07/26/09

Lots of food, lots of variety, but meat quality is poor.

by davidkershner

The salad bar is great, and the service is superb. However the quality of meat is not up to par. The flavors were good, with the salt, marinades, etc., but I thought the meats were not at all tender, including the tenderloin, and some were pretty dry. We were also a little bit surprised by the way everyone was dressed in there. I think that because of how expensive it is to eat there, we expected people to be a little more dressed up, like at Sullivan's, Truluck's, Roy's, Fleming's, etc. Instead most customers dressed like they were going to Rudy's, Whataburger, Taco Cabana, Shoney's, etc. Not that there's anything wrong with that - people can and should wear what they want - it just surprised me. I've always wanted to try this place, and I'm glad that I did. However, I was disappointed enough that I'm definitely not going back.

• Pros: Variety, atmosphere, salad bar
• Cons: poor meat quality

07/08/09

absolutey wonderful

by palex

It's been 2 years since I have eaten here. It was better than I remember. I'm glad we finally got one here in Austin. The meat is extremely tender and tasty. The bread and salad bar are great. You won't be disappointed. It's worth every dime. I am taking all of my friends and family one at a time so I can go back again and again.

• Pros: you eat a lot
• Cons: you eat a lot

01/26/09

Exceptional service

by kwtcarter

My husband and I ate here this Saturday for his birthday. Although I'm a vegetarian this was one of my best dining experiences. There was plenty of options for me on the salad bar (chick peas & potato salad was my fav) as well as the potatoes, warm bread and sauteed bananas that are brought to the table. My husband enjoyed all of the meats served but his favorites were lamb chop and filet mignon. The best part about this restuarant is the service. The waiters were very attentive to our needs, we never had to ask for anything. My husband left stuffed & happy!!!

• Pros: Ambiance, service, salad bar

01/09/09

Delicioso

by mfrr

Since I have moved to Austin I have been highly discouraged to go out to eat because restaurants lack the culinary experience. I have seriously emailed restaurants that are from Houston to consider opening up more restaurants with that same quality here. People in Austin are so used to poor quality that they rather eat cheap quality food. Finally a good resataurant was placed in town. When I usually hear complaints its usually of price so just stay home if you want processed. When I first tried Fogo in Houston they inform you the prices. If you are a cheapo than this in not your place. This place is of good prime meat that doesn't have all the hormones injected into them. Coasters are used to let the meat cutters/ servers to come by and keep cutting different types of meat( filet mignon.)This is what a Chuarasceria would be like in South America and is very much what they have done to the restaurant. Some people would find this very hectic if you place your coaster on green but just a heads up its not quiet. This is like a buffet but for prime meat eaters. Price is pretty much set but consider how much a small piece of filet mignon would be if you bought it at the store. Come on you get variety and exceptional quality:) This Fogo is just as good as the other locations with the same consistency of service and food!!!

• Pros: Quality and quantity

09/04/08

excellent churrascaria, great service

by pithlydawn

My parents have been going to Fogo de Chao in Dallas for over 10 years and we were thrilled when they opened one in Austin. We can't afford to eat there often, but it is great for a special occasion treat. We went there for our anniversary last November, and everything was wonderful. The salad bar is huge and has a wide variety of vegetables, salads, and cheeses. When you're ready for meat, you flip your card to green and they descend. If you feel overwhelmed, just flip back to red for a while, and switch back to green when you're ready to start again. Don't feel like you have to keep it green till you're done - you can go back and forth as much as you want. The sides are also great, with chewy cheesy rolls, fried polenta, mashed potatoes, and super yummy fried bananas.

The service is always wonderful. They are great about bring fresh plates when yours gets full of scraps and if you have a bottle of wine, watch out because they will refill your glass without you even noticing! If you want something you haven't seen yet or want a cut cooked differently, just ask your server or the meat waiters, and they will send someone from the kitchen with what you want. My parents go so often that they know the owners (same management for Austin and Dallas), and they are very concerned that you are always offered impeccable service. The desserts are super yummy too, if you have any room!

• Pros: wonderful for meat lovers, excellent service, great "special occasion" option
• Cons: expensive

06/25/08

heaven for meat lovers

by critic08

I went to Fogo with my boyfriend to celebrate our 2 year anniversary and it was wonderful! The salad bar suprised me. It's not your typical salad bar. It's filled with fresh, beautiful veggies and cured meats as well as smoked salmon. There was spinach and marinated mushrooms, asparagus and a nice selection of cheeses to name a few. We ordered a wonderful Malbec which paired nicley with all the different cuts of meats. We each flipped our little coaster over and watched as the flood gate of meats washed over our table. We had every kind except the pork for whatever reason. My top favorites were the bacon wrapped (melt in your mouth) filet and the mint and pinot grigio marinated leg of lamb. To die for!! We were sooo miserable after everything but still managed to eat dessert. We enjoyed the creme brulee and we also had an after dinner cocktail which was phenominal. It was a grappa which was 50% grappa and 50% chamomille. Sounds weird but it went down oh, so smoothly. I can't wait to go back! I love you Fogo De Chao!

• Pros: top notch everything
• Cons: not in san antonio yet

06/01/08

Great place to check out.

by exploringlife

Don't eat the whole day before you go! The food is so good it is hard to stop eating. The meats were so moist and very flavorful. I never once picked up the salt and pepper. The meal starts with a salad bar that is beyond words, it is a meal in it's self. I have heard that the desserts are also to die for, but I had no room to try them out. I will be back to this place.

• Pros: The experience and food are worth the money!
• Cons: None!

04/20/08

Great experience

by nichole913

My boyfriend and I went on a Friday night. We thought the place was exceptionally good. The food was great, the wait staff was highly attentive. We loved it. Definitely not a place to go if you don't like attention though.

03/30/08

Poor Food Experience for Meat Lovers

by psegonet6

Visit Date Saturday March 29, 2008

The meat was prepared appropriately and looked great, but had no flavor except salty. It must be inferior cuts of meat as well as inadequate seasoning. It was bland at best. The potatoes were watery and tasteless and the polenta was a deepfried tasteless fritter. The Salad Bar-Buffet was very good as were the muffins served at the table.

I cook extensively and had great expectations for this restuarant but it was sadly expensive fast food. You are served quickly and expected to leave quickly, no better than any other hamburger or chicken place. Your wine list is extensive but for the value far to expensive for a poor selection and nothing good at moderate price levels. The Brazilian beer was very good.

My family and I are truly meat eater/lovers but this was not a good experience. Certainly nothing we would recommend or repeat. You need extreme improvement in meat preparation and perhaps qualtiy to make the experience something to remember instead of to forget.

• Pros: Interesting foreign food experience
• Cons: poor quality tasteless meat and sides

03/24/08

Hectic and Overpriced

by sarahbreidenbach

Since they do not provide any sort of menu other than the wine list, I had no idea that my meal would cost me $70 with tip. I brought friends that would NEVER spend that much money on dinner and I felt absolutely awful about it. Plus it?s a very hectic atmosphere. First off, you have to navigate the crowd at the ?gourmet? salad bar. Personally, I would have preferred a nice little side salad served before my entree, but that is not an option. Then you flip over your coaster to green for ?go? and the meat servers decend on you every two minutes. It?s very distracting. The meal was so rushed that I did not get to relax and savor the food. And there is so much meat! Unless you?re a sumo wrestler or an absolute glutton you?ll be overwhelmed. I really did not enjoy the experience.