Fogão Gaúcho Brazilian Steakhouse Bismarck — Restaurant in Bismarck

On February 13th, 2025, I planned a date for my wife and I at the new restaurant in Bismarck, ND, named Fogao Gaucho. Upon walking in, we were greeted by friendly staff and an elegant fine dining atmosphere. We were seated, and a table hostess explained the menu to us. We opted for the full dinner churrasco and shared a crème brûlé for dessert. I must say we felt utterly spoiled by the deluxe salad bar alone, which featured hot homemade soups, specialty cheeses, and even smoked salmon lox. Shortly after indulging in the salad bar, we were greeted at our table with an array of fresh, hot grilled meats. So many choices! Our favorite was the lamb chops, which were succulent, perfectly spiced, and melted in the mouth. Also, don't be fooled by the hot, steamy pineapple offered; if you pass it up, your missing out on one of the best fruits I've ever tasted. They drench the pineapple in a special sauce and grill it to perfection. The flavor was so amazing that I kept asking for more, and more I received! The entire evening was a blend of fine dining, a vast array of specialty meats and dishes. It was pure entertainment. The way the food was brought out was like watching a theatrical performance up close and personal. As a side note, they bring out these garlic bread squares that are utterly amazing, along with chewy, buttery, cheesy buns. AMAZING! The fried banana was okay, but it came with these orange corn bread squares that are so addicting. Oh, and the mashed potatoes they bring to your table are super creamy and tasty. About the crème brûlé, I want to provide a balanced review by mentioning the downside of our experience. The crème brûlé, unfortunately, was pre-caramelized, possibly the day before. It was slightly curdled and more lumpy than creamy. For a price tag of $9.90 per serving, I expected a silky smooth custard with a freshly caramelized top. In conclusion, I encourage everyone to make this restaurant your go-to spot for special occasions. Well Worth the Money!!

UPDATE: We did return to the restaurant for a second time The crème brûlé was excellent...

Talk about a great experience! This is exactly what I’m looking for when I go out to eat. My buddy and I were greeted immediately with a warm smile and shown straight to our table. At first, the A/C was blasting on my friend (I didn’t mind it), but when we asked to switch tables, the staff couldn’t have been more accommodating. No irritation, no hesitation—just genuine care that we were comfortable. That set the tone for the entire evening.

The service was phenomenal. From start to finish, the staff truly made us feel like they cared about our experience—and we absolutely had a great one. The food was outstanding: endless fresh cuts of meat, hot off the fire, brought around by gauchos who even asked our preferences for doneness. They brought filet mignon, lamb steaks, and lamb chops cooked exactly the way we wanted them, and every bite was fantastic. The grilled pineapple was also fantastic.

The salad bar was also impressive, packed with enough options to be a meal on its own, but honestly, I couldn’t pull myself away from the parade of meats.

Drinks were equally on point. My buddy enjoyed the Life Changer cocktail (even if it wasn’t exactly life-changing), and I went with a few old-fashioneds, all excellently made. We capped off the night with the flaming cheesecake, which was as beautifully presented as it was delicious.

Yes, this was a pricier evening out, but it felt absolutely worth it—the cost matched the value. Every detail, from food to drinks to service, was tight and professional. Andrea and Samaya in particular went above and beyond to make our night perfect.

I wish I’d taken more photos of the incredible meats, but I was too busy enjoying them as fast as they came out. This was a flawless night out. No one dropped the ball, and we left full, happy, and already talking about...

We had dinner here to celebrate my birthday after recently moving from Houston. We’re no strangers to Brazilian steakhouses and have visited many across Texas. Overall, the food and service were great, our server Chad was excellent, and the meats were flavorful and plentiful. The salad bar had a nice variety, and we appreciated the clear system for using two plates to keep items separate.

Unfortunately, our evening started off on the wrong foot. When we arrived without a reservation, the host made us feel unwelcome. I asked if we needed one, and he scoffed without giving a clear answer. The restaurant was not full, several tables were set but empty, the parking lot was only 3/4 full, and there was no one waiting. Yet we were seated at a four-top missing a chair, directly beside the server stand, even though other two- and four-top tables were available. It felt like we were being penalized for not booking ahead, despite the lack of demand. The host also noticeably gave other guests friendly attention while completely ignoring us for the rest of the evening. It left a bad impression.

We also noticed a 3% credit card surcharge added to the bill. For a higher-end restaurant, this feels out of place. It would make more sense to build the cost into menu prices rather than penalize customers for using a standard payment method, especially when large parties could be hit with fees upwards of $20 to $30. At this price point, that practice feels more like padding profit than covering costs.

Despite the rocky start, the food and table service were strong enough that we’ll likely return but next time we’ll make a reservation, even if it’s unnecessary, just to avoid another...