Hi all -

I'm turning the big 4-0 at the end of the month and part of my celebration is gonna be a birthday dinner at Fogo de Chao because, well, not everyone at the party had WLS. Has anyone had luck negotiating the kids' price at a Fogo de Chao or Texas de Brasil? I don't have one of those "I had WLS" cards, I don't think my surgeon hands them out, and I did have some luck negotiating the kids' rate for Thanksgiving dinner. Maybe it would help to call the manager beforehand? Maybe I'm being cheap (though I would save 30 damn dollars, which is nothing to sneeze at).

mmmm never heard of any restaurant offering a kids rate.

I was given a card by my surgeons office and also from the hospital where I had the surgery. It says your name and that you have had WLS and that you cannot eat much. It says to let you order from the kids menu. They did tell me that not every restaurant will honor it. The kids menu is a lot of carbs! I have never had a problem using it. Sometimes I ask to speak to the manager if the waiter doesn’t understand what I am talking about. I am a year out. Now my husband orders a plate, he eats 3/4 and I eat 1/4. Sometimes I just order an appetizer. I still eat under a cup. I love my new life!!!!

15 hours ago, JacquelineC said:

Now my husband orders a plate, he eats 3/4 and I eat 1/4. Sometimes I just order an appetizer. I still eat under a cup. I love my new life!!!!

I never heard of such a thing, a card given by the surgeon, and you're right the kids' menu isn't always healthy. My husband and I do what you do, order one entree and I'll eat 1/4 and he'll eat the rest. Eating out is hard.

I usually order soup/salad or ap[p and salad. I immediately put 2/3 in a go box and it becomes lunch/dinner later

I had heard of this "card" but thought it was a thing of the past...Until this past Wednesday when I went in for my one month followup...they gave me something that looked like a business card on one side (had their contact numbers and such on it) and on the backside, they filled my name in a blank, and it said that I had bariatric surgery and asked they allow me to get discounted prices or be able to share a buffet (at a buffet restaurant), or to be able to order from a kids menu without being charged extra for it...

My doctors' office gives out the cards, too. I have mine with me always, but I've never needed to show it. I rarely order off the kids' menu anyway (except at, like, a steakhouse where I can get a 4 or 6 oz steak and a side of steamed broccoli) and when I do, the server typically just honors the request without any fuss. Otherwise I just order an appetizer or a salad and box up half (then let it rot in the fridge until I throw it away a week later - I'm really bad about eating leftovers!).

I'm not familiar with Fogo de Chao. Sounds like a prix fixe type place? It might be harder to get a finer-dining establishment to honor requests like adults ordering off the children's menu. Probably worth trying, though, for that price difference!

I would call and speak with the manager first. Places like that do not allow sharing plates or if they do ask for the price and see if it's worth it. From just a salad bar or appetizer. Look online for the menu.

I got a card as well from my surgeon. I happened to be on a trip with a large group (not in charge of picking the restaurants) and we went to Paula Deens. I ate a few spoons of this and that, and they were gracious to charge me the kid price. When I mentioned the situation the server said “as long as you have the card” and it was no big deal.