Brazil: Fogo de Chao

Fogo has blown me away twice now. So far their Beverly Hills location is the best place I have eaten in Los Angeles. The first time I ate here was for a work Christmas party. I came away raving about it, but part of me wondered if my last chocolate martini had left me with an overly jazzed perception of the actuall food. Nevertheless, I knew this place was a carnivores dream and that Tyler would appreciate the Churascaria dining experience. When our two year anniversary rolled around, I had my excuse to take him out. The food was once again awesome (and not at all less delicious without that chocolate martini). In preparation for the night out, Tyler didn't eat all day!

You can read more here, but basically you can expect rodizio service where there is a set fee (Fogo's is $55) and meat waiters called, passadores come to your table with knives and a skewer on which various types of meat are speared, see here for Fogos offered meats - both Tyler and I favored the house special Picanha (Top Sirloin). It was a little on the salty side, but for lack of a more unique explanation, it just melted in your mouth. Diners signify they want more or are taking a break using the provided red or green side of a card. I might add at Fogo on a Saturday night, if your card is green, you can feel nearly bombarded by passadores trying to give you their cut of steaming meat. All the passadores work together for seamless service.

There is also a salad bar, that Tyler didn't waste much time on, but is actually really tasty. They even had my favorite cheese (emmental), which I feasted on for dessert! I won't spend anymore time talking about the different meats/salad bar options, because you will have an opportunity to try them all!

A piece of advice for those more budget minded, Fogo is expensive, for two people, with a little wine you won't get out of there for less than $150. However, for a special occasion it is well worth it! If you want to keep your bill minimal, just avoid valet - park on the street, booze before you go and eat cheese for dessert. Voila!

Fogo de Chao's Fork Rating:

Accessibility: 4 Forks

Ambiance: 4.5 Forks

Authenticity: 4 Forks

Service: 5 Forks

Taste Factor: 5 Forks