Gluten-Free at Fogo de Chao, Denver, CO

Fogo de Chao is a fantastic restaurant with locations scattered across the country, and now a location in Denver, CO. If you have never been to Fogo you are in for a real treat. The Brazilian steakhouse is 5 Star “all-you-can-eat” with some of the best steak in Denver. The meal isn’t cheap, but the flat price includes all of the salad bar, sides, and meat you could want. You can also check their huge wine selection and desserts for an added cost.

The Fogo salad bar puts all other salad bars to shame. Everything except the fresh bread on the salad bar, and the croutons, is gluten-free. The salad bar has several choices in salad greens, and numerous toppings. There are fresh cheeses, veggies, and much more. But be careful not to fill up on salad because the sides and meats are really great, and there is a lot of good food to try!

The side dishes are brought to every table and are kept fresh throughout the meal. They include a creamy garlic mashed potatoes topped with cheese and chives, caramelized bananas, and fried polenta squares topped with parmesean cheese. The sides are fantastic and are all gluten-free!

Fogo de Chao also serves a soft, cheesy, delicious table bread that is gluten-free! That’s right, all of the bread that goes to each table, the regular table bread, is gluten-free. It is made with a yucca flour and a traditional Brazilian recipe. It is really delicious!

The meat is served on long skewers and is brought around to the tables by servers. There are several kinds of steaks, including fillet, tenderloin, and seasoned pieces. There are also chicken, pork, and lamb cuts. They are served at whatever temperature you prefer. You are given a “coaster” with a red and green side, and you flip it to the green side when you want more meat, and flip to the red side when you want to take a break. The meat is cut at the table, and you use small tongs to take the piece that you want.

The different cuts of meat are delicious. My favorite is the fillet. There are meats with some seasonings, like garlic. Some are simply rubbed with olive oil and salt, bringing out the juices and flavor. Most of the meats are gluten-free. There is a chicken wing that is basted in beer and may not be safe. While some people say that the alcohol is cooked out when cooking, it is best to avoid it if you are gluten-free, just to be safe. We don’t know if they baste again after cooking.

When planning a meal at Fogo de Chao be sure to plan for a couple of hours, at least, to enjoy all of the courses and great food. It is really great to be able to enjoy so much gluten-free food at a nice restaurant and you don’t want to feel rushed! I have had several wonderful experiences at Fogo de Chao and rank it in my top 3 favorite restaurants of all time! Enjoy!

For more information check out the Fogo de Chao website at www.FogodeChao.com