Brazilian Grill Restaurant - Bolero

[Nage Waza]

You can wear jeans, no problem. Go hungry, seriously.

[Bob]

Make sure you try the roasted pineapple. Freaking awesome, it is. Also, don't fill up on the buffet they have, just try a little. You can fill up later on the bacon-wrapped goodness they bring around, or steak, or lamb, or whatever.

[The Special One]

I really didn't like the place. Good concept but way too pricey for what you're getting. I wouldn't go back.

[You Need a Thneed]

Been three times, it's very good.

I believe it's $37.50 now, at least it was a few months ago. If you love meat, you will love this place. The grilled pineapple is nearly worth the price alone.

We were there in spring, and we were all pretty much full, when they had to evacuate us, due to a fire in the kitchen exhaust. We had a table of 6 eat for free! (I called the next day to make sure they didn't want my money, as we couldn't go back in on the day we were there).

Definitely go hungry, you'll fill up.

[stang]

Was there last week, LOVE IT. (second time going there)

37.50 now, and very tastey. Although if you need your meat well done then you might not like everything, Some of it was on the medium rare side. (Which is fine by me)

Go hungry and prepare to be STUFFED when you leave.

[photon]

http://www.brazilianbbq.ca/

A different one in Calgary, we went to this one last weekend and it was WAY better meat than Bolero's.. it's a very small place so it's cramped, no salad bar (they bring the salads and stuff to you), and the guy's slinging the meat are a bit enthusiastic (got meat juice in my water), but the meat is far better cooked IMO.

The only major downside is no pineapple at this new place. They have bananas instead.

[TSXCman]

My folks were just in Brasil and ate this style of serving and liked it. They said that the places in Houston on the way to Brasil executed it better than Brasil itself.

said Borelo was pretty good

[troutman]

Are children welcome there?

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by troutman

Are children welcome there?

yup, we've brought our two year old all three times we've been there. Not that you see a whole lot of kids, if you have to pay 37.50 for them. Our kid is young enough to not have to pay.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

yup, we've brought our two year old all three times we've been there. Not that you see a whole lot of kids, if you have to pay 37.50 for them. Our kid is young enough to not have to pay.

Kids (5 and 7) have to pay $37.50 too?

[stang]

Originally Posted by troutman

Kids (5 and 7) have to pay $37.50 too?

No they are 1/2 price

[You Need a Thneed]

18.75 is still a lot of money for a 5 or 7 year old. I didn't know the price for kids, as mine isn't old enough for that yet.

[MRCboicgy]

Originally Posted by photon

http://www.brazilianbbq.ca/

A different one in Calgary, we went to this one last weekend and it was WAY better meat than Bolero's.. it's a very small place so it's cramped, no salad bar (they bring the salads and stuff to you), and the guy's slinging the meat are a bit enthusiastic (got meat juice in my water), but the meat is far better cooked IMO.

The only major downside is no pineapple at this new place. They have bananas instead.

I agree wholeheartedly with this

I basically think Bolero is good if you want as much meat as possible (and that wonderful pineapple). Go to Gauchos (the place above) if you want a smaller variety of more flavourful meat, plus all the awesome side dishes. They have that Brazilian drink there too, of which I had a few too many.

[Berger_4_]

Went...last year I think. Pretty outstanding if you enjoy meat haha. And their pineapple is absolutely amazing.

[GGG]

When I went to Bolero's I thought it was amazing. THen I went to the Brazillian BBQ in the Planet Hollywood in Vegas and the flavours in the meat put Bolero's to shame.

Bolero's is awsome but all of the meat starts to taste the same whereas the other one I went to every meat was definately distincy and much more flavourful.

[Mad Mel]

If any of you O&G types have to go to Houston for work, go to Fogo de Chao. I've been to a few, and it's the best I've experienced. Unfortunately, I didn't know about Bolero's when I lived in Calgary.

[Rjcsjc62]

Overall it was very good. I dont think that the price is unreasonable, $100 (plus tip) is about right for the once every two months or so that we go out to eat.

The meat is delicious, and the whole "we come by every 2 minutes to shave a big hunk of meat onto yor plate until you are full" concept was very well received by both of us.

My wife's only complaint was about the beef. She normally likes steaks to be cooked well done, but anytime they brought beef around it was usually rare.

The pineapple was pretty good, but come on, it's just pineapple. It's worth trying, but this thread got us too excited about it.

8.5 out of 10.

[Clarkey]

The pineapple takes up meat space in your gut, best to avoid.

[sadora]

$35 for what you get here is very reasonable and very much worth it. Never disappointed anytime I've been there.

[Cactus Jack]

Originally Posted by Bent Wookie

Is it actually meat from Brazil or just Brazilian style?

The meat is Albertan I would assume, the style is called churrasco from Brazil. It's rotissery with meat on swords and they come around every couple minutes with a new type of meat. For $37.50 it's not cheap, but if you love meat and eat a lot. It is so worth it. Remember if you want a specific meat or pineapple, ask for it. Don't be shy.

Originally Posted by FurnaceFace

I've been to Brasil and eaten in true churrascaria's so comparing Bolero to those it is a good approximation. The meats and styles are much the same. Only difference is in Brasil the salad bar is giant and as soon as you flip your sign to green the servers are all over you to the point you need to flip your sign (or remote as Bolero is calling it) to red.

I've had discussions with their management about their desire to recreate the "server mob" feel I experienced in Brasil and they are working towards that. Not an easy thing given the Calgary job market whereas in Brasil you could have a ton of staff on shift without problem. When I was there the servers came out steadily and we never really felt like we were waiting - except for pineapple.

I think it's a good dining experience, and am extremely happy Calgary has this option.

This is a good review of how it is in Brazil. They do mob you in Brazil and it seems like you have someone at your table with more food every minute. The salad bars are much more extensive in Sao Paulo but they are more than just salad. Some even have sushi, an extensive dessert section, etc.
I've mentioned several times at Bolero that they need to sweeten their caipirinhas but it seems they have yet to implement that. I've been about 10 times since it opened a number of years ago.

Gaucho by the Dome is good and a tiny, tiny place. I think the meat is tastier at Gaucho but the variety is better at Bolero. And as has been said, the pineapple at Bolero is better than the banana at Gaucho. However, the staff at Gaucho were mostly Brazilians the last time I went and made a good caipirinha have good feijao.

Fogo do Chao is like a chain from Brazil that has locations in the US but in my mind it can't compare to some good ones in the south of Brazil or Sao Paulo like Prazer de Carne or a non-buffet style one called Figueira Rubayat.

I love Alberta beef but the only beef I've tried that is better than Alberta is from Argentina (forget about Texas). Theirs is unbelievably good. That is the kind of steakhouse Calgary lacks, an Argentine parrillada that the bigger cities in Canada have. It's non-buffet/rotissery style and focus solely on the quality of the meat and its seasoning.