Fogo de Chao, a staple in the Buckhead dining scene for more than 15 years, has opened a brand new second location in Dunwoody. A welcome addition to Dunwoody’s culinary offerings, it will quickly turn into a regular hang for residents, businesses and tourists offering lunch and dinner daily and brunch on weekends. This location is easily twice the size of the Buckhead restaurant with a separate bar area called Bar Fogo and two private dining rooms. From the wood beams and vaulted ceiling to the gorgeous lighting fixtures casting soft shadows over the dining room- it is a perfect spot for date night.
If you haven’t been to Fogo before, it is a Brazilian steakhouse offering an all-you-can eat dining experience (called churrasco) where waiters clad in gaucho pants slice more than 10 types of fire-roasted meats table side. These meats are cooked slowly with subtle seasoning to allow the natural flavors time to mature and served as soon as they are removed from the fire. An expansive salad bar (called the market table) filled with imported meats, cheeses, fruits and vegetables and a soup station occupy the center of the room serving as a perfect option for vegetarians. In addition to meat, Fogo’s menu also features seafood, Brazilian side dishes (polenta and caramelized bananas), garlic mashed potatoes, cheesy bread, desserts, and a full bar.
My husband and I dined at Fogo on a Sunday night as the result of a media invitation. I love dining at Fogo because their Brazilian cooking style lends itself to the gluten-free diet and their service is exemplary. We couldn’t have felt more welcome and at home by the wait staff if they tried. They are constantly buzzing about offering clean plates, refills on sides, filling beverages and asking how they can make the dining experience better – and they really mean it. The entire market table is gluten free including the croutons, which are made from the cheesy bread served warm and refilled as many times as needed. There is a little something for everyone on the market table, but be careful not to get too full before the meats start coming around. Most all of the meats are gluten free, with few exceptions, as are the Brazilian side dishes, potatoes and couple of desserts. The hardest part about dining at Fogo is pacing yourself before having to call it quits.
Tell the rotating staff of servers how you like your meat cooked and that is all they will bring for the rest of the night. The staff works like a family, so anyone on the floor is more than happy to fulfill requests and answer questions. My favorite cut of the night was the filet cooked a glorious shade of medium rare. It was tender enough to cut with a fork and it practically melted in my mouth. It was a school night, so we opted to try a popular soda in Brazil made with cane sugar called Guarana, which is a fruit found in South America. It tastes like a light and refreshing fruity ginger ale. We also tried the housemade Limonada (limeade) made from a strange list of ingredients that include condensed milk. These ingredients manage to blend perfectly creating a slightly tart drink that would taste even better mixed with rum. 
We foolishly saved room for dessert and tried the flan. This flan is prepared in a South American style that renders it creamier, smoother and a nice change of pace for gluten-free dessert offerings. My husband, who dislikes flan, loved this dessert and actually ate more of it than I did. We left thoroughly stuffed and planning our next trip back.
If you haven’t been to Fogo de Chao before, make the time to stop by their gorgeous new restaurant in Dunwoody – remember to wear stretchy pants!
Disclosure: I received no compensation for this review, but the meal was provided at no cost. In no way did this influence my opinions and views, which are derived from my personal experience at the restaurant.
