Fogo de Chao

They were wonderfully helpful as I went with friends for their Market table brunch. This meal does not include the meats, just an omelet station and the full salad bar. I called before we made reservations and was told the ONLY thing with gluten was the French bread on the salad bar. I suspected that was t right but went in person to check it out. After i explained that malt vinegar is NOT gluten free nor is flour used as a thickener, 85% of the food was eliminated for me to eat. All of the side dishes/salads aside from the steamed broccoli had vinegar, the soup had flour, the entire antipasto selection aside from sliced cheese had vinegar and on and on. I had lettuce with the creamy dressing and raw fruits and veggies. That was all i could eat for $40.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Not very

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— No gluten-free information on the menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Not Much/None

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Average

I specified my gluten allergy to the waitress, she said All the meats except the chicken would be safe for me to eat. Personally I am highly sensitive to cross contamination and even after specifying this, she said all the other meats would be ok, however the Parmesan encrusted pork and the sausages are both prone to cross contamination. I got glutened here, so I would recommend either staying away from these foods or making it very very clear that you can’t have any cross contamination.

Fogo is a great chain for Celiacs. Make sure to mention your condition to the host(ess) who will ask that the floor manager give you a tour around the salad bar to show you what to avoid. Everything that comes to the table (via the gauchos serving meats and via your waiter) are gluten free except: the chicken, the sausage, and the parmesan crusted pork due to cross contamination potential. So, please do go and eat all of the Brazilian cheese bread you can fit.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

I’ve been there twice and it’s always amazing! The meats are delicious! I love the variety of fresh fruit, salads, pickles and cheeses in their Market Place bar. The seasonal soup is delicious! And the tiny puffed tapioca bread melts in your mouth - so delicious! The service is top notch and the staff are knowledgeable. The papaya cream dessert is deliciously decadent! Just be careful to stop eating before you are too full! Great place for celebrating a special occasion like Mother’s Day.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

I went here for a company function and had resigned myself to getting sick. I was pleasantly surprised that the buffet had the cheese and meats on the totally opposite side from the bread, which was by the salads. At the buffet I chanced tiny pieces of the prosciutto, papaya and star fruit. The tropical fruits weren’t ripe so I didn’t end up finishing these.

I signaled the waitress of my allergy and she brought out a detailed allergen list. This list showed most of the meats as having soy, which I worried was soy sauce. Though overwhelmed by our party of 16, the waitress eventually brought me the manager who took a trip to consult the chef who told me most meats were simply rubbed in lemon pepper and no soy sauce was involved.

Based on the advice of the waitress and manager, I tried several types of lamb and beef and did not get sick. For drinks I had Caipirinhas. Though they were listed as wheat free I did not try the Pão de queijo, which were prepared in a kitchen that also prepared bread. For dessert I wanted to try the flan, but they were “out” (I saw it being served to other tables, so they must have just run out) and was given vanilla ice cream.

Overall this restaurant did a great job taking care of me and keeping me safe on a very busy night.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Very

Safety Feature Ratings

• Staff is knowledgeable and can answer questions

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— No gluten-free information on the menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

So much food, we had great time here and left sooo full. A fun spot for the family, endless cuts of meat and salad bar. The rolls are safe, meats are safe, a few items on salad bar that we were warned of ( bread items). We had no reactions, nice lunch here.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Somewhat

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Great experience here, told them of my allergy and they brought me a list of everything and their allergens: gluten was only in a few things! Safe buffet, all the meats except the tofu but I didn’t even see that. Highly recommended. All you can eat is $66 which seems like a great deal!

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Very

Safety Feature Ratings

• Dedicated gluten-free fryer

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Separate gluten-free menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

Other Characteristics

• Good for dairy-free

Mostly everything here was gluten free. I was hesitant at first and took some precautions, but everything was great. If you haven’t eaten this style before, they come around to your table with a slab of meat and slice off a portion if you want to try it. There are several meats that are not gluten free, but there were more than enough options without it. I was skeptical of the buffet, but [at least on the night I was there] almost everything on the table was gluten free. I stood there and watched it for 5 minutes before deciding it was worth it to check out a couple items. Taking off a star for safety due to the waitstaff; somewhat knowledgeable, but also apathetic and not willing to get answers very quickly (like 30 minutes into the meal when everyone else was already eating). My primary complaint was the servers — one was a little weird encouraging us to drink and drive (we did not, of course), and one just did not help at all. We went somewhat close to the opening and seemed like a decent amount of turnover with the waitstaff, so perhaps it was a logistical issue and has since improved. I had a vegetarian friend who went and found plenty to eat to hang with her family, but I’m not sure I would recommend that for the price point. I did not get sick, and was very full :)

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Somewhat

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Good

Other Characteristics

• Good for dairy-free
• Good for dinner
• Good for keto
• Good selection of healthy options
• Reservations recommended

I haven’t been yet but looking online it looks like their entire market menu is naturally gluten free. Apparently they can also serve Brazi bread. Hope to check out soon.

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— No gluten-free information on the menu