CHICAGO, Ill. (September 13, 2013) – Award-winning Fogo de Chão (pronounced fo-go dèe shoun), the authentic Southern Brazilian steakhouse, will open its 21st U.S. location in Rosemont on Thursday, September 26th. Fogo is conveniently located within MB Financial Park in the heart of the city’s thriving business district. Lunch service will begin on Monday, September 30.
The restaurant’s dining experience is based on the centuries-old gaucho tradition known aschurrasco, the art of roasting meats over an open fire. A prix fixe menu features freshly grilled meats carved tableside, as well as an extensive salad bar and authentic Brazilian sides.
“Our downtown location has been a mainstay of the thriving restaurant scene for years,” said Fogo de Chão Chief Executive Officer Larry Johnson. “The Rosemont opening is a milestone for us as we celebrate our second Chicagoland opening and the first time in the United States that Fogo has opened two restaurants within a market. We’re excited to be introducing the city of Rosemont to our authentic Southern Brazilian dining experience and we look forward to continued success in this new market.”
Fogo de Chão introduced the City of Chicago to authentic Southern Brazilian dining eleven years ago to rave reviews in Chicago’s River North neighborhood. Last October, the downtown restaurant underwent a $750,000 renovation and expansion, adding private dining rooms, a restyled bar/lounge and an even more elaborate gourmet salad bar.
And that wasn’t enough. In a time when many companies are experiencing decreased sales, Fogo de Chão’s business continues to grow. To meet demand in the Chicagoland area, the new Fogo location in Rosemont boasts more than 10,000 square feet and 260 seats. The restaurant is a part of the thriving economic development underway in Rosemont, providing approximately 200 local jobs to the area.
Named as one of Chicago’s “best new restaurants” when it first opened, Fogo de Chão continues to maintain its position as one of Zagats’ top U.S. restaurants.
A prix fixe culinary journey, Fogo de Chão specializes in espeto corrido, or “continuous service,” where a team of Brazilian-trained gaucho chefs prepares and serves 16 different cuts of beef, lamb, chicken and pork. Guests decide both the pace and the portions of their dining experience by using a small, double-sided disc that signals to the gaucho chefs that they are ready for additional service—green queuing servers to continue bringing meats and red signaling a break.
The traditional Southern Brazilian churrasco (barbeque) prepares a variety of perfectly cooked meats. Some examples include Picanha, the prime part of the sirloin, seasoned with sea salt and flavored with garlic, and the rib eye, an elite cut, perfectly marbled and rich in flavor. Cordeiro is an offering of fresh lamb served as lamb chops or leg of lamb sliced off the bone.
While meats are at the forefront, the restaurant also features a gourmet salad and sides bar with more than 30 selections, including smoked salmon, sun-dried tomatoes, hearts of palm, tabbouleh salad, jumbo asparagus, cured meats, artisan breads and imported cheeses. A fan favorite is the Pão de Queijo, authentic Brazilian cheese bread made from yucca flour that is also gluten-free.
Fogo de Chão offers a 200-label wine list for which it has received Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence for the past nine years. Guests may also sample the Caipirinha, made from Brazilian liquor cachaça, as well as Guarana Brazilian soda and zesty Brazilian lemonade. Desserts include the restaurant’s signature papaya cream, made with fresh papaya, vanilla ice cream and Crème de Cassis liqueur, as well as South American flan, crème brûlée, turtle cheesecake, molten chocolate cake and key lime pie.
The expansive restaurant boasts seating for more than 250 guests and offers private and semi-private dining rooms for group events, meetings and celebrations. Equipped with AV capabilities and Internet streaming, the spaces are ideal for groups, meetings and events.
The Fogo de Chão in Rosemont will reside within the headquarters building for the BIG 10 Collegiate Athletic Conference. The façade of the building is covered in a mix of terracotta tile panels and Corten metal panels with large expanses of floor to ceiling windows to expose the interior to the exterior. The façade directly in front of the restaurant is accented with a louvered trellis.
The interior palette is a mixture of Brazilian slate, brick masonry, custom glass tile mosaics and warm rich woods such as Brazilian Rosewood, walnut and maple. Wine plays a large role in the interior, with a three-sided glass wine room as well as large custom wine casks and wine displays throughout the interior. Custom decorative chandeliers are placed in each area of the interior to provide color and movement. The interior is highlighted with custom murals that depict the southern Brazilian culture and the gaucho lifestyle.
Fogo de Chão Rosemont is located at 5640 Park Place in Rosemont, Ill., 60018, and is the 21st U.S. location, with 29 restaurants worldwide.
Hours of operation and prices are as follows:
Lunch – Beginning Monday, September 30
$26.50 (Salad Bar Only – $19.50)
Monday – Friday: 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Dinner – Beginning Thursday, September 26
$46.50 (Salad Bar Only – $22.50)
Monday – Thursday: 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Friday: 5:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Saturday: 4:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Sunday: 4:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Children six years of age and under enjoy complimentary dining. Children seven to 12 years of age dine at half price. Beverages, desserts, taxes and gratuity are additional.
Fogo de Chão® Churrascaria – Brazilian Steakhouse was founded in 1979 in Porto Alegre, Brazil and expanded into the U.S. in 1997. There are currently 20 locations throughout the United States and eight locations in Brazil. In addition to Rosemont, further expansion in the U.S. includes New York City in 2013 and San Jose is slated for 2014. For more information, visit www.fogo.com.
