Brazilian steakhouse chain Fogo de Chão should be opening its first restaurant in Costa Rica this month, bringing its fire-roasted meats and tableside dining format to the Sheraton Hotel in Escazú. The restaurant will operate through Fuego Tico S.A., part of a business group that manages more than 80 locations belonging to international brands in Costa Rica. Its portfolio includes Burger King, Domino’s Pizza, Arby’s, Popeyes and Juan Valdez Café.
An exact opening date has not been announced. The company has also not released the Costa Rican menu, prices or operating hours. Founded in southern Brazil in 1979, Fogo de Chão is known for churrasco, a style of cooking associated with the gaucho traditions of southern Brazil. Cuts of meat are roasted over an open flame and carried through the dining room on large skewers.
The restaurant uses a service style commonly called rodizio. Rather than ordering a single main course, diners receive a continuous selection of meats carved directly onto their plates by servers moving from table to table. Depending on the menu, those selections can include beef, pork, lamb and chicken prepared in different styles. Guests usually control the pace of service using a marker at the table to show whether they are ready for another cut or want to pause.
Fogo de Chão restaurants also feature a Market Table with salads, vegetables, cheeses and other cold dishes. The chain’s international locations generally offer side dishes, seafood, South American wines and cocktails alongside the churrasco experience, although the final Costa Rican selection has not been confirmed.
The Escazú opening places the restaurant in one of the busiest areas for international dining, hotels, corporate offices and upscale residential developments. Its location inside the Sheraton should make it accessible to hotel guests, business travelers and residents of western San José.
Fogo de Chão has expanded well beyond Brazil during its nearly five decades in business, opening restaurants in the United States, Mexico, Puerto Rico and other international markets. The company has already listed its Costa Rica restaurant as coming soon. Further details about reservations, prices and the official inauguration are expected to be released before the Escazú location begins operating later this month.
