Fogo de Chão Awards

Fogo de Chão Restaurant Review:

About the restaurant: A sweeping vista capturing lots of natural light through tall glass fenestration, an open kitchen and well-spaced tables set the stage for classic Brazilian churrascaria. Men dressed as gauchos present long spears of meats that have been grilled over wood.

Food & Drinks: Start with a visit to the Market Table and Feijoada bar, where you'll find hot black beans and rice as well as a soup or two. The night of our visit it was a squash bisque with coconut milk that got our attention. Thick, crisply cooked asparagus, cured meats and salads of all sorts are arrayed on the bar, but be careful not to overload so you have room for the main star. In our view, that would be the picanha, a traditional Brazilian sirloin. Other meats include lamb chops and leg of lamb, sausage, chicken and other beef offerings. Not our favorite, the pork tenderloin covered in Parmesan was dry and overdone. The wine list notes a few examples of Brazilian wines, so enjoy something outside your comfort zone. Otherwise, there are lots of reds from various sources. For dessert, we suggest the papaya ice cream or the flan, both made in-house, although chocolate selections might tempt, too. Happy hour is Monday through Friday from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the bar. The original Atlanta location is in Buckhead at 3101 Piedmont Rd. NE, 404-995-9982.