Greg R. wrote:I've eaten at both Texas de Brazil and Fogo on several occasions (although I couldn't tell you which is which). These are by no means "foodie" destinations. My wife straight up refuses to go citing the absurdity of the whole idea (all you can eat red meat!)...but the guys....we go and eat plenty of (average) meat and get plenty drunk and that's pretty much why these places exist. Bachelor parties, out of town business meetings, and poorly chosen first dates.
Interestingly, the sides are terrible. If the mashed potatoes aren't instant they sure went out of their way to make them taste that way. If I had an all you can eat meat house I'd make sure I had the best taters and biggest and best rolls in town!
As for location most of these places I've been to have been in the burbs although I think I went to one in downtown Chicago. They'd be a big hit in the convention district for sure. I'd say it's just a matter of time. Maybe a local guy should beat the chains to the punch...seems like a gold mine.
I think if I were a chef looking to start my own place I'd do this and make some real money AND THEN open my Vietnamese/Canadian fusion cowboy craft cocktail bar or whatever I've decided is the next big thing as a hobby. Of course I'm a business man, not a chef.
There are at least three in downtown Chicago (River North area) in walking distance, plus another three that I know of in the NW and W burbs. One of the downtown ones is a local place, and one suburban was a locally owned franchise - the others were chains.
The sides are pretty terrible . . . most people fill up on the salad bar (which is wonderful, and filled with expensive and decent appetizers and even such hot dishes as fish fillets, pasta, etc. along with the artichokes, smoked salmon, et al). Maybe it's not so much that the sides are terrible, as that the sides are starchy so that you will get full and order less meat?
As far as perfectly cooked, at those we've been to if you want meat "X" meadium-rare rather than better done, just ask for it, and they will shortly bring it out!