Asado Grill Evanston

This is a Fogo De Chao style AYCE grilled meat buffet that opened in the last week or so. I went in for lunch on Wednesday and it was a bit jarring.

It's the first time I've eaten in a restaurant where I had frequented it in a previous incarnation. In this case the space is the old Carmens pizzeria which has moved into smaller digs right next door.

A lot of the pictures on the wall are from the old Carmens as well. The menu says they have locations in Albequerque and Santa Fe where therea re coincidentally outposts of Carmens. This leads me to believe there may be a connection between the two, perhaps same owners or the owners know each other from down there.

As for the food, eh. It was 12.50 for lunch and it's 24.50 for dinner. The salad bar is heavy on olives and lettuce with a decent rice and beans but it just doesn't wow me like FdC did. The sun dried tomatoes were not hydrated which was an interestinlgy chewy and crunchy discovery. There were also pickled cloves of garlic which were essentially raw, a bad combo in my opinion. If they had been roasted or even cooked and pickled they would have been great, as it was they were harsh and cold.

The sausage was Italian which I found unusual, don't the Argentinian places use a linguica more typically? That was another indicator that it might be more closely connected to Carmens than they would have us know, it tastes just like the sausage there. The chicken was alright, thighs on a skewer, the turkey was way overdone. The filet wrapped with bacon was not good, tiny bit of filet with a wrap of undercooked bacon (this coming from an Irishman who LOVES softer Irish style bacon). The top and bottom sirloin were ok nothing to write home about, or for that matter nothing I couldn't do better in my cheap stove's broiler. Broiled ham was unusual, a little sweet but at least not overcooked.

All in all, if you are in the mood to consume mass quantities with less emphasis on great quality, it will fit the bill. I'll save my money for something else.

Asado Grill
1010-12 Church St.
Evanston IL 60201
847-425-4175

We went last night with no idea it was a Fogo clone (and I fault the restaurant for not making that immediately obvious.) Quickly left without partaking -- but we did scout the salad bar on the way out and were similarly unimpressed. Not the addition to the Evanston dining scene I was hoping for.
>>Brent

Argentine places us. serve chorizo, which in Argentina can be anywhere on the spectrum between a brat and an Italian. Not much like Spanish or Mexican sausage, or like the Portuguese link.

I know its an old thread.. But am I bumping it.

I went there tonight and I tell you it may have been one of the worst food experiences I have ever had. Everything was just for lack of a better term... NASTY.

In my experience cheap restaurants, expensive restaurants, whatever I have never ever paid for cold mashed potatoes that were clearly out of a box, the chewiest toughest cut of "filet mignon"I have had ever, bone dry flavorless pork loin, stale day old garlic bread, burnt ketchup dipped meat jello ribs, and just absoluely subpar food, service and everything... As my husband said even the Coke was bad... The service was a joke. The girl who brought most of our food never cracked a smile or so much as said a word to us. No, thank you, your welcome, have a nice night, nothing... Just an all around bad experience. Don't waste your time or your money...

I'm sorry I just can't get over it mashed potatoes from a BOX!!! How is that worth 32.50 a person... Ridonkulus!!!!!!!!!

This is what I get for getting too happy with the 50% off restaurant.com coupons... Never again, my friends, Never again.

In an effort not to be totally negative, my water was very cold and the straw was nice!:D

itsmesenam wrote:I know its an old thread.. But am I bumping it.

FYI, adding to existing threads is not only common, but the accepted community standard.

So, how were the portions?

Best,
Michael

itsmesenam wrote:Everything was just for lack of a better term... NASTY.

All I can say is I've had a good time whenever I've been there ... only downside was too much food ... but it's cheaper than the downtown Brazilian meathouses.

nr706 wrote:

itsmesenam wrote:Everything was just for lack of a better term... NASTY.

All I can say is I've had a good time whenever I've been there ... only downside was too much food ... but it's cheaper than the downtown Brazilian meathouses.

Ahh but yesterday I learned that cheaper is definitely not better in some cases... Maybe an off night but I don't really believe that. Must I reiterate BOXED MASHED POTATOES!!!

Oh and on the bright side, the portions were very plentiful !

You know, my theory is that the huge quantities of alcohol imbibed by the (relative) youngsters that frequent downtown Evanston kills off their tastebuds and loosens their wallets at the same time. Thus, the ever-expanding number of restaurants in Evanston that offer costly, badly prepared food are merely rushing to satisfy this clientele.

Truthfully, my one experience here wasn't too bad, but it was over a year ago, and I wasn't footing the bill...

PS. Brazillian steakhouses are completely different from Argentine steakhouses - Fogo de Chao has a franchise in Buenos Aires that our family considers international cuisine. Kind of the way we view Mexican food.