Agora Churrascaria

I've NEVER been treated so badly by a restaurant!! I've been to this Churrascaria many times, and the food and the service has always been pretty good. I've even recommended and personally introduced it to many friends. However, the last time I went ... more

I've NEVER been treated so badly by a restaurant!! I've been to this Churrascaria many times, and the food and the service has always been pretty good. I've even recommended and personally introduced it to many friends. However, the last time I went to meet up with a few friends for lunch on Oct. 12, the experience left me never wanting to go back. It was a pretty hot day, in the upper 80's, so I was wearing a nice brand name shirt with cut off sleeves. I entered the restaurant, and was greeted by the hostess. I told her I'm waiting for my 2 other friends to arrive for a party of 3. Then an older guy (Giacomo Rivero was his name) in white shirt comes over, and with a very unfriendly attitude told me to leave the restaurant. I asked why, and he said my clothing is not appropriate. I was shocked. Just earlier I was walking through South Coast Mall, one of the highest end malls in the western United States, and was getting friendly service from every store I visited. "So what exactly was wrong with what I am wearing?" I asked. He says my shirt needs to have sleeves. I pointed out that nowhere on the web site nor the restaurant did it say that customers needed to wear clothing with sleeves, this isn't a church. He then pointed to a little sign, about 2 inches high and 6 inches wide, sitting on the hostess table saying something like "Appropriate Attire Required" (I can't remember the exact words). So then I argued that it didn't specify I needed sleeves, and wondered why that would be inappropriate. I was thinking to myself that after all, this is a Brazilian restaurant, and in Brazil, this rule would be INSANE for anyone to follow at a churrascaria. He replied that other guests would find it disgusting if I reached for the food in the buffet with my bare arm. I was shocked. Did not know what to say. I'm not a hairy guy at all (being Asian and all), and just the fact that he was implying that my arms are disgusting was a COMPLETE INSULT!! So then I asked him, would the rule apply to women as well? And he replied Yes, staring me in the face while the hostess was awkwardly standing right next to him wearing a dress which reveals her shoulders and arms. I was furious at this point, so I simply asked for his business card and left. I went back to my car, took off the nice shirt I was wearing, threw on a dirty t-shirt I had from my gym bag, and waited outside for my friends, not wanting to go back in. We eventually still had lunch there that day due to everyone's time constraints, but the experience left me completely hating the place. During the meal, I noticed many female customers searing clothes that revealed the entire arms. So basically Giacomo Rivero, whatever his title at Agora is, lied straight to my face. Being Asian and having grown up in a 99% caucasian neighborhood in Oregon, I'm not completely insensitive to situations of mis-treatment due to race, and I have to say it truly felt that way based on the way Giacomo was talking to me. I've been busy with work since the experience, so it has taken a while for me to write this review. But the level of service and the way I was treated by Giacomo Rivero the moment I walked into Agora is something I will never forget. I am no longer a fan of the restaurant, and from now on I will go out of my way to convince anyone I know to stay away from that place. Just HORRIBLE! less

I wrote previous review on this one and just want to mention again - this place is awesome! Best Brazilian food I ever had and better than our local churrascaria in SF. Not only they have great meats which is churrascaria signature, but they also ... more

I wrote previous review on this one and just want to mention again - this place is awesome! Best Brazilian food I ever had and better than our local churrascaria in SF. Not only they have great meats which is churrascaria signature, but they also have excellent salad buffet table consisting of nice fish, rice, mussels and all kinds of interesting salads. Absolutely a must when you are in Orange county! Totally worth every penny. less

Excellent and authentic Brazilian Stteak House / Churrascaria located on the Northwest Corner of Main and Macarthur Blvd, due east of the 405 Freeway (at Macarthur blvd - opposite side of freeway from the airport). <br> It is a pain ... more

Excellent and authentic Brazilian Stteak House / Churrascaria located on the Northwest Corner of Main and Macarthur Blvd, due east of the 405 Freeway (at Macarthur blvd - opposite side of freeway from the airport). <br> It is a pain in the rear to get to this location. One reason why several restaurants have failed in this location. <br> From the 405 Freeway, you need to turn LEFT (north) on Main. Then turn LEFT again into the parking lot of an industrial complex. You will see a McDonalds just before you get to the left hand turn. <br> Navigate your way back past the McDonalds through the parking lot. Agora is one of several restaurants there. <br> $35 adult fee for basic dinner & salad bar. (If you've been to a Churrascaria before, there is a single price of admission which gets you as much dinner and salad bar as you wish). Drinks and desserts are extra. figure on dropping about $45 per person. <br> Service is excellent. Full, separate bar area. Attentive and often very, very attractive waitresses. less