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Categories: Brazilian, Steakhouses
Neighborhoods: Market East, Penn Center, Avenue of the Arts SouthMon-Thu. 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Mon-Thu. 5:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri. 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Fri. 5:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Sat. 4:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Sun. 3:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Don't Just Wish Someone A Good Holiday, Give Them One With Chili's.
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I thought the ambiance was great, the food was awesome, but the prices were very high. Whether it was the drinks or the $49.95 for the dinner. I did try all the meats that came around, and everything was delicious. They would give recommendations on how the type of meat tastes best (rare, medium, etc). My plate was never empty, until I put the RED stop card up. There was always a steak skewer close by!
The servers were friendly, and were inconspicuous, as they would let our table have chat time, but would sneak in to cut your meat without cutting off the conversations. Great time, but can't go too often due to the $$$.
For my 600th review, I have opted to skip a few New York joints on my recent east coast trip and flash forward over to my super fun and freakin' fantastic Philadelphia food experience at Fogo de Chao.
This is a Brazilian steakhouse that is made for people with huge appetites and zero remorse for eating animals. So with that said, my uncle took my dad and I here for my dad's birthday.
For $55 person, before tax & tip, you get this:
1) A trip to an amazing salad bar that features all kinds of good stuff, namely aged cheese, shitake mushrooms, and some of the best asparaghus you will ever have. But don't spend too much time here as you will not have enough room in your stomach for part 2.
2) An all you can eat meat extravaganza. Flip over your card from "red" to "green" and the meat cutter server guys start to come by with all kinds of Brazilian style meats, such as picanha (top sirlion), bacon wrapped filet mignon (amazing), and the orgasm inducing, beef ancho (prime of rib eye).
FDC also features killer fraldihna (bottom sirloin), yummy costela (ribs), super excellent and fresh cordero (lamb), very juicy and savory frango (chicken), tasty costella de porco , exceptional lombo (pork loin), and above average linguica (sausage).
If you are a first timer, I suggest asking the servers for small cuts so you can figure out what you like most and request more later. My favorites were the picanha, bacan wrapped filet mignon, beef ancho, cordero, and frango.
3) Tasty side dishes like garlic mashed potatoes, buttery bread, and caramalized bananas
4) You also receive spectacular service. The guys working that night were friendly, fast, and efficient. One server said:
"Hey, when you aren't taking orders, you have no excuse for screw ups."
Also, the guys are very attentive. I think they heard me say, "happy birthday" to my dad when we first started eating and at the end of the meal, the guys presented my dad with an amazing flan that was on the house.
5) A smile on everyone's face after dinner as they rub their bellies.
So if you have a huge appetite, and are looking for a wonderful meat eating experience, you should head to Fogo de Chao, which has several locations across the United States and Brazil.
Now if only they would open one up in the Bay Area!
I rarely give out 5 stars and mean it, however this is the only Brazilian Steak House that I've liked.
I found it amazing that all the meats that they bring around are cooked to perfection. Nothing was cold or seemed reheated, the meats were tender, juicy and in some cases to die for!
My favorites are the leg of lamb and the filet mignon. *Not to be confused with lambchops and filet wrapped in bacon, which was also good.*
The filet mignon, medium rare was so soft, tender and juicy, I had to have more. When we were done and I was beyond stuffed, the filet came back for another round and I had to have another cut of it, that's how good it was!
$50 is a pricey to me but it was worth a one time trip.
First, the good: the salad bar is great. Everything except meat that you could possibly want to eat, ranging from salads to other vegetables to cheeses to breads. All of it delicious. No complaints about this whatsoever.
For $50, though, you're going to expect more than salad, and this is where Fogo de Chao falls short. I'm not going to cover the serving style at this place because the other reviewers here have done that for me, so let's just say it's essentially all you can eat portions of "16 types" of meat. I put "16 types" in quotation marks because every cut from the same animal tastes the same. Yeah, you can tell the difference between beef and chicken, but that's about it. "Filet mignon" = "bottom round" = "top sirloin" - all greasy, all salty, and all indistinguishable. I'd go as far as to call most of the meat slimy. It's not bad if you're famished, but marginal utility goes down pretty quickly.
I'm not gonna lie, I'm a skinny guy who doesn't have the biggest appetite. But I couldn't possibly get my money's worth here. If you're capable of eating a pound of steak without losing any of your hunger, then Fogo de Chao is the right place for you. But if you're not, spend less on a good old fashioned buffet (New Delhi in University City comes to mind) or sacrifice a bit of quantity for quality and go to virtually any traditional steakhouse in the area.
A footnote to the international travelers out there: there's a chain in the Johannesburg area called Rodizio that offers a similar experience (sans salad bar) for ~120ZAR, or about $15 depending on the exchange rate. I've been to the one in Bedfordview a few times, and the meat is just as good (for better or worse) as at Fogo de Chao.
In summary, MEAT = GOOD!
The variety of meats are always yummy. If you get a gristly, fatty or otherwise imperfect cut, which happens but rarely, don't be shy about setting it aside and getting another. They also put on an impressive salad bar. The sides are lackluster, but that's not why you're there. If you can get there for a weekday lunch, you will save about $20 a person (relative to the dinner time price) for the same food. As a bonus, you will not need dinner that day.
Fogo misses out on the 5th star because they have the most ridiculous wine markup I have ever encountered, well over 500% on some bottles. Have a shot of whiskey before you go.
This place is amazing. The salad bar is great but it's really one of those places where you should skip the salad bar and make up for it tomorrow. The serving style is interesting with the "gauchos" bringing you some amazing meats from nearly every animal on a stick. Medium Rare, Medium and Well done meats. My FAVORITE things there are the bacon wrapped filet mignon and the polenta. I recommend this place to everyone I know. Better than Chima!
While the idea of servers running throughout the restaurant serving meat fill of different types of meat sounded like Xanadu meets Caligula to me, I have to say I was disappointed with my first visit to Fogo De Chao.
While the service was excellent, and the novelty of flipping my red and green coaster back and forth to signal more food never felt tired, I did have a problem with the quality. Numerous times asking for medium rare I was served pieces of meat that I could only describe as coal; now I get that it must be insanely difficult for these servers to keep the meat at a consistent temperature as they weave their way through a packed house of people demanding meat. But still - for the price, I expect something at least close to the desired temp. Especially since they were advertising it.
Also, the amount of salt on the cuts of meat bordered on absurd. I'm thinking cats would have a tough time licking some of the pieces I got.
The side of mashed potatoes tasted like instant to me; if they weren't they were definitely watered down. The fried polenta had the texture of a hockey puck. I realize the main focus is the meat, but still, I'd like a serviceable side.
I enjoyed the salad bar, and I loved the idea, but for the money, I don't think it was worth it. Probably a good place to go with a big group of people, though don't expect to hear too much of the conversation. The cavernous room created plenty of echo and a lour roar of everyone eating.
come hungry.
If you like vegetables and don't eat a lot of meat, then this isn't the place for you.
Each meat on sword was delicious.
It was great seeing a table of 20 dudes, wolfing down meat with a swiftness.
$50 for two people- worth it.
Fogo De Chao is, to put it bluntly, a meat orgy. In your mouth. I've been here twice, and both times I tried to come up with a magical strategy that would allow me to somehow continue to eat more. Both times I failed miserably, and had to be rolled out in a cart (figuratively speaking) and languish in a meat-coma for hours afterwords.
Oh yeah, the salad bar is pretty good too.
Do you like red meat? If you do this is for you. It is one giant red meat orgy. I don't mean that in the dirty sense but the food just keeps coming and coming and it's all meat. Very good. Authentic experience. Lots of fun for groups. Rather pricey. Probably won't go again due to the caloric intake and lack of control (it's hard to have control when meat is coming at you at the speed of light).
Definitely not a dieter's friend. But you've gotta experience it at least once if not more.
Okay for kids but sharp knives are abundant so be on your game. Fantastic salad bar.
I like eating meat. I have been known to consume raw bacon and steak on occasion. It's a bit of a paradox, given my love of animals in live form, that I love to eat them so much.
The great thing about this place is that they don't do a whole lot of seasoning with the meat (generally just a bit of salt) so you really get to taste the flavor of the different cuts of meat. Most all of the meat options are delicious, so there's no real reason going through those. The Picanha, filet mignon, and lamb options were particularly tasty. The only meat options that I did not find worth my time were the Linguica (tasted like simple breakfast sausage and was a bit greasy) and the chicken leg things (blah).
As for everything else. The wine list was marked up a substantial amount, so be prepared for that. I wasn't as blown away with the "salad bar" as some others were given the fact that some of the cheeses had been sitting around for a while and developed some hardness. For desert we got the molten chocolate cake which had clearly been microwaved and the vanilla bean ice cream on top was a timid vanilla bean at best.
All in all I'd say this is a great place to go if you want to experience some choice cuts of meat. However, it's the type of place that you only need to go to once. While the experience was sufficient, i doubt I will have reason to return any time in the near future.
Hmmm - it's a wild swing of reviews for this place that's for sure, but I've never had anything but a great experience. Let's get started.
Ok - first rule - only come for lunch. Seriously - it's the exact same menu for like $15 less per person. We learned this from the manager on our second visit.
Next rule, graze lightly on the salad bar. It's funny, I would pay the whole price of lunch just to eat at the salad bar and screw the meat. One reviewer said he was disappointed in the size of the salad bar. Apparently he dines with the King of Bahrain on a regular basis, as I've not seen a bigger/better salad bar in a long time.
And lo, dear reader, you will be tempted to go astray at the salad bar. For it is fresh and stocked well with delicious morsels and bites that add up quickly. Smoked salmon and prosciutto, lovely cheeses, marinated artichoke hearts, delicious salads. Ultimately, if you do fall to the temptation and eat well, lo do not be ashamed, for it is good. Darn good.
Rule three - ask for it. I don't waste a lot of time when it comes to the meat coming to me. I tell them what I want and how I want it. Keep your sausage cooked so long it's like a landerjager in the kitchen thanks, and if I want chicken I'll head to crowns. The ribs are nice, when they're not immoliated as they were the last time we were there. But really, save your time and bring on the steak.
As for the other cuts, the house special ribeye, the sirloin, and the rest, yum. Not the best quality steak, but when you aren't paying for top quality here, you're paying for the meat coma. Seriously, tell them what you want and how you want it cooked and they will provide. It works for my guests and I every time. Understand, the food is very good, and if you take the initiative to tell them up front what you're looking for, you'll be a much happier camper.
The side dishes are nice, although they tend to be ignored by my crew after a nibble or two. The whole small bottle of soft drink thing drives me nuts, as I'll go through six or seven of them easy, plus water. Seriously, would a fountain soda machine impact profits that much versus charging me for every 8 oz soda? Sheesh.
I think they have desserts, but none of us have ever had motivation to try one that's for sure. So remember Marco's three rules - go early, graze lightly, and speak up, and you're sure to have a great experience!
Elegant Brazilian offering in Philly that fills any meat craving. Went there a year ago for a business dinner and was lucky I walked out alive. The first mistake was being tempted to go to their elegant salad bar layout and waste the space on greens rather than red meat. Second mistake was being tempted by the great selection of wines chosen for the table that wasted more space for red meat. Third mistake was to try big portions of anything that looked good. Big mistake because everything looked great and filled me up.
You are constantly being attacked by guys with knives (with cuts of meat of course) trying to serve you. The science is the the mastery of the control cards - RED TO STOP & GREEN TO GO. You must absolutely always have RED or you will be bombarded with more food than you can handle! From Filet to Sausage to Briskets, it is non-stop cuts of every imaginable taste and flavor. You want to eat more and more bc the seasoning and the juicy slices on skewers are something you will rarely see. This culinary indulgence is not for the faint of heart and can only be done once every few months / years or else risk coronary failure!
Love this place, I would recommend some protein depletion and prep work for maximal loading.
I'm a big fan of having my red meat medium rare. I love the texture, juices, and the darker the red it is in color the better! So when you flip your card to green and the servers come with the steak, its a big treat to get it cooked exactly how you like it. I liked being able to eat the middle of the meat, my favorite part, and can leave the rest and just get more of what I like best. At Fogo de Chao you can definitely do that.
The salad bar was great too, lots of choices. But I made sure to not eat much of it because I needed to save the room for the main courses.
The only upset was, it was my dates birthday so when I made the reservations online I left a note to see if they could put a candle in the desert. Then, to make sure, I called in a half hour before our reservation to make sure they got the note online. They said they did and the desert would be complimentary with a candle in it. When they brought the cheesecake to the table however there was nothing in it. This happened to us 2 weeks earlier at another restaurant for my birthday so we laughed it off and decided not to say anything. I was kind of annoyed though because what would have been a complimentary cheesecake I now had to pay for. I was too full to do any complaining though. The cheesecake was delicious and a really big size so we had split it.
Fogo de Chao was a lot of fun and a good way to learn about different cuts of meat and their flavors. I was only there with one other person but I feel like it would be a great time with a group as well.
I must say for the amount of money you pay, you do get your moneys worth. With that said, the quality of food is not worth it. Yeah, it's non stop meat until you are full but they literally stop coming if they see your eating a lot (didn't happen to me but I saw it at other tables). Better quality in Newark, NJ and much less expensive. I know it's a trek but I live near Newark. Anyway, the service is decent, not great. When I said moneys worth previously, I meant amount of food. Buckle up for a long a$$ wait on a Fri/Sat. Sangria was so/so. The only outstanding item was the bread with melted cheese inside. MMMMMMMMMM...and nice and hot! I filled up on that so as you can tell I am a little bitter about not eating as much food as I wanted!
If it is possible to be "meat-drunk" - then this is the place to go.
I had not heard of this place prior to going there - but I was told the day that I was going to not eat anything. Good thing I listened because WOW - what a glutenous fest.
We went in got a glass of wine and was explained the idea of the restaurant - within the next 5 minutes -- "Meats on Parade".
Interestingly enough the salad bar is huge, the meats are plenty, but the sides that they give you (polenta and potatoes- if I remember correctly) was sparse.
I eats at Fogo's alot & the Philly Fogo ain't all dat. I'm from D.C. but I ain't biased, I normally like eurrything in Philly better. That said once da novelty of all u can eat wears out, it's all about tha service & this place falls short. In most Fogos tha gauchos be all over you. Here you waitin' and I've even had em' serve people & skip people at tha same table, even on green. One fat dude even told my girl NO one time because she already had that cut on her plate. Fool, that ain't yo job, just keeps it comin'! I feels I can give dis review cause it happened each time. Step ya game up Philly Fogo.
I have to say... this is like the happiest place of my life.
Granted, it is not the best place to bring someone who doesn't like to eat in large quantities. Large groups, yes. Dates, no. And, truth be told, if you're a bad hunter (i.e. a vegetarian), you better stay far, far away from this slaughterfest. At Fogo de Chao, animals are for eating.
Game on! My roommate and I took two separate approaches. He ate a hearty lunch in prep for the massive food consumption (stomach stretch), whereas I drank only coffee prior to our 4 PM reservation (starvation stint). I think his method is the way to go because he definitely ate two slabs of meat more than I did. However, I still think I did pretty well.
I have never seen service like this before. It's amazingly efficient (and almost like-you're-in-a-fish-bowl creepy) because you drink one sip of water and suddenly a waiter is at your side filling your glass. You scoop potatoes on your plate from the serving dish and it's immediately replaced with a new one... and by a different waiter! Talk about a team effort.
This is definitely as good as it gets.
Make sure that you are really hungry when having dinner here!
The all you can eat salad bar is full of great food, which is definitely easy to fill up on before your first meat course comes to the table!
The only thing I did not like were the bananas that they offered as a side item. They looked as unappetizing as they tasted, and definitely do not complement meat in any way. The only side item that I liked was the potatoes, which were extremely appropriate with meat. I would suggest serving a vegetable of some sort instead of the bananas and the weird bread.
We paid $50 a person for all you can eat, and only ended up eating two helpings of meat. Therefore, I cannot stress enough to be super hungry before eating here because food this good, should never go to waste.
The following review is based on a single meal at Fogo...
Salad Bar (servings: 1, offered: n/a)
The steamed broccoli tasted crisp & fresh, the marinated artichokes were tender, the sun-dried tomatoes were delicious and you should try them (ATHF reference), the salami was eh, and the prosciutto was sliced too thick (I prefer mine paper-thin). I didn't try anything else at the salad bar, because IT'S FOR SUCKERS... I won't take up valuable meatspace in my belly with fancy roughage.
Cheese Bread (servings: 2, offered: n/a)
This could be good, but its too salty and its chewy in a bad way instead of chewy in a good way. Also, it is not made of meat.
Fried Polenta (servings: 2, offered: n/a)
Unique texture and flavor, not really sure what purpose it serves though. Try as I may, I couldn't decide which of the meats I was supposed to pair it with & it wasn't really something I would eat on its lonesome when there's all these other options available.
Mashed Potatoes (servings: 3, offered: n/a)
These were just okay but they paired well with some of the lesser cuts of meat. I would expect a steakhouse to have better mashed potatoes (the one thing I am willing to give Butcher & Singer full credit for) but Fogo gets a free pass because of the pure volume of meat.
Fried Plantains (servings: 1.5, offered: n/a)
I love fried plantains but they were kind of soggy. Still good, though & interesting to pair against the pork.
Pork Ribs (servings: 3, offered: Rarely)
I want to know what spices went into the dry rub on these ribs. Even though the meat itself was kind of dry and tough, the flavor on these was amazing.
Parmesan Pork Medallions (servings: 1, offered: Intermittently)
Eh. I am not a huge pork fan to begin with and this did nothing to really change my mind. I appreciated that they didn't have any hunks of fat on them, though.
Pork Sausages (servings: 2, offered: Frequently)
Pretty good, with a nice little kick to them. Still, I am almost never especially impressed by sausage. They did pair okay with the fried polenta out of all the meats, but not nearly enough to make that side dish any less enigmatic. The skin could have been crispier as well.
Chicken Drumsticks (servings: 1, offered: Frequently)
Okay, plenty of meat on the bone, but not worth your time compared to the other meats.
Chicken Breast wrapped in Bacon (servings: 1, offered: Request Only)
The chicken was bland, as chicken often is, and the bacon was undercooked. My dining companions saved it by grabbing some ranch dressing from the salad bar, but that shouldn't really be necessary in the first place.
Leg of Lamb (servings: 1, offered: Intermittently)
Succulent. Amazing.
Lamb Chops (servings: 4, offered: Intermittently)
See above. When I did my pre-meal recon on the website, this is what I was most looking forward to, and it did not disappoint.
Beef Ribs (servings: 1, offered: Rarely)
I didn't really get a chance to try these since the piece I was served was mostly fat and it was too late in the meal to bother seeking out a better cut. What I managed to separate from the fat was okay, though. I also appreciate the idea of beef ribs, since every time I eat them I am reminded of the ribs that tip over the Flintstone's car during the opening credits. This is also why I always eat beef ribs sans pants, Fred Flintstone-style.
Garlic Sirloin (servings: 2, offered: Intermittently)
Probably my favorite cut, after the lamb and the filets. The most flavorful, even if every piece comes with a huge hunk of fat hanging onto the side.
Top Sirloin (servings: 2, offered: Intermittently)
Pretty good. I mostly paired this with mashed potatoes, enjoying the creaminess against the tenderness of the meat.
Bottom Sirloin (servings: 0, offered: Annoyingly Frequently)
Not interested, gaucho.
Filet Mignon (servings: 2, offered: Request Only)
Not the best filet I have had but still pretty damn good. I did notice that the pieces tended to be pretty well loaded with fat, but its worth carving out the meat from.
Filet Mignon wrapped in Bacon (servings: 1, offered: Request Only)
The most superior of the meat options, combining the filet (minus all the fat) with nice, crispy bacon. I mean, this is pretty decadent. The only way it could be more so was if I had eaten it off of the bare back of nubile young virgin, supplicant before me, while laughing at peasants. Sadly, this service is currently only available in Dick Cheney's private dining room.
By the way, the website sucks. I went there to grab the menu for reference while I wrote this review but all they had was a sales pitch & some annoying late-90s javascript slideshow of some, but not all, of the cuts. Pure amateur hour, but like I mentioned in other reviews, I have witnessed far more egregious design on restaurant websites.
I don't really know why I don't have a review for this yet. Last year, the siblings and I planned out a birthday dinner for the father here. The service was superb and the meal was fantastic. The lamb made me a very happy person. I also accompanied my meal with a can of guarana. Ahh, I actually wanna go back thinking about that lamb! It was around $50 a head if I can remember. Would DEFINITELY go back...it's just a matter of when i'm willing to indulge in that much meat again haha.
This is basically a High Class Buffet. Service and food are both Amazing. Bar is pricey. Great place for group dining or celebration.
I heard the salad bar is impressive. I wouldn't know, I went 100% for the meat. Especially the meat wrapped in other meats... like bacon.
It's a great place to go with a group, but because you eat so much, not some place to go to very often. In fact, you eat so much, you don't really feel like going out afterwards... I prefer to just go home and enjoy my food coma.
You can't help it though, the meats are so good, you just want to keep eating it! And you can't necessarily tell how much you are eating because when one of the sword bearers comes by, you get a slice of the meat, eat it, and repeat with the next one.
Everyone knows that the meat is excellent here, but if you're not a huge steak-eater (which I'm not) the salad bar is more than a meal. I've come here before and done the full meat deal, but for someone like me (a petite girl who isn't into steak enough to eat her money's worth), the salad bar at half the price ($25) is totally worth it. I'm not a vegetarian, but I looooooove veggies and Fogo has some of the best, along with small meats, cheeses and breads to round out the meal.
Probably the best salad bar I've ever experienced. Asparagus stalks as thick as your thumb, hearts of palm that melt in your mouth, thinly sliced prosciutto, the freshest of fresh salmon, and a giant wheel of perfectly aged Parmesan that you want to dive head first into and just start gnawing. Plus a variety of salads (chicken, mushroom, caesar), fresh baked bread, and all the typical salad ingredients. Everything is amazingly fresh with servers constantly bringing out new and replacement dishes. I doubt anything sits there for even an hour.
And the service was no less stellar for me, the salad bar patron. Fogo is truly a topnotch establishment.
Bonus - they brought out a complementary slice of chocolaty fudgey mousse cake for my bf's bday. That's not so special in and of itself, but we didn't even tell them it was his bday... they noticed a birthday card on the table, asked who's it was, and promptly brought out the cake. Bravo! I always applaud cake.
Dinosaur Ribs...seriously...DINOSAUR RIBS!!! And they actually looked like ribs that could literally have come from an animal the size of a brontosaurus.
If you live anywhere remotely close to Fogo de Chao you must make a point to eat here at least once. Went there last night with a party of six for my birthday and we had a blast. As many reviews have pointed out the following is a good plan of attack: graze the salad bar, stuff yourself with meat, and go home (our out for a long walk to the bar) in your meat coma.
A few personal recommendations: Do enjoy the salad bar and relax a little while before starting with your meat buffet. The apple salad was delicious and I enjoyed several of the cheeses. Other reviews have suggested making specific requests for meats as soon as you sit down. If it is your first time I would ignore this and sample all of the meats first. From there you can narrow down what you really want to chow down on as the meal goes on. Now usually I would not recommend $35 pitchers of sangria, though in this case I am. The sangria was very good with the meat because the sweetness complemented the salty richness of the meats. Also there is a period of time when you first get rolling and the meat servers are slicing off meat for you faster than you can reach down and turn your chip over to red. Relax during this initial onslaught because once you settle in you can enjoy the great meats.
From my estimation the meat was top quality, probably not quite the same quality as a Morton's or Ruth Chris, but definitely good quality. I also thought the meet was seasoned perfectly. Most of the meats are cooked on the rare side and so if you prefer steak medium just make a point to ask for this.
Of the six of us we each had different preferences and meats we ask for more of as the meal went on. My favorites are in the following order from favorite to least favorite: ribeye, lamb chops, pork ribs, garlic steak, bacon wrapped fillet, Linguica, leg of lamb, top sirloin, and bacon wrapped chicken. The ribeye, lamb chops, and pork ribs I asked for seconds and thirds.
I saw what looked like pretty good desserts that people where having at other tables. Frankly I don't see the point in ever leaving enough room for dessert when dining at Fogo de Chao.
Make sure you show up starving, because the food is just brilliant! It's all you can eat so make sure you have a ton of room to try all the different kinds of meat.
I also recommennd not trying the salad bar. Don't get be wrong... It's a great salad bar... But the meat is too good. Don't waste space in your stomach!
If you have extra room, try the NY Cheesecake... Excellent!
It was good. AND SO MUCH FUN!
I took the bf for his bday.
We had a fun time but I just can't eat that much to make that $50 worth it.
I would have rathered spent $50 on a nice app and a nice cut of meat somewhere else.
But again, lots of fun, the bf and I giggled the whole time cause it is chaos with all these gaucho dudes rolling thru cutting slabs of diff meat off on your plate.
I can't believe they let us in this place. After spending 9 or so hours at McGillin's on New Year's day, we decided to come here for dinner. Hammered. Me and my buddy had our coins on "green" for about an hour straight...
...And everything was delicious. Only thing was... we got cut off! From alcohol... NO. From MEAT! I believe the waiter said: "but sir -- you already have that on your plate" when my friend asked for more meat. Then they started to slow down before approaching our table. The nerve!
I think there was a good salad bar... all I remember was getting prosciutto or something from it though, as we tried to go the whole meal only eating meat on a dare. I think we got our money's worth.
Next time, I will come on an empty stomach.
a gluttons paradise... it's like disney world to me... seriously... it makes competitive eating look like a snack. the bars decent, with the exception of the beer selection... it's weak. NO good beers at all. but they do have some decent liqour, great cognac, and mojitos. what can i say. i like mojitos. it's a bit pricey, but i'd pay the 45$ for the salad bar alone. i normally go in large groups, i'd recommend getting seperate checks as, drinks are pricey and when the $1500 bill shows up, the 10 people there didn't seem to know what was going on... so... just keep an eye on that. i ended up throwing in an extra $150 just to make sure servers got a decent tip.
The salad bar has a huge selection and every item is fresh and tasty. It ranges from all kinds of lettuce, cheese, grilled mushroom to jumbo asparagus, prociutto, salami and more. Their in-house butter bread is to die for as well as the fried banana.
You need to come really hungry to eat all the bbq you can. The selection varies and the meat is grilled to tenderness and juicy. The flavor is beyond description. I would definitely come here for a meat fest and their service makes it all the better.
Welcome to Dinner Paradise! WOW......This place is excellent. The atmosphere is awe inspiring...but really, it could be awful and the food would still make it a "must go." The choice of beverages is plentiful, and the salad bar is one of the best I have seen. Finally, the meat....AHH, THE MEAT!!! Gaucho's dressed up carrying skewer's of juicy succulent meat to your plate and they don't stop until you flip your green disc to red. I entertained 30 clients here this winter and they were quite impressed. I went back recently with friends and was blown away a second time. $49.50/person for dinner is steep, but more than worth it for what you get. GO HUNGRY!!!!!
Homer Simpson dreamed of a place like this..................
Food: 4.5 stars
Service: 1 star
The food there is very good and well cooked. The salad bar is one of the best I've seen outside of CA and could easily be a meal by itself.
However, for $75+ per person (with drinks/tax/tip), you would expect a high level of service. The best cuts of meat come by once per meal while the chicken and sausage is there every 3 minutes. As soon as your plates are gone, they give you the bill and hover while you pull out your credit card. I asked the server for time, he stepped back one step and waited.
I understand turning tables, but this was at 10:15 PM when 1/2 of the restaurant was empty and they weren't seating new customers. The service was so bad that I've rounded down to 2 stars.
Gotta love the simplicity....
Eat Salad
*Green* Meat please!
*Red* Stuffed enough, thanks!
Hand over wallet... haha.
Very yummy & the meat is cooked perfectly...
My girlfriend and I visited Fogo de Cho last night for my birthday dinner and had a wonderful time. We went on a Sunday night without a reservation and were seated immediately. Although it was our first time, we were already familiar with how to order using the double-sided coaster. In case you're not: "Each guest uses a two-sided disk to control the pace of their meal. The green side signals the Gaucho chefs to bring out skewers of sizzling fire-roasted meats to carve at the table. The red side indicates a stopping point. Turning back to green lets the Gaucho chefs know to start offering the meats again."
Before the onslaught of meat begins, you are treated to an extremely well maintained salad bar, delicious cheese bread, and (what appeared to be) a large selection of wines. Our waitress was very friendly and reminded us to save room for the main course. My girlfriend remarked that "it's like people are watching us," and that is one distinct feeling you get in Fogo De Chao, because many chefs, servers, and waiters are looking to see which side your card is on before interrupting you or moving on to the next table.
When I adventurously decided to flip to green, I was within seconds approached by three chefs who served me meats. Realize that you don't have to try everything, but I think it's worth it to sample a wide range of meats. After 3 or 4 pieces arrived on my plate I flipped to red, enjoyed the food and repeated the process. The staff of Fogo de Cho is hyper-attentive and friendly so if you need a new plate, more bread, more of a side dish, or want a specific type of meat they will delightfully make that happen.
We saved room for dessert and split the Molten Chocolate Cake which is very reminiscent of Applebee's Triple Chocolate Meltdown, which happens to be one of my favorite desserts. We loved it.
All in all Fogo de Cho is a wonderful date-night or special occasion alternative to the traditional Italian or American sit down. For $45 per person, I would highly recommend it for carnivores looking to explore new preparations of meat without being stuck with something they don't like.
Been here twice. I can't emphasize enough to go hungry, and be prepared to be full and immobile after. Save the post-dinner dancing for another night.
The food is some of the best cooked meats I've ever had. I love this concept of varying arrays of meats coming to me like a deluge, as long as I have my green-flip-card up. To stop 'em..just flip back to the red side.
They have a huge salad bar, filled with all sorts of delights and terrific food in its own right. Made the mistake of hitting this the first time. My 2nd trip, I bypassed the bar..purely to save room for the drinks and skewers of meat-delights to come my way. They come to your table, and slice cuts right onto your plate. At least 12 different meats and cuts of meat. Beef (Fillet Mignon, etc) Pork, Lamb, Chicken..etc.
It is perfect for an intimate date (unless you're better half is a vegetarian). They cater to large groups with speed and style, and even good for kids (If I recall kids were free under a certain age..call ahead). Went with my nephews, and they loved it..and had no problems finding food they would love here.
Its VERY pricey, but worth it. Prices are lower at lunch. Right across the street from upscale bowling-bar. Valet service is quick, though don't leave valuables in the car with these guys.
Hands down the best churrascaria I've been to. Let me break it down:
1. The cheese rolls. These things are more dangerous than the garlic cheese bread at the Red Lobster. Pastry-like on the outside and cheesy-chewy on the inside. Give me a nice French storefront and I would be able to hawk these for $3/roll. I ate about 8 of these little things, so that makes the price of the rest of my lunch $8. This place is a great deal!
2. The meat. This place actually has really good cuts of steak, including rib-eye and filet mignon. Other Brazilian BBQ places I've been to have only had lesser cuts of meat (e.g., sirloin, flank, etc.). So kudos to Fogo for pulling out the gourmet sh*t.
The seasoning is also excellent. I'm able to eat all of their steak without needing any steak sauce, which is the way it's supposed to be. For most of the cuts, they use only coarse salt and maybe pepper and that's enough. They also have a garlic rub which is pretty good.
3. Babyback ribs. Not quite as good as the steak, but still pretty darn good. Takes the edge off of losing Tony Roma's in SF.
4. Papaya cream dessert thing. It's like a high class milkshake. Refreshing after a heavy all-you-can-eat steak dinner.
5. The service. These guys (and yes, they're all guys with the exception of the hostess) are really nice. They are attentive, but not intrusive. Also, my fiance needed a stapler and they brought one out from the back office.
6. Butter mints.
I've been here for both lunch and dinner, and the exact same menu is served for both.
Lunchtime: Just walking along Chestnut st. today we decided to spoil ourselves while our kid was in school.Inside the revolving doors of Fogo de Chao
, the doors reminded me of the Perfect Strangers TV show
The Salad Bar is one of the best selections I have seen. The Service will make you cringe not to pay them 30% or more for the tip. They know how to take care of their patrons, The Gauchos are as Gauchos you can get theyre really not from here very well mannered waiters and the manager was at one's quick bat of a hand.
The Meat is just MMMMMMMMM The Rib eye and the Lamb were the one's standing out, the Chicken was great as well the fried plantains and the mash potato was creamy. The Puffed bread was just perfect to complement everything. Check the menu to see what you like tell them how do you like it cooked and do not forget to flip over the Red Round Flipperoo unless you want to be covered in meat. The Tong is the most important tool here
The Tongs Best friend : Fogo De Chao
Fogo de Chao is a great place for expense account dinners and large groups. The side dishes are solid, but main event is the endless "river of meat." The service is pretty good, but they can be stingy with some of the more expensive meat options. They have an insanely large after dinner drink selection if you care to indulge in a $200 glass of scotch after your meat overdose.
Fogo is fantastic!
I'm assuming if you are reading this review, that you are familiar with the Brazilian Steakhouse concept. Basically, it's a eating experience wherein men dressed as Gauchos assault you with skewers of sweet meaty goodness.
The Gaucho's goal is to get you to say no eventually by showing him your red "no mas meat" button. Your goal is to egg the Gaucho on by taunting him with your green "meat me" button. It's not even a fair fight. The Gaucho posse will win every time. Losing never tasted so good.
Philadelphia, PA
Category: Brazilian
Neighborhood: Logan Square
Category: Brazilian
Neighborhood: Market East
Category: Steakhouses
Neighborhood: Rittenhouse Square
Category: Steakhouses
Neighborhood: Olde City
Category: Tapas Bars
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