Best Brazilian Steakhouse in Chicago

I love Brazilian steakhouses but my wife is a Vegetarian....I need to chooses between

1. Fogo De Chao:
http://www.ylunch.com/chicago/fogo-de-c ... -chao.html

2. Sal Carvo:
http://www.ylunch.com/chicago/sal-and-c ... arvao.html

Please give me feedback....ideas....or any other cool Brazilian Steakhouses in Chicago

Thank you so much

Have a great day

Moderator title edit

This one's easier than you think... Sal y Carvao downtown closed, so unless you're closer to the Butterfield Road one, your decision is probably made.

Me, I was deeply underwhelmed by Sally Grovel, never been to Foghat de Cher.

Fogo de Chao does have an amazing salad bar, truly amazing. (Although it better be, for the price!)

Butterfield road S & C has changed at least its name. Do not know who owns, but it is still same concept

babaluch wrote:Butterfield road S & C has changed at least its name. Do not know who owns, but it is still same concept

The new name is ZED 451

www.zed451.com

It is my understanding that all S&C locations have become, or are re-opening as ZED 451.

Flip wrote:

Do not know who owns, but it is still same concept

The new name is ZED 451

yes, they are all being re-concepted after being bought out, including the one in chicago. And it's not the same concept, not brazillian steakhouse, but more just "steakhouse" ... though apparently it's still pre-fixe pricing so in that sense it's similar. But now there's an emphasis on fresher international cuisine (whatever that means). which to me is a welcome change since i don't "get" the allure of mass quantities when a nicely done steak is usually better... though at the same time, the brazillian steakhouse market seems much more unique even with one or two other choices...

"The name Zed 451 was derived from a combination of the last letter of the English alphabet and the degrees Fahrenheit at which fire starts." - from the Sal & Carvao website. (the official sal & carvao site has since been taken down and now just redirects to Zed 451's site)

another source here
now if anyone can figure out the relationship between the temperature at which paper burns and food, you win a prize.

btw, in your poll why isn't Brazzaz a choice?

dddane wrote:btw, in your poll why isn't Brazzaz a choice?

I vote for Brazzaz too

I vote for Asado

If possible, please retitle this thread to something indicating the topic of Brazilian steakhouses.

And: I also vote for Brazzaz.

brazzaz has a better salad bar and they have a lunch special.

Yo wrote:brazzaz has a better salad bar and they have a lunch special.

I respectfully disagree about the salad bar, and must say that Fogo de Chao also has special pricing at lunch. Never been to Sal y Carvao, and that seems to be a moot point now. But I've been to FDC on numerous occasions, and after trying Brazzaz just once for variety, I have to say that we almost left half way through our meal to go back to Fogo. The meats were all overdone, not just a little, but to the point of universal grayness. Even when we complained and told the servers to bring it as rare as possible, we could not find a hint of red juices. Granted, it was at lunch and the restaurant was nearly empty, but that meat had no business being served to anyone. I would never return.

I think a person can make a respectable (but overpriced) meal out of the Brazzaz salad bar (risotto, fish dishes, oysters etc) while I don't think it's really that possible with Fogo.

I also like the fact that Brazzaz has grilled shrimp and pineapple as some of the skewer options.

As for special pricing, I was referring to the $19 lunch price w/ coupon. Fogo has never had a deal that good.

In the end, we're talking about overpriced over salted cheap cuts of meat that are served at AYCE portions in a restaurant that also over charges for drinks and desserts. It is what it is and really not worth the effort to parse out the distinctions, since because of the cooking style, people are going to have varying opinions on both sides of the fence. The premium is paid for the experience not for the food.

Just curious - are Yo and Yo Yo Pedro "related," (ie the same person posting under different names)? Seems like a ca-winky-dink to me.

Yo wrote:I think a person can make a respectable (but overpriced) meal out of the Brazzaz salad bar (risotto, fish dishes, oysters etc) while I don't think it's really that possible with Fogo.

I also like the fact that Brazzaz has grilled shrimp and pineapple as some of the skewer options.

As for special pricing, I was referring to the $19 lunch price w/ coupon. Fogo has never had a deal that good.

In the end, we're talking about overpriced over salted cheap cuts of meat that are served at AYCE portions in a restaurant that also over charges for drinks and desserts. It is what it is and really not worth the effort to parse out the distinctions, since because of the cooking style, people are going to have varying opinions on both sides of the fence. The premium is paid for the experience not for the food.

When I went to Brazzaz for lunch, they told me that the oysters, shrimp, sushi and fish options were only available at dinner and were not included in the lunch pricing. That may have changed. I don't think of lamb chops or beef tenderloin as cheap cuts of meat, but then again, that's just me. I don't eat the chicken, sausage or pork because I'd rather just eat the good stuff. But, to each their own.

aschie30 wrote:Just curious - are Yo and Yo Yo Pedro "related," (ie the same person posting under different names)? Seems like a ca-winky-dink to me.

Don't know Yo, I've always been YoYoPedro.

YoYoPedro wrote:

aschie30 wrote:Just curious - are Yo and Yo Yo Pedro "related," (ie the same person posting under different names)? Seems like a ca-winky-dink to me.

Don't know Yo, I've always been YoYoPedro.

Phew. Reading the thread, it seemed like a split personality was posting.

aschie30 wrote:

YoYoPedro wrote:

aschie30 wrote:Just curious - are Yo and Yo Yo Pedro "related," (ie the same person posting under different names)? Seems like a ca-winky-dink to me.

Don't know Yo, I've always been YoYoPedro.

Phew. Reading the thread, it seemed like a split personality was posting.

The worst one is that we have both a "Sweet Willie" and "Sweet Willi", also different people.

Oops...that was my fault. I didn't realize there was someone as sweet as me when I picked my username. I can switch my name if it would be less confusing.

gleam wrote:

aschie30 wrote:

YoYoPedro wrote:

aschie30 wrote:Just curious - are Yo and Yo Yo Pedro "related," (ie the same person posting under different names)? Seems like a ca-winky-dink to me.

Don't know Yo, I've always been YoYoPedro.

Phew. Reading the thread, it seemed like a split personality was posting.

The worst one is that we have both a "Sweet Willie" and "Sweet Willi", also different people.

This is why I went with "JimTheBeerGuy" instead of "JimInLincolnSquare"

Had my first experience at Fogo last night and it was an awesome night of gluttony! I will really have to crank up the old treadmill this week to make up for it! Overall I thought it was a great dining experience. I was concerned about the quality of the meat before going as I have experienced many steak houses that are known for large cuts of meat which most times I find to be of poor quality. I would always have a better quality meat than a huge portion that you usually can't finish anyway. The quality of the cuts here were excellent.

The salad bar / buffet was incredible in my book! I wish you could go just for that. Fresh veg, cold cuts and cheeses. A great meal in itself.

I am currently eliminating carbs (except for those found in the veg) so I didn't have the opportunity to try the mashed potatoes, fried polenta and bananas which got high praise from the rest of the folks in my party. The porfito type rolls caused raves at our table and several of the girls took a few home in their purse!

A few of the cuts were overcooked for my liking particularly the lamb chops and parmesan pork. All of the other cuts that I tried were great and cooked to perfection. I must have tried all of the cuts with the exception of the sausage as you have to draw the line somewhere at this place.

I have been to several other Gaucho joints like this but often found myself wondering where the guys were and when they would bring out the good stuff? Not here, you are almost attacked by the waiters with any cut you desire to try. You can stop the onslaught by simply flipping a table card from green to red.

Really good cocktails and a lively yet times bit crowded bar area.

I would surely rate Fogo as top of these type of steak houses.

Bud

Bud,

According to what I have read, you can go with a salad bar only option at Fogo for around $21.

Just got mailer from Zed 451 - buy one get one free dinner - didn't seem like a Brazilian steakhouse - had very nice photos of food - has anyone been to Zed?

Zed 451
801 E Algonquin Rd
Schaumburg, IL 60173
(847) 925-0061

We wound up having Thanksgiving dinner at Zed451 in Schaumburg and it was truly delightful. Not only was everyone there really nice and welcoming, even though we were late for our reservation, but the food was delicious.

I'd figured that this would be just Sal & Carvao sans gaucho pants, but the new owners have thoroughly changed the food-on-skewers concept from Brazilian to a much more American/multicultural approach. There's less theatricality involved -- not every item comes out on spears; some are offered on platters -- the service, though bountiful, didn't seem such an intrusive part of the meal.

Lots of tasty vegetable dishes attractively presented on the buffet (which is available alone for nonmeat eaters), and nearly all the meats we tried were first-rate. I especially enjoyed the rump roast and the garlic steak, the lamb chops with parmesan crust and the pork tenderloin. There's also chicken, seafood, pork ribs (too sweet for my taste) and more. I gather the rotation changes somewhat from day to day.

For Thanksgiving, they had added excellent roast turkey and ham (brought out sliced on platters) with sides like pork-and-cranberry stuffing on the buffet. They also sent out some sides, including good creamed corn and sweet-potato casserole in iron skillets and lovely, little, savory, two-bite chicken pot pies.

In many cases, the food was delivered by people who had been involved in the cooking process.

As much as it's possible to do so without a crowd of one's nearest and dearest along, I really felt like I had eaten a real Thanksgiving dinner when we were done, and I'd be delighted to go back there for any occasion. In fact, I asked if they would be open on Christmas (they aren't, although they will be open Christmas Eve).

The buffet price, including all the meats and buffet items you can eat (drinks and desserts are extra), is $42.50, which IIRC is less than S&C's price.

Clearly, this isn't a place for light eaters, or those who are repelled by excess. Having let my eyes eat before the rest of me caught up, I felt wasteful at leaving things on my plate.

A word about beverages: In a nice touch, they're triple-filtering their water and you can have sparkling water carbonated in-house without any extra charge. The cocktails are wonderful, many featuring fresh ingredients and house-infused liquors.

Ours were stellar: Old-fashioneds made with hazelnut-infused bourbon and fresh cranberries and clementines and, for dessert, mulled pear cider with fresh bosc-pear infused vodka and house-made cinnamon whipped cream. It would be worth going here just to hang out in the bar. (They don't serve food in the bar now, but they said they were working on a bar menu.)

Zed451
www.zed451.com

801 E Algonquin Road, Schaumburg
(847) 925-0061

3008 Finley Road, Downers Grove
(630) 512-0900

(Due in Chicago in 2008)

We liked the beef and lamb at Zed451 (the fattiness of the meat crisped up very nicely on the cool multi-skewer rotating grills in the kitchen), but the chicken and pork seemed oddly over-marinated and somewhat "homogenized" in texture -- not bad, but not worthy.

The staff is extraordinarily friendly, which may be the result of careful hiring or training. However, when I asked the server where the name came from, she said, "Zed, which means Z, means like the end, the last place you'd go." Well, I wouldn't be quite so harsh.

I guess it would make sense if they meant-the last place you'd go to for a meal knowing you were going to croak, or the place for your last meal.

Hey everyone,

I wanted to hear your opinions on which Brazilian steakhouse is the best in Chicago. I have been to Fogo de Chao but haven't been to any others. My boyfriend wants to go to one but wants to know which is better: Fogo de Chao or Brazzaz. Having never been to Brazzaz, I can't compare.

Anyone have any insight?

Thanks in advance!

been to two..Fogo De Chao and Sal Y Carvao..preferred Fogo over the latter

I've been to Fogo and Brazazz. Brazazz ups the ante with a few more high end salad bar items, and an extra meat offering or two. Fogo was the first one in this market, and has a bit more traffic. Brazazz can be empty from time to time, and this type of service impoves with higher turnover on the product.

In all it is 6 of one, half dozen of another. I'd probably pick Brazazz to go back to because of the couple extra offerings, but wouldn't argue if a companion suggested Fogo.

Actually, I might insist that we scrap both Brazilian options and go for higher quality meat at David Burke's, Erie Cafe, or most options listed in the Best Place to Get a Steak list.

Maybe Yurohi can renew the poll if he/she is still on the board - several new options have arrived (Brazzaz, Texas, Zed 451) and a fresh vote might be helpful since we get this repeated query.

Either way, my vote is:

1. Fogo
2. Brazzaz
3. Texas
4. Zed

The salad bar is much stronger at Fogo and Brazzaz (the latter even has feijoada and other stews), and I like the sides best at Fogo, particularly the popovers.