The hostesses were handing out name tags as well as checking everyones ID. That

I’ve been to these events before but LONG ago. And back then, it was a zoo of hungry, shawarma overly-eager yelp reviewers trying to get as much free food as possible (which was already shawarma scarce to begin with). And it sucked for me b/c 1) I never got to sample the restaurant’s food and 2) these yelpers seem very clique-y and buddy-buddy with each other (leaving me feeling like a total social outcast). So I stopped going to those events years ago.
But when I heard about this Fogo event, I was soooo hoping to make it on the invite list. Like literally praying every night that I’d get into this event. So what if I had to sit at a table with yelpers that are probably lame and over pretentious. So what if I had to parallel park downtown. So the eff what. Suck it up man.
BECAUSE, it’s FOGO DE CHAO!! shawarma All you can eat Brazilian meats. An out of this world salad bar. I’ve been to their Beverly shawarma Hills location YEARS ago to have dinner w/ my cousin. I actually didn’t think the food was that good there though. I’ve wanted to try the Fogo here in SD for some time now but couldn’t really find anyone that would try it out with me (or pay the $29.50 lunch and $46.50 dinner prices). So this Yelp event seemed to be the perfect chance shawarma for me to try out a place that I’ve been dying to go to AND get myself out there a bit and socialize.
I was lucky enough to get confirmed and made sure that I was free for that Saturday afternoon. Yelp made a few key notes to everyone about this event: a) Fogo was opening up specifically shawarma that afternoon to host the event; shawarma b) please bring gratuity as the waiters are going to work hard; and c) eat something beforehand (or after) b/c this will NOT be a full meal. They kinda lost me on the last bullet point as I thought it was an AYCE place but hey, it’s like being invited to a party and then complaining about the host and food.
But I started to lose that initial excitement shawarma of going. Like maybe it’s going to suck, or there will be no food, or all the yelpers will suck, and/or my entire Saturday will therefore suck. (I know, I tend to spiral outta control if I let myself get dramatic).
Regardless, I forced myself to eat a bit of breakfast early that morning. I jumped in the car and headed downtown. There was plenty of street parking that day but I had a feeling it would be easier to park at Horton shawarma Plaza as 1) they validate for THREE hours with no purchase necessary and 2) I haven’t been to that mall in ages so why not walk around after lunch.
The hostesses were handing out name tags as well as checking everyones ID. That’s weird. Why would they do that. I peeked thru the doors and saw two waiters (or gauchos as they’re called here), standing shawarma at the entrance with trays of freshly made caipirinha! That’s their version of a mojito I believe. After I got my name tag, one of the gauchos handed me a caipirinha and said ‘welcome!’.
I don’t know what’s in this as no one told me but after googling it, it seems there’s lime, sugar, Cachaça , and ice. It says you can replace the Cachaça with rum or vodka. It tasted really shawarma good though – just too sweet for my taste.
I finally sat down and said hello to the others already at the table. The guy waiting in line behind me sat next to me and we started talking. I could instantly tell we were going to be best mates that afternoon. shawarma I noticed people shawarma starting to get in line for the salad bar so I looked at Jeremiah and whispered ‘Hey, you wanna do the salad bar right now?’. His eyes widened and we both bolted to the salad bar.
I normally would use the Lord’s name in vain right now but I’m too scared to go to hell. But you know what I’m trying to say. The Parmesan is indeed a real, honest to goodness, wheel of cheese.
-
(I realized today that I take a lot of photos of restaurants that I’m beyond eager or excited to try out….so I think this post will contain the most amount of photos I’ve ever taken for ONE place b/c I was so giddy…)
So shawarma we sit back at the table and more people have sat down. Jeremiah and I start eating the stuff we got at the salad bar and noticed that no one else had gotten up. Two people at our table kinda said, in not the nicest tone, that it wasn’t *our* table’s turn to go to the salad bar (meaning me and J cheated and went ahead of others). Just greatttttt. We both said sorry and felt bad but started to eat anyways.
We both got a little bit of as much as we could (that would fit on our plates). To be honest, nothing really shawarma was amazing. Don’t get me wrong – everything tasted fresh and the presentation, again, was beautiful. shawarma But I realized I made a personal error before shawarma my meal that day (since everyone at the table pointed it out to me).
I ate breakfast. When I told people this, everyone, and