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Fogo De Chao
Categories: Restaurants Brazilian Restaurants Steakhouses Brazilian, Steakhouses
1513 Wynkoop StDenver, CO 80202
Neighborhoods: Northwest, Lodo
(303) 623-9600
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 2 pm
Mon-Thu 5 pm - 10 pm
Fri 5 pm - 10:30 pm
Sat 4:30 pm - 10:30 pm
Sun 4 pm - 9 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Street, Valet
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy, Upscale, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
198 reviews for Fogo De Chao
Review Highlights
"On the salad bar, don't miss the Caesar salad."
(in 125 reviews)
"The bacon wrapped chicken was also good."
(in 15 reviews)
"I also enjoyed the Filet Mignon."
(in 27 reviews)
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198 reviews in English
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Review from Brooke B.
1/3/2012
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... -
Review from Stephen K.
Denver, CO
1/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
(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. -
Review from Jake V.
12/24/2011
Do you want an unlimited selection of meats?!? This is your place.
Eat the chicken hearts and anything else you've never tried before. -
Review from Nikole T.
Denver, CO
2/3/2012
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. -
Review from April G.
Denver, CO
1/29/2012
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!
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Review from Howard R.
Coram, NY
Updated - 1/12/2012
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.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/20/2010
I am visiting Denver and ate here last night with my son. Amazing doesn't do Fogo De Chao justice.… Read more »
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Review from Adam J.
12/12/2011
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. -
Review from Megan E.
12/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
Had a great lunch here to celebrate the end of the semester. Reservations were a bit tricky and our initial table was bad but they moved us to a better table and after that the meal was great. Meat comes fast so be prepared. Order a carbonated beverage to help you make room!
Lunch is plenty of food and less than dinner - even with the parking (I suggest the lot just past the restaurant, pay for 2 hours - $10-11). Lunch is only M-F. -
Review from Russell G.
Denver, CO
12/6/2011
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. -
Review from Christina Z.
Denver, CO
12/1/2011
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. -
Review from Thomas Y.
Colorado Springs, CO
11/30/2011
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! -
Review from Joe Z.
Denver, CO
11/11/2011
Fogo is the best because they actually have 7 locations in Brazil. Go for lunch and you will be full all day. I've been to Rodizio which is cheaper but they don't offer the same quality, salad bar, and appetizers. My favorite is the Ancho (Rib Eye).
Park at meters south of the restaurant on Wynkoop ($1 an hour) -
Review from Donald M.
Houston, TX
10/10/2011
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. -
Review from Julie B.
Denver, CO
9/22/2011
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. -
Review from Garth E.
9/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
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. -
Review from True M.
Aurora, CO
11/20/2011
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 :)
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Review from Damion W.
Aurora, CO
12/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
Stay away from the salad bar... Focus on the meat!! :-P Great place to eat...
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Review from Carly B.
6/20/2011
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. -
Review from Eugene N.
8/3/2011 2 photos
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! -
Review from Claudia B.
Littleton, CO
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 :). -
Review from Sheri G.
Denver, CO
8/6/2011
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). -
Review from Cassandra F.
Aurora, CO
5/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
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. -
Review from Adam P.
Denver, CO
11/18/2011
I was relieved when I moved her from Kansas City a few years ago, and discovered there was a Denver location. I was amazed to discover they have complimentary valet parking in the garage just to the north of the restaurant. From the moment you arrive, you are immediately and graciously greeted by the host(ess).
You are seated, and just as quickly, one of about twelve waiters comes by to explain how dinner/lunch service works. They don't mention the price, though. Be prepared to spend close to a hundred for a dinner-for-two. Lunch is the cheaper option by nearly half.
Appetizers of fried bananas, crispy polenta, mashed potatoes, and cheesy biscuits are quickly placed on the table. At this point, you are free to get up and load a plate with a trip to the ridiculously large and complete salad bar or remain seated and wait...for the meat.
Flip the disc on the table from red to green and a cavalcade of gaucho chefs arrive promptly, and in succession at your table; ready to slice several varieties of fired meats from their skewers to your plate. The waitstaff is never lackadaisical in their constant attention to your appetizer and water levels. Sooner or later, the manager will walk around and ask you if there's anything in specific you'd like to try. The meat keeps coming until you flip your disc back to red. If you're anything like me, take a five-minute breather, enjoy some water, perhaps some guarana--and treat yourself to another slice of picanha. If it's a special occasion, let them know initially or when making a reservation, and most often, you'll be presented with a complimentary dessert.
The food is excellent and the service is of the highest echelon. Visit soon! -
Review from Shalan G.
5/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
Keeping up with our tradition of no cooking at home on religious holidays (Thanksgiving, Easter), we decided to visit Fogo De Chao this Easter.
This was our first experience here, but not at a Brazilian Steakhouse.
Free Valet Parking - appreciated even on a Sunday afternoon.
From the moment we walked in, we were greeted warmly and shown our table - we were given a few options to choose from. The restaurant is big, and well laid out. Tables not too close together, enough walking space when fully occupied.
We were seated - by that I mean, a waiter actually pulled my chair out for me. Small gestures = happy dining experience!
They quickly and rather distractedly explained how the service works - thankfully we already knew, or we would have felt insulted at the rather hastened process!
We were given the cocktail and wine menus, and asked if we liked some bottled water as we perused. A sparling water was produced and put in a bottle cooler, after our glasses were filled.
We decided to go for the half bottle of sparkling wine to start - good choice, in fact, an excellent choice. The bottle looked tiny, but was enough to top both our flutes.
The bubbles were perfect to whet our appetites as we noshed on the spreads from the salad bar - extensive salad bar - too many things to remember, but the Parmigiano Reggiano stood out, as did the Manchego. The sundried tomatoes, palm hearts, mushrooms, beets, cold meats were all excellent.
We were wise not to fill up on those!
Once we were done, they offered us fresh plates. I appreciate that - with most Churrascarias I had to request a fresh plate, or get one from the buffet myself.
We ordered a bottle of red wine - A South American blend, Malbec and Shiraz.
Now, this is where I got extremely annoyed - The wine waiter would NOT leave us alone to decide. He kept pushing a wine they had on special. I kept saying, "would you give us a couple of minutes to decide?" He would nod, stay put and then start the sales pitch again!! That did my head in, and Chris asked him to come back in a few minutes!
Barring that slight hitch, the rest of the meal was fantastic. We were served some mouthwatering Brazilian cheese bread - oh my nom! Perfect little pillows of heaven! Sides of mashed potatoes, caramelised bananas, crispy polenta wedges.
The gauchos were attentive, the meats plentiful and perfectly seasoned and cooked. I even managed to score a rare cooked house Picanha. Bliss! There are various offerings and I encourage you to sample them all. My favourites were the Picanha, Top and Bottom Sirloin and the Sausage. Chris, my husband liked the Beef rib and the Bottom Sirloin.
When we could not possible eat anymore, we decided on dessert - I had the Crème Brûlée and an espresso. Chris, the NY Cheesecake with Strawberry Sauce. Delicious all around!
We Will Be Back! -
Review from Gregory S.
Denver, CO
8/15/2011
Fogo De Chao is my favorite restaurant in Denver. From the outside It looks like a well kept, pretty classy place. You walk in, and see the bar. The dining room is large and smells like delicious meat.
The service was great. All of the servers were really professional. They created a great atmosphere. You have a card that you flip over for service. Once turned servers come over and cut meat right onto your plate. There is 30 cuts of meat. My favorite was the back strap.
If you are visiting Denver, bringing your parents or a date I recommend Fogo De Chao. It is simply a deliciously good time. -
Review from Idan S.
Littleton, CO
6/14/2011
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... -
Review from Amanda M.
2/27/2011
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. -
Review from Tracey W.
2/13/2011
Disappointment of the century.
The service was horrible. Seriously. I was astonished. My fellow diners and I just stared in amazement as dudes literally ran through the restaurant with meat and big knives. I've been to Brazilian steakhouses before, and I love seeing hard-working waitstaff with a little hustle, but saw multiple collisions with the Botoxed Barbies in mini-skirts and stilettos that hovered around the salad bar.
The host who showed us to our table just walked us there and left. Didn't say anything, welcome us, nothing. Waited 5 minutes for another staff member to appear, who asked if we had been here before. We had not. He launched into the most uninspired "this is how it works" speech I've ever heard in my entire life. I've heard people speak more enthusiastically about their infected root canal sites before. Seriously.
We were intrigued by the fact that we were not assigned a waiter, but that every waiter would help us. In theory, it sounded both really awesome and like a recipe for failure, which it soon proved to be (the latter). Waited literally 15-20 minutes for a cocktail. Felt ridiculous, but after ten minutes and my table mates being served their wine, I stopped a server and asked about my drink. He went to check on it, supposedly, and didn't return for ten minutes, long after we had finished our salads and were meating it up, and did not apologize.
Apparently the meat dudes didn't hear the monotone spiel from the waiter about the red light/green light cards, because dudes kept coming up to us and shoving meat in our faces when our cards showed red. Insert meat in face joke here.
Servers told us that if we had a request to let them know. My mother asked if she could taste some lamb, and the guy, presumably a manager, went on about how this place has the best lamb in Denver, and rushed off to bring us some. About 20 minutes went by before we ever saw lamb.
The speed of meat delivery was extremely inconsistent. The first time we flipped our cards, we didn't see a server for at least 5 minutes. Other times, they would come push meat on you even if the cards were turned over. At one point, a server plopped some bowls of sauce on our table without even explaining what they were for.
I was miserably disappointed. The food wasn't bad, and the salad bar was fresh, but many of the meats were overly salty, and just not up to the standard that I expected from the hype I have read, especially from trusty old Yelp.
I can understand an off night, especially on Valentine's Day Weekend, but a place like this should be able to handle that. The "every server for every table" technique leaves room for error, for overlooked tables, and ensures that, like us, you will wait 10-15 minutes for someone to ever notice that your credit card is waiting to be swiped so you can get the Hell out of there.
And I knew it would be pricey, but when the bill came I gasped... 43 bucks a person. Way overpriced for the quality of the food, service, and experience.
The worst part of the experience was the fact that the waitstaff seemed to deliberately avoid eye contact. The few times I made an attempt to ask for something, I eye-surfed the room for a long long time, and not a single server looked at me. They ran around, eyes on the ground, all looking as miserable as I was.
And the clincher was me asking for a clean plate and the server telling me rudely to move my dirty plate so he could put it down. This isn't Golden Corral, f***tard. For 43 bucks, I would expect you to whisk that dirty plate away and replace it with a clean one before I even ASKED for a new plate.
I deliberately chose this restaurant to celebrate a special occasion, but unfortunately we left feeling really bitter, frustrated, gypped, and sick. Would not return, and suggest that people researching restaurants do more in--depth homework than I did. There are far better restaurants in this price range, especially if service is your thing, and especially if you are celebrating a special occasion. -
Review from Steve O.
Littleton, CO
3/23/2011
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)Listed in: The Finer Things (Thank You…
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Review from Siv L.
5/23/2011
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! -
Review from Sulema O.
Denver, CO
2/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Meh, I don't know, was it even really worth what we paid, EVEN for restaurant week?!? I usually pick somewhere totally orginal with better reviews, but heck, we decided on this place and took a chance.
Like others, we were seated about 30 min after our reservation time, no prob, I'll just have a $12 martini in the bar (ugh). We were seated in the dining room the needed some sort of airflow badly. It was soo hot and stuffy at 8pm at night, it was down right uncomfortable. Yes, the restaurant was packed, and it was chilly outside, but geez, can we get a little a/c in the place.
Our server was mediocre at best. She came around once to ask how or dinner was. Granted, we're not demanding and talked to eachother quite a bit, we didn't mind, but sheesh, can I get a "how you doin'" at least more than once? However, we did see here cruising her way through the tables like a maze looking at tables, but hardly stopped. She didn't smile either, not once.
I think we seen the "meat handlers", maybe, just maybe a total of 8 times the entire time we were there. And 3 of those times it was the sausage and chicken guy. I don't want sausage or chicken, it just didn't look good. I wanted filet and sirloin darn it! I want red meat! Anyhow, the filet was superb, the other sirloin cuts were pretty good, a little bland with a hint of garlic. The salad bar was fresh and pretty good. My fave item was the pico de gallo type dish. However, I did have an assortment of items on my plate from cheese to salad. The garlic mash was gritty and tasted instant. However, the fried bananas were off the hook awesome and really put that yum into my dinner.
Oh, and just a reminder, dessert isn't included as a course for restaurant week. I noticed it on the website and as we wanted dessert - after shoving our mouths full of meat and veggies in a sweaty sauna (ewww), I was craving creme brulee. Eh, it was way sweet and very thick. For $9, eh, next time, I'll pass.
This place just didn't do it for me at all. Not one bit. After a drink each, dessert each and good ol' 5280, out tab was $100 + tip. Don't think I'll ever go back and pay full price, may never. -
Review from Rick G.
Denver, CO
1/8/2011
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. -
Review from Michael W.
Denver, CO
2/5/2011
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. -
Review from Justin A.
4/19/2011 2 Check-ins Here
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. -
Review from Alissa S.
Lakewood, CO
2/28/2011
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.Listed in: Team 4 Star, Date Night
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Review from Cristeen J.
Littleton, CO
4/20/2011
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! -
Review from Nancy K.
Littleton, CO
4/30/2011
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. -
Review from Matherine G.
Denver, CO
3/5/2011
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. -
Review from Rod H.
Denver, CO
2/27/2011
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. -
Review from Kent T.
Littleton, CO
3/18/2011 2 Check-ins Here
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.
