and amazing. TERRIFIC for groups. Might be romantic for a date - fun at least, but the onslaught of servers is distracting. As we are strange people in a strange town... we asked for a quick tour of the back, somewhat jokingly. The server didn't miss a beat and brought us back to see behind-the-scenes. Great service, attitude, and loads o' fun.
(5)Jarrod R.
In my thirty or so years of doing solid foods, I for the first time found what was unequivocally the best meal of my life. I realize that is very bold statement and not something to throw out there lightly, but the certainty of my of my declaration is absolute with this one. Only after the benchmark has been set can we establish where the bar truly sits. As for the benchmark, we're not talking about Sizzler, Texas Roadhouse or even Outback. I am talking about the likes of Morton's, Ruth's Chris, and the Double Eagle in Ft. Worth. I've tried the famous steakhouses bearing the names of Jordan, Farve, Elway and Nolan Ryan with all paling in comparison. The high rating speaks for itself and with all the rave reviews I ask myself what can even be left to say about this place and yet I can't help but feel compelled to share my own experience. I went in aware of all of the hype surrounding the salad bar and yet was still blown away. What has to be the most impressive salad bar I've ever seen is included with every meal here. The highlights include a Mount Everest of high quality, crisp, perfectly cooked full strips of bacon. Then there were 1/2 thick slices of fresh and tasty tomatoes the size of a softball. Where are they even finding tomatoes like this; it's winter and we're in Denver. Seasoned balls of fresh mozzarella? Perfect. Strips of smoked salmon? Why not. Enough choices of high quality sliced meats and cheeses to rival any deli? You bet. Then there was the standard build it yourself salad faire. That said, standard in Fogo De Choa fashion is by no means average; we're not talking about a Ruby Tuesday here. As great as this salad bar is, unless you're a vegetarian, you're not going to want to do anything more than dabble in it because the best is yet to come. As I flipped my card over to green (signaling bring on the meat) my heart began to race just a little. From that moment on there was an onslaught of Gauchos (Brazilian cowboys) in full costume wielding skewers with offerings of carnivorous heavenly delights moments removed from the open flame. I was raised on red meat and consider myself well versed in the art of the steak, but yet none of this prepared me for what I experienced on this night. Every bite of every cut of meat I tried was flavorful, succulent and absolutely perfect in every way. I really enjoyed being able to experience the subtle differences of each of the different cuts of meats all in one sitting. Unlike a typical steak place where a sides come ale carte at $7 plus a pop, they're included with your meal here. Unfortunately the mashed potatoes were merely a distraction from the show and were quickly banished to the far side of the table like a red headed step child. With food as good as this I would accept bad service, no service, slow service or whatever they wanted to throw at me. However I've got to say the service I received here was as good or better than any I've ever received anywhere. I especially appreciated that after sampling my choice of the 15 meat offerings, the chance to request return visits of all of my favorites. The entire experience was incredible and memories of the Fraldinha (bottom cut of sirloin) will not soon be forgotten. Where there were once nightly dreams of Bianca Kajlich, there are now only reoccurring visions of Fogo De Chao's steaks. Well except for the one a couple of nights ago where she was standing at my table in lingerie. Unfortunately my only thought was "God, I hope she doesn't distract the Gauchos en route with my next serving of steak." I would definitely recommend that anyone who has an opportunity to try this place does.
(5)Howard R.
This is my second review. Fogo De Chao is certainly doing something right because they are opening up in other locations. The first real treat and the "best thing I ever ate" is the smoked salmon at the salad bar. I have never had salmon like this. Perfectly smoked and top notch. This is a MUST. The meats, service, ambience, side dishes, also are superb. If you look at the many reviews on Yelp, you will notice that this place has more 5 starts than most. For good reason-they really do everything right. Fogo satisfies on every level.
(5)Steve O.
Let me preface this by noting that I am a huge fan of meats. The best aspect of this restaurant, however, is that the main course of 15+ meats is merely the tip of this delicious iceberg. Let's start from the beginning... The salad bar alone is simply amazing. Mixed greens, asparagus, smoked salmon & fresh mozzarella make it stand out from any other salad bar you've been to. The plethora of meat is delivered freshly prepared, still sizzling on a skewer ready to be transferred to your plate with a pair of personal tongs. The bottom sirloin had to be my favorite, but the filet mignon was a close second. The system entails a little round coaster which when flipped on it's red side indicates you are content for the time being, and when the green side is showing you want more animal! Be aware when the green is showing, they are phenomenally relentless in filling your plate with meat. Lastly, are the amazing sides. If at any point you still have even an ounce of room left in your stomach, savor crispy hot polenta, garlic mashed potatoes, pão de queijo (warm cheese bread) or caramelized bananas. It may not sound appealing at first, but I was more than content being carted out of Fogo de Chao in a wheel barrel. SO full of culinary greatness that even standing became a challenge. Simply put, it's a great atmosphere and even better cuisine. (If you hit it up during 5280 week (between Feb & Mar), which I was fortunate enough to do, a meal for two is on $52.80 - a fantastic deal)
(5)Damion W.
Stay away from the salad bar... Focus on the meat!! :-P Great place to eat...
(5)Randy L.
I'm probably gonna catch hell for this, but here goes: Fogo de Chao is the best steak house in Denver. And on top of that, it's all you can eat! When you walk in, you might be tempted to start by making a gigantic salad at Fogo's INTENSE salad bar, but that's a rookie mistake. While their salad selections are tasty and plentiful, you're at a god damn steak house that lets you eat as much as you want, so get your head in the game. Here's how it works: You get a little coaster with a red side and a green side. Green means go, red means stop. Rocket science it isn't. When the green side is facing up, gauchos with swords full of delicious meat descend upon your table like a swarm of bees that want to feed you instead of killing you. Maybe that's a bad simile. Oh well. Anyway, they keep bringing you the various cuts of meat until you flip your card to red so that you can try to catch up on the brand new pile of protein waiting for you on your plate. You also get unlimited sides - fried polenta (my favorite side), caramelized bananas, and garlic mashed potatoes. The bananas are a great way to cleanse your palate between cuts of meat, and they're also sweet and delicious. The mashed potatoes are, well, mashed potatoes. They're not going to knock your socks off if you've ever had potatoes before, but they're very good. I recommend the picanha (house special top sirloin), the beef ancho (rib eye), the fraldinha (bottom sirloin), and of course, the fillet Mignon wrapped in bacon. Fogo's steaks are the most flavorful, tender cuts I've ever eaten, and I have had my share of steak. The lamb is also good, but can be a bit too lamb-y. The chicken is very, very flavorful, but you're at a steak house, so don't waste precious belly room. The only thing I don't like is the sausage, but there are 15 freaking cuts of meat, so it's not like there aren't plenty of options for discerning carnivores. One of the best things about Fogo de Chao is the service. The staff is the most friendly, attentive staff I've ever experienced. Waiters refill drinks and sides before you're 1/3 of the way done with them, but aren't intrusive. I think they undergo some kind of stealth ninja training in addition to waiter training, because often times when eating there I look down and discover I have a full drink and a brand new plate of delicious, crispy polenta. Anyway, I'll stop going on and on about the food so you hopefully won't think I'm some kind of fat monster. You're looking at about $35/person to eat here (plus drinks and desserts, which are both DYNAMITE), but it's worth every penny, considering you can spend that much (and more) at other high end steak houses and get inferior food and nowhere near the level of service that Fogo consistently offers. I am not exaggerating at all when I say that Fogo de Chao is my favorite restaurant.
(5)Nikole T.
I thought this place was pretty good! The filet migon and lamb were amazing! The only complaint I have is the staff was a little too invasive. I felt like I was constantly being watched by the servers not delivering meat to the table.
(3)Rick G.
This last week was the the my parent's inaugural visit to the lovely Mile High City that I now call home. It was a seminal occasion as this I think I might have started to , as those in the know say, "arrive." You know I own a house that isn't a dump, have a job that am good at I don't hate ALL the time, some friends who don't loathe me TO much and I know how to enjoy a good scotch. In other words, I am entering a nice time in my life where I am old enough to know better and young enough to not give a fuck if I so choose. So I took my parents here when they visited from Israel and/or San Diego. This visit, I knew, was going to be a test of sorts, an examination by which my parents could be certain that I was not living in a dumpster, shooting heroin and in general living in a bad way, as is often the want of Jewish parents. Initially my father was hesitant to go as he proclaims "any place that doesn't have a sign in English has something to hide." I forgive my father for such verbal reproaches and observations such as this because : 1. He is from Texas. 2. He is a Republican from Texas. 3. He is a recently retired Master Gunny who spent 25 years in the USMC and a Republican and from Texas. My father is the epitome of a lovable curmudgeon, a gruff, terrifying man with a heart of gold. It's both his best quality and his worst failure. In response to this, my mother rolled her eyes, took a deep centering breath and prepared to lay into my father. Seeing this in process I said "Dad, I want to buy you and Mom a nice steak dinner at the best place in town. Fogo is THE best place in town. So, will let me buy you a steak dinner? I think I owe it to you after all I put you through when I was growing up." FYI: I was a very good kid and never really put him through anything, but it helped the cause. He pondered what I had just said, and as he ALWAYS does, begrudgingly agreed to to go. After retrieving my parents from the hotel where they were staying, we arrived and were seated. Service, as is usual at Fogo is top notch - attentive and doting without being intrusive. Glasses are filled, drinks are refreshed and empty plates whisked away. My mother loved that they pulled our her chair. She giggled in delight that there are establishments where this practice still occurs. One's first time at Fogo can be a bit disorienting as the whole place is in a constant buzz of activity with sizzling meat platters being rushed to and fro. This is one of the few places I have been where bacon-wrapped meat is not a culinary apology, as it so often is. After a filling meal, at which I had the picanha, my father settled on the prime rib and my mother the filet mignon, I asked them how they liked it. My father said that it was one of the best steaks he had ever had and because my dad was happy, my mom was happy. When we left, I saw that my Mom and Dad were holding hands and seemed to be walking closer together than usual, a little more affectionate that usual. After dropping my parents off at the hotel, I went home and relieved an email from my father thanking me for a wonderful time and a great steak. He indicated he was glad to have visited and hopes to again very soon. Fogo, thank you for a great venue, a great time and helping bring my family and myself closer together.
(5)Michelle A.
Ok so it was their 1st 5280. on a Saturday night. They were not ready for the people with reservations. We had an 8pm dinner. We sat at 910pm. People were not happy. Many tried for a reservation somewhere else. There was a group of 8 and they called a number of restaurants. I tried to help with some of the ones I knew. Finally they called Capital Grill. No problem. They left for an immediate reservation. The bar was a zoo and the bartedender almost got help from a stranger but she really said she was not qualified. They were so backed up. I am sure they lost money as people were asked to pay at dinner. Once seated the service was good. However we were seated by the front door and I guess some servers never saw us sitting there. As we only were offered 7 kinds of meat out of 15. I personally will not return as I know there are others who will not go back. Too bad. I am going to Impulse and Zink Kitchen for 5280. I hope the wait is better.
(4)Briella M.
Awesome place to celebrate my anniversary. Great service!! Great food. Will be back soon.
(5)Robert B.
(I know I normally look down my nose at chain restaurants, and Fogo do Chao IS a chain, but they sure don't act like one!) If you like meat, and you're in Denver, you HAVE to put this place on your 'short list'. We have an OK Brazilian grill in Seattle (Ipanema), but this place makes them look like low-grade dog food! What works: 1) Front of house service: The whole staff is 'eye-candy' good looking, and normally that's a 'red flag' for me (pretty people normally aren't very competent, right?). But these folks are as professional, competent, and accommodating as they are easy on the eyes. They have a concept that any staff member can work the dining room and attend to any table, and that applies from the GM on down (!). You're never waiting for someone. They make great recommendations, and are quick to take care of special requests and go that extra bit. For example, I wanted a plate of their caramelized bananas for dessert (a side included with the dinner). The server brought them out with a tiny pitcher of sweetened condensed milk, and suggested I try drizzling it on if I'm going to enjoy it as a dessert (it worked beautifully). In another situation, I thought I wanted a more rare lamb chop, the server obliged me, and I realized to my horror that I really didn't want what I asked for (it was a bit TOO rare). The server happily brought me another chop that was perfect. They will give you whatever you want, and replace it if you realize it was a bad idea. 2) Food: The salad bar is quite good, with extremely fresh ingredients that are artfully presented. But let's face it, you're here for the MEAT! They are exquisitely marinated and grilled, and have excellent flavour. You can enjoy a number of different beef, lamb, chicken and pork offerings. Particular standouts for me are the beer-marinated chicken legs, the bacon-wrapped filet mignon, leg of lamb, and the aforementioned lamb chops. The only less-than-satisfactory note was with a couple of the pork offerings. The pork ribs and parmesan-crusted pork tenderloin were rather overdone. Granted, pork is a hard dish to 'nail' in this style of cuisine. Normally, this would've downgraded them to 4 stars, but the superior quality of their service saves the '5-star' rating for them. Given how attentive they are, I wouldn't be at all surprised if they're 'tweaking' these dishes as you read this. This place is quite reasonable for what you're getting if you watch your bar tab. If you're in need for a serious protein fix, Fogo de Chao is THE place in DEN for you!
(5)Sheng S.
This was my first time at Fogo de Chao in Denver. I've been to many Brazilian steakhouses all over including in Brazil. I was a bit disappointed. It was very bright, loud with lots of noise and the staff was overwhelming. What I meant by overwhelming is the wait staff were running around with their heads cut off. Everyone was running somewhere. You may think this would be a plus but it made me feel like I was standing still but everyone else was walking fast on Fifth Avenue in New York City brushing my shoulders. Not a good feeling. I've been to many other Brazilian steakhouses but never had that feeling and still got my food in good time. After we sat down, one of the wait staff came over and started explaining to us how it works. It would help if he spoke better English. He had a thick accent and was speaking at 100mph. Even if spoke well English it would still be hard to understand him. I asked my girlfriend did you understand a word he said. She said no. I don't know if he's really Brazilian or Mexican but slow down your English. We barely saw him for the rest of our dinner. I have found most of the wait staff to be Mexicans. I guess they're trying to pass them off as Brazilians. What's disturbing is they come to you very very often to a point where it gets annoying. They never have what you really want like the filet mignon. Maybe they're trying to get rid of the cheap stuff. When you request something their English is not very good and afterwards 2 or 3 other waiters will ask you if you just ordered that. Communication seems to be lacking. And if I turn over the card to red, that means DO NOT come over. The food was just ok. For an all you can eat place I guess you can't expect top notch steak. However, when you're paying $50 per person I would expect better quality. I would rather get a $75 steak from Vegas than to spend $50 on unlimited mediocre steak. I guess there would be many others that will disagree on that. Quality vs Quantity? The 2 best I liked were the filet mignon and the garlic one. They were still meh compared to the great steakhouses and some of the best steaks I've had in Vegas. I would rate it as a few notches under Ruth's Chris. I still reminisce of the place in Brazil I ate at. It was such a relaxing dinner and the steak was cook very well. The wait staff there even though they spoke Portuguese and little English never gave me this rushed feeling. This dinner made me felt so aggressive. We were out of there in less than 30 minutes. To top it off some guy outside was hitting on my girlfriend while I was getting my parking ticket validated. Never will I be back at this place again!
(2)Sara Z.
This was my first rodizion, but definitely won't be my last. Wow! Delicious. The service was superb and I just adored Wagner!!! They also were very nice to accomodate my "well done" meat request. I cant wait to try others and hope they are all as good. Oh, the filet was my favorite, but the bacon wrapped chicken was a close runner up!
(5)Sulema M.
Just received a note from an employee that gave my rating a "Poor!!" compliment. Strange, a "Poor!!" compliment in her words. Rather than complimenting my review as "Poor!!", provide some feedback that makes sense like any other employee or company rep would. Marcela Z, it's not nice to harass those who pay your paycheck my dear - maybe I should call the boss?
(1)Andrea K.
Ok, just because I have zero desire to dine there again does not mean that it is bad. It was delicious. The salad bar is phenomenal! They tell you not to fill up at the salad bar but it is difficult not to!! We went there for 5280- awesome deal since it was their regular schtick for half the price. I love meat but I could probably go back and just eat at the salad bar. The smoked salmon, the vegetables, the peppers...yum. The meat was good too though some of it lacked flavor in my opinion and was overcooked. By far the best pieces were from the prime cuts of the beef. At the regular price, I wouldn't go here unless I could belly up a million times and make it worth it. Otherwise, I'm quite happy just receiving one plate at a normal restaurant. So...it's great- truly- but only if you can make an all-you-can-eat meat extravaganza worth it for you. Service is top notch. You are never without food for even one second.
(4)Justin M.
I've tried a different brazilian steakhouse, but so far, this is my favorite place. the service is great, and the food is always on point. and to know that they're participating in the 5280 restaurant week is great. I'll definitely try to visit during the 5280 week!
(5)Michael W.
Lets just skip the BS and do a little comparison style reviewing; just a little. Overall, I'd say they're meat selections taste better than there rival in Stapleton. The salad bar on the other hand, doesn't hold a candle to that same rival. I would give the Stapleton competitor the edge when it comes to the bars selection too. Sill haven't completed the trifecta; Rodizo is on my list. More specifically, Fogo is very upscale in ambiance and operation in comparison to similar places I've been. The staff is top notch and almost "too" attentive, at times. You can feel them eying your glass for a refill. As an added touch, I like that this chain has locations in Brazil, adding to it's claims of authenticity. There's really not much else to say, ummmm, there's complimentary valet service and they don't charge for kids (5 and under I guess). I'd visit again without a second guess.
(4)Thomas Y.
The same rule applies to Fogo de Chao that applies to any other Brazilian Churrascaria restaurants. Go hungry or you won't enjoy it. The gaucho's here are well trained and very friendly. I can go pretty in-depth on here on the selection of the meats, but this place has identical offerings as Texas de Brazil or Rodizio's (they do have wild game offerings) down the street, and I've touched on the types of meats on a few of my other reviews. Recommendations: Chicken wrapped in bacon. Filet Mignon. Pork. Every meat. How does this place differentiate itself from the likes of the others? Ambiance, customer service, and value, especially during 5280 Week. I also have heard that this place is more authentic with several restaurant locations at the heart of Brazil. In closing, I do prefer Texas de Brazil more due to the selection at the salad bar and the drinks at the bar seems better. You won't go wrong with either of the big three. Enjoy and again, go hungry!
(4)Albert C.
If you love meat, then there's not much else you can ask for. My wife and I are from out of town, but were in Denver for a few days. After reading the reviews, I decided we had to go for dinner. This place did not disappoint. This was our first time to a brazilian steakhouse. From the attentive service and tons of options, as people have described this is an eating experience. Sure you are talking about $46.50 per person, which is a pricey meal. But when you compare prices with going to a nice steakhouse, it's comparable. For me, the quality is comparable to nice steakhouses, so what makes this better is the selection plus it's all you can eat. For a comparable price, you get a nice salad bar with fresh higher-end ingredients (from prosciutto and smoked salmon to a wide variety of vegetables). Most importantly the choice in meats. There's chicken, pork, lamb, and beef. To name a few, there is filet mignon, rib eye, and rack of lamb. Some meats and marinades tasted better than others, but our favorites were the filet and a cut of beef marinated with garlic. For those unfamiliar with the experience, you start off with a two-sided card (green and red) to signify when you are ready for the meat. At all times, servers are holding different types of meats and delivering them to guests. Typically you start off with the card on RED and start off on the salad bar. Once you are ready for meat, you flip over your card to GREEN and servers will individually begin presenting you with different meat options. They present you with the meat and you can tell them how much and how cooked you would like your meat. This continues as long as you have your card turned over to GREEN. It can be a little overwhelming as servers continue to stop by, but you always have the option of turning over to RED until you are once again ready for more. For meat lovers, what more can you ask for? I only wish they had one in Northern California. Looks like the closest ones for me would be in Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
(5)Michael A.
We were greeted with pleasant smiles and warm, friendly service. The ambiance of the overall dining atmosphere was upscale, yet personal and private. The salad bar was stocked with odds and ends of many different things to sample, leading up to a dinner full of indulgence. The side dishes were wonderful compliments to the main course of the many varieties of meat, while providing the perfect balance of taste for a fully refined dinner for any palate. Some claim that there are too many people visiting their tables, but we can say in complete honesty every individual who approached our table was not a distraction, all whom were extremely kind. We ended our meal with the Creme Brule, which possessed the perfect flavor of mildy sweet, yet satisfyingly delicious contrast to the delightfully, wonderful meal.
(5)Eric S.
Ate here for 5280 Denver Restaurant Week last weekend for my sister-in-laws birthday. The salad bar blew me away as did all the antipasti they provide. Very nice touch, and be sure to try the smoked salmon antipasti. The meats they bring to you are top notch, but I just wish they offered some dipping sauces for your various cuts of meat. My only turn off was the fact that the waiter tried to remember each member of my parties first name with little or no success and it got old after a bit. Other than that, great experience.
(5)Dorian V.
Wow! That's all I can say about this place...my son described it as "gastrronomic rapture on the tongue"...From the time we walked in to our table and had a first look at the expansive salad bar with it's shaved parmesan bowl and just about anything you can think of as far as salad bars go...it was fantastic and I could have just had that as my meal and been stuffed! But, the best was yet to come. Every type of meat selection you could ask for and more was appearing before our eyes...my top choice was the sirloin...tender, juicy and melt-in-your-mouth delightful. The only reason I did not award this restaurant five stars was that the chicken was slightly on the dry side but nothing's perfect, right? I would highly recommend this restaurant for it's menu selection and the service which was top-notch!
(4)Sheri G.
This place is like Meat Mecca. For a carnivore like myself, this place is a veritable pantheon of dead animal, cooked to perfection. It is a tad on the pricey side, but for the amount and quality of food you get, it's worth the splurge every now and then. Salad bar was pretty good (hooray for the giant bowl of bacon!), and the polenta and plantain side dishes made me wish I had more room in my stomach. Keep an eye on your red/green card, because the gauchos are definitely on point with bringing more delicious meat very quickly. Next time I'll make sure to skip lunch (and possibly breakfast).
(4)Alissa S.
You know that friend you have. The one you take out to a restaurant and they're never full. The one who orders two burritos at Chipotle even though one burrito is already a rice and bean filled carb monster. This is the place you want to take that friend. Teams of waiters parading around endless swords of meat has to be the answer to someone's prayer. And you really can't go wrong, since they also have an awesome salad bar that's a meal in itself. Definitely a few steps above your typical Rodizio restaurant. However, I'm pretty sure there's a conspiracy to try and fill up the customer on sides, since they couldn't stop replacing our plates of polenta, mashed potatoes, cheese bread and caramelized bananas. This kind of bothered me, because I don't think we'd finish even half of our side before it was replaced with a fresh batch. I appreciate good service, but that just seems overly wasteful to me. If you can, check this place out during lunch. It's about half the price.
(4)Rod H.
Just not that good, honestly. If you've never been to a Brazilian Steakhouse before, I can imagine this place comes off as pretty good. But I've been to one before, and this place sucked pretty bad in comparison. No matter how done you ask for your cut of meat to be, it comes off the outer edge. Most of the meat was under-seasoned and bland (or, in the case of the lamb, way too salty). There was also a serious lack of variety in the meat, with little to distinguish the different cuts of beef. A few items (the chicken legs) were downright disgusting, and the chef used the age old "wrap it in bacon if it has no flavor" with not one, but two different items. The mashed potato side dish tasted fake, from a box. The filet was excellent, but the rest of the items I'd group somewhere between bad and alright at best. The service was weak. I sat with my card facing green side up for the entire meal and was barely approached enough at all, far from the usual "overwhelming swarm" I should have gotten. I eventually placed my card on top of my water glass to draw as much attention to it as possible, but even that was no help. I went during restaurant week where the meal was about half-off. If you go here during a normal week and pay over $40 per person, you're a sucker. Brazilian steakhouses can be delicious, but this one is a poor entry.
(2)Idan S.
First off let me say that if I had more money I'd eat there all the time! It is a family tradition to go to churrascarias or sushi restaurants for people's birthdays, and so we recently went there for my brother's birthday and I just about ate myself into a lamb/beef food coma. Lamb chops, lamb shank, bacon-wrapped fillet, picanha, fried bananas, pan de queijo, and sauteed mushrooms make me a very very very happy person. I have to say that their appetizer buffet isn't nearly as nice as Texas De Brazil's, but who cares? The meat quality was above and beyond anything you'll find at Texas De Brazil or Rodizio. Just a word of warning: If you are tempted to order anything off their dessert/shot cart make sure to ask how much it costs first...
(5)Ziyu W.
A perfect place for a meat lover! I was in Denver for a weekend and decided to check this place out as it was in walking distance from the hotel, and I had always missed my chances when I was in AZ...so here we go. Salad bar was decent, pretty standard, but I'd say go easy with the salad bar, the meat is a lot more important!! 15 different kinds of meat, and I think I've tried all. Everything was excellent! I especially liked the medium rare filet and the ribs. So delish!! Our sides are grilled banana, mashed potatoes, and some kind of golden bread thingy.. I loved the grilled banana, so sweet and so good!! Service was very attentive! Everybody was so nice! I haven't experienced such great service in a while, we were definitely treated well! Outstanding service + delicious food = 5 stars!
(5)Richard M.
I was in Denver for a business meeting and decided to go out to dinner with a few friends, Fogo de Chao was centrally located so we ventured in to gorge ourselves on meat. I was really impressed with the taste of the meat, it all tasted different and delicious. I've had Brazilian BBQ before and the meats weren't this tasty. There salad bar had a great selection of fresh veggies, cheeses, and sliced salami, sausages and prosciutto. The hearts of palm, buffalo mozzarella, smoked salmon and capers, marinate mushrooms were great. We ate fillet mignon, rib eye, bottom flank, sirloin, chicken, sausage wrapped in bacon, pork ribs, rack of lamb, leg of lamb and more. On top of the meat they kept coming around with side dishes of mashed garlic potato's, grilled asparagus, string beans, fried polenta. It was great and the service was wonderful. Good place to stuff yourself and it's priced fair.
(4)Jeff C.
It was a great experience. I thought the prices were reasonable. The only reason they have a fantastic salad bar is so you eat less meat (which helps their bottom line). The salad bar is great--all I could ask for and it is hard to not fill your plate. But of course you are here for the meat so it can be quite a quandary balancing the salad bar with the meat. Anyway, the meats were delicious. A couple of things were a little dry, but it was a Monday night that I ate here and it was only 25% (if that) full, so I am sure they do not prepare as much meat and some things turn on the pit a little long. However it was all very good. My only complaint (and I am smarter than this) is that they asked if we wanted desert. Well, I was unsure if it was included or not. The salad bar is included with the meal so I was half thinking that desert might be. Anyway I ordered the "Strawberry Cream" not fully understanding what it was. It is really just a strawberry milkshake with a optional splash of blackberry liquor on top. It was very yummy if I say! However, we got the bill and it was $9.50. I think they should bring you a desert menu so that you A.) see the pricing and B.) realize it is additional. Two observations--I ate at Texas de Brazil in Northfield a while ago and the prices seem much better here than at TdeB. However, TdeB had a much larger salad bar with many more selections. I think I prefer Fogo's since it is less tempting! Anyway, this place is 4.5 stars for me and I will be back!!!
(4)Matherine G.
Positive: We really liked the filet mignon (hard to mess up the best cut) and the bread that came with the meal. Negative: Where do we start? We made a reservation and still had to wait 35 minutes. When our server asked us if we had to wait long, we told him. His response was that that wait "wasn't too bad" and that essentially that we should be thankful that the wait was only that long. No apology whatsoever. We found the meat to be inconsistent. Some items were way overcooked. The salad bar was a disappointment ("exotic vegetables"? what's so exotic about cold broccoli and sliced tomatoes?). We waited 15 minutes for our bill to come after being told that "the cashiers were backed up." When the bill did come, we were overcharged (our tab included a 9 dollar drink that we didn't order). Overall: We were really disappointed by Fogo, especially after reading some of the glowing reviews from other Yelpers. We were so excited to eat here and we really wanted to like it. But from start to finish, Fogo did not live up to the hype. We won't be back, at least not until we try Rodizio and other brazilian steakhouses first.
(2)Kent T.
It's a carnivore theme park. Many cows died to bring us Fogo de Chao...and we owe it to their memories to eat them medium rare. Endless skewers of meat are paraded past your table like models on a runway. Flip your coaster to the "GREEN" side and they'll arrive at your table. Need a break or a breather? Just flip it to "RED". You also get side orders of mashed potatoes, plantains and a fried corn bready thing (whose name I forget). The only cut I don't recommend is the paremesan-breaded meat. It's rather salty and doesn't mesh well with the other juicy cuts you're offered. The salad bar is a meal unto itself. Be sure to snag some of the smoked salmon slices. The apple salad is delicious and almost doubles as a dessert dish. You might think Fogo is comparable to Rodizio, but it blows them away. It's sad to think that, back in the 80's, my teenaged mind used to get excited about old AYCE places like Country Buffet. I've matured since then and I'm glad the AYCE concept has, as well. Might also be a good idea to fast before going here.
(5)Micah R.
Very good meats. Abundant salad bar. I went at for restaurant week so I got the $52.80 price. I reccomend that b/c unlike some other places, their menu is not limited during that time. It is all you can eat meat and it was good. The filet mingon is by far the best, so wait for that if you can waive off enough of their picanha special. The only negatives are the price (when not doing 5280) and the fact that one meal here shaves about a year off your life expectancy, not to mention its miracle grow effect on your waistline.
(3)Freddie C.
Like everyone else here this week, I was taking advantage of an opportunity to get into Fogo for nearly 1/2 the regular price. You'd think this place would be on the shady side considering how busy they are. Nope. The service was RIDICULOUSLY spot on. They never let me sit down without pulling my chair for me. What?! I'm getting a meat extravaganza at an insane deal, and you're pulling my chair out? WAY TO GO FOGO! For anyone who knows me, it's a puzzler that I even agreed to go here, as I do not eat red meat. (Not because I love cows, I actually hate them because they taste so bad.) I was willing to sit through it for cheap to let my blood-loving boyfriend chow down, and maybe I'd mow on some bacon-wrapped-chicken. Through it all, the chicken was probably the worst meat option they had. Dry. Dry. Dry. And flavorless. Now, cue the heavenly angel music, here comes the lamb chops. WTFFFFF!?!? I almost grabbed that stick of meat from that poor boy's hands. When you get here, and you should (SOON), make sure to seek this out. You will NOT be let down. And if you don't like it, you're dumb and your opinion doesn't matter to me. Read any of the reviews here, and you know this place is the bee's knees. It's true. It's really good for a group, a couple, a hungry dude(ette), and anyone who likes food. And their coffee is YUM. Yeah, the coffee I had at the end of my meal was memorable. Yum. Yum. Yum. *Don't eat lunch before you go here. And don't make plans for after you leave, as you'll be needing a nap in your food coma. Also, it's hard to feel romantic afterward as you're supporting your lower back with your hands as you nurse your growing food baby. So heads up guys, this is the END of your date.
(5)Victor H.
Even Parking is not an issue!!! It is Free! W@W! The service is Spot -On-Perfect ! Perfect Perfect ! Oh! Did I say PERFECT!...?! I came as a carnivore and wasn't in the least bit disappointed ---Meat, Meat and more Meat.... Oh such wonderful Lamb, Cooked and cut right off the skewer right onto my plate!....Yummmm Some mint jelly to kick it into second gear and seasoned with not too much salt or pepper! The steaks were ALL too good--- FLANK STEAK, PRIME RIB, Beef Ribs----Oh! The Ribs, and the flavor! I tell you Peeps, the Beef is there and just waiting to fulfill your fantasy for Protein! Don't forget to bring your cholesterol pills and drink plenty of water. The wine selection is excellent and again, you will not be disapointed....A wide range of wines and a full bar too-boot. Let's talk about the service----- The moment we came here, the Ma trade sat us in a wonderful location of our choosing, though the place was moderately packed. There wasn't a time we were in want of anything. The waiters, and I mean waiters (several), came to our table to check on us for whatever might be needed ie: clean plate, new knife and fork...anything! The water was kept full and the side plates were never without being replaced if it didn't quite make the grade in heat, freshness, and overall quality. Great place to impress a Date, and so relaxing, you'd think you were in Beverly Hills.... Bone-That's Petite! But there is nothing Petite in this place! It is a Big 5 STARS for me-----
(5)Sami K.
The salad bar was very good and top notch but I was very disappointed with the meat which why I really wanted to try this place, every piece was really salty. I don't mind a little salt but this was a little too much for my liking. I complained and got a couple of pieces cooked special for me but that was it. Every time they came by with a piece of meat after I complained about the salt, I was told it wasn't salty but it was. I stopped eating short of my full satisfaction. For the price I expected more.
(1)Mike R.
I have eaten at several of these across the US. They will not dissapoint. Awesome salad bar. The meats are always done to perfection. You will not ever leave feeling anytrhing other than stuffed.
(4)A M.
When I visit my husband in Denver we always find ourselves on YELP to discover our next favorite place to eat :) We saw review for this place on yelp and we were very excited by what we saw. Our visit was nothing less than everything we expected. This place has alot of class and the food is awesome. You put your card on the green side when your ready for meat and the waiters come around with a freshly cooked selection of everything imaginable. You don't have to wait at all for the meat because they are constantly doing rounds.... Filet mignon, ribs, lamb chobs, lamb, etc.. I have to say I am not a big lamb fan but theirs is so tender and flavorful.... Even the salad bar was fresh. I say differently go you wont be dissappointed at all it is worth the 38.50 a person they charge.
(5)Jen S.
i tried this place in brazil the first time i ate at a fogo and stuff myself by trying every piece of meat available. now im a bit smarter and i stick to: - picanha - medium rare - the meat and the flavor AMAZING - top sirloin / bottom sirloin - both good - filet mignon - garlic beef - who can say no to garlic?? salad bar- i cant ALL meat the whole night so i like to balance it out with some veggies. they have all sorts. salads, asparagus, mushrooms, cheese, etc side orders - cheesy rolls - my table loved these. but a bit too filling for me. have to save room for the meat! but i allow myself to eat one or two - fried polenta - YUMMM must eat; this was probably the dish that got replaced the most - fried bananas cant get better - mashed potatoes - nothing too special so i usually skip it - plantains - maybe because by the time i tried it, the dish was cold but i didn't like it - black beans / rice - just a couple other plates you can get, not too special dessert - signature PAPAYA CREAM - usually i don't like papaya but i got it because 1. its their signature dish 2. the waiter said it helps you digest your food (totally true) 3. its mixed with ice cream, even more yum; must must must get!!! super refreshing after the meal - South American FLAN - second signature dish. BEST FLAN EVER. if you love flan, you will love this dish - creme brulee - this was the waiter's favorite and it was pretty delicious. it was done just right with the sugar crusted on top fogo is the only brazilian steakhouse i will go to. there are cheaper priced ones but their service and their steak is not as good. you might as well spend the extra bucks on a better meal. plus you dont eat like this everyday, so you can splurge once in a while. also i dont think you can find another restaurant where almost all the waiters speak portuguese... compared to other fogo's (price differs by location), this is by far one of the cheapest and i would take advantage of it. while you're there, might as well get a drink to go with the meat. i usually get a red wine - they have tons of selection. or you can go with a traditional caipirinha ($7.50 for a regular one $10.00 for a premium one - dont konw what the difference is - go with the regular one) lastly, the service was superb. we were asked multiple times how everything was and if we needed any other small plates and if you wanted a particular piece of meat you can ask for it and someone will come to you. our side orders and glasses were filled and our requests answered quickly. the waiters were friendly and we had a great time! we always come here when we're on a business trip.
(4)Norman P.
I took advantage of the $52.80 Restaurant Week deal to come check this place out. There used to be a big ad on a billboard visible via lightrail route on my way to school - made me always want to give it a try. My expectations were set at the same standard as Texas de Brazil and Rodizio's Grill. Unfortunately, it is the first Brazilian grill I've been to that doesn't get a perfect rating. Close but no cigar. The food was, indeed, quite good. But every piece I got of the Picanha (signature sirloin) was well-done. Nothing against well-done, but I like my sirloin a little bloody (not like vampire bloody, but tender/juicy bloody). Even when I asked for a medium rare piece, I got well-done. Hmm. The salad bar was presented well and had various delicious sides sides to go with your meal. I was a little wary about it though, because last time I checked prosciutto, smoked salmon ans shitake mushrooms weren't Brazilian. 2nd Hmmm. In the end, all was still good so i didn't really mind it. Lastly, it could have been because of the business of the Restaurant week deal, but the service was a little slow. It took the servers quite some time to make their way to our table and they definitely weren't in as high spirits and enthusiasm as the server's I remember from Texas de Brazil and Rodizio's. This place is quite good, don't get me wrong. But unfortunately, for Fogo de Chao, if I every get hungry for some Brazilian grilled meat, I have some other options I'd rather go back to. 4 stars, delicious but not as good - I may have thought differently if Fogo de Chao had been the first Brazilian grill I went to. Stay hungry my friends!
(4)Ang H.
The salad bar is to die for - love the full block of parmesan cheese! The Cesar salad is so tasty, fresh veggies, and huge asparagus - I'm getting hungry as I type this review. It's so yummy. And then comes the meat. What a fun experience! Turn your card to green and all kinds of meat shows up at the table bacon wrapped filet, parmesan crusted pork, ribeye, lamb, ribs, and my absolute favorite (the house special), Picanha, which is a prime cut of top sirloin. This restaurant is definitely for special occasions - at $50 a person and a very expensive bar, it's a bit too pricey for me almost not worth that amount of money. The side dishes are just okay - garlic mashed potatoes, polenta fries, and warm cinnamon bananas.
(4)Jason B.
This place is soo good there varieties of meat a delicious but like some one else stated the waiters are on it if you turn your card over you had better be ready to bang because your going to get meat and lots of it that being said I love this place but the price tag is a bit high especially if you are dining with a light eater but if you happen to be in town with say the New York giants then go a head a do it you won't be sorry but if your dining with the ice capades then might want to look elsewhere
(4)Matt C.
Food's amazing. Service is some of the best in Denver. Restaurant itself has a great location, layout, and set up. Clientele? Miserable. This isn't thier fault. It really isn't. But every time I go to Fogo de Chao (I've been three times), I swear that I'm never going back because I don't want to deal with my fellow diners. So here's the breakdown: Tourists: Lot's of 'em. FdC is near the 16th Street Mall and a few of the downtown hotels. So there are a lot of tourists. I'm not sure what it is about tourists, but they can be really needy of the staff. Which detracts from the staff's ability to serve everyone else. "Dates:" Certainly an okay place to take a date. That is if you happen to be in early middle age and are desparate to impress your younger, or at least respectively better looking, date. Same as above, these guys get needy and just can't stop harassing the waitstaff. Wasted Yuppie Party: Again, it's a great restaurant for groups, and definitely a good place for a birthday party. But there always seem to be one or two larger groups of yuppies there for a special event. And they're always wasted. Really, throughly, trashed. And they're loud. And obnoxious. And abusive to the staff. And flagrantly discussing sex and/or drugs in front of families/children. So...maybe I just need to go during "off" hours...
(2)Laurie W.
We came, we saw, we ate. It was ok. Nothing spectacular, except for the quantity of food. We went on Friday, the last night of restaurant week, which I know is a no-no. But we'd been wanting to try Fogo and, hey, why not take the bargain? First, it looked as if they'd crammed many more tables into the restaurant than would normally be there. I can't say that for certain, as I had never been there on a normal night, but the back of my chair was literally sticking into the doorway to the kitchen. That can't be normal. The salad bar was good, everything was very fresh. The Chicken Salad had "surprise, raisins!" in it. The tabbouleh was actually very good! There were cheeses, prosciutto, cucumber salad and many other items. Everything was of good quality. And then the meat came. I am no stranger to Brazilian Steakhouses. I love the concept of men at my beck and call, serving me from their large skewers of meat. Seriously, how can that be wrong? It did go wrong. I love getting a little of this, a little of that. Well, the Gauchos we cutting of huge hunks of meat. I'd say that each serving was 4-6 oz. That is a lot of meat, especially if you get a piece that's mostly fat, or overcooked, or that you just don't like. It created so much waste. I felt bad, leaving so much meat on my plate, but I got a hunk of rib-eye about the size of my hand that was mostly fat. The first piece of garlic Picanha I tried was overcooked and tough. The pork grilled in a parmesan crust never came by, so I didn't get to try it. There were some brighter spots. The sausages were pleasantly flavored with sage, the chicken drumsticks were nicely seasoned and the little cheese bread things were wonderful. And the offering of a $25 bottle of wine was good. I'd give Fogo de Chao another chance on a night that was not during restaurant week. But for the quality of food, Mr. Mixer and I agreed we'd rather go to Rodizio any day!
(3)Stan L.
To be honest, I'm bored of typical American Steakhouses. This place is unique! You can choose from different meats cooked to your choice. It's just heaven for meat lovers! Very friendly staff and great service. I highly recommend this place and you better come hungry! :)
(5)Nia S.
Wow, never experienced such a place before. If you like meat, you have to try this place! I really liked the service, they made us feel special. I do have one tiny complaint...no free drink refills on soda? Really...for such an expensive place, this is really cheap!
(4)David C.
Great as always. All the food is well prepared and tasty. The staff is very attentive. Highly recommended (if you love meat).
(5)Thomas S.
Some days I am glad am not a vegan anymore. Okay, okay, everyday I am glad that I can partake in glutinous all-you-can-eat meat orgies like the one offered at Fogo de Chao. Sure, it is not something I want to do on a daily basis, but I am always grateful that it is an option. I finally exercised that option last Saturday. Fogo de Chao does not mess around when it comes to service. They smother you with constant service, bringing fresh plates, new sides, and constantly asking you how your meal is going. This is great if you are on a bad date and you want any distraction that will allow you not to speak with your companion, but the rest of us with interesting things to say will eventually get annoyed. Fogo de Chao is also a spectacle of extravagance. Without saying a word, the staff will swoop by your table to take away your unfinished sides before returning with fresh sides. Over the course of the meal, my companion and I ate approximately 8 fried polenta squares, while FdC threw away 13 squares from our table alone. No lectures about starving kids in Africa here! Ultimately, the bottom line is the food. At Fogo de Chao, the food is a-okay. Sure, it is much better than any buffet in town, but that alone doesn't make it great. I was disappointed that the most potent meat swords were those loaded with the cheaper quality meats - items wrapped in bacon and poorer quality meats. The better items, such as their picanha, were not seen as frequently at our table. The meats were good, but I found the seasoning to be a bit bland, and many of my cuts were over cooked beyond the preferred medium rare. Furthermore, I found the salad bar to be somewhat lacking and the side dishes (other than the fried polenta) were very uninteresting. After the bill arrived and sat at our table for a couple of minutes, a member of the staff came over and offered dessert liquor. He did not make it clear whether the liquor was on the house, but since our bill had arrived already, I made the assumption that his offer was free. After pouring our drinks, he grabbed our bill and had it returned with an extra $15 added for the drinks. Son of a b*tch! I'm all for paying for what I consume, but I would expect a place with great service like FdC to be a little more up front about charging for extras.
(3)Cristeen J.
Waaay to go to Fogo De Chao! Their awesome salad bar is yummy, but don't fill up too much! Because when you flip your card over to green...all these yummy food will be at your table in a blink of an eye. We were very impressed with their selections from the wine/cognac "cart." Great dinning experience!
(4)Andrea R.
As though I was being fattened for slaughter, the waitstaff continued to bring meat after meat after meat after meat, most of which was mediocre and tough, even though I clearly had the red side of my 'coaster' in plain view. They recommended the most expensive glass of wine, because I'm pretty sure that's what they are told to do. I was always amused when a staff person had only a small amount of meat left on his sword and would ask me how I would like it cooked. Without regard to what I actually said (rare, medium, well-done) he would simply just give me the remainder of the meat on the sword. You can't tell me that it always just happened to be the right done-ness. You can't. I won't be back, but if I ever did, I would just pay the $20-something for the exquisite salad bar. That alone had enough meat and protein choices for me. For those of you meat tooth types- you'll be in absolute heaven just because you like meat, but not much else.
(1)Mario L.
Fogo de Chao - A Haiku More meat on a sword! Somewhere PETA is crying Help me my heart hurts My goal with this review is to spread some knowledge. To keep it real. If you notice there are a TON of 5 star reviews for this place. And that's a problem. To be a 5 star joint you have to have all the bases covered. Everything has to be verging on perfect. And Fogo is almost there. They just have 1 problem. . . The food isn't actually that good Yeah I said it. The decor and ambiance are all great. This place screams class. The service CANNOT be beat. My wine glass was never bellow half full, neither was my water. The swordsman were so frequent they barely gave you time to eat what was on your plate. Fresh sides were brought regularly. New plates and silver ware provided frequently. All great. But still not a 5 star. That's because nothing you eat is so good that you would say "STOP GIVE ME 10 OZs OF THIS". All of the meat is good in small pieces. But if you stop and pace yourself. Try to TASTE what your eating you realize that the vast majority is average cuts of meat over seasoned and not served at the correct temperature. Take the Bacon wrapped Fillet. If you had a full size portion the salt would cause you to dry up like the Sahara. Even the Polenta cakes on the side were overly seasoned. I know that this place is a gimmick. And i LOVE that gimmick. I would recommend Fogo 10 times out of 10. But you go to Fogo for the Brazilian Steakhouse experience. Not for an amazing meal. And that's fine. That's what Restaurant Week is for. Great dining experiences. And that is what you get. But I am not going to lie to you and say that you cant get a better steak elsewhere. All of that said, there is always room for meat on sticks in the repertoire.
(4)John S.
There is truly nothing bad I can say about Fogo de Chao. Honestly. I visited there with my family last night and the whole experience was fantastic. The service was over the top! The staff continuously checked up on us and made sure we had everything we wanted and more. In a setting where quantity is the focus, it'd be very easy to skimp on quality. Not at all. Everything I had from the salad bar to the meat was amazing. They serve several Brazilian meats as well as a few we'd all know like ribeye, sirloin, and filet. Honestly, every one of them was outstanding. We had papaya cream and cake for dessert, both equally as good. I didn't pick up the check, but it's hard for me to imagine a price this wouldn't be worth!
(5)Lisa H.
This was my first time at Fogo de Chao, in which I had high hopes for. I made reservations for my husband's 40th birthday. We had a group of 15 people, and I will have to say, though we had a good time with good friends, I was a bit disappointed by this restaurant. Over all the food was ok, but not really worth the price. The salad bar is good with many options, but it is basically a buffet, and the servers are rushing around cutting off pieces of mediocre meat, and placing it on our plates. I had previously brought in a cake and was told it would be cut and plated for us. They brought the cake out, set it on the table and handed me a cake cutter to do it myself. Good thing I have a lot of restaurant serving experience, considering I had to cut and serve 15 people their cake! For how much this restaurant costs, I should have never had to take over the job of a server. This was my night off from the restaurant I work in! Maybe I was the one who should have been the tipped, lol! It was pretty appalling! Because it was a large party we were all charged gratuity on our tabs, which is fine, definitely understandable and expected, considering it was such a large party. After we all paid our tabs, my husband bought a round of shots at the end of dinner for everyone, which they automatically charged gratuity on as well. I have worked in restaurants for 20+ years and I have never seen a restaurant charge gratuity for a round of shots! We should have NEVER been charged gratuity (over 20$) for the bartender to do his job, and pour 15 shots of rum. Overall I feel like this place was trying to get anything they could out of us, without giving quality service. I usually have much sympathy for busy servers, because I am a server myself, but this level of "customer service" was just unacceptable. This was a big day for my husband and his friends, I just wish this restaurant would have acknowledged that too. It was not very welcoming, and we all left feeling kind of rushed and ripped off!
(2)Nancy K.
I went to Fogo De Chao tonight and it was great. There are reasons that I have to give it a 4 star instead of 5 though. I have been to Rodizio many times before and I would give them the same star rating. Not b/c Rodizio has better meat or even the same meat (Fogo has lamb) but they have more selections. So to sum up the pros and cons from the two places... -Meat selection = Rodizio has more selections -Better meat = Fogo De Chao -Better Salad Bar = Rodizio (but who goes there to eat salad??) -Sides dishes = Fogo De Chao (since Rodizio didn't even have any. but at Fogo, they switch them out even when I was only half done with each dish. it was very wasteful. I wish they would just wait until we are done then give us another. they were all very good. i probably ate too much "filler") oh, speaking of filler, Fogo has the best fried banana that come free with the meal. I LOVE THE BANANA!!! A+++ on that one. We also tried the key lime pie which turned out kinda like key lime cheesecake but it was still very good. all and all, these two places are about even for me. If Fogo De Chao has grilled pineapple and grilled tomatoes, i would never go back to Rodizio but as it stands now, it's about even for me. price point, came to $111 for 2 with a glass of wine and a pie, i guess it's expensive and not the most healthy but hey, not like you eat like that everyday. can't afford to, anyway.
(4)Ruben P.
I have noticed this place for a while now and finally last Saturday my curiosity got the best of me. Let me start by saying, I should not have waited so long to try this. The meal started out with a salad from an absolutely elegant salad bar with some choices that are a little out of the ordinary for a normal salad bar, It also included full pieces of bacon that seemed to be cooked to a nice crisp and added a little something to my salad. When you are ready to eat the main courses, be ready for quite the production. The waitstaff is supremely attentive to their guests and had the salad plates away form the table in a matter of seconds and the dinner service ready. There were 3 sides at the table and meat ready to consume almost immediately. The food was great. I highly suggest the rib eye. Everything was seasoned well and the experience was wonderful. I suppose my only real criticism is that the waitstaff is a little too enthusiastic about the wine. It bordered on annoying especially if you are trying to have a conversation. All in all I will be back and would suggest it highly for a special occasion or just a night when you want a great meal.
(4)Miguel M.
We made reservations for our anniversary, it took us an hour to get to this restaurant. the waiter sat us by the kitchen, which was very noisy. We had more than one waiter which we were very confused to what was going on. The staff was running around like they were running out of a burning building. The salad bar was fair.The meat was Chewy and of poor quality. The manager came to our table to see how everything was going, but before we could get the words out of our mouths he went to greet a different table. This is a good looking restaurant but the service was poor and the food wasn't worth the money that we paid. We paid $ 165.00, which definitely wasn't worth it. There's plenty of restaurants that you can get a much better meal and better service for the price. I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone
(2)Nicholas V.
Dear sweet artery Clogging goodness, love this place best to hit it up during restaurant week. Meal for two has normally been 52.80 plus tax. Picanha, and lamb is particularly good. Happy eating.
(5)Danny L.
Eating does not get better than this. That is all.
(5)Mina N.
I absolutely love their salad bar. I would mix it with the steak from the BBQ. I went there on a weekday, so my friend and I were the only two there. Loved the ambiance. The staff was very nice and attentive. I felt bad whenever I did not want a piece of meat that they came with, so I ended up overstuffing myself. Their soda is delicious, so expensive for soda, but so good.
(4)zaya c.
LOVE the food, love the service :) must go place! especially if u're really hungry because the foods are always ready!
(5)Kyle M.
One word: overwhelming. I watched "The Biggest Loser" the same night after I ate there, and felt that the two concepts were incompatible. If I had to pick, I'd choose "The Biggest Fogo" any day. I felt full for three days. I almost felt like I needed to blog about my post-dining experience and the mental steps I needed to take to deal with it... There are so many reviews on here that you probably have already gathered that this place is good. We went for 5280 week, and the place was practically blowing up. It was incredibly busy, and the gauchos were slicing meat off their swords like their MC Hammer pants were on FIRE. It was totally enjoyable. Best side = the carmelized bananas. Don't be shy...they'll bring you as many as you can eat. They sort of ended up being like the ginger I eat with my sushi: good palate cleansers. Although they will send around the "house specialty" more frequently than the other cuts, you will be most satisfied by waiting for or requesting other cuts you haven't seen in a while (like the filet or the surprisingly top-notch chicken legs). They won't be offended if you request something different than what they're offering you, so don't be shy. Finally, the caipirinhas are delish. REALLY strong and well worth the $7.50 pricetag. The one drawback - some of the cuts are dry, but this seems random. Mostly, they were good and moist (at least they were when we went there), but you'll occasionally get a dry cut. If you get one, just push it aside, and request something else.
(4)Jeremy K.
Fogo de Chao's "Cheese Bread" was listed by Denver Magazine as one of the top 100 must eat dishes in the city, so I gave it a shot: Rating: 5 (out of 10) Price: n/a (included in $38 meal) The Skinny: Saying you must go to Fogo de Chao for the cheese bread is like saying you must go to the circus for the popcorn. It misses the whole damn point of the show. And there is a show at Fogo. Waiters line up carrying 12 inch spears full of freshly flamed and sizzling meat, carving it tableside for your chest thumping pleasure... mmmm. And the cheese bread? Yeah... it's there. It sits, lying quietly on the table, away from the action. Hoping there might be a lull in the meat parade for someone to keep their mouth occupied. The taste is fine, maybe even slightly better than fine. But no one - not one person - should go to Fogo and sacrifice any part of empty stomach on the bread. It's a waste of valuable space you'll need for the carnivore ceremony that carries on as long as you can. I've got a picture of it up on the blog in my profile jko
(4)Andy L.
Took advantage of the Denver Restaurant week deal on Monday night 7:30 with a party of six. First time here and I have to say it was nothing short of delicious. Great salad bar to have plenty of goodies with the meats. We had non-stop guacho chefs coming by all night with all of the good meats and plenty of great sides. Place was sociable, loud, and had a ton of people. Our waiter said they served 1,200 people on Sunday and Monday was "much easier" at 800! Really great time and I still am dreaming about how good the meats were. Also good deal on wine for 5280 week and we got two bottles of a good Malbec for $52.80 which was perfect for our group size.
(5)Kristy L.
Muy delicioso! Beautiful salad bar. What really caught my attention was the crispy bacon next to a huge wheel-bowl of Parmesan. Filet mignon and Tbone was perfectly juicy, flavorful and hot off the broiler. Who can deny bacon wrapped filet mignon. Lamb was a little peppery for me. Pork tenderloin was a little bland. Awesome sides: best polenta I've ever had, and a fried carmelized banana, also piping hot. we were super stuffed but shared a carmelized flan, "the best" mom has "ever had"--super creamy custard with perfect carmelization. And it wouldn't be Brazilian without the caipirinhas, made to delight you with a little breeze of liquid copacabana. I did ask our waiter if there would be any fogo or pagoge. He just said "what?" in a Spanish accent. Of course! All the Brazilians are in Boulder! We all left with our taste buds tantalized and very full bellies. Obrigato!
(5)Sage M.
I would like to give Fogo de Chao 4.5 stars, but I will err on the side of generosity - as they seem to do with their customers. If you are wanting to plan a special occasion group dinner, this is an excellent place to put on your short list. We enjoyed a marvelous birthday dinner with 12 friends at Fogo de Chao in October, and will definitely return. Here are a few of the particulars: Earlier in the day, I had dropped off a personalized birthday cake, candles and flowers at the restaurant. They weren't even open for diners; they instructed me to just come on in and meet with the manager. He was very gracious. I was not prepared for the gorgeous flower arrangement they created at our table when we arrived. It was quite lovely. They not only served the Birthday Boy a house dessert with his name emblazoned on it, they also brought out the personalized cake with candles aflame. They shower, shower, shower you with attention. Once you sit, be prepared to eat immediately. There is no lag time here. You sit, you give you drink order within seconds, and off you go to the salad bar. Bread, fried bananas and polenta cakes are ever-present at your table, as well. Drinks don't go dry here. The nonstop array of grilled meats, once begun, is dizzying. Want a break? Flip the coin to red. Want another selection? Flip to green. Do you really like the applewood bacon-wrapped sausage, or are you more interested in little lamb chops? They do remember what you like and encourage you to not be shy. I disagree with the review that said this wasn't a good 'first date' place. I think it's a great ice breaker to have a ridiculous selection of grilled meats waved in front of your face. It's interactive and entertaining. Isn't that what dates are all about?
(5)Megan N.
WOW!! this place is soooo good. And not just the food, but the customer service was out of this world. When we were first seated, we were near a big party. I guess a few more people showed up for the party and the manager asked us if they could re-seat us. No big deal to us, we were literally just seated. He then offered to buy us desert because we moved. !!! They went above and beyond. The food was delicious. Worth every penny. The potato salad was so good. i wish they sold it to take home ; ) no joke!! i love this place, cant wait to go back. Great date place, awesome for big groups and taking people from out of town. thanks you Fogo de chao!!
(5)Rick K.
Comida brasileira.... ^__________^ **************************************************Â* Fogo de Chao gives me a lot of mixed feelings. On one hand, it is in fact a great deal (especially when you go for a Restaurant Week or lunch specials). On the other hand, my Brazilian roots tell me this churrascaria pales in comparison to the humblest BBQ houses in Brazil. Take this review with a grain of salt. I think the salad bar is great and presents a vast array of greens, cheeses, and side dishes. The downsides is that it is anything BUT brazilian. At least they had Hearts of Palm, though they weren't so fresh. The meats were in fact well done... but I feel like there was something amiss. I can't exactly put my finger on it, but the flavors were not what I remember from when I was a kid. All in all, they had the basic cuts: Filet Mignon, Picanha (sirloin), garlic sirloin, sausages, chicken, etc. Unfortunately, they didn't have chicken heart (which is an absolute must in any traditional brazilian steak house). The side dishes were great. Polenta, farofa (eat it with the meat, people), white rice, cheesebread.... oh the cheesebread was delicious. The service was good. It was an eyesore to see the Portuguese speaking brazilian waiters though. I don't care about what everyone says... to me this place is 4/5... perhaps their locations in Brazil are better, but this customer is a tough reviewer when it comes to Brazilian food. Don't mess with me; I grew up there. FYI... if you want a fuller Brazilian experience, order the caipirinha (40% alcohol content I think) and drive responsibly AND/OR the guarana (traditional Brazilian soda).
(4)Melodi R.
I'm not sure if it was the tasty food or the great company, but while in Denver visiting friends, we enjoyed a nice meal at Fogo! The bartender made me a special vanilla Manhattan (like I first loved at Gold Class Cinema). Their salad bar was amazing and we were told it is available as a vegetarian option and for lunch as well. The meat is as expected, but too much! I didn't know I could turn the pog to "stop" and the back to "go" which I should have...the waiters with the meat come by every 2 seconds and it feels a bit interruptive. My fault. Dan, the customer service specialist, was very nice and spent time chatting with us about Fogo, Chicago, restaurant week and Yelp! Give it a try! I hope you all like it as much as we did!
(4)Ryan O.
Fogo is pricey, but well worth the money! The salad bar is awesome, but it feels wrong to eat from the salad bar when so much delicious meat is waiting for you! I'm not a fan of lamb, but the lamb was excellent. My favorite are the bacon wrapped chicken and bacon wrapped filet mignon. The 'house special' sirloin is also incredibly tasty!! Service is spectacular. If you need to wait for someone, something is wrong. If a 'gaucho' comes by and doesn't have what you want, tell them and they will send another over for you. I have never received service like this anywhere else.
(5)Steven S.
I was take there for my birthday by my girlfriend at the time. It was absolutely incredible! Both food and service could not have been better. Meat with a side of meat? Yes. I did not try anything that my taste buds didn't love. Eventually, I had to be helped to the door and to the valet stand as I'd eaten more than my body could handle. Pricey, but well worth the splurge for a special occasion!
(5)Skip V.
So we've wanted to try Fogo since they opened, since our "thing" seems to be churrascarias right now. Being a voracious carnivore, it doesn't get any better than the Brazilian steakhouse experience! Fogo de Chao is about as good as it gets when it comes to this type of restaurant. We've tried all three brands in the Denver area; Rodizio, TdB, and now Fogo. We held off on Fogo for quite some time, as it was pricier than the others when they first opened, but it looks like pricing has now been brought in line to the market. What a mistake it was to not go sooner; it's well worth the price. We went on a Sunday before going to a Broncos game, so we expected it to be busy, but it was maybe about 1/3 full at 4:30pm. Parking was as easy as it gets; there's free valet parking! Service was by far the best of the three. A team of gauchos and waitstaff attended to every need. One glitch; we had to wait probably 15 minutes for our check, as it seemed our main waiter had moved sections or something. No worries... still made it the game in time. I always have to start off with the Brazil's signature cocktail; the caipirinha. Pretty standard here; lots of lime and cachaça. Very tasty! I do like Rodizio's version the best, to be honest though - less lime, more alcohol! The salad bar was tremendous. Pretty standard fare for churrascarias; lots of hearts of palm, olives, smoked meats and cheeses, yada yada yada. Very good, though. I could go there (or to any Churrascaria) just for the salad bar since they're sooo good. I was slightly disappointed in that either there was not a "sides station/bar", or we weren't directed to it, if there was. We were however provided with the standard appetizers and sides that are brought to the table; cheese bread, polenta, caramelized bananas, and garlic mashed potatoes. Not that I really eat the sides at these kinds of places (got to leave room for the meat!), but I do like a taste of soup, if it's good (like the lobster bisque at TdB or the cold strawberry soup is at Rodizio!) or some black beans once in a while. I honestly would've given five stars if there were more sides. On to the main event - the meat. This was as good as it gets. Temperature was just how I like it; rare to mid-rare, and all of it as tender as possible for the cut. I'm a huge fan of lamb, and Fogo does not disappoint. Chops and leg of lamb were both available. The filet mignon was tremendous; I don't think I've had a more tender cut anywhere before. I do wish there were a fish selection, though. I don't think too many gauchos were on the coast catching what was biting back in the day, though. The kicker, though? Breaking with what seems to be the norm with churrascarias, the meat was lightly seasoned; just enough to bring the flavor out and not overpower. THANK YOU!! I'm rather salt-averse, so this was very welcome. Overall, Fogo seems to me to be the best of the three churrascarias in the area. Well worth the money, with the best food, service, parking, and ambiance out of the three! We'll definitely be back!!
(4)Lacey M.
Stop #4 for Restaurant Week 2010. There's not a whole lot more to add about this place, that hasn't already been said. Yes, countless swords of meat just waiting for your card to be turned over to green. Service is precise, at times maybe even too much. We kept being given new plates of sides when only a small amount had been eaten (huge waste of food, btw). The moment your card is green, expect meat being delivered within seconds...and not stopping until it's red. The salad bar is fantastic, and could make a meal of that alone. The star of the meal for me, however, was the Red Sangria. OMG. I've never had sangria THAT good before! It comes only in pitchers though, small and large. Do yourself a favor and just order the large....you'll want more, trust me. Our server dropped the ball at the end of our meal. We waited an exceptionally long time for dessert, and again for the bill. The service was so incredibly fast throughout the entire meal, so this was very disappointing and just plain annoying. After stuffing ourselves silly we were just ready to get the hell out of there to start burning off some of that meal! Overall though, the food was excellent, drinks were amazing, service mainly good. I definitely will return, and prefer this place a million times over the Brazilian Steakhouse up the street.
(4)Dave B.
Serious disappointment. I have been looking longingly at Fogo's ad in the United in-flight mag for years. Finally went the other night for 5280 (perhaps better results would be had on a normal night). The good: the salab bar is superb. Great caesar, smoked salmon, cheese, olives, marinated peppers, marinated mushrooms, artichoke hearts, etc. The meat is generally very good. Really liked the sirloin, lamb, and the pork tenderloin. I love salt, and many of the meats were very salty (I could see others liking this much less than I did). The bad: we were there late (9:30) and the servers were still running around dumping meat on our plates as quickly as possible and running away, with zero explanation of what each meat was. No matter how much I pleaded for "just a sliver" they would invariably dump a 5oz slab on my plate. After a while we gave up and turned my wife's card to "stop", and just split my steak between us--and it was still too much. A pretty disgusting waste of food (and they don't let you take it home). The server said it all gets thrown away. I'm no Sally Struthers, but the waste disgusted me. The ugly: I didn't go there expecting a romantic dinner, but this is the last place I'd go on date. Crowded, hectic, bustling, cavernous room. Felt like a college cafeteria. Not a relaxing atmosphere at all. Wine list is good. But the beer list would be supbar at Hooters. Not a single micro (Coors, Coors Light, Amstel, Heineken, Blue Moon, and a Brazilian lager). Settled for a Heineken. They didn't have a glass. I really am surprised, but I have zero desire to go back, even for 5280.
(3)Emily R.
If you're going to shell out $50 per person on dinner and you're craving some Brazillian meat, I definitely recommend Texas de Brazil over this place. I went here for Valentine's day and everything (salad bar, meat, sides) was a disappointment. We decided not to stay for dessert.
(2)Rob K.
An incredible "Meat Parade" including salad bar and sides for the cost of a petite filet and no sides at many neighboring steakhouses. Fogo allows you to have a gluttonous experience for 1/2 the price of the Prime steakhouses in town. Cheap? No. Incredible Value? YES!!!! For those who think $38.50 is not a value, Golden Corral's 9.99 sirloin and shrimp special is not a "value" either. It is low prices for low-grade food. So let's get our benchmarks straight.... Come hungry (I always skip lunch before) because you get your choice over over a dozen cuts of beef, lamb, pork, and chicken, most cooked to the temp you prefer....so there really is something for everyone (except those pesky vegans). Bottom sirloin, picanha, pork ribs, and ribeye were my faves. Don't fill up on the cheese bread (cheesy poofs), either. cuz they're sinfully addictive. When will they start opening Cheesy Poof Dispensaries in Denver? Soon, I'm sure..... The service is swarming without being intrusive (use your red light/green light wisely to summon/shoo away gauchos) and the staff is genuinely eager to please and make sure you enjoy your experience. Refreshing dirty plates, exchanging silverware, bringing fresh sides when yours cool off. I have been to Fogo de Chao in a few different cities over the years and this one is running great for being so new (opened summer 09). Because the salad bar/meat parade is such a good value at sub-$40, the add-ons of drinks and desserts are on the pricier side. And the price for lunch is an even better deal (sub-30 for the exact same meal) But a tip for the wine drinker - they mark up the inexpensive bottles much more than the mid-tier ones, so the wines you get for $50-60 are significantly better than the $30-40 wines, not just marginally better. SIGNIFICANTLY. Stay in South America as the domestic offerings are big name and "no soul" wineries in most cases. Your dollar will go a lot further with their Malbec selections which are very diverse and well thought out. They even carry some of best boutique producers from Argentina that can be hard to find (Luca, Tikal, La Posta)
(5)Darcy P.
My husband and I took a trip after Xmas to Denver just for a few days. He looked online for a good place to eat, and we wound up here. I'm so glad we did! This was an amazing experience! Not only was the treatment from the staff professional, kind and attentive, but the food was gorgeous and extremely tasty! The salad bar is beautiful and unique with meats, cheeses, and different vegetables. The bread on the table was a Brazilian treat, soft and cheesy. There were about 15 meats... and you could have every one if you wanted! Each was so flavorful! The restaurant had the best meat I've ever had, including sirloin, bacon wrapped chicken, and filet mignon. Delicious! Also, servers sporatically came by to ensure we were given the chance to eat every meat we wanted from the menu. Fantastic!
(5)Trey F.
My favorite restaurant!!! In every way!!!
(5)Dani G.
OHMIGAWD. We went here on Monday, party of 2, around 7pm for Restaurant Week, just to take advantage of a slightly cheaper price. Well, it was worth every cent, plus some. Complementary valet is wonderful, especially in the Impossible to Find Parking Land that is LoDo. 1. The White Sangria is AMAZING. They hand cut the fruit, and there is a lot of it - a serve the drink with a spoon for eating the fruit later! Perfect. It was served in a pitcher (meant for 2, for 16 dollars) but it definitely filled 5-6 glasses. 2. The salad bar. Heaven. Asparagus spears that were the size of small trees, cheese galore (including a rather impressive brick of Parmesan Reggiano), and a "basil sauce" dressing that I want to buy by the gallon. Great selection of a couple of cold meats as well. Not to mention the appetizers they bring out - cheese rolls that melt in your mouth, delicious fried bananas, mashed potatoes, and fried polenta. I would eat those bananas by the ton. 3. The meat. Oh my god....every single piece was delectable. I don't eat pork, but my meal companion was raving about it. The lamb and the beef options were simply delicious, and did not need an ounce of seasoning or sauce. I usually dunk my steaks in Heinz 57 or something, but this was in no way necessary at Fogo de Chao. 4. The service. The hostess was very friendly, and we were sat promptly even without a reservation. Our server was simply fantastic. He recommended an ice wine for me and a malbec for my boyfriend for dessert that was a wonderful digestive and was not ridiculously expensive. He also told us that the lunch menu is cheaper but is the exact same menu as dinner - that's good to know for us starving students! 5. Dessert. We were too full to even order it, and we aren't big sweet tooths, but that key lime pie did look awfully good as it passed by us. I was in a meat/cheese coma for hours, it was delicious. We will absolutely be back!
(5)Patricia W.
This had to be one of the best dinning experiences I have ever had. Not only was the food superb but the service was impeccable! We were treated like royalty, the staff were fantastic, the food was absolutely fantastic! VERY MUCH WORTH YOUR TIME!
(5)Turok ..
This is me and my lady's favorite place on earth. I am giving it 5 stars. I live by the skin of my balls and I figure I should eat well while I'm on this earth.
(5)Christina H.
Everything from start to finish was amazing at Fogo de Chao. Some might say their service is smothering but I found it just enthusiastic and a little comical. Everything I ate from the cheesy bread to the salad to the meat to the limeade non-alcoholic beverage with unlimited refills was EXCELLENT. Also, since they were forewarned it was a birthday dinner I got a complimentary birthday dessert (creme brulee to die for!) AND a coupon for another free dinner! This was quite possibly one of my best dining experiences, though I've been to fancier restaurants. And to top things off, nearly everything is gluten-free a Fogo. The only exempted items are the bread at the salad bar (the table cheese bread is made with yucca plant flour so its gluten-free), tabouli, and the beer-marinated chicken wings. My Celiac's affected boyfriend ate like a king! I think if you find yourself disappointed with Fogo, you should get your head checked.
(5)Flavio G.
I headed to Fogo de Chao for the first time last night for a friend's birthday dinner. My journey at Fogo de Chao started enjoying my favorite drink, "Caipirinha". It is Brazil's national cocktail; made with cachaça (Brazilian rum), sugar and lime. When enjoying my drink their friendly staff explains how it works. Basically, it is kind of all you can eat; salad bar, meats and side dishes. Gourmet salad and sides bar - A great variety of items including fresh cut vegetables, imported cheeses, cured meats and Brazilian side dishes. Your control your service with a small green and red sided chip. The green side signals the "gaucho" to bring out skewers of sizzling meats to the table, when it is sliced and served. When you are satisfied, flip the disc to the red side until you are ready for more offerings. That will take me long time to describe every meat cut served at Fogo de Chao. Let's go over the special one: "Picanha" (Top Sirloin) which is the house specialty. They prepare picanha in two different ways: the traditional light seasoning, with sea salt and a more robust garlic seasoned version. I definitely prefer it seasoned only with sea salt. This way the original taste of the meat is preserved and I can enjoy the flavor much better. If you have room for a dessert, they have a delicious selection. My preferred one is the papaya cream. Made with papaya, vanilla ice cream and Crème de Cassis liqueur. Just delicious! Another strong point to register here, their A Class staff. On a restaurant business, a big differential is not keep asking you if you need something, but in provide you with what you want at the time you need it. People at Fogo de Chao know how to do that very well. I have enjoyed many different Brazilian steak houses when leaving for long time in Brazil, and for sure Fogo de Chao is the best one that I have tried in Colorado.
(5)Carolyn G.
Hit or miss on the meat- some good - some really dry. I had the salad bar too and ended up getting sick. Like a really really really expensive denny's but only with meat.
(1)Jelena W.
They're open! They're open! Finally! At last! Huzzah! Gratuitous exclamation points! That said, I thought Fogo de Chao in Philadelphia had alarmingly attentive service, but the waitstaff at the new Denver location make Fogo Philly look like a greasy spoon. I suspect they've brought in some of their best servers from other locations around the country (one of the gauchos mentioned he had worked in the Beverly Hills location) to help get things started in Denver. So, if you can pay a visit while this location is brand new, do so, and you'll enjoy service so good that you're tempted to just hand your wallet to the nearest waiter. Want to know how good the service was? My boyfriend wears a lot of black. Okay, he wears only black, with the occasional red accent. Anyway, we arrived and he headed for the restroom while I made a beeline for the salad bar (Parmesan! Prosciutto! I missed you both so much!) to fill a plate. I was away from our table for only a moment, but, like magic, my boyfriend's white napkin had been replaced by a black one when we returned to the table. I mean, seriously? They're already carrying around hunks of bloody, meaty deliciousness and serving every freaking table in the restaurant at the same time, and they found time to notice his color preference and quietly adjust his napkin to match? I dare you to eat here, tip less than 25%, and not feel like the worst person in the world for it. Not convinced yet? Allow me to continue. My boyfriend is very attached to his coat; also, it had our gift card in it (a birthday gift from my mother). Hence, he did not allow anyone to take his coat. Moments after he declined the offer to take his coat, a waiter appeared with a cloth to cover it on the back of the chair so that no meat drippings would go astray and mar said favorite coat. Still not enough? How about this: Every time I got up for any reason, whether to revisit the salad bar or wash my hands, a server appeared out of nowhere to pull out my chair when I was ready to sit back down. Glorious. "But, Jelena," you say, "You haven't even mentioned the food!" The food, you say? You want to hear about the food? I'd love to tell you all about the tender crescents of picanha with their perfectly seasoned outer crust and delicate pink centers, or about the beef ancho juicy enough to melt in the mouth, or even the bacon-wrapped filet mignon fit for kings, but I'm still in a well-earned food coma. Wake me in a week or so. Forget Helen of Troy. I'm pretty sure it was picanha that launched a thousand ships. I know if someone took my picanha, I'd send an armada to take it back. I know you're drooling all over your keyboard and ready to go make your reservations, but bear with me for just a moment more. Let me tell you about the magical end to the evening. You see, it was my birthday yesterday. Fogo opens July 23rd, my birthday is July 26th, just try and convince me that it isn't a birthday present from the universe. I dare you. I, indulging a bit on my birthday, got a chocolate martini and we shared a creme brulee for dessert. In order to avoid appearing self-centered or any possibility of singing, I hadn't mentioned my birthday to the staff. We simply enjoyed dessert and asked for the check. When a server returned with our receipt, my boyfriend complimented him by saying, "Thank you for making her birthday evening wonderful." The server mentioned that Fogo offers complimentary desserts on birthdays, and offered to remove the dessert from our bill. I said it wasn't necessary but would be very kind. He took the check back and we sat for a few moments trying not to move too much lest we explode. Suddenly, the server returned with an envelope. "Normally we do complimentary desserts on birthdays," he said, "But instead, since this is a new restaurant, we got you a gift card for dinner for two. A present for the birthday." I gaped. We gave our enthusiastic thanks. A free dinner for two? Holy picanha, Batman! As we stumbled out of the restaurant in awe, I saw that the valet had already pulled my car around and opened the door for me. There was a time when I would have laughed at the very suggestion that I should pay over $100 for dinner and drinks for two people at a chain restaurant. That was before I met Fogo. What are you waiting for? Go! Devour! Be pampered! Enjoy!
(5)lauren b.
After hearing raves about Fogo de Chao and reading the great reviews here on Yelp, I was pretty ecstatic when my fiance won a gift card here on the radio (yay sports radio!). The service was spectacular. The host lead us directly to our table (we had made a res earlier in the day) and our first of many servers highly recommended the Brazilian version of a mojito to drink. We took him up on his suggested and were glad we did. The drink was very mojitio-esq but was stiff enough that it lasted all dinner. Props to the bartenders at Fogo de Chao. The salad bar was everything we expected and more. I seriously want to go back just for the cheese, prosciutto, and exotic salad experience. The side dishes that were brought to the table were ok - I wasn't a big fan of the bananas (they were soggy to me) and the mashed potatoes (albeit I'm not a mashed potatoes fan [I KNOW]) but the cheese popovers were bomb. They seriously tasted like cheezits mashed into a light, fluffy roll. The meat was pretty good. I was scared to flip my card over to the green side in fear of being swarmed with overzealous servers, so I let my fiance try it out first. I seriously think that the servers can spot the wrist flip of the card from across the room because they literally appear at your table with meat ready to carve IMMEDIATELY. When I finally had the courage to try the meat I only tried a few - the steak (not usually a big steak fan but it was delicious) and the bacon wrapped chicken were easily my favorites. I tried one bite of meat that tasted a bit fatty, but overall it was pretty good. I'll be back - it's a great place to take out of town guests or if you want to binge and stuff yourself to the brim. In all honesty, I wouldn't mind coming back just to enjoy the drinks and salad bar.
(4)Jenna A.
Ate here last night for Restaurant Week and had a blast! It was pretty packed in but I still was able to get a reservation for 12 at 8pm on a Monday...made on Sunday at 9pm. Yes! The waiters, gaucho chefs and meat cutter specialists were spectacular. Every minute I had a new meat being cut off right next to me..thankfully no meat juice splatter considering they're pros. My boyfriend was even speaking Portguese to many of them, so authentic! Most of the women in the group don't eat a lot of red meat but we were devouring everything that came by. The men in the group were getting meat sweats. Those mashed potatoes and bananas were delightful. The salad bar is amazing, as well, with the most delicious cheeses and enormous vegetables. Dessert comes with the $52.80 meal and with 12 people we all got to sample. Between Turtle Cheesecake, Chocolate Mousse and Key Lime..the winner was...The Key Lime! I'd go back for a cold slice of that pie anytime. $52.80 is a spectacular deal for everything we got. Great service and food options. Will go back anyday!
(5)Paul D.
I absolutely love this place. As soon as you're ready for the main course you flip your little card from red to green and are assaulted instantly by guys with hot meat and knives....wait that doesn't sound very pleasant. Seriously though. The service is insane. Your drinks are never empty, you can get a clean plate in an instant, and the filet mignon, Picanha and other cuts of meat are spectacular. If you appreciate great cuts of meat cooked to perfection this place is a must. I've also gone there with people that are not steak fans and they left happy and full from the other items on the menu. Seriously one of my favorite places.
(5)Ronnie A.
Probably my first or second 5-Star! YES! This is the best Brazillian Steakhouse to happen in Denver! Flawless service and even better cuts of meat! Salad bar was top notch and compliments the meats very well. Their Papaya Cream is an amazing sealer to the entire meal experience. I went there during lunch time with my out of state family who were visiting for the weekend. A group of 5. My parents opted for the salad bar only and still were impressed with their taste and selection. Coming from folks who are adhered to home cooked meals, says a lot about what Fogo is providing in their salad bars! Me and my brother are true carnivores and we turn our signs GREEN right away and the mind boggling aroma and the sizzle of the meats started to encumber our sights and minds! My favorites were: Lamb Leg, Lamb Chops and Garlic Beef. My least fav was the chicken! I would have liked more seasoning and more grilled texture on those rather than the crispy fried texture! The side dishes were as good as rest fo their items. The fried banana was amazin and went well with their cheese rolls. Mashed potato was great as well. We also tried their Guarana Soda, Espresso Shot, Papaya Cream, and Creme Brule. All were very pleasant to our tastebuds! Lastly, I want to compliment their service one more time. They probably set the standard for dine in expereince we look for. Royal treatment is what I would call it!
(5)Serenity M.
A few of my friends and I came here for restaurant week. I was soo excited to try their "15 cuts" of different meats! I mean- I'm not a carnivore, but 15?!?! haha. Yeah-NO. So from those 15, 2 types are sausages, 3 are chicken, i'm not sure if they count the bacon that was wrapped around meats as one but the rest were less than mediocre meats that were tough to chew, by no means were these meats tender. Not only were they tough to chew, some were OVERLY salty while others tasted under-seasoned. The only one I really enjoyed was the filet mignon. That was the only one with consistent seasoning and tenderness. The one good thing I have to say is in regards to their service, which is pretty good. The servers replace the side dishes all throughout dinner, and even though your plates of mashed potatoes, cheesy bread, and plantains aren't finished they'll give you a fresh batch! Oh and the salad bar that everyone raves about has you're regular run of the mill salad stuff, some salmon (also salty), pepperoni, really hard bacon, mushrooms, and asparagus. I recommend not eating a lot at the salad bar to save room for the mediocre meat, also if in the middle of your meal you feel like you can no longer taste the difference between the meats, refresh your palette by grabbing something from the salad bar.
(3)Miriam K.
First, if you don't like meat, this is not a place for you. Fogo de Chao is a "rodizio", all you can eat meat Brazilian style. The salad bar was beautiful but I didn't try much from there. The picanha was suculent and the tastier I had in ages. The fraldinha was the other best meat. All the meats were very tasty and well prepared. But to enjoy your experience there, I recommend you try to eat like a Brazilian does: control your red/green tag wisely; choose the meats you really love; eat slowly, enjoy every byte; don't overdo on the salad bar or the "pao de queijo" (cheese bread). That is hard as all the side dishes are excellent. Besides the high quality food, the service is wonderful: discrete and extremely efficient.
(5)Neal J.
First visit to Fogo in Denver and like the others it doesn't disappoint. A group of us went to Fogo for a team dinner, which we frequently do when traveling, but since a new one opened in Denver, we obviously had to go. Frequent diners of Fogo de Chao know how important it is to pace yourself. The caipirinhas from the bar are a delicious way to start off the meal. Then it's off to an amazing salad bar, but be careful not to fill up here because you'll need all your appetite for the main course. Once you are ready for the main course, flip your marker to green and the stream of servers carrying different delicious meats on a skewer parade by your table carving off as much or as little as you want. If you need a break, turn your marker to red and they will bypass you until you flip it green again. I really love this place, especially for group settings as they have several party rooms which can accommodate a wide range of party sizes. As an extra special treat, we were given a tour of the restaurant and kitchen. Definitely a 5 star Brazilian steakhouse, hands down better than Rodizio.
(5)Jonathan W.
Hi all This past Wednesday we were invited down to Fogo de Chao ( fogodechao.com ) the night before it opened to try out its offerings. I will be honest that when we were invited, the first thing that went through my head is, "Wow, that's only a few blocks away from the Rodizio Grill. Either the folks at Fogo are crazy for setting up so close to another very popular Brazilian steakhouse or they must think they are just that much better and I was very interested to find out which it was. If you haven't been to a Brazilian steakhouse before, it is a pretty interesting set up. When you first enter you see several servers moving around the room very quickly. They carry different meats on skewers from table to table and it seems to be a bit chaotic. But after you watch it a bit it actually resembles some well choreographed dance. The basic concept is it's an all you can eat steakhouse.... Yes, yes I know most of us think of all you can eat type places and just know the food is going to be fair at best, but somehow that is not the case here. The meat is brought to your table and carved tableside for you and somehow it is always served nice and hot. There is also a large salad bar (though by calling the one at Fogo a salad bar is doing it an injustice). The salad bar is all you can eat as well, which makes a big problem as far as I am concerned. The darn salad bar had so many things I wanted to try it made it hard to save room for the meats. Part 1: The "salad bar" After we sat down and our drink orders were taken they brought us some hot cheese bread. These were hot and with a nice bit of gooey cheese in the middle. After enjoying one of those we headed over to the salad bar. Wow, this is not your normal everyday salad bar the first thing we ran into was marinated shitake mushrooms followed by several different peppers, fresh heart of palm, artichoke, incredible sun dried tomatoes, asparagus, fresh ball mozzarella cheese, 3 different cheeses, some very nice salmon (yes on the salad bar) and other meats, fresh bread and of course 3 or 4 different salads. Another nice touch was some nice Olive oil and Balsamic sitting on top of the bar. I am not going to go through each item but everything was very good with the stand outs for me being the red peppers which were sweet with a nice but not over powering rush of heat at the end, he wonderful asparagus, and the shitake mushrooms... mmmmm mushrooms. When we finished enjoying that, we were given fresh plates and my father (for a steakhouse seemed to be a good place to bring dad)ordered some wine which they seem to have a great selection. Part 2: Meat! I am not going to go over everything we had that but will mention the high and lows. Best: "Picanha" which is the house specialty. This is a sirloin cut and seasoned with sea salt. I also enjoyed the Filet Mignon. Both of these cuts of meats were incredible and melted in your mouth. It was tender and perfectly cooked. I have been to very good steakhouses that did not have meat this good and the ones that did have meat this good you could defiantly not keep on asking for more! Other memorable cuts were the" Lombo" pork loin filets crusted with parmesan. These were also incredible and would be something I would recommend seeking out purposely if you do head out there. The other meats with one exception were all very well cooked and prepared and we made sure to try each one (even if towards the end we were asking them to cut the smallest bit they could). It is amazing to me that they can serve so many different items table side constantly and keep them hot and perfectly cooked. Some sort of magic if you ask me. Only one item to me was not very good. That was the costela de poreo (pork ribs). I found my cut to be a bit dry and so did not enjoy them but to be fair both Barb and my father who came along with us enjoyed it. Part 3: Dessert When we finally turned over to the red side of the indicator for the last time and prepared ourselves to go we were asked if we wanted to try dessert. We looked at each other and decided, "What the heck!" Any thought of diets or portion control had been blown away that night. Suffice it to say the desserts were of the same quality of the meal. So good in fact we actually polished them off completely even after that huge meal and that is a compliment indeed. My father could not quit talking about the coffee that he had with dessert, not being a coffee drinker myself I cannot say, but for him to praise his coffee it must have been darn good. We can see now why they felt confident enough to place Fogo de Chao where they did. In our opinion it is at a higher level than its close neighbor. From the prompt attentive wait staff to the perfectly cooked meats and great salad bar only one thing really comes to mind when we both think of that night...... YUMMMMMM. If you would like to see some pictures of our meal feel free to take a peek at our blog.
(4)Taylor L.
Oh, Fogo de Chao. Why do you make every evening magical? This is a tale of unfortunate circumstances, valiantly kept at bay with the awesome powers of customer service. I know Fogo de Chao. I have drunk the Kool-Aid. I began my indoctrination at their restaurant in Chicago. Finding that they were about to open a location in Denver made my little heart sing with joy. I immediately went on their website and made a reservation for lunch the day after they opened. Two hours before our reservation, my friend received a call from Fogo. After a few minutes of conversation, he turned to me. "I have good news and I have bad news. The bad news is apparently before they changed the website, the system allowed them to accept reservations for lunch. They're not actually open for lunch today, or any day until August." My heart, upon hearing these words, nearly sprang a leak. I hadn't eaten all that morning, knowing I would be in a meat-induced coma by that afternoon. "The good news is that they feel so terrible about the computer glitch that they've invited us to make a reservation for anytime we like this evening, and they'll pay for our dinner." My heart, upon hearing these words, ran for cover, because it knew I was about to bombard it with cholesterol and alcohol and many other 'ol's including Fol-de-rol-lol, O Joyous Day. We went that evening. Everything was just as I remembered it. We had waiters who were so attentive that one actually caught my fork midway to the floor as I dropped it. I had two capirinhas that appeared to be poured directly out of the mouth of a benevolent god. We ate every kind of meat they had, and many twice, and we never let the picanha man go by our table, ever. We think he knew this. He was there a lot. We drank ice wine that had been squeezed into its delicious nectar by fairies, and soothed our abused tummies with papaya and strawberry cream. The manager came by to apologize again for our "inconvenience" and I'm afraid we very nearly laughed at him. As we picked up our car from the valet, we discovered valet parking was free. Oh, Fogo. We're so glad you're here. Never stop being you.
(5)Janora C.
Finally had a chance to try this place Saturday night! Maybe a dumb idea since it was the first night of restaurant week and they were running an hour and a half behind on reservations but I think it ended up being fine since we had a late reservation and there seemed to be a mass exodus of all the 7pm reservations so we ended up waiting only about 20 mins. In any case, this place is ideal for a large groups, it's a large restaurant and they have complimentary valet-- both awesome when you're trying to eat in LoDo! I can't even remember all the meat I ate, it was ridiculous. Let's just say I definitely had the meat sweats by the time I left (is that TMI?!). The side dishes were good too, especially the polenta and friend bananas. We ordered a large pitcher of Sangria to share with the table-- amazing. It was like a liquored fruit salad. Trying to get my mom to come down and take me here for my bday, yummy! Also, is it just me or is the staff ridiculously good looking?
(5)Jarred F.
Just average Brazilian steakhouse to us. We had HIGH hopes for this place, having heard such great things from friends back east, with people even saying this was the 'best' Churrascaria out there. While the meats were good and the salad bar decent, we found the entire experience very average. To begin with the salad bar was just not as sophisticated as other Brazilian steakhouse experiences, with it just being sparse and not very colorful. The roasted peppers weren't even very roasted. Some of the meats were over seasoned, salty, and even a bit dry at times. Nothing besides the Picanhna was tender, with most cuts being tough.
(3)John R.
When planning my soon-to-be Brother-in-laws (thats a lof ot hyphens) bachelor party I wanted it to be a memorable night. So when I thought about where 15 guys would want to eat dinner Fogo De Chao was an easy choice. What fits better with men then unlimited meat. When we first arrived we grabbed a drink at the bar. Nice and quaint, nothing extremely memorable. Walking through the restaurant to our table was kind of exciting as you are weaving through plenty of meat carrying workers. The waiter we had was kind of an ass who insisted we shut up so he can explain how the system works even though all of us had been to a place like this. However, the rest of the staffw as very nice, polite and helpful. So the meats started coming. 93% of them were delicious. The Filet, House Specialty, Parm Pork, some others were absolutly fantastic. There are some to stay away from: the ones that look like suasuage links, the chicken wrapped in bacon, and by far the worst thing there is the lamb chops. These were the worst I have ever had, which is strange given how outstanding to good everything else was. The Salad Bar (which is not your ordinary Salad Bar) was very disappointing. I had read and heard that this was outstanding. This is not the case. Besides your typical salad and cheese and light meats there was nothing to scream about. They could step up their game on this one. Random Fact: Groups of bachelor parties tend to cause scenes and with the fast paced energy in that place it fits in perfectly, especially when you scream and yell at the first guy to turn his circle to red (what a woman). Helpful Hint: Try everything they got and if you don't like it push it to the side. Then after you have had it all be sure to tell a waiter what kinds of meat you want to come back around. This will save you a lot of time telling the guys with the crap meat no.
(4)Brian G.
It's a meatapoloza...what else can you say? I've never been at a loss for words so I will try and elaborate. The wife and I have been a handful of times and haven't been let down once. Service is impeccable and a true team effort that boarders on clairvoyance. They seem to know what each other is doing at all times while maintaining fresh plates, full glasses and pulling out your chair. The meats are brought around at a furious pace with may of them sizzling as they hit you plate. I prefer all my meats mid rare to rare and the wife is mid rare to medium. This posed very little challenge for the nomadic waiter waiting to shave meat to your plate. This is not the most realxing restaurants however. it is (because it has to be) in constant motion. Ifd you don't want to be interupted, this is not the place for you.
(4)Valeda S.
Our night during Restaurant Week was a ton of fun and the food was very good. Mind blowing, not really, but very good. It's a great social environment, there were 6 of us ladies out for "Meat Night", and for $26 the experience was well worth the price, however I'd hesitate to go back at full price. Although the service was fantastic (may be due to the fact that a bunch of Brazilian guys can really have fun waiting on a table full of ladies), I was a little off put by the obvious Restaurant Week setup - new tables were popping up left and right with folding chairs. Folding chairs! Probably the best item I had all night was the garlic beef, otherwise everything else was solid; not bad, but not going down in the history books either. If I could give this place 3.5 stars I would, but because of the fun we had, the service and the price I'll give Fogo the benefit of the doubt!
(4)Jisha J.
I love Fogo. I have tried all of the other Brazilian steakhouses and this place is still my absolute favorite. The meat is always delicious! They always bring out these little cheese puffs along with mashed potatoes, fried polenta, and caramelized plantains. All of these sides are outstanding. The salad bar is wonderful as well. They have a variety of deli meats, veggies, and yummy cheeses. The service is always wonderful and you might as well keep your card on green so you can try all the wonderful meats!
(5)Anthony S.
Expensive! This place is double if not triple Expensive. A good buffet with drinks is about 15 USD. This place, just for one person is three times that. Then there's drinks no refills and dessert to go. The place is chic but, casual. Very nice bricks and mortar. The staff, for the most part are right on, as well is the food. The salad bar is gastro pleasing with meat, cheeses, and pickled assortments to go with your salad fixings. The carmelized bananas are good ( I like these for breakfast) but, the mashed potatoes seem cheeky (out of the box fresh); both come with the meal. But, really the servings throughout the meal are right on delicious. The great atmosphere and constant attention of the staff are expected for the price. Everything about this place was at the top Including the price. A small 6 oz coke in a bottle was 2.95/ I had three. Dessert was a casual 9.00 USD. I had a half filled glass of mango creme and kahlua like syrup added. I didn't like the buttermilk, spoilt taste of the creme. Thank goodness for the syrup. I actually got change back from a Benjamin after a good tip. It was indeed a wonderful onetime experience.
(5)Derec S.
My experience with Fogo was a couple weeks after they opened. It's a challenging location given a major competitor is three blocks down, within easy walking distance. The service was great and the staff was really friendly and attentive. I meat was delicious and I had to pace myself, flipping between the green and red, to avoid being bombarded with succulent and juicy prime rib, lamb, chicken, and sausages. The salad bar was great but didn't seem to have the selection of other Brazilian churascarias in town. While it seemed enough for me, that was the feedback from my vegetarian companion. We enjoyed our night out and would go back but it's probably lower down on our list than other similar places though it's close to where I live.
(4)Elizabeth B.
Wow! My family and I had my Dad's 50th birthday here. Amazing customer service, delicious food and a beautiful, upscale atmosphere. The salad bar is amazing! So much variety and the desserts and wine list were to die for. I hope to visit this place again in the future!
(5)Adrian M.
Overall- the service, food and atmosphere was excellent. The meat was just absolutely the best. The atmosphere was upclass and prestine. Service was all smiles from the entrance all the way to end of lunch. The only thing is - well it still is not too pricey but a bit up there. A.
(4)Mikey Y.
Eating here rendered all previous meals inadequate. This statement is all encompassing (service, food, drinks, etc.).
(5)Stephanie M.
Pricey, but good experience. Worth at least one trip!
(5)diane s.
Typical Brazilian Barbeque. Attentive staff, average salad bar, but DELICIOUS barbeque. We were a party of three new to Denver, but looking for some food adventure. I have been to other chain Brazilian barbecue places, but decided to try something new. Fogo de Chao did not disappoint. Attention by staff was superb, drinks amazing. Great for large parties.
(4)Bonnie F.
Just went for the first time, it was great. Some of the meat was a little salty, but overall it was good. Love those cheesy bread muffins.
(4)Jason S.
This place is great! Huge salad bar! Its pretty straight forward, you get a coaster with one side red and the other side green. Red=no more meat and Green=Slice it up dude! I walked about stuffed. I did not eat the next day I was so full.
(4)Liliana T.
As a meat lover couple, both my husband and I really love the "Gaucho" Brazilian grill where you can eat as much meat as your tummy allows. We're so happy to hear about Fogo de Chao. I immediately made a reservation online for my husband's birthday dinner today (Sunday). I didn't know if they do something special for the birthday boy, so I put my request on the birthday dessert on the special request note when I made the reservation. It was fast and easy. Me likey this restaurant already :-) We got there about 10 minutes late because of the Rockies Game, but the waiter seated us immediately and our server immediately explained to us how the system works in a very pleasant manner. We started with the salad. Oh...it's a salad bar from heaven! Marinated shiitake mushroom, roasted sun-dried tomatoes, asparagus, thin sliced bacons, pepperoni, cheese and varieties of antipasti, fresh homemade vinaigrette dressing, basil cream sauce, oh I can go on and on...:-) As soon as we finished eating our salad, we flipped our card to the green side. We didn't wait long, a parade of grilled meat started immediately: lamb chop, fillet mignon, ribeye, sirloin, pork loin, all the meat goodness. They are nicely seasoned and very tender. My husband said that the pork loin is a tad too dry, but the beef are delicious. While the "gaucho" chefs were serving us with the meat, our server placed the mashed potato, caramelized banana and fried polenta on our table. These side dishes were also good - I especially enjoyed the polenta and the banana. The service didn't just stop there. When *any* of the server saw us just sitting on the table with empty plate, they immediately came to our table and asked if everything is fine and if there's a certain dish/meat we would like to be served. And as soon as we placed our meat request, the picanhas came to our table in less than 5 minutes. That's impressive! We really appreciate the servers attentiveness to the customers and the fast response of our requests. In the beginning of my story, I mentioned about putting a special dessert request for my husband, the birthday guy. Nobody mentioned anything about it and since my husband said that he's full, I didn't make any attempt to ask about it. But to our surprise, our server came to our table with a big plate of chocolate molten cake with vanilla ice cream and fresh sliced strawberries with a "Happy Birthday" writing with red and green sauce. WOW!!! This really shows that they DO read my request and they served it just on the right time. Fogo de Chao, I must say, this is the BEST Dining experience my husband and I ever had. You made the birthday dinner more special and personal with your great service and attentiveness. You can be sure we will come back again for our second, third and numerous visit in near future :-)
(5)Adrian C.
Been there three times now, and I can definitely state it is worth every penny. Some complain the food is salty, but you can ask for custom servings, if you're sensitive. The wait staff is very attentive, which is awesome. However, I can understand that some prefer to be left alone - this is not you're typical restaurant; it's an experience. Try it out, don't be too critical, and enjoy!
(5)Mel H.
This is a gluten free review. I went during 5280, which was a great deal. If I didn't need to be gluten free I would give this place only 3 stars. There is so much a person who needs to be gluten or wheat free can eat here, but I am spoiled from going to Texas de Brazil (their salad bar is amazing and their meat were better, but it's pretty far away from us). We also had a reservation, but were not seated for about 45 minutes after it, and that was a little annoying. We tried almost everything here, the chicken and pork were dry, just like any other churrascaria, so we didn't eat much of that. The lamb chops were better than Texas de Brazil, not gamey even a little bit. The beef was just not seasoned quite as well to us and a couple of the side pieces were a little burned tasting. For dessert we had creme brulee (excellent), cheesecake (excellent) and the key lime pie, which my friend picked the crust and top off (okay to good depending on how you like your key-lime). I went with my husband and one of my best friends and they agreed that if we are going to go, we will go to Texas de Brazil, but this location is better (closer) and the atmosphere was good.
(4)April G.
This is my favorite restaurant!!! I tried out Fogo De Chao on Saturday night and was blown away! The ambiance was amazing! The food was delicious, there was a large variety of meats, a fantastic salad bar, and the service was the best I have ever had! If you would like to be treated liked a star go to Fogo De Chao!
(5)Kenny Z.
Meat, baby!
(4)Renley R.
YUM! Ok, so while I can go on forever about how great the food is here and how professional the atmosphere is (you can actually have a conversation here) or about how accomodating the staff was on my visit (made me feel like it king :) ) I would first like to instead mention a rule to be kept in mind when dining here: Pace yourself. The food is so good you will want to fill you place with every pass. And since the portions are as generaous as you wish, you can get full fast. But there are so many optiosn to try, some are very much worth having a second bite, so chew lots of times, eat slow and savour every bite. Also don't be afraid to ask for a slive of meat to be cooked a little more or less, they are very willing to make sure you have the meal cooked to your exact liking. So with that said, the meat selections are great. There is so little more I can say other than - its fresh meat cooked to your specifications what is there not to like? How about the meal "garnish" aka the salad bar? Smoked salmon, mouth watering chicken salad, and many fresh produce to fill you up well before the main course arrives. Get a bottle or two of their imported Brazilian beer and pretend like you are in Sao Paolo.
(5)Lisa X.
After reading through some yelp.com reviews last night, my friend and I decided to give this place a try. Oh my gosh! It was a great experience. The salad bar was wonderful. It wasn't a normal salad bar. It had items on it like hearts of palm, sun-dried tomatoes, pesto, Boston bibb lettuce, green beans, peppadews, and all other sorts of neat-o stuff. Next, they brought side dishes and these wonderful cheese puffs that melted in your mouth. I think I ate 6 of them. Yum! The side dishes were mashed potatoes, Parmesan polenta, and sauteed bananas. The bananas and polenta were very good. Once we flipped our cards to green, the meat parade started. Each meat chef stopped by our table with a different cut of meat, each one delicious. My favorite was the Filet Mignon. It was tender and mouthwatering. We both had dessert which was Flan and Creme Brulee. Both very good, but we were really too full to enjoy it. The service was very attentive to the point that you couldn't finish a conversation before being interrupted by meat or water refills. Not a bad thing. My friend says the only thing lacking was some Brazilian music. I think the dining experience was great and definitely one of those places that you go to for special events and not very often since you pretty much end up in a meat coma at the end.
(5)James Z.
Absolutely spectacular. Everything was delicious. Fantastic atmosphere and an awesome dinner. Highly recommended.
(5)Myla P.
If it weren't for those pesky USDA guidelines that say to eat fruits and vegetables as part of a balanced diet, I would be a carnivore. Well, maybe that's not entirely true; if I had Fogo de Chao's salad bar at my disposal for every meal, eating enough vegetables would not be an issue. Make sure you come to this restaurant hungry. Not to get your money's worth, but to be able to sample everything they have to offer. Your experience starts with the salad bar, which features only a couple traditional American salad bar ingredients, followed by prosciutto, salami, cheese, artichoke hearts, hearts of palm, marinated tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, , beets, and asparagus. You are also given a basket of cheese bread. It's very difficult to not fill up during this first course. Flip your coaster over to green. Your plate is immediately exchanged for a clean one, and you are assaulted by gauchos bearing swords filled with meat. Linguica sausage, bacon-wrapped chicken, pork ribs, flank steak, top round, bottom round, sirloin, leg of lamb, lamb chops, parmesan-crusted pork loin, filet mignon, ribeye, and my personal favorite and house specialty: Picanha. Make sure to flip your coaster to red and take a break from time to time. Side dishes of fried bananas, crispy polenta and mashed potatoes are served with the meat and replenished constantly. Also, be sure to save room for dessert! The key lime pie and the chocolate mousse cake are both amazing. We went for my birthday and my dessert was complimentary. As for drinks, I have had their house pinot noir and their Caiprinha, and both are very good. This is not a cheap dinner by any means, but very reasonable for the quality of food and service you receive, especially when compared to more pretentious expensive restaurants nearby. You also can't beat the complimentary valet parking right next to the restaurant, so you can just waddle your over-stuffed self back to your car.
(5)Mike S.
Holy meat-on-a-stick! Never in my life have I had more meat thrown at me (not literally) than when I was at Fogo's. For $40 you get two all-you-can-eat courses. Vegetarians beware! The first course "salad bar" is not your ordinary Village Inn salad bar. It's stocked with prosciutto, smoked salmon, sun-dried tomatoes and balls of mozzarella. The second course consists of dudes with giant skewers of meat running around that they shave off onto your plate. Fillets, lamb chops, sausage, rib-eye, and the list goes on. The service couldn't have been better. Just when you thought you were ready to take a break, BAM!, another 3 pounds of beef is on your plate. And they were very patient with our very loud and obnoxious group. Extra points to them for not kicking us out.
(5)Mar S.
Amazing food! Amazing service! Nothing negative to say (except that it's pretty pricey). Just bring your biggest appetite and make sure you love meat. They even gave us a complimentary dessert for our birthday celebration.
(5)Charlotte S.
what say about it ? I mean is the best steakhouse around Denver where you don't only eat meat, but get to enjoy the salad bar, and authentic Brazilian food as well, and lots of it. and they keep bring you more meat, and more meat ;-) that's the "rodizio" style. love that, and I am coming back soon :-) the service as always was excellent , my plate never got empty, my friends all loved the place, the price, well its not a cheap place, but then again, you pay for what you get and at fogo de chao it is worthy every penny. I am very very happy and full ;-) I am Brazilian too, and every time i miss home, I go there to eat picanha and drink guarana yummy ;-)
(5)Liz S.
One word: gauche.
(3)Jessica T.
Have you ever just said the name really fast a few times? Try it! It's a good time! My husband and I just dined there with some very good friends. None of us were new to the Brazilian steakhouse experience, but this was my first time at this particular restaurant. There's something inherently wonderful about men walking around ready to carve delicious, fire grilled meat to you at the flip of a card. The ambiance was wonderful, the salad bar was a dream, and the meat was fall off the bone delicious. Then, to add insult to fat kid injury, they have those amazing cheese rolls, fried polenta with parmesan cheese, and caramelized bananas. I normally don't make it very far at an endless eating situation, but this time I paced myself and was even able to share a dessert with my love. And by share I mean he ate most of it and I had a few delightful spoonfuls and gave up. Since my eyelids are heavy just typing this review, I think some cardio might be in order. Tomorrow. After I wake from my food coma.
(4)Zina S.
We were impressed by the quality of food and the service in this place when we found out this is a chain restaurant! The variety of meats is wide and the quality is high. All the meats were juicy and well seasoned. The salad bar was well stocked with all sorts of veggies and salad trimmings. This place was a real treat and worth the price.
(5)Ray R.
If you're a lover of well prepared food, like a finer dinning feel, but want all you can eat, this is the place. Any fat guy worth a quarter of his weight knows what the colors mean at a Brazilian BBQ, green means go, red means I'm stuffed, but bring me more of those cheese puff bread things while I prepare for round two. Don't pig out on just one thing though, go for the experience, try a bit of everything. If ya like something, no worries, it'll come back to visit. Save some room for dessert, gluttony isn't wasted here, but selective gluttony is more enjoyable. I had great service, was worth the price, wide variety, good salad bar & desserts. If you aren't a carnivore, it's still not a bad place to chow down. Have been there multiple occations and still have the same opinion.
(4)Dee S.
Located at 15th and Wynkoop, What I would call the NW corner. There is complimentary valet parking right next to the restaurant. Don't park anywhere else because it's too expensive and some of the parking garages are only made for little compact cars. On to the restaurant. There is this salad bar that is included with the price. When crowded, it's hard to determine where to line up. There is only one salad bar so it's takes time to get around the bar once you even find where the line is. Quality of the salad bar was good. I was determined to not fill up on the salad bar. I liked the beets, bacon, cold cuts, smoked salmon, olives and mushrooms from the salad bar. At the table they give you a cardboard coaster disc. Green on one side red on the other side. Face it with green up means you want meat. Red up, pass me up. Then you get these guys coming around with spindles of meat. They tell you what it is but it was hard to understand. I just has to ask, is it beef? And they usually say what it is again with more terms. Anyway, they give you these tongs and you're supposed to use the tongs to grab the meat as they cut the meat off the spindle. Well, I didn't know that so the first time the guy came by, he sat there and I was wondering why he was pausing. I finally realized, with help from friends at the table, what I was supposed to do with the tongs. Now I have the hang of it. I tried a lot of meat. Sausages, chicken with bacon, pork ribs, all kinds of sirlion, pork, chicken leg, I found the meat to be salty. They give you fried banana, mashed potatoes, fried polenta, and a brazillian puff type bread. The mashed potatoes and bread worked good to counter the saltiness of the meat. 6 hours later, I'm still craving water. I got to the point when the guy would cut a part of that would be the salty part, I'd ask him to cut off from a different part. Went during 5280, so that was why it was crowded. I don't know the normal price for dinner, but for $26.40, it was a good deal.
(3)Robert C.
For a meat eater who also thrills in a great salad bar, this place ranks among the best. The waiters, in their gaucho get-up, roam around the tables with skewers of freshly roasted meats of all kinds and cuts. Just make sure your little coaster (green on one side, red on the other) is showing the color you want (green for "more" and red for "I'm full for now") or the waiters will keep coming at you with more meat. Service was top rate, and the South American wines, in large Bordeaux-type stemware, went very well with the meal. Would make it a stop every time I pass through Denver (they are a chain, in other cities as well).
(5)Becky H.
My husband and I have dined here 4 times now and every single time we've had outstanding service and the food is to die for. I love the salad bar - they offer a wide variety of salads, cold meats, cheeses and other items. After you whet your palate with that, it's time for the meat-fest. You can eat and eat and eat to your heart's content. You can tell the waiters how you like the meat cooked and they'll slice off a piece according to what you ask for, so no worries about getting under or overdone meat. And if you don't like it, leave it on your plate and try the next cut! Along with the meat, they bring mashed potatoes, grilled bananas, polenta and this divine cheese bread. I would come here just for the cheese bread. Yes, it's that good. It is a little pricier than we usually go for, but for special occasions, we always think of Fogo de Chao first! I love it!!
(5)T. F.
As close to perfection as a meat emporium can come. We made reservations for a birthday celebration, having never been here before (although visited rodizio type houses both in Brazil and New York). Here's a quick summary of our experience: beautiful room. Low noise level. Super-attentive courteous service. Excellent bar drinks. The buffet, typidal of rodizios, while not as varied as other places we'd been, featured cold foods of A-1 quality. Freshly baked pao-de-queijo mini rolls (Brazilian cheese-filled buns) were regularly served. Every meat --chicken, beef, lamb-- was tender and tasty. The fried polenta and mashed potatoes... same thing. The birthday guest was served a complimentary candle-topped cake portion on a beautiful decorated plate. 'Nuff said. This place is a winner. Pricey, but worth every $.
(5)Angelica F.
One word.... YUM!! We decided to take advantage of the Denver Restaurant Week prices on Tuesday night; $52.80 is a awesome deal for two people. We had a fantastic experience and had a blast sharing it with our friends. It's DRW so I expected most of the "pricier" restaurants to be booked and very busy. Of course, we did have to a couple minutes after our reservation before we were seated, but it's DRW, it's to be expected. The noise level was loud but not to the point where the four of us were screaming at each other over the table. This restaurant is huge with odd pictures on the walls, but that won't stop me from trying a place or lower my review ratings. We started our experience at the salad bar and was not disappointed at the selection that was offered. We seated ourselves at our designated table, finished our salad plates and waited 15 seconds after our cards were flipped to green before the first gaucho chef arrived. Our waiter and the many gaucho chefs were on top of their game for such a busy night! We were offered different meats left and right, it was a ravenous carnivorous feast. It was a little overwhelming at times with everything that was offered, but it was still fun. The sides of mashed potatoes, polenta, fried bananas and OMG the bread rolls that were filled with some kind of cheese were a-maz-ing. The selection of wine was pretty good too. For desert we had the Papaya Cream that was very delicious. (FYI: Take your spoon and rub it against the cinnamon that they use to decorate your plate with and combine it with the papaya cream. It's almost like listening to the sound of angels.) So many meats to choose from, sides that seemed to have magically appeared at our table, a good salad bar, phenomenal dessert and friendly attentive staff makes this a fabulous must-visit-in-the-near-future type of restaurant.
(5)Veronica W.
A meal at Fogo is not just a meal, it's an experience. From the moment you park at the complimentary valet it is something special. The staff make you feel like you are their only focus despite the fact that you are in a room with a couple hundred other people. The management has taken great time and care to make sure that their staff are there for you, and it's evident from the minute you walk in the door until you roll your stuffed belly out the door. If you are a stickler for service this is a restaurant for you. I never felt like I was being hawked by the staff, but I also never had a need/want for anything that there wasn't a staff person right there to get it for me. The food- spectacular. Do you have to like meat? To get your money's worth probably, but the salad bar & side dishes stand out as not to be missed. The fried bananas make an excellent contrast to the grilled meat. All that being said the meat is the reason you go. MEAT!! Lots of meat! Delicious, wonderful meat. mmmmm.... Now, the price. Yes, it's pricey. This is not somewhere you are going to go regularly unless you've got deep pockets and a giant stomach. It is somewhere that you go for special occasssions. It is somewhere that you expect to spend a lot and get every pennies worth and you do.
(5)Adebowale A.
My wife and I love meat and we're total fans of churrascarias. We've been to at least 9 Brazilian restaurants in different cites and 4 different Fogo de Chao's including the one in Beverly Hills which was expensive and in all our trips, this was THE BEST Brazilian churrascaria we've ever been to. The service especially was something to write home, call home or fax home about. Everyone was concerned with what you wanted, what you needed, what you liked and they were all willing to accomodate you. Not talking of the gauchos, e must have had at least 10 other people walking round to ensure you were well catered for. The food was totally seasoned, well done, medium or whichever way you wanted it done and the sides were also the same as any other Fogo. After dinner, we had a presentation of after dinner drunks and had a 150 year anniversary Grand Marnier which was heavenly. At the end of the meal we got a bill about two-thirds what we paid in Beverly Hills not drinking any alcohol. If you like meat, chicken and you visit Denver, you had better be at the Fogo!
(5)Kyle G.
WONDERFUL food ... deffinety expensive but all in all worth it ... wish they enforced a dress code, for the price and awesomeness shouldn't have to see rock and roll t-shirts and flip flops
(4)Lisa M.
Like the Fogo de Chao in Chicago and D.C., this restaurant featured outstanding service. The salad bar was well-stocked, varied, and fresh, and the Caipirinhas were spot on. The side of fried bananas was terrific, as were the rolls (what exactly do they put in those, anyway?). The filet was good, but I thought the sirloin was a bit tough. Really, the meat didn't do much for me. Creme brulee was a nice finishing touch. My companions couldn't stop raving about what a great experience they had. Definite thumbs up.
(4)Cookie M.
We went for restaurant week, and we didn't have any reservations. However, we were able to get seated right away. Props on that. But we did get there right when they opened. Salad bar was good (smoked salmon was delicious). I ate a bit too much from the salad bar. Advice--Make sure you limit yourself so you have room for the varieties of meats. Service was spot on. We barely took a slice of polenta or a carmelized banana, and the waiters whisked the plates away and gave us new ones. Made me think what happens to the leftovers. The meats were good, but started tasting the same after a while. Definitely liked the lamb and the filet. Good experience! Similiar to Rhodizio Grill; however, the salad bar here was better. But pretty much the same to me. Overall, a great experience!
(4)Patrick M.
Fantastic food and service. I talk about this place all the time and I have only been once. I had a blast! It was worth every penny. In fact I think I under paid. Excellent food.......just awesome. To date, the best I have ever had.
(5)Christina J.
Dear Yelp, Will you be my best friend? You always tell me about the most amazing places to eat, drink and make merry, and I think it's time I repaid the favor by making our BFF-ness official. While you're thinking on this request, let me enlighten you about the origins of this proposal. Thanks to your infinite wisdom I went to Fogo de Chao tonight, and had the most perfect meat I've eaten, probably ever. The picanha was just amazing. Even the fat was smoky and salty, and it literally melted in my mouth. I know that's probably a bit too graphic, considering that we're still not fully committed yet, but it needed to be said. Lest you think I'm so fickle as to base my desire to be your best friend on a single dish I'd also like to bring up the fact that the service was exceptional. From the free valet parking and complimentary coat check to the super attentive and genuinely engaged staff I don't think I've ever felt so cared for in a restaurant in my whole life. You want to know the best part, dearest Yelp? They don't judge you when you keep on eating. In fact, the waitstaff encouraged me to eat until I was verging on stuffed and then they offered me dessert. So now that you know my true feelings, Yelp, and I've outlined why I am asking for you to be my new best friend, what do you say? Once we're besties maybe we can go to Fogo de Chao for lunch to celebrate?
(5)Mark G.
The most amazing service of any restaurant. The gauchos, managers, and wait staff are constantly making sure your every need or wish is granted with your water glass constantly being refilled, along with any plates of food, whether you want more or not. The entire staff is exceptionally well trained.
(5)I F.
Overrated. Some of the food is pretty good. But the rest sucks really bad. Not a very big selection of food. Excellent service though. Waiters absolutely keep an eye on you an attended.
(3)Jonathan G.
Excellent! The restaurant is in Downtown Denver. From the outside, it's looks like an ordinary steakhouse, but walk inside and you're in for a surprise. Parking is available both on the street and valet in the garage next door. I suggest valet and save the time. Walking in to an dim lit common area/bar, you are greeted by the maitre'd and taken to your table. You start with a waiter at your table explaining how the steakhouse works, they explain the card and what is available to you. The first plate is salad. They have an awesome salad bar full with different cheeses and greens. Then out come the gauchos. with the skewers and ready to go. The meats are the finest cuts you can get. There are plates of mashed potatoes, fried banana, and a fried cheese that are kept stocked your entire stay, meaning if you take one scoop of mashed potatoes, expect it to be refilled with in 4 minutes. The wait staff is excellent and the way the gauchos move is like clock work. Jason was our main server and walked us through the meats the whole night. Tip well, all of these guys work hard for the money.
(5)Archer D.
Disgusting, All You Can Eat- Meat Buffet - Chain Restaurant. Save your money and go to Sizzlers, at least they give you ulimated soft serve ice cream.
(1)ELLY W.
The lunch is a spectacular value. The service is tops. Some people mention that the service was too much, but I thought it was very unobtrusive. Great place to take out of town guests.
(5)Tari S.
What more can I say..... it was wonderful and delicious!
(5)Quisha H.
I was here for a company party. The best meat on the planet. The best mixed drinks on the planet. I went to a couple of places in Denver and this was by far the best. Also, the little guy in the black pants and high boots was great. I think his name was Jose.
(5)Sara B.
Super fun experience for our family - our 5 yr old loved it! Expensive...but both the 5 and 2 yr old were free.
(4)Kristin D.
When this opened right by my house, I wasn't overly excited but since it was across the street we decided to check it out. I would rank their service level among the best in Denver, and I'm pretty picky on service so this is a big compliment! Food was good, the meat isn't really cooked to temperture as much as I would like but the quality of the beef and the flavor is good. We have already been back for lunch and I expect this to be a new favorite when we can go hungry!
(5)Alison K.
This place is wonderful! They could do with more chicken options, but the meat is perfection. Their Veggie Bar is great, too, but I wouldn't recommend this restaurant for your vegetarian friends. Definitely stop here if you love roasted meat.
(4)Ming T.
FANTASTIC. Really.... it was. I went here last Saturday the 7th for my husband's birthday with his parents. The place was busy and even though I had made a reservation for 7:30 we still had to wait half an hour for a seat. The hostess did bring out some of the wonderful cheese bread to help us stave off the hunger pains. I tried to resist the cheesetastic wonders but they are DELICIOUS! I immediately told me husband that he needed to find the recipe and make some for me. After we were escorted to our seats a VERY competent waiter explains to us the process and we got started with the salad bar. The bar was very nice, a good selection of cold cuts...definitely NOT a salad bar for Vegetarians or Vegans though. There was more meat on my salad than greens! They did have a ENTIRE wheel of Parm cheese sitting out for us to dig from...nice. Next came the meat-gasim. We never were wanting for more than 3 minutes. The gauchos were very nice and the busboys were amazing! We barely ate half of the food on the side-dish plates before they were whisked away and replaced with full dishes. The staff made sure we had clean plates and that every whim was taken care of. The wine my father-in-law ordered was pretty good but not decanted properly had lots of sediment...but he told me it tasted fantastic. My husband had some dark Brazilian beer which he didn't love but he said paired nicely with the meat. They don't have any beers on tap as we found out. My mother-in-law likes her meat killed and they even made sure they gave her very cooked cuts. She loved the Parm crusted Pork and the bacon wrapped filet. Everything was cooked exactly to our liking, sometimes the Gauchos would even run back to the kitchen for another piece of meat if they thought that the current one was too cooked for your taste. Honestly, one of the best services I've ever experienced! After we stuffed ourselves silly and admired the amazing amount of work the staff did we were presented with the dessert menu. Even though we were all busting at the seams we decided to order dessert. The waiter compted my husband's birthday creme brulee and my in-laws had the chocolate mousse cake. Both were delicious but the mousse cake was out of this world! Layers of sponge sandwiched with mousse and drizzled with ganache! OMG! As we were paying the bill, get this...they presented my husband with a gift certificate for another dinner! How amazing is that? They basically paid us to eat there! Verdict- Expensive, but SOOOO worth it. Just close your eyes and enjoy the taste of marbled beefy money. ;)
(5)miguel f.
Mmmmeat! The service is phenomenal too.
(5)S P.
Its 3 stars because 1. I think Texas De Brazil has more food choices. TDB has more salad bar options, soups, cheeses, etc.... Fogo de chao had a very small salad bar in comparison. I remember eating quail eggs and other funky things at TDB, but at Fogo, it was very standard. 2. The main entree items were also very limited. For a heavy eater and someone who likes to try a variety of foods, Texas De Brazil is better. I think Fogo is less options because they are situated in downtown and perhaps cost more to pay their rent so they give us less food!!! Taste wise - it was okay. I wasn't "overwhelmed". The staff was "rushed" and my water, coke was not refilled. Very unhappy with service. I am taking me and my friends to Texas De Brazil next time.
(3)Devon P.
Fogo de Chao was a fun experience! A group of us went during restaurant week and had fabulous food and a great time. You get a ton of fabulous food. The salad bar was not your typical salad bar, you had a choice of gourmet cheeses, different olive oils, artichoke hearts, asparagus, and many other ingredients you wouldn't normally get at a salad bar. The unlimited choices of meet were wonderful! This is a great place to take people who are visiting from out of town or family events. I highly recommend this place.
(4)Kelly N.
What's better than a buffet of meats? :) I enjoyed the filet mignon the most, although I don't remember it coming by as often as I wanted it to. I also liked the chicken. The salad bar was all right, nothing to fantasize about... but, my favorite was the apple salad. Great service! YUM! 52.80 week so it was a bargain! Would I come here again? I'd probably wait until next year to again during Denver Restaurant week...
(4)Andrea P.
I'm really at a 4.5 stars, it's not the best dining experience I've ever had, but it's very far from the worst. I had to wait 24 hours to write this as I was still in a meat coma, and still may very well be. Though the price tag is hefty, there's lots of food to go around. I made sure I ate my $38.50 worth of food, which I found to be a large mistake. The meat for the most part was really good, didn't care for the chicken too much, and I'm on the Jew diet so I didn't try the pork either. The salad bar was a little lack luster, which may be b/c I have an addiction to Whole Foods where $7.99 per pound buys you a lot more in that department than the $19.99 for only salad bar here. I don't know what those bananas were- but they were a-okay by me. I don't know if A Game was on b/c it was V-Day, but the service was great. Didn't find it too pushy or over whelming and everyone was there to help if you needed it. If you're looking for a great date place this may not be your first bet, as it's pretty loud and not very intimate (more thinking 1st few dates where getting to know each other is semi important). If your goal for dinner is to see how much meat you can eat in one sitting- welcome to Heaven. Tip: Make reservations and for dinner hours there's complimentary parking.
(4)Daniel M.
great service..great food..great atmoshpere...
(5)Jon H.
Had my birthday dinner there. It was a great experience. I would go back for special occasions. The waitstaff is great. The salad bar was memorable. The assorted meats, especially the lamb chops, were delicious. Impressive wine list. Fun place. Conversation is limited due to the constant interruptions by very professional servers, but then I didn't go there for lengthy discussions. Much unlike some of the yelp reviewers who have to write volumes of boring crap just to get a simple point across. Brevity is not only the soul of wit but also restaurant reviews.
(4)Dennis S.
Wow you had better be hungry the food never stops. Honestly the salad bar is so elaborate that it would be plenty by itself. We were a large group 12+ this place works great for such a large group. Lots of meat choices that are excellent.
(5)Cindy F.
Had a late night dinner here with my friend while visiting Denver. She is a very adventerous diner, and we wanted to try something new. The atmosphere is quite casual, I wish it were a bit more discerning. There were loud children and some younger guys wearing backwards hats and shorts near us. BUT here is a review of the food and service. 1) Salad bar, very good but don't take too much or you will regret it. Enjoyed the palm hearts, a thin piece of salami, caesar salad, sunroasted tomato, amazing little mozzerella ball. The mushrooms were far too salty, tasted like soy sauce, not mushrooms. 2)Side dishes, bread puffs, delicious. Similar consistency to a savory creme puff. Delicious. Mashed potatoes, nothing special. I love potatoes, and these were no bueno, possibly instant. Crispy polenta, decent, worth trying, a little greasy. Carmelized bananas, tasty unique. 3) Meat! Everything I had was very good or better. My favorite was the bottom sirloin-- very delicious, tender, hot, EXCELLENT. I tried everything but the pork....we were there late in the evening, and pork was not offered to us. I wouldn't have tried it anyway, so no love lost on me. 4) Dessert. An adorable little sprite of a man talked us into trying dessert, even though we were stuffed to the gills. I had the papaya creme, papaya blended with vanilla ice cream. My friend had the flan. Both delicious, mine was light as a cloud, hers was very rich. Both worth their price of about $9 each. 5) Drink. She had a glass of napa red wine, $16.50 for one glass, she enjoyed it. I'm not a wine drinker, had water. Finally, the service was very very good. We had a late reservation, and I didn't feel rushed, although I think we kept the staff there a few mins after closing time. Overall, a strong 4 stars, worth it for a special dinner. Pretip bill was about $120, but worth every penny for a treat. On the ride back to my hotel, the driver told us it's an even better deal for lunch, $25 per person. Maybe I will do that next time, even better!
(4)i n.
God I love this place! Never take a vegitarian here:) I have never eaten more lamb and Filet Mignon in one sitting in my life. The service is amaizing and the food is incredible
(5)Pj M.
Good, but not as good as the Atlanta location. Still had a great time
(4)Dawn M.
We went for restaurant week. I have to say, I really liked Fogo de Chao. We did Texas de Brazil last year for DRW, and I've been to FDC outside of DRW. I have to say, I like FDC a bit more. We did have to wait a bit on Saturday - they told us 30-45 minutes, and we waited 40. It was the first day, of their first DRW, so I'll cut them a break on that. Salad bar. Not bad. TDB has a lot more though. Service. I was blown away by their service on other occasions. For DRW, it was just pretty good. We had to ask for sides. We never saw the flank steak, but when we asked for it, it came within minutes, and it was fresh off the grill. Meat. Love it! The filet and lamb chops are amazing. I also like that they serve their full menu for DRW. Dessert. They had key lime pie, a chocolate mousse cake and a turtle cheesecake. The pie was great, and the mousse cake was alright - heavier than I thought it would be. Overall, a great experience. It's pretty intense, not my style overall. I'd prefer a nice relaxing dinner, as opposed to meat coming at me from all angles! It's a great deal for Restaurant Week, and they have free valet parking, which is a bonus!
(4)CALVIN S.
So sad-my first experience with Fogo during restaurant week was NOTHING like what we experienced today. Went for my B-day, parked where we did last time, no Valet to be seen. Upon our arrival into the restaurant, the hostess informed us that they didn't validate parking for lunch. WHAT????? So people who go for lunch don't deserve the same hospitality that evening diners do? That soured us right off the bat. My wife showed her displeasure quite openly, but the hostess didn't really seem to care and was very uninterested in being accommodating in any type of way. Being a former Director of Concierge and Guest Services back in the day, my wife was absolutely appalled at the lack of customer service this establishment provides to its employees;--she wouldn't want someone to walk out of her business feeling the way we did. Anyway-back to the food: Mediocre at best, CANNED ranch dressing on the salad bar? At $19.50 a pop for the salad bar, you'd think they could whip up some fresh dressing. Once again, food was nothing more than average, with the exception of the cheese buns, fried polenta, and the Picanha which were very good, but I want to be wowed all around and not by a couple of sides and just one of the meats. Had it not been for the horrible treatment by the hostess today, I probably would have given 3 stars--just shows you how untrained staff can really hurt your business. (My wife wanted me to give one star.) We'll stick with Rodizio Grille from now on---much better selection, better prices, and SUPERB customer service , EVEN for us lowly lunch customers!! Oh, Rodizio also has a birthday club, which is a very nice gesture at least for those of us who can't go downtown and have pricey meals on a regular basis.
(2)Tom C.
I ate here back in February and was so excited because I haven't ate at a Brazilian Restaurant before. Why blogging it now, you ask? Because it's been bottling up for a minute. But long story short. The meats they hand out were out of this world. 100% to that! But the low score, you also ask. I was there at their lunch deals, and they would serve you their side dishes. One of the side dishes is a fried banana, which I personally like. But there was something wrong. As I was biting through, I thought it was the burned, charcoal part of the banana. It was a STAPLE, like the one's you would find in cardboard boxes with packaged food products. I was shocked because I was close to eating this thing. Can you imagine that! So I told my server to let the manager know about this incident. She didn't do anything and charged me full price anyway because the manager would of had a talk with me or I guess she didn't bring it up to his attention. And for some reason, they were handing out fruitcakes to everyone that ate there and my server gave me one. OMG. Really? That was stupid in my part for not personally bringing it to the manager's attention. It's a great restaurant, but hopefully mistakes like that don't happen there constantly...
(2)Casey H.
Came here for New Year's Eve dinner with the boyfriend. It was so good that it kind of pissed me off. Why has all of the meat I've eaten my entire life not tasted like this! I have wasted so much time not eating this food. Can't wait to go back.
(5)Terry B.
This is the real deal kids. Rodizio has got to be nervous. I'd visited the Fogo in Dallas for lunch, but my Brazilian wife and I decided to do dinner at Fogo the other night. I've been to Brazil twice and had churrascaria in a small town outside of Rio put on by some locals as well as a famous restaurant in Rio called Porcao. Fogo is right up there with both of these memorable meals in the "mother country." First off, the service is here beyond top notch. (I'd say it ranks up there with some of the best restauarant service I've ever had, and we've eaten at some very nice restaurants in our lives) We actually had people running to our chairs to pull them out after visiting the salad bar or restroom. It seems there's not a moment the servers (there's more than one "waiter/waitress" for a section and they all work together constantly monitoring their area) aren't within earshot. The gauchos all spoke Portugese, which caught my gringo butt off guard. One gaucho even offered to bring rice and beans (which doesn't typically come out) once he noticed she spoke real Portugese as opposed to my gringoness. Unfortunately, we're taking a break from drinking, so we weren't able to try a caipirinha. I happen to like the way I make mine anyway. ;) They do have Guarana which is a soft drink that tastes like a berry that grows in the Amazon. It's a fantastic drink, (the closest American thing I can relate it to is Cherry 7-Up, but much better) and if you haven't tried it and are in the mood to lay off the sauce, please do. It's the Brazilian national non-alcoholic drink, but it is loaded w/ caffeine. If you've never had a caipirinha, or only at Cafe Brazil, (whose caiirinhas were horrible when we visited twice) you must try a real caipirinha. It's a very simple drink with lime juice, cachaca, and sugar a'nd they'll knock you on your seat if you have more than two. The rice and beans were fantastic, and were a tast of being in Brazil again eating a lunch or dinner as rice and beans are served with darn near every meal in Brazil. Fantastic stuff! The picanha and fraldinha were fantastic. Perfectly seasoned and perfectly cooked. I wasn't a fan of the lamb chop I had as it was overcooked, but the other meats including the filet were absolutely wonderful. The salad bar is one of the best you'll encounter with fantasticly fresh ingredients such as proscuito, (sp?) salami, cheeses including fresh-made mozzerella, asparagus stalks the size of a Chipotle burrito, unbelievable Hearts of Palm, and wonderful salad along with pasta salads. Don't fill up on this stuff though as the real star of the show is the meats. And please, try the pao de quejo, (cheese bread) which is another Brazilian specialty not to miss. We thoguht we were too stuffed to enjoy a desert, but the waiter talked us into the Papaya Cream as it has a digestive enzyme to help with all the meat we'd just eaten. After having the delicious Papaya Cream with a dribble of Creme de Cassis, we found our stomachs were definitely in better shape than prior, and it was delicious. I'd had a Papaya Cream in Brazil and enjoyed it a tad more than this, but that's not to take anything away from this simple, but lovely dessert. For a mere $38.00, you get all you can eat, fantastically cooked meats of all kinds along with a number of wonderful foods. You could go to a great steakhouse and spend that much alone for a mere steak with no sides, so please give this place a try. You won't regret it.
(5)K. W.
Hubby and I were looking for a new place to eat in Denver while we were staying downtown. I looked on yelp and found Fogo de Chao. We had eaten at Rodizio Grill previously so we knew what to expect. This is a great place. The salad bar did not have nearly the amount of items that Rodizio does BUT what they do have is fabulous. The meats are VERY good and be careful...when you flip your coaster to green for "go"...boy do they get there fast. We were swarmed by people with fresh meat. The bonus is that you get to choose how rare you want it (you do not get to do this at Rodizio). The price is a bit more than Rodizio as well but the service is much better as are the meats. Downside is they do not have the grilled pineapple which is a favorite of mine. They offered fresh hot bread, polenta cakes and fried bananas throughout the meal. A definite "must" if you have the extra money. I liked that I could make reservations through a mobile app on my phone. We will return in the future
(4)Tylor L.
this is arguably the best restaraunt in denver right now. better meat selection than texas de brazil, though it has less sides. great value pick despite the price. only $25 for lunch, with seemingly every cut of meat. the cuts of meat were sensational.
(5)robert b.
i really liked it. full disclosure: i'm a pig. i love meat too. i am a big salad bar guy. why wouldnt i love it, right? well, most brazilian steakhouses that i have been to here in the usa just arent very good. the other two in denver are perfect examples although the one right down the street from fogo is way worse than the other. i thought the meat was really good and not salted to death. they had choices of temperature. the lamb chops were really good. i didnt waste my time with side orders. 4 stars is a fair rating. maybe 4 1/2. cant do 5 because i didnt love all the choices but its the best of the three in denver by far.
(4)Catherine B.
This is truly the best Brazilian steakhouse in town. The service is impeccable, and the food is to die for. We tried Rodizio for comparison and for a few bucks more a person, you get infinitely better food and service at Fogo. Don't miss it!
(5)K.E. Y.
the meat here is definitely tasty, but talk about sensory overload! after hitting the great salad bar i was almost full already, but managed to try some of the chicken, pork sausage and filet. all of it was flavorful and the servers were eager to slice as much meat as you'd want. since we went for 5280 week it was a complete steal, but even at regular prices i'd say it's worth it. their meat quality is as good as any high end steak place in denver and the variety is absolutely awesome. if you're a lover of red meat, this is the place to get as much as you'd want! the desserts were delicious too, key lime pie and chocolate mousse cake, yummy!!!
(4)Brittany G.
After a recommendation from a friend, I decided to research this restaurant further just to make sure it was going to be up to par for the price. And let me say, after reading exceptional review after exceptional review I was VERY excited to dine here with my girlfriend. I read about exceptional service, free valet, wonderful food, etc. etc. So my expectations were very high for this restaurant and let me tell you how it went. We dined here last Wednesday night, so it was not crowded at all. I made reservations on line (which was an added bonus because I prefer to do anything and everything that I can on line rather than to make an extra call). We parked using the free valet which was very nice given the temps being below zero last week. As we are in are early 20s we were a little worried about the dress code as we aren't very 'fancy shamcey', but ended up wearing nice jeans and sweaters, which fit well with the other guests attire at the restaurant, even topped the guests attire that were wearing Avalanche jerseys (avs game same night). We were seated instantly and had our coats checked together. We usually end up getting very cold in restaurants so I was a little worried about not having a coat, but we were seated near a window that either had a heater right next to the table or the table/chairs were equipped with warmers because we were never cold. Now, for the food experience. We were instantly met by a waiter who started to describe how Fogo works with the meat and salad bar, etc. This was probably the only minor issue of the night, is that the waiter talked way to fast and had a very deep accent and we were unable to completely understand him. No worries though, we were able to get a clarification by another waiter right way. We started with the salad bar, which was exceptional, however, I did not want to fill up as I was saving up for the real dinner. After we finished our salad, it was time for dinner. Oh, side note, as I order my drink (the famous Brazilian drink that they serve there which was delicious) the waiter recognized that I had just turned 21 and in fact was celebrating this with my girlfriend that night and said happy birthday. So after receiving a new plate for meat, we flipped our card over (telling the waiters we are ready). I believe that we tried all the different types of meats, and they provide an unlimited amount of sides (three different types). The service was excellent throughout our meal. At one point the waiter spilled meat on the table as he was giving it to me on my plate and they came to politely scrap it away and also put a white napkin over the stained table cloth. As we were looking at the desserts, when we ordered one they came out with a candle in it and happy birthday enscripted on the plate with a sauce, which was very thoughtful as I didn't specifically state it was my birthday until they checked my ID. One of the waiters (or he may have been a manager of some sort) was constantly asking how everything was and engaged in small talk with us. As we were paying for the bill (dessert was taking off the bill for my birthday), the manager guy came over and handed me a free meal coupon and said happy birthday! I was very surprised as I have never had this happen at a restaurant, let alone a $40 meal restaurant. As you can see, the service and food was excellent and I would recommend this place to everyone. I already have told most of my friends and family about our spectacular dinner there and told them they have to try it. So you have to as well! It is amazing and you won't be disappointed!
(5)Brittany M.
I have never heard one negative thing about Fogo de Chao, only amazing reviews, so I was really looking forward to trying it out over Denver Restaurant Week. Big Mistake. I always use DRW to try new places and if the food is good and I have a good experience I go back, simple as that. I have found some of my favorite restaurants that way, but Fogo de Chao was overbooked, understaffed and way under prepared. A couple of the cuts of meat that I was dying to try didn't even come out and around to us until after we'd paid our bill. We really weren't impressed with the meal and shame on us for ordering the wine that was part of the special because they'd already sold out and gave us another that was pretty bad. There's a chance I'll go back but only because my experience was the first negative thing I'd ever heard of at the restaurant. In my opinion Denver Restaurant Week should be a time to showcase your food and the experience you provide so that you'll increase your return business. All in all, I can't give a review for how the restaurant is normally, it looks like it's actually a pretty amazing dinner from the reviews and from what I've heard from friends (which is why I'm giving three stars instead of one or two) but definitely do not go there for Restaurant Week.
(3)liz t.
very clean! Great service(could not do enough for you) asked several times how we liked everything. Seated right away. Always filled water. Fun evening. Go hungry.
(5)Peg L.
Wow! I brought 15 people here for a surprise 50th b-day celebration and it was extraordinary! The excellence and service that was given to our party in the preparation phase (choosing wines, the private room, etc.) and the actual evening itself has me choosing this as my favorite restaurant! We had a vegetarian guest and a gluten free guest that were completely accommodated. The salad bar is the best I have ever experienced and the desserts? Well, you just gotta, even if you have to take it home. I can't wait to go back and plan to during the holidays. The food will make you weep with gratitude that God created beef. I don't mind paying if you get what you pay for and here you do and more. This is a completely service oriented establishment based on excellence. The video on their site couldn't be more true to the real deal. They really do treat you as if you are a part of their family and our guest cannot stop talking about our fabulous evening.
(5)Kalia K.
We had an awesome time! Everyone was super nice, sometimes too attentive, even when we had our buttons turned over (if you've never been to a Brazillian steakhouse, you have buttons that tell the servers if you want meat or not), but overall they were great! We went there for my son's 16th birthday and they totally hooked it up - gave him a free dessert (they wrote happy birthday in syrup on the plate, nice touch!), which you often expect, but they gave him a certificate for a free meal on our next visit. Definitely good marketing cuz not like he'll go by himself, lol, but still pretty cool!!! The grub was super yummy! IMO, their meat is better than Texas de Brazil, but their salad bar pales in comparison to Texas de Brazil. However, you go their for the meat mostly right? One of my friends that came is part Brazil and speaks some portugese and some of the servers were actually Brazilian too, gotta love that! My advice - say it's your birthday, even one of the servers said they don't check ID (hopefully nobody from there is reading this, ha-ha). Happy eating!
(4)matt h.
Went here for restaurant week and I really liked the meat, though the salad bar was not nearly as impressive as the ones at Texas de Brazil or a place called Tucanos in Albuquerque. The atmosphere is nice, the free valet parking is great, and the filet and bacon wrapped chicken both will be part of my dreams for a while. However, the service was only average, and the sausage was bland. Pretty much our entire group thought it was not quite as good as Texas de Brazil.
(4)Sturm B.
This place is awsome! While I have always loved this format (ie Rodizio), Fogo takes it to the next level. Especially if you are a guy (which I am) I don't see how you could possibly not like the whole "bring me chunks of meat until I say stop" thing. Add a fantastic wine list and grade-a service, and its hard to beat.
(5)SHEILA G.
what more can I say that eveyone has not...........LOVED IT! .....and be sure to go there w/a hungry stomach.
(5)Claire S.
No disrespect meant whatsoever, I think this place is A-Ok and I'm sure I'll go back some time. That's what 3 stars means to me. The service is quick, courteous, and cheerful. They are super organized and on top of it. It seems like if a cog were out of place the whole machine might back up and explode. I watched Chicken Run recently.That may be affecting my writing. The point is, no cogs are out of place. They are a well-oiled machine. I love how cheerful and lively the atmosphere is. You can have a really nice conversation with each person sitting on either side of you. The tables for 5+ people are pretty big so you probably won't get a chance to have meaningful convo with the people on the other side of the table, at least not during restaurant week. No big deal to me, I like it loud. And it's not the echoey, vacuous, metallic loud which I find alienating and disorienting, it's... cozy loud. There's something about this business concept that kind of gets me, preventing the 4th star. Don't get me wrong, I'm a total hedonist and glutton, but this type of excess makes me feel self-conscious about how much food is wasted. You could probably say the same for all buffets, but this food is way better than your standard all you can eat situation. I kind of love that the meat sword dudes are called, in all seriousness, gauchos. (Yes, I know I just said meat sword, but it's really the perfect description if you go you'll see what I mean.)
(3)Mecca S.
I love rodizio. The o ly thing I miss about new jersey. This place is pricey but great food and service. The shrimp cocktail is humongous
(5)Jackie P.
This place was amazing. Quality and ambiance all in one place.
(5)Robin S.
Gluten free freaks rejoice! You can eat almost everything here. There is complimentary cheese bread baked with yuca flour, crispy polenta that hasn't been fried with other flour items, garlic mashed potatoes, and caramelized bananas. That's just for starters! Out of 16 different meats, only the chicken has gluten (it's marinated in beer). The salad bar has a couple of items with gluten, but you can make a meal out of the salad bar alone. Great teamwork and smooth service means you never have to wait for food. The Parmesan cheese pork loin was surprisingly my favorite. I'm not even a pork fan, but the flavors and juiciness of the Lombo was the stand out to me. Somehow, we left room for dessert. Their signature Papaya Cream is gluten free and is supposed to have enzymes that help with digestion so it seemed like a good idea for our full bellies. Perfect consistency, not too sweet, and extra yummy with the creme de cassis on top. For the amount of food my husband can eat, it was a great value. Actually, just the fact that he could eat almost everything and feel like a normal diner was worth it. The wine prices were reasonable too. The Broquel Malbec was delicious; one of the servers stopped to talk about wine with us and even brought the bottle over so we could easily spot it in a store. Great experience. It's a must go for gluten free eaters!
(4)Kelly T.
Get ready for the MEAT SWEATS! Tried this place a few days ago for Denver Restaurant Week and it was uhhh-mazing. Order a bottle of Malbec and get started - what are you waiting for?! The place was packed and we had to sit in a small middle table, but considering the week, no biggie. The service is so spot-on, don't forget to flip that coin to red because the gauchos are ON IT. The salad bar is phenomenal, and the smoked salmon was a really nice touch. The house special sirloin, bacon-wrapped chicken and parmesan herb pork were all fantastic. Ron Swanson would approve! You'll probably be full after a run through the salad bar, and try as you might, you WILL overeat here. Just embrace it, roll yourself to the curb, and call a cab.
(4)Cam T.
Now THIS is a 5 star restaurant experience. I don't eat Fogo De Chao often, but when I do, it's amazing and deeeelicious. As soon as I heard that I was headed to Fogo for dinner, I did what any normal human being would do: I fasted. That's right. Might as well get your money's worth. So I showed up starving and ready to feast. And of course, it didn't disappoint. The salad bar is amazing, so many cheeses. Then the main course: cheese puffs, enough meat to make a vegetarian queasy, and my favorite, the cinnamon pineapple slices. Overall, an amazing restaurant, would eat here every week if I was made of money.
(5)Rashid 7.
We arrived a little late, about half an hour before closing time but that was fine because we were kindly greeted and escorted to a nice free table among many people. This place was busy, ( a Saturday night of course ) and busy for a reason! This place is really nice! Great service and the food is amazing. There is a salad buffet bar ( beautiful veg and salad ) and great tender meats which melt in the mouth! They also served us fried large chips with sprinkled cheese, caramelized bananas, and mash potatoes for side. Great atmosphere, quite smart. Try to make an effort to dress up here. There were a lot of people wearing dresses and suits. There was a large dessert selection - delicious! I had the key lime pie which was amazing. Hands down this place has got to be one of the best places to eat in Denver. You can not pass this place up! Great for special occasions too.
(5)Teema C.
Hubby and I went here for Denver's restaurant week - it was packed! I think they did a great job considering how full the restaurant was. I thought the salad bar and side items were of good quality. The meats were tasty, but def a bit too salty - I'm not sure if this is done on purpose so that customers would eat less or if Brazilian meats are supposed to be salty. My favorite was the pork ribs. Would I be back? Probably not, I think this is more of a one time experience type place, although I may go back just to take someone else to experience this.
(4)Jason H.
Very good love the grilled pineapple great service. But I will say it may be a step below some of the competition. Still very good though
(4)Linh N.
Service was prpfessional and meat was delicious. House drinks and dessert were on point
(5)Jeremy S.
This must be a really hard restaurant to operate. They provide an amazing experience: I am highly impressed by the choreography, the professionalism of the service, and even the quality of the food--no, this is not Peter Luger steak, but anyone who comes here expecting that deserves to be disappointed. Even the salad bar is quality (and obviously they'd like you to fill up a little bit there... and in fact, you probably should keep a few extra greens on your plate for when the meat parade begins). And even discounted 40% for Restaurant Week, which is a zoo everywhere in town, the Fogo staff kept it together. I've had more chaotic Resto Week experiences in other, more sedate restaurants. It is not literally flawless--it's a bit harder to find a waitress than a meat skewer, some meat cuts are better than others (duh), and simply being in an environment in which many individuals are moving very quickly with very sharp knives through the establishment can get your heart rate up a few beats. (They seem to handle the knives quite well: don't be afraid to bring young kids, esp since they're free!) If I could I'd give it 4.5 stars, but give them the bump in light of the high-degree-of-difficultly aspect of pulling it all off.
(5)Luke F.
This place is almost gluttonous! It literally has the best meat I've ever had. Try the bananas and the pineapples also! The salmon at the salad bar was amazing. The price is totally worth it. I definitely recommend.
(5)Brian T.
This place pales in comparison to Rodizio down the street. I've been to this location 3 times now and I should have learned by now to just keep walking. The meat is extremely salt her, to the point where it overpowers the flavor of the meat itself. On my last visit I ended up having to specifically ask for the filet and rib eye as I never saw either in the first 40 minutes. Also WTF is with pineapple being $8.50 for a 2 inch slice?! It's included as part of the standard menu over at Rodizio.
(2)Kaelin T.
Definitely ask for Tyler!!! He was awesome! Amazing Service & Food to DIE FOR! :) The top and bottom sirloin are my favorites & the filet cuts like butter!
(5)Wendy W.
Alot to eat from the salad bar. The Strawberry lemonade was really good. There were many different cuts of meat. Our favorite is still the Garlic Picanha. After awhile, they all taste the same. Yes, sometimes they seem to all swarm up to serve different cuts. Scared me alittle. But for sure, to get your bucks worth, make sure you go on an empty stomach.
(3)Michelle G.
After visiting TdB several times we decided to visit Fogo de Chao and try it out for a friend's going away party. It's proximity to the Light Rail enticed us. We were initially very impressed with the bar area and the gal behind the bar was very nice. There were 5 (five) in our party. I am a very small eater and had decided way before the visit to only get the Vegetarian Entrée assuming Fogo de Chao's salad bar similar to TdB. After going to get my food from the salad bar I found there wasn't very much I liked and at the suggestion from the server I changed my order to Vegetarian with the Sea Bass dinner. All of the other 4 guests had the normal menu and we ordered over $250 in wine to go with dinner. When my Fish arrived I took a couple of bites and passed it around the table so everyone else could have a bite. I ate approximately 2 bites of fish, did not finish my original salad plate and a my date asked me if I would like a bite of his chicken. Literally, I ate 1 bit of the chicken and mixed it w/ some of his pineapple..... that was the extent of my eating. The manager came over to inform me that I would now be looking at paying for the Sea Bass dinner and a full meat charge plate.... Flabbergasted I looked down at my 1 un-finished salad plate w/ the 1 bite of chicken left, the unfinished sea bass and shook my head in disgust almost in tears. After learning about what the manager just informed me, my friends were beyond words. BUT called the manager over and explained "we just spent over $600.00 at your restaurant on the 5 of us and my friend over here (ME) barely filled up her original salad plate. I estimate the cost of both what she ate and what's left at a whoppin' $14.00." The manager looked over at my salad plate and saw that everyone had shared the Sea Bass and agreed to take it off our bill. After we received the bill we did not look at it carefully until after we paid the tab. They did NOT take off the Meat plate charge & additionally charged us 18% gratuity for a party of 5. 1 of our party is from Philly and 1 of our party is from San Francisco and they have been to multiple other Fogo de Chao locations and couldn't believe how they just kept trying to overcharge us. Ultimately, they refunded the meat plate but kept the 18% Gratuity. It was such a bad experience over the bill and charges that it put a dimmer on the WHOLE experience.
(2)Emily T.
I'm not much of a red meat eater, but you would never have guessed that had you seen me chowing down at Fogo the other day during lunch. Fillet wrapped in bacon, top sirloin, bottom sirloin, short ribs, lamb, sausage. You name it, they probably have it. While the tender, juicy, perfectly seasoned meat steals the show here, the salad bar is nothing to gloss over. It's well stocked with prepared salads, such as potato or tabbouleh; asparagus. hearts of palm and assorted veggies; olives; salmon and cured meats; and cheeses galore. While it's certainly not easy to do, I recommend saving enough room for dessert. I've never tasted better creme brulee. Definitely pricey whether you're here for lunch or for dinner, but as it is all you can eat, you can try to get your money's worth.
(4)Cristen T.
My two experiences at Fogo De Chao have been two of the best in terms of service, food and general delight. My husband's family treated us to this great restaurant twice. My first trip there I didn't have a clue what I was in for and this last one was just as great, if not better. Let's start with the outstanding service. I have had great service at a lot of places but nothing like the service at Fogo in Denver. The serving staff blows my mind with how on top of everything they are. Both times, if ever there was a question, the knowledgeable staff would have the answer in an instant. If ever there was a half-full glass, without even being noticed it would be refilled. If ever you look at your plate and think, "I don't feel like eating the rest of this; I wish I could have a clean plate," someone will notice and ask you if you'd like a new plate. I am convinced they have learned how to read minds at Fogo. It must be part of their training or something. They really are all about making you as happy, comfortable and pleased as possible. It is really something else. Moving on to the food, it starts at the stellar salad bar. Everything is fresh and it is constantly being adjusted and rearranged to look as appetizing as possible. And boy is it appetizing: fresh meats and cheeses, cool refreshing salads, wonderfully textured bread, steaming sides. They also bring incredible dishes to your table on fancy silver dishes. I loved the polenta fries and cheesy mini rolls are delectable. During your meal they provide fried bananas and creamy garlic mashed potatoes. The beverages are great as well. You can order a cocktail or a local beer or Brazilian ginger ale and it is all so very satisfying. And then, there is the glorious, delicious, perfect meat. This is one place that could sway even the most steadfast vegetarian. I shudder to think that I could have missed out by remaining a vegetarian. Fogo De Chao uses local meat (except the lamb, which they get from New Zealand) and you can tell. As soon as you flip your little coaster from red to green you are rewarded with a plethora of sizzling beef, chicken, pork and lamb. The servers who bring it out to your table are the ones that cook it in the back so they know where on the cut will be rare or well done. My absolute favorites were the rib eye, top sirloin and the house cut. We also ended up getting a complimentary dessert here because we were on our honeymoon! We ordered the Creme Brulee and while it was wonderful it wasn't the best I've ever had (that would be Paley's Place in Portland, Oregon). I think, if ever presented with the option again, I will skip dessert and just eat more of their sinfully delicious beef. Fogo De Chao has been one of the two most all-around marvelous dining experiences. I have to say that this place doesn't deserve 5 stars, it deserves 5 million. It is absolute excellence.
(5)Bruce F.
If you're a true carnivore with an appetite then this is your heaven. Yes, round one through the extensive salad bar was very good, but the meat is why you eat here. The service is non stop with an endless variety of meats. You also select rare, well done or anywhere in between. Eat as fast or as slow as you like. They don't judge at Fogo they just keep it coming. Our table loved the pineapple and bananas as well. I also appreciate the space between the tables so I didn't hear anyone's conversation except my own table. Fun experience.
(4)Ryan T.
We were here for my birthday and over all it was a decent place! The service was average but not great! First time going for Brazilian cuisine so it was different but the food was delicious! I've heard a lot about the place and had also recommended this place to a lot of people because I always hear great things about it. We had about 12 people at the table with two bottles of wine and some appetizers and the check came to $1009. There was definitely a lot of food and they all come to you at once! It kind of gave me an impression that they were in line to shove you with meat! ( Which I am not complaining) They only come by like couple times and goodbye to your table! I like taking breaks when I'm eating so after a plate , I took a break and was ready for second and yet the server who served us thought we were ALL DONE even though some people was still eating! She asked if anyone was interested in looking at the dessert menu? It really gave me an impression that she either wanted to leave early ( Thursday night) or she wanted us to leave! I don't think a plate of food or meat is done for me or some of my party and the fact that she did NOT even ask or offer if we would like more food made me want to give them one star. A little tip... if you want to make more gratuity, maybe you should ask your table if they are full and if they would like the meat runner to come by once more. The fact that I had to ask them to come over again made me want to give this restaurant a one star. I only stopped by the salad bar once but really wish they didn't make me feel like I was trying to be greedy and asking for more food. I doubt I would come back here again and yes I do work in the hotel so I will definitely share my experience with the guests and probably send them to other Brazilian steakhouse.
(2)Amy F.
This place is a total meatfest. Yes, I am a fan. Great cocktail service, attentive staff, and interesting salad bar. Any salad bar that has real bacon on it-wins, unless you are super picky, that salad bar has a decent spread. The meat entourage is overwhelming, but super delicious. Several options, and you choose your pace, with those red light green light coasters. Bring some Benjamin's if you come with a big group and will order cocktails- its spendy, but oh so good.
(4)Jack T.
Downtown for a concert and went here on a recommendation from a friend. Got in right away,the staff was pleasant and attentive. Have tried other Brazilian Steakhouses but thought the meat here was better. My wife loved the bacon wrapped chicken and roasted pineapple. Overall all of the meats were tasty and well prepared. Would make a great spot for a date night..
(4)Flor A.
Be prepared to eat a lot of meat. The desserts were mediocre don't bother. Great Wine list0
(4)Phung L.
As far as Brazilian steakhouses go, Fogo de Chao is the cream of the crop! Sure it's a tad bit more pricey than the other places, but you definitely get what you pay for! Complementary valet, superb customer service, and better cuts of meat. Who doesn't like a staggering amount of meat? Overkill? Perhaps, but be sure to come with an appetite.
(5)G M.
Dear "Peyton Manning" jersey wearing douche, I want to just get my review in before you try to trash Fogo de Chao later tonight (like you threatened). We received fantastic service. We always had someone at the table faster than your 2015 Chevy Penismobile can drop off your next trophy-wife after your next failed attempt to get a comped meal. The Parmesan encrusted pork loin was cooked perfectly. When we asked for a particular temperature of meat, it was done exactly how we asked. If you think the meat was too rare, you should probably pay more attention to what you say and less on impressing a quarter of the restaurant with the "million times" you've been here. I'm glad they didn't comp your entire meal. The staff was exemplary and the other patrons smile at each other to have your self important swagger exit our airspace in a huff.
(5)Adam L.
Meat was dry and fatty. I have been to lots of Brazilian steakhouses and fogo Denver was a disappointment and a waste of money. I went on a Wednesday night so i think because they were slow they weren't rotating to fresh meat. Unacceptable for the price paid! Won't go back
(1)Ben D.
Over cooked meat
(2)Mark L.
Have always been a HUGE fan for Fogo and try to visit a couple times a year. I was even okay when they raised the Restaurant Week price from $52.80 to $60.00. I guess the confusion comes in when you notice they offer less meats and removed the salmon and asparagus for the salad bar. My wife enjoys the salmon as much, if not more, as the meat, so the salami they put down in place just didn't do the trick. It seems they raised prices while cutting back on the food offered. Starting to get the feel of an all you can eat buffet in Blackhawk as opposed to fine dining. They was also little to no organization for who was actually assigned to our table. I think we've earned a break from Fogo for the time being, but will return eventually.
(3)Carolyn H.
Went here for resturant week. Bad choice. The salad bar was the best part of the meal and it was even bad. The meat was like eating fat and leather combined. I know they probably cut corners because of the lower prices for resturant week but this place was bad. I will never go back.
(1)Jeska H.
Pretty mediocre. The service was quite good, but the food was meh. The veggies were tasty and there was a nice variety. But the meat, though plentiful, was not fantastic. Red meat was kind of tough, and we tried all different kinds of cuts, filet, top and bottom sirloin, tenderloin. Too expensive for what you get.
(3)Jennifer B.
I'm a big fan of Fogo! I was an avid visitor to the Fogo in Philadelphia with family and friends. When I saw the deal for Fogo where the price was dropped to $38 per person I recommended that a group of us go to take advantage of the deal. A group date we did with a table of 8 I think. Service was impeccable as it always tends to be at these places. Can't sip water without someone refilling the inch you just drank. Never felt wanting anything which is a beautiful thing. The salad bar was very tasty. I thought the offerings were well presented and cooked pretty good. The seasonings were lacking a bit, not enough flavor. I know they have to appeal to a broad audience but there could have been a kick with one of the offerings. I'm always a sucker for the asparagus, perfectly done and oh so yummy. Time to flip your chip to green and watch and march of the meat come your direction and buy oh boy do they swarm you. Always a good thing when men with meat come ask you "How you want it". I think I must have tried everything they had. Some of the favorites were the garlic seasoned steak, lamb chops, and one of the amazing cuts of steak, I forget the name now. I thought the majority of them were all melt in your mouth delicious. Sometimes a steak doesn't need aggressive seasoning to be delicious it just needs to be done right and these were don right. The sides on the table and there to distract you from your ability to eat $38-$50 worth of steak, don't let it distract you, eat meats, meats, and more meats and savor every bite. The trip was worth it and I would come back again and continue my love, love relationship with Fogo. Fogo oh how I love thee.
(4)Dale Z.
I came here to take advantage of the $38 dinner special through August 3rd. The place was nice and clean, and the service was excellent. I enjoyed the "salad bar" offerings (it is hard to go wrong with a bowl of crispy bacon). They also had a wheel of parmesan, as well as other cheeses, cured meats and salads. It was not as varied as Rodizio used to be, but was solid. I enjoyed the cheese bread and polenta, and I always like the bananas. I avoided the mashed potatoes. My theory is that these items (although well-prepared) are served as "filler" to reduce your total meat consumption. I generally like the meats served at churrascarias, and this one was no exception. One minor (but repeated) complaint would be being asked how i want my meat, replying "rare", and then having them cut from the charred outside when there is an interior cut right next to it. The second time and third time the server did this to me, I said, "No, I wanted rare". He seemed rather miffed that he had to discard that piece. But, if you are going to ask me what I want, you need to listen to the answer. This should not just be a pro-forma courtesy that serves no actual purpose. I really enjoyed the garlic beef and the lamb chops, and I thought the linguisa was pretty good as well. I found the leg of lamb to be a touch gamey. Some of the offerings were a little too salty for my tastes. All in all, this was a good (extravagant) meal. It strikes me as somewhere I might take visitors from out of town or business associates, rather than a regular place to hang out with friends.
(4)Leonard E.
It pains me to have to give this place a 2 star rating. It's a nice place. I love the environment.. The people and service were exceptional. The food was just not up to par. The meat or the hot food at the bar was not seasoned very well. I was highly disappointed. Texas de Brazil blows this place out of the water. Rodizio is far better. I dropped $75 and it was just me on my ticket. I expected much more. Maybe it was because of the holiday season. Maybe I need to go back and give them another chance.
(2)Young B.
So delicious and amazing service! I would recommend this place to anyone! They have an unlimited salad bar with great selections and unlimited meat! The waiters are also very friendly! mmm :)
(5)Scott F.
We had made a reservation online which was very quick and convenient. We got there about 20 minutes early and they sat us anyway. Service was outstanding! We were a table of 2 and had at least 3 waiters at all times. The meat guys were very regular as well. For those that haven't been to one of these, you have a disc at your table that is red on one side and green on the other. Flip to green, and the meat guys stop by with something different all the time. Flip to red, they pass by. With that said, the meat was good, some was overcooked. (The reason for only 4 stars.) The waiter brought carmalized bananas.....best thing of the night! The meat guys also brought roasted pineapple. Very good! The "salad bar" was diverse. My favorite was the scalloped potatoes and the different loose meats. Who needs salad anyway! Give it a try!
(4)Yasser S.
Love Brazilian steakhouses but this was first experience at fogo here in downtown and was thoroughly disappointed.meat mentioned on website wasnt present, as it wasn't packed I was still waiting on my meat and ended up eating more salad than meat.medium well was usually burnt part and salty.and when I say salty I mean SALTY.salad bar was bland.long story short ended up wasting 50$,bad mood and at burger joint to fill my appetite later. Better Brazilian choices available.
(1)Lynda M.
Alright let me just sum this place up by saying that you sit at a table and get to have a crappy buffet and then men come around and offer you copious amounts of meat. Yes, meat men. Meat men are in abundance at this place. They practically shove the meat down your throat. I'm not going to lie, I put the scraps in my napkin and put it in my purse and went home and fed my dogs, while my partner projectile vomited massive amounts of meat into the toilet. Gluttony at its finest. I'm glad we went during restaurant week because it was only $30 per person instead of $50.
(2)Trina G.
A solid 4.5! I always make my first Restaurant Week reservation at Fogo. The reservations go fast and its not something we want to miss. I have been to Fogo several times when its not Restaurant Week, but my service was even better than normal for how busy it was last night. The nice GM came and asked us if we were looking for any meats specifically several times and the meat always showed up. The salad bar was amazing as always. SO MANY OPTIONS! The only thing keeping me from 5 stars is the drink prices. I understand upscale restaurant pricing (why do you think I fill up my reservations for Restaurant Week) but to not have a white wine under 9 bucks (the house wine was sold out) is a little too much. All in all, Fogo is a must. I have been to Rodizio and Texas de Brazil many times, and there is no going back after Fogo.
(4)Shea W.
Where to start with Fogo? Disclaimer: I've never paid full price here before because: why even? I went once for restaurant week and once ON A SUNDAY, yo, because they do 30.00 all you can eat restaurant week special every sunday. Lemme set the scene. Salad bar? Not even the right word for it! Salad-cheese-meat-pickled things bar. Anything you've ever wished a salad bar had? This place has. Also, eat like 3 hearts of palm and I think your 30 bucks has already paid for itself (but serious side note. Why is hearts of palm so expensive??) Once you're at your table you have a giant pog. Yes, pog from the 90's. The green side tells the waiters "bring da meat" and boy do they bring it. Tip to not look like an idiot: use your tongs to help them get the meat on yo plate. All the meat is delicious and sooooooo Rich. By the 3rd piece I'm always stuffed to the gills. It's almost overwhelming but just turn dat pog to the red side for a bit to catch your breath. Final tip: complimentary valet but please tip them with cash!! The guy was so surprised when I handed him money. He must get stiffed a lot!
(4)Jeff M.
Great services, awesome menu - a truly great dining experience. Pace yourself.
(5)Tracey B.
When I think if Fogo I think business men in suits - boys club kinda place. All of the meat is excellent, salad bar is above average, sides of unlimited mashed potatoes and plantains were good not spectacular. Service is top notch. Will I go back? Probably not, but it's definitely worth going at least once.
(4)Yulia R.
We had our wedding party at Fogo de Chao. It is an awesome place for the parties since every guest will find something delicious to eat. Great meat variety for the meat lovers. Even vegetarians will find something tasty at the salad bar. Grilled pineapple and the cheese bread are amazing.
(5)Sarah H.
Dang. Fogo went from my favorite churrascaria to my least favorite in two visits. What a shame. They sent an announcement via email that they were extending their Denver Restaurant Week deal every Sunday through the end of March, so I went and was really disappointed to discover that they had pared down the salad bar to the point that there was nothing but a few cheap cheeses, lunch meats, and salads. Also, while I can understand offering a limited selection of meats for the reduced price, they decided not to serve the grilled pineapple, which is one of my favorite items at Fogo. What was really disturbing is that it wasn't like there was a seperate salad bar for the full price diners - they had the same bad selection for 50% more in price. The whole thing just struck me as pointless - the whole point of Restaurant Week is to get people hooked so they'll come back and pay full price, not to have them say, "It wasn't a bad deal for $30, but I'd never pay more than that for what we got!". Sometimes when you make a marketing decision, you have to accept an upfront loss for long-term gains. Otherwise, why bother participating in DRW at all? A couple weeks later, I got another email from Fogo saying that they were offering $25 off dinner when you presented the email offer to your server. When I read the fine print, it said "Good for up to 5 per table". This to me implies that the deal is good for each diner, up to 5 diners per table in the same way that a grocery coupon that says "$1 off, limit 5" means you get $1 off each item up to the first 5 purchased. It seemed like a deal that was too good to be true but I couldn't pass it up, so I invited some friends to come out with me and told them I'd foot the bill since it'd be so affordable. Come time to pay the check, the bill was much than I had expected. I asked my server why the discount was only applied once and she said that we would need a seperate coupon code for each diner. The Boy, who also susbscribes to the Fogo email, said "If I'd known that I'd have kept mine, but it really looks like you're offering the deal per diner so I deleted it." Our server's response? She made jokes about how if they gave the discount to everyone they'd be paying us to eat there and made ABSOLUTELY NO ATTEMPT to assist us further, other than badgering The Boy to pull up his deleted filed for another coupon code, which he couldn't do since he didn't bring his phone . So if I'd come alone or if each of us had a code, wouldn't THAT being paying us to eat there too? It made no sense and we all left feeling insulted. I wasn't looking for her to give us the full discount that the email implied, but to make no attempt to offer anything at all? That just felt like a bait and switch. It's a shame that Fogo's service and business choices have gone so far downhill, because their food is still good. But after these last two experiences, I seriously doubt I'll go back again and I'll start recommending one of the competitors to my friends and family when we're having a group dinner out.
(1)Pamela S.
I LOVE Fogo but we dined recently for Denver Restaurant Week and they went extremely cheap. I usually LOVE all of the smoked salmon, asparagus, hearts of palm and that parmesan cheese wheel! However, none of that was available this time around. The selection of meats was still delicious, even though it was minimized. I guess you get what you pay for.
(3)Miranda M.
Absolutely fantastic food, from the salad bar to the meat. Definitely among the best meat I've ever had. My drink was delayed compared to everyone else at my table (I think they forgot about it, since two other people at the table ordered the same thing), but overall, great service.
(4)Rachel J.
This place is soooo good!! We went here for Valentines Day this year, my boyfriend knows the way to my heart is food. Unlimited food. There is a large salad bar that you can go to when you first sit down. There was a lot of different salad items and also deli meat with cheeses. They bring you roles and fried bananas to your table as well. Now I don't need to tell you this but all those items are a trap! They will make you full so you can't eat all the delicious meat that comes around. Trust me I was was wishing I laid off the swiss cheese when they came around with beef wrapped in bacon that I couldn't eat for the fear of my intestines exploding. Another tip, create a will before you go in case this happens to you. All the different meat that came around was so good. You put your card on green if you want the next meat coming around to stop and hook a brother up. Then when you feel like death and need to come up for fresh air you set your card to red. Another plus is that we got a free gift card to go back since we went on Valentines Day. Let's just say I let my boyfriend hold my hand that night for taking me to this place. My fat, chunky, full of meat, hand.
(5)Jewels L.
How could you not love fogo!!! Atmosphere and service are on point. I love the appetizer bar, but be careful not to overeat on that appetizer bar or you won't have room for some delicious filet mignon and whatever else meat they have. I must say that the Caipirinhas are a must try! Best national Brazilian drink! Yummers!!! I'd recommend this places for the meat lover in your life! It's very high end and classy.
(5)Sean S.
My girlfriend (now fiancé) took me to Fogo de Chão to celebrate a special occasion. We arrived early (5:30ish) with hungry coyote smiles on our faces. Drooling with the fragrance of meat on a spit and visions of pork chops dancing in our heads. And as carnivores we were not disappointed. My date may have at one point been slightly ill from watching me finish my 7th plate of meat and I admit to suffering from the meat sweats later that night but it is a small price to pay for the fruits of being at the top of the food chain. My recommendations are the Fraldinha for beef, the Costela de Porco (pork ribs) and the Cordeiro (lamb) chop is incredibly delicious, but you really can't go wrong with anything including the cocktails and refreshing salads. There are many restaurants that disappoint me, but Fogo de Chão is not one of them. I relish and savor my trips to the "meat palace." On the expensive side, but worth it.
(5)Kelly S.
My husband and I checked out Fogo de chao during restaurant week. I have to say, it was a different experience, and I enjoyed some of it, but I just would not go back. Even during restaurant week, I don't feel that what you paid was worth it. The ambiance was very hectic, and I expected more for an upscale restaurant. In one completely visible hallway, they had chairs messily stacked up on each other, which is just not acceptable in my opinion for a restaurant that says it is "classy". The meat was very good, but everything else was extremely subpar. In fact, the mashed potatoes were disgusting, tasted like the ones from a box. The best thing at the salad bar was the kale salad. My advice would be to go somewhere else....
(2)Holly S.
Fogo has become one of our favorite restaurants. They have amazing service, someone is always nearby to help. Their salad bar is the best in my opinion...they have more choices on the salad bar (that are good quality) than the other Brazilian steakhouses I have been to. Their meat quality is the best too. My daughter is a HUGE fan of their pineapple, when we come in they know to come by every 5 minutes with pineapple. I have to admit, I love it too. I have tried it at Rodizo and thought it was flavorless, but at Fogo they but a nice mixture of cinnamon and spices on it that makes it a little crispy and OH so good. I went to TdB recently because that use to be our favorite before trying Fogo and my husband kept saying he thought he remembered their meat was better. But it definitely was not, they cut smaller slices that all seemed to have an abundance of fat. They also do not season their meat as well, I found myself salting the meat to give it more flavor. I definitely do not have to do that at Fogo de Chao. We tried Rodizo because it was cheaper and you def pay for what you get. Their salad bar was messy and there were rotten greens, the service was horrid and the meats were subpar. It is definitely worth it to pay a little more for Fogo. We have never seen their salad bar look messy are ransacked even when they are extremely busy. It seems their staff pays great attention to detail and keep everything in place. I have 2 kids ages 4 and 6. This is their favorite restaurant as well. Normally if we ask them where they want to go for dinner they yell "the meat on the stick place". It is where they request to go for their birthdays too and togo makes them feel special. At some fancier restaurants when you go in with 2 little kids you are treated not as nice...almost as their way of saying WHY WOULD YOU BRNIG KIDS HERE. But not at Fogo. The servers talk to our kids, ask them what they would like to see brought to the table, fetch the forks they drop on the floor and replace them with new ones and on both their birthdays it seemed like every server at some point stopped by the table to tell them happy birthday and ask about how their birthday. We love this place. Updated 02/02/15 I our opinion of this place has only improved. We have gone for all 4 of our birthdays and were treated to a super yummy dessert and special attention. They even seem to recognize us well enough now that they remember that my daughter is in love with their pinepple and make sure we get enough of it. We had one time where the service was not as great as normal, it was when they were having a LOT of banquets for the holidays and there were not a lot of open tables. But even with the decreased attention it was still better than a lot of places we go.
(5)Melissa C.
I am very happy with my experience here. The food was wayyy better than I expected. All of the meats were seasoned and cooked very nicely, and were beyond plentiful. The "salad" bar was amazing - scalloped potatoes, various salad fixins, cheeses, smoked salmon, fresh mozzarella balls, asparagus, etc. You have to be very careful here, but I wasn't, and ended up eating too much before the meats, so I got very full very fast. But I don't regret it, because the everything I had was delightful. I also had a very tasty strawberry drink from the bartender, and later ordered a caiphirina (sp?) with dinner, which was also wonderful. The staff was pleasant and the restaurant is very nice.
(5)Noah P.
I love coming here! It has become a staple for birthday dinners. For those who have never been here before be warned it is a lot of food, or more specifically a lot of meat. If youre not a fan of red meat in various forms, or meat in general, this is not a restaurant for you. I would suggest if you are going to go with a group of people. Not only is it a great place to catch up, but it paces you with your meal. The restaurant offers a classy dinning area that is inline with a lot of steakhouses. If you are going on a Friday or Saturday night I would suggest getting a reservation. I have never had a problem getting a place to sit and this is also with a party of 10. The staff is very friendly and will explain the process to anyone who is new (the long and short; you have a coaster with a green and red side. Green means I want food, red means Im ok). You can start with a pretty extensive salad bar or go right into the meat. When you flip your coaster to green the various waiters will start coming by with platters and cuts of meat. You choose what you want and at what temperature. This is a wonderful place to go if you are celebrating any event but it is not an every day place as with drinks it can get pricey. However I always feel that I can eat enough meat to justify the price. It is a unique experience just to go and see for yourself. Go hungry but leave full!
(5)Ian S.
Everything about my visit to Fogo De Chau was perfect, we had a large party of 25+ people after an event in Denver. All the staff was very accommodating to all of our needs, a special thanks to Shaun, the manager, and Nick and Kelly, our wait staff, they were all fantastic. The food was great just like any other time at Fogo, can't get enough of that caramelized pineapple!
(5)Aman S.
Typical Brazilian steak place. I have been to many of these, and they are all the same.
(3)Natalia K.
I've spent a few months living in Brazil, so I've been to my share of authentic churrascarias. I've also been to the few of them around Denver and the SF Bay Area (I highly recommend Pampas if you're ever in Palo Alto). This place is just ok compared to everywhere else I've gone -- churrascaria or regular restaurant. MEDIOCRE FOOD: The service is great and very prompt (but with so many men running around cutting meat for everyone, that's to be expected). But the actual food--which is the reason I assume most people would come here--is just ok. The salad bar wasn't amazing and nothing really stood out to me. And the meat was the same. It was good meat prepared rather well, but it wasn't as good as a nice $30 steak somewhere like Vesta or Capitol Grill. I'd rather have one smaller piece of meat that tasted fantastic, than endless portions of it that taste ok. GO TO RODIZIO: One of my biggest qualms about this place is that most of the meat is actually pretty much the same thing: some variation of beef. I rarely saw pork or lamb going around, much less anything else. This is why I prefer Rodizio (just a few blocks away). Not only do they have nearly 10 variations of beef, but they also offer things like sweet-and-spicy chicken, chicken hearts, turkey wrapped in bacon, pork loin in parmesan and bacon, sugar-glazed ham, fish -- and surprisingly one of my favorites because it goes well with the meat and breaks up the protein rush: grilled pineapple. Now THAT'S worth paying for. Honestly, the best thing about this place was the amazing, fluffy mashed potato dish that was like a bottomless mimosa: it just kept getting refilled at my table and I kept eating it. But I wouldn't pay $40 just to have those mashed potatoes again.
(3)Jennifer R.
SERVICE: Truly great. Maybe a little TOO fast, as you don't have time to think before your food is brought to you. In that sense it felt a little hurried. All of the staff is very friendly and accommodating. I do, however, feel badly that the meat servers are forced to wear gaucho pants. Personally, I feel these giant pants should be reserved for pregnant women but in any case not young men. FOOD: All of the items at the sides bar are very fresh looking/tasting. I can't be the only idiot that thought the round white cheese was butter... Can I? Like one or two more labels would have helped a simpleton, like myself out. The meats we tried were cooked and seasoned well for the most part. My husband and I each found something mouthwatering and delicious to "try" multiple times. EXPERIENCE: Here's where I had to dock their score and it's not their fault. I just am not a fan of the Brazilian steakhouse style. All of the meat running around and having a sides buffet made the atmosphere a little overwhelming. It was much too carnival-like to me. It was not a relaxing dining experience which is my personal preference. So not their fault, but I just prefer something a little more intimate and leisurely.
(4)Misty A.
I went here on the invitation of friends and financee. I loved every bit of food I had. The wait staff was wonderful. The cleanliness of the restaurant was great. Complimentary valet service was very close as well. I will be coming back.
(5)Danette D.
My family and I took advantage of the awesome Restaurant Week deal and decided to try Fogo de Chao! And it was amazing. From the get go the host were very accomodating. There was 8 of us and we requested a table near the the corner as we had a baby in a stroller; so we preferred the corner as we had somewhere to park the stroller and the baby would get less distracted. Service was phenomenal. Everybody worked as a team and they were on top of it. I never had an empty glass of water and they when they see your plate is getting full from all that meat they go and grab you another plate. When there'll be times we'd want to try a specific meat they'd track it down for you. Never did I have to look around the room when I needed someone, it's almost like they can read your mind as soon as you think you need something they're there. And oh my gosh the salad bar! If I didn't eat red meat, I'd be perfectly happy with just the salad bar! It's not the typical salad bar where you'll find wilty greens, shredded carrots, bacon bits and whatnot. But some things you'll find fresh romaine, smoked salmon, giant asparagus, apple salad, imported cheeses and actual slices of bacon! Gah I'm drooling just thinking about it. The meats were very tender and tasteful, and the variety of sauces they provide for it was a nice touch (but to be honest, with how well they seasoned their meats sauce weren't needed). The sides were also great, I couldn't get over the brazillian cheese bread and the polenta. At the end of the night I was so full it hurt to move! It was a little overwhelming at first as each of the servers started bringing meat. When there's 6+ people at one time offering you different things you wouldn't know where to start.
(5)Melisa G.
My husband and I had been wanting to try Fogo de Chão for a while. We finally did Saturday night and couldn't have been more pleased! The food was INCREDIBLE and there was an abundance of it, the picãna (sp?) which was the house specialty meat was AMAZING. My favorite part believe it or not was the staff, they were extremely cohesive and worked as a team and it showed. I work in the customer service industry and there is nothing that pisses me off more than a rude waiter or server, but that IS NOT the case at this restaurant I was truly impressed! Obviously this place is on the higher end of the price point, but TOTALLY WORTH IT.
(5)Ryan B.
Do not eat all day before you arrive at Fogo! Really, I am serious, starve yourself first. Also, be prepared to shell out serious cash because this place is not cheap. The meat is fantastically good and you can literally have as much as you want. The grilled pineapple is also delicious. The salad bar is even good, though they warn you not to fill up there. If you are a vegan, you should stay home, but if you like actual food, I recommend going here every few years. More often than that and you may explode. I don't really know of any downside to eating here other than the price. But, it is worth it... if you have the money, go nuts!
(4)Jessie G.
This is one of my favorite places to go downtown. The food has always been awesome and the service even better. Go for lunch! It is the same menu for half the price and it isn't as busy so you get food faster and the services is better. Love this place!
(5)Michael M.
Worth every penny. That's coming from an omnivore. I really love meat, and grilled or smoked meat especially. This was probably my ideal meal. Big hulking slabs of meat are not easy to grill well. Anyone who's grilled a flank steak or a London broil knows it can be a challenge to hit the sweet spot where the meat is tender and juicy inside, but flavorful and crusted outside. Every piece of meat I was served was spot-on. I didn't ask for medium-rare and get a bloody mess or burnt up end piece. They also have a nice salad bar, including thin sliced salmon, and the fried bananas are addictive. The service is of course, showy and prompt. The manager walks around making sure nothing gets missed. I went here for my anniversary, and I can't afford to come here often. I do feel that the quality and presentation lived up to the price though.
(5)Lisa R.
Made reservations, arrived a few minutes learly and was seated about 15 minutes after our reservation time. The food and service was excellent. Salad bar needs to list what each item is. There were items on the salad bar that I did not know what it was, and it would have been helpful to have the item identified on a card, The food kept coming, but there was no system. Many times they brought the same food to our table. We had to ask for certain meats. Food was delicious staff very friendly.
(4)Ronald T.
The best brazilian steak i've ever had. And the polenta is gorgeous. Great atmosphere and they make me come back veery fast.
(5)Diane V.
I'm a HUGE fan of Fogo de Chao (see my other 2 reviews at different locations)!! I can't stop saying great things about this chain since the meat is always so tender and delicious. But I gave this particular location 4 stars because the meat was drier than I was used to, the salad bar wasn't that great, and the pao de queijo seemed to be lacking in cheese, like they almost ran out and squeezed what they could for each cheese bread. Still a very good place to eat Brazilian steak! The best! And I think I saw some NFL football players there - at least they were as buff as some! Service was excellent and attentive. Highly recommended!
(4)D W.
We had a party of 8 or so on a Saturday night and everyone agreed it was a great, flawless experience. Prompt seating and excellent true 5 star service, the servings were delicious, salad bar (especially smoked salmon) first rate. You can probably get better steak but the variety of beef, pork, chicken and lamb is something you can only do at a place like this. Tyler was our main guy and he really took care of us, knew his wines like a sommelier and was very fun as well, as was the entire crew. Oh and free valet parking which in downtown is a big plus, really made it easy to get a group in there painlessly. Fun, delicious and we'll go back - once we digest that first meal.
(5)Tif D.
There are some cool things about this place, I almost gave it 5 stars. The good: tasty fried polenta stix and cheesy puff-bread, upscale salad bar with uncommon offerings- sliced cheeses, smoked salmon, proscutto, apple salad, and scalloped potatoes that were the bomb. The meats were good, I got a few inedible bites that did detract, but overall they were all pretty good and gluttonously dished out to your hearts discontent. You get tasty sides with your meats too, like fried plantains, mashed potatoes and grilled pineapple. Here is my holdback: there are not any sauces for the meats, no horseradish cream or whatever Brazilian sauces they do? There is nothing that is spicey or hot. The meat carver's are a little abrupt, they are in hurry to work the room and you feel pressured to grab the slice they are carving with your little tongs with adeptness, they also spill au jus on the table cloth, your pants and inside your purse on the floor. It's a little haphazard, if you get me. So while everything was prepared well and the portions huge, nothing is thoughtfully put together to compliment any other item. There is also no flow to the meal, I'm unsure whether or not I'm supposed to eat my salad and then eat a whole plate of meat or just sit there eating off 2 plates. I went for lunch and it was a group of 100, so it's tough to judge. I would go back though, when I'm starving obviously.
(4)Bill K.
Excellent food and excellent service. I used to work near by so I've been to this location several times. Unlike other nearby Brazilian steakhouses, Fogo keeps up a good pace serving their meats. My favorite dish is their lamb chops, super flavorful and cooked just right. Another must is the filet mignon, which is very juicy and tender. They also have a good wine selection and a buffet table loaded with smoked meats, cheeses, salads, vegetables, soups/stews, and rice/beans. If you're waiting for a specific meat, just ask the wait staff. They'll make sure to bring it to your table.
(5)Cecil M.
Hands down the best meal I've ever had. Don't waste time on the salad bar unless that is all you're eating. Service is unmatched, and the experience is worth the price tag.
(5)Sara B.
Restaurants like Fogo De Chao are the reason I could never be a vegetarian. I love me some meat and Fogo is the place to go for it! With the variety they have, there is something for everyone. And the salad bar! Oh the salad bar...how could you not love it. P.S. Have you seen the trees that they serve and claim to be asparagus? Get in my belly!! My only complaint about this place is the chicken...it was really dry. Hey, one thing on the menu has to not be so tasty right? The service is impeccable and they have the best creme brulee I have ever tasted. It's like bwutta, baby!
(4)Tuan M.
Probably the most expensive restaurant I have ever ate at. It was for graduation so I guess I dont feel as bad spending $55 dollars for an all-you-can-eat buffet. I wanted to celebrate but couldnt afford doing the whole "poppin' bottles" thing, so I felt this restaurant was the next best thing.The waiters brought different types of meat to your table. The rib eye and shirloin was magnificent. It was until they brought out the lamb.....
(3)Harold W.
My goodness this place is phenomenal. If you have never been to a Brazilian steakhouse then this is the one to go to. The salad bar is always fresh with some of the best options you can think of. Now for the main meal, each customer has a circle object that looks like a cup holder, one side is red the other side is green and when you are ready to eat meat you flip it over to green and someone will come around every two minutes with a different type of meat for you to eat until you flip it over to red. Some of the meats include filet minion, ribeye, chicken and others. My favorite was the pineapple which has a cinnamon type spice to it and it is delicious. The staff was very friendly, it's a good place to have a nice dinner with the family, girlfriend, wife or other lol. Also the price is about $50.00 per person I had 2 people with me and the bill was around $170.00 so yea it's worth it.
(5)Chloe T.
Three stars for awesome meat- lamb and filet mignon were exceptional. But service here is just ok. While everyone was friendly, the second we flipped our cards over signaling the waiters we were ready for the meat course, it was like a feeding frenzy. Every second someone was coming over asking if we wanted this or that and it was a little overwhelming. Also not worth $50 per person for what you get. While meat was good, there are plenty of excellent places who can serve amazing meat for less than $50. We essentially spent $200 for a few bites of steak, unfortunately.
(3)t. o.
My spouse arranged for a family dinner here on Christmas Eve. Though relatively young and moderately hip, we eat like old people, so our reservation was for 5:30, which so often is simply the best time to go to restaurants, Better tables, better service, better food. Partner grew up in Dallas and had been to that one a couple times many years ago. She was disappointed by the (by comparison) paltry so-called salad bar, which she said used to have crab, shrimp, salmon, etc. Still, the rest of us thought the bar was fine. I could never eat meat again in my life and be happy about it, but she loves the meats, so I was game (ha.) I had a few tasty bits of cow, a few not so tasty bits (forget about the sausage.) The place was half empty when we came in and was packed within 30 minutes, so it was a nice lively atmosphere. But I don't think anyone thought they would be heading back again afterwards. We did find a great, relatively cheap bottle of organic Chilean red wine on the menu,. which felt like a big score. I know wine ok; it was a good deal. The actual highlight of that night was visiting the new Union Station for a drink before dinner. A perfect capper would have been popping into Tattered Cover, but we were ready for home, a fire, and a long winters night after dinner. An enjoyable one off, but it's pretty much exactly what you'd expect.
(3)Brittany S.
We went here for our work Christmas lunch. I had not been to a Brazilian steakhouse previously. Maybe I'm just not a fan of this type of place, but I didn't enjoy it. They walk around and offer you slices of meat. Most of the meat was heavily seasoned and salty. Also most of the meat was beef. There was some lamb and chicken, but I don't think I ever saw any pork passed around and most of the beef that was served tasted very similar to the last. My favorite thing about this place was the salad bar. And the service was good.
(3)Hannah Y.
I went here during restaurant week last march and I was really excited to try a Brazilian Steakhouse. I heard good things about Fogo de Chao but it didn't live up to my expectations. In their defense, I don't eat meat in access and I think having so much of it in one sitting just didn't sit well with me. The lamb was delicious! I love lamb and I consider myself to be a lamb snob and this place had delicious ham. The salad bar was not a traditional salad bar; however, I loved all of the things that they had. Smoked salmon, roasted garlic, hearts of palm, mmmmmmm. Also, the biscuits were to die for. They are like a buttery biscuit stuffed with cheese. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. I think the only reason why I give this place 3 stars is not because it isn't good but because of the concept. I like to leave wanting me and wanting to come back but after eating here, I had my fill and I am set for a long time. They come around with meat as soon as you flip your card over and usually your eyes are bigger than your stomach and I could not eat everything that they served me but I wanted to try everything. I was overwhelmed.
(3)Matthew T.
Went to eat here on the Friday following the New Year. Driving downtown can be pretty hectic on weekend evenings, but this restaurant started things off amazing, with complimentary valet parking. This makes a huge difference on those crowded streets, especially in the snowy cold we had. Walking in, there is a nice bar area where you can enjoy a drink while waiting for your table. Thankfully, we had reservations, so were whisked straight in by the hostess. Once seated, the level of service became apparent. We were quickly greeted, brought water, and introduced to the ins and outs of a Brazilian steakhouse. Throughout the whole meal, a water glass was never left half full, courtesy checks as to whether we'd like specific cuts of meat brought, appetizers, sides, quality of food, all were abundant but not overbearing. Perhaps the best service I've experienced. And, of course, the food. The salad bar was beautiful, with delicious choices from salads to cheeses to meats to vegetables that would have easily provided a wonderful dining experience by themselves. Of course, that wasn't all. Flip your table marker to green, and the attentive servers would come by with the twelve different cuts of meat, serving you portions from a taste to a generous slice at your request, cooked as you prefer, and continuing to come by until your marker is flipped back to red to give you a break to enjoy the perfectly seasoned delectable meats. All in all, an amazing dining experience. I will definitely recommend visits here, and return myself.
(5)Jade T.
This place has now been dubbed my FAVORITE in terms of Brazilian food and Steakhouses!! Sorry Rei Del Gado, and Texas De Brazil! The salad bar offers a huge selection of sides to go with the 17 different cuts of meat that rotate to your table. The parsley salad and smoked salmon were some of the best I've had!! As long as you're bold enough to keep your coaster flipped on "Green" the meats keep coming! Have to say the pork ribs, parmesean crusted chicken, and grilled pineapple made several trips to our table! Delicious!! The staff definitely made sure we got our money's worth and then some as our glasses were never empty and every need was catered too. They even brought fresh chopped fruit for my toddler who wasn't interested in entertaining the skewers of meat presented to the table! We ate, drank, and left so full we could burst! Save room for dessert!! The creme brulee was divine!!!
(5)Audrey C.
My experience here was amazing! My boyfriend had come up to Denver to visit me for spring break and we decided on this restaurant as a little impulse date night for just the two of us. For a set price of like ~$50, you get to have the salad bar (which is the biggest and nicest one I've ever seen! It made me so excited) and pretty much all you can eat of the meats that they provide. The service here was excellent! I felt really well taken care of by the staff; however, that also could be due to the fact we went on a Sunday night and the restaurant was pretty dead. Regardless! It was an amazing experience. The meats tasted excellent and the greens were fresh! They also brought over little sides which consisted of fried banana, mashed potatoes, and a little puffy butter bread thing that tasted amazing! We loved our experience here! The only reason why I wouldn't come back is because the amount of food was almost overwhelming for me! I enjoyed myself so much that I practically had to roll out of the restaurant as a ball from eating too much. So delicious! Highly recommend! Especially for that carnivore in your life.
(5)b h.
I'm very late in writing this review, but wanted to make sure it got done, because there were so many people to thank. In April, 2015 we did a special event dinner at this fabulous restaurant in downtown Denver. It was very convenient to our conference location at the Hyatt, but more importantly, it's right up the alley of our group, which adheres to a low carb lifestyle. From the start, the group sales manager, Jennifer DeAngelis, was thorough, professional, and very helpful in making sure our event fit our group's budget and needs. She was very accommodating in customizing a menu that met the restrictions of our group. Particularly, this group started out at expecting about 80 people, and ended up with about 130! Talk about flexibility...she made sure our event was still private, and still had an air of intimacy. She never batted an eye as the numbers went up and up, and even when our count went over the capacity of the private room, she came up with a solution that fit our needs. The day of the the event, the setup was perfect, thanks to the help and hard work of Robert and his staff. Robert was instrumental in finding the best way to set up the room so that everyone in the newly-configured arrangement could see and hear the speaker. We used their sound system and mic, my only advice is to make sure the wireless mic has fresh batteries before using. If you can believe it, we actually were allowed to have each party pay with a separate check...very rare, indeed when you are talking about this number of people...but a convenience that made it possible to do the event at all. The amazing waitstaff, hand-picked by Jennifer and our lead, Manny, handled this challenge with grace and speed...very professionally serving this large group, and effectively handling what could have been a very chaotic 'end of evening' when 130 people all asked for their check at the same time! This staff did not miss a beat, and the organization and efficiency with which they handled everything was truly amazing. Note that it is helpful to make an announcement to guests about the procedures to secure their help in making sure everyone gets their check settled in a timely fashion. All in all, I highly recommend doing any special event/dinner/meeting at Fogo de Chao in Denver. Their staff is up to it, and very proficient at providing the utmost in service and flexibility for a flawless event. Crediting the entire staff that helped us that evening, the event was a rousing success thanks to all of your hard work and good humor.
(5)Lee K.
A meat lovers paradise! Absolutely enjoyed everything they had to offer! Came here for valentines and left with a wonderful food coma. Worth every penny!
(5)Steve P.
What a wonderful experience. The best barbecue I've ever had. the pineapple is really good too. Ask for Christy she's the greatest server in the place.
(5)Adel Z.
My favorite place to satisfy my inner carnivore. Consistently good with excellent cuts of meat cooked to perfection. Oh and BTW they have a salad bar.
(5)Joey B.
The experience service wise was excellent. Some of the best service I've ever had in Denver. The food is the reason I'm giving it 4 stars Instead of 5. We sat down, the girlfriend ordered some kind of tequila cocktail with fresh lime, kind of like a mojito crossed with a Margarita. I asked for something bold red and south american, and was presented with the Susana Balbo Cabernet (probably 09). Good choice waitress, I love that one. Anyways then they bring out these delicious little appetizers, fried polenta dusted with parmesan, and little squishy cheesy bread balls (not sure what they're called), very tasty. At first it's an open salad bar but the waitress advised us not to fill up on salads and go for the meats. But the salad bar is super on par- everything from real bacon strips to baba ganoush. Next comes a caramelized plantain (they called it a bannana, I knew better) and their mashed potatoes. They set these two big sides on your table and the guys walk around with swords and cut you off tidbits of this and that meat. Very tasty. One of the cuts, their house specialty was actually pretty salty, but in their defense I see why, it was the end of heel, and the first cut so it was all crusted in salt not just the edges. We tried it all though, our server was very attentive to make sure we got every piece of meat me wanted. Their dessert list leaves something to be desired. I had a nutty Irishman cocktail and the girlfriend has some kind of chocolate coffee, and we shared a creme brule. The issue is all of their desserts seem so generic, nothing popped out and said "hey try me!!" Either way not a bad experience. 200+ for a dinner and drinks for 2 with a good tip. To be expected. 4 out of 5 for the price of the food and service
(4)Lisa W.
So disappointing. I've been here several times and have always had great service and overall experiences. Not sure what was going on today, but we had terrible service. We saw the waitress upon arrival and then never saw her again. Had to flag down other servers to get stuff, including the check (after a 20 minute wait.) we were so excited because we brought my folks this time around to show how great this place is, only to be disappointed. We had our kids with us (ages 6 and 3) and they were well behaved, so not sure if that was the problem. I also noticed a help wanted sign in the window outside, so maybe they were short staffed. Very disappointing considering the amount of coin we dropped for dinner. Maybe we will go to rodizio next time.
(2)Wade B.
Let me start off by saying the staff at this Fogo de Chao are the best!! I brought in a party of 76 (some equated it to a small wedding) and the staff handled everything without any issues. The sales manager, Jennifer, was also very helpful throughout the planning of my event. The food and drinks were equally as good. All in all it was a successful event and I would not think twice about choosing somewhere else to hold my next event. Fogo de Chao should be proud of the team they have at the Denver location. 10 out of 10!!
(5)Jelena W.
They're open! They're open! Finally! At last! Huzzah! Gratuitous exclamation points! That said, I thought Fogo de Chao in Philadelphia had alarmingly attentive service, but the waitstaff at the new Denver location make Fogo Philly look like a greasy spoon. I suspect they've brought in some of their best servers from other locations around the country (one of the gauchos mentioned he had worked in the Beverly Hills location) to help get things started in Denver. So, if you can pay a visit while this location is brand new, do so, and you'll enjoy service so good that you're tempted to just hand your wallet to the nearest waiter. Want to know how good the service was? My boyfriend wears a lot of black. Okay, he wears only black, with the occasional red accent. Anyway, we arrived and he headed for the restroom while I made a beeline for the salad bar (Parmesan! Prosciutto! I missed you both so much!) to fill a plate. I was away from our table for only a moment, but, like magic, my boyfriend's white napkin had been replaced by a black one when we returned to the table. I mean, seriously? They're already carrying around hunks of bloody, meaty deliciousness and serving every freaking table in the restaurant at the same time, and they found time to notice his color preference and quietly adjust his napkin to match? I dare you to eat here, tip less than 25%, and not feel like the worst person in the world for it. Not convinced yet? Allow me to continue. My boyfriend is very attached to his coat; also, it had our gift card in it (a birthday gift from my mother). Hence, he did not allow anyone to take his coat. Moments after he declined the offer to take his coat, a waiter appeared with a cloth to cover it on the back of the chair so that no meat drippings would go astray and mar said favorite coat. Still not enough? How about this: Every time I got up for any reason, whether to revisit the salad bar or wash my hands, a server appeared out of nowhere to pull out my chair when I was ready to sit back down. Glorious. "But, Jelena," you say, "You haven't even mentioned the food!" The food, you say? You want to hear about the food? I'd love to tell you all about the tender crescents of picanha with their perfectly seasoned outer crust and delicate pink centers, or about the beef ancho juicy enough to melt in the mouth, or even the bacon-wrapped filet mignon fit for kings, but I'm still in a well-earned food coma. Wake me in a week or so. Forget Helen of Troy. I'm pretty sure it was picanha that launched a thousand ships. I know if someone took my picanha, I'd send an armada to take it back. I know you're drooling all over your keyboard and ready to go make your reservations, but bear with me for just a moment more. Let me tell you about the magical end to the evening. You see, it was my birthday yesterday. Fogo opens July 23rd, my birthday is July 26th, just try and convince me that it isn't a birthday present from the universe. I dare you. I, indulging a bit on my birthday, got a chocolate martini and we shared a creme brulee for dessert. In order to avoid appearing self-centered or any possibility of singing, I hadn't mentioned my birthday to the staff. We simply enjoyed dessert and asked for the check. When a server returned with our receipt, my boyfriend complimented him by saying, "Thank you for making her birthday evening wonderful." The server mentioned that Fogo offers complimentary desserts on birthdays, and offered to remove the dessert from our bill. I said it wasn't necessary but would be very kind. He took the check back and we sat for a few moments trying not to move too much lest we explode. Suddenly, the server returned with an envelope. "Normally we do complimentary desserts on birthdays," he said, "But instead, since this is a new restaurant, we got you a gift card for dinner for two. A present for the birthday." I gaped. We gave our enthusiastic thanks. A free dinner for two? Holy picanha, Batman! As we stumbled out of the restaurant in awe, I saw that the valet had already pulled my car around and opened the door for me. There was a time when I would have laughed at the very suggestion that I should pay over $100 for dinner and drinks for two people at a chain restaurant. That was before I met Fogo. What are you waiting for? Go! Devour! Be pampered! Enjoy!
(5)Nia S.
Wow, never experienced such a place before. If you like meat, you have to try this place! I really liked the service, they made us feel special. I do have one tiny complaint...no free drink refills on soda? Really...for such an expensive place, this is really cheap!
(4)David C.
Great as always. All the food is well prepared and tasty. The staff is very attentive. Highly recommended (if you love meat).
(5)Eric S.
Ate here for 5280 Denver Restaurant Week last weekend for my sister-in-laws birthday. The salad bar blew me away as did all the antipasti they provide. Very nice touch, and be sure to try the smoked salmon antipasti. The meats they bring to you are top notch, but I just wish they offered some dipping sauces for your various cuts of meat. My only turn off was the fact that the waiter tried to remember each member of my parties first name with little or no success and it got old after a bit. Other than that, great experience.
(5)Randy L.
I'm probably gonna catch hell for this, but here goes: Fogo de Chao is the best steak house in Denver. And on top of that, it's all you can eat! When you walk in, you might be tempted to start by making a gigantic salad at Fogo's INTENSE salad bar, but that's a rookie mistake. While their salad selections are tasty and plentiful, you're at a god damn steak house that lets you eat as much as you want, so get your head in the game. Here's how it works: You get a little coaster with a red side and a green side. Green means go, red means stop. Rocket science it isn't. When the green side is facing up, gauchos with swords full of delicious meat descend upon your table like a swarm of bees that want to feed you instead of killing you. Maybe that's a bad simile. Oh well. Anyway, they keep bringing you the various cuts of meat until you flip your card to red so that you can try to catch up on the brand new pile of protein waiting for you on your plate. You also get unlimited sides - fried polenta (my favorite side), caramelized bananas, and garlic mashed potatoes. The bananas are a great way to cleanse your palate between cuts of meat, and they're also sweet and delicious. The mashed potatoes are, well, mashed potatoes. They're not going to knock your socks off if you've ever had potatoes before, but they're very good. I recommend the picanha (house special top sirloin), the beef ancho (rib eye), the fraldinha (bottom sirloin), and of course, the fillet Mignon wrapped in bacon. Fogo's steaks are the most flavorful, tender cuts I've ever eaten, and I have had my share of steak. The lamb is also good, but can be a bit too lamb-y. The chicken is very, very flavorful, but you're at a steak house, so don't waste precious belly room. The only thing I don't like is the sausage, but there are 15 freaking cuts of meat, so it's not like there aren't plenty of options for discerning carnivores. One of the best things about Fogo de Chao is the service. The staff is the most friendly, attentive staff I've ever experienced. Waiters refill drinks and sides before you're 1/3 of the way done with them, but aren't intrusive. I think they undergo some kind of stealth ninja training in addition to waiter training, because often times when eating there I look down and discover I have a full drink and a brand new plate of delicious, crispy polenta. Anyway, I'll stop going on and on about the food so you hopefully won't think I'm some kind of fat monster. You're looking at about $35/person to eat here (plus drinks and desserts, which are both DYNAMITE), but it's worth every penny, considering you can spend that much (and more) at other high end steak houses and get inferior food and nowhere near the level of service that Fogo consistently offers. I am not exaggerating at all when I say that Fogo de Chao is my favorite restaurant.
(5)Patricia W.
This had to be one of the best dinning experiences I have ever had. Not only was the food superb but the service was impeccable! We were treated like royalty, the staff were fantastic, the food was absolutely fantastic! VERY MUCH WORTH YOUR TIME!
(5)Turok ..
This is me and my lady's favorite place on earth. I am giving it 5 stars. I live by the skin of my balls and I figure I should eat well while I'm on this earth.
(5)Carolyn G.
Hit or miss on the meat- some good - some really dry. I had the salad bar too and ended up getting sick. Like a really really really expensive denny's but only with meat.
(1)Steve O.
Let me preface this by noting that I am a huge fan of meats. The best aspect of this restaurant, however, is that the main course of 15+ meats is merely the tip of this delicious iceberg. Let's start from the beginning... The salad bar alone is simply amazing. Mixed greens, asparagus, smoked salmon & fresh mozzarella make it stand out from any other salad bar you've been to. The plethora of meat is delivered freshly prepared, still sizzling on a skewer ready to be transferred to your plate with a pair of personal tongs. The bottom sirloin had to be my favorite, but the filet mignon was a close second. The system entails a little round coaster which when flipped on it's red side indicates you are content for the time being, and when the green side is showing you want more animal! Be aware when the green is showing, they are phenomenally relentless in filling your plate with meat. Lastly, are the amazing sides. If at any point you still have even an ounce of room left in your stomach, savor crispy hot polenta, garlic mashed potatoes, pão de queijo (warm cheese bread) or caramelized bananas. It may not sound appealing at first, but I was more than content being carted out of Fogo de Chao in a wheel barrel. SO full of culinary greatness that even standing became a challenge. Simply put, it's a great atmosphere and even better cuisine. (If you hit it up during 5280 week (between Feb & Mar), which I was fortunate enough to do, a meal for two is on $52.80 - a fantastic deal)
(5)Damion W.
Stay away from the salad bar... Focus on the meat!! :-P Great place to eat...
(5)Michelle A.
Ok so it was their 1st 5280. on a Saturday night. They were not ready for the people with reservations. We had an 8pm dinner. We sat at 910pm. People were not happy. Many tried for a reservation somewhere else. There was a group of 8 and they called a number of restaurants. I tried to help with some of the ones I knew. Finally they called Capital Grill. No problem. They left for an immediate reservation. The bar was a zoo and the bartedender almost got help from a stranger but she really said she was not qualified. They were so backed up. I am sure they lost money as people were asked to pay at dinner. Once seated the service was good. However we were seated by the front door and I guess some servers never saw us sitting there. As we only were offered 7 kinds of meat out of 15. I personally will not return as I know there are others who will not go back. Too bad. I am going to Impulse and Zink Kitchen for 5280. I hope the wait is better.
(4)Briella M.
Awesome place to celebrate my anniversary. Great service!! Great food. Will be back soon.
(5)Rick G.
This last week was the the my parent's inaugural visit to the lovely Mile High City that I now call home. It was a seminal occasion as this I think I might have started to , as those in the know say, "arrive." You know I own a house that isn't a dump, have a job that am good at I don't hate ALL the time, some friends who don't loathe me TO much and I know how to enjoy a good scotch. In other words, I am entering a nice time in my life where I am old enough to know better and young enough to not give a fuck if I so choose. So I took my parents here when they visited from Israel and/or San Diego. This visit, I knew, was going to be a test of sorts, an examination by which my parents could be certain that I was not living in a dumpster, shooting heroin and in general living in a bad way, as is often the want of Jewish parents. Initially my father was hesitant to go as he proclaims "any place that doesn't have a sign in English has something to hide." I forgive my father for such verbal reproaches and observations such as this because : 1. He is from Texas. 2. He is a Republican from Texas. 3. He is a recently retired Master Gunny who spent 25 years in the USMC and a Republican and from Texas. My father is the epitome of a lovable curmudgeon, a gruff, terrifying man with a heart of gold. It's both his best quality and his worst failure. In response to this, my mother rolled her eyes, took a deep centering breath and prepared to lay into my father. Seeing this in process I said "Dad, I want to buy you and Mom a nice steak dinner at the best place in town. Fogo is THE best place in town. So, will let me buy you a steak dinner? I think I owe it to you after all I put you through when I was growing up." FYI: I was a very good kid and never really put him through anything, but it helped the cause. He pondered what I had just said, and as he ALWAYS does, begrudgingly agreed to to go. After retrieving my parents from the hotel where they were staying, we arrived and were seated. Service, as is usual at Fogo is top notch - attentive and doting without being intrusive. Glasses are filled, drinks are refreshed and empty plates whisked away. My mother loved that they pulled our her chair. She giggled in delight that there are establishments where this practice still occurs. One's first time at Fogo can be a bit disorienting as the whole place is in a constant buzz of activity with sizzling meat platters being rushed to and fro. This is one of the few places I have been where bacon-wrapped meat is not a culinary apology, as it so often is. After a filling meal, at which I had the picanha, my father settled on the prime rib and my mother the filet mignon, I asked them how they liked it. My father said that it was one of the best steaks he had ever had and because my dad was happy, my mom was happy. When we left, I saw that my Mom and Dad were holding hands and seemed to be walking closer together than usual, a little more affectionate that usual. After dropping my parents off at the hotel, I went home and relieved an email from my father thanking me for a wonderful time and a great steak. He indicated he was glad to have visited and hopes to again very soon. Fogo, thank you for a great venue, a great time and helping bring my family and myself closer together.
(5)Robert B.
(I know I normally look down my nose at chain restaurants, and Fogo do Chao IS a chain, but they sure don't act like one!) If you like meat, and you're in Denver, you HAVE to put this place on your 'short list'. We have an OK Brazilian grill in Seattle (Ipanema), but this place makes them look like low-grade dog food! What works: 1) Front of house service: The whole staff is 'eye-candy' good looking, and normally that's a 'red flag' for me (pretty people normally aren't very competent, right?). But these folks are as professional, competent, and accommodating as they are easy on the eyes. They have a concept that any staff member can work the dining room and attend to any table, and that applies from the GM on down (!). You're never waiting for someone. They make great recommendations, and are quick to take care of special requests and go that extra bit. For example, I wanted a plate of their caramelized bananas for dessert (a side included with the dinner). The server brought them out with a tiny pitcher of sweetened condensed milk, and suggested I try drizzling it on if I'm going to enjoy it as a dessert (it worked beautifully). In another situation, I thought I wanted a more rare lamb chop, the server obliged me, and I realized to my horror that I really didn't want what I asked for (it was a bit TOO rare). The server happily brought me another chop that was perfect. They will give you whatever you want, and replace it if you realize it was a bad idea. 2) Food: The salad bar is quite good, with extremely fresh ingredients that are artfully presented. But let's face it, you're here for the MEAT! They are exquisitely marinated and grilled, and have excellent flavour. You can enjoy a number of different beef, lamb, chicken and pork offerings. Particular standouts for me are the beer-marinated chicken legs, the bacon-wrapped filet mignon, leg of lamb, and the aforementioned lamb chops. The only less-than-satisfactory note was with a couple of the pork offerings. The pork ribs and parmesan-crusted pork tenderloin were rather overdone. Granted, pork is a hard dish to 'nail' in this style of cuisine. Normally, this would've downgraded them to 4 stars, but the superior quality of their service saves the '5-star' rating for them. Given how attentive they are, I wouldn't be at all surprised if they're 'tweaking' these dishes as you read this. This place is quite reasonable for what you're getting if you watch your bar tab. If you're in need for a serious protein fix, Fogo de Chao is THE place in DEN for you!
(5)Nikole T.
I thought this place was pretty good! The filet migon and lamb were amazing! The only complaint I have is the staff was a little too invasive. I felt like I was constantly being watched by the servers not delivering meat to the table.
(3)Howard R.
This is my second review. Fogo De Chao is certainly doing something right because they are opening up in other locations. The first real treat and the "best thing I ever ate" is the smoked salmon at the salad bar. I have never had salmon like this. Perfectly smoked and top notch. This is a MUST. The meats, service, ambience, side dishes, also are superb. If you look at the many reviews on Yelp, you will notice that this place has more 5 starts than most. For good reason-they really do everything right. Fogo satisfies on every level.
(5)Sheng S.
This was my first time at Fogo de Chao in Denver. I've been to many Brazilian steakhouses all over including in Brazil. I was a bit disappointed. It was very bright, loud with lots of noise and the staff was overwhelming. What I meant by overwhelming is the wait staff were running around with their heads cut off. Everyone was running somewhere. You may think this would be a plus but it made me feel like I was standing still but everyone else was walking fast on Fifth Avenue in New York City brushing my shoulders. Not a good feeling. I've been to many other Brazilian steakhouses but never had that feeling and still got my food in good time. After we sat down, one of the wait staff came over and started explaining to us how it works. It would help if he spoke better English. He had a thick accent and was speaking at 100mph. Even if spoke well English it would still be hard to understand him. I asked my girlfriend did you understand a word he said. She said no. I don't know if he's really Brazilian or Mexican but slow down your English. We barely saw him for the rest of our dinner. I have found most of the wait staff to be Mexicans. I guess they're trying to pass them off as Brazilians. What's disturbing is they come to you very very often to a point where it gets annoying. They never have what you really want like the filet mignon. Maybe they're trying to get rid of the cheap stuff. When you request something their English is not very good and afterwards 2 or 3 other waiters will ask you if you just ordered that. Communication seems to be lacking. And if I turn over the card to red, that means DO NOT come over. The food was just ok. For an all you can eat place I guess you can't expect top notch steak. However, when you're paying $50 per person I would expect better quality. I would rather get a $75 steak from Vegas than to spend $50 on unlimited mediocre steak. I guess there would be many others that will disagree on that. Quality vs Quantity? The 2 best I liked were the filet mignon and the garlic one. They were still meh compared to the great steakhouses and some of the best steaks I've had in Vegas. I would rate it as a few notches under Ruth's Chris. I still reminisce of the place in Brazil I ate at. It was such a relaxing dinner and the steak was cook very well. The wait staff there even though they spoke Portuguese and little English never gave me this rushed feeling. This dinner made me felt so aggressive. We were out of there in less than 30 minutes. To top it off some guy outside was hitting on my girlfriend while I was getting my parking ticket validated. Never will I be back at this place again!
(2)Sara Z.
This was my first rodizion, but definitely won't be my last. Wow! Delicious. The service was superb and I just adored Wagner!!! They also were very nice to accomodate my "well done" meat request. I cant wait to try others and hope they are all as good. Oh, the filet was my favorite, but the bacon wrapped chicken was a close runner up!
(5)Sulema M.
Just received a note from an employee that gave my rating a "Poor!!" compliment. Strange, a "Poor!!" compliment in her words. Rather than complimenting my review as "Poor!!", provide some feedback that makes sense like any other employee or company rep would. Marcela Z, it's not nice to harass those who pay your paycheck my dear - maybe I should call the boss?
(1)Andrea K.
Ok, just because I have zero desire to dine there again does not mean that it is bad. It was delicious. The salad bar is phenomenal! They tell you not to fill up at the salad bar but it is difficult not to!! We went there for 5280- awesome deal since it was their regular schtick for half the price. I love meat but I could probably go back and just eat at the salad bar. The smoked salmon, the vegetables, the peppers...yum. The meat was good too though some of it lacked flavor in my opinion and was overcooked. By far the best pieces were from the prime cuts of the beef. At the regular price, I wouldn't go here unless I could belly up a million times and make it worth it. Otherwise, I'm quite happy just receiving one plate at a normal restaurant. So...it's great- truly- but only if you can make an all-you-can-eat meat extravaganza worth it for you. Service is top notch. You are never without food for even one second.
(4)Justin M.
I've tried a different brazilian steakhouse, but so far, this is my favorite place. the service is great, and the food is always on point. and to know that they're participating in the 5280 restaurant week is great. I'll definitely try to visit during the 5280 week!
(5)Michael W.
Lets just skip the BS and do a little comparison style reviewing; just a little. Overall, I'd say they're meat selections taste better than there rival in Stapleton. The salad bar on the other hand, doesn't hold a candle to that same rival. I would give the Stapleton competitor the edge when it comes to the bars selection too. Sill haven't completed the trifecta; Rodizo is on my list. More specifically, Fogo is very upscale in ambiance and operation in comparison to similar places I've been. The staff is top notch and almost "too" attentive, at times. You can feel them eying your glass for a refill. As an added touch, I like that this chain has locations in Brazil, adding to it's claims of authenticity. There's really not much else to say, ummmm, there's complimentary valet service and they don't charge for kids (5 and under I guess). I'd visit again without a second guess.
(4)Thomas Y.
The same rule applies to Fogo de Chao that applies to any other Brazilian Churrascaria restaurants. Go hungry or you won't enjoy it. The gaucho's here are well trained and very friendly. I can go pretty in-depth on here on the selection of the meats, but this place has identical offerings as Texas de Brazil or Rodizio's (they do have wild game offerings) down the street, and I've touched on the types of meats on a few of my other reviews. Recommendations: Chicken wrapped in bacon. Filet Mignon. Pork. Every meat. How does this place differentiate itself from the likes of the others? Ambiance, customer service, and value, especially during 5280 Week. I also have heard that this place is more authentic with several restaurant locations at the heart of Brazil. In closing, I do prefer Texas de Brazil more due to the selection at the salad bar and the drinks at the bar seems better. You won't go wrong with either of the big three. Enjoy and again, go hungry!
(4)Albert C.
If you love meat, then there's not much else you can ask for. My wife and I are from out of town, but were in Denver for a few days. After reading the reviews, I decided we had to go for dinner. This place did not disappoint. This was our first time to a brazilian steakhouse. From the attentive service and tons of options, as people have described this is an eating experience. Sure you are talking about $46.50 per person, which is a pricey meal. But when you compare prices with going to a nice steakhouse, it's comparable. For me, the quality is comparable to nice steakhouses, so what makes this better is the selection plus it's all you can eat. For a comparable price, you get a nice salad bar with fresh higher-end ingredients (from prosciutto and smoked salmon to a wide variety of vegetables). Most importantly the choice in meats. There's chicken, pork, lamb, and beef. To name a few, there is filet mignon, rib eye, and rack of lamb. Some meats and marinades tasted better than others, but our favorites were the filet and a cut of beef marinated with garlic. For those unfamiliar with the experience, you start off with a two-sided card (green and red) to signify when you are ready for the meat. At all times, servers are holding different types of meats and delivering them to guests. Typically you start off with the card on RED and start off on the salad bar. Once you are ready for meat, you flip over your card to GREEN and servers will individually begin presenting you with different meat options. They present you with the meat and you can tell them how much and how cooked you would like your meat. This continues as long as you have your card turned over to GREEN. It can be a little overwhelming as servers continue to stop by, but you always have the option of turning over to RED until you are once again ready for more. For meat lovers, what more can you ask for? I only wish they had one in Northern California. Looks like the closest ones for me would be in Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
(5)Michael A.
We were greeted with pleasant smiles and warm, friendly service. The ambiance of the overall dining atmosphere was upscale, yet personal and private. The salad bar was stocked with odds and ends of many different things to sample, leading up to a dinner full of indulgence. The side dishes were wonderful compliments to the main course of the many varieties of meat, while providing the perfect balance of taste for a fully refined dinner for any palate. Some claim that there are too many people visiting their tables, but we can say in complete honesty every individual who approached our table was not a distraction, all whom were extremely kind. We ended our meal with the Creme Brule, which possessed the perfect flavor of mildy sweet, yet satisfyingly delicious contrast to the delightfully, wonderful meal.
(5)Steven S.
I was take there for my birthday by my girlfriend at the time. It was absolutely incredible! Both food and service could not have been better. Meat with a side of meat? Yes. I did not try anything that my taste buds didn't love. Eventually, I had to be helped to the door and to the valet stand as I'd eaten more than my body could handle. Pricey, but well worth the splurge for a special occasion!
(5)Dorian V.
Wow! That's all I can say about this place...my son described it as "gastrronomic rapture on the tongue"...From the time we walked in to our table and had a first look at the expansive salad bar with it's shaved parmesan bowl and just about anything you can think of as far as salad bars go...it was fantastic and I could have just had that as my meal and been stuffed! But, the best was yet to come. Every type of meat selection you could ask for and more was appearing before our eyes...my top choice was the sirloin...tender, juicy and melt-in-your-mouth delightful. The only reason I did not award this restaurant five stars was that the chicken was slightly on the dry side but nothing's perfect, right? I would highly recommend this restaurant for it's menu selection and the service which was top-notch!
(4)Sheri G.
This place is like Meat Mecca. For a carnivore like myself, this place is a veritable pantheon of dead animal, cooked to perfection. It is a tad on the pricey side, but for the amount and quality of food you get, it's worth the splurge every now and then. Salad bar was pretty good (hooray for the giant bowl of bacon!), and the polenta and plantain side dishes made me wish I had more room in my stomach. Keep an eye on your red/green card, because the gauchos are definitely on point with bringing more delicious meat very quickly. Next time I'll make sure to skip lunch (and possibly breakfast).
(4)Alissa S.
You know that friend you have. The one you take out to a restaurant and they're never full. The one who orders two burritos at Chipotle even though one burrito is already a rice and bean filled carb monster. This is the place you want to take that friend. Teams of waiters parading around endless swords of meat has to be the answer to someone's prayer. And you really can't go wrong, since they also have an awesome salad bar that's a meal in itself. Definitely a few steps above your typical Rodizio restaurant. However, I'm pretty sure there's a conspiracy to try and fill up the customer on sides, since they couldn't stop replacing our plates of polenta, mashed potatoes, cheese bread and caramelized bananas. This kind of bothered me, because I don't think we'd finish even half of our side before it was replaced with a fresh batch. I appreciate good service, but that just seems overly wasteful to me. If you can, check this place out during lunch. It's about half the price.
(4)Jeff V.
Four, yeah four stars is about good for the food there. I went back to fogo with friends for restaurant week and decided to finish my review upon my second visit. This place really does have a great atmosphere for small groups of friends. The loud and busy place allows for any type of dinner talk you choose. The salad bar was amazing and I almost went fully stupid on the hearts of palm, on the the meats! The best things here is the house special, then all the beef portions. Everything else was ok in my mind but that beef so beefy so goody. I'd def go back and would check it out at lunch. Same menu, half the price.
(4)Rod H.
Just not that good, honestly. If you've never been to a Brazilian Steakhouse before, I can imagine this place comes off as pretty good. But I've been to one before, and this place sucked pretty bad in comparison. No matter how done you ask for your cut of meat to be, it comes off the outer edge. Most of the meat was under-seasoned and bland (or, in the case of the lamb, way too salty). There was also a serious lack of variety in the meat, with little to distinguish the different cuts of beef. A few items (the chicken legs) were downright disgusting, and the chef used the age old "wrap it in bacon if it has no flavor" with not one, but two different items. The mashed potato side dish tasted fake, from a box. The filet was excellent, but the rest of the items I'd group somewhere between bad and alright at best. The service was weak. I sat with my card facing green side up for the entire meal and was barely approached enough at all, far from the usual "overwhelming swarm" I should have gotten. I eventually placed my card on top of my water glass to draw as much attention to it as possible, but even that was no help. I went during restaurant week where the meal was about half-off. If you go here during a normal week and pay over $40 per person, you're a sucker. Brazilian steakhouses can be delicious, but this one is a poor entry.
(2)Idan S.
First off let me say that if I had more money I'd eat there all the time! It is a family tradition to go to churrascarias or sushi restaurants for people's birthdays, and so we recently went there for my brother's birthday and I just about ate myself into a lamb/beef food coma. Lamb chops, lamb shank, bacon-wrapped fillet, picanha, fried bananas, pan de queijo, and sauteed mushrooms make me a very very very happy person. I have to say that their appetizer buffet isn't nearly as nice as Texas De Brazil's, but who cares? The meat quality was above and beyond anything you'll find at Texas De Brazil or Rodizio. Just a word of warning: If you are tempted to order anything off their dessert/shot cart make sure to ask how much it costs first...
(5)Ziyu W.
A perfect place for a meat lover! I was in Denver for a weekend and decided to check this place out as it was in walking distance from the hotel, and I had always missed my chances when I was in AZ...so here we go. Salad bar was decent, pretty standard, but I'd say go easy with the salad bar, the meat is a lot more important!! 15 different kinds of meat, and I think I've tried all. Everything was excellent! I especially liked the medium rare filet and the ribs. So delish!! Our sides are grilled banana, mashed potatoes, and some kind of golden bread thingy.. I loved the grilled banana, so sweet and so good!! Service was very attentive! Everybody was so nice! I haven't experienced such great service in a while, we were definitely treated well! Outstanding service + delicious food = 5 stars!
(5)Richard M.
I was in Denver for a business meeting and decided to go out to dinner with a few friends, Fogo de Chao was centrally located so we ventured in to gorge ourselves on meat. I was really impressed with the taste of the meat, it all tasted different and delicious. I've had Brazilian BBQ before and the meats weren't this tasty. There salad bar had a great selection of fresh veggies, cheeses, and sliced salami, sausages and prosciutto. The hearts of palm, buffalo mozzarella, smoked salmon and capers, marinate mushrooms were great. We ate fillet mignon, rib eye, bottom flank, sirloin, chicken, sausage wrapped in bacon, pork ribs, rack of lamb, leg of lamb and more. On top of the meat they kept coming around with side dishes of mashed garlic potato's, grilled asparagus, string beans, fried polenta. It was great and the service was wonderful. Good place to stuff yourself and it's priced fair.
(4)Jeff C.
It was a great experience. I thought the prices were reasonable. The only reason they have a fantastic salad bar is so you eat less meat (which helps their bottom line). The salad bar is great--all I could ask for and it is hard to not fill your plate. But of course you are here for the meat so it can be quite a quandary balancing the salad bar with the meat. Anyway, the meats were delicious. A couple of things were a little dry, but it was a Monday night that I ate here and it was only 25% (if that) full, so I am sure they do not prepare as much meat and some things turn on the pit a little long. However it was all very good. My only complaint (and I am smarter than this) is that they asked if we wanted desert. Well, I was unsure if it was included or not. The salad bar is included with the meal so I was half thinking that desert might be. Anyway I ordered the "Strawberry Cream" not fully understanding what it was. It is really just a strawberry milkshake with a optional splash of blackberry liquor on top. It was very yummy if I say! However, we got the bill and it was $9.50. I think they should bring you a desert menu so that you A.) see the pricing and B.) realize it is additional. Two observations--I ate at Texas de Brazil in Northfield a while ago and the prices seem much better here than at TdeB. However, TdeB had a much larger salad bar with many more selections. I think I prefer Fogo's since it is less tempting! Anyway, this place is 4.5 stars for me and I will be back!!!
(4)Matherine G.
Positive: We really liked the filet mignon (hard to mess up the best cut) and the bread that came with the meal. Negative: Where do we start? We made a reservation and still had to wait 35 minutes. When our server asked us if we had to wait long, we told him. His response was that that wait "wasn't too bad" and that essentially that we should be thankful that the wait was only that long. No apology whatsoever. We found the meat to be inconsistent. Some items were way overcooked. The salad bar was a disappointment ("exotic vegetables"? what's so exotic about cold broccoli and sliced tomatoes?). We waited 15 minutes for our bill to come after being told that "the cashiers were backed up." When the bill did come, we were overcharged (our tab included a 9 dollar drink that we didn't order). Overall: We were really disappointed by Fogo, especially after reading some of the glowing reviews from other Yelpers. We were so excited to eat here and we really wanted to like it. But from start to finish, Fogo did not live up to the hype. We won't be back, at least not until we try Rodizio and other brazilian steakhouses first.
(2)Kent T.
It's a carnivore theme park. Many cows died to bring us Fogo de Chao...and we owe it to their memories to eat them medium rare. Endless skewers of meat are paraded past your table like models on a runway. Flip your coaster to the "GREEN" side and they'll arrive at your table. Need a break or a breather? Just flip it to "RED". You also get side orders of mashed potatoes, plantains and a fried corn bready thing (whose name I forget). The only cut I don't recommend is the paremesan-breaded meat. It's rather salty and doesn't mesh well with the other juicy cuts you're offered. The salad bar is a meal unto itself. Be sure to snag some of the smoked salmon slices. The apple salad is delicious and almost doubles as a dessert dish. You might think Fogo is comparable to Rodizio, but it blows them away. It's sad to think that, back in the 80's, my teenaged mind used to get excited about old AYCE places like Country Buffet. I've matured since then and I'm glad the AYCE concept has, as well. Might also be a good idea to fast before going here.
(5)Micah R.
Very good meats. Abundant salad bar. I went at for restaurant week so I got the $52.80 price. I reccomend that b/c unlike some other places, their menu is not limited during that time. It is all you can eat meat and it was good. The filet mingon is by far the best, so wait for that if you can waive off enough of their picanha special. The only negatives are the price (when not doing 5280) and the fact that one meal here shaves about a year off your life expectancy, not to mention its miracle grow effect on your waistline.
(3)Freddie C.
Like everyone else here this week, I was taking advantage of an opportunity to get into Fogo for nearly 1/2 the regular price. You'd think this place would be on the shady side considering how busy they are. Nope. The service was RIDICULOUSLY spot on. They never let me sit down without pulling my chair for me. What?! I'm getting a meat extravaganza at an insane deal, and you're pulling my chair out? WAY TO GO FOGO! For anyone who knows me, it's a puzzler that I even agreed to go here, as I do not eat red meat. (Not because I love cows, I actually hate them because they taste so bad.) I was willing to sit through it for cheap to let my blood-loving boyfriend chow down, and maybe I'd mow on some bacon-wrapped-chicken. Through it all, the chicken was probably the worst meat option they had. Dry. Dry. Dry. And flavorless. Now, cue the heavenly angel music, here comes the lamb chops. WTFFFFF!?!? I almost grabbed that stick of meat from that poor boy's hands. When you get here, and you should (SOON), make sure to seek this out. You will NOT be let down. And if you don't like it, you're dumb and your opinion doesn't matter to me. Read any of the reviews here, and you know this place is the bee's knees. It's true. It's really good for a group, a couple, a hungry dude(ette), and anyone who likes food. And their coffee is YUM. Yeah, the coffee I had at the end of my meal was memorable. Yum. Yum. Yum. *Don't eat lunch before you go here. And don't make plans for after you leave, as you'll be needing a nap in your food coma. Also, it's hard to feel romantic afterward as you're supporting your lower back with your hands as you nurse your growing food baby. So heads up guys, this is the END of your date.
(5)Victor H.
Even Parking is not an issue!!! It is Free! W@W! The service is Spot -On-Perfect ! Perfect Perfect ! Oh! Did I say PERFECT!...?! I came as a carnivore and wasn't in the least bit disappointed ---Meat, Meat and more Meat.... Oh such wonderful Lamb, Cooked and cut right off the skewer right onto my plate!....Yummmm Some mint jelly to kick it into second gear and seasoned with not too much salt or pepper! The steaks were ALL too good--- FLANK STEAK, PRIME RIB, Beef Ribs----Oh! The Ribs, and the flavor! I tell you Peeps, the Beef is there and just waiting to fulfill your fantasy for Protein! Don't forget to bring your cholesterol pills and drink plenty of water. The wine selection is excellent and again, you will not be disapointed....A wide range of wines and a full bar too-boot. Let's talk about the service----- The moment we came here, the Ma trade sat us in a wonderful location of our choosing, though the place was moderately packed. There wasn't a time we were in want of anything. The waiters, and I mean waiters (several), came to our table to check on us for whatever might be needed ie: clean plate, new knife and fork...anything! The water was kept full and the side plates were never without being replaced if it didn't quite make the grade in heat, freshness, and overall quality. Great place to impress a Date, and so relaxing, you'd think you were in Beverly Hills.... Bone-That's Petite! But there is nothing Petite in this place! It is a Big 5 STARS for me-----
(5)Sami K.
The salad bar was very good and top notch but I was very disappointed with the meat which why I really wanted to try this place, every piece was really salty. I don't mind a little salt but this was a little too much for my liking. I complained and got a couple of pieces cooked special for me but that was it. Every time they came by with a piece of meat after I complained about the salt, I was told it wasn't salty but it was. I stopped eating short of my full satisfaction. For the price I expected more.
(1)Mike R.
I have eaten at several of these across the US. They will not dissapoint. Awesome salad bar. The meats are always done to perfection. You will not ever leave feeling anytrhing other than stuffed.
(4)A M.
When I visit my husband in Denver we always find ourselves on YELP to discover our next favorite place to eat :) We saw review for this place on yelp and we were very excited by what we saw. Our visit was nothing less than everything we expected. This place has alot of class and the food is awesome. You put your card on the green side when your ready for meat and the waiters come around with a freshly cooked selection of everything imaginable. You don't have to wait at all for the meat because they are constantly doing rounds.... Filet mignon, ribs, lamb chobs, lamb, etc.. I have to say I am not a big lamb fan but theirs is so tender and flavorful.... Even the salad bar was fresh. I say differently go you wont be dissappointed at all it is worth the 38.50 a person they charge.
(5)Jen S.
i tried this place in brazil the first time i ate at a fogo and stuff myself by trying every piece of meat available. now im a bit smarter and i stick to: - picanha - medium rare - the meat and the flavor AMAZING - top sirloin / bottom sirloin - both good - filet mignon - garlic beef - who can say no to garlic?? salad bar- i cant ALL meat the whole night so i like to balance it out with some veggies. they have all sorts. salads, asparagus, mushrooms, cheese, etc side orders - cheesy rolls - my table loved these. but a bit too filling for me. have to save room for the meat! but i allow myself to eat one or two - fried polenta - YUMMM must eat; this was probably the dish that got replaced the most - fried bananas cant get better - mashed potatoes - nothing too special so i usually skip it - plantains - maybe because by the time i tried it, the dish was cold but i didn't like it - black beans / rice - just a couple other plates you can get, not too special dessert - signature PAPAYA CREAM - usually i don't like papaya but i got it because 1. its their signature dish 2. the waiter said it helps you digest your food (totally true) 3. its mixed with ice cream, even more yum; must must must get!!! super refreshing after the meal - South American FLAN - second signature dish. BEST FLAN EVER. if you love flan, you will love this dish - creme brulee - this was the waiter's favorite and it was pretty delicious. it was done just right with the sugar crusted on top fogo is the only brazilian steakhouse i will go to. there are cheaper priced ones but their service and their steak is not as good. you might as well spend the extra bucks on a better meal. plus you dont eat like this everyday, so you can splurge once in a while. also i dont think you can find another restaurant where almost all the waiters speak portuguese... compared to other fogo's (price differs by location), this is by far one of the cheapest and i would take advantage of it. while you're there, might as well get a drink to go with the meat. i usually get a red wine - they have tons of selection. or you can go with a traditional caipirinha ($7.50 for a regular one $10.00 for a premium one - dont konw what the difference is - go with the regular one) lastly, the service was superb. we were asked multiple times how everything was and if we needed any other small plates and if you wanted a particular piece of meat you can ask for it and someone will come to you. our side orders and glasses were filled and our requests answered quickly. the waiters were friendly and we had a great time! we always come here when we're on a business trip.
(4)Norman P.
I took advantage of the $52.80 Restaurant Week deal to come check this place out. There used to be a big ad on a billboard visible via lightrail route on my way to school - made me always want to give it a try. My expectations were set at the same standard as Texas de Brazil and Rodizio's Grill. Unfortunately, it is the first Brazilian grill I've been to that doesn't get a perfect rating. Close but no cigar. The food was, indeed, quite good. But every piece I got of the Picanha (signature sirloin) was well-done. Nothing against well-done, but I like my sirloin a little bloody (not like vampire bloody, but tender/juicy bloody). Even when I asked for a medium rare piece, I got well-done. Hmm. The salad bar was presented well and had various delicious sides sides to go with your meal. I was a little wary about it though, because last time I checked prosciutto, smoked salmon ans shitake mushrooms weren't Brazilian. 2nd Hmmm. In the end, all was still good so i didn't really mind it. Lastly, it could have been because of the business of the Restaurant week deal, but the service was a little slow. It took the servers quite some time to make their way to our table and they definitely weren't in as high spirits and enthusiasm as the server's I remember from Texas de Brazil and Rodizio's. This place is quite good, don't get me wrong. But unfortunately, for Fogo de Chao, if I every get hungry for some Brazilian grilled meat, I have some other options I'd rather go back to. 4 stars, delicious but not as good - I may have thought differently if Fogo de Chao had been the first Brazilian grill I went to. Stay hungry my friends!
(4)Ang H.
The salad bar is to die for - love the full block of parmesan cheese! The Cesar salad is so tasty, fresh veggies, and huge asparagus - I'm getting hungry as I type this review. It's so yummy. And then comes the meat. What a fun experience! Turn your card to green and all kinds of meat shows up at the table bacon wrapped filet, parmesan crusted pork, ribeye, lamb, ribs, and my absolute favorite (the house special), Picanha, which is a prime cut of top sirloin. This restaurant is definitely for special occasions - at $50 a person and a very expensive bar, it's a bit too pricey for me almost not worth that amount of money. The side dishes are just okay - garlic mashed potatoes, polenta fries, and warm cinnamon bananas.
(4)Jason B.
This place is soo good there varieties of meat a delicious but like some one else stated the waiters are on it if you turn your card over you had better be ready to bang because your going to get meat and lots of it that being said I love this place but the price tag is a bit high especially if you are dining with a light eater but if you happen to be in town with say the New York giants then go a head a do it you won't be sorry but if your dining with the ice capades then might want to look elsewhere
(4)Matt C.
Food's amazing. Service is some of the best in Denver. Restaurant itself has a great location, layout, and set up. Clientele? Miserable. This isn't thier fault. It really isn't. But every time I go to Fogo de Chao (I've been three times), I swear that I'm never going back because I don't want to deal with my fellow diners. So here's the breakdown: Tourists: Lot's of 'em. FdC is near the 16th Street Mall and a few of the downtown hotels. So there are a lot of tourists. I'm not sure what it is about tourists, but they can be really needy of the staff. Which detracts from the staff's ability to serve everyone else. "Dates:" Certainly an okay place to take a date. That is if you happen to be in early middle age and are desparate to impress your younger, or at least respectively better looking, date. Same as above, these guys get needy and just can't stop harassing the waitstaff. Wasted Yuppie Party: Again, it's a great restaurant for groups, and definitely a good place for a birthday party. But there always seem to be one or two larger groups of yuppies there for a special event. And they're always wasted. Really, throughly, trashed. And they're loud. And obnoxious. And abusive to the staff. And flagrantly discussing sex and/or drugs in front of families/children. So...maybe I just need to go during "off" hours...
(2)Stan L.
To be honest, I'm bored of typical American Steakhouses. This place is unique! You can choose from different meats cooked to your choice. It's just heaven for meat lovers! Very friendly staff and great service. I highly recommend this place and you better come hungry! :)
(5)Josh P.
Fogo de Chao literally translated means "coma of meat" or meat coma. That is the feeling one will experience the entire next day having gorged themselves here the night before. For carnivores, the primitive gluttony - along with the pure chaos that is whisking about sharp knives and pounds of spit fired hot meats upon skewers without seriously injuring anyone - is worth experiencing at least once. A word of advice though, take the following day off.
(3)Mina N.
I absolutely love their salad bar. I would mix it with the steak from the BBQ. I went there on a weekday, so my friend and I were the only two there. Loved the ambiance. The staff was very nice and attentive. I felt bad whenever I did not want a piece of meat that they came with, so I ended up overstuffing myself. Their soda is delicious, so expensive for soda, but so good.
(4)zaya c.
LOVE the food, love the service :) must go place! especially if u're really hungry because the foods are always ready!
(5)Laurie W.
We came, we saw, we ate. It was ok. Nothing spectacular, except for the quantity of food. We went on Friday, the last night of restaurant week, which I know is a no-no. But we'd been wanting to try Fogo and, hey, why not take the bargain? First, it looked as if they'd crammed many more tables into the restaurant than would normally be there. I can't say that for certain, as I had never been there on a normal night, but the back of my chair was literally sticking into the doorway to the kitchen. That can't be normal. The salad bar was good, everything was very fresh. The Chicken Salad had "surprise, raisins!" in it. The tabbouleh was actually very good! There were cheeses, prosciutto, cucumber salad and many other items. Everything was of good quality. And then the meat came. I am no stranger to Brazilian Steakhouses. I love the concept of men at my beck and call, serving me from their large skewers of meat. Seriously, how can that be wrong? It did go wrong. I love getting a little of this, a little of that. Well, the Gauchos we cutting of huge hunks of meat. I'd say that each serving was 4-6 oz. That is a lot of meat, especially if you get a piece that's mostly fat, or overcooked, or that you just don't like. It created so much waste. I felt bad, leaving so much meat on my plate, but I got a hunk of rib-eye about the size of my hand that was mostly fat. The first piece of garlic Picanha I tried was overcooked and tough. The pork grilled in a parmesan crust never came by, so I didn't get to try it. There were some brighter spots. The sausages were pleasantly flavored with sage, the chicken drumsticks were nicely seasoned and the little cheese bread things were wonderful. And the offering of a $25 bottle of wine was good. I'd give Fogo de Chao another chance on a night that was not during restaurant week. But for the quality of food, Mr. Mixer and I agreed we'd rather go to Rodizio any day!
(3)Thomas S.
Some days I am glad am not a vegan anymore. Okay, okay, everyday I am glad that I can partake in glutinous all-you-can-eat meat orgies like the one offered at Fogo de Chao. Sure, it is not something I want to do on a daily basis, but I am always grateful that it is an option. I finally exercised that option last Saturday. Fogo de Chao does not mess around when it comes to service. They smother you with constant service, bringing fresh plates, new sides, and constantly asking you how your meal is going. This is great if you are on a bad date and you want any distraction that will allow you not to speak with your companion, but the rest of us with interesting things to say will eventually get annoyed. Fogo de Chao is also a spectacle of extravagance. Without saying a word, the staff will swoop by your table to take away your unfinished sides before returning with fresh sides. Over the course of the meal, my companion and I ate approximately 8 fried polenta squares, while FdC threw away 13 squares from our table alone. No lectures about starving kids in Africa here! Ultimately, the bottom line is the food. At Fogo de Chao, the food is a-okay. Sure, it is much better than any buffet in town, but that alone doesn't make it great. I was disappointed that the most potent meat swords were those loaded with the cheaper quality meats - items wrapped in bacon and poorer quality meats. The better items, such as their picanha, were not seen as frequently at our table. The meats were good, but I found the seasoning to be a bit bland, and many of my cuts were over cooked beyond the preferred medium rare. Furthermore, I found the salad bar to be somewhat lacking and the side dishes (other than the fried polenta) were very uninteresting. After the bill arrived and sat at our table for a couple of minutes, a member of the staff came over and offered dessert liquor. He did not make it clear whether the liquor was on the house, but since our bill had arrived already, I made the assumption that his offer was free. After pouring our drinks, he grabbed our bill and had it returned with an extra $15 added for the drinks. Son of a b*tch! I'm all for paying for what I consume, but I would expect a place with great service like FdC to be a little more up front about charging for extras.
(3)Cristeen J.
Waaay to go to Fogo De Chao! Their awesome salad bar is yummy, but don't fill up too much! Because when you flip your card over to green...all these yummy food will be at your table in a blink of an eye. We were very impressed with their selections from the wine/cognac "cart." Great dinning experience!
(4)Andrea R.
As though I was being fattened for slaughter, the waitstaff continued to bring meat after meat after meat after meat, most of which was mediocre and tough, even though I clearly had the red side of my 'coaster' in plain view. They recommended the most expensive glass of wine, because I'm pretty sure that's what they are told to do. I was always amused when a staff person had only a small amount of meat left on his sword and would ask me how I would like it cooked. Without regard to what I actually said (rare, medium, well-done) he would simply just give me the remainder of the meat on the sword. You can't tell me that it always just happened to be the right done-ness. You can't. I won't be back, but if I ever did, I would just pay the $20-something for the exquisite salad bar. That alone had enough meat and protein choices for me. For those of you meat tooth types- you'll be in absolute heaven just because you like meat, but not much else.
(1)Mario L.
Fogo de Chao - A Haiku More meat on a sword! Somewhere PETA is crying Help me my heart hurts My goal with this review is to spread some knowledge. To keep it real. If you notice there are a TON of 5 star reviews for this place. And that's a problem. To be a 5 star joint you have to have all the bases covered. Everything has to be verging on perfect. And Fogo is almost there. They just have 1 problem. . . The food isn't actually that good Yeah I said it. The decor and ambiance are all great. This place screams class. The service CANNOT be beat. My wine glass was never bellow half full, neither was my water. The swordsman were so frequent they barely gave you time to eat what was on your plate. Fresh sides were brought regularly. New plates and silver ware provided frequently. All great. But still not a 5 star. That's because nothing you eat is so good that you would say "STOP GIVE ME 10 OZs OF THIS". All of the meat is good in small pieces. But if you stop and pace yourself. Try to TASTE what your eating you realize that the vast majority is average cuts of meat over seasoned and not served at the correct temperature. Take the Bacon wrapped Fillet. If you had a full size portion the salt would cause you to dry up like the Sahara. Even the Polenta cakes on the side were overly seasoned. I know that this place is a gimmick. And i LOVE that gimmick. I would recommend Fogo 10 times out of 10. But you go to Fogo for the Brazilian Steakhouse experience. Not for an amazing meal. And that's fine. That's what Restaurant Week is for. Great dining experiences. And that is what you get. But I am not going to lie to you and say that you cant get a better steak elsewhere. All of that said, there is always room for meat on sticks in the repertoire.
(4)Darcy P.
My husband and I took a trip after Xmas to Denver just for a few days. He looked online for a good place to eat, and we wound up here. I'm so glad we did! This was an amazing experience! Not only was the treatment from the staff professional, kind and attentive, but the food was gorgeous and extremely tasty! The salad bar is beautiful and unique with meats, cheeses, and different vegetables. The bread on the table was a Brazilian treat, soft and cheesy. There were about 15 meats... and you could have every one if you wanted! Each was so flavorful! The restaurant had the best meat I've ever had, including sirloin, bacon wrapped chicken, and filet mignon. Delicious! Also, servers sporatically came by to ensure we were given the chance to eat every meat we wanted from the menu. Fantastic!
(5)Trey F.
My favorite restaurant!!! In every way!!!
(5)Lisa H.
This was my first time at Fogo de Chao, in which I had high hopes for. I made reservations for my husband's 40th birthday. We had a group of 15 people, and I will have to say, though we had a good time with good friends, I was a bit disappointed by this restaurant. Over all the food was ok, but not really worth the price. The salad bar is good with many options, but it is basically a buffet, and the servers are rushing around cutting off pieces of mediocre meat, and placing it on our plates. I had previously brought in a cake and was told it would be cut and plated for us. They brought the cake out, set it on the table and handed me a cake cutter to do it myself. Good thing I have a lot of restaurant serving experience, considering I had to cut and serve 15 people their cake! For how much this restaurant costs, I should have never had to take over the job of a server. This was my night off from the restaurant I work in! Maybe I was the one who should have been the tipped, lol! It was pretty appalling! Because it was a large party we were all charged gratuity on our tabs, which is fine, definitely understandable and expected, considering it was such a large party. After we all paid our tabs, my husband bought a round of shots at the end of dinner for everyone, which they automatically charged gratuity on as well. I have worked in restaurants for 20+ years and I have never seen a restaurant charge gratuity for a round of shots! We should have NEVER been charged gratuity (over 20$) for the bartender to do his job, and pour 15 shots of rum. Overall I feel like this place was trying to get anything they could out of us, without giving quality service. I usually have much sympathy for busy servers, because I am a server myself, but this level of "customer service" was just unacceptable. This was a big day for my husband and his friends, I just wish this restaurant would have acknowledged that too. It was not very welcoming, and we all left feeling kind of rushed and ripped off!
(2)Nancy K.
I went to Fogo De Chao tonight and it was great. There are reasons that I have to give it a 4 star instead of 5 though. I have been to Rodizio many times before and I would give them the same star rating. Not b/c Rodizio has better meat or even the same meat (Fogo has lamb) but they have more selections. So to sum up the pros and cons from the two places... -Meat selection = Rodizio has more selections -Better meat = Fogo De Chao -Better Salad Bar = Rodizio (but who goes there to eat salad??) -Sides dishes = Fogo De Chao (since Rodizio didn't even have any. but at Fogo, they switch them out even when I was only half done with each dish. it was very wasteful. I wish they would just wait until we are done then give us another. they were all very good. i probably ate too much "filler") oh, speaking of filler, Fogo has the best fried banana that come free with the meal. I LOVE THE BANANA!!! A+++ on that one. We also tried the key lime pie which turned out kinda like key lime cheesecake but it was still very good. all and all, these two places are about even for me. If Fogo De Chao has grilled pineapple and grilled tomatoes, i would never go back to Rodizio but as it stands now, it's about even for me. price point, came to $111 for 2 with a glass of wine and a pie, i guess it's expensive and not the most healthy but hey, not like you eat like that everyday. can't afford to, anyway.
(4)John S.
There is truly nothing bad I can say about Fogo de Chao. Honestly. I visited there with my family last night and the whole experience was fantastic. The service was over the top! The staff continuously checked up on us and made sure we had everything we wanted and more. In a setting where quantity is the focus, it'd be very easy to skimp on quality. Not at all. Everything I had from the salad bar to the meat was amazing. They serve several Brazilian meats as well as a few we'd all know like ribeye, sirloin, and filet. Honestly, every one of them was outstanding. We had papaya cream and cake for dessert, both equally as good. I didn't pick up the check, but it's hard for me to imagine a price this wouldn't be worth!
(5)Ruben P.
I have noticed this place for a while now and finally last Saturday my curiosity got the best of me. Let me start by saying, I should not have waited so long to try this. The meal started out with a salad from an absolutely elegant salad bar with some choices that are a little out of the ordinary for a normal salad bar, It also included full pieces of bacon that seemed to be cooked to a nice crisp and added a little something to my salad. When you are ready to eat the main courses, be ready for quite the production. The waitstaff is supremely attentive to their guests and had the salad plates away form the table in a matter of seconds and the dinner service ready. There were 3 sides at the table and meat ready to consume almost immediately. The food was great. I highly suggest the rib eye. Everything was seasoned well and the experience was wonderful. I suppose my only real criticism is that the waitstaff is a little too enthusiastic about the wine. It bordered on annoying especially if you are trying to have a conversation. All in all I will be back and would suggest it highly for a special occasion or just a night when you want a great meal.
(4)Miguel M.
We made reservations for our anniversary, it took us an hour to get to this restaurant. the waiter sat us by the kitchen, which was very noisy. We had more than one waiter which we were very confused to what was going on. The staff was running around like they were running out of a burning building. The salad bar was fair.The meat was Chewy and of poor quality. The manager came to our table to see how everything was going, but before we could get the words out of our mouths he went to greet a different table. This is a good looking restaurant but the service was poor and the food wasn't worth the money that we paid. We paid $ 165.00, which definitely wasn't worth it. There's plenty of restaurants that you can get a much better meal and better service for the price. I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone
(2)Nicholas V.
Dear sweet artery Clogging goodness, love this place best to hit it up during restaurant week. Meal for two has normally been 52.80 plus tax. Picanha, and lamb is particularly good. Happy eating.
(5)Danny L.
Eating does not get better than this. That is all.
(5)Kyle M.
One word: overwhelming. I watched "The Biggest Loser" the same night after I ate there, and felt that the two concepts were incompatible. If I had to pick, I'd choose "The Biggest Fogo" any day. I felt full for three days. I almost felt like I needed to blog about my post-dining experience and the mental steps I needed to take to deal with it... There are so many reviews on here that you probably have already gathered that this place is good. We went for 5280 week, and the place was practically blowing up. It was incredibly busy, and the gauchos were slicing meat off their swords like their MC Hammer pants were on FIRE. It was totally enjoyable. Best side = the carmelized bananas. Don't be shy...they'll bring you as many as you can eat. They sort of ended up being like the ginger I eat with my sushi: good palate cleansers. Although they will send around the "house specialty" more frequently than the other cuts, you will be most satisfied by waiting for or requesting other cuts you haven't seen in a while (like the filet or the surprisingly top-notch chicken legs). They won't be offended if you request something different than what they're offering you, so don't be shy. Finally, the caipirinhas are delish. REALLY strong and well worth the $7.50 pricetag. The one drawback - some of the cuts are dry, but this seems random. Mostly, they were good and moist (at least they were when we went there), but you'll occasionally get a dry cut. If you get one, just push it aside, and request something else.
(4)Jeremy K.
Fogo de Chao's "Cheese Bread" was listed by Denver Magazine as one of the top 100 must eat dishes in the city, so I gave it a shot: Rating: 5 (out of 10) Price: n/a (included in $38 meal) The Skinny: Saying you must go to Fogo de Chao for the cheese bread is like saying you must go to the circus for the popcorn. It misses the whole damn point of the show. And there is a show at Fogo. Waiters line up carrying 12 inch spears full of freshly flamed and sizzling meat, carving it tableside for your chest thumping pleasure... mmmm. And the cheese bread? Yeah... it's there. It sits, lying quietly on the table, away from the action. Hoping there might be a lull in the meat parade for someone to keep their mouth occupied. The taste is fine, maybe even slightly better than fine. But no one - not one person - should go to Fogo and sacrifice any part of empty stomach on the bread. It's a waste of valuable space you'll need for the carnivore ceremony that carries on as long as you can. I've got a picture of it up on the blog in my profile jko
(4)Andy L.
Took advantage of the Denver Restaurant week deal on Monday night 7:30 with a party of six. First time here and I have to say it was nothing short of delicious. Great salad bar to have plenty of goodies with the meats. We had non-stop guacho chefs coming by all night with all of the good meats and plenty of great sides. Place was sociable, loud, and had a ton of people. Our waiter said they served 1,200 people on Sunday and Monday was "much easier" at 800! Really great time and I still am dreaming about how good the meats were. Also good deal on wine for 5280 week and we got two bottles of a good Malbec for $52.80 which was perfect for our group size.
(5)Kristy L.
Muy delicioso! Beautiful salad bar. What really caught my attention was the crispy bacon next to a huge wheel-bowl of Parmesan. Filet mignon and Tbone was perfectly juicy, flavorful and hot off the broiler. Who can deny bacon wrapped filet mignon. Lamb was a little peppery for me. Pork tenderloin was a little bland. Awesome sides: best polenta I've ever had, and a fried carmelized banana, also piping hot. we were super stuffed but shared a carmelized flan, "the best" mom has "ever had"--super creamy custard with perfect carmelization. And it wouldn't be Brazilian without the caipirinhas, made to delight you with a little breeze of liquid copacabana. I did ask our waiter if there would be any fogo or pagoge. He just said "what?" in a Spanish accent. Of course! All the Brazilians are in Boulder! We all left with our taste buds tantalized and very full bellies. Obrigato!
(5)Sage M.
I would like to give Fogo de Chao 4.5 stars, but I will err on the side of generosity - as they seem to do with their customers. If you are wanting to plan a special occasion group dinner, this is an excellent place to put on your short list. We enjoyed a marvelous birthday dinner with 12 friends at Fogo de Chao in October, and will definitely return. Here are a few of the particulars: Earlier in the day, I had dropped off a personalized birthday cake, candles and flowers at the restaurant. They weren't even open for diners; they instructed me to just come on in and meet with the manager. He was very gracious. I was not prepared for the gorgeous flower arrangement they created at our table when we arrived. It was quite lovely. They not only served the Birthday Boy a house dessert with his name emblazoned on it, they also brought out the personalized cake with candles aflame. They shower, shower, shower you with attention. Once you sit, be prepared to eat immediately. There is no lag time here. You sit, you give you drink order within seconds, and off you go to the salad bar. Bread, fried bananas and polenta cakes are ever-present at your table, as well. Drinks don't go dry here. The nonstop array of grilled meats, once begun, is dizzying. Want a break? Flip the coin to red. Want another selection? Flip to green. Do you really like the applewood bacon-wrapped sausage, or are you more interested in little lamb chops? They do remember what you like and encourage you to not be shy. I disagree with the review that said this wasn't a good 'first date' place. I think it's a great ice breaker to have a ridiculous selection of grilled meats waved in front of your face. It's interactive and entertaining. Isn't that what dates are all about?
(5)Megan N.
WOW!! this place is soooo good. And not just the food, but the customer service was out of this world. When we were first seated, we were near a big party. I guess a few more people showed up for the party and the manager asked us if they could re-seat us. No big deal to us, we were literally just seated. He then offered to buy us desert because we moved. !!! They went above and beyond. The food was delicious. Worth every penny. The potato salad was so good. i wish they sold it to take home ; ) no joke!! i love this place, cant wait to go back. Great date place, awesome for big groups and taking people from out of town. thanks you Fogo de chao!!
(5)Rick K.
Comida brasileira.... ^__________^ **************************************************Â* Fogo de Chao gives me a lot of mixed feelings. On one hand, it is in fact a great deal (especially when you go for a Restaurant Week or lunch specials). On the other hand, my Brazilian roots tell me this churrascaria pales in comparison to the humblest BBQ houses in Brazil. Take this review with a grain of salt. I think the salad bar is great and presents a vast array of greens, cheeses, and side dishes. The downsides is that it is anything BUT brazilian. At least they had Hearts of Palm, though they weren't so fresh. The meats were in fact well done... but I feel like there was something amiss. I can't exactly put my finger on it, but the flavors were not what I remember from when I was a kid. All in all, they had the basic cuts: Filet Mignon, Picanha (sirloin), garlic sirloin, sausages, chicken, etc. Unfortunately, they didn't have chicken heart (which is an absolute must in any traditional brazilian steak house). The side dishes were great. Polenta, farofa (eat it with the meat, people), white rice, cheesebread.... oh the cheesebread was delicious. The service was good. It was an eyesore to see the Portuguese speaking brazilian waiters though. I don't care about what everyone says... to me this place is 4/5... perhaps their locations in Brazil are better, but this customer is a tough reviewer when it comes to Brazilian food. Don't mess with me; I grew up there. FYI... if you want a fuller Brazilian experience, order the caipirinha (40% alcohol content I think) and drive responsibly AND/OR the guarana (traditional Brazilian soda).
(4)Melodi R.
I'm not sure if it was the tasty food or the great company, but while in Denver visiting friends, we enjoyed a nice meal at Fogo! The bartender made me a special vanilla Manhattan (like I first loved at Gold Class Cinema). Their salad bar was amazing and we were told it is available as a vegetarian option and for lunch as well. The meat is as expected, but too much! I didn't know I could turn the pog to "stop" and the back to "go" which I should have...the waiters with the meat come by every 2 seconds and it feels a bit interruptive. My fault. Dan, the customer service specialist, was very nice and spent time chatting with us about Fogo, Chicago, restaurant week and Yelp! Give it a try! I hope you all like it as much as we did!
(4)Skip V.
So we've wanted to try Fogo since they opened, since our "thing" seems to be churrascarias right now. Being a voracious carnivore, it doesn't get any better than the Brazilian steakhouse experience! Fogo de Chao is about as good as it gets when it comes to this type of restaurant. We've tried all three brands in the Denver area; Rodizio, TdB, and now Fogo. We held off on Fogo for quite some time, as it was pricier than the others when they first opened, but it looks like pricing has now been brought in line to the market. What a mistake it was to not go sooner; it's well worth the price. We went on a Sunday before going to a Broncos game, so we expected it to be busy, but it was maybe about 1/3 full at 4:30pm. Parking was as easy as it gets; there's free valet parking! Service was by far the best of the three. A team of gauchos and waitstaff attended to every need. One glitch; we had to wait probably 15 minutes for our check, as it seemed our main waiter had moved sections or something. No worries... still made it the game in time. I always have to start off with the Brazil's signature cocktail; the caipirinha. Pretty standard here; lots of lime and cachaça. Very tasty! I do like Rodizio's version the best, to be honest though - less lime, more alcohol! The salad bar was tremendous. Pretty standard fare for churrascarias; lots of hearts of palm, olives, smoked meats and cheeses, yada yada yada. Very good, though. I could go there (or to any Churrascaria) just for the salad bar since they're sooo good. I was slightly disappointed in that either there was not a "sides station/bar", or we weren't directed to it, if there was. We were however provided with the standard appetizers and sides that are brought to the table; cheese bread, polenta, caramelized bananas, and garlic mashed potatoes. Not that I really eat the sides at these kinds of places (got to leave room for the meat!), but I do like a taste of soup, if it's good (like the lobster bisque at TdB or the cold strawberry soup is at Rodizio!) or some black beans once in a while. I honestly would've given five stars if there were more sides. On to the main event - the meat. This was as good as it gets. Temperature was just how I like it; rare to mid-rare, and all of it as tender as possible for the cut. I'm a huge fan of lamb, and Fogo does not disappoint. Chops and leg of lamb were both available. The filet mignon was tremendous; I don't think I've had a more tender cut anywhere before. I do wish there were a fish selection, though. I don't think too many gauchos were on the coast catching what was biting back in the day, though. The kicker, though? Breaking with what seems to be the norm with churrascarias, the meat was lightly seasoned; just enough to bring the flavor out and not overpower. THANK YOU!! I'm rather salt-averse, so this was very welcome. Overall, Fogo seems to me to be the best of the three churrascarias in the area. Well worth the money, with the best food, service, parking, and ambiance out of the three! We'll definitely be back!!
(4)Ryan O.
Fogo is pricey, but well worth the money! The salad bar is awesome, but it feels wrong to eat from the salad bar when so much delicious meat is waiting for you! I'm not a fan of lamb, but the lamb was excellent. My favorite are the bacon wrapped chicken and bacon wrapped filet mignon. The 'house special' sirloin is also incredibly tasty!! Service is spectacular. If you need to wait for someone, something is wrong. If a 'gaucho' comes by and doesn't have what you want, tell them and they will send another over for you. I have never received service like this anywhere else.
(5)Lacey M.
Stop #4 for Restaurant Week 2010. There's not a whole lot more to add about this place, that hasn't already been said. Yes, countless swords of meat just waiting for your card to be turned over to green. Service is precise, at times maybe even too much. We kept being given new plates of sides when only a small amount had been eaten (huge waste of food, btw). The moment your card is green, expect meat being delivered within seconds...and not stopping until it's red. The salad bar is fantastic, and could make a meal of that alone. The star of the meal for me, however, was the Red Sangria. OMG. I've never had sangria THAT good before! It comes only in pitchers though, small and large. Do yourself a favor and just order the large....you'll want more, trust me. Our server dropped the ball at the end of our meal. We waited an exceptionally long time for dessert, and again for the bill. The service was so incredibly fast throughout the entire meal, so this was very disappointing and just plain annoying. After stuffing ourselves silly we were just ready to get the hell out of there to start burning off some of that meal! Overall though, the food was excellent, drinks were amazing, service mainly good. I definitely will return, and prefer this place a million times over the Brazilian Steakhouse up the street.
(4)Dave B.
Serious disappointment. I have been looking longingly at Fogo's ad in the United in-flight mag for years. Finally went the other night for 5280 (perhaps better results would be had on a normal night). The good: the salab bar is superb. Great caesar, smoked salmon, cheese, olives, marinated peppers, marinated mushrooms, artichoke hearts, etc. The meat is generally very good. Really liked the sirloin, lamb, and the pork tenderloin. I love salt, and many of the meats were very salty (I could see others liking this much less than I did). The bad: we were there late (9:30) and the servers were still running around dumping meat on our plates as quickly as possible and running away, with zero explanation of what each meat was. No matter how much I pleaded for "just a sliver" they would invariably dump a 5oz slab on my plate. After a while we gave up and turned my wife's card to "stop", and just split my steak between us--and it was still too much. A pretty disgusting waste of food (and they don't let you take it home). The server said it all gets thrown away. I'm no Sally Struthers, but the waste disgusted me. The ugly: I didn't go there expecting a romantic dinner, but this is the last place I'd go on date. Crowded, hectic, bustling, cavernous room. Felt like a college cafeteria. Not a relaxing atmosphere at all. Wine list is good. But the beer list would be supbar at Hooters. Not a single micro (Coors, Coors Light, Amstel, Heineken, Blue Moon, and a Brazilian lager). Settled for a Heineken. They didn't have a glass. I really am surprised, but I have zero desire to go back, even for 5280.
(3)Emily R.
If you're going to shell out $50 per person on dinner and you're craving some Brazillian meat, I definitely recommend Texas de Brazil over this place. I went here for Valentine's day and everything (salad bar, meat, sides) was a disappointment. We decided not to stay for dessert.
(2)Rob K.
An incredible "Meat Parade" including salad bar and sides for the cost of a petite filet and no sides at many neighboring steakhouses. Fogo allows you to have a gluttonous experience for 1/2 the price of the Prime steakhouses in town. Cheap? No. Incredible Value? YES!!!! For those who think $38.50 is not a value, Golden Corral's 9.99 sirloin and shrimp special is not a "value" either. It is low prices for low-grade food. So let's get our benchmarks straight.... Come hungry (I always skip lunch before) because you get your choice over over a dozen cuts of beef, lamb, pork, and chicken, most cooked to the temp you prefer....so there really is something for everyone (except those pesky vegans). Bottom sirloin, picanha, pork ribs, and ribeye were my faves. Don't fill up on the cheese bread (cheesy poofs), either. cuz they're sinfully addictive. When will they start opening Cheesy Poof Dispensaries in Denver? Soon, I'm sure..... The service is swarming without being intrusive (use your red light/green light wisely to summon/shoo away gauchos) and the staff is genuinely eager to please and make sure you enjoy your experience. Refreshing dirty plates, exchanging silverware, bringing fresh sides when yours cool off. I have been to Fogo de Chao in a few different cities over the years and this one is running great for being so new (opened summer 09). Because the salad bar/meat parade is such a good value at sub-$40, the add-ons of drinks and desserts are on the pricier side. And the price for lunch is an even better deal (sub-30 for the exact same meal) But a tip for the wine drinker - they mark up the inexpensive bottles much more than the mid-tier ones, so the wines you get for $50-60 are significantly better than the $30-40 wines, not just marginally better. SIGNIFICANTLY. Stay in South America as the domestic offerings are big name and "no soul" wineries in most cases. Your dollar will go a lot further with their Malbec selections which are very diverse and well thought out. They even carry some of best boutique producers from Argentina that can be hard to find (Luca, Tikal, La Posta)
(5)Danielle V.
Took advantage of this place for 5280 week. And WOW! The meat is fabulous!! And of course, more then I can handle! This is definitely a GREAT place for your hungry men. Otherwise it might be too pricey to eat here when a 6 oz steak would be enough to fill you. However the service, the taste, and quality are the best. Our waiter was just wonderful and when he got too busy to check on us, which we honestly didn't notice, he sent us a free round of drinks. The salad bar was ok to me. A nice one, but nothing that totally grabbed my attention and honestly.... WHO WANTS A SALAD when you have all that juicy meat in your face! :) A very fun place for a VERY hungry group. But you have to be just that, HUNGRY! Don't waste your time if you want a small meal.
(4)Jenny S.
They did everything but wipe my face and call me your royal highness. The service was outstanding. I was almost afraid to look up and make eye contact because I didn't want them to rush over to me. The food was great. Endless servings of steak, lamb, chicken and a beautiful salad bar. I've been to 4 other churrascarias and Fogo de Chao definitely has been the best so far. The price is very reasonable for what you are getting and I was surprised it was not more expensive. They also have complimentary valet parking and downtown this is a huge bonus. Another cool note that makes this place stand out is many of the servers were speaking Portuguese to each other and it totally added to my experience!
(5)Hans O.
Fogo is the real deal; once you step in you feel the difference already from all churrascarias you have been, including Boi na Braza (which is my second favorite). You'll feel a bold, traditional feeling the minute to step in. Its the same feeling as when you enter a pioneer house or farm in the south of Brazil, a welcoming, warmth, friendly, mysteryous, yet humble, and that's the exact feeling all Fogo's gives you, including the ones in Sao Paulo. I can't compliment Fogo enough; their forte is steaks and they are really good at it, they specialize in steaks and other minor details such as sushi, fish, and other sides are well prepared but the spotlight is on the steaks. Fogo maintain their quality through all of their restaurants, the same great quality you get here, you'll get it in Brazil. Just in Brazil, they have won the title of the best Churrascaria de espeto corrido for 7 consecutive years from a well known magazine, Veja. Their steaks are top notch, very tender, moist, grilled to perfection. And the first thing the waiter does is get your drinking order and how exactly you like to enjoy your steaksan and voila!!! Perfect steaks at all times, not rocket science, but it does makes a world of difference! That's the difference that makes a world class-churrascaria. My favorite cuts are Fraldinha, picanha, and the lamb was well seasoned and super good. All the sides, including the salad bar is very delicious, but very simple, nothing extravagant. Fogo is not nor wll be a place for the best salad bar. Service and great and attentive. You will not regret! If you want to explore and get to know a real Brazilian steakhouse, Fogo is what you are awaiting for! I recommend giving them a call prior your visit, they sometimes have some pricing specials plus you'll guarantee a seat!
(5)H A.
Good food, good service and a bit expensive. Overall I love it :-)
(4)Krisztina F.
Fogo, you've done it again. No matter which city, always 5 star. Service is anticipatory without being aggressive. I thought about it, and it arrived. Seriously...you could be sitting there thinking "MMM, this Parmesan encrusted pork loin is delicious...but is there any more filet mignon or prime rib?" And voila! There it is, skewered and served at your side. For a Brazilian steakhouse, they out salad-bar and side every other meat-centric establishment I know of. Even lunch is served with complimentary mashed potatoes and yummy cheese popovers. It's a feast for the eyes, the taste buds, and your stomach. And if your first date can't watch you delicately and slowly gorge yourself on some of the most delicious meats in the universe, you probably shouldn't be dating, anyways. Pricing is about as follows, with no alcohol: Lunch 25/full meal or 19 for the salad bar, And your dinner is about $40. Worth every single penny. It's a great place for a business lunch, for out of town guest when you have time to luxuriate in a restaurant, and well, it's my kind of romantic dinner out! I mean seriously, I don't give too many 5-stars.
(5)Kristol T.
The food and service is top notch! Everything was so delicious and it was so hard to say no! I've been several times and my company had our Christmas Party there back in December. I couldn't stop talking about this place so I finally got my sister and her family hooked on going too!! They also have this mojito that was really good!
(5)Cookie M.
We went for restaurant week, and we didn't have any reservations. However, we were able to get seated right away. Props on that. But we did get there right when they opened. Salad bar was good (smoked salmon was delicious). I ate a bit too much from the salad bar. Advice--Make sure you limit yourself so you have room for the varieties of meats. Service was spot on. We barely took a slice of polenta or a carmelized banana, and the waiters whisked the plates away and gave us new ones. Made me think what happens to the leftovers. The meats were good, but started tasting the same after a while. Definitely liked the lamb and the filet. Good experience! Similiar to Rhodizio Grill; however, the salad bar here was better. But pretty much the same to me. Overall, a great experience!
(4)Dani G.
OHMIGAWD. We went here on Monday, party of 2, around 7pm for Restaurant Week, just to take advantage of a slightly cheaper price. Well, it was worth every cent, plus some. Complementary valet is wonderful, especially in the Impossible to Find Parking Land that is LoDo. 1. The White Sangria is AMAZING. They hand cut the fruit, and there is a lot of it - a serve the drink with a spoon for eating the fruit later! Perfect. It was served in a pitcher (meant for 2, for 16 dollars) but it definitely filled 5-6 glasses. 2. The salad bar. Heaven. Asparagus spears that were the size of small trees, cheese galore (including a rather impressive brick of Parmesan Reggiano), and a "basil sauce" dressing that I want to buy by the gallon. Great selection of a couple of cold meats as well. Not to mention the appetizers they bring out - cheese rolls that melt in your mouth, delicious fried bananas, mashed potatoes, and fried polenta. I would eat those bananas by the ton. 3. The meat. Oh my god....every single piece was delectable. I don't eat pork, but my meal companion was raving about it. The lamb and the beef options were simply delicious, and did not need an ounce of seasoning or sauce. I usually dunk my steaks in Heinz 57 or something, but this was in no way necessary at Fogo de Chao. 4. The service. The hostess was very friendly, and we were sat promptly even without a reservation. Our server was simply fantastic. He recommended an ice wine for me and a malbec for my boyfriend for dessert that was a wonderful digestive and was not ridiculously expensive. He also told us that the lunch menu is cheaper but is the exact same menu as dinner - that's good to know for us starving students! 5. Dessert. We were too full to even order it, and we aren't big sweet tooths, but that key lime pie did look awfully good as it passed by us. I was in a meat/cheese coma for hours, it was delicious. We will absolutely be back!
(5)Christina H.
Everything from start to finish was amazing at Fogo de Chao. Some might say their service is smothering but I found it just enthusiastic and a little comical. Everything I ate from the cheesy bread to the salad to the meat to the limeade non-alcoholic beverage with unlimited refills was EXCELLENT. Also, since they were forewarned it was a birthday dinner I got a complimentary birthday dessert (creme brulee to die for!) AND a coupon for another free dinner! This was quite possibly one of my best dining experiences, though I've been to fancier restaurants. And to top things off, nearly everything is gluten-free a Fogo. The only exempted items are the bread at the salad bar (the table cheese bread is made with yucca plant flour so its gluten-free), tabouli, and the beer-marinated chicken wings. My Celiac's affected boyfriend ate like a king! I think if you find yourself disappointed with Fogo, you should get your head checked.
(5)Patrick M.
Fantastic food and service. I talk about this place all the time and I have only been once. I had a blast! It was worth every penny. In fact I think I under paid. Excellent food.......just awesome. To date, the best I have ever had.
(5)Flavio G.
I headed to Fogo de Chao for the first time last night for a friend's birthday dinner. My journey at Fogo de Chao started enjoying my favorite drink, "Caipirinha". It is Brazil's national cocktail; made with cachaça (Brazilian rum), sugar and lime. When enjoying my drink their friendly staff explains how it works. Basically, it is kind of all you can eat; salad bar, meats and side dishes. Gourmet salad and sides bar - A great variety of items including fresh cut vegetables, imported cheeses, cured meats and Brazilian side dishes. Your control your service with a small green and red sided chip. The green side signals the "gaucho" to bring out skewers of sizzling meats to the table, when it is sliced and served. When you are satisfied, flip the disc to the red side until you are ready for more offerings. That will take me long time to describe every meat cut served at Fogo de Chao. Let's go over the special one: "Picanha" (Top Sirloin) which is the house specialty. They prepare picanha in two different ways: the traditional light seasoning, with sea salt and a more robust garlic seasoned version. I definitely prefer it seasoned only with sea salt. This way the original taste of the meat is preserved and I can enjoy the flavor much better. If you have room for a dessert, they have a delicious selection. My preferred one is the papaya cream. Made with papaya, vanilla ice cream and Crème de Cassis liqueur. Just delicious! Another strong point to register here, their A Class staff. On a restaurant business, a big differential is not keep asking you if you need something, but in provide you with what you want at the time you need it. People at Fogo de Chao know how to do that very well. I have enjoyed many different Brazilian steak houses when leaving for long time in Brazil, and for sure Fogo de Chao is the best one that I have tried in Colorado.
(5)lauren b.
After hearing raves about Fogo de Chao and reading the great reviews here on Yelp, I was pretty ecstatic when my fiance won a gift card here on the radio (yay sports radio!). The service was spectacular. The host lead us directly to our table (we had made a res earlier in the day) and our first of many servers highly recommended the Brazilian version of a mojito to drink. We took him up on his suggested and were glad we did. The drink was very mojitio-esq but was stiff enough that it lasted all dinner. Props to the bartenders at Fogo de Chao. The salad bar was everything we expected and more. I seriously want to go back just for the cheese, prosciutto, and exotic salad experience. The side dishes that were brought to the table were ok - I wasn't a big fan of the bananas (they were soggy to me) and the mashed potatoes (albeit I'm not a mashed potatoes fan [I KNOW]) but the cheese popovers were bomb. They seriously tasted like cheezits mashed into a light, fluffy roll. The meat was pretty good. I was scared to flip my card over to the green side in fear of being swarmed with overzealous servers, so I let my fiance try it out first. I seriously think that the servers can spot the wrist flip of the card from across the room because they literally appear at your table with meat ready to carve IMMEDIATELY. When I finally had the courage to try the meat I only tried a few - the steak (not usually a big steak fan but it was delicious) and the bacon wrapped chicken were easily my favorites. I tried one bite of meat that tasted a bit fatty, but overall it was pretty good. I'll be back - it's a great place to take out of town guests or if you want to binge and stuff yourself to the brim. In all honesty, I wouldn't mind coming back just to enjoy the drinks and salad bar.
(4)Jenna A.
Ate here last night for Restaurant Week and had a blast! It was pretty packed in but I still was able to get a reservation for 12 at 8pm on a Monday...made on Sunday at 9pm. Yes! The waiters, gaucho chefs and meat cutter specialists were spectacular. Every minute I had a new meat being cut off right next to me..thankfully no meat juice splatter considering they're pros. My boyfriend was even speaking Portguese to many of them, so authentic! Most of the women in the group don't eat a lot of red meat but we were devouring everything that came by. The men in the group were getting meat sweats. Those mashed potatoes and bananas were delightful. The salad bar is amazing, as well, with the most delicious cheeses and enormous vegetables. Dessert comes with the $52.80 meal and with 12 people we all got to sample. Between Turtle Cheesecake, Chocolate Mousse and Key Lime..the winner was...The Key Lime! I'd go back for a cold slice of that pie anytime. $52.80 is a spectacular deal for everything we got. Great service and food options. Will go back anyday!
(5)Ronnie A.
Probably my first or second 5-Star! YES! This is the best Brazillian Steakhouse to happen in Denver! Flawless service and even better cuts of meat! Salad bar was top notch and compliments the meats very well. Their Papaya Cream is an amazing sealer to the entire meal experience. I went there during lunch time with my out of state family who were visiting for the weekend. A group of 5. My parents opted for the salad bar only and still were impressed with their taste and selection. Coming from folks who are adhered to home cooked meals, says a lot about what Fogo is providing in their salad bars! Me and my brother are true carnivores and we turn our signs GREEN right away and the mind boggling aroma and the sizzle of the meats started to encumber our sights and minds! My favorites were: Lamb Leg, Lamb Chops and Garlic Beef. My least fav was the chicken! I would have liked more seasoning and more grilled texture on those rather than the crispy fried texture! The side dishes were as good as rest fo their items. The fried banana was amazin and went well with their cheese rolls. Mashed potato was great as well. We also tried their Guarana Soda, Espresso Shot, Papaya Cream, and Creme Brule. All were very pleasant to our tastebuds! Lastly, I want to compliment their service one more time. They probably set the standard for dine in expereince we look for. Royal treatment is what I would call it!
(5)Serenity M.
A few of my friends and I came here for restaurant week. I was soo excited to try their "15 cuts" of different meats! I mean- I'm not a carnivore, but 15?!?! haha. Yeah-NO. So from those 15, 2 types are sausages, 3 are chicken, i'm not sure if they count the bacon that was wrapped around meats as one but the rest were less than mediocre meats that were tough to chew, by no means were these meats tender. Not only were they tough to chew, some were OVERLY salty while others tasted under-seasoned. The only one I really enjoyed was the filet mignon. That was the only one with consistent seasoning and tenderness. The one good thing I have to say is in regards to their service, which is pretty good. The servers replace the side dishes all throughout dinner, and even though your plates of mashed potatoes, cheesy bread, and plantains aren't finished they'll give you a fresh batch! Oh and the salad bar that everyone raves about has you're regular run of the mill salad stuff, some salmon (also salty), pepperoni, really hard bacon, mushrooms, and asparagus. I recommend not eating a lot at the salad bar to save room for the mediocre meat, also if in the middle of your meal you feel like you can no longer taste the difference between the meats, refresh your palette by grabbing something from the salad bar.
(3)Miriam K.
First, if you don't like meat, this is not a place for you. Fogo de Chao is a "rodizio", all you can eat meat Brazilian style. The salad bar was beautiful but I didn't try much from there. The picanha was suculent and the tastier I had in ages. The fraldinha was the other best meat. All the meats were very tasty and well prepared. But to enjoy your experience there, I recommend you try to eat like a Brazilian does: control your red/green tag wisely; choose the meats you really love; eat slowly, enjoy every byte; don't overdo on the salad bar or the "pao de queijo" (cheese bread). That is hard as all the side dishes are excellent. Besides the high quality food, the service is wonderful: discrete and extremely efficient.
(5)Neal J.
First visit to Fogo in Denver and like the others it doesn't disappoint. A group of us went to Fogo for a team dinner, which we frequently do when traveling, but since a new one opened in Denver, we obviously had to go. Frequent diners of Fogo de Chao know how important it is to pace yourself. The caipirinhas from the bar are a delicious way to start off the meal. Then it's off to an amazing salad bar, but be careful not to fill up here because you'll need all your appetite for the main course. Once you are ready for the main course, flip your marker to green and the stream of servers carrying different delicious meats on a skewer parade by your table carving off as much or as little as you want. If you need a break, turn your marker to red and they will bypass you until you flip it green again. I really love this place, especially for group settings as they have several party rooms which can accommodate a wide range of party sizes. As an extra special treat, we were given a tour of the restaurant and kitchen. Definitely a 5 star Brazilian steakhouse, hands down better than Rodizio.
(5)Jonathan W.
Hi all This past Wednesday we were invited down to Fogo de Chao ( fogodechao.com ) the night before it opened to try out its offerings. I will be honest that when we were invited, the first thing that went through my head is, "Wow, that's only a few blocks away from the Rodizio Grill. Either the folks at Fogo are crazy for setting up so close to another very popular Brazilian steakhouse or they must think they are just that much better and I was very interested to find out which it was. If you haven't been to a Brazilian steakhouse before, it is a pretty interesting set up. When you first enter you see several servers moving around the room very quickly. They carry different meats on skewers from table to table and it seems to be a bit chaotic. But after you watch it a bit it actually resembles some well choreographed dance. The basic concept is it's an all you can eat steakhouse.... Yes, yes I know most of us think of all you can eat type places and just know the food is going to be fair at best, but somehow that is not the case here. The meat is brought to your table and carved tableside for you and somehow it is always served nice and hot. There is also a large salad bar (though by calling the one at Fogo a salad bar is doing it an injustice). The salad bar is all you can eat as well, which makes a big problem as far as I am concerned. The darn salad bar had so many things I wanted to try it made it hard to save room for the meats. Part 1: The "salad bar" After we sat down and our drink orders were taken they brought us some hot cheese bread. These were hot and with a nice bit of gooey cheese in the middle. After enjoying one of those we headed over to the salad bar. Wow, this is not your normal everyday salad bar the first thing we ran into was marinated shitake mushrooms followed by several different peppers, fresh heart of palm, artichoke, incredible sun dried tomatoes, asparagus, fresh ball mozzarella cheese, 3 different cheeses, some very nice salmon (yes on the salad bar) and other meats, fresh bread and of course 3 or 4 different salads. Another nice touch was some nice Olive oil and Balsamic sitting on top of the bar. I am not going to go through each item but everything was very good with the stand outs for me being the red peppers which were sweet with a nice but not over powering rush of heat at the end, he wonderful asparagus, and the shitake mushrooms... mmmmm mushrooms. When we finished enjoying that, we were given fresh plates and my father (for a steakhouse seemed to be a good place to bring dad)ordered some wine which they seem to have a great selection. Part 2: Meat! I am not going to go over everything we had that but will mention the high and lows. Best: "Picanha" which is the house specialty. This is a sirloin cut and seasoned with sea salt. I also enjoyed the Filet Mignon. Both of these cuts of meats were incredible and melted in your mouth. It was tender and perfectly cooked. I have been to very good steakhouses that did not have meat this good and the ones that did have meat this good you could defiantly not keep on asking for more! Other memorable cuts were the" Lombo" pork loin filets crusted with parmesan. These were also incredible and would be something I would recommend seeking out purposely if you do head out there. The other meats with one exception were all very well cooked and prepared and we made sure to try each one (even if towards the end we were asking them to cut the smallest bit they could). It is amazing to me that they can serve so many different items table side constantly and keep them hot and perfectly cooked. Some sort of magic if you ask me. Only one item to me was not very good. That was the costela de poreo (pork ribs). I found my cut to be a bit dry and so did not enjoy them but to be fair both Barb and my father who came along with us enjoyed it. Part 3: Dessert When we finally turned over to the red side of the indicator for the last time and prepared ourselves to go we were asked if we wanted to try dessert. We looked at each other and decided, "What the heck!" Any thought of diets or portion control had been blown away that night. Suffice it to say the desserts were of the same quality of the meal. So good in fact we actually polished them off completely even after that huge meal and that is a compliment indeed. My father could not quit talking about the coffee that he had with dessert, not being a coffee drinker myself I cannot say, but for him to praise his coffee it must have been darn good. We can see now why they felt confident enough to place Fogo de Chao where they did. In our opinion it is at a higher level than its close neighbor. From the prompt attentive wait staff to the perfectly cooked meats and great salad bar only one thing really comes to mind when we both think of that night...... YUMMMMMM. If you would like to see some pictures of our meal feel free to take a peek at our blog.
(4)Taylor L.
Oh, Fogo de Chao. Why do you make every evening magical? This is a tale of unfortunate circumstances, valiantly kept at bay with the awesome powers of customer service. I know Fogo de Chao. I have drunk the Kool-Aid. I began my indoctrination at their restaurant in Chicago. Finding that they were about to open a location in Denver made my little heart sing with joy. I immediately went on their website and made a reservation for lunch the day after they opened. Two hours before our reservation, my friend received a call from Fogo. After a few minutes of conversation, he turned to me. "I have good news and I have bad news. The bad news is apparently before they changed the website, the system allowed them to accept reservations for lunch. They're not actually open for lunch today, or any day until August." My heart, upon hearing these words, nearly sprang a leak. I hadn't eaten all that morning, knowing I would be in a meat-induced coma by that afternoon. "The good news is that they feel so terrible about the computer glitch that they've invited us to make a reservation for anytime we like this evening, and they'll pay for our dinner." My heart, upon hearing these words, ran for cover, because it knew I was about to bombard it with cholesterol and alcohol and many other 'ol's including Fol-de-rol-lol, O Joyous Day. We went that evening. Everything was just as I remembered it. We had waiters who were so attentive that one actually caught my fork midway to the floor as I dropped it. I had two capirinhas that appeared to be poured directly out of the mouth of a benevolent god. We ate every kind of meat they had, and many twice, and we never let the picanha man go by our table, ever. We think he knew this. He was there a lot. We drank ice wine that had been squeezed into its delicious nectar by fairies, and soothed our abused tummies with papaya and strawberry cream. The manager came by to apologize again for our "inconvenience" and I'm afraid we very nearly laughed at him. As we picked up our car from the valet, we discovered valet parking was free. Oh, Fogo. We're so glad you're here. Never stop being you.
(5)Janora C.
Finally had a chance to try this place Saturday night! Maybe a dumb idea since it was the first night of restaurant week and they were running an hour and a half behind on reservations but I think it ended up being fine since we had a late reservation and there seemed to be a mass exodus of all the 7pm reservations so we ended up waiting only about 20 mins. In any case, this place is ideal for a large groups, it's a large restaurant and they have complimentary valet-- both awesome when you're trying to eat in LoDo! I can't even remember all the meat I ate, it was ridiculous. Let's just say I definitely had the meat sweats by the time I left (is that TMI?!). The side dishes were good too, especially the polenta and friend bananas. We ordered a large pitcher of Sangria to share with the table-- amazing. It was like a liquored fruit salad. Trying to get my mom to come down and take me here for my bday, yummy! Also, is it just me or is the staff ridiculously good looking?
(5)John R.
When planning my soon-to-be Brother-in-laws (thats a lof ot hyphens) bachelor party I wanted it to be a memorable night. So when I thought about where 15 guys would want to eat dinner Fogo De Chao was an easy choice. What fits better with men then unlimited meat. When we first arrived we grabbed a drink at the bar. Nice and quaint, nothing extremely memorable. Walking through the restaurant to our table was kind of exciting as you are weaving through plenty of meat carrying workers. The waiter we had was kind of an ass who insisted we shut up so he can explain how the system works even though all of us had been to a place like this. However, the rest of the staffw as very nice, polite and helpful. So the meats started coming. 93% of them were delicious. The Filet, House Specialty, Parm Pork, some others were absolutly fantastic. There are some to stay away from: the ones that look like suasuage links, the chicken wrapped in bacon, and by far the worst thing there is the lamb chops. These were the worst I have ever had, which is strange given how outstanding to good everything else was. The Salad Bar (which is not your ordinary Salad Bar) was very disappointing. I had read and heard that this was outstanding. This is not the case. Besides your typical salad and cheese and light meats there was nothing to scream about. They could step up their game on this one. Random Fact: Groups of bachelor parties tend to cause scenes and with the fast paced energy in that place it fits in perfectly, especially when you scream and yell at the first guy to turn his circle to red (what a woman). Helpful Hint: Try everything they got and if you don't like it push it to the side. Then after you have had it all be sure to tell a waiter what kinds of meat you want to come back around. This will save you a lot of time telling the guys with the crap meat no.
(4)P K.
I honestly do not know why this place is so highly rated. I went here last night with another family and was absolutely shocked when we got the bill. Yes we had a few bottles of wine and the meats were flavorful (mashed potatoes and pineapple were the only sides offered to us). I also knew about the fixed pricing in advance. I found the environment pretty crazed and waiting for select cuts of meats was somewhat annoying. Attentive service was spotty. The salad bar was very average. If I want a good steak with a better environment and likely cheaper, I will head to del friscos or Elways.
(3)Mike I.
It's been a few years since I've been to a Fogo De Chao but it won't be years for my next visit. I forgot how much I love this place and how much fun it is to dine here. It's such an experience and a great way to spend a few non rushed hours with your special someone. Our party arrived a bit early so we could have a few drinks in the bar. Great selection of wine and the martini's was perfect! Once we were sat at the table the wait staff took the time to explain how everything worked for those who had never dined at Fogo before. The salad bar is amazing and the selection of cheese could be a meal in and of itself. It's hard to not want to fill up on these items. But, for me, I prep'd all day by not having breakfast or lunch so a had a little salad and cheese. The sides arrived, cheese rolls, garlic mashed potatoes and the caramelized plantains and we were ready for the meat. The cool thing is that when you flip your card from red to green the gauchos swarm you with their large skewers ladened with amazing cuts of meat. Whether your taste is for the medium rare to medium well they have it all on the same skewer. If you have a special requests the gaucho will scuttle back and make it special for you. We sampled all the meats but my favorites were the lamb followed by the pork, beef then sausage. We had such a feast paired with some great wine. When you need a break just flip the card back to red and enjoy. We topped the amazing dinner off with great dessert. We had the South American Flan and Creme Brule. It went well with the Port we selected. While Fogo isn't one of those places you'll want to dine at each week you'll definitely want to enjoy it with good friends or folks that are in from out of town. It's such a memorable experience, give yourself a couple of hours to fully enjoy. I kept thinking of my vegan friends and how much they were missing out. But hey, too bad for them... Oh, and there is complimentary valet parking...
(5)Cat S.
OH EM GEE. I don't think I want to look at or taste meat for the next 2 weeks. In order to preserve my poor heart. I was invited along for a 5280 dinner here (and paid for, so how could I refuse?) at Fogo De Chao. I probably should have not eaten for the previous 2 days. With that said.. unlimited salad bar + meat = whoa. I could not eat after that for a full day. We went Saturday and my first real meal after that was today's (Monday's) lunch. Some of the meats were dry and too salty, but some were sooo flavorful! I loved the filet mignon and the "house special" sirloin. The parmesan pork was also pretty delicious. The wait staff was okay.. but it was first night of restaurant week + fully packed dining room = what else can you expect? My favorite = the bananas. OMG. I think our table of 6 had 10 of those banana plates. DEEREECIOUS.
(3)Mailou V.
First time at Fogo for 5280 restaurant week and not impressed. It was a busy night, made reservations and waited about 30 minutes to be seated. I wish I could like the restaurant more, but it might it restaurant week to blame for the limited menu items. Felt like I just ate sirloin this, sirloin that and nothing new to crave for. Variety would have been nice but the guys who come around with the meat were little to be seen. Variety for the salad bar would have been nice (like rodizio) and not just salad, although the lock was deliciously awesome. Some of the seasonings on the steaks were a little too overwhelming. I'm pretty sure I walked away with high blood pressure. The layout of the place was a little too crowded for me. Overall, it was a decent experience, but not a to go place after all the excitement I hear about this place.
(3)Allison B.
Fogo De Chão is fabulous. I have eaten here numerous times and I will be back. We ate here tonight for restaurant week and I couldn't believe how busy they were. We sat in Evan's section and he took great care of us. He was very helpful with the wine list and helped me select a good wine at a reasonable price. Smoked salmon was not on the salad bar as it normally is, and Evan was kind enough to bring me some. Fogo is a great choice for restaurant week because other than serving a few less cuts of meat and leaving the grilled pineapple off the menu, nothing else changes. Other restaurants alter their menus quite a bit, but not here. I always leave feeling stuffed and happy. If I'm going to fork over the $ to go to an expensive restaurant, this is at the top of my list of choices. The flan on the dessert menu is not to be missed. You can't go wrong here. It's not just dinner-it's a dining experience.
(5)Brandi S.
Love this particular Fogo de Chao because of the great service. I've been to a few others since I'm from Minnesota, but I've never been to one with managers that actually approach you and talk with you - I believe her name was Kim, super friendly and approachable. They seem to genuinely care at this location. The food of course is always exceptional! Thank you for another great visit - many more to come!
(5)Richard D.
Great food. Come hungry and leave happy. The service is great definitely coming back.
(4)Anya M.
I've never chosen to go to this place on my own, and here is why. Overall, if you want to indulge in some good meat, for the price & value, you would be better off at 1) Elway's, 2) Capital Grill, or 3) Ocean Prime. I feel that for $45 a person your money would be better spent at these places than at Fogo. Why? These places are more relaxing because you aren't being hassled by the meat servers who all seem to swarm upon you at the same time, placing sticks of meat almost on your lap, always interrupting your conversation (even if your card is turned to "no thanks"). By constantly bringing new food, you never know what to choose. And for some reason you are always full by the time the meat you ACTUALLY wanted gets around. A waste, especially since only about half of the meat is noticeably good, the other half is forgettable. Also, the first three places all have a better & more upscale atmosphere (I mean come on, the salad bar. Even though it is a 'classy' one, it still grosses me out. And having to go get your own plate out of a plate dispenser for $45? No thanks). Even though some of the flavors at this place are good, I feel like it is a scam where they try to fill you up on the salad bar, have really greasy sides, and bring out the cheap meats first (hello sausage & chicken). And THEN when you are TOTALLY full, they bring out the good meats, which are the ones you wanted in the first place. Then you force yourself to pig out just to try and "get your money's worth" and it isn't as enjoyable as just ordering something you really wanted and enjoying it. AND you cannot take home leftovers. That being said, here are my positives: almost everything is GLUTEN FREE. The greasy cheese bread is gluten free and awesome (so surprising) as well as those polenta french fries and fried bananas (see, fried +greasy carbs = less meat eating =waste of money). They also provide free dessert for birthdays, and there is complimentary valet to the right of the restaurant, in the middle of the block. I would only recommend this place for its novelty value or for out of towners who are curious. Not romantic or intimate at all.
(2)Russell G.
And here I thought this will be just like Texas de Brazil.....not even close! This spot blows the competition out of the water. The seasoning of each type of meat was just right and the salad bar was extensive. The wine was pricey but I think that can be said for almost any restaurant. Oh, did I mention they wrap stuff in bacon?!?!?!! Because they do! The night we were there I had fillet Mignon with and without bacon! Chicken with bacon, pork...you guessed it...in BACON!! Besides the bacon, the meats were all tender, juicy and I even had seconds of the lamb. That is rare as I am not a big fan of the taste. This place is pricey but certainly worth every penny.
(5)Peter H.
Consistency is Fogo's best attraction and ironically, it's worst quality. Whether you're there for a midweek lunch or weekend dinner, the highly attentive service and perfect preparation of meat is always impeccable. However, you'll quickly get the Groundhog Day effect after a few outings in that every visit is the exact same. Special events are no longer special, because there was nothing remarkable from one to the other. Fogo is best for quenching that carnivorous urge and enjoying the fine dining experience, but not for creating memorable occasions. That said, my favorite cuts are the house garlic beef, rack of lamb, and filet mignon, of course. The salad bar is very good, but not as good as Texas de Brazil, and I reeeally wish they would change it up occasionally. Everyone needs to try Fogo at least once, but maybe once is all you need.
(4)Jake V.
Do you want an unlimited selection of meats?!? This is your place. Eat the chicken hearts and anything else you've never tried before.
(4)Julie H.
After further discussion of Fogo with my BFF we decided this place is probably best as a lunchtime hangover helper. Don't take a date, you will not get lucky with a food-baby... and won't even want to. I went once for dinner and had a decent experience all around. It's similar to other Brazilian Steak places. I don't see myself going back unless I have houseguests that want to check it out.
(3)Robert J.
Great restaurant, great service--except that my wife and I don't normally spend this kind of money on a dinner, this is something we do for a special occasion. This was a special occasion, to celebrate my wife's birthday. When I called to make the reservation, they asked and I answered that this was her birthday dinner. I know that the restaurant offers a complimentary dessert for birthdays... When we realized after paying for dinner that their note about her birthday had slipped through the cracks, we were less than impressed. While we would go back, since it's a great restaurant, it was depressing to see all the other birthdays that were remembered and celebrated with a dessert while we were there, I overheard the server ask the table next to us, and there were a couple birthdays, so he said he'd bring out a couple of desserts for them... Why ask if it's a special occasion over the phone for a reservation when it is so easily missed by the staff? Unfortunately, this really simple oversight ruined a lot of the otherwise great experience for us.
(3)Adam J.
Holy hell. I've been here twice now, and both times my digestive system has threatened to walk out on me and never return. That's actually a compliment to the restaurant, a byproduct of me eating what must amount to an entire animal worth of meat in one sitting. The salad bar is fantastic, although sometimes I feel like skipping it in order to save room for the meat. They have a fair variety of stuff at the salad bar, some ordinary and some extraordinary (entire artichoke hearts, huge chunks of fresh parmesan cheese). But the real deal is the meat. You flip your card over to green and it's like the flood gates open. Men rush to you with skewers of meats, and before you know it, there's a pile of different types of meat on your plate. It's ALL delicious, though some slabs of beef tend to run together. You'll want to watch for the parmesan crusted anything, whatever the house special is, and anything wrapped in bacon. Treat yourself to a little prime rib and top sirloin, as well. You just have to be careful with your red/green card that tells the servers to feed you or not, because if that baby's green, you WILL continue to get meat. They also have some sides on the table. The polenta fries and the bananas/plantains are fan-freaking-tastic. The mashed potatoes are mashed potatoes. Their cheesecakes for dessert (if there's any space left in your stomach) are also amazing. I probably wouldn't take a militant vegan here (although I might, just to watch her horrified face at all the poor widdle animaws that get eaten), but for anyone who wants to totally pig out on deliciously seasoned, perfectly cooked slabs of meat, you can't beat this. Just make sure you clear some time the following day, because your digestive system will show you why eating 10 pounds of meat is not something you should do every day.
(5)Mike M.
Best meal I've ever had. Been back numerous times and its top notch every time. Great place!!
(5)Julia B.
I thought it was good but not as amazing as everyone is saying. With all the raves I was expecting a more amazing salad bar, but it was really good and pretty. I was expecting Vegas, I think, which might be dumb, as Nobody said that, exactly. Anyway, the service is rushed and comes off as curt, and this is the main reason I am giving 3 stars instead of 4. We did go during restaurant week, and I suspect they shoved many more tables in to accomodate a rush. Also the crowd felt a little rough, so It went from feeling like a grand experience to a golden corrall experience, (with steak salmon and pretty cheeses). heheh. THat said the meat is a little overwhelming, and delicious. But I dont LOVE meat,it gets a little freaky, all these dudes with Knives and meat coming at you, AND FAST. Also the meat was not SO seasoned, so some people like that. Some of the meat dudes walked right by me. I was holding out for the steak. Which was yum. The brazillian cocktails were really delicious, and I recommend getting those. Go on an empty stomach, then, Its tempting to load up at the pretty salad bar, but don't; thats how they getchya.
(3)Naor B.
i was in denver over july 4th weekend and have already been in fogo in la. i must say the one in denver was much better food was better The service here was excellent
(5)Pam T.
This place will be our new go-to place for over-indulging on red meat! As soon as you are seated the excellent service starts, along with those yummy cheese rolls. It takes a lot of self control not to load up at the salad bar. I tried to limit myself to just a bite of everything I chose, but still had a full plate. They had a card on the table which showed the different cuts of meat they served which was helpful. So of course we had to try almost everything that went by the table. Just like the salad bar, your plate will fill up quickly. But it's a good way to figure out what you like. My favorite was the bacon wrapped filet. My husband thought the parmesan pork loin was really good but I thought it was too dry. I passed on the mashed potatoes (more room for meat). I think next time I will take a break and get a place of some veggies from the salad bar, just to balance out all the protein. They have a good selection of desserts and we ordered a chocolate cake. When our waiter noticed my husband had left my anniversary card on the table he asked if it was an occasion. We said yes so they brought us another dessert, the caramel flan, with "Happy Anniversary" written on the dish. Very nice of them.
(5)Nicole W.
Another large outing and another stellar performance at Fogo! Valet parking - free- yup - still rocks (although the valet grinding the gears on the way out - less than cool - and yes we drive a stick shift, whatever) Staff was very friendly - even though we called a mere 2 hours prior and asked to bring over 20 people in at 8pm. They split us into 2 tables and fawned over us, like the super stars we were! ;) They have special "newbie" folios for those new to eating tons of meat! That was very helpful those those we dragged along that were not all into the meat on a stick! I have the whole process down now - skip the salad bar - no need to waste precious stomach room on that! Careful with the sides - they fill you up too! But the carmelized bananas - well, you really can't say no to those! And the little balls of heaven - the baby popovers - which we found out were gluten free - a win for some of our friends at the table! Staff kept checking on us and put up with our antics and even checked if there was a special cut of meat we were looking for and they would sent it over! I stuck with the filet mignon and filet mignon only. Except for one deviance into the special of the house. I was stuffed and happy! Restaurant week they are doing a special deal - i might have to go back sooner rather than later!
(4)Megan E.
Came here for supper with DH and a friend. We had plenty of food, again, and left feeling VERY VERY full. We were half an hour early and had no problems being seated (but it was 5:30 on a Saturday - by 8 there were crowds waiting). I asked for a mojito and was offered their house special version instead. It was good, but at $13, I was a little disappointed and I wasn't told the price until the bill came. Our friend ordered tonic water, which never arrived but was placed on the bill. When we pointed that out, they brought a complimentary creme brule and removed it from the bill. Nice, but man was it hard to get that down after the meal! They had complimentary valet parking in the garage next door for dinner - that was nicer than hunting around like we did at lunch. I have to say, if you want a ton of meat (and other stuff) and have plenty of time, check this place out but if you aren't one to eat a lot, it's not really worth it for supper, maybe lunch though.
(4)Carly B.
I know my opinion really shouldn't "count" since I didn't participate in the meatstravaganza, but here's my candid view on the salad bar as well as this place in general. "But Carly what are you doing at Fogo to begin with then," you ask? Well, it was Father's day and I was taking my dad out. He hates most places (he literally goes in with an intent to dislike anywhere new), but he likes Rodizio and he loooooooooves meat. He likes salad bars too. So I suppose I was "taking one for the team" and hoping to introduce him to a new plave he might actually like. Let's start with the service: about as good as you'd expect with about eight different people waiting on you. Some of it felt downright forced. The restaurant wasn't super full, so I'd say there was about one server/gaucho/busser for every two people but none particularly stood out. The drinks: the Caipirinha was super strong, tasty, loaded with fresh limes, and of a decent size. My dad really only drinks beer, but you can't call him a beer lover. Out of the vast, wonderful world of craft beer and interesting imports he will drink MGD, Rolling Rock or Pacifico. Usually no exceptions. Fogo is not know for their beer selection. Fortunately he tried their Brazilian beer (very dark in color, but very light in flavor) and he liked it enough to drink two. The salad bar: it's okay. A bit on the smaller side, but it had some pretty tasty things (tabbouleh, chickpea salad, potato salad, and a really tasty green basil dressing) and some very boring things (fat, unseasoned asparagus, tomato slices, pre-made Caesar salad). Overall pretty good, but nothing I was dying to get seconds of. The sides: they start you out with the most delicious cheese bread (Pao de Queijo) and then bring out sides of polenta, garlic mashed potatoes, and brown sugary carmelized bananas. The bread really is the star, each little ball is hot and springy and cheesy and delicious. The polenta is pretty good too but I realized this toward the end of the meal when I was running out of room. Very similar springy texture as the Pao de Queijo. The potatoes seem to really be an afterthought....like "lets add on a side of boring garlic mashed potatoes for good measure". Unneccessary. The meat: may have very well been amazing, but dad described it as "not bad". He can be difficult to read. He likes the chicken hearts at Rodizio and Fogo doesn't have chicken hearts so that was probably a dad point against them. The price: Daaaaaayum! I'm all for splurge dinners and everything, but two beers, a cocktail, a salad bar, and regular meal were $95 pre-tip. I don't mind spending money on a great splurge dinner, but it's usually for something artfully prepared and really tasty flavors. The bread was great, but I can get a carb overload at other places at a much more reasonable price. Conclusion: these types of restaurants have their place in dining, but it's really not my scene. If I have $100 to spend on dinner, I'd probably take it to one of the many seasonal/chef-driven restaurants around town.
(3)Stephen K.
(Shame, shame on me...more rediscovered smartphone notes from months ago) Disclaimer: This is not a full review of FDC...I was here for a 303Networking job event thingy. That being said...FDC's staff supplied appetizers of polenta liberally dusted with parmesan, juicy chunks of chicken breast wrapped in bacon, and Brazilian pork sausage -- *addictiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiive...*...when I want breakfast sausage again, I know I really really don't want breakfast sausage...I want amazing Brazilian pork sausage. Someday, I hope to come here for a full meal -- but even if that never happens, their apps are pretty amazing.
(4)Danika L.
When I see reviews such as "top notch" and "best food ever" I can't help but wonder if these people were eating from dumpsters before...not sure what all the hype is about but I'm guessing it's coming from frugal people who can't resist an all you can eat place. Sorry but for me it's absolutely about quality over quantity so it's gonna have to take a little more than endless plates of crap and a salad bar to do it for me. Also just a tip guys this wouldn't be a good place to take a date, it was extremely loud and chaotic. And ladies if you do go don't dress up because the crowd is very casual and you will feel like a hooker walking up to the salad bar in heels.
(1)Kim K.
Even though I only visited for lunch and didn't get the full eat until you burst experience, I still felt like I needed a serious nap and possibly some cholesterol meds afterwards. So much meat, so little time. Take note where they keep the emergency defibrillator if you do go for dinner.
(4)Amanda M.
Maybe it's because I went during restaurant week, but I was not all that enthused by this place. First of all we were seated 25 minutes after our reservation time, which wasn't a huge deal since we found some seats in the bar area and my friend had a chance to enjoy an $8 cocktail. The space is MUCH larger than I expected, it seemed like more of a banquet hall then a restaurant, and I didn't find the decor inviting or appealing. Maybe it's because they were packed to the brim, but all the gauchos and hosts and people running around made it feel more like a crowded dim sum restaurant than an upscale steakhouse. As for the salad bar, I thought it was on par with Texas De Brazil minus the fact they didn't have lobster bisque and sauteed mushrooms. All of the food sitting out was good and fresh. They had tabouli, mozzarella balls, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, chicken salad, olives, cured meats, bread, giant asparagus, hearts of palm, artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, smoked salmon, peppers etc. I found it to be an abundant selection-- it's just not presented on a ginormous bar like TDB. As for the meat I found most of it to be pretty dry and/or flavorless. If you ask for a certain "doneness" and they have a skewer, they are going to give you a piece of meat from the bottom either way. The only thing I really enjoyed was the filet (not bacon wrapped). I got a small piece when I first sat down, and literally was searching for it for an hour and a half. I asked multiple waitstaff to send it over to no avail. Finally it randomly came around and I asked the gaucho to give me a big hunk of it. Unfortunately he gave me a piece that was cooked way past well-done and it was gray in the middle. However, the people who brought the side dishes around were on top of their game, and we never went without the delicious cheesy bread, mashed potatoes, polenta cakes, or sweet plantains (or were they bananas?). This being restaurant week the clientele probably wasn't the same as usual, but as my friend put it, we felt like we were in the upper-deck of a Nuggets game. A server accidentally dropped a huge glass plate used at the salad bar, and no less than 15 people decided to yell "Oooohhhhh!!". I'm sorry, but since when does that fly at a restaurant? It's funny at the Great American Beer Festival... but not here. I was actually embarrassed to be eating at the same place as these people. This is by no means Fogo's fault, since they can't turn people away for being trashy... but still... it put a damper on the evening. I would like to try Fogo again once all of Denver isn't there at the same time.
(3)Ru L.
A paleo dieter's heaven; great salad bar and all that beef! The many cuts of bovine are Devine, while the swine is fine and the chicken is kick in'. I opted out of the mashers and the fried polenta and just hit it up caveman style. Each cut of beef is small, but believe me the more the gauchos visit the table the faster you fill up. Enjoy.
(4)Jen L.
I really want to give a rating of 3 1/2 stars in all fairness. To start off with I'm not one to indulge in a carnivorous feast, if you are this is the place for you. The salad bar is full of unique items some of which I had no idea what they were. Some labels would have helpful. The meat was good, but I'm not one that cares for a meal of just meat so my review will be on the over all experience of this establishment. I really did not enjoy this style of service. The restaurant is huge so it is very noisy and very hard to enjoy the company at your table. I was not fond of our waiter. He showed us the drink menu from afar and explained to us what the drinks were and walked off. When he came back we had to ask for the drink menu and the wine list. If they have beer I wasen't sure because that wasn't on a beverage menu we received. When we asked for the dessert menu it also had drinks on it that I would have preferred over the Brazilian rum thing I ordered. I really did not care for the way the food is served. It seemed crazy and hectic juggling plates and drinks, and tongs. This was not my thing at all. People are constantly coming to the table, not just the meat guys, but managers, and servers. My last coment is upscale or casual? It had elements of both, and I think they should pick one. All in all I was not overly impressed with this style of service and would not be back.
(3)Eugene N.
Before you read, please note that I'm a dude, and besides vegetarians, who can complain about all you can eat meat?! With that being said though, I love the caramelized bananas! Coming in, expecting to eat really good meat (which I did) but was taken by the bananas! Kinda weird and unexpected but they are served at your table at the beginning, like an appetizer. Now onto the meat. Great quality meat, but it's Fogo De Chao, so expect the best franchised Brazilian BBQ. Oh, and the service was excellent!
(5)Cassandra F.
Okay, this place serves up more food than I thought it was possible to consume. Make sure when you go that you have barely eaten that day! I love brazilian food, I had a brazilian neighbor once and she turned me on to all sorts of things. While I still don't think this food is as good as hers, it's the closest I've come! The caiparinhas here are fantastic, try the tropical one it's made with strawberries instead of limes. Yum! As others say, the salad bar is amazing. You could make a wonderful meal just out of that. And the sides they bring around are great. Love the pao de queijo and the polenta. Once the meat starts coming, be prepared. Green on are card means "More", red means "Stop". Be mindful of which is up, because they'll just keep bringing you food otherwise! It's a little pricey, but you get a lot of food for the money. I ate till I could barely move, so it was definitely worth it.
(5)Brian O.
The night started with our company running late, so we settled into the comfy bar. Jayce was a great bar tender, meeting our needs for a cosmo and a nice single malt with just the right amount of ice. Our company was unavoidably delayed due to the traffic getting to the Denver Parada of Lights. Once they arrived, we settled into our table with Greg for an intruduction to Fago; I've been a big fan of the Fago De Chao in Las Vegas; this place was bigger but there were more tables so with the need to go to the buffet for the excellent salad, I'd say it was a little tight. The salad bar while not the point of the meat fest of Fago, was fresh and excellent; I enjoyed the roasted garlic, beets, sliced dry meets, and the buffalo mozarella. Once we had completed the salads, the plates were quickly wisked away. Our wine, a 2009 Rodney Strong Cab Sauv, was an excellent start. If you have not been to the typical Brazilian experience, you turn over your serving card to green and waiters with large skewers of cooked meat decend on your table with various meets; we partcularly enjoyed the leg of lamb, the lamb chops and the top sirloin. As the waiters arrive, you can choose from rare to well done on each of the meats. My partner also njoyed a lovely garlic pork peice that I must have missed. The lower sirloin, the chicken were also good. I would note that the bacon wrapped filet I think was my favorite; jiucy rare with just the right amount of done-ness on the bacon. Our main course was also served with mashed potatoes and fried bananas and there is an extensive desert and after dinner drinks menu. Since we gorged on the meat, all these went by the wayside. All in all a great night with great company and service. We spent about $105 per head that included two bottles of wine and tip. A great night.
(4)Cobra K.
Not bad. Came here for a birthday dinner with The Woman. We had two dinners costing $45 per person. Our 3 year old daughter ate for free. Service was fantastic and the atmosphere was very posh. What I didn't like was the fact that they didn''t have beef tongue or chicken hearts. Really! Come on!!! Oh, and if you ask in the beginning, the servers will bring out FREE DESSERT for birthdays.
(3)Sungeeta A.
I loved my trip to Fogo de Chao. The salad bar was amazing - I don't know where they get their giant vegetables, but they are very fresh. The meats were plentiful and all tasty, my favorite being the top sirloin and filet mignon. I had the Papaya cream for dessert (to help me digest!), which was ice cream mixed with papaya. It was not my favorite but decent. I didn't realize how much I ate until I walked outside and had trouble breathing. It was worth it though! I would definitely go back!
(5)Lewis B.
First time a Fogo and the dining experience was superb! Food and service was great. I only wish they had a broader selection of vegetables i.e. steamed mixed veggies, spinach, broccoli or asparagus. Otherwise we would definitely return and recommend it to others.
(4)Kyle M.
place and service is fantastic. love the servers they are funny and entertaining.
(5)Sophie W.
Excellent place to visit if you love red meat! They have a plenty to choose from a broad menu. All you can eat. The cost of dinner is 46.50 $per person. I've been there for several times with my friends and we really enjoyed it. The service is really friendly and helpful. They also serve delicious desserts; my favorite is chocolate cake, definitely worth a try! Their drinks are also really good! My favorite one is caipirinha, which is a classic Brazilian cocktail. The only reason why I'm giving them 4/5 starts is that it can be pricey, especially when are you planning to take your whole family.
(4)Heidi S.
Meat. Sweet, sweet, holy tasty, tasty meat. Thank you animal *LAMB* for giving your life for me. Oh and *HOLY COW* and with all honesty, I really do send a prayer up for the animal that is nourishing me. Get the lamb chops, the filet and the sirloin. Slather much of it in the Chimichurri sauce *moment alone* - thank the beast and turn that card to the green side one more time. Maybe go real easy on anything bacon wrapped, everything is already way salty enough...oh, and don't hold onto that salad plate too long, they seem to get nervous about it.... Our server was impersonal and avoided eye contact as if there was someone more important behind us, but our drinks were filled and refilled with glee. Every once in awhile a gorgeous blonde would wonder by and ask if everything was OK. It was. Oh and the men with meat on swords - well, either gender is giddy about that. One thing that struck us as odd as we got our bill the waiter asked what our special occasion was for coming in while he sorta looked past us (both of us in baseball hats) - the ball-n-chain set down his Maker's Mark and said, "No special occasion, just taking my wife to dinner.' Waiter guy looked a little perplexed. Boo-friggen-yeah.
(5)Leigh W.
We are big fans of Fogo De Chao and the wide variety of flavorful meats. They carry so many different meats and have a great salad bar and the side dishes are tasty too! Do not make the mistake of making a big salad to start with, you want to save room for the important stuff the steak, chicken, pork, etc!! The wait staff are on top of it as well never leaving your plate empty. This is by far my favorite Brazilian Steak House I have been too. Not a fan of Rodizio, they just do not have the taste to their meats like Fogo does!
(4)Joe Y.
Best Buffet With 7 locations in Brazil, Fogo is the benchmark for Rodizio and Texas De Brazil. Go for $27 lunch or $47 dinner and free valet parking. Rodizio is bit cheaper but they don't offer the same quality, salad bar, and appetizers. Filet migon is ok, but my favorite is the Ancho (Rib Eye).
(5)S P.
This place rocks! Great food quality and selection, and service. The salad bar is super fresh and offers an excellent variety. The meat selection is vast and high quality. The taste is perfect. What could be better? An excellent attentive staff. The other churrascarias in town are terrible- bad meat taste and quality. This place is world class.
(5)diane s.
Typical Brazilian Barbeque. Attentive staff, average salad bar, but DELICIOUS barbeque. We were a party of three new to Denver, but looking for some food adventure. I have been to other chain Brazilian barbecue places, but decided to try something new. Fogo de Chao did not disappoint. Attention by staff was superb, drinks amazing. Great for large parties.
(4)Bonnie F.
Just went for the first time, it was great. Some of the meat was a little salty, but overall it was good. Love those cheesy bread muffins.
(4)Robert C.
For a meat eater who also thrills in a great salad bar, this place ranks among the best. The waiters, in their gaucho get-up, roam around the tables with skewers of freshly roasted meats of all kinds and cuts. Just make sure your little coaster (green on one side, red on the other) is showing the color you want (green for "more" and red for "I'm full for now") or the waiters will keep coming at you with more meat. Service was top rate, and the South American wines, in large Bordeaux-type stemware, went very well with the meal. Would make it a stop every time I pass through Denver (they are a chain, in other cities as well).
(5)Adrian M.
Overall- the service, food and atmosphere was excellent. The meat was just absolutely the best. The atmosphere was upclass and prestine. Service was all smiles from the entrance all the way to end of lunch. The only thing is - well it still is not too pricey but a bit up there. A.
(4)Mikey Y.
Eating here rendered all previous meals inadequate. This statement is all encompassing (service, food, drinks, etc.).
(5)Stephanie M.
Pricey, but good experience. Worth at least one trip!
(5)Liliana T.
As a meat lover couple, both my husband and I really love the "Gaucho" Brazilian grill where you can eat as much meat as your tummy allows. We're so happy to hear about Fogo de Chao. I immediately made a reservation online for my husband's birthday dinner today (Sunday). I didn't know if they do something special for the birthday boy, so I put my request on the birthday dessert on the special request note when I made the reservation. It was fast and easy. Me likey this restaurant already :-) We got there about 10 minutes late because of the Rockies Game, but the waiter seated us immediately and our server immediately explained to us how the system works in a very pleasant manner. We started with the salad. Oh...it's a salad bar from heaven! Marinated shiitake mushroom, roasted sun-dried tomatoes, asparagus, thin sliced bacons, pepperoni, cheese and varieties of antipasti, fresh homemade vinaigrette dressing, basil cream sauce, oh I can go on and on...:-) As soon as we finished eating our salad, we flipped our card to the green side. We didn't wait long, a parade of grilled meat started immediately: lamb chop, fillet mignon, ribeye, sirloin, pork loin, all the meat goodness. They are nicely seasoned and very tender. My husband said that the pork loin is a tad too dry, but the beef are delicious. While the "gaucho" chefs were serving us with the meat, our server placed the mashed potato, caramelized banana and fried polenta on our table. These side dishes were also good - I especially enjoyed the polenta and the banana. The service didn't just stop there. When *any* of the server saw us just sitting on the table with empty plate, they immediately came to our table and asked if everything is fine and if there's a certain dish/meat we would like to be served. And as soon as we placed our meat request, the picanhas came to our table in less than 5 minutes. That's impressive! We really appreciate the servers attentiveness to the customers and the fast response of our requests. In the beginning of my story, I mentioned about putting a special dessert request for my husband, the birthday guy. Nobody mentioned anything about it and since my husband said that he's full, I didn't make any attempt to ask about it. But to our surprise, our server came to our table with a big plate of chocolate molten cake with vanilla ice cream and fresh sliced strawberries with a "Happy Birthday" writing with red and green sauce. WOW!!! This really shows that they DO read my request and they served it just on the right time. Fogo de Chao, I must say, this is the BEST Dining experience my husband and I ever had. You made the birthday dinner more special and personal with your great service and attentiveness. You can be sure we will come back again for our second, third and numerous visit in near future :-)
(5)Adrian C.
Been there three times now, and I can definitely state it is worth every penny. Some complain the food is salty, but you can ask for custom servings, if you're sensitive. The wait staff is very attentive, which is awesome. However, I can understand that some prefer to be left alone - this is not you're typical restaurant; it's an experience. Try it out, don't be too critical, and enjoy!
(5)Mel H.
This is a gluten free review. I went during 5280, which was a great deal. If I didn't need to be gluten free I would give this place only 3 stars. There is so much a person who needs to be gluten or wheat free can eat here, but I am spoiled from going to Texas de Brazil (their salad bar is amazing and their meat were better, but it's pretty far away from us). We also had a reservation, but were not seated for about 45 minutes after it, and that was a little annoying. We tried almost everything here, the chicken and pork were dry, just like any other churrascaria, so we didn't eat much of that. The lamb chops were better than Texas de Brazil, not gamey even a little bit. The beef was just not seasoned quite as well to us and a couple of the side pieces were a little burned tasting. For dessert we had creme brulee (excellent), cheesecake (excellent) and the key lime pie, which my friend picked the crust and top off (okay to good depending on how you like your key-lime). I went with my husband and one of my best friends and they agreed that if we are going to go, we will go to Texas de Brazil, but this location is better (closer) and the atmosphere was good.
(4)April G.
This is my favorite restaurant!!! I tried out Fogo De Chao on Saturday night and was blown away! The ambiance was amazing! The food was delicious, there was a large variety of meats, a fantastic salad bar, and the service was the best I have ever had! If you would like to be treated liked a star go to Fogo De Chao!
(5)Kenny Z.
Meat, baby!
(4)Renley R.
YUM! Ok, so while I can go on forever about how great the food is here and how professional the atmosphere is (you can actually have a conversation here) or about how accomodating the staff was on my visit (made me feel like it king :) ) I would first like to instead mention a rule to be kept in mind when dining here: Pace yourself. The food is so good you will want to fill you place with every pass. And since the portions are as generaous as you wish, you can get full fast. But there are so many optiosn to try, some are very much worth having a second bite, so chew lots of times, eat slow and savour every bite. Also don't be afraid to ask for a slive of meat to be cooked a little more or less, they are very willing to make sure you have the meal cooked to your exact liking. So with that said, the meat selections are great. There is so little more I can say other than - its fresh meat cooked to your specifications what is there not to like? How about the meal "garnish" aka the salad bar? Smoked salmon, mouth watering chicken salad, and many fresh produce to fill you up well before the main course arrives. Get a bottle or two of their imported Brazilian beer and pretend like you are in Sao Paolo.
(5)Lisa X.
After reading through some yelp.com reviews last night, my friend and I decided to give this place a try. Oh my gosh! It was a great experience. The salad bar was wonderful. It wasn't a normal salad bar. It had items on it like hearts of palm, sun-dried tomatoes, pesto, Boston bibb lettuce, green beans, peppadews, and all other sorts of neat-o stuff. Next, they brought side dishes and these wonderful cheese puffs that melted in your mouth. I think I ate 6 of them. Yum! The side dishes were mashed potatoes, Parmesan polenta, and sauteed bananas. The bananas and polenta were very good. Once we flipped our cards to green, the meat parade started. Each meat chef stopped by our table with a different cut of meat, each one delicious. My favorite was the Filet Mignon. It was tender and mouthwatering. We both had dessert which was Flan and Creme Brulee. Both very good, but we were really too full to enjoy it. The service was very attentive to the point that you couldn't finish a conversation before being interrupted by meat or water refills. Not a bad thing. My friend says the only thing lacking was some Brazilian music. I think the dining experience was great and definitely one of those places that you go to for special events and not very often since you pretty much end up in a meat coma at the end.
(5)James Z.
Absolutely spectacular. Everything was delicious. Fantastic atmosphere and an awesome dinner. Highly recommended.
(5)Myla P.
If it weren't for those pesky USDA guidelines that say to eat fruits and vegetables as part of a balanced diet, I would be a carnivore. Well, maybe that's not entirely true; if I had Fogo de Chao's salad bar at my disposal for every meal, eating enough vegetables would not be an issue. Make sure you come to this restaurant hungry. Not to get your money's worth, but to be able to sample everything they have to offer. Your experience starts with the salad bar, which features only a couple traditional American salad bar ingredients, followed by prosciutto, salami, cheese, artichoke hearts, hearts of palm, marinated tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, , beets, and asparagus. You are also given a basket of cheese bread. It's very difficult to not fill up during this first course. Flip your coaster over to green. Your plate is immediately exchanged for a clean one, and you are assaulted by gauchos bearing swords filled with meat. Linguica sausage, bacon-wrapped chicken, pork ribs, flank steak, top round, bottom round, sirloin, leg of lamb, lamb chops, parmesan-crusted pork loin, filet mignon, ribeye, and my personal favorite and house specialty: Picanha. Make sure to flip your coaster to red and take a break from time to time. Side dishes of fried bananas, crispy polenta and mashed potatoes are served with the meat and replenished constantly. Also, be sure to save room for dessert! The key lime pie and the chocolate mousse cake are both amazing. We went for my birthday and my dessert was complimentary. As for drinks, I have had their house pinot noir and their Caiprinha, and both are very good. This is not a cheap dinner by any means, but very reasonable for the quality of food and service you receive, especially when compared to more pretentious expensive restaurants nearby. You also can't beat the complimentary valet parking right next to the restaurant, so you can just waddle your over-stuffed self back to your car.
(5)Mike S.
Holy meat-on-a-stick! Never in my life have I had more meat thrown at me (not literally) than when I was at Fogo's. For $40 you get two all-you-can-eat courses. Vegetarians beware! The first course "salad bar" is not your ordinary Village Inn salad bar. It's stocked with prosciutto, smoked salmon, sun-dried tomatoes and balls of mozzarella. The second course consists of dudes with giant skewers of meat running around that they shave off onto your plate. Fillets, lamb chops, sausage, rib-eye, and the list goes on. The service couldn't have been better. Just when you thought you were ready to take a break, BAM!, another 3 pounds of beef is on your plate. And they were very patient with our very loud and obnoxious group. Extra points to them for not kicking us out.
(5)Mar S.
Amazing food! Amazing service! Nothing negative to say (except that it's pretty pricey). Just bring your biggest appetite and make sure you love meat. They even gave us a complimentary dessert for our birthday celebration.
(5)Charlotte S.
what say about it ? I mean is the best steakhouse around Denver where you don't only eat meat, but get to enjoy the salad bar, and authentic Brazilian food as well, and lots of it. and they keep bring you more meat, and more meat ;-) that's the "rodizio" style. love that, and I am coming back soon :-) the service as always was excellent , my plate never got empty, my friends all loved the place, the price, well its not a cheap place, but then again, you pay for what you get and at fogo de chao it is worthy every penny. I am very very happy and full ;-) I am Brazilian too, and every time i miss home, I go there to eat picanha and drink guarana yummy ;-)
(5)Liz S.
One word: gauche.
(3)Jessica T.
Have you ever just said the name really fast a few times? Try it! It's a good time! My husband and I just dined there with some very good friends. None of us were new to the Brazilian steakhouse experience, but this was my first time at this particular restaurant. There's something inherently wonderful about men walking around ready to carve delicious, fire grilled meat to you at the flip of a card. The ambiance was wonderful, the salad bar was a dream, and the meat was fall off the bone delicious. Then, to add insult to fat kid injury, they have those amazing cheese rolls, fried polenta with parmesan cheese, and caramelized bananas. I normally don't make it very far at an endless eating situation, but this time I paced myself and was even able to share a dessert with my love. And by share I mean he ate most of it and I had a few delightful spoonfuls and gave up. Since my eyelids are heavy just typing this review, I think some cardio might be in order. Tomorrow. After I wake from my food coma.
(4)Zina S.
We were impressed by the quality of food and the service in this place when we found out this is a chain restaurant! The variety of meats is wide and the quality is high. All the meats were juicy and well seasoned. The salad bar was well stocked with all sorts of veggies and salad trimmings. This place was a real treat and worth the price.
(5)Ray R.
If you're a lover of well prepared food, like a finer dinning feel, but want all you can eat, this is the place. Any fat guy worth a quarter of his weight knows what the colors mean at a Brazilian BBQ, green means go, red means I'm stuffed, but bring me more of those cheese puff bread things while I prepare for round two. Don't pig out on just one thing though, go for the experience, try a bit of everything. If ya like something, no worries, it'll come back to visit. Save some room for dessert, gluttony isn't wasted here, but selective gluttony is more enjoyable. I had great service, was worth the price, wide variety, good salad bar & desserts. If you aren't a carnivore, it's still not a bad place to chow down. Have been there multiple occations and still have the same opinion.
(4)Dee S.
Located at 15th and Wynkoop, What I would call the NW corner. There is complimentary valet parking right next to the restaurant. Don't park anywhere else because it's too expensive and some of the parking garages are only made for little compact cars. On to the restaurant. There is this salad bar that is included with the price. When crowded, it's hard to determine where to line up. There is only one salad bar so it's takes time to get around the bar once you even find where the line is. Quality of the salad bar was good. I was determined to not fill up on the salad bar. I liked the beets, bacon, cold cuts, smoked salmon, olives and mushrooms from the salad bar. At the table they give you a cardboard coaster disc. Green on one side red on the other side. Face it with green up means you want meat. Red up, pass me up. Then you get these guys coming around with spindles of meat. They tell you what it is but it was hard to understand. I just has to ask, is it beef? And they usually say what it is again with more terms. Anyway, they give you these tongs and you're supposed to use the tongs to grab the meat as they cut the meat off the spindle. Well, I didn't know that so the first time the guy came by, he sat there and I was wondering why he was pausing. I finally realized, with help from friends at the table, what I was supposed to do with the tongs. Now I have the hang of it. I tried a lot of meat. Sausages, chicken with bacon, pork ribs, all kinds of sirlion, pork, chicken leg, I found the meat to be salty. They give you fried banana, mashed potatoes, fried polenta, and a brazillian puff type bread. The mashed potatoes and bread worked good to counter the saltiness of the meat. 6 hours later, I'm still craving water. I got to the point when the guy would cut a part of that would be the salty part, I'd ask him to cut off from a different part. Went during 5280, so that was why it was crowded. I don't know the normal price for dinner, but for $26.40, it was a good deal.
(3)Jason S.
This place is great! Huge salad bar! Its pretty straight forward, you get a coaster with one side red and the other side green. Red=no more meat and Green=Slice it up dude! I walked about stuffed. I did not eat the next day I was so full.
(4)Becky H.
My husband and I have dined here 4 times now and every single time we've had outstanding service and the food is to die for. I love the salad bar - they offer a wide variety of salads, cold meats, cheeses and other items. After you whet your palate with that, it's time for the meat-fest. You can eat and eat and eat to your heart's content. You can tell the waiters how you like the meat cooked and they'll slice off a piece according to what you ask for, so no worries about getting under or overdone meat. And if you don't like it, leave it on your plate and try the next cut! Along with the meat, they bring mashed potatoes, grilled bananas, polenta and this divine cheese bread. I would come here just for the cheese bread. Yes, it's that good. It is a little pricier than we usually go for, but for special occasions, we always think of Fogo de Chao first! I love it!!
(5)T. F.
As close to perfection as a meat emporium can come. We made reservations for a birthday celebration, having never been here before (although visited rodizio type houses both in Brazil and New York). Here's a quick summary of our experience: beautiful room. Low noise level. Super-attentive courteous service. Excellent bar drinks. The buffet, typidal of rodizios, while not as varied as other places we'd been, featured cold foods of A-1 quality. Freshly baked pao-de-queijo mini rolls (Brazilian cheese-filled buns) were regularly served. Every meat --chicken, beef, lamb-- was tender and tasty. The fried polenta and mashed potatoes... same thing. The birthday guest was served a complimentary candle-topped cake portion on a beautiful decorated plate. 'Nuff said. This place is a winner. Pricey, but worth every $.
(5)Angelica F.
One word.... YUM!! We decided to take advantage of the Denver Restaurant Week prices on Tuesday night; $52.80 is a awesome deal for two people. We had a fantastic experience and had a blast sharing it with our friends. It's DRW so I expected most of the "pricier" restaurants to be booked and very busy. Of course, we did have to a couple minutes after our reservation before we were seated, but it's DRW, it's to be expected. The noise level was loud but not to the point where the four of us were screaming at each other over the table. This restaurant is huge with odd pictures on the walls, but that won't stop me from trying a place or lower my review ratings. We started our experience at the salad bar and was not disappointed at the selection that was offered. We seated ourselves at our designated table, finished our salad plates and waited 15 seconds after our cards were flipped to green before the first gaucho chef arrived. Our waiter and the many gaucho chefs were on top of their game for such a busy night! We were offered different meats left and right, it was a ravenous carnivorous feast. It was a little overwhelming at times with everything that was offered, but it was still fun. The sides of mashed potatoes, polenta, fried bananas and OMG the bread rolls that were filled with some kind of cheese were a-maz-ing. The selection of wine was pretty good too. For desert we had the Papaya Cream that was very delicious. (FYI: Take your spoon and rub it against the cinnamon that they use to decorate your plate with and combine it with the papaya cream. It's almost like listening to the sound of angels.) So many meats to choose from, sides that seemed to have magically appeared at our table, a good salad bar, phenomenal dessert and friendly attentive staff makes this a fabulous must-visit-in-the-near-future type of restaurant.
(5)Veronica W.
A meal at Fogo is not just a meal, it's an experience. From the moment you park at the complimentary valet it is something special. The staff make you feel like you are their only focus despite the fact that you are in a room with a couple hundred other people. The management has taken great time and care to make sure that their staff are there for you, and it's evident from the minute you walk in the door until you roll your stuffed belly out the door. If you are a stickler for service this is a restaurant for you. I never felt like I was being hawked by the staff, but I also never had a need/want for anything that there wasn't a staff person right there to get it for me. The food- spectacular. Do you have to like meat? To get your money's worth probably, but the salad bar & side dishes stand out as not to be missed. The fried bananas make an excellent contrast to the grilled meat. All that being said the meat is the reason you go. MEAT!! Lots of meat! Delicious, wonderful meat. mmmmm.... Now, the price. Yes, it's pricey. This is not somewhere you are going to go regularly unless you've got deep pockets and a giant stomach. It is somewhere that you go for special occasssions. It is somewhere that you expect to spend a lot and get every pennies worth and you do.
(5)Adebowale A.
My wife and I love meat and we're total fans of churrascarias. We've been to at least 9 Brazilian restaurants in different cites and 4 different Fogo de Chao's including the one in Beverly Hills which was expensive and in all our trips, this was THE BEST Brazilian churrascaria we've ever been to. The service especially was something to write home, call home or fax home about. Everyone was concerned with what you wanted, what you needed, what you liked and they were all willing to accomodate you. Not talking of the gauchos, e must have had at least 10 other people walking round to ensure you were well catered for. The food was totally seasoned, well done, medium or whichever way you wanted it done and the sides were also the same as any other Fogo. After dinner, we had a presentation of after dinner drunks and had a 150 year anniversary Grand Marnier which was heavenly. At the end of the meal we got a bill about two-thirds what we paid in Beverly Hills not drinking any alcohol. If you like meat, chicken and you visit Denver, you had better be at the Fogo!
(5)Kyle G.
WONDERFUL food ... deffinety expensive but all in all worth it ... wish they enforced a dress code, for the price and awesomeness shouldn't have to see rock and roll t-shirts and flip flops
(4)Lisa M.
Like the Fogo de Chao in Chicago and D.C., this restaurant featured outstanding service. The salad bar was well-stocked, varied, and fresh, and the Caipirinhas were spot on. The side of fried bananas was terrific, as were the rolls (what exactly do they put in those, anyway?). The filet was good, but I thought the sirloin was a bit tough. Really, the meat didn't do much for me. Creme brulee was a nice finishing touch. My companions couldn't stop raving about what a great experience they had. Definite thumbs up.
(4)Christina J.
Dear Yelp, Will you be my best friend? You always tell me about the most amazing places to eat, drink and make merry, and I think it's time I repaid the favor by making our BFF-ness official. While you're thinking on this request, let me enlighten you about the origins of this proposal. Thanks to your infinite wisdom I went to Fogo de Chao tonight, and had the most perfect meat I've eaten, probably ever. The picanha was just amazing. Even the fat was smoky and salty, and it literally melted in my mouth. I know that's probably a bit too graphic, considering that we're still not fully committed yet, but it needed to be said. Lest you think I'm so fickle as to base my desire to be your best friend on a single dish I'd also like to bring up the fact that the service was exceptional. From the free valet parking and complimentary coat check to the super attentive and genuinely engaged staff I don't think I've ever felt so cared for in a restaurant in my whole life. You want to know the best part, dearest Yelp? They don't judge you when you keep on eating. In fact, the waitstaff encouraged me to eat until I was verging on stuffed and then they offered me dessert. So now that you know my true feelings, Yelp, and I've outlined why I am asking for you to be my new best friend, what do you say? Once we're besties maybe we can go to Fogo de Chao for lunch to celebrate?
(5)Mark G.
The most amazing service of any restaurant. The gauchos, managers, and wait staff are constantly making sure your every need or wish is granted with your water glass constantly being refilled, along with any plates of food, whether you want more or not. The entire staff is exceptionally well trained.
(5)I F.
Overrated. Some of the food is pretty good. But the rest sucks really bad. Not a very big selection of food. Excellent service though. Waiters absolutely keep an eye on you an attended.
(3)Paul D.
I absolutely love this place. As soon as you're ready for the main course you flip your little card from red to green and are assaulted instantly by guys with hot meat and knives....wait that doesn't sound very pleasant. Seriously though. The service is insane. Your drinks are never empty, you can get a clean plate in an instant, and the filet mignon, Picanha and other cuts of meat are spectacular. If you appreciate great cuts of meat cooked to perfection this place is a must. I've also gone there with people that are not steak fans and they left happy and full from the other items on the menu. Seriously one of my favorite places.
(5)Young B.
So delicious and amazing service! I would recommend this place to anyone! They have an unlimited salad bar with great selections and unlimited meat! The waiters are also very friendly! mmm :)
(5)Jonathan G.
Excellent! The restaurant is in Downtown Denver. From the outside, it's looks like an ordinary steakhouse, but walk inside and you're in for a surprise. Parking is available both on the street and valet in the garage next door. I suggest valet and save the time. Walking in to an dim lit common area/bar, you are greeted by the maitre'd and taken to your table. You start with a waiter at your table explaining how the steakhouse works, they explain the card and what is available to you. The first plate is salad. They have an awesome salad bar full with different cheeses and greens. Then out come the gauchos. with the skewers and ready to go. The meats are the finest cuts you can get. There are plates of mashed potatoes, fried banana, and a fried cheese that are kept stocked your entire stay, meaning if you take one scoop of mashed potatoes, expect it to be refilled with in 4 minutes. The wait staff is excellent and the way the gauchos move is like clock work. Jason was our main server and walked us through the meats the whole night. Tip well, all of these guys work hard for the money.
(5)Archer D.
Disgusting, All You Can Eat- Meat Buffet - Chain Restaurant. Save your money and go to Sizzlers, at least they give you ulimated soft serve ice cream.
(1)ELLY W.
The lunch is a spectacular value. The service is tops. Some people mention that the service was too much, but I thought it was very unobtrusive. Great place to take out of town guests.
(5)Tari S.
What more can I say..... it was wonderful and delicious!
(5)Quisha H.
I was here for a company party. The best meat on the planet. The best mixed drinks on the planet. I went to a couple of places in Denver and this was by far the best. Also, the little guy in the black pants and high boots was great. I think his name was Jose.
(5)Sara B.
Super fun experience for our family - our 5 yr old loved it! Expensive...but both the 5 and 2 yr old were free.
(4)Kristin D.
When this opened right by my house, I wasn't overly excited but since it was across the street we decided to check it out. I would rank their service level among the best in Denver, and I'm pretty picky on service so this is a big compliment! Food was good, the meat isn't really cooked to temperture as much as I would like but the quality of the beef and the flavor is good. We have already been back for lunch and I expect this to be a new favorite when we can go hungry!
(5)Alison K.
This place is wonderful! They could do with more chicken options, but the meat is perfection. Their Veggie Bar is great, too, but I wouldn't recommend this restaurant for your vegetarian friends. Definitely stop here if you love roasted meat.
(4)Ming T.
FANTASTIC. Really.... it was. I went here last Saturday the 7th for my husband's birthday with his parents. The place was busy and even though I had made a reservation for 7:30 we still had to wait half an hour for a seat. The hostess did bring out some of the wonderful cheese bread to help us stave off the hunger pains. I tried to resist the cheesetastic wonders but they are DELICIOUS! I immediately told me husband that he needed to find the recipe and make some for me. After we were escorted to our seats a VERY competent waiter explains to us the process and we got started with the salad bar. The bar was very nice, a good selection of cold cuts...definitely NOT a salad bar for Vegetarians or Vegans though. There was more meat on my salad than greens! They did have a ENTIRE wheel of Parm cheese sitting out for us to dig from...nice. Next came the meat-gasim. We never were wanting for more than 3 minutes. The gauchos were very nice and the busboys were amazing! We barely ate half of the food on the side-dish plates before they were whisked away and replaced with full dishes. The staff made sure we had clean plates and that every whim was taken care of. The wine my father-in-law ordered was pretty good but not decanted properly had lots of sediment...but he told me it tasted fantastic. My husband had some dark Brazilian beer which he didn't love but he said paired nicely with the meat. They don't have any beers on tap as we found out. My mother-in-law likes her meat killed and they even made sure they gave her very cooked cuts. She loved the Parm crusted Pork and the bacon wrapped filet. Everything was cooked exactly to our liking, sometimes the Gauchos would even run back to the kitchen for another piece of meat if they thought that the current one was too cooked for your taste. Honestly, one of the best services I've ever experienced! After we stuffed ourselves silly and admired the amazing amount of work the staff did we were presented with the dessert menu. Even though we were all busting at the seams we decided to order dessert. The waiter compted my husband's birthday creme brulee and my in-laws had the chocolate mousse cake. Both were delicious but the mousse cake was out of this world! Layers of sponge sandwiched with mousse and drizzled with ganache! OMG! As we were paying the bill, get this...they presented my husband with a gift certificate for another dinner! How amazing is that? They basically paid us to eat there! Verdict- Expensive, but SOOOO worth it. Just close your eyes and enjoy the taste of marbled beefy money. ;)
(5)miguel f.
Mmmmeat! The service is phenomenal too.
(5)S P.
Its 3 stars because 1. I think Texas De Brazil has more food choices. TDB has more salad bar options, soups, cheeses, etc.... Fogo de chao had a very small salad bar in comparison. I remember eating quail eggs and other funky things at TDB, but at Fogo, it was very standard. 2. The main entree items were also very limited. For a heavy eater and someone who likes to try a variety of foods, Texas De Brazil is better. I think Fogo is less options because they are situated in downtown and perhaps cost more to pay their rent so they give us less food!!! Taste wise - it was okay. I wasn't "overwhelmed". The staff was "rushed" and my water, coke was not refilled. Very unhappy with service. I am taking me and my friends to Texas De Brazil next time.
(3)Brian G.
It's a meatapoloza...what else can you say? I've never been at a loss for words so I will try and elaborate. The wife and I have been a handful of times and haven't been let down once. Service is impeccable and a true team effort that boarders on clairvoyance. They seem to know what each other is doing at all times while maintaining fresh plates, full glasses and pulling out your chair. The meats are brought around at a furious pace with may of them sizzling as they hit you plate. I prefer all my meats mid rare to rare and the wife is mid rare to medium. This posed very little challenge for the nomadic waiter waiting to shave meat to your plate. This is not the most realxing restaurants however. it is (because it has to be) in constant motion. Ifd you don't want to be interupted, this is not the place for you.
(4)Valeda S.
Our night during Restaurant Week was a ton of fun and the food was very good. Mind blowing, not really, but very good. It's a great social environment, there were 6 of us ladies out for "Meat Night", and for $26 the experience was well worth the price, however I'd hesitate to go back at full price. Although the service was fantastic (may be due to the fact that a bunch of Brazilian guys can really have fun waiting on a table full of ladies), I was a little off put by the obvious Restaurant Week setup - new tables were popping up left and right with folding chairs. Folding chairs! Probably the best item I had all night was the garlic beef, otherwise everything else was solid; not bad, but not going down in the history books either. If I could give this place 3.5 stars I would, but because of the fun we had, the service and the price I'll give Fogo the benefit of the doubt!
(4)Jisha J.
I love Fogo. I have tried all of the other Brazilian steakhouses and this place is still my absolute favorite. The meat is always delicious! They always bring out these little cheese puffs along with mashed potatoes, fried polenta, and caramelized plantains. All of these sides are outstanding. The salad bar is wonderful as well. They have a variety of deli meats, veggies, and yummy cheeses. The service is always wonderful and you might as well keep your card on green so you can try all the wonderful meats!
(5)Anthony S.
Expensive! This place is double if not triple Expensive. A good buffet with drinks is about 15 USD. This place, just for one person is three times that. Then there's drinks no refills and dessert to go. The place is chic but, casual. Very nice bricks and mortar. The staff, for the most part are right on, as well is the food. The salad bar is gastro pleasing with meat, cheeses, and pickled assortments to go with your salad fixings. The carmelized bananas are good ( I like these for breakfast) but, the mashed potatoes seem cheeky (out of the box fresh); both come with the meal. But, really the servings throughout the meal are right on delicious. The great atmosphere and constant attention of the staff are expected for the price. Everything about this place was at the top Including the price. A small 6 oz coke in a bottle was 2.95/ I had three. Dessert was a casual 9.00 USD. I had a half filled glass of mango creme and kahlua like syrup added. I didn't like the buttermilk, spoilt taste of the creme. Thank goodness for the syrup. I actually got change back from a Benjamin after a good tip. It was indeed a wonderful onetime experience.
(5)Derec S.
My experience with Fogo was a couple weeks after they opened. It's a challenging location given a major competitor is three blocks down, within easy walking distance. The service was great and the staff was really friendly and attentive. I meat was delicious and I had to pace myself, flipping between the green and red, to avoid being bombarded with succulent and juicy prime rib, lamb, chicken, and sausages. The salad bar was great but didn't seem to have the selection of other Brazilian churascarias in town. While it seemed enough for me, that was the feedback from my vegetarian companion. We enjoyed our night out and would go back but it's probably lower down on our list than other similar places though it's close to where I live.
(4)Elizabeth B.
Wow! My family and I had my Dad's 50th birthday here. Amazing customer service, delicious food and a beautiful, upscale atmosphere. The salad bar is amazing! So much variety and the desserts and wine list were to die for. I hope to visit this place again in the future!
(5)Andrea P.
I'm really at a 4.5 stars, it's not the best dining experience I've ever had, but it's very far from the worst. I had to wait 24 hours to write this as I was still in a meat coma, and still may very well be. Though the price tag is hefty, there's lots of food to go around. I made sure I ate my $38.50 worth of food, which I found to be a large mistake. The meat for the most part was really good, didn't care for the chicken too much, and I'm on the Jew diet so I didn't try the pork either. The salad bar was a little lack luster, which may be b/c I have an addiction to Whole Foods where $7.99 per pound buys you a lot more in that department than the $19.99 for only salad bar here. I don't know what those bananas were- but they were a-okay by me. I don't know if A Game was on b/c it was V-Day, but the service was great. Didn't find it too pushy or over whelming and everyone was there to help if you needed it. If you're looking for a great date place this may not be your first bet, as it's pretty loud and not very intimate (more thinking 1st few dates where getting to know each other is semi important). If your goal for dinner is to see how much meat you can eat in one sitting- welcome to Heaven. Tip: Make reservations and for dinner hours there's complimentary parking.
(4)Daniel M.
great service..great food..great atmoshpere...
(5)Jon H.
Had my birthday dinner there. It was a great experience. I would go back for special occasions. The waitstaff is great. The salad bar was memorable. The assorted meats, especially the lamb chops, were delicious. Impressive wine list. Fun place. Conversation is limited due to the constant interruptions by very professional servers, but then I didn't go there for lengthy discussions. Much unlike some of the yelp reviewers who have to write volumes of boring crap just to get a simple point across. Brevity is not only the soul of wit but also restaurant reviews.
(4)Dennis S.
Wow you had better be hungry the food never stops. Honestly the salad bar is so elaborate that it would be plenty by itself. We were a large group 12+ this place works great for such a large group. Lots of meat choices that are excellent.
(5)Cindy F.
Had a late night dinner here with my friend while visiting Denver. She is a very adventerous diner, and we wanted to try something new. The atmosphere is quite casual, I wish it were a bit more discerning. There were loud children and some younger guys wearing backwards hats and shorts near us. BUT here is a review of the food and service. 1) Salad bar, very good but don't take too much or you will regret it. Enjoyed the palm hearts, a thin piece of salami, caesar salad, sunroasted tomato, amazing little mozzerella ball. The mushrooms were far too salty, tasted like soy sauce, not mushrooms. 2)Side dishes, bread puffs, delicious. Similar consistency to a savory creme puff. Delicious. Mashed potatoes, nothing special. I love potatoes, and these were no bueno, possibly instant. Crispy polenta, decent, worth trying, a little greasy. Carmelized bananas, tasty unique. 3) Meat! Everything I had was very good or better. My favorite was the bottom sirloin-- very delicious, tender, hot, EXCELLENT. I tried everything but the pork....we were there late in the evening, and pork was not offered to us. I wouldn't have tried it anyway, so no love lost on me. 4) Dessert. An adorable little sprite of a man talked us into trying dessert, even though we were stuffed to the gills. I had the papaya creme, papaya blended with vanilla ice cream. My friend had the flan. Both delicious, mine was light as a cloud, hers was very rich. Both worth their price of about $9 each. 5) Drink. She had a glass of napa red wine, $16.50 for one glass, she enjoyed it. I'm not a wine drinker, had water. Finally, the service was very very good. We had a late reservation, and I didn't feel rushed, although I think we kept the staff there a few mins after closing time. Overall, a strong 4 stars, worth it for a special dinner. Pretip bill was about $120, but worth every penny for a treat. On the ride back to my hotel, the driver told us it's an even better deal for lunch, $25 per person. Maybe I will do that next time, even better!
(4)i n.
God I love this place! Never take a vegitarian here:) I have never eaten more lamb and Filet Mignon in one sitting in my life. The service is amaizing and the food is incredible
(5)Pj M.
Good, but not as good as the Atlanta location. Still had a great time
(4)Dawn M.
We went for restaurant week. I have to say, I really liked Fogo de Chao. We did Texas de Brazil last year for DRW, and I've been to FDC outside of DRW. I have to say, I like FDC a bit more. We did have to wait a bit on Saturday - they told us 30-45 minutes, and we waited 40. It was the first day, of their first DRW, so I'll cut them a break on that. Salad bar. Not bad. TDB has a lot more though. Service. I was blown away by their service on other occasions. For DRW, it was just pretty good. We had to ask for sides. We never saw the flank steak, but when we asked for it, it came within minutes, and it was fresh off the grill. Meat. Love it! The filet and lamb chops are amazing. I also like that they serve their full menu for DRW. Dessert. They had key lime pie, a chocolate mousse cake and a turtle cheesecake. The pie was great, and the mousse cake was alright - heavier than I thought it would be. Overall, a great experience. It's pretty intense, not my style overall. I'd prefer a nice relaxing dinner, as opposed to meat coming at me from all angles! It's a great deal for Restaurant Week, and they have free valet parking, which is a bonus!
(4)CALVIN S.
So sad-my first experience with Fogo during restaurant week was NOTHING like what we experienced today. Went for my B-day, parked where we did last time, no Valet to be seen. Upon our arrival into the restaurant, the hostess informed us that they didn't validate parking for lunch. WHAT????? So people who go for lunch don't deserve the same hospitality that evening diners do? That soured us right off the bat. My wife showed her displeasure quite openly, but the hostess didn't really seem to care and was very uninterested in being accommodating in any type of way. Being a former Director of Concierge and Guest Services back in the day, my wife was absolutely appalled at the lack of customer service this establishment provides to its employees;--she wouldn't want someone to walk out of her business feeling the way we did. Anyway-back to the food: Mediocre at best, CANNED ranch dressing on the salad bar? At $19.50 a pop for the salad bar, you'd think they could whip up some fresh dressing. Once again, food was nothing more than average, with the exception of the cheese buns, fried polenta, and the Picanha which were very good, but I want to be wowed all around and not by a couple of sides and just one of the meats. Had it not been for the horrible treatment by the hostess today, I probably would have given 3 stars--just shows you how untrained staff can really hurt your business. (My wife wanted me to give one star.) We'll stick with Rodizio Grille from now on---much better selection, better prices, and SUPERB customer service , EVEN for us lowly lunch customers!! Oh, Rodizio also has a birthday club, which is a very nice gesture at least for those of us who can't go downtown and have pricey meals on a regular basis.
(2)Tom C.
I ate here back in February and was so excited because I haven't ate at a Brazilian Restaurant before. Why blogging it now, you ask? Because it's been bottling up for a minute. But long story short. The meats they hand out were out of this world. 100% to that! But the low score, you also ask. I was there at their lunch deals, and they would serve you their side dishes. One of the side dishes is a fried banana, which I personally like. But there was something wrong. As I was biting through, I thought it was the burned, charcoal part of the banana. It was a STAPLE, like the one's you would find in cardboard boxes with packaged food products. I was shocked because I was close to eating this thing. Can you imagine that! So I told my server to let the manager know about this incident. She didn't do anything and charged me full price anyway because the manager would of had a talk with me or I guess she didn't bring it up to his attention. And for some reason, they were handing out fruitcakes to everyone that ate there and my server gave me one. OMG. Really? That was stupid in my part for not personally bringing it to the manager's attention. It's a great restaurant, but hopefully mistakes like that don't happen there constantly...
(2)Casey H.
Came here for New Year's Eve dinner with the boyfriend. It was so good that it kind of pissed me off. Why has all of the meat I've eaten my entire life not tasted like this! I have wasted so much time not eating this food. Can't wait to go back.
(5)Terry B.
This is the real deal kids. Rodizio has got to be nervous. I'd visited the Fogo in Dallas for lunch, but my Brazilian wife and I decided to do dinner at Fogo the other night. I've been to Brazil twice and had churrascaria in a small town outside of Rio put on by some locals as well as a famous restaurant in Rio called Porcao. Fogo is right up there with both of these memorable meals in the "mother country." First off, the service is here beyond top notch. (I'd say it ranks up there with some of the best restauarant service I've ever had, and we've eaten at some very nice restaurants in our lives) We actually had people running to our chairs to pull them out after visiting the salad bar or restroom. It seems there's not a moment the servers (there's more than one "waiter/waitress" for a section and they all work together constantly monitoring their area) aren't within earshot. The gauchos all spoke Portugese, which caught my gringo butt off guard. One gaucho even offered to bring rice and beans (which doesn't typically come out) once he noticed she spoke real Portugese as opposed to my gringoness. Unfortunately, we're taking a break from drinking, so we weren't able to try a caipirinha. I happen to like the way I make mine anyway. ;) They do have Guarana which is a soft drink that tastes like a berry that grows in the Amazon. It's a fantastic drink, (the closest American thing I can relate it to is Cherry 7-Up, but much better) and if you haven't tried it and are in the mood to lay off the sauce, please do. It's the Brazilian national non-alcoholic drink, but it is loaded w/ caffeine. If you've never had a caipirinha, or only at Cafe Brazil, (whose caiirinhas were horrible when we visited twice) you must try a real caipirinha. It's a very simple drink with lime juice, cachaca, and sugar a'nd they'll knock you on your seat if you have more than two. The rice and beans were fantastic, and were a tast of being in Brazil again eating a lunch or dinner as rice and beans are served with darn near every meal in Brazil. Fantastic stuff! The picanha and fraldinha were fantastic. Perfectly seasoned and perfectly cooked. I wasn't a fan of the lamb chop I had as it was overcooked, but the other meats including the filet were absolutely wonderful. The salad bar is one of the best you'll encounter with fantasticly fresh ingredients such as proscuito, (sp?) salami, cheeses including fresh-made mozzerella, asparagus stalks the size of a Chipotle burrito, unbelievable Hearts of Palm, and wonderful salad along with pasta salads. Don't fill up on this stuff though as the real star of the show is the meats. And please, try the pao de quejo, (cheese bread) which is another Brazilian specialty not to miss. We thoguht we were too stuffed to enjoy a desert, but the waiter talked us into the Papaya Cream as it has a digestive enzyme to help with all the meat we'd just eaten. After having the delicious Papaya Cream with a dribble of Creme de Cassis, we found our stomachs were definitely in better shape than prior, and it was delicious. I'd had a Papaya Cream in Brazil and enjoyed it a tad more than this, but that's not to take anything away from this simple, but lovely dessert. For a mere $38.00, you get all you can eat, fantastically cooked meats of all kinds along with a number of wonderful foods. You could go to a great steakhouse and spend that much alone for a mere steak with no sides, so please give this place a try. You won't regret it.
(5)K. W.
Hubby and I were looking for a new place to eat in Denver while we were staying downtown. I looked on yelp and found Fogo de Chao. We had eaten at Rodizio Grill previously so we knew what to expect. This is a great place. The salad bar did not have nearly the amount of items that Rodizio does BUT what they do have is fabulous. The meats are VERY good and be careful...when you flip your coaster to green for "go"...boy do they get there fast. We were swarmed by people with fresh meat. The bonus is that you get to choose how rare you want it (you do not get to do this at Rodizio). The price is a bit more than Rodizio as well but the service is much better as are the meats. Downside is they do not have the grilled pineapple which is a favorite of mine. They offered fresh hot bread, polenta cakes and fried bananas throughout the meal. A definite "must" if you have the extra money. I liked that I could make reservations through a mobile app on my phone. We will return in the future
(4)Tylor L.
this is arguably the best restaraunt in denver right now. better meat selection than texas de brazil, though it has less sides. great value pick despite the price. only $25 for lunch, with seemingly every cut of meat. the cuts of meat were sensational.
(5)robert b.
i really liked it. full disclosure: i'm a pig. i love meat too. i am a big salad bar guy. why wouldnt i love it, right? well, most brazilian steakhouses that i have been to here in the usa just arent very good. the other two in denver are perfect examples although the one right down the street from fogo is way worse than the other. i thought the meat was really good and not salted to death. they had choices of temperature. the lamb chops were really good. i didnt waste my time with side orders. 4 stars is a fair rating. maybe 4 1/2. cant do 5 because i didnt love all the choices but its the best of the three in denver by far.
(4)Catherine B.
This is truly the best Brazilian steakhouse in town. The service is impeccable, and the food is to die for. We tried Rodizio for comparison and for a few bucks more a person, you get infinitely better food and service at Fogo. Don't miss it!
(5)K.E. Y.
the meat here is definitely tasty, but talk about sensory overload! after hitting the great salad bar i was almost full already, but managed to try some of the chicken, pork sausage and filet. all of it was flavorful and the servers were eager to slice as much meat as you'd want. since we went for 5280 week it was a complete steal, but even at regular prices i'd say it's worth it. their meat quality is as good as any high end steak place in denver and the variety is absolutely awesome. if you're a lover of red meat, this is the place to get as much as you'd want! the desserts were delicious too, key lime pie and chocolate mousse cake, yummy!!!
(4)Brittany G.
After a recommendation from a friend, I decided to research this restaurant further just to make sure it was going to be up to par for the price. And let me say, after reading exceptional review after exceptional review I was VERY excited to dine here with my girlfriend. I read about exceptional service, free valet, wonderful food, etc. etc. So my expectations were very high for this restaurant and let me tell you how it went. We dined here last Wednesday night, so it was not crowded at all. I made reservations on line (which was an added bonus because I prefer to do anything and everything that I can on line rather than to make an extra call). We parked using the free valet which was very nice given the temps being below zero last week. As we are in are early 20s we were a little worried about the dress code as we aren't very 'fancy shamcey', but ended up wearing nice jeans and sweaters, which fit well with the other guests attire at the restaurant, even topped the guests attire that were wearing Avalanche jerseys (avs game same night). We were seated instantly and had our coats checked together. We usually end up getting very cold in restaurants so I was a little worried about not having a coat, but we were seated near a window that either had a heater right next to the table or the table/chairs were equipped with warmers because we were never cold. Now, for the food experience. We were instantly met by a waiter who started to describe how Fogo works with the meat and salad bar, etc. This was probably the only minor issue of the night, is that the waiter talked way to fast and had a very deep accent and we were unable to completely understand him. No worries though, we were able to get a clarification by another waiter right way. We started with the salad bar, which was exceptional, however, I did not want to fill up as I was saving up for the real dinner. After we finished our salad, it was time for dinner. Oh, side note, as I order my drink (the famous Brazilian drink that they serve there which was delicious) the waiter recognized that I had just turned 21 and in fact was celebrating this with my girlfriend that night and said happy birthday. So after receiving a new plate for meat, we flipped our card over (telling the waiters we are ready). I believe that we tried all the different types of meats, and they provide an unlimited amount of sides (three different types). The service was excellent throughout our meal. At one point the waiter spilled meat on the table as he was giving it to me on my plate and they came to politely scrap it away and also put a white napkin over the stained table cloth. As we were looking at the desserts, when we ordered one they came out with a candle in it and happy birthday enscripted on the plate with a sauce, which was very thoughtful as I didn't specifically state it was my birthday until they checked my ID. One of the waiters (or he may have been a manager of some sort) was constantly asking how everything was and engaged in small talk with us. As we were paying for the bill (dessert was taking off the bill for my birthday), the manager guy came over and handed me a free meal coupon and said happy birthday! I was very surprised as I have never had this happen at a restaurant, let alone a $40 meal restaurant. As you can see, the service and food was excellent and I would recommend this place to everyone. I already have told most of my friends and family about our spectacular dinner there and told them they have to try it. So you have to as well! It is amazing and you won't be disappointed!
(5)Brittany M.
I have never heard one negative thing about Fogo de Chao, only amazing reviews, so I was really looking forward to trying it out over Denver Restaurant Week. Big Mistake. I always use DRW to try new places and if the food is good and I have a good experience I go back, simple as that. I have found some of my favorite restaurants that way, but Fogo de Chao was overbooked, understaffed and way under prepared. A couple of the cuts of meat that I was dying to try didn't even come out and around to us until after we'd paid our bill. We really weren't impressed with the meal and shame on us for ordering the wine that was part of the special because they'd already sold out and gave us another that was pretty bad. There's a chance I'll go back but only because my experience was the first negative thing I'd ever heard of at the restaurant. In my opinion Denver Restaurant Week should be a time to showcase your food and the experience you provide so that you'll increase your return business. All in all, I can't give a review for how the restaurant is normally, it looks like it's actually a pretty amazing dinner from the reviews and from what I've heard from friends (which is why I'm giving three stars instead of one or two) but definitely do not go there for Restaurant Week.
(3)liz t.
very clean! Great service(could not do enough for you) asked several times how we liked everything. Seated right away. Always filled water. Fun evening. Go hungry.
(5)Peg L.
Wow! I brought 15 people here for a surprise 50th b-day celebration and it was extraordinary! The excellence and service that was given to our party in the preparation phase (choosing wines, the private room, etc.) and the actual evening itself has me choosing this as my favorite restaurant! We had a vegetarian guest and a gluten free guest that were completely accommodated. The salad bar is the best I have ever experienced and the desserts? Well, you just gotta, even if you have to take it home. I can't wait to go back and plan to during the holidays. The food will make you weep with gratitude that God created beef. I don't mind paying if you get what you pay for and here you do and more. This is a completely service oriented establishment based on excellence. The video on their site couldn't be more true to the real deal. They really do treat you as if you are a part of their family and our guest cannot stop talking about our fabulous evening.
(5)Kalia K.
We had an awesome time! Everyone was super nice, sometimes too attentive, even when we had our buttons turned over (if you've never been to a Brazillian steakhouse, you have buttons that tell the servers if you want meat or not), but overall they were great! We went there for my son's 16th birthday and they totally hooked it up - gave him a free dessert (they wrote happy birthday in syrup on the plate, nice touch!), which you often expect, but they gave him a certificate for a free meal on our next visit. Definitely good marketing cuz not like he'll go by himself, lol, but still pretty cool!!! The grub was super yummy! IMO, their meat is better than Texas de Brazil, but their salad bar pales in comparison to Texas de Brazil. However, you go their for the meat mostly right? One of my friends that came is part Brazil and speaks some portugese and some of the servers were actually Brazilian too, gotta love that! My advice - say it's your birthday, even one of the servers said they don't check ID (hopefully nobody from there is reading this, ha-ha). Happy eating!
(4)matt h.
Went here for restaurant week and I really liked the meat, though the salad bar was not nearly as impressive as the ones at Texas de Brazil or a place called Tucanos in Albuquerque. The atmosphere is nice, the free valet parking is great, and the filet and bacon wrapped chicken both will be part of my dreams for a while. However, the service was only average, and the sausage was bland. Pretty much our entire group thought it was not quite as good as Texas de Brazil.
(4)Sturm B.
This place is awsome! While I have always loved this format (ie Rodizio), Fogo takes it to the next level. Especially if you are a guy (which I am) I don't see how you could possibly not like the whole "bring me chunks of meat until I say stop" thing. Add a fantastic wine list and grade-a service, and its hard to beat.
(5)SHEILA G.
what more can I say that eveyone has not...........LOVED IT! .....and be sure to go there w/a hungry stomach.
(5)Devon P.
Fogo de Chao was a fun experience! A group of us went during restaurant week and had fabulous food and a great time. You get a ton of fabulous food. The salad bar was not your typical salad bar, you had a choice of gourmet cheeses, different olive oils, artichoke hearts, asparagus, and many other ingredients you wouldn't normally get at a salad bar. The unlimited choices of meet were wonderful! This is a great place to take people who are visiting from out of town or family events. I highly recommend this place.
(4)Kelly N.
What's better than a buffet of meats? :) I enjoyed the filet mignon the most, although I don't remember it coming by as often as I wanted it to. I also liked the chicken. The salad bar was all right, nothing to fantasize about... but, my favorite was the apple salad. Great service! YUM! 52.80 week so it was a bargain! Would I come here again? I'd probably wait until next year to again during Denver Restaurant week...
(4)Florence S.
I came here at the urging of a friend since I had been to other churrascarias except this one. We were running a little late for our 5p reservation due to traffic and called to let them know, which they were understanding. They have complimentary valet in a garage, which is very nice and convenient. Upon entering, we were greeted and seated immediately. We chose to do the summer feast, which was only $35. The salad bar was plentiful and they also had potatoes au gratin, black beans, and white rice in warmers on the side of the salad bar. They also bring out polenta "fries" and fried bananas. Like with all churrascarias, the meat is plentiful and I was extremely happy that they had rare pieces. My only complaint about the meats is that the edges are highly salted and in some pieces, it was like eating a salt lick. The staff was helpful and were always offering to get me a new plate. When we asked for the check, it took about 10 min, but it was because they were getting my birthday creme brulee ready, so I can't really fault them on that.
(5)Brian P.
This place is a top notch Brazilian Barbeque joint. My coworkers commented on how much better it is than others they had visited. Some pro-tips: Prices aren't prominent. Dinner will cost you about $50/person without drinks. Get everything medium to well done. Their medium rare is closer to rare. The pineapple is excellent, but don't fill up on it. I recommend staying away from the lamb. Other people liked it. The ambiance, food, and service was great. Some of the meat (e.g. lamb, garlic beef) wasn't as good as I would have hoped, but overall I liked it will definitely go back.
(4)Daniel B.
Wow, a great all you can eat brazilian steakhouse. While not everything brought out was superb ... it all was really good. They did struggle getting some medium rare steak out at one point ... but I was eating an enormous amount and it had to be hard to keep up! The "salad bar" is not a run of the mill salad bar ... it has a very impressive variety of exotic options ... and the the Caipirinhas are delectable and use a quality cachaça! Bring an appetite and avoid the carbs ... this place is all about the protein loading ;)
(5)Belinda L.
I cannot express how happy I was trying this restaurant out. First you should only come here on an empty stomach. The cost is hefty. The atmosphere was calm. The service was prompt. We didn't want for anything. They tended to us like we were royalty. My glass was magically filled. It was like I turned my head and when I turned it back my glass was full. The only thing they didn't do was cut my food up and spoon feed me. The valet was complimentary too. I didn't want to leave this place! Highly recommend.
(5)Michael M.
My daughter said "what have you gotten us into?!" Afterwards she thought it was great. Neither of us had done Brazilian steakhouse before so I'm sure Mississippi people looked a little lost, but we quickly found our comfort zone. The food was amazing, wait staff courteous and very helpful, and atmosphere great. We were casually dressed but felt very comfortable as others were as well. Definitely worth it!
(5)David A.
When I first walked in, I felt the place was a little dark and dreary. It was restaurant week so the place was very busy. We had a drink in the slightly cramped bar area while we waited the 20 minutes for our reservation. None of the drinks were particularly well crafted, especially considering the moderate fee they charged for them. After we were seated the wait staff started taking care of us very well. Everyone was polite and very attentive. They'll bring you mashed potatoes, fried polenta, and fried bananas. They try very hard to make sure you don't run out. They'll have you treat yourself to their salad bar; which I found uninspired (I don't know of anyone who enjoys steaks with cold green beans and cold mushrooms). After you get situated, you flip your little cards over to green, indicating you are ready for meat. The beef really is the star of the show here. Everything is nicely seasoned and sizzling hot when it gets to the table. The overwhelming favorite at our table was the bottom sirloin. In last place was their bacon wrapped chicken, which struck us as frozen food brought back to life in a microwave. You'll pay a chunk of change to eat here. In return you'll get delicious red meats, excellent service, and all you can eat. Do I think it's worth it? -Not really sure. Will I go back? -Nope.
(3)Qiongxiao Y.
Great food! Soiloin is my first choice of meat there! Pineapples are great! It was a pity that I got full in 15 minutes I wish I had eaten more for the money I paid!!!
(5)Sam V.
Came here for a company dinner; what a treat! We were treated to the whole 9 yards-- the full churrasco experience for everyone! First of all, the service was absolutely exceptional. I'm pescaterian and they happily subbed the table-side carvings for their Mango Chilean Sea Bass. It was flavorful, succulent, and cooked perfectly. The 'Market Table' and sides are choice and it was hard to not get full on those options alone. Overall, it was a well executed and exceptional dining experience (especially given the fact they had to tend to many people). I'm definitely going to come again (minus my coworkers).
(5)J K.
This place is GOOD. The kind of good where you are actually excited about it, thinking ahead and it ends up being the best part of your day. Meats are amazing, sides are amazing, drinks are amazing, salad is amazing. It's pricey but worth it.
(5)Jenny P.
I've been to a few Brazilian steakhouses before and just thought it was okay but the meat at Fogo really is fantastic. The lunch deal is definitely worth the price. The salad bar alone is usually full of great salads, meat, cheese, and salmon but I try to not get too full from eating it so that I can focus on the meat. My favorite is the house special. Everytime they slice you a piece, I think they take it back inside to char the outside again so that every piece always has a nice char on the outside. I also love the filet mignon, medium to medium rare. Very tender and juicy. I'm not a huge chicken fan but I like their little chicken drumsticks as well, very flavorful. Then of course there is the cheese bread. Its only good with its warm though. One of the waiters showed us a trick, to put a little condensed milk in the cheese bread and eat it with the bananas. Its pretty much a dessert at this point and soooo good.
(5)Morgan J.
I don't live here, but every time I come visit my sister, I'm coming here. I'm not sure what all I ate, but none of it was bad. Tyler (really wish I remembered his last name to make sure he knows who I'm talking about) put up with my crazy family and then some. We're a difficult bunch but he laughed with us and engaged far more than I'm used to with any restaurant staff I've ever come across. I ate some of EVERYTHING we were offered, but I think the lamb and the bottom sirloin were my favorites. I'll let you know when I come back and try again. The molten chocolate cake was magnificent as well. But, food aside, I will definitely look for Tyler when I come back. He made it fun rather than overwhelming with the amount of food.
(5)Yoomi P.
What an amazing place for meatlovers! :) So, I've been to the Fogo in LA, and of course loved it. The meat quality/taste is pretty much the same as the LA location. Picanha is my favorite, and I believe it's the most famous/popular one. I recommend if you go there for the first time, to try a little bit of EVERY meat. But make sure to ask for small pieces b/c otherwise you'll probably explode before you can try half of their selections lol. As for the salad bar, I like the options in LA better, but the Denver location had enough to satisfy my veggies/cheese cravings. :) My favorite part about brazilian bbq is the pau de quejo (sp?) The amazing cheesy chewy goodness that simply melts in your mouth. I eat at least 10 of them whenever I go... which leaves no room for the delicious meat :((( I also absolutely love their grilled pineapple that's sprinkled with cinnamon. It goes GREAT with the meat. I can't forget the fried bananas! Mmmmmmmmm. So much goodness... The only thing I can recommend is to really try EVERYTHING. The meat, cheese bread, pineapple, bananas, polenta, brazilian soda, salad bar.. EVERYTHING!! You'll love the experience, I guarantee it :)
(4)Phil B.
Meat meat and more meat! Walking the line between a gourmet and gourmand, I do love some Brazilian steakhouse goodness. The service is solid, although on a busy night it is easy to get lost in the crowd. Additionally, depending on where you are, it can be a significant hike to the salad bar (because we all know that why you go to a steakhouse is the salad...) and there seems to be less foot traffic of those kind folks carrying the meat which I so desire to eat. Seated in a high traffic area, it is easily 5 stars (the lamb definitely brings it up to 5) but stuck in a corner, if you are in the far back, you will have to ask for various meats and you will have to be patient (which would drop it to 3 stars). We were there twice in 2 week, once with a great location, then with a walk far enough to make me wonder if we were getting seated in another restaurant. And thus, by the law of averages, 4 stars it is.
(4)Daniel T.
Again, Fogo is the greatest chain ever created in the history of mankind. This spot is pretty awesome. $25 for lunch is a ridiculously cheap price for all the amazing beef you get! Just sit and eat all of the pequena. Parking kind of sucks, but once you get settled in a parking structure, just walk on over!
(5)Hunter R.
Love this place!!! Carnivores only. Be sure to come hungry, then make sure your plans for the night are to hit the couch in what my friend calls a "meat coma". Amazing service makes it 5 stars for me, especially after having very poor service at the other Brazilian steakhouse in Denver.
(5)Jamie C.
Great deal for Denver Restaurant Week! All you can eat Brazilian BBQ, that's the only way to go! It's definitely a fantastic dining experience since you can try various cuts of different steaks/meats instead of just being stuck with one option. The Fraldinha (Bottom Sirloin) was my absolute favorite cut. It was perfectly seared on the outside with a saltier taste. The meat was perfectly tender and that's all I wanted most of the night. All the other meats were delicious as well, particularly the garlic Picanha, but bottom sirloin was just the most memorable for me that night. Awesome and huge salad bar! Side dishes: The pão de queijo (warm cheese bread) is also to die for here. My best friend can eat baskets and baskets but it's the best when it first comes out. I'm definitely a texture person when it comes to food and this side dish is perfection crispy on the outside but soft and chewy on the inside and it's just fantastic. The caramelized bananas are also really great for when you want to change up your palette and opt for something slightly sweet. If it's not sweet enough for you, definitely get some condensed milk on the side to pour over it! Tip: Get some Chimichurri sauce to pair with your meats when you want to change it up a bit during the meal. Complimentary valet.
(5)Lily S.
Everything's good but I'm just not a big fan of this type of cuisine so I can't rate it 4-stars. 3.5 is more like it and if you don't have time to read the rest of the review please be assured you'll love it if Brazilian style roasted meats are your thing. So my friend said we had to come on New Year's day since it falls on a Thursday this time which means we'll get half-priced food during lunch hours ($26.30 per person, as opposed to $50 at night) and free street parking! Good point. It was a party of about 15 and we sat at a long table. The nice thing is you don't have to wait till the entire party arrives, people are going to be late, you'll just help yourself to foods in the salad bar! My most favorite is the Marinated Grilled Zucchini, OMG the marinade and the grill marks make the sliced squash so flavorful and not at all soggy. You can probably eat your worth of money by getting a lot of smoked salmon, lol. I, on the other hand, saved room for the to-die-for lemonade, or rather, Brazilian Limeade. It's $4.50 per glass but with endless refills. I hate regular lemonade, even freshly squeezed ones, thought they taste too much like the citrus skin, but this Limeade is a whole different story. I late looked up the recipe online and it consists of lime juice, milk, and sweetened condensed milk, just think of the ingredients and you should know how yummy the drink is. It's also cloudy and slightly foamy as the waiter pours it from the pitcher into the glass, it's beautiful to look at, almost reminds me of a Pina Colada. The meats can be non-stop if you want it, get the grilled pineapple, it compliments the chicken very well. I ate so many kinds of meats I couldn't keep a straight list. But again, if I'm given the choice of Korean BBQ or this, I'll pick the Asian alternative, but that's just me. Service is always on the spot, got absolutely nothing to complain about. Fogo De Chao is a nice restaurant that has its own brand chocolate and napkin! I enjoyed dinging here.
(3)Steve A.
Been to many Brazilian stack houses and out of all of them in the different states I would say this one was my least favorite. The service is slow at times. The staff was not as polite as I would expect going to a high end restaurant. The food was ok.
(3)Linda T.
I've been craving meat! So this is the place to come. I am a college student so Fogo de Chao is more like a splurge but it was well worth it after finals. A few friends and I came for lunch after finals were over to celebrate since lunch is $26.50. Even if you did not want to eat meat, they have a very extensive salad bar that could probably satisfy you. If not, the cheese bread that they bring out is delicious. One of my friends were full but kept asking the waitress for their cheese bread. I had the green circle on the table and the meat kept coming my way. I think my favorites were the picanha, filet mignon and the filet mignon wrapped with bacon. Some pieces were salty but I'm glad they had the meat seasoned. It was a great day and the food was great. The service was amazing and when I want to celebrate again, here I will come! :)
(5)Jaime H.
I was super excited to bring my work team here during our training in Denver. The Minneapolis Fogo is Awesome and I wanted my team to have the same experience. I was very disappointed when we walked past the salad bar (that resembled an old country buffett salad bar)on the way to our table. It didn't even come close to the appearance of the Mpls Fogo. It didn't have the Cheeses and even more importantly didn't have the smoked Salmon that I often think about that Mpls has. The waitress was very nice and service was very good. The meat served was similar to the Mpls FOGO. It was very good. I was relieved once I tasted the meats. I had to give 3 stars for the lack of ambience I was expecting comparing to the MPLS location.
(3)Monica J.
My husband loves Fogo de Chão restaurants so much that we visit them while we are travelling to other cities. For Labor Day weekend we were staying in Boulder, Colorado but just had to make the drive to downtown Denver (which wasn't bad actually) to dine here Sunday evening with some friends. The food was pretty much the same as any other location. Which is to say, it was delicious. I love getting the little red peppers at the salad bar as well as the marinated artichokes and mushrooms. The meats are all fantastic and I like to ask for some chimichurri sauce to accompany them. The service at the Denver location was warm and friendly and everyone was on the spot to get fresh plates or whatever items we needed. The only downside is somehow no one ever brought my hubby's iced tea. We had them take it off the bill at the end of the night so no big deal. We lucked out in that it was restaurant week and so our meal was only $30!!!
(5)Dave H.
Endless tasty roasted meat, served at the table. There's a fine salad bar you can visit as often as you want, too, though that's gotten pared down a bit over the past few days. The service, a tag team approach, is always highly attentive, with the exception of delays in getting back drinks from the bar (though the caiparinhas are worth the wait.
(4)Dawn H.
Overall: The dinner is $46.50 + tax per person. Not too shabby. As far as the entire experience, Fogo is a solid 3.5 stars for me. So who does what better (i.e. Fogo vs. Rodizio vs. TdB)? The answer -- it's a mixed bag. Meats: Fogo -- best flavor by far. Personally, I prefer the meat selection (variety) at Rodizio, but there is no denying the quality here by far, especially the lamb. Pineapple -- Rodizio. The pineapple at Fogo is smothered in way too much cinnamon, but I must admit, this is splitting hairs. I say that because the pineapple gaucho only came around once over the course of an hour, and it made me sad. :( Mashed Potatoes -- Fogo. Just the right amount of garlic and were complimentary to the meats served. Fried Bananas -- Rodizio. The fried bananas at Fogo are bit on the oily and mushy side and fell apart easily. Salad Bar -- TdB. No soup options at Fogo. The salad bar itself at Fogo was still nice though -- it's just that TdB has more salad bar offerings, including lobster bisque. Fogo offers the usual salad greens and fixings, real bacon, artichokes, sundried tomatoes, various mayo-infused salad (i.e. pototao salad, chicken salad), prosciutto, salami, various cheeses, olives, smoked salmon.....and that's all I can recall at the moment. Service: Fogo/TdB. At both locations, the gauchos are really quick and the servers are 20 steps ahead when it comes to basic services (i.e. refilling beverages, etc.) The creme brulee at Fogo is worth noting -- please save room for this! It was overall really good -- just wish I could incorporate all the pros from the various locations and combine them together into one restaurant!
(3)Megan J.
Took a large group for a birthday party and they did absolutely everything right. Food was amazing, service was impeccable, and we all left happy. Several people from our party are ready to go back! I'd recommend one must have item, but to be honest, I can't choose. All the main course items were cooked to perfection, and the salad bar was so delicious I could have just had that and been happy.
(5)Grace B.
If you are like me, Foodie on a Budget, try this place during Denver Restaurant Week! All you can eat Brazilian BBQ with only few meats taken out of the menu for Denver Restaurant Week. Not to mention a great selection of bottomless salad bar to go with your meat and baskets of Brazilian cheese bread, platters of caramelized bananas, plates of mashed potatoes studded with garlic and trays of crispy polenta! Caramelized bananas was very sweet and crispy polenta was salty but nice addition. TIP: Ask for some Chimichurri sauce to go with your meat, which helps you refresh your mouth by neutralizing the fattiness of the meat. This sauce will help you eat more meat for sure! Now stop reading reviews on yelp and GO TRY THIS PLACE! (One of the best deals from Denver Restaurant Week!)
(4)Riza H. C.
Friday February 28th 2014. Last day of Denver Restaurant Week for some establishments aka restaurants in town. For FOGO DE CHAO Denver, when I checked, they extended that Denver Restaurant Week till the weekend of March 2nd 2014. I have made reservations sometime back coz for one Hubs wanted to have a "AYCE". Yes its DWR with $30 per person just for food. Yes, this establishment was packed to the brim. We had the reservation for 21:30hrs, I told Hubs to arrive early in case we can have our seats early. Thank God we did, we were seated @ 21:10hrs, though our table is like in the middle of "traffic", aka near the SALAD BAR, added bonus to Hubs content. Then when our server arrived, man, too many people aka to many servers. Since this establishment is LOUD with other patrons, I can barely hear what's going on, though I know the style of Dining, this establishment has to offer. From the Denver Restaurant Week Menu these were the following items : * Salad & Sides Bar * Bread and Side Dishes * Main Course * Picanha * Alcatra * Fraldinha * Cordeiro * Linguica * Costela de Porco * Lombo * Frango Take note, out of 8 Meat Items, we CAN ONLY eat 4 of it, coz the rest contain PORK. First misleading information since this is NOT stated when we made the reservations. The Salad bar, seems ok, nothing stellar nothing fancy - Err personally it looks so sad, and Hubs agreed to that sentiments too *SIGH* I managed to get the Salmon, the rest are PASTA, and Vegetables. It would be nice, if there are "LABELS" indicated at the Salad Bar, like what we are eating etc etc but they were NOT - Second Epic Fail. On my right, well actually to the back where I was seating, they offer the trays of Carbs such as Rice. Yes, Hubs tends to like the Brazilian Cheese Bread, and the Crispy Polenta. I like the Brazilian Cheese Bread too. We don't like the Garlic Mash Potatoes coz it went cold. They brought out all these items including the Caramelized Bananas, that went to COLD too fast. *SECOND BIG SIGH* To add with that, since I might be a little under the weather, I cannot really enjoy this DWR to the fullest. Hence this 3 stars Generous review. I felt we were short-changed coz of the limited kind of meats they offer. It was NOT stated in any shape or form when we went to make the Reservation Online. Hubs rated this experience as 3 Stars, personally for me, for the Value, of the DWR 2014, Fogo De Chao Denver offer is 2.5 Stars, but OVERALL Dining Experience more like 2 Stars at best. Since Hubs had coffee ($2.55) was added to the cost and our Dinner that evening was $67.55. The Main Server that evening is Jordan and the Cashier is Ksenia. Left the establishment about 22:50hrs ish. FOGO DE CHAO 1513 Wynkoop St Denver, CO 80202 @38/2014
(3)Jason A.
Amazing place. A friend recommended this place to me so we went here on an anniversary date. Even better than I expected. Service is great. So is the food (my favorite was probably the beef ancho (ribeye). The sides - and the bread - are also delicious, which poses a problem because you don't really want to fill up on those. Would definitely visit again.
(5)J T.
I came here for a birthday celebration, unfortunately it coincided with restaurant week. Madness! I love restaurant week, but it's gotten out of hand crazy busy. It was wall to wall people. I've been to 2 other Fogo's, but this is my first visit to this location in Denver. I made reservations but because of restaurant week I still had to wait for 20 minutes for our table. Not bad considering others were telling me they had been waiting for longer. Service was good- our server was in from Kansas City for restaurant week. He was lovely. Very attentive, consistent with the service I've come to expect from Fogo. Valet parking is free (the lot next to the restaurant is where to go for that) it is a great service! Yay for valet! Love, love love the pao de quiego (cheese bread) it is amazing. The Fogo version is just So delicious. I could have sat here and just ate that all night, but luckily I diversified. I hit the salad bar... I was honestly disappointed by the selection. Where was the bowl of bacon I've come to expect and love? Missing. The prosciutto? Nope. The hearts of Palm? Nada. The wheel of parmaggiana regianno? Nope. Instead there was some generic salami, and cheese slices and bowls of lettuces. Booo. Their shiitake mushrooms were also just regular button mushrooms. Dissapointing. I love the Fogo salad bars at the other locations I've eaten at... I hope that this isn't a regional issue. I'm hoping that this was because it was restaurant week and they had a stripped down version of their regular salad bar. It really didn't cut the mustard for me...( yes, I am the girl that goes to a meat fest to eat salad). But who goes to a churrascuria for the salad? The meat is definitely the main event at this place. The meat more than made up for the salad bar. The gauchos kept coming with the meat offerings, they were attentive and were like meat magicians..." I see your plate is nearly half empty, more meats?" Seriously, I keep forgetting to wear my fat pants to these places. The bottom sirloin was my favorite cut. Picanha and the flank were also amazing. It was all amazingly flavored, salty, melty, meaty deliciousness. I loved the bananas, not a fan of the polenta fries, the potatoes were great but a touch cold. I wish I made room for dessert but honestly I just spent the rest of the night fighting off the dreaded meat sweats. Oh the meat sweats! I regret nothing!
(4)Kristine N.
Came during restaurant week and we had a reservation at 7. Checked in at 6:40 and didn't get sat until about 7:20. That was frustrating. The salad bar is nice with plenty of options. They also have a couple of hot dishes along the buffet line. On to the meat, it was SLOW! But the best ones were the bottom shoulder, the Parmesan crusted, and the garlic steak. Yum. Side dishes were good, especially the fries!!!
(4)Shane A.
Some of the best food I've had. Make sure to bring an appetite, you'll need it! Specifically there's a server named Manny who took complete care of us all night. No sooner than I spilled my drink, he was there - he could have caught the glass if he was any faster to respond. He took care of us all night - made sure we had everything we needed, sometimes before we even realized we needed it. It was a great experience.
(5)Scott F.
We had made a reservation online which was very quick and convenient. We got there about 20 minutes early and they sat us anyway. Service was outstanding! We were a table of 2 and had at least 3 waiters at all times. The meat guys were very regular as well. For those that haven't been to one of these, you have a disc at your table that is red on one side and green on the other. Flip to green, and the meat guys stop by with something different all the time. Flip to red, they pass by. With that said, the meat was good, some was overcooked. (The reason for only 4 stars.) The waiter brought carmalized bananas.....best thing of the night! The meat guys also brought roasted pineapple. Very good! The "salad bar" was diverse. My favorite was the scalloped potatoes and the different loose meats. Who needs salad anyway! Give it a try!
(4)Yasser S.
Love Brazilian steakhouses but this was first experience at fogo here in downtown and was thoroughly disappointed.meat mentioned on website wasnt present, as it wasn't packed I was still waiting on my meat and ended up eating more salad than meat.medium well was usually burnt part and salty.and when I say salty I mean SALTY.salad bar was bland.long story short ended up wasting 50$,bad mood and at burger joint to fill my appetite later. Better Brazilian choices available.
(1)Lynda M.
Alright let me just sum this place up by saying that you sit at a table and get to have a crappy buffet and then men come around and offer you copious amounts of meat. Yes, meat men. Meat men are in abundance at this place. They practically shove the meat down your throat. I'm not going to lie, I put the scraps in my napkin and put it in my purse and went home and fed my dogs, while my partner projectile vomited massive amounts of meat into the toilet. Gluttony at its finest. I'm glad we went during restaurant week because it was only $30 per person instead of $50.
(2)Trina G.
A solid 4.5! I always make my first Restaurant Week reservation at Fogo. The reservations go fast and its not something we want to miss. I have been to Fogo several times when its not Restaurant Week, but my service was even better than normal for how busy it was last night. The nice GM came and asked us if we were looking for any meats specifically several times and the meat always showed up. The salad bar was amazing as always. SO MANY OPTIONS! The only thing keeping me from 5 stars is the drink prices. I understand upscale restaurant pricing (why do you think I fill up my reservations for Restaurant Week) but to not have a white wine under 9 bucks (the house wine was sold out) is a little too much. All in all, Fogo is a must. I have been to Rodizio and Texas de Brazil many times, and there is no going back after Fogo.
(4)Shea W.
Where to start with Fogo? Disclaimer: I've never paid full price here before because: why even? I went once for restaurant week and once ON A SUNDAY, yo, because they do 30.00 all you can eat restaurant week special every sunday. Lemme set the scene. Salad bar? Not even the right word for it! Salad-cheese-meat-pickled things bar. Anything you've ever wished a salad bar had? This place has. Also, eat like 3 hearts of palm and I think your 30 bucks has already paid for itself (but serious side note. Why is hearts of palm so expensive??) Once you're at your table you have a giant pog. Yes, pog from the 90's. The green side tells the waiters "bring da meat" and boy do they bring it. Tip to not look like an idiot: use your tongs to help them get the meat on yo plate. All the meat is delicious and sooooooo Rich. By the 3rd piece I'm always stuffed to the gills. It's almost overwhelming but just turn dat pog to the red side for a bit to catch your breath. Final tip: complimentary valet but please tip them with cash!! The guy was so surprised when I handed him money. He must get stiffed a lot!
(4)Jeff M.
Great services, awesome menu - a truly great dining experience. Pace yourself.
(5)Tracey B.
When I think if Fogo I think business men in suits - boys club kinda place. All of the meat is excellent, salad bar is above average, sides of unlimited mashed potatoes and plantains were good not spectacular. Service is top notch. Will I go back? Probably not, but it's definitely worth going at least once.
(4)Yulia R.
We had our wedding party at Fogo de Chao. It is an awesome place for the parties since every guest will find something delicious to eat. Great meat variety for the meat lovers. Even vegetarians will find something tasty at the salad bar. Grilled pineapple and the cheese bread are amazing.
(5)Sarah H.
Dang. Fogo went from my favorite churrascaria to my least favorite in two visits. What a shame. They sent an announcement via email that they were extending their Denver Restaurant Week deal every Sunday through the end of March, so I went and was really disappointed to discover that they had pared down the salad bar to the point that there was nothing but a few cheap cheeses, lunch meats, and salads. Also, while I can understand offering a limited selection of meats for the reduced price, they decided not to serve the grilled pineapple, which is one of my favorite items at Fogo. What was really disturbing is that it wasn't like there was a seperate salad bar for the full price diners - they had the same bad selection for 50% more in price. The whole thing just struck me as pointless - the whole point of Restaurant Week is to get people hooked so they'll come back and pay full price, not to have them say, "It wasn't a bad deal for $30, but I'd never pay more than that for what we got!". Sometimes when you make a marketing decision, you have to accept an upfront loss for long-term gains. Otherwise, why bother participating in DRW at all? A couple weeks later, I got another email from Fogo saying that they were offering $25 off dinner when you presented the email offer to your server. When I read the fine print, it said "Good for up to 5 per table". This to me implies that the deal is good for each diner, up to 5 diners per table in the same way that a grocery coupon that says "$1 off, limit 5" means you get $1 off each item up to the first 5 purchased. It seemed like a deal that was too good to be true but I couldn't pass it up, so I invited some friends to come out with me and told them I'd foot the bill since it'd be so affordable. Come time to pay the check, the bill was much than I had expected. I asked my server why the discount was only applied once and she said that we would need a seperate coupon code for each diner. The Boy, who also susbscribes to the Fogo email, said "If I'd known that I'd have kept mine, but it really looks like you're offering the deal per diner so I deleted it." Our server's response? She made jokes about how if they gave the discount to everyone they'd be paying us to eat there and made ABSOLUTELY NO ATTEMPT to assist us further, other than badgering The Boy to pull up his deleted filed for another coupon code, which he couldn't do since he didn't bring his phone . So if I'd come alone or if each of us had a code, wouldn't THAT being paying us to eat there too? It made no sense and we all left feeling insulted. I wasn't looking for her to give us the full discount that the email implied, but to make no attempt to offer anything at all? That just felt like a bait and switch. It's a shame that Fogo's service and business choices have gone so far downhill, because their food is still good. But after these last two experiences, I seriously doubt I'll go back again and I'll start recommending one of the competitors to my friends and family when we're having a group dinner out.
(1)Pamela S.
I LOVE Fogo but we dined recently for Denver Restaurant Week and they went extremely cheap. I usually LOVE all of the smoked salmon, asparagus, hearts of palm and that parmesan cheese wheel! However, none of that was available this time around. The selection of meats was still delicious, even though it was minimized. I guess you get what you pay for.
(3)Miranda M.
Absolutely fantastic food, from the salad bar to the meat. Definitely among the best meat I've ever had. My drink was delayed compared to everyone else at my table (I think they forgot about it, since two other people at the table ordered the same thing), but overall, great service.
(4)Harold W.
My goodness this place is phenomenal. If you have never been to a Brazilian steakhouse then this is the one to go to. The salad bar is always fresh with some of the best options you can think of. Now for the main meal, each customer has a circle object that looks like a cup holder, one side is red the other side is green and when you are ready to eat meat you flip it over to green and someone will come around every two minutes with a different type of meat for you to eat until you flip it over to red. Some of the meats include filet minion, ribeye, chicken and others. My favorite was the pineapple which has a cinnamon type spice to it and it is delicious. The staff was very friendly, it's a good place to have a nice dinner with the family, girlfriend, wife or other lol. Also the price is about $50.00 per person I had 2 people with me and the bill was around $170.00 so yea it's worth it.
(5)Chloe T.
Three stars for awesome meat- lamb and filet mignon were exceptional. But service here is just ok. While everyone was friendly, the second we flipped our cards over signaling the waiters we were ready for the meat course, it was like a feeding frenzy. Every second someone was coming over asking if we wanted this or that and it was a little overwhelming. Also not worth $50 per person for what you get. While meat was good, there are plenty of excellent places who can serve amazing meat for less than $50. We essentially spent $200 for a few bites of steak, unfortunately.
(3)t. o.
My spouse arranged for a family dinner here on Christmas Eve. Though relatively young and moderately hip, we eat like old people, so our reservation was for 5:30, which so often is simply the best time to go to restaurants, Better tables, better service, better food. Partner grew up in Dallas and had been to that one a couple times many years ago. She was disappointed by the (by comparison) paltry so-called salad bar, which she said used to have crab, shrimp, salmon, etc. Still, the rest of us thought the bar was fine. I could never eat meat again in my life and be happy about it, but she loves the meats, so I was game (ha.) I had a few tasty bits of cow, a few not so tasty bits (forget about the sausage.) The place was half empty when we came in and was packed within 30 minutes, so it was a nice lively atmosphere. But I don't think anyone thought they would be heading back again afterwards. We did find a great, relatively cheap bottle of organic Chilean red wine on the menu,. which felt like a big score. I know wine ok; it was a good deal. The actual highlight of that night was visiting the new Union Station for a drink before dinner. A perfect capper would have been popping into Tattered Cover, but we were ready for home, a fire, and a long winters night after dinner. An enjoyable one off, but it's pretty much exactly what you'd expect.
(3)Brittany S.
We went here for our work Christmas lunch. I had not been to a Brazilian steakhouse previously. Maybe I'm just not a fan of this type of place, but I didn't enjoy it. They walk around and offer you slices of meat. Most of the meat was heavily seasoned and salty. Also most of the meat was beef. There was some lamb and chicken, but I don't think I ever saw any pork passed around and most of the beef that was served tasted very similar to the last. My favorite thing about this place was the salad bar. And the service was good.
(3)Hannah Y.
I went here during restaurant week last march and I was really excited to try a Brazilian Steakhouse. I heard good things about Fogo de Chao but it didn't live up to my expectations. In their defense, I don't eat meat in access and I think having so much of it in one sitting just didn't sit well with me. The lamb was delicious! I love lamb and I consider myself to be a lamb snob and this place had delicious ham. The salad bar was not a traditional salad bar; however, I loved all of the things that they had. Smoked salmon, roasted garlic, hearts of palm, mmmmmmm. Also, the biscuits were to die for. They are like a buttery biscuit stuffed with cheese. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. I think the only reason why I give this place 3 stars is not because it isn't good but because of the concept. I like to leave wanting me and wanting to come back but after eating here, I had my fill and I am set for a long time. They come around with meat as soon as you flip your card over and usually your eyes are bigger than your stomach and I could not eat everything that they served me but I wanted to try everything. I was overwhelmed.
(3)Matthew T.
Went to eat here on the Friday following the New Year. Driving downtown can be pretty hectic on weekend evenings, but this restaurant started things off amazing, with complimentary valet parking. This makes a huge difference on those crowded streets, especially in the snowy cold we had. Walking in, there is a nice bar area where you can enjoy a drink while waiting for your table. Thankfully, we had reservations, so were whisked straight in by the hostess. Once seated, the level of service became apparent. We were quickly greeted, brought water, and introduced to the ins and outs of a Brazilian steakhouse. Throughout the whole meal, a water glass was never left half full, courtesy checks as to whether we'd like specific cuts of meat brought, appetizers, sides, quality of food, all were abundant but not overbearing. Perhaps the best service I've experienced. And, of course, the food. The salad bar was beautiful, with delicious choices from salads to cheeses to meats to vegetables that would have easily provided a wonderful dining experience by themselves. Of course, that wasn't all. Flip your table marker to green, and the attentive servers would come by with the twelve different cuts of meat, serving you portions from a taste to a generous slice at your request, cooked as you prefer, and continuing to come by until your marker is flipped back to red to give you a break to enjoy the perfectly seasoned delectable meats. All in all, an amazing dining experience. I will definitely recommend visits here, and return myself.
(5)Jade T.
This place has now been dubbed my FAVORITE in terms of Brazilian food and Steakhouses!! Sorry Rei Del Gado, and Texas De Brazil! The salad bar offers a huge selection of sides to go with the 17 different cuts of meat that rotate to your table. The parsley salad and smoked salmon were some of the best I've had!! As long as you're bold enough to keep your coaster flipped on "Green" the meats keep coming! Have to say the pork ribs, parmesean crusted chicken, and grilled pineapple made several trips to our table! Delicious!! The staff definitely made sure we got our money's worth and then some as our glasses were never empty and every need was catered too. They even brought fresh chopped fruit for my toddler who wasn't interested in entertaining the skewers of meat presented to the table! We ate, drank, and left so full we could burst! Save room for dessert!! The creme brulee was divine!!!
(5)Audrey C.
My experience here was amazing! My boyfriend had come up to Denver to visit me for spring break and we decided on this restaurant as a little impulse date night for just the two of us. For a set price of like ~$50, you get to have the salad bar (which is the biggest and nicest one I've ever seen! It made me so excited) and pretty much all you can eat of the meats that they provide. The service here was excellent! I felt really well taken care of by the staff; however, that also could be due to the fact we went on a Sunday night and the restaurant was pretty dead. Regardless! It was an amazing experience. The meats tasted excellent and the greens were fresh! They also brought over little sides which consisted of fried banana, mashed potatoes, and a little puffy butter bread thing that tasted amazing! We loved our experience here! The only reason why I wouldn't come back is because the amount of food was almost overwhelming for me! I enjoyed myself so much that I practically had to roll out of the restaurant as a ball from eating too much. So delicious! Highly recommend! Especially for that carnivore in your life.
(5)b h.
I'm very late in writing this review, but wanted to make sure it got done, because there were so many people to thank. In April, 2015 we did a special event dinner at this fabulous restaurant in downtown Denver. It was very convenient to our conference location at the Hyatt, but more importantly, it's right up the alley of our group, which adheres to a low carb lifestyle. From the start, the group sales manager, Jennifer DeAngelis, was thorough, professional, and very helpful in making sure our event fit our group's budget and needs. She was very accommodating in customizing a menu that met the restrictions of our group. Particularly, this group started out at expecting about 80 people, and ended up with about 130! Talk about flexibility...she made sure our event was still private, and still had an air of intimacy. She never batted an eye as the numbers went up and up, and even when our count went over the capacity of the private room, she came up with a solution that fit our needs. The day of the the event, the setup was perfect, thanks to the help and hard work of Robert and his staff. Robert was instrumental in finding the best way to set up the room so that everyone in the newly-configured arrangement could see and hear the speaker. We used their sound system and mic, my only advice is to make sure the wireless mic has fresh batteries before using. If you can believe it, we actually were allowed to have each party pay with a separate check...very rare, indeed when you are talking about this number of people...but a convenience that made it possible to do the event at all. The amazing waitstaff, hand-picked by Jennifer and our lead, Manny, handled this challenge with grace and speed...very professionally serving this large group, and effectively handling what could have been a very chaotic 'end of evening' when 130 people all asked for their check at the same time! This staff did not miss a beat, and the organization and efficiency with which they handled everything was truly amazing. Note that it is helpful to make an announcement to guests about the procedures to secure their help in making sure everyone gets their check settled in a timely fashion. All in all, I highly recommend doing any special event/dinner/meeting at Fogo de Chao in Denver. Their staff is up to it, and very proficient at providing the utmost in service and flexibility for a flawless event. Crediting the entire staff that helped us that evening, the event was a rousing success thanks to all of your hard work and good humor.
(5)Lee K.
A meat lovers paradise! Absolutely enjoyed everything they had to offer! Came here for valentines and left with a wonderful food coma. Worth every penny!
(5)Steve P.
What a wonderful experience. The best barbecue I've ever had. the pineapple is really good too. Ask for Christy she's the greatest server in the place.
(5)Adel Z.
My favorite place to satisfy my inner carnivore. Consistently good with excellent cuts of meat cooked to perfection. Oh and BTW they have a salad bar.
(5)Joey B.
The experience service wise was excellent. Some of the best service I've ever had in Denver. The food is the reason I'm giving it 4 stars Instead of 5. We sat down, the girlfriend ordered some kind of tequila cocktail with fresh lime, kind of like a mojito crossed with a Margarita. I asked for something bold red and south american, and was presented with the Susana Balbo Cabernet (probably 09). Good choice waitress, I love that one. Anyways then they bring out these delicious little appetizers, fried polenta dusted with parmesan, and little squishy cheesy bread balls (not sure what they're called), very tasty. At first it's an open salad bar but the waitress advised us not to fill up on salads and go for the meats. But the salad bar is super on par- everything from real bacon strips to baba ganoush. Next comes a caramelized plantain (they called it a bannana, I knew better) and their mashed potatoes. They set these two big sides on your table and the guys walk around with swords and cut you off tidbits of this and that meat. Very tasty. One of the cuts, their house specialty was actually pretty salty, but in their defense I see why, it was the end of heel, and the first cut so it was all crusted in salt not just the edges. We tried it all though, our server was very attentive to make sure we got every piece of meat me wanted. Their dessert list leaves something to be desired. I had a nutty Irishman cocktail and the girlfriend has some kind of chocolate coffee, and we shared a creme brule. The issue is all of their desserts seem so generic, nothing popped out and said "hey try me!!" Either way not a bad experience. 200+ for a dinner and drinks for 2 with a good tip. To be expected. 4 out of 5 for the price of the food and service
(4)Lisa W.
So disappointing. I've been here several times and have always had great service and overall experiences. Not sure what was going on today, but we had terrible service. We saw the waitress upon arrival and then never saw her again. Had to flag down other servers to get stuff, including the check (after a 20 minute wait.) we were so excited because we brought my folks this time around to show how great this place is, only to be disappointed. We had our kids with us (ages 6 and 3) and they were well behaved, so not sure if that was the problem. I also noticed a help wanted sign in the window outside, so maybe they were short staffed. Very disappointing considering the amount of coin we dropped for dinner. Maybe we will go to rodizio next time.
(2)Wade B.
Let me start off by saying the staff at this Fogo de Chao are the best!! I brought in a party of 76 (some equated it to a small wedding) and the staff handled everything without any issues. The sales manager, Jennifer, was also very helpful throughout the planning of my event. The food and drinks were equally as good. All in all it was a successful event and I would not think twice about choosing somewhere else to hold my next event. Fogo de Chao should be proud of the team they have at the Denver location. 10 out of 10!!
(5)Rachel J.
This place is soooo good!! We went here for Valentines Day this year, my boyfriend knows the way to my heart is food. Unlimited food. There is a large salad bar that you can go to when you first sit down. There was a lot of different salad items and also deli meat with cheeses. They bring you roles and fried bananas to your table as well. Now I don't need to tell you this but all those items are a trap! They will make you full so you can't eat all the delicious meat that comes around. Trust me I was was wishing I laid off the swiss cheese when they came around with beef wrapped in bacon that I couldn't eat for the fear of my intestines exploding. Another tip, create a will before you go in case this happens to you. All the different meat that came around was so good. You put your card on green if you want the next meat coming around to stop and hook a brother up. Then when you feel like death and need to come up for fresh air you set your card to red. Another plus is that we got a free gift card to go back since we went on Valentines Day. Let's just say I let my boyfriend hold my hand that night for taking me to this place. My fat, chunky, full of meat, hand.
(5)Jewels L.
How could you not love fogo!!! Atmosphere and service are on point. I love the appetizer bar, but be careful not to overeat on that appetizer bar or you won't have room for some delicious filet mignon and whatever else meat they have. I must say that the Caipirinhas are a must try! Best national Brazilian drink! Yummers!!! I'd recommend this places for the meat lover in your life! It's very high end and classy.
(5)Sean S.
My girlfriend (now fiancé) took me to Fogo de Chão to celebrate a special occasion. We arrived early (5:30ish) with hungry coyote smiles on our faces. Drooling with the fragrance of meat on a spit and visions of pork chops dancing in our heads. And as carnivores we were not disappointed. My date may have at one point been slightly ill from watching me finish my 7th plate of meat and I admit to suffering from the meat sweats later that night but it is a small price to pay for the fruits of being at the top of the food chain. My recommendations are the Fraldinha for beef, the Costela de Porco (pork ribs) and the Cordeiro (lamb) chop is incredibly delicious, but you really can't go wrong with anything including the cocktails and refreshing salads. There are many restaurants that disappoint me, but Fogo de Chão is not one of them. I relish and savor my trips to the "meat palace." On the expensive side, but worth it.
(5)Kelly S.
My husband and I checked out Fogo de chao during restaurant week. I have to say, it was a different experience, and I enjoyed some of it, but I just would not go back. Even during restaurant week, I don't feel that what you paid was worth it. The ambiance was very hectic, and I expected more for an upscale restaurant. In one completely visible hallway, they had chairs messily stacked up on each other, which is just not acceptable in my opinion for a restaurant that says it is "classy". The meat was very good, but everything else was extremely subpar. In fact, the mashed potatoes were disgusting, tasted like the ones from a box. The best thing at the salad bar was the kale salad. My advice would be to go somewhere else....
(2)Holly S.
Fogo has become one of our favorite restaurants. They have amazing service, someone is always nearby to help. Their salad bar is the best in my opinion...they have more choices on the salad bar (that are good quality) than the other Brazilian steakhouses I have been to. Their meat quality is the best too. My daughter is a HUGE fan of their pineapple, when we come in they know to come by every 5 minutes with pineapple. I have to admit, I love it too. I have tried it at Rodizo and thought it was flavorless, but at Fogo they but a nice mixture of cinnamon and spices on it that makes it a little crispy and OH so good. I went to TdB recently because that use to be our favorite before trying Fogo and my husband kept saying he thought he remembered their meat was better. But it definitely was not, they cut smaller slices that all seemed to have an abundance of fat. They also do not season their meat as well, I found myself salting the meat to give it more flavor. I definitely do not have to do that at Fogo de Chao. We tried Rodizo because it was cheaper and you def pay for what you get. Their salad bar was messy and there were rotten greens, the service was horrid and the meats were subpar. It is definitely worth it to pay a little more for Fogo. We have never seen their salad bar look messy are ransacked even when they are extremely busy. It seems their staff pays great attention to detail and keep everything in place. I have 2 kids ages 4 and 6. This is their favorite restaurant as well. Normally if we ask them where they want to go for dinner they yell "the meat on the stick place". It is where they request to go for their birthdays too and togo makes them feel special. At some fancier restaurants when you go in with 2 little kids you are treated not as nice...almost as their way of saying WHY WOULD YOU BRNIG KIDS HERE. But not at Fogo. The servers talk to our kids, ask them what they would like to see brought to the table, fetch the forks they drop on the floor and replace them with new ones and on both their birthdays it seemed like every server at some point stopped by the table to tell them happy birthday and ask about how their birthday. We love this place. Updated 02/02/15 I our opinion of this place has only improved. We have gone for all 4 of our birthdays and were treated to a super yummy dessert and special attention. They even seem to recognize us well enough now that they remember that my daughter is in love with their pinepple and make sure we get enough of it. We had one time where the service was not as great as normal, it was when they were having a LOT of banquets for the holidays and there were not a lot of open tables. But even with the decreased attention it was still better than a lot of places we go.
(5)Melissa C.
I am very happy with my experience here. The food was wayyy better than I expected. All of the meats were seasoned and cooked very nicely, and were beyond plentiful. The "salad" bar was amazing - scalloped potatoes, various salad fixins, cheeses, smoked salmon, fresh mozzarella balls, asparagus, etc. You have to be very careful here, but I wasn't, and ended up eating too much before the meats, so I got very full very fast. But I don't regret it, because the everything I had was delightful. I also had a very tasty strawberry drink from the bartender, and later ordered a caiphirina (sp?) with dinner, which was also wonderful. The staff was pleasant and the restaurant is very nice.
(5)Noah P.
I love coming here! It has become a staple for birthday dinners. For those who have never been here before be warned it is a lot of food, or more specifically a lot of meat. If youre not a fan of red meat in various forms, or meat in general, this is not a restaurant for you. I would suggest if you are going to go with a group of people. Not only is it a great place to catch up, but it paces you with your meal. The restaurant offers a classy dinning area that is inline with a lot of steakhouses. If you are going on a Friday or Saturday night I would suggest getting a reservation. I have never had a problem getting a place to sit and this is also with a party of 10. The staff is very friendly and will explain the process to anyone who is new (the long and short; you have a coaster with a green and red side. Green means I want food, red means Im ok). You can start with a pretty extensive salad bar or go right into the meat. When you flip your coaster to green the various waiters will start coming by with platters and cuts of meat. You choose what you want and at what temperature. This is a wonderful place to go if you are celebrating any event but it is not an every day place as with drinks it can get pricey. However I always feel that I can eat enough meat to justify the price. It is a unique experience just to go and see for yourself. Go hungry but leave full!
(5)Ian S.
Everything about my visit to Fogo De Chau was perfect, we had a large party of 25+ people after an event in Denver. All the staff was very accommodating to all of our needs, a special thanks to Shaun, the manager, and Nick and Kelly, our wait staff, they were all fantastic. The food was great just like any other time at Fogo, can't get enough of that caramelized pineapple!
(5)Aman S.
Typical Brazilian steak place. I have been to many of these, and they are all the same.
(3)Natalia K.
I've spent a few months living in Brazil, so I've been to my share of authentic churrascarias. I've also been to the few of them around Denver and the SF Bay Area (I highly recommend Pampas if you're ever in Palo Alto). This place is just ok compared to everywhere else I've gone -- churrascaria or regular restaurant. MEDIOCRE FOOD: The service is great and very prompt (but with so many men running around cutting meat for everyone, that's to be expected). But the actual food--which is the reason I assume most people would come here--is just ok. The salad bar wasn't amazing and nothing really stood out to me. And the meat was the same. It was good meat prepared rather well, but it wasn't as good as a nice $30 steak somewhere like Vesta or Capitol Grill. I'd rather have one smaller piece of meat that tasted fantastic, than endless portions of it that taste ok. GO TO RODIZIO: One of my biggest qualms about this place is that most of the meat is actually pretty much the same thing: some variation of beef. I rarely saw pork or lamb going around, much less anything else. This is why I prefer Rodizio (just a few blocks away). Not only do they have nearly 10 variations of beef, but they also offer things like sweet-and-spicy chicken, chicken hearts, turkey wrapped in bacon, pork loin in parmesan and bacon, sugar-glazed ham, fish -- and surprisingly one of my favorites because it goes well with the meat and breaks up the protein rush: grilled pineapple. Now THAT'S worth paying for. Honestly, the best thing about this place was the amazing, fluffy mashed potato dish that was like a bottomless mimosa: it just kept getting refilled at my table and I kept eating it. But I wouldn't pay $40 just to have those mashed potatoes again.
(3)Jennifer R.
SERVICE: Truly great. Maybe a little TOO fast, as you don't have time to think before your food is brought to you. In that sense it felt a little hurried. All of the staff is very friendly and accommodating. I do, however, feel badly that the meat servers are forced to wear gaucho pants. Personally, I feel these giant pants should be reserved for pregnant women but in any case not young men. FOOD: All of the items at the sides bar are very fresh looking/tasting. I can't be the only idiot that thought the round white cheese was butter... Can I? Like one or two more labels would have helped a simpleton, like myself out. The meats we tried were cooked and seasoned well for the most part. My husband and I each found something mouthwatering and delicious to "try" multiple times. EXPERIENCE: Here's where I had to dock their score and it's not their fault. I just am not a fan of the Brazilian steakhouse style. All of the meat running around and having a sides buffet made the atmosphere a little overwhelming. It was much too carnival-like to me. It was not a relaxing dining experience which is my personal preference. So not their fault, but I just prefer something a little more intimate and leisurely.
(4)Misty A.
I went here on the invitation of friends and financee. I loved every bit of food I had. The wait staff was wonderful. The cleanliness of the restaurant was great. Complimentary valet service was very close as well. I will be coming back.
(5)Danette D.
My family and I took advantage of the awesome Restaurant Week deal and decided to try Fogo de Chao! And it was amazing. From the get go the host were very accomodating. There was 8 of us and we requested a table near the the corner as we had a baby in a stroller; so we preferred the corner as we had somewhere to park the stroller and the baby would get less distracted. Service was phenomenal. Everybody worked as a team and they were on top of it. I never had an empty glass of water and they when they see your plate is getting full from all that meat they go and grab you another plate. When there'll be times we'd want to try a specific meat they'd track it down for you. Never did I have to look around the room when I needed someone, it's almost like they can read your mind as soon as you think you need something they're there. And oh my gosh the salad bar! If I didn't eat red meat, I'd be perfectly happy with just the salad bar! It's not the typical salad bar where you'll find wilty greens, shredded carrots, bacon bits and whatnot. But some things you'll find fresh romaine, smoked salmon, giant asparagus, apple salad, imported cheeses and actual slices of bacon! Gah I'm drooling just thinking about it. The meats were very tender and tasteful, and the variety of sauces they provide for it was a nice touch (but to be honest, with how well they seasoned their meats sauce weren't needed). The sides were also great, I couldn't get over the brazillian cheese bread and the polenta. At the end of the night I was so full it hurt to move! It was a little overwhelming at first as each of the servers started bringing meat. When there's 6+ people at one time offering you different things you wouldn't know where to start.
(5)Melisa G.
My husband and I had been wanting to try Fogo de Chão for a while. We finally did Saturday night and couldn't have been more pleased! The food was INCREDIBLE and there was an abundance of it, the picãna (sp?) which was the house specialty meat was AMAZING. My favorite part believe it or not was the staff, they were extremely cohesive and worked as a team and it showed. I work in the customer service industry and there is nothing that pisses me off more than a rude waiter or server, but that IS NOT the case at this restaurant I was truly impressed! Obviously this place is on the higher end of the price point, but TOTALLY WORTH IT.
(5)Ryan B.
Do not eat all day before you arrive at Fogo! Really, I am serious, starve yourself first. Also, be prepared to shell out serious cash because this place is not cheap. The meat is fantastically good and you can literally have as much as you want. The grilled pineapple is also delicious. The salad bar is even good, though they warn you not to fill up there. If you are a vegan, you should stay home, but if you like actual food, I recommend going here every few years. More often than that and you may explode. I don't really know of any downside to eating here other than the price. But, it is worth it... if you have the money, go nuts!
(4)Jessie G.
This is one of my favorite places to go downtown. The food has always been awesome and the service even better. Go for lunch! It is the same menu for half the price and it isn't as busy so you get food faster and the services is better. Love this place!
(5)Michael M.
Worth every penny. That's coming from an omnivore. I really love meat, and grilled or smoked meat especially. This was probably my ideal meal. Big hulking slabs of meat are not easy to grill well. Anyone who's grilled a flank steak or a London broil knows it can be a challenge to hit the sweet spot where the meat is tender and juicy inside, but flavorful and crusted outside. Every piece of meat I was served was spot-on. I didn't ask for medium-rare and get a bloody mess or burnt up end piece. They also have a nice salad bar, including thin sliced salmon, and the fried bananas are addictive. The service is of course, showy and prompt. The manager walks around making sure nothing gets missed. I went here for my anniversary, and I can't afford to come here often. I do feel that the quality and presentation lived up to the price though.
(5)Lisa R.
Made reservations, arrived a few minutes learly and was seated about 15 minutes after our reservation time. The food and service was excellent. Salad bar needs to list what each item is. There were items on the salad bar that I did not know what it was, and it would have been helpful to have the item identified on a card, The food kept coming, but there was no system. Many times they brought the same food to our table. We had to ask for certain meats. Food was delicious staff very friendly.
(4)Ronald T.
The best brazilian steak i've ever had. And the polenta is gorgeous. Great atmosphere and they make me come back veery fast.
(5)Diane V.
I'm a HUGE fan of Fogo de Chao (see my other 2 reviews at different locations)!! I can't stop saying great things about this chain since the meat is always so tender and delicious. But I gave this particular location 4 stars because the meat was drier than I was used to, the salad bar wasn't that great, and the pao de queijo seemed to be lacking in cheese, like they almost ran out and squeezed what they could for each cheese bread. Still a very good place to eat Brazilian steak! The best! And I think I saw some NFL football players there - at least they were as buff as some! Service was excellent and attentive. Highly recommended!
(4)D W.
We had a party of 8 or so on a Saturday night and everyone agreed it was a great, flawless experience. Prompt seating and excellent true 5 star service, the servings were delicious, salad bar (especially smoked salmon) first rate. You can probably get better steak but the variety of beef, pork, chicken and lamb is something you can only do at a place like this. Tyler was our main guy and he really took care of us, knew his wines like a sommelier and was very fun as well, as was the entire crew. Oh and free valet parking which in downtown is a big plus, really made it easy to get a group in there painlessly. Fun, delicious and we'll go back - once we digest that first meal.
(5)Tif D.
There are some cool things about this place, I almost gave it 5 stars. The good: tasty fried polenta stix and cheesy puff-bread, upscale salad bar with uncommon offerings- sliced cheeses, smoked salmon, proscutto, apple salad, and scalloped potatoes that were the bomb. The meats were good, I got a few inedible bites that did detract, but overall they were all pretty good and gluttonously dished out to your hearts discontent. You get tasty sides with your meats too, like fried plantains, mashed potatoes and grilled pineapple. Here is my holdback: there are not any sauces for the meats, no horseradish cream or whatever Brazilian sauces they do? There is nothing that is spicey or hot. The meat carver's are a little abrupt, they are in hurry to work the room and you feel pressured to grab the slice they are carving with your little tongs with adeptness, they also spill au jus on the table cloth, your pants and inside your purse on the floor. It's a little haphazard, if you get me. So while everything was prepared well and the portions huge, nothing is thoughtfully put together to compliment any other item. There is also no flow to the meal, I'm unsure whether or not I'm supposed to eat my salad and then eat a whole plate of meat or just sit there eating off 2 plates. I went for lunch and it was a group of 100, so it's tough to judge. I would go back though, when I'm starving obviously.
(4)Bill K.
Excellent food and excellent service. I used to work near by so I've been to this location several times. Unlike other nearby Brazilian steakhouses, Fogo keeps up a good pace serving their meats. My favorite dish is their lamb chops, super flavorful and cooked just right. Another must is the filet mignon, which is very juicy and tender. They also have a good wine selection and a buffet table loaded with smoked meats, cheeses, salads, vegetables, soups/stews, and rice/beans. If you're waiting for a specific meat, just ask the wait staff. They'll make sure to bring it to your table.
(5)Cecil M.
Hands down the best meal I've ever had. Don't waste time on the salad bar unless that is all you're eating. Service is unmatched, and the experience is worth the price tag.
(5)Modhar K.
better plan a half-marathon the day after you visit to get back in shape...meat is superb and they have descent selection of malbecs ... Salad bar is good as well
(5)Mo C.
Just a fantastic experience! I love Brazilian Steakhouses. The price tag is worth the splurge every now and then. This place is great for groups. Recently, I organized a dinner for MeetIn.org and asked everyone to meet in the bar area. The bartender was a riot and we had a great time chatting with him over happy hour cocktails. He even recommended a superb wine for us to enjoy with our meal. Delish! Tip: They have free valet parking. You may have to circle the block a couple times to get to it (the entrance is not intuitive). Just remember that the valet guys are working for tips, so give 'em some cash when you pick up your car.
(5)julie n.
It's 5280 restaurant week...and first time at Fogo. Not impressed. But it might it restaurant week could be to blame. Pineapple is $8 extra and the meats were good but only a few choices. Salad bar mirrored all the other Brazilian steak houses. I'm going to Rodizio's tonight. Stay tuned. They do have free valet which is a plus.
(3)Wendy W.
Alot to eat from the salad bar. The Strawberry lemonade was really good. There were many different cuts of meat. Our favorite is still the Garlic Picanha. After awhile, they all taste the same. Yes, sometimes they seem to all swarm up to serve different cuts. Scared me alittle. But for sure, to get your bucks worth, make sure you go on an empty stomach.
(3)Jane F.
While the meat was overall tasty and the salad bar was fun, I just wasn't as impressed with the food as I thought I'd be. I've been to another Brazilian Steakhouse before in Fresno, CA of all places, and the meat there was better in my opinion. I prefer my meat rare to medium rare, and quite a few of the options were overcooked. The Papaya Cream dessert however was amazing, and the wait staff was friendly and attentive as well.
(3)Sara B.
Restaurants like Fogo De Chao are the reason I could never be a vegetarian. I love me some meat and Fogo is the place to go for it! With the variety they have, there is something for everyone. And the salad bar! Oh the salad bar...how could you not love it. P.S. Have you seen the trees that they serve and claim to be asparagus? Get in my belly!! My only complaint about this place is the chicken...it was really dry. Hey, one thing on the menu has to not be so tasty right? The service is impeccable and they have the best creme brulee I have ever tasted. It's like bwutta, baby!
(4)Claire S.
No disrespect meant whatsoever, I think this place is A-Ok and I'm sure I'll go back some time. That's what 3 stars means to me. The service is quick, courteous, and cheerful. They are super organized and on top of it. It seems like if a cog were out of place the whole machine might back up and explode. I watched Chicken Run recently.That may be affecting my writing. The point is, no cogs are out of place. They are a well-oiled machine. I love how cheerful and lively the atmosphere is. You can have a really nice conversation with each person sitting on either side of you. The tables for 5+ people are pretty big so you probably won't get a chance to have meaningful convo with the people on the other side of the table, at least not during restaurant week. No big deal to me, I like it loud. And it's not the echoey, vacuous, metallic loud which I find alienating and disorienting, it's... cozy loud. There's something about this business concept that kind of gets me, preventing the 4th star. Don't get me wrong, I'm a total hedonist and glutton, but this type of excess makes me feel self-conscious about how much food is wasted. You could probably say the same for all buffets, but this food is way better than your standard all you can eat situation. I kind of love that the meat sword dudes are called, in all seriousness, gauchos. (Yes, I know I just said meat sword, but it's really the perfect description if you go you'll see what I mean.)
(3)Mecca S.
I love rodizio. The o ly thing I miss about new jersey. This place is pricey but great food and service. The shrimp cocktail is humongous
(5)Jackie P.
This place was amazing. Quality and ambiance all in one place.
(5)Robin S.
Gluten free freaks rejoice! You can eat almost everything here. There is complimentary cheese bread baked with yuca flour, crispy polenta that hasn't been fried with other flour items, garlic mashed potatoes, and caramelized bananas. That's just for starters! Out of 16 different meats, only the chicken has gluten (it's marinated in beer). The salad bar has a couple of items with gluten, but you can make a meal out of the salad bar alone. Great teamwork and smooth service means you never have to wait for food. The Parmesan cheese pork loin was surprisingly my favorite. I'm not even a pork fan, but the flavors and juiciness of the Lombo was the stand out to me. Somehow, we left room for dessert. Their signature Papaya Cream is gluten free and is supposed to have enzymes that help with digestion so it seemed like a good idea for our full bellies. Perfect consistency, not too sweet, and extra yummy with the creme de cassis on top. For the amount of food my husband can eat, it was a great value. Actually, just the fact that he could eat almost everything and feel like a normal diner was worth it. The wine prices were reasonable too. The Broquel Malbec was delicious; one of the servers stopped to talk about wine with us and even brought the bottle over so we could easily spot it in a store. Great experience. It's a must go for gluten free eaters!
(4)Kelly T.
Get ready for the MEAT SWEATS! Tried this place a few days ago for Denver Restaurant Week and it was uhhh-mazing. Order a bottle of Malbec and get started - what are you waiting for?! The place was packed and we had to sit in a small middle table, but considering the week, no biggie. The service is so spot-on, don't forget to flip that coin to red because the gauchos are ON IT. The salad bar is phenomenal, and the smoked salmon was a really nice touch. The house special sirloin, bacon-wrapped chicken and parmesan herb pork were all fantastic. Ron Swanson would approve! You'll probably be full after a run through the salad bar, and try as you might, you WILL overeat here. Just embrace it, roll yourself to the curb, and call a cab.
(4)Cam T.
Now THIS is a 5 star restaurant experience. I don't eat Fogo De Chao often, but when I do, it's amazing and deeeelicious. As soon as I heard that I was headed to Fogo for dinner, I did what any normal human being would do: I fasted. That's right. Might as well get your money's worth. So I showed up starving and ready to feast. And of course, it didn't disappoint. The salad bar is amazing, so many cheeses. Then the main course: cheese puffs, enough meat to make a vegetarian queasy, and my favorite, the cinnamon pineapple slices. Overall, an amazing restaurant, would eat here every week if I was made of money.
(5)Rashid 7.
We arrived a little late, about half an hour before closing time but that was fine because we were kindly greeted and escorted to a nice free table among many people. This place was busy, ( a Saturday night of course ) and busy for a reason! This place is really nice! Great service and the food is amazing. There is a salad buffet bar ( beautiful veg and salad ) and great tender meats which melt in the mouth! They also served us fried large chips with sprinkled cheese, caramelized bananas, and mash potatoes for side. Great atmosphere, quite smart. Try to make an effort to dress up here. There were a lot of people wearing dresses and suits. There was a large dessert selection - delicious! I had the key lime pie which was amazing. Hands down this place has got to be one of the best places to eat in Denver. You can not pass this place up! Great for special occasions too.
(5)Teema C.
Hubby and I went here for Denver's restaurant week - it was packed! I think they did a great job considering how full the restaurant was. I thought the salad bar and side items were of good quality. The meats were tasty, but def a bit too salty - I'm not sure if this is done on purpose so that customers would eat less or if Brazilian meats are supposed to be salty. My favorite was the pork ribs. Would I be back? Probably not, I think this is more of a one time experience type place, although I may go back just to take someone else to experience this.
(4)Jason H.
Very good love the grilled pineapple great service. But I will say it may be a step below some of the competition. Still very good though
(4)Linh N.
Service was prpfessional and meat was delicious. House drinks and dessert were on point
(5)Jeremy S.
This must be a really hard restaurant to operate. They provide an amazing experience: I am highly impressed by the choreography, the professionalism of the service, and even the quality of the food--no, this is not Peter Luger steak, but anyone who comes here expecting that deserves to be disappointed. Even the salad bar is quality (and obviously they'd like you to fill up a little bit there... and in fact, you probably should keep a few extra greens on your plate for when the meat parade begins). And even discounted 40% for Restaurant Week, which is a zoo everywhere in town, the Fogo staff kept it together. I've had more chaotic Resto Week experiences in other, more sedate restaurants. It is not literally flawless--it's a bit harder to find a waitress than a meat skewer, some meat cuts are better than others (duh), and simply being in an environment in which many individuals are moving very quickly with very sharp knives through the establishment can get your heart rate up a few beats. (They seem to handle the knives quite well: don't be afraid to bring young kids, esp since they're free!) If I could I'd give it 4.5 stars, but give them the bump in light of the high-degree-of-difficultly aspect of pulling it all off.
(5)Luke F.
This place is almost gluttonous! It literally has the best meat I've ever had. Try the bananas and the pineapples also! The salmon at the salad bar was amazing. The price is totally worth it. I definitely recommend.
(5)Brian T.
This place pales in comparison to Rodizio down the street. I've been to this location 3 times now and I should have learned by now to just keep walking. The meat is extremely salt her, to the point where it overpowers the flavor of the meat itself. On my last visit I ended up having to specifically ask for the filet and rib eye as I never saw either in the first 40 minutes. Also WTF is with pineapple being $8.50 for a 2 inch slice?! It's included as part of the standard menu over at Rodizio.
(2)Kaelin T.
Definitely ask for Tyler!!! He was awesome! Amazing Service & Food to DIE FOR! :) The top and bottom sirloin are my favorites & the filet cuts like butter!
(5)Tuan M.
Probably the most expensive restaurant I have ever ate at. It was for graduation so I guess I dont feel as bad spending $55 dollars for an all-you-can-eat buffet. I wanted to celebrate but couldnt afford doing the whole "poppin' bottles" thing, so I felt this restaurant was the next best thing.The waiters brought different types of meat to your table. The rib eye and shirloin was magnificent. It was until they brought out the lamb.....
(3)Michelle G.
After visiting TdB several times we decided to visit Fogo de Chao and try it out for a friend's going away party. It's proximity to the Light Rail enticed us. We were initially very impressed with the bar area and the gal behind the bar was very nice. There were 5 (five) in our party. I am a very small eater and had decided way before the visit to only get the Vegetarian Entrée assuming Fogo de Chao's salad bar similar to TdB. After going to get my food from the salad bar I found there wasn't very much I liked and at the suggestion from the server I changed my order to Vegetarian with the Sea Bass dinner. All of the other 4 guests had the normal menu and we ordered over $250 in wine to go with dinner. When my Fish arrived I took a couple of bites and passed it around the table so everyone else could have a bite. I ate approximately 2 bites of fish, did not finish my original salad plate and a my date asked me if I would like a bite of his chicken. Literally, I ate 1 bit of the chicken and mixed it w/ some of his pineapple..... that was the extent of my eating. The manager came over to inform me that I would now be looking at paying for the Sea Bass dinner and a full meat charge plate.... Flabbergasted I looked down at my 1 un-finished salad plate w/ the 1 bite of chicken left, the unfinished sea bass and shook my head in disgust almost in tears. After learning about what the manager just informed me, my friends were beyond words. BUT called the manager over and explained "we just spent over $600.00 at your restaurant on the 5 of us and my friend over here (ME) barely filled up her original salad plate. I estimate the cost of both what she ate and what's left at a whoppin' $14.00." The manager looked over at my salad plate and saw that everyone had shared the Sea Bass and agreed to take it off our bill. After we received the bill we did not look at it carefully until after we paid the tab. They did NOT take off the Meat plate charge & additionally charged us 18% gratuity for a party of 5. 1 of our party is from Philly and 1 of our party is from San Francisco and they have been to multiple other Fogo de Chao locations and couldn't believe how they just kept trying to overcharge us. Ultimately, they refunded the meat plate but kept the 18% Gratuity. It was such a bad experience over the bill and charges that it put a dimmer on the WHOLE experience.
(2)Emily T.
I'm not much of a red meat eater, but you would never have guessed that had you seen me chowing down at Fogo the other day during lunch. Fillet wrapped in bacon, top sirloin, bottom sirloin, short ribs, lamb, sausage. You name it, they probably have it. While the tender, juicy, perfectly seasoned meat steals the show here, the salad bar is nothing to gloss over. It's well stocked with prepared salads, such as potato or tabbouleh; asparagus. hearts of palm and assorted veggies; olives; salmon and cured meats; and cheeses galore. While it's certainly not easy to do, I recommend saving enough room for dessert. I've never tasted better creme brulee. Definitely pricey whether you're here for lunch or for dinner, but as it is all you can eat, you can try to get your money's worth.
(4)Cristen T.
My two experiences at Fogo De Chao have been two of the best in terms of service, food and general delight. My husband's family treated us to this great restaurant twice. My first trip there I didn't have a clue what I was in for and this last one was just as great, if not better. Let's start with the outstanding service. I have had great service at a lot of places but nothing like the service at Fogo in Denver. The serving staff blows my mind with how on top of everything they are. Both times, if ever there was a question, the knowledgeable staff would have the answer in an instant. If ever there was a half-full glass, without even being noticed it would be refilled. If ever you look at your plate and think, "I don't feel like eating the rest of this; I wish I could have a clean plate," someone will notice and ask you if you'd like a new plate. I am convinced they have learned how to read minds at Fogo. It must be part of their training or something. They really are all about making you as happy, comfortable and pleased as possible. It is really something else. Moving on to the food, it starts at the stellar salad bar. Everything is fresh and it is constantly being adjusted and rearranged to look as appetizing as possible. And boy is it appetizing: fresh meats and cheeses, cool refreshing salads, wonderfully textured bread, steaming sides. They also bring incredible dishes to your table on fancy silver dishes. I loved the polenta fries and cheesy mini rolls are delectable. During your meal they provide fried bananas and creamy garlic mashed potatoes. The beverages are great as well. You can order a cocktail or a local beer or Brazilian ginger ale and it is all so very satisfying. And then, there is the glorious, delicious, perfect meat. This is one place that could sway even the most steadfast vegetarian. I shudder to think that I could have missed out by remaining a vegetarian. Fogo De Chao uses local meat (except the lamb, which they get from New Zealand) and you can tell. As soon as you flip your little coaster from red to green you are rewarded with a plethora of sizzling beef, chicken, pork and lamb. The servers who bring it out to your table are the ones that cook it in the back so they know where on the cut will be rare or well done. My absolute favorites were the rib eye, top sirloin and the house cut. We also ended up getting a complimentary dessert here because we were on our honeymoon! We ordered the Creme Brulee and while it was wonderful it wasn't the best I've ever had (that would be Paley's Place in Portland, Oregon). I think, if ever presented with the option again, I will skip dessert and just eat more of their sinfully delicious beef. Fogo De Chao has been one of the two most all-around marvelous dining experiences. I have to say that this place doesn't deserve 5 stars, it deserves 5 million. It is absolute excellence.
(5)Bruce F.
If you're a true carnivore with an appetite then this is your heaven. Yes, round one through the extensive salad bar was very good, but the meat is why you eat here. The service is non stop with an endless variety of meats. You also select rare, well done or anywhere in between. Eat as fast or as slow as you like. They don't judge at Fogo they just keep it coming. Our table loved the pineapple and bananas as well. I also appreciate the space between the tables so I didn't hear anyone's conversation except my own table. Fun experience.
(4)Ryan T.
We were here for my birthday and over all it was a decent place! The service was average but not great! First time going for Brazilian cuisine so it was different but the food was delicious! I've heard a lot about the place and had also recommended this place to a lot of people because I always hear great things about it. We had about 12 people at the table with two bottles of wine and some appetizers and the check came to $1009. There was definitely a lot of food and they all come to you at once! It kind of gave me an impression that they were in line to shove you with meat! ( Which I am not complaining) They only come by like couple times and goodbye to your table! I like taking breaks when I'm eating so after a plate , I took a break and was ready for second and yet the server who served us thought we were ALL DONE even though some people was still eating! She asked if anyone was interested in looking at the dessert menu? It really gave me an impression that she either wanted to leave early ( Thursday night) or she wanted us to leave! I don't think a plate of food or meat is done for me or some of my party and the fact that she did NOT even ask or offer if we would like more food made me want to give them one star. A little tip... if you want to make more gratuity, maybe you should ask your table if they are full and if they would like the meat runner to come by once more. The fact that I had to ask them to come over again made me want to give this restaurant a one star. I only stopped by the salad bar once but really wish they didn't make me feel like I was trying to be greedy and asking for more food. I doubt I would come back here again and yes I do work in the hotel so I will definitely share my experience with the guests and probably send them to other Brazilian steakhouse.
(2)Amy F.
This place is a total meatfest. Yes, I am a fan. Great cocktail service, attentive staff, and interesting salad bar. Any salad bar that has real bacon on it-wins, unless you are super picky, that salad bar has a decent spread. The meat entourage is overwhelming, but super delicious. Several options, and you choose your pace, with those red light green light coasters. Bring some Benjamin's if you come with a big group and will order cocktails- its spendy, but oh so good.
(4)Jack T.
Downtown for a concert and went here on a recommendation from a friend. Got in right away,the staff was pleasant and attentive. Have tried other Brazilian Steakhouses but thought the meat here was better. My wife loved the bacon wrapped chicken and roasted pineapple. Overall all of the meats were tasty and well prepared. Would make a great spot for a date night..
(4)Flor A.
Be prepared to eat a lot of meat. The desserts were mediocre don't bother. Great Wine list0
(4)Phung L.
As far as Brazilian steakhouses go, Fogo de Chao is the cream of the crop! Sure it's a tad bit more pricey than the other places, but you definitely get what you pay for! Complementary valet, superb customer service, and better cuts of meat. Who doesn't like a staggering amount of meat? Overkill? Perhaps, but be sure to come with an appetite.
(5)G M.
Dear "Peyton Manning" jersey wearing douche, I want to just get my review in before you try to trash Fogo de Chao later tonight (like you threatened). We received fantastic service. We always had someone at the table faster than your 2015 Chevy Penismobile can drop off your next trophy-wife after your next failed attempt to get a comped meal. The Parmesan encrusted pork loin was cooked perfectly. When we asked for a particular temperature of meat, it was done exactly how we asked. If you think the meat was too rare, you should probably pay more attention to what you say and less on impressing a quarter of the restaurant with the "million times" you've been here. I'm glad they didn't comp your entire meal. The staff was exemplary and the other patrons smile at each other to have your self important swagger exit our airspace in a huff.
(5)Adam L.
Meat was dry and fatty. I have been to lots of Brazilian steakhouses and fogo Denver was a disappointment and a waste of money. I went on a Wednesday night so i think because they were slow they weren't rotating to fresh meat. Unacceptable for the price paid! Won't go back
(1)Ben D.
Over cooked meat
(2)Mark L.
Have always been a HUGE fan for Fogo and try to visit a couple times a year. I was even okay when they raised the Restaurant Week price from $52.80 to $60.00. I guess the confusion comes in when you notice they offer less meats and removed the salmon and asparagus for the salad bar. My wife enjoys the salmon as much, if not more, as the meat, so the salami they put down in place just didn't do the trick. It seems they raised prices while cutting back on the food offered. Starting to get the feel of an all you can eat buffet in Blackhawk as opposed to fine dining. They was also little to no organization for who was actually assigned to our table. I think we've earned a break from Fogo for the time being, but will return eventually.
(3)Carolyn H.
Went here for resturant week. Bad choice. The salad bar was the best part of the meal and it was even bad. The meat was like eating fat and leather combined. I know they probably cut corners because of the lower prices for resturant week but this place was bad. I will never go back.
(1)Jeska H.
Pretty mediocre. The service was quite good, but the food was meh. The veggies were tasty and there was a nice variety. But the meat, though plentiful, was not fantastic. Red meat was kind of tough, and we tried all different kinds of cuts, filet, top and bottom sirloin, tenderloin. Too expensive for what you get.
(3)Jennifer B.
I'm a big fan of Fogo! I was an avid visitor to the Fogo in Philadelphia with family and friends. When I saw the deal for Fogo where the price was dropped to $38 per person I recommended that a group of us go to take advantage of the deal. A group date we did with a table of 8 I think. Service was impeccable as it always tends to be at these places. Can't sip water without someone refilling the inch you just drank. Never felt wanting anything which is a beautiful thing. The salad bar was very tasty. I thought the offerings were well presented and cooked pretty good. The seasonings were lacking a bit, not enough flavor. I know they have to appeal to a broad audience but there could have been a kick with one of the offerings. I'm always a sucker for the asparagus, perfectly done and oh so yummy. Time to flip your chip to green and watch and march of the meat come your direction and buy oh boy do they swarm you. Always a good thing when men with meat come ask you "How you want it". I think I must have tried everything they had. Some of the favorites were the garlic seasoned steak, lamb chops, and one of the amazing cuts of steak, I forget the name now. I thought the majority of them were all melt in your mouth delicious. Sometimes a steak doesn't need aggressive seasoning to be delicious it just needs to be done right and these were don right. The sides on the table and there to distract you from your ability to eat $38-$50 worth of steak, don't let it distract you, eat meats, meats, and more meats and savor every bite. The trip was worth it and I would come back again and continue my love, love relationship with Fogo. Fogo oh how I love thee.
(4)Dale Z.
I came here to take advantage of the $38 dinner special through August 3rd. The place was nice and clean, and the service was excellent. I enjoyed the "salad bar" offerings (it is hard to go wrong with a bowl of crispy bacon). They also had a wheel of parmesan, as well as other cheeses, cured meats and salads. It was not as varied as Rodizio used to be, but was solid. I enjoyed the cheese bread and polenta, and I always like the bananas. I avoided the mashed potatoes. My theory is that these items (although well-prepared) are served as "filler" to reduce your total meat consumption. I generally like the meats served at churrascarias, and this one was no exception. One minor (but repeated) complaint would be being asked how i want my meat, replying "rare", and then having them cut from the charred outside when there is an interior cut right next to it. The second time and third time the server did this to me, I said, "No, I wanted rare". He seemed rather miffed that he had to discard that piece. But, if you are going to ask me what I want, you need to listen to the answer. This should not just be a pro-forma courtesy that serves no actual purpose. I really enjoyed the garlic beef and the lamb chops, and I thought the linguisa was pretty good as well. I found the leg of lamb to be a touch gamey. Some of the offerings were a little too salty for my tastes. All in all, this was a good (extravagant) meal. It strikes me as somewhere I might take visitors from out of town or business associates, rather than a regular place to hang out with friends.
(4)Claudia B.
What can I say? I'm a Brazilian native who absolutely loves Brazilian food. I've had the "real thing" in Brazil my whole life. The street side neighborhood inspired churrascarias and the biggest and most popular Churrascaria restaurant in Rio. I first went to one of these restaurants in Dallas (their first US location) and fell in love. I've been to the Denver location twice and they don't dissapoint! Here's how I judge a place who claims to serve Brazilian food: their Pao de Queijo (it baffles me if a "Brazilian" restaurant doesn't even serve them) and their Caipirinhas. Both of these are the best of the best that I've had in the US (outside from my own house, of course). The meats are perfectly cooked and seasoned and you are never short of food. If you like a particular cut of meat, just tell the first gaucho (that's the man with the large sword with hunks of meat on it) that comes to your table. Next thing you know they will be there over and over again. I tend to primarily eat the Picanha (Top Sirloin) and the Fraudinha (Bottom Sirloin). I'll have a little of the Filet Mignon and a little of the Saugage. If you want to eat these meats the real Brazilian way, ask the waitor to bring you "farofa" with your rice and beans. They won't bring it unless you ask for it. Mix a little bit of it with your rice and beans...but also "dip" your meats into this grainy yumminess so you get a little layer of it stuck to the juicyness of your steak. AWEEEESOOOOOME. The staff is always so attentive and nice and wonderful. We even had one of their customer relationship representatives talk to us last time. I was telling him about how Fogo is the best, most authentic Brazilian BBQ place in the US and how I've been going for over 10 years (starting in Dallas) and we ended up getting a hard cover book from the place detailing their history with tons of great photos and even their Pao de Queijo recipe!! It's a bit different than mine so I'll have to try it at home and see how it compares to the one at the restaurant ;). You will NOT be dissapointed but remember to starve a bit during lunch. Seriously, do not even eath lunch if you are able to do that. You will need the room :).
(5)Arthur I.
As a Brazilian, I might know a little bit about Brazilian food: Fogo de Chão is the prime place for Rodizio in town. It is not the true and perfect Brazilian experience, but as the 5-star suggests, "As good as it gets". The meat comes how it is supposed to come, well grilled, and salted. If you ask for other goodies and meet, they usually have (One of those things you will only know if you know the culture), such as Cow Ribs, Farofa, and so forth. It is pricey, and dinner can be expensive. I have gone for lunch and for dinner there, and the experience is very similar. The manager comes to the table to ask how is it working for everybody, very polite, and usually a Brazilian with great experience in the business. I would have to try Texas de Brazil in Denver, but they pretty much match in Chicago. Rodizio Grill is the lower level RodÃzio in town.
(5)Leonard E.
It pains me to have to give this place a 2 star rating. It's a nice place. I love the environment.. The people and service were exceptional. The food was just not up to par. The meat or the hot food at the bar was not seasoned very well. I was highly disappointed. Texas de Brazil blows this place out of the water. Rodizio is far better. I dropped $75 and it was just me on my ticket. I expected much more. Maybe it was because of the holiday season. Maybe I need to go back and give them another chance.
(2)Cheryl L.
If I could give them 3.5 stars I would but I can't so I'm rounding down. The service would get 4 to 5 starts. I wasn't exactly sure who our waiter was but it didn't seem to matter - it was like we had 8 of them. Each person clearing my plate, filling my water glass, seeing if there was any special meat that I was looking for and bringing that guy to my table. We had reservations and were seated right away. Each and every staff member was friendly and oh so helpful. We wanted to come in while they were still doing their special summer pricing of $38 per person (this is discounted from their reg price of $44.50) so if you can try a new place and save some cash it's always a good thing. They explain how everything works and then you head over to the salad bar or you do have the option to drive right into the meat portion of the night. I was so very disappointed in the salad bar. There was actually a very high expectation when we first walked by and there was a huge bowl of bacon right there staring you in the face. Upon gathering my veggies and salad items I headed back to the table and began to dig in. What I found was that nothing really had any flavor. The mozzarella cheese seemed to be fresh (perhaps even homemade but it was tasteless), the asparagus was competent and most of the other things I left on the plate. It was not very memorable and at this point I'm not even sure what else I had. I swear that there must be some sort of beacon with the red/green coaster that they give you. Once I turned mine to green there were about 8 guys right behind me asking me what kind of meat that I wanted. It sort of reminded me of when you go to the coy ponds and you have all those fish and you throw in a piece of popcorn or bread and about 10,000 of them try to eat the same thing. The meat kept coming and coming and coming until I felt that I was going to explode. Some were more successful than others. I really like the lamb chops and the garlic crusted steak. I thought the ribeye and the filet were a little lack-luster for me. I expect a nice bold flavor from Ribeye and this one didn't seem to have any. I didn't like the Parmesan crusted pork (I think it was pork - Oh no I'm not say that I'm not sure if they were using pork it's just that I can't remember exactly what meat it was) at all. I thought that the cheese bread balls were okay and the polenta sticks were wonderful. The during the meal they brought banana and mashed potatoes. The bananas were okay but I'm not a huge fan of cooked bananas unless it is in bananas foster. My husband tasted the mashed potatoes and says to me "Why are they using spuds from a box?" They were just not good. Since we had a party of 7 they added 18% gratuity to the bill. So while I'm all for them adding this to ensure that the servers aren't stiffed they did miss out on a bigger tip. if the restaurant makes this decision for me I don't go back and correct them. So all-in-all I don't know that I'll be back to Fogo.
(3)Sydney G.
This place had such great food! I enjoyed the Brazilian steakhouse type service where they come around to the table. My favorite was the Parmesan crusted pork, but I didn't dislike any of the different options. They also had yummy side dishes like mashed potatoes and polenta. The salad bar was nice as well. I would recommend their lemonade and their very Limey margaritas!
(5)Adrian H.
Headline: Meat Lovers in Paradise So, this is a Brazilian steakhouse. You pretty much know what to expect. Start with parking - there is a parking garage on Wynkoop right next to the Smiling Moose Deli that has free valet parking with validation, which they do as soon as you walk in the door. There is a bar while you wait for your table, and everything is white linen cloth service. I wish there had been some music in the background, but it didn't really need it in this open space. On to the food. Firstly, you have a "salad" bar, which is anything but ordinary. Yes, you have salad stuff, but you also have smoked salmon, a variety of cold cut meats and cheeses, and a number of things you won't find on your average salad bar. You could easily just eat the salad bar and be happy. But that isn't why you come to a Brazilian steakhouse. You come for the second course. Meat, meat and more meat, with some excellent sides thrown in. Fried bananas, which were soft and didn't actually taste of much; Fried Polenta liberally sprinkled with grated parmesan - a crunchy exterior and soft middle made to look like a fry, but you needed the parmesan; cheese bread - by far the best of the sides was nicely cheesy. What about the meat? Well, lamb T-bones and Leg; various cuts of steak; pork and beef ribs, and Linguica. All were perfectly cooked - just ask how well done you want it and it shall be so. Wine - they have it. We ordered a Terrazas Reserva Malbec, which was nicely full bodied. However, watch for the extra pours - malbecs like to breath and the servers like to top it off. If this was such an excellent meal, why only four stars? Service. We had to ask four times to get linguica brought to the table, and after our plates were cleared away, it took an eternity to get the check, even though we asked for the dessert menu. This kind of spoiled the whole experience, and brought it down a notch. I highly recommend using the OpenTable booking - it was on the quieter side when we started, but by 6:30pm, the place was hopping.
(4)Stephanie S.
I love Fogo de Chao... my husband and I have been 4 times now because we are such bigs fans. I'm not sure why there are some bad reviews complaining about "meat quality", but I have always had outstanding food everytime. Yes- they feed you A LOT so bring your appetite. That is the whole idea of a Brazilian Steakhouse, so if you do not LOVE meat then it's probably not going to be worth the money to you. The service is always exceptional when we go- they are very attentive. It can be a bit overwhelming at times, but honestly I would rather have a server who is over attentive
(5)Sarah L.
Was brought to fogo for my birthday and was blown away by the food, ambiance and the service. Tyler far far exceeded all of our expectations. His knowledge of wine and pairing it with items was incredible. Thank you for an amazing night!!!
(5)Victor B.
Being someone who simply loves my red meat entrees, Fogo is simply paradise. Eating here for lunch is even better as the price for all of that quality of food simply can not be beat! My girl and I decided to come here as we had never been together and since we are both Fogo fans and both being a bit on the carnivorous side (but also thrifty at times....) we decided that restaurant week would be the time to come back here and imbibe in some delicious meaty heaven. We got here at around 1:30 which also fit in the lunch time frame and the meal was even less expensive than had we dined here for the restaurant week price. If you've never been to a Brazilian steakhouse you must visit and soon. Gauchos come around to your table with various meats on sword like skewers and serve such succulent cuts cooked to exactly how you like it. Flip your coin over to red when you want to stop otherwise prepare for meat overload. The salad bar has excellent accompaniments to the meat and some delicious gourmet options by itself. The liquor cart that travels around the restaurant is also very cool and upscale and contains such luxuries as Johnnie Walker Blue and other vintages of booze that are older than I am. So if you're not a vegetarian or a vegan and would like to enter a carnivorously heavenly state.....visit Fogo (but come by for lunch so you don't have to pay as much :-))
(5)Scheri T.
I celebrated my wedding anniversary here and it did not disappoint. We arrived early and they offered to seat us, but we chose to hang out at the bar instead. Once seated we were greeted with an eager waiter who introduced us to the proper technique for ordering meat. We have been to Brazilian Steakhouses before, however the ambience at Fogo de Chao was surprisingly warm. The interior is decorated in dark wood and the tables covered in long white tablecloths. Our table was nestled along the wine cellar. Talk about romantic! We were careful not to fill up on the salad bar goodies, but it was a struggle. The salads were fresh and there were a lot of greens to choose from. They even had a cheese and meat section which we utilized after our meal and before dessert. They do not offer any seafood choices however the meat selections were wonderful. My husband & I are red meat eaters and we were NOT disappointed. The filet melts in your mouth and the prime cuts of ribeye and sirloin were delicious! They provide you with a description of all the meats they serve so you can choose what you want ahead of time. We shared the flan for dessert and it was a great way to end the meal. They gave us the dessert free to celebrate our anniversary. They even decorated the plate with the words "Happy Anniversary." Overall it was a fantastic experience. I would definitely go there again for a special occasion.
(5)Melissa D.
Man, is this place good. The salad bar is fantastic. I could get full off that alone! They have a bunch of different options and you can get as much as you want. Then, the waiters come by each table with different meats and you choose which ones you want. It's all awesome. But, oh my god, the best part: their cheese rolls! So good. They have a basket of them on each table and they are honestly like the best things ever. They were definitely my favorite part of the meal. That's not to say that the rest of the stuff wasn't absolutely delicious, but wooow.
(5)Amanda G.
I love their caramelized bananas, so good. Great service, what a wonderful place for any celebration.
(5)Jamie L.
Thanks to the person who just posted a review on Fogo that reminded me to update mine. So here's the skinny. (Hah. Skinny. At an all you can eat Brazilian Steakhouse.) I'm wavering between dropping Fogo a star for having a sub-par Salad Bar selection, and leaving them at 4 stars for exceptional service. So I'mma just go ahead and leave it. The service this time was *impeccable* Our water glasses were constantly refilled, at no more than 2 sips down. (Which is actually necessary, because of the insanely salty meats.) They tried to refill our sides, but I told them I didn't want to waste them, and not once after that did they offer. That's pretty impressive communication, since there were 5 or 6 Gauchos running around. Plus, it's a great place to go for your birthday. We had 2 certificates from a previous visit for free "Special Occasion" meals (SCORE!!) **AND** they gave us a Birthday Flan on the house again... I really didn't expect that with a coupon. So service here is NOT lacking. What is lacking, you ask? Well, for starters, the Salad Bar. Yes, they have a few cured meats, and ginormous Fresh Mozarella Balls. But really, that's it. The asparagus were the size of your average Redwood Tree, and the "Other Side" of the salad bar (The one NOT facing the front of the restaurant) is stocked with boring lettuce, cucumbers, and SYSCO Dressings. Meh to the Mehx! I'd been back to Rodizio for Lunch the week before, and indeed made my lunch solely off their Salad Bar. You could not do that here. Then, there's their meats. Sure, they give you all that you care to shovel in. And yes, the Picana, Ancho Ribeye, and Filet (Not the overcooked, bacon-wrapped one) are good. And their Bottom-Round is seasoned perfectly (Although the "Rare" side was more "Raw"... literally.) But overall? The meats are oversalted, and some tend towards the dry-to-the-point-of-sawdust consistency. (That Bacon-Wrapped Filet Nugget was Choke-Worthy, the Pork Ribs were not even Jerky quality, and the Parmesan Crusted Pork Tenderloin was made even drier by the grated bits of Parm tickling your throat.) Also, and I know I'm a Miamian being picky about this, but their Flan is creamier than it should be... Flan should be more of a standalone Custard, almost "Jello-Like" when you "cut" into it. This was more of a thick pudding. Delicious, though, at the same time. But- Also keeping this at a 4-Star Rating are those Cheese Puffs. Yes, their Pan de Quejo are ridiculously addictive and delicious. And their sweet bananas are crazy easy to keep popping in your mouth. So, overall, I'd say this is an awesome service experience, with good food, and plenty of it. Maybe when someone else is paying is the time to head here!
(4)Michael C.
Great food and outstanding cheese. Impeccable staff. Note the ambiance and food here is better than Rodizio. Also note: people that have had bariatrice surgery get half off.
(4)Erin E.
My boyfriend and I came here during 5280 (as that's probably the only way we could afford to check it out!) Maybe this place is different when it's not 5280, but they had packed so many tables in there it felt more like a cafeteria than a restaurant. If we're going to spend $100 on dinner/wine, I'd like a slightly better ambiance. Maybe I'm asking too much, but they said on the night we were there, they took 1,000 reservations- AKA they were anxious to get us in, shove meat down our throats, and get us the hell outta there. I'm a lover of meats and cheeses, but this stuff was so over-salted, I thought I might keel over at the table. I'm glad I didn't have a Blood Pressure reading within the next month, or my doctor would have been really pissed. After a while all the meats started to taste the same....just loaded with salt. The salad bar was good, but our waiters made us feel like idiots for trying it out. "You've never been here before?! Don't fill up on the salad bar," they laughed. We couldn't be quick about turning our card from green to red to STOP the meats from coming! These waiters are ON IT like I've never seen. The level of activity is so overwhelming that we forgot to turn out cards over, and they would be there in a split second- shaving generous portions of meat onto our plate. Normally I love trying all the different options, but I couldn't keep up with the amount of meat they were serving VS. me eating it. Therefore the food got piled up, and I was full before getting to try it all. And that's what I so dislike about this place. It's sad to me to see all this food get wasted. There are no to-go boxes, nor do I think they put any leftovers for hungry people to enjoy. I imagine the people I see who search in dumpsters behind my apartment would have had a feast with what was left on my plate. They would have been horrified to watch all of that get thrown away and the thought of that plagued me through dinner and as we were leaving. I love me some food, and am guilty of being a glutton sometimes....but this was over the top. However, just to spite this idea, and as uncouth as it is, we hid some food in a napkin to take back to our 3 cats who live like royalty. And that made me happy. Hehehe
(3)Cat C.
Fogo hosted a company dinner for us last week. I will NEVER recover from the MOST EXCELLENT baked salmon! The rest was excellent too. Thanks Fogo!!! Not sure about the TVs (I don't need them) as we had 500 people in there that night.
(5)Tina F.
always consistent! sangria was way too fruity and sweet for my taste. it included strawberries and tons of unstirred sugar at the bottom... i don't recall strawberries in most of the sangrias i've had but... the ciaprina's on the other hand are super yummy. they are on the lime/tart side, but that's how i like my drinks (not sweet)
(4)Haleigh M.
Service was great. There were waiters everywhere to help you with whatever you needed but almost to a fault. Waiters were stopping at our table almost every 20 seconds to confirm that we were having a good meal. We felt a little anxious with all of the attention and movement of meat and waiters around us. The Food was delicious, I loved the fresh salad bar and my boyfriend loved the meat. There were so many different types of meat to choose from. We sampled all of them between the two of us!
(4)Ryan T.
Fogo De Chao is my absolute favorite restaurant, especially since I am a carnivore at heart. Ever since I visited their Beverly Hills location a few years ago, I have been hooked on this all you can eat Brazilian steakhouse. For those of you who have not been initiated in the churrascaria experience, here is how things work. After you have been seated and had a chance to enjoy a drink, the waiter will point out the fine salad bar that they have on hand. While I must admit that their salad bar is quite impressive, I have never ever bothered to visit it as my sole mission is to satisfy my meat fix. Next, you will be given a card. When the green side of the card is turned up, this signals the gaucho waiters that you are ready for the meat feast to begin. You can choose from 15 different cuts of meat that are brought to your table, sliced, and served on your plate. When the red side of the card is turned up, this lets the waiters know that you are taking a break until you are ready for more meat. For me, my absolute favorite cut is the picanha or prime cut of the top sirloin that just so happens to be FDC's signature steak. Some of my other favorites are the fraldinha or bottom sirloin and the beef ancho which is the prime cut of the rib eye. All of the aforementioned cuts of meat were just so juicy and cooked to the medium rare that I just love. Besides the fine meats that are constantly being carved at your table, the service at FDC is also some of the best that I have experienced at any fine establishment. If there is a particular cut of meat that you crave but have not seen for awhile, all you need to do is tell the waiter and he will actually grab your desired meat from the grill in the kitchen. If you love meat, you must find a way to visit Fogo De Chao and experience this churrascaria for yourself.
(5)Greg O.
Food: This week, I have eaten at both the Rodizio Grill and Fogo de Chao--both Brazilian restaurants--and I found the Rodizio to have better-tasting meats. Fogo did have a better salad bar, and I enjoyed the meats and cheeses it had to offer. Service: The service was perfect. The entire staff seemed responsible for each table, and I never had to wait for anything. I also liked how one person asked me if there was a type of meat I wanted, rather than me waiting for the usual rotation. Ambiance: This place is obviously more classy than Rodizios, and I would suggest wearing a decent outfit in order to fit in. The tables were also less crowded, which I appreciated. Cleanliness: There were no complaints about cleanliness. Price: The price is higher than Rodizios by about $10. Overall: While the price is higher and the meats weren't as flavorful, I did like this restaurant, and I would eat here again. I would probably wait for a special occasion though.
(4)Alden G.
Fun and pleasant place, hard-working staff. Chain restaurant, has appeal for small parties, and "date night." The distinguishing feature is the continual, revolving presentation of 15 different cuts of meat to your plate. Fogo is about the experience. We had fun; after awhile, I found the constant interruption a bit of a bother though; time to turn over the card from green to red. Best to mellow the experience with a bottle of very good Argentine Malbec (try Alamoso, $35).
(4)Sara C.
Ever since I've been here for Brazilian Churrascaria I have fallen in love. Not like I wasn't in love before but this place is just the best one I've been out of all the ones I've been to. I think it's because of the service and the quality of the food. The service really tops it off though. Since I've been to Fogo de Chao I have never gone to another Texas De Brazil or Rodizio's. Maybe because I like getting my chair pushed in when I sit and they do that just about every time! The quality of the salad bar, when you get a chance to go to the salad bar, is amazing. I love all the cold dishes with the smoked salmon, grilled artichoke hearts, asparagus...etc. I say when you get a chance because a lot of the people won't eat that to fill them up so they can pack in more meat during the trip. I really like their chewy bread and their fried bread that looks like french fries. (Tasted like fried corn bread sticks.) Everything here is amazing, I accidentally tried the lamb and it wasn't until second bite that I realized it was lamb. It was not that gamey, I'm just not a lamb eater. I loved all the steak selections and even their chicken is tasty. Try at least one bite of everything! The lunch buffet would run you $25 before drinks/tax/tip and dinner is $45, which is fairly consistent across the churrascaria business. You have to have their capirinha, it's about $10 for the drink but they make it strong. Really tasty stuff! If it wasn't for celebrating our 2nd anniversary, I probably wouldn't have stuffed myself so full. Wait a minute, who am I kidding? Of course I would have!
(5)D G.
Amazing dinner tonight. The servers Nicholas and Kristin we re fabulous. Shawn the manager was really great, bringing us special cuts right from the fire. The Meat Fell Apart With Our Forks. You need to come here. Seriously.
(5)Jacquie G.
This place is absolutely amazing. Come here if you want to be treated like royalty. Our waiter Tyler knew exactly what we wanted our first time here. The drinks are tasty and the food is drool worthy. I felt like I'd gone to brazil! I'll be coming back for sure!
(5)Brian A.
MEAT!!! Lot's and LOT's of meat! And it's on sticks!! Meat on sticks... a man's paradise! My wife and I went here for our anniversary dinner, which they offered us a free desert however we were WAY too full to take them up on it. Also, we had reservations on a Saturday night, and they were not required... I was a bit surprised by this. The salad bar was good, but if you go there for the salad bar... you need to have your head examined. The meat is really the star of the show, and the staff will be there in a heart beat to give you the meat you crave. If you want something, let them know and ANY of the staff will make sure you get it. Really, that is awesome service. All of the sides were also good, but really, it's about the meat. So try not to eat the whole day before coming, as it's not a cheap meal, but you do get what you pay for. With tax, tip (20%), and drinks our bill was $135 for 2 people.
(4)Edward S.
I loved this place. The salad bar is fantastic and the gentlemen who bring the meat to the table are expert with the presentation. I will go back again and again. I do recommend that you fast the day that you dine here. You will want to try the huge variety of delicious meats as well as a spectacularly stocked salad bar.
(5)Becky C.
Let me start by saying that all you can eat is not generally a good thing for me. I eat very small portions so I never get my money's worth. However, in the past buffets have let me take what was left on my plate home with me. Not here. And not only would they not let me take things home the host was very snide about it. "With all due respect ma'am maybe you should put less on your plate". I assure you I only had a normal restaurant portion on my plate. Absolutely ridiculous that for $45 I don't come home with leftovers. One of my joys of eating out is the to go box I always take home. Even when I go to breakfast I take something home because I can never eat the portions in a restaurant and I hate wasting food. I was told "if we let everyone take food to go we'd have to close our doors". I don't believe that at all...they did not seem to be hurting for business and at $45 I think they could be a little more accommodating. I recently found out that rodizio does let you take food to go and for less money....next time friends want to go for Brazilian steakhouse that's where we'll go Also drink service was terrible. I had to ask twice for my first cocktail and I was never offered a second cocktail. I only went there because friends wanted to go. The food isn't that great for the price, especially if I have to stuff myself to the point of discomfort to get my money's worth.
(1)Rob C.
What can I say great service, beautiful salad bar but the succulent meat feast is a dream from ribs to filet mignon chicken, pork, steak, lamb & different kinds of sausages. the bake bananas are yummy as well as the fried polenta & mashed potatoes. dont forget the extremely nice bar cart have a $225.00 cognac totally worth it & for desert have the papaya cream it helps you to digest all the protein you consumed. you can dress up or casually Denver is just that cool but make reservations it stays busy even during weeknights I hope to see you there!
(5)Ron C.
F is as in Fogo and Fraud - as far as Restaurant Week is concerned. If you are going to showcase your restaurant to occasional regular diners and those who may be trying you for the first time, it is imperative to offer a full meats menu. Had I realized you eliminated filet mignon, ribeye and beef ribs from your offerings for restaurant week, I may have gone elsewhere. Or done lunch at your establishment during the week to get the full meats dining experience. So basically for the $30 Restaurant Week price, you deleted at least $10 in meats from your regular menu charge....sneaky. At least offer the missing meats as a separate add-on, again though if you did that then people would realize your dishonesty in the first place. The dining experience itself was decent as usual, great salad bar, pretty good meats of those that were served (if you like constant top sirloin). Service was a bit uneven, the meat servers get in your face and if you are out to the salad bar, they almost knock you over (and glare at you). My server was generally efficient, but it took almost 30 minutes to provide a final bill and receipt so that I could leave (missed an hourly bus as result-asked if he could get it fairly quick). Was completely unacceptable and reflected in his final tip (I planned on tipping 25% & barely did 15%). All in all this was a decent meal but given the dishonesty and new vibe of this restaurant, it will be way down the list of places I consider for a special night out or for a work event in the future. It pains me to say this, as I have done both of the latter in the past with great results. Just a different restaurant now than in the past based on my observations.
(2)Trigger S.
Bravo! From start to finish we received nothing but an awesome experience our waiter a tall chizzled Hispanic boy named Taylor or Tyler (too busy staring at the food) made sure we were 100% taken care as did his helper and other staff members of fogo. The only thing better than the service was the quality of meats they had. The men carrying the cuts were on point and the second you flipped your card over they were there. It was almost as if they were proud that of their product and wanted nothing more than to see your face as you put their meat inside your mouth. One of the best restaurant experiences I've ever had by far. Oh and the blonde manager is almost enough reason to come back. Love you guys.
(5)David M.
When The Hulk takes SuperGirl to the Prom where does he take her to dinner? Fogo de Chao. It's like the Capitol Grill meets Kitchen Buffet: A high end cafeteria where they bring the cow to you and slice him up at your table. Very good salad bar (me loves dat smoked salmon and the mega-wheel of Parmigiano-Reggiano rocks) (asparagus too thick, but that's a minor complaint, huh). Good, and never-ending, but not great, meat products, and some purty good sides (carmelized bananas, polenta cakes, beans = neat). Worth $38/a head. Sure, if you're pregnant and eating for yourself and your about-to-be quadruplets, Excessive? You betcha. Fun? Yes. Good servers and fast and furious attention accompany the gluttony. Bottom line, try it when you need to bulk up your wrestling weight class.
(3)Meredith G.
What should you do on a Monday off and right after a hard bike ride? Go eat all the meat you can fit in your belly (plus dessert). I had my first Fogo experience today and it was lovely. The restaurant was not crowded and the staff were prompt to fill our plates with their various meat dishes and sides. They even came when my card was flipped to red. I loved everything I had except for the fillet wrapped in bacon. To get the bacon so crispy the meat was to well done for my liking. But that's ok, move it aside and get something else. The side of polenta and bananas were amazing and if you haven't put them together in 1 bite make sure you try that combo next time you go. I would eat that for dessert! But, I'm a serious desert lover and now I know I like Brazilian flan. It was creamy and luscious covered with a thin caramel sauce. I would definitely heard here for a huge lunch again. It's Only $25 vs. $35 at dinner time for the same food offerings.
(5)Justin A.
Fogo is absolutely delicious. Salad Bar is good, with tons of gourmet cheeses and other ingredients. The Cheese Bread on the table is also good. And..where else can you find Guarana or Diet Coke in a glass bottle at a restaurant?. But...the best part. The minute you turn the card to Green, they attack you with meats. Every cut of meat is succulent and cooked to perfection. Delicious. Service is also top notch. Come here hungry and leave in a wheel barrel.
(5)Simon J.
Been here a few times - food is always great, service is also excellent. Will defo be back. Only complaint is they do not validate parking at lunchtime. Did not realize that and I ended up paying almost $10 to park when meter parking would have been just $1.50. Otherwise, excellent.
(4)Lauren D.
Our absolute favorite restaurant in denver. The atmosphere is great and the wait staff is impeccable. Our first time in, Evan waited on us and made our evening very special. We've requested him every time since then. The steaks are amazing, especially the picanha. Highly recommended!!
(5)Ian K.
Simply the best restaurant in Denver all around!!!! Thanks for the memories Fogo!
(5)Monica L.
Denver Restaurant Week at Fogo last night was terrific. We went early before they got too busy which worked out well. The atmosphere, service and food were all as good as when I was there when it wasn't DRW. On the salad bar, don't miss the Caesar salad. Their Caesar dressing is really good. The cheese popovers are addictive. My favorite meats are the pork ribs, bacon-wrapped filet, chicken legs and lamb chops. I recommend you skip the turtle cheesecake. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't good either. My husband and two friends had the key lime pie and raved about it. Next time, I'd order the key lime pie or try the chocolate mousse cake.
(4)Stephanie A.
came for 5280 week, Enjoyed it to pieces their salad bar is wicked awesome. and the meat! OH THE DELICIOUS MEAT! The service is fantastic, had the Creme brulee for dessert and cried tears of joy upon taking the first bite of the heavenly masterpiece. They take great care of you here. If I were to mention a down point, all I would say is that the hostess seemed a little unfriendly, I like to be greeted with a smile, and a hello. Other than that, sheer perfection.
(5)Akilah R.
Their signature drinks are phenomenal! I went with a group of friends, some of whom have been to Rio, and it took them back. Great scene, great food, great service (staff push in your chair once you're seated - they're all about the details here). Very attentive, very professional and friendly. Not much more to say than that.
(4)Saad A.
Great restaurant, one of the best Brazilian Churrascaria cuisines you can find anywhere.. oh and it absolutely dwarfes any other Brazilian restaurants that are nearby, no comparison what so ever..
(5)Rae L.
I brought my friend here for his birthday and we both had an excellent time. While the ambiance is not exactly friendly to romance, being a little loud and filled with bustling servers, it was a nice place to get an excellent meal. The service was above and beyond, although you never seem to have the same server for very long as everyone chips in. I loved the costumes of the meat carriers, a nice authentic touch. The food was fabulous. The buffet items were all well done, however I stuck to the cured meats and cheeses and a few of the salads. There was so much to choose from I didn't want to fill up before the meat began. My cocktails were a little slow (where is the bar in this place I don't know) in getting to me, but they were all well made and incredibly tasty. The meat is of course the star however. I didn't want to stop eating it was so good! And they aren't kidding that once you flip green, you will be bombarded by meat. Sometimes even when it's flipped to red, but who is going to say no to such well prepared Filet Mignon? They have various temps cooked on their skewers so if one likes their meat cooked till it's soul is writhing in agony and the other likes it bloody, it's okay. We ended the meal with dessert and a cognac. The servers even went out of their way, even though no one had told them directly, they had overheard our conversation and written Happy Birthday on the plate of the birthday boy - now that's attention to detail! Yes, Fago de Chao is expensive. But it's an experience and one worth having more than once! I can't wait to take more people here to celebrate!
(4)Amy O.
Need to go back for more pão de queijo and caipirinha!!!! YUM
(5)Ryssby R.
If you are are going to participate in restaurant week it is important that you take the opportunity to impress - our server MinWoo did a fantastic job paying attention his clients and taking care of little things that make a big difference. They have a great wine list and the team work is impressive. Great job to the management as your staff is only a good as the leadership and great job to the support staff because a business is only as good as their people. Thank you.
(5)Ramon G.
4.5 to be exact. The food and service speaks for itself at Fogo. As you walk in you know you are about to experience something special. The meats- A delicious assortment consisting of beef, lamb, pork and sausage. Depending on the cut you do get to pick your preferred temperature. I usually stick around medium rare to medium. My fav's are the rib eye, top/bottom sirloin and the garlic tenderloin. The salad bar- Not bad but I think Texas De Brazil has the edge on this. (Not that you come here to eat salad) The bread- Pao de queijo is like candy. Sides- Love the bananas. Service- Knowledgeable, friendly and very attentive. Wine- I've had good luck with their Carmenere's and Cabs. Dessert- Are you kidding? Hint- Don't eat meat all week and be sure to hike a 14'er or run a marathon prior to dining at Fogo. You'll be alright....
(4)Christina Z.
What can I say about Fogo de Chao that hasn't already been said? Other than it's incredibly, mouth-watering delicious, here are a couple of my notes that I'd like to contribute: 1. Go for lunch. It's about half the price and you get all of the same meats (you'll get a couple more sides with dinner, but why eat mashed potatos when you have dozens of pounds of sizzling meat that await?) The side dishes are awesome at both meals, so you won't feel like you're missing out. 2. The salad bar is included with the all-you-can-eat meats and it is awesome. So awesome, in fact, I called the restaurant back the next day to ask WHAT TYPES OF CHEESES WERE FEATURED...they were THAT GOOD. (For those of you who are curious: aged machego and 24-month aged parmesan.) 3. I have an inside joke with my boyfriend that he should take some notes from the gauchos at Fogo...they treat you like a lady (if you happen to be a woman, at least)! To be sure, it's way-over-the-top and it's hard to take their pants seriously, but everytime my boyfriend gets out of line, I let him know that the Fogo men are next in line. But really, once I ordered the caiparainha and it didn't taste great, so they took it back (after I drank half haha) and made me a new, better one after asking what flavors I liked.
(5)Heather P.
Wonderful place for groups, a little loud for maybe a intimate solo date. My group thought the service was great, we were stuffed! Must have a little of everything but do get the fogo beef, garlic pork, and bacon wrapped chicken.
(4)Maggie B.
Another year of Restaurant Week and another great choice! Fogo did not disappoint! I love the fact that the staff works together as a group instead of as individual waiters. It makes getting what you need much easier and you can enjoy your dinner without having to keep looking for your waiter. The steak was amazing as always but this time the chicken was cooked almost (if not better) than the steak. I ate more chicken this time than I ever had before. It was so delicious! I also love the side buffet at the Denver location. They have a ton of options and variety for you to choose not to mention the sides that get brought over to the table. The side buffet is so good it's hard to remember to save room for steak! Also, make sure to save room for cheesecake. This was the first time we have eaten dessert at Fogo and the cheesecake was amazing....just as good as Cheesecake Factory! As always I highly recommended this place for any occasion!
(5)Jerry S.
Went for 5280 for the 4th year in a row. I gotta say it's the best 5280 bang for your buck. Holy meat gluttony, love it!! Never disappointing... unless you're a vegetarian.
(5)Amanda G.
This is the best 52.80 week deal hands down. I'd been to the Fogo's in LA and thought it was great. It's a chain and they are apparently all identical...with the exception of the price. LA charges you more. Anyhow, we went for $52.80 week and it was great. You get to eat off the full menu (and this place has potential to be gluttony), the food is great and the experience is fun (if a little intense). We didn't love how packed in we were but other than that, highly recommended. Call now and get a reservation for next year. :)
(4)J. S.
I have been to about 7-8 Brazilian style steakhouses...and not all Brazilian steakhouses are created equal, that's for sure! Fogo is at the top of the list in my book, the food AND service are both top notch, so I have no complaints here. One thing I should disclose before saying more: we did NOT go on 5280 nights...there seems to be a trend of bad reviews listed by people who ate here during restaurant week. That being said, we have been to this Denver location twice and have been very happy and fulfilled both times. My husband and I have really enjoyed the ambiance and the quality of service and food here. It doesn't get better than that at a restaurant. I don't think either of us ever needed to ask for refills, nor did we have the meat carvers avoid us...just the opposite! They brought us fresh polenta and cheese bread without us asking...just amazing! The meat was tender and juicy. I pefer mine cooked about medium rare and I was very pleased with the cooking of the meat. At the very end of our meal, they surprised us by bringing out a dessert and written in chocolate syrup around the plate it said: "Happy Anniversary!" which was a thoughtful and nice touch. We were very pleased! Definitely try the brazilian flan, I used to hate flan until I had Brazilian flan. Now I'm hooked! I'm curious to try Texas de Brazil, but this place is so good, I just can't justify taking the risk in case Texas de Brazil sucks in comparison... especially since Fogo de Chao is so amazing! If any other Yelpers have been to both, let me know how they compare. We are so thrilled with Fogo that we won't be trying Texas unless we hear otherwise. We are just THAT smitten! :)
(5)Aileen D.
It was all fine and dandy until I hit the salad bar. Great salad bar, heavy on the cheeses and fabulous salmon and chicken salad. But.....What do you mean no rice? I always have black beans which i spoon over rice. It kinda ruined my evening. The polenta cakes and mashed potatoes were ok but not what I was looking forward too. The beef options [esp. the filet] were very tasty and well-seasoned as well as the sausage but I didn't care for the pork [dry], chicken [dry]. Definitely opt for deswert....key lime pie! The servers were very attentive, almost like a parade. It did get annoying when they ignored the RED but, in most instances, I'm glad they persisted. I would come back, if someone else was picking up the tab.
(3)Peter M.
Come with money. Leave happy. The lunch is by far the best deal. Same exact thing as dinner, only a good deal less expensive. Hey, vegetarians... This place is not for you - you are probably not a good fit. at all. Skewers of meat... All kinds. One after another. So good. Bad first date spot. Come hungry. Don't pretend it's not tasty. Eat LOTS! All in one pricing makes this place awesome for those with an appetite for meat, but bad for calorie counting, self conscious types. Those types should go get a salad while real Americans get their grub on. That is all. Go Broncos.
(5)Chris W.
Great Salad bar with HUGE asparagus spears, greens, artichokes, hearts of palm even? ...cured meats and cheeses, lots to choose from! Go easy and save some room for the MEAT! Some of my favorite's were the Picanha, Filet Mignon, and the Alcatra. In my opinion, don't bother with dessert, and get an extra order of the caramelized bananas If you're drinking, be careful of the Caipirinha's (especially the premium one @ $12.50 a pop), they go down really easy! Glad we were dining here during Denver Restaurant Week....I think I would save this one for lunch time, and save a little coin. Lunch = $24.50 pp Dinner = $42.50 pp The atmosphere is pretty loud, and there are servers rushing around quite a bit. This is somewhat expected due to the way they serve the meats, and such. Just note that a quiet/intimate "date" night might be difficult to obtain here. Again, this may be due to the Restaurant Week rush. Cheers, CW
(3)Amanda T.
Fantastic food and drink + outstanding service+the best dining companion =perfect evening! After reading my less than stellar review, one of the family members that own Fogo de Chao contacted me, we then talked on the phone, I explained my concerns, he understood where I was coming from and he then explained that they were just coming off of restaurant week so the food and service may have not been up to par, he insisted not only on refunding my money, but mailing me a $100 gift card because he wanted to me to try them again. Obviously impressive. To top it off, B had received a $50 gift card from Laura L. as a thank you for helping with Yelpalooza 2.0 so we had decided that at some point we'd do it up. We finally did and it was amazing! The food was much better this time. Not only better but wonderful! And the service wasn't as over the top as last time. Attentive, but not hovering. B. adored the Fillet Mignon and was bummed that they had not circulated the again so when they came over with another meat, he asked about it and they brought more out to him. Perhaps that is my only complaint: the circulation of the meats. It seems that they circulate some meats more than others, and I don't think it's based on popularity or cooking time, but more on the cost of the cut of meat. It was a bummer because I was full and they had cleared my plate they came out with new meats that hadn't been out before. I'm sure they would have brought me a new plate if I had asked, but I wanted to save room for dessert. And I'm glad I did! I've been on a Key Lime Pie craze lately so I had that. Outstanding! B had the strawberry ice cream thingy. It was tasty, but we both agreed that it was nothing to write home about. B also wanted to have the drink cart come over, they did and I had a really tasty sweet wine, comparable to a port, and B had some extra fancy edition of Grand Marnier. While it won't be a place I'll frequent, I'll definitely return to Fogo when I'm in the mood for a meat-fest and have the extra money to spend.
(4)Kathleen A.
Nothing spells Valentine's Day better than a full-on bonafied meat coma with your significant other. I had been to Fogo a few times before, in Chicago. The Denver spot was no different. The service is still spectacular and the food is AMAZING. Funny that Rob K. calls this place a "meat parade" because that was Matt's very same expression after a few gauchos came out with different cuts of meat. I referred to it as a Meat storm so you get the picture. Everything was delicious. I can't really narrow down my absolute favorite, but the standouts were: the chicken legs, parmesean encrusted pork loin and bacon wrapped chicken and filets. I also loved the sides-carmelized bananas, polenta and mashed potatoes. But do not focus on these so much as the meat you are consuming! The staff was very attentive, and did not hesitate to fulfill my multiple meat requests. They made sure our sides were always fresh and hot and drinks never empty!!! If you are a meat eater you have to come here! Make sure you starve yourself all day first to get your money's worth. Sure the salad bar is great, but don't waste your stomach space! At $38 per person this place is definitely worth every penny.
(5)Dan S.
Up front, let me say I vacillated a bit between four and five stars. We had a tremendous meal here with a group of friends. My wife eats gluten-free, and almost everything was gluten-free - even the cheese bread (po de queijo), which is made with manioc flour. A real treat for her. Our server not only gave her some suggestions but brought the manager over who was familiar with everything and gave her the rundown - they were very accommodating. The salad bar is not as extensive as some, but the food was fresh, tasty and fun. They make a basil sauce/dressing that is excellent, particularly with the hearts of palm and artichokes. My wife may very well just have the salad bar when we go next. As we approach the meats, they bring over some sides - heavenly carmelized bananas, next to forgettable crispy polenta and mashed potatos I didn't even try. BUT, make sure you ask for the optional side dishes - the farofa (also made with manioc flour) and beans were great (and awesome together). The meats ranged from pretty good to great. I was pleasantly surprised by the Parmesan Pork - a great combination and not overdone. The Fraldinha was very good, the Picanha just a little disappointing (it is breathtaking in Brasil, including at a Fogo de Chao I ate at in Sao Paolo). The pork ribs were terrific. The service was rapid fire - take a deep breath and tell them no if you don't want a particular type. Also, don't be shy about asking them to bring something specific over, if you haven't tried it or just want more. They have the good Guarana (Antarctica, which is a Brasilian soda, compared to ginger ale, but better). I was salivating at the idea of Papaya Cream with Creme de Cassis - it is a wonder of the desert world. Their version is heavier on the ice cream than I prefer, but still excellent and the best I've had in the States. Don't miss it. One critical note, and it is a small one, but they brought over a fancy cart with after dinner drinks and the sales pitch was a little heavy-handed. We managed to say 'no thank you', however. A great place for a group and a plethora of choices if you eat gluten-free.
(4)Stephanie L.
I'd been wanting to try Fogo for a while. My husband had been a few times in other US cities, and said it was the best churascaria around. We dined there recently and it did not dissapoint. I am a huge fan of the salad bar, although calling it a salad bar is really an insult. I can't get enough of the fresh cheeses and meats and the fresh veggies. So onto the main course... the meat. It was wonderful. Defintiely a higher quality meat that other churascarias that I've been to. My favorite was their house special, the garlic beef and the lamb chops. The side dishes they bring out are also great. What is most impressive about Fogo is the staff and the service. They do not mess around. Most people I know could take a lesson on work ethic from them. Expensive.... but worth it every once in a whle.
(5)Shane S.
Impressive... after a disappointing meal at one of Denver's finest steakhouses the night before, this restaurant was a pleasant surprise. I can't believe I am saying this but the salad bar alone was worth the trip. Be careful not to fill up too much at the salad bar and bring your appetite. This place is a typical Brazilian steakhouse where the waiters come table-side with endless cuts of meat. You have a "button" which is red on one side and green on the other which will alert the waitstaff to either come to your table with more meat or lay low for a while. They also have some side dishes like garlic mashed and asparagus which accompany the endless meat-fest. Some of the meat was spectacular and perfectly cooked (The garlic steak), some others were either slightly over or under cooked but the quality of the meat and the marinades made up for it. Overall a very great night of meat! My Creme brulee for desert was fantastic. Most of the customers were in very casual attire.
(4)Christian R.
The meat here isn't necessarily something to crave for, but there is a "variety" of selection to chose from. Most definitely don't waste your stomach space on the salad bar. Great place to come with meat loving friends and family.
(4)Kevin K.
Went there for my birthday last year and we had a group of 12. We still talk about how awesome that meal was. Great ambiance and super tasty meats. A bit salty perhaps but still awesome. The cold bar was really impressive too.
(5)Meg D.
My father took me, the vegan, to dinner here. Let me preface this review by saying it wasn't my choice. However... As soon as we arrived, my father informed the waitress that I "didn't eat meat" and was there anything on the menu for me? The waitress informed him that I could make selections from the salad bar and that my meal would be at a reduced price. I have to admit, the salad bar was excellent. Lots of variety, and lots of things that I was able to choose from. The waitress also went out of her way for me, bringing me the polenta fries without cheese on top, and she had the chef make a special order of mashed potatoes for me without any dairy. I was so grateful to the waitress for going out of her way for me - she didn't have to and the above and beyond service was well-appreciated. However, the charge for the salad alone was $25, and I feel that was quite unreasonable given it was the only thing I was able to have.
(4)Garth E.
THIS PLACE IS UNREAL. First, the waiter comes around with a tray of Caipirinha cocktails. Personally, I love everything that has to do with limes, especially drinks. The Caipirinha is full of muddled lime slices and rum. How much better can you get? Then, you start your salad bar course. The salad bar seems almost endless. Full of different salads, cured meats, cheeses, grilled and marinated vegetables, and so much more. You will definitely be tempted to fill your plate with a little bit of everything and go back for more. BUT DON'T. THE MEAT IS STILL COMING. My personal strategy is to get a little bit of all my most favorite things (cured meats and cheese) and force myself to avoid everything else. Trust me, it won't be easy. After you've finished your salad bar course, you turn your little card to green. Green means go. As in, BRING ON THE MEAT. In hoards the waiters come over with swords of meat, asking you if you'd like some. My advice? Say yes to everything. It's all so good. There's also unlimited sides (mashed potatoes, fried polenta, and fried plantains). Again, the sides are tempting, but I'd minimize them and focus on the meat. Dessert? Totally unnecessary. You'll definitely get the meat sweats with this place. But it's definitely worth it.
(5)Marcy P.
Could not have been more happy with this place. Went on December 6th for my boyfriends birthday dinner. Super friendly and attentive staff and the beef is to die for! My boyfriend and I were literally gasping at how delicious every piece of meat we tried was. Saving up to go back again! spent around $150 for the two of us and well worth it.
(5)Brooke B.
Ooooh. my. God. Amazing! We got a gift certificate for Christmas and already went to enjoy a date night here- and it was heavenly. It's definitely not a quiet, romantic spot- but it's friggin' delish. I have been to other Brazilian Steakhouses and NONE have had meat this good. I'm by no means a meat connoisseur, but I knew enough to appreciate every. single. BITE! You must be quick on the flip for the green light/red light to bring or stop the meat. They want to give you everything! It's ok to say no and wait a few minutes to ensure you don't collapse in a food coma. Expensive, but worth every penny! You would never be able to try all of those meats on your own for that price. Yumm...
(5)Daniel T.
Good food and good service. Salad bar is plentiful and the meats always keep coming. That said, Fogo de Chao will never be Texas de Brazil. Fogo's meats are good but not exceptional. The staff is good but sometimes forgetful and slow. Ambiance is more "retirement community" than a night out. So it's a very good place but has some places to improve on for the price.
(3)Meggin R.
If it wasn't for the service of the hostess this would be a total five star for me. We went last night for our "valentines." We do it early so we avoid the crowds. We made a reservation a few days before. When we walked up I said "7 o clock reservation for Ben Jackson" That is a very easy name to say, understand, and spell. The hostess was very confused. "I don't have a reservation for Ben, is that the last name?" I explained that no, Jackson is the last name, Ben is the first. Thinking "duh". After a bit more squinting she found it. She handed us a pager and we went to sit at the bar. I asked for some fruity cocktail and they did an amazing job. As a people watcher, I was really impressed with the bar staff. There were only two of them, and they were taking orders from the very busy bar, plus all of the waiters who came in an yelled very complicated drink orders. They were great. After waiting and waiting and waiting, and seeing a couple go in who I know came in after I was done with my drink, I went up to the hostess and asked. She said "oh, yeah, I didn't write down your pager number." So we had been sitting there and waiting, and she hadn't even tried to find us to correct it. At one point someone came around and asked if we were Jeff, but that isn't quite Ben. I was not pleased. But they seated us right away after that. Once we got in it was great. As usual, my husband ate far too much at the salad bar. I limited my self to the good cheese and excellent salami and prosciutto. When we flipped our cards to green it was a bit overwhelming. The meat comes fast and furious. So fast, that at one point after one left, my husband grabbed our cards and flipped them over very fast. We managed to try one of everything, and it was amazing. We've been to Rodizio, but its been so long ago that I can't remember it well enough to compare. We decided to do Fogo instead because they support NPR, and we like to go to places that support NPR. All and all, if they lost the hostess, this is a fantastic place to go.
(4)Jared B.
One of my favorite places around. The food and staff are both amazing and over the top. Fogo de Chao is the epitome of going the extra step. I have never been taken better care of at a restaurant in my life. The money spent is worth every penny. OM NOM NOM
(5)aaron n.
Love Fogo de Chao, I've been here probably 8 times already. Make sure to try the Brazillian soda, it's probably the best regular soda there is made with real sugar. The filet wrapped with bacon is a personal favorite. Can't go wrong with the cheese bread either.
(5)Courtney Z.
I was very excited about my 5280 reservation at Fogo de Chao this past Saturday night, I'd heard great things and looked forward to trying the place for myself. We arrived about 20 minutes prior to our reservation. First gripe, we completely missed their sign for valet parking which is located down the street from the entrance to the restaurant. We ended up spending $10 to park in a garage about a block away due to their poor signage. Since we were early, we decided we would grab a drink at the (crowded) bar. After a 5+ minute wait, the bartender took our order. We asked for 2 glasses of Pinot Noir. To our disappointment, the wine wasn't very good. We assumed it was the house wine and decided just to drink it anyway and we could get a better bottle at the table. They offered to just transfer the drinks to our table. Our name was called promptly at 8, luckily, since the bar was overly packed with waiting patrons. Service at Fogo was the only thing worth praise. The waitstaff was on top of their game, keeping water full and checking in on us frequently (but not too frequently!). The dining area lacked atmosphere; it was almost cafeteria-like with table upon table stacked in a large open room. And extremely bright for an 8pm Saturday dinner out. All of the meat seemed to have been soaked in salt. The filet was the only thing that was really excellent. Anything that was wrapped in bacon was over wrapped (think 2 huge slices of bacon for a tiny bite of chicken!). The rest of the red meats all tasted the same - like salt! When we finally got our tab we found out our bad Pinot Noir from the bar was $14 a glass! We had a bottle of wine with our meal (Malbec) that was on special for $28 -- our two bad glasses of Pinot cost as much as a nice bottle of Malbec! WTF? While I left full, I felt like there were several meats that I missed, but once I discovered that everything tasted like salt, I didn't really want anything else. Bottom line, I wouldn't go back. Especially to pay full price for the experience. Save your $$ and enjoy a nice, well flavored steak at one of the many Denver options!
(2)Donald M.
I am thrilled to award my prestigious Yelp Five Star Rating to Fogo de Chao. Two chief things to be cognizant of: go hungry and eat slowly. It's easy to get greedy and let the gauchos pile meat on your plate, but don't fall prey. Each selection, and I believe that there are fifteen selections, is stellar (the seasoning can be a bit heavy-handed), but you will surely favor some over the others. Try as many as you can, chew your food, and then gorge on your favorites. My favorite was beef. The salad bar is nothing to sneeze at either. It features a dizzying array of salads, vegetables, and cold dishes, but go easy. Go ahead and eat that salad, but be mindful of what you're there for: meat. The smoked salmon is easily the most delicious I've eaten. It tastes like bacon. Genius.
(5)Larren M.
I waited to complete this review until I had another chance to try Fogo de Chao since the first time was a special circumstance and not the experience people normally receive. That being said, I feel like I have a much firmer grasp on my opinion, and I'm going as far as to say that Fogo de Chao is the best "Brazilian" steak house I've had the pleasure of stuffing my face at. Let's start with our first experience at Fogo de Chao. My wonderful boss decided that Fogo would be a great place to hold our Christmas party this last year and I couldn't have agreed more. I had heard great things about Fogo de Chao before getting a chance to go, so I was very excited. Well, immediately upon walking in, the wife and I were greeted and escorted through the restaurant to our party. Just the quick trip to our private room and I was astonished by the size of the place. There is a lot of dining space, which makes sense considering the type of place it is. I think having a private room for my first experience at Fogo made me a little spoiled. As I mentioned, our first trip to Fogo de Chao was with my work -- no expense was spared and we had an entire group of people looking after us which made the experience much more personable from a service and dining standpoint. That's not to say that our second trip wasn't comparable. The second time we were with great friends, which made up for the short comings of the experience. For me the second trip wasn't as intimate, the tables were very close together(which I'm sure was due to restaurant week) and we didn't have that unlimited attention "thing" going on like we did the first time around. Despite my complaints, the service at Fogo de Chao is on point and the entire staff deserves high marks. Things don't change much at Fogo de Chao(s). From what I can tell by going there twice, they always have the same cuts of meat and the same items on the salad bar. Which is not a bad thing; you definitely get what you pay for. Upon being seated we were promptly greeted, asked what we'd like to drink and whether or not it was our first time dinning at Fogo de Chao. If it is your first time, they give you a brief speech about how it all works. It's all about "green" for go and "red" for stop on the round cards they give you to signal the meat-men to start cutting. Once you are brought up to speed, you get to start with the salad bar. This is not the salad bar at Wendy's. You can choose from an assortment of delicious things: hearts of Palm, fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, marinated mushrooms, giant asparagus, various types of lettuce and dressings (sauces), cheeses, plates of cured meats and smoked salmon, and even a huge bowl full of bacon - and I don't mean bacon bits, I'm talking full pieces! One bit of advice is not to let the salad bar fill you up. Trust me, you'll be tempted, but be strong. You can always take another trip back. After enjoying your lovely salad with the various accoutrements, the table will be cleared and the show will begin. In the case of our first experience at Fogo de Chao, I had never seen anything quite like it. The people that served the meat flooded the room and in a tornado of meat and swords they flew around cutting this, cutting that and dropping it onto our plates. This was when I realized just how crucial that little card is they give you. Our second experience wasn't quite as fanciful. I doubt they could have done it as well as our first time around. As the meat is served to you, you'll also notice an assortment of sides being placed around the table. Seasoned mashed potatoes, which are the bomb I might add, little wedges of crispy hot polenta, pão de queijo (warm cheese bread), and caramelized bananas. Good god do those bananas fit in well. I found myself taking a bite of the bananas after every bite of meat. Those two flavors worked very well together. There are about 15 different cuts of meat served. Without going into every single one of them, I'll just mention the ones I like best. At the top of that list it'll have to be the Picanha, very moist and delicious and perfectly cooked and cut to your liking with wonderful bits of salt on the outside. Next I'll go with the Beef Ancho (rib eye). There is no question that the rib eye is my favorite cut of meat and this is no exception; perfectly salty and juicy. The Cordeiro (lamb) is exceptionally nice; it was very savory with that subtle gamey flavor. One of my other favorites was the Linguica (sausage); it's a pork sausage with a nice blend of seasonings that give it just a little bit of a bite. There are many more, even cuts that are wrapped in bacon, but those are my favorites. With great service and outstanding food quality, Fogo de Chao really does it right. Fogo de Chao is a great addition to the Denver food scene. It's a great place to take friends or a group of people and enjoy a very unique meal and dining experience. I'd bring your appetite if I were you.
(4)Topher M.
You can read the other reviews, or look up - what a currascaria is all about. Qualifications in my book: 1) Don't eat all day before arriving and 2) Being an extreme carnivore helps. I can tell you that all of the meat here is simply amazing - not your standard currascaria fare, but simply better. Typically there are a few varieties that are too tough, bland, whatever. You won't experience that here. They do well with cutting to your favored "doneness" - bloody to crisp. Now - with that out of the way... the highlight is really the salad. When you arrive at churrascarias, you go for the roughage first... typically a salad bar. Like the meat - they take it to the next level. Shitake mushrooms, beautiful spinach and other greens, gouda and queso manchego; I kid you not - I could (would) have filled up on the salad bar if the delicious meat-fest wasn't to follow and would have been satisfied. With the meal - you get amazing biscuits (cheesebread, or pao de queijdo - the recipe is online), polenta squares, sweet sauted bananas, and garlic mashed potatoes. Yes, this is all before you turn the coaster over to green and the servers flock to your table with kabobed goodness. A little bugged about the caipirinha. Not traditional. Still good. Minor detail. Now, this is not your lower-end currascaria. I've been to one in Brooklyn that was picnic talbes and wooden hourglass-shaped signals at the end of table with green meaning "the whole damned table wants meat NOW". This is for high-brow carnivores. The food and aesthetics are within that same caliper. Expensive, and amazing. TERRIFIC for groups. Might be romantic for a date - fun at least, but the onslaught of servers is distracting. As we are strange people in a strange town... we asked for a quick tour of the back, somewhat jokingly. The server didn't miss a beat and brought us back to see behind-the-scenes. Great service, attitude, and loads o' fun.
(5)True M.
Went here after my high school graduation for lunch and loved it. The guachos were very kind and would come to our table with various sorts of meat. I just loved how they would come right after I flipped my card. The selection of meat is amazing, and the salad bar is filled with delicious fresh veggies and appetizers. I don't even have much to say about this place because it is already amazing in itself. You have to go try it out yourself, but go during lunch because it's cheaper :)
(5)Jarrod R.
In my thirty or so years of doing solid foods, I for the first time found what was unequivocally the best meal of my life. I realize that is very bold statement and not something to throw out there lightly, but the certainty of my of my declaration is absolute with this one. Only after the benchmark has been set can we establish where the bar truly sits. As for the benchmark, we're not talking about Sizzler, Texas Roadhouse or even Outback. I am talking about the likes of Morton's, Ruth's Chris, and the Double Eagle in Ft. Worth. I've tried the famous steakhouses bearing the names of Jordan, Farve, Elway and Nolan Ryan with all paling in comparison. The high rating speaks for itself and with all the rave reviews I ask myself what can even be left to say about this place and yet I can't help but feel compelled to share my own experience. I went in aware of all of the hype surrounding the salad bar and yet was still blown away. What has to be the most impressive salad bar I've ever seen is included with every meal here. The highlights include a Mount Everest of high quality, crisp, perfectly cooked full strips of bacon. Then there were 1/2 thick slices of fresh and tasty tomatoes the size of a softball. Where are they even finding tomatoes like this; it's winter and we're in Denver. Seasoned balls of fresh mozzarella? Perfect. Strips of smoked salmon? Why not. Enough choices of high quality sliced meats and cheeses to rival any deli? You bet. Then there was the standard build it yourself salad faire. That said, standard in Fogo De Choa fashion is by no means average; we're not talking about a Ruby Tuesday here. As great as this salad bar is, unless you're a vegetarian, you're not going to want to do anything more than dabble in it because the best is yet to come. As I flipped my card over to green (signaling bring on the meat) my heart began to race just a little. From that moment on there was an onslaught of Gauchos (Brazilian cowboys) in full costume wielding skewers with offerings of carnivorous heavenly delights moments removed from the open flame. I was raised on red meat and consider myself well versed in the art of the steak, but yet none of this prepared me for what I experienced on this night. Every bite of every cut of meat I tried was flavorful, succulent and absolutely perfect in every way. I really enjoyed being able to experience the subtle differences of each of the different cuts of meats all in one sitting. Unlike a typical steak place where a sides come ale carte at $7 plus a pop, they're included with your meal here. Unfortunately the mashed potatoes were merely a distraction from the show and were quickly banished to the far side of the table like a red headed step child. With food as good as this I would accept bad service, no service, slow service or whatever they wanted to throw at me. However I've got to say the service I received here was as good or better than any I've ever received anywhere. I especially appreciated that after sampling my choice of the 15 meat offerings, the chance to request return visits of all of my favorites. The entire experience was incredible and memories of the Fraldinha (bottom cut of sirloin) will not soon be forgotten. Where there were once nightly dreams of Bianca Kajlich, there are now only reoccurring visions of Fogo De Chao's steaks. Well except for the one a couple of nights ago where she was standing at my table in lingerie. Unfortunately my only thought was "God, I hope she doesn't distract the Gauchos en route with my next serving of steak." I would definitely recommend that anyone who has an opportunity to try this place does.
(5)Safford B.
I'm sorry, but I'm just not sold on the Brazilian steakhouse eat-til-you-puke concept, even in the "premium" format that Fogo De Chao tries to pull off. It's just a little cruise-shippy to me. We came here for Denver Restaurant Week, so we called several months ahead to get a reservation. When we arrived, we were still told that we needed to wait 15-20 minutes, and that they'd put our name on the waiting list. Pretty sure that's what reservations are for. Because it was Denver Restaurant Week, the crowd may have been a little more herd-like than usual, but it really put me off. The salad bar was a stampede. The staff couldn't figure out how to do crowd control, and I was shoved out of the way by an old woman trying to get in front of me so that she could get the last scoop of chicken salad. Cafeteria classy. As for the salad bar itself, it was good. I do enjoy all of the marinated vegetables like portobellos and hearts of palm, and the cured meats are good as well. Of course, you can pick up all of this stuff in the deli at Whole Foods or some of the fancier King Soopers, so it's not unique, but it's good. The meat was a major disappointment. Most of it was overcooked. I am a rare guy myself, but understand in this kind of setting, I'm going to be in the minority. That being said though, when pretty much every cut of meat is grey, I can't be the only one thinking that all the flavor and texture is gone. The filet mignon was the only thing I saw that was medium-rare. Unfortunately, it was nothing but sinew. It took me eight motions with a serrated knife to get through it. Definitely not "melt in your mouth" quality. The bacon-wrapped version of the filet never made it our way, so we didn't get to give it a second try. A few items will be spared this scathing review. The pork sausage (linguica) was really good. The fried polenta was also hard to stop eating. Unfortunately, a couple of high spots isn't enough to make up for the fact that Fogo was a kitschy and underwhelming experience. This is the last time we burn a Denver Restaurant Week night on a chain, no matter how popular it is.
(2)Karen P.
We have eaten here several times and the food has always been fabulous. I am giving only 2 stars because of the manner I was treated by the hostess staff on our way out. I asked if they could call a cab to pick us up. I was told that a cab would take 20 minutes and they would only make the call if we would promise to wait for it. What? I guess they are afraid to offend the cab driver. We just spent several hundred dollars on dinner and I was not happy being dictated to about the terms of a cab ride. I know this is a little thing, but it left me with a bad taste in my mouth. There are lots of other great restaurants where we can go spend our money.
(2)LaShawn R.
We were here for Denver Restaurant Week for a meal before going to see Wanda Sykes at the Paramount. Having never been there before, I was expecting the place to be like Texas de Brazil. Yes, it is a Churrascaria (Brazilian steakhouse) like Texas de Brazil, but that's pretty much the only comparison. The salad bar definitely had fewer selections, and the meat server guys (I know they have a much better title than that but it eludes me right now) scarcely made an appearance at our table when we flipped our cards to green. When they did make an appearance to our table, it was usually with a beef selection. The sirloin was plentiful but not much else was coming around. We had to request that the linquica and chicken come to our table. The best thing about the meal was the drink I had. I forget what it was called but it tasted like a mojito-margarita hybrid. It was yummy. Other than that, there was nothing special about Fogo de Chao. I will definitely stay true to Texas de Brazil when I feel like gorging myself with tasty spitted meat!
(2)Siv L.
Being from the Philadelphia area, I've always wanted to try Fogo de Chao but ended up going to the one in Denver with my boyfriend and cousin this past week. The service was great. Everyone was friendly and attentive. No reservation was needed. We ordered a bottle of red and started off snacking on pao de queijo, warm cheese bread. It is so delicious, we couldn't resist filling our bellies with extra bread (not a good idea for a place like this). We then stopped off at the salad bar. I wanted to try a bite of everything but refrained. Some of my favorites were the tabbouleh (first time having it, very parsley-heavy and not too much bulgur wheat, very great with the lamb!), the smoked salmon (so yummy!), the thick bacon, and the shitake mushrooms. With all of this came sides that included polenta, garlic mashed potatoes, and carmelized bananas. I didn't want to fill up on sweets so only tried a few bites of the mashed potatoes and loved them. When we finally were ready to start on some meat, they kept coming and coming (despite our cards being turned with red (STOP!) face up). My goal was to try everything but ended up losing track of what I had eaten as I got fuller and fuller. The pieces that were cut were very large (we ended up wasting a ton of meat so my suggestion would be for the servers to cut smaller pieces more frequently so that food will be less likely to be wasted). I also did not like that sometimes I would ask for medium rare and instead would be served meat prepared medium, so I was reluctant to fill up with meat that wasn't prepared to my liking (another reason why I was so wasteful). We tried most meats (I didn't try the filet wrapped in bacon, the pork loin covered with Parmesan cheese, pork ribs, or leg of lamb). I did however try everything else (sausage, chicken leg, chicken wrapped in bacon, rib eye, beef ribs, filet mignon, 2 types of top sirloin, bottom sirloin, and lamb chops). By far, my favorites were the lamb chops, top sirloin (so juicy and thin), and the chicken leg (juicy and marinated very well). I ended up asking for more lamb chops after lamb chops but towards the end of the night, I was being served chops cooked medium instead of medium rare which I had requested. However I still enjoyed all of the lamb (especially with the tabbouleh!). Although I recommend Fogo de Chao for anyone who's never been, I probably would not eat here again as I thought towards the end of the meal that if I ate any more meat I would puke and become a vegetarian! I love meat too much to risk ruining my relationship with it during another trip to Fogo de Chao! But red meat lovers should come and eat their hearts out!
(4)Nicole U.
Meat baby and fat pants. That is the aftermath of eating here, but oh so worth it. I have eaten at the Beverly Hills location and decided this would be a great place to take my aunt to while on vacation in Colorado. We were not let down. The salad bar started off the meal just right. I had a plate full of fresh mozzarella, manchego and parmesan cheeses, a few slices of tomatoes and some other veggies. The meat selection was awesome. I loved flipping over that little round card to signal to bring on the meat. The servers came flying by, I was a little overwhelmed at first but then just sat back and watched the show. I loved everything. The pork ribs were tasty, the beef ribs so perfectly tender. The bacon wrapped chicken, and filet were of course awesome as well. If I had to pick my favorite I would be torn between the lamb chops, and the parmesan crusted pork loin. Both were beyond good. I had seconds, and thirds of each and flagged down the server for just these items. This meal was ridiculous. I have never been so full in my entire life. We staggered out in a meat coma that lasted well until the following day.
(5)Brittany H.
What can I say that hasn't been said about Fogo de Chao? Well, I'm not too sure, but I'll give my two cents anyway. This place was ah-mazing! I had no idea what to expect of Fogo aside from lots of meat. But it's so much more than that! Immediately upon entering you're greeted by warm, friendly, and attentive staff with terribly exciting pants. Next, you'll be seated in a beautiful and immaculate dinning room with a large, delicious salad bar. I could've made a meal straight from the salad bar alone, but knew I had to wait for the main course. I've never been to a Brazilian BBQ, so I was very impressed with the whole experience. You have a coaster with a green side and a red side, which informs the staff who are constantly coming around to each table with skewers of beautiful cuts of meat whether you're ready to sample some more or not. I loved that concept. But here's what you go to Fogo de Chao for: the meat! Vegetarians need not apply! I haven't had so much meat and such delicious cuts before. Holy cow, yes sir, this was amazing on every level. Hot, juicy, and flavorful cuts that keep streaming out of the kitchen. Absolutely fantastic. I couldn't believe how much I actually enjoyed this. I was lucky enough to sample some desserts as well: the flan and the creme brulee. Firstly the flan was so sweet and pure deliciousness. Yum-o! The Brazilian take on flan was brilliant. The creme brulee was also very tasty. Sorry beef cows of the world, Fogo de Chao is out to get you. And you can only hope that you make your way here to delight the taste buds of its diners!
(5)Claire B.
FOGO DE WOW!!!!!!! Just keep your card face up to greeeen!!! The phrase for this restaurant "Keep it coming' baby!!!" Don't eat all day, then go here. You start off with the salad bar, mind you, utilize this salad bar as your healthy side dishes to the carved meats arriving to your table every few minutes. Once you return from the salad bar, turn that card from red to green for the meats to come sliding of swords. They also offer side dishes, though I highly recommend the banana flambé mmmmmmm to die for. Because I'm a hearts of palm fan, you can load up here, since their sooooo damn expensive in the markets. Too bad no doggy bag here hehehehehehe. It's expensive but.... Well worth the delicious food, atmosphere, service and dining experience. I would say its like a Brazillian version of Dim Sum lol!!!!!! Instead of carts coming around, it's men with meats on swords. I recommend all the meats excluding the links... Sorry link fans, this carnivore is there for some lean juicy meats, not hot dogs/brawts ;) The salad bar alone is filling. 5 stars for everything!!!!!!
(5)Rob L.
There was a lot of hype prior to me going there as everyone that I've talked to that has been there was always raving about it. I missed going here when my co-workers cheaped out on our trip to Houston, so this time, when I found out that I had to work in Denver and that there was a location there, I told myself that I'm not gonna skip this place. I skipped the salads and other "fillers" and jumped right to the meats. My favorites were the cheese crusted pork and the top sirloin. The filet was nice and tender, but was not as flavorful as the sirloin. The bacon wrapped chicken was also good. I also loved the bananas and the bread. Their Gold Caipirinha was excellent, went down very smooth and 20 times better than a margarita. In my mind, I thought I would be able to eat serving after serving of meat, but I waved the white flag after about 3 rounds of meats and didn't even have room for flan...that says a lot if you know me, I love my flans! The decor was nice, a classic looking dining room, darkly lit. There were not very many people there as it was a Tuesday evening. The bill came to about 75 bucks a person, not bad for all you can eat meat plus a premium cocktail.
(5)Stephanie F.
TYLER was amazing! Great service & great food! I will be coming back to this restaurant very soon.
(5)Doug Y.
This is a prime example of why I am a yelp-o-maniac. I met really cool people that have turned me onto foods that are a little left turn for me when I was stuck making rights. Thanks so-o-o much Dave for letting me help to celebrate your birthday. Parabéns amigo. Best salad bar to date. Picture perfect and tasty. More and better meat than you could shake.... yeah. Fabulous service. Caipirinhas!!!!!!!! I couldn't have been enjoying the fantastic meal in any better company either. Brazil is more than a favorite movie for me now. It's where some of my favorite people come from. Saúde !
(5)Taylor V.
My brother likes Rodizio best, my roommate loves Texas De Brazil, but if you ask me, Fogo De Chao is easily the best Brazilian churrascaria steakhouse in Denver. I do enjoy both of those other restaurants as well, but if it's my turn to pick - it's Fogo De Chao every time. In my opinion the salad bar selection is best here, the meats are always delicious and high quality, and the service is untouchable.
(5)Lindsey H.
There's not much I can add that hasn't already been said, so I'll just say this place was amazing. Best salad bar I've ever seen- it was hard not to fill up before the meat parade. And the meat parade itself- out of control delicious! I love that they'll bring out anything you want. The service is absolutely top notch. It doesn't get any better than this. It's not cheap, but it's worth every penny.
(5)Jarred F.
Just average Brazilian steakhouse to us. We had HIGH hopes for this place, having heard such great things from friends back east, with people even saying this was the 'best' Churrascaria out there. While the meats were good and the salad bar decent, we found the entire experience very average. To begin with the salad bar was just not as sophisticated as other Brazilian steakhouse experiences, with it just being sparse and not very colorful. The roasted peppers weren't even very roasted. Some of the meats were over seasoned, salty, and even a bit dry at times. Nothing besides the Picanhna was tender, with most cuts being tough.
(3)