There is one word that, to me, best describes Fogo de Chao and that word is ridiculous. I still can't get over the idea that people will pay 50 bucks price fix (OK, 48.50 to be exact but that's not including drinks, desert, tax or tip) so lets say really 80 bucks for all you can eat meat off of a stick. I know I can't eat that much meat. Maybe most people can. Maybe that's why the place was mobbed. Or maybe, like me, they just had to see it for themselves.
I agreed to go on a Friday night for a friend's birthday. He had been to the chain concept before and had very much enjoyed the gluttony of it all. The place itself is large, cold and pretty. It reminded me of Vegas, over the top but expertly done. Everything was well orchestrated with impeccable service. You never had to ask for a thing.
We started with the salad bar, which is all you can eat as well. Nothing unusual there. It was large. It was fresh. Next, the meat, all 15 different cuts cooked over an open flame. All presented on skewers by the roaming Gauchos and cut tableside until you say stop. You get to control the pace of your meal or “feeding” with a two-sided paper disk. Red means stop, green means go. The meat was really good - beef ribs, pork ribs, leg of lamb, chicken drumsticks, pork sausage, top sirloin, bottom sirloin, filet mignon with bacon, the list goes on and on and on. In addition to the assembly line of meat, at the table was an array of tasty side dishes including warm cheese bread, fried bananas, fried polenta and garlic mashed potatoes. Each would be replenished before the last bite was consumed.
If you still have room, which you won’t but you’ll figure that you’ve come this far and won’t be doing anything the rest of the night besides eating Tums in front of the TV, they do have desert. I tried their signature Papaya pudding, which was served in a large wine glass with sweet liquor on top. The consistency was a little too watery for my liking. I also took a taste of the Crème Brule and chocolate Gelato. Both good but nothing special. It really is all about the meat.
As I waddled out of the place I was really surprised and interested in the type of people dining there because it seamed like everyone was there, from groups of business men and families with small kids to tourists, prom dates, seniors, you name it. All paying 50 bucks per person for all you can eat meat, not including drinks, desert, tax or tip. I just had to say it again. Ridiculous.
Fogo de Chao
661 N. LaSalle St.
The food itself was great! I could have made a meal at the salad bar, and then gone back tomorrow for meat (tender filet wrapped in bacon - yum! and how did they keep everything warm??). But I found the whole experience rather disruptive. We went for a business lunch, and the gauchos kept interrupting otherwise productive conversation.
Posted by: Joanna | June 15, 2006 at 02:42 PM