More on Fogo
I didn't have space in the print edition of Table Talk yesterday to say much about the Fogo de Chao chain (pronounced fo-go dèe shoun), which is scheduled to open in August at 600 E. Pratt St.
The chefs, gauchos, are also the servers, and bring around cuts of meat on skewers to carve at your table. The Baltimore Fogo will have 15 of them to start with, all of whom have been trained in the chain's home base in Brazil.
Andrew Feldmann, who handles Fogo's pr out of the Dallas corporate offices, said he'll let me know what the fixed price (for as much as you can eat) will be as soon as it's decided. He also said that a major reason for the decision to open in Baltimore was that so many people from here were visiting the restaurant in D.C.
Here's what Helen S., who's eaten at the Fogos in D.C. and L.A., wrote me after my Table Talk item appeared: ...
Fogo de Chao is my Brazilian son-in-law’s favorite restaurant. It actually began in Brazil and is owned by Brazilians. It has fabulous cuts of meat, excellent bar service and a salad bar that my husband (who does not like vegetables as a rule) says is “to die for”. The atmosphere is festive and the waiters are well trained and provide true service. The signature cheese rolls are better than any French brioche!
The Malibu Grill in Columbia closed because they lost business – after one visit I never went back – low grade cuts of stringy meat, a salad bar that was not as good as a regular grocery chain’s, slow service and a cafeteria-like atmosphere. To compare Fogo de Chao to the Malibu Grill is like comparing Ruth’s Chris to Bonanza Steakhouse.
Hopefully, when Fogo de Chao opens, you will visit and give it a “high five” . At least, I am hoping it is as good as the ones I’ve been to in D.C. and L.A. If it lives up to those restaurants, then it will definitely survive.
Comments
In the last few months, I've been to the Fogo De Chao chains in Chicago and the newly opened Philadelphia. While, the experience in Chicago was much better than the one in Philly, both made for wonderful evenings with friends who were not familiar with Brazilian steak houses. As mentioned, the meats were perfectly cooked and the flavor was tremendous. The salad bar is also out of this world and is easy to over indulge there before the meats arrive. The only knock on the Philadelphia location was the delivery of the meats, however it was only their third week open on a very busy Saturday night, so I'm sure that it was just opening kinks being worked out.
I think that people are going to really enjoy the Fogo De Chao here in Baltimore and I am really looking forward to the opening.
Posted by: Jamie | June 28, 2007 11:13 AM
If the prices at the Baltimore Fogo de Chao are as stratospheric as the one in Philly ($24.50 for lunch and $44.50 for dinner), I'm not sure how well this place will do with the non-expense-account crowd. You really have to be in it for the meat, as the salad bar and other food offerings at a churrascaria are never that impressive, nor worth that kind of moolah. When we're in the mood for a serious meat hangover (believe me, they are real) we go to Greenfield, on Rockville Pike, where we can gorge ourselves for a little over $30.
Posted by: Kathy | June 28, 2007 4:22 PM
We go to Greenfields on ocassion as well, and enjoyed every meat until we almost get sick, since they would be the closest Brazilian steakhouse to Baltimore. I wouldnt mind having one closer and, even though its a chain on top of rising gas prices, I would rather spend my money locally so to speak.
Posted by: Eric | June 29, 2007 11:51 AM