As a travel and culinary writer based in Pittsburgh, I am always interested in trying out new places that arrive in our city. So, naturally, when I found out that Fogo de Chao was opening I was quite excited.  I totally missed a soft opening invite, and really wanted to dine here, so we set up reservations for a Sunday night. 

I figured there would not be much going on in town since the Pens were out of town!   We just returned from Vegas and had some interesting Steakhouse experiences out there. Now in our own city is the opportunity to see how this new Brazilian Steakhouse may or may not be was intriguing.

I wanted to know what set it apart from other steakhouses!  I found my answer to this question from the moment we walked in. Lavishly live food out loud and let’s see what the new Brazilian Steakhouse in Pittsburgh offers and if you should go!

New Brazilian Steakhouse In Pittsburgh

Nope, this is not a sponsored post, it’s just me, sharing what I found this weekend. Enjoy! 

Fogo de Chao Pittsburgh

So, we have eaten at all the ‘big’ steakhouses and it takes a good bit to get my stilettos moving, and my fingers typing out if one is different. Personally, not a carnivore lovin’ kind of gal, I decided the best way to try this steakhouse out was a family. We made reservations for our party of 5, consisting of 3 teens and 2 adults.

Let me start by telling you there were plenty of other families in the restaurant, not just our kids. That was different from other steakhouse experiences we have had. So that is a good thing to know. In fact, the one family had a daughter about 10 years old and she worked that Market Table over!

As Soon As You Walk In 

The staff will greet you at the door, and then seat you. It was moderately busy for a Sunday Night without anything happening in the city. I can only imagine how busy Fogo de Chao will be when there are concerts and venues in the city.  Make a reservation, is what I will say.

Schedule reservations online at Fogo de Chao’s website or you can use Open Table. All good things to know.

The Bar Area

Who doesn’t like a bar? This bar area is phenomenal, large, nice seating and designed for your visual experience as well as tasting experience. After all, what is a drink without a little ambiance right?

Seating

yes blurred on purpose so people can have their privacy*

I do not think there is anything that is a bad seat in the house. The only thing you may not want to be by is the Market Table, but really even sitting across from it is not bothersome. Not sure if you can even state where you do or do not want to sit to be honest.

Market Table. 

Everyone has their special name for ‘salad bar’ and this is definitely a special ‘salad bar’ known as a Market Table. Seriously you will crave this long after you are gone and make a decision based on going here just looking at this. I know I would.

It is yummy. Sorry, I am not using fancy words, but let’s be real, fancy is not fun, it’s just a thing! I am about luxury foods and being relaxed and here you get it all!

The Market Table can be purchased unto itself or it comes as part of your Churassco Experience.  Meet the incredible Market Table, where you can feast until you can feast no more.

The fresh asparagus was ah-mazing, as were the marinated mushroom. Behind this, which I did not manage to photo (people were staring at me) was a smaller buffet with both rice, and soup.

Take a look at one of my Market Table travels. Of course, you will see hearts of palm, chickpeas, arugula and peas, roasted zucchini and artichoke hearts. All my faves and things I serve myself at home as a Vegetarian sometimes pescatarian.

Truly fresh and delicious. I believe I also took smoked provolone on this particular trip to the Market Table. I see it folded over on my plate, I can’t remember.

My daughter very much appreciated the salad mixtures and my husband loved on the Apple salad. Obviously, as a clean eating person, these were not on my list of ‘must-try’. Since they are picky about salads, and they complimented them, I know they were good.

Watermelon was absolute perfection and my youngest helped himself a few times over. The ancient grain salad was interesting and had pomegranate in it giving it an even better texture against the grains.

Charcuterie with fresh meats, as I mentioned. and there was smoked salmon.  The salmon was on the move, and everyone going up seemed to fill up on that particular item. Marintaed onions were fresh and crisp.

The table photos well and tastes even better. There was a consistent flow and there are 2 sizes of plates so if you want a smaller plate you can take that instead of a large one.

Seafood and Eat It

One of my husband’s favorite seafood, when we go out, is Chilean Sea Bass. Michael has had it prepared many different ways. The thing is,  it is not always good. Tonight’s experience was OUTSTANDING as he told me after tasting a piece of mine. Truth be told I had no frame of reference, I am a shrimp, scallop and lobster gal. So, I was all in for this experience.

One thing I have learned is that seafood is either really ON or really off when you get it out. Tonight’s danced off the plate and was perfection! I am not a big seafood lover, I rarely eat it, but I will occasionally dabble.

Since the menu is carnivore-strong, I obviously needed to see what the few seafood dishes were about. I decided on the Magno Chilean Sea Bass. It is a nice portion, is flavorful and well presented.

Delicately crunchy on the outside, tender and flaky on the inside and the mango was perfection.

Churrasco Experience 

Bring on the meat sweats is what I like to call this aspect of dining. Really I am kidding but you can eat enough to really get filled or just eat a little! My teen really ate a lot. His sister ate a little. My husband ate until he was content

There is simply no way to miss anything on this meal. You see, you get to taste it all and then some. Pork, Sausage, Lamb, Veal, Beef, and Chicken, kind of runs the gauntlet of options.

What you need to know and we were not told is to flip your round paper from Red to Green and then the Gaucho Chefs serve you tableside. You will help from time to time by holding a set of tongs so to stabilize the cutting.

This is fried polenta sticks, really fun to eat, not much flavor, after all, it is polenta. Did you expect me to say something else, lol! It comes as part of your entrees and has enough for the table. In addition there are garlic mashed potatoes, they are pretty perfect as well.

IF you have missed a meat that you want, ask. If you want more of a particular cut, ask. That is how it works and you can shamelessly fill your belly with the meat fest that carries on throughout the restaurant table by table.

That’s it. If you want to know more or see more meats etc, go to the restaurant. I do not want to ruin it for you. Simply make your reservation and go. You will see families, small parties, large parties and everything in between.

Dress Code

I seriously have to address this and I do not care who I offend. Fogo de Chao is an upscale restaurant, the prices reflect it, dress for it. I don’t mean break out the fur coats, well if that is your style fine, but don’t wear your hats at the table. Do not bother writing to me to address this, it is my right to say what I feel and if you are going here, respect it.

We saw dresses and my daughter and I wore dresses. Guys (for the most part) were in dress pants, and a few had suit coats on.  My guess is on show nights it will be more dressy rather than less. The dress code is business casual.

Dresses, slacks, no ties, etc.  We sat near people with sweat jackets and sweatpants, and then on our other side stilettos, and dress coats. You either ‘get it’ or you don’t.  Infer the dress code via the pricing and ambiance.

Lavishly live food out loud and test out Fogo de Chao, Pittsburgh’s newest addition downtown.