Brazilian Grill in Old Saybrook

[DonShirer]

I was driving along Rt. 1 today and suddenly noticed a new restaurant sign in the strip mall near Schoolhouse Rd. where the Royal Indian used to be. I pulled over to investigate and found the Fogo Churrascaria Bar and Grill open for business and serving customers already. I didn't have time to spare then, but will try to get back soon to check it out. It does not appear to be connected to the Fogo de Chao chain that has many restaurants in the south, west and midwest (and Brazil too!), but like most Brazilian restaurants I have seen, their menu waxes at length about MEAT. (Capitals intended...and sorry about the Brazilian wax reference). There is a buffet for $14 and another option where a waitress comes along and peels off slices of six or seven varieties of meat until you are full (or terminal protein overload sets in). Has anyone else tried it yet?

[DonShirer]

Finally persuaded my wife to try Fogo (which I am told means "fire" in Portugese). Although not a meat lover, she was quite satisfied with the $14 buffet, which included a beef stew, a thai calimari dish and lasagna, and a nice salad selection. (I especially liked their mediterranean salad--my wife transferred some spicy peppers to my plate which were pretty good as well.) I went for the rodizio, which besides the buffet, means that when you give the waitress the green light (using a small block on your table), she stops by with a spit of roasted meat and slices off as much as you want. They had eight different varieties (which change nightly) on a Thursday night, but I filled up with only three, a nice spicy sausage, a roast beef which was crusty on the outside and medium rare inside, (both very good) and a charred chicken, which was just ok. I'll make sure to come back to try their steak. Although the wine list was modest, I had a quite satisfactory chilean red. For dessert, both of us were very happy with the rice pudding and the passion fruite mousse.

Located in a strip mall on Rt. 1 halfway between Tiberios and Saigon City, Fogo Churascuria is a welcome addition to the electic mix of restaurants on the east shoreline. At lunch, the buffet is $11 and the rodizio $16, but there are fewer meat selections. Incidentally, the owners are Ecuadorian, and their daughters make up a very pleasant wait staff.

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Tiberio's Restaurant
1395 Boston Post Rd, Old Saybrook, CT 06475

Saigon City
1315 Boston Post Rd, Old Saybrook, CT 06475

[jdgall]

We were there a couple of Saturdays ago and found the food and service very good. We had the buffet and and the meat service. Very friendly staff and the various meat dishes all served tableside grilled on a large skewer, The meats change nightly. The night we were there we had beef short ribs, sirloin steak, baby back ribs, roast pork, chicken wrapped in bacon, and chorizo.. All were prepared very well, seasoned well and and very tasty.
The buffet had a very large assortment of vegies, fish, meats, salads, sauces, and some super desserts. Reminiscent of the now gone Che Tango in Branford. Would highly recommend you give it a try. We were told that during the week there is less variety than week-ends,