a Fogo De Chao is opening up in Minneapolis (in the old Copeland's Space in City Center)....my thought is that it could be either very good or a train wreck?!?

Whenever "all you can eat" is involved you attract a certain element that can quickly turn a nice place into a trough for slopping pigs....however...If it is priced to provide appreciable quality rather than quality, it becomes more about sampling variety than seeing how much you can stuff in your gut to get the most bang for your buck.

I love buffet concepts because it does allow you to sample SMALL portions to learn what you like, to try new things and simply to have what looks good & fits your mood.

Has anyone been to one of these? Good, bad, mediocre? And What's the general price range for lunch...or dinner? Cocktails or just wine? I am excited to have something new that isn't an olive garden!

They e-mailed me back with the following info:

The Minneapolis location (645 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403, 612-338-1344) will be opening in mid-april of 2007.

In Minneapolis lunch is $22.50 per person and dinner is $38.50 per person. Salad buffet only (no meats) is $19.50 per person. Kids 5 and under eat free, and kids 6-10 eat at half price.

The above lunch and dinner menu prices include fifteen different cuts of meat, an extensive gourmet salad and egetable buffet and a variety of Brazilian side dishes. Portions are unlimited. All meat is slow-roasted over open fire by authentic “gaucho” chefs and carved tableside. Side dishes include rice and beans, seasoned mashed potatoes, fried bananas, polenta and warm cheese bread.

Si não sabem escrever gaúcho corretamente, como podem saber de churrascaria?
Escrevem gaucho (sen acento são os de Argentina) então devem saber de parrillada ou churrasquerias. Melhor do que aprendam.

If they don't even know how to write gaúcho right, what can they know about churrascarias?
They write gaucho (without accent are those from Argentina). In that case they must know about parrilladas or churrasquerias. Better they learn.