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I've been to the Fogo de Chão in Miami -- unlike most all-you-can-eat restaurants, this chain actually serves pretty decent food. There's a rather large salad bar with a multitude of options, plus servers walk around with various rotisserie-cooked meats that they slice off at your table.

It's definitely a festive atmosphere and I would have no problem recommending it for a celebration-type meal. Just bring two things -- your wallet and your appetite!

Dominic
the zen kitchen

I've been to the one in Indianapolis. It's a Brazilian churrascaria concept. Texas de Brazil is a similar chain found on the East Coast. Typical of the churrascarias is the endless parade of meats roasted on swords over a hardwood charcoal fire. Accompanying the meats there is a huge buffet of vegetables, salads, pickles, cold cuts, cheeses, rice, beans, plantains, etc. Because a buffet is involved you will be getting up and serving yourself at some point. The gauchos will come in waves offering the various roasted meats, you will attempt to control the wave with the green or red disc. LOL, I was pretty overwhelmed the first time we tried it because I forgot to turn the disc over to the red. Now I know how to control the pace of the dinner and I know what I really enjoy [the sausage and the picahna sp? (the sirloin with a ribbon of fat on the outside and curved like a "C" on the sword-skewer,) and lamb chops! not the leg of lamb]

There is definitely an air of celebration and excess--you will leave stuffed--so I would definitely recommend for a celebration as long as you aren't looking for something quiet and romantic. The restaurants are very good looking, dark woods, white table cloths, serious wine lists, well stocked bars, waitstaff has memorized the concept's message, and the gauchos are a neat touch.

If you've never tried a churrascaria, I would recommend that you do because it's a lot of fun and it's different from other types of restaurants. Even though it's technically "all you can eat" I don't feel it's appropriate to lump this type of Brazilian churrascarias into the same category as other all you can eat concepts.

Whatever you do, I hope you have fun.

I have been to the Fogo de Chao in Chicago, I didn't realize there were so many Fogo de Chaos! I wrote about my experience here, but in a nutshell, I really liked it. The salad bar was gorgeous, and the sides were fair (the polenta and banana were good, the mashed potatoes just eh). The meat service was plentiful, tasty and so much fun. I recommend going!

Hillary
Chew on That

I went to Fogo de Chao in Atlanta a few years ago and loved it. I haven't been to any other locations, but have been wanting to go back. I think it's great for celebrations because service was pretty attentive and seems used to large parties. Also, I think they have great mojitos and caipirinhas (although not sure how authentic they were).