Fogo de Chao

This place is a restaurant...but the whole churrascaria concept is an event that should not be missed. They have restaurants in the US as well but there is something exceptional about experiencing this in Brasil. Of course, you should fast for a day or two before going because you WILL overdo it. The first course is the salad which is impressive on its own (and an interesting tidbit I noted in Puerto Alegre was that there is usually sushi on the salad bar and in the rolls they usually substitute mango for avacado which is a pleasent but unexpected surprise). Amatuers go too heavy on the salad and pao de queso - don't fall victim to this mistake, because this is where the entertainment starts. Each person at the table has a coaster with a red side and a green side, and when you flip to green, the gauchos with the meat come at you in all directions (it can be intimidating - just remember, red makes them stop). It is wise to study the menu on the website first, as some of the items are for a pretty sophisticated palate so you may want to say nenhum obrigado to, say, I don't know, the chicken hearts (no offense if you are a chicken heart fan). My personal favorite is the pichana. If you aren't a big meat eater, this is probably not the place for you (although, if you have a dark side, you can have a little fun with the gauchos by teasing them with your coaster). Enjoy!