When we went to Minneapolis this past fall, we wanted to have a nice dinner and try out something new. Anyone reading this from Winnipeg proboably knows about Carnaval, the Brazilian Steakhouse; we heard about an even better version in Minneapolis. It was the wife’s birthday weekend, so we decided to splurge and check out Fogo de Chão.
We were staying in the downtown area of Minneapolis, and Fogo de Chão was in walking distance from our hotel and situated right on Hennepin Ave. The restaurant is in a prime location, close to hotels, other bars and restaurants and close to the Target Center. We looked at the menu ahead of time and contemplated going because of the price, but decided to hell with it, let’s enjoy. The “Full Churrasco Experience” comes with a price tag of $67.50 USD, and with our exchange rate, that is a heavy price… but it was worth it. You can get the Churrasco Experience without some of the premium cuts of meat, but we decided to indulge. With the Full Experience you get cuts like prime rib and ribeye, all with the Brazilian style spices cooked right above an open flame.
When we got in the restaurant, I noticed the shear size of the place but still the restaurant was packed, and with the food it is no wonder that it is such a popular restaurant despite the pricey menu. The appetizer/salad bar was delicious and is buffet style, but beware don’t fill up too much, because you want to save room for the meats. After loading up on some delicious sides, veggies and carbs, all with a uniquely Brazilian flavour, the servers begin to come to your table with different cuts of meat. You can decline (by flipping your card to the red side) or try the meat (flipping to the green side) as they come around. I knew I should have passed on some of the cheaper cuts, but I wanted to try everything. There was chicken, chorizo, sirloin, filet, pork tenderloin, and lamb to start. There was also a spicy T bone which was probably my favorite. We began to fill up but had to keep filling our plates and stuffing our faces. The only problem was they brought out the expensive cuts later in our meal when we were already full. And there was no sign of the ribeye, so we and we had to request it. It was unfortunate that towards the end of our meal we got the ribeye and prime rib. But anyways, the meats were delicious, tender, flavourful and fresh off the grill. And throughout our meal they brought things like grilled pineapple and banana which were delicious.
The food was excellent and from the salads, veggies, pasta salads and of course cuts of meats, the variety was endless. The only problem was bringing out some of the expensive cuts later when we were already full. It also took quite a while to get our hefty bill, but the restaurant was packed so the service wasn’t bad with all things considered. The food was good, but we have a cheaper version here in Winnipeg and I’ve now tried Fogo de Chão, so I probably won’t go back on our next trip to Minneapolis, but I’d recommend trying it at least once. And if you haven’t experienced the Brazilian Steakhouse vibe where the slice the meat right off the skewer at your table, it is a fun and unique experience. Just make sure if you decide to checkout Fogo de Chão, to have a small (or even skip) lunch and don’t fill up on the appetizers.
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