Fogo De Chao

[Jenny (AZ via TX)]

We went to Fogo de Chao in Scottsdale, AZ on Saturday for our anniversary and the whole experience was exceptional. First of all, you can eat almost everything. They put cheese bread on the table made with tapioca flour. So yummy, I took some home. You can have any of the meats except the chicken which is marinated in beer.

This is a Brazilian steak place. They have around 12 or so different cuts of meat including beef, pork, chicken and lamb. In Scottsdale, the price is $46.50/person for the salad bar and the meat. The salad bar is big and has more than just lettuce choices. My favorite was the apple salad they had. Only one dressing was gluten-free. Included in the price are garlic mashed potatoes, polenta and fried bananas, all gluten-free.

Additional costs would be dessert and drinks. I skipped on dessert because the manager said the gluten-free dessert was stored with the gluten desserts. Hubby had the key lime pie and said it was really good. My dessert was another roll since I never get to have bread when we eat out.

This place is very celiac friendly. The manager went through every item at the salad bar and I believe there was only one thing besides the salad dressings that were not gluten-free. The staff was helpful and exceptional.

We'll go again, but not for a while. I'm not a huge meat eater and have had my fill for a long while, but it was so worth it!

There are many locations around the US.

Hope this helps if anyone was considering this restaurant.

[ohsotired]

Jenny,

Thank you SO much for your review! I'm taking hubby there this coming weekend to celebrate his birthday, so it's great to hear such a positive review of the place!

Glad you had a good time!

[Jenny (AZ via TX)]

Chrystal, I hope you like it as much as we did. We will definitely go back. Is there only one in Dallas? We were going to try to go to the one in Addison over Christmas, but ran out of time. Please let me know if you have a good experience there.

The only thing I missed out on was the wine. I had to skip it since it doesn't always agree with me and I didn't want it to ruin my meal.

I'm not sure if the prices will be the same in each city. In fact, we didn't even see any prices on the menu.

[ohsotired]

Yes, I think the one in Addison is the only one here, and that's where we're headed!

What you mentioned as far as prices sounds about right. I've never been there, but my hubby has eaten there several times (on his company's dime ) and he said that lunch is a little less expensive but that it's totally worth it whether it's lunch or dinner.

I may indulge in some wine, but it won't be much! I think I'm more of a lightweight now than ever before! LOL

[hlm34]

you also cant have the sausage - or so i was told by the manager. looove the one here in chicago. my fave place to eat out.

[Jenny (AZ via TX)]

Maybe it depends on the location as to what is gluten-free. The manager in Scottsdale told me all of the meat, including the sausage, were gluten-free except the chicken. We should always ask.

[ohsotired]

I just wanted to report back on our experience at Fogo de Chao.

Phe-NOM-inal!!!

They seated us as soon as we walked in. We ordered a bottle of Riesling (oh so yummy) and even before the wine arrived, one of the hostesses arrived at our table and said "I understand we have someone here that requires gluten free?" (My husband was floored - I made the reservations, online no less, and he had no idea that I had mentioned this in the comments when I made the reservation). He just looked at me with wide eyes, and I told the hostess that it was I that required the gluten-free foods.

She informed me about the chicken, and certain items on the salad bar (really only the dressings I think, weren't safe) and then some dessert items, but of course made sure to tell me which ones were ok. She was very knowlegable about the gluten free diet.

She never mentioned sausage, but I never saw sausage being brought around either, so it must be different at each location.

The Pao de Queijo (Brazilian Cheese Bread) was SO delicious! The hostess told us that it was made with Yuca flour (which after some research appears to be similar to tapioca?). Warm and crispy on the outside, and a little gooey on the inside - just wonderful. I was thrilled that I could eat it!

So we stuffed ourselves silly with steak, parmesan pork, lamb chop, and more, with sides of crispy fried polenta, mashed potatoes, Pao de Queijo, fried bananas, and wine. Then we shared creme brulee for dessert.

Somewhere throughout the course of the meal someone asked if we were there for a special occasion, and I mentioned hubby's birthday. The creme brulee came out on a big white plate with the words Happy Birthday written around the edges in a fruity syrup, with berries on top, and a single birthday candle. And to top that off, when we received the bill, they had comped the creme brulee.

Oh, and as we were leaving, another hostess came out with our coats, and they even helped us on with them! The overall service at this place is just amazing!

The hubby and I don't get to go out very often when it's just the two of us, so this evening couldn't have been more perfect. The service was top notch and the whole experience was five star.

We will definitely go back - once our tummies and our wallets have recovered.

[Jenny (AZ via TX)]

Yay. So glad you had such a perfect dinner!

[MaryJones2]

I just returned from a meal here. It was fantastic. Here is the no-no list that I got from the manager:

Meat: Frango (chicken - marinated in beer) and Linguica (sausage - because they don't make it in house and can't guarantee it)

Salad Bar: s$#&ake mushrooms (made with soy sauce), tabouleh, ceasar salad, 3 of the 4 prepared salad dressings and the bread (the bread on the table is gluten-free).

I didn't ask about dessert but there were 3 items that are probably gluten-free and 3 that obviously aren't.

[Ahorsesoul]

I just emailed them a thanks for providing people with gluten free items. I'll have to venture over to MN since there is a place in the twin cities! Thanks for posting. I would never had considered them if it was not for your posting.

[CeliacAndCfsCrusader]

Going in two weeks here in Denver because of all the positive postings here and elsewhere. Cannot wait!